Wednesday, January 1, 2014

And so this is Christmas



I thought this was a fitting title given that another year is over and a new one has just begun and I am only just getting this Christmas post finished. My excuse? It's a good one - lots of white paint. Yep, the long painting hiatus is over and there are some rooms getting finished over here, but that is a whole other post.




This Christmas was kind of compressed into a whirlwind few days as we arrived back from Wooli the night before the night before Christmas and needed to fit a lot in. We squeezed the suburban lights in on Christmas eve. This house  had an alternating light show every 15 minutes with a matching musical soundtrack.





We went to the winning street for our side of town which was good but just quietly we think probably not as good as last years winner. There were still some amazing displays and the kids loved the fake snow bubble machines mounted on the roof that would  start intermittently and cover their heads.








Inspired by the map pavlova in the Aldi Christmas catalogue I decided to make my own version. I took progress shots as I suspected the chance of actually pulling this one off without a collapse were slim.




We dug out the Christmas books including this vintage masterpiece I found at the oppie last year but packed away until this year.



Even big kids love pop up books, I just love the vintage colours and pictures.





Liongirl set herself up a cosy chair to peruse the whole pile but this was her telling me she is a big girl now and can read chapter books. She looks convincing for someone faking it until she makes it.




Incredible that after making annual pavlovas for about a decade, this is the first one that did not collapse on removal from the oven. Unsure if that is due to finally having a decent oven or the structural integrity of our glorious continent. There was a dash of continental drift as Tasmania merged back with the mainland but that was easily fixed.




 Despite being up past nine the night before, the kids were up at five, beyond excited to unwrap their presents. It seems that sending Santa a letter requesting not just lego, but the specific numeric lego code for the galaxy squad set that you want, does pay off.



Liongirl was just beside herself with the arrival of that light up pillow pet and the Sylvanian families caravan. We virtually didn't see her for the rest of the day.




Of course given that it was Christmas day and we had both a roast pork and a pavlova in the oven it was the hottest day we have had since we moved home. It's never a proper Christmas until the togs and water pistols come out.



Meanwhile I got to play with my presents,





which were highly coveted by others I might add,




and set the table.



 The new paints were put to good use to create  a painting for Grammy who has her birthday on Christmas day.




Christmas baking was light on this year but we pulled out a last minute effort.




 And finally, we sat down and gobbled that pavlova. I might just have to pop out another one for Australia day I think.



 And that is how you compress a month long ritual into just two days. Happy New Year!














24 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh the pavlova turned out fab. I wouldn't have thought to do different fruits for the states and territories.
    The felt coasters are amazing and perfectly you too.
    x

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  2. Woohoo for your brill colourful Christmas! Looks like you had a great day. Aaahh I remember with (un)fond memories lots of white paint here 2 years ago between Christmas and New Year, you have my sympathies. But also a knowledge of just how wonderful it feels when it's all done. Love your pav and the Sylvanian caravan, my 15yo has the same one and after years of loving Sylvanians she now works in a shop that sells them. But she's still not too old - she wanted the beach set for Christmas. Hope you have a wonderful year and a great summer with your family.

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    1. That is so wonderful that your daughter still wants sylvanian stuff, mind you I would have been happy getting that caravan myself, it is so cute! mel x

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  3. I love your Aussie pav Mel (wonder if there's a Kiwi version? Ha!)
    I am currently covered in white paint too :)
    x

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  4. Love your pavlova!! And so pleased to see Tasmania included, I'm Tasmanian, and it's often forgotten! I'm going to try one for Australia Day also! Personally I think 2 days of Christmas craziness is quite possibly more pleasant than a whole month of the craziness! x

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  5. An aussie pav...how brilliant. looks yum....love all the colour in your pics Mel....screams aussie summer. Happy New Year and happy painting!! xx

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  6. oh yeah.....and how has the oven been behaving?....worth all the researching etc I hope. x

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    1. Oven is fab, not a whiff of an exploding door as yet! mel x

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  7. Oh I love that pavlova…I feel like by admitting this I will probably never get my Aussie citizenship but I have never made a pavlova…I fear my oven just wouldn't cut it…but perhaps I am mistaken.
    I am so glad you all had such a merry Christmas…and that Santa was good to everyone!
    Happy new year!

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    1. Do the pav, they are easy and the best bit is even if they collapse you just cover it with cream, it still tastes fab and no one even notices. It is your civic duty to attempt one at least annually or we may have to have your deported!. mel x

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  8. What an awesome Christmas in your new improved home. Just love that Pav. And Lego was the choice toy for our boys...yet again. Didn't see them for most of the day! Have fun painting - definitely don't miss that feeling. xx

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  9. That pavlova is a work of true genius - the fruit states are amazing. Are they relevant to fruit production in each area? I have a beautiful hand embroidered 'map of Oz' tablecloth that Mr A-P bought me for xmas a couple of years ago. It has fruit animals and wildflowers fro each state. Ooh I feel a blog post coming on!

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    1. My husband did suggest doing correct fruits per region but I didn't think more bananas would have worked in with the colours and also I have no idea what northern territory produces aside from crocodiles! The southern states do all the stonefruit and grapes and we are the banana state up here in Queensland. mel x

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  10. Mel I am totally impressed with your pav! From this day fwd you will be known as Mel queen of pav!

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  11. OMG OMG OMG OMG Your Pav is a triumph!!! I am in love with this. I mean I love a pav at the best of times - and seeing what I think are peaches on SA where I was born, well!! That just tops it off perfectly - no pun intended!! I am afraid that I may have to copy this idea from you, yes, copy!! Amazing. Sorry to go on, the rest of your post is of course super lovely, but the pav!!!!!!! Sorry, I am embarrassing, but I am soooo impressed.

    I hope that you have a wonderful 2014 and that you are all healthy and happy and that life in your little blue bungalow goes wonderfully for you all. xx

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    1. Thanks so much Amy! Go ahead and copy away any time, as I said the Aldi catalogue had a map shaped pav but theirs just had fruit thrown all over, it was my idea to do the states with diff fruits ( i do love a good aussie map anything really). Was a teeny bit tricky to eat though as everyone wanted all the fruits and not just a slab of western australia! mel x

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  12. I love your colourful coasters! Coincidentally I got a near identical pot stand two days ago.
    Yours sounds like a wonderful Christmas and the pavlova is fabulous. I leave mine in the oven, cooling down slowly and it never collapses. Maybe it is just luck? I bet the next one will... Cx

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  13. I really enjoyed this colourful post. XMAS lights are always a hit with the kids aren't they? The house up the road from us had a bubble machine, fog machine and snow machine all going simultaneously - it was hard to keep the kids away from it. And yes, you must give us a run down on your Aussie Rogue - hope it is performing well for you. Happy New Year. xx

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  14. I absolutely love your post. I think your watercolour picky for Gammy is right on trend!
    Happy New Year!

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  15. oh my! that pav! those coasters! what a beautiful christmas affair. merry christmas and a very happy new year to you and your gorgeous family. xxxxx

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  16. What a beautiful Christmas! And that pac-amazing and delicious! xx

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  17. So many good things here! Love that retro take on a classic Christmas book, and your Aussie pavlova is brilliant. That's a favourite summer dessert of mine. Your felt ball coasters are so pretty, I bet they feel lovely. I'd like to make place mats but I fear they'd get dirty in about two seconds.

    My daughter received that same Sylvanian Families caravan and car this Christmas. I don't know who loves it more, her or me. Happy new year to you Mel. xx

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  18. great happy colourfull blog will check in again hx

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  19. Quite possibly the best looking pavlova ever! Where did those amazing felt ball coaster come from.........I need those in my life xoxo

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