prairie mouse

post christmas post

christmas morning before the flurry of paper! i hope you are having a happy holiday. it is stinking hot here - i hope it rains and yes melissa - a little snow package would be most appreciated!!!

 

gingerbread houses

well nearly - those handy little graham crackers that relieve me of too much baking in this heat! i set prairie up yesterday and came back to find these delights

 

even a garage!

 

and every garage needs a car - i love this - i never would have thought to make one - very whoville!

 

its christmas eve day here. the kiddos are out shopping with michael and i am going to get going on everything that needs to be done while they are out.

i wish you all a very very merry christmas!! xxx
 
 
  

handmade

we didn't manage to make all our gifts this year but here are a couple that we did get off the ground.

a while ago when we got our tree we went to an open day at a potters collective where prairie painted some wares. we are keeping the beaker and the heart plate - the checkered one is a gift for michael's mother - painted especially for her

 

for michael's dad who is a keen watercolourist i made a pencil case and prairie embroidered 'grandad' on a piece of felt. it turned out quite large so it may have to house more than pencils.

 

something else i have just finished is the making up of a lovingly stitched stocking by my friend karen for her daughter. it is so beautifully done and so intricate that i was apprehensive to even start terrified i would make a boo boo. but i didn't and now it is on its way to her.

 

nearly there! 

 
  
 

a cakey story

christmas cake is something i only started making last year having never really liked fruit cake but i do stand every year and gaze longingly at the tubs of sparkly shiny glace fruits. last year kay's mum gave me her recipe and i was off to the grocery store quick smart to invite those fruity jewels into my kitchen!

this year i used glace peaches and red and green (favourite!) cherries, dried apricots, cherries and cranberries oh and some golden sultanas. i wanted to keep the fruit light and summery rather than a heavy rich wintery brew

 

after cooking the fruit, the condensed milk and baking soda were added and the alchemy began. we all had a stir and made christmas wishes

 

i rang michael's mother to ask about wrapping the tin - inside or out - either way would be fine. i couldn't decide so wrapped both ways. i really enjoyed this part of the process. it was all starting to remind me of my favourite christmas book when i was little - 'the tall book  of christmas' not to mention a certain song from the sound of music

 

almonds for decoration

 

two and a half hours later it was done - there was late night warm cake snacking going on here!

 

a new cake plate and cover which fits perfectly

 

a slice anyone?!

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

christmas granola

i made some granola based on a recipe out of the december country living. i added cashews, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. with the green of the pumpkin seeds and the red of the dried cranberries it looks very festive! i sent a big jar to michael's family. somehow i think i will be making another batch very soon!

 

new trees

i never thought i would ever make another yo yo again - and neither did my aunty joybelle who tirelessly stitched them for me last christmas but i had an order for a tree so i made another at the same time for salvage. these turned out a little squatter than last years. i thought they looked like dancing girls.

merry merry!

 

little tree and wreath

i think i am too hot to think about a title. it is so muggy here even with all the doors and windows open. prairie decorated a little tree in her room yesterday - note the pink flower on the top right of the tree - more salt dough! she is working on a tree topper at the moment!

 

and a woodsy wreath that is about to go off to salvage

 

hot hot hot!
 
 

salt dough and windowsill

that says it all really! one of prairie's salt dough creations

 

and my evolving windowsill

 

ho ho ho!
 
 

vintage felt

i take days and days to decorate. i get so sentimental as i sift through the years. today i found this sweet decoration kay gave me last year for christmas - what a lovely surprise to find her. i don't know her era (kay?) - isn't she cute!

 

and one has to have pretty matches around at this time of year - quick spray of glue and voila!

prairie has two trays of salt dough ornaments baking so can't wait to see how they turn out. stay tuned! 

 

advent

my kitchen windowsill - my christmas treat leaning on the jug - from junker jane! her work is beautiful.

 

our advent wreath - antipodean with its dried flax flowers

 

i hope you are enjoying your countdown! x