Last Days of December

Well, time sort of ran away from me in the lead up to Christmas and I didn't quite get to finish the DPP photos....but I thought I would show a few of the photos I took prior and after Christmas.

I made 2 of these Christmas Cakes...a Nigella Lawson Chocolate Fruit Cake and the recipe can be found here.....it is truly DELICIOUS!!!

A beautiful pot of basil....so generously given to the leaders of the Girls Groups we lead at Church....and a very generous gift voucher for a favourite nursery and gift shop...Acorn Nursery in Surrey Hills....the girls are such a delight and a blessing and this was such an unexpected gift from the Mums'.

The newest member of my brother's family....little Daisy...she is so cute



and two new members of my family....yes, I am getting 2 Burmese Kittens....and I visited them this week to meet them for the first time....they are so sweet....anly 5 more weeks until they move into my home....

As the Kittens are near Gellong, I decided to make a day trip and head to the Wool Museum in Geelong.  I then went for wander along the waterfront and after visiting the kittens, I decided to head towards Queenscliff and catch the Ferry across Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento...it was the most beautiful summers day....I will show some more photos in the next few days....



AND THE WINNERS ARE.....

Hi everyone and a HUGE thanks for entering my giveaways...sorry I didn't get around to drawing these last night as promised....but here are the winners of my Advent Wallhanging and my Table Topper

The winner of the Advent Calendar is.....Mary C

and the winner of the table topper is...Carla G

I will be in contact with both of you to get your snail mail addresses so that I can post your packages before Christmas....once again, thanks to all who entered and left such lovely comments....



DPP Day 19

DPP Day 18

We had our Church Carol service last night which was wonderful as always....sadly my photos aren't so lovely...but I decided to pop a photo in anyway...sorry about the blur!!

DPP Day 17

Well, here is the finished and decorated cake....my Niece initially saw the cake with only the icing and coloured sprinkles, but her face after she saw the completed decoration on the cake was absolutely priceless....and her little friends' faces when we cut the cake.....I originally found the recipe for the cake itself here....and am very glad that I did...

DPP Day 16

Tomorrow is my Niece's 6th Birthday Party and again she asked if I would make her cake...she then chose what she would like....this is the assembling of the cake

Recipe

I recently posted a photo of a Peppermint Fudge slice which I made...I have since been asked for the recipe...so here it is....enjoy!!!!!!!!

CHOC PEPPERMINT FUDGE SLICE

Ingredients:

2 packets Chocolate Ripple Biscuits

250 grams Cadbury peppermint Cream Chocolate

100 grams butter (Unsalted or salted)

1 tin condensed Milk

Whiz biscuits finely in food processor

Chop butter

Break chocolate into pieces

Put all ingredients into large microwave bowl and microwave on high for 3 minutes

Mix well and put into lamington tin/tray lined with baking paper

Refrigerate until set

Cut into small pieces

ENJOY!!!

DPP Day 15

One of the lovely things about where I live is that often in the morning, I wake to see hot air balloons floating across the skyline and this morning was one of those days

DPP Day 14

I wonder what this could be going to be?????  Stay tuned for Saturday where all will be revealed...



DPP Day 13

DPP Day 12

This is a photo of my dear Dad (with my nephew) who today underwent a hernia operation....not a huge op in itself, but pretty major considering my Dad is 86 years of age....I am just very thankful that he has come through the op pretty well....I visited him tonight and he was up and about and joking with the nurses....

Second Giveaway item

Hi and firstly, my apologies for not having shown this earlier today as promised.  This is my second giveaway item for the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party...it is a felt table centrepiece with ric rac.  It is approximately 45centimetres across.....(I think around 17 inches for those that are non metric!!)...Anyway, if you would like to win this...just leave a comment and I'll pop you in the draw....if you wish to go in the draw for both of my items, just say so in your comments.
It seems too, that from seeing other blogs and giveaways, that some are waiting till next week to announce the winners...so I thought I would do the same....so I will announce the winners at the end of next weekend....I did not realise how many offers of prizes there would be and I am sure it must be taking people a long time looking through everything which is on offer....(oh and by the way...the jar of chocolates is NOT being offered!!! Sorry!!!)

Day10

I have just found my favourite new place to visit...the new IKEA located in Springvale....I usually head toward the city to go to the Richmond store....but I think those trips will be history having discovered the one in Springvale....firstly, I do not need to contend with so much traffic heading towards the city.  Secondly, parking was a breeze AND free!!!  And added to that, there are a whole lot of other homemaker style stores...such as Domayne, Provincial Home Living and a new storage store...so I will be definitely going back for many a return visit....

Giveaway Time with the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party

Here is a photo of my giveaway item....I know it is too late to use it for this year, but it is an Advent Calendar which I have made from a pre-printed panel.  It has quite reasonably sized pockets for holding treats.  "Hop" on over to the Quilting Gallery to see a full list of those participating in the Blog Hop Party!!!  (I am not sure what time Australian time they will be listing all the participants)

To win this, simply leave a comment and I will draw a name on Monday night (Australian EST) to allow for those international guests to make a comment too...yes I am happy to post overseas....though bear in mind that it might not get to you before Christmas...look forward to playing.

I will then announce another giveaway item on Sunday morning Australian time...check back here tomorrow too!!!

Day 9

Day 8

DPP Day 7

STOP PRESS!!!! GIVEAWAY COMING UP

Just a bit of notice that the "Quilting Gallery" is hosting a blog hop party on Saturday and I am participating by having a giveaway on my blog....so pop back here on Saturday to see what I would like to give my readers a chance to win.

See you later today with my photo for the day too....

DPP Day 6...not so Christmassy!

As I went to put some water in a watering can today, this littel guy jumped out (in my kitchen)...so I quickly found somewhere safe in my garden to send him....I love finding these little guys in my garden...

DPP Day 5

This is a little Nativity decoration I bought in Germany...it has a windmill thing at the top which when you light the candles, the heat moves the scene around....there were some simply lovely Christmas decorations in Germany....it would have been very easy to go overboard...

DPP Day 4

A couple of exhausted children after a weekend at their Aunty's....we had heaps of fun!!

DPP Day 3

Today I have spent the day with my niece and nephew and tonight I took them to look at some of the Christmas lights around the area where I live....this one was mentioned by a work colleague as being completely over the top....and it WAS!!! 

DPP Day 2

I took this photo when I was visiting Berlin in October...it is at the site of the Berlin Wall where a church had been torn down as it was on both the East and West of Berlin....This memorial is outside the Chapel of Reconciliation and is aptly named "Reconciliation".  The Chapel itself is an amazing piece of architecture and a real peace about it.

December Photo Project

I have decided to give the December Photo Project a go again this year and hope I am able to keep up with posting a photo a day throughout December.

So here is my first photo...I have recently started getting some fruit and vegg delivered and this was my very first delivery...