Upcycled And Finished

My summer quilt is now complete.

I am very happy with the end result and although I'm very tempted to keep this for myself to use as a lunch cloth I've decided that it should go and live in Western Australia and so I am gifting it to my Daughter In Law for her birthday this month.

Even though it's a very simply made quilt, I think the fabric gives it lots of personality so I do hope our DIL will like it.

Mismatched Tea Cup Trio

I can't believe it's taken me this long to tell you about our Christmas tradition.

Is it February 2014 already?

Well, here goes anyway.

Since the publication of the first Guinness World Records edition of the year 2000 (previously published as the Guinness Book of Records)Son Number Three has received a copy under the Christmas tree from Santa. 

So, Christmas just gone makes it his 15th copy of the book and he still enjoys pouring over it during the month of January.

All our children are adults now, so we haven't fussed too much about the fact that no one else receives a surprise gift from Santa.  That is until the past few years...

Only because our Grand Daughter, Little Miss Six, is liable to pick the fact that only some people and not all, receive gifts from Santa.

You see, when Eldest Son was about eight years old, The Easter Rabbit brought everyone in our house a mug nestling an Easter egg; everyone that is, except me.

For mother's day the same year, Eldest Son gave me a beer stein.  (It was a weird gift to receive from him, since I loathe the taste of beer). When I asked him why he had made the purchase he said he bought me a mug because the Easter Rabbit had not left one for me.  What a silly Easter Rabbit!

So this year Santa left me a tea cup trio that I know for a fact cost the grand sum of three dollars...yes, three dollars.

The set comes in the regal colours of royal blue and gold, on white.  (I'm guessing the above is a George Jones & Sons mark).

Their shabbiness means I feel comfortable using them daily for my morning coffee...which has to be an affogato. 

To make an affogato, take a decent scoop of the best ice cream you can afford (or make your own; recipe here).

Over the ice cream, pour a double shot of espresso coffee, freshly made.  I like to allow my ice cream to melt a little before enjoying.

We purchase our coffee from here / here   

Well, as you can see, the cup proclaims its royalty, since it's a Royal Albert cup.

Poor Santa, he must have been in a bit of rush to pick these up and not realised his mistake...after all, I think they're a pretty good match don't you?

(Whispering: I think Santa made his purchase here or perhaps at the Markets because Peppa Loves Vintage also loves to visit the Glenbrook Rotary Markets once a month on the 3rd Saturday).

Linking to Terri's Tea Cup Tuesday.

Afternoon Tea - Mother's Day

In Australia,

Mother's Day is celebrated on 

the second Sunday in May.

I was lucky enough to have all my children (residing in Sydney) spend the day with me.

In the afternoon we

visited extended family for lunch-which was quickly followed by afternoon tea.

I was also very lucky to receive a surprise in the mail from our eldest son and our new daughter in law, just in time for Mother's Day.

How did you spend Mother's Day?

When is Mother's Day celebrated in  your country?

Linking to Terri's

Teacup Tuesday

and 

Martha's Favorites

"Tis The Season

The first Christmas Card for the Season arrived in our mail box this week!

I normally try to send my cards out the first week of December.

Never before have I received one so early.

Thanks Auntie A & Uncle S!

This year the adults in my family are going to do Kris Kringle.

The way I understand Kris Kringle is sort of a Secret Santa, except we haven't kept our giftee secret.

Funnily enough, I picked my daughter and my daughter picked me.

For many years now the extended family stopped buying gifts for adults and one adult buys a gift to the value of $70 for one child.

This eliminates gifts just for the sake of giving a gift.

What do you do at Christmas time when it comes to buying gifts for loved ones?

Do you buy gifts at Christmas?

When do you post out your Christmas Cards?