Time to celebrate so many things!

By the end of the year most people are over it, what it is I am not sure, but what ever it is, people are over it!  I think everyone is tired and stressed out, and sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and get on with it.  Or if you have a mate in the country you go and visit her!!

Off out to Karakariki I drove to catch up with the other Sue as it was the only chance we would get this side of Christmas.

We chatted and drank tea, wandered the garden and laughed a lot.  We didn't solve any world problems or family issues but I for one felt better for having been in the company of a bloody good mate!

 

Ever faithful companion Maximus Giganticus, Sues foxy followed us everywhere.  He leaps over the box hedging as if he is in the Grand National.  Then goes looking for baby birds that fall out of the tall conifer trees that the adult birds have nested in.  I rescued a dead baby and put it on a post to save it being a foxy sized snack.

I picked a bunch of the gorgeous purple lavender and my car now smells heavenly!!

Some will look at these photos of us two having a laugh and think we are mad, nuts, have far too much time on our hands etc.

I say, SO WHAT!!  

I thank my lucky stars that I know enough people as mad as myself that I can let my hair down, and have a bloody good laugh at myself. 

If you cannot laugh at yourself then you cannot laugh at others.

Life is far too short to take it too seriously and especially at this insane time of the year.

Enjoying life is what it is all about, letting go of negative sad arse people in your life and moving on to happier times!! 

I'll drink to that!!!  And I don't even really drink.

So thanks Sue W, you are a good sport, a top bitch, a class act, mad as a snake, and I love ya for it!!!

This time of the year I miss two people, well one person and one pet.

Our beloved old Dog Ben, a hard act to follow and with two dogs, one cat, and ten chickens he is still never far from our minds and always in our hearts.  Dressed as an Angel one Christmas, and this photo is on our Christmas tree.

 

And this man, my dad!!  This photo is on our Christmas tree also, and I love seeing his smiling face at this time of the year.  Hard to believe he has been gone for 10 years next month, I miss him no less than I did the day he passed away.

I found this old card from him that my sisters and I and our mum got one Christmas, there was cash in the pop out glass.  I am thankful to actually have this, something so very personal.

I made this and it hangs on the wall in our dining room.  I believe that family is forever.  Be them animals, relations or close friends.  Be they alive or dead.  Sometimes there are members of your genetic family that you don't see eye to eye with but at the end of the day, they are still your family.  I no longer get together with my mother and eldest sister as we are not close anymore.  It was my decision to walk away from them and live a kinder calmer more positive life. I will always love them no matter what they think of me or how they treat me, they are after all Family.

ANYWAY.....moving right along as there is no need to focus on the negative things in ones life.

TOF had a birthday yesterday, no special number but getting closer every year.  I had a go at making him his favourite Irish potato bread that will get tested out tomorrow morning for Xmas breakfast.  I baked him a Banana and Almond nut cake with a Lemon Drizzle icing, with chopped Almonds on top.  I even made a smaller cake which I took round to my friend Vicki who has had a couple of foot operations.

Hey gorgeous wave to all the lovely people!!!  Vicki is another of those lovely friends I have made over the years, tons of fun, and has the biggest loving heart ever.  FAMILY!!

Me, the Heir, the Spare and the Spares girlfriend took TOF out for dinner last night.  We went to a really nice restaurant but made the mistake of sitting outside where we nearly froze our bits off.  The menu was Tapas and an entirely new experience for the blokes, a laugh a minute and the most enjoyable time out.  Sorry forgot to take photos but trust me it was great.

BACK TO YESTERDAY.....after waving TOF off to work on his birthday, baking treats, taking cake to the cripple, I mooched at home for the afternoon.  I took full advantage of the peace and quiet of a holidaying primary school next door and the glorious weather.

 Tex and Oscar mooched about with me.

 Oscar unsuccessfully and noisily chased a BEE....silly dog!!!!

I watched this Starling feasting on the Flax flowers. There was a Wax eye joining in but moved to fast to snap a picture of.

 

I added white bobbles to some new to me pants to give them a boost and wore them with my hot pink Birkies and the lightest cotton top ever.

TOF and I discovered that our Walnut tree down in the chicken coup has finally gone and grown itself some NUTS!!  Yay for the Walnut Tree!!

We ventured out this morning and got the last of the food we need for tomorrow and found everyone else in Hamilton had the same idea about going early to avoid the congestion!  We survived, and have everything under control.  I won't probably blog for a few days because I fear a food coma could be on it's way.

My gorgeous friend Denise sent us this card that depicts a New Zealand Christmas perfectly.

SO, to all of you out there wherever you are and whatever you get up to over the next few days.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

May you all be surrounded with people and things that you love and you have a safe and happy Festive Holiday!!