Wreaths, cherubs, christmas tree...yayay!

And we have our tree up!! A fake tree this year...we kind of alternate...getting fresh ones every other year or so...there's a great Christmas Tree Farm nearby (two actually!) where they purpose-grow pine and douglas fir trees year round for buying at Christmas. This is relatively new in NZ...we otherwise have to get them from people who have pine forests and they typically sell spindly branches on the side of the road and call them Christmas trees!! And cost anywhere from $10 - $20...quite the ripoff. The purposegrown ones are about $20 - $30 so a way better deal...then again the fake ones are MUCH more expensive...but you do have them for many years if you take care of them properly, right?? Well I got this one at Spotlight - 7'8"..at a half price sale so what a blessing!! Wish the lights would show up...but the night ones with lights on did not show well at all.. :( So this is it in the daylight! Pretty, don't you think? :)


And then yesterday I made a wreath for the front door...here it is finished on my kitchen bench! Gluegun cord snaking away to the right! I made the wreath from five wired pine 'branches'...bent round and wired them altogether to make a wreath - cheaper than buying a wreath! Would like to have made one from willow and real trees but none nearby sadly..and don't know anyone who has any...so had to make with fake tree bits! Still, looks great I think...

I spraypainted some little musical cherubs to add with the wired pinecones and berries...on nice fat gold ribbon bows...

And here it is all finished and hanging on my front door. It would stand out so much better if we didn't have stained glass in our door! But we have, so can't be helped. Still really happy with how it turned out :)

So this is our welcoming approach to the front door...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Now need to put some lights up....oh yeah!!

ciao for now

blessings...jessie xx

As Christmas approaches...

And so begins the Christmas baking/cooking...fruit mince filling for tarts...strawberry jam...gorgeous!!


And not to forget fresh lemon curd! (lemon honey/butter for you others who don't call it curd)...yummmm

mmmm...using up the last of this weeks strawberries and making them into a gorgeous glistening jam! (jelly for you american friends ;))..so divine...had it warm on french vanilla icecream and it just melded in and became a swirling delicious parfait! :)

Ah..fruit mince pies...the essence of Christmas (that and pine trees!!)...with the strawb jam in the bowl next to them...the testing pot that became my delicious dessert..hehe...

Another close up shot of the fruit mince pies...fresh made sweet shortcrust pastry...sublimely encasing the fruity, spicy mix and topped with a star! Divine! (my kids would say only divine with chocolate in them!) So they push a couple of choc buttons thru the centre and warm them in the microwave till it melts...now that is kinda divine!!

Oh and our fabulous Raspberry Mousse Tarts with Meringe Tops....they were SUBLIME!

Yes...doesn't it look delicious?? Kinda like a giant cupcake!! haha...they were delish!

Well it's time to put the tree up ...yippee. I don't usually put it up till two weeks before Christmas but really want to have time to make Christmas presents this year so can't leave everything till the last minute. So enjoying the festive feel of having decorations around the place...more to do yet.

Can't wait to see my fellow bloggers Christmas decorations...ciao for now bellas!

love jessie x