Christmas, New Year, a baptism and a tumble

It's been a bit busy and I apologise I haven't got around and read or commented on as many posts as I would like. I've tried. I'll keep trying and hope to do better as we get further into 2026.

Christmas Day dawned a grey cool day but it didn't dampen the Christmas spirit. After breakfast I made the salad, whipped cream and finished off doing the things I needed to do before we packed up the car and headed over to Vanessa's place for dinner with the family. We had been to the Carol Service on Christmas Eve because I knew we wouldn't get to the Christmas Day one - we seldom do.

At one point I think we had 14 family members there. Some ate with other branches of the family and then came over and some ate with us. We had a buffet set up and helped ourselves to what we wanted. I was sitting with my back to the door and suddenly this little boy rushed up to me all excited - the family from Palmerston North had arrived! We weren't expecting them and my GKB and I had been planning when we would go up and meet the new baby. Vanessa and Tony knew they were coming but hadn't told anyone :) Well done on their part.

They had been up since 5am travelling and arrived at Momona airport at 10:30am. It meant that Arlo had cousins to play with which was nice as he had been the only kid there until they arrived. That's the bigger kids above in their Christmas tee shirts, I don't know who gave those to them but they looked good, even baby Lucia had one :)

 

And this is Aaron and Sofi enjoying their Christmas dinner with a couple of their parishioners in Auckland. They were in the middle of shifting house and so appreciated having somewhere to go for dinner. All in all a good Christmas Day.

Bob getting popcorn and coke to snack on at the movies.

I don't know about most of you but we didn't see the new year in. We were in bed about 10;30pm and had the answer phone on as my brother has been notorious for ringing and waking us to wish us a happy New Year in the past. We didn't want to risk him waking us at midnight this year. Yes, we still have a landline as well as our cell phones. On New Years Day we decided to go to the movies as we had been gifted a voucher and had no other plans. It was an enjoyable day out but when we came out we had six minutes to get to the bus stop and we made it just as the bus pulled up. Phew. We have free buses as long as we travel during off peak hours.

And this is wee Lucia Carolitta. She was baptised today. She looks so happy in this photo but she wasn't happy in the church. She started crying as soon as the service started, cried all the way through. Mum couldn't calm her, Dad couldn't calm her and having water poured on her head didn't help. Eventually she went to sleep - when it was all over. I haven't heard a word of the service. I stood when others did and sat when they sat. I've since been told that most of us never heard a word of what was said, the poor priest, though he didn't seem fazed at all and as you can see was laughing with the family - as Lucia kept bawling her eyes out for the photo.

We didn't stay for a cup of tea and as we were leaving Alice was running down a slight slope and fell over. Landed on her knees and face. She took a real hard tumble and it looks like she'll have a good bruise on her face when it comes out. And let me tell you, she has a good set of lungs as well :)

And just because I can - some Christmas crocs.

That's all for now,

Keep well until next time,

Diana

Happy New Year

 

I've lost a day, I thought tomorrow was New Year's Eve but no.

 So, to everyone reading, whether or not you stay up to see the New Year in, I wish you all a fabulous 2026 filled with all God's richest blessings.

Diana

Bookended

We had another wonderful day yesterday. It started with my GKB bringing me a fat envelope he had found in the letterbox. It was a lovely wee notepad and a Christmas card with a thankyou note from Friday Light, the outreach I cook for every now and then 

In the afternoon I went over to grand daughter's house. She's going away for a few days and we've volunteered to feed the cats. We had a nice chat over a cold drink and she showed me where everything is, and yes, I remembered to come away with a key to the house.

And finally our Christmas Eve dinner was going to happen, nine days late, but who's counting. I spent quite a bit of time in the morning preparing the fruit salad for dessert, mostly fresh fruit, yum.

Finally it was time to head over to Aaron's place for our meal where we sat out on the deck in the late afternoon sun and waited for the hostess to appear. She'd gone to visit a neighbour and lost track of the time. But it didn't matter, we enjoyed each other's company over nibbles and a drink. She was a bit embarrassed when she finally arrived back but we just had a good laugh.

Aaron had spent the day preparing a roast meal, lamb from a friend's farm accompanied by new potatoes, roast pumpkin, carrots and parsnip with gravy. It was delicious and I ate far too much. DIL then brought out a fresh cheese board and crackers while we were sitting letting our meal settle. You don't need this, I thought, but that didn't stop me from indulging. I should have known better, I knew there was still dessert to come.

After dessert, which I also ate too much of, we blobbed inside in front of the telly and did some karaoke. It was a lot of fun. Some of us performed beautifully, some of us just looked on and enjoyed - and laughed.

And as we were leaving we were given another Christmas gift. A gift box of barbecue sauces, rubs and nibbles. Another lovely surprise. You could say the day was bookended with gifts. 😄

When we arrived home I said to my GKB that really I should go for a run around the block after all that food but of course I was only kidding. I had a cup of tea and went to bed instead.

I did go for a walk this afternoon though, albeit a short one.

Keep well and keep enjoying the holiday season.

Diana

New year, new memories.

 The house is tidy.

The lawns are mowed.

The hedge clippings are raked up and in the bin.

The grands and the great grands have flown away home.

We're pretty well ready for 2025 although we probably won't see it in.

Tomorrow is the first of 365 empty days to fill with adventures and memories.

May 2025 bring all you hope and pray for.

Happy New Year.

Diana

January 1st, 2020

from our house to yours

'Tis 2019

First of all let me wish everyone a belated New Year.

How did you celebrate? Did you celebrate?

We didn't. We had our grandson staying

so thought we might at least sit up until midnight

 but he scooted off to bed about 10:30pm

and so we went not long after.

It still happened without us :)

We were a bit spoilt on New Year's day, a friend invited

 us out to lunch and we had a very enjoyable catch up

 with her at one of the hotels a couple of suburbs over.

That evening we were also invited to our son's home for the evening meal. We had a delicious cold meal, summer noodles, followed by icecream with a passionfruit sauce over it.

This was all finished off with rose petal tea

(coffee for my GKB) served in beautifully fine

 porcelain tea cups. So delicate. In the bottom

of the cup was an image in the porcelain of the

head of a Japanese lady. I think you'll see it

if you look closely at the picture below.

We all headed to the beach afterwards, next time

I'll take my swimming togs. It was a beautiful

 evening and the water wasn't too cold. Some of

us paddled, one of us decided the water was

too cold and another one guarded the cardigans,

cell phones etc. We headed home about 8:30pm.

After grandson headed back up to Christchurch

 we had a day or two just relaxing and then Sassy

arrived to stay for a couple of nights. She's missing

her family but once she realized we were actually

going to feed her and take her for walks she perked up.

She has been good and it's been fun having a dog again

 for a little while. We were out early for our walk this

morning as the forecast was for warm temps during

 the day, it's 31C at present. Unless it cools off somewhat

 she may miss out on her evening jaunt :)

And that has been our first week of 2019.

I hope yours has been just as relaxing.

Diana

joining Deb today for

Friday foto friends

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a happy, 

prosperous and blessed 2018.

Photo courtesy of Otago Daily Times

Done and dusted

No not 2016, although that is certainly done and dusted.

And not Christmas either, although that is well and truly done
 and dusted too.

My reading challenge - done and dusted, thank goodness.

Would I do another one? I don't think so. Having a deadline to finish a book took the joy out of reading, for me anyway, so what's the point? But it meant I got some books out of the way that have been lying around for years in some cases. I will probably do the winter reading challenge at the local library though, it encourages you to look at different genre's, has a bit more focus than just getting through books you haven't got round to reading yet.

Some of the books I enjoyed, some I struggled with and one I didn't finish. A mixed bag. Most of them have now gone to a book sale for  someone else to enjoy.

*************

And as it well into New Year's Eve here,

all that remains is for me to wish everyone a 

Happy and Prosperous New Year

Diana

New Years Day 2015

My sister is over from Aussie for a holiday so today we took our little Mother down

 to the beach because she enjoys walking on the beach and we hadn't been for quite a while. 

Mum, sis, daughter

There was a bit of a stiff breeze blowing but the temperatures were pretty good. 

On the way we picked up my daughter who is on holiday 

until Monday and at home by herself. 

We all had a great time, just strolling and enjoying the day.

And some of us played 'silly beggars'.

No they didn't really slide down there but I'm betting 

my grandsons and their father would love to have a go.

And what better way to finish off the day than with ice creams all around.

Happy New Year to you all. 
May 2015 bring you all you could wish for.
Blessings,
Diana

linking up with:
roses of inspiration #1
wake up Wednesday

...just checkin' in...

I know it's a little late to be wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year, but there you are, the year is disappearing already.
I hope that 2013 is all you are wishing for.


 I can't load any photo's at the moment apart from ones I've already used so I'm hoping that blogger/google will straighten it out soon seeing as several other people seem to be having the same problem. So today my post will have to be a little naked. Oh dear.


We had a whopping 35 or 36 degrees Celsius yesterday, today we are down to 16. Grey and wet. Somewhere in the middle for a few weeks would be really nice. Yesterday was lovely for lunch out with eldest grandson and my little mother. We drove down the plain to a little tearooms and sat out under the trees. Grandson has been staying with us since just before Christmas and is away back to Wellington/home tomorrow.

My GKB and I have both worked through the holidays so we are taking time off at the beginning of Feb. and heading away to the caravan. I'm looking forward to it, slothing by the lake and watching the fisherman. We have thought we should occasionally do one or two of the touristy things as well, so we can say we have, but I draw the line at bungee jumping. I don't mind watching but I don't see the point in tying myself to a large rubber band and jumping off a bridge! I shall pursue more sedate activities - like jet boating or white water rafting, ha ha. Or maybe just a leisurely ride on the lady of the lake - the SS Earnslaw.

We have finally demolished the gingerbread house. The kids from 4 to 83 all enjoyed it, a lot of fun. Have photo's, will show some of them someday :D)

Well I'm gonna sign off now and hope the photo thing gets sorted out soon.


Have a good week everyone.
Diana