New is the year...

New is the year!

And we have celebrated the season-

With the company of beautiful family, who are our very best friends!

We wore silly masks and sat outside Green House Cottage under a blue moon.

Danced, and sang, ate, chatted and played-

Last year, I wrote a poem to my love, we sat quietly and pondered what the new year might bring. It delivered much joy, and growth between us... I think we love more each passing year.

Jamie's parents celebrate their own wedding anniversary on the eve of each new year, and we all talked about our own weddings, over scrumptious homemade delights - what we loved and remembered...

Happiness is all these things. The balance of serious thoughts, spiritual strength, undying love - in everything - and even when you don't feel like it - happiness with loved ones is on the other side of all this - when you can be silly, and dance, and sing, and play, in a freedom, which I have learned is born only through obedience in Him.

New is the year, high are my hopes, deep is my love, and love never fails.

Love to you, and yours at the dawn of such a season!

Shell xx

Christmas Moments...

Twine and ribbon.

Under tree uploading.

Capturing memories.

Of the year's most special morning.

Extravagant fun.

For love, and fun's sake.

And a special presentation...

Because you're only twelve once.

Hoping all encountered a very Merry Christmas.

Shell xx

On the eve of it all...

..I arrived home from food shopping to find a package for me in the mail from a dear and beloved friend.

And I know she would smile to see Tara dancing around the kitchen with the ribbons from atop of the little presents...

Friend, thank you. You defined the day with such love today. I will savour, and cherish each special thing you've sent, leaving nothing unenjoyed or overlooked. I am humbled by your kindness. Inspired to be an even better friend to you this new year.

So on the eve of it all, in 37˚ heat, I kept cool inside with my children by decorating a wreath to hang above the piano - complete with fake cherries and real olive branches!

And on the eve of it all, I have taken time to enjoy Emma's amazing bird Christmas ornaments on our tree, to breathe the fresh pine needles, just to lovingly wrap presents, and become excited!

And again, to thank the dear sweet loving hearts I have found here, in this last amazing blogging year. Thank you for your beautiful words always - and in some cases, for your beautiful art work as well - which as you can see, features highly in my home.

Ah the day that is almost upon! The time to show the love for all who are dear to us! And all in God's name! Amen!

I plan to cherish every minute with my beloveds, and to be thankful for such a blessed year, hopeful for the new one ahead.

Full of jam

and turkey

and new earrings

and good chocolate

great music,

and kind words

and ginger bread!

Merry Christmas,

Shell xx

a Merry Little Christmas...

The season of Christ's birth is on my heart, in my mind, under foot and over head...

Consider this my gift, my song, a Christmas wish from my good self, to you for all your support and friendship over the past year!

Shell xx

Oh, tree of lights...

Oh tree of lights,

remind me as I decorate-

each star, and each shiny ball,

of the years before I put you there.

And hardly can it be believed-

that a year has passed us by in between?

But it has not passed us by,

We have given thanks for it everyday.

And so it's time to celebrate our Lord's birth,

{and this year, also the newlyweds baby's birth}

And give thanks in a bigger way!

With our tree of lights,

each star and each shiny ball,

A symbol of love, for you.

Shell xx

Oh my stars!

During recent summer evenings we have been eating dinner quickly, clearing the table swiftly, and making way for crafty, Christmassy creating...

These are my red cardboard, painted-with-golden-glitter Christmas stars! I wanted to brighten up my rooms with red starry cheer that didn't cost the Earth - and I cannot begin to explain how much fun I've had making art with my older two babes {more on their own creations in an upcoming post}. So as you can see, I think they're rather fabulous blowing in the breezy open windows by day...

And glittery~fantastic...

By the night.

Shell xx

Of red and green...

There have been rainstorms on my cherry trees, and gift gathering in my mind as the first of festive December arrives at Hillview - on rather a cool and unseasonably un-summery day.

I bought the Green House door a present!

And it sort of was for me too... Looks so magnificent to my eyes that I get a Christmassy smile on my head every time I see it!

And in-of-doors I am vasing up all of the fresh December blooms from my garden so that a new floral discovery can be made around every corner.

And while I wait out the cool change inside with my ornaments and things of red and green, I have the perfect Diva/Christmas slippers to warm, and charm me before the heat hits hard, the rains desert us and the Aussie summer delivers it's usual harshness and sunburnt beauty.

Hope you're enjoying the beginning of the Advent month, where ever you be!

Shell xx

Party Feet...

Red dress.

Smiles and chatter and clinking cutlery.

A bagpiper - for good measure and cheer!

Unbelievable food {with my name on it!}

Beautiful people. And a chance to thank them for all they have done.

Rather spiffing good Bassist! And tinsel wound mic stand...

= Christmas party gigs are here - the most special of them all was our Saturday night.

Praise the Lord for another great year!

Shell xx

Summary of a summery Christmas

I shall start this post by summing up...

I have had a wonderful Christmas.   I have laughed and sung and celebrated, and tried my best to savour every moment.

I was up late into the night on Christmas eve waiting for my children to go to sleep, and finishing my sort of homemade present for my sister and brother in law (whom I affectionately refer to here as the newlyweds).  But there was strong tea and pavlova with all the fruity toppings to sweeten me up through the night.

It is a recipe book which I bought from one on Canberra's best paper shops, that I have been writing all the Tully family recipes in for them to cherish, and enjoy for their new lives together.

The children enjoyed the morning of opening presents, I was pleased by how sweet they all were, not greedy or selfish.  Just enjoying the gifts given in love, and also enjoying giving the gifts they had made for their cousins, aunties and uncles.

I scored a couple of lovely things myself...

An home dried flower from my beautiful sister in law Anna.

And this fantastic hat, from myself!

Don't you just love a summery Christmas!

Shell xx

Glory to the new born King!

 - I said I'd be back to share some more...

I have taken to wearing flowers and or feathers in my hair of late.  It just seems like an outrageously jolly thing to do at this time of year!

My love of yellow roses is such that I have planted them all around my garden, this way I can go outside and harvest a hair ornament whenever I please!

* * * * * *

Now, I must tell you what a wonderful time I had singing at Carols by Candlelight last night for the Salvation army.  I arrived at the end of a busy weekend, with a slightly tired voice, expecting to sing some carols and then head home for an early night.  But I really was struck, as I am every year by the beautiful, Christian words in those special and ancient songs of praise.  Equally as much was I struck by the beautiful people I found there.  Servants of God, who devote their lives to helping others, I was inspired and uplifted, and revived.  I sang and sang, and my voice held up all evening!

Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born king

Peace on Earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled...

For me one of the most special ways to celebrate Christmas is through music.  I hope you will put on some carols in your home or your car (or your iPod) before the season is out.

Shell xx