Mixed Lollies on Monday...

So a well known super model 

 walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a drink that will both

"wake her up & mess her up"

Apparently.

(to be precise the legend does not say she used the word mess, 

 indeed she opted for slightly more vulgar terminology... apparently)

But as is the case with many celebrity stories who knows how accurate they really are.

What I can say for sure is that the cocktail made for her 

was made for me on Saturday...

(to kick off festivities with my Hubby's family)

.... and my brother in law nailed it. 

Truly the scrummiest cocktail I've had in a long time.

Known as a Vodka Espresso (or Espresso Martini) and elegantly presented in their 

funky "no stem" martini glasses.

Thanks Crash! You are the man!

My father in law prepared Calamari in the wood fire oven and suffice to say there was not a 

tentacle left! The wine flowed, the laughter escalated and the pizzas were illegally tasty

(as always)

Our contribution was a Christmas Panettone. 

Basically you hollow out one of these babies and fill it with ice cream that you have blended

with cranberries, ginger, all spice and pistachios.

I then topped it with white chocolate and cashous to add a little festive flair.

There are many variations and you can certainly improvise to suit your taste.

For a climate where Christmas day is usually spent perspiring it makes for a sensible 

and flexible festive desert.

The afternoon was filled with smiles and giggles as we played 

with the little dudes in their backyard. 

I'd like to add that if there was no food I would've eaten the kids.

Seriously - they are the kinda cute that just makes your heart ache.

Young Prince has such a way with the little people.... 

..... and I think it's fair to say that ...

... even if we'd forgotten the gifts....

.... the kids would've survived (just!)

However gifts were NOT forgotten and I do believe that NOBODY was as blessed

as I was to have received such thoughtful and carefully chosen delights. 

My in laws gave me a voucher to my most favourite store Mr Sparrow 

(Thank you for remembering M & C!!)

&

my sister and brother in law gave me this cushion (DIVINE right?) from an Etsy

store called My Bearded Pigeon and I literally had heart palpitations trying to decide where it would live. I have since decided that in fact it needs to travel all around the house - 

thereby increasing the many vantage points

 from which to gaze upon its loveliness. The journey begins on my study chair.

Gnomes - I am so chuffed and so grateful that you took the time to find something handmade.

Thank you!

Hubby received a set of Vintage Coffee mugs, all with various branding

on the front. So sweet that I may have to perform the sacrilegious act of 

drinking tea from a coffee mug... indeed I shall.

Back at the ranch.... my girls are doing well even though 

their brood of babies have moved away. 

They are laying again and I spent 2 hours 

sowing seeds and laying fresh hay to reward them for all their egg-cellent work

(I know... I know - heard that one before I'm sure)

But really... have you ever seen such a lovely sight?

Not the dirty fingernails 

(a farmers work is tough ya'know!)

...  but the perfection of an egg.

I'm having one poached for breakfast today and the yolk is 

a resplendent yellow... deeeelish!

With all the wet weather we've experienced the garden is looking 

spectacular. All the Jacaranda trees are in full bloom leaving our streets looking

magical and carpets of lilac snow to brighten your morning walk.

My lilies have bloomed too and I'm so chuffed to have such

graceful flowers to place around the house.

Unfortunately I'll miss my Agapanthus blooming

(we'll be away) so I'll have to remain content with the promise

of their unique cheerfulness and stature - last year there were purple

ones that stood taller than me!

Our citrus trees are also covered in fruit and the notion of 

all the recipes I can tackle when I return has me giddy with

lip smacking anticipation!

My evening will be spent packing and crafting.

I have more bunting to finish - this lot is for 3 little girls

so there will be quite a bit of pink methinks!

and then I have some plans with these ribbons...

... am I the only one who gets goosebumps when it comes to ribbon?

Confession: when I see the interior of the Pratt Sisters haberdashery (in Lark Rise to Candleford)

I like to pause the vision and scrutinise their luxurious collection. I think I may even have 

Ribbonitis - a condition whereby the mere presence of spooled fabric presents as a distraction.

Oh how it would have suited me to live in an Austen novel.... sigh.

*****

Lovely peoples do you too have things that prove a distraction to you?

Things that present unlimited potential and contain an electrical charge that

 fires the imagination into overdrive... do share.