CHRISTMAS AT DEVON
It is something I have wanted to do for years. This year, I decided now was the time. The summer weather was balmy and stable, and I had most of the decorations up. I had quite a store of my crafty creations to put on show.
Kim agreed to help out, bless her.

Invitations went out to come and spend a relaxing afternoon at Devon, with a cuppa or a cool drink and refreshments. I set up a table of some of the things I had been making, in case anyone would like to buy a special gift for someone (which could include themselves.)
On the outside of the chimney, I hung "Joyce's Stocking." It has not had an airing for ages. Some years ago, a gentleman on the island offered the craft people his late wife's needlework supplies, in return for creating something in her memory. This was the result. Nineteen people in total contributed to the making of this giant Crazy Patchwork Christmas stocking.

I decorated our outside self-planted Christmas tree with my little felt wild birds.

I made a few mini-Yule logs and tiny Christmas puddings and choc-coated ginger and packed them into little bags. We had punch and tea/coffee on the table, and various Christmassy nibbles.

About twenty ladies came throughout the afternoon. As you can see, Basil and Mr Shingles enjoyed the party too!

Here are some of the goodies I had put out on the table.

Pretty pussies - from an old Handmade magazine. I really loved making these! Just a peek at some Christmas stockings in front.

"Sugar-frosted" fabric fruits, and little felt "Apple" pincushions.

Bags and cushions

As each lady left, she was invited to take a felt bird from the tree.

William enjoyed helping them to choose one!

It was such a lovely relaxed and friendly afternoon.

Some of us lingered to the early evening, just soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. A husband or two joined us.

Just a few birds remained in the treee. I will have no trouble finding them a good home!

Why not join us next year?

CHRISTMAS ON NORFOLK
When I first came to Norfolk Island, 43 years ago, Christmas was a fairly quiet and low key affair. The most public event seemed to be the arrival of Father Christmas - always in the Fire Engine - to hand out presents to the children at school.
Even today, you could not say it was highly commercialised, but there is a lot more glitter and fanfare than in those early days, and there are many pre-Christmas gatherings. In a community where most people wear many hats, you tend to get involved in several!
Here are just a few pictures of some we have been involved in so far.
Our Tuesday craft group had a lovely lunch at Bounty Lodge, and Joanne allowed us to stay and sew - and drink tea from the elegant china - on our own private verandah all afternoon!

White Oaks celebrated with a Christmas Buffett at the Colonial Hotel.

On Thursday evening, the Chamber of Commerce organised a wonderful Pageant down in the village. I think most of Norfolk came along to enjoy the festivities, the food and the shopping opportunities.

On Sunday evening, before the Service of Lessons and Carols in All Saints, a handful of us had a very pleasant picnic down in the Compound. It was just lovely to relax in the cool of the early evening after a rather hot day!

Tomorrow night will be the Community Carols by Candlelight in the grounds of Government House. This is a very traditional event, in a beautiful setting. But I must confess I have mixed feelings about it. Nowadays, the children do not learn or sing the Christian, nativity- based carols at school, and they simply do not know the carols their parents enjoy singing, and some very valuable community and family traditions have been lost in the name of political correctness. Almost literally, the children and their parents and grandparents do not sing from the same songsheet! And in a community carol singing, there is no sharing or togetherness between young and old. About the only ones both groups know are Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells.

I do not have a great difficulty with everyone celebrating Christmas in their own way, although for me the Christian message of God's gift of Jesus the Christchild will always be central. But to deny our children the right to sing along with their parents the familiar songs that have lasted for generations seems to go against the very values that makes Christmas special! (Pardon me for hopping on my soapbox for a moment. I promise not to do it again for a while.)

TWO LITTLE BOYS
I thought I would update you on the progress of the two little boys in our life.
It has been just fascinating watching William growing up. He is now 2 years and 8-9 months, has acquired great language skills, and is heaps of fun, with his good nature and sense of humour.

A couple of weeks ago, he had a role to play in a wedding, where his Mum was bridesmaid. We did not actually see him participate, but several ladies have told me it brought tears to their eyes. This was taken when he came to us to be minded after the early part of the reception.

Today he was dressed as Santa Claus, ready to hand out Christmas gifts to his little Daycare friends. Unfortunately, his Santa Cap was far too small for his head, so this Granny rushed to find some red fabric and white fur to make a bigger one - all before breakfast. There is no limit to what I have up in that attic. A piece of red blanket that I found at Waste Management, and some white faux fur that I have been hoarding for at least 30 years both came in handy.

This is the "too small cap."

This is the larger one that I stitched up in a hurry

Meanwhile, the new addition to the family "Mr Shingles" has also been delighting us as we watch his growth and progress. That quiet little bag of bones we brought home nearly three weeks ago is a strong, playful and mischievous bundle. And he is thoroughly domesticated!

We are proud parents, and think he is the most intelligent little kitten ever!

In fact, these two make a great pair!

STOCKINGS FOR THE TWINS


Lynlee asked if I could make Christmas stockings for her twin granddaughters in New Zealand.  I ased if she would like them to be modern, funky, cute-for-kids, or classic and traditional.

Lynlee opted for classic and traditional, and said she would like them to be heirlooms. But she did say that Sasha and Lydia just love purple and pink, like most other litle girls - so that really gave me something to work with!

I tried not to make them too Christmassy, in case they wanted to hang them on their bedroom walls.

I had great pleasure in getting out some old laces and crocheted doileys, and some pretty fruity fabrics that complement the pinks and purples, and stop them from being too "cloying."

I tried to add some playful touches, with suffolk puffs and button clusters, and thought a few hearts and stars would appeal to little girls too.

The stockings are not quite identical, and I thought the girls would have fun spotting the differences!

The silk ribbon embroidery is something I felt they may appreciate more as they get older.

When it came to the backing, I remembered I had a lovely pair of evening pants (from the Op shop) made from a lovely dark red/pink satiny fabric with black stippling - just perfect- glitzy, but not over the top! As usual, on my first attempt I cut the backing with the toe facing in the wrong direction, but fortunately had enough fabric to cut another.

For the lining I chose a purple cotton print. I have had this piece for years because I like the colour so much, but I knew I had found the right project for using it.

Here they are hanging on our fireplace. I trust they will also look great hanging in Lydia and Sasha's home in New Zealand!

THANKSGIVING - Norfolk Island style

Thanksgiving on Norfolk Island had its origins in the American Thanksgiving, but has been adapted and developed to suit the Norfolk Island way. It is not necessarily a family festival, although families do celebrate it together. However, we would not expect people to "come home" for Thanksgiving - they would be more likely to do that for Christmas. When Thanksgiving began here, probably later in the 19th century, "coming home" would have meant a sea voyage!!!

Our Thanksgivng, on the 4th Wednesday of November, is more like a harvest festival, and the main focus is on going to church to give thanks and celebrate God's wonderful provision. We still live somewhat closer to the soil here than many of our mainland counterparts, and there are not so many steps and stages between the growing and the eating.

The church is decorated with corn and sugar cane and other produce. The corn is grown by Franklin, who inherited the "responsibility" from Doug when he died. Nothing gets in the way of this. Franklin has been away for medical treatment for some time, but he made sure the corn seed was planted before he went. And because he could not get back for Thanksgiving, he arranged for some mates to harvest it and deliver it to the church.

After the service, the produce is sold. At the Uniting Church service, which runs concurrently with the Church of England one, it is auctioned off. The Seventh Day Adventist church holds its Thanksgiving service in the afternoon, and many go to this one as well as one of the morning services.

It is reasonably safe to be a turkey at Thanksgivng on Norfolk. We do not usually go for the big sit-down dinner. But many of us take the opportunity for a get-together.

This year we gathered at Arthur's "Onion Patch". There would have been 80-90 of us this year, and there was a magnificent potluck feast to enjoy. This included a big boiler of the lovely fresh corn cobs that had been stripped from the stalks after the service that morning!

The food was laid out in the cool shelter of one of Arthur's sheds.

There were plenty of beautiful desserts as well!They were placed on these upturned logs because there was just no room on the table!

William found a girlfriend to sit with for lunch.

It was such a relaxing afternoon, and we all lingered in the lovely surroundings, wishing the Thanksgiving holiday would go on forever.

MR SHINGLES
Look who came into our  lives less than 24 hours ago!

We were out at the Chapel, doing some last minute cleaning before a special service today. Tim, one of the roof slaters came in and said: "I hear you like cats." (indeed I do.)
He took me outside to show me this tiny kitten cowering in the big clump of strelitzia, The boys said that it had been around for a few days. At one stage there had been a mother and 2-3 kittens, but the others seemed to have disappeared, leaving this poor little waif.
I said that I did not really think Bernie would like me to take it home, but they told me Bernie had already given it a name, "Mr Shingles", which is the name of the roofing firm carrying out the job on the Chapel.

Once home, Mr Shingles had to get to know the rest of the family.

 Digby was fascinated and delighted! He is quite fond of one of Charles' cats, but here was one of his very own!!!

I must admit he was not really happy about having Mr Shingles try to suckle him.

Later we introduced him to Roany, who was willing to give him the "once-over", but was not all that interested. One of Charles' cats already follows him round like a shadow, and he does not really want another one!

           

That evening William came up to stay while his Mum and Dad were at a wedding.

I think the pictures say it all!

Mr Shingles seems to be about 8 weeks old. He seems healthy and his eyes are bright and clear. But it is obvious that he has not suckled for a few days, and his body was like a little bag of bones.

But he has been eating and drinking well here, and I am sure he has already started to fill out.

I lost my beautiful cat Oliver to illness just a few weeks ago. I did not write about it because it was just too painful for me.

Mr Shingles will not take his place - but he will bring some healing.

I could not even have posted this picture (above) of Oliver before this!

              

Meanwhile I hope it is the start of a beautiful friendship between Digby and Mr Shingles!