And So I Don't Forget...

New Year's Eve

As I scrolled through photos to create that collage, I was overwhelmed with memories. It has been an incredible year. A wonderful, awesome, surprising and full year.

I feel so very lucky, for so many reasons and in so many ways. Not least of which is these hobbies - blogging, scrapbooking and photography - that help me remember, reflect and appreciate. 

Thank you to all who read and comment. You make blogging so much more enjoyable and rewarding. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, prosperous and incredible 2013. 

December Daily 2012: Days 7, 8 and 9

Day 7:

Journaling reads: A Friday evening spent in the shed. A wreath for me, a toy car for Claire. I was buffing, sanding, sawing using the machines. Mike's a great teacher - he makes me feel so capable. There was cheering when the storm started; the noise let us keep using power tools.

Day 8 morning:

Day 8 evening:

Journaling reads: I'd bought the tickets months ago, motivated by a 30 Before 30 goal, then managed to lose them. $7.15 to reissue and we were set; my first non-Carols concert in years, Mike's first time at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. We had hot dogs and cider as we listened to the supporting acts. I sat there on the lawn, thinking about how happy I was. With a ten piece band and lots of energy, it was a great concert. Somebody That I Used to Know is the only Gotye song I really know and the one I was most looking forward to. An awesome night.

Day 9:

I'd write more now except that Boyf told me at 11am today (December 30) that he wouldn't mind having a New Year's Eve party at his place. Oih.

By 3pm guests were confirmed and it was definitely happening. Let's just say his house wasn't quite guest-ready and it's been a busy evening. Bed is now beckoning, so goodnight. :)

Christmas Day

In Boyf's own words,

3 Xmas meals across two family's. Good food. Good deserts. Great company. Spoilt niece. Great gifts. Hope everyone had a great day.

It was a long, full day.

Breakfast at my parents' house. Lunch at his parents' house. Back to my parents' for a left-overs dinner. (They only live about 10 minutes apart.)

And still it went by way too fast.

It was a wonderful day.

Following traditions, learning traditions and making some new ones of our own. 

Casual, relaxed and with loved ones. 

And the presents, so many presents. I was spoilt rotten.

 

I loved it all.

Merry Christmas

The last few days have been a rush of Christmas events. Baking, wrapping, shopping for the last few presents.

And eating. Lots of eating.

Yesterday was the official family Christmas lunch with Dad's side of the family. Good food, presents and lots of laughs. A wonderful day.

Now I am sitting in the queue, waiting for the gates to open for Carols by Candlelight. When those first notes ring out, that's when Christmas really starts for me.

With one last sleep till Christmas Day, wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful, Merry Christmas.

Love the Twinkle

Last night Boyf and I went to the Queen Victoria night market, a summer institution here in Melbourne. It was CRAZY busy but I did get a delicious raspberry cupcake and hear a band singing a Cuban song I heard over and over when I was there. So of course the song was stuck in my head the rest of the evening. ;)

Afterward we drove to the Ivanhoe Boulevard to look at their Christmas lights - another Melbourne institution. There was some initial confusion when we found the Boulevard but no lights or people - turns out there is an Ivanhoe Boulevard West! - but we lucked onto a great car park and wandered.

For a couple of weeks in December, for years and years now, half the road is blocked off and people come to look at the lights on these houses. There are different groups singing or playing Christmas carols; one year I even saw a belly dancer! It has a lovely atmosphere - that buzz of anticipation in the air.

That house was my favourite, I think.

I did love this massive Christmas tree with presents too.

As we walked around, Boyf remarked a few times that he could see us going nuts like this one year. Although I think a strand or two of lights is almost a Christmas necessity, I will state for the record here and now - if our house is Christmas lights crazy one year, it's not because I talked him into it!

He loves the twinkle too.

Christmas Preparations

I can't believe how fast December is disappearing. 'I want a pause button!' is going to be the sentiment I use on Day 13 of my December Daily album. ;)

On Saturday I had a few friends over for our second annual Christmas dinner. It was a fantastic night - lots of laughter and good cheer - and I glazed my first ever ham!

The aftermath. Yule Mules - vodka, lime juice and ginger beer - are very drinkable. ;)

Last night I made my Christmas cards. Finally. Now just to get them written, addressed and posted.

I copied a design from the Silhouette blog. I am loving that bow and tag; so cute!

I've made tags for presents too. Well, I've made two for the two presents I've already given away. Assembly still required on the others. ;)

And I think I know where Boyf has hidden my Christmas present.

Actually, he outright told me it was in this cupboard and I wasn't to open it. Anyone would think he doesn't trust me! ;)

As my friend Nicole's Facebook feed updates me everyday, only 7 sleeps till Christmas. Oih.

December Daily 2012: Day 5 and 6

Last night I pulled out my tripod and snapped some photos of my Christmas tree. Although I did take some whole room shots, it's the snippets - the peeking round the corner photos - that are my favourite. I haven't played with photographing the lights yet; hopefully I'll have a chance for that next week.

Here is the finished Day 5:

And Day 6:

No photo for this day, and a big part of the journaling talks about a not-as-planned trip to the beach we made on the previous Saturday.

Most of my days so far this year have been single side pages, and I'm really liking that. I am making/taking extra space when needed - Saturday the 9th has 4 pages in progress - but it's nice letting the content dictate, rather than the other way around.

December Daily 2012: Progress

A few weeks ago Boyf agreed to be responsible for a December Daily entry and yesterday was the day he choose. On Sunday we were talking about DD and Week in the Life and somehow it came about that he thought I wanted him to spend a whole day scrapbooking. Such an absolute look of horror on his face! So funny.

I reminded Boyf Tuesday night that he was going to document something for me the next day. Sure enough, when I texted him in the morning he'd forgotten again, so I agreed to remind him again later in the day.

At 11:53am I texted: Take a photo! :)

He replied that my timing was really bad, but he did text me a photo. Yeah, that photo's not going in the album - I'd caught him on the toilet! ;)

He has assured me that he did take other photos and we have lots to choose from for the album. I'm pretty sure after thinking that I wanted him to scrapbook all day, documenting his day seems pretty reasonable in comparison. :)

I haven't completed any pages in the last couple days, but there is definitely progress. Yesterday and today I even spent a little time on my album before leaving for work. (That's big for me - not a morning person!)

I think my best ideas occur when I am nowhere near my scrap room, and this is one of my favourites.

This day I went climbing after work, then dinner and a drink like we usually do. I've added a photo to an Ali Edwards template, cut 'Eat, Drink and Be Merry' from vellum and 'climb' from glitter paper, which I will layer over the photo. Eat, Drink, Climb and Be Merry.

And I may have suggested the second round, entirely motivated because I forgot to snap a photo the first time. ;)

I have had that 'Joy to the World' cut out since last Christmas. Glad that it's finally found a home. ;)

I had wanted to include a photo printed on vellum, and when I realised I didn't have any good before photos of my tree, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. It was just a quick photo I grabbed on my phone to text my Dad. I cut the price and size from the vellum after it was printed.

When I was waiting for the concert I was picturing letter stickers added to a photo of the stage. (Bad photo - phone, in the dark, far from stage - but it captures the event.) Although fixed now, really should have checked the spelling before adding stickers! ;)

Without a doubt, working on a December Daily does add a dose more hectic to a busy season. But I do love it so!

December Daily 2012: Day 4

I already had a photo printed for Days 4 and 5 when I sat down at my scrap table last night, but nothing seemed to come together easy and I only finished this one page.

I went to bed wondering why I didn't just put Day 5 to the side and work on a Friday or Saturday page. I'm liking the ideas I have for those pages! Oih.

Anyway, here is how it looks in the album.

On the back, for Day 5, I have added the first Christmas card we received this year. Well, the envelope is there and I'll slip the card in later this month. Now just to work out what I want to do with a photo of cherries, the first I'd eaten this season.

Lastly, you can hear my podcast discussion with Melissa Shanhun about December Daily here: An Aussie Christmas with Delanie Wood. Lots of fun talking DD, but I haven't been game to listen to it yet. ;)

 

December Daily 2012: Day 2

It's Monday morning and I'm heading into work, grateful that it will give me a chance to recover from a very full weekend! Working in Boyf's shed to make a metal wreath, buying and decorating my Christmas tree, discovering a wonderful Italian bakery, attending a Gotye concert, buying an outdoor table and chairs, going to the Mini Car show (Boyf has commented a few times that I survived my first car club event!), painting Boyf's bedroom, visiting my Mum and Dad...and finishing another December Daily page.

Although it's already the 10th and I have all of three days complete, amidst everything else that feels like a bit of an achievement. I probably wouldn't take too much convincing to sit down in my scrap room tonight, ignoring the dirty dishes and washing. ;)

The Melbourne Town Hall, all decorated for Christmas. We climbed up onto a toy soldier's drum for a photo. ;)

I love Christmas in Melbourne.