Second Christmas!!

Have you read the "Lord Of The Rings" books or seen the movies? (I have to confess to starting to read 'The Hobbit' and giving up on Tolkien until the movies came out!!) At one point the Hobbits talk about eating breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. Well ... part of the reason it's been over a week since I popped in to chat with you was a weekend trip to the Bunya Mountains where my Beloved Geek Boy and I enjoyed a 'Second Christmas'. We usually alternate Christmas and New Years' with our families ... Christmas with one family, New Years' with the other, then the next year we swap ... it works well. This year GB's family decided to head for the Bunya Mountains for the weekend 'Christmas' getaway and due to ridiculous prices over the New Years' weekend, this last weekend was chosen instead.

So bright and early on Saturday morning (Well ... early for us night owl types!!) we packed up our little car and headed for the Bunyas ... about an hour and three quarters' drive from our hilltop home. A large family size villa had been rented ...

Half of this building was ours ... Big enough for almost the whole tribe (9 adults and 9 kids ... 2 adults and 2 kids unable to attend).  This was part of our spectacular view ...

I just LOOOOOOVE big, green, leafy trees! The Bunyas have lush pockets of semi-rain forest growth that are gorgeous. And first thing in the morning, I looked out the window and this was the view ...

Soft gauzy white mist, lush green grass and a couple of the very tame local wallabies. Magical! :0)

After all had arrived and settled in, it was giftie time ... I actually made quite a few gifties for the nieces and nephews but forgot to take photos of them before GB wrapped them ... OOPS! I meant to get photos of the items with their recipients ... but again forgot ... DOUBLE OOPS! :0) I did manage to snap one pic of a giftie and recipient ...

One of the nieces with the outfit we gave her ... it had to be put on right away, of course! :0) I bought the pretty skirt at a market stall, then added my own applique magic to a shirt to match ... she loved it! :0) Then we sat back and enjoyed some time catching up with family news and doings ...

Nope ... not a remake of the 'Blues Brothers', though this theatrically inclined nephew would probably be in it!! And what gal can resist trying on her big cousin's hat? :0) Of course, we also wanted to enjoy the fabulous mountain outdoors, despite the overcast and drizzly weather.

The Boules set came out of the cupboard ... you can see it's a very serious business, watching where the boules roll! :0)

Some of us went for a walk through the rain forest ... there's nothing quite so relaxing as the sound of a trickling stream, bell birds and whip birds calling while you stand under the green shady canopy of a rain forest.

And the nieces and nephews took on the challenge of the Climbing Tree. This is a fabulous natural structure created by a strangler fig growing around a host tree over many years. GB (who grew up in nearby Dalby) remembers climbing this tree as a kid, so it was fun to see the next generation of agile spider-monkeys shinnying their way up the tree. Do you see the successful adventurer way up the top there, waving to Auntie Kris ... who was smart enough to keep both flat feet on the ground and take photos! Tee! Hee! Hee!

While not a lot of sleep was had, it was a lovely time of catching up with GB's family. Though we all live in Toowoomba or nearby, busy lives and timetables that take us in opposite directions mean that catch-ups are few and far between, so the times we DO all manage to congregate are fun ... and rather NOISY!!! Tee! Hee! Hee!

So ... that's what's been happening in the Meares' Madhouse for the last week ... most of last week was really getting back into the work groove after a couple of weeks' holiday, but some productive time was spent in the sewing room too, along with a bit of time playing with some new design sketches and some planning for a big and exciting project that I hope to share with you later in the year. Hmmm ... no wonder our current overcast, drizzly weather is enticing me to curl up with a cuppa and a book! :0)

In fact, I think I shall go and put the kettle on ... though I think I'll find some hand stitching to keep me occupied rather than a book. Hope you're having a great week so far ... are you counting sleeps until OPAM 2012 kicks off?? Sweet Peg and I both are! :0) Hmmm ... who will come and play with us this year? I bet there will be some repeat offenders, as well as some newbies to join in the fun and craziness. Sweet Peg and I will both post this year's guidelines on Friday, so stay tuned. In the meantime, start writing your list of projects you'd like to tackle this year and we'll see if OPAM can't help you get motivated! :0) But for now ... the kettle is calling my name! :0) Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS