A thought about Christmas Shopping.......

As we prepare for the onslaught of December - here's a thought to ponder.  I received it in an email, and thought it well worth sharing.  (For my overseas readers - apply this to your local area)

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Australians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Australian  labor.

This year will be different. This year Australians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Australians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Australian hands.

Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small owned detail shops & car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Panasonic of a Chinese made flat-screen?  Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. If your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local cafe.  Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Australian working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mum? Mum would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, & I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up & running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal.  Local crafts people spin their own wool & knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, & pottery & beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. How about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another 10,000 Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a $5.00 string of light, about 50 cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks burn, leave the postman, garbo or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Australian pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging our small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. When we care about other Australians, we care about our communities, & the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new Australian Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- This is a revolution of caring about each other, & isn't that what Christmas is about?

Merry Christmas to Australians in 2011

I SPY with my little EYE, something beginning with 'T' -------

T.U.S.A.L.  November 25 - 2011

T.U.S.A.L

Yes that's right - it IS time again to show off our Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long.

Here in thecentre of the pic is my TUSAL jar, full to the brim, and yes, there are WHITE orts near the top.  I must be stitching Sheep again!!.  There is my current WIP too.. the setting for a few more sheep, my sheepie scissor fob is keeping it company, sitting on my Mug Rug, near my Friendship pillow, in front of a cupcake stand ready to disply Christmas ornaments on, and also displayed with some lovely gifts received in the past few months.  Of course, I've taken them OUT of the envelopes they came in and I have no idea who gifted them to me (so much for good intentions - I really must try better next year!!)  Thank you to you my friends, all I need now is the time to stitch them before Dec 31 - Oh well, they can always become WIP's  (I seem to remember I still have some snowmen to finish!)

I've signed in again to next year's TUSAL - one cannot stop one's obsession mid-stream now, can one???

I hope to churn fleece out at least 9 more sheep this year to make it to a flock of 100, before starting a completely new theme for 2012 - I also MUST pick up my Christmas Tablecloth and get working on that, as there are only 4 more weeks before that is due to sit on my Christmas Table - I need to stitch a Santa to symbolise 2010, when Dad came to share the Holiday.

Is it too early to start thinking of New Year Resolutions????

Nearly time for TUSAL

So nearly time for the next T.U.S.A.L on Friday.

I nearly missed signing in to celebrate and join in for 2012 Tusal.  Daffycat is hosting it again - click on the button on my sidebar, which will take you to the signup page.

What is TUSAL ????

What do you do with your orts?  The little bits of floss at the end of each section of stitching, those that are not long enough for anything.  Do you sacrifice them to the god of vacuum cleaners?  Leave them to adorn your clothing?  Much better to collect them in a pretty container, and post a photo every month to your blog - and see how other obsessive stitchers collect theirs month by month.

What do you do with them at the end of the year?  Some people put their orts into clear christmas ornaments and hang them from the tree.  I tend to use mine to stuff christmas ornaments themselves.

Come along and join the fun.

Are you prepared for Christmas???

No matter how many times a year I think I'm prepared for Christmas, now that I realise that it's only 5 weeks away, I realise, once again that I'm woefully unprepared.
I have all these ideas of gifts to make for satellite people, unsure if I'll have the time to start them, let alone any idea of gifts for close friends and family.
AND I still have my christmas tablecloth to stitch.!!!
So for now, until I have my stitching commitments under control - I'm not going to play hours and hours of playstation or mindless facebook games.  

Are you with me???

I believe that next year's 'Year of the ???" will have specific rules that include time for Christmas Stitching every month !!!!!

(I'm still leaning towards cats, but houses are trying to bulldoze their way into my intentions.....)

Year of the Sheepie - 11-11-11 Remem-baa-rance Day

Finished on the stroke of midnight - a race against the clock - After all these months, I couldn't let 11-11-11 go un-stitched could I?????

A special date - and perfect to pun.  

How do you fancy my poppies???  Off the cuff, because I've no graph paper to work with for the moment, and my computer is slightly tired (using son's computer - thank you Harry)

So I have one more to go to celebrate 2011 - the Year of the Sheepies

(4 more sheep ..... I think that takes me up to 91 for the year!! )

Remembrance Day 2011

This footage was taken on ANZAC day this year, however, today, 11-11-11 will be the 73rd CONSECUTIVE YEAR, that my Father, Harry John has played the Last Post for Remembrance Day.

What an outstanding achievement.
I am so very proud of my Dad.


We Will Remember Them

Happy Creepie Halloweenie from BOO-ronny!

Sometimes it's worthwhile being known as the local crazy lady.

You see, we don't 'DO' Halloween here in Australia, although over the past 3 years, Trick or Treating has become more and more popular.  All Hallowe's Eve, once celebrated as a pagan ritual in the UK and Europe, becoming Halloween Celebrations in the USA - we've got this odd notion of Trick or Treat, with our children expecting to knock on the doors of people they would never normally approach, dressed in ghoulish outfits.  Where once, a few years ago, I would not participate, now I decorate, using the wonderful kitchy witchy items, exchanged with blogging friends (remind me that I need to do a halloween/aussie fabric exchange again next year, I'm running low on specialty fabrics) and the local kids know that I can be the one house in the street where they WILL get a handfull of treats.

Poor fellow must have been waiting for awhile

I started today, by decorating my office.

Trick or Treat at work!

My boss just shook his head, muttering something like "Only Bronny........."

At the end of the day, I took the decorations down and raced home, knowing there was not a lot of time left to get my decorations back up, before the local toddlers made their way around to my door.  

Jack Skellingbone welcomes you

View from the front door...

One or two adjustments, such as moving my table near the entryway, a few cobweb or two and I was ready...........

Each little group of trick or treaters came up to my door and quietly murmured 'Trick or Treat'.  Of course, that was not good enough for me, and after a bit of coaching, each one was calling out so loudly:  TRICK OR TREAT !!     Then I would open my door and tell them I had treats for them.

I spy Candy Corn.....

Witch Witch?

The verdict from the group of pre-teen witches was that my display made their night and I was the 'Best Halloween House' in the neighbourhood.  I was the only adult that had made an effort and had as much fun giving it out as they did dressing up.

Webs to the left

eyeballs in a bowl...

Table from the other end