Tinkerblue

Advent Calendar Day #23 - Christmas Crackers

For years I've made the Christmas Crackers. This year, I didn't think I was going to have anyone to make them for.

Then Morag and I received a generous invitation to spend Christmas in Edmonton with Heather and Judy and their family. So the crackers were back on.

Oops I stopped saving the empty toilet roles and now I'm 3 rolls short!

Morag had never made Christmas Crackers before. Or tissue paper crowns. Now she's made both. Who knew Christmas with me could be such a learning experience?

Oops #2 - I didn't have as many toys/gifts/decorations saved as I thought I did.

5 crackers are complete.
1 cracker needs a toy or gift or something
2 crackers need to be made & thy need gifts.

Talk about leaving things until the last minute.

Family of Snowman

This family of snowman is also complete and on its way to its new home.

Advent Calendar Day #13 - Make a Gift Part 2

Remember this? Did you ever work out what it was? No?

It's an advent calendar. Each sock is a different day. To be filled with a chocolatey treat, a christmas decoration, or an activity, a small gift or whatever you would like.

 

 

I typed up a list of suggested activities. Some that I have used, some I have not. I tried to keep them family friendly. "Have a glass of Bailey's" is probably not appropriate for the under 10 set. But "Have hot chocolate with all the fixings" is.

 

 

I ended up not using the little pegs with santa faces because they were not strong enough to hold the socks.  I was sad. They were so cute. They are sitting on my dining room table waiting for a project.  The socks are all bagged up and on their way to the recipients. I hope they enjoy it next year.

 

Happy Christmas Eve to My Friends and Family in Australia

It's hard to believe it's already Christmas Eve in Australia. Like 500pm on Christmas Eve. I miss you all. Love and hugs to all. See you soon.

 

 

 

Advent Calendar Day #21 - Festival of Lights at VanDusen Gardens

Happy Winter Solstice. Happy shortest day of the year (or longest, if you're on the southern hemisphere). Happy first day of winter.

Tonight after work Morag and I went to see the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Gardens. I've not been before. It was with going to. Word of warning... The queue to get in was huge. About an hour. Buy your tickets in advance. Don't wait to buy them at the door.

We were there about half an hour. We might have stayed longer but we were so bloody cold. The lake had started to freeze over.

The display uses over a million LED lights. Good thing they're LED, could you imagine the electricity bill?

It was spectacular. We were there for two of the half hour dancing light shows. I could have watched the lights for hours. Jo, you would have absolutely hated it. Good thing you are not here.

We missed seeing Svend and Jens, the Christmas Elves. Next time.

(and I get to cross another item off my Christmas Stocking List)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/sandra-thomas/festival-of-lights-at-van_b_1158225.html

Advent Calendar Day #20 - Bright Nights at Stanley Park

Day 20 - See some Christmas lights. Morag and I had our choice today. Bright Nights at Stanley Park, Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge or Festival or Lights at Van Dusen Gardens.

We chose Bright Nights at Stanley Park. Same location as the Ghost Train Sharyn, Kath and I went to.

I live going and riding the little train and seeing all the lights. It's so pretty. It definitely feels like Christmas .

Advent Calendar Day #19 - Open a Present

Gotta admit I rigged this one.

A week or so ago a package arrived from Kath.

Today a parcel landed on doorstep from Sharyn.

Until now I've been putting any presents that have come my way under the tree. But after a long shift at work today (1045am to 945pm, yep 11 hours) I decided I needed a treat.

So I opened both gifts. Sharyn and her girls sent me an adorable Santa candle. He's too cute to burn.

Kath's gift made me laugh. It's a book. Aussie Jingle Bells. "Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute. Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot..."

Kath also sent the cutest tree for my tree. Made of Huon Pine. I love the small of Huon Pine. Maybe I'll hang it from my rear view mirror year round!

Both sent Cadbury's chocolate . They know me so well. Three blocks. That should last me oooh 24 hours.

(No, I will not be posting about every single gift I receive).

My Christmas Stocking List

This is my Christmas Stocking list. No, it's not a wish list of gifts to buy for me. It's a list of things I would like to do before Christmas. Being that Christmas is less than a week away, these are not all happening.

*marks the items done
% marks Yeah, No, Not gonna happen

Bright Nights at Stanley Park
Drinks at Hotel Sylvia
Ice Skating at Grouse Mountain
Nutcracker (Dec 28-31 QET)
White Christmas or Patron Saint of Stanley Park (Dec 2-28 Arts Club)
*Buy a schwibbogen, nutcracker or smoker from the market
%Watch one Christmas movie a week
%Bake Christmas cookies once a week
*Follow advent calendar
Van Dusen Festival of Lights
*Have a mug of Feuerzangenbowle and/or Gluhwein at the market
*Get a Christmas pedicure
Make Christmas crackers
%Go to the Canucks game on Boxing Day

What's on your Christmas Stocking List?

Advent Calendar Day #17 and #18

Day 17 and 18 kind of overlapped. 17 was to spend time with a friend or family member. 18 to phone a friend or family member for a chat just because.

Day 17:
I had a quick visit with Barb and Stew. They dropped off some Cranberry Pudding and a bag of goodies for me for Christmas.

Morag arrived from London.

We went for drinks with Wade and Rose and Paul. (Morag tried pretty hard to stay awake, but ended up taking a quick power nap at the pub).

Day 18:
Phoned my Mum in Aus.
Phoned Andrea O in Langley.
Tried to phone Jane in England
Tried to phone Jo in Aus.
Tried to phone Narelle in Aus.

Spent the evening at the Christmas Market with Morag and Rose. We drank feuerzangenbowle and hot apple cider, ate pretzels, bought a Christmas decoration, rode the carousel and helped Rose buy a Christmas tree.

I wish I had more time to spend with everyone. I need to make more time. Okay, so that's going to be my New Years resolution for 2012. Phone my friends and family more often. Spend more time with them.

Advent Calendar Day #16 - Gingerbread Lane at Hyatt Regency Vancouver

I had a little time before work yesterday so I finally checked out Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt. This is the 21st year, and the first time I've actually managed to see it.

OMG, you should see the work that goes into these creations. Made by professional bakers or culinary classes or secondary schools they are just awesome.

There are your standard houses, but look inside. There are fully decorated trees on the living rooms, stockings hanging by the fire, milk and cookies left out for Santa....

There was even a Quidditch Pitch. I could have spent a good hour or more checking out all the detail.