Thanks for all of the kind thoughts and wishes sent my way in the past 24 hours, it really means a lot to me, I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you were thinking of me and my Mabel.
It’s the eve of Christmas eve and today has been a pretty hectic day. I’ve only just arrived home from my last outing of the day (9pm), officially checking off my last pre-Christmas chore – grocery shopping. Seems I wasn’t the only one trying to get my last minute Christmas shop out of the way (so I can avoid the shops altogether tomorrow) as the supermarket was mad. Half the city must have had the same idea.
Ive just popped some (more) Christmas cookies in the oven (today’s final task), so while I’m waiting for them to bake Ill post a few pic’s from today and a few more of earlier in the week.
My that oven IS dirty (its ok, I’d notice it to) try focus on the cute Christmasy tea towels!
The tree is up, the presents are finally all wrapped and waiting…
I love that we get to enjoy Christmas in the sun, but to be honest its almost a drought already so a few minutes of rain (strictly for the garden) wouldn’t go amiss!
I dug up a bucket of spuds for Christmas dinner, not quite the tiny new taters I had in mind, but we had some for dinner tonight (along with the very first sweet corn of the season) and they are very tasty. 
The garden is looking good, along with the potatoes so far it’s also been a good season for raspberries…
And we are going to have bumper crops both of grapes and passionfruit later in the summer…
I picked this posy of sweet peas and pink geraniums to give to our neighbors this evening. I wish I could share the scent with you…. its so sweet and summery.
The hydrangeas are also heavenly this year… even the bees agree with me! 
Now for a few more holiday pics…
The weather was exceptional… sunny and warm, although a little windy. This panoramic of the Mt Maunganui main beach will display at full size if you click on it: 
The children had a ball; fishing, swimming, scootering, playing, sand castle building – we were on the go from dawn till dusk (literally, they were up at 6am) each day.
So how’s Christmas shaping up for you, I’d love to know… is it summery or wintery? Are you all ready and waiting, or do you still have a long list of tasks to complete before you can relax? J xox
PS. Ive just taken the cookies out and sampled them (tasty!) Ive promised the children they can sandwich them together with peppermint cream tomorrow morning 🙂
The Green Dragonfly 
Hi Jannete! In Portugal, 19700 km away from NZ, we have a winter cold and wet Christmas 🙂 I have to say I can’t imagine this Holiday with warm weather, but after 2 weeks of freezing cold, looking at your pictures it sure looks good! 🙂 I wish you and your family a Happy Merry Christmas!
LikeLike
Merry Christmas from New Zealand! Hope the weather improves, wishing you and your family a lovely day too xx
LikeLike
Merry Christmas, I live in Michigan, USA and it is cold and snowy, your warm sunny weather looks lovely but it just wouldn’t feel like Christmas to me. I am finishing up my Christmas prep today and hope to have time to sit down and work on my Mini Granny Ipad case!
LikeLike
Merry Christmas, I hope you have a lovely day! Jxx
LikeLike
Season’s Greetings from the UK. It’s cold, windy and rainy! Staying home and planning to watch “Muppet Christmas Carol” with the children and enjoying some crochet. Beautiful photos but just can’t imagine Christmas in the sun 🙂
LikeLike
Merry Christmas from New Zealand! Have a wonderful day with your family! Jxx
LikeLike
Happy Christmas!!! I live in England and we are currently having some quite severe (for us) weather conditions with floods and very high winds!!! Not quite the idyllic snowy white Christmas, but everything else is xmassy!! I have just finished my own batch of cookies/cakes/mince whirls/ jam whirls…. Getting excited!!! Have a lovely time. xx
LikeLike
Oh dear, I hope the weather improves, enjoy your festive season! Jxx
LikeLike
Merry Christmas from the UK, we are having terrible weather, its windy and wet. I think I am ready for Christmas. I have finished the crochet gifts I have made people and can’t wait to give them. Now looking for a new project. You are lucky to live in such a beautiful place. We spent Christmas in Australia a few years ago and we loved being able to go on the beach on Christmas day and having dinner outside. Best wishes from the rainy UK. X
LikeLike
I too am looking for a new project, Ive got a couple I’m working on – but they aren’t clicking right now… so I think I need to find something new! Have a wonderful Christmas xx
LikeLike
Merry Christmas from Cold Utah, USA. There is 8 inches of snow on my front yard.
I love the pictures you post of your garden and New Zealand. Bless you and your family. I hope you have a wonderful New Year and many more to come.
LikeLike
Enjoy your white Christmas, the weather is looking like rain here… I think Id rather snow 🙂 Have a lovely festive season xx
LikeLike
The weather in Glasgow, Scotland is pretty grim – dark, dank, windy and rainy with worse forecast to come though apparently we will miss the blizzards expected in the south. I have effectively abandoned Christmas and am just accepting my hopefully temporary limitations due to surgery on my knee condition and, despite the fact it will be a very unusual quiet one, I feel very at peace and at ease. I will visit my Mother on Christmas day but will not be able to bring her home as she needs more looking after than I can manage without compromising my recovery.
Your pics are lovely but it just seems odd to think of Christmas in summer, I’m a total snowy Christmas fan! Re; your ‘dirty’ oven, in many respects I am a hygiene freak but ovens don’t worry me so much as anything in there is effectively heat sterilised! Or at least that is my excuse….! Have a lovely time. RedSetter
LikeLike
I hope the weather improves and you have a lovely Christmas day. Good luck with the recovery, I hope you knee is back to 100% soon (now I bet that would be a great Christmas present!). Good point about the oven, Ill remember to keep the temperatures high to keep the bugs out 🙂 Jxx
LikeLike
Hi Janette. I’ve been flat out busy with my family from Australia visiting me in Europe, but I wanted to say how sorry I am about Mabel’s passing! It must’ve been awful to come home to that news and not have been able to say goodbye. Hope you’re all doing ok!
LikeLike
How lovely to have your family with your for Christmas, enjoy the special time together. Thank you for your kind thoughts Jxx
LikeLike
We’re having a summer Christmas in Brisbane. However, it’s slightly cooler than where we live during the year (PNG) so I’m enjoying it.
LikeLike
But I bet still warmer than NZ, hope you have a wonderful time! Jxx
LikeLike
Happy Christmas from North-East England. As others have said, the weather has been horrible today. I wish we had a proper white Christmas. My wonderful Mum and Brother took my children out for the day so I could get on with wrapping gifts. I have just finished my other task for the day which was baking Florentines for my Mum. They are a bit of a faff on but she loves them, so it’s worth it.
LikeLike
I hope the weather improves soon! Florentines, yum! Have a lovely Christmas xx
LikeLike
Pretty cold in South Dakota. It was -27 this morning and the power went out for four hours. We survived, though. Nice to have large south windows, and the sun was bright. Did some baking later in the day, gifts are ready and just need to do a bit more baking tomorrow. Hope you all have a Blessed Christmas.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, no power and -27.. I hope you had a fire going! Hope you get all your baking done! Have a wonderful Christmas xx
LikeLike
I wish we had a fire going, no fire place in our house, but it was fine for the time we were out. Merry Christmas to you too.
LikeLike
My, you´ve got such a sky where you live – that deep antarctic blue on your last photo, amazing!
I wish all of you happy holidays and a great new year!
Season´s greetings from Sweden cold, wet and dark, but I don´t mind, with all the lovely lights in all windows.
Eva
LikeLike
Janette, I have never been able to get in the spirit of Christmas when I don’t have winter weather to accompany the holiday, but the idea of preparing a fresh meal from the garden would be lovely. Merry Christmas.
LikeLike
Hi Janette, it so cheering to see your photos of warm places, especially the beach. There nothing to compare to fresh food from your garden. Your flowers are gorgeous. I’m a retired lady from freezing Chicago,illinois and thoroughly enjoy all you do. Many blessings for the holidays to you and your family. So sad about Mabel…(.I love your mousies and will be making a bunch for friends,)
LikeLike