Jolly & Joy

Hello my friends, how are you doing at this busy time of the year?

Everyone seems to get a little frayed around the edges about now, don't you find.

I always know that we're reaching year's end when I see the signs for the annual Taikura (Rudolph Steiner) School Fete. The school lives in our street & the fete is unique, colourful & lots of fun.

I love the way the children are always important;

 honoured guests.

This table is ready & waiting...

at the Children's Cafe.

Anyone can pay a few dollars & sit down to make for themselves a garland of fresh flowers.

I am always utterly enchanted by Sabine's work..

Her workmanship is exquisite,

her imagination, rich & child-like.

I think perhaps the Pohutukawa children are my favourite, but then again...

the tenderness in this little scene just melts my heart.

Wouldn't the world be a different place if we all learnt to honour children, value their imagination & protect their innocence.

The fairy in the woods had no shortage of admirers.

& the House of Potions held a certain intrigue..

Help! Hold on to your pants!

A classic coconut shy.

I bought this dear little mushroom pixie home with me

And recently found this bluebird vase in an op shop called "Once upon a time".

I thought it might be a bit of a funny shape but it's perfect for tiny arrangements.

I managed to complete my Julie inspired peg & button garland.

I remembered that I had bought a large box of old, unused cream buttons from Trade Me last year & they were perfect to use in between all the sections.

The red spotty tin was very inexpensive at Spotlight...most of all I loved the label on it Jolly & Joy.

I was trimming bushes last week & couldn't bear to throw it all away so I gathered my white op shopped vases & a wee vintage Maori doll & made a small Christmas scene for Lucy.

Isn't that adorable, someone taking the time to crochet the dolls outfit..headband & all.

I find myself warming more & more to our carefree Kiwi Christmas style; still festive, charming & jolly yet unencumbered by the fanciful notions & mixed messages of Santa Claus & flying reindeer (or add them in if you like!).

As I was fiddling around with my simple display a beloved New Zealand song came to mind.

We used to sing it at school.

‘Te harinui’ was written by Willow Macky about the first New Zealand Christmas service, held by Samuel Marsden in 1814. The chorus refers to Marsden’s service, which included a verse from the bible referring to ‘great joy’ (te harinui).

Interestingly the same word with the slightest variation Te haranui means big mistake!

Here it is if you'd like to listen to it.

We had such a lovely time on Friday celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary.

Some of us even played hopscotch!

It was all quite hot & a little chaotic, but who cares.

I made apricot & cranberry balls & some really yummy stollen.

You can find the recipe here.

I do hope you have a fun week in festive preparation.

I plan on not taking it all too seriously & enjoying the bits I love.

Thank you for coming by to see me.

MUCH

♥♥♥♥♥