We are gearing up for Christmas here at Granite Glen… our very first Christmas hosting my husband’s family since arriving back in the bush. I am excited and tired and terrified all at the same time. Not that Mr Incredible’s family are really scary – just, well, incredible in their own way.
Each and every one of my sisters-in-law have hosted their enormous family gatherings (at both city and bush locations) for Christmas celebrations since we have been married. And each and every one of these girls has outdone themselves. (The photo above is from two years ago, at SIL A’s house not too far from here.) They offer immaculate houses and enormous mouth-watering spreads, day after day. I’m talking laying it on bigtime.
Hostesses with the mostest’s, if you get my meaning.
(I should also point out that they are all really nice too… can you believe it?)
Last year (my family’s ‘turn’) my brother’s wife put on an immaculate display of gourmet hostessing. In her
immaculate house.
*sigh*
It was wonderful.
Now it’s my turn.
…
The first carloads of my hubby’s family begin arriving tomorrow. Beginning with my father-in-law and his delightful wife, Gwen. (She has offered to help me get ready. She knows me well. I love her so!).
…
And with all this about to take place, am I close to being organised? Is the house spick and span? Are the beds made? Are the goodies I had planned all baked and safely in their tupperware containers? No. Not a bit.
And “why”, you ask?
Well, I have been concentrating on the decorations. (And if this doesn’t tell you something about my personality, nothing does!). I have been inspired by my own mother – who (at least) one year took some spray paint to some native sprigs of gumnuts and pine cones for her festive decorations. Deciding to play on our Bush Christmas theme (read: trying to take the heat off myself in the less-than-immaculate organisation department) I tracked down some old dried native flowers and some gumnuts from a tree beside the pool. And sprayed silver till my eyebrows went frosty.
What do you think?
Will it make up for a couple of messy bathrooms?
Perhaps if I just do posters of the photos of the gumnuts?
And plaster them over the mess?
How are your Christmas preparations going?
Has the panic set in, or are you relaxed and ready?
And if so, would you like to pop over here with a mop?
20 Comments
A Novel Woman
Clean bathrooms are highly overrated. I’ll take the silver decorations any day.
I feel your pain. I have 24 and counting coming from my husband’s side of the family. A 30 lb “happy” turkey is on order (i.e. free range or my two daughters won’t eat it, they having watched a video on the unethical treatment of Butterball turkeys) the turnip and potatoes are set aside to be cooked and mashed, the walnut/mushroom/apple stuffing will be made and my baking hasn’t begun. That’s buttertarts, shortbread, almond cookies, chocolate truffles and whatever else I get to tomorrow. Still have to dust the family room/kitchen area (big job….big) I’ve been doing this for as many years as I’ve lived in Montreal so….24 years now. The first time, my stove broke so I had to cook the turkey upstairs in the neighbour’s flat, then the flaming pudding set off the smoke alarm above the dining room table. Now that was a dinner!
Cheers!
Pam
(wv: advers) (too weird…)
Bush Babe
Hey Pam – you’ve trumped me. I have 21 for dinner (and a few sleepovers!), including 11 children…
Debby
I’ve just got to bake cookies. House is fairly clean, but just the kids will be here, and they don’t give a rat’s butt. It will be a quiet holiday, and I’m okay with that. We’ll celebrate big another year, maybe.
Debby
Oh, PS, between your dazzling smile, your frosty eyebrows, and the silver gum nuts, your party will sparkle, woman!
Leslie
Wow – the silver looks phenomenal! 🙂 Love it!
I’m going to rest up and scrap pictures – just doing one of my new lemon tree – instead of doing too much. The boys would never notice and mom can just shut her eyes. 🙂
rhubarbwhine
I love them. I made some, gold and silver, with the class this year, and they looked great. I am sure your family will love you and your Christmas, simply because of how amazing you are.
Now is probably not a good time to tell you, that this year, we are doing the unthinkable and going out. I will be at Morgan’s, late sitting, enjoying a seafood buffet and champage from 1.30 until anytime after 4, when we will stagger ummm walk the seashores and then return home.
Rose
The pressure we put on ourselves at this time of year to find the perfect gift, have the house spic and span and be able to cook like Martha Stewart is ridiculous! My favorite Christmas memory as an adult was at my in-laws, we spent it outside skating on the dugout, drinking hot chocolate and sitting by a fire. I do not remember if the bathrooms were clean, or even what we ate that year (probably the same traditional dishes we have every year). So whatever happens, don’t worry about it, as the best part of Christmas really is spending the time with your family. 🙂
Andrea
Wow, that sure does look like quite the gathering!! Just the table is beautiful.
I love your idea of spray painting those silver! Very cool idea!! I wish I thought of doing that. They turned out really neat looking.
And I am not freaking out too much. We always go to other familys’ homes so, mine can stay a wreck!!! Big sigh of relief.
Reddunappy
oh beautifull! It may only be the three of us for christmas if it doesnt thaw out soon, everyone is so excited about a white christmas. Wasnt the first Christmas in a dessert? LOL when did snow, at least here in the US, become a symbol of Christmas, like Santa and a sleigh etc., what do you all have for symbols of Christmas where it is warm in Dec.?
Wrensong Farm
I have no doubt you will be all festive and ready (especially with your frosty eyebrows!):)
Loved the silver native flowers and gumnuts!
I can’t imagine serving that many people (especially when they are all hostesses with the mostests)so I sympathize with the stress you’re feeling.
I think the snow here is going to keep us from celebrating Christmas with family this year…I haven’t even been able to get out to Christmas shop!
I look forward to reading about your Christmas get-together. Keep us posted!
pearlsoftruth
Nah…. the silver decorations will do the trick. They will be so dazzled by them, that they will not even notice a less than perfect bathroom. They could even be slightly intimidated by the artist talents you obviously have, and be madly thinking how they can go one better next Christmas, relieved that they have 12 months to think about it 😉
jeanie
(As dictated by ‘Salina):
Oy sis, can you put that silver spotted horse on there? The filly?
(me now)
It would tie both the last post and this post together nicely!!!
No stress about Christmas here…
lol – my word verification is “carbeds” – what IS IT saying? Do you think a suggestion for guests?
Bush Babe
Oi… you are all making me feel so much better about my state of chaos. Thankyou! Of course my in-laws may NOT thankyou when they are waiting at the table and NOTHING appears… heh!
BB
PS Dear Jeanie – did you read this post?? If so you will possibly know that the chances of me actually doing anything computer-ish in the next few days is remote. I will try. Tell Saline she’d better still love me if I fail!! Hugs. xx
Mom L
You’ll do fine! My daughter (Loessismore) and her husband and best dog Banjo were here from Iowa for 1 night, then on to see his folks in Savannah, who haven’t seen their son in months. Our early Christmas spread consisted of my homemade crockpot chili, eaten on laps in the living room! They’ll be back this weekend, but still nothing special – just glad to see them.
Nancy in Atlanta
Kate
I say PAINT!!! Of course i would totally be panicking… But i can tell you not to 🙂 I’m positive whatever you do will be fantastic and i LOVE the silver gumnuts. I think we pay a lot for those over here in Yank-land. And if i could be there with a mop, i would! Good luck!
The WV is ‘Ariasin’ Is that something like hitting a bad note during the Aria? 😉
Natarojo
Well, we are now only 3 days away from Christmas and I am still yet to finish my shopping. So what does that tell you for my being organized and ready to go? Not so much! I hope to finish the last bit of shopping tonight after work. And I have the 24th off to finish my baking. I love Christmas. Despite all the rigamarol and hustle and bustle, I love it. And the best part is, we will have a truely WHITE christmas this year! Which hasn’t happened in 7 years!
Jayne
I’ve found that if you hang tinsel and decorations from every nook and cranny – even the bathroom and dunny – no one notices any mess 😉
Those mini trees can be propped on any shelf, beside any bed, on top of the dunny cistern, and they draw the eye away from any dust or mess or omg I didn’t mop the floor type panic 😉
steviewren
No, my house isn’t clean. No treats have been baked. The decorations are up. No gifts are wrapped. I’m still working on crafty presents. My company doesn’t arrive until the weekend after so I have a little longer. What a relief!
I hope you take some pictures of how you use all of your sprayed stuff.
Cactus Jack Splash
I read the post you gave me the link to. Boy that dog is a treasure.
sexy
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