Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

Gifts being delivered to a local school for distribution  The Tree of Joy is a community project of the Rotary Club of  Wallsend-Maryland  (Newcastle NSW) ... one might even call it an institution. For 49 years, at this time of the year, the community come together with the local Rotary club, and  give generously to others who are experiencing a difficult time.  In the early years, the Tree of Joy focussed on providing gifts to children of families who might not be able to provide Christmas presents.  In more recent times, the Tree of Joy has not only continued that role  but has also  extended help and support to anyone of any age, and especially those whose livelihood has been compromised by natural disasters - flood, drought and fire and the Covid pandemic.  Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland  Most people like to take a tag from one of the many Christmas trees placed in local businesses and the office of our local member of Parliament...

My Street Library is much used and loved  in the neighbourhood, and each year, we host a street library Christmas party with a special guest .  Today was the day. Neighbours , adults and children and pets come together and share an hour or two of friendship. This afternoon was very warm but we fired up the barbecue and had a sausage sizzle to celebrate  summer and our community.  The focus of the party is the street library "Love that Colour" library, so  children all receive books in addition to  little treats. And of course, it is that time when everyone wants to have a Christmas photo.  This year out special guest was Ms Claus - looking extraordinarily festive.  Thank you so much for making our Street Library Christmas such a wonderful neighbourhood event - it makes us all feel happy to be part of this community whatever our age. 

Lambton Park is our local park , just minutes away from our home . It  is a favourite with   people of all ages - with an historical rotunda, tea rooms, beautiful gardens, majestic trees,  a walking track  ( 2,500 steps)  and an exciting playground for children.   On most weekends, the park is a popular place for sports, birthday parties and picnics… Christmas time is no exception .  Today there were many groups celebrating, including dog handlers /rangers from City of Newcastle  ( our local Council)  who were promoting pet photos with Santa. I managed to take a photo of them, looking very festive with their companion labrador.    More importantly , it was the chosen site for the Simmons’ extended family Christmas gathering. Here are some of the images of a very happy and relaxed day with much loved family members . And here's my contribution to the picnic today - Christmas fruit cake, made from my mother's recipe.  ...

  Christmas Countdown #9/25  It's the second Christmas of the year for The Lemon Grove, our favourite local  pub  - friendly atmosphere, generous  to patrons and concerned about the community and good drinks and food service. The description on the Lemon Grove profile is true ;  Great Family friendly pub in Newcastle with cold beer and warm hospitality, and the best feed aroun d"  The pub is decorated  for Christmas both in July and December.... This month, the special feature is the Christmas Tree , supporting the Tree of Joy, a  Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland project which provides gifts and food hampers to those in need in the community.   I will write a full post about the Tree of Joy but to explain a little - the little tags on the tree indicate the person's age, gender if appropriate, to give the donor a hint about what might be a suitable gift. Here , Chef Jonathan is pictured, in a festive mood,  last Tuesday morning...

  Christmas Countdown #8/25  Today , I visited the Painted Leaf Boutique  ( Lambton, the suburb where I live) - I love this shop. It's local, sells quality and stylish clothing and accessories at reasonable prices and you always get a friendly welcome in the store.  You can't go by without being enticed inside by the beautiful festive window display. What else would the Christmas tree  for a fashion boutique be constructed with  - wooden dress hangers in symmetry!  Isn't this  both a clever and elegant design?  I thought this next image was rather typical of the season , The reflection in the  Christmassy window  is of a delivery truck passing by , delivering seasonal purchases no doubt!  If you live in the area,  make this one of the places you might do some Christmas shopping . Painted Leaf Boutique, 95 Elder Street, Lambton.   Images : from Painted Leaf Boutique Facebook page and Wilma Simmons, taken on site...

In a previous post , I featured some of the Trees for Charity, displayed at the Wesley Uniting Church,Hamilton ( Newcastle NSW)... and today I return to show you how my local doll making group,  Gumnut Dollies  Newcastle   decorated our tree to raise funds for cancer research.  We decorated with handmade dolls - dotee dolls ( simple basic shaped dolls with no arms or legs, but with a beaded decorative "tail") If you want to know about dotee dolls - check out my previous blog post    Throughout the year, many dolls were created, so the decorators had plenty of choice ... perhaps you have already spotted a favourite?  Gumnut Dollies Newcastle has been participating in Trees for Charity for many years, with the only  the last two years missed because of the Covid restrictions. This has been the initiative of one of our founding members, Dolores, who each year works tirelessly to raise funds for cancer research and other charities.  This yea...

In the historical Wallsend Rotunda Park (1888)  , a towering metal structure in the shape of a tree  with a star dominates the landscape in the lead up to Christmas. In contrast, the rotunda,adjacent to the tree.  is decorated traditionally - green wreaths with shiny baubles and red and  gold ribbons. The contrasts are obvious during the day, but at night, when the lights go on, it does bathe the little community park in the magic of Christmas.. ..  This decoration is the initiative of the Wallsend Business Improvement Association  and sponsored by the local council, the City of Newcastle. I watched last week, when many Council workers erected the tree and decorations well into the night - not an easy task, I suspect. I was interested today to see how the weights  at the bottom of the metal sculpture had been disguised - a giant  tinsel wrapped gift!  The rotunda is such an icon in Wallsend  and  the perfect spot where  this Ne...