JACKPOT: Tropical paradise for Christmas!

It is currently my Sunday Decemeber 13th but it is only your Saturday.  I am enjoying a beautiful 75 degrees and you are freezing with very little snow to show of it.  Don't be jealous....I sat through many cold snowy Decembers!  Today I took a little cardio hike around the lake to burn off my spiced apple pancakes from pancake Sunday and here is a picture tour for you, since you can't be here!

Finally the rose garden in full bloom!

So much prettier on the plant then in a vase!

These are my new friends, even though I was feeding them moldy bread!

Loads of lily pads...the plus side....no snakes or frogs!

So many pretty white flowers....

They all looked so perfect!

They will probably pull you under if you attempt to enter the water!

Coffee....walking....other people's dogs....the lake is a wonderful place!

To catch a predator!

I wonder if he knows his boat is taking on water...

Lifeguard on duty....it's okay to swim here mom!

These are vicious little suckers!

A sign says there are eels in there...watch your toes!

My first Christmas tree in a decade!

  Less than two weeks till Christmas! The stockings have been hung, the tree is drinking plenty of liquids in preparation for its 'earrings' and I have made my Christmas sweets (i.e. hootie creek cookies, and better then sex cake....you know the traditional ones ;) ). I have never been away from my family on Christmas and although that is not my desired outcome (I didn't want to fork out $2500 on a plane ticket) it will none the less be a Christmas for the books. Now my biggest dilemma....do I open pressies on my Christmas.....your Christmas....or both? The decisions....I should win a Nobel peace prize if I can solve this one!

  One thing I have noticed....that icky fruit cake that we always joke about and wonder why they make it....well they call it Christmas cake here and they go crazy for it....I act like I am making a huge sacrifice and give my tantalizing slice to someone else. At least I solved the mystery on who actually eats the stuff. I also HAD to buy chocolate syrup for a cake I was making....little did I know that chocolate syrup must be as strictly regulated as petrol. It actually cost $8 for chocolate syrup I feel like I should lock up whatever I don't use. Well enjoy the photos, there are more to come when we finally decorate the tree!

Tired after a full day of Christmas shopping!

Need to get a safety deposit box for this valuable!

I heart Christmas in New Zealand...the closest thing to a fireplace we have!