A stocking...and charms

Finally, amid much excitement...I have finished cross-stitching a Shepherd's Bush (http://www.shepherdsbush.net/) stocking for the newest member of the family. This stocking will join 8 others hanging on the staircase this Christmas...I have yet to add some charms, wadding, backing...and then quilt it. Will post it with all the others when ready. Co-incidentally, all the stockings just pertained to the chosen person and this one is no exception...

...this stocking is in honour of a family tree of which we all inhabit a unique branch...It is for Grandmothers who become memories, for children who become Mums (and Dads)...and for dreams which become babies...who each of which bring with them a little piece of heaven... (text Shepherd's Bush Printworks)

AND THEN to add ...

...the most delightful charms received from Cathy at http://www.cathypentondesigns.com.au/, beautifully packaged...with ribbon, always a pleasure to receive something from Cathy...it's like a gift in itself...she never ceases to amaze me at her gorgeous work...

...the 25 for Christmas Day for Jo-Jo to wear...she gets so excited about Christmas...and any occasion...it doesn't matter who is celebrating what, she is always first in on their special day...and just amazes us all how much love she shows...she certainly has taught us much and continues to do so...and then I had to have one too!!! We will wear them on Christmas Day...perhaps with red or green corded type of ribbon...perhaps the present one with black velvet...or then again the same ribbon but in hot pink!!! Will see on the day...

...but wait...there's more, Cathy has inserted the back of them with vintage papers, and then layered them inside...how unique and special is that...I just had to share this all!!! May you all enjoy your special unique touches...whatever they may be...in the lead up to Christmas and the Holiday Season...

Time for the Armchair Queen to get out and about...

Now...I'm really getting out of my Armchair, getting out and about and went to TAFE (have pulled out of the practical side for the rest of the year due to surgery) to hand in my long, drawn out assignment. To be handed in was...a cover letter for my own Restaurant (make believe, Dzintra's by the Sea)...7 entrees, 7 mains, 7 desserts PLUS a wedding menu for 50 guests and all costed!!! This sure took up this Armchair Queen's time...of course blogging in between.......so today after handing it in I thought I deserved to shout myself lunch at..... this cute little cottage...
side view...I sat just behind the second umbrella on the little verandah...

...my little table overlooking the courtyard...

...my lunch, roasted pumpkin and spinach frittata and salad...soy latte and I was tempted... and had a toblerone cheesecake....with ice cream, and read magazines on offer!!! A beautiful sunny day to top it all off, a well deserved lunch ...what more does one need after all this hard work!!! Well...maybe a glass of pink bubbly at home...

A Little Bit of Wizardry!!!

We have all grown up with the classic movie...and we recently had the pleasure of attending a local production of The Wizard of Oz presented by the Bay Theatre Players...which was the Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation...

This version, whilst taken from the Motion Picture Screenplay has brought together elements of the original story not revealed in the movie, offering a more spectacular visual piece for stage ...the costumes were just so divine...especially the trees...satin and silk, just yummy...The Munchkins were just fun...The Wicked Witch of the east did indeed cast her spell across the audience...Dorothy was just delightful...along with Toto aka Bella... as were all the cast members. We are indeed very fortunate to have a hard-working talented Director here (all the way from England and very experienced)...and a very hard working dedicated cast...
So, upon arriving home I couldn't resist getting out Jo-Jo's Wizard Hat (all the way from Italy)...

And...couldn't resist taking a photo of Wizardology!!! All in all, a very much enjoyable evening, full of fun...and like Dorothy discovers, there really is no place like home...

Blogging Friends Forever Award

To my surprise and delight...I have received an award from Micki at Irish Muses. I would like to thank you Micki for this award...and rather than have the hard task of choosing I would like to share it with the wonderful people who come and visit and leave comments on this my little blog...so just feel free to copy for yourselves. I truly appreciate your visits...Dzintra Ingrid

20 years in the making...is this a record or what!!!

Out of the dim darks comes my quilt...would you believe started in 1985 and finished in 2005!!! It must be a record of some sorts I figure!!! What started off at a local Playgroup just for fun...turned into this as I started to learn all about Log Cabin, Churn Dash, Dresden Plate, Cathedral Window, blocks...etc At first I thought I would just make one block just to be in on it with the other Mums...I hadn't done much sewing at all... Then I thought, okay that wasn't too bad, I'll do another...then another. I thought all right then I'll do three and turn it into a wallhanging as a welcome to our new home...we were due to move in a few weeks. Three turned into six, the move happened to small acres, I became caught up in therapies, programmes, new schools and the rest of it.

Some years later I came across them and went to a local sewing group and one of the ladies said ...why don't I turn it into a quilt!!! I went what??? Slowly but surely...time passed...I got it all together, then we moved...again!!! The move happened, the quilt top re-emerged...a quilter was recommended to me...off I went, had it quilted and here 'tis...

This was all done in the days before the rotary cutter...how much easier that would've been!!!

...showing the underside...


...Log Cabin...

...close up of the quilting...
Have started another quilt...hope it doesn't take another twenty years!!!

Scenes from our Anniversary Lunch

Just thought I'd put up a couple of pics from yesterday's lunch at a local cafe to celebrate our wedding anniversary...

One of the boats on view...

the river that heads out to sea outside the cafe...

We had a simple lunch...delicious crispy fish'nchips with salad...avocado and prawn baguette with wedges and sour cream and caesar salad...followed by a pavlova with mango and pouring cream... to share...followed by coffee ... and then back home for champagne...in glasses on a stem of hearts!!! ...and awaited our girl to come home.

And a little saying to finish off...Write in your heart that every day is the best day of the year...Ralph Waldo Emerson

I Can Have My Cake Too...

Look what my thoughtful Hubby brought home for me last week ...Gluten Free Cakes to enjoy... and this will last a few days too as I savour them!!! My very own lemon meringue pie, caramel slice, a slice of poppy seed cake and delicious hazelnut slice with a chocolatey centre ...yumm. Being able to buy these I can indulge along with others at tea time, coffee time...and yes even pink champagne time!!! I can even have from there ...Turkish Bread - delicious dipped in good olive oil and dhuka that we can purchase from a local winery...and even a baguette!!! Not to mention fruit breads and buns, pumpkin loaf, Farmhouse loaf ... a great variety for all the gluten intolerant folks out there. And ...today we have a wedding anniversary...our girl is off to a craft group for a few hours and Hubby is home today and we will go out for lunch somewhere... so I better get going and make the most of it all...hope you enjoy your day and I'll think of you at lunch!!!

I've been succumbed to Yule, Vettriano ... and White

Okay, after reading about other bloggers getting into it, and starting to talk about ... and decorating for the coming Festive Season ... I also had to partake ... and hung up this little wall quilt made by my old Quilting Group ... And then, just in time for the Season ... out comes the bottlebrush ... a good old Aussie native plant ... here is a close up of it (and you can see how it received it's name) ...

It just looks so majestic, standing tall and proud ...

... Being further succumbed ... by Jack Vettriano who has emerged from a career in the Scottish coalfields to become one of Scotland's best known contemporary painters. He has received no formal tuition ... has exhibitions in Edinburgh, London, Johannesburg and Hong Kong and is represented by Portland Gallery, London.

If only this one could talk ...

'Elegy for a Dead Admiral' (1998)

'Back Where You Belong' (2000)

'The Singing Butler' (1998)

... and the final one, the all white look, that is so popular now ... of course ... with a touch of the coast . I do so enjoy looking at these joyful things in a new way, especially at the start of summer nearly upon us, the white just looks soooo refreshing, the Vettriano's are simply stunning and the bottlebrush has made perfect timing for it all. Hoping you also enjoy the start of your new Season ... till next time ...

My French Life

This week I had the absolute joy of receiving through the mail ... my very own personally signed copy of 'My French Life' by the lovely Vicki Archer. Vicki tells how she fell in love at first sight ... le coupe de foudre ... with Mas de Berard on the outskirts of Saint-Remy-de-Provence...the property has been beautifully restored, there is a lovingly tended olive farm ... and she tells how her and her family came to be in this beautiful spot. Lavish photography by Carla Coulson accompany Vicki's French life ...

...Then, yesterday I happened to see Carla's latest book and simply had to have it ... to accompany Vicki's ...

... I am enjoying my print ... Pierre-Auguste Renoir - A Country Dance 1883, Musee d'Orsay, Paris

... to continue the theme I saw this calendar also yesterday and yes ... had to have it too

... an image from the calendar ... Carrousel au-dessous Sacre Coeur

... another image ... Aux Provinces Brasserie

I am enjoying my little Paris things today ... I even have a little dog called Paris ...
I am listening to Juliet Greco singing Sous le Ciel de Paris ... and enjoying a coffee ... and dreaming... I am excited about my French moment ... may you enjoy your special moments and make them all count ... back to the real world now ... c'est la vie ...

The Nation Stops ... Melbourne Cup

Just back from a Melbourne Cup Chicken & Champagne Lunch (hic ...), a tradition here in this country...most of the country literally stops for The Race of the Nation...and we just couldn't miss out ... the lunch venue ... ... a local bowling club with a backdrop of good old Aussie gums ...

... the board with all the horses names, bets on everywhere ...

... like I said, we all stop for it ...

... champagne for the table ...

... put on the fascinator, beads and shawl ... don't forget the bag ...

... and our Jo-Jo even decorated her very own hat for her celebration ...

I would say a great day by all who participated in Australia ... I hope you all enjoyed your Melbourne Cup Celebration, whether a quiet one at home with the television on or one of the many Chicken & Champagne lunches that abound ... Here's to the Melbourne Cup ...

Come ... walk with me - to the beach

We had a special evening tonight ... respite care for our daughter while she went out to a dinner at a local Country Club to celebrate Halloween ... so what did we do, we thought we'd take an early evening walk ... yes, just the two of us (doesn't happen very often) down to the beach ...

... we happened upon others with the same idea ...

... to our delight ... in the distance we saw a lovely little wedding party (the bride wore cream), posing for photographs and walking with celebratory drinks in hand ...

...then Hubby checked out the low tide ...

... we looked at the twisted sandstone ...

... then wandered back home ... our little tree fern garden

.... trio of Angels waiting at the front door ...

... and then a glass of red, cheese and crackers, and time out for a couple of hours ... put some nice music on, light a candle and wait till she arrives back home ... a perfect Saturday evening ... Our wealth lies not in what we have but in what we enjoy (Anonymous) ... just about sums it up... I hope you all enjoy your Saturday nights ...