OPAM (One Project A Month)...and Stitching At The Bay...and CABARET!!

Here is my little project for OPAM for May...

which was part of the projects at Stitching On The Bay held by Fiona and Sylvia on the weekend...

Here is my bag which had some kits ready for the day...

this is how the tables presented when walking in...

Projects on the wall...

Some of the ready made projects...

Part of morning tea...Polenta cake (gluten free) with Lime Zest in the Cream...absolutely delicious!!!

More of the Morning Tea...at the back is a Raspberry Loaf (Gluten Free)...

these occasions always seem to revolve around the food...

and why not...a day in Friendship...stitching...sharing...and of course eating!!!

Lunch were Frittatas...one was Roast Pumpkin and the other was Potato...I had Potato!!!

Then there was Afternoon Tea...

notice at the back the Raspberry Macarons (gluten free)...how wonderful is that...and they were soooo moooorish and oh so tempting!!!

Lucky Door Prizes...no I didn't win one this time!!!

This is the Raffle Quilt for later on in the year made by the Embroidery Group...

And here is Bev showing us her Quilt...

it's wonderful Bev!!!

Biscornus from a previous Stitching Day...

A wonderful day had by all...

Thank you so much Fiona and Sylvia...and the 2 Catering Ladies!!!

And this bag nearly made it into OPAM for this month...

I say nearly as I was intending it to be done...

But tonight I'm off to watch Rehearsals for Cabaret...

and get to know the characters and songs a little...or should I say a lot!!!

Here is the spot where I had to sit to have my pic taken for the programme...

I have a walk on part later on in the year so I'm venturing into something I've never done before...

and all because I'm keen to dress up and wear a costume!!!

So it's off for me to break a leg...as they say!!!

So here comes that song again...

What good is sitting alone in your room

come here the music play...

Life is a Cabaret!!!

Cook Up With Vicki No 6...Bag Update...And A Win!!!

Another Cook Up with Vicki ...and I love having these...

this almost always turns out to be a Tuesday evening...

For tonight...Veal Cutlets with Sherry Mushrooms and Giant Yorkshire Pudding...

I wasn't able to get Veal Cutlets so I used Rib Eye...

and not having any Sherry on hand I used Marsala...thought it wouldn't hurt...

I loved it...Mr Armchair thought it a bit too sweet...

Swiss Brown Mushrooms...the recipe also stated Field Mushrooms which I couldn't get so I used Portobello...
I'm not a huge mushroom lover but I think the Swiss Brown has converted me...absolutely delicious!!!

Green Buttered Garlic Beans...


And here's the Yorkshire Pudding...
I used Gluten Free Plain Flour so it probably didn't rise as much as it should've...
I've never had Yorkshire Pudding before...but I loved it!!!

Rib Eye Steak with Marsala Mushrooms...
Oops a mushroom fell on the Pudding...
Yorkshire Pudding and Green Buttered Garlic Beans!!!
Served with a red...
For a Yorkshire Pudding recipe from Donna Hay...go over here

And this is Donna Hay's 50th Issue Celebration which I did the Cook Up from!!!

This is the pattern from Anni Downs that I am using for

this bag...Now if I can get my act together and stop dreaming about what to cook in the oven I could get this done for this months's OPAM (One project a month)!!!

Meanwhile my luck's been holding out with me and when I came back from Carerfest I had the news that I had won a pattern over at Gail Pan Designs...

The pattern is entitled Annabella's Flower Garden...

this came with perfect timing as we had just lost a very special person...

and she loved her garden...having left 2 of her plants for me to look after!!!

So this will remind me of Kerri...

Gail also sent this very sweet little photocard!!!

Thank you so much Gail...your news put a smile on my face at just the right time!!!

Bon Appetit...Dzintra

Carerfest 2010...Narooma

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be able to attend a Carerfest at Narooma...

Carerfest is an annual event organized by the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre to give Carers an opportunity to access, for example...education, information, networking...workshops etc

Part of morning tea organized...

and mine...a gluten free biscuit...these had to be put aside for the people who had to have gluten free as most people wanted these chocolate biscuits LOL!!!

This Carerfest was organized with different alternate therapy workshops in mind...
and giving Carers a break from the day to day job of caring...with respite organized as well...
One of the workshops I attended was Belly Dancing...
here is Melanie doing her stuff!!!
This was great fun...and not as easy as it looks!!!

Other therapies organized were Bowen Therapy...Crystal Healing...Massage (giving and receiving)...
all so very relaxing and certainly took our minds off the day to day routine...

During breaks I was able to slip away to a little patchwork shop just doors up from the Carerfest...


And made a few purchases (of course)...
some Beatrix Potter fabric...

a pattern...

some threads and some Christmas ribbon for JoJo!!!

And of course something for the kitchen...some potholders!!!

Also I was able to grab a coffee...

and sat in this little corner...

and tried some Wagonga Coffee from Montague Coffee Roasters...and this Honey and Coconut Gluten Free loaf...delicious!!!

We were all supplied with a pedometer to see who recorded the most steps...and also the least steps taken...

Narooma has a couple of steep hills and I walked up and down them and of course my pedometer kept falling off and resetting itself...

And my total pedometer steps taken...34!!!
And I scored this prize...a gorgeous mug and Toblerone chocolate...

who says you have to do a lot of steps LOL!!!

The Government recently introduced the Carer Recognition Bill 2010. This marks a significant milestone for Carers across Australia. The Bill is part of a broader Carer Recognition Framework, already committed to by the Federal Government. To read more on this Bill go over here

All in all a wonderful relaxing 2 days away...meeting other Carers...trying Therapies I haven't tried before...

Thank you so much to Ros and the team at the Respite Centre for organizing this...and hopefully I will be able to attend again next year...funding permitting...

And now...when's my next massage due, wouldn't mind some of that Crystal Therapy also (as if ha ha!!!)

A Win...And A Gift...and the new stove has arrived!!!

Recently I entered a Giveaway hosted by Lorraine over at Not Quite Nigella ...

the prize was a Jessie Steele Doris Apron, Tote Bag and Oven Mitts...

I entered and then forgot all about it until Lorraine emailed me a couple of weeks later with the wonderful news that I'd won a choice of 2 sets!!!

Boy how stoked was I!!!

Here are the mitts with the congratulatory note from Keren at Jessie Steele


gorgeous pink apron...

button detail on the bib...

hem...

and bag...I love bags and reckon a gal can never have too many!!!
As part of the competition I had to tell Lorraine what I would make if I win the prize...
First things first...I said I would get out the pink bubbles...
and then make a Passionfruit and Coconut Slice (gluten free of course)...

in our new oven which arrived about 10 days ago!!!

If you get a chance hop on over to visit Not Quite Nigella ...

she will show you to-die-for pics on food...

Restaurants she goes to...

Markets...Recipes...Classes....Foodie Information...and it just goes on...

one of the best food blogs around I reckon!!!
Thank you so much Lorraine for the opportunity to win this gorgeous prize...
I'm going to have fun with this prize...here's Cheers to you!!!

This will be the first Slice to be made in here and I'm looking forward to it!!!

And then...

Last week a parcel arrived for me from the United States...

from Vicki over at Vickis'bitoearth ...
In it was a Congratulatory Graduation card and a Birthday Card...

and a parcel in this gorgeous paisley paper...Paisley is one of my all time favourite prints...

and check out this notebook with the very elegant Eiffel Tower on it...
how thrilled was I with this!!!

And look at this bookmark...how sweet is this...with my name on it...along with the Tower...just beautiful!!!
Thank you so much Vicki...you know me so well...I just love it!!!

It was a huge week over here...being away on a Carerfest...co-ordinating respite care for JoJo while away...

saying farewell to Kerri...

I'd like to say thank you everyone for your messages of condolence...they were all so touching and I appreciate all of them so very much!!!