This blog is all about me......I come here for respite in between caring for JoJo (our Daughter who has Special Needs)......I am addicted to starting new projects......I am becoming a fabric-a-holic... I love to try out recipes... take a beach walk and breathe in that salty blue air......love to have coffee...sip a glass of champagne......read a book......I am Queen of the Armchair and am inspired by all the wonderful blogs out there!!!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

My First Beachwalk of the Season...or Sea Fever!!!

With Summer finally arriving here I thought I would take my camera down to the beach and take some pics for this Season...I was not disappointed!!!
The view above leading to 'our' beach...

A lost children's shoe on the post...still there 10 days later!!!

Looking south...

North...

Out to the ocean...



This pic above taken at Constitution Dock, Hobart, Tasmania
our beautiful Island State...
I have blogged this poem before and it always comes back to me every Summer so just had to post it again...

Sea Fever by John Masefield

SEA FEVER
I MUST down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Enjoy these beautiful days in the lead up to Christmas...Dzintra

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Happy Anniversary To Us!!!

Here's a Chocolate Cake I made on the morning of our Anniversary last week intending it to be for later on that evening...
Mr Armchair took us (that is me and JoJo) out for a celebration dinner so this little heartcake is patiently sitting in the freezer all ready to be decorated with strawberries and cream another day!!!

We went into town to our favourite Restaurant 'On The Pier'...
here is the view awaiting us...


Rusty old anchor out the front...

'Boatsheds' on the deck...

The view up river...

Looking across the famous Clyde River Bridge...


Looking towards the Oyster Sheds...
The Clyde is well known for its Sydney Rock Oysters which are used locally...in Sydney and around New South Wales...

Starting off with a cocktail...

A delicious red from the Geelong Wine Region (Victoria)

JoJo started off with Rosemary and Parmesan Grissini, marinated olives and Persian Fetta...

We had Oysters Kilpatrick!!!

Char Grilled grass fed Beef Fillet, Garlic Potatoes, Crisp Crab Ravioli with Soy and Green Chilli reduction for Mr Armchair...

Tempura Prawns, Spiced plum Sauce and Lemon for JoJo...

and my choice...twice cooked Pork Belly with warm Salad of Grilled Scallops, Chilli Pineapple and soft Herbs...

A hot chocolate for JoJo...

Delicious dessert...Pavlova Mess...Strawberries in a light rice biscuit (can't think of the name...it's very popular and I have never seen it gluten free before...normally wound round a wooden spoon straight after cooking..it'll come to me and I'll slip it in) and sorbet!!!

Thanks to Amy who has spurred me on and suggested Tuile...I'm pretty sure it was a Brandy Basket!!!


Here we are!!!

JoJo took herself out on the deck after dinner...

A couple of moored boats...

Part of the interior...

And I couldn't resist a snap of the sugar in a glass!!!
We had a wonderful evening...
wouldn't mind dining like this a bit more often...
beautiful views...delicious food...
and a great venue!!!
Happy Anniversary Hubby!!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

A Gardener's Journal...Congratulations Ann!!!

I have drawn the winner of the pattern book A Gardener's Journal by Anni Downs!!!
The winner is Ann from Ann's Quilting Journey!!!
Perhaps you and I could stitch A Garderner's Journal together with the other gals from Stitch-a-long and at the same time encourage each other!!! 
What fun!!!
If you send me your details this gorgeous book by Anni will be on it's way to you!!!
Thank you to everyone who entered!!!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Morning Tea With Di Morrissey!!!

Wow, Wow, Wow...what a morning I have had...I'm so excited...I have just been to a book signing and morning tea with Australia's top Authoress...the wonderful Di Morrissey!!! 

Di spoke about her early childhood at Pittwater in Sydney...
meeting one of the neighbours...the Australian Poetess Dorothea McKellar who wrote the magical I Love A Sunburnt Country!!!
She told us how she met Dorothea...
Di also told us about her career...
her yearning to tell stories and how she came to write them...

Above pic of Di with my favourite book of hers...Tears of the Moon...
Set in Broome (Western Australia) in 1893...
it tells the story of the Pearling Industry in Broome...
what inspired Di to call the female character 'Olivia'...
and how every afternoon they had a Sundowner...
usually an alcoholic drink at sundown after the day's work...
My good friend Fiona who came with me today confirmed this about the Sundowner as she comes from Westen Australia LOL!!!

According to Indian mythology it is believed that pearls are formed by the tears of the moon dropping into the sea... (from the book)

This is where Di spoke from...

I took along my copies of Di's book and hoped that there was a chance she may sign them...and blow me down she did!!!
Thanks so much Di!!!

We all received a little goody bag on our seats generously provided to us by Angus & Robertson (Batemans Bay)

And here is Di with Lyn from Angus and Robertson...

Di with yours truly...

A very welcoming Fruit Salad...

The backdrop for the morning...




The Restaurant at the venue Bay Waters Inn...
which we may go to to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary next week!!!


After arriving home I put all Di's book back on my shelf satisfied that I had them all signed...except 1...Can you believe that!!!

A wonderful morning that I thoroughly enjoyed...

Monday, November 1, 2010

OPAM (One Project A Month) and General Update!!!

Here is another OPAM for October that I have managed to complete...
this time a little Christmas bag by Renee Plains...
This little bag was an absolute delight to make!!!

Choosing fabrics is always the hardest for me...
always takes me ages...sometimes a few days as I play around!!!

Completed front of bag...


and back!!!
Thank you to Peg and Kris who host OPAM!!!

Meanwhile a new pattern I couldn't resist...

 and fabric for a new apron!!!

A couple of posts back I was starting off a surprise quilt for Mr Armchair and hoping to do a block-a-day when time permitted...
I have started...YAY!!!
First block ready...

And others all lined up!!!

 Meanwhile...a little surprise gift from my good Friend Geo...a coaster made up of 5 different fabrics...front and back above...
Thank you so much dear Geo...this sits next to me in my sewing room!!!


And to finish off...yesterday afternoon we all had photos taken after the show (Cabaret)...and here are all of us walk on gals!!!
I love my stolle!!!
I've had a wonderful time being involved in live theatre...
perhaps I'll do it again!!!
Thanks to a great cast and crew who all do so much!!!

Welcome To My World

Hello, my name is Dzintra Ingrid ... have been known as Ingrid and since our Sea Change I have started to use Dzintra ... pronounced without the D ... (but still known as Ingrid, I know, it's confusing ...)

Welcome to my world ... a journal of our Sea Change ... Mum to three wonderful children ... bringing up a daughter with a disability and seeing life through her eyes ... being a new Nanna ... photos ... inspiring quotes ... taking on a cookery course ... the odd recipe ... and trying to get some stitching done amongst all this ...