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!!!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A Cheesecake...Gifts...A Coffee Warmer...an Exhibition, a New Play and a Giveaway!!!

Over the Christmas break I made this wonderful scrummy Layered Tahitian Lime Cheescake (gluten free)...


I don't very often get to have cheesecake generally due to the bases not being gluten free...so this one was extra special!!!

Recipe was found in this book Irresistibles for the Irritable by Sue Shepherd
Thanks so much Sue...this was a real hit with my family!!!  I'm sure I'll be making this beauty again!!!

This gift was received from my dear friend Nat who will in the not too distant future be living in our area...
The box in the background was for JoJo...a box of chocolates!!!

This lovely green box with an Eiffel Tower on it!!!

Check out these commemorative scissors...Limited Edition and shaped like the Eiffel Tower...how cool is that!!!
And behind them a little notebook with exquisite pink blossoms on the cover...

Thank you so much dear Nat...I'm still admiring them!!!

Also received all the way from Latvia from my Cousin Dagnija these little gingerbread treats and mini meringues...
Thank you so much Dagnija...Daudz paldies Dagnija!!!


Couldn't resist taking a pic of the Latvian language on the back of the biscuits!!!

In a previous post I showed a pic of a coffee warmer that I was looking at making for our Coffee Plunger...
above are some fabrics I already had in my little scrappy box from left over projects...

I used this little Elephant Pin Cushion made by Thimbelina that I received in a 6 Item Christmas Swap hosted by Maree...

After a few hours work all finished!!!


The inside...

I didn't do the strip of stitchery that was on the pattern nor the applique as I wanted something quick to do...but I did put some buttons on it!!!

And all finished...and I'm pleased with my Coffee Pot Warmer!!!

The Ballets Russes Exhibition...The Art of Costume is presently on in Canberra... with magnificent costumes by artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse amongs others...and I've been invited by a friend to visit it!!!

Last night I went to my first ever Play Reading at our local amateur theatre...
The play, a musical comedy is Dinkum Assorted by Linda Aronson...

Set in winter 1942 when 2000 American airmen are stationed near the small town of Warrabadanga, fifteen female workers battle to keep the biscuits baking...

After having so much fun in Cabaret with a non speaking part I might get brave and go for a small part...auditions are on next week and I'm thinking about it!!!

~~~

Meanwhile...Fiona who runs our Needlework Group is having her 2 year Blogaversary and is celebrating with a giveaway...so hop on over and enter if you get a chance!!!  Good Luck...Dzintra



22 comments:

Jamie said...

The cheesecake looks yummy! I love the little elephant, too!

Kath said...

All those lovely photos. I do like th enew ones you have selected for your header. I can almost taste the cheesecake! :-D

Jeni said...

The cheesecake....what can I say..yummo...your post was so lovely...and the little elephant so cute.....and just love your coffee warmer.....and Dzintra my friend you said next time I could come for morning tea .....boo hoo
the cheesecake and not me LOL
hugs

Unknown said...

Love your New Header & That Cheesecake looks Beautiful..
Good Luck with the Audition...you know you want too...
cheers

Jo in TAS said...

Good Luck at the Auditions, you'll be a star!!

Fer said...

What a busy person you are! I hope the good times continue to roll. :)

Margaret said...

I have a feeling that the M.T.C. put that show Dinkum Assorted on at the Arts Centre in Melbourne 10 or 15 years ago. Time passes quickly. It was humourous and sad as members from the biscuit factory had loved ones who were killed in the war and get a telegram. An Eiffle Tower shaped pair of scissors that is just too much. Good on You .

Astrid said...

Yummy cheesecake and lovely gifts! Love that cute little elephant and the coffee pot warmer! I'm sure you'll be brave enough for your next play - how exciting! Costume looks gorgeous!

Bev C said...

Hello Dzintra,

A really lovely post. Your cheesecake looks so yummy,glad you found a recipe to suit you. Nats gifts are beautiful and well thought out . I love the writing on the package, I see they have preservatives in them too!!!
Your new header is just right for you Dzintra.

happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

OH DZINTRA! PURE ENCHANTMENT! Lime cheesecake, Eiffel Tower scissors and the ballet....ahhhhhhhhhh.....thank you! Anita

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Dzintra
The artwork on that little box is just divine.. so pretty!!! and I bet JoJo loved the chocolates

Oh... now that cheesecake.. do you think you could find a sugarless version for me.. hehehe... [Are you coeliac or just intolerant??.. I know with coeliacs you can't really cheat ever!!!]

Have a lovely Gluten Free weekend.. and love the shots in your new banner.. ciao xxx Julie

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

My most darling friend,

Your KEYLIME PIE MAKES ME HAPPY! And your kind words are sweet bites to my heart. Thank you for your encouragement...perhaps I do need a rest....Anita

Design Elements said...

the header of your blog is a dream! greetings

Micki said...

What a lovely cheesecake...my all time favorite cake. I loved all of your photos!
Micki

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh you sweet, sweet soul, you! Thank you...I am gonna take it easy tonight! Anita

Pooch Purple Reign said...

wow... you sure are a busy woman!
im diggin the look of that cheesecake. when i moved i found an amazing coffee pot warmer that i had forgotten i had since breaking my bodum long ago. now i have another one.
yours is so cute.
~laura xx

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

The cheesecake looks magnificent. I'm droolin here.

I adored lookin' at all your lovely pictures and you had quite the beautiful post today sweetie. Just made me sit and go ahhhhhhhhhh.

Thanks!

God bless ya and have a glorious day sweetie!!!

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Oh i love those Eiffel Tower scissors, how fantastic. Wonderful you found a cheesecake you can enjoy, miss you, love Posie

Anonymous said...

Hello Dzintra, enjoyed catching up reading your posts....the cheesecake looks diving...love cheesecake...I like your new header....adore the little elephant pin cushion...Warm Regards, Lyn

Design Elements said...

i can see your header every day...no...twice a day :-) beautiful!

Jen said...

Oh my that cheescake looks amazing! And the plunger cover is fab!! Hope you are well!
Jen xo

Nat Palaskas said...

Just want to let you know I've viewed your lovely gifts. That cheese cake um yummy! The new header is very fitting - Hugs Nat

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 ...