A Blog Party in Paris...and some Eiffel Tower Birthday gifts!!!

The gorgeous Anita is hosting a blog party in PARIS this weekend...

perfect to go to on this cool Winter's Saturday evening...

I've not been to Paris but I do have a few heaps of things with Paris and/or the Eiffel Tower on them and thought I too would join the party (how could I not!!!)...

First of all I couldn't resist a fabric panel with the Tower on it...and Bonjour...

perfect for a quick little quilt made last year...

and used a couple of weeks ago as a table topper when Barb from Theodora Cleave called in for a cuppa before she left town...

We used Eiffel Tower serviettes!!!

I recently had a birthday and received this brooch on a little velevet cushion from Margaret...

and this little stitchery pattern from my dear blogging friend Simone...

along with some paper clips from Andrea...

Thank you so much dear Friends...I love them all and will add them to my collection!!!

A Fat Quarter...

Paris...the City of Love...

I couldn't resist these Cafe signs...

and couldn't do this post without some cafe food - carrot cake...

a Lime Cheesecake...

macarons...

A trip to a local winery based on French vineyards...

cheese...

a good read on Coco Chanel by Edmonde Charles-Roux...

My latest cook book...

and a little corner in our dining area...

my apron with Paris on it...

Now I'm off to cook dinner...Roast Pork tonight...

(Pic taken before I broke my arm...I can't even do an apron up now, arm won't go round the back!!!)

So if you get a chance hop over to Anita's and join the party...and thank you Anita for hosting this wonderful event!!!

Bon Appetit...Dzintra

Another Surprise Visit...For Mother's Day...and a yummy soup recipe!!!

We had a lovely unexpected surprise visit from our Son on Mother's Day weekend...

and for a treat he took me out for a Mother's Day dinner the night before to one of our favourite Restaurants...On The Pier

Marinated Olives with Feta and Grisini...

Oysters...

Prawns and Fat Chips...

Persian Salad...

Beef...

Salmon...

Ice Cream...

My favourite...Creme Brulee

Hot Chocolate...

And here we are at the end of the evening...

Thank You so much dear James!!!

A few weeks ago we used up the last of the Summer  tomatoes

and Basil...

and made this easy peasy Basil and Tomato Soup...

so very tasty!!!

For the recipe visit my food blog over My Dolce Vita here...

Bon Appetit...Dzintra

A Surprise Visit...Gardener's Journal Update...Blog Book...and a cup of Coffee!!!

A couple of weeks ago I had a surprise visitor, and unfortunately I missed her...

but she did leave a little something at the front door!!!

My visitor was none other than the gorgeous Barb from Theodora Cleave who has just spent a Year By The Sea a la Joan Anderson here on the South Coast!!!    

Joan's first memoir was A Year By The Sea... and Barb experiencing a year by the sea makes me think of Joan!!!

I am as unfinished as the shoreline along the beach, meant to transcend again and again...Joan Anderson

Barb left at the front door some of her lovely hand painted buttons and a Country Homes magazine for me...I love it all!!!  Thank you so much Barb...and hope to see you in Bendigo one day!!!

!

And after all this time I was able to finish my Block A as part of the Stitch-a-long hosted by Chookyblue...of A Gardener's Journal by Anni Downs...

and just for interest there is also a French site doing A Gardener's Journal...go over here for a look...

I also ordered and received a copy of my blog in it's first year from Blog2Print...and it's fabulous, I think I'll get one every year now...but first I'll have to catch up with the other years!!!

While at my Daughter's last week visiting her...she is suffering from 2nd degree burns on her thigh from a cup of tea...ouch, ouch, ouch...we made a cappacino with this little aerating machine and I just loved it!!!  So as a treat for Mother's Day she contributed towards it and I now have one!!!  Just delicious for Hot Chocolate also...Thanks so much Jac...and get better soon!!!

See the milk all ready in the top part of the machine...

Spoon into coffee...

and sprinkle...

Simply delicious...

and I think Mr Armchair and I will have a few of these this weekend...

you see, JoJo is on a respite one off weekend away and we're taking it easy!!!

Have a great weekend...and many cappacinos...Dzintra

A Gardener's Journal Progress...and a very special trip to Bowral!!!

An update of my progress on the Gardener's Journal Quilt by Anni Downes of Hatched and Patched...

I had finished stitching Block A and had started to piece it the night before I broke my arm...

Still going to the physio...shoulder won't fully function for 12 months...a long long process!!!

However getting back into using the sewing machine now (Nina)  and hope to finish it this week...yay!!!

Progress on Block B...Smell the Roses...

On the way to celebrate Mum's 80th birthday last week we stopped off at one of my favourite towns...Bowral...always have a cuppa there and go to a lovely shop called My Place specializing in Moda fabrics amongst other gorgeousness...

I saw this cute little quilt hanging there together with a kit next to it and it was an instant purchase for me!!!

The quilt is called Hopscotch Baby by Bunny Hill designs...

I thought it was just beautiful...all pretty and pink and chocolatey...not at all like me LOL!!!

We had a quick wander through Corbett Gardens...

Tri

Now here is a very very special home dear to my heart...The Corbett Gardens Guest House which my beautiful  Nanna/Vecmamin used to have...

With my family back in the early 60's...Mum with my 2 small sisters...me and my brother with my brothers's godfather next to him...and Nanna in the background with my step grandfather...

And I'm sooo excited...after looking for it since 1994 whenever we were up that way I think I have found it!!!  Look at the left hand step above...then at the right hand step in the family pic...very very similar...My Heart jumped when I spotted it and the road looked familiar...(perhaps a sign) a young girl skipping up that same road came to mind...and I can't stop thinking about it...More research needs to be done!!!