Our Christmas In July Dinner!!!

We have just this last weekend had a Christmas in July dinner...and our daughter and her lovely little family were able to be here as well!!!

Little ornaments I made last year from Homespun magazine...pattern by Lenna Green of Little Green Cottage...

The menu came from Australian GoodFood magazine...

Velvety Pea & Lettuce Soup with Croutons garnished with deep fried Mint...

and a smaller bowl for the littlies...

Roast Root Vegetables with Thyme, Orange & Vinegar...

these are going into the oven...

Well and truly roasted!!!

Pistachio, Bacon & Sage Stuffed Turkey Breast...

 Green Beans with Lemony Breadcrumbs were made also!!!

And a really moist Tipsy Pear & Sultana Cake...

served with Brandy & Vanilla Custard...

One of the little decorations that were on the table...

This was a beautiful and tasty dinner...looks like Christmas in July is here to stay in this house...

JoJo just loves it!!!

Little faery having fun the next morning...

Talk about with it techo children...one has his Mum's iphone and the faery has her Mum's ipad!!!

And what to do with left over turkey...make spring rolls...these were a hit and I think I'll be making more spring rolls in the future...

Bon Appetit...Dzintra

Quilt in Stitches continued...and it's Christmas In July!!!

I have been to another workshop hosted by Steph's doing the Bernina Quilt in Stitches...

A variety of stitches are done along with ribbons, braids added...whatever you fancy...

In this workshop we actually cut up 2 of our stitched blocks and added the to our main fabric and this is what my one looked like...

More stitches...

and look at these ones by some of the other ladies...at first look they appear to be braids but they are indeed stitches that look like braids...pretty clever!!!

Some of the braids...chords and ribbon I bought...

haven't had any chance to do any of this in the last week due to having Ryan here...

he is keeping us busy...

and here he is with his little sister and cousins...

Big cooking day tomorrow...

It's Christmas in July so these little decorations that I made from Homespun magazine last year might just have to come out...the pattern is by Lenna Green...

These little cuties actually made it into Homespun magazine...go over here for the article...how exciting is that!!!

Happy Stitching...Happy Christmas in July...and Bon Appetit...Dzintra

A New Project...and Cook Up With Vicki No 11...Spiced Beef Pie followed by Stitching on the Bay...

Here's some fabric that I bought back in 2003...can't believe it's been that long that I have had it...

just perfect colours for Winter...and cozy and farmhousey and full of one of my favourite vegetables...pumpkins!!!  

Not gone to waste though sitting there...I have pulled it out...admired it and put it back...and then this week starting cutting it out for a little Patchwork Travel Case...

one for me and one for my Daughter!!!

Isn't it just so cute...gorgeous warm colours!!!

I have never tired of looking at it after all these years so hopefully will have the cases done real soon!!!

After quite a few months (due to my broken arm) I have managed a Cook Up With Vicki...

Vicki and I thought we'd do a Cook Up with each new issue of Donna Hay magazine when we could manage it...anyone can join in if they like...just cook something from the magazine and blog it!!!

This time I chose Spiced Beef Pies (above)...no pastry base or top...

just some torn bread sprinkled atop the beef...

and being gluten free I had some Deeks Onion and Parmesan bread in the freezer...perfect!!!

Before going into the oven..

and just out...

Served with Sour Cream and Coriander...and I added Cauliflower Cheese!!!

This dish is perfect for the cold weather and tasty too...along with a glass of red wine!!!

Tomorrow I'm off to a day of Stitching...Stitching on the Bay hosted by Fiona and Sylvia and I'm looking forward to that...

then having my little Grandson Ryan here for the week...

so it's all go for the weekend and next week...

Happy Stitching...and Bon Appetit, Dzintra

A Trip Up To The 'Big Smoke'...

Mr Armchair commutes to work and one day a couple of weeks ago JoJo and I went with him up to Canberra for some shopping and a dental appointment...

We left the Bay...some of the scenes just before we crossed the bridge...

and headed up the Mountain...

One of my favourite shops...The Essential Ingredient at Kingston and not far from the Dentist and when we come up here we always call in and get a little something...

Beautiful timber boards...

Colourful tagines...

French cheeses on offer...

and Cornichons...we bought a little cheese and 2 jars of these Cornichons!!!

Later on JoJo had a chocolate biscuit...

and I had the best breakfast

Home made Hash Browns...the best scrambled egg...and tomato topped with rocket lettuce...

just perfect on a cold winter's day...

This is the cafe...as you can see not much action outside due to the cold day...

but lovely and warm inside...it will probably be busier later on in the day!!!

After that we headed off in to town to meet my Daughter and 

Grandson who both had a ride on the merry go round ...

a must do while up here!!!

The original organ, the hand-carved woodenThe merry- go-round started life in Melbourne in 1914. The fifty two hand carved wooden horses and two elephants were specially imported from Germany. 

The twisted brass upright poles came from Scotland. 

After extensive restoration work, the merry-go-round began operating in Canberra's Petrie Plaza in 1974. TTTThe ed wooden horses iand the two elephants were imported from Germany, while its twisted brass poles came all the way from Scotland.

And here's a big wave from Ryan!!!

After that we wandered around for a bit and then headed off to have a coffee...hot chocolate and chat before going in different directions and then finally back home again...

A Great Day!!!

It's been quite cold here this Winter although not as cold as where we came from inland...

Keeping warm and cozy inside and not venturing out too much is what's happening here...

Getting JoJo off everyday on her programme and being here when she comes back...

and of course too many stitching projects to do...

How come I keep wanting to get more!!!

A litte bit of baking and cooking been happening here too this week...

All good for the Soul!!!

Keep warm...Dzintra