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!!!

Friday, December 30, 2011

Christmas 2011...and Sea Mist

Christmas Eve morning arrived and when looking down the street I saw a mist rising up the hill to our place...and it smelt so 'salty'...
Meanwhile Mr Armchair came back from town and said we have to go down to the beach and have a look at the this Seamist!!!



Maybe you can't see it too well but it was awesome...
I'd never seen this before...but then again we have only been here 4 years...
It had a freshness about it as well...



People swimming in it...
and you could still see through it all...



It was rather magical looking down to it, but probably not for the seafarers...




Meanwhile from this Australian Good Food Magazine I made a Christmas pudding...


I used Rapadura sugar instead of white sugar...hence the caramel colour...



All good with custard on the day!!!


Mr Armchair cleaned the yard up a bit ant it looked lovely in the bright sunshine...


'Little jewels' in the water bath...


A lovely blue hydrangea...


I also made a Fruit Cake...
fruit cake is not generally a Latvian tradition but JoJo loves it, as do I...



All wrapped waiting to cut into it...


Looking at the bay window...


A candle for Christmas Eve...JoJo very excited by now...


Potatoes ready to prepare for Potato Roesti...



together with some barbequed lamb...
a nice easy dinner before the big day!!!
JoJo still getting very excited by now...


At her day programme she made some sweets...


The tree...


Opening gifts...


JoJo loves Volkswagens and I had to buy her this table and chairs when I saw it...


Very happy here...



Just after the table was bought I saw a pattern for a cushion with a Combi on it and had to buy it for her...then I made the cushion for her...
more of this in OPAM (one project a month) in another post...



And dig this, Gluten Free Mince Pies...


The it was off to our Daughter Jacqueline's place...
here she is with her DH Bill and 2 littles, Ryan and Lidija...




Jacqueline now for about the 5th year in a row has made a gingerbread house...
I think it's tradition now!!!


Mr Armchair's Brothers and their Mother...


And for the first time in his 5 years Ryan wanted to choose and give Christmas gifts...
I scored star cookie cutters...


And Lidija wanted to join in too...
here I received 2 nail polishes (she likes nail polish) and a golden olive eye shadow...
All just perfect...thank you so much Ryan and Lidi...all so very special!!!


By evening Lidija had had it...


Seeing I have a new sewing machine Jacqueline has my nearly new other machine...
and the Prints Charming book...
and she says next year everyone is getting sewn presents...
Bring it on!!!!!!!

I seem to be posting every day here...just squeezing in the last for 2011 for my blog book...

If I haven't gotten back to you thank you everyone for coming round and
leaving your lovely comments...I appreciate every single one of them!!!

14 comments:

Simone de Klerk said...

What a lovely post, Dzintra. So much to see, what is happening around you. Amazing.
What wonderful gifts for JoJo, the VW table and chair and then the cushion.
How sweet, little Lydia sleeping. She chose some beautiful nail polish for you!
Happy everyone (o:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Hello there sweet friend,

Oh, the mist of the sea and its mystery.....what a GLORIOUS and beautiful share on this wonderful day. YOUR FAMILY LOOKS WONDERFUL and I bet Jojo just had the time of her life. You are such a good mum and LOOK AT THOSE POTATO THINGS!!!!! I am literally salivating here; it is my lunch time so OFF I GO!!! HAPPY DAY and almost NEW YEARS!!! Anita

Kath said...

A lovely family Christmas, complete with tinies asleep under the table LOL
I'm loving Jo-jos VW gifts!
Wishing you all a very happy new year at the Armchair house!

Seawashed said...

The seamist is my favorite part of our days on the Pacific northwest coast of california. I just call it fog. Our beach is almost always covered in mist/fog which keeps the wind at bay and the temps more mild. The southern california beaches are not like this. Your beach is beautiful! Your Christmas looks wonderful. I love those VW bus gifts! I grew up in a baby blue VW bus. Good times were had in it. many memories. Happy new year. ox

RitaGri said...

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Lynn said...

Terrific post, no wonder Jojo was getting excited. So pretty, so many delicious things to eat, lovely presents. The sea mist is beautiful.

Rachaeldaisy said...

I always enjoy seeing what you are up to. So many wonderful things in this post!! It all looks like a wonderful, special Christmas was enjoyed by all. JoJos Volkswagen gifts are particularly amazing. Fancy finding a table a chairs, and your cushion is so fabulous and fun!

trump said...

Lools like potato pancakes and i bet they sure taste good.Happy new years as well folks and good health to all. Richard

Colleen said...

How beautiful the mist on the sea, Christmas morning. Awesome post Dzintra!! Love the VW table, chairs & cushion for JoJo. She's looking very pleased. I'm coming 'down under' next Christmas....what a feast! You have a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing. A Happy, Healthy New Year to you & Mr. Armchair.

Nat Palaskas said...

Happy Holiday my friend. Lovely Christmas day with family is a treasure I'm glad you had a nice day - hugs Nat

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh yes Dzintra my SISTA...the month of April is so fun for me, to have all of you to celebrate with !!! What fond memories I have my friend....here is to counting down the hour to pop out the PINK STUFF!!!! LOVE TO YOU, Anita

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

AHHH! Potatoes...God's give to HUMANKIND!! Well then, that recipe sounds much like our "hasbrown potatoes" I shall now have a mission to accomplish with those lone potatoes sitting in my basket!!! CHEERS IN PINK!! Anita

Chookyblue...... said...

wow so much in one post..........lots of beautiful gifts, gatherings and photos......love the mist ones.........

Unknown said...

Awesome blog with wonderful gifts and cute baby..

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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 ...