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, December 30, 2012

~Our Christmas Food......and a New Year's Eve Wish~


The lighting was all set


Bon bons in place (that we forgot to use at mealtime)


Men folk at the bbq
We had our Christmas just the weekend before


And in the kitchen from Australian Good Food Magazine I was making a couple of salads


Fruit and Nut Pumpkin Quinoa with Yogurt Sauce


Roasted Beetroot, Carrot and Walnut Salad


And then from donna hay magazine


Orange and Mustard Glazed Ham


one of the wines sampled


I managed to make a quick bunting a few days before......blog post over here


Our Christmas tree


and the sweetest sight
whilst everybody was out the back the 2 little grandies found their little chairs and popped themselves in front of the tree


and finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!


JoJo made something at her day programme and then stuck labels all over the gift with family members names all over it


And check this out...JoJo's gift to me, this cool sewing basket with the Eiffel Tower all over it......




On Christmas morning, from the same Good Food magazine I made a gluten free (yes gluten free) Spiced Stollen (a traditional German cake)
The mixture was a bit 'wet'


I did shape it but it spread
Next time I will try more of a loaf pan
There will definitely be a next time



Absolutely delicious.......I haven't had a traditional European bread like this for years


We took a walk down to the beach on Christmas afternoon
It was an overcast, breezy type of day


Seeing it's New Years Eve tomorrow (who can believe that......this year has flown by) I'd like to raise a glass to all my Bloggy Pals and Readers and wish you all a Happy and Safe New Year with all good things for 2013......2013 holds for me a huge birthday and a huge wedding anniversary...
Gosh where does the time go???????


This pic of Sydney Harbour Bridge New Years's Eve Fireworks 2010 taken off the television
New Years Eve post from then over here

HAPPY NEW YEAR......Dzintra xo

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

~OPAM...(One Project A Month) Dec 2012


This time I have 3 little items for OPAM......
The first one is some bunting which I hung facing our dining area




This was a nice easy one all made from printed fabric purchased at Shop Handmade Markets


Next are 2 little pouches......pattern by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched
One for me and for Asta (no blog)


Very cute Anni style!

Thanks so much Sweet Peg and Kris for running OPAM again this year......I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of it!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

~Merry Christmas 2012~


Decorations above are ones I made by Lenna Green featured in Homespun magazine which actually made it into the magazine and which I wrote about over here

Wow, what a whirlwind week I have had

Spent the week preparing for our other 2 children/partners/grandchildren to come here for a Family Christmas......
I have barely had a chance to go into Blogland and comment on my favourite Blogs although I have popped in now and then to catch up......

Barely any stitching happening here and I think I'm going to have to join a Swap next year!
But I did have my first singing lesson after much encouragement from a few special people
Turns out my voice is alto
The main thing I learnt is breathe....breath....breathe
Turns out this could take 6-8 months to get right.....geeeeeezzzzzzz

Now back on track here
I want to wish everybody a Happy and Contented Christmas whatever you may be doing
Thank you so much for calling in......leaving your wonderful encouraging comments......
It all means so much to me......I've met so many lovely people here!

I'll leave with 2 very meaningful quotes
Merry Christmas......love Dzintra xo


'I believe in everything until it's disproved.
So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons.
It all exists, even if it's in your mind.
Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?'


Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

~Cook Up with Donna Hay (19)...new Ice Cream Maker and Stitching Update~


I can't believe I've done it again......I've injured my knee again so have been taking it really easy these last few days......Again I am so thankful that Mr Armchair was able to be around to take care of JoJo (and me) while I rested my leg.  He is back at work today and I'm hobbling around here......


Just as well that last week I did a Cook Up from donna hay magazine Issue 65 Oct/Nov 2012

Irina has joined me and Vicki in doing a Cook Up from donna's magazine

The menu was ~Sticky Black Pepper Pork (with a Cucumber and Bean Sprout Salad) and Basic Lemon Tart~
Recipe for Sticky Black Pepper Pork over here
Recipe for Tart over here



Sticky Black Pepper Pork with Salad of Cucumbers, Bean Sprouts, Mint Leaves and Coriander


Lemon Wedges to serve and some Baked Potatoes in Foil
mmmm, very delicious


Lemon Tart setting 


Sliced with a Mint Leaf from the garden


together with Vanilla Ice Cream made with a new ice cream maker Mr Armchair bought for me


JoJo has dairy issues and I have gluten issues so we had been talking about this for a while and what a surprise it was to finally receive one


I experimented with the ice cream mix and used Almond Milk instead of Cow's Milk 


and Rapadura Sugar instead of Caster Sugar and the result was delicious lending itself to the addition of    coffee which I will add another time

Because the only process that rapadura undergoes is the evaporation of liquid, it retains far more vitamins and minerals than refined white sugar. Specifically, rapadura is high in iron, which is essential to the blood oxygenation. Rapadura is also high in silica, potassium, calcium and magnesium in comparison with other sugar alternatives. 
(source over here)




A lovely soft and mellow colour......


And on the stitching front not a lot happening although I have started a little 10" Zippered Pouch after seeing Susan do a few
Tutorial over here


The fabric is Etchings by Moda
How gorgeous is this.................with Eiffel Tower and all


Beautiful writing


I've cut it out and started but waiting till I can bend my knee a little more at the machine!!
Till next time......Dzintra xo

Monday, December 3, 2012

~Lunch with Adriano Zumbo at Rick Stein at Bannisters~~


We are back at Rick Stein at Bannister's again this year...
we were there earlier this year to celebrate Mr Armchair's special birthday....
(read about it over here)
This time for Lunch and a Book Signing with none other than the one and only Adriano Zumbo


The table


The Menu


The view


The wine



A Salad of Lobster, Avocado, Green Beans and Foie-Gras


Grilled Fillet of Barramundi with Clams, Peas, Asparagus and Parsley
Nothing is too much trouble at this Restaurant......my version is a gluten free one......the difference between this and others is the Sauce
Often I have experienced gluten free version meals at other places......yep, all without the sauce
I even had gluten free bread as opposed to other places......they just leave you with an empty plate


The Macaron Master himself......Zumbo giving us Question and Answer time


Signing his books 


Even got a pic of him and me


Amaretto Creme Brulee with New Season's Berries


The Macarons for our table


and here they are with his book as a backdrop


Turning the yellow one over it was all golden......how beautiful I thought

We had a lovely lunch......met other Zumbo fans......JoJo was cared for by Respite Care......what a great  day to kick back and be fussed over
Thank you so much Rick Stein at Bannister's......you've done it again
Howcome everytime we go there I get addicted to seafood all over again!!!
Bon Appetit......Dzintra

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 ...