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

21 comments:

Suedio said...

Dzintra, looks like you had a lovely Christmas. The pic of the littlies in front of the tree - priceless!!

Happy New Year to you :)

Bev C said...

Hello Dzintra,

Loved your family photo's. The Grandies have grown up so much. Love Jojo's present buying.

Happy New Year to you and the family.

Bev.xoxo

Sue-Anne said...

Looks like a perfect Christmas Day, the food looks fantastic, especially that ham!

Wishing you and your family a happy, safe and prosperous new year.

Michelle Ridgway said...

Lovely Christmas banquet there Dzintra....love the photo of the grandies with front row seats to the action. LOL! Glad you had a lovely time. Happy New Year to you too!
Hugs xx

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful post Dzintra,i so enjoyed reading this and Jo Jo you bought your mum the most gorgeous gift,well done and happy new year to you all.xx

RitaGri said...

Paldies par interesantajām ziņām 2012.gadā!
Lai tev veiksmīgs, radošs un spēka pilns jaunais - 2013.gads!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

My dear and wonderful SISTA from the April Birthdays SISTAHOOD ( I must do this this new year!), I raise my glass of PINK BUBBLES TO YOU in honor of all the happy moments that you have shared with us all. From your lovely monthly projects, YOUR THEATRE exploits and daily life's struggles, you have connected with us in the northern hemi, all across the world. Isn't that the coolest idea?

YOUR PATIO AREA, IT IS SO SIMILAR TO OURS! I must show you a photo in the spring, but the angle of the roof is EXACTLY like ours and even the beams/posts. To see your celebration and treats (YUM!) is a joy.

HAPPY 2013 my dearest! Anita

Kath said...

It all looks wonderfully festive. I wouldn;t mind some of the sunshine right now! Your salads and home made stollen made my mouth water, you always make your food look very appetising.

Jo-jo your pretty labels were lovely!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

YOU TOO HAVE A LARGE OPENING??? We just may have a lot in common as far as even our house space!

And it is already 12/31 over at your place in the world? TIME IS TICKING, but I raise my early morning cup to you my dear one! LOVE TO YOU IN 2013. Anita

Simone de Klerk said...

Beautiful happy family post. What a lovely way to say good bye to 2012 and welcome 2013.
I'll be thinking of you when we raise our glasses tomorrow.
Gelukkig 2013.

Fiona said...

What fabulous food and lovely gifts shared... sounds like just such a lovely time.... and Happy New Year.. it was lovely getting to 'know' you this last year...
Hguz

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Lots of goodies and it appears everyone had a lovely Christmas.
I know you greet the New Year long before I do here so I'm sending good wishes all the way around the world for a fantastic New Year's Eve and the best for 2013.
Susan xx

Astrid said...

That looks like a lovely family Christmas! Love the photo of the two small ones sitting patiently in front of the Christmas tree waiting, waiting... Don't we remember that from we were kids too? :) What a lovely gift Jo-Jo gave you! Yummy food too and that bread looks delicious!
Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year! All the best!

Yvonne W said...

Love your Christmas photos. Wishing you a Very Happy New Year.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dzintra! BY NOW, (5:30am my time) you are either at the beach eating fish and chips (YUMMMMM!) or drinking your pink bubbly. I will raise my glass tonight my friend to each corner of the earth to all of you, my beloved sisters who have made the last five years of my blogging experience UNFORGETTABLE.

MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL! Anita

EvalinaMaria said...

Happy New Year from the frozen North! Thank you for sharing your lovely photos. In my part of the world is cold, dark and white - and still 2012...

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

DZINTRA!!!!! I AM STILL IN A TIME WARP OF 10:30PM Dec. 31, but you are already ahead of me! CHEERS!!!!! HAPPY 2013!!! MUCH LOVE and see you in my morning....Anita

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

OH DZINTRA! GOOD MORNING! Last night when I looked at the International clock at all the hours throughout the world, I was shocked to see exactly how far ahead you were than us on the new year! OH MY DEAR....what a great year and THANK YOU FOR COMING TO listen to Mandy Patinkin! That song, and the way HE sings it makes me weep. That "longing" in his voice in my opinion, surpasses Garland's version, although when I see her singing it in the movie, there really isn't anything like it.

NOW YOU KEEP ON BREATHIN' and get those sounds out and ENJOY every step of the way...oh to sing, what a joy. And you liked my dress? What a project. It took me all DECEMBER to finish!

BIG HUGS and I had TWO glasses of bubbles at midnight. I feel great today!!!!!

Anita

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Good morning sweet Dzintra!

YES! Mandy's voice transmits a LONGING that is perfectly executed. Many good singers who have the technique down and who have LOVELY VOICES in my opinion, LACK this one special gift, and that is to emote such feeling. My husband made a good observation and said that you can hear in his voice, a training for singing as a canter in the Jewish synagogue. I do hear that beautiful inflection when I listen to his voice. Oh that number I have on my blog...at the end, it almost sounds as if he is going to cry, but then he PERFECTLY regains his strength and BELTS IT OUT, BABY!!! Something aspire to, isn't it my dear singing student!

KEEP IT UP MY FRIEND! 2013 is ready for YOU!

Anita

Palomasea said...

Spectacular, dear friend....just marvelous!!!
So glad everything was warm, cozy, yummy, and full of LOVE!!!
Happy New Year, beautiful Dzintra!
Love across the miles,
- Irina

Tatkis said...

Wow, you had such a wonderful Christmas tree! And the food looks delicious!

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Hugs,
Tatyana

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 ...