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!!!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

~Woo Hoo...A Giveaway Win from Frog Cottage Designs~


Imagine my surprise and utter delight and much excitement during the week when I won a Giveaway over at Deb's from Frog Cottage Designs


Included in the pack was a mini charm pack by bonnie & camille who are a Mother and Daughter team from America


a cute little kit for Honky Tonk Keyring by Annie Downs of Hatched and Patched


a Fabric Pack for the Some Kind of Wonderful Needlebook......
and of course I have the book!!!


and finally an English Paper Piecing Kit of a diamond shape!!!
The Kit is by Sue Daley of Patchwork with Busy Fingers
I was lucky enough to meet Sue earlier this year at Girls Day in the Country and Nundle...

Thank you so much Deb for hosting this very generous giveaway....I just love it all
and it's even nicer that I have met you at Nundle......Dzintra xo



Wednesday, June 26, 2013

~Braidwood Maker's Market~




Lots of twine from Michelle at material drawer


Yarn from Helen at Waratah Fibres


 Margaret spinning......
all at Braidwood Maker's Market hosted by the gorgeous Jen from Little Finch at Braidwood


I met a delightful French lady........Isabelle from La Source
Isabelle had on display her new 'Braidwood' cards




 a tea towel I had to have......


Tags from material drawer


and OMG this made me   *S T O P*
A Hogwarts sign by Anna at swallowtail


Aren't these signs just fabulous!!!


Headbands for the little misses


 Hair accessories


the most beautiful music


and here's my beautiful sign at home
the first package I opened
all set to join my Harry Potter collection......

A great Market Jen.......just fabulous quality hand made items
Looking forward to the next one

See you then......Dzintra xo


Saturday, June 22, 2013

~Cooking with JoJo's Day Programme (2), fires and a new softie~


It's pretty cold here on the South Coast this weekend
For the first time in years we don't have a real fireplace......but it's coming!!!
So I couldn't resist this DVD above of a fireplace LOL
Apparently psychologically looking at it can make you feel warmer by 10c so we're testing it out this weekend!!!


Recently I went in again to JoJo's Day Programme to do a little cooking with the gang
This time it was Chicken and Lemongrass Laksa from donna hay magazine 10th Anniversary Issue Oct/Nov 2012
Above are some of the ingredients that have been chopped and trimmed for the Laksa


Stock in along with Curry Paste, Garlic, Coconut Milk and Fish Sauce


With Snow Peas and Mint Leaves added


Rice Noodles in


and here 'tis
Lovely, tasty and oh so warming
Perfect for a day like today!!!


Meanwhile last week I had to have this cat when visiting Braidwood Maker's Market
I just loved the colours.......no wonder apparently the maker said they were colours from 1875
And this little cat is sitting right next to our 'fire'

Hope you are keeping warm, having something nice to eat and hopefully get some stitching in......Dzintra xo

I've now signed up with Bloglovin but I'm still learning it all!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

~Purple Carrots~


Here's something I just couldn't resist sharing......
I was slicing Purple Carrots and noticed they looked just like Hexagons.....
I thought they were just gorgeous and cute.......and the colour was so rich
All purple and orange!!!!

I did a little research and found out that carrots used to be purple before they were bred orange...
To read more about this go over here

I love them whether they are purple or orange!!!

Friday, June 14, 2013

~An Evening with Rick Stein~and new boots~


I have been thoroughly spoilt again......
this time my Son gifted to me for my birthday a weekend at Rick Stein at Bannisters for an
~Evening with Rick Stein~


A little corner of our very generous rooms by day......the sun was shining brilliantly on this cool Winter's day......


Above pic is the Sun going down over the ocean taken from almost the same spot


The main room

This very special Event featured a long table dinner on the Sunday night hosted by Rick
Rick actually came along and greeted each table.
The evening started with Canapes and Champagne in the Garden Room followed by a 4 course meal of delectable seafood at the Rick Stein at Bannisters Restaurant


We went down to the Pool Bar and had some oysters shortly after arrival
I might mention here we ate all weekend.......


Above and below 2 of the wines for the Evening......all perfectly matched



To start we had a Salad of Lobster, Avocado, Green Beans and Foie-Gras
The texture of the Foie-Gras was as smooth as velvet


This was followed by Blue Eye Trevalla and Mussel Chowder with Celery Herb


and OMG check this out......A Meuyrette of Silver Dory with Caramelized Eschallots, Bacon and Mushrooms


Chocolate Mousse with Hazelnut Dacquoise and Raspberry Sorbet.......the Sorbet was perfectly nice and tarty!!!


Next afternoon we walked up the hill to Rick's place for a cooking demonstration from his latest book travelling and cooking his way through India

Upon entering the house we were greeted with a glass of bubbles and then offered a water bottle during the afternoon.........the Perfect Host!!!


We watched and had 3 samples of his cooking
The first one was 'My Breakfast Bhaji'
A mixture of Potatoes, Carrots, Onions and Tomatoes and various Spices
Served with a Fried Egg


followed by 'Hot Smoked Salmon Kedgeree'......Rick used Smoked Trout from the Snowy Mountains in this case


and then last but not least 'Madras Fish Curry of Snapper, Tomato and Tamarind'


And here's Rick with me and Mr Armchair signing books and menus for us
This time I bought Rick's Seafood book and the Mediterranean Escape one



After Rick's we went down the end of the road through a walking track which overlooked Mollymook Beach


Another sunset shot


Next night for dinner we had
 ~Warm Shellfish with Parsley, Chilli, Olive Oil, Garlic and Lemon Juice~
Clams, Prawns, Mussels, Oyster, Scallop, Scampi and Blue Swimmer Crab
One of the best if not the best Seafood Platter I have had......


Followed by Whole Fried Snapper with a Chilli Sauce, Crisp Basil and Cashew Nuts


Dessert 



A couple more scenes


Afterwards we met DS James
He and his Partner Danelle gave us much needed respite and had JoJo for 2 nights with them
She had a great time.......we had a great time and ate out way through the whole 2 days!!!


And I got to wear my new boots that Mr Armchair gave me for my birthday......WOO HOO!!!!

THANK YOU so much James and Danelle for this utterly delicious weekend
and Thank you Bannisters and Rick Stein for looking after us!!!

I would love to think that we will go back again another time......I'm sure we will!!!

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 ...