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, July 31, 2016

~A Harry Potter Day...The Cursed Child~


Well today......Sunday...... I woke up
  and headed off to my Sewing Room as usual for a Sunday morning to potter (no pun here lol) around
At 10.00 am Of course I checked Instagram and saw that a lot of Book Stores were selling the new 
Harry Potter Book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
which the shops were permitted to sell at 9.01 am
and just like that I said to Mr Armchair and JoJo come on we're going to town to pick up my pre-ordered copy!!!
No Breakfast, no cuppa........Nothing!!!



I said to JoJo go and get a Wizard Hat
I went and got my Harry Potter Sorting Hat, Hogwarts T Shirt and Gryffindor Scarf
JoJo put on her Ravenclaw Tshirt
and we were off
You've never seen us move so fast lol


Woo hoo we have our books
Lots of photos were taken!!!
That was pretty cool!!!



My Friend Leanne saw us and popped in and we later had a coffee with her
Here she is with JoJo who is posing away with her book!!!


We even made it to the Store's Facebook page!!!


I came home and put my book into a corner with my Hogwarts and Gryffindor Tower sign
together with my version of the Cat at Hogwarts Mrs Norris
My Mrs Norris is a Patchwork Cat with reproduction colours from the 17th century


An awesome morning
I really should be doing my OPAM (One Project A Month) Post but I'll do that one tomorrow!!!

A Happy Week to all my Readers......Dzintra

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

~No Fuss Swappers......A Clayton's Christmas~



I recently signed up with No Fuss Swappers in a No Fuss Swap
My gift above from Nor

Nice 'n easy......this one was a Clayton's Christmas Swap
Send a Christmas Fat 1/4
An ornament
Buttons
and a treat


And here is my gift
A Deer Fat 1/4......perfect as I am into Deer
A little stocking, buttons and Byron Bay Gluten Free White Choc & Macadamia Cookie

Thank you so much Nor......I even arose earlier so I could open my parcel on 26th July!!!


My Partner was Lisa


and these are goodies I sent her!!!

Thank You so much Gals at No Fuss Swappers......this was fun!!!

Saturday, July 23, 2016

~Cook Up for my Dad~

It's been ages since I've done a Cook Up
This time I did one last night for my dear Dad/mīļš Papiņš
 who is no longer here on Earth with us
It just felt the right thing to do and complete with a Birthday Cake to boot



But first, and very important...which Apron to use
Just this week I received this apron from Trish who recently went over to Provence, France
I already had bought one from there but of course I needed another lol
I also used a Tea Towel with Provence embroidered on it that I purchased whilst over there
Thanks so much Trish......much appreciated!!!


I chose the brown one to use on this Cook Up


My Menu from donna hay magazine Issue 87 Jun/July 2016
(this is why I needed the Quince Paste Annette (no blog))!

Pork and Sauerkraut Meatballs with Quince Glaze 
Savoy Colcannon
Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup


Mr Armchair set the Wine scene


Adding Sauerkraut to the Meatballs gave a real depth of flavour
Next time I'd like to double the Glaze......it was delicious
I'm a bit like Manu Fieldel (French Chef in Australia) and love my Glazes/Sauces lol



The Meatballs here with the Colcannon

Colcannon (Irish: cál ceannann, meaning "white-headed cabbage") is a traditional Irish dish mainly consisting of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. It is also the name of a song about the dish.
(from Wikipedia)

In this dish I used Savoy Cabbage, Leek and Pure Jersey Cream from Tilba

And here is part of the verse.......

Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?
With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.........
(Wikipedia)

It was very delicious.......together a lovely tasty combination


I ground up Spices for Chai Tea to put into the Cake


And here 'tis
Happy Birthday mils Papins/loving Dad


And to top it off.......Warm Maple Syrup
Also ideal to have with some Cream, Custard or even Ice Cream if you so wish

Recipe for Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup over here


And to keep it all real
Mr Armchair as I sat down took a photo
no make up, no hair neatly done lol!!!!

Lab Apptit......Bon Appetit
Dzintra xo

Monday, July 11, 2016

Let's Get Stitched...March, Hobart

Here I am back in Hobart catching up on my last post from Let's Get Stitched, Hobart 2016
Saturday morning it was off to the well known Salamanca Markets


I bought this Myrtle timber salt grinder for my DS
and saw a timber cut out bicycle




Happened upon a real live Faery Shop, all pretty and pink

I meandered up to Battery Point and saw a Ship's Wheel in an Antique Shop



Saturday night it was off to a Chinese Restaurant for dinner



Later on I had to try a Green Tea Creme Brûlée with Gold Leaf at Salamanca Square



Sunday morning it was off to the Let's Get Stitched day


'Rell was one of the surprise Guest Designers



I purchased her little kit


for this sweet little Dilly Bag

Joy teaching me to embroider roses


Caught up with Val who I made the Name Badge for

Vicki in the centre and me on the right.......the girl's name on the left just escapes me
and a group pic below
(I'm back right)

I had a wander around Constitution Dock and saw the Spiegeltent




















Some dock scenes above 


This cool blackboard in one of the Pubs
You wouldn't to have had too much to drink to read this
Bad enough trying to read it as it is lol


Monday morning and it's time to leave Hobart






On board the plane


 And after some hours back here at The Bay
I had a lovely trip.....met some lovely people and hope to do it again one day!!!

 Happy Stitching......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 ...