Birthday Weekend and Mystery Package Unveiled...along with another!!!

Wow...the weekend is over and I have had a lovely, lovely birthday...lasting 4 days (well, they do say that Latvians can party)!!! My DD came down with her DH and the 2 littlies...we had a lovely picnic lunch on the grass with bushland behind us and the beach in front. What more could one want...just perfect!!!

Many many Thank Yous to my dear Blogging Friends for all your good wishes!!! My special glass...brought out once a year...
As you may have read on Thursday I was heading off to the newest Restaurant in town for lunch with my friend Fiona (no blog)...This is our little table taking in the view of the Clyde River. The weather was absolutely perfect...


I forgot all about taking a pic of lunch...we were too busy talking and I was indulging in a small bottle of bubbly that out host so very very kindly offered to me!!! Above pic is of Mascarpone Cream with Poached Pears and Sesame Seed Tuille...just heavenly!!!
Thank You Mitch for looking after us so well!!!

Back to the mystery package from Andrea, after opening the pack there was another pack!!!

And inside this lovely pattern by Sally Giblin..The Rivendale Collection... fabrics...thread and ric-rac. I have admired Sally's patterns for a while now but have never purchased one as yet!!! Lovely lovely soft colours...Thank You so very very much Dear Andrea...looking forward to starting this one!!!

Then on Thursday another package arrived to tease me a little bit more...this time from the lovely Simone. This one is a pot-holder done in fresh colours and using Simone's favourite colour...pink, together with cup cakes!!! This also came with a little card with a recipe on it which tucks into the little pocket...how cute is this!!! Thank you so much Simone!!!

This absolutely stunning book I purchased earlier and saved it till Friday...Velvet and Pears, a book on Foxglove Spires...the most magical and enchanting garden I have seen...secret gardens, angels, candlebra...'ruins'...I will take you through it very soon so you can see for yourself.

Foxglove Spires is at Tilba Tilba on the South Coast of New South Wales. I brought my book with me just in case the author was there...her Mother was gardening...and at 71 years of age ~ we flipped over... she just looked so youthful and fit and bubbly and ready for a chat. I asked her if the Lady of the House would mind signing it for me...and within minutes all had been done....Thank You Susan...

I have this thing for all things Harry Potter as in my last post...think I'll put all that together too and blog it one day...

Here is my gluten free butter cake complete with edible Harry...little jelly beans and choc chips along with choccies...for the very sweet toothed amongst us!!!

A couple of weeks ago when we took JoJo to Sailability there was a Restaurant on the water's edge...On The Pier and she asked if we could go there one day...and I said let's go for my birthday...DH couldn't say no!!!

This light was on the back deck...looking right into the water...

A Midori cocktail while we read the menu...

For Starters I had an Oyster Trio ~Bloody Mary oyster shooter, 2 Tempura oysters with Spiced Lime Granita, and 3 Natural with Balsamic Pearls...

Grilled Chicken Fillet with Haloumi and Poached Pear...delicious!!!

I have had such fun this birthday...the waiter here brought me this Happy Birthday plate along with dessert!!!

Thank You On The Pier for a fabulous evening...

And just to finish off...this little stitchery...by Anni Downes of Hatched and Patched... I did a while ago now and it has been packed away...now that Simone has one as well I decided to bring mine out...

And to all my Blogging Friends...

Friendship does indeed Warm The Heart...and especially to you Simone!!!

I have been so thorougly spoilt this birthday!!!

Have a lovely week everyone...and once again Thank You for all your kind wishes...Dzintra ♥