~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

~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?'

~John Lennon~

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.

~Calvin Coolidge~