Time for the Armchair Queen to get out and about...

Now...I'm really getting out of my Armchair, getting out and about and went to TAFE (have pulled out of the practical side for the rest of the year due to surgery) to hand in my long, drawn out assignment. To be handed in was...a cover letter for my own Restaurant (make believe, Dzintra's by the Sea)...7 entrees, 7 mains, 7 desserts PLUS a wedding menu for 50 guests and all costed!!! This sure took up this Armchair Queen's time...of course blogging in between.......so today after handing it in I thought I deserved to shout myself lunch at..... this cute little cottage...
side view...I sat just behind the second umbrella on the little verandah...

...my little table overlooking the courtyard...

...my lunch, roasted pumpkin and spinach frittata and salad...soy latte and I was tempted... and had a toblerone cheesecake....with ice cream, and read magazines on offer!!! A beautiful sunny day to top it all off, a well deserved lunch ...what more does one need after all this hard work!!! Well...maybe a glass of pink bubbly at home...

Writing Desk Has a New Home

When we went back the next day our little desk and chair

was waiting
for us. It fits nicely into the little timber nook but looks oh so different when it was amongst the all white timber. The timbers all just fit in nicely with each other. Enjoying everything that has Paris on it at the moment ... the lovely ink pot, timber burl and quill came from Tasmania in a little place called The Nut. Now I have to get myself a nib and then I can have my coffee and get cracking with those Christmas Cards looming on the horizon!!!

Little bouton bag sitting up also full of red and green Christmas buttons ...

Assignment still going on and on and ....

Lots of time spent poring over cookbooks, magazines this week, finishing Susan Duncan's book on The House at Salvation Creek and still cross-stitching Christmas stocking which I will try to post up soon. Meanwhile weather here is very uncharacteristic, lots of wind, choppy ocean and predicted snow in the Mountains ... back to the drawing board now ...

New Writing Desk?

Very exciting - we saw a sweet little desk and chair yesterday, took measurements and came home to see if it would fit in a little timber nook in the dining area ... stay tuned to see if when we go back tomorrow if they still have it.
This re-cuperating time has been sooo good, doing extra things that I normally wouldn't do eg. set up this blog. My Hubby has been exceptional ... we have a daughter with a disability and he has been doing everything ... and I mean everything, looking after her, the house ... and me. I am truly blessed.
Now wondering about this TAFE course, whether I should push it and go back and do it or take it easy and let healing well and truly set in ...

Books, Bags and Menus

A couple of bags recently
finished ... the spotty one is a reverse of the floral one ... both in pretty colours, quite a change from the usual darker colours, quite suits our new life on the coast.

At the moment reading Susan Duncan "The House", all about living in the house that Dorothea Mckellar lived in. The others recently finished while laying around not being able to do too much.

Also at present trying to do assignment - choosing 7 entrees, mains & desserts.

1. Cajun Style Salmon with Salsaa Fresco and Fried Parsnips
2. Thai Chicken Curry
3. Turkey & Kangaroo Pie in Mulled Wine Sauce with Vegetable Panache

4. Crumbed Veal Escalopes with Marsala Sauce served with Turned Vegetables & Bean Bundles
5. Braised Lamb Shanks with Paysanne of Vegetables
6. Fillet Steak with Green Peppercorn Sauce ....

7. Risotto with Grilled Mushrooms. Thinking out loud here, have to work on the steak and accompaniments, probably Potato Roesti/chips/ and some sort of salad. Back to the books then ... and my six weeks isn't even up yet!!!

I WON A PRIZE

Entered a giveaway recently at Barb's and won a prize!!! Two lovely books and Little French Birdies buttons, thank you Barb! Now I'll have lots to keep me busy ...

Starting up assignments also for my cookery course ... lots of work ahead of me now.

Yesterday is a dream, tomorrow but a vision

But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope, Look well therefore to this day. Sanskrit proverb

Today I finished 'The Forgotten Garden' - what a fabulous story. Normally I don't go for books that jump from one time to another (eg 2005 to 1900) but this one was written like you were actually there following the one character and the continuation of it all ... I was so impressed that I actually emailed the author and told her so. I have never done this before .. ... An exquisite book, perfect for re-cuperating. At this rate I'm reading a book a week, plus various magazines and some stitching. Reminds me, I'll have to get into my assignments soon. Am doing a cookery course which I'm missing out on for a couple of months.

A photo of the beach at sunset ... just there at the right time. Can't wait for those summer nights ... not long now.