Christmas in the Snowy Mountains of Australia...and some Wildflowers!!!

Christmas is all over...the New Year has begun...I love this time of year...

Endless sunny warm days all rolling into one another...lots of them spent at the beach!!!

And one of my favourite sayings...I love a salty blue day!!!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year...bring on 2010!!!

Over Christmas we went down to the Snowy Mountains of Australia (in New South Wales)...

and saw abundant wildflowers...above are lupin...amongst others...






Just before dinner time I thought I would take a walk...Hubby said 'have you got your camera'...and I raced back to get it...whilst walking I saw a spectacular sunset...and have shown many pics from my little walk...I was just mesmerized!!!


Australia is prone to bushfires...above are tree trunks left from about 4 years ago when part of the Mountains was on fire...


These pics speak for themselves...
No 40c heat here...more like 8c...and nearly time to put gloves on...but oh so refreshing!!!

Truly a stunning sky!!!

The perfect quote for all this beauty I found today...

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon,

my soul expands in worship of the Creator."

Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948

On the way home now...and a pic of the Monaro Plains...

this is country leading up to the Mountains...
often known as the Treeless Plains

Here is a quilt received by one of the family...such beautiful warm colours, perfect for the Mountain weather...

and look at these placemats...looks like Charm Squares stitched together...backed and bound!!!

Fantastic...I think I need to make some too...

And here's a little challenge I have taken up and been accepted into...

the OPAM...one project a month...

One craft project a month to be made...

and put on my sidebar...

My first Challenge and I am so excited...

hopefully this will spur me on!!!

And by co-incidence (but they reckon there are no co-incidences)...

I went to a workshop yesterday and put together a bag made of Charm Squares...

this bag was completed today...

only the button has to be stitched on...

and I already have my first completed article...and I can't stop smiling!!!

Advent Final Gifts And Christmas Gifts!!!

Christmas all over for another year...almost...and what a fun time it has been!!!

Gifts given...gifts received...new blogging friends made over 2009...

a lovely place to be...

First of all...Natima has put together a few pics from a previous post of mine and I have used them as a Header...Thank you so much Natima!!!

This gift above from Simone in The Netherlands (this should be further down together with other gifts)...

Warming Fire tea bags...a delicious scent and something I have not see over here...

I look forward to trying these out Simone!!!

Lovely bright fat quarter...perfect summery colours!!!

Together with a little notebook...

Thank You so much Simone...further down you will see the little Figgy Pudding decoration up on the tree!!!

Above are the last of the Advent Gifts from my Partner Carol ...


The final gift from Carol opened up on Christmas morning was this delightful little bag...along with a little needlebook...
The stitched words on the bag are...in my heart there lives a joyful song...the road to a friend's house is never too long!!!

Check out the fine stitching...just beautiful Carol!!!

And here is the needlebook opened up...gorgeous soft Autumn colours...
Thank you so much Carol...I have had so much fun (along with JoJo) in participating in this Advent Swap 2009...

And many thanks to Fiona for organizing this wonderful Swap!!!

This is the bag I made for Carol...

all Carol's gifts packaged up ready to go for opening up on 1st December...

Above are gifts received from blogging friends...

This seaside stitchery book from my friend Geo (no blog)...

Thank you so much Geo...I love it, many projects in here to keep me busy!!!

This one from Natima , Thanks Nat...I don't have a pastry brush this size!!!

Simone's Figgy Pudding hanging on the tree...

Thank you Simone...it looks great!!!

And from Andrea this gorgeous green and gold bauble...

Thank you so much Andrea!!!

And of course I had to put this under the tree for myself...

couldn't resist it when I saw it!!!

And this you-beaut 2010 Paris calendar from Geo!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas...

and also 2009, meeting new people here in Blogworld...
getting to know other people better...

It's just been fantastic!!!

So from my little ol' blog to yours...wishing everyone a very Happy Healthy and Prosperous 2010...May you all have a wonderful year...Dzintra

January, the month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons.

Once again the days are sunny and hot...
School is over, summer holidays have begun...

This is the month to dream, to look forward to the year ahead and the journey within.

Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Advent, The Third Week...Christmas Decorations...and a Christmas Cake!!!

Here we are...2 more sleeps to go until Christmas Day!!!

This Christmas JoJo requested a Fruit Cake...not normally part of our (European) tradition...but very much a part of Australia...

I made this very easy-peasy cake...for which the recipe can be found on my other blog, My Dolce Vita ...

The Advent Swap hosted by Fiona is just about over...2 more gifts to go!!!
How I have thoroughly enjoyed this Swap with my Partner Carol...it has been so much fun waking up each day to a gift to open...with JoJo's help of course!!!
One of the gifts...this great panel above...Needlework Diva on Duty!!!

the gifts for the last week...

one of which was this Stitchery above which I have slowly been working on!!!

Meanwhile, my dear blogging mate and personal friend...Natima has asked me to show some of my decorations for Christmas...
our tree above...

Christmas just cannot go by without a visit from Santa!!!

a little cone stitchery filled with red berries...

Gumnuts decorated with sparkly bling by JoJo at her day programme...

JoJo has also made some bon-bons...little trees and a pudding!!!

Meanwhile...in our backyard this beautiful blue hydrangea just before the 43c heat got to it...

This gorgeous table top panel I recently purchased for a member of our family as she is so into horses...I just knew it was for her!!!

Christmas is not a time or 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.

If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world.

~Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933~

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas...Priecigus Ziemmasvetkus...Buon Natale...Nollaig Shonna Duit...Good Yule...and a safe and Happy Healty and Prosperous 2010...

Nollaig Shonna Duit...Happy Christmas To You...A Very Special Christmas Giveaway from Micki!!!

Ho Ho Ho...

A very special Giveaway hosted by the wee Lassie Micki from Ireland...

gifts include a beautiful Belleek China Santa...

odd Irish socks with a Shamrock...

Butlers Irish Chocolate Truffles...

A Christmas copy of the Irish Quilting magazine...

and a few other goodies...

including a card showing some thatched cottages over in Ireland!!!

Micki will draw this on 22nd December...

Good Luck Everyone!!!