A Catch Up Week....and 'Eye News'

I've been a little quiet on the blog front lately....turns out the iPad screen is playing havoc with my eyes and giving me headaches.......not just the screen but bright light outside and glare as well...... After a trip to the Optometrist I've been prescribed new lenses with anti-glare and been advised to have breaks from it all.......so looking forward to the new specs!  Meanwhile I am visiting everybody but not commenting everywhere!

I thought a little catch up was In order

Above is some secret sewing for Chooky's SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap)

The big reveal will happen after Christmas when my Partner opens her gift

Meanwhile here's JoJo snipping some Snow Peas which are doing really well

I bought some garlic and onion from the Moruya Sage Markets

And then of course some garlic fell down and looked like a spaceship

Also I spilt the frozen peas all over the floor

Went to a Carer's Lunch today at The Grapevine Cafe and had the most delicious Chicken Salad with Avocado and Grapes.  Also check out the lovely (Market) Zucchini.......such lovely shapes!!!

Underneath is a pic of a Gluten Free Fingerlime and Coconut Tart also purchased at the Markets.....totally awesome!

Better sign off now......these poor old peepers are starting to spin

Till next time......Dzintra

~Full Bookcase.......and Grapes~

I had a comment from Kim in my last post to show my new bookcase full......

so here 'tis

full of my unread books that had been in piles and there are more

so it didn't take long to fill at all!!!

I got the idea to do this off my friend Asta who has just started her own blog

And a new book to celebrate

Rachael Treasure's The Cattleman's Daughter.

A few weeks ago I showed this grapevine that we had come up over Summer

The neighbour who lived next to us had kept it trimmed

these are the grapes now

They taste like an old fashioned variety complete with seeds in,

just like we had when we were growing up

And very tasty too.......I wouldn't be surprised if you could make grapes out of them as well!!!

~The Start of our Trip to Nundle~

Mr Armchair, JoJo and me started off our looooong trip to Nundle....(12 hours) with a break near Newcastle at our old friends Bob and Viv's place

Bob has the neatest little 'shed' just down from the backyard

and a little 'campsite' further down....

and the most beautiful Paper Bark Gum Tree on the property

We arrived for the Annual Girls Day in the Country at Nundle and headed off to Kerry's Cottage on the Hill

Kerry's Patchwork Shop near her farmstead

the view....

3 little old sewing machines make up part of the garden in the front of the shop

As soon as I walked in I saw this gorgeous repro fabric and had to have it....

Some of the quilts on display there...

A quick walk down to a particular shop which turned out to be shut....(but went back the next day for a good look around).......By this time I'm loving the feel of this town...

 I had run into some of the Girls and it was so lovely to meet up with them......

Met lots of new gals but very familiar at the same time due to blogging......

After that it was back for Nibbles on the Lawn and a Show and Tell....

I'll be back with that post!!!

2011...the ones that got away...A Year In Pictures OR 13 by the dozen!!!

It's New Year's Eve...

for the first time in many years I have my 3 children here with us...including grandchildren!!!

I thought for this post I would put up a photo from each month...

photos that I took and intended to blog but just didn't get to it!!!

January......one evening JoJo and I went out for dinner to Starfish Deli...

February...went up to Canberra and had a ride on the famous Carousel...JoJo's favourite...

Headline of the month...I broke my arm, in 2 places...ouch!!!

March......Mr Armchair one Friday evening made snacks and wine for us...here Brie cheese and garlic and chilli olives...(didn't take me long to get to food ha ha)

Baker's Dozen...sling off my arm, doing physiotherapy and trying to lift the rod up...hard work!!!

Little Ryan staying with us for a week in the school holidays...he is on holiday from Pre-School...

May...went to Moruya and there were hot-rods everywhere...here JoJo's favourite...

June......and here's the girl herself...our good friends Geo and Lloyd stayed at not-too-far-away Mollymook...

July......caught up with my Niece...here I am with Grand-daughter Lidija and Great Niece Grace Eliza...

August......went to Canberra Craft Fair and had to have this kit......a flannel snowman quilt kit...

the plan is to start on my birthday......let's see how we go!!!

September.....back to food......this time Chocolate Mousse for Tracey and John.....

October......Mr Armchair, normally camera shy said 'take a picture of me' while he was cutting down some bouganvillea......

November......back to Starfish Del, it's our Wedding Anniversary......lunch and then off to Twilight the movie...

December......New Year's Eve...

here we all are having late lunch...

What a year......who ever thought this much could happen in a year...

another great year......arm is still mending......

beachwalk today......pink bubbles at the moment......happy conversation around me...

cheeseplate coming...

Happy New Year......

Wishing everybody Peace, Joy and Contentment in the coming year......

let's hope it's a good one with everything happy in this world of ours!!!

Love, Dzintra

Floriade 2011...

A couple of weeks ago JoJo and I went up to Canberra...Australia's Capital City to see the magnificent Floriade...Australia's largest flower festival...

Beautiful tulips in the sunshine...

Amongst it all a Ferris Wheel...and yes, we had to go on it!!!

Surprising the ages of people lining up for a turn...

older people...youger...couples but I loved seeing the older ones...

made me think perhaps they were revisiting days gone by...

The view from up high...

Lake Burley Griffin in the background...named after Walter Burley Griffin the American Architect who designed Canberra...

Telstra Tower also known as Black Mountain Tower...

The hit of the day!!!

The Concert Street Organ 'Australia Fair'...

whose roots lie in Europe where they were developed in the 19th century...

They are known as Dutch Street Organs because The Netherlands is where these instruments were most successful and they are still in use today.

The historic street organ works Verbeeck Orgelfabriek survives today and Australia Fair,

built by them in 1992 is a direct link with history.

(Info from pamphlet)

JoJo with Rick and one of the 'books' that is played...

she is just mesmerized...

Some of the 'books'

Rick asked JoJo what she would like to hear and she responded with

'Phantom of the Opera'...good choice JoJo!!!

The 'book' is playing from left to right...

And of course we had to get a CD...

'Australia Fair' music from YouTube playing Que Sera at Floriade 2010...

this video also shows the workings at the back...

After all this fun we had to have morning coffee...milkshake for JoJo  and cheesecake...

and a Macaron or 2 for me!!!

I think Floriade will be an annual event for us now...

for the Ferris Wheel...catch up with Rick and Australia Fair...

and of course the flowers!!!

Thank you so much Rick for taking the time to show us 'Australia Fair'!!!