2016......the ones that got away

Welcome 2017......let's hope this year doesn't fly by like the last one!!!

I like to do a catch up post in January of the previous years' photos that just didn't make it on to the blog for one reason or another.....

To kick off January I had a go a making some Mozarella Cheese and it turned out really well

We were all really happy with it!

Just need more practice at making smooth round balls!

February sees me going up the Hill to the National Gallery Canberra 

to view Australian Artist Tom Robert's Exhibition

Oh my how stunning it was!

Artwork is 'The Golden Fleece' painted at Newstead North Station, near Inverell, New South Wales and Sydney 1894

Oil on Canvas......purchased 1894

My Friend has a Tapestry of this and it is just beautiful

The further away you stand from it the further into the Shed you go!

I made this little cushion 10 years ago for my Sister and finally took a photo of it

It's being used as a little brooch holder

Original design by Cathy Penton

April sees me off to a Book Signing with Fleur McDonald and Josephine Moon
Fleur writes about Rural Fiction and Jo writes Foodie Fiction
Pic here with Fleur but the one with Josephine has vanished and luckily it did make it to Instagram at the time.
 Im having Lots of trouble here with the photos......
Blogger won't talk to my Photo Library here and I think the Photo Library keeps changing the photos around!

In May we were still getting Cherry Tomaotes from our garden

In June I was lucky enough to win this Book hosted by Gail Pan Designs

Thank You Gail!

In July I was the first to finish a Book Challenge hosted by our local Bookshop

August sees JoJo's Birthday......the day she waits all year for

Here she is with a John Farnham cake

In September I was reminiscing about my Paris trip and how I scored a visit into the Kitchen of 

Alain Ducasses's Jules Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower

Oh my....................

In October I went to Manu Fieldel's Book Signing

Here I am with him......sigh

November saw Mr Armchair cook a meal from a recipe

Beef Sirloin Steak with Rocket Salad and Balsamic Onions

Very delicious too!

And Christmas December 2016 saw a Spit in the Backyard

Here we have JoJo's Sister Jacqueline and her little one Lidija

So ends a quick trip through 2016

Wishing everyone a Happy, Content and Peaceful 2017

Dzintra xo

~My Birthday and * P A R I S * Update~

This is what I woke to yesterday on my phone

17th April......My Birthday

which co-incidentally happens to be the same as Monica McInerney's so I found out just a little while ago......how cool is that!!!

A new little sparkly phone cover.......in gold of course

Even the bed is getting into the swing of my upcoming PARIS trip

(You might recall that my Son is taking me over later this year while Mr Armchair cares for JoJo)

We had a Paris clock on the wall which recently broke and after looking around in my small coastal town I couldn't find another

Then my Cousin Katy sent me this clock........and she had no idea about my clock!!!

Thank you so much Katy......it's perfect!!!

After JoJo left for her programme Mr Armchair and I thought we would go out for a Birthday Breakfast at the newest and hippest place in town 'Against The Grain'......an all Paleo Cafe/Restaurant

Paleo suits me down to the ground being gluten free which means I can have anything on the menu......no compromises at this Cafe for me

This Cafe has all organic and free-range food

I ordered a Cappuccino with Coconut milk which came with a small glass of sparkling mineral water

How perfect is that as I always have water after coffee anyway

Mr Armchair had Scrambled Egg, Paleo Toast, Sauteed Kale, Bacon and a Sweet Potato Rosti

The Birthday Girl Omelette with Pulled Pork, Avocado, Cress and Apple Coleslaw and 

Sweet Potato Rosti

JoJo will also be able to order freely here as she is Lactose Intolerant so it's win/win for us

I know she is looking forward to Pancakes here.......and Coconut Cream

Sounds delicious

On Thursday afternoon I caught up with Asta for a Hot Chocolate

and she gave me these very lovely fabrics and threads

Thank You so much Asta......they're gorgeous

I joined a Fat Quarter Birthday Swap hosted by the lovely Chez

These are the little packages so far with 2 more to come

this is the little stack so far

I'll be back when the other 2 come in

Friday afternoon when JoJo came home we had some Persian Love Cake and Coffee

Before heading out for dinner (yes it seems like we ate all day)

I had some Cuttlefish to start with and Mr Armchair had Scallops

 JoJo had some Pasta and Prawns

One of the Desserts here is Popcorn Custard and Banana.......very interesting!!!

And just to finish off I scored a Gold *grin* Travel Wallet at a super duper price!!!

In between dreaming of PARIS I've been quilting Forty Years of Light and getting there!!!

Happy Weekend everyone......love Dzintra xo

~OPAM (One Project A Month) January~

I've signed up for OPAM again for this year with Sweet Peg and Gorgeous Kris again hosting for this year

2 Items completed this month

The first is a Kit for an Armchair Caddy above with some of the fabrics required......tape.......buttons and a couple of other little goodies

Coming together

All done and looking good next to some flavoured coffee I received for Christmas off my Mum

And the other one is my  little Parisian Purse I showed off over here

So pleased I have 2 items this month

Now I better get cracking on my next Tilda project

Thank you Peg and Kris for encouraging us in completing projects once again

Happy Stitching......Dzintra

~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