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

~Cook Up for my Dad~

It's been ages since I've done a Cook Up

This time I did one last night for my dear Dad/mīļš Papiņš

 who is no longer here on Earth with us

It just felt the right thing to do and complete with a Birthday Cake to boot

But first, and very important...which Apron to use

Just this week I received this apron from Trish who recently went over to Provence, France

I already had bought one from there but of course I needed another lol

I also used a Tea Towel with Provence embroidered on it that I purchased whilst over there

Thanks so much Trish......much appreciated!!!

I chose the brown one to use on this Cook Up

My Menu from donna hay magazine Issue 87 Jun/July 2016

(this is why I needed the Quince Paste Annette (no blog))!

Pork and Sauerkraut Meatballs with Quince Glaze 

Savoy Colcannon

Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup

Mr Armchair set the Wine scene

Adding Sauerkraut to the Meatballs gave a real depth of flavour

Next time I'd like to double the Glaze......it was delicious

I'm a bit like Manu Fieldel (French Chef in Australia) and love my Glazes/Sauces lol

The Meatballs here with the Colcannon

Colcannon (Irish: cál ceannann, meaning "white-headed cabbage") is a traditional Irish dish mainly consisting of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. It is also the name of a song about the dish.

(from Wikipedia)

In this dish I used Savoy Cabbage, Leek and Pure Jersey Cream from Tilba

And here is part of the verse.......

Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.........

(Wikipedia)

It was very delicious.......together a lovely tasty combination

I ground up Spices for Chai Tea to put into the Cake

And here 'tis

Happy Birthday mils Papins/loving Dad

And to top it off.......Warm Maple Syrup

Also ideal to have with some Cream, Custard or even Ice Cream if you so wish

Recipe for Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup over here

And to keep it all real

Mr Armchair as I sat down took a photo

no make up, no hair neatly done lol!!!!

Lab Apptit......Bon Appetit

Dzintra xo

~Paris...Day 2 (Part 3) ~2nd September, Quays of Paris, 1st arr~

Still 2nd September 2015 and on our wonderful bus trip around Paris

We bought tickets on the Hop On Hop Off Bus 

These tickets lasted for 2 or 3 days

By road or boat whenever we liked........Just hop on and  hop off if you want to look at something and then back on again

Here we are coming upon Francois Mitterrand Quay 

Here 'tis along with the River Seine in the background

Our first look at this and boy was I excited

Two quick views of the Musee des Antiques in passing 

Francois Mitterrand Quay

Paris - 1st arr.

The Louvre Quay

Quay of La Megisserie

Quay of Gesvres

Beautiful lamp posts everywhere

Paris - 4th arr

Ile de la Cite

I'm not used to seeing such crowds 

Cars, bikes, people.......they all seem to work together here

Still 4th arr

Petit Pont

Next time still on 6th arr, Champs-Elysées and seeing the Eiffel Tower up close!!!

~An Afternoon in Paris......France and Latvija, Day 2, (Part 2) 2nd September, 2015~

I know it's been a while but I'm  back with my France and Latvija trip

I was always intending to blog it all but it just got away from me

Having been inspired by Trish (who blogs just about daily on her trip through Paris, Provence and Italy) and Anita (who was over there roughly the same time as I was) I'm on a mission to blog it all.

Lots of pics coming up as I was just snapping away all the time but at least I'll have a record on my blog as I nearly thought I lost them all but luckily with advice was able to retrieve them.....PHEW......

Following on from my last post on our trip we are still on the bus

Here we are at
Quartier Pigalle in Paris
Pigalle is an area in Paris around the Place Pigalle, on the border between the 9th and the 18th arrondissements. It is named after the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (1714–1785).

We are just cruising around taking it all in

10th Arrondisment

It is after lunch, say mid-afternoon

Look at the cars.......everywhere

Somehow cars, people and bikes work together

My Son is a cyclist (yep, took his bike over) and he noticed how polite the car drivers are to bikes over there (and Latvija as well but that's another story)

10th arr. above and below

Saint-denis Gate and St-martin Gate
(Wikipedia)

We are actually going through the St-martin Gate here.......awesome
To see a pic of the St-martin Gate follow the link above as I didn't actually manage to get one

The Porte Saint-Martin was designed by architect Pierre Bullet (a student of François Blondel, architect of the nearby Porte Saint-Denis) at the order of Louis XIV in honor of his victories on the Rhine and in Franche-Comté. Built in 1674, it replaced a medieval gate in the city walls built by Charles V. It was restored in 1988.

The Porte Saint-Denis is a Parisian monument located in the 10th arrondissement, at the site of one of the gates of the Wall of Charles V, one of the now-destroyed fortifications of Paris. It is located at the crossing of the Rue Saint-Denis continued by the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, with the Boulevard de Bonne-Nouvelle and the Boulevard Saint-Denis.

La Madeleine

L'église de la Madeleine , Madeleine Church; more formally, L'église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine; less formally, just La Madeleine) is a Roman Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.  The Madeleine Church was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army. To its south lies the Place de la Concorde, to the east is the Place Vendôme, and to the west Saint-Augustin, Paris. 

1st Arrondissment......Hotel De Louvre (this link has lots of images for it)

For history on this Hotel go over here 

The Hotel du Louvre was built in 1855 and then known as the Grand Hotel du Louvre.  It was the first luxury hotel in France and was originally located in the building which is now known as the Louvre des Antiquaires

The Grand Hotel du Louvre had 700 guestrooms and a large staff of 1,250 and became renowned for its French and international cuisine.

Thought I'd take a Selfie.......couldn't wipe the smile from my face that I was actually here

1st arr.

1st arr.  Beautiful lampshades everywhere we went

Jardin Des Tuileries area above and below

The Tuileries Garden is a public garden located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. Created by Catherine de Medici as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was eventually opened to the public in 1667, and became a public park after the French Revolution. In the 19th and 20th century, it was the place where Parisians celebrated, met, promenaded, and relaxed

So exciting........my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in the background

Jardin Des Tuileries

Louvre Museum

The Louvre......Jardin Des Tuileries

Jardin Des Tuileries above and below

Jardin Des Tuileries above and below

Still smilin'

Louvre area above and below

So that was our first ride around Paris (and I'm still smiling now typing this!)

Next time we are at Francois Mitterrand Quay

Paris is such a photogenic city!!!

Till then, Dzintra xo