My Birthday Week...

Just finishing up on my birthday week...

Here's a cheers to you all for my birthday wishes!!!

Mr Armchair took JoJo and I out to dinner at Monet's just before the weekend...

Scallops here...

Sushi...delicious!!!

The wine...

The meals...lamb above...bouillabaisse below (a traditional Provençal fish stew originating from the port city of Marseille)

Chocolate Mousse...

The 3 of us...

The next morning our Daughter Jacqueline and her Hubby arrived to leave our little Grandson Ryan for us for a few days for the school holidays...On Sunday morning we went our for breakfast...

Here is Ryan with his little Sister Lidija sharing a milkshake...

how cute are they!!!

Ryan love his trains...

he called us to come and look at the beautiful train track he made...

when he grows up he wants to re-instate the train tracks throughout the country...How cool is that...and all from a 6 year old...he actually said it when he was 5...

We had pancakes on Monday morning and JoJo set the table...

she laid out the jams and syrup...and Ryan's water bottle...

Good thinking JoJo!!!

Ryan lined up his trains...I thought we would watch Harry Potter together...

he didn't make it through the movie...it all got a bit too much for him...

will have to watch it another time...he did like the train and the owl though!!!

We went out for birthday lunch on Tuesday...

Ryan loves to be in photos...

On Thursday I met my friend Asta for coffee at Starfish Deli...

and she had a surprise gift for me...

this little stitched bag...isn't it gorgeous...

beautiful warm colours...

together with a little Anni Downs notebook and a lovely card...

Thank you so much dear Asta...loved the catch up...we'll do it again soon!!!

We spontaneously took a drive up the little historic village of Milton on Saturday...

had to pop into My Patch and bought some fabrics...this lovely modern funky paisley...

OoLaLa Charm Pack by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda...

and a fun 1930's Jelly Roll...30's Playtime "Chloe's Closet"...I've never bought anything like this before...

I entered a swap...

Pic found on internet

And to finish off the week...

Mr Armchair commutes to work 2 hours each way...

due to all the rain we have had Clyde Mountain had a landslide and it took him 4 and half hours to get home...I understand the engineers are working on it amongst others to clear it all...

And due to this Ryan isn't coming here this week!!!

Have a great week everyone...Love Dzintra xo

Respite for a day...a trip to Jukejema and Berry, SSCS and a new workshop!!!

Last week I had a day of respite care so I took the opportunity to travel up to Jukejema Quilting Barn run by the delightful Kim...

On entering there were lovely samples around the room...

Karen was putting the finishing touches to this lovely piece by the very talented Anni Downs...

Lynette Anderson's 'A Scandanavian Christmas' fabric...

of which I had to have some...a fat quarter and a fat eighth pack...

corner display...

Anni's fabric...Some Kind of Wonderful...

gorgeous felt in soft warm colours...

Then on to Berry Patchwork where I bought a Jelly Roll and Charm Squares...all in plain colours...

Then lunch at The Emporium at Berry just up the road...

But first a coffee and a sit down after all that shopping!!!

A tasty salad...

Dessert Bar...

Goods on offer...

I have started my Secret Santa Christmas Swap run by Chookyblue...

it's all in the bag!!!

And on Friday I'm off to a workshop at Steph's to learn how to use the BSR (Basic Stitch Regulator) on my Bernina Sewing Machine...this will enable me to quilt with an even stitch...

I'm only just learning to quilt so this will be soooo cool!!!

Happy Stitching...Dzintra

Cook Up With Vicki No 10...and a new project!!!

Another wonderful 'Cook up with Vicki' has happened...

this time from issue December/January 2011 from Donna Hay magazine!!!

If any one would like to join in...it's easy,

just cook something from an issue and blog it!!!

The menu tonight...

Bacon wrapped Veal with Horseradish Potatoes

Blueberry, Apple and Coconut Crumble...

Cover of this issue...

Veal frying...

and in no time it's all ready...

the Veal is speared with a Rosemary sprig...

With tomato on the side...

The Crumble out of the oven...

My Crumble...

Donna's Crumble...

and in the bowl all ready to go...

I have to say this would have to be one of the best Crumbles I have had...

Meanwhile with these Moda Charm Squares I have decided to make a Quilt for my Mum's special birthday coming up...

Squares all out of the pack...

putting them together...

I thought I would use this pattern from Moda Bake Shop...

the same as I used for Mr Armchair's 'Berry Christmas' Quilt...

this is Mr Armchair's Quilt...and now I'm not sure whether I want to cut these charms now or not as they look so pretty!!!

Stay tuned to see what I have done!!!