~Halloween Fun~

Last weekend was Halloween and JoJo got into the Spirit of this ancient Pagan tradition

Come to think of it now I know why as Latvijans we used to go to the Cemetery on the last weekend of October, light candles and sing and remember our Loved Ones......

We had a pumpkin candle to put outside and hopefully some Trick or Treaters would arrive......which they did thankfully

JoJo had plenty of treats for them and it just wouldn't occur to her to go Trick or Treating as she is of the giving kind and loves seeing the children in costume

So I thought to go with her costume I would make her up too

So did myself too while I was at it

Looking scary

This was such a fun Treat lol.........a green tongue and gluten free too so I just had to try it

Waiting

and waiting

37 children of all ages called by and 1 very happy JoJo!!!!!!

A fun time too and a serious one too remembering those who have passed on

Happy Weekend.......Dzintra xo

~17th November 1973.....A Very Special Anniversary~

Well who can believe this

today is our 40th Wedding Anniversary

Holey Dooley where did the time go!!!!!!!!

Me and Hubby after the ceremony

My Step-Grandfather and my Grandmother

Doing the circle saying 'bye to everyone on the night I met up with Hubby

My Godmother is on the left

My Godfather Robert who took the pics on the night sadly passed away not too long ago

Here he is with me

My Mother is to my left

I think we're looking a bit worried here LOL!!!

Our wedding invitations using a traditional Latvian sign 

I am now using my Latvian name and Ingrid is my middle name

And sadly my Dad passed away before I was married

Our first place we lived in in Wollstonecraft, Sydney

We built our first home in the Blue Mountains in Blackheath and stayed 10 years

Ten years later we went to further inland to a little place called Peel outside Bathurst

No street lights......no garbage service and no town water

But I loved it all......some of my best years would have to have been spent there

Above is a painting of the house by Lindsay

We then moved down to Bungendore outside of Canberra

and lasted 4 years before we made a Sea Change

That was the name of the house but since moving here Hubby has take down the sign as he thought it looked poxy!!!

Our first baby James

pic taken on our 2nd wedding anniversary at Port Stephens

James Christening Day

James with his baby Sister Jacqueline

and here's little JoJo

One of my favourite pics of all time taken at Peel

Jacqueline at 4

I recently gave her this little coat for  her daughter

Jacqueline's Wedding Day

And her first baby Ryan........our first Grandbaby

with Ryan

A couple of years later we all welcomed Ryan's Sister Lidija

from the country to the sea

above is a pic of our small flock of sheep next to the old dunny which had newspaper pinned on to the back of the door from the 1800's

JoJo and James

Today we headed down to Bermagui and stopped at Blue Earth Cafe

Boats at Bermagui

And just to compare 1973

and 2013

We bought ourselves a little setting for our top balcony.......the turquoise one

My friend Geo (no blog) said it should be a ruby one LOL!!!

My gift from Mr Armchair!!!

Happy Happy Anniversary to us!!!

I thought I would dedicate this post to my Beloved Dad.......Mans Mils Papins

Love Dzintra xo

~Floriade~

Floriade has come and gone for another year here in Australia

Floriade is Australia’s biggest celebration of spring. This iconic Canberra event, which is now in its 26th year, runs for 30 days over the months of September and October.

The tulips are the attraction here for most people

but when going with JoJo it is the Australia Fair Street Organ and it's Boss.......Rick!

“Australia Fair” is a Belgium built travelling Concert Organ. It was built in the workshops of Verbeeck’s Organ Works (Est 1884) in Antwerp and is the only travelling Concert Organ in Australia. It has entertained at all levels from local functions to “Yarralumla” – the residence of the Governor General of Australia.

The organ has the equivalent sound of a 20-piece band and operates on air pressure generated by a bellows and regulated by a reservoir. 

Jo's Hero Rick

Some of the 'books' played

After Rick comes the Ferris Wheel

above is a pic from the Ferris Wheel in action

All the while we meander through luscious beds of Tulips.....

Amongst them was this sign......there must've been a competition or something on

I had never heard of remote control candles before until Anita from Castles Crowns and Cottages told me about them so I had to have them!

They change colours too with the flick of the remote!!!

After we were finished there.........and had gone back to Rick 3 times we headed off back into the Canberra Centre shops and saw these beautiful models only I likened them to Faeries!

A great day out and always lovely to catch up with Rick again and watch JoJo's absolute joy with him and the Australia Fair Organ and the Ferris Wheel!