Finished projects FEBRUARY 2018 and Goings On

Here we are 29 December and I feel quite the stranger here on my Blog

I've had a few things happening with allergies here namely coughing when I eat plus feelings of heaviness and other issues

This all appears to be due to the environment,  and living at sea level

These all but disappear when I go up to higher ground/altitude

Consequently we are looking at moving up to higher ground but its all such a big deal as we have to take JoJo into account and look into new disability services 

In this case we can see where Health becomes No 1 as it would be hard being how I feel as we are getting older

Thank goodness I have spoken with other people and quite a few have similar issues and have moved for similar reasons

And I thought I was a Beach Chick but looks like I could be a Mountain Girl as per my maiden name!!!

First one is a block for Chookyblue for a Quilt that was being organized for her

Seeing she is into chooks and her favourite colour is blue this was my contribution

Next a little pouch using Japanese fabrics and 3 headbands using fat quarters

I also got around to pinning 2 Quilts

The top one is Past Times using from my fat 1/4 stash

and this one is one of Thimbleblossoms patterns

Next up is a block from York Plains by Hat Creek Quilts which I think will go into being a Table Runner

JoJo brought home a little Valentine's gift that she made for us 

A lovely set of Coasters

And of course she requested a special dinner for Valentine's Day

Chicken, Bacon, Tomato, Sweet Potato, Snow Peas all together

And a Dessert to top it off......Apple Snow

And I made Manu Fieldel's Pear and Almond Tart......mmmm, so delicious

I thought I would work on this Stitcher's Roll which is from a Girls Day in the Country Day

Pattern by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

February also took me up to the High Country for an experiment to see how I fared up there

These comings and goings went on for the whole year and the results are very encouraging!!!

I set myself up with my sewing machine and relished the time alone during the day at a relative's place

I talked with a real estate agent in the area and he said he had moved about 15 people who had moved to the coast back to this small Alpine town due to asthma, allergies, humidity etc

So far so good for me

We will see what Fate has in store for us!!!

So my Friends I'll see if I can catch up with Goings On for this year.......see how I go lol

~Cook Up with donna hay magazine......Sticky ginger marmalade Chicken~

Another delicious Cook Up has happened from donna hay magazine Issue 88 Aug/Sep 2016

These are really getting really too far between now but I'm determined to catch up!!!

Menu -  Sticky Ginger Marmalade Chicken Stir Fry
accompanied by Zucchini and a Cucumber Salad with aThai Dressing

 Chocolate and Maple Banana Cake

First up  I started the Dessert Cake preparation 

I even made my own Dulce De Leche instead of purchasing it but come to think of it I have never seen it available in our small coastal town

Recipe for Homemade Dulce De Leche by Donna Hay available here and also above blog in Pages

Condensed Milk ready to go into oven covered by foil and in a Water Bath
I don't think I left mine in long enough due to the paler colour and thickness of it compared to  Donna's but in any case it was still delicious
Also a bit hard to check as it was covered by baking paper, foil and string

As you can see Donna's version is really dark and quite thick

The Dulce De Leche is sitting atop Chocolate Ganache

My version all bottled and ready to use whenever called for

To our surprise we have successfully grown Ginger so this was used for garnishing the meal

All accompanied by Zucchini

and a Cucumber Salad with a Thai Dressing (home made) just to give it that little edge

I used Home Made Marmalade from my local Farmer's Market and boy was this so different to a commercial marmalade........the Citrus flavour was strong and I really enjoy that!!!

Above and below.......just a few versions of my Cake

And the best part........it's all Gluten Free!!!

Bon Appetit and have a great weekend......Dzintra

Let's Get Stitched...March, Hobart

Here I am back in Hobart catching up on my last post from Let's Get Stitched, Hobart 2016

Saturday morning it was off to the well known Salamanca Markets

I bought this Myrtle timber salt grinder for my DS

and saw a timber cut out bicycle

Happened upon a real live Faery Shop, all pretty and pink

I meandered up to Battery Point and saw a Ship's Wheel in an Antique Shop

Saturday night it was off to a Chinese Restaurant for dinner

Later on I had to try a Green Tea Creme Brûlée with Gold Leaf at Salamanca Square

Sunday morning it was off to the Let's Get Stitched day

'Rell was one of the surprise Guest Designers

I purchased her little kit

for this sweet little Dilly Bag

Joy teaching me to embroider roses

Caught up with Val who I made the Name Badge for

Vicki in the centre and me on the right.......the girl's name on the left just escapes me

and a group pic below

(I'm back right)

I had a wander around Constitution Dock and saw the Spiegeltent

Some dock scenes above 

This cool blackboard in one of the Pubs

You wouldn't to have had too much to drink to read this

Bad enough trying to read it as it is lol

Monday morning and it's time to leave Hobart

On board the plane

 And after some hours back here at The Bay

I had a lovely trip.....met some lovely people and hope to do it again one day!!!

 Happy Stitching......Dzintra