~Movie......The Hundred Foot Journey~

I have just seen the most Delicious movie (twice)
After the second time I straight away went and bought the book written by Richard C. Morais

There was a brochure available at the screening which had some recipes in it

including this one for Beef Bourgignon a las Hassan created by Chef Floyd Cardoz

The Hundred Foot Journey
Starring Helen Mirren as Madame Mallory
Om Puri as Papa
Manish Dayal as Hassan Haji
Charlotte Le Bon as Marguerite

Directed by Lasse Hallstrom
Produced by Steven Spielberg
Oprah Winfrey and Juliet Blake

Filmed in France in the village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val
and then The Netherlands and Paris

I just had to blog this movie as I know I will come back here and check out the links again
and don't be surprised if I see it again.

I guarantee you will walk away wanting a delicious meal after seeing it
I might have to go to our local Indian Restaurant one of these times!!!

Bon Appetit.......Dzintra

~A Country Drive...the Beach and Pics at the Movies~

Back in January, whilst driving back home, there was a bushfire just outside of Canberra and we had to turn back and go another way home.  This was a real country drive...

We passed through Captain's Flat, an old mining town...

What a lovely little place this turned out to be

It was all so golden!

Then coming home by the Clyde River was such a contrast to the fields we had just been through

The next day I wandered down to the beach

I was going to go and see Les Miserabless at some stage but during the holidays when JoJo asked to see Russell Crowe I had to take her LOL!!!

A rather strange request from her as she doesn't speak of Russell Crowe at all!!!

We had a bit of fun taking pics outside the huge posters at the Cinema

Here I am with Russ

and Hugh Jackman

and here's JoJo in front of a movie poster!!!

A great drive....lovely beach....and a top movie!!!

~Girls Day Out~ and a surprise package from The Netherlands~

Pancakes with maple syrup it was!!!

Every 2nd Monday JoJo doesn't go to her programmes...

she loves a trip into town to have a cuppa and something to eat followed by a walk around our shops...

Seeing the kitchen floor (post below) was in it's last drying stages yesterday morning we headed out for breakfast on the waterfront...

And here she is outside the cafe with the Clyde River in the background...

work is being done due to storm damage hence the barriers in the foregroud

'Devonshire Tea Pancakes'......a bit full on with the jam and cream though!!!

Yesterday's purchases...

Music runs through JoJo's blood as does appreciation of movies and musical theatre...

her tastes vary greatly......Pink Floyd......Michael Crawford......Dean Martin......instrumental......Big Band

There is music in the family background which has helped her so much and if she could that's all she would do all day!

Other Mums of children with a disability have commented how much it must help with her having that interest......and it sure does, more that I can ever say
It gives Mr Armchair and I time whilst at home, especially on the weekends

All finished off with a nice new haircut in readiness for her upcoming birthday which is the talk of the household at the moment...

I came home to parcel for my belated birthday and geeeezzz it was like a birthday all over again...

From my dear Blogging Friend Simone

And all wrapped in this gorgeous paper......even including the Eiffel Tower...

the card......Simone often sends me food related cards...

the message...

the goodies...

Zakka style etui......small ornamental case

It could even fit my glasses in but I might put pencils in in as a lovely pencil came with the gift...

Pincushion...

I thought this little cushion might be a magnet but it is filled with dried rosebud and has a lovely scent!

Goodies all together...

and a pack of tissues with tulips on them...

this made me think of the song Tulips from Amsterdam which I hadn't thought of for many years...

Now I think I will be singing that tune all day now!!!

And for fun a Blast from the Past from You Tube Max Bygraves singing 'Tulips from Amsterdam'......Enjoy, Dzintra

Thank You/Bedankt so much Simone......I had a birthday all over again!!!

More Faery Kisses...

Oops...here are more pics that I meant to add to the post below...

inner border on...

bottom right hand corner...with beads on the inner wings...

bottom left corner...more beading on the outer wings...

top left corner...

centre panel...

...bottom left

top right hand corner...

Today I'm off to take JoJo to a local production of The Women at our local theatre group

The Women is a 2008 American comedy film written, produced and directed by Diane English. The screenplay is an updated version of the George Cukor-directed 1939 film of the same name based on a 1936 play by Clare Boothe Luce.

Happy Stitching...and Happy Sunday...Dzintra

Friday Night Sew-In!!!

Wow...this must be a record...2 Posts in 1 day!!!

Underneath this one I have posted the winners to my 10,000 hit giveaway!!!

Last night was the Friday Night Sew-In hosted by Heidi and Bobbi...

I thought maybe I wouldn't be able to make it as we had other things to attend to...

plus not being here...for a variety of family reasons...

but luckily I made it home in time to do some stitching and get in a movie!!!

I'm really starting to look forward to these Sew-Ins as it is turning into a fun evening...

of planning...stitching...and enjoying the process of it all!!!

I had planned to do something else but had been called away...


luckily I still have my trusty ol' Table Runner still on the go!!!


Here I have finished another little block of flowers on stems with French Knots...



Two more sections to go and then finishing off the blocks...


then onto the outside border with more flowers and knots...then binding...


I'm so looking forward to getting this completed...


but lately have been taken with starting new projects!!!

Thank you Heidi and Bobbi for hosting this Fun evening!!!


During the evening we watched The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett...


talk about Brad being a distraction during the evening ha ha!!!


And so begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button',


adapted from the 1920's story be F. Scott Fitzgerald
about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards...
...a grand tale of a not so ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way...


the loves he finds...the joys of life...and what lasts beyond time...



Screen Story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord...based on the Short Story by F. Scott Fitzgerald...
Images and words from the brochure...



Truly a thought provoking magical movie...
with Brad at his best (sigh)!!!



And here's what we are doing for the rest of the weekend...and then some LOL!!!

We are re-organizing JoJo from this very overcrowded space next to the dining area into another part of the house...
it's going to take ages...
it's been a beautiful high summer's day and the beach keeps calling...
if we work really hard maybe we'll get down there tomorrow...
perhaps even for a swim...if not one of the last swims for this particularly warm Summer...
but I have loved every minute of it!!!
Enjoy these last days of warmth as we are slipping gently into Autumn!!!
Off now to start on the re-organization...


Lookout JoJo...here we come!!!