Weekend get-away and who you meet...

 

We escaped for a long weekend this past weekend to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary.

 It doesn't seem like that many years ago, I was lucky enough to marry this lovely man.

 We went to lunch at The Spirit House restaurant in Yandina on the Sunshine Coast. This not-so-little fellow joined us.

 It was an experience not just eating a quick meal - delicious Thai food in beautifully landscaped tropical gardens. We were here 3 years ago at their cooking school and always wanted to come back to the restaurant. Now I want to go back at night. There were candles and lights set up throughout the gardens. It would look magical.

On our way back to our accommodation, we tried unsuccessfully to find Lynette Anderson's shop, The Little Quilt Shop.

My darling DH bought it up again on Saturday. A quick check on the internet and a quick drive had us there not long before closing time.
I walked in the door and who do I see, but Dawnie of Itching for Stitching. - the people you meet far from home. We had a laugh and a photo op,  then she was back on her mission, selecting fabric for a beautiful bag. (I won't tell the world that it was her second visit, one on the way north and this one on the way south.)

 She's on a dare. The bag will be in Nundle next year. I was a bit slow to specify finished, and not in pieces. Both our darling DHs were patiently waiting outside. Good blokes.
I blame you, Dawnie for the below purchase.
The shop, The Patchwork Tree at Alderley, is closing down and having a sale. I went the week before last for a look. I bought a few things.  I had this in my hands, while walking around. I eventually put it back on the shelf. I told myself I have other similar patterns or books at home. I didn't need to add it to my impossibly long list of things to do.
But...I had seen and loved this quilt when it was released....I talked myself out of signing up.... Dawnie has made this quilt....I've seen it on her blog.....I told her I loved her quilt....she said it was wonderful to do and she had so looked forward to each month's delivery....so it's your fault, I went back to the shop today to see if it was still there....it was and now it's home with me.  Oh, dear, I can't help myself.
 

I wonder if there is a support group for those with no self control when shopping in a patchwork shop.

Take care,
Cheryl

Birthday Present

My DH turned the big 50 on Easter Sunday. Yes yes I can hear you all doing the maths. I cradle snatched. Anyway as I was saying....I wanted to do something special.
There is a restaurant at Yandina on the Sunshine Coast that does cooking lessons.
The Spirit House has wonderful atmosphere and delicious thai food. It also has a cooking school set among the tropical gardens. That's DH standing outside the school, holding his just purchased cookbook.
Here he is stirring the wok.














The photo (above left) is the class kitchen. The photo on the left is us sitting down to a truly scrumptious meal with wine at the end of the class. We were there for about 5 hours. We got free recipes, lots of hints, met some nice people, walked around the grounds and through the restaurant. I would love to go back to the restaurant for a meal and the cooking school as there were lots of other classes on offer.
In the paper bag in the first photo is also our dessert. We sat in the car park with a tub of Spirit House ice cream and 2 spoons. It was delicious!