~ Time for a Change of Direction ~

That's right....

There's no easy way to say this so I'll just blurt it out.

I'm taking a break from my Potato Jewellery for a while.

There, I said it!! 

Life has thrown a whole lot of other things my way recently and something has to give. Spuds are very generous souls, and so they put their hands up to say, "We'll take a back seat for a while Jane, while you do whatever else you have to.  We'll be around when you feel like coming back to us."  OK ~  well thank you my potato partners.  You have helped make my decision a lot easier. 

However, don't think for a minute that you will get rid of me that easily!  I've got photos to share that are just jumping out of their seats, shouting "Choose me, choose me!!"

So that's what I'll be doing, sharing photos and thoughts along the way.  Would love you to pop by when you can and join me.

I'm sure you've found at some stage that you can't keep those juggling balls up in the air all of the time.  How have you coped with this dilemma?  Would love you to share your ideas for making life's journey a bit smoother.

Japanese Children's Festival

Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden was host to the 

Japanese Children's festival a couple of weeks ago.
The sixth of it's kind to be held in this beautiful setting. 

We were welcomed with  kites in all colours & sizes
& there were kite making workshops too.

  We meandered along the path leading through the trees

No prizes for guessing who wasn't long in finding the cup cake stall!

The dancers were an absolute delight, and this gentleman 

was thoroughly enjoying himself!

Some families got into the spirit, and everyone had fun.  

The beautiful Japanese Gardens and bright red bridge

 were the perfect location.

I took a couple of the photos earlier in the year like the one above left, so on the day the tea house was buzzing with people enjoying a cuppa and a bite to eat provided by volunteers. And the trees below had nearly lost their leaves but I had to include this photo from earlier because it is so vibrant. I believe it is a type of Crepe Myrtle.

This fish was just one of many being displayed to show us the different colours. Dear follower Midori has let me know that this is a Koinobori or carp.  If you like things with a Japanese twist, hop over and take a look at her blog,you'll be glad you did!

This rainbow lorikeet couldn't work out what all the fuss was about!

Even dancers have to relax sometime......oh what a feeling!

Our sweet grand daughter gave the sushi a tick of approval!

And then it was time to head home, after a fantastic day out.  Next year I hope our son and daughter in law who is from Japan, will be able to come along as well, and we can all wear the beautiful kimono's that her family gave us at the wedding last year. Maybe you could join us too!

Don't Miss St Patrick's Day in Ireland!

That's right, it's Paddy's day on Sunday 17th March so I thought I would share with you some Irish goodness from five bloggers I have recently come to know.  This is the delight of the internet, connecting with interesting & inspiring people the world over.

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Excitement number one! Susan from Vibrant Ireland asked me to do a guest post (my first ever!) for St. Patrick's Day. Take a look here.  Susan has a lovely blog about all things Irish and we share at least one thing in common, we both live in a country other than the one we were born in! Susan came from the USA to Ireland, just as I came from the UK to Australia.

   Graiguenamanagh from Susan's blog

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Aoife writes the Daily Spud, so how could we potato lovers not follow that!  I thought you'd enjoy this amazing Potato Risotto ( Ristato!) recipe of hers which is pretty appropriate for St Patrick's day because of all the green, and of course the Guinness! Find the recipe here 

Irish Risotto with Potatoes,
 Mushrooms and Guinness 

And while we're on the subject of potatoes, you'll be fascinated by this post on the Daily Spud about Lumpers, the variety most widely grown in Ireland at the time of the Great Famine in 1845.

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Catherine writes a beautiful blog called Foxglove Lane and this recent post is a wonderfully evocative one of a Real Irish Pub that really hasn't changed at all.  The photos are fantastic and Catherine's personal recollections  bring it to life so that you can really taste that Guinness!

"Smoke from the fire and a kettle on the boil. The clock tick tocks. A lad sits at the counter. He dropped in "just for one" to his home away from home......"

Photo of Morrrissey's of Abbeyleix, County Laois from Foxglove Lane

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And for dessert how about this scrummy Potato Apple Tart from Caroline at bibliocook.com. A freelance journalist & broadcaster married to a Kiwi who makes beer in Ireland, Caroline has some tantalising recipes to share from both sides of the world. Potato Apple Tart I hear you say!  I know, but just take a look and you will be hooked! 

Potato Apple Tart

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I found Felicity, through my guest post with Susan.  Felicity lives between Bermondsey in London and rural Ireland, and writes a blog about these two disparate places.

Felicity is a professional writer whose book  "The House on an Irish Hill". looks to me like a fascinating read.

 'From the moment I crossed the mountain I fell in love. With the place, which was more beautiful than any place I'd ever seen. With the people I met there. And with a way of looking at life that was deeper, richer and wiser than any I'd known before. When I left I dreamt of clouds on the mountain. I kept going back.'

 Look out Amazon, here I come!

"When you know where you come from, you can see where you are going".

Take a look at this interview with Felicity about St. Patrick's Day for discoverireland.com.

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Thank you Susan, Aoife, Catherine, Caroline and Felicity for all graciously allowing me to share insights into your lives through this post.

According to the website timeanddate.com about 30 percent of Australians are believed to have some Irish ancestry today. And that is in no small way due to the Potato, and the emigration from Ireland in the mid 19th Century due to the Great Potato Famine.   So let's join hands across the oceans and say a very happy St.Patrick's Day, one and all!

How are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day?

  Here's hoping it involves a potato!  

Give Thanks!

It's Thanksgiving in the U.S. on Thursday 22nd November, and I thought there was no better time to take a look at the things we are thankful for.
Personally, I am very thankful for my wonderful family, who recently treated my husband and I to an anniversary dinner, bed and breakfast. Our luxurious room overlooked the Pacific Ocean at the beautiful Opal Cove Resort, in Coffs Harbour on the sunny mid north coast of New South Wales. Come sun up I leapt out onto our lovely balcony and sat enraptured as the scene unfolded before my eyes. This very obliging sea gull in the photo above flew into view just as I was clicking, so it was more good luck than good management!

Thanksgiving is celebrated every fourth Thursday in November over in the United States. According to Wikipedia  Thanksgiving Dinner centres usually around roast turkey, and  traditionally contains food native to the New World, as it is said the Pilgrims received these foods from the Native Americans.  

I understand that mashed potatoes are one of the main staples of the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, and so I thought this was a great opportunity to share with you this scrummy recipe for very special mashed potatoes from one of our blogging friends, Dawn Yucuis  from  Words of Deliciousness.

Words Of Deliciousness: 

Parmesan Cheese Mashed Potatoes With Sour Cream And Chives

Dawn writes " We eat a lot of potatoes in our house; it's one of our favorite side dishes. When I was growing up it was that way in my parent's home too......"  And later... 
"So if you are looking for something besides plain potatoes give this a try. They are nice and simple to make and the flavor will leave wanting more."



I think the title of the recipe is enough to whet your appetite, so I will simply suggest you hop over to Dawn's blog, check out her recipe, and I am sure you will be giving it a go! And while you are there, pause a while and soak up the aromas of delicious foods and simple but exciting recipes which Dawn showcases.



But wait.......there's more!!

I thought I'd share with you a few of my recent photos of things around me that I am liable to take for granted like the birds, the flowers, the trees and nature itself.  It's good to stop sometimes, and remind yourself how lucky you are, and perhaps this is as good a time as any!

What do you think this Kookaburra is saying to his mate?

Lewin's Honeyeater enjoying breakfast!

Tea Tree blossoms

Fiery gum leaves stand out from the crowd 

Red cedar tree in it's delicious Spring attire

Jacaranda and Flame Tree are just made for each other.
Sharing this photo with Mandarin Orange Monday.

If you'd like to share something that you are thankful for, I would just love to hear about it!  If not, that's OK, take a quiet moment and enjoy it yourself:)  Bye for now and if you are in the US enjoy your Thanksgiving on Thursday!