Jo’s Story
December 8th, 2009Being an avid gardener I have decided to keep an online journal of the many edible delights that my garden produces.
My home is located in the sub-tropics, in a far northern New South Wales coastal village, in Australia. The climate can at times be quite harsh here, making it a “survival of the fittest” for many a plant and tree. No matter what the changing of the seasons brings, my garden never fails to bring me great joy.
With the transportation of produce from the garden to the kitchen, a whole new story begins….
Many an old scrap piece of paper, stored in a cupboard or drawer, deserves the respect of being valued and shared, as these scraps of paper that I own were written on by various family members, some of whom are no longer with us in the physical world.
The recipes that they enjoyed enough to want to share with me will now be immortalised on these pages.
And I will also be sharing with you some fabulous family favourites of my own.
Although I do not profess to being an expert in the kitchen I enjoy nothing more than whiling away the hours in my kitchen!
I hope that you will enjoy sharing with me my many journeys between my kitchen and my garden, doing the things I enjoy the most.
This is my home life ~ online.
Footnote – On the 12th of June, 2010, I added a post that will explain a further evolution of this blog. You can read that post here.


Joanne, I have just read your recent piece on The Calm Space entitled Monte Carlo… or Me? and something went “ping”.
Four years ago we (hubby, Master 4 and Miss 12) made the tree change from the city and moved to a remote small town in Far North Queensland and I have found it difficult to adjust to just about everything except the gorgeous lush surroundings and lovely outlook from our home, which have been my saviour. I have been terribly lonely and depressed (the rainy season doesn’t help any) and should be taking medication to help with the blues. I haven’t been taking them as I’m trying to fall pregnant (without success) and would prefer to be drug free until this happens.
Anyway – long story short. My children are healthy and bright. My husband is a wonderful man. We live in a beautiful part of the world. We are debt free and I asked myself again today whether this is enough for me and today I answered myself honestly that “YES, this is enough for me, so just get on with it and enjoy what you have instead of dwelling on what you don’t have or think you should have!”.
It was an important moment and I have already made a list of things that need to be “gotten on with”. I have also made an appointment with a doctor to sort out the blues.
Thank you for your article. Also, your site is full of great recipes that I’d love to try with my daughter for my family.
Thanks again.
Diane, thank you so much for sharing your story and thoughts with me. It sounds as though you actually do have so many things to be thankful for and your own realisation of this is your first step towards yours and your families future happiness.
The Calm Space is a wonderful place to “hang out” with friends. Have you signed up for “A Month Of Me Time” yet? As you read through the articles on the website you will discover that there are other people out there, just like you, who have questioned so many aspects of their lives. Sharing stories with each other brings many new ideas for your own life to light. http://www.thecalmspace.com
You have made your list, you have the doctors appointment arranged. The only direction you can go now is UP! Good luck with everything.
You have no idea how happy it makes me, to know that my article gave you the “ping” you needed to appreciate all of the wonderful aspects of your life!
Enjoy your cooking with your daughter! It is a fantastic way to spend time together.
Keep in touch. Joanne.
Hiya cuz!
So you are pie people huh? I shall send you Billie’s recipe for cheese and onion pie – it’s the best, and lots of people agree
Nice website this – keep it going!
Mike
Mike, thanks for stopping by!! And thanks for the compliment!
Please do send Billie’s cheese and onion pie recipe, it sounds like the type of pie we would all love…I will make it and add a post on my site, with full acknowledgment of Billie’s contribution!
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