Do You Celebrate Halloween?

       Halloween is not celebrated in a big way in my homeland, Jamaica, but there are parties at hotels, clubs and some homes.  I have learnt a lot about this celebration from blogs and have been fascinated by the decorations, costumes and recipes. I can just imagine how thrilled children are when they go trick or treating and get a variety of goodies.  I note that pumpkins are a big part of Halloween. I like to see the carved pumpkins with lights.  We have had huge pumpkins on our farm which provided us with some delicious pumpkin soup.

One of the many Pumpkin Petals from my backyard

A huge pumpkin from my backyard

   Do you celebrate Halloween?  How do you plan to celebrate this year?  When was your most memorable Halloween?

     As usual I am linking with Friendship Friday hosted by Create With Joy and the other parties below:

Doing You Well Wednesday,Thursday Two Questions,Thursday Favourite Things,Thursday Thoughts Linky Party, Inspire Us Thursday Linky Party,The Weekend Blog HopSincerely Paula's No Rules Weekend Blog Party,The Blog Strut Peacock Style,Friday Follow Along Blog Hop, Friday Favourites,T.G.I.F. Linky Party, Weekend Wonders,Follow Who? Social Weekend Blog Hop, Lovin' The Readers Blog Hop,I Love My Post Blog Hop,Fun Friday Blog Hop,Make My Saturday Sweet,Let's Get Social Sunday,Show Off Weekend Blog Party,Freedom Fridays, Hearts For Home Blog Hop,Weekends Are Fun, Let's Be Friends Blog Hop, What To Do Weekends,Weekend Block Party and Super Sunday Sync.

Beauty In The Clouds - Wordless Wednesday Linky

 Welcome to Wordless Wednesday hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up your Wordless and not so Wordless photo posts.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MY SPONSOR  - SEW CRAFTY ANGEL. PLEASE VISIT HER BLOG.

Our Treasured Plates - Creative Monday Blog Hop

   Some weeks ago I shared the special decorative cups that my family and I have had for many years. This week I am sharing the special plates that my twin sister and I have treasured over the years and used to decorate our home.

    This was a gift that my twin sister received which featured the Chinese zodiac signs. As you can see it came in the year of the rabbit.

 Being bird enthusiasts we were thrilled to receive these small plates featuring colourful birds.

  We are in autumn so this lovely little plate featuring autumn scenes is perfect to be on display at this time.

   We have always had an insatiable curiosity about the flora of countries around the world so we were happy to get this souvenir from our Australian cousin Christine. 

  Hello and welcome to Creative Mondays hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up all your creative posts.

1. Link up your Crafty, Recipe, DIY, Fashion, Creative writing, Photo, Family Tutorials, Favourite, Helpful, Make-up, Outfit or anything creative posts here...

2. Link as many posts up as you like.

3. Please visit a few posts and leave comments.

4. It would be great if you could grab the Creative Monday button and place it somewhere on your blog.

5. We would love for you to follow some way by GFC,Google+,Facebook, Twitter or Email.
Happy Creative Monday and have a great week.     

I also link up at these PARTIES!

                                              Please visit Sew Crafty Angel

I Surprised Myself!

       
     If someone told me that I had to make a big change in my diet before I had to do it probably I would exclaim "Say what?!  I can't eat some of my favourite foods right now!"  Well, to my surprise in recent weeks I have adjusted with ultimate ease. I surprised even myself! Of course it was very important for my health but I have not been moaning and groaning about it.  These days I eat a lot more fish and one of my favourite dishes is Escoveitched Fish .  Ah, no wonder, I can still eat a favourite dish!:)

            

    Have you ever had to make a drastic change in your diet?  If so, how did you cope?

     As usual I am linking with Friendship Friday hosted by Create With Joy and the other parties below:

Doing You Well Wednesday,Thursday Two Questions,Thursday Favourite Things,Thursday Thoughts Linky Party, Inspire Us Thursday Linky Party,Sincerely Paula's No Rules Weekend Blog Party,The Blog Strut Peacock Style,Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party,Friday Favourites,T.G.I.F. Linky Party, Aloha Friday Blog Hop,The Weekend Blog Hop,Weekend Reads, Weekend Wonders,Follow Who? Social Weekend Blog Hop, Lovin' The Readers Blog Hop,I Love My Post Blog Hop,Fun Friday Blog Hop,Make My Saturday Sweet,Let's Get Social Sunday,Show Off Weekend Blog Party,Freedom Fridays, Hearts For Home Blog Hop,Weekends Are Fun, Let's Be Friends Blog Hop, What To Do Weekends,Weekend Block Party and Super Sunday Sync.

Palm Seeds' Beauty - Wordless Wednesday Linky

     Welcome to Wordless Wednesday hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up your Wordless and not so Wordless photo posts. 

          SPECIAL THANKS TO MY SPONSOR  - SEW CRAFTY ANGEL. PLEASE VISIT HER BLOG.

Creamed Potatoes With Mixed Vegetables - Creative Monday Blog Hop

          I am a big fan of potatoes - creamed, baked, potato salad etc. I also like to try new recipes and recently I prepared creamed potatoes with mixed vegetables.

Ingredients
4 Medium Irish Potatoes
1 Tablespoon of butter
1 tin of mixed vegetables
1 teaspoon of salt

Method
1. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to water and bring to a boil
2. Put potatoes to boil until tender
3. Drain 
4. Cream Irish Potatoes with butter
5. Add mixed vegetables and stir
6. Serve hot

  Hello and welcome to Creative Mondays hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up all your creative posts.

1. Link up your Crafty, Recipe, DIY, Fashion, Creative writing, Photo, Family Tutorials, Favourite, Helpful, Make-up, Outfit or anything creative posts here...

2. Link as many posts up as you like.

3. Please visit a few posts and leave comments.

4. It would be great if you could grab the Creative Monday button and place it somewhere on your blog.

5. We would love for you to follow some way by GFC,Google+,Facebook, Twitter or Email.
Happy Creative Monday and have a great week.     

I also link up at these PARTIES!

                                              Please visit Sew Crafty Angel

A Wonderful Coincidence!

       

    I started this week with another anniversary of my twin sister Janine's death weighing heavily on my mind.  I was not even sleeping well and got up very early on Monday morning.  I headed straight to the internet to check my Yahoo Mail and immediately my eyes caught an email from someone with the name Janine!  It was from Janine Huldie who has a wonderful blog titled Janine's Confessions Of A Mommyaholic. She brought the good news that I had won her blogiversary giveaway! As you can well imagine I was thrilled.  I think this was such a wonderful coincidence. Thanks again to Janine for giving me this opportunity. I am glad that through blogging I have had the privilege of meeting a lovely person who has my twin sister's first name. Do go over and visit her blog. 

    
    Have you ever experienced a surprising coincidence in your life?  Did it bring you joy or something good? I certainly hope so.
    As usual I am linking with Friendship Friday hosted by Create With Joy and the other parties below:

Thursday Two Questions,Thursday Favourite Things,Thursday Thoughts Linky Party, Inspire Us Thursday Linky Party,Get Pinned (Link Up),Sincerely Paula's No Rules Weekend Blog Party,The Blog Strut Peacock Style,Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party,Friday Favourites, Friendly Friday,T.G.I.F. Linky Party, Aloha Friday Blog Hop,The Weekend Blog Hop,Weekend Reads, Weekend Wonders,Follow Who? Social Weekend Blog Hop, Lovin' The Readers Blog Hop,I Love My Post Blog Hop,Fun Friday Blog Hop,Make My Saturday Sweet,Let's Get Social Sunday,Show Off Weekend Blog Party,Freedom Fridays, Hearts For Home Blog Hop,Weekends Are Fun, Let's Be Friends Blog Hop, What To Do Weekends,Weekend Block Party and Super Sunday Sync.

Special Memories Of My Twin - Wordless Wednesday Linky

    It is not easy to be wordless this week. My friend Eleanor who attended Preparatory school and the final years of high school with my twin and  I sent me this message in an email and it has certainly lifted my spirit:-
" Our precious Lord, Who is keeping Janine safe and secure in Paradise until we eventually join her there, and Who will never stop comforting you, Mrs. Haughton-James and Richard, is the same God Who gave me the privilege of knowing Janine Petite Haughton-James: whenever I think of her (and of you), the words "pure-hearted", "sincere", "genuine", "kind", "gentle", "lady-like", " diligent'", "practical" and "efficient" come to mind."
Anyone who knew Janine will always remember her as a beautiful flower in God's garden"
    
    Welcome to Wordless Wednesday hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up your Wordless and not so Wordless photo posts. 

          SPECIAL THANKS TO MY SPONSOR  - SEW CRAFTY ANGEL. PLEASE VISIT HER BLOG.

Do You Know The Guinep? - Creative Monday Blog Hop

           I have a lot of fruit trees around. Last year my Lychee tree went down with Hurricane Sandy's onslaught so I am missing lychees or what are otherwise called Chinese guineps.  However the other type of guinep has been in abundance with one tree near to my home bearing heavily.  Many persons keep coming for more and more guineps and they are quite sweet too.  Do you know the guinep? Here are some pictures of a bunch of guineps and one showing the inside of the fruit.

  Hello and welcome to Creative Mondays hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up all your creative posts.

1. Link up your Crafty, Recipe, DIY, Fashion, Creative writing, Photo, Family Tutorials, Favourite, Helpful, Make-up, Outfit or anything creative posts here...

2. Link as many posts up as you like.

3. Please visit a few posts and leave comments.

4. It would be great if you could grab the Creative Monday button and place it somewhere on your blog.

5. We would love for you to follow some way by GFC,Google+,Facebook, Twitter or Email.
Happy Creative Monday and have a great week.     

I also link up at these PARTIES!

                                              Please visit Sew Crafty Angel

Question Time

      Every weekend I will have a blog post where I ask and answer questions.  It is a good way for readers to get to know more about me and also helps me to get feedback on a number of questions.   Which items fascinate you although you do not collect them? I love seeing teapots even though I do not drink tea.  My mom has several beautiful teapots.   She got this one over 65 years ago as a wedding gift.  I rarely go near it as I wouldn't want to be the one to break it!

   Here is one that she has had for over 30 years.  I like the shape and it features my favourite flowers, roses.

      As usual I am participating in Friendship Friday hosted by Create With Joy where the theme this week is Something Random.

Also linking with:- Thursday Two Questions,Thursday Favourite Things,Thursday Thoughts Linky Party, Inspire Us Thursday Linky Party,Get Pinned (Link Up),Sincerely Paula's No Rules Weekend Blog Party,The Blog Strut Peacock Style,Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party,Friday Favourites, Friendly Friday,T.G.I.F. Linky Party, Aloha Friday Blog Hop,The Weekend Blog Hop,Weekend Reads, Weekend Wonders,Follow Who? Social Weekend Blog Hop, Lovin' The Readers Blog Hop,I Love My Post Blog Hop,Fun Friday Blog Hop,Make My Saturday Sweet,Let's Get Social Sunday,Show Off Weekend Blog Party,Freedom Fridays, Hearts For Home Blog Hop,Weekends Are Fun, Let's Be Friends Blog Hop, What To Do Weekends,Weekend Block Party and Super Sunday Sync.

A Special Bell - Wordless Wednesday Linky

Gift from Japan that my late twin sister got over 30 years ago.

 Welcome to Wordless Wednesday hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up your Wordless and not so Wordless photo posts.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MY SPONSOR  - SEW CRAFTY ANGEL. PLEASE VISIT HER BLOG.

Tribute To A Departed Cousin - Creative Monday Blog Hop

Kay Davitian

          This week on Creative Monday I pay tribute to my first cousin Kay Davitian who died on October 2, 2013.  She was very creative and made her mark in the fashion industry. A special time for her was when she got the opportunity to make her signature jumpsuits for jazz singer Carmen McRae, Hollywood actress Jane Russell and Frank Sinatra's mom. 
         When she lived in New York she worked for Ce Bon's Fashions on Broadway. Many of her designs were worn by TV and film stars and appeared in the New York Times.  A major achievement for her was when she became the first Jamaican woman to be hired by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
         Her career took her to many countries.  During her 15 year stint as quality control technician for Jones of New York she travelled to 50 of the 90 countries where they had operations. Kay also spent many years in Italy where she worked with top designers.
          In recent years she was the mentor to the designers on the popular Television Jamaica reality show Mission Catwalk. I always looked forward to her emails and phone calls.   Below are some of the beautiful kaftans that she made.

  Hello and welcome to Creative Mondays hosted by Clairejustineoxox and Judy H-J's Thoughts where you can link up all your creative posts.

1. Link up your Crafty, Recipe, DIY, Fashion, Creative writing, Photo, Family Tutorials, Favourite, Helpful, Make-up, Outfit or anything creative posts here...

2. Link as many posts up as you like.

3. Please visit a few posts and leave comments.

4. It would be great if you could grab the Creative Monday button and place it somewhere on your blog.

5. We would love for you to follow some way by GFC,Google+,Facebook, Twitter or Email.
Happy Creative Monday and have a great week.     

I also link up at these PARTIES!

                                              Please visit Sew Crafty Angel