As Autumn Arrives

 As autumn supposedly has arrived in the southern parts of Australia,  flora is decelarating growth from their summer speeds.  I say "supposedly" as it can be still humid and warm on afternoons in New South Wales.   Sunrises and sunsets have not displayed thd intense colours, hues and streaks that I expect in April in the Antipodes.

As leaves begin to discolour and drop, I drag out the old furniture to the garage.   Another step forward in the process of the twice yearly roadside disposal provided by the local Council.   Daylight savings had ended a few weeks ago - and nights look more full as they arrive earlier. 

I have a motley collection of mainly smallish items which I say I want to part with - but never seem to be able to do.   What is it that we are encouraged to do - start small, do it regularly and soon the job is done?

I can be the type who loves to pull out the weeds one by one, instead of procastinating and eventually do  a bombardment of weed killer spray.
Procastination irritates me, but I go through periods practising it.   At times I find that delaying a chore can pay off, but often it is simpler and more rewarding to do it on a timely basis.

In a burgeoning contemporary world of more self service and self management,  what I find remarkably irritating are constant App updates to new versions,  regular change of passwords and greater recurrence of cutoffs that never happened before the internet of things.

Is there more choice in entertainment for the family and self?    While payable streaming services increase, there are more ads and less inspiring programmes on free to air screens.   Cinema megaplexes are still around, despite the rise of access to personalised viewing as opposed to shared collective viewing.
Our human eyes strain under the weight of reading, writing and viewing on small but portable devices.

Food we may have taken for granted are increasingly processed, prepacked, programmed and interfered with.  Climate change affects our usual growing sources, politics and logistical barriers challenge distribution and consumers are further distanced from the producers.

We can now bank without physically stepping into one.   We can dine at our own accord without ever knowing the kitchen and staff cooking it.   We  generate work output without meeting our team members.   We  purchase goods and services without having to go to a mall.

We are told we can save our personal time to do other things.   Do we use the freed up opportunity to embrace more of Nature, the vibes beyond the electronic, artificial and virtual world significantly enveloping us?

Do I fully realise its autumn, with her gentle embrace of an ever spinning Earth?

#yongkevthoughts

Orange NSW - Farmers Market

The Racine kitchen was there, offering  a variety and diversity of breads and pastries. (picture above)










Organised by the Rotary Club, the Farmers Markets are a highlight of any visit to the Orange region.  

Pumpkins and choir (above and below), sausage rolls and pies, these are a few of my favourite things.  When I am feeling sad, when I am feeling famished, I just think of such stuff and then I don;t feel so bad. When the wind blows, when I feel deprived, I soon get a warmth moving away from that.
And on to pancakes, jams and scones!

Bakery delights from the artisan bread Bakehouse chain (above and below) add to the aromatic ambiance of the markets on a nippy Saturday morning.  I love the spelt bread slices.

Apples are a primary feature of the Orange region - it does sound contradictory.  There are Royal Galas, Pink Ladies and more, but I did not see any Granny Smiths. Other stalls that caught my eye and interest were from the Abilene Grove Olive Oil run by John  and Lorraine Milla; the Budgi Werri Prunes from Cheryl Heley, Wirrimah;

Cottesbrook Honey by David and Tracey Parker of Blayney; Goldfields Honey with Jon & Vicki Lockwood of Lucknow, NSW; Jo Robson catering with bottled sauces from Canowindra; Linda’s Red Hot Chili Relish by Linda Wilson of Mudgee; Milnes of Mudgee, with caramelised balsamic & pate mousse, from Jenni Milne; Murrungundy Pistachios from Diana and Richard Barton, Elong Elong; the Original Farm vegetables, run by Jung-Chun Lai of Cowra; Ploughman's Olive Oil & Products from Peter & Shirley Michalk; and Straniero Extra Virgin Olive Oil by Anna & Sam Stranger of Canowindra.

A warehouse shed ( background in picture above) houses many of the stalls and serve as a functional community hall.  The crowd is friendly, unobtrusive and focused on enjoying the variety of produce unique to the region.  Support for local agricultural products and cooking styles is evident, not just in the several restaurants and cafes in town  and surrounding areas, but also at the Farmers Market. (held at the Orange Showground at Leeds Parade from May to October, and at the Northcourt behind the Orange Visitors Centre from November to April).  You can also register your children for cooking classes held on site.

 Honey to warm any heart (above) and raw, wholesome potatoes (below) reinforce the soul of a countryside feel.  You can also get your selections of cheese, sparkling wines, relishes, condiments, freshly laid eggs, mustards, hazelnut products and chocolates.

Scenes from central New South Wales, above and below, hark back to another time, another place in the Australian landscape.

Autumn in Nan Tien

It was Wesak Day - the festival commemorating the birth,enlightenment and death of the Buddha more than two thousand years ago - when these images were taken. Above image, a recreation of the birth of the Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal. Below image, steps leading to a pagoda tower on the extensive landscaped grounds of the complex.

The Nan Tien Temple complex is sited in Berkeley, a short drive south of Wollongong CBD if one uses the freeway south. It is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and is part of a world wide chain of religious halls belonging to the FoKuang Shan group which originated from Taiwan.