Feather your Nest Friday, 11th June, 2021.

What a week!  Our area was hit by a storm and we are going to be cleaning up for a long time.   

I still had some areas of progress but due to the storm we also had some setbacks.

I will start with the good things! 

My big batch cook up was Spaghetti Bolognese.  We had it for dinner,  I was able to give Lucy enough for two nights at her house and freeze two meals worth for our house.   Another couple of ready meals put away.


I made a banana cake as that is Harper's favourite cake to take to school.  I make it thin like a slice to fit in her lunch box.  This was my Nanas trick to maximise icing to cake ratio! 


I slice it up and freeze it ready for school mornings. 

Then I cooked up some lamb to make broth and some nice soft meat for baby food.   The next day I added a ton of veggies to make Thomas his little meals.  He demolishes it.   This time I added Zucchini.   We keep adding new vegetables.     While this was cooking I decided to get some apples on as I am still working through them.    By the end of the day I had a ton of containers of food for Sidney and Thomas and I kept some apple puree for myself too. 


I did a little bit of sewing and made some more handkerchiefs to package up.  


I got requests for more bibs.   So I went through my fabric stash and cut out a few ready to sew.  Maybe on the weekend I will start on those.  It is nice having things cut out and ready to go.  With even 15 minutes this gets things made up.

Mum and I visited Lucy and her family.   She has an orchard of great old fruit trees.  I discovered that as well as Figs, Quinces and Mulberry trees can grow from cuttings so I packed my basket and snippers.   We walked around the garden and took a collection of cuttings from each tree.  We also picked oranges and lemons!   These are waiting to be made into something now.

I was able to meet with my friend Wendy.   We have our once a month get together and trading day.  Usually I take Wendy five or six dozen eggs.  This time I let the side down a bit.  But Wendy arrived with treasures.  I am still looking through such things as silk embroidery ribbons, fine embroidery wool in the softest colours,  velvet, laces and more!   It is so nice when you have friends who know what you like and we know what they like!    Wendy also gave me a container full of her home grown cherry tomatoes.  Right now some are in the dehydrator and our dinner featured a lot of them on pizza.  Thank you Wendy! 

I had a serious bargain at the store.  A fancy brand of hand sanitiser that sells for $10 each was on special for $1.   I got a heap and gave some to the girls and added some to my pantry.

Now for the storm.  We knew a storm was brewing.   It was Monday afternoon and I was in the kitchen.   The storm hit and I stood still.  It was so loud and sudden!    I headed to find Andy in the office but already tree branches were blowing past the house and trees were falling.  I sort of froze for a minute.  I remembered how we made the decision to take two huge trees out on the side of our house.  It was a big and expensive decision.  Right then I thought how grateful I was those trees could not fall on the house! 

From the windows we could see trees down but soon it was dark and we could no longer see a thing. 
Scout began to bark and I was sure she was worried about a fox.  She kept looking down into the orchard yard and barking and looking at me then barking again.    

The next morning it was all over.   I began my usual routine and went to let the chickens out.  As I went through the gate I put my hand over my mouth when I saw a tree had crushed the chicken house.   This house is in the orchard yard!   Scout had tried to tell me!  


At first I couldn't even see the hen house.  This photo is after we have cleared a lot. 

Amazingly no chickens were killed!   They were all sitting happily under the branches.  


My heart really sank.  Besides this the mess everywhere was just awful.    And the first day we could not do much as the roads around us needed to be cleared.  This was the road I would take to go to Mums...



Andy spent a day clearing that road.  Someone else clearing the road out the front came in to check we were ok.    So our own driveway and garden have to wait.  Next we checked animals and trees down on fences. 

Everywhere you look there are branches and whole trees down.  

Because of the state of the hen house I could not lock the chickens up at night.  I caught some and relocated them to my other hen house.  Yes having another hen house was a good idea.   Not all my eggs were in one basket!    Scout had the job to guard the chickens over three nights as it has taken me today to catch them all.    I think I have lost four.  It will be a fox.   I started with 17 and I caught and relocated 13.   I am grateful we saved that many.   

Today we spent the whole day rebuilding.  Every bone in my body aches tonight!   I was on the ground cutting out a new wire flooring and being general helper.  We hauled and cut the branches, some into a heap for a bonfire and some to stack for future wood for the fire.    We made a lot of progress.   

So sometimes it is two steps forward, one step back!  

We are all experiencing price rises and shortages.   I want to share this cookbook from IKEA The Scraps Book.   Not every idea is one I will use but there are many that I will!   Some of them are brilliant!   I have studied it for ideas.  

I hope you found ways to get ahead, build your pantry and preparedness this week.   If I did not reply to you last week I hope you will understand.   If you have ideas to add to the scraps book please do!  A tip your family has used might really help someone else! xxx















Comments

  1. Ohh, Annabel, you are so special. In the midds of the storm damages you took time to share a very interesting book with us! Sorry to hear of your horible weather but glad you are ok. And with a healthy positive atitude. No wonder I can hardly wait for your posts but also take heart from your words. With love, Laura from Romania

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    1. Dear Laura, Thank you for your kind comment and I am so happy to have you here from Romania! A good thing the came of the week was more rain. Things are really looking very green. Today tiredness hit me so Im having a slower day! I hope you have a lovely weekend! Thanks so much, love Annabel.xxx

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  2. Dear Annabel, That storm - how scary. I am grateful Andy, yourself and house are intact but I am sorry you lost a few hens and that gorgeous hen house. We had the cold blast but not damaging winds. I have managed to get a few rooms deep cleaned this week and am just waiting on my dishwasher to jar up the rest of the Medlar jam I made this afternoon. It is a very different color to the first batch. I did add a bit of Jamsetta to speed the process up - maybe that is why. I am happy it is the start of a long weekend at home. I have lots of little plans. Keep well, I hope you get to rest up a little over the weekend. I am off to look up the cookbook. Love Clare

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    1. Dear Clare, It is nice to have lots of things to do over the long weekend. I did think that this was the first beautiful chicken house I ever had and it had to be this one that got hit! All my other chicken houses ever have been pretty "rustic." But we are building back the same so this will be very nice.
      I am having a bit of a rest today. There are things to do but I just need a rest this afternoon. Hopefully by next Friday I can show you the new hen house. Have a really good weekend! With love Annabel.xxx

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  3. So sorry to hear of your struggles. Thank goodness your husband is somewhat recovered in health and your are not coping with that as well. You were wise to be proactive about your big trees near the house. I looked at the cookbook. Some good ideas. This week I made a casserole sauce from the woody stems of asparagus and mushrooms, cooked and pureed with moldy cheese and blended in a white sauce. Really good.

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    1. Thank you! I thought the idea of fritters using grated up stalks was good. Also the use of cheese rinds. I have found now some more books and websites with some more ideas and am enjoying the ideas and how they have got me thinking! Your meal sounds good! xxx

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  4. Dear Annabel
    I am so sorry you lost some of your chickens and their beautiful coop. Clever Scout though! Trying to alert you and then keeping guard- I think she sounds pretty special.
    Thank you for the link to the Ikea scrapsbook. I have had a brief look over it and will take more time this weekend.
    I think your Spag Bol sauce looks great and having some put by in the freezer is always such a great idea.
    Wishing you a lovely weekend!
    Much love, Heidi xxx

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    1. Dear Heidi,
      Thank you. Hopefully by Friday we will have rebuilt. I loved that chook house too it was so nice! Re the scraps the spaghetti sauce is something that many things can be added to to bulk it out and add veggies. But there are so many ways. I love finding something new I have thought of!
      Have a lovely weekend to you too, with love Annabel.xxx

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  5. Good golly, Miss Molly! That's scary, Annabel. Whole trees down and branches blowing by?!! Yikes. I didn't realize you guys got severe weather down there like that. Those must have been some strong winds.
    What an amazing picture, seeing your beautiful chickens all together like that under the branches. God bless your helper, Scout! What a smart, good doggy.
    Glad you got your road cleared...and that someone checked on you guys. I trust your Mom fared well? and Laffy, etc?
    Summer is just around the corner here; we're still enjoying "June Gloom" for as long as it lasts before the heat of later summer. I plan on harvesting what lettuce did come up and making a Wilted Lettuce Salad, yum!
    You all take care of yourselves~
    Hugs and prayers,
    Mary

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    1. Dear Mary,
      Now and then we will get a bad storm. I think we do get the occasional mini tornado type thing although here we dont get hurricanes or proper tornados. In some parts of Australia they get cyclones but that is in the north. This was enough! I went for a drive today and oh boy so much mess!
      Yes the cows and sheep were all ok. Mum was ok but also a mess around property.
      It is lovely that you got some lettuce to harvest. Have a good weekend! With love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Dear Annabel, I hope you get a good rest and mending to your tired muscles/bones. I can "hear" the tired in your "voice".
      Mary, again ;)

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  6. Oh Annabel I’m so sorry about your hen house and losing the chickens. But also pleased for you that so many were saved and your house was safe. Thank goodness you made the decision to remove the trees!

    I don’t know how you still have so many things to report despite the storm! All of the cooking looks lovely and I hope you manage to get some sewing time in this weekend. Sounds like a lovely catch up with Wendy!

    All the very best with the clean up, even with setbacks like this you see the opportunity for firewood etc! Thanks for the link to the cookbook, there are some great ideas there!

    Take care
    Jen (NZ)

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    1. Dear Jen, Thank you! When we were kids Mum quite often made fritters. She used corn and left over roast meat in them. We loved them. Now I know she was stretching that left over meat! She also made pikelets often and we took cold ones with butter on them to school too. Another was fried rice. I loved it! So many bits and pieces can go into that and that was one of my favourite dinners. As kids we had no clue what was economical and what wasnt we just thought everything was delicious! Im thinking the price of meat there is probably as bad as here. So all ways to stretch meat are helpful!
      Yes we are set for firewood basically forever. The beauty of this is we can let friend come for firewood as well. Have a lovely weekend. With love Annabel.xxx

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  7. Hi Annabel and everyone,

    So glad your family, house, and most of the chickens are safe! The bolognese and cake look so good. I made some sauce this week too!

    This week I had a baking day (bread, spaghetti meat sauce, single-serve oatmeal and steel-cut oats "pucks" for the freezer, apple pie with some apples that needed using) and got all my seedlings planted! We have tomatoes, squash, melons, and cucumbers growing. I may try to add some more from seed this weekend. Blackberries were harvested and potted herbs and annuals watered from my rain barrel. The hyssop and campanula are blooming and look so pretty!

    Indoors, I cleaned and organized the big linen closet and my closet and dresser. Now it is a lot easier to find things and with my clothes organized (and things that are no longer needed out of there) it is a lot easier to pick work outfits in the morning, and I realized that I didn't actually need to purchase a few items I thought I would need to - they were hidden away behind other things! The easiest way to save money! Knitting-wise I finished a pair of socks and worked a bit on a wrap that will be a gift.

    We did a stock-up pantry trip since prices are rising steadily here; mostly dry goods, spices, vanilla, baking chocolate, and a bulk purchase of HVAC filters for the house (saves a ton over buying them individually, and makes a huge difference for our seasonal allergies to change these out monthly). Yesterday we did curbside pick-up for some lumber for the shed base - it is getting more expensive here, too, but I was just happy they had what we needed. This weekend is shed-building weekend, so that is very exciting!

    I hope everyone has a good weekend.
    <3
    Kathy

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    1. Dear Kathy,
      Your wardrobe reorganise really saved you a lot. I have found things I had forgotten about too at times and its like having something new!
      You will be busy building that shed. Im glad you were able to get the timber. I never imagined timber would be something hard to get.
      Its fantastic you got your seedlings in. You have a good variety too. Adding seeds would be good. And stagger the harvest later too. I hope it all does very well.
      You got plenty made on your baking day. My weekly big cook up has added a lot of different meals to the freezer and I want to keep going with that. It is amazing how something done weekly adds up so much!
      Good work on the stock up too. I think we need to take every opportunity on the good deals as yes things just seem to be going up and becoming sparse too or in the case of what Im seeing becoming grim in quality!
      I hope to hear your shed is making good progress! With love Annabel.xxx

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  8. Wow! What an ordeal! I am always so impressed by how much you do.

    Thanks for sharing the cookbook....I assume we can download it & share it?

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    1. Dear Jenny, I downloaded it and thought I might print it then add more ideas as I find them. It has some really good ideas. I think you could share it, just not sell it, that's my guess. Thanks so much I am not doing too much today, the week caught up with me! With love Annabel.xxx

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  9. Dear Annabel,
    I know you love animals and I'm sure others on your blog do also, so I just wanted to share my terrible week
    My precious little kitty, Treacle (like the English candy) went home to heaven to be with God yesterday morning. I”m heartbroken and so, so sad.
    She is one of my number of rescues. I rescued her and her friend, Truffle from the parking lot of one of our small downtown restaurants in October 2017 after seeing them and feeding them through the summer. Sadly, she had IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) when I found her, due mainly from eating something they shouldn’t. It turns into lymphoma. I had her for 3 years and 8 months, but not nearly long enough. She had daily medicines to help her and was loving and playful. She loved Truffle, adored my boys and got along well with the other two girls. I’m glad she was only really ill for a couple of weeks. She was a tiny black kitty with aqua green eyes, just beautiful. I’m grateful I have other kitties to cuddle, unlike when our last dog went to heaven and I had no other pets at the time.
    I do know she’s playing with my other pets and is happy and free from pain, but I miss her so.
    Thank you! Blessings to all, Laura

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    1. I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet kitty, Laura. It's so hard when they pass on, but I believe we'll see our beloved pets again in Heaven. Keeping you in thoughts. Jill

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    2. Dear Laura, I am really sorry. We can only do our best to give them a good life for as long as we can and I am sure you did that and more. I am so glad you have other pets as that keeps you going. But it is still hard. I have had a good cry over many animals.
      With love Annabel.xxx

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    3. Like Jill, I believe we'll be reunited with our fur babies in Heaven :) Gives hope when we are hurting from missing them so bad :*(
      Mary

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    4. Dear Laura,

      I am so sorry to hear you lost sweet Treacle. Our pets give so much love and it is hard to say goodbye. She was a lucky kitty indeed to find such a caring home with you. Will be thinking of you and give our kitties a snuggle in Treacle's memory.

      <3
      Kathy

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    5. Dear laura,
      So sorry you lost your sweet baby. It is so hard. I am glad you have other babies to snuggle. We lost our sweet sugar baby soaks
      a few weeks ago. She got diabetes the last little bit of her life. That is why we called her
      a sugar baby. We did everything to make her more comfortable and have her insulin ever day she made it to her sweet 16. Thank You for the love and care you gave your kitty. I believe you will see her again. My God bless
      your days.
      Much love,
      Patti

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  10. Wow! What a storm; so much work just to get back to where you started. Having those trees cut was good thinking. We had a large tree which should have been removed by our power company but they would not as they said it was sound. Well it was not; there was a hole on one side high up and what wasn't visible was a large squirrel nest in that hole that was rotting the tree at that spot. One afternoon a sunny day changed in moments to a tempest of high winds and pounding rain. We heard the crash of the big hemlock falling onto a second hemlock and both of them fell onto our truck. $11,000. in damage luckily covered by insurance. We decided to take down all trees large enough to fall on our house and it took time, hard work and money. My husband did most of them but we had to hire an arborist for trees that could fall on the power line. Now we rest easy when storms arise and park our vehicles next to the house out of harm's way. The sudden tempest lasted only 15 minutes and then the sun came out again.
    I'm glad most of your chickens survived. The baby food looks so fine. Lucky children to have a caring grandma close by. Wishing you a return to normal soon!

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    1. Dear Rita, I am so glad no one was in that truck. A tree that can destroy a house just isn't on. As much as I love trees. It sounds like it took a lot of work for you but it is good you did that. We are lucky to have plenty of trees further from the house to enjoy and provide homes for the birds etc.
      Thanks so much I am so glad I can help feed the babies this way. With love Annabel.xxx

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  11. What a week you’ve had, glad your preparations have helped and you’re getting on top of things. How do I save the scraps book link, I thought it interesting but would like to really look over it later?

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    1. I tend to open the link then leave that open and work on another page so I have it there to go back to. Otherwise you could email it to yourself? I thought I might print it and add notes as I think its really good! I hope that helps. xxx

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  12. I am just so, so sorry. I am so thankful your house was spared. I will pray for you all.

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    1. Thanks Lana. We are going ok and working to clean up! xxx

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  13. Merciful Heavens, that storm must have been frightening! I am so thankful that you came through it okay, and that so few chickens were lost. Your picture of them just hanging out under the fallen branches did make me chuckle. Hardy critters, those chickens! Your Spaghetti Bolognese and banana cake look really delicious.

    I had a good week here in Georgia, USA. Twice a week I get to watch my toddler grandsons and their baby sister while my daughter works. They have discovered how fun it is to go out in my back yard to pick mulberries and beans (none of the mulberries seem to make it back to the house, haha). They are keeping an eye on the blueberries, blackberries, tomatoes, and apples as well, and I'm sure will enjoy helping me pick them when they ripen. Last week they had some small peppers in their lunch boxes; after they ate them we poked the seeds into a pot to see if they'll grow. Well today the 4 year old brought the remains of a bell pepper his mom had cooked with so we could plant those seeds too. It blesses this old Granny's heart to see them interested in growing things.

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    1. Chickens do seem to make the most of any opportunity! Out in the sun under the branches they were quite happy. You would be very busy with toddlers and a baby! It sounds like they like it at your place. They are learning too quite clearly! This is so nice to hear! xxx

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  14. What a week is right! I am so sorry your pretty chicken coop got messed up. I hope most of the parts are still usable so you can build it back as good as new. I can see your hens waiting patiently. That must have been a mighty wind!

    Thank you so much for sharing the link to that cookbook! So many good ideas and reminders to use every last bit. Love it. We have had a challenge here trying to get things back to normal after all the rain we had. Our road to town (we live 16 miles out) was closed for ten days as part of the pavement just washed away. I was thankful we had everything we needed and managed just fine without going to a store. I put up peaches and made organic apple and peach vinegar last week. I've been sewing a bit each day and now painting a repair job we got done on the house. It all came so easy twenty years ago when we moved here. But I tell my husband all the maintenance and projects are what's keeping us young! I don't think he's convinced yet. :-(

    Annabel, you are doing a beautiful job with the baby food. I know your girls appreciate it and those babies will be so healthy. Your handkerchiefs are gorgeous, too! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Dear Pam, I am so glad you did well with ten days cut off from town. So many people would be in a crisis in less than ten days. So we both had storms !
      I think with a house and garden there is always maintenance and projects. We have to have goals too. Yes it does keep you young!
      The peaches would be beautiful. Well done on the vinegar and sewing too.
      Have a very good new week! With love Annabel.xxx

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  15. Oh, Annabel, I'm so sorry about all the damage to your property and the loss of some of your chickens, and I'm so glad you and the family are okay.

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    1. Thanks so much Jill. We are making progress on a new chicken house and cleaning up! xxx

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  16. I am sorry for your losses from the storm. I hate it when we have tornado watches and warnings here and bad thunderstorms make me so nervous. Our house was hit by lightning a year or two ago. Your Bolognese sure looks delicious. What a wonderful friend you have in Wendy. You keep plugging away and still accomplish so much in spite of the trouble. I hope this week goes better for you. Nancy

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    1. Dear Nancy,
      Your house was hit by lightening! Oh that is bad. It would be so scary. Storms can be terrifying.
      Thanks so much. We are progressing on cleaning up and a new chicken house. With love Annabel.xxx

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  17. Dear Annabel, I am so sorry to hear of the storm. How frightening. Not to mention a lot of work in the clean up and rebuilding. Isn't Scout smart? What a good dog. I am so happy to hear that you and your family are ok, as well as your house. Although, I can imagine it is quite draining, tiring and frustrating in rebuilding a big coop. It is good that most of your chickens are ok. You still have achieved so much. You are amazing. I have been working on saving seeds and keeping an eye on our budget. At our local shop they had half price women's clothes. I got to buy myself some nice things. It was great to get to wear something 'new'. I also bought some books to put away for children's gifts. Please have a rest and take it easy. You always give so much to everyone. Sending you lots of love. Love, Lily.

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    1. Dear Lily,
      Scout is really good. I should listen to her more obviously!
      Well done on the seed saving. I am trying to be much better with that. Seeds are so great to have, gift and trade. It is lovely you got to get some nice things for yourself!
      Very good to put some books away as gifts. Today Chloe needed a gift. She was caught with a surprise party. She came over to my gift cupboard and found the perfect thing! A gift cupboard is such a help.
      Thanks so much Lily, with love Annabel.xxx

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  18. Dear Annabel,
    I don't think that frightening would begin to describe the events of the storm and its aftermath. I am so grateful that you are all safe and that damage to the chicks wasn't any worse than
    it was. Thank goodness you had those trees that were close to the house removed. We've been under severe thunderstorms all week with tornado watches and warnings. Mostly we've had torrential rains and the tornados didn't form. Your cooking, as always looks delicious and how lucky are Thomas, Sidney and the girls to have their Nan making delicious things for them.
    With all the rain we have been indoors for the most part taking care of some much needed things.
    One morning when it wasn't raining I did get out to the garden to thin out the plants. From the thinnings (chard, beets, carrots , radishes, lettuce) I mixed them all together and created my own salad mix to be used all week as salad greens. On that one morning we got some shades put up on the deck to block the late afternoon sun and allow us to enjoy the deck and have dinner out there without the heat and glare. I added more soil to the potato bags. Leftovers were used creatively in simple meals for hot weather (It was 90 F and above this week, which is hot for us and very high humidity and rain) .
    Thankyou for the link to the book. I have taken a look at it and it is interesting. I always save the cauliflower and cabbage cores, asparagus bottoms, and broccoli stems . Each one makes their own creamed soup. I also use the broccoli stems and make broccoli slaw. The chard stems I've always cut up into small pieces and added them to salads, impossible pies or quiches. Radish leaves get added to a number of things, including salad greens. Sometimes leftover veggies get pureed and added to broth to make gravy, Instant potato flakes make a great gluten free breading for airfryed chicken. Edible flowers that are in the yard get made into gourmet jellies. There are even things I've read online using the stems of lavender as they also have that beautiful aroma. Nothing goes to waste .
    We are praying that all of the damages to your property from the storm are quckly cleared and resolved. Wishing all the Bluebirds a good week ahead. Blessings, Cookie

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    1. Dear Cookie,
      I would be terrified with a tornado warning. I only know of tornados through The Wizard of OZ and TV! Still we probably get mini ones!
      Your salad mix sounds beautiful! Yum! Shades outside would be very nice. I love to eat outside. It is like having another room on the house to have an outdoor eating area.
      I love how we can use so much of the veggies and turn it all into something. Mum used to make fritters a lot and I am going to do the scrap recipe for those.
      Thanks so much Cookie. We are working away and cleaning up! With much love Annabel.xxx

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  19. Hi Annabel
    This is my first time commenting, although I have been reading your blog for a long time. I love all the fabrics you use in your projects, especially all those flowers! Where do you find them. I have been a sewer for a long time but have never found fabrics like those you use.
    I too have recently moved to a little farmhouse and although its much colder than the new build in town I was living in previous to my move I am following my heart in the way I am living now and decorating slowly in the style I love.
    I'm starting my gardens from scratch but have some lovely friends who have offered to give me some lovely cuttings and small plants. Can't wait to see all my ideas come to fruition.
    I feel I have finally joined the Bluebirds!

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    1. Thank you for commenting it is nice to meet you! The rose fabric in this post I found on ETSY. I searched Cotton lawn rose fabric and went through a selection. I have some online stores I like Wildflower fabrics, Annie Lane fabrics, the oz material girls... I need to try and think of more. I use EBAY a lot. Many fabric stores have an EBAY store. So I will search "cotton fabric farm animals" and look through. I have often searched for chicken, Aussie working dogs and so on. It is so much easier than trapping for hours through stores and not finding these specific things. Shop in your PJs as Chloe says. I hope this helps!
      It is fantastic you are following your dream and have moved into a farmhouse! I would love it if you shared your journey to me this is exciting. Very good you can get some cuttings too! Yes you are truly a Bluebird now. Week by week you are building your new life and cottage! With love, Annabel.xxx

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  20. Oh my gosh Annabel, that storm would have been so scary.High winds can cause so much damage,as you have shown. Your foresight to remove the large trees by your home saved it from serious damage and possibly your and Andy's lives. I wish you well in your clean up. Make sure you have plenty of epsome salt baths for your tired and aching muscles. Scout is a very cleaver girl. She could probably see and hear what you couldn't, not that you could have done anything at that point. Sorry to hear you lost 4 of your chooks to a fox.
    We have had quotes done for double glazing our home. $8033 for retro fit, with argon gas and low e-glass and $27000 for full replacement of frames, argon gas and low e-glass. Because this is our forever home we will go full replacement but complete it over 4-5 years. We have horrible 1970's brown frames inside so this will lighten and modernise the house.This way our mortgage will keeep getting paid off according to our plan and we will still have a healthy savings account.
    Spent sometime wrapped up warm, weeding the front garden yesterday. Between rain, going into work on the weekends and having visitors stay I hadn't had a chance to get into it. It looks good now so I am so happy. Today is beautiful, 17C so will get out there again.
    Well done on all you did achieve this week despite the storm.

    Mandy(NZ)

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    1. Dear Mandy,
      I do soak in Epsom salts! I get it for Lucy as well for her pain. It is amazing stuff. Thank you.
      Good plan to do a gradual replacement. Double glazing would be wonderful. A good investment I think.
      Great you got out and weeded while you could! I sleep well when I have been gardening.
      I hope you have a really good new week. Love and thanks, Annabel.xxx

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  21. So glad that everyone is okay following the storm and that the loss thus far is one coop and four poor chickens. We sometimes have really bad storms here and they can do so much damage.

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    1. Thanks so much Terri. We are getting stuck into clean up!xxx

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  22. Praise God you and your house are fine and the fox only took four hens. One storm can create so much destruction but wise woman that you are, you always have a plan and the ingenuity to move forward and make things right again. Scout is a real trooper! xx

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    1. Thanks Jenny. We have a lot to be grateful for. I hope you have a very good new week. We are working on rebuilding the chook house! xxx

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  23. Oh Annabel

    What a week you have had. So glad that you are all ok including the chooks with the exception of 4 due to the fox.

    Seeing the destruction in your photos is just awful and horrid to know what you went through. Yes storms can't be helped as they are a part of nature but they can be terribly frightening. But due to all the work you have been doing around the farm it has been a blessing in disguise to know that those trees near the house were not there to fall on the house. The thoughtful person at the end of your road checking in was such a heartwarming story. Truly a beautiful act of kindness. How great it was that Scout was trying to warn you of what had happened, a great sense animals have.

    I have been laid up for a few weeks on light duties as I had to have another wisdom tooth removed, so lots of our meals have come from the freezer and now it is looking a little battle damaged but this is great as now I can start to prepare some more meals. So far I have managed to make a curried sausages, beef lasagna, pulled roast beef and a chocolate slice.

    Finally the cold snap hit us here on Friday and damn the morning were cold but the days were still lovely if you could find somewhere out of the wind but in the sun.

    I do hope that this week is a better one for you.

    Take Care
    Aly xxx

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    1. Dear Aly,
      I am sorry you have had to go through the tooth being removed. It is not fun. I am glad you rested. You need to it is a lot of healing to do. Well done on the meals I know you had been working on the freezer meals and it paid off again. But that is what they are for then we build up again. Your meals sound beautiful. Hope you are feeling much much better. With love, Annabel.xxx

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  24. Oh my, what weather you’ve experience, so sorry to hear about the damages and mess. Thank goodness you had the trees close to the house removed! Glad you and your family are ok! And yet look at how productive you were. You are amazing, Annabel! Do take good care of yourself, you have a lot going on. My grandma used to take any leftover cooked oatmeal (using old fashioned oats, not instant oats) and make it into cookies. They were my Dad’s favorites. I wish I had her recipe to share, but I found a few recipes online to try. Have a blessed week everyone—Bluebirds old and new! Teresa

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    1. Dear Teresa, I can see how the oatmeal would work in cookies. Some of these things were such a hit and really no one can do it the sae as Grandma. My Nan told me detailed instructions on some of the things she made which I followed and they were ok but nothing like hers!
      Thanks so much for your kind words. We have been working to clean things up! With love Annabel.xxx

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  25. I admit I LOL when I saw the chickens huddled under the downed tree. I'm so sorry for the damage to the chicken house and that you lost a couple of the girls to the fox. Very glad that your home wasn't damaged and that you and Andy weren't hurt.

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    1. Maxine those chickens did not seem worried at all! They were not easy to catch either. Thanks so much! Lets have a good new week! xxx

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    2. Dear Annabel,
      I am so glad you and Andy made it through the storm as well as the house didn't get crushed. Glad you listed to your heart and had trees removed. Sorry about the beaut chicken house. Glad most of the girls made it. Sorry an the ones that didn't.:( I hope already had lumber for the repairs. Lumber is like a million dollars for a sheet of plywood here. If you can get it. Also it is very harder to find decent groceries and produce here. Often it is moldy. We are trying a case box of fruit and vegetables this week. It helps support a local family farm. Do you sell your eggs I remember road side stands growing up with produce and eggs on the honor system. Take what you need leave some money in the box. Scout is so smart.
      We have simple meals here like cheese crackers and fruit, or salads or sandwiches. When Kristi cooks she tried to make a double batch so she can freeze some. She is still doing the majority of things as I am still fighting cml. Leukemia. Send up a prayer for her if you ever think about it. I hope you are having some rest. The verse be still and know I am God comes to mind. Hugs
      Maybe you will make a new friend because of all your extra firewood.
      We are still praying for that new miracle home. We finally figured out that this house has tons of hidden mold and that is a lot of the problem. I am praying for a reasonable price home. Right now some 4 bedroom homes are 5,000. Thousand dollars a month. It amaz me how high rent is. Some studios are 1,800. A month but our God is a big God. Praying you have a blessed and wonderful week. Sorry I haven't written in so long. Sending great big hugs to you and your family.
      Much love,
      Patti from San Diego

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    3. Dear Patti, Thank you! This week has been far better! Lumber is in short supply here also! Houses are held up because of it.
      Thanks for telling me about the produce. Now I think you are having very hot weather. I hope you do not lose power. Where Laine is she regularly loses the power.
      I dont sell eggs but I do trade them. I give them to people I think could do with them as well.
      Patti I will pray you find a good home. Mould is a very bad thing as you know. Ill be praying and you keep me posted!
      I am so glad to hear from you. With much love Annabel.xxx

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  26. I know I'm entering "the party late", but I had out of town guests for the past week. So thankful that you are both well. Sorry about your lost hens, but thankful that you were able to recover that many.
    I think it is a mark of maturity in our walk with Christ when we can thank Him in the midst of tragedy... Circumstances could always be much worse.
    Our family will be praying for you and yours as you all recover from the storm.

    Have a blessed week, Annabel & Bluebirds!
    On to that scraps book & all the above suggestions. :)

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