Feather your Nest Friday, 17th February, 2023.

We had a warm and busy week.   Each day I picked something from the garden,  mostly tomatoes, zucchini and basil.   I made some nut free Pesto for Chloe which still turns out well and she has meals she likes to make with it.    I also planted Broccoli into some of my raised garden beds.

We have a hen house that needs some repairs and I decided to put all my laying hens together and have a serious think about which hens to let hatch eggs and so on.  It was quite a chicken re shuffle.   I also realised I have too many ducks and freeloaders.   Chloe said she would happily take some female ducks so I caught three to take over to her place.   Ducks are harder to put in boxes than chickens because their heads pop up out of any space!   Finally I had three ducks in three different boxes.    

Like we do Chloe has a big old tennis court that she uses as an animal enclosure.   It is lovely.  She has one goose called Jemima.


Jemima is the boss but she likes ducks.   They all have so much space and a giant deep bath tub with a ramp to walk up and down.




There are also Guinea Fowl and various chickens. 

We released one duck at a time.  Thomas watched closely as I opened each box.  Each duck looked around for a minute before working on jumping out of the box and Tom declared "Good job!" when the were successful!   I was so surprised how he was kindly encouraging them! 



They all fitted in perfectly and I have four less mouths to feed.   I am also glad Chloe has her own laying hens.   If I get too many chickens I can also top up her laying flock.   If we get low on hens I can incubate some eggs and grow some more up.  Keeping the health of hens up and feed costs down are on my mind too. 

I had a trip into town for shopping and errands.  It was a huge day and I did a big stock up.   I went to the swap tables and ended up with some lovely jars and a giant zucchini.   Someone put a notice on the swap table Facebook page "could the person who made the dish cloths please contact me."   I said "that was me!"  and the lady gave me a bag of crochet cotton!     AND, even better still,  someone else started a road side little library!   To notify everyone this lady wrote on the swap table Facebook page that her husband built her a shed out the front of their house and she has a free library.    Knowing this I took some books with me that we were glad to donate.   I found the library and it is so beautiful...


I left four books and found three that I thought Mum would really like (which I gave her today.)  Inside the little drawers of the cabinet at the top were handmade book marks.   I cannot wait to go back and am thinking of what I could add.   Maybe a little vase of dried flowers?   Maybe a card to say thank you. ♥

In the thrift store I found two good leather belts.  I buy these to make collars for lambs, dogs and calves.   They make excellent collars so I pick them up for $1 or so and keep them for when next needed.



Andy will punch new holes and cut them to any length I need.   With calves and lambs.... they only need a collar for one or two days when they are learning to drink.   Once they are drinking I remove the collar as they will now chase me instead of me chasing them! 

I also found some beautiful cotton sheets and began to make them up into tea towels.   Double thickness makes them just right and I plan to add crochet edges.  I got two sewn and the rest cut out today.


I decorated two more candles, this time to keep myself.


Yesterday I made up a big chicken enchilada mix and made several trays of enchiladas for meals,  to freeze and a tray went to Chloe's today for their dinner tonight.


This week I freeze dried a fresh pineapple and oranges, both cut into slices.   They turned out really well.

So a bit of this and a bit of that but it all adds up!

Thank you to everyone who encouraged Fiona and thank you Fiona for your wonderful report from NSW. Next week our report is from Glenda in Wyoming, USA.  

How did you build up your home this week?  Have a lovely weekend!  xxx
















Comments

  1. We are visiting our son and daughter in law and their daughter this weekend. I brought a zucchini, cherry tomatoes and Vietnamese mint, chives and oregano down. We will go home with cucumbers and rhubarb. My husband will help them finish some underfloor insulation and if we have time our son will show us how to pickle. Sunday we will move on to visit another son and help with a plumbing project. We seem to be very busy with our children and grandchildren plus a few visitors at the moment. I will need to make more pesto next week and do something with zucchini’s and tomatoes. Our pumpkin patch is the best we have ever had. There are other things in the patch that need to be used or preserved before we head off to look after granddaughters while their parents head to a distant funeral. I am doing a sewing workshop while we are in the city that could be very useful. Love the lending library. I have been giving books away to friends, children and op shops. I reread many but am ready to part with lots. I have reorganised my sewing space and am amazed how much more efficient it is. One top is cut out and other projects are planned! So much to do!!

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    1. What a great week and some great trades too! A big help to your son having your husband help with the floor and so good to learn how to pickle. I am loving the zucchinis.... zucchini slice is wonderful but also cake and also just adding it into spaghetti sauce. Well done on your sewing space! Looking after your Grand daughters will be beautiful too while their parents are away. You are busy but with all good things! xxx

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  2. Dear Annabel, your week was wonderful and you managed to find such wonderful things at the op shop. I love the fabric with roses and the candles you have made, the idea with the Little Library is absolutely genius, I smiled imagining the lambs and calves chasing you for food with their big eyes, and the best was Thomas with his good job whisper. Bless his heart, such a good and gentle boy. I would love to have ducks, they look so funny - but I won*t bite more than I can chew this year. I will just add 3-5 chicken somewhere in May or June. Also, good news - we have 10 hours of light now but still bellow freezing at night - and I have found eggs in the nest box every other day this week.
    The bad part was a terrible toothache and had 2 visits at the dentist (one was an emergency on Saturday so I had to pay double) and my productivity at home was quite low. Still knitting in bed but cleaning and cooking were done by my boys.
    Another bad news is we were informed to prepare our bug out bags for an earthquake emergency. The first was on 14 th Feb of 5,7 Richter and it takes place on other parts than usual. Yesterday's earthquake in Gorj has so far had 315 aftershocks. Specialists announce that others will follow in the next few days. Everybody is on toes about that - I haven*t felt that here - but the authorities warned us to be prepared.
    Here we go again - we have 2 safe meeting points for different situations if we are not at home and no phones - one for natural disasters and one for the Russian army if they cross the border. Do you have a meeting point for the members of your family if any problems occur?
    Stay safe, have a nice weekend and a big virtual hug from far away, Laura_s_world from Romania

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    1. We have a 46-year-old daughter who is developmentally disabled and lives with us for half of every week. We have a meeting place in case of fire. It's within sight of the house but away from where fire equipment would be parked. The very idea of a meeting place in case the Russian army crossed the border is a mind-blower. Laura, I hope you are feeling better.

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    2. Dear Laura, Firstly I hope your tooth is ok... I have had an abscess and it is terrible so I hope it is fixed and no more pain or infection.
      Now I am googling about the earthquakes. Of course we know about the one in Turkey then there was a big one in New Zealand. Seems like things are really shaking. I hope you do not have any more in Romania or anywhere. I have tried to follow and understand things in Moldova and have felt concerned about that. I will message you directly for more of what you think on that.
      Soon your chickens will be laying every day! I think it is a good idea to get a few more too. That will be fantastic! I hope you get a restful and peaceful weekend! With much love Annabel.xxx

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    3. Laura I have been waiting and praying to see if you were affected by the earthquake! I only know about it because of following an Israeli man who shares world news. Please keep us posted. I am praying for you and your family. Love Jesse

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    4. Thank you very much, Jesse, for your thoughts and prayers. We are all right, there are still a few after shocks but not in our area for now. Have a nice week ahead. Love, Laura_s_world

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  3. It’s always a delight to read and see photos of your creativity, Annabel!! You are a great example of “blooming where you are planted” and “use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without” ! It looks like with your can-do attitude, you don’t “do without” very often since you find ways to substitute or make/grow your own on things that are unavailable or unaffordable!! And I love the generosity that you have to not only benefit yourself but also extended family, friends and even people you haven’t met before through bartering and outright giving!!
    Another week to be proud of !!

    Gardenpat in Ohio

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    1. Thank you so much Pat! You are always doing so much that you are a good mentor! I just love to have extra things to give or barter. It is a case of keeping our eyes open for possibilities! With love Annabel.xxx

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  4. Annabel, such a warm-hearted report. I love how you & your family share animals with each other. So sweet of little Tom.😊
    I had a busy week. Built up my pantry by working in a trip to the Japanese market when I went to visit my eldest daughter in the big city. She is a culinary student, so she & I explored the market together. I was able to ask her lots of questions as most Asian cooking is new to me. Last year, she bought me a sushi mat and ingredients and then taught me how to make sushi. We made memories together & I learned a new skill! And my other children enjoyed sushi the rest of the year. So with yesterday's shopping, I am stocked for months at a fraction of the cost that I would spend at the local grocery.
    Thanks again for the inspiration!
    Blessings to all the Bluebirds,
    Leslie

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    1. Dear Leslie,
      Visiting the Japanese market would have been so interesting! How fantastic to be able to stock up this way! I have been to Chinese markets and loved them. Also Indian markets... but never Japanese. Also as you say this is a nice time with your daughter! I hope the new week is going well we are mid week already! With love Annabel.xxx

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  5. Life is so beautiful, Annabel, as family and community, as you are always demonstrating! Truly, there is good reason to have hope! Love the food, the animals, the crafts, and the books!

    Yesterday was abnormally warm, so I took advantage and washed all the main floor windows outside (they get covered in salt spray from our storms, since we are so close to the ocean, and it's been months since I've been able to wash them). While I was at it, I scrubbed the railings of the porch on one side of the house, as they were getting coated in mildew/lichen/moss...the joys of a humid climate. Anyway, they look much better, and I'm happy to have them clean since this is the side of the house that is seen from the driveway. Also got a quilt and tablecloth on the line yesterday, and rummaged up some (sad looking) kale from under plastic that survived the big cold snap we had and fed it to the chickens. Working on embroidering some pillowcases, as I realized our main sets are all at once disintegrating, so need some replacements.

    The little library is such a great idea. We are so lucky to have "Books By Mail" available from our library, since we are far enough away from the library building, and as it's only a 2 minute walk to our little hamlet's post office, this works out so well for us! We read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction, plus they are able to send magazines and DVDs. This is wonderful, as used books are really expensive these days--not compared to brand new, mind you, but still pricey if you like to read!

    Hoping our hens will go broody this spring, but we're still a little way off from that. Do you have a final tally of all the poultry you've got these days on your farm? I bet it's lots!!!

    Wishing you and everyone here a wonderful weekend!

    xx Jen in NS

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    1. Dear Jen,
      I once lived on the beachfront and know sea spray is hard to get off windows! But it is so good to live near the ocean. Clean windows make everything look brighter and better.
      How handy is books by mail! I love that! Truthfully I dont know exactly how many hens I have... I have a few roosters as well but its around 40. Plus Quail. There are some young ones who are not yet laying. I think I have about 30 laying. Over time the colours, shapes and sizes have become a big variety!
      Hope you are having a good week Jen, with love Annabel.xxx

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  6. As always, thank you for sharing your life “down under”! Great idea of using belts…great for dogs and calves! The sheets to tea towels are lovely! And what a cute lending library, super idea of adding bookmarks and why not a vase or dry flowers! Always looking forward to the next …have a great week!

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    1. Thank you so much! I get to visit the little library on Sunday. And the swap tables too. Have a very good week! With love Annabel.xxx

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  7. Dear Annabel,
    I enjoyed your post and Fiona's, as well. It is so interesting reading and seeing what is going on in other areas of the world!
    I loved the pictures and stories of the ducks. I was raised on a dairy farm in rural Michigan but have spent the majority of my life in a large city in the desert of Arizona. Our city has just recently made it legal to have chickens on your property. I don't think we are going to try that.
    I have continued gratefully accepting the excess my friend has received from food pantries or other sources. Just this morning, she gave me two lovely packages of rolls, 2 bottles of distilled water, and a carton of lemonade concentrate. Earlier in the week she gave me a pack of decaf. coffee and told me not to buy any coffee because her husband has a whole shelf set aside and would be glad to share. I've loaned her our citrus picker and shared fresh tangelos from out tree and part of a gallon of milk. It's sometimes hard to keep track because we so often share items that we know the other person can use. I try to pick up things from the store, especially things I know they need or enjoy and don't get from the food pantry. She and her husband also watch for things that we can donate to a group helping those experiencing homelessness,
    The little library is beautiful! We have some in our area, too. I was able to get 4 new books from a lady in the Buy Nothing group. She also gave me a beautiful, soft warm sweater that she only wore one time. I was able to pick it up along with my books. I also received a huge bag of blankets and comforters to give to the homeless. I love being able to rehome things that still have use and also get things that we need or want. My neighbor is part of the group and I sometimes pick of things for her, too.
    Happy Weekend All!
    Love from Arizona, USA
    Elaine

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    1. Dear Elaine, It is just wonderful that you have so many useful items coming your way! What a help. The books and sweater, blankets that you can pass on.. all beautiful. I am a person who says yes to things because I can find someone to pass it on to who needs it. I love that! It sounds like you have a lovely community! With love Annabel.xxx

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  8. You are so clever with your ability to find uses for things, like sheets into tea towels and belts into collars. Way to go, girl.

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  9. I love your tea towels and candles. Do you use mod podge to glue to the candle?
    Our beach has a little wooden library, but for beach toys. It is cute, filled with dump trucks, shovels, and pails.
    I would love to visit you and your daughter and see all the ducks and chicks. Sounds like they are living the life.
    Holly

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    1. Dear Holly, I did candles a week or two ago and posted how I did them and a link... they are ironed on or heated on so that the wax melts and it absorbs through the wafer thin paper.. the image becomes lightly covered in wax making it look part of the candle and dreamy and soft. It is ridiculously easy! Chloe can see her ducks and collection from the dining and lounge rooms and it is endlessly entertaining! Have a lovely weekend! With love Annabel.xxx

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  10. I just love that little free library. Such a cool idea. I'd be afraid someone would mess it up or try to steal it around here ugh. Your candles are beautiful too! I've seen that done before with paper napkins, but I can't remember if you use a hair dryer or heat gun to melt the wax to embed the paper.
    I haven't really had a chance to build anything up the past few weeks, as I had a double mastectomy surgery almost 3 weeks ago, and haven't been up to doing much. Thank God for friends who brought meals and for family who took care of household things for me. I'm cleared to go back to work on Monday and hopefully get back into my routines! I'm flexible, but I love routines :)

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    1. Dear Kathy, I am very sorry for your surgery. You must be doing well to be cleared for going back to work which is really good. And getting through this was quite enough for this time!
      I used my iron to melt the image on. My iron is pretty much strictly for crafts!
      I do belive a heat gun would work really well but I dont have one. Have a lovely weekend and I hope you go well back at work on Monday! With love Annabel.xxx

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  11. Hi Annabel and everyone,

    That fabric is so pretty! I would love kitchen towels like those. The candles are also gorgeous, and I love hearing about all of your cooking and the birds. That little free library is amazing. What a good week!

    There have been a lot of oncology appointments and work has been busy the past couple of weeks. My husband's imaging showed no further growth, so we are taking that as good news! Mostly I have just done the usual things (cleaning and wash and organizing) plus as much extra cooking as possible. I made chicken stock, impossible pie, fruit crumble, chocolate depression cake, and muffins for the freezer. Impossible pie, crumble, and homemade soup have all worked well for my husband, so I am making lots of those. One day last week I managed a stock-up trip at Aldi for pantry items and fresh produce, and this week I picked up some flower seeds (40% off) and seed for the wild birds at the farm store.

    For gifts, I packaged up home-baked muffins, homemade soap, and a cross-stitch for my dad and he loved it! Birthday and valentine's day cards came out of the card stash. Crafts-wise, a few knitting rounds get put in when I have a few moments. The horses got a spa day on a beautiful warm afternoon - my husband got to spend some good time with his horse and I saved $175 (sadly not a typo) just by clipping my mare myself. I would never pay that, but it does need done and I am counting the savings! And she looks very pretty all groomed up.

    I hope everyone has a good weekend.
    <3
    Kathy

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    1. Kathy, I admire your strength and will of doing things.You accomplish so much during a week, being work, cooking, taking care of others and craft! I am often thinking of you. Sending love from far away, Laura_s_world from Romania

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    2. Laura,

      Thank you so much for your kind words today. They lifted me up! I so appreciate your encouragement and thoughts.

      Love from your friend in Oklahoma,
      Kathy

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    3. Dear Kathy, What a good report. I am so happy your husband is doing so well! Your cooking sounds just delicious and it is beautiful how your Dad loved his gift. Your food gifts sound beautiful too. It is great you could get to Aldi and stock up. Wow on the horse mane trimming! I am sure you did a great job and that is a huge savings. It sounds like this was good for your husband too, getting to be out with his horse. I hope this week is going well also! With much love Annabel.xxx

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  12. I’ve recently found your blog and I’ve been enjoying it very much. I love the library, what a delight! I’m English, married to a Scotsman and living in France with an almost teen daughter. Thank you Laura

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    1. Dear Laura, Thank you for commenting and welcome! I watch Frugal Queen in France and they are British living in France.... and this has taught me a lot and France looks so lovely. I am so glad to have you here! With love Annabel.xxx

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  13. Hi Annabel,
    It's been a while since I last wrote but I am always reading along.
    We have just had nine days away at our happy place, which is a day's drive from our home at the very top of the South Island. I love being in the country,by the sea and beautiful rivers for swimming in. I would love to live there but it is not practical for us to do so unfortunately. I have decided that we will spend two weeks there next year.
    Costs here in NZ continue to be high and increasing. We have always had high living costs in relation to wages and in comparison to other parts of the world. It is nothing to pay $6 dollars for a500gms of butter and $20 dollars for a 1kg block of tasty cheese. It is really difficult for some with young children and elderly people relying just on the government pension and if they don't own there own home.
    Where I live we have had a hot summer and are getting the best growth and flavour of our home grown tomatoes we have had for a long time. The North Island is different, with a devastating result from the cyclone.
    I love Jemima, she has a "don't mess with me," kind of waddle.
    I really love the candles you made, they look absolutely gorgeous.
    Wow little Thomas has grown up so much.
    Keep safe and well everyone.

    Mandy (NZ)

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    1. Dear Mandy,
      I am glad to hear from you as lately I have heard of cyclone, floods, earthquakes all hitting NZ. I am hearing about the costs too. The butter price is the same as ours but I can get a kilo of cheese still for $10 by getting homebred etc. So that is a big difference.
      It is wonderful about your tomatoes! To me they are like bursts of vitamins and goodness! The more we can grow the better for sure.
      This week has already almost gotten away from me! With much love Annabelxxx

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  14. Hi Annabel
    That was so lovely of the person who left a note for you and gave you cotton! I just love that people do that sort of thing. And how cute is the little library?! I was wondering, have you found a good brand of gluten free tortillas for making the enchiladas? I bought some from a brand called ‘Free From’ and they tasted fine but fall apart the second you try to move them. I loved your post in routines earlier in the week and it made me think a lot about how to structure our days to make it calmer for our children. I honestly think it applies to older kids and teenagers as well! Constantly being in a rush is no fun for anyone (including parents lol).

    We had an interesting week, all schools in our region were closed Tuesday because there was a red level wind warning in place due to a cyclone. It was definitely very windy and there are branches and trees down around the place but we have been very fortunate where we are. The other side of the country has had devastating floods, people have died, many are still not contactable, and the damage is horrific.

    Events like these make me reflect on how well we are prepared and there are definitely some things I need to improve. Today we are able to drop off any green waste caused by the cyclone for free so that’s first thing on the list.

    Your blog is such a nice reminder that creating a calm and loving home is so important. It truly makes me happy to read about you dropping off an extra meal and some cake to Chloe to help her with work lunches. Or buying clothes for the girls to fit into next year etc. Your family knows you are always looking out for them and it is just beautiful!

    Jen (NZ)

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    1. Dear Jen, We have a brand called BeFree and their wraps are really good... but I have found the tortillas and wraps etc all suddenly are way better if you microwave warm them up to really warm. Then they bend and wrap without breaking. With you baking... I think you could make better ones yourself... even if you made a GF savoury pancake and used that... because even for a lasagne a pancake can be used... it is just different in texture but still works when you need a GF alternative.
      I am glad hearing from you because I heard about the massive number of people missing, flooding etc and it sounds just shocking. I tried looking on the map to see where you are in relation to the area hit by the cyclone and flooding.
      It is good that you saw things you can do to be more prepared. Real life situations are the best teachers. They give us a lot to consider.
      Thanks Jen, my Mum often gave us a meal when the girls were little and I remember how much it helped those evenings! I hope its been a good week for you! With much love Annabel.xxx

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  15. What a beautiful little free library!

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    1. I get to go back on Sunday! xxx

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  16. Have just done a complete tidy in the kitchen. Lately I'm finding we've too many things trying to find homes in the kitchen, living and dining areas or in one of the two closets available in the house. I must make some more room somehow. It's having excess people living here and they naturally come with their things and then places must be found for it all. I plan to try and make more room or find extra storage so that these things do not all have to live in other areas of the house. Not sure how I'm going to go about it, but it must be done.
    This week I plan to do a full pantry/freezer inventory and shopping list for a major restock.
    Last week I continued to recuperate from a cold and a poor attitude. I've been unable to keep a routine going over the past few months and think the poor attitude is result of that. I'm going to work on that also this week ahead.
    So much to do!!

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    1. Dear Terri, It is pretty hard on the house and routine accomodating extra people. That is a lot. It is easy to get run down too. I hope you are feeling better and that some reorganisation helps you too. With much love Annabel.xxx

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