Thank you to everyone who responded so kindly to my intention of having a year of getting back to good old sensible basics! And thank you to everyone who shared their own versions of a spaghetti sauce/lasagne and variations!
Last Friday seems like forever ago! When I sat down to write I was surprised it's only the 5th! So this is a relief, I did more than I thought!
After we polished off Christmas left overs I knew I wanted to make some Spinach triangles/Spinach pies as Mum really liked the last lot. I loved them and they were easy as I used purchased Gluten Free Pastry.
I ended up with six frozen for Mum. I would say, size wise, maybe one would be a dinner and maybe half would do for lunch. Either way I had spinach to harvest and it was good to use it up.
This is like the Lasagne recipe... it has a thousand variations. You can use Filo pastry, make it, buy it, use puff pastry...
Fry up a couple of chopped onions and some garlic in olive oil. When they are a lovely colour throw in handfuls of shredded spinach, chard or silverbeet or any combination. I use stems and all but the stems are chopped fairly finely. You can throw in some spring onions, parsley, even a little bit of mint if you want. When that has wilted down add crumbled feta cheese and some parmesan or really whatever cheese you feel like or have. Add black pepper. Let it cool a bit so it doesn't make your pastry soggy... make little parcels... or you could make a large pie in any shape... Bake until golden. Serve warm. They are yum! And they freeze well. If you have a pie maker or sausage roll maker you could also cook them this way.
I had a bit of pastry left over so made a couple of jam pastries.
The garden tomatoes started to gang up in the fridge so today I put a heap in the slow cooker with some garlic, onion and oregano.
Tonight I used the stick blender to blend but I leave it with some texture. It smelled beautiful and tasted so good. This can top a pizza, go into pasta sauce... be used with some cheese for a simple pasta meal.
As I showed in my previous post I made a big batch of spaghetti meat sauce, bulked it out with zucchini and made a lasagne to freeze, a pasta bake for Chloe and dinners for us.
I travelled to the city with Chloe to her baby check up. Before I left I packed two project bags and this helped me get a lot of crochet done this week.
Chloe and baby got a good report, the boys thought it was great fun and we went out for dinner. Tom thought it was very cool. I saved all the food scraps to bring home and the chooks thought it was a real bonus getting chips.
At home I made pizzas from random left overs and things from the garden.
Even with using zucchini I still had a heap left which I shredded. Some was freeze dried and some was frozen.
I found (on a big sale) lovely wrapping paper and napkins so I basically already have all I need as far as wrap goes for next year.
We still have two calves and I am still checking the cows and taking them apples. This is Doris who was once a super crazy wild cow but now she is always the first to the ute.
The photo after this was a picture of cow slobber on an iPhone so that was the end of that!
I was given some huge lemons.
A friend made me a beautiful GF cake. I am going to share this with Mum.
I made yoghurt.
Tomorrow I am expecting two boxes of apricots and one box of peaches. I have ordered these... they should be fresher than the supermarket and a better deal, they are coming down from the riverland. With this in mind I washed up a heap of lovely jam jars.
In the city I went for a walk to check a peach tree. This tree is in a lane and all the time I lived in Adelaide I picked buckets of peaches... They are still green so a way off. We will be back in the city in three weeks.... I hope the timing works out right!
Being summer I need to keep up with what is in my hands and make the most of these opportunities!
I hope you had a great start to the year! How did you build up your family, home, pantry or garden? xxx
Annabel I love that Doris has decided that being a pet cow is a much better option than being a wild and wooly one. I can just see Tom loving going out for dinner with his brother, Mum and Nan Nan Bel. We have used bak choy as an alternative in our spinach pies which we make in the sausage roll cooker.
ReplyDeleteThis has been a big week here. Our son and his girls arrived last Sunday. New Years Day was also our belated Christmas Day celebrations. The Grandies had a wonderful time opening presents, helping set the table, making up the pavlova and just playing together. There have been a few play days this week with the little ones loving being together. Spencer adores the girls and Toby is starting to get to know them.
Frankie took the girls for a horse riding session. During the day we realised that they did not have any long pants with them. My fabric stash was raided. I had enough Lycra, with a bit of creative cutting, to make each girl a set of leggings. They loved them and had a wonderful time out riding.
The little girls loving having a bath and always ask for fizzy bath bombs. Frankie looked up a recipe online, asked if I had the ingredients, which I did. He and the girls made their own bath bombs. We plan on making some more for them to take home to their Mum as she had a Birthday this week.
Bluey decided that we needed a new upright freezer. He went and visited the various stores and got himself a good deal. The freezer arrived today and has been plugged in. It is bigger than I expected and it is black, which was also unexpected. I have been told I will need to be careful when placing things in it as there will be a drawer for chicken and another for beef and the food will be organised. Hmmmm I dont think I am the one who is disorganised.
This first week of the year has been mostly filled with doing things with the Grandies. Next week will be much the same. I am loving it.
Life is Grandie filled good.
Dear Jane, What a nice Christmas and time with your Grandies! You came to the rescue with the leggings! That was fantastic! The bath bomb projects was a good idea and I think I will copy this when my Granddaughters are here.
DeleteThe new freezer is going to be a big help. This is a great addition! It is much easier to know what you have and lay your hands on things with an upright.
Enjoy the new week, it is also so nice for the cousins to have fun together. Right now it is pouring here! With love Annabel.xxx
Your cooking/baking always looks so good! And the generous portions! Your freeze-drying is nice. And your smart homemaking is impressive! Hope you have a good year! andrea
ReplyDeleteThank you! We are feeding farmers here. My son in law is a big bloke they really eat big serves because they work long days. So I always am generous with the portions. Even the Grandsons... boy I am surprised what they can eat! xxx
DeleteYour cooking is amazing , I love it.So inspiring ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! xx
DeleteAnnabel, what lovely cooking! Mum will be delighted to receive your goodies. I am envious of the apricots, even in season they are expensive up here.
ReplyDeleteWe had a slow week cooking, but all good meals. I didn't do any baking as husband still had cookies from Christmas.
We did do a small stock up at Sam's Club, prices are definitely higher and I noticed the store was more junk food than practical basics. A lot of prepackaged items, which I don't purchase.
We stopped at one grocery store that I loaded coupons to my card for. I was able to save nearly half the bill and we were able to get a weeks worth of dinners meal wise. I was excited. For less than $45 I was able to get Salmon, Ground Beef, Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts (the store makes these in store and are the best). We were able to restock fresh veggies and frozen.
I am deep cleaning the house for January, I have 2 floors done, which surprised me with putting Christmas away. Now onto basement and pantry. I'm excited that it is going so well. After this next month can be the beginning of my crafting. #1 on the list is homemade tissues.
Prayers for all the Bluebirds.
Dear Rosanne, You had great grocery savings! I am cheering you on in the whole house deep clean and cant wait for you to get to sew and craft for the year. I have a new machine that does a scallop edging... I am going to make homemade hankies this way from super soft flannelette. I cant wait to start these. Next week is the beginning of my new year sewing. I have my machine set up but now to get it going. With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHi Annabel! I just love your cow photos ;). And appreciate the cow slobber comment. Every morning I drive my dog to a nearby lake, and somehow she presses her nose against the glass in 100 places ;). Hilogene in Az.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Hilogene! Oh yes we have the dog slobber experience too! Smeary windows in the car. It never ends! xxx
DeleteDear Annabel
ReplyDeleteThank you for the spinach triangle recipe. I have loads of chard in the freezer and this looks like a great way to use some of it for meatless meals. Thankful that Chloe got a good baby report.
I hadn't been to the store since the end of November so this was a shopping week. Sticker shock doesn't even begin to describe it. At the farm I shop since it has been cold, the hens aren't laying well so eggs are being rationed to 3 dozen per family and they have to be ordered a week ahead of time. At cottage cheese was up to $3.50 for a small carton and broccoli had gone from $1.49 per pound to $2 per pound. Raisins are now $5 for a 12 ounce box. Unbelievable.
On the homefront I did get a lot accomplished in the way of baking 2 loaves of Mary's Nest no knead sandwich bread for my husband and a couple of dozen scones. Four meat loaves got made and placed in the freezer for future meals. I used up some leftover pork roast and made fajitas. I made stir fry using a combination of leftovers that were in the freezer. A big batch of rice got cooked and divided into portions to have it ready for other meals. I finished the apron that will be in my nieces birthday package and am almost finished with the matching soup cozies and hot pads. My plan is to get those finished today. We are expecting a large snow storm to take place through the weekend and starting up again next Tuesday and Wednesday. It's so nice to be prepared in all areas. Projects to work on, books to read, a well stocked pantry and freezer and a whole house generator should power go out. Wishing all the Bluebirds a good productive week ahead. Praying that all in the path of the storm stay safe. Blessings, Cookie
Dear Cookie, Greens are one thing I can grow reliably well! I hope you like the triangles, I think so. The gift of the apron, bowl cosines and hot pads sounds just lovely! Freezing the rice in batches is so helpful too. I hope you are safe and sound through the storm... I am hearing about storms all over! With much love, Annabel.xxx
DeleteHave you ever made yogurt cheese? I drain it in a colander with 4 layers of cheesecloth for about 24 hours in the refrigerator. Then I add salt and pepper and herbs to make a delicious cheese spread. It is so fancy and so inexpensive. I gifted some at Christmas in saved cute jars. I am able to buy yogurt for 50 cents a quart at a salvage grocery store so I don't bother making my own.
ReplyDeleteI hope your peach tree times out right for your next visit! I did not know there was gluten free pastry. I will have to look for that here in the US because our son is gluten free.
I am buying very little this year until we eat down the pantry some. We have way too much on hand so we only bought produce, eggs and milk this week. I think I went a little overboard with the grocery shortages and just never stopped.
Have a great weekend!
Dear Lana, I have and it turned out creamy and good! I need to make it more often though. Yes there are gf pastries in every supermarket now and overall the US has a lot more choices than we do so I am sure you will find it. The one I get now is so good! This is so helpful! The new week is already speeding by! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteI think that you mean the 5th of JANUARY.
ReplyDeleteOh oops, I fixed it! x
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always so interesting! And informative! You seem to get so much done in a week!!
Glad to hear the check- ups went well and that peach tree! Always on the lookout! We always did the same! Wild Asparagus , wild dark cherries, mushrooms from our own big yard (the fairy ring ones that are safe), and the like. Just like spotting flowers like Iris and day lilies or lilacs. on an abandoned farm. It was like a treasure hunt!!
Made a nice dinner of goulash yesterday with left overs! Always better left over! Also started cutting my leaf lettuce from the garden. We mix it with a pkg of lettuce, cabbage, etc mix and I also added my own onions, garlic chives, and chard with left over meats and cheeses. Made a huge chef salad. Trying to eat at home more now my wife has retired.
It’s been so cold here with lows in 50’s that seeds aren’t sprouting very fast! Have several things to plant one of these days!
Started taking down our Christmas decorations. Makes the house look so barren though! But we left some stuff like our nativity and some wreaths to keep us company!
I don’t remember who suggested making a freezer check off sheet to keep tract but I’m in!!! I’m forever clearing out half the freezer to see what I have and where it’s at! You and the Bluebirds always have great ideas! Or maybe it was the Cheapskates blog!
Just had Donna on the phone! She’s enjoying afternoon bingo on these wintry days! (She’s very lucky!) And looks forward to this blog when it arrives! She reads every word!! She sends her thanks to one and all for all the interesting news, tips, and comments!!
My wife, Linda, is having lunch with her former boss! Maybe some part time work! And I’m doing some wash as soon as I finish this comment!
Your step by step plan to explain things to those who have never learned it before, is right on and truly needed! Going to be an interesting new chapter!
Everyone take care and may your New Year be full of Joy and Promise!
Love, Rick in Florida and
Donna in N Indiana
XXXOOO
Dear Rick and Doona, I did not know about wild asparagus! Wild cherries would be amazing too! I love foraging!
DeleteI did post a video with links to freezer checklist... you can google free freezer inventories and get nice ones to print. A big help. You can also get free meal planners and other printables which I really love too. I try and have a long list of meals I can make or thaw out without ever having to go any where.
I hope Linda might get the part time work. It all helps! Thank you re the basics posts. It is going to be an interesting journey! Big hello and love to Donna! With love Annabel.xxx
Thanks for sharing how you make your spinach pies. I keep phylo and puff pastry in the freezer and this gives me another use for partial boxes. And, I need to add more spinach into my diet, so this is one I'll try. As for feathering my nest, the last full week has been filled with "mom" issues, and she lives about 90 minutes away. So I've been on the run. As for expenditures, I've filled up my vehicle in a neighboring state, with far lower fuel costs. And, I've stayed out of the stores. If I go in for one thing, I typically come out with a bag full -- and while it's items I use, I may not need it. And, I need to control spending for at least the first half of the year. I will be starting my bedding plants from seed this year and have a decent supply, but that's still several weeks off.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lori! I hope things have gone better for your Mum this week. Planning the garden is great fun. We are mid summer... I still have time to replant quite a few things and get another harvest I hope...
DeleteWe are all cutting back and being more careful... groceries keep going up! With love Annabel.xxx
Happy new year Annabel! I’m so pleased Chloe’s checkup went well. How fun for the boys going out for dinner. The new series sounds great! Such practical advice with yummy results lol.
ReplyDeleteWe unexpectedly took a trip this week. We were meant to host guests but ended up driving to them. While away I went to a bulk food supplier and topped up things like chocolate chips, baking soda, soy sauce, vanilla essence etc. I also went to a place that stocks food close to its best before date, or that’s changed packaging etc and picked up some snacks for birthday parties.
I found some tops for work at an op shop, really nice brands and nothing over $5.
We cleaned up our garden yesterday and it rained in the evening which was perfect.
Have a lovely weekend!
Jen (NZ)
Dear Jen,
DeleteIt sounds really fun to go to a bulk food supplier! What a good opportunity! Love the baking basics! Great of the tops for work too! What good deals! The rain came at a good time... we keep getting summer rain and things are surprisingly green. This week has got away from me, I hope you are all enjoying the holidays! With love Annabel.xxx
Enjoying this series and who doesn’t love a spinach pie. I have used this filling for gozlemes using a yoghurt and self raising flour pastry then fried them in a pan. It was a Simple Savings recipe. My adult daughter thought I was brilliant when I produced them. Do you still catch up with Hilde?
ReplyDeleteThank you! Sadly Hilde passed away the same week my Dad did. I had written down many of her tips and recipes in a little book. I am so glad I did that. She taught me heaps. She was a very generous lovely friend. I miss her a lot. :( xxx
DeleteHello dear Annabel and beautiful blue birds .
ReplyDeleteFirstly Annabel you've written December instead of January in the title oops !.
You've had another lovely week Annabel .
I love when you take photos of the cows !.
I'm glad all went well with Chloe's baby check up and lucky chooks to get chips !!.
I've had a quiet start to the year ,all over really done is worked out my budget for the next few months .
I hope to start making cards again this weekend .
I hope you all have a lovely weekend .
Love Barb
Dear Barb, Thank you! I fixed the mistake eek oops.
DeleteThank you so much re may cow photos!
Good job on setting up your budget! And card making! Off to a very good start! With love Annabel.xxx
Wow! What a productive week. Lovely wrapping paper. And your chickens are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine gardening while managing all the Christmas and holiday tasks.
My week was good! I finished organizing my sewing area in our bedroom. Also got a large amount of the fabric and yarn organized in the closet. All of this done without spending any money for a new cubby. Just switched some furniture around.
I am working on clearing out the big freezer. Making broth with bones and veg scraps that I had stashed in there. Also baking some sweet breads to use up old fruit.
When I am in work mode, I don't like to stop. So I pressure cooked some beans and browned some beef. We had a huge pot of chili in a hot minute!
The children and I travel to a large city once a month for the orthodontist. While there, we enjoy a wonderful grocery store. The prices are good on the fresh fruit and veggies. The rest of the store has gourmet items. We always stop to get a few things to add to our picnic lunch. And we get one item that the kids are curious to try. Today we purchased plantains. I will cook them in a veg and meat sauce to enjoy with rice . Last time we went, we bought a dragon fruit. It was good. I dried the skin in my fruit dryer. Will grind that up to add to smoothies in the Spring. This weekend I plan to cook up some frozen cranberries in a compote. Yum!
Love,
Leslie in Ohio
Are being chance talking about Jungle Jims? We love that place.
DeleteSarah
No, it is called Monnette's Market in Toledo, Ohio.
DeleteI have heard of Jungle Jim's and it sounds fantastic.
Leslie
Dear Leslie, It is true that summer is busy and Christmas comes in the middle of it all. However we dont have Thanksgiving so that is one less thing to manage. I like the sound of your work mode... I would say when you are on a roll keep going! I am like that too!
DeleteWhen I was a teenager I had bands on my teeth and had similar trips to the city with Mum. These created a lot of special times together, lunch in the city, seeing a lot of different stores and things. I hated the bands but I loved this part!
So many things can be saved to go into smoothies! So good!
The week is almost over already! With love Annabel.xxx
Spinach pie is on my list of things to try cooking this Winter. I love eating it but have never made it myself - looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteThe only item added to the pantry this week is some ground beef (mince) as I found it on special at my local grocery store and it was the one meat that I was all out of for some reason. Otherwise, I am trying to follow the Three Rivers eat down the pantry challenge in January and February and buy as little as possible. I have a lot of food in my little apt. and it is only me so I need to get a lot of it used up before freezer burn sets in or things start to go by BB dates. I don't worry about it "expiring" but some items will start to go a bit stale.
It's funny hearing you talk about peaches and apricots when we are going into the coldest part of Winter - although no real snow as yet - just damp, grey, gloomy days. I have some frozen peaches in the freezer (they were especially sweet and delicious this year) so I think I will take some out and make some smoothies and maybe a peach cobbler this week.
All the best to you and yours.
Dear Margie,
DeleteYou will enjoy the spinach pies I think. Ground beef is very useful and versatile. I do the Three Rivers everybitcountschallege ... I love it! Yes it is so good to roasted out what is in the freezer.
Yes we really are in produce season. I do love the fruit. A peach cobber look be beautiful in the cold weather!
I hope yo put away summer fruits for winter deserts... like apple pies.
Thank you for your comment! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely spinach pies and pizza's. You have been a very productive homemaker.
My week consisted of appointments, deep cleaning and a ton of paperwork. I am glad John is doing the baking. I just mix up the gluten free flour mixture and pull out each recipe for him.
Have a wonderful weekend.
With love,
Glenda
Dear Glenda, GF is so much easier now with so many choices available. Appointments and paperwork are frustrating! I hope this week is going well. I am way behind on correspondence but I am catching up! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnnabel your spinach pies/rolls, pizzas look lovely as do the jam pastries. Good on you for stocking up the wrapping paper and other things while they were on special for this year. So glad that Chloe's checkup went well and you had some time to do some crocheting too. Doris seems like she is a gentle giant now with all your love and attention too. You have got so much done and I really don't know how you get the time.
ReplyDeleteFinancial wise I worked out we had an extra over a $1000 in our working account so that went into our high interest savings account. I am saving for a new car for me as mine will be 16 years old this August so any spare money in any budget category will be saved for that and hoping I get to save half or more by the end of the year.
We purchased from WW some staples at usual prices, chocolate on weekly sale, pillows on half price sale, used our 4% off e-gift card and used a $10 off promo to save $37.27 on usual prices. From Coles we bought Norsca deodorant and cheezels on half price sale saving another $23.38 on usual prices.
In the kitchen we made all meals from scratch in fact it was so hot we didn't cook and had mainly ham and salad sandwiches for dinner.
In the home we finished cleaning all the walls, doors and skirting boards in the upstairs bathroom. We finished putting up the new roller blinds in the bedroom and cleaning the rest of the walls, skirting boards, mirrored wardrobe doors, the tops of the sliding mirror wardrobe cupboards and door. Organisation wise I went through all our old paperwork in our stacked drawers in the lounge room and burned them in the slow combustion stove. I deep cleaned around the slow combustion stove and all the alcove walls.
Hoping everyone has a frugal week and accomplishes all they set out to do.
Lorna SW Qld.
Dear Lorna,
DeleteA new car is a good goal. It is exciting to have this to aim for.
I think when the weather is warm cold meats and salads are perfect. I love it. I have a ham to cook which I think I will do tomorrow and make a bunch of salads. We should be good for a few days then.
Good job on all the cleaning! I think roller blinds are really good, easy to keep clean and that is what we have. You achieved a lot!
This week is already flying by! I see now weather forming up north... I need to check on what's happening tonight... maybe more water for your tanks! With much love, Annabel.xxx
Hello Annabel, well I can tell you that now I will be making lots of spinach triangles this week for the freezer. Last week I followed your recipe for lasagna and I now have 3 extra meals for us in the freezer, plus we had it for two other meals. Pizza also from the leftover sauce.
ReplyDeleteWhen my lawn cotton nighties wear out I made lovely soft hankies from those. Heidi from Rain Country has just put up a clip on dehydrating bone broth which I’m going to try this week. I have also started baking bread again. So easy and a real saving. Please continue with these easy recipe ideas, it’s such an inspiration.
Blessing Gail.
Dear Gail, Thank you so much! You have encouraged me! Well done on the lasagne and the meals frozen! We say frozen assets! They really are assets. I think cotton lawn is the most beautiful fabric. Just perfect. I have a new sewing machine and I can do scalloped edgings... so I will try some of my fine soft cottons, I cant wait! Heidi is a wonderful teacher! I have learned a LOT from her. It is so good you are among your bread. You can set some dough aside for so many other things ie a pizza base. I will go all year with the basics and am so excited as it will include some sewing, gift making and other things too. With love, Annabel.xxx
DeleteIt’s hard to believe we are almost one week into the new year!
ReplyDeleteI have made bread from scratch this week, and made zucchini bread which is sliced and in the freezer for morning teas or breakfast. I double batch cooked a mince pasta bake, one to eat and one for the freezer. I pressure canned some black beans. Picked spinach from my garden and used it in quiche. Planted jalapeño seedings that I raised from seed, I lost a couple in the heat, but the ones that survived will be hardy for sure! I also worked an extra shift at the hospital this week, so an extra 10 hours pay coming up this fortnight!
It’s been a good start to the year, and after I have a rest this weekend, I will rev back up again on Monday 😊
Have a lovely week Annabel
From Cheryl 🐦
Dear Cheryl, You worked really hard, what a week. Well done on the extra shift. The zucchini bread sounds so good. Your home would smell beautiful with bread baking. You added to your shelves and garden! Yes a very good start to a new year. This week has already flown, I hope it is going equally well! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteYour spinach pies look so good- I will have to keep those in mind. I'm always looking for food I can take with us when we are away from home at mealtime.
ReplyDeleteI have decided this year that I am going to have a spending freeze for the first part of each month. This will force me to use what I have on hand first, as well as detect any gaps in my preparedness. It will also keep me from spending the bulk of my budget before the month is halfway over. I am careful with my spending, but sometimes unexpected things come up later in the month that leave me wishing I had waited to buy xyz. I did buy a few groceries this week, but they were carefully planned and calculated, and my list was strictly adhered to.
Most of our meals have been based off of the free 50lb box of potatoes we got. (Another produce truck wrecked and the contents couldn't be sold so they were giving it all away.) Snacks have been homemade popcorn and gluten-free muffins. I froze some of the muffins so that I would have something convenient when the cravings arose.
I went "shopping" in my attic to replace the clothes John has outgrown. I got out and washed up all the clothes that I had purchased on sale last year in his current size.
Last month, we bought and installed a wood burning stove insert for our fireplace (more efficient than an open flame). We have not turned on central heating in over a month and our electric bill this month was only $91...down from the typical $350-400 that we typically see in the winter!!! The investment is already majorly paying off.
I exercised my ability to say "no" this week by turning down a Mom's Night with the other moms in our homeschool group. It was a potluck, so cost wasn't a factor, but it would have kept me out well past the boys' bedtime and driving in the dark to get home with Colton away at work. I was really stressing until I realized I could just say "no". Instant relief. I just wanted to share because I know you've written about those types of pressures before!
I hope everyone has a good week!
Dear Kelsey,
DeleteA spending freeze early in the month will help for sure... you will get to the end of the month much easier. Monthly pays can be hard to manage.
The 50lbs of potatoes was a huge bonus! Lucky there are so many good things to make with potatoes!
It is wonderful you had clothes stored ready for John to grow into. Good organisation!
We have an enclosed fire... we can shut it down to slow burning at night... this overall burns heaps less wood than an open fire. We love it too!
It is lovely to be invited to things but yes... if it causes stress, messes up bed times... it is just fine to say no. I used to painfully figure out how on earth I was going to get out of things... haha when I could have just said no thanks!
I hope your week is going well! With much love Annabel.xxx
Terri from Blue House Journal. I spent the week being very busy in my home, getting it cleaned and organized. I also made all our meals here at home and homemade bread twice. Went to the grocery and picked up mostly produce and dairy items. Since I am doing a pantry/freezer challenge at present those are the only items I'm allowed. I have loads of food here and am already figuring out ways to use items that have long languished, are still good but keep getting passed by when I am cooking/baking. I am looking forward to week two of my challenge.
ReplyDeleteMy home has been refreshed and lots of changes made but very little purchased except some bins to go on my new bathroom open storage shelves. I had gift cards to use for those so that is okay.
I am feeling refreshed myself and ready to tackle a new week of life here in my home!
Dear Terri, It is beautiful to feel refreshed and ready to go! The challenge is great and we all need to do a good freezer and pantry rotation regularly. Starting off the NY with a clean and fresh home is lovely too! With much love Annabel.xxx
Delete