Feather your Nest Friday, 10th May, 2024.
I did not think I had much to report this week. Things are dry, we just desperately need rain. I ordered hay for the cows because at this rate soon there will be no hay to buy at any price. 😞
Some good things I can mention though are:
I finally got back to crochet. Lily's pram rug was finished, just in time for winter.
To try and gain momentum I hauled out my wool and projects. I found a boys blanket that is about three quarters made... so now I am finishing that. This will make me feel accomplished and egg me to finish off another blanket I started in pinks.
I also got back to sewing a little bit. Scarlett gets achy legs. Well, I remember my Dad would sit on my bed and rub my achy legs! I made a soft velvet heat pad... the idea is her leg goes in the middle and the heat pad wraps around.
I get to give it to her tomorrow. Mum is coming with me on a road trip!
The chickens have outgrown two boxes. I promoted them again into the hugest box... Sidney's Christmas John Deere tractor box! Once they are crowded in here they will go into a hen house.
Tom wanted to hold the black chicken. He was very gentle and the chicken was very quiet!
In the garden... I have been here five years now. Having tried lots of things I have some things I can grow in abundance and other things that are a struggle/failure. I've decided it is better to have tons of something living than tons of pots with something failing. My successes are cherry tomatoes, greens ie silverbeet, chard, spinach, parsley, basil, celery and beans. Because of the bird netting in the orchard I seem to reliably produce a lot of apples and pears. These are all good things. I can't have too much of any of them because I can share, trade and feed chickens. With this in mind I filled empty spaces with bean seeds.
This is my winter crop along with all the greens I've mentioned. If I can consistently supply eggs then I have quite a bit I can live on/share/trade.
Lily is nine weeks old and very happy about it.
I had a lovely day catching up with a friend. We hadn't seen each other since Andy died. Her year isn't going gloriously either. But still we had lunch together and it was just so nice.
While in town I went to two thrift stores. One of these is usually run by an older couple. Their roster works in with mine... I am usually there on the first Tuesday of every month. After they didn't see me for a couple of months they asked around and found my phone number. They messaged me to ask if I was ok. Can you believe that? I had replied and told the what had happened. So on Tuesday I saw them again. They were so kind. We had a big chat. They said "we love you, you know." I found out they are in their 80s. They both work so hard for the community and various charities in the town. They have no plans of stopping. To me they are a great example of love and service.
I also found some lovely kids clothes, books and DVDs. Because I am not a fan of TV I started to collect suitable children's classics in books and DVD's. This way I have something on hand that I think is wholesome... and I bought a little DVD player. Last time the girls were here they watched Paddington Bear. They loved it!
How have you built up your nest this week? We love to hear! Thank you to everyone who contributed soup recipes to Mondays post.
Have a beautiful Mothers Day! xxx
We are just so dry in the Midwest of WA. Praying for rain that can go to you. Big lot down the south of WA at the moment
ReplyDeleteThank you! Very often if you were to get rain then soon we would. We have the clouds just nothing comes from them! xxx
DeleteDear Annabel
ReplyDeleteHow lovely of the op shop ladies! You know they must be the kindest of the kind.
With Scarlett’s legs, make sure she gets enough magnesium as it relieves cramping, growing pains and restless leg syndrome.
Here’s hoping we get a soaking rain soon, although it looks so stable in the dry weather setting for another few weeks. At least we can get all the outside chores done. It’s been the most beautiful colorful autumn up in the hills this year.
Much love
Kate
Dear Kate, Thank you. I suggested Epsom Salts warm bath because of what you are saying. I am a big fan of magnesium and I must have lacked it because I always had restless legs... and two magnesium tablets a day completely eradicated it! After putting up with it for so many years! Not one dr ever mentioned magnesium!
DeleteThe Penola area today was golden. Like everything had gold leaves. So beautiful. I do agree... we are working on all the outdoor projects as this weather is gorgeous and we might as well soak it up! Have a Happy Mothers Day Kate! With love Annabel.xxx
Annabel and Dear Bluebirds, prayer all are doing well.
ReplyDeleteAnnabel what a week you have had. So happy you reconnected with your friend and the shop owners are so thoughtful and called you.
Prayers you receive some much needed rain.
I love that you are collecting good children's books and dvd's. I always look for good children's books, Bible stories, classics. They are a very good addition to ones library.
I am finally feeling a bit better after the bronchitis and sinus infection. I worked yesterday on oranges I had brought back from a hotel the prior week, I was able to can up 8 miscellaneous jars of Orange Marmalade. I felt it was a good addition to my pantry and use of the oranges, the previous week I made OJ and dried peels. Love being able to use free items to add more into our pantry.
Prayers for all Bluebirds.
Dear Rosanne, So glad you are feeling better. The marmalade is a great pantry addition. I love the colour of oranges. Like sunshine. Free is a good way to build up the pantry! Wishing you a very Happy Mothers Day tomorrow! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing the kindness of the couple from the thrift store, although you do atract beautiful people around you with your beautiful soul and kindness!
I love Lili*s smile (does she have dimples?) and gentle Tom - it is love written all over his face! All your grandchildren are my favourites!
Great crochet projects and the velvet heat pad. But I am sorry for the lack of rain - not good for anyone.
I can not believe it is more than five years that I come here every week and learn so many things and meet so many lovely people. Sometimes I even go back to the old Bluebirds Are Nesting just to learn some more. Thank you very much!
I am at work now, on a lunch break. The weeks before the Orthodox Easter were quite busy for me, especially at the second job, the on-line sale, wrapping and shipping all over the country of meat products for a grocery shop. But I managed both jobs well, I worked at home, too, preparing Easter, cooking, cleaning, a bit of work in the garden and finished in time the knitted cardigan for my husband. Between all these I managed to sneak in some painting outside, reading time while sunbathing in the backyard (finished another Sarah Lark book about New Zeeland 1945 - about Polish refugees) and a short trip to a nearby wonderful lake with my boys (husband, son and little dog Charlie). I am that easy to please, sometimes........and also I am learning how to relax and enjoy.
On chicken news, I now have two Mama Hens, and they both stay in the same big box and chat together, eat together and when they come outside they go together to the spa / dust bath and chat on a low chirp, like two girlfriends. Make me laugh every time. They have the eggs marked with two different colours and keep switching them between. Today, Friday, should be hatching day for the first batch, last evening my husband has prepared them a big cage like 2 m long and 1 m wide and I am a bit anxious to see how I will separate them and how will everything go, me being (very) first time mama. I can*t wait to get home!
Prices here are higher and higher, so when I saw good price for animal feed (cats and dogs) I stocked up. Also, I did a deep inventory on the pantry and I know what I have and what I need if in good price. I already have enough sugar for Autumn jams and fruit preserves.
In order to be prepared for anything unexpected or the worse, we went to eye specialist. It was overdued but this was the time, as our heating and electricity bills are not so high as in winter, so the money went to the new glasses for both of us. I needed some extra medical visits as they suspected glaucoma (the intraocular pressure is high) but I am all right, with some medication for now. It cost me a small fortune!
Annabel, I love your garden and the ideea of winter crop (which for my climate is unthinkable). Do you have hollyhocks or calendula flowers blooming in the garden?
Wishing everyone a Beautiful Mothers Day from very far away, Laura_s_world from Romania
Dear Laura, You had a very busy week and I am glad you also had some lovely relaxing times. The best friend chickens sound beautiful! I am really hoping you have some chickens hatching! I am glad you have a set up ready for them. Make sure the water is shallow and they cannot drown... but mother hens are wonderful at the rest.
DeleteGood idea on the glasses and eye examinations.
Laura I did not know or appreciate having greens growing all winter was a blessing until I met many of the US/Canadian/Uk ladies and you... We do get some frosts but mainly I can grow greens of all sorts right through winter. Last year I had tomatoes still in winter! This also means the cows are fed just by pasture and I can pull weeds and grass all the time for the chickens. Last year I found my hens laid eggs through most of winter and that giving them plenty of greens daily kept them laying better. I have a garden fork that I use to lift a big clump of grass every day for each hen house... and when it comes up it has dirt and bugs (probably) and they scratch through it all.
Well done on finishing the cardigan! Working two jobs is a lot but getting out in the sun and going to the lake sound just perfect to balance things out.
I cannot believe it is five years either. Thank you for sticking with me! It is such a journey! Happy Mothers Day also! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYour grandchildren look so beautiful and happy. I love Tom holding the chicken!
I am the same way with TV and collect DVDs and even VHS of movies and shows we like. Some of them I can find for free on YouTube or other streaming platforms but the ads have become so inappropriate that I'd rather just be done with it altogether. They are after our kids.
I love that the op shop ladies tracked you down to see if you were ok. My thrift store ladies are the same. One day they said I should just come in sometime to chat and have coffee. They are so nice.
I resisted lots of spending opportunities this week. Reality has set in that we won't be getting the extra paycheck from the school anymore, so I am being very careful to keep our goals in mind and avoid impulses and temptation.
We had a big grocery shop and found several markdowns. Some of it was produce on its last leg which I cooked before it could go bad. We also bought some steaks marked down, which will be a treat for us. They still cost less than low-quality takeout for our family of four. I also made a fruit salad and a strawberry pie. I have been looking at recipes for cold foods and salads now that the heat of summer is here. It is dry here too so I know what you are going through with that.
Next week, I must be better about writing things down, as I know I stayed busy but can't seem to remember what all I did!
Dear Kelsey, Yes TV has become so bad. Yes perverts are targeting the children. Chloe had a shock a couple of years ago with an innocent TV show on, or so she thought. She walking in and saw they had included something really sick and evil. So that was the end of that. I struck gold and found four more lovely videos for the girls for my collection.
DeleteYou have given me an idea for a basics post! I have a couple of perfect summer no cook recipes. Knowing the thrift store ladies is lovely... anything you are dreaming of tell them and they will watch out for you, ring you to let you know a pile of nice fabric has come in, that kind of thing! The couple I mentioned watch out for big jars and fabrics for me. This is where I once got the 14 metres of pure silk for $5! Maybe one of my best deals of all time!
This week is already flying by. Ive taken a lot of photos so these remind me what the heck I have been doing! With love Annabel.xxx
So many smiles! Thanks for sharing photos of your beautiful grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteLovely blanket. Sweet chicks.
My big frugal accomplishment this week is making noodles. I had so many eggs! I mentioned to my husband about trying to use a pasta maker after watching a YouTube video, Homesteading with the Zimmermans.
I had one years ago but did not have any instruction. Ruthann gave a wonderful tutorial. So my husband comes home with a pasta maker he purchased at the thrift store. What a surprise! I had only mentioned it to him the day before. ☺️ The children and I made noodles Thursday afternoon. 4 gallons worth are drying in my closet.
A surprising investment I made is paying off. It was in the budget for us to purchase a family membership to the YMCA. My older daughters were already working out and taking classes. But now the whole family can enjoy the pool and other facilities. Swimming with my children has helped with an injury. Now I don't limp and I have more stamina. Wish I would have joined 2 years ago!
Enjoying God's goodness,
Leslie in Ohio
Dear Leslie, Swimming is just wonderful. It is so good even for stress and sleep. Sounds like you better keep that up as it's doing you so much good.
DeleteGetting the pasta maker within 24 hours is pretty good going! The noodles will be such an asset! Also if you dry and powder some spinach or other greens you can make green noodles or other colours! I think you all will enjoy this! What a nice week! With love Annabel.xxx
Oh, how sweet are the pics of Lilly and little Tom kissing the chick! And Lilly's blanket is so pretty. I love how you embellished it with crocheted flowers, too. I hope you get some rain soon. I sure wish I could send you some of ours, we've had so much lately, and the farmers are champing at the bit to get out in their fields to plant. Building up the nest this week meant cleaning out the nest a bit - I emptied the big wood box by the woodstove, cleaned it out, and returned the wood to the wood piles. Also cleaned out the screened in back porch so we can eat our meals out there and just enjoy the spring weather. The colorful summer birds are returning, so the air is filled with birdsong! I just picked a big bowl of volunteer lettuce, so we'll have that tonite. We got our hanging baskets (on sale!) Wed., but had to put them in the garage overnite last night - we had a chance of frost. Hubby is planting some herbs in the new raised bed, and he hopes to get the tomatoes, cabbage, kale, and squash plants out as soon as our clay soil dries out, perhaps next week as we're supposed to have rain most of the weekend. We've a bit leery of putting plants and pots out in mid-May, since we had a freeze last year on May 31st-June 1st! Crazy weather some years! I have the pieces cut for a couch quilt for hubby's anniversary gift (August), so I plan to work on that this weekend. Oh, and I did make some delish banana crumb muffins yesterday out of 3 almost-past prime bananas, so at least dessert's taken care of! LOL I hope you and all the other Bluebirds have a lovely weekend, Annabel!
ReplyDeleteDear Jill, It is great you are both working together to get so much done. I love birds and they are my music throughout the day! I wish we had some of that rain. I can imagine the farmers wanting to get out there planting. A quilt will be a beautiful gift for your husband. It has been a really go go week here too, again! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteOh, and I meant to mention how lovely your thrift store couple must be to think of you and reach out in concern. There are still lots of kind and loving people in this world.
ReplyDeleteHi Annabel and Bluebirds
ReplyDeleteI wish we could send some of the rain we are getting in the Northern Rivers down your way! We’ve had quite the wet spell and it’s still going.
I didn’t keep a list of what I did this week, and I can’t recall a thing! 😂 I don’t know how that happens, but I’m sure I feathered our nest in some small way!
How wonderful that the elderly couple went out of their way to check on you, it speaks volumes, there needs to be more of that in the world ❤️
On the subject of DVD’s, we recently travelled through Echuca and did a short trip on a paddle steamer and that made us recall the series All The Rivers Run as that’s where it was filmed, hubby and I bought the DVD of the series, as it’s not available on any free platforms and can’t be watched anywhere else, we watched the whole thing through and thoroughly enjoyed it! I’ve always been an advocate for having the physical copy of something, whether it be DVD’s, music or books. They are at risk of disappearing altogether if we don’t! Now I’ve lent the DVD to a friend and she can enjoy watching it too!
Happy Mother’s Day to all. 💐
From Cheryl
Cheryl I am exactly the same, if I dont write things down and or take photos I cant remember! Echuca is beautiful and they sounds like a great series to watch. Mum hs a little DVD player also... I think it's great. This week is flying by but still no rain sadly. I hope your week is going well! xxx
DeleteWe have had nothing but rain day after day after day. I know we will wish for it later but we are just too wet. I hope you have abundant rain soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lana, oh boy we could use some of that! Its beautiful weather to enjoy but looking awful in the paddocks.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel, I am glad you have pulled out your crochet. I LOVE the colour of Lily's pram rug. Your grandchildren are all so cute. You are a very caring Grandmother to make Scarlett the velvet heat pad for her achy legs. I don't have little people around at the moment but I too am collecting children's books and DVDs - mostly for me. I have started re reading loved ones and reading ones I missed. I am doing this to calm myself and my mind just as Laura above said about learning to relax. I am reading Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs at the moment. I am sitting inside today as our much needed rain arrived yesterday and I pray you get some soon too. My husband has had some unexpected time at home and this week we got some projects done around our yard. We have a drum as a fire pit, he cut seats from logs for us to sit around it and I put my terracotta pots along a fence to hide it, we put our outside table to the side and have made a little relaxing escape place in our own back yard. I love it. We have had a lot of talks about what we can do to enjoy being at home. We are trying to create nice places to sit - using what we have. It is amazing the difference that just moving things around has done so far. I loved your story about the couple in the opp shop who phoned you, it restores faith that there are really lovely, caring people in the world. Happy Mothers Day, love Clare
ReplyDeleteDear Clare, I love a fire pit! Sitting around a fire is one of the nicest things. Having places to sit outside is beautiful. If the weather is good then eating outside is just lovely. If you have a hot plate you could easily cook over the fire too and have a BBQ. This is so enjoyable. Clare even though I was stuck for a while crochet (or knitting or embroidery) can be very calming. It's the rhythm partly I think. Also for me repetitive prayers and can calm me down. Some garden work in the sunshine has a good effect on me. We are in a stressful world and creating a peaceful home and little places to sit outside etc are all wonderful things to be doing! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteI bought a VCR for $5 from a church rummage sale. Hopefully, husband will get it connected this weekend. It was verified to work when I bought it. I still have so many vhs tapes from when my children were little that I'll be able to share with my grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI had a great day at the grocery store yesterday. I hadn't been bargain shopping for groceries in several weeks. On a whim I stopped at a store near my daughter. For $46 I bought:
6 ears of corn
5 pounds potatoes
6 pounds strawberries
4 pounds cheese
4 pounds of deli meat
8 pounds of chocolate drops suitable for eating or baking (I can verify they are yummy!)
Package of 6 wheat wraps for sandwiches
3 bunches of cilantro
6 packages of corn tortilla shells (to bake into tortilla chips)
3 lb of Brussels sprouts
4 pints of cherry tomatoes
Most of this will end up in the freezer though I have enjoyed some of the fresh produce for lunch & dinner.
Earlier in the day I'd stopped at another store and stocked up on bargain meats. Every thing I bought was 50% off.
Some times I go out and I don't find anything but yesterday I was blessed to find plenty.
Dear Margaret, The old tapes will be fantastic to watch!
DeleteWow you got such a lot of beautiful things at the store! That is a huge amount. Good shopping! What a great day! Certainly these are the times to strike! With love Annabel.xxx
You had a productive week for sure. I love the couple that checked on you..they sound so sweet and caring. I think that is so lovely. They took a chance and checked on you!
ReplyDeleteWe are so busy planting things as the weather allows and I'm so tired. During the day my chicks are in a covered pen outside with food and water -they are big. My problem is they need to get a little bigger so the older ones won't hurt them so maybe a week or two I can let them in the coop. I hope.
Have a beautiful weekend. Thinking of you always.
Dear Vickie, You have been so busy on good things! Well done on the planting and the chicks sound lovely. I have a trick which might work depending on the coop. When I introduce new or smaller birds into the coop I put them inside a cage INSIDE the bigger coop. The big hens act all crazy at first but after 24 hours I open the little coop and they all seem used to each other. But you certainly dont want to risk the little ones when you have got them this far!
DeleteThank you Vicky for your kind words, with love Annabel.xxx
What a lovely gentle-filled post, Annabel. You know, you struck a memory with me from childhood (and well into my twenties) with the aching legs! What a wonderful idea for Scarlett...I pray it brings her little legs great relief.
ReplyDeleteLike you, there are many things we will no longer grow as they just fail each growing season and end up costing money and wasting garden space. Making that decision this year has already made a difference. We grow what we know will grow. :-)
Happy Mother's Day my sweet friend. May you be abundantly blessed in your heart, and your arms filled with those who love you.
Jennifer
xxxx
Dear Jenny, It is good we tried many things but now we know what is worth investing in. And that can still be very abundant. I was very blessed on Mothers Day, the whole weekend in fact. I hope you were too! I wonder if any of your Grandchildren will get the achy legs like Scarlett following me? When she is here next I am going to soak her in a magnesium bath. Hope your week is going well! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteGreat week you had! We got baby chicks a couple weeks ago so have been taking care of them. Hubby planted 60 tomato plants so I will be busy at end of summer! Have you any updates on Laine? I think about her off and on and hope she is doing well and could write again!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteChicks and 60 tomato plants! That is awesome! Laine is not doing well. I dont have permission to share the details. She could do with prayer though. xxx
DeleteDear Annabel, thank you for inspiring me (daily) as a mother. Happy Mother’s Day.
ReplyDeleteLily’s blanket is beautiful. I can feel the softness just looking at it. I love the colours. Tom is so cute with the chicken, he seems so good with animals. I love the leg wrap for Scarlett. That is so thoughtful.
I am praying for Laine.
Lots of love and continued prayers, Bridget
Thank you so much Bridget! I hope you had a lovely Mothers Day too! Thank you re Lily blanket. And for your prayers for Laine! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteLily is adorable.
ReplyDeleteSome ways I saved this week:
Found a pair of leggings and denim jacket for the girls (grands) at the thrift store.
Also found a Barndoor-Latch puzzle for the littlest. He's all about tools and mechanical things.
We've been eating from the freezers and pantries as much as possible. I did get larger portions of heavy whipping cream and cheese and eggs which are cheaper per serving.
I found lamb chops on manager's special a few weeks ago and cooked them last night. There were leftovers for the freezer.
Asked for flowers for Mother's Day and received them. I will be potting them up this week.
Looked up recycling my old Kindle devise that doesn't charge anymore. I will receive $5.00 back with free return label.
Free mulch from our wood chip piles.
Free watering for my potted plants with the showers/rain.
Checking my wardrobe and decided to not buy anything this year if possible. I have more than enough clothing so unless I lose so much it gets indecent, I will just keep wearing what I have. I turned all the hangers around in the closet and as I wear an item, I hang it up with the hanger the "right way." At the end of the year, I will donate anything I have not worn in a year's time. I have a set amount of hangers which are all being used. If I would buy anything, I will have to donate something else to make room.
Happy Mother's Day (USA) to all!
Dear Kay, Thank you! You had good thrift store finds! Flowers for the garden are a wonderful Mothers Day gift. You will get to enjoy them for a long time. I like to look at wardrobe items and decide if there is a new way to wear them... ie add a belt to a dress, layer it up somehow. Also put into use accessories that get forgotten! Lamb chops are delicious. Good work on the pantry and freezer! I hope the week is going well! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteLast week I was busy working outdoors, getting furniture painted for the porches. It all looks so much better and took only a short time to do. I stumbled upon a great sale at one grocery and restocked the freezer with me and got a load of produce for super cheap. At another grocery I stocked heavily on the things that were best buys, in season blueberries, cheese blocks, etc. My daughter-in-law is supposed to be bringing me butter she got from her dairy department that is just past expiration, but it's butter...Does it spoil? Perhaps but not just at a date stamped on a package. She knew I froze butter and asked how much can you take? I estimated my space and told her. I'm very grateful for that bonus.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of planting the veg/fruits that work for you. I do well growing carrots and I use them lots in my cooking. I shall make it a point to grown more carrots. I've planted two tomatoes and two zucchini. I'm eager to see how the zucchini do as I've never grown them before.
I also purchased a fig tree just because it was such a pretty tree and a good buy. I know they grow well here so I figure it's something more to add to my 'garden'.
I bought foam to redo chairs with. We ordered wheels instead of a new wagon as we'd planned (half the price) and since I cannot afford the dishes I'd like to have, I decided to piece out my current set with a 12 pc setting at a much lower price. I actually like my current set, but thought I'd have something different. Alas, taste and budget did not match up, lol.
Prayers for your area to get much needed rain, Annabel.
Dear Terri, The butter will be great! It cant read and doesn't know it's meant to spoil on a certain date. It is for sure a good way to stock your freezer. I think the way you added to your existing dinner set. Good idea. A fig tree is a beautiful addition to your garden. We have a small one and it is surprising how many figs we get. Chloe on the other hand has a huge one! Your porch will be looking so lovely and being out there enjoying good weather will be beautiful! With much love Annabel.xxx
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