It is October. To me that means we are officially on our way to Christmas. I opened up my present cupboard to go through everything I have made and collected this year so far. Also I started a list and am working out what I have and what I still need to work on.
This week I had my Grand daughters for a few days. It's been a big week all up!
As always I wanted to teach the girls new things and spend as much time with them as possible. This time we made soap. I used Jane's recipe for one batch and an older recipe for the blue batch. Jane's was the best. Also for those of you who think soap making is scary, we did this with ease. I did send the girls out of the kitchen while I put the lye into the water. But really there is nothing scary about it. The water heats up... the oils are warming on the stove. You blend the two parts and voila.
As we filled the moulds it was hard for the girls to imagine how they would look when they were set and we turned them out. The pink came out first. They were just amazed and so excited and thought it was "better than the shops!"
The idea is that these will cure now and become their school teachers presents at Christmas time. I have pale blue and pale pink tissue paper and have been saving little boxes so that have an easy way to present them.
They were so proud!
We made Honey Crackles. Most of these were taken home to share.
And we made Honey Gingerbread. Then they decorated them ...
These were packed into tins to take home also.
They went up and down the hill on the flying fox about a thousand times I think. They slept well!
They loved their beds! And they loved the books to choose from. They both did a lot of reading and took books home to go on with.
Yesterday was clean up and recover day lol. I also had a ton of stuff to load from the car as on the trip Thursday I picked up groceries, bulbs, lemons, oranges and more flowers!
On Sunday I am giving some of the ladies at church bunches. Then I will get to making some more up.
I had a very large pot with a dead tree in it. Finally, I decided to give up on the tree and use the pot for veggies. At the swap tables I got two tomato plants! So in they went!
The garden is just so bright! I have never had this many flowers.
I still have seven calves. I think by next week I will have eight. They are so tame they come up to me in the car.
I just sit there quietly and they come to me. Cows are very nosey by nature. 😋
Last night we had a little bit of rain. I could see my Oregano was just past its best so I cut it back and got this into the freeze drier.
It filled two trays so I cut some Parsley as well to fill the other two trays.
I found a packet of Zucchini seeds so I have them in a cup of water to plant out tomorrow.
I have a pumpkin to make Lily some puree and I think I will make orange and lemon cakes over the weekend. It is a long weekend too PLUS daylight savings begins. That also is such a signal that the season has changed and Christmas is getting close!
There is a lot of bad news in the world. I am so so sorry for the devastation in the US and everywhere that is erupting into full blown war. I am very grateful for my beautiful week. It was full of goodness. I hope the same for you. How did you build up your home, pantry or garden this week? We love to hear! xxx
Annabel, what a lovely week you have had with the girls there. It sounds like they had a wonderful time with you and also a great learning experience.
ReplyDeletePrayers your next calf arrives soon.
We had a some what busy week here. Husband did a consultation one morning so I at least had "Me Time" for a bit. Otherwise it was a housework week. We did go out and fill both cars with gas and our gas cans with the upcoming spike in fuel costs coming. I was happy we were able to do this.
We also ran to Sam's Club to fill a few holes in our pantry. We did find some sherpa lined sweat pants for husband there, perfect for snow blowing this winter. I was thrilled with this find as he gets so cold out in a storm clearing our driveway and our neighbors. The store was low on stock on many things, though people were clearing out the toilet tissue like mad.
I was able to crochet 3 more washcloths and am hoping to make matching soap bags. It wasn't much but it does add to my present pantry.
I also made a small batch of strawberry chai seed jam, it only used a little honey to sweeten it, it came out delicious for a cost of $2 for 3 jars.
We purchased 2 pumpkins from a local church that sells them for charity. They will be decoration for awhile, then I will cook them down and roast the seeds.
Our days are shorter now and darkness stays longer in the morning and arrives earlier at night. The signs of Fall are all around us and the wildlife are giving us signs of a rough winter ahead, so we have been preparing the home and pantry for the coming season.
Dear Rosanne, You just reminded me our daylight savings starts tonight! You had a very productive week! It is good to be getting ready for winter especially when yours are so cold!
DeleteThe wash cloths and jam looked lovely. I think you might be right about fuel costs likely to go up! Planning ahead is very wise! With love Annabel.xxx
Great looking cookies, good to teach kids the value of home baking at a young age. Careful about those cows, cattle kill more people every year than sharks, hippos and dogs...don't let those cute faces fool you, when those little mites grow up they will just as well stomp you to a pulp with their big feet.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Dont worry I dont get out of the car and am very careful. I grew up on a farm. Loui would kill me just if he leaned on me.xxx
DeleteI wanna know how to sign up for Annabel Camp!! I so love reading about your adventures with your girls and so impressed by all that you teach them! Those lessons are life changing and will enable them so much. Knowledge of all types is so empowering. And as a grown up girly girl, the dried flowers, crocheted edges, and fancy soaps just tickle me! I would be so honored to receive such gifts.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of camp, I think the variety of things learned was why I went every summer from 8-17. So much to learn! I mean, how many times in life do you get to kayak, ride a burro, shoot an arrow, and make a leather bracelet including burning your name and decor onto it?! All in one day!! Priceless.
Thanks for sharing your life with us. It's so encouraging. Especially with the dumpster fires all over.
Dear Debby, Thank you! I am thinking now what we will do and learn in the Christmas holidays! We have a couple of fires left to have then that will be it until next Autumn. But I love a good fire! I hope you have a great new week, with love Annabel.xxx
DeleteWhat a lovely week you had! I am so impressed with what you teach your granddaughters every time they visit. The soap is splendiferous! I am so jealous.
ReplyDeleteI am still working on building up my pantry...a little at a time. Last night I cooked tomatoes in the Crock Pot overnight and I will be canning juice this weekend for tomato soup. Also, I was playing pinochle at a friend's house yesterday and I asked her if I could pick Italian prune/plums from her tree. I don't climb ladders anymore, but I brought home a whole grocery sack of low-hanging fruit. I plan to freeze the plums this weekend for cobblers and crisps.
I learned how to make vegetable broth from kitchen scraps and used it to make minestrone for dinner last week. It was without a doubt the best minestrone I've ever eaten! Plus I froze enough for a ready meal and still have more in the fridge for lunches. I used homegrown tomatoes and home-canned dry kidney beans so it was REALLY cheap to make nearly 3 quarts of delicious soup.
Now I have a question for you, Annabel. You are doing such beautiful freeze drying. I'm wondering if you are stockpiling all of it or have already started cooking. I would love to see some of the things you are making with freeze-dried food.
Best wishes to you and all of the Bluebirds this week!
--Maxine
Dear Maxine, This is how I do tomatoes too, let them go int he slow cooker and then I reduce them down. So good. You are lucky to get beautiful plums! Yum! The colour is always so gorgeous with plums.
DeleteThe goodness in broth is well worth it. Your soup sounds really good!
Maxine I have mostly been putting food up with the freeze drier. However I have dried and used herbs a lot as well as cabbage, capsicum, carrots etc which I have added to cooking. They are amazing as they return to fresh as if they were never preserved. it's kind of odd! But good! I hope that helps! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabelle,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very touchy subject and you don't have to reply if it is too painful. My sister lost her husband of 47 years (age 72) to glioblastoma brain cancer in March of this year. She is a miserable mess. I am having trouble keeping her spirits up. Two of her sons and 4 grandchildren live near her, but that is only a temporary fix. Do you have any words of wisdom for me to help her? She just started seeing a hospice therapist. Will not go to group therapy. I am so amazed how you are coping (seemingly) and running a farm by yourself. I look forward to your response, if you are comfortable. With love, Jane in Florida
Dear Jane, I am so very sorry for your sister and no I dont mind your question at all. I am thinking... Andy died on Jan22. I think it was four months that I was in a pretty dark place as I didnt get to say goodbye, this tortured me. Going back I know I still posted my blog and each day I still had to take care of animals (which was a good thing) and Chloe had Lily soon after Andy died. So my answer is that Andys health had deteriorated and he was sick of it. He had committed his life completely to God and he literally longed for his heavenly home. God was very merciful and he died so suddenly he knew nothing. He must have known it was coming as he prepared everything. He showed me where he wanted his ashes, here on the farm... because he knew I would never leave this place. He had been watching The Chosen series and he loved it so much he re watched it. After he died I started watching it... this helped me more than any other single thing. I have always believed in God but this ignited him and me to study our bibles so much more. So as the girls ran in and said to me NanaBel Andy has gone to sleep on the lawn.... that was like a message from Angels.. he had indeed gone to sleep as Jesus conquered death, there is no death for believers only sleep. Andy is not gone he has moved camp. He no longer has to put up with his failing body.
DeleteSecondly.... I have my Mum, daughters and Grandchildren who need me. In my opinion we are likely to have a war... it is my responsibility to do all I can to make sure they are all fed and provided for if there is a crisis.
Third... I live a long way from town etc but I started going to Mass and prayer and that has also helped me a lot.
I would add that I already had trouble with my nerves... worse since Dad died (4 years) and I talked to my dr about that. Now I am ok during the day and I have to be careful with my routine at night so that I sleep. I also have to not take on too much or I dont get all my work done!
I am very grateful how Andys faith was so great and I feel I know what both he and Dad would want me to do now. I know my mission. I feel I cannot stock my pantry fast enough or grow my garden big enough for what I think could come and time is very previous. I hope this is a good explanation of how I keep going. I hope it helps. With love Annabel.xxx
I would love to be your granddaughter! So much learning and fun! The calves are so cute!....................Nancy
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy! xxx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteIt's always so lovely to see what you and the girls get up to when they come to visit. Didn't their soap turn out beautifully?? They're right...better than in the store! Your flowers are just so beautiful...the ladies at church will be thrilled. Hooray for all the calves!!
This week has seen three of us with our first cold of the season, so not as full steam ahead as I would have liked, but I still canned tomatoes and we finished up all the chickens that had to be taken care of, so that's over for another year. I also took full stock of what needs to be done for the holidays ahead, and finished up a couple of projects, as well as starting a few more. Next weekend is Thanksgiving here, and we have some company coming, so this upcoming week will have some cleaning and baking done, as well as yard and garden cleanup, weather permitting. I'll finish canning the grape juice and probably do some more tomatoes, but the preserving is winding down.
You are so productive, Annabel, and your photos are gorgeous. We are grateful that you post and encourage all of us!! xx Jen in NS
Dear Jen, I hope you are all over your colds and feel better. I love the idea of Thanksgiving. Giving thanks is certainly a good idea. Well done on still getting canning done and the chickens sorted. I have chickens hatching, I hope, on Friday! And bigger chickens to move, I hope, today! If all things go in the right direction! With love Annabel.xxx
Deletewe were hard hit by Hurricane Helene. We were without power or water for seven days. I was so thankful for all the preps I had in place and we were able to pull the freezer and refrigerator through with the generator. Our property will never be the same as we lost 20 or more old growth trees and there is so much damage and destruction everywhere. Our home was not touched and for that we are so thankful. Areas to the north of us were washed away and so many lives lost that we are thankful for life and protection from the storm. I will never be able to forget the sound of the wind and seeing all the trees falling over.
ReplyDeleteOH Lana...how terrifying. With such big trees lost it is amazing your house was not damaged! That is miraculous! Seeing the trees go down would have been dreadful. I cant imagine how frightening that would have been, nor the noise. I am so thankful you are ok. Our news has barely covered this. I am seeing though through social media. Well done on having your generator and keeping the fridge and freezer going! Good planning. Well that was some week but what a relief! I think the loss of life and Im hearing whole towns are gone? is just beyond my imagination. With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteCan you share the link for Jane's soap recipe? I'd love to try it.
ReplyDeleteDear Janet, Jane has two soap recipes in the files on the Tuesday club but not this particular one. I will see what Jane says and maybe do a Basics post with this recipe for you, with love Annabel.xxx
DeleteWhat a beautiful week you have had. Your soaps turned out beautifully, I’m sure the teachers will be very happy to receive them.
ReplyDeleteThe garden beds are looking so good!! I’d love to find some time to create my own little rockery.
I mentioned last week that we had an unexpected event in our lives and things have been rocky and emotional to say the least. On the back of last weeks events this week saw us make a big life decision, one that we are at peace with now that we have had time to process it. My husband has resigned from his 30 year service as a paramedic. He is 54, so not retirement age yet, he does have other employment as a self employed handyman and another paramedic related position on a casual basis. Financially we will be fine, money will just come in sporadically instead of regularly. God has been so close this past two weeks, I just feel it deep in my being, it’s why I know it was the right decision and it will all work out.
That was a bit long and personal, but you share so much of your life in this space that there’s a sense of community and kinship and sometimes it’s good to share the good and bad so we can be there for each other if only in thought and prayer.
Anyway life is likely to look a little different for a while until we find our new groove. I’ll be happy just getting the basics done for a while 💜
From Cheryl 🪺
Thanks for sharing, Cheryl. We are in a similar situation. Age 56 and my husband will end his job of many years in December. We don't know our next step for the New Year but we have peace. I was encouraged to know we are not alone..
DeleteThinking of you, Cheryl, as you and your family move forward! Hugs and prayers, Jen in NS
DeleteDear Cheryl, Firstly well done to your husband for thirty years service as a paramedic. It is an intense job and Im saying that with only the little I would know. Yes it is a change but it sounds like he will still be busy and income will continue to come in. I would guess as he does more of the handyman side word will get out and he will be very busy there. I know the change though will be stressful until you see the actual income coming in. I have to say since I plug preparedness so much that having a paramedic for a husband is an amazing part of your preparedness!
DeleteI wish you were near... this farm has hundreds of thousands of rocks! A rockery has really worked for me, rocks hold the moisture under them like a form of mulch. I hope also maybe your husband gets a pay out as he retires from this job that gives you a bit of a buffer. I wish you both well on this next stage! With love Annabel.xxx
Ah, the letter of appreciation. Glad you mentioned that. I did not send teacher gifts but I always wrote letters of appreciation and sent copies to their supervisor. I was told by the teachers MANY times that this was the best gift of all. A letter and homemade soap will be very appreciated. (Teachers, at least in the US, generally don't want to eat homemade food. They do appreciate gift cards).
DeleteDear Annabel, gosh hearing about your granddaughters’ adventures makes my heart so happy. How wonderful. These wonderful school holidays will stay with the girls forever. I love that they are making their very own gifts for their teachers- lucky teachers! And what beautiful gifts. The baking looks delicious. Your calves are so sweet. It’s hard to fathom the news. Who knows what is next?? We are looking to do some upgrades: fence etc prices have gone up. But I’m determined to make it happen. This weekend I hope to plant seeds, water the garden, crochet and cook. Sausage rolls with lots of veg grated and lasagne, hopefully. It’s getting hotter so I try and be inside in the middle of the day. This week I stocked up on rice and pasta sauce. Your flowers are beautiful! Lots of love, Bridget
ReplyDeleteDear Bridget, Sausage rolls and lasagne are both great meals to hide the extra veg! Plus delicious! A good fence is a very good thing to have, I hope you can get that. Good job on the stocking up... they are both very very useful items. I figure teachers get so many mugs etc that gifts that are made with love are very nice along with a letter of appreciation. The girls were very proud of them. Have a very good new week! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteBeautiful soaps. The girls are so blessed to have your time and love. Could you please share Jane's soap recipe.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I hope to post Janes recipe in an upcoming basics post. She has two other recipes on The Tuesday Afternoon Club in the files.xxx
DeleteWhat a beautiful week! Thank you for sharing your time with the girls, Annabel. What a brilliant idea to make soaps with them to give as gifts. Your flowers are gorgeous! And your calves are precious.
ReplyDeleteI had a good week too! I have been able to can a 1/2 bushel of tomatoes. Most of them as whole tomatoes and the rest as salsa. I have been freezing squash puree and baking pumpkin rolls. A friend told me that the pumpkin rolls are $7 a piece at the grocery! My recipe makes a very large cake (equal to 2 store bought cakes). I am keeping up with mending, and driving the kids to sports and farm jobs. I am managing my time much better than last year at this time.
Please pray for my countrymen.
So much disaster and loss of life. I am thankful the family we have in Tennessee are safe. But many can't say as much. Some people from my church work with Samaritan's Purse, a nonprofit relief group. They are going to assist with the South Carolina survivors. Major highways are washed out . But God will make a way.
Love and prayers to all Bluebirds,
Leslie in Ohio
Dear Leslie, Now I see another hurricane that looks shocking. I can hardly believe it. I absolutely love and trust Samaritans purse. The Christmas shoe boxes I contribute to her in South Australia are a Samaritans purse project. We have seen images from the Carolinas and it is just shocking.
DeleteWell done on all the tomatoes and also on the pumpkin rolls! I remember the constant driving from A to B when the girls were teenagers. It was endless! But an important season.
I am really glad your family are all safe. Have a very good new week! With love Annabel.xxx
Your homestead update is one of my favorite parts of the week, thank you for sharing! Yes, the mountains of NC and TN are just destroyed. It is so heartbrakeing! I am in Florida, but had no damage from the storm other than wind and rain and some branches down. But the people up there had no warning and no time to do anything except try to get out. Many didn't. It is so sad. So much destruction from nature. It just makes me so sad.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your cows and animals. You are getting quite the herd of cattle!
Thanks so much Barbara! I am worried about where you live in Florida! I am following the reports and watching. I hope and pray you are safe. I have calf number 8 overnight and no 9 just now (Wed afternoon) I am so thrilled! xxx
DeleteDear Annabel, what an amazing week you have had with the girls! They must have been very happy with all the wonderful activities. Your place is a magical place for the granchildren and you must be the best Grandma in the world!!!! The calves are very pretty and all your garden is beautiful! I send prayers and hugs from far away to all the Bluebirds in America who had suffered in that terrible weather. I am grateful for my normal week, with lots of work and feeling tired in the evening and for health. Today I had the doctor's appointment and I am all right, the next one is at the end of this month and then in Decembrr. Our weeks were a bit out of routine as my son works at night and goes to nursingschool in the afternoon so it is a bit different everyday but I am proud of his ambition.
ReplyDeleteThe grapes are inside the big barrels starting their journey into Great Red Wine, the golden wallnuts I started picking everyday, the chickens are laying a bit better and I have sown lettuce everywhere I could - until the first frost they will be big enough for us or for the chickens. This week I have finished my red cardigan and started my knitting orders again . The same client, the same cardigan model with the fan pattern. It is a hit! Wishing everybody a good weekend from far away, Laura_s_world from Romania
Dear Laura, Thank you! Good on your son for working so hard! I hope your health is ok...
DeleteI love how you make the wine! I would not know where to start! But I like wine! Red is your colour! It is lovey you have completed the cardigan! It is good the chickens are laying more and what a good idea to plant lettuce seed everywhere! We cannot have too many greens when we have chickens! With love Annabel.xxx
Annabelle,
ReplyDeleteI don't often comment but I do read every week. What a lovely week you had.
This week, I stocked up on a good quality flour for making bread and other baked goods. I want to get back to making our bread, and learn to make brioche.
We are fully stocked with beef in the freezer. A farmer friend raises a cow for us every other year. We love knowing where our meat is coming from and who raised it, and also the local butcher. Glad to support these folks, too.
Deanna Rabe
Dear Deanna,
DeleteIt is great you could stock up and also having a full freezer! That is fantastic. I have not made Brioche but that sounds so good. You house will smell beautiful! Thank you so much! Love Annabel.xxx