Feather your Nest Friday, 17th January, 2025.
I am so glad to get to sit here quietly watching the sun go down and look over the week. It is perfectly still outside. Also it seems to me January is going by quickly!
The first things I did was to use up the rest of the apricots. I did another round of jam, ate them fresh and stewed some more.
And also I shredded a heap more zucchini which I am very pleased with.
I have another bag of Zucchini. This week I will make a slice and then freeze chunks for Autumn and Winter soups. Believe me Autumn cannot come soon enough. Some of our days have been really hot. They sap your energy!
On such days I have worked mainly inside and I managed some Happy Mail!
Then the girls came to stay. We had a great time. We did tie dying t shirts, lots of crafts and then we made Honey Crackles. I big tray to take home...
And another try to deliver to Chloe and her gang...
This is how he walked out to serve them. He was so proud!
Look at that little face. 😊 They were beautiful too, I think the girls scoffed two each.
I had six chickens hatch. Scarlett had to carry a chicken around most of the time she was here.
Of course we visited Nana Pat. They both want to ride the Grannymobile.
They both fed Justice ... in various states of pyjamas and clothes...
On Wednesday my helpers were here. We were having lunch on the front deck and we heard a huge cracking sound. And boom down came a big branch of a gum tree. It had been very hot. After heat it is common for them to drop branches. Luckily the girls were not out on the lawn.
The leaves all went to the goats. It was cleaned up right away. Then on the way to town I saw so many huge branches had fallen on the sides of the roads and some over the roads but had been dragged off and cut up.
Although I had no time to sew or crochet I did have supplies come in. A friend sent me this beautiful fabric.... and I had some panels arrive for pot holders plus some cotton yarn! So I am set and ready to go! My goal has been to get sewing and producing before January disappears.
I really hope you found lots of ways to build up your family, nest, pantry and more this week.xxx
Annabel, what a lovely week with your Granddaughters, it sounds like they had a lot of fun on this visit and so thankful they were not out on the lawn when the limb came down.
ReplyDeleteYou have been very productive, even with all the time spent with the girls. Love your apricot jam.
I haven't creative this week. I decided to go to my basement and deep clean my library/craft room. Oh my! lots of work there and still not done. Just going through totes and getting them better organized took so much time.
The room is also a catch all, I found medical, canning, even canned foods, seems bags were just placed on the floor. So I went through those and put things away with like items.
Sooner I hope than later I will have the room completed. I did find a variety of blue yarns, it looks like enough to make an afghan, so I was thinking a granny square with black borders as I found black yarn.
I found partly finished crochet projects, so in the evening I sat and dismantled them to make something new.
So really in a way I have been productive though haven't created anything.
Prayers for all the Bluebirds.
Dear Rosanne,
DeleteIt is great you went through everything and found yard and projects to do. It is great to review supplies and turn them into good things. Also I like finding things I forgot I had! These are all good for cold (in your case) and hot (in my case) weather! With love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, I always look forward to your posts here and you never disappoint! I love all the projects you and your grands get up to. They are precious and your beautiful photos always make me smile. I know your grands will always have the best memories of the good times you all have together. Our weather here is damp and cold with a possibility of snow next week. I was glad to get a town trip and a doctors' appointment over with this week. This is the time of year taxes must be paid and our tax return submitted to our CPA. As soon as that is completed I have several projects I can't wait to start on. I have a stash of flannel fabrics and have ideas for that. I love working with flannel, especially when it's cold out. Now that I have great granddaughters I plan to make doll clothes and blankets. I love having small projects that I can carry along and it's a good way to use up fabric scraps. First off I will be going through and organizing everything. That will take at least a full day. I hope to do better participating this year. Last year was a rough one. My granddaughter's husband was killed in an ATV accident the day before Easter and it really hit our family hard. He was 38, so full of life, snuffed out in seconds. We are each dealing with that the best we can. I am thankful that January always brings hope and new possibilities. I wish all the Bluebirds good health and prosperity! Thank you, Annabel, for your year of encouragement and inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your family's loss, Pam
DeleteLove,
Leslie
Pam I am just so sorry for your Grand daughter and family and you! That is just a tragedy. Thank you for your kind comment. And I just love flannel too! It is just so soft... the more it is washed the more I like it! I hope this year is an easier one. With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHello Annabel (and everyone),
ReplyDeleteWhat a great week with the girls! I love seeing all the photos. Your jam looks so good, and so does Justice!
This week I did a little baking (muffins and quick bread), a little crafting (a new cross-stitch ornament), cleaned part of the attic and gave some things away, and shoveled snow! Pretty and not usual for this part of the country. It warmed up mid-week and most of the snow melted - though more is coming this weekend, apparently! A good time to be cozy and make some extra meals in the crock pot, and put together some happy mail for friends and loved ones.
The university had a free jazz and symphony band concert and reception on Wednesday, so I took my dad and we had a good time. The music was lovely and the flute soloist had the most amazingly beautiful outfit, all sparkly and black velvet.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
<3
Kathy
Dear Kathy, Thank you! Today I am making a small batch of Strawberry jam... but I am glad to have another variety and it smells lovely!
DeleteWhat a nice week you had! The concert and the baking, sorting the attic and stitching. That sounds perfect to me! And I adore velvet so that soloists outfit sounds stunning! How lovely! With love Annabel.xxx
I have a Granny mobile and the grandchildren like to race me and see if they can run faster than I can go. I always beat them when they were little but now the big grandsons are over six feet and run cross country. No way I can beat them now! But, it's lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteThat is really gorgeous. Drag races we call them. You might need a hotted up version and bat your Grandson that would be so funny! xxx
DeleteHi Annabel
ReplyDeleteYour grandson's face is a picture, he's so proud of the gingerbread he made with the girls. Good work on the apricot goodies too. Yum!
It's been a vegetable week here. I made butternut squash soup for an AGM meeting, it encourages people to turn up if they get free bowls of homemade soup and bread rolls! I also roasted a big pan of butternut squash, made a batch of braised red cabbage and also a batch of leeks in cheesy sauce. These have given us sides all week and some for the freezer too. I love cooking ahead, it's such an energy saver when I'm tired. I also made a big quiche when the family came over.
The main task this week has been to turn out the utility room, reorganise and take unwanted stuff to the tip and charity shop. I'm not quite finished but progress is good. It's been a dumping room for too long.
Hope all Bluebirds have made progress this week, no matter how tiny.
I like your thinking ... yes no doubt people come when they know there is come cooking to be served! We all seem to have a dumping ground... a room or shed... somewhere. Usually it ends up a nightmare! So having the clean out is great! Your warming meals sound just beautiful! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHello Annabel, how is it another week has gone by already! It looks like you had such a wonderful time with your family.
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing a lot lately and completed 7 bowl cozies which have gone into my gift box, then I sewed 2 grocery shopping bags. I was given a lot of fabric from my old boomerang bags sewing group that had been pre-cut for this purpose. I’ll probably add them to the gift box too. I do hope you get to some sewing soon, it’s good for the soul, it was good for you to get a lot of cutting out done. My deep cleaning continues and I cleaned the windows, window tracks and plantation shutters in our bedroom this week. In the garden I have been harvesting capsicums, I think I’ll chop and freeze them for later use.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers this week Annabel, it will be a difficult week for you. 🙏💜
Love from Cheryl
I made quite a bit of progress this week. I hired a cleaner to deep clean my house, which hadn't been done for at least two years. We have a room, which we call the office (desks plus sewing) which had been the dumping ground for at least that long. I had at it! No, it isn't cleaned up yet, but at least it is good enough that I will let the cleaning lady open the door, LOL. There is more organizing to do, but it is sooooooooo much better than it was.
ReplyDeleteI also uncovered my sewing machine, a lot of mending and a lot of fabric scraps. My goal this year is to make something month for gifts. These will mostly be smaller items...but I'm excited to start, even if it's only a potholder.
Annabel, for some reason when I bookmarked your site, it was the week that Andy died. The first thing I see is a pair of men's hands patting your dog. So I am very aware that this next week is going to be the first anniversary of his passing. It is going to be hard. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
--Maxine in Idaho USA
Sounds like a great week. I used to spend time with my grandma in the holidays learning things as well. It was a lot of fun. Just wish she had shown me how to make her chicken n veg soup. No matter what I try never looks or tastes the same. I’m also trying to declutter where I dump things as my husband has told me it will all go in the bin if I don’t get to it!!! Never enough places to store things or display pretty items and photos. Honey joys are so yummy and the kids would have had fun making them and the gingerbread. Have a restful week.
ReplyDeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYour apricot jam looks so pretty!
I agree with Laura Ingalls Wilder in her Little House on the Prairie books, "jams and jellies look like jewels perched on shelves."
When I have nights off, I look forward to housework. So nice to set the house right again. 🏡
Your grandkids are such a delight! Love seeing Tom's delighted face as he presented his cookies to his cousins. He is learning the blessings of service.
My nest building is being practiced more and more by my children! They make meals and bake for us all. I wake up to find laundry hung all about as it is winter here. We save $60 a month by not running the electric dryer too often. 😊
Also my 14 yr. old daughter gave me 13 yr. old son a haircut! Saved me $20.
Even though I work nights, my coworkers are thoughtful enough to fill a bucket of food scraps for my chickens. Shredded paper goes home with me for nesting boxes. So thankful for even the rubbish! God can help us to be thankful for anything.
Blessings to all Bluebirds, 🐦
Leslie in Ohio
Dear Leslie, You hit the nail on the head. When the kids are here I talk to them about acts of service and how to serve others. And we dream up plans!
DeleteWell done to your 14 year old hairdresser. My girls used to cut Dads hair from when they were about ten until his death... and trim his beard! What nice co workers you have that is wonderful! With love Annabel.xxx
Okay, a big oops! I didn't realize that I had shared about the food scraps and shredded paper from work. I just feel very blessed.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Leslie
Thats ok I think its awesome!
DeleteThose babies have grown up so much! I remember when....
ReplyDeleteTree branches falling are scary. Almost like lightening hitting, you never knew where it will fall. I want to make some of those honey crackles for my grandsons birthday. I will ook up the recipe and see if I can knock them out. Tomorrow is his birthday! He will be a teenager! UGH!
I think every age group loves honey crackles and if they are old enough they bring back memories! Otherwise we are starting the trend again. Thanks so much Barbara! xxx
DeleteDear Annabel, I love, love, love seeing photos of your precious grandchildren. It’s so lovely to see such joy in this world. They look like they were having the best time. I love how Tom made his cousins biscuits- look at that sweet little face. I’m very thankful- thank you for my happy mail! Even your mail is the most beautifully presented and it did in deed make me very happy. Thank you. I’m continuing to clean out cupboards, wipe down them etc I need to find more space for the essentials. And use what I have. I’m happily tired from it. This week I hope to get some weeding, planting, crocheting, and more tidying up and clearing out. It’s lovely to be at home. Lots of love, Bridget
ReplyDeleteThinking (of) and praying for you, Annabel.
Dear Bridget, I am happy my mail arrived! You are really making most of the holidays in a very satisfying way. It does feel so good to have organised cupboards, put things into good use, donate the things we cant use... refresh. The home needs this it is like a constant especially as kids grow out of clothes and toys etc. I hope you enjoy the week! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteWhat a magical week you had with the kids! They are beautiful! We have frozen temperatures now even during the day. This week we put Christmas away, we always wait until the Ucrainean Christmas is over, they celebrate by the old calendar and my Grandmother did that, too. Went all 3 to the annual medical check-up, all results were good. The prices are going up, the gas price went up five times already since the begining of the year. Sending warm wishes to all Bluebirds, thinking of you Annabel, with a big hug and much love. Laura_s_world from Romania
ReplyDeleteDear Laura, I am glad everyone's health is good! Wow since the year just started all the price rises are rapid! When the Christmas things go away I always think wow the house looks bare! But it is also a good clean up and refresh time. I hope you have a very good week! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteBeautiful pictures!! Praying for you, Annabel, esp. in this week. 🌸Esther (the Neth.)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Esther I really appreciate that.xxx
Delete