Feather your Nest Friday, 21st February, 2025.

February 21, 2025

Feather your Nest Friday, 21st February, 2025.

Welcome to Friday! We had mostly nice weather and it was fantastic! Wow life is easier in good weather! AND... there have officially only seven days to go before Autumn! It CAN happen that we get hot weather in the first two weeks of Autumn but this hasn't happened for the last couple of years... Can you tell I am over summer? Things are just so dry. The only hurdle is tomorrow which is going to be really hot. It is going to be horrible. Then the forecast is all pretty reasonable. Therefore yesterday and today I have done lots of things so I can mostly stay indoors for Saturday.

This week I picked the first apples. Tom and Chase helped. They loved it and thought it was very serious business.

Some are ready, large and pink. A huge number are small and green. Tom understood which ones to pick and which ones need to grow. So none were wasted.

We picked one pear as it was the only one that just snapped off. So these were taken home and the next day Chloe got cooking with the boys and look what they made...

This year I am attempting to keep track of how many kilos of fruit come in. I picked some more the next day and weighted them and make it that I have harvested 6 kilos so far. (13 pounds)

I posted some happy mail.

And I received happy mail! This parcel arrived in my mail box...

Brown paper with a bluebird... I immediately knew who it was from. Vicky!

Inside were two parcels.

I should have taken a photo of the contents as they were even more beautiful. But I have run out of day and energy..

This was not the only happy mail either! It made my week!

So see how we can spread joy in little ways. 😊

Today I was given about three kilos of very ripe tomatoes. I will be cooking them into sauce tomorrow. Also tomorrow I am making a zucchini slice..... what is left I will add to the sauce.

I got back to the beautiful thrift store and had a cup of tea and a browse. Mum and Chloe sent donations. And by doing this I met and made a local friend.

My cook up was with the hep of Mum who bought ten huge sausages. (So fat they took ages to cook!) I plomped them onto mashed potato and made brown onion gravy.... this gave Chloe's family a big meal and two for me.

My helpers were moving rocks. I had a bright idea that since Andy placed big rocks near the front gate to make the entrance... that some around the cabin, top house and driveway at this end could look really good. And there is an endless supply of rocks. Well, it brought out their artistic sides! Next week I will show photos.

Tom is in the cabin with Andrew, waving madly, loving it.

My cactus keeps on giving.

More rocks also went into my rock garden. This started with filling a hole in that Zackie had been working on for a while... then we found more good spots for more.

I was determined to get some sewing done and made a ruffle table cloth for the kitchen. I really like it.

The fabric was from a queen bed sheet. I discovered ruffles use u a lot of fabric!

I also dyed my bedskirt to be a light rustic pink and made a cover for my weighted blanket... this looks like a bed runner... I will try to get photos as I also have a long cushion to cover as well. This is with yards of velvet I was given. It has a very vintage dusty pink look.

As I can I improve the cabin. This week each bed got a nice bedspread which looks fresh and crisp. These all came from my fabric stash sort out. Often I buy cotton bedspreads, quilt covers, sheets etc for the fabric. In this case I thought these were all white and would look good kept as they are.

Today I did the run to town, groceries, church, post office, swap tables, thrift store... etc. I did find some great kids books but again I've run out of day and energy so tomorrow I will try and get some photos. Also... one perfect pale pink bone china cup, saucer and plate. 😊 It was just there waiting for me.

I think the whole world watched the hostages being transferred last night. I don't have any words other than to say several regions at at BOILING point... and now currently pilots have been warned about the air space between Australia and New Zealand!... and I mean planes go back and forth there constantly.

And... a member of our family had their farm robbed last night. I was in shock and have been very upset because... would you believe... after dark a truck and men on motorbikes (all with no number plates) came in, loaded up with sheep and went out... where they were seen by a neighbour... who immediately could see what was happening. He called the police and then in the dark the truck tracks could be seen going in and out. They were brazen, well organised and fast. I realised it could have been much worse... they could have gone into the shed area or house area and scared/terrorised everyone or worse. So now I am looking at it that I am grateful no one was hurt or terrified and that an incident like this can shake us all up into productive actions. Like a warning. Way out in the country when no one much is around you can feel safe... but rotten people are lurking. We all need to increase our security. I am not letting this go to waste. Up your security. One terrifying incident can change everything. Someone could be killed. So far they have not been caught.

So that was my week. How did you build up your home, pantry, garden, gift cupboard or any other area? Keep at it! It is like an olympic event trying to find good deals... but just take every opportunity and do all the good you can! xxx

Comments

Lana21 February 2025 at 07:03
That is very scary that people were so brazen there. Somehow now people think that they can just take whatever they want and no remorse! It is that way here in the USA, too. After Hurricane Helene people were riding around at night listening for running generators and stealing them out of driveways. We put ours in the garage every night but were afraid of it being stolen in broad daylight. Police are advising cameras as it deters thieves since they know their picture will be saved.

I had an interesting week as I found out that my best friend from high school who was the maid of honor at our wedding has moved to our town. We grew up 500 miles from here so this is really kind of crazy. So I got to see her this week after 40 years!
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Anonymous21 February 2025 at 11:04
Ruffles take one and a half times the fabric or up to two times if you do a tight ruffle. Your tablecloth is so pretty. You have a definite style of soft and feminine
I have been trying to eat up items from my freezer and pantry since the first of the year. I'm eating canned items i canned two years ago so I can can new fresher meals. I am also working to use more frozen vegetables and fruit over the canned items, so I have space when the garden starts producing this summer. I have added beef from the local farm and my husband shot a deer that we have added to the freezer. I need to add chicken, especially if they begin adding vaccines in the birds, I need to stock before that.
I sent my grandkids Valentines cards and put in $10. Two are my sons foster boys and they want to go to McDonalds every time you pass one, as our family never ate there, we went to Chick-fil-A, so the foster boys were excited to have their own money to go to McDonalds. But they were so excited to get mail and the money and kept asking me why I sent it. It is sad, they have been in foster for a year, and just don't expect gifts and love and are so sweet and appreciative. You are the inspiration for the happy mail :)
I have added some sewing supplies. I ordered 4 large spools of sewing thread 1000 yards. and a new large cutting mat and 9 Omnigrid rulers. I used my Christmas money from my mother in law and my husband had to make me order them. The mat was $80! I've been cutting all the smaller pieces of fabric into 5 inch, 2.5 inch, and 1.5 squares ready to use in quilting. I have pulled fabric from 3 totes, drawers, and wrapped larger pieces on boards to put on the shelves. I still have 10 shoebox size containers with smaller pieces I need to cut but will do that later. They are organized by color, and I used them for applique when I had my business.
I'm slowly going through every drawer and closet and selling items i thought I needed, but haven't used or found a home for, organizing, moving to a better spot, and getting the house in order. Attic is coming up!
Holly
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Anonymous21 February 2025 at 12:45
Oh Annabel I'm so sorry to hear about the robbery! I have heard of this type of thing on the news and landline, it's been going on for a vey long time, but it hits home when it's someone you know! Goes to show what people will do for money ie the robbers and what people will do for food ie the people buying it!! Yes Security is of utmost importance!

The apples look delicious, I'd have a ball picking them too! Chloes Muffins look so good, and a very professional photo too! Blog? cookbook coming up?? Vicki's parcel looks so beautiful! I can't wait to see the photos of the rocks around the cabins.Well done on getting some sewing done, the ruffled tablecloth looks so pretty and matches your kitchen perfectly (yes ruffles/gathers do use a lot of fabric!)

I can feel Summer is getting weary in my region. The early mornings are deliciously cool now, but our days won't cool off for a bit longer yet. It wasn't a very hot summer here in the Northern rivers, we had a few days that were hot, but in general I'd classify it as a moderate summer, I think it was less humid overall.

I have felt an urging to organise our life for quite some time. This week we finally updated and signed off on our wills. Since your Andy's death and seeing how organised he was and what a blessing it must have been for his family at such a sad time, I decided I wanted that gift for my family too. It took me a while but I finally made all the arrangements, and it feels good to have everything in order.

I am decluttering too. We simply have too much stuff! I'm talking about furniture surplus to our needs, and "toys" in the garage that never get used. So I arranged for the Salvo's to come and take a 3 seater lounge that was just used to pile "stuff" on! No one ever sat on it LOL My filing is the next big task to tackle...papers everywhere! Slowly it is getting sorted and streamlined, and I feel so much calmer for doing all this, which is exactly what I need in my life right now! I even declutterd my fabric stash! Yikes that was well overdue, yes fabric is handy to have...but when you know...you know...some of it just had to go! I'd rather someone get use out of all these things.

I purchaced green apples this week $2/kg and made 5 number 31 jars of diced apples for the pantry supplies. I spent time in the veggie garden, pulling out old summer crops and I planted almost a whole bed of beetroot seeds as our pickled beetroot supplies are getting low! Also I started weeding, if only we could share photos in this space you would see what I mean by weeding! Our far back yard garden got away on me years ago and is a mess! its a long term project for sure!

Anyway I've prattled on far too long! Enjoy your week everyone.

From Cheryl

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Debbie21 February 2025 at 14:12
My prayers are with your family members and that the thieves will be caught and the sheep returned safely. That is just scary!
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Jenny of Elefantz21 February 2025 at 20:31
Absolutely gutted for the farmer who had his sheep stolen! And you're right, we think those out in the country don't have the evils to deal with that those in the city see day by day - but evil is everywhere, and sadly this farmer was made a victim of what seems a well-orderd plan by the thieves. Praying for the farmer and his family.
My pantry has been growing with all things lime this past week! And there's still more on the tree, but we're near the end of the season. I've also been buying up on stone fruits to preserve as they are quite cheap right now, as are Roma tomatoes, so making jars of ketchup tops my to-do list for next week. My passionfruit vine has gone crazy again after the monsoon (it gives two fruiting seasons per year) so I'll be preserving them in March.
Take care, and thank you for sharing news!
Hugs
Jennifer
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Anonymous21 February 2025 at 23:26
Dear Annabel, It's terrible that people are willing to get together to steal shamelessly from someone who has worked very hard! I have been mulling over that since your post and contemplating the implications. Whilst it sounds very organised, I hope that someone might be able to locate and deal with the people responsible. I would be absolutely devastated if it happened on our property, and you are quite right - it could have been quite dangerous.

This week I have been working on compost production and just keeping things ticking over. We are planning a beef run in a few weeks, so finalising that and making sure we have numbers is the aim of the next week. We've added to the hay shed this week. I've had two of my animals sick, so that has added to the load, and a particularly cheeky large wild dog stalking my hens has not made me happy either! However, I can see that the weather is starting to turn and it seems cooler. Makes it easier to turn the compost and do the farm work!! I need to spend some time sorting through my seeds as I'm running out of some needed for winter. We have had some rain, so that has helped the garden, but some of our stock tanks are low and it will be nice when they are full again. Continuing to pray that you receive more rain very soon, and that the paddocks start to grow and look lush.

I've had a message from a man who tells me that change is coming in my life. I have no idea what that looks like, and I'm praying through what I need to do to prepare. In the meantime, I'm also in the process of setting up another side hustle. I could really do with an extra few hours in every day!!!

Thank you for your encouragement and writing the blog. It is the highlight of my Friday night, and the push I need to keep moving on Saturdays when I'm tired! Missy
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Anonymous22 February 2025 at 04:38
I just love (the picture of) the grandsons picking apples in ‘Granny’’s orchard’.❤️ Esther (NL)
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Anonymous22 February 2025 at 19:54
Thank you for sharing your week, Annabel. You are always inspiring. And we are all especially inspired to be more careful with security. I am so sorry for your family! May God comfort them. Praying that the thieves will come to justice and that the animals are recovered.

My pantry is full. I have been working at eating the contents of my freezer.
I have been inspired by Jessica at Three Rivers Homestead and making lots of homemade snacks. I undertook this mission early in the week, which was a huge help when I had to travel late in the week. God is so good! He always prompts me to do something, then I find out later, why. 😊
So good to hear how everyone is feathering their nests. Keep it up ladies. God loves to spread the blessings.
Love, Leslie (Ohio)
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Anonymous22 February 2025 at 20:18
Dear Annabel, your tablecloth is gorgeous! I love tablecloths. It is beautiful to see your grandsons helping, gardening, being outside. Then they made those beautiful cakes. Chloe is a wonderful cook. They are lucky to have her as their Mum. The weather has been pouring rain or extremely hot. I am looking forward to cooler weather. I have been avoiding the garden and it shows. I am going to do some cooking for the week ahead. Lots of love, Bridget
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Margaret23 February 2025 at 10:12
I know you've mentioned before you save sheets and quilts for future projects so when mine daughter asked if I wanted a sheet in good condition she didn't want I said Yes! I told her I didn't know what I might use it for but that you said you never turn them down! Lol

Seeing the picture of the ruffled table cloth has me thinking I might use mine for that too. Although now that I think about it I do need a new shower curtain so perhaps I need to hope more sheets come my way!
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terricheney23 February 2025 at 16:37
I have not read your blog for the past three weeks so have spent time catching up. I am so sorry about the loss of animals and the rough week. I admired the ginger biscuits and thought how sweet for the girls to have that reminder of Gramma each time they open school lunches. And the idea that you could have a pink bedding if you liked was a nice revelation. I hope you make it as frilly and pretty as you love things to be!
It has been a month of birthdays here for us, with one more on Tuesday to end this season. Ages range from 5 to 71. I think it's a total of six birthdays in all. Our next heavy month is June.
I continued a pantry/freezer challenge here this month, mostly using older items from the freezer but allowing myself fresh produce and dairy purchases as well as restocking freezer and picking up items to replenish the pantry. I did not use the new purchases meant for restocking. I was pleased at all the older things we were able to use and at the ability to restock.
I am watching for signs of spring. The daffodils have bloomed, the forsythia and privet have tiny leaves...
Hard things come in life, and frustrations. However, I am grateful when my mind swings away from those harsh things to the good ones, finds the lovely and beautiful to appreciate, remembering to be grateful for much and trusting that the hard will pass and the outcome will be good. God is good. But it is true that we must all go through hard places.
Hugs to you and well wishes to all.
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Anonymous24 February 2025 at 06:21
Hi Annabel
I'm sorry to hear about the theft, such brazen behaviour is common now I think. It is a good reminder to us all to revisit our security measures.
Feathering our nest with cooking again this week. I made a big batch of beetroot, sweet potato and ginger soup and rock cakes too. I visited a friend and took a big sausage and roasted vegetable tray bake for us to eat for lunch with plenty of leftovers to go in her freezer. She has a health condition and finds it hard to stand to cook.
My husband has been working hard in the garden and turning the compost heaps which are like garden gold.
I was away for one night and stayed at a bed and breakfast which was lovely, so cosy and comfortable and I came away with some inspiration for easy ways to feather our own nest here.
Not much to report this week but looking forward to catching up with everyone else's achievements.
Penny in the UK
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Kathy24 February 2025 at 13:32
Dear Annabel (and everyone),

Chloe's apple muffins are gorgeous! I love your beautiful new tablecloth and all of the pretty stickers and talk of produce. You've had a good and busy week. I am so sorry to hear about your family member's troubles, that would be so frightening. Extra prayers and love for all of you. I'm really glad no one was injured.

This week our state set records for below freezing temperatures and my campus was remote-only work most of the week. One big piece of news (at least to me) is a debt from a couple of years ago is completely paid off now. I feel much safer/more secure. Some cooking got done for the freezer, the big duster came out for my high ceilings, and I cleaned out a couple of closets and piled up some more things to take to the thrift. It was lovely this weekend and warm! My dad came over for home-cooked brunch and a visit; we've always done this, but this year I am really, finally, truly learning how good it is for both of us. Some knitting progress was made, and I picked up some pretty clearance-priced stickers and stationery.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

<3
Kathy
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Jacki26 February 2025 at 20:07
Just to let you know Saturday I was at my one main chain grocery store, I live in a pretty rural area of Central California. Eggs were $10 a dozen $15 for 18 pks. I had to go back today for a couple more things, eggs were $12.50 a dozen and $16.50 for 18 pk. The national news this morning said eggs prices would go up 41% this year and the bird flu was far from over. Also due to conditions and some cattle herds contracting this disease from the birds beef prices will be increasing.
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