Feather your Nest Friday, 4th April, 2025.
It's been a big and busy week. Again! I will start with today. Today I picked up some chickens that are going to be Tom's... but at my house.
Meet "the girls."
The planning for this began with Tom coming over for the afternoon to set up a chicken coop. Tom really really likes to work. His namesake Tom, my Dad, was also born working.
We used shredded paper to fill the nesting boxes, nice and thick. Everything is a lesson. You want it nice and thick so the eggs do not break and it's comfy and warm.
Then we filled the little yard as well with paper (to scratch in) and added a good water dish.
So then we were set up and ready and waiting.
I dare not complain because our QLD farmers have their stock drowned and stuck in mud suffering. The images I've seen make me feel sick. So on the opposite end we do not have a blade of grass. My cows however are blissfully unaware. I can buy hay. But many farmers on a large scale can no longer. It is so dire.
Despite the hay being delicious someone still had to check to see if I might have an apple or a pear!
Tom helped me with other jobs. We collected the eggs....
On the way back from the chickens we also collected pinecones. When we couldn't carry anything more we got back to the house.
Broccoli was on a good sale. I got quite a lot and freeze dried some.
I had success at the thrift stores! First I got a heap of ribbons and pure wool, a knit/crochet starter kit for a gift...
Then I found beautiful frames... I will show these a bit later as I have work to do.
I never pass up pure wool. In the previous war years wool, cottons, fabrics, soaps, sugar, items to fix things.... so many things became incredibly valuable to have. Apart from having supplies NOT running out of things to work on and keep your hands busy is pretty much a life saver too. Busy hands...
It was my goal to make a dress for Lily. Years ago I made many dresses and did some quite fancy sewing. But I fell off the wagon and usually stick to simple items. However my stash (thanks to thrifting) is full of beautiful velvets and fine cord all perfect for winter dresses for Lily. I don't know why I felt so daunted but I did. So I did one thing a day. Trace the pattern. Cut out the fabric... It is not hemmed as I will try it on Lily on Monday. Depending on fit I will cut out the same or next size and make another one. But this was my first attempt.
The fabric is absolutely beautiful softest velvet. And I have so much more!
Two dear friends have helped me with patterns to keep going.
This book has a basic girls dress in sizes 1 to 4 with all kinds of variations ie different sleeves, different necklines. I'll be adding a few inches to the length. I am so excited as I can make dresses for all year round.
I planted up a bed of garlic.
My cook up was a cream chicken pasta dish I make that the family likes.
Twelve celery plants went in as well as Sugar Snap peas.
In one store I found a heap of gluten free English muffins, pizza bases and rolls all marked down. I loaded up and filled my freezer.
On the way home from town today I stopped at my favourite thrift shop and had a cup of tea, I bought a worm farm for $10!!
It doesn't look too exciting now but I will google how to set it up and get going!
I also bough Elephant Garlic to plant up in another container.
So my car was full of groceries, Chloe's groceries, chickens and a worm farm.
When I got to Chloe's we unloaded and I helped her as she is feeding NINE calves! She protested I was in my town clothes but I didn't care. I managed to help get one little one (learner) fed. When I came home I unloaded my car... set the chickens up in their new coop... got things into the fridge etc then had a bath!
These are the big ones who know what to do. Once they all are fed this way it will be much easier.
I have a plan (and supplies) to make a bulk cook up of Pasties. The weather has cooled and these seem just right. But first tomorrow I need a sleep in!
And finally... a man came and spread super over my paddocks. This is a big truck that spreads a dry fertiliser. I was really happy to be able to get this done. Now if we could just get some rain it would be wonderful.
How did you build up your nest this week? I hope many opportunities came your way. It is a good thing to pray for eyes to SEE opportunities. And to pray before you shop as Laine taught me to do. So many bits of her advice are woven into my life to the degree they are part of my fibre! "I have hidden your words in my heart!" š xxx
Annabel I cannot believe the amazing finds you get at your op shops ( thrift stores). Ours are very junky and not as inviting as yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Not all of ours are good. Some have gone crazy in prices. But some country ones are good. It takes time. Time to dig in and scrounge... and ask questions too. I see people come in, walk through and walk out again. These people say they found nothing. But they didnt go through the racks, boxes, drawers etc. Always ask "do you have any fabrics?" or whatever it is you are after... make friends with the staff. A lot of junk comes in but there are diamonds amongst it! I will sit on the floor and go through boxes etc and people look at me like Im crazy but this is how I find a lot of the good things. But to me I love the challenge! xxx
DeleteAnnabel, what a lovely and productive week you have had. So many blessings.
ReplyDeleteI am happy that you were able to acquire the hay for the cows. It looks so dire in AU with the floods at one end and the parched dryness at the other. Your country is suffering in all ways.
The chickens are adorable, Tom is going to be so proud raising them.
The dress is beautiful and love that you placed pockets on it, I think they believe women do not need pockets.
You were truly blessed at your Op shop, so happy for you.
I had a quiet week, doctor appointment and MRI appointment, husband I have felt drained all week for some reason, so not much else has happened except the usual housework and shopping. Hoping for a better week to come.
Prayers for all Bluebirds.
Dear Rosanne, Thank you! Appointments take up a lot of time. I hope over the weekend you get a rest and time for some nice crochet and crafts.
DeleteYes the farmers are having a terrible time. It is distressing. I am so happy with these new chickens! Have a lovely weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
Good Morning Annabell,
ReplyDeleteI always look for your Friday post, anxious for your encouragement and motivation. Thank you for taking the time to be part of our lives.
I laughed as I read your description of sewing Lilly's dress, I'm trudging thru making one for a little girl at church. I sewed dresses for my granddaughter all the time, most my own designs, but that was 10-13 years ago. I'm rusty and sewing and tearjng seems to be part of getting back in it. Even so, I'm enjoying it.
Spring here in upstate New York, not the most pleasant spring we've ever had, but it's all in God's timing. I have lots of starts ready for transplanting but need some warmer weather so they can be in the greenhouse
Wishing you a blessed day. Linda
Dear Linda, Thank you so much! Making a dress for a little girl at church is just lovely of you! Like me once you've made it you can probably make another easily. It is get getting back into the swing of things that is hard!
DeleteMany of the US ladies are telling me Spring is slow to get going! Rosanne lives upstate NY also and was saying how cold it still is. But having your seedlings ready to go will be great when the sun decides to warm things up.
Tomorrow I am trying Lily's dress on her and will go from there with her next dresses. After all of the feeling daunted now I cant wait to cut the next one out! Have a lovely weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
I'm in the USA and Mark Cuban, a billionaire here, is telling everyone to stock up on consumables.
ReplyDeleteDear Diann, I believe he is right. I have been working on my pantry and ability to supply food for 7 years and I continue everyday but also things I mentioned in this post and tangible assets that last like matches, can openers, batteries and so on. Money in the bank will not help in a war or supply chain crisis... Each year since I felt called to do this the call is stronger. I feel it in my stomach and bones.... that might sound mad but anyone who feels it will know what I mean. With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHi Annabel
ReplyDeleteOne of your replies to comments last week was rea
lly helpful, I've got into a rut with my husband's packed lunches so I liked your suggestions.
Love the photos of Tom working and your beautiful wool and ribbons. You can never have too many ribbons!
This week my batch cooking was pork, tomato and black
bean curry. I picked purple sprouting broccoli from the garden and we sowed seeds for two varieties of courgette, cucumbers, more broad beans and two types of squash.
I received lovely flowers from my daughters for Mother's Day and brought a big pot of tulips from the garden into the house.
My stock up shop was for dried fruits and cooking chocolate plus chocolate chips on a deal. If things get difficult I think cake will keep spirits up, I also have liquid egg substitute and powdered milk in the larder. I also bought more pegs for hanging laundry. Another line of stock up was parcel supplies, we live in a rural area and although I can get to shops easily it's annoying to have to get in the car to buy a padded postal envelope, brown wrapping paper etc. I've bought supplies in several different sizes because you can be sure the one I want is the one I've run out of!
Hope all Bluebirds are able to fluff their nests.
Penny in the UK
Dear Penny, Im really glad the packed lunches ideas were handy for you! I love to make parcels look nice but even when wrapping. fruit cakes I go through ribbon. I am always really glad to top up supplies.
DeleteIt was lovely that you were given flowers from your daughter. Mothers Day is coming up here in May.
You make a very good point... to be able to make a cake or some biscuits or even a nice desert is very morale boosting. Suitable supplies in the stash are a very good idea. AND ALSO your thought to buy pegs! If the power was out suddenly many people would need pegs and have none probably!
For parcels I am forever saving boxes and string... this is a very good idea too for both mailing and sending someone even by person to person courier style. Fantastic ideas thank you Penny! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, your week was extraordinary. Tom is the best boy, so hardworking - your Father would be so proud of me.
ReplyDeleteThe chickens are great, they look like fresh out of the hair dresser and the velvet dress is very beautiful. Love the pockets - my first tought was āLilly will soon be gathering eggs in those pockets back at Nana Bell *s houseā.
I am sorry Australia has such a hard time weather wise. Prayers to aprove that.
We have a nice Spring coming but the next couple of nights will be some below frozen temperatures - so planting still have to wait a bit. The pepermint, the crysanthemums and lavender pots are already out from the cellar but the rest will stay in the house for now.
With so much going on in the world and such terrible and scary news, I feel like writing about chickens and plants and knitting is not important. But they are. We encourage each other and take comfort from the calmness of a home, especially now when I think a new world war is unfolding - an economic war.
A good news is my husband helped somebody from another town to sell their apartment that they had in our town and, while clearing it, he was given some big woolen blankets, a few nice glasses and.....an old fashioned, non electrical and in working condition sewing machine, with pedal and wooden table, together with some sewing thread. I will check that out properly on Saturday, as it will rain all day and I will have to sat inside.
I hope your weekend will be a blessed one. Sending much love from far away - Laura_s_world from Romania
Sorry for the auto correct.
DeleteYou Father would be so proud of Tom! I pray for the weather in Australia to be a better one. I wasn*t very atentiveš. Hugs and kissesš
Laura a non electric sewing machine could be a real blessing to you, good news!
DeletePenny in the UK
Hi Laura and everyone, I agree with you about the state of things in this world. But I am choosing to watch the weather, barely listen to the news and watch my chicks and seedlings grow. I have learned to put the word nurture on myself. I simply love nuturing...be it babies, chicks, plants, the garden, our home etc. Please keep yourself and your family safe and as upbeat as possible. Spring is coming!! Judy in Maine
DeleteDear Laura, I LOVED my Nanas treddle sewing machine and this is how I learned. And that is what she used. She did have an electric machine eventually but she still sewed on this one anyway. If you can get it working it would be an asset. Many times the cord is what you need to replace but they still sell them I believe. Also to get the sewing thread and blankets!! Wonderful! Yes we must keep going with everything and even more so. Each day now the news is dramatic. I think it is imminent with Iran. For EU news that is very important watch Neil MCCoy Ward... video GET READY. Over the years I have found him reliable. For anyone with Euros or banking in the EU please watch.
DeleteBut Laura... writing of chicken and plants is just what we need! As I collect the eggs I feel that sense of security. As I see my beans coming up I am thrilled. As I collect kindling for the fire I am happy! And crochet in the evening is my joy! Also I am always so glad to hear from you and how you are going and feeling there in Romania. With much love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteLike Linda, my husband and I look forward to your Friday posts every week. You have inspired us each week and I'd like to share some exciting news... (thank little Tom, too)... last weekend we set up a small, sturdy, Amish built chicken coop. And enclosed chicken run kit was delivered this week!
We were finally able to have 6 ft. fencing installed around our property in January (w/o debt!) to keep deer, elk and predators out and to let the dogs run. S has been limbing up all the juniper and cedar trees. He put in low retaining walls at the back of the house and raised beds should be delivered this weekend. Our spring projects, God willing, should have years' long benefits. It's still snowing in our mountain area, but that will pass soon.
God bless you, Elise
Dear Elise and hello to your dear husband also! I am thrilled for you about the chicken coop. Having a run and the coop now you are set. Im not sure if you've had chickens before.... but you will completely love them. Nothing from the household is wasted. They love scraps. Even weeds you pull up they will love, dirt and all. And the raised beds! Well you will be amazed how much you can grow in those. I am planting extra spinach and chard just so I have some for the chickens too. We have deer... so I understand the fencing which is very good although I would probably have a fit to see the real like size of Elk! You have really taken some big and wonderful steps and once this snow passes and Spring kicks in you will have so much to do! Thank you for sharing your very happy update! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteYour op shop finds were awesome. The dress you made for your grand daughter is lovely, Annabel. Tom is a true farmer. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Glenda
Dear Glenda, Thank you! Yes Tom has farming in him for sure. He is all business. I am wanting to cut out another dress as soon as I check fit on Lily which is tomorrow. Have a beautiful weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnother encouraging post of all you do and to keep trying. Tom is so cute and a real little farmer. I am sure your sewing dresses for Lily is much appreciated. My Mom sewed dresses for our daughter many years ago. Your Op shop seems like it is a treat to stop there..........Nancy
ReplyDeleteDear Nancy, Thank you! My Mum made my girls dresses too. And I still have them and they are worn again by Lily. Yes the op shop is so fun to go to. Sometimes we need a little social outing too. Have a great weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteIt's been very dry in the north here too, a drought was announced recently. We usually draw water from the river to supply the farm - the first time in 16 years it started drawing onky sludge - thankfully the last couple of days has finally brought rain - 50mm overnight. Your days sound so busy - thanks for the motivation to keep preparing
ReplyDeleteDear Karen,
DeleteIt is happening around us that bores are running dry. This is really bad. I am so happy you got so much rain! Oh my goodness that is wonderful. Yes keep preparing every little way you can! With love Annabel.xxx
I love to read about your weeks and accomplishments! Such a delight when you share your grandchildren's adventures. Good for Tom! Play and work can be one in the same. Both are so fulfilling.
ReplyDeleteMy week went well despite influenza hitting 4 of us. Seeds are going into the garden and containers. My daffodils and hyacinths are blooming!
My 12 yr old daughter and I listened to a terrific audiobook by Gertrude Chandler Warner. It was called House of Delight. We enjoyed the tale while I sewed and she made beaded bracelets.
My eldest daughter baked a huge batch of cookies for the week. And we are trying to eat down the contents of the freezer. My youngest son and I will be baking bread this afternoon. He wants to learn "more skills, Mom".
Congratulations on your thrift finds, Annabel. I am trying to shop from my stash. So nice to have supplies for a new project. And to finish old ones.š
Praying for those affected by flooding and drought,
Leslie (Ohio)
Dear Leslie,
DeleteThank you so much! Yes play and work can both be fun! It is great your son is a keen learner and wants to learn more skills.
I am so sorry you've had the flu in your household! I hope you are all feeling much better!
Daffodils are so bright and cheerful. Listening to an audiobook while working away on projects is a lovely idea, especially together!
Have a beautiful Sunday and new week, with love Annabel.xxx
Annabel I just love what a hard worker Tom is! He looks so happy
ReplyDeleteIn his work too. The dress turned out so well, Lily will look lovely in it. I think the thrift shop where you have a cup of tea sounds so fun. And your finds this week were great. Youāre right about wool, and itās very expensive to buy new now.
I had quite a busy week with school trips and appointments, it was a lot of fun. We just have one more week until school holidays. They are much needed!
Iāve found that one of the more expensive supermarkets discounts meat by 50% when they want to sell it quickly. So if itās already on sale and then is half of that price there can be some really good deals. So Iām checking in there regularly. I used to do a ābig shopā fortnightly, but Iām finding it essential to shop around in order to get good prices. So Iām working smaller shops in when I need to do other shops. It means I need to be more organised, but there are real savings to be had if I do.
I found some cute little body washes and scrubs for $1.50 each so they will be added to the gift box.
Today Iām taking my girls to a matinee performance of a musical at a high school, they are excited.
I hope you have some rain over the weekend, as well as a good rest.
Jen (NZ)
Dear Jen, Thank you! Well... someone else has told me this... that a posh small supermarket actually has the best mark downs! Once you find somewhere that does this it sure pays to check often. Even handier if you can find out when they do the most markdowns. If they are every closed on a public holiday I would check the evening before... some deli sections clear out everything before a public holiday too. I agree... the days of seldom shopping are over as it pays to check often and around the biggest range of shops are areas you can. In Adelaide if I was travelling out further ie more the edge of the city areas I found that fruit and veg shops were so much cheaper than the city. Like mind boggling! All this takes time and work but Jen you might well be saving a wage there!
DeleteAn outing with the girls sounds lovely! I hope you all enjoyed it! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Jen, Thank you! Well... someone else has told me this... that a posh small supermarket actually has the best mark downs! Once you find somewhere that does this it sure pays to check often. Even handier if you can find out when they do the most markdowns. If they are every closed on a public holiday I would check the evening before... some deli sections clear out everything before a public holiday too. I agree... the days of seldom shopping are over as it pays to check often and around the biggest range of shops are areas you can. In Adelaide if I was travelling out further ie more the edge of the city areas I found that fruit and veg shops were so much cheaper than the city. Like mind boggling! All this takes time and work but Jen you might well be saving a wage there!
DeleteAn outing with the girls sounds lovely! I hope you all enjoyed it! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteSo much goodness in your week. Tom is so full of energy and so cute. I'm looking forward to updates about his raising his chickens. Your op shops sure do have some wonderful items in it. Good things at ours are few and far between. Lily's dress is lovely. And I'm so glad you're able to purchase hay for your cows.
This week I finally got seeds started indoors for the vegetable garden. A lot of decluttering got done all through the house and today we took things to the rescue mission. I made a batch of no-roll crackers this time topping them with minced garlic onions and sesame seeds. Since finding this recipe buying gluten free crackers are off the grocery list. I made a vegetarian black bean chili for dinner one night and was able to freeze some for other meals. All the Easter cards are made and ready to be sent out and I'm on to the ones for Mother's Day and May birthdays. I got some fabric prepped to make potholders and some soup bowl cozies for the gift closet and continue to embroider herbs on feed sack toweling as my night time project. I've been saving orange peels to make more candied orange peel candy. Waste not, want not. Got out the cardstock and paper to start making gratitude journals. These will be part of the happy mail to be sent out. We did do a stock up on some of the pantry items we use regularly that have been listed as being in short supply or have tariffs attached to them in the coming year.
Spring is here and the daffodils, forsythia, Japanese magnolias, Bradford pear trees and hyacinths are all in bloom. The maple trees have buds, and things are coming to life again. Wishing all the Bluebirds a blessed week ahead. Cookie
Hi Cookie, would you share your cracker recipe? Many thanks, Missy
DeleteHi Missy,
DeleteI use the three ingredient cassava flour no roll cracker recipe from power hungry.com. It's gluten free and I vary the topping for variety.
Dear Cookie, Thank you so much! You had me at no roll crackers too. GF crackers here are over $5 a packet and it might be 15 or so! Your potholder and bowl cosies will be great gifts and I know the cards will all be gorgeous. I am glad Spring is there in full force the flowers sound stunning especially the magnolias! I am interested in your embroidery of feed sack towelling! Your place is a hive of activity. I wish we were neighbours! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteI recognize your sewing book! I have it. I used it for my daughters and now I need to get it out to sew for my granddaughter who is nearly a year old.
ReplyDeleteIn the last several weeks I have focused on keeping the snack containers filled with healthy snacks. It seems to keep everyone happy if there are snacks available. And I want them to be healthy and inexpensive (which they don't care about ).
I cleaned up my sewing area and now I feel more inclined to get back to sewing.
Dear Margaret, I am thrilled with this book as it will take me from size one for now to size 4. The variations seem endless!
DeleteKeeping ahead on snacks this way is a good idea. I discovered even cute snack containers (in the case of kids anyway) even make things more appealing!
I hope you do get back to sewing. Once you do I think with a Granddaughter to sew for you will be off and running and addicted! With love Annabel.xxx
That little dress is so sweet. I am sure she will love it.
ReplyDeleteIt has been sunny and windy here this week, so I have been enjoying putting my washing outside to dry on the line. I also managed to get a bit of tidying up done in the garden. I wanted to start off some veggie seeds, but other things got in the way. Hopefully I will get them sorted over the weekend.
I had a cull of my books earlier in the week. My husband is selling at a carboot sale tomorrow. Hopefully he will be able to move them on and earn a few pennies in the meantime.
Dear Tracy, Thank you! I hope you've had time to get your seeds in... if not this weekend! I love car boot sales. Our op shop that serves the cup of tea... they are planning on having one as there is a spare lot they use as a car park. Im thinking this could be good! I hope your husband did well. New books are so expensive. It has been sunny here too and weirdly warm! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteTom's chickens are adorable. What a good helper you have there. I haven't been thrift shopping until today the little town near us had a "city-wide garage sale". Everything was priced low and I picked up a few bargains mostly for the great-grands. It was nice to get out, the weather was pleasant and wild flowers are in bloom. We now have two new greats on the way so I need to get sewing some blankets, burp cloths, etc. I love the little dress you made for Lily. We may need some photos of her modeling it hint hint. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteDear Pam, I hope I can post a photo of Lily in the dress in the next couple of weeks! Thank you! A city wide garbage sale sounds like really fun to me especially on a beautiful day. Im glad you had some good finds! How exciting to have new babies on the way! Yes you will be flat out sewing for them! That is wonderful. I get to thrift again tomorrow, all things going well! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteWhat a good little worker Tom is! My niece keeps chickens and her daughters (10 & 3) love to collect the eggs and help with the feeding. I pay $5.49 Cdn. for a dozen eggs and they are extra large and from a local farm so I am quite lucky. You can get them cheaper in the supermarkets but you can also pay over $8 for organic ones! But - no rationing that I have heard of up here - although I believe it is also an issue in some areas of the US.
ReplyDeleteI have been helping an uncle deal with all my aunt's clothing - she died about a month ago and had a virtual store's worth of clothing! He emails photos and I tell him what I will take (for me and others and for my church) and then I got him to contact a few local women's shelters who will take the rest. He is a few provinces away but will be visiting up here this Summer and will load up the truck with whatever we want. There are some dishes and other items from my grandmother as well and a couple of nieces who love to entertain will be gifted with some of those things.
Otherwise I am making some lists of things to purchase sooner rather than later. I have a little bit of investment money that comes due in a couple of weeks so I try to be sensible with the money. I have a list of non food items to stock up on and then a few pantry gaps to fill. Not quite sure as yet how all the tariff situations will play out but I have no doubt but that prices will only go up! People are encouraged to "buy Canadian" but I've already noticed price increases in some of these items = like a particular Cdn. co, that makes loo rolls, paper towels & tissues - everything has gone up a dollar per item in the past week! I am not happy!
Lilly's dress is lovely - when I see lovely material I wish that I had learned to sew - I did take it at school but was absolutely hopeless - no patience!
Dear Margie, It is great your niece keeps chickens. I think it's wonderful for kids to have animals and help. It is great you are able to help your Uncle with the clothing. I love that everything is going to shelters or being used by you and church friends. This will be an asset to lots of people which is very nice. Im sure that makes your Uncle feel better too.
DeleteI think that any items you use that will keep a long time are a good investment. Everything just goes up and up and if you can get things at a good price I think they are wise investments. I was listening to someone today who said while things are uncertain commodities and tangible assets are where you cant go wrong. All the way down here there are somethings I always buy Canadian like Maple Syrup! It's the best! With love Annabel.xxx
I love the dress for Lily! My mom made dresses for my girls when they were young and we still have them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the suggestions on lunches last week! What a help! I look forward to your posts each week and glean so much wisdom from them. This week I'm feeling the need to do a little stocking up too. I have three food grade buckets filled with different staples. My flour bucket is running low, and I would like to get ahead of the price hikes. Also, I'm hearing that quilt fabric is going to go up in price. I'm grateful for being able to buy a bolt of background fabric recently at a great price.
My days have been full of cleaning for spring, even though it's still a little cool. We're reorganizing closet space and laundry room space to make room for stocking up. I enjoy the household rythme of cooking and cleaning for the family. I get a little sewing in some weeks too!
As always, thank you for the encouragement!
Stacy in Virginia
Dear Stacy, I am so happy the lunch box suggestions were helpful. Sometimes we just need a change.
DeleteI am glad you are stocking up. I just think that is wise and the buckets are excellent. Now fabric... holy smoke pure cotton fabrics are expensive here. So it is nothing to be $30 a meter. But I see gorgeous prints and they are more. As you probably know I search thrift stores for pure cotton sheets, quilt covers and even things like mens shirts, dressing gowns I good fabrics, just to cut them up for sewing. If I am really in luck I might get some silk or even Liberty Print. Also I have found a lot of pieces of fabrics (like for Lily's dress) and also rolls of fabric I thrift stores. Now I watch for cotton (on reels) and fabric always as they prices go up and up. Often.. it turns out these fabrics I think are better quality than the new stuff... especially in the case of velvet.
Stacy... at one stage I cleared out a closet .... it was really the junk room ... and Andy fitted it out with shelves. This became all my emergency preps and supplies and the shelving gave me so much space and organisation. It transformed it. So room can be found. I am not sure if you watched Frugal Queen in France... in her laundry room she has a shelf that is quite high up and it runs around the top of the room. She has so much on those shelves but it's so neat and tidy it looks nice. I thought this was a cover idea!
I love the days at home too! With much love Annabel.xxx
A beautiful week for you Annabel ! Yes the egg shortage is a real problem here in big Sydney city ! Often I have to go looking for eggs at two or three stores. So you are very blessed indeed ! You can make quiche ! Add spinach etc. Or a spinach cannelloni etc ! Can you please post the creamy chicken pasta ? I'm always looking for recipes. I find getting motivated to cook for one is hard. I'm sure your dad would be so proud of tom ! Quite the little farmer.
ReplyDeleteMy mum makes dressed/pinafore like that for my sister's little girls. So cute. Lots of love, Sonia in Sydney, Australia
Dear Sonia, I surely appreciate every egg I collect and they are getting bigger and bigger as some of my younger hens just started to lay and these hens are huge! I have no idea what breed they are! I love also to make baked custard. Ok I will make sure next time I write up this recipe for you. A classic little pinafore is always beautiful! I hope its been a good week! With love Annabel.xxx
Delete