The biggest news of the week is it rained!
When it started it was heavy - I could hear it on the roof- rain. And it kept coming. I walked around the house listening to it in different rooms. I went out and listened to it going into the rainwater tanks.
On Monday it rained most of the day. Everyone was so excited. For me I felt very emotional. Writing this I still feel like I could start crying.
On Tuesday I went driving down the track to look. The paddocks looked soaked and the track was covered in puddles...
The boys could not be contained and just wanted to jump in. They got wet through having a great time.
Holes are also irresistible. Boys are different to girls in case anyone was wondering. I never felt the urge to get into a hole.
But look at that happiness. 😊
I had a tray of winter seedlings to plant. As it turned out I got them in and then the rain came so they look fantastic!
I was given this beautiful gift.... a large jug and bowl with bluebirds! So thrilled with it. I need to re arrange my lounge room as I have touches of soft blue throughout. This is perfect!
I had a wonderful afternoon at the thrift store that serves the cups of tea. I found this thing. (I don't know what to call it!) It is huge and hard to photograph but all pockets. I am hanging it behind the door in the pantry room for such things as packet mixes and small things. It is absolutely fantastic!
I also got the girls RM Williams shirts, a beautiful tin and books.
I invested in Castor oil packs and organic castor oil for my medicine cabinet.
I hope next week I can show green paddocks! There is a tinge of green everywhere now. Each day it is a little more green. More rain looks promising in the next ten days. Sunshiny days now actually help the grass to grow and we have had lovely sunny days so this is perfect.
I started a winter dress for Lily.
My cook up was spaghetti sauce.
And now May is almost over. This year is going so fast. I want to slow it down!
I am collecting a dozen to 18 eggs a day.
Sparky is really very good and funny!
How did you build up your nest this week? We all love to hear. It is just encouraging to rejoice in the small things.... which really are actually the big things.xxx
Yay!! Im so pleased you have had rain. Praying for follow up rain and good grass growth! Missy
ReplyDeleteThank you Missy, the forecast this week looks promising!xxx
DeleteHurrah for the rain!
ReplyDeleteYes thank you!xxx
DeleteI’m so glad you got some rain! We’ve had a lot of rain here this spring in SE Tennessee in the USA. Boys and puddles, what fun! Very nice on the eggs!
ReplyDeleteThanks Belinda! Yes eggs are a really big deal now they are so expensive and there are limits in stores. Have a good new week!xxx
DeleteAnnabel, what a lovely week you have had. Rain, what blessed rain, bringing everything to life.
ReplyDeleteThe boys look so happy playing int he puddles and hole. True boy play.
I had a slow week here. Still being sick and worn down, I concentrated on getting well more than anything else.
We did do one big shop at Sam's Club, an ouch paying that bill but we were able to add to our pantry items we needed. It is wonderful being able to do the shop. It's the little things that mean so much when one is recovering.
I was able to crochet a wash cloth and matching facial scrubbies. I felt accomplished. Again the little accomplishments mean so much.
We are just experiencing rain, rain and rain here, we had a sunny day after over 2 weeks of clouds and rain, it was wonderful to see and uplifting. We are waiting for warmer weather to sit out in the sun room. My joy in life watching the birds and deer, one of my joys of where we live.
I made strawberry shortcakes with drop biscuits I made and homemade whip cream. It was a treat for my husband. He made a delicious pasta salad with what we had in our pantry. Our Memorial Day Dinner came from our pantry except for a watermelon we purchased on sale. We sent leftovers home with the kids and had enough for us for 2 more dinners.
I feel we had a good week.
Blessings to all Bluebirds.
Dear Rosanne, You sound a lot better and were able to do a lot. Ad crochet too again! Your meals sound beautiful. I think having birds and deer to watch are lovely. Very peaceful. Have a good new week and I hope you continue to get better. With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteSo happy you got rain, Annabel! Answered prayers!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes... I keep praying for Gods blessings on the land!xxx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteHearing you had such a wonderful rain made me happy. Prayer answered. May you have a nice rain each week to keep the grass growing and the troughs filled.
With much love,
Glenda
Thank you Glenda. The forecast looks promising for the next ten days. If this comes to pass I will be so happy! Have a very good new week! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteI just love those smiles on the boys faces. Last week, I dehydrated my first batch of greens from the garden, this morning I'm going to dehydrate another. I am working on organizing and filtering out things I no longer use, it's almost time for a donation run. I am trying to use up more of my canned goods that are getting older, in part to free up jars for this year's preserving. I'm enjoying using some of my past labors and making a list of jarring up/canning for this year. Time moves so quickly, it seems like I just dud up some jars, and the label says it's been a few years😆.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love dehydrated greens... you can add them in to so many things for a greens boost! I also am going through things and making donations. I hope this week to get a lot more organising done.
DeleteYes time is going too fast! Im sure things have sped up! xxx
I had to laugh about boys and holes. When our boys were young, every summer they dug a hole beside our garage. They would fill it in by autumn, and then dig again the next year to see if they could get it deeper😊. It kept them out of mischief anyway.
ReplyDeleteHaha that is classic! My brother used to dig in a clay/sand area on the farm. He said he was going clay mining. He was about 5. He spend a couple of years clay mining haha!
DeleteHallelujah for the rain (and the rainbows!)!!! The boys are so cute...in puddles and holes!
ReplyDeleteWe have the opposite problem here (as usual), and have had too much rain for getting gardening really going (or even for mowing the jungle of lawn), but I did get my two raised beds planted, and was really pleased with myself for that. (That's the kind of gardening that is really enjoyable...small scale and not such physically demanding work!! Ha.) I have cleaned most of the house and plan to do some trim painting this afternoon before we move into the weekend.
Praying for lots of grass and for you to have a beautiful weekend. xx Jen in NS
How wonderful that God has sent rain. The photos of the boys in mud and holes and all are the best! Prayers. Esther
ReplyDeleteThank you Esther! I think we have more rain coming, the forecast is looking good!xxx
DeleteAlso many thanks for your recent lovely post about 'For such a t.'🌼
DeleteRain at last! I love the rainbow and the joy on the boys' faces.
ReplyDeleteI have been laid up this week with a bad back, but I did manage to freeze some veggies and pot some plants on them, so at least something was accomplished.
Dear Tracy, I hope your back has improved! A bad back is just terrible. I have a chiropractor app next week as I am having a bit of trouble. Usually that fixes it for me. But I leave it too long. A really bad back well you really have to rest and it seems backs take a long time to get better. Like knees! You did well getting some jobs done. With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteLovely post, as usual. I agree about boys and digging holes. My brother did that as a child and our boys did as well. We have had some cooler, wet weather lately. I was able to plant some seeds and let Mother Nature water them. I bought enough strawberries on sale to make 11 small jars of jam plus freeze a gallon for smoothies this winter. Now that the school year has ended and I have retired (again) I have been working on decluttering and cleaning. I took 3 big bags to Goodwill and thoroughly cleaned my laundry room. I made a new cover for my stand mixer using fabric I purchased on sale. This weekend's goal is to complete two smaller sewing projects. Thanks for always encouraging us.
ReplyDeleteDear Marley,
DeleteYou have me thinking as I have some really sandy areas just right for digging holes. Maybe we could excavate some bones or something equally exciting!
The jam sounds just lovely and all the work in the house and the sewing projects sound like a lovely week! With much love Annabel.xxx
Hoorah for rain! What a wonderful answer to prayers! I also love that your grandsons played in it! A good thing for everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy week has been abundantly blessed. Staying home is a joy! I did visit the thrift shop and found a few pieces of clothing, a scalloped tray to paint white, a beautiful silk tie for husband, and a candle holder that matches a few of my others! All for 20 dollars. The thrift shop is always an adventure! We have had lots of rain and cool weather, so I caught up on the laundry. I also made laundry powder and cleaners. I still love miracle cleaner! I washed towels with homemade laundry powder and it freshens them up so nicely! Not to.mention the savings!
Wishing you just the right amount of rain and sun!
Stacy in Virginia
Dear Stacy, What a lovely week! I find the thrift store so much fun but the things for the home, gifts, the tie for your husband... so good!
DeleteYes I love Miracle Cleaner and nothing really makes your home smell so fresh. But it kills germs too, it is so cheap also! Also the laundry powder! A very satisfying week! Rain is expected again tomorrow and it feels like its coming it has turned cold and windy... With love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, I am so happy for you that it rained. How much rain will it take for the grass to come back? Last week when you said there was no hay to be had, I was really worried for your cows.
ReplyDeleteI made "lazy lasagna" (Google it if you aren't familiar) and froze half for a ready meal. I prefer to freeze the lasagne raw and then bake, so I split it into two pans and that's what I did. I always use cheese lasagna. Freezing raw works best if the ravioli is still frozen and the remaining ingredients are cold (so they don't thaw the lasagna).This is really good and does taste like lasagna without the work!
Best wishes to you and all of the Bluebirds!
Meant to say, "I always use cheese ravioli...."
DeleteDear Maxine, Thanks for sharing the way you do this! It would be a very handy freezer meal! Many thanks, Love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnnabel I can feel the joy in your writing! What a relief to have rain. I really enjoyed your cheap and cheerful post as well, such a good reminder. I think it’s so true for children, they love simple things like cooking, throwing rocks into rivers, reading books with adults, playing card games etc. Paid for activities are fun as well but not necessary if they’re not in the budget.
ReplyDeleteI have taken on 4 days of work a week until the end of the school term (5 weeks). I had my first week this week and I was so tired! I’d prepared to have the slow cooker going two of the days and easy meals the other two. I was so happy to have a Friday at home. I’d kept up with the laundry, but the rest of the house needed some love! It is definitely a lot to mange so I’m glad to have an end date. I would not want to be doing this permanently. It will bring in a nice income stream though so my goal is to make the most of that. Lots of planning in the weekend to make things run smoother is helpful.
I finished the crochet blanket! I’m really happy with it and my daughter loves it. I’ll send you a photo. I think some facecloths for Christmas gifts would be a good project to have some quick victories after that!
I hope you have a lovely weekend
Jen (NZ)
Dear Jen,
DeleteIt is great to have that extra income but also great it isn't forever. I always say we can do all things, just not all things at once!
Well done on the blanket! I would love to see it! Yes wash cloths are a lovely gift. Ive been saving small hand creams, soaps and anything else I think would go with a wash cloth. I hope the week is going well, the weekend is near! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, it is so wonderful to hear that you have had rain. I love seeing the pure joy on the boys faces! It’s beautiful to see. I pray that you get more. Well done on your week, it would have been emotional too. I love the sound of that op shop, it sounds so good! I won a $5 op shop voucher, I’m excited to see what I can buy with it. Hopefully will do lots of cooking today. Lots of love, Bridget
ReplyDeleteDear Bridge, I hope you can turn that $5 into something really good! That will be really fun to do! We are meant to have rain by tomorrow morning. (Fri morning.) I hope so! I think I will have one ear on the sounds on the roof all night! I am sure your boys all just love your baking! Even when kids come home from school or your husband comes home from work... walking in to the smell of something cooking is just the best! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel and Bluebirds,
ReplyDeletePraise Jesus for the rain! 🌧️
I love how God makes us wait on the weather or situations so that we can give Him the credit.
My week was fulfilling. My youngest daughter and I did yard work for a friend. We enjoyed working together and the yard turned out amazing. Thankfully, she paid us for our time. I weeded my own garden. Finally, on Saturday, I helped weed and mulch another friend's yard. No payment, but good fellowship.
The weather has been beautiful but chilly. So glad to get some dandelion syrup canned to add to the pantry, as well.
Our church begins it's Vacation Bible School tonight. Four of my daughters and I are helping. We are excited and praying for all the children that attend.
Blessings to all,
Leslie (OH)
Dear Leslie, I think rain is on its way again! So this would be amazing! How very nice to help your friend. Helping the Bible school will be so nice for you and your daughters. I love how little kids really adore teenagers and older ones... they look up to them. This is very rewarding! I hope you have great attendance and I will pray too! With love Annabel.xxx
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