Tonight I am relying on the photos of the week as reminders as I wrote nothing down! It is cold, wintery and we had more rain!
There is some green coming through. My friend took this photo of the driveway...
I think it's beautiful! This is looking towards the road from my house. I am happy that I am set well back from the road.
Last week, after a lot of work on rain water tanks and pipes, one tank leaked.. it was an old cement tank. Asking advice I was told a repair might work and might not especially once it filled with water. So I bought a new one. I don't wish to collect a full tank of water only to lose the lot!
My helpers drove it out because the tank people lend you a tank trailer!
They got working on connecting it up on Wednesday because the forecast said rain could come Friday!
This shed is the shearing shed and this is the second tank. So yay as rain has arrived this morning! If the predictions are accurate this tank could be full by next Friday!
My cook up was chicken kebabs, rice and veggies. I got two meals for myself (one for a no cook night tonight) and a big meal for Chloe's family.
I have a plan of what to make next... Pasties. It is the right weather. I think tomorrow it is meant to rain all day! Baking and sewing is the plan!
I also made two light fruit cakes. This was my Dad's favourite cake.
One fed everyone at morning tea and the other was sliced up and frozen.
I also made a creamy pasta sauce.... There were enough baby spinach and mushrooms to freeze dry some.
Pantry building can really be one or two jars at a time. These will be really handy.
I edged a vest for Lily that Mum knitted. This just finished it off.
In the background is a crochet blanket Mum would like me to work a border around... so that is next. Good collaborations!
My friend sent me gorgeous cups and saucers. This one is very similar to some my Nana had.
And... I went op shopping (thrifting) and found beautiful recipe cards, pink floral cup, saucer and plates and the most amazing floral edging. I just love it!!
As part of his schooling Tom has been baking and making morning tea for friends and workers.
Everyone has loved getting their own package of goodies.
😊
Sparky is really good. She looks more innocent than she is though! She is still quite shy but has made two friends. Most times if people are here she peeks at them through the window...
She is the queen of sitting near the fire. Under no circumstances let the fire go out!
It is raining now as I write. I did the run to town for groceries today. There were some really beautiful moments this week and loads of things achieved.
As you know Zackie died a couple of weeks ago. I had a plague made for her as I don't want her to be forgotten as Andy's companion and the sweetest nature she had. We need to find a rock to attach this to but I am thrilled with it.
Andy would be approving.
I am so grateful for rain, the fire, all the help I had this week, nice things to report.
How did you build up your nest this week? Keep doing the nest thing! xxx
Annabel,
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive week you have had. So happy you are receiving the much needed rain and your new rain barrel is all set up to collect some of it.
Your driveway looks beautiful seeing the green coming.
Your plaque for Zachie is perfect. What a wonderful way to save her memory.
I am slowly recovering from pneumonia, a longer road then I would like but small improvements are so appreciated. I have been drying the peels of all the oranges I have been eating. Seeing a jar full of peeling is so pretty and useful.
I am able to crochet again and have even sent off gifts. Praying they are appreciated with the love that has been put into them.
On the home front I am back to the proverbial housework, amazing how things get when you take time away from them I am also baking again. I used up leftover strawberries and made a strawberry bread that went over with husband so well he ate half of it on first sitting. He said it was the best use of leftover berries.
All in all, even with all the rain we have had and to come we are doing well, we have flood warning out, though so far it seems OK. I haven't gone down to see the creek behind house, but by now I know it is rushing and muddy. Life is good, as everything is growing so well.
Prayers for all Bluebirds.
Dear Rosanne, You made a lot of progress and got so much crochet done! Yes housework soon gets away and it's hard to catch up! Your strawberry bread looked amazing!
DeleteWe both had rain! At least this is good weather for working on something inside. With much love Annabel.xxx
That floral edging is amazing as you said. Can’t wait to see how you use it. Good op sopping Annabel.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Something for Lily is my plan if I can find the right fabric to put it with!xxx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteZackie*s plaque is wonderful - brought tears to my eyes. Dogs are sweet Angels sent by God, with their big kind hearts, and knowing she is with Andy now makes me emotional. I love dogs!
Sparky! No words can match how cute she looks - I think she is capable of many shenaningans. Please, do write and tell.
Tom baking???? How can this boy be so good at so many things? And first of all, how time flies? He was born like yesterday, right?? Big hug, Tom and congratulations!!!!
I am glad you have rain, and now this big water tank ready to be filled. It takes organization and forward thinking to be prepared for times that come. I love your good collaboration with your Mum, you two are very talented! What will be used for the floral edging from the thirftstore? Looks beautiful.
„ And then, one fairy night, May became June. ” F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that line and it is literaly how it happened here. The whole month of May was rainy, very cold and constantly grey - I even took out once again my winter boots, as it was snow on the hills around my town. Everything I put in the ground was stagnant or rotten all together.
And then Boom! sun, hot weather and summer. Sandals, swimming costumes and light frocks. The flower garden and the yard is full of roses, honey suckles, pink and white peonies, french marigolds, mock orange flower and irises - the smell everywhere is divine and the birds are singing like crazy - we have true concerts every dusk and every dawn.
The vegetable garden is growing as best as it can. As all it is upside down of what I knew about weather and gardening, I try interplanting - faster growing crops like lettuce, radishes or peas between slower maturing crops like peppers and tomatoes. That way there is always something growing and something to harvest. I tend to plant mostly a chicken garden, to ease the cost of feeding for them. I like how the sun flower, the squash and the starwberries are looking. Also the rosemary, calendula and mint is big and gorgeous The gooseberries, the black and red currants and one cherry tree is almost good to harvest.
You are right, one or two jars at a time - I bought 3 kilos of strawberries from the local market and made 5 jars of jams - the rest we ate it. We are very lucky having a nice rich local market with all kind of produce - fruits, vegetables, dairies, meat. I will take some pictures - some remind me of medieval times stalls, when this was the only place for commerce and you got to talk with the vendour and admire the whole merchandise displayed. And no plastic (or minimal).
The last word - I got 4 more chickens - two black Australorps, already laying eggs, and two 4 months old white pullets that remind me of your chicks looking like they were at the hairdresser. (What breed are they?) They are all very sweet, calm and friendly, haven*t met the rest of the gang yet (as they are in a quarantine time). I did fall in love with the Australorps. The rest of the gang are laying very well and I am selling many eggs - the money for the new chickens came from the egg money envelope, so kind of pay for themselves.
I wrote a lot, until next time I wish you a nice weekend and lots of small and big pleasures. Sending much love from far away, Laura_s_world from Romania
Dear Laura, Thank you so much. Yes Sparkie and shenanigans go together. She has learned to bring the ball back to me and I will throw it again. The floral edging I think will go on a summer dress for Lily, I just need the right fabric. I thought it is a one of a kind find!
DeleteI am so glad about your new chickens!! This is good! Maybe the ones with the fancy hair dos are silkies? You might get different coloured eggs too. And the fact the egg money meant you expanded your flock (and business!) is excellent!
I would LOVE to see your market! I think I would think it fantastic! But Id love to see photos! And strawberries sound delicious and a few jars here and there is wonderful.
Your garden sounds gorgeous, especially peonies and honeysuckle! I can smell it! What a nice time. What a great report Laura, a joy to hear this! With love Annabel.xxx
I do so enjoy reading about your week, Annabel. You encourage us all by your good example and cheerful disposition. And just as a pantry can be filled jar by jar, so is a life filled with good and faithful works, little task by little task.
ReplyDeleteOur weather is still very cold and wet, even though we are nearing midsummer. My runner bean and pumpkin plants have actually frozen after planting out, and I have had to reseed these. Other plants have appreciated the cold spring, and the asparagus and broccolini are growing well. Today I delivered 15 kg rhubarb to the cooperative and exchanged it for a case of strawberry jam. Strawberries are extremely expensive this year, and mine won’t fruit until late summer, so this was a good deal for me.
Indoors I have been baking lots of different rhubarb cakes, pies and muffins, and also freezing some for later use. I have sewn a Japanese style apron from a thrifted Debbie Mumm print curtain, and replaced my sofa cushion covers with some new ones cut from an old chintz curtain. I also used some bargain tea towels to make a cushion cover for our garden furniture. It has a lemon print and looks well with a thrifted china pot also with lemons in the design. This afternoon I finished sewing some fabric strawberries whilst a batch of scones baked for afternoon tea. I think I’ll have to open one of our new pots of strawberry jam to go with them!
Love the sound of your sewing Gill
DeletePenny
Dear Gill,
DeleteYour rhubarb sounds so prolific! What a wonderful trade! I adore chintz... and chintz curtains would be such a good source of a good amount of fabric. I can visualise everything you say because of the photos you have posted in the past in the Tues Club... Gill I miss your photos so much. I know you were ill..I am happy that it sounds like you are better. Fabric strawberries sound divine... and I love lemons so lemon prints/accessories seem very cheerful and fresh to me.
I hope your second round of beans and seedlings are successful! With much love Annabel.xxx
Sorry, I meant to sign that comment , Gill in Norway 🇳🇴
ReplyDeleteDearest Annabel
ReplyDeleteThose chicken skewers look delicious- something I never think to make.
I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to Zackie. The plaque is a lovely way to remember her.
The picture of Tom is just adorable! Such a gorgeous little boy.
Well, I made a fruit cake with mixed spice ( we call it Bara Brith in Wales) and a coffee cake this week. All our evening meals from scratch now as we have been cutting out UPF’s. Cutting and storing wood for the fires ready for the autumn and winter.
I think it was a good decision to get the new water storage container. And then for it to rain! Such a blessing.
Have a lovely weekend.
With much love, Heidi xx
Dear Heidi, Waving! I have been thinking of you and now I see your comment!
DeleteWell done on the homemade meals. A fruit cake and a coffee cake would be so good. Also I think cutting and storing wood is the best thing. I found out now the prices for a trailer of wood in the city are hundreds of dollars. Only today my helpers brought in a great amount for my fire and to stack. They also each come cut wood for their home fires. I view a good wood stack like a security and money in the bank! Also kindling... baskets of kindling as we need that as well.
As soon as that tank went it rain came! Amazing! And now we have more coming so many even it will be filled up. This would be awesome.
Pieces of chicken would be equally good with the veggies and rice... a bit of sauce of some kind goes with the rice. Or even beef would be good. Rice is just a meal stretcher!
Already we are mid week! With love Annabel.xxx
My nest this week was built up with family tim (grandchildren), and this reminded me of the many and varied ways we can build up our homes...caring for family being top of the list. :-) We also built a new sweet potato garden, as here in the tropics they grow year round and are so versatile in meals. Finally my winter cucumbers are growing - yay. Little things do add up. Bless you, Annabel. And tell young Tom I think he is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteDear Jenny, Yes caring for family is number one. All else is a bonus. Sweet potatoes are so good and it is fantastic they grow so well there. I have not had success with them here but love them. Also winter cucumbers! I finally had success in summer but I think winter would be too cold here. I love cucumbers too.
DeleteThank you re Tom. He is suddenly big enough to be enormously helpful with so many things! With love, Annabel.xxx
Annabel, the plaque for Zackie is lovely. It will bring comfort to see it and remember the love and companionship she had with you and Andy.
ReplyDeleteThe green on the ground is so promising and more rain to come! Sensible to crack on and buy and install the new tank, hopefully in time for the next rainfall. You can't waste a drop!
I love the knitting for Lily and the floral edging you found is gorgeous.
I have picked lots of redcurrants, frozen some and made a big redcurrant streusel cake for Sewing group today.
Also pulled rhubarb, radishes, strawberries, raspberries and picked carnations and Sweet William for the house. I will take a bunch of flowers for our Sewing group hostess today. I love this time of year in the garden.
I hung new curtains and lampshade in a guest bedroom and repurposed a bed throw from elsewhere as a temporary measure. Fluffing the nest.
My stock up this week was some new socks, lightweight summer ones and thin trainer socks. I always think of food, toiletries etc for stock up but it's just as important to have enough basic clothes etc. There is some chatter on podcasts again about resilience in case our brave forces have to go to war. Invasion isn't likely for the UK but there's a lot of other things which could happen. Sorry, don't want to depress anyone but preparation calms the mind.
We have rain again today but we're grateful, the garden needs it.
Best wishes to all
Penny in the UK
Dear Penny, Heading off to sewing group with cake and flowers... this all sounds so lovely! Actually picking red currants sounds fantastic too. Your garden is really producing!
DeleteThe guest bedroom would be looking nice with new curtains and lampshade... and really very often a few things make a very big difference to a room.
I also think clothing and all kinds of supplies as stock up items. Backups. I have seen and heard thee talk on the ways in which the UK could be impacted by war... and notice they are telling people to build resilience and supplies. Which is wise and true but sobering. Like you I can handle things a lot better if I feel prepared not panicked. A you tuber I watch says to do your "due diligence" which I think is a good way of putting it. Oh Im glad you had rain also! Nothing does the garden good like actual rain. With much love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, the picture of your driveway after the rain is magnificent! Well done on getting the new tank installed as the rain comes. The rain would be a wonderful sound. Tom is such a clever boy! And Chloe is doing an amazing job. I love the way he cooks and writes everyone’s names. This is beautiful. I feel like I’m coming down with something so I hope it goes away quickly! I used a voucher I had won at an op shop yesterday, it made it even more fun! Lots of love, Bridget
ReplyDeleteDear Bridge, I hope you didnt end up sick! Yes Toms writing cracks me up. And grown men seemed thrilled about it. Like they were really touched. The tank did begin to fill almost right away! Amazing. I cant wait to hear what you get with that voucher! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteYour picture of Tom reminds me of when my mother-in-law used to bake with my son. He still enjoys baking and often wears an apron that belonged to his grandma.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a week centred around health here. My son had his annual check-up on Monday, which always causes him a lot of anxiety, but actually went well. We arrived home to find a letter asking me to make an appointment for my annual check up, so the blood pressure machine came back out of the cupboard it had been put away in an hour before!
We have been using up odds and ends from the freezer, which instantly got filled up again with things that had been gifted to us. We are very grateful for anything that comes our way.
I managed to get some time in the garden, but still haven't planted out all the Summer plants we bought recently as the weather has been quite wet. I am afraid to say that I am a fair-weather gardener these days.
Dear Tracy, I bet your son remembers those baking days with his Nana. What good lessons! We do not get requests for annual check ups. This must be one of those different in each country things. Actually we are lucky to get an appointment when we are sick... they will say see you in three weeks when you are dead. Im not joking!
DeleteI am so glad for you that food came your way and re filled the freezer! That is awesome! There is no use putting seedlings in if it's too wet anyway... so I hope soon you can get them in and they will take off for you! With much love Annabel.xxx
Dearest Annabel,
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to reading your posts! Always so beautiful, full of great ideas and always uplifting. The plaque you had made is so sweet, where did you have it made? My third son is having to rehome his lovely dogs as our second youngest grandson is allergic to them. He is only one and had a trip to hospital in an ambulance after he couldn’t breathe. He is well and home, but last week, one of the sweet dogs licked him on the face and he came out in hives! It took half an hour for the Telfast to make them fade. I would take them, I already have dogs, but that wouldn’t help for when the family came over to visit. We are also enjoying some rain and it is super cold. The garden is looking quite bare so I think I need to get some flowering plants. Love to you all, Jennie NSW.
Dear Jennie, I ordered the plaque on Etsy from an Australian seller. They are absolutely brilliant. Delivered by mail.
DeleteOh no re your grandsons allergy. Aside of the dogs at home.... dogs at other peoples places will be very tricky. I hope good homes can be found. We have been lucky with having some sunny days.... which is helping the grass as I know what you mean, the cold or frost mean you dont get that growth. Oh boy it has bee a tough year! With much love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, thank you for letting me know about the plaque. One of the dogs, a gorgeous purebred German Shepherd has gone back to the breeders. She is on acreage and with her parents and cousins etc. A good outcome but still sad for us. We are still looking for a home for the Labrador/Kelpie rescue, who thinks he’s a lap dog🖤🐾🖤Jennie.
DeleteI just love the photo of Tom baking! I can imagine the workers being very happy to receive their own package. I’m so pleased for the rain you’ve had and what a great investment to buy a new tank. The plaque for Zackie is so special.
ReplyDeleteWe had a busy weekend with guests and a birthday celebration. It was so nice. We also had some new friends over for dinner.
I’ve just reread your cheap and cheerful post and there are so many ideas in there I want to adopt. We have a few more weeks until the school holidays, and I want to do everything I can beforehand to make them as relaxing as possible. Sometimes I put off jobs until the holidays but I want to see how many I can get done before then so that we can really make the most of the time. I feel a list coming on!!
I hope you had a restful weekend and enjoy the new week.
Jen (NZ)
Dear Jen, I am so glad you found new friends in your new area! Im pretty sure they loved your cooking!
DeleteBefore school holidays I work on a list of things to do. Plan some outings/trips picnics/baking days and so on. I used to include a movie day and a change around the bedrooms day, pretty often. Now I do this when the Grandkids are coming to stay and am doing more cooking with them... as they can take it home and fill their own lunch boxes and make a meal for Mum and Dad.
The week has already flown past! With love Annabel.xxx
Such a wonderful week and post! Your Tom will be baking for you in no time!
ReplyDeleteI have a great week! I found some yard sale treasures. I had time to sew on a double wedding ring quilt! And I spent some time baking for the family!
I hope you have a great week ahead!
Stacy in Virginia
Dear Stacy... A double wedding ring quilt sounds just divine to me! And a good yard sale is amazing (and fun.). Baking always is good and makes everyone happy! This week has already zoomed by! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel and Bluebirds,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely plaque for Zackie.
You had an amazing week. Nice work on the vest by both of you!
Can't wait to see what you do with your op shop finds. Hope to see photos soon of your gift pantry room. 😉
I'm sorry to come to the party so late these past few weeks.
School is out and babysitting is over. My children and I just enjoyed volunteering for Vacation Bible School. What a week! Busy and wonderful. And now summer has begun. I will be catching up on: sewing, quilting, organizing a closet, and deep cleaning areas around the house.
Thanks, everyone, for being inspirations. Praying for those who have suffered loss, and those facing stressful times.
Love,
Leslie (OH)
Dear Leslie, I know a huge amount of work goes intoVBS but it is an amazing thing to do. I am loving your summer plans. I am glad you had the babysitting and extra funds for that time. I will post some op shop finds tomorrow. It is always surprising what turns up! Especially when it is just perfect it's like a gift! Also yes I will work on the pantry room and get some photos! With love Annabel.xxx
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