Feather your Nest Friday, 1st August, 205.
Welcome to August! Already!
This week I made an enormous pot of pumpkin soup and a lot of scones. This time cheese scones. Well, they are delicious, the kids love them and they go with soup perfectly. So lately scones are almost a constant.
I was given oranges and lemons.
I got busy and made Orange Cakes. You can find the recipe at my old blog (The Bluebirds are Nesting) titled Winter Sunshine cake. I made one GF and one regular in my baking dishes.
I used the Stephanie method. (Stephanie of The Tuesday Afternoon Club.) Her method is to bake giant slabs of cake then cut them up to smaller cakes as you want to eat/give/share/freeze. It saves a heap of work and washing!
My goodness they smelled so beautiful and were so orange! Oranges and orange eggs!
As you can see the right side of this cake was sliced off for Chloe and the kids!
I also made a big pot of spaghetti sauce. I included tomatoes I cooked last summer and froze. Zucchini I grated and froze... fresh parsley from the garden. Also using the Stephanie method I made a large GF lasagne... one end has cheese topping... this is going to be sliced up tomorrow. The cheesy bit is mine... I think I will get three serves. The other six serves will be for Mum.
I finished another quilt block...
Today I went to a garage sale in town. It was quite a crazy sale but I found a brand new, never opened, Australian wool Queen sized quilt, shed supplies like painters drop cloth and fire starters and more. Oh and yarn! Plus the op shop... a beautiful coat for Lily!
The last couple of years I joined in the #everybitcountschallenge This is Jessica's challenge from Three Rivers Homestead. It is her peak season garden harvest time. For me it is winter but I still managed to do the challenge last year any way! I am a flexible about it. Anything added to the pantry is good! If you want to join head to her You tube channel, the #everybitcountschallenge on Instagram and The Tuesday Afternoon Club where I will be posting every day! Quite a few Bluebirds also have already joined and will be posting daily. Finally, each Friday I will list here the seven days results.
So for day one... I harvested most of my broccoli crop.
I am so happy with it, it's my best success so far!
I blanched it all (in batches) for two minutes.
The they were cold I bagged them up to freeze.
I did this method last year and it was so good. When I used it from the freezer there was just no way you could tell it had ever been frozen.
So that is my day one!
My Broccoli plants might still grow some smaller heads, we will see,
I have to add Sparkie photos of the week. 😊
Today was busy with a garage sale, thrift shopping and grocery shopping which yielded some amazing bargains! It was so exciting! I will try and get some photos over the weekend as I ran out of daylight! I also got free celery and lemons. 🍋🍋🍋
I hope you had a good week. How did you build up your nest? We love to hear!xxx
Annabel, Your broccoli look amazing. Sparky is adorable. So happy you did so well finding items at the sales.
ReplyDeleteI am traveling this coming week so I will miss the challenge. Though hoping to step I when I return.
I have been fortunate this week to finish the fencing in front of the house and at a 75% savings as we found it on clearance at the stores. We had to go to two to get enough but he savings was worth it.
I used up bits and pieces to make muffins for us, part of my cleaning out the frig usefully.
I'm crocheting an afghan with yarn I was able to get free from our neighborhood facebook site.
I was able to save 50% off on our grocery bill by only buying sale items, using coupons and rebates.
In the next week I hope to visit 3 thrift stores hoping to find some bargains.
Dear Rosanne, I hope you have some great finds o your trip! Absolutely it's fine to ump into the challenge when you get back!
DeleteUsing things up before you go away is very good. Have a great trip! With love, Annabel.xxx
Hello Annabel and Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteI love everything you post here but Sparky stole the show. I just love his litlle smiley face.
I will join, too, the challenge. It is in my DNA that everylittlebitcounts. For Day 1 I will count calendula, mint and basil - I dry them and than use in salves or oil infused, tea and meals.
Today is August the first, the first wave of price increases - all the month of July we hunted for good prices and top up the pantry with essentials, for both us and the animals, also we have budgeted to be prepared for much higher utilities bills in the winter. I am proud to say I took all the measures I could, balanced the money until it was 0.00 lei and still put some away for rainy days - nothing is taken for granted here.
My son has finished his first year of nursing school year with a few weeks of practice in a surgery center while he was having a full time job - it wasn*t easy but he managed to complete the whole year while having some fun, too. Ahh, young people.....
Today, the first of August, my husband and I will celebrate our fist love date (30 years ago), as we do every year with a single red rose. He will come home late from his second job and we will have a nice dinner at home, and as a gift, I printed at a profesional printer some of our most precious photos to put in the family album. Memories are the most precious. I think.
Sending everyone much love from far away.
Laura_s_world from Romania
Dear Laura, How beautiful to have 30 years of happy memories! Your son has done so well! I love that everybitcounts is in your DNA. Also thank you for joining the challenge! You were wise to get ahead before the price increases. It is horrible to think how every family will be hit. I hope many opportunities come your way in this harvest season and challenge! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteCheese and bacon scones sound so yummy!
ReplyDeleteI think yes they might be next!
DeleteDearest Annabel, another beautiful week ! Gorgeous quilt and so talented to do this ! It's looking gorgeous !! I am always astounded how much you achieve in a week ! The scones look so delicious 😋 and what a bounty of oranges and lemons. With those lemons I would make lemon butter and sell it if I was you ! Set up a farmer market stall and you could sell eggs, your lasagne , cakes, jams etc. however I'm sure with the farm you're too busy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cakes also ! And I'm sure your mum enjoyed the lasagne and scones too. Next time you could make savoury "scrolls". The ones at Bakers Delight here in Sydney are $8 each ! The "plaited" savoury loaves are also $10. For bacon and cheese !! I would love to learn how to make such items but I've a tiny kitchen.
Bless you Annabel for another beautiful week and post. And Bless all Bluebirds across the world. Sonia in DYDNEEY
Thank you Sonia you are so kind! I did used to sell Lasagne and cakes etc. When the girls were young. Now I do these things to help them and keep ahead at home. Mind you... I dot mind some good trades and a foodie gift can be very good and the gift of help too. If you could pick up a second-hand (or borrow one) bread maker... to make scrolls you just make dough and press it out, add cheese, whatever you want. Roll them up and cut them through and let them rise again and bake them. Very inexpensive. I do believe you can actually buy bread dough... I have heard of that... you then form it and fill it how you want and bake. $8 each is a lot! I reckon you could make 16 or so for that amount! Thank you for all your encouragement! Love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHello Annabel (and everyone),
ReplyDeleteSparkie is the cutest ever, and I love your quilt squares! Your broccoli and scones and cake look great!
Extremely busy time at work now (in good news, I got a raise!), but I'm trying to get some bigger projects done at home. The first one was cleaning and organizing my pantry closet; I got some large fabric baskets to corral everything and it is looking so much better - and there's more space! In this vein I started washing the windows one at a time; harvested a ton of tomatoes; rooted some chocolate mint starts; and took a carload of donations to the thrift. Wednesday was dinner with my dad, and this weekend I hope to do a little baking.
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
<3
Kathy
Dear Kathy, Congratulations! I know this would be well deserved! Clean windows truly make everything seem brighter and beautiful. Doing one at a time is a good way to go. I am glad you are getting so many tomatoes! So many uses for them and just fresh they are delicious. Have a great new week! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHi Annabel
ReplyDeleteSparkie is such a little dear! I love to see the photos.
Your cakes all look so good, the scones, lasagne etc and you're off to a great start with the broccoli for the every little bit counts challenge.
My first day today was home made chicken stock I have put in the freezer. I love using every little bit of the meat and carcass to make stock.
I have picked from the garden French beans, carrots, potatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and sweet peas. My husband's client sent him home this week with figs for me, plums and tomatoes.
No batch cooking this week.
I finished the baby cot quilt at long last! Posting it off tomorrow.
I'm still clearing our bedroom and had a long session checking a huge amount of tights, both woollen and others, chucked out those which were saggy or had holes. Plenty to see me through winter.
I sorted and cleaned the herb and spice supplies, I don't throw things out just because they've reached their use by date, I sniff and taste and make a judgement. There were a few jars I thought needed replacing and I'll buy those over the next few weeks.
We needed several greetings cards this week and I headed to a budget card shop, chose three and at the cash desk was told it was four for the price of three. I chose a sympathy card as the extra as sadly we seem to need those fairly regularly.
It's so good for me to look back over the week on Friday because sometimes I think I haven't done anything over and above the usual household chores and cooking and it cheers me up to realise I've achieved a few extras.
Best wishes to all Bluebirds.
Penny in the UK
Dear Penny, I think stock is such a good thing to make, so full of vitamins and flavour. I love that the things your husbands client sent you were different (mostly) to what you had! But you cant have too many tomatoes!
DeleteWell doe on the cot quilt! I love getting things in the post that is the exciting part! Absolutely a review of the week is very helpful. A review, a rest then a new list is how I do best! It is almost Friday again actually... and I know I do have a pretty good list which as you say is a good feeling! I hope the same for you! With love Annabel.xxx
Those cakes look wonderful and what a great job preserving all that broccoli! I don't have a garden (or even a balcony) but we are starting to get some deals in at the grocery store now that the Canadian harvest is coming in. So far I have frozen rhubarb, strawberries, peppers and celery and I'm on the look out for blueberries this coming week - so far the only cheap ones are from the US so I will wait for the Canadian ones. It's not a lot as I don't have a lot of room but every little bit helps and means that I won't have to purchase it for another two or three months.
ReplyDeleteI've been inventoring my pantry as well and making a concerted effort to rotate back and forthe between the fridge and the pantry for meals. Thank goodness we are getting a few days break from the extreme heat and humidity this weekend so I intend getting as much done in the apt. as possible before it returns. It is a holiday weekend here so I get an extra day to work with.
And aunt died a few months ago and recently my uncle made a trip up to see us and brought clothes, purses, scarves and jewellry for us all to share. All the leftovers have come to me to donate to my church - my aunt loved to shop so even after sisters, SIL's and nieces took what they wanted there is a ton for me to deal with. My living room is a bit of a mess at the moment but I'm getting it packed up bit by bit to take in. I washed 6 heavy fleece jackets today and I'm going to wash a few coats tomorrow - just to freshen them up and then I'll start taking them in. We run a "boutique" along with our feeding program so they will be well received and I know that she would be happy knowing that they are going to a good cause and that nothing will go to waste.
Tomorrow I'm going to get up early to cook salmon and ground beef. New Zealand grass fed ground beef has been on sale at a really good price (for here) at various supermarkets over the past few weeks so I've been stocking up. I'll use what I bought today to get some HM ready meals into the freezer. I can't wait for it to be cool enough to get back to baking - I love cheese & chive scones!
Dear Margie, Today I bought sliced mushrooms at a great price to process those. If we watch carefully we can do well this way. Your Aunts things will be a big blessing to others I am sure, especially coats I would think. Absolutely she would be happy to still be helping others.
DeleteSalmon and beef sound wonderful to make your meals with and having some ready meals in the freezer is very good. I am planning a beef slow cooker day... to make meat pies... probably next week. With love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, every time you post a new quilt block I think that’s my new favourite! Can’t wait to see them all together. Your cooking for the week sounds fantastic, hard to beat cheese scones. The broccoli looks beautiful. I’m sure you had fun at the garage sale 😉
ReplyDeleteToday I found 1kg trays of beef mince for half price, I was over the moon. I just need to find some room in the freezer lol.
Last week I added pork legs to the freezer and I have one slow cooking now to have a pulled pork pie for dinner.
It’s a lovely day here, the washing is out on the line and we have nothing on! I love days like this.
Have a great weekend
Jen (NZ)
Thanks Jen, I hope they do all look good together! It is amazing how cheese transforms scones to a more filling savoury.
DeleteGreat job on the mince! I can imagine you re arranging the freezer! I love a pork roast. You did well.
I LOVE home days that are not scheduled! Perfect to me! With love Annabel.xxx
A beautiful quilt block! I like the colour arrangement! Sparky is a so sweet. The broccoli looks amazing! I have a few cherry tomato plants -- waiting for the 'reddening'. Did some mending, and more to go... We've had a (very) wet July, so everything looks green and lush. The lawn needs mowing... Many Dutch families go on holiday to France, Greece, Spain etc. (the sun lovers) while others choose to stay here -- in het vaderland - and have bike tours and such -- in raincoats or maybe without (it's not cold at all). I like cycling in the rain😊. Hope you have rain as well. Best wishes to you and the others Blueb.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Cycling on a rainy day sounds lovely! I hope your tomatoes are heading in the right direction and you get heaps! xxx
DeleteHello, Annabel and Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you enjoyed a full week of baking and harvesting. Love the quilt block. Can't wait to see the complete quilt!
I have had a busy week of pure homemaking. Cleaning, baking, tending chickens, sewing, mending, and laundry. My kids all are busy with summer jobs, so a bit of the chores have fallen to me. Which I love! I have been driving a bit more as we are down to one car. I really feel that I am serving my family. God has really sustained us.
We are trusting Him to fund a car repair and our children's education.
I just saw a video where a woman does laundry out of her home as a side hustle. I could do that! She makes $26 an hour. And she just advertised on Facebook. So praying on that.
Have a good week as you all continue to build up your homes! Praying for you, Kathy. You are doing great.☺️
Love, Leslie (OH)
Dear Leslie, You most certainly are serving your family! Laundry and or ironing can make you a fair bit. In Adelaide I knew a lady who did ironing as her full time job!
DeleteThank you for your kind message to Kathy. I think she is amazing too! With much love Annabel.xxx
Annabel I have to say that Sparkie is just so cute for words. Your quilt block is just divine and would have taken some time to put together. So lovely you got a new Queen sized wool quilt, shed supplies and lovely yarn at the garage sale and a coat at the op shop too. Your broccoli looks so lovely and we also blanch and freeze ours in meal sized portions for the freezer.
ReplyDeleteLast week was all about firewood so we cut half of a fallen around 10mt tall gum tree from the side of the road, bought it home, split the larger logs and stacked them in the shed for next winter and beyond wood. We were getting rather low as we have sold some and used more than usual this winter as it has been colder. Hopefully we can go back and cut the other half of the tree not this week but next.
In between that I have managed to sort through some old paperwork with personal details on them that was no longer needed and burned it in the fireplace. I have also been sorting out the kitchen table which tends to be a dumping ground and thrown out rubbish and DH and I have been putting items away in places where they should be.
Bargains for grocery items have been few and far between as the store we usually seem to get good half priced markdowns for meat appear like they are not doing it anymore but I live in hope and will keep looking.
Have wonderful frugal week ahead everyone.
Lorna.
Dear Lorna, Thank you! Sparkie has developed friends. At first she was shy. Now she is like miss popularity haha!
DeleteOh all that beautiful firewood is amazing!! Stacked in your shed this is great! Yes it's a work out but its worth it.
Good food bargains are harder to find here... and meat is the worst area. Most of the specials are junk or non food. BUT my friend just found butternuts at $1.79 (I think) so you ca guess what will be on the menu!
Burning paperwork is what I do too. It makes good firelighters! A good fire is a great clean up... I had a bit of a bonfire yesterday and threw on some old dog beds! Very satisfying!
Sorry I am so slow to reply! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, I love the quilt block. I also love the sound of the scones, my grandmother used to often make savoury scones to go with main meals, it is a great stretcher. I must do this. I love the photos of Sparkie, she is just so cute. I really love seeing her. Your cakes look delicious. It was a beautiful day here, the sky was an amazing blue. Lots of love, Bridget
ReplyDeleteDear Bridge, I bet your boys would demolish cheese and bacon scones. Meal stretchers are a very good thing with growing kids. Our Grandmothers knew the way to do it. Sorry to be so slow to reply! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteLook at your lovely week, Annabel! Bacon and cheese schones sounds like a wonderful idea. Each quilt block is lovelier than the last! I'm excited for you!
ReplyDeleteMy week has been an off one. Our AC is acting up and that has meant being away from home during the heat of the days. Sadly, I'm not getting as much done that way! I love my days at home, so we're praying for cooler temperatures!
I decided to learn how to knit, and I'm slowly getting into it! I bought a little yarn and a set of needles to start me off. A nice friend suggested a washcloth instead of a shawl as a first project. Haha!
I hope your next week is awesome!
Stacy in Virginia
Dear Stacy, I hope your air conditioner is fixed. The heat is horrible. I feel your pain I need a cool place to retreat to. Well done on knitting! Keep at it! You will get better and better. I agree... small projects are a good way to start. It is so enjoyable and good for us to keep our hands busy. With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnnabel, you often ask how we built up our homes in the past week. Well, this is a little different that most.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved a clean house but I don't enjoy housework AT ALL. I came across a clipping and thought, I could do that. And for a week so far, I have. Here is what I have been doing--
DAILY JOBS--Morning: Make beds, wipe bathroom sinks and counters, empty dishwasher, one load of laundry, chore of the day.
Night: Load DW, wipe kitchen counters, sweep, take out trash.
CHORE FOR THE DAY--Monday, vacuum; Tuesday, clean mirrors and inside of windows; Wednesday, scrub toilets and tubs; Thursday, mop floors; Friday, wipe down kitchen appliances; Saturday, dust and wash sheets (this is when I change my bed); Sunday, RELAX.
This is all very doable, even for me. Notice that really hard jobs, like bathrooms, are accomplished over several days. Since you are cleaning the sink and counter every day, it looks fine.
When my husband died last fall, I hadn't done any real cleaning for the 3 years that he was ill. Right after Christmas, I hired a housecleaner to get it all in shape. Most housecleaners seem to come and fluff things up, but this one really CLEANED and I had her for 6 months. Then she moved to Texas...leaving me with a clean house. It is much easier to clean a clean house than a dirty one!
I try to give myself an extra chore each day (don't always succeed) and I am cleaning and organizing my pantry, one shelf at a time. Thanks, Annabel, for the suggestion. Rome wasn't built in a day!
Annabel sometimes mentions her "handmaidens," appliances she has that do the work for her. For me, that would be the laundry twins, also know as the washer woman and dryer woman. The dishwasher is the scullery maid. Now I have another one, as yet unnamed: a robotic vacuum cleaner. It does a surprisingly good job, even with dog hair. Thus my Mondays are free to do all of the extra jobs I didn't do last week.
In other news, my daughter and I started traditional Weight Watchers about a month ago. She has a lot more weight to lose than I do. At the 4-week mark, she had lost 11.2 lbs and I lost 5 lbs. I'm afraid that I cheat when no one is looking, but my daughter is all in!
Best wishes to Annabel and all of the Bluebirds here!
Dear Maxine, Well done! I love the routine and I love breaking bigger jobs down into smaller ones. And yes, have your handmaidens working too! Great to do WW with your daughter. I am sure you doing it is an encouragement to her too.
DeleteKeep up the good work. It is very satisfying when everything is clean and fresh and you feel on top of things. With much love Annabel.xxx