We have a huge storm which has gone all day. Last night I ended up using ear plugs... as much as I love the sound of rain it reached the point of ridiculous and I could not go back to sleep. Today... so much wind, hail, branches down... but it all does not matter, what is most important is the rain!
Into this I storm I ventured today... wondering if this was a good choice! But I had commitments so off I went. I had parcels to collect, the post office, chemist and such fun things as the department of motor vehicles. They wanted to know the engine number of Andy's old ute. I don't know. Several men were in the line so I asked "do any of you guys know how to find the engine number on a Ford?" A young bloke said "yes, I think I do" and he came with me outside and popped the bonnet and proceeded. But he couldn't find it. This made me feel kind of better because I wasn't the only one with no idea and he worked in tyres apparently! Then he said if we had another number there is an app where it will tell you your engine number for $2. I had this number, yay! So.... he does this on his phone and we get the needed number. He would not even let me pay him back the $2. He also lost his place in the queue helping me. What a nice guy. We just got back inside and it began to hail...
One of the fun things I did get to do was to choose a new fridge/freezer! I went armed with measurements and a tape measure. It was not too hard to choose and I got that ordered as I hate stainless steel and wanted white. This will be so exciting to set up and organise! Seriously... it will be revolutionary!
Each day of the week I tried to do something toward the #everybitcountschallenge. I turned the cream into butter! The first batch I was not prepared for the minute the butter forms a ball it splashes the whey everywhere like a blender without a lid.
The second batch I knew better and saved the whey and later made it into scones.
I patted my butter into a rectangle muffin tray. These hold about 200 grams. I got eight!
I had to take a photo of them with my new (from op shop) butter dish!
From my veggie boxes I still had capsicums to I processed those.
Next... the cauliflower needed to be cooked along with some broccoli. I made a huge cheese sauce....
Everything is good doused with cheese sauce. Easy!
Then I made the red onions into Frugale Tabithas pickled onions. This is so easy! They look so pretty!
And... lemons and eggs that I made into lemon butter last week became a desert pie. This went to Chloe's house.
I got back on track and made my next quilt block. I really like this one. In the pic are some sewing notions from the thrift store.
Then ... I launched into a plan to put shelves in an old wardrobe... and organise it with fabrics, mainly sheeting. To do this I had to empty the cupboard. You know how you get in a much worse mess before you get things into order? Well, yes, stuff everywhere.... BUT at the bottom of that wardrobe I found many items I had forgotten about and a whole heap of Christmas presents. I am not even sure how many yet. Oh the rewards of going through things and organisation! I hope next week I can show my order from chaos! I want to get this project complete before the new fridge/freezer arrives as that also will be a big mess before success kind of task. By the time I get both of these done I think it will be time to start Spring cleaning!
Meantime... if this rain keeps up I might get my little river that goes through the property flowing. After a drought this would be so exciting!
Sparkie doesn't think very much of the cold, wind, hail or thunder. So she is in bed. She has her own hot pack. 😊 I say "do you want to get up and come outside?" She gives a clear "no way" look.
I hope you had a good week with many opportunities to feather your nest. The month is almost over. Winter here has two days left! The change of season is coming. But for now I am going to aim for a quiet and warm weekend. Nothing is nicer! xxx
Annabel, what a full week you have had and so many beautiful food items, I love the quilt square. I don't blame Sparkie for not wanting to go out.
ReplyDeleteI had a slow week, recovering from injuring my ankle. I had started the cleaning reorganizing the storage room in basement and a tote hot my ankle, lets just say I wasn't walking for awhile.
I was able to go to a doctor's appointment which was good as I was able to get a lot of prescriptions refilled, well 3 really. My husband did the grocery shopping, he sort of followed the list. Unfortunately the cashier messed up a few things and I need to go in and get them straightened out.
I was able to use up some leftover crushed pineapple in cottage cheese pineapple muffins, they came out so light and fluffy, delicious.
Now that I am doing a bit better on my feet I will be back in basement cleaning and organizing.
Oh, like you Annabel I have found some treasures I had forgotten about, I found my hummingbird feeders, so next Spring they will go up. I also was able to organize some of the canning supplies, I was thrilled to find I had a good supply of lids. It's like Christmas going through all the totes and organizing.
We are having the floor redone in our bathroom, in the process husband has replaced metal shelves with wooden ones he made, and I was able to finally get matching baskets to hold items in. Lets say I am excited over matching organization.
Prayers for all the Bluebirds.
Dear Rosanne, I am glad you ankle has improved! We are both on the same track... going through stuff, finding things and organising. The baskets to organise the bathroom stuff will be really nice. You can see exactly how many you have in each category. Plus it looks good!
DeleteI have lots to go but the shelves I ordered online fit exactly! Phew! As I put them in I wondered it the last one would fit and helps my breath but yep it was perfect! Progress! Have a great new week! With love Annabel.xxx
I’m so pleased the butter turned out well Annabel! The butter dish is lovely. It will be exciting when your new fridge arrives. How fun to find Christmas presents you forgot you had!
ReplyDeleteI found some good bargains on chicken, sausages and vegetable soup mixes today so was able to restock the freezer.
I also bought a waffle maker for $30. I’ve been meaning to get one for ages and at 70% off today was the day. I made GF waffles for dessert along with caramel sauce. I can see it’s going to get a lot of use!
I bought a box of cotton yarn, it worked out at $3 per 80g ball. The colours are lovely.
I’ve extended my work contract until the end of the year, it’s a lot to manage but I really enjoy the job and we have some pretty good routines in place now. I had the day off today and I went for a drive to pick up the cotton, treated myself to sushi for lunch and had a lovely relaxing day.
Stay warm and have a lovely weekend!
Jen (NZ)
Dear Jen, I have my fridge/freezer ordered. I can't wait! I am really glad as you've lived from the freezer you are already finding deals to restock! I know food is very expensive there... I think some things are worse than here... and it is bad here! This makes shopping the deals absolutely necessary.
DeleteYou will be able to do so much with the cotton yarn! I am glad you had a day to yourself too. The work contract... well the end of the year isn't even too far away and extra money will no doubt be very handy especially leading up to Christmas! The waffle maker... the whole family will love it! Golden syrup... with cream. Thats my advice lol! Have a great new week! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel and lovely Bluebirds,
ReplyDeleteThe month of August is almost over, I feel the chil of Autumn in the mornings when I got my chores in the garden and in the chickens run before going to work and it is darkening earlier in the evenings. In our area we have hundreds of storks, each year they come back to their nests in Spring, raise their babies on the bounty offered by our three rivers and clean land, then leave at the end of Summer with a whole ceremony. There is one stork, the leader, who gather them in a big group then, at a signal, they all got up in the air and fly in several circles above as saying their goodbyes from the places and the people. It is bitter sweet to witness - after that we know Autumn is around the corner.
You had a great week! Rain is the best of it but also butter, cooking, organizing things. Christmas is coming in 4 months so perfect timing for all those presents found in the old wardrobe...I love the quilted star - those little flowers look so elegant. Sparky is a smart dog - why would she go out of bed in such weather???? My Charlie is a bit afraid of thunders now, altough he did not pay attention to them when he was a baby.
I still managed to do something daily for everybitcountschalenge, but with a twist. One day I made a batch of plum jam, the other I did dehidrate tomatoes, green beans and various herbs for winter, and some days I picked nettles and put them to air dry - it will be made in powder (ish) and give to the chickens in the cold months.
Every day I harvested something and weeded in small patches so everyday my chicks and ducks had greenery snacks with joyous cackles - it is so funny how they greet me when I come home, exactly like my dogs, excited that Laura is home. I really am happy at home.
I count everylittlebitchalenge the findings at the grocery or the local market at a good price - or even for free. I always ask for the leaves or for the sorry looking fruits and vegetables and almost always I can take them home for free. Exactly like the leftovers from work - usually there is some from my coleagues so I take that, too. Going through days with your pantry eyes open - you, Ladies, were very right!
Thank you all for being here, for encouragement, learning and chatting.
Sending many good wishes for the weekend from far away
Laura_s_world from Romania
We have a fried that was a missionary to Romania so especially enjoy reading Laura's comments.....Nancy
DeleteThank you, Nancy
DeleteHi Annabel
ReplyDeleteThe photo of Sparkie is so sweet, why would she get out of bed when she has her own hot pack?!! The rain was a blessing but not the wind etc.
Your photos are so good, the butter looks great, so does the cauli cheese, quilt blocks etc, your challenge week was really good.
For the challenge I processed and froze more runner beans and French beans and froze leftover garlic butter I made for a family BBQ. We were given some almost out of date cream which I froze. I made sugar free fruit muffins and frozen some, these are mainly for our granddaughter. I froze leftover vegetable and black bean curry for another meal. We picked and stored more cooking apples and my husband lifted and stored the last of the early potatoes and all of the main crop potatoes.
We picked tomatoes, cucumber and pulled carrots from the garden. A gardening client gave us pears, figs, eating apples.
In the charity shops I found a new, boxed toy for my granddaughter which I've put away for Christmas and some ankle weights for strength training for me. A friend offered me some 'chums' ,I said I didn't know what they were and they turned out to be wild cherry plums, both red and yellow. They are delicious and I know where there is a tree I can pick from next year now I know what they are.
I really want to get some sewing done but the garden produce is keeping us very busy so we'll see. Mustn't complain about fresh organic food.
Looking forward to reading Bluebirds comments.
Penny in the UK
Dear Penny, I laughed about the chums. I would not know what that meant either! But wow they sound beautiful! Last summer when I was dealing with so many pears and apples I was longing to sew etc. But once Autumn kicked in, winter and Autumn gave me that lovely sewing and crochet time. So it's coming! It was great you added to your gift pantry and the pickles and muffins sound beautiful. Very productive week. Keep putting up all you can... do you notice food just keeps getting more expensive! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteSo nice of the young man to help you at the motor vehicles! You had a wonderfully productive week. Thanks for sharing your week and Sparkie with us! God blessed you with rain. So wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMy week was full of extra cleaning and adding to the pantry. Besides loads of applesauce, I made elderberry syrup. We have railroad tracks near us, where wild elderberries grow. Such a blessing! And the apples we picked were free as well.
My bartering friend blessed me with lots of fresh button mushrooms and rainbow carrots. Can't wait to roast both!
Blessings to all you Bluebirds,
Leslie in Ohio
P.S. please pray for my youngest 3 children, private school did not go well.
Dear Leslie, Oh no I am sorry to hear the school didnt go well. I will pray. I hope you have other options.
DeleteElderberries! I would go Elderberry picking with you all day long! Well done on the syrup! And apples too! The mushrooms and rainbow carrots would be gorgeous roasted. A very good week of produce! With love Annabel.xxxx
So kind of that guy to help you! Oh my, your cooking looks amazingly good. I always like to see your baking, roasting, etc. andrea
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!xxx
DeleteThat young man's mother raised a good son there.
ReplyDeleteI love how you are celebrating the rain and I am praying for it to stay away. Here ( mid north coast NSW) it's been a nearly dry week, the sun has been out, but everything is still sodden. Hoping you stay warm and dry and enjoy your weekend, Megan.
This seems to keep happing... the east coast getting floods and other areas in drought. We have a bit more this week which is good. I want the green to last as long as possible. Yes I thought that young man was so good. Several other mid aged man said nothing and it was the young one who stepped up!xxx
DeleteHello Annabel and Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteThat storm sure sounds like it was a ripper! It warmed my heart to read your story about the young man helping you, I am getting irritated by the “youth bashing” that older people seem to take glee in partaking in! So it’s refreshing to hear a good story 🙌 I’ve been following your everyday counts challenge all month and you sure are making the most of everything! Well done 👏 Then you mentioned spring cleaning and that got me thinking we should start an everyday counts “Spring Cleaning” challenge, doing a little bit everyday 🤔 I think a lot could be accomplished in a month! I have my fabrics and sewing things in an old children’s size wardrobe, it’s perfect for the job, I can’t wait to see yours.
This week we returned from a music festival near Broken Hill. I got home to Spring weather!! It’s so warm and the veggie garden went mental while we were away. I picked a huge cauliflower, snow peas, cherry tomatoes and Pak Choy, all of this had to be blanched and frozen before I could even think about unpacking, it would not do to let it go to waste! I will post photos of it on the Tuesday afternoon club next week.
I’m looking forward to settling in to normal routines after a lot of travel recently.
Have a lovely week Annabel. I hope your little river starts flowing.
From Cheryl 🪺
Dear Cheryl, I think the Spring cleaning challenge is a great idea! I have to change over freezers so I made a freezer challenge... but once thats done I might post a Spring Cleaning group! Also... once I no longer have the fire going and clean that out... I start wet wiping everything! I am glad you had a good trip and got home in time to use all this wonderful produce! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHere in the States, we have a holiday weekend, the official last one of summer. I have decided I am done with the #everybitcounts challenge. I canned and harvested and I also looked for bargains at the grocery and stocked up on those. This weekend was especially good for grilling type of meats (ground beef, hot dogs, pork chops, ribs) and I took full advantage of the sales to finish filling my freezer. I am really proud of myself for doing all I've done this month and feel that while there are still a few things wanting in the pantry, that we are well set up for the year ahead. And yes, I count it as a year though some things will never last anywhere near that long, but it will give me a good start on it.
ReplyDeleteI am ready for a new month ahead and a new challenge to myself. Fall cleaning looms. There are a few tasks that I don't do periodically through the year but only twice a year and those are the things I mean to tackle (washing curtains, pillow covers, changing out bedding, airing fall/winter bedding, removing pictures and dusting down walls). I also find this seasonal cleaning time is an equally good time to do some decluttering of spaces. I believe in doing all of this in much the spirit of the #everybitcounts challenge. In bits and pieces!
I also hope to get a small fall garden planted up in planters and pots and I will continue to do a bit of canning and such in the kitchen but not on the intensive almost daily scale of doing things.
Dear Terri, I am done with the challenge too! But I put up a lot! Now I have several other challenges! Oh yes... I guess a holiday Monday would maybe give you some good deals, especially after!
DeleteWell I am moving on the Spring cleaning and you Fall cleaning. But basically the same! And in my case some Spring planting... so Im filling pots and containers too. I need to write down a plan. I hope its been a good week! With love Annabel.xxx
Girl you have been so busy! Lots of feathers in your nest this week!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Laura!xxx
DeleteHow wonderful about the rain! I love your jars of produce. I think that next Summer I will invest in a small dehydrator for things like peppers, celery and onions - it would make a big difference to what I can store with my small freezer compartment - although - I did a quick re-org and tidy up in there this morning and even I am amazed at how much food is in there!
ReplyDeleteI finished my inventory of both food and non-food items that I have on hand and it is all in a small notebook that I carry with me so easy to keep track of what I need and don't need - at least not at the moment. I started the big payoff of my main source of debt this past payday so any spending over the next year will really need to be prioritized. I am looking upon it as a challenge.
To that end, I have managed some free and very low cost entertainment with friends over the past two weeks. We have finally had a break from the intense heat and humidity of the past few months so everyone has the energy to get out and do things. I've checked ahead for the next two weeks and highs will only be about 23C with nighttime lows around 16C - just perfect weather as far as I am concerned. I have been catching up on a lot of things that had been neglected over the Summer so I really feel that i am accomplishing things - in the kitchen - in the apt. and at the office!
I have prepped dinners - chilli - meatloaf - curried chicken etc. and I may even bake some muffins tomorrow! It is a holiday weekend here and while I have done some socializing, I think I will just stay home tomorrow and get some more things ready for the week ahead. I work for my church and mmany of our program resume over the next couple of weeks and we already have a heavy schedule lined up of extra services, speakers and social events. One thing I am going to do tomorrow is update my day-timer (still love my Moleskin Weekly Planner) so that I've got it all written down!
Have a lovely week everyone.
Dear Margie, A dehydrator is great. It is amazing how dehydrated goods dont take up much space in the pantry. Paying off a debt is a great challenge. I know you can do it! Count every small payment as a win!
DeleteWith a busy schedule it all goes better with it written down and planned. I have to do that. You did well! I hope this has been a good week also! With love Annabel.xxx
Your efforts in the kitchen, quilting, and sweet pup are all so wonderful to see! I'm so encouraged by what you accomplish each week!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on a quilt as my "reward time" for finishing other tasks! It will be a pretty one, a kit I bought before the pandemic of stars. I'm excited to get it closer to being done, and my house is looking better too!
I hope your week is turning out lovely!
Stacy in Virginia
Dear Stacy, It is beautiful to have something lovely to work on. And I know the feeling of just dying to get to work on it! Mum does this... get her jobs done so she can get back to her knitting or crochet project... go like crazy so you get more time on it. I have managed a little sewing this week so far! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnother Beautiful week Annabel ! We have also been getting a LOT of rain here in Sydney. I had to wipe mould off the walls with vinegar ! I LOVE your cauliflower cheese it looks YUM ! Can you please post your recipe ? My dog a Bichon Frise (like a really fluffy white poodle).refuses to go outside in any wet weather ! Dogs are smart ! Loved seeing all your projects and cooking this week. Love Sonia in Sydney
ReplyDeleteThank you Sonia! I just steam until cooked cauliflower. In a jug in the microwave I make a white sauce using cornflour and milk like you would cook a custard ... blend it and stir every minute or two until thick. Add pepper and parsley and a big handful of grated cheese, stir that. I make a generous amount. Pour this over your cauli in a baking dish, sprinkle over more grated cheese and bake. You can use broccoli too or a mix. You can use this cheese sauce to make a creamy pasta sauce then also cover with cheese and maybe bacon and then you have macaroni cheese! xxx
DeleteAnnabelle, what a wonderful filled week. As I am on my own, my needs are much less. Enjoy your blog. Wished I could connect with the Tuesday Afternoon Club. Miss seeing what everyone is creating. Unfortunately, I keep being redirected to a club with the same name from Colorado, so keep getting kicked out of your group. Jean from Manitoba, Canada
ReplyDelete