Feather your Nest Friday, 7th November, 2025.
We are in November and already the first week is gone! I am happy to report some things but I am not at my usual pace as I am still having trouble with my leg. I got some treatment this week which helped my back but also it is painful for a few days! Anyway we do what we can, when we can!
Since I was very little I always loved birds, nests and eggs. As a lot of work has been happening up at the shearing shed we are quite friendly with a pair of Shrike Thrush. They sing so beautifully. Mum has them at her place too. They prefer a building any day over a tree. I knew they had a nest, it was just a matter of finding it! And it was found!
Many years ago someone had nailed this tin to a wooden beam and look at the nest neatly made in it!
This is not up very high, we can look right in.
How beautiful! We are giving them little bits of cheese as snacks. You have to admire their choices, in a big shed, out of the weather, in a secure tin! Then work they put into a nest then the faithful sitting on the eggs. I explained to Tom that if she leaves the nest for too long all her efforts will have been wasted and the eggs will go cold. Thinking about this reminds me of keeping the home fires burning. Do not let them go out.
At the same time I have a dove sitting, a pair of doves live in the hen house.
It rained several times which saved me a lot of work. Also with both rain and sunshine things have grown like crazy!
I was given two beautiful tomato plants and I had two big pots ready for them. (This is before being planted out.)
I went to two thrift stores and found five beautiful RB Sellers work shirts for boys. Two were brand new. I have the next couple of years covered. They love these skirts. They feel like real farmers in them plus they are thick and warm.
Tom came for his afternoon while the little kids slept. This time we filled the chicken nesting boxes with shredded paper. I had three big bags to use. Nesting was a bit of a theme this week! So... I said the paper needs to be really thick so the hens can make it comfy and it will keep the eggs safe from being broken and also clean....
It was funny because as fast as he put the paper in a chicken would jump in and claim it. They were very keen!
This was good as Tom could see he was doing a good job and his work was appreciated!
Now... I have had a hen that got out several months ago. Amazingly it has not been taken by a fox but I just could not catch it and having a sore leg well, I just could not do it. It is a beautiful hen too, a speckled one.
This week a friend caught her for me!! I feel like I won the chook raffle! She is safely back in the hen house and I should get one more egg per day. I am very happy about this!
Sparkie now has a collar. It's a bit flash.
Another project with Tom ... I cheated and bought a pavlova base. While I whipped cream Tom sliced bananas and I showed him how you need lemon juice to keep the banana looking fresh. I slapped the cream on top and he spread it around in a thick layer. With blueberries and bananas on hand I asked if he wanted to throw them all on top or make a pattern? He wanted to make a pattern and for me to show him how. So I made a circle or blueberries then started a circle of banana slices. He got the idea. I could leave it to him.
He worked on this for ages! Then he thought it would be a good idea to "smoosh" the fruit into the cream. lol. Then he dusted it with icing sugar. And more icing sugar.
Finally it went into the fridge to take home. He carried it in on a tray very proudly. Apparently it was demolished.
I was given a lovely lot of jars including some smaller ones that match. These will be perfect for jam as gifts.
Also bottles.... it is almost time I get my annual batch of Coffee Liqueur going.... this is a great Christmas present that depends on screw top lid bottles.
Everyone pretty much everywhere is talking about the price of food. Homemade baked goods, preserves, dried herbs, shortbread, slices.... whatever you make would be beautiful gifts. I have been collecting baskets, tins, jars and bottles... packaging material and labels. I can add bunches of fresh Bay Leaves and Rosemary. This is my plan...
I hope you had a good week. What have you been doing to feather your nest and get ready for Christmas?xxxx
Dear Annabel, I am so sorry to hear about your leg. Thank you for your very uplifting and positive post. I love seeing Tom work in the farm, it is beautiful to see. How sweet that he made and took dessert home. Sparkie looks so cute with her collar. What a great deal you found at the op shops. I found a puzzle. I cannot believe the prices at the grocery store, it’s like every week they are going up. I love food gifts. Lots of love, Bridget
ReplyDeleteDear Bridge, Thank you! I think food gifts are so good and with prices like they are and other expenses then foodie gifts are great treats to give. I am working on my list and presentation ideas. I am going to try and do things in decent batches ie fudge, coconut ice, little fruit cakes (the days of big ones are gone), nuts and bolts, Coffee Liqueur, shortbread. I can add bunches of rosemary and bay leaves. It can all look beautiful. To school teachers the best gift is still a letter of thanks for all their efforts and a hand made gift. With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAmen to the suggestion of sending a note to the teacher. I did this for my kids and I guarantee you it was the best gift they got because they told me so. If you really want to score points, send a copy to their principal as well. This can have a real effect on the teacher's career.
DeleteMaxine that is a brilliant idea I had not thought of!
DeleteAnnabel, your slow weeks are sill filled with so many accomplishments. Tom is definitely a great little helper. Happy to hear you have your hen back into the hen house. It's sweet that the doves feel it is a safe place to nest also.
ReplyDeleteHere we are preparing for winter season. We had to sprinkler system drained, or I should say blown out as if any water remained it would break the lines.
We are working on getting all the windows washed as we want as much sunlight as possible to come in during winter.
We have had some bad storms come through and lost power twice, husband has been getting all the fallen leaves off the grass and picking up limbs that have fallen.
We have been shopping to stock the pantry for the winter, 3 stores this week picking up specials at each. It is nice seeing the holes in our pantry filled.
With the weather changing and prices of bread going up, I made 2 loaves of pumpkin bread and a cranberry walnut bread, all from items in our pantry. It's a great way to add warmth to our home and some extra goodies on our table.
I worked on my free yarn afghan, one morning I couldn't sleep so came down and crocheted at 4 in the morning. Well it was well worth it. I finished the afghan yesterday, now freeing me up to start the next one.
It's been a productive week at our home, it's a good thing to get items off our to-do list.
Dear Rosanne, Your blanket is absolutely beautiful and the edging so worth the effort. Getting well prepared for winter is a big job. Your baking sounds delicious. The sparkle of clean windows is always beautiful and uplifting somehow. Now you are off and running with this next afghan I think you might have it done by Christmas! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel, I’m sorry to hear about your sore leg. I pray the treatment alleviates the pain you are experiencing! I’m a bird lover too. We had a very large nest nestled at the top of our Philadendrom plant in the shade house last year. It was magnificent! I love your analogy for us to keep the home fires burning! You have unspeakable impact on young Tom. What an asset he is to you. He is in his element working alongside you on the farm. Just love the look of that Pavlova. He’s such a blessing to his own family, being so productive! The look on Sparkie’s face in that pic is so precious. What a sweetheart she is. I’m glad you now have a stash of bottles and jars. The coffee liquor sounds delicious. Please rest up when you can Annabel, best wishes Robyn from S.A.
ReplyDeleteDear Robyn, Thank you! I hope the bird comes back to that nest, sometimes they do use them over! I am going to make up this liqueur next week as it takes a few weeks to "come good." But now I am set with bottles as I had a hunt around. I am doing a lot of sitting down jobs and am set up with like a home office in bed to keep my leg up. Like being in hospital! I hope you have had good rains and the cool /mild weather helps things stay green! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnnabel, I really love your bird photos! Especially the beautiful white dove! You are so blessed! I thought this was a lovely post. Thank you so much for sharing and the encouragement. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. ♥️ Sue in USA
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sue! What a beautiful comment. I do appreciate it! Have a good new week to you too!xxx
DeleteI just love seeing Tom at work - he does such an amazing job and is so enthusiastic to learn and to help.
ReplyDeleteI can sympathize with the sore leg - I have arthritis in both knees and feet and it was a busy week where I was on my feet a lot more than usual. I am a bit achey at the moment - but - I just keep going. Hope the new treatment works.
I have been using a lot more food from the pantry as a) I need to save some money and b) it is time to rotate through things a bit more. I am off to the shops this morning to fill in some gaps and to pick up some baking supplies. I will be cashing in a jar full of coins that I've been saving for months as this supermarket has a coin machine that I can use. I cash in this jar about twice a year and its amazing how quickly it adds up.
As for Christmas - I have been saving at least $5 each week since January in a specific jar. I was at my sister's last weekend and left $100 to go towards 8 boxes of very fancy baked goods that a friend of her's makes. She is a licensed home baker (its a sideline along with her full-time job) and I like to support local people. She does an amazing job - far fancier than I could manage, plus she packages up things so beautifully. While I enjoy baking I do not have the skill nor the time to do this sort of work. These boxes will go to the office staff and the ministers where I work and there will also be a couple of boxes that are just small gifts for a couple of friends. We are all of an age where we prefer consumeables or books as gifts so these will be appreciated. I checked the jar this morning and there is more than enough to cover the GC that I buy for the caretaking staff each year - they do an amazing job at a very busy place and I like to make sure that they know they are appreciated. I have other money put aside for the few gifts that I buy for friends and family but using this jar method has taken away that last minute scramble for extra funds and I will do it next year as well - I called it my "Friday Fiver" jar.
Have a wonderful week everyone.
Dear Margie, It is so great your supermarket has a coin machine! Yes coins can add up fast! Also then if we use them on good deals it makes them go even further! Here I dont have this service but I will pay for some smaller things in change and it is like a competition to see what I can turn it into!
DeleteI love so much that you are supporting a home business and I think the office staff and Ministers will love these gifts! Saving weekly all year as you have is the way to go. Now you get to enjoy the giving and showing people love and appreciation... this to me makes our own Christmas so beautiful. Many people work so hard and do so much but are not necessarily noticed or thanked and it so wonderful to do that. With much love Annabel.xxx
hello annabel, your getting ready for spring is such an encouragement for me as we are going into the cold season here and i am getting ready to hibernate beside the woodstove but i'am not looking forward to bringing in firewood and all that entails as most od that falls on my shoulders as my husband has difficulty walking. but we will be warm, thank the Lord. everything is pretty much put aeay and tucked in for winter though. i've been busy sewing and gathering gifts for christmas gifts. almost done except for food gifts. two grands like to play dress-up so i'am making a davey crocket outfit for the boy and a colonial dress, apron and bonnet for the girl. they have no idea, their mom measured them for me and they were wondering why. ha ha, they will be surprised. i made several fleece blankets (male themed) for son-in-laws and older guys. fleece is so warm. hobby lobby had their christmas fleece for 50% off a few weeks ago, so i grabbed some. Here it is now time for thanksgiving. turkeys sure are a good price so i bought 3. will use 1 for thanksgiving and can or freeze the other 2. sure hope your week goes better and you can get your leg to feeling better-as we get older things don't heal as fast. blessings to you and yours. bonnie in southern pa.
ReplyDeleteDear Bonnie, I just love the gifts you are making! The costumes will be a massive hit. And the fleece blankets will be too. I am glad you found turkeys at a good price. I am amazed actually at your prices as it would be good at $4 a pound here. I also love turkey!
DeleteMy leg is improving. I am getting somewhere! Have a great week, with love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYour grandson is the cutest. I love that he is such an eager helper, and his pavlova looks wonderful. I sure wish I lived closer and could taste that coffee liqueur! Ha, ha.
It's been a busy week here as we try to batten up for winter. Hopefully the coop can get a good fall clean out this weekend and the bedding go on the garden. That way the new layers can come up out of their portable pen and be in the "house" for winter. We'll see what the weather has planned for us! Still working on using up tomatoes as they ripen all around my dining room. I think I might need to can another batch in the next few days, as they are starting to get away from me. I'll be sad to leave behind gorgeous fresh tomatoes for the winter and move on to the "cardboard" store ones, but they were sure good while they lasted!
In amazing news, I finally got a GP this week!!!! Ours retired over 3 years ago, and we've had 3 new doctors come and go from our clinic in that space of time, with no call for anyone from our family to be one of their patients. Let's hope this one stays a few years and that our whole family will all be added to the roster! It's an absolute joke here in our province (and in all of Canada, I do believe) how few people actually have a family doctor. I don't know what happened over the last 5+ years (a perfect storm of factors), but the whole system is crumbling down. Anyway, praise God for that little ray of hope!
Off to do some garden cleanup so there's space for the bedding this weekend!
xx Jen in NS
P.S. I hope your leg will feel much better very soon! xx Jen.
DeleteDear Jen, I am so glad you have a dr. Do you know this is the same here? In country areas anyway.. There are many things that if you examine... are going the same way and its commonwealth counties... so I am unimpressed. Medical care was once good now the whole system is very strained. And my English Bluebirds tell me the same. It is dangerous.
DeleteI am glad you've had so many tomatoes! But some quieter time in winter, for sewing and knitting will be good too! With much love Annabel.xxx
It’s always so nice to see what you’ve been up to Annabel! I’m sorry you’re still having pain in your leg, hopefully the treatment will help. Tom is just lovely and such a helper. I love that you have birds nesting around you, it seems very fitting!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about food for gifts, people love it! This is also the time of year where ‘bring a plate’ becomes very regular. In the last week we went to a bbq, had a shared morning tea at work and tomorrow we are going to a picnic. I made two big salads and baked a cake a men’s brownies for the bbq, used up some bananas in a cake and baked biscuits for the morning tea, and will make pizza bread and a sweet treat for the picnic. I find if you take homemade bread with you people seem to think you’re some kind of genius, even if it’s from a bread maker! With the cost of butter being so high I’m very selective about how I use it. Lots of baking can look beautiful with a dusting of icing sugar, which avoids making buttercream. Those choices can really impact the cost, so having some cheaper options up your sleeve is great.
I’ve been crocheting washcloths and have a cute stack but need to keep going. They are lovely colours and good value on sale, the brand is Keepsake from Spotlight.
I’m still trying to clear out more things in the weekends. This house is significantly smaller than our previous house, and as we’ve been in here a while now it’s becoming more obvious which areas are not functioning well.
I hope you manage to rest your leg this weekend and start feeling better soon. Also that Chloe is feeling well, being pregnant with three small children is hard work!
Jen (NZ)
Dear Jen,
DeleteAll your contributions to the various events sound beautiful. Yes about bread! Everyone seems to love all baking and I am finding I am giving people a dozen eggs and they seem over the moon about that. It's the prices and chunk of peoples budgets I think that it takes just to buy eggs, decent bread... anything really. I totally get about the price of butter and other ingredients... and if a recipe is viable as a gift. I found carrot cake very good as its oil not butter. Maybe we need to have a post about things to make that are cheaper yet still amazing. I remember going to a big BBQ and I asked what to bring. A cheese board was suggested. Straight way I knew that was going to be expensive no matter how I did it so I said how about a potato salad!? And thats what I took, everyone loved it and just that swap saved a huge amount.
Your washcloths will be lovely gifts. I have bee saving small things fro little handcreams and soaps to dish brushes and sponges to go with my bundles. I am loving how they look!
This time of year gets very busy especially with kids at school! I know you will be flat out! Chloe is going well and yes it is hard to get any rest with three little ones! With much love Annabel.xxx
Annabel
ReplyDeleteI love your birds, especially the white doves, ours are gray. I especially like that birds, well all animals don't need anything fancy they make nice dwellings for themselves with whatever is around them. Basic, but beautiful.
If Tom doesn't end up marrying a right proper homemaker he is definitely learning the skills from you to be able to teach her. He does a good job!
Sparkie is lovely in her new collar she always looks so happy.
Everything looks like it's growing so well for you, I hope you get bumper crops! Also do those blueberries have seeds in them? They are tiny, but worth giving a shot to try and grow one.
We are getting ready for winter so dealing with firewood, we put up the chickens heat lamps, got the last of the gardening done, but this will be the first year that we haven't put the gardens to bed and plant the winter rye. Life happens though.
We are adding to the pantry as we can and in general trying to make everything count.
I've used free store money to start getting some goodies for Christmas.
I had $10 in Kohl's cash so used that and got 5 packs of Christmas marshmallow peeps for free.
I had $5 CVS free money and they had bags of little candy bars buy 1 and get one for $1. The original price was $5.79 so after getting one for $1 and the $5 store money I paid $1.79 for two bags.
The grocery store gave me $4 on my card for pistachios so I got the smallest bag and paid $1.74
The store was also offering double for pennies in the form of a gift card. After doubling I had $26 and some change. I only counted $13 of it as free money and bought a bag of salted caramel chocolates and a bottle of salted caramel syrup for my DIL who loves that flavor and the rest went towards groceries.
I got a free full sized meat stick. Kind of like jerky, but a good brand anyway. I am putting that in my other Dils basket since she loves meat snacks.
Our hens are not laying much right now so we haven't been selling eggs and the ones we do get I keep for baking. I've never been stingy with eggs, but I am right now haha.
I absolutely thought the broccoli was done so I didn't check it for awhile after the last people came to pick. Well a neighbor stopped by and asked about it so we told him to take it. He walked away with a 5 gallon bucket full. Life is good!
XOXO
Vicky
Dear Vicky, You did so well with your store offers! Broccoli is good at giving that second crop. It can be a lot!
DeleteI am glad you look after your chickens so well and hope they start laying again after winter. Greens and protein I think through winter helps but our winters ad nothing like yours!
It sounds like your Christmas presents are coming along too! It is exciting! With much love Annabel.xxx
The birds are quite lovely and peaceful somehow.
ReplyDeleteAlsoI love the idea of shredded paper for the nesting boxes although we never have enough paper now but I'll start saving.
Have a great weekend.
Dear Vicky, I have an office in town that saves me the paper. They have to pay to get rid of it! So a lot of places will give it to you. If you know anyone who works I an office or runs a business ask them.
DeleteThank you so much! White doves are a symbol of peace. With love Annabel.xxx
This was such a beautiful post! Tom seems like quite a hard working young fellow! It's admirable! I'm sorry to hear about your leg. I have a knee that gives me trouble and can tell when winter weather is coming!
ReplyDeleteI had a win at the grocery store this week. Turkey was on very good sale, so I bought my holiday turkey for 4 dollars. I usually budget and watch for a deal, but this one takes the cake! I also found apples this week on good sale. I'm working on making good desserts from them to freeze or gift. In the sewing room, I'm almost finished with my Christmas quilt. It's always fun to finish!
I'm praying for good rest and recovery for you this week!
Stacy in Virginia
Dear Stacy, That is an amazing price for a turkey! Oh my goodness! Last year it was around $40 for a turkey here!
DeleteWell done on finishing the quilt! In good time too! And apples... well they are so useful and versatile! That was a good week! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, hope your leg will benefit from the moments of rest! The time with your grandson is SO precious. And he learns A LOT in a pleasant way. The cake is amazing! Lovely photos as always. Thanks so much for sharing with us each week. 🌷Esther
ReplyDeleteDear Esther, Thank you for your kind comment! The week has flown by already. It's a it of a blur. I did rest my leg a lot! With much love Annabel.xxx
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