Feather your Nest Friday, 16th January, 2026.
A minimal report from me this week, I have been sick. Grand plans didn't come to very much! Even though it is summer it's like a really bad cold/flu and has absolutely wiped me out.
I got to study a beautiful book Chloe gave me. This is a really different preserving book. I follow this lady on her social media accounts. Her kitchen is my idea of a dream.... jars of flowers and herbs, things hanging up to dry and it is just glorious.
She has a lot of freeze drier ideas but also everything else... dehydrating and teas and mixes.
Before the lurgy hit I made several trays of meatballs and filled every space with chopped onion, zucchini and little tomatoes. I ran out of cheese so one will have the cheese added later... this one went into the freezer.
(This is just baked until everything is beautiful and served over whatever pasta you want.)
Each time I water the garden I walk back inside with handfuls of produce. I think next week I will do a cherry tomato and feta cheese bake. A couple of cups of tomatoes a day soon add up.
I have basil that is doing well... and really hope to get a good crop to make multiple batches of Pesto.
At the swap table I found some really nice big jars. These are wishful thinking for when I am up and running again!
What I have been able to do is think and plan. Like laying in bed wondering what if I moved all my kitchen appliances into the pantry, clearing my kitchen space?
What if I put the old wagon wheel on the veranda as decor?
What if I put all my jars into the pantry room in one place?
And should I finally get rid of the last of the plastics in my kitchen? I say yes.
Chloe has 11 days to go with her pregnancy. I have made a menu plan... lots of cold meat and salads. And all the kids seem to like croissants with ham and cheese. I thought to make up a few dozen for quick lunches. I'm writing a list. This is in the same stack as the to do list, shopping list and events of January.... which still include Mums birthday, Lucy's birthday and Andy's second anniversary.
How was your week? How did you build up your nest? If you possibly can... do the inventory, fill the freezer, add to the pantry and start your 2026 present cupboard! xxx
I’m sorry you’ve been sick Annabel, hopefully it passes in time for new baby cuddles! Your produce looks beautiful, and the jars will no doubt soon be full of lovely preserves.
ReplyDeleteI am nearly finished the baby blanket I’m crocheting, just the border to go. I’m really pleased with how it’s turning out, and it’s all been made with wool I already had.
I wrote a list of everything in the freezers and fridge a couple of weeks ago and have been using up the older foods. I’m going to do the same with the pantry, it’s a good way to create space.
I hope you manage to rest over the weekend, January is a big month for you.
Take care
Jen
Thanks Jen, Im realising that what looks full isn't really by the time I tidy it up, remove things and rearrange. Well done on the baby blanket! It's my goal to get to the stage where I have some baby blankets ready to give in my gift cupboard. This could be the last week of the school holidays? It is here... With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you knowing it’s Andy’s anniversary.
Rest and nourish up and be healthy for the delivery day. Your body sometimes has to tell you to take time out.
Kate xx
Dear Kate, Thank you for remembering. Its a bit warmer today... I am getting to the "I'm over summer" stage. I have eased up the whole week and can go slow a couple more days. Have a great week ahead! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHope you feel better, soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane!xxx
DeleteHow beautiful your cooking and produce look! I'm so sorry you haven't been feeling well, but grateful that you have had time to rest and plan. The book looks like a great one!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a busy few weeks in our household. I'm filling my freezer with good broth and tomato soup. I'm wishing for fresh tomatoes but it'll be that season here again before we know it!
Wish you and all the Bluebirds a wonderful week!
Stacy in Virginia
Dear Stacy, Broth and soup are great things to have in the freezer. Full of goodness. Sorry for such a slow reply, I am catching up now! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteJust had a Quick Look at Holly’s instagram! Wow! I see what you mean by dream kitchen :)
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and sending you a hug ~ Heidi xxx
Isn't it inspiring! She sees the potential in everything! xxx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteHopefully I didn't jinx you by talking about having the "dreaded lurgy" myself in last week's comments! Ha, ha. I wish you a speedy recovery...lots of rest and liquids and planning is good medicine. :)
Very exciting that Chloe's due date is coming up so soon. It's a blessing (of sorts) that you got sick now before the baby arrives, instead of later when you will want to be up and available for Chloe and the new baby! I love how that you are still so productive, even when you're flat on your back. :) That book looks divine! I have 4 pumpkins left over from last year's harvest in the upstairs guest room, and they will need to be cooked up soon. I think I will try to get the gumption up to make some of it into pumpkin marmalade. This sounds strange, but it really tastes just like a good orange marmalade, and we're down to only a jar or two. It makes for a nice bit of "sunshine" on toast in the middle of winter! Otherwise, I'm happy for it to be the "rest period" of post-Christmas and pre-garden for a month or two, so I can get energized to start all over again. :)
This week I have been working on some knitting and some cross-stitch, cleaning the house, restocking the bread supply and using up eggs, clearing up paperwork that is 8 years old and can now be burnt, getting set up to sew a shirt, and slowly getting back into some exercise after having been sick. We had a few very spring-like days which made for nice outdoor walking, and now the wind is howling and the snow is swirling. You just never know with our maritime winters!
I have been thinking of you and praying for you as I know this time of year is both special and also hard for you. Praying for Chloe and the new baby, too, and also...a belated Happy Birthday! P.S. Your prayers have worked wonders on this end...thank you!
xxxJen in NS
Dear Jen, You are right, it's better to get this out of the way before I am needed more when the baby arrives. I love getting rid of old paperwork! Thank you for your prayers too Jen.. it is a full on time of year, you are right... With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHope you get well soon. I would love to see pix of your pantry that is large enough to also hold the appliances and empty jars!! I think when you first moved in you shared some pictures. My "extra" pantry is in a guest room closet. I started it when the Pandemic hit, and cannot give it up!
ReplyDeleteJane in FL
Dear Jane, Never give up that excellent extra pantry! That is so valuable to have. I have a pantry off my kitchen and a whole room pantry that was a bedroom. The bedroom one doesn't stay cool whereas the kitchen on does. So I keep foods in the cool and jars, appliances, paper goods etc where it doesn't matter so much about the temperature. It has taken me a while to set this up and Im still working on it. But it gives me a heap of space! Keep topping up the supplies! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel, I hope that you recover really soon. I too have been laid low with an infection, but I have done absolutely nothing! I did pull out a large head of garlic last week, which I will replant. This is the only thing Mrs Possum and her mob don’t eat! That book looks lovely, I’ll have to check it out. Happy Belated Birthday to you and I hope Chloe has a peaceful time before baby arrives. Much love, Jennie💕
ReplyDeleteDear Jennie, In Adelaide we used to get possums. We set up a señor light and that was the end of that problem. I love garlic and you can never grow too much! Three kids on a farm in a heatwave isn't really peaceful but everyone has helped in difference ways and only 2 days to go now! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHi Annabel, hope you are recovering well and making more good lists as therapy ;). I have copied your ending comment “ If you possibly can... do the inventory, fill the freezer, add to the pantry and start your 2026 present cupboard!” And put it on my desk! Thank you! I do better with short lists of ideas on which I can focus. Take care, and may the last 11 days of Chloe’s pregnancy pass quickly! Hilogene in Az.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Halogene! Sorry for such a slow reply. I am catching up now. We are down to 2 days instead of 11 now! xxx
DeleteSo sorry you have been sick. I have been feeling yuck too this week. I think it is NAture's way of telling us to slow down and do exactly what you have done. Plan, make lists, and try to enjoy the good thoughts that come with the future. Feel better
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Barbara!xxx
DeleteWhat delicious food you prepared, and those croissants with meat and cheese will be such a help to feed everyone a quick meal for when Chloe’s baby arrives! I am sorry to hear you’ve been sick. I hope you feel better very soon! Ooo that book looks so beautiful and interesting. I had a look at her instagram page and I see what you mean; her kitchen looks like a dream! Take care Annabel and all Bluebirds.
ReplyDeleteDear Teresa, Thank you! I love an inspirational instagram account! Sorry Ive been so slow to reply. Im al last better and catching up! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHI Annabel and Bluebirds, so sorry you've been unwell Annabel but you still seem to achieve so much even when struck down. I'm just doing thirty minute spurts of gardening and house purge lol it seems to work for me as I kid myself anything can be done for thirty mins, so set the timer go like crazy and then flop when timer goes off or do something fun or read to recover. prayers for you and Chloe cheers Bevo xx
ReplyDeleteI love the thirty or even fifteen minutes.... you can get a lot done in these bursts. I have been operating a lot this way. xxx
DeleteAnnabel I am so sorry to hear you are sick and there has been a lot of flu going around that is not covered by the vac so doctors told us when we got it in September. Rest up and take it easy as it is nasty and takes a while to get over.
ReplyDeleteYour meatball and veg bakes look delicious and the cheese and ham croissants sound like a wonderful quick meal for lunches for the children and yourself too and hope all goes well for Chloe's impending arrival. Planning is the way to go when you are sick and it can be very productive.
As you know we are painting and so far have painted the new front stairs in grey along with the front porch and white stringers, the single weatherboard garage and I have now put the decorative strip of green paint across the front of the windowsills that were painted white. We are now working on sanding the tank stand garden shed which is around the same size as the single garage and we are half finished.
We topped up on a few things that were needed on half price sales and markdowns. From IGA I bought Coca Cola and sarsaparilla on half price sale, a walnut cake reduced from $6.50 to $3.90, easter fruit buns reduced from $4.40 to $2.64, 680g loaves of bread on markdown from $3 to $1.80 ea and hamburger buns reduced from $3.50 to $2.10. In Woolworths I purchased Norsca deodorant and plax mouthwash on half price sales. All up our savings were $69.56.
Hope everyone has a wonderful and productive week ahead.
Lorna.
Dear Lorna, There is for sure a nasty bug around. It has taken me until now to feel better.... hence the late reply sorry!
DeleteThe fresh paintwork will look beautiful! It's a big job but makes such a difference.
Cool drinks are good for summer. You still found some good savings.
We are down to two days and 45 degrees to baby day. With much love Annabel.xxx
So sorry to hear that you were ill, Annabel. But thankful that you are on the mend and got your big cook up completed. I will check out that book. Looks like a keeper.
ReplyDeleteI've been busy completing a handmade gift. My husband and I went shopping for some shelves for the shower and a small lidded trashcan. Now our bathroom trash will be covered. Funny how small things can make such a difference. While I was upgrading, I washed and hemmed the shower curtain. The curtain no longer drags on the floor. My teenage son thanked me with a hug!
I hope to wash walls and fixtures in the laundry room tomorrow. Amazing how lint builds up everywhere! I look forward to making cinnamon raisin swirl bread as well. This is a new recipe and I hope my family enjoys it.
Have a blessed week, Bluebirds!
Love, Leslie
Now I need to read everyone's comments. Time is moving so fast!
Dear Leslie,
DeleteThank you! I am finally better! Hence a very slow reply, sorry.
You got a lot of nice improvements done! Yes they do make a difference!
Have a great new week, with love Annabel.xxx
I'm sorry you have been ill. I am also fighting a really bad cold. However, I also got a few things done before getting ill. I took a pork roast from the freezer and cut it into pork chops. I cooked two meals worth, and then put the rest in the freezer for a later meal. We had corn from the garden that had been frozen and then rosemary roasted potatoes. I picked rosemary for the potatoes. Picking anything in January is unbelievable in our winters.
ReplyDeleteI cooked three cups of dried black beans (also from a previous garden) in the instapot. I used three cups cooked beans in a batch of chicken tortilla soup and froze two packages of 2 1/2 cups each for future use. Made a batch of herbed focaccia bread to go with the soup.
I felt well enough to do my volunteer work. I volunteer at a local food bank twice a week for three hours each time. While it is tiring, I leave feeling extremely lucky. Not only do I have enough food, but I also have the energy to spend volunteering.
I picked up a roast chicken at Costco where they are still just $4.99. Such a good deal still. We had it on sandwiches, with pasta, and will have some in chicken noodle soup.
Your book loo9ks wonderful. Hope you learn lots and share with the rest of us.
Hope everyone has a great frugal week.
Nancy in Eastern Washington
Dear Nancy, I love pork chops! And rosemary potatoes! Well done on your volunteering work. That is just wonderful.
DeleteThat is good for a roast chicken, they re $12 here. And small! But very handy!
Have a great new week! With love Annabel.xxx