Summer has really hit. We have been really lucky but this week was a stinker. And now we are watching as there is dry lightening... and terrible fires in our neighbouring state and a fair few here. We are on watch and wait.
I am very lucky to be able to stay out of the heat mostly but still this Friday evening I am really tired! Heat saps you! I can say though... all my efforts to make the garden and animals easier has helped a lot. I have not lost any plants, I don't think!
My oldest Grand daughters are here. We managed to stay inside, make things and we had an afternoon tea with Nana Pat, Chloe and the kids.
Scarlett set the table...
Chloe arrived with a beautiful cheesecake...
Mum arrived with a chocolate cake...
As Mum drives over a 4 wheel drive only track to get here, she decorated her cake with the girls in my kitchen.
So the table was covered in beautiful treats!
After the afternoon tea I decided to keep Scarlett's setting as it is lovely!
Yesterday our craft was making candles. All last year I saved crystal containers and pretty cups.
We got our wicks secured in place and poured the wax... then the girls dotted them with crystals and stones.
They look really nice and we each have some gifts ready to give.
Today Lily arrived wearing a dress Chloe and Lucy both wore. Yes. we keep things in this family!
She had a giant helicopter bow in her hair. You could tell she felt a little bit fancy!
The girls held her hand and directed her around and they were all happy.
Sparkie was in everything and each night she has been exhausted and has had to go to bed early! (I know the feeling...)
Being hot we made up two gifts of ice cream cones and ice cream fancying up ingredients. I thought this might be a good distraction on hot school holiday days.
In my household Great Reset I sorted out shoes. In the first week I filled 14 shopping sized bags for donations. I have no idea how much rubbish I've thrown away but a fair bit. As I go I write down each area I tackled.
I had quite a few questions on the planner I chose. Over the years I've had Erin Condren, Happy Planner and all sorts. But this year nothing seemed appealing to me. And my planner is really important. You are pretty much assured to not achieve any goals if you don't set them. So I set big goals usually even up to the size of renovating a house! This year though I feel done with mammoth projects for a while and I'm going back to basics.
Anyway... finally on Etsy I found my planner.
I absolutely love it.
The cover got me! Each month has the theme of a virtue.
My peaceful time is to sit down with a cup of tea and my planner. 😊
If you want to find it then look on Etsy, Catholic 2026 planner and you should spot it.
Over Christmas a parcel arrived for me all the way from Romania! Yes Laura! Bluebirds!!
What a perfect present for me don't you think!?
The sun has just set and outside is an earie colour. Tomorrow is meant to be much cooler. This will be such a huge relief.
How did you build up your nest this week? We love to hear. We are up and running on our new year!xxx
Dear Annabel, oh gosh what beautiful photos! I love them all! Harper and Scarlett are so sweet and I love their gifts. Lily is adorable in her dress. Scarlett has her mother’s, grandmother’s and great grandmother’s gift for making things beautiful. The table is lovely! Sparkie is loving this time. So cute. I hope the fire threat changes overnight. It must be so scary. I love your planner, it’s beautiful. And I feel like my head is not on without a planner, it’s the only way I can function. Lots of love, Bridget
ReplyDeleteGood Morning from America's prairie! We're expecting just a little snow, but our farmers really need more. Winter wheat is the current crop. We're having a very dry and warm winter.
ReplyDeleteYour table is lovely! I really like that your family makes every get together special. We never did anything like that. I always planned to do it when I had children, but was never blessed with one. So I thank you for sharing your special times and moments with me.
I also had to compliment Laura on her beautiful needlework. It's wonderful!
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful your girls are! Each and every One of Them! Including Nana Pat and Sparkie - I was reading your post with a smile on my face, you have a way of presenting things that keep my attention until the very end when I saw the embroidered Bluebirds. Thank you! Don*t they look like Annabel teaching us her knowledge?
I am sorry you have such a dangerous heat wave there, will pray to stay safe. In opposites, we have knee high snow (it was snowing for 48 hours), traffic is nightmare, it is freezing, during the day was -6 celsius / 21 Fahrenheit and at night ait is -15 C / 5 F. The chickens and ducks don*t want to come out from their coops, everything is solid frozen and white. You can not work anything without thick working gloves - I have to mention, the heavy/fatty meals we consume during winter time is because of these kind of cold temperatures - a natural way and a survival mean passed down by our ancestors
But the scenery is absolutely wonderful, like a fairytale. I was out playing in the snow with the dogs - puppy energy is instant baterry recharge for me. (Pictures on Instagram)
I am going to work every day, knitting in the evening, savouring these slower days.
Have a nice weekend everyone and Happy Birthday, dear Annabel !
Sending much love from Winter Wonderland, Laura_s_world from Romania
Hello Annabel (and everyone),
ReplyDeleteThat table is gorgeous, and so are the girls! Laura does beautiful embroidery, and that planner is fantastic. It's such work to reset and clean out a home in the way you're doing, but it will be worth it!
Over the holiday break I began tackling my closets and cupboards - it is going to be a big job, but my linen closet is looking good now; took in a big carload of donations; and gave away some things on freecycle. This week I've done some batch cooking (spaghetti sauce, vanilla cake with peaches, roasted veggies), started a new knitting project, used my insurance for some doctor's visits, and saved $25 on cleaning supplies by remembering a coupon. The coupon paid more total than I did! With an outpatient procedure in a couple of weeks, I got ahead on groceries stocking up at the price club - this is the best place to find decent produce in my area, and I'm wondering if other ladies are noticing a decline in fresh produce quality? - and washed a bunch of linens.
We had tornadoes in Oklahoma on Thursday morning! This is so unusual for this time of year. My town was fortunate and received only buckets of rain, which will be great for the rain barrels. February should be a good time to start seeds for this spring's garden, so garden and Greenstalk planning is ongoing. Do those of you who garden find a wheelbarrow or cart helpful for moving soil/larger plants? I usually run back and forth carrying everything, but it occurs to me there may be an easier way!
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2026 and weekend ahead.
<3
Kathy
hi annabel, the bluebird embroidery is so pretty, laura did such a good job. looks like it would be so nice framed with clock hands and clock works in the back, but you probably thought of that already. i've been busy clearing out also and defrosting the freezer to see what i have and what i need to replenish. we are fortunate here to have a lot of discount stores and farmers markets to buy bulk and fresh to replenish with. also been gathering fabrics for making skirts for samaritans purse shoeboxes this year. have 30 or so cut out so far. i like to cut them all out so when i feel like sewing, they are ready. i hope you stay safe in the fire season, it sure is worrysome to be concerned about this along with the world problems that are getting worse, but you know what,God knows what is going on and he has things in his divine plan. stay close to him;-) bonnie in southern pa.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely present from Laura and so appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI have been restocking some personal care items this week - soaps, vitamins etc, that can be bought in bulk. I have also frozen some excess vegetables and carried out an audit of my store cupboards so that I know exactly what I have to hand.
I am hoping that the cooler weather arrives, as expected, for you.
What a lovely present from Laura, it's perfect for you.
ReplyDeleteThe girls made beautiful candles and it's so nice to see the bigger girls looking after Lily.
This week my batch cook was chicken chilli . I was able to pull soup and sausage rolls from the freezer to help the family out.
I haven't done much decluttering because the family have been ill and I went over there to look after my granddaughter. And now we are ill ! I shall just have to catch up when I'm well again.
I mended a pair of woollen gloves.
Hoping to achieve something this coming week.
Penny in the UK