The little birds...

If you watch little birds you will see they are busy and happy! Using whatever they can find they create the most gorgeous little nest.
I would be the little bird with some glittery thread in her nest!
We can be like this. Happily working away with the things that are available to us to create a beautiful and happy home.
All the while with a little song in our heart.

Banner by Free Pretty Things for You.

Thursday 18 May 2017

Feather you Nest Friday, 19th May, 2017.

I am running late today as we have had a man laying our bathroom floor since 7 am!  But I am not complaining,  I am so happy to have this done! If everything goes well tomorrow the bath, vanity, toilet and shower will all go in!  We will have a bathroom!   I will still have painting to do and then organising and decorating.... but that is the fun bit!  So we are almost there!

This was a much better week for getting things done and savings wise as well.
First of all we had Mothers Day.  I wrapped up my presents in plain tissue paper with photos on top. I was really pleased with how they looked and everyone commented.


The photos were part of the gift and the gifts were framed photos!

It was also Harper's birthday!  It was so much fun. My friend Helen gave her a toaster.  The toast cooks then fires out like two missiles lol and we did this over and over.  It was hilarious every time!


During the week I made a big crockpot of pumpkin and sweet potato soup.


This was my lunches and I froze six portions as well.

I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce which became two dinners and I froze some also.


I added so much to the freezer this week that I have had to put some stuff in Mum's freezer.  Now I am really ahead with meals and things to send with Andy to work for lunches etc.
This included a diabetic fruit cake.  This was one of those three ingredient cakes... dried fruit, orange juice and flour.  I didn't love it but Andy seems to!   I portioned it out for the weeks lunches and froze slices.


I made four pizzas from scratch with my sour dough. These also made both dinner, lunches and  portions were frozen.

And I made sausage rolls. I made two dozen full size ones and a dozen mini ones for Harper who loves them.


I froze some of these as well!  Now I am starting to realise why the freezer is so full!  

Lucy gave me four huge stems of artificial flowers. They are lovely ones.  They greatly improved an arrangement I have in the dining room.


In the background you can see boxes of bathroom fittings. There is no where in the house that hasn't got bathroom stuff! 


I had been wanting a big feature mirror for the bathroom. I wanted something vintage/shabby chic.... 
Chloe gave me from her unit this huge mirror!  It is something like six foot wide...


It's perfect for the wall I want it on! I have to paint it... I think it will be a worn looking french greyish colour (this will be a job over the weekend)  I would be lucky to buy anything like this for under $600 around here and quite possibly a lot more.

By coincidence Lucy gave me another mirror she had under a bed...


It came with free dust haha!  It is also pretty big but nothing like the other one. I will find a place for it! (Another painting job)

I found huge old pickle jar. After washing it about twelve times I painted the lid and added one of the transfers Mimi gave me. It now holds my polenta. 


With the circus of bathroom renovations I still managed to see the girls quite a bit.  Sometimes if I am there late afternoon I give Harper her bath.  Here she is (still with damp hair) helping Great Grandma put the baby to bed...


I am pretty sure she thinks she is putting Scarlett to bed and Great Grandma is good enough to help her. This is the impression I get! 

This was the best week in ages for my Vicky Challenge.  I wrote in $1217 which made me realise how many blessings we had and how much work was done!
I also felt we got ahead with so many meals in the freezer and ready for the weekend as well.

This afternoon I have to paint a part of the bathroom, it is the area above the tiles to the ceiling.  Once the shower is in I can't get to it with the ladder so today is it!   We have very high ceilings... I'm not sure how high even but I think 12 foot.  And my light is covered in cement grindings!  This is going to take ages to clean!  

So that is my week.  I hope you also had a good one! How did you save, build up your home or get ahead this week?  
Have a good Friday and weekend! xxx










36 comments:

  1. Dear Annabel and beautiful bluebirds ,
    Thank you Annabel for another lovely post, you have had a wonderful week , I love reading about what you get up to each week Annabel.harper is so beautiful, putting her sister to bed with help from great grandma!.
    My week has included: 2 hours of subsidised cleaning by my Centacare lady $40 savings compared to a private company or cleaner.
    2 hours of meal prep which has saved me from buying takeaway or going out for meals , a saving of approximately $50 .
    I had a dentist visit today which I had a voucher from the government to get treatment done for free , today I had two fillings done and cleaning of my teeth done , total savings of about $400 .
    I received an hour of subsidised social support for someone from Centacare to do some shopping for me , saving me $20 taxi fares .
    Gratefully received transport from my Dad , saving me at least $40 in taxi fares( a few trips) .
    I have gone through my wardrobe and made a list of what clothes I need , not a lot . I thought I needed quite a bit. Saving me approx . $200 .
    Total for my Vicky challenge this week is $750 approximately .
    I hope everyone has a lovely weekend . Love BarbW.

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    1. Dear Barb,
      You consistently do so very well! Your efforts are paying off!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  2. Hi Annabel, beautiful food, fantastic mirrors. Looks like Harper really enjoyed her birthday. Was wondering if you could mount the smaller mirror somewhere behind the larger one. This would make it easy when doing your hair etc to see the back. Thanks for your very informative blog.

    Cheers Karin

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    Replies
    1. Dear Karin,
      Thanks for your Bluebird comment! I know it is appreciated!
      Your idea with the mirrors sounds lovely .... We'll all have to wait and see now! I am thinking that this could be the most eagerly awaited new bathroom in the world! Ha ha!!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  3. Hi Annabel you have been Miss Busy this week. The bathroom makeover and associated household havoc is almost at its end. No longer will there be a bath in the living room and a toilet in the music room. Nope, soon it will all be contained in the one room. Hope you are able to get the walls painted tonight as you planned.
    We didn't have the savings week that you did, but it was still OK. There were lots of little bits done this week. Our soup of the week was hearty chicken soup. It was so delicious we had it two nights in a row. One night with sourdough still warm out of the oven and the second night with warm scones. What was left of the soup, has been frozen for another meal. I made a few loaves of sourdough. Katie took one loaf to the boyfriends parents place for her contribution for the table. I did have a nice bag of mixed veg but these ended up going into our fridge as those veg aren't eaten at the other house. I'd rather keep it, than have them going to waste.
    I made a new batch of soap that is just lovely. I am participating in a challenge and this chocolate/raspberry/vanilla swirl soap looks good enough to eat. Bluey dubbed it 'Rocky Road'.
    Bluey's shingles are now a band of nasty looking and extremely itchy scabs. He is being so good at not scratching. We are so hoping this is the last of the yuks for him.
    Life is improving.

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    1. Jane - Would it be possible to have the recipe for your chocolate/raspberry/vanilla swirl soap. Sounds like it would be worth making just to look at! Praying that Bluey feels better soon!

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    2. Dear Jane, The word Havoc really sums it up! That was the perfect choice of words!
      The soup with sour bread or scones... I LOVE that! I could have that everyday. I can see your sourdough is a major asset, like with Katie taking it to a dinner. I bet they loved it too!
      Poor Bluey, I have heard so much about the pain of Shingles. I hope this is the tail end of it.
      Sandi.... I have a beautiful picture of Janes soap! I will put it up next week on Show and Tell and see if Jane will explain it. It is gorgeous. It looks edible!
      With lots of love, Annabel.xxx

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  4. Dear Annabel , everything looks wonderful! Love your ribbon wrapped photo frames,and your fruit cake looks delicious.Beautiful mirror from Chloe and also Lucy's mirror is a good shape too.
    Harper looks happy as with her new toaster , (clever Helen giving that gift).She's a darling helping grandma put her sister to bed.
    Hope tomorrow goes well for the last installments in your new bathroom.Woohoo!Your weeks savings were excellent.

    This week It's been great to have meals in the freezer for quick easy dinners.Ive had neuralgia on one side of my face on and off , not helpful for sleeping but Ive managed to get a few things done in between waves of pain.
    I painted the upstairs hall that our bedrooms come off,5 doorways into it.Shuffled furniture in our bedroom and it looks less cluttered as I tidied up my nicknacks and jewellery bits.And have tidied the bedding cupboard , and two spare rooms wardrobes ie the contents of them and I know where everything is now.
    Had a lovely surprise visit from our eldest, wife and wee boy.Brightened my yesterday.
    Watched eldest little grandson at cross country, that was fun.
    I found a Fisher price little two level house for the play area for my grandchildren and Master 5 played for ages with it and small cars.Good value $8.50.
    I did splash out and buy a chair and ottoman footstool set which was greatly reduced,and after spending a few days deciding about it, it was reduced even more, and I had a 40pc further off voucher , so I could say that was a huge saving from the original price.I saved $320, aprox.70pc off.
    Have a lovely weekend Bluebirders ! Love Maria xxx

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    1. Dear Maria,
      While we're all waiting for this bathroom to come together! .... I hope your neuralgia can be soothed away. That's nasty for you.
      You're getting wonderful value out of those toys ... well, indirectly! Ha ha!! I love reading your comments!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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    2. Thank you Rachel for your kind thoughts . Yesterday I had sn awful day with it but also lovely day out with like minded people . A kind lady gave me some healing and two friends gave good advice as my head is taking over with this pain . It must have all helped as I had none during the night and today much improvement ,thank you with love Maria x

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    3. Oh, this is good, Maria!!
      You need to build up your strength now!
      Rachel

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  5. Sounds like a truly wonderful week Annabelle. I love the pictures of Harper so cute. That toy...I'm laughing at it too! Have a great day!

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    1. Dear Vickie!
      Some things are worth doing just for a good laugh! Who would have thought of a toaster as a laughter machine?! Ha ha!!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  6. Dear Annabel!

    I am thinking that the most precious things are found in the most challenging weeks!
    You are cherishing your family (what toasted fun!); providing nourishing food for your household; and building a beautiful bathroom!! Good on you!!

    You are certainly very talented in your beautiful, beautiful homemaking work! You could start a blog! Ha ha!!

    What did we do? Well, we had loose ends to tie up; catch up work; and less illustrious work than yours! I consider this foundation work for more interesting items next week! Right now, the Bluebirds weather forecast is proving true -- with some good rain!! We had chicken soup, too! My pretty, Annabel-inspired towels work so well in this wet, wet weather! They still make me smile!

    I am just trying to imagine -- those mirrors .. that bath! Enjoy the goodness!

    With warm regards,
    Rachel Holt

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  7. Dear Annabel
    You've had a great week and fantastic saving! I'm looking forward to seeing photos of the completed bathroom! Harper is going to have hours of fun with her toaster.

    We had winter weather back for a few days and I made a big pot of vegetable soup. We found an over the door set of shelves for the pantry which is now filled with dry packaged things creating an empty shelf! The weather warmed up again into the 90s F so while it wasn't,too hot some outside work got done.

    We had some errands to run this week and passed by a very good bakery where they were selling slices of pie, and not very big slices for $7 a slice! By my calculations a whole pie would be $56!! That certainly puts a different one spin on the worth of the pies we bake:-D.

    Blessings
    Cookie

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    Replies
    1. Dear Cookie!!
      Wow! A sixty dollar pie!!
      It is so exciting to know that the great outdoors is finally ready for you! It's a learning experience, as an Aussie, to find that your growing season is so condensed! Do your best!!
      I think there'd be a number of Bluebirds who'd love to see your over-the-door shelves!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  8. Wonderful pictures. I thought that beautiful floral arrangement was going to precede a big event! I thought they were real!

    Wonderful mirrors. I was just at a huge rummage sale and there was a mirror that size, but not nearly as pretty. It was $100 so I think you got quite a bargain.

    All your freezer food looked great.
    We just had a very hot and humid spell so cooking was very minimal. We're now supposed to get a cool spell in the mid 70's so I'm hoping to get a few things cooked and in the freezer, including some bread. Since summer is nearly here, we'll be sweltering in no time. I rarely use the oven all summer and rely instead on the crockpot and cool meals. Our kitchen turns into a sauna. I jokingly call it The Beef Jerky Room as I think one might be able to smoke meat in there during summer.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Debby,
      It's difficult to imagine, now, that your weather is warming up, since ours is cooling!!
      You make wonderfully interesting comments! Thank you!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  9. Oh my, your Harper is a real live doll baby!!!! She is adorable.
    Love the mirrors.
    Sounds like you had a great week.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Cheryl,
      Thank you for your comment, giving appreciation and encouragement to 'the boss'!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  10. We are getting 2 eggs/day from our chickens and we were able to get another 45 pounds of produce discards for free from our local grocery! They like me to come in the early morning while they are restocking and will bring me an empty banana box to fill! So that they aren't slowed down from their restocking by helping me, they just let me go through their bin and choose what I want and fill the box myself! Last time there were some beautiful cauliflower heads (that hubby loved in his snacking container) and this time I got several heads of celery that I chopped up and dehydrated! There were also about 16+ bell peppers- yellow, orange and green ones! Only a couple had soft spots and I cut those out and gave them to the hens while cutting the rest into large chunks and freezing them! The hens also got lettuce, spinach, kale as a supplement to their commercial feed! This saved us a lot because they eat less of the commercial feed as a result!

    We made a Facebook page for our business and posted on some local Facebook selling sites too for our planter boxes and outdoor benches that we build from recycled pallets that we salvage for free! Within 24 hours of posting we had almost $400 in orders that we filled this week! We were able, on our site , to let people pay via PayPal rather than needing cash which made it easier! We are adding Square as a payment option this week too and feel like it will increase our business!

    We also got our checks for working the election which gave us another $297 of extra income!

    I applied for an Amazon Prime Visa to use for our business primarily and they gave us a $70 Amazon gift card! We needed a replacement part for our band saw that cost $2 more on Amazon than anywhere else, but with the gift card-- it was free!!!

    I was worn out from a long day of unexpected service that I gave so I was about to order pizza delivery (about $26 after delivery charge and tip)! Instead, I brought up a pint of home canned beef chunks, a pint of home canned black beans, another one of salsa and made up some rice from our food storage. Mixed them all together and with chopped lettuce from our garden and shredded cheese that I had on hand and tortillas from the freezer, I made really delicious and filling beefy burritos! They were gobbled up but because of the amount of filling I made up, I was able to make 5 two-packs of the burritos for grab and go lunches! I feel silly that I almost went with the "easy" option of pizza delivery when I had an "easer" option right at home in my pantry!!

    Was given the embroidered blocks and other materials to piece together and quilt a baby quilt and was given $50 for my labor!

    All this extra income made it possible for us to hire one of our daughters, who is a single mom with two teenagers, so that she could replenish her emergency savings which had take a hit from an ER visit for their cat and some unexpected car repairs! So proud of her self reliance skills and her willingness to work extra jobs to rebuild her savings buffer!!

    I have been picking spinach, lettuces, Swiss chard from our garden as we need it for our salads/meals and love that it stays fresher in the garden until I'm ready for it than if I bought pre cut bags of Spring Mix in the store and have some of it get wilted after a few days!

    We used some of our extra income this week to save for paying 3 people to do some heavy shoveling and dirt moving over the holiday weekend coming up so we can then level and lay our recycled bricks into a new wider walkway in the side yard! Some of our profit went to hubby to buy new tennis shoes and socks and the rest went to pay extra off a hospital bill ( from original $5000 to $350 today!!) we can feel the end in sight on that hospital bill! Then we will roll over all of the extra into our final hospital bill and be totally finished with those!!

    A really great week!!! Well, I better go feed the chickens!!

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    1. Dear Gardenpat,
      It has been a delight to read of your week's accomplishments! Sometimes, things just fall into place so very well! You use your resourcefulness so nicely! I hope the chickens thrive!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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    2. Dear Gardenpat,
      I enjoyed hearing about your week so much! I am going to find your new business Facebook page and post it on the Bluebirds fb page. What a good idea, well done! There are lots of ways of free advertising these days. It sounds like it is going so well!
      The veggies for the chickens are fantastic! They will be so healthy on all of this and it really reduces grain costs. I know that this can be the case here... scraps include perfectly good fresh produce that you can use yourself! They cannot sell imperfect things and yet they are still fresh and lovely. I would be doing the exact same thing... setting aside what can be made into meals, stock, soup etc. Wow you will be busy with this but how fantastic! Also I know you are getting more chickens and these two have been so good! Imagine when you have more! Eggs, garden produce and the free veggies.... wonderful.
      Your medical bill is almost paid off. I think your business is going to be a growing success story!
      Thank you for sharing this as it shows how a variety of things all add up to so much! With lots of love Annabel.xxx

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  11. Annabel,
    I love those mirrors! Gorgeous! We had an ok week savings wise, but not stellar. Rick got a turkey and I have made several meals from that and some food for the doggies. We picked up 4 like new tomato cages from the roadside, I hung out the wash on nice days and saved $120 on the electric bill for the last billing cycle. I have been using up foods in the fridge and some others that needed used, we sold 5 dozen eggs, I received 2 free packs of diapers and a bunch of really nice samples. I also got 2 $10 vouchers for Loreal products and used a promotional Kohl's gift to purchase 2 candles to put in the gift trunk. Saved $40 using coupons and picking up free offers with my store card, got 3 dish cloths in the mail that I used points for I didn't want magazines, I cashed out for $125 in Walmart gift cards from one site and earned $15 for Amazon from another. I was gifted 7#'s of rice and a pound of dried chickpeas so around $8 there. I have a few more things to add in from Rick's repairs he does so I don't have the total yet, but all of the little things add up. I hoe everyone has a wonderful weekend!!
    XOXO
    Vicky

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    1. Phew! Vicky, that was a lot!
      You excel in making do!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  12. That little Harper is just a doll!! Your gifts are always wrapped so beautifully. I am not talented like that but want to be! Your pink ribbon is so pretty. Would that be satin ribbon? Nancy

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    1. Annabel -- is that satin ribbon? It is beautiful!!

      Dear Nancy,
      If you love Annabel's wrapping, you can certainly learn to copy her style! I am sure you can!!
      Thanks for commenting!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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    2. Dear Nancy,
      Yes lovely satin ribbon! I love it! I also love velvet ribbon! I save and re use where possible, to re use I run them through the hair straightener or curling iron, works like magic! With love, Annabel.xxx

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  13. Harper is too gorgeous! Have a great weekend!
    Heidi xx

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    Replies
    1. It's good to hear from you, Heidi!
      Thank you!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  14. It was a lovely week here. The weather warmed up but not too hot overall. I made two sundresses that fit poorly into two skirts that fit very well. Much more was done as well, making up meals and commanding leftovers so that they didn't go to waste, shopping at home from the pantry. I am trying to root some cuttings from trimming back my lovely potted petunia I was given. Wouldn't it be nice to get lovely new plants from cuttings?

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    1. Dear Terri,
      You have set a lovely tone; you have been making home life beautiful!!
      The reworked sundresses sound refreshing, and I do hope new petunias grow from cuttings for you!
      Enjoy the new week, too!!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  15. Dear Annabel,
    Harper is so cute and adorable. Thanks for sharing her picture with us and the one of your mum. Those are wonderful memories for you and Lucy.
    Your flowers and mirrors are beautiful. I am sure you are so glad that the bath is almost done. You have such exquisite taste I can hardly wait to see pictures of it.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    With love and a big hug,
    Glenda

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    Replies
    1. Dear Glenda,
      The bath is in! Actually now everything is in except for shelving. We are almost there and we have a bathroom! Now for the fun bit go putting it together and making it look and feel nice.
      Thank you so much... Mum is having so much fun with these girls. Harper loves Nan Nan and loves helping!
      Have a great new week! With love Annabel.xxx

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  16. Thank you Rachel for helping me with replies. Again I ran out of time and the sour dough tutorial took AGES. Also the bathroom took all weekend! But we have a working bathroom now! xxx

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  17. Oh that sweet Harper! Happy Birthday!
    I am so looking forward to your bathroom pictures!

    I have no idea how to count my huge thrift store find. I need to get rid of my grand piano so that we can downsize house soon. It broke my heart to think of it going but God was so godd to me and I found a player piano for $800 that is quite new and included 83 player rolls. This was the only thing that could replace my grand. I will make money on the deal once I find a buyer for the grand and we will have such fun with the new piano. I cannot hardly wait for my grandchildren to see the piano that plays itself!

    It has been almost 5 months since my husband's heart attack and he still has not been able to return to work because of the damage to his brain. We are still receiving paychecks but he wants to recover and go back to work. Please pray for him. Thanks all.

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I really appreciate your comments thank you! The aim of my blog is the be a place of encouragement and happiness. Very rarely is anyone rude. Actually only twice so far! If you post a rude or aggressive comment I will read it but not publish it, thanks for understanding.xxx

Spam is never published... if you are advertising a product or selling website your comment wont be published. I am inundated with stuff about drugs, horses and weird things! I am not going to publish this stuff! Thank you.