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 9 April 2020

Feather your Nest Friday, 10th April, 2020.

Welcome to Good Friday.  I find this a quiet and reflective day and it always hits me how the world went dark after the death of Jesus.  Everyone knew at that moment who they had killed.  There was no more denying it.   I guess that was a sobering moment for many!

This was a better week in that the mood improved... there was less panic in the air,  at least with those I spoke to and saw.  This had changed more to practical issues of homeschooling,  job losses and dealing with day to day life.   I know things will depend on where you live.  This week some places were in a terrible way which would be terrifying.
I hope that wherever you are you and your family are safe and well.   Now is the time more than ever that we need to do what we can to create a little world within our walls that is calm and homely, especially for children.  But as adults we need that too.  The bigger the storm outside the more our home is important.

I had Scarlett come to stay.  She is three.  She loves to work and help!

We went to Chloe's place and picked figs.  She loved this. I taught her to twist the figs to pick them.  She was a champion at it.


She would have happily picked figs all day.

Scarlett loved Paddy!!  She wanted to feed him over and over.  He probably had a belly ache later!


We fed the cows and sheep biscuits over and over too...


Most of all Scarlett played with Scout.  She learned to say "drop the ball" and Scout would put it down next to her then run and hide behind a tree until Scarlett threw it again.  Scarlett achieved the feat of wearing out the dog.   This is some kind of record.


Boy these two had a good time!

Somewhere in between I made a batch of Fig Paste and put it into little containers.  This is something we use with cheese and crackers and it is delicious.

On apples.... I dehydrated about 30 apples.  And I made an apple crumble which was beautiful!


On the way past the apple tree I picked another dozen big apples.  I think this will be the last of them now.   Each week I make apple puree.  Lucy loves this for breakfast.  It agrees with her pregnant tummy!

I made Peanut Butter biscuits for the girls...



Scarlett and I made chocolate cake.  She made the icing (this reminds me, I need to wash the tablecloth...) and then she was in charge of putting the eggs on top.   We found a little bird that is actually a salt shaker and added that!


She was so proud of this cake!!  When we went home Scarlett was just so excited to show everyone the cake and it got a suitable reception!  

I made and gave away ten face masks this week.  I posted three to my Aunt.  A face mask easily fits in regular mail making it something lovely to post in a card. 

I went to Mum and Dads. Mum gave me a big bag of scraps for the chickens and I picked Rosemary and Bay Leaves. 

 Lorraine H sent me a huge amount of beautiful Hollyhock seeds which I am planting today!   I am thrilled as my garden has some gaps to fill.

Our local tavern is trying to stay afloat by changing business to selling goods such as frozen veggies and flour etc that they can obtain  from their catering suppliers.   We all placed an order.  Well, we all got flour and toilet paper!    And the frozen products are so much better than you can get in the supermarket.  They are beautiful.  Getting a box of staple items is actually so exciting!    If you are having trouble getting items see if you know anyone who owns a cafe, restaurant, hotel... and see if they are able to obtain items.

With all the canning jars my neighbour gave me I have many very large jars. They are the types with rings, lids and clips.   I realised this big size would be fine for storing dry goods.  So I am using a lot of these to store sugars,  flour, rice and pasta.  I have almost 100 of these jars!  Think the size of a spaghetti jar but wider.  This leaves me another 100 smaller jars to actually use for canning.

So that was my week.   I am having a catch up day.  It has cooled very much.  We will need to light the fire soon.  

I am planning a Pantries and Preparedness post on the weekend.  After preparing for several years this is now a steep learning curve.  I know many people are really experiencing very tough times.   Even big families are rationed to one flour, one bag of sugar etc in many stores.   We need to help each other.

How did you build up your home and help your pantry this week? xxx








57 comments:

  1. Our local IGA suddenly has 10kg catering bags of flour.
    don't know how they managed that but it was very
    welcome!

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    1. That is so handy! Have a beautiful Easter Barbara! With love Annabel.xxx

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  2. Oh, I have to say that I am envious of your having your sweet granddaughter to stay. We were supposed to be at our son's home 10 hours away tonight. We had so looked forward to spending Easter with them. We have no idea how long it will be until we see any of our kids or grandchildren again. One of our son's was kidding me about the TP stockpile I have always kept in the garage but he is also the one who cannot find any to buy right now. I am thankful we have been able to have enough for ourselves and to share. Two years ago I made a batch of strawberry jam that did not set so this week we opened a jar to spoon over cake and surprise, it had set up into beautiful jam! I am still trying to figure out how! We have planned out all three meals each day taking into account what needs to be used and our supplies are lasting very well. Aldi has nearly normal stock now but one must wait in a line to go in the store as they are limiting the number inside. The weather has been lovely so we have spent a good bit of every day outside. Today we got all our big pots ready for planting tomatoes and peppers. We amended the soil with what we had on hand and saved crushed egg shells. In another week we will plant seeds. For Easter we will put a big, whole chicken in the smoker. We don't use the smoker often so it will be a delicious treat. Enjoy your weekend and Happy Easter to your family.

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    1. Hi Lana
      Your post made me smile - my family have teased me for years about the amount of toilet paper I keep at home but they understand now! In normal times when I saw a good deal I would stock up and then I didn't have to think about it again for months. I was able to give some to my daughter and her housemates ( all nurses ) to keep them going.

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    2. Dear Lana, The jam over a cake sounds lovely. With unset jam I have re named it pancake topping. It is funny that it has now set though!
      Planting up your pots will be great! I hope you both have a wonderful Easter too. I hope you get to see your Grandchildren in the not too distant future. What a hard time to not see them. With love and hugs Annabel.xxx

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  3. Another lovely week for you Annabel! It looks like you and Scarlett had a lovely time together. I'm not surprised she was proud of the cake- it's gorgeous!

    Another week at home, with lots of baking and crafting. I finished the crochet baby blanket and started a cross stitch for a Christmas present. Two of my sons wanted to learn cross stitch so they have been practicing.

    And I decided that the kids could take turns making dinner and dessert, which has been really good. And messy! We dont normally have dessert every night, but we've definitely had it more often since being in lockdown.

    I hope you have a nice Easter, I'm sure you're enjoying the cooler weather!

    Jen (NZ)

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    1. Dear Jen,

      Yes, that sounds like Annabel's comment about Scarlett making the icing and needing to change the tablecloth! Kids are messy cooks, but it's such a great thing to have them involved in the kitchen.

      I wanted to say thank you for the apple cake recipe. It looks divine!

      A very blessed Easter to you and your family!

      Jen in NS

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    2. Dear Jen, I would imagine the crochet baby blanket is gorgeous. I love your crochet.
      It is so good to be baking and crafting. We will not be bored ever!
      I think the kids cooking is very good!! This is an opportunity to have the kind of time to do these things! They can learn to do a load of laundry even... they feel quite proud also I think when they can do these things. Very good! Have a wonderful new week! With love Annabel.xxx

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  4. Interesting you wrote about your local tavern staying afloat by offering necessary items. I just read about a business site (Quill, I think it was) up here in the states that sells office supplies and the like. People were able to get toilet paper from them delivered to their door. Smart businesses.
    Oh, my, Scarlett is as beautiful as Harper! She looks so right with Scout. We have precious memories of our niece, Carrie, playing ball endlessly with our JR, Annie. That was 25 years ago....
    Pretty chocolate cake with the birdie and eggs on it - she did well! Tonight we're making Italian Easter bread (braided with an egg in the center and sprinkles on top). I wanted to celebrate Easter and bring back happy memories for my Mike whose grandmother was Portuguese and would make Masa (their version) every Holy Day celebration. Mike and I made it together and it was fun.
    Praying for Lucy and your family and all the Bluebirds~. Have a blessed Easter weekend everyone. He is risen✝️
    Mary in San Diego

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    1. 💜💜💜💚💜💜💜

      Mary

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    2. Dear Mary, I am so happy when I see businesses adapt and fill a need, this helps everyone!
      Happy easter Mary! Thank you for your kind comment! I am lucky to have such beautiful girls! With love Annabel.xxx

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  5. Scarlett is just precious. I know you enjoyed her so much.
    Our local Huddle House (a restaurant that stays open 24 hours and mostly serves breakfast) posted on their local facebook page that they would sell groceries to the public (eggs, flour, bacon, etc). They would even deliver it for a small fee. This is wonderful for so many people in our neighborhood.
    One sad note, we had our second Covid-19 death in our town of 2200 people. This lady I knew. 9 people where she worked tested positive. So thankful I have my pantry. Staying home is more crucial now than ever.
    Thank you for all your wisdom.
    Cindy Jane

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    1. So sorry for your liss. Our local Waffle Houses are doing the same.

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    2. Dear Cindy, Thank you so much! How great is your restaurant! Please be cautious and stay safe. Wishing you a wonderful Easter. Love Annabel.xxx

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  6. Dear Annabel and all the bluebirds,

    So lovely to see Scarlett and how life on the farm just makes us yearn for normal. It is so refreshing reading about everything going on there with you.

    Here we have greengrocers and other groups distributing catering supplies direct to the public with home deliveries. This has been amazing and the low delivery costs are offset by obtaining items that are difficult through supermarket deliveries. We are fortunate to even get supermarket deliveries as my husband has the exemption and we only have Woolies do deliveries here as they set up a home delivery service to us around a year ago. We appreciate the delivery personnel so much and call out to them from the door how much we value and appreciate the work they are doing. Same with our postal couriers. I do not go into stores or supermarkets etc in person now, but made sure I thanked them so much when I did for all the work they are doing working to keep us all with supplies etc.
    Truly, I think we are so aware and just so grateful for everything now.

    Look forward to your next post!
    Take care everyone.
    Love, Kaye xoxo

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    1. Dear Kaye, I love that you call our your thanks to those delivery people. They are a life line for many! Important work!
      I am so glad to see an alternative business for these shops, Taverns/Pubs etc too. Plus they are filling such a need. I have found these products that are catering products 10x as good as the supermarket stuff! More expensive mind you...
      Happy Easter Kaye! Have a very good new week too! With love Annabel.xxx

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  7. I love that Scarlett wore the dog out. That little girl is a little pocket rocket.
    This week I finished off a quiet book I made for my Grandies second Birthday at the end of the month. I had hoped to finish it and post it before the Easter break but this did not happen. It will have ten days to get to her if I get it posted Tuesday. I have started on The soon to be four years old Grandies gift as well.
    The garden has been expanded. My in the ground garden is overflowing so I have moved spaces and expanded my container garden. It wont be long and we will be eating the current crop of seedlings. We have been getting coastal showers so the soil moisture is being kept up.
    Bluey has started on two new projects. I saw a table in a pub in Toowoomba where the base was a wine barrel. Bluey has two wine barrels that he is now going to make into tables. He has a big slab of blue gum that he is cutting down. The finished tables are going to be amazing! The second project is making some more Lazy Susans. His sister and a cousin put in an order for one when they were here for his 70th.
    Life is quiet but busy good.

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    1. Dear Jane,
      Happy Easter! Jane register post that book. Sooo much work in it. It is divine.
      I love all the extra garden you are putting in!
      Bluey sounds busy in the shed with good projects. When not mowing! Have a very good new week. You got a stack done last week! With love Annabel.xxx

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  8. Dear Annabel and lovely Bluebirds!!

    Seeing this beautiful post is like a refreshing time in the chook yard!!

    Rachel

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    1. Thank you Rachel this is a good compliment! xxx

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  9. Scarlett is beautiful too, how lucky for you to be able to have them stay.
    My week consisted of batch cooking an enormous chilli, my first attempt at bread in the slow cooker (not tasted yet), more knitting to preserve my sanity, a lot of washing and ironing as the weather has been lovely and sowing seeds. I also turned a lovely quilted bed topper bought in a charity shop for £1, as it has a slight bleach stain on it, into the valance sheet that I have been looking for for months! There's a little fabric left over which will make 2 matching pillowcases.
    One of my colleagues is diabetic and has to self isolate for 12 weeks, so I 'm trying to get together a little parcel of things, not necessarily serious things, to brighten her day a little. I 've just cast on for a pair of house socks for her, I will have to go out to get some things for this, but she's such a kind and generous person that I have to do this.
    Dealt with my first covid 19 sufferer at work (everything we do is by phone, so no physical risk to us) I don't think his prognosis is good, due to his existing health issues. I hope to be proven wrong.
    Our lockdown is due to be reviewed by Monday, but it has to continue. I will leave you with a shocking statistic, our local police force broke up 494 house parties in 4 days!

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    1. Dear Su, Nothing surprises me anymore! I am disgusted with some of the lack of consideration or responsibility I have seen. I do hope the worker you spoke to recovers.
      It is lovely you are helping your college and all your baking sounds beautiful. So does the valance. A very productive week! Happy Easter and have a good new week too. With love Annabel.xxx

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  10. Love the pics of Scarlett and the animals. How sweet. She sure is a cutie pie!!!
    Have a lovely Easter

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    1. Wishing you a very Blessed Easter too Cheryl.xxx

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  11. I have been trying to think of some fun new thing to do for Easter since we can't gather with family. I will look up Italian Easter Bread and make it for my family. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. It's on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5LTX-7Yp1s
      A really sweet Nonna shares her recipe; she even sings a song her Grandmother used to sing at Easter-time💓Hope you enjoy!
      Mary in San Diego

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  12. I always love your posts. Right now, I am so glad you remind us to make our home a place we want to be. Do important now that it is essentially the only place we can be. Blessings to all.

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    1. Dear Cristy, Thank you. Home needs to be our refuge and place of peace. This is so important. Being home more I have been working on a lot of home projects! I think we are all doing that! It is good! With love and thanks, Annabel.xxx

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  13. When I was at the grocery store last week (mask on, hand sanitizer waiting in the car!), I found two of the cutest Peter Rabbit style bunnies that were just the right size to tuck in my two youngest grandchildren's Easter "basket" (which are actually two cute Easter gift bags). They were already filled with chocolate Easter eggs, a chocolate cross, and a chocolate bunny each. They will be waiting for the time my son and his family can be here for a belated Easter dinner.

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    1. Dear Brenda, I love Peter Rabbit. Your gifts sound just lovely. This is all a bit different but kids dont mind when they get their lovely gifts. We have spread out Easter and giving and I just have one cake left to decorate. We will celebrate Easter at home but it will be happy! Many blessings to you for Easter. With love Annabel.xxx

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  14. Good Friday to you Annabel.
    Don't you just love three year olds? Such a pretty little girl.
    I also am making masks. I think I have made 14 so far.
    I can't say there is a lot of improving here in the States as of yet, other than grocery. It has improved with stuff once the panic settled down. Mostly people are in their homes. Some complaining. But most are just rolling with it.
    This will be a unique Easter. It certainly will be a very different one. But change come with life. I'm OK with it. I think different stretches people. A good lesson in 'keep your eyes on Jesus'. Because He is coming back. And the things the Bible says are going to be much more than this has been We all need to remember that. The book of Revelation is a book we need to read more of.
    I pray you have a Happy Easter, too.

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    1. Dear Dots,
      Well done on the masks! I have been following the situation in the US. I saw yesterday things were still pretty dire. I hope you can stay in and wait it out. Dots I am seeing so much Scripture fulfilled. Many things I always knew would come i.e. the end of cash, one world government.... they are all being spoken of now. You are quite right and I agree.
      Wishing you every Blessing for Easter! With much love Annabel.xxx

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  15. Hi Annabel,

    Thank you for this and your other recent posts, I find them so helpful, encouraging, and also that they promote a more hopeful outlook for me. <3 The girls and your animals are a delight to see.

    We have been so fortunate in that my husband and I can both work from home. This week I built up my home by doing some baking (ginger cookies, pumpkin bread) and cooking (turkey broth from bones I had frozen, roasted chicken, an arm roast of beef that the last bits got turned into a nice noodle soup), and giving everything an even better cleaning than usual - it seems like I am always washing things but that makes me feel good! I also organized the spice cabinet and my husband fixed a broken toilet seal.

    Paper products have been hard to find, and we are staying at home as much as possible, so taking a page from your book I took a deep breath and sewed up some fabric dinner napkins. It was not as scary as I'd thought and I'm so pleased with them! I also made some fabric face masks using the CDC pattern, but would like to find a more comfortable pattern.

    Our freezer and pantry are pretty well stocked, but I did place a grocery pickup order for some dry pantry goods (rice and oats) and frozen veggies, and actually got them! That was a happy day! Hoping to get to do some planting this week, but we are possibly going to have a freeze tonight/tomorrow, so probably not until Monday at the earliest.

    For crafting and entertainment I've been working on knitting some lacey shawls and stitching on a large mermaid piece (the pattern and beads were a Christmas gift). It is really relaxing and satisfying, and working with the beautiful colors and materials is very soothing and pleasing to the eye.

    I hope you are all well and continue to stay safe and healthy. So appreciate all of your posts and encouragement!

    Hope everyone has a good week,
    Kathy

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    1. Dear Kathy, It is great you can work from home and get extra things done too as we are god multi taskers!
      I love to sew up napkins, handkerchiefs and cleaning cloths. And to re purpose fabrics! Now you ave done this you will see many possibilities!
      Your knitting sounds beautiful and I love shawls. And I truly think working with our hands helps us and relaxes us. This is so good.
      Thank you for your very kind comment! With much love Annabel.xxx

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  16. Dear Annabel and Bluebirds,

    In times such as these it is such a blessing be able to have a place of encouragement to go to. Reading about your time with Scarlet and how only a 2-year-old could wear out Scout was fun. Your baking looks delicious, and Scarlet's cake is so adorable.

    To say the least it has been more than an interesting week here. I got a call from a friend who has a farm market to tell me that they got a delivery of fresh vegetables and did we want any. Yes, we did. So she packed us a box and we donned our masks and had a contactless pickup. When things are available and even if the amount is a little more than we need for the week I have taken to cooking and freezing the excess for later use. Our freezer pantry is now stocked well with roasted root vegetables and onions that we just sliced and froze.
    Seeds for vegetables have been really hard to come by here and I had one order cancelled because of lack of product but was able to order from another company and they will be here tomorrow. I continued to make masks for family and friends, sending them in regular letter envelopes so as not to have to go to the post office.
    I have been making vanilla extract with supplies on hand, which may be a good thing to barter with when it's ready.

    Stay safe everyone. Blessings, Cookie

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    1. Dear Cookie, I am so glad you got the veggies! Yes, we do the same... take the opportunity and put up the excess for later. We will always be glad of that.
      I am glad you found seeds. This is becoming an issue. I feel this could become a real problem.
      We are doing the same thing... I can avoid the post office if I mail regular sized items and I have stamps at home. So I am making and mailing masks too. I have had some quite big reactions over the gift of a mask.
      Vanilla would be a good gift or barter item. It is very expensive here now. Many buy the imitation because of it. But I want the real deal. Now I found out vanilla essence will last forever more or less. I adore it. When I make my baked custards and brûlée it is the nicest thing ever. And the smell!
      This was a very productive week for you! I am so glad! With much love Annabel.xxx

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  17. Your two grand daughters are so precious. I can just imagine holding those little bodies close. Long ago times for me!

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    1. They are so cuddly Joy! Wishing you a very blessed Easter.xxx

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  18. What a lovely post---thanks for sharing! They're limiting grocery supplies here now but weren't a couple weeks ago when I did a huge stock up so I'm glad for that. With our big family, I'm used to "big shopping" every pay day. It's been a big adjustment to be able to make sure we have all we need but God's been faithful. Hope you're doing well today!

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    1. Dear Sarah, I am so glad you did that big shop. With the supermarket limits I have noticed the alternative places to buy i.e. the hotel now selling catering suppliers... they dont have the limits. So if it becomes a problem look around at everyone who is now supplying groceries to the public. Have a wonderful Easter!! Thank you! Love Annabel.xxx

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  19. I so love the charm of that little cake! I am sure Scarlett will remember that visit to your home.

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    1. Thank you Terri! Wishing you a beautiful Easter.xxx

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  20. Annabel, the bird cake is so lovely! Your week sounds like a soothing balm for a soul.

    We had a blessed week here with my husband working 4 out of 5 days. We were able to share a supply of flour we had been blessed with with 3 other families and that in turn blessed us :) I "accidentally" bartered today with a friend when she offered to order me items on Sam's Club that I can't find either locally or online at Walmart or Amazon and I offered to pick up fresh vegetables for her when I went to the local organic farm. We decided to stop trading money back and forth and to continue helping each other in this way with evening out for equal costs as we go.

    We are planning on a quiet Easter dinner at home and are making our own excitement with homemade candies (buttery caramels and dark chocolate peanut butter cups). We are hoping to have a drive-in sunrise service at church Sunday morning but it may be rained out. Either way, we'll celebrate by praising our Lord!

    Blessings and safety to all the Bluebirds!

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    1. Dear Jenny, I love how you now have a bartering friend! This will help you both! Also very good on the flour. I like your plans! Have a very Happy Easter! I am making a Chocolate cake today and we are so happy at home. Over the week we have seen everyone and given them little Easter gifts. Circumstances will not thwart us either! With love Annabel.xxx

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  21. Annabel, Scarlett is beautiful just like her sister and her grandmommy! What a blessing those little ones are, and now a new one on the way! Well, I have some good news and some not so good news from the past couple of weeks. The good news is that we have rebuilt our raised garden beds plus added a couple of elevated (a few feet above ground) beds to our garden. Our garden is now all planted and it is exciting to watch the seeds sprouting and check the progress of everything each day. It took a tremendous amount of work, mostly by my hubby, to clear out all the weeds and junk that was in there after a year of not being used. He also built a new garden gate so we should be able to keep out most of the wildlife we have around here, except the raccoons. Sigh... This was a huge job finished all in all, so I am pleased. My pantries and freezers were pretty well stocked before all this madness, so we have needed to purchase relatively little in the way of food. That has been a blessing for sure.

    The bad news is that due to all of this situation we have and what has happened to our economy, my hubby’s position has been eliminated. He has worked for this company over 7 years, been literally on call 24/7, so it is tough plus it’s not exactly a good time to be looking for work. However, we know that he is not our provider, God is our Provider. He always has taken care of us and I believe He always will. The upside is that we have been able to get a number of projects done around the house that needed to be. Thank you for this wonderful uplifting post and I pray you and yours will remain healthy!❤️CarlaM

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    1. Dear Carla, Thank you so much!
      Well done on your raised garden beds and planting. A very good investment I think! And a lot of work!
      I am very sorry about your husbands job. Gosh I am hearing this over and over. But you are right God is in control and our provider. It sounds too that you can use this time to fulfil other purposes and put it to good use. This is very good! Thanks so much Carla. with love Annabel.xxx

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  22. Bluebirds, let's think ahead. If garden seed is hard to come by, that surely means that jars and lids will be hard to come by this year, too. I would advise everyone to save whatever packaging comes into the house that can be reused for freezing, and to buy jars and lids when you find them. This means even buying one or two at a time when you find them in thrift stores (when they re-open, and even if they cost as much per jar as new ones).

    Plan (and plant) ahead. Some things don't have to be planted every year. I planted strawberries last year...got a few, and expecting a bumper crop in June. I planted raspberries last fall and will get some this year. I planted dwarf fruit trees. They often bear in 2-3 years, and I might get a few apples this year (the plums and pears will take longer). Think ahead--this might not be the last bad time.

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    1. Dear Mikemax, I like your thinking! This is exactly right! I have already heard of canning lids being sold out. Where I order some sizes are sold out also. And jars... so yes people are thinking about gardening and canning! Now it also happened here that freezers sold out and they are apparently still harder to get. Interesting! Now I am seeing many meat processing and packing places closing due to the virus.. so we can see what will be next there! Yes, think ahead. Love your comment thank you! With love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Annabel, it's just dumb luck that we planted the trees and berries. I'm sure many of your readers follow The Prudent Homemaker and are impressed by the amount of food she produces on a city lot, along with a beautifully landscaped garden. We moved about two years ago to a new build house and the surrounding yard was a blank canvas. We built a big dog run on the west side of the house and behind the garage (that's Molly in my picture--we also have Hap) and decided to use the remaining sunny space for a couple of raised beds, three dwarf fruit trees and a short row of raspberries along the property line fence. (Couldn't go big because I am 74 years old; while the spirit may be willing, the flesh gets weaker by the year, LOL). Last year was our first opportunity to plant, and I'm so glad we did! Think ahead!
      --Maxine (Mike is my husband)

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    3. Thanks Maxine!! I also love and follow the Prudent Homemaker. She is a marvel. xxx

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  23. Dear Annabel,

    What a cutie Scarlett is! I love the story about her wearing out Scout. And she made such a beautiful cake!

    Good Friday was quiet here, but still beautiful. This week I have made yogurt and sourdough bread, started a new sweater knitting project (to procrastinate from knitting a second slipper for myself which I'm not enthused about :)), transplanted a ton of seedlings, made a couple of Easter candies and hot cross buns, made black currant curd/butter, cleaned the house, grew a batch of sprouts for sandwiches, and cut out a muslin for a pair of pants for my youngest. (This is for a pair of "jeans" with a fly & zipper, which I've never done before, plus we have to make adjustments for fit, so I'm making a muslin out of an old sheet.)

    Once again I've run the gamut of emotions during the week, but I know that all is in God's hands. He is risen, Alleluia, alleluia!

    xx Jen in NS

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    1. Dear Jen,
      What a busy and good week! Happy Easter Jen! Yes we can celebrate the greatest victory!
      I hope you have a great new week. I think jeans sound like a great challenge! With much love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Blackcurrant curd! I've never even heard of it before, I make orange, lemon and lime in various ratios and I add apple puree to it, but now I have to go and find a recipe for blackcurrant too. Thank you for giving me the idea.

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  24. Annabel it looks like Scarlett had a ball and that is some record to wear out the dog since Scout is so energetic usually :). Your apple crumble, biscuits and chocolate cake look divine.

    You are so right that we need to create a sanctuary within our homes where we feel safe, secure and happy. Happy Easter to you and yours Annabel and everyone :).

    Service to others -
    - We let two elder friends (over 70) know we were going shopping due to a medical appointment in town and they dropped some money off for us with a shopping list and we did some grocery shopping for them.

    In the kitchen -
    - We made 2 loaves of bread in the bread making machine saving $5.78 over buying it locally.
    - Made a homemade chocolate mud cake and apple pie.

    In the gardens -
    - Filled more truck bog holes with soil from a garden we are not yet using.
    - Split a lot of firewood we cut for free back in December with our log splitter to add to our wood pile.

    Finances -
    - Banked more money into our 3 month living expenses emergency fund bringing us to 60.4% of the way there.
    - Paid an extra smaller payment off the mortgage.
    - Added a small amount to our home emergency fund.

    Purchases -
    - On specials and or markdowns we purchased 6 blocks of Old Gold chocolate, 1 kg of mince on markdown, 4 x 6pk of bread rolls on markdown and used our $10 off rewards card money to buy some groceries free saving us in total $29.62 on usual prices.

    Have a wonderful week ahead :).

    Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).

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    Replies
    1. Dear Lorna, Happy Easter to you!
      I love that you shopped for others. Such a help. Also it is great you have a log splitter and that wood can be put to good use.
      You are doing very well with your three month emergency fund. What a good gaol.
      I saw the Old Gold on sale too and got some. It is good chocolate!
      We are having a quiet day. I delivered a baked chocolate cake to Chloe and Luke. Everyone is truly staying home. The quiet is good. Have a very good new week! With love Annabel.xxx

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  25. my local bakery is selling bakers flour 2kg for $5 plus sugar and yeast,so i have been buying it from there.

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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

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