tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post3663250063322516061..comments2024-03-26T00:26:19.756-07:00Comments on The Bluebirds are Nesting...: Feather your Next Friday, 18th December 2015.Annabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-48968547489688705332015-12-20T15:02:05.563-08:002015-12-20T15:02:05.563-08:00That is a very good arrangement between the nursin...That is a very good arrangement between the nursing home and the church.I am amazed how many people dont have anyone, visitors or any support. It is wonderful the youth group helps as well.<br />All these things make Christmas time extra special. I hope you have a good week and beautiful Christmas Day! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-81861891393607500702015-12-20T14:58:02.410-08:002015-12-20T14:58:02.410-08:00Dear Leigh, That sounds like such a good week. Spr...Dear Leigh, That sounds like such a good week. Spreading some joy comes back to us many times over. The cookie decorating sounds lovely too. My girls loved things like that. We did gingerbread men and turned them into girls with dresses, jewellery and bikinis!<br />Have a wonderful week. Thank you for all your support. With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-22922870918700531502015-12-20T14:53:09.122-08:002015-12-20T14:53:09.122-08:00Dear Terri,
I just have to write things down. I ca...Dear Terri,<br />I just have to write things down. I can get to the end of a week and wonder what I did! Yet know I was busy doing something! I feel much happier with myself when I can see what Ive done! <br />Have a good Christmas week! Probably busy... but exciting too!<br />With lots of love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-7917701126417325542015-12-20T14:50:47.739-08:002015-12-20T14:50:47.739-08:00Dear Wendy, Thanks for sharing your week. Craft or...Dear Wendy, Thanks for sharing your week. Craft or sewing supplies are so good! All the things we can make.... I have been planning.<br />I am slow on my replies so have a good Christmas week. I hope everything goes well. WIth love AnnabelxxxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-32811845386798882022015-12-20T00:14:13.474-08:002015-12-20T00:14:13.474-08:00Dear Kelsey,
You had a very productive week! I lov...Dear Kelsey,<br />You had a very productive week! I love what you did for your husbands birthday.<br />I bet his little sister is having a great time with you! That is a lovely age and she will remember everything and love doing things with you. Actually she can probably be quite helpful too. When the girls were that age they were quite good if I made cakes they would do lovely icing and so on. They loved crafts and any kind of activity... it was really nice.<br />This will be a busy week I would think! Enjoy it all and I hope it goes well. With love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-79552596038380950692015-12-20T00:10:00.520-08:002015-12-20T00:10:00.520-08:00Dear Michelle,
Something weird happened to my fir...Dear Michelle, <br />Something weird happened to my first reply to you! Ill try again! I currently have a feather doona and previously a wool one. I always washed them both. I use wool mix liquid detergent in warm water and in the machine. My current one fits in my machine, the last one I used Mums bigger machine. On a hot day it is dry again by bed time. We give it lots of good shakes and I do while it is drying on the line too to fluff it up. It has worked well and feels great. Even though these and the underlay are covered they still need a wash and this is how I do it. I hope that helps! <br />Thank you so much! Have a very happy Christmas! Love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-36914045767353294052015-12-19T13:45:50.984-08:002015-12-19T13:45:50.984-08:00What a good idea to have a tea for your Uncle! You...What a good idea to have a tea for your Uncle! Your setup looks so lovely, even without pink china. ;) I'm guessing the time together was more important than gifts. So special!<br /><br />I have also started handing out gifts and am having a marvelous time of it. We visited a relative at a health care facility and took large candy bouquets to the staff. They were pleased to be remembered with treats. We also took a potted poinsettia to our family member, who does not have a sweet tooth, with instructions to enjoy the plant and then toss it out after it fades. Poinsettias don't keep well here and we wouldn't want the room cluttered up at the health care facility.<br /><br />My daughter and I had a cookie decorating party with some friends. We used homemade buttercream and colored sugars and made a huge mess, but we had such fun chatting (and sampling)! Our friends took home cookies and full tummies.<br /><br />Merry Christmas, Annabel! I hope your holiday is healthy, happy, and filled with all the best things the season has to offer!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-72479661053482687852015-12-19T05:47:02.667-08:002015-12-19T05:47:02.667-08:00Our Church gets a list from our local nursing home...Our Church gets a list from our local nursing home every Christmas and we buy gifts for those who have no one. We let the youth group help do the shopping and delivering the gifts. We also make goodie bags with a tangerine, peanut butter crackers and assorted candies for each resident at the nursing<br /> home. It is such a wonderful feeling to see all those smiles, they all appreciate the visit and just being thought of!countrynanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817527820879530579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-64418997177871102172015-12-19T05:12:07.133-08:002015-12-19T05:12:07.133-08:00http://bluehousejournal.blogspot.com/2015/12/this-...http://bluehousejournal.blogspot.com/2015/12/this-week-in-my-home-working-to-save.html I didn't feel I'd done much this week. Not sure why. That's partly why I 'keep account' during the week, to remind myself that even when I feel I'm doing little, I'm still working hard at it.terricheneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-68427853733261393752015-12-19T00:55:09.478-08:002015-12-19T00:55:09.478-08:00Annabel, all that fabric is a wonderful blessing....Annabel, all that fabric is a wonderful blessing. I'm sure you'll make good use of it. <br /><br />Here's what I got up to this week -<br /><br />* Gratefully received a box of jam jars and some crochet wool from my Cheapskate and blog friend Maureen. She was over my way and came for a visit. We had such a lovely time we talked no stop for over 5 hours.<br /> <br />* Gratefully received some gifts from a friend to be given out as we see fit. This will help us with our newly slashed budget for next year. This is such a blessing for us.<br /> <br />* Picked lots of raspberries. I'm now starting to freeze them to make jam.<br /> <br />* Cleaned a friend's holiday house. This was a great bonus for the budget.<br /> <br />* Bought three tray of mince and a few groceries using flybuy bonus dollars on my card. With the price of mince doubling, this is the only way I can afford to buy it.<br /> <br />* Seasoned the dried bread crumbs I made last week.<br /> <br />* Stocked up on Praise salad dressings on sale at 1/2 price in Coles. I now have enough for this Summer and for Spring and part of next Summer next year. The girls will be in heaven as I'll be able to make lots of pasta salad.<br /> <br />* Filled up both cars using discount dockets to get the price down to $1.05 a litre for petrol.<br /> <br />* Sorted out Megan's school books for next year. I wasn't able to purchase any second hand as it's a new curriculum for 2016. The good news is we should be able to sell them at the end of the year as 2016 is the start of a five year curriculum. Jessica was able to pass down two of her novels for English and another three for the following year.<br /> <br />* Closed up the house when the weather got hot. We only turned on the cooling when really needed. I came home from work on Monday and the house temperature was at 29 degrees Celsius. Instead of turning the cooling on I opened up all the windows and doors to let a breeze in. By the time Darren and the girls came home, the house temp had reduced to 25 degrees Celsius.<br /> <br />* Megan made some peanut butter choc chips biscuits from freezer dough while I was at work.<br /> <br />* Gratefully received some crab apples and home grown beans from my parents.<br /> <br />* Ate out of the freezer as much as possible.<br /> <br />* Line dried all the washing. Saved the shower water and washing machine water for each next load.<br /> \<br /> * Poured the kitchen sink water on the hydrangeas<br /><br />Wendy Gowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01079131126381265901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-15914438323728729762015-12-18T21:15:27.479-08:002015-12-18T21:15:27.479-08:00I think your instructions are spot on, was more th...I think your instructions are spot on, was more the person following that was the problem!!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00588810044069936285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-84471693878659853162015-12-18T21:09:24.327-08:002015-12-18T21:09:24.327-08:00Dear Mimi... ohh the four year old sleep over woul...Dear Mimi... ohh the four year old sleep over would have been so sweet. I can just imagine with you and her young auntie! <br />As usual you have had a good and busy week with extra nice things.<br />At the moment it is 44 here. Hotter at the farm too.<br />I love the sound of both the fans and the angel cards! I would almost take a bus for those! <br />Have a good weekend and Christmas week. It is a busy time but also exciting... With love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-90781434395167609702015-12-18T21:04:52.274-08:002015-12-18T21:04:52.274-08:00Dear Rhonda,
It is so hot here today! I could do ...Dear Rhonda, <br />It is so hot here today! I could do with some snow!<br />We have a lot of different words but I didnt know this one! So here a baby singlet is the under garment maybe you might say vest? Not sure, it is soft and the first layer on the top half! When I make them I will post pics.<br />Have a really wonderful Christmas with your family! With lots of love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-78582895894855513562015-12-18T20:48:29.016-08:002015-12-18T20:48:29.016-08:00Dear Annabel, Wow! You had a really great week. I ...Dear Annabel, Wow! You had a really great week. I think the dried roses are beautiful on your coconut ice. I would be thrilled to get a gift like that! And what a blessing with all that fabric. I am looking forward to getting into my gifted stash, too. I am sure your uncle loved the tea, and Harper is very blessed to have you make nutritious food for her.<br /> My husband's 25th birthday was this week, so I made him special meals all day and baked his favorite cake. We had his grandfather over and it turned out to be a really nice day. <br /> I canned a batch of the sweet potatoes I bought on special and it yielded seven quarts. It was my first time using a pressure canner and I was SO nervous, but it all turned out ok. I still have about 30 pounds of sweet potatoes left though! I will use some in a casserole and I want to bake, mash, and freeze the rest. <br /> I earned some money singing at another event.<br /> I kept up with the regular housework.<br /> Today we picked up my husband's little sister (she's 11 and lives in another part of the state) and she will be staying with us for at least a week, maybe two. I love it when she stays with us. There will be lots of hot cocoa, board games, crafts, baking, laughs, and visits to the ranch.<br /> I hope you have a wonderful weekend, Annabel. I agree with Bridge. Your posts are always a gift and I love to relax with my morning coffee/afternoon tea while I read them. They are always beautiful and encouraging. Love, KelseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-7421018851003866902015-12-18T19:46:59.772-08:002015-12-18T19:46:59.772-08:00Dear Jen,
Oh no! I havent had it do that but tempe...Dear Jen,<br />Oh no! I havent had it do that but temperature must be a factor! If its not too late you could roll it into balls and roll in coconut for an entirely new presentation!? Thank goodness you were relaxed about it and laughed. Maybe I should say firm playdoh consistency? It should be pliable, not crumbly... or else the opposite happens and it is hard as a brick.<br />Thank you so much and have a wonderful Christmas Jen. With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-40739631540735413772015-12-18T19:41:13.691-08:002015-12-18T19:41:13.691-08:00Dear Bridge,
Thank you so much and thank you for a...Dear Bridge,<br />Thank you so much and thank you for all your comments and encouragement. It was a wonderful thing to "meet" you and become friends (for anyone reading one day something was said and it turned out I knew Bridge's husband when he was a little boy! One crazy coincidence!)<br />That car boot sale was awesome! Truly popping into these sales, op shops, fetes sometimes.... garage sales etc... can be so fantastic. Duplo alone is very expensive. While I am on that something like that can go into a mess laundry bag and then on the top shelf of the dishwasher.... this gets things clean like new!)<br />I dont like the heat but I never need to buy a dehydrator! Or pay for doona cleaning! There are times of the year where we can use the heat or the cold to our advantage someways anyway.<br />I love the bedspread you found! What a bargain!<br />Have a wonderful Christmas Bridge and enjoy the special firsts of your babys Christmas. With love Annabel.xxx<br />Annabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-31894939006063022582015-12-18T19:31:38.781-08:002015-12-18T19:31:38.781-08:00Dear Jes,
Thank you! You have inspired me so much ...Dear Jes,<br />Thank you! You have inspired me so much this year. Thank you so much. Have a really wonderful Christmas and New Year. With lots of love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-46150836491690316432015-12-18T19:30:13.074-08:002015-12-18T19:30:13.074-08:00Dear Shirley,
I have used all kinds of paint accor...Dear Shirley,<br />I have used all kinds of paint according to what I have but mostly house paint/ceiling paint left over from the house and found in the shed. However usually I add a few drops of red and make it pale pink. I keep a jar mixed up now so when I get a new jar like this lovely one I have the paint and it takes me less than a minute to paint it. I also keep transfers ready. I get them from Arwen Moore Design studio (online) I just love jars! I hope this helps. <br />Happy Christmas and New Year! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-58410517413842241492015-12-18T19:25:14.624-08:002015-12-18T19:25:14.624-08:00Dear Nanna Chel,
One time we had over 43 for 10 da...Dear Nanna Chel,<br />One time we had over 43 for 10 days. One time we had 46. It is awful. It is 44 now and we very hot all night. Worse Christmas Eve looks hot. Worse! The farm is usually hotter so it if it 44 here it is 46 or 47 there. Im not sounding very positive am I?!<br />Dad is doing well thank you.<br />Have a wonderful time with the family. The children must be so excited about the trip, coming to stay, Christmas... just everything!<br />How beautiful! Enjoy! With love, Annabel.xxx<br />Annabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-7519181596192460432015-12-18T18:14:24.787-08:002015-12-18T18:14:24.787-08:00Dear Maria,
That was a good weeks work! Also it is...Dear Maria,<br />That was a good weeks work! Also it is great to know you have pantry meals that are good. They are extremely handy!<br />Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, with love and thanks, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-39620958238338196262015-12-18T18:11:26.469-08:002015-12-18T18:11:26.469-08:00Welcome Lynn! Have a very Happy Christmas! xxxWelcome Lynn! Have a very Happy Christmas! xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-9689184786257035502015-12-18T16:45:10.783-08:002015-12-18T16:45:10.783-08:00Annabel your coconut ice is so beautiful! I absolu...Annabel your coconut ice is so beautiful! I absolutely love it, and last week was going to a girls night and needed to take a plate. I decided to make a bit of a dessert platter with different treats on it and thought some coconut ice would be perfect.so I made it, and put it in the fridge to set. Cut it into squares and thought hmmm this is a bit softer than it probably should be, but went with it anyway. Well luckily the platter I used had different 'sections', because as the night went on, my coconut ice squares became one, until at the end it was more of a coconut ice dip!!!!! It was hilarious, and gave great comfort to my friend who regularly has kitchen disasters lol. The stuff I still had at home was fine so long as eaten straight from the fridge, but it's safe to say next time I need to work on my 'playdough like consistency' that you talk about in your recipe! So as it turned out I was unable to gift the rest as I'd planned and had to work my way through it myself. Pretty rough for me lol. <br /><br />I have absolutely loved reading your blog this year and wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a relaxing break :)<br /><br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00588810044069936285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-85142862391314980192015-12-18T15:46:29.080-08:002015-12-18T15:46:29.080-08:00Annabel, I so look forward to your blog posts. It ...Annabel, I so look forward to your blog posts. It is like a big gift in itself. It's my time in the week where I stop, have a cuppa and slow down. I always feel so uplifted here and worthwhile. You cannot put a price on that. I loved how you did the afternoon tea for your uncle with gifts, that is so thoughtful. The baby food sounded delicious, what a good combination. I love the idea of using lamb shanks. Such a clever idea using the muffin trays too. Perfect size. How lovely of your Nan's friend to give you that material. I bet it will be appreciated and valued, so it would feel good for your Nan's friend. It is such a clever idea using sheets for material. I found a beautiful bedspread of little sailing boats for my son's bed when he gets older. It cost $6 for the set and of little sailing boats for my son's bed when he gets older. It cost $6 for the set and is in great condition. I love how you are so upbeat and positive. Many people would just whinge about the heat, but you make the most of it. You are using it to dry herbs and wash blankets. So clever. Kath is lucky to have you as a friend, I bet she is lovely too. The gift of time is the best gift. I wrote a comment on Vicky's post, but lost it. I just wanted to say thank you Vicky and Annabel with your help on gifts and the way I think about my work/ money. We had a good week. I was like a kid on Christmas Day at a local car boot sale. It was wonderful. I bought some toys for my son for a $1, some cloth nappies, some clothes for my son and duplo. I was so excited lol. I made your scones Annabel for a family member this week and they were greatly received and appreciated. I am trying to 'revisit' my shopping docket to see if there is something I can do without or make myself. So far I have dropped paper towel and use cloths, make my own Mexican seasoning and now making our own yogurt. So it is a start. Have a very Merry Christmas with your family. Lots of love, BridgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-42912875443464037852015-12-18T15:42:59.732-08:002015-12-18T15:42:59.732-08:00Dear Ann, Thank you so much! It helps me get thing...Dear Ann, Thank you so much! It helps me get things done when I have someone to share it with so it motivates me. <br />I hope you have a lovely Christmas too and also New Year. With love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-80712365957564212852015-12-18T15:35:28.785-08:002015-12-18T15:35:28.785-08:00Dear Vicky,
That was a really good week. I love ba...Dear Vicky,<br />That was a really good week. I love baking paper. I will line even a pie dish with it as you never have terrible baked on anything to wash off!<br />You did heaps. I hope its a good weekend! With love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.com