tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post3808366195596740365..comments2024-03-26T00:26:19.756-07:00Comments on The Bluebirds are Nesting...: Feather your Nest Friday, 16 June 2017.Annabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-87561253036329436222017-06-18T18:11:04.305-07:002017-06-18T18:11:04.305-07:00Thank you! We grow quite a bit but far from every...Thank you! We grow quite a bit but far from everything. We are looking at buy bulk. The dilemma is needing bigger freezers and the price of electricity is so high. I have some room in my Mums freezer though which is a big help and we are going to a wholesale butcher. Thanks so muchxxx<br />Annabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-3699076225448167602017-06-18T18:08:44.980-07:002017-06-18T18:08:44.980-07:00Thanks so much for the encouraging words Anne. I ...Thanks so much for the encouraging words Anne. I think the next weeks are going to be full on with removing the floors and new ones going down. After that Id love a break! Fingers crossed! Thanks Anne.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-72733978247544097792017-06-18T06:00:46.528-07:002017-06-18T06:00:46.528-07:00Hi Annabel I don't know if you have the room t...Hi Annabel I don't know if you have the room to grow some vegetables and fruit there where you live but it does save you a lot of money in your budget if you can which may help.<br /><br />We live on a half acre property in the country and worked out that we saved around $4000 a year by growing our own berries, herbs and vegetables and that was less expenses for the garden. That is for the two of us. Yes our vegetable produce is hugely expensive here.<br /><br />Another tip if you are not already doing it for meat is to purchase it in bulk. We purchase meat once a year and pay $9.99kg for hindquarter of beef which the butcher cuts up for us, and purchase whole lambs for very reasonable prices too. For chickens we purchase them whole when on special for $3 kg and stock up when we see them next come on special.<br /><br />I hope this helps you and others to trim the ever growing grocery prices in our budgets.<br /><br />sewingcreations15<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-65472429766734360742017-06-18T05:05:41.104-07:002017-06-18T05:05:41.104-07:00Well, is it any wonder that you feel tired Annabel...Well, is it any wonder that you feel tired Annabel. I do not know how you manage to fit in everything that you manage to do each week. On top of all that, you have the worry about Andy's work and also the upheaval re the insurance for your floors etc. I really hope that you manage to have a break, after all of this. We all have to take a little time to rest and revive, so that we get re-energised. Do not underestimate how much you have going on,and be kind to yourself. You are an amazing, strong, resourceful and encouraging woman. Thank you for all that you do and for your advice and generosity in sharing everything that you do. AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-9373426575881494372017-06-17T23:06:02.839-07:002017-06-17T23:06:02.839-07:00Dear Kelsey, Thank you so much! I am so glad doin...Dear Kelsey, Thank you so much! I am so glad doing the Vicky Challenge is helping you! I find it so motivating too. Whenever someone makes a remark that stay at home Mums tend to get this information is going to be very good for you. $538 tax free dollars is very reasonable money! Plus you see it adding up week by week.<br />Now I LOVE the sound of the old windows. There are so many beautiful things you can do with them. I have see some where the glass is painted with chalkboard then it becomes a notice board or insertional words or others where they become multi picture frames... anyway I know I would love them! <br />I wonder of you could pack a little picnic for after the evening Church service? Then it is like a little outing and I am thinking its summer there and summer evenings could be nice.<br />All your efforts and savings have really added up and Im glad you had such a good week! I hope this week will be just as good if not better! With lots of love, Annabel.xxx<br />Annabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-32582390981455793912017-06-17T22:24:09.051-07:002017-06-17T22:24:09.051-07:00When we had our house up for sale in Melbourne som...When we had our house up for sale in Melbourne someone got to the board with permanent marker. I didn't know about it until I was coming home from spending the day with my cousin. I raced inside and grabbed my damp Magic Eraser and voila - it worked, even on dried on permanent marker. Now I am never without them. They are just so handy.<br /><br />Lynette<br />XXXXXAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-81708273024371042942017-06-17T20:11:04.052-07:002017-06-17T20:11:04.052-07:00Dear Nanna Chel, Heres one for you... in the UK t...Dear Nanna Chel, Heres one for you... in the UK there is a family that say they live on fresh air. They are "freshairians" supposedly. hahah! If power keeps going up we will all have to become freshairians! <br />The floor situation is going ok just slowly. We have a builder also fixing the bottom of part of the cupboard... some progress! Have a good week! with love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-60133445614250227072017-06-17T20:08:47.332-07:002017-06-17T20:08:47.332-07:00Dear Lynette,
Our situations have actually been qu...Dear Lynette,<br />Our situations have actually been quite similar.... so I am so happy about your husbands job. A relabel full time job, wage and routine that you can count on is a fantastic thing! <br />Everyone is also saying butter has gone up... Jen in NZ just mentioned that also!<br />I also have a whole pumpkin sitting here from the trip to the farm. I will do what you did, I might get Andy to slice it up this afternoon and it can go in the crockpot tomorrow! <br />I will be ahead on spring cleaning that is something I am glad about... the floor situation is moving slowly in the right direction! With love Annabel.xxx<br />Annabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-19396793750612116472017-06-17T20:03:26.730-07:002017-06-17T20:03:26.730-07:00Dear Rachel, Well done on all the help you give yo...Dear Rachel, Well done on all the help you give your husband. I know you think nothing of being out in the paddock working. And it is hard work! At night you must be so tired! <br />I hope you have some time for some knitting and warm meals this week. The evenings are getting so cold. A fire and hot food are just right! <br />And the olives will be on the menu soon! With lots of love Annabel.xxxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-77458039155874108852017-06-17T20:00:37.825-07:002017-06-17T20:00:37.825-07:00Dear Maria, I hope you are feeling much better and...Dear Maria, I hope you are feeling much better and DH too. I am glad you like that use it up fruit cake! I love that cake! Its about time I made the orange cake actually...<br />You have had a huge amount happening with family moving and so on... you are always the home base, feeding and looking after everyone. It is very very good that you do that but it also is exhausting. So you might need some rest and relaxation! Have a good week Maria! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-39642102115388899332017-06-17T19:57:08.118-07:002017-06-17T19:57:08.118-07:00Dear Cookie, I was so pleased for you about that w...Dear Cookie, I was so pleased for you about that wool! I think when we pass on what we don't need and bless others then this is what happens. It always seems to be the case! The wool is just stunning. What a find! <br />Thanks for this recipe and photo... it is appearing tomorrow! Have a good new week! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-83879550269431858492017-06-17T19:54:10.604-07:002017-06-17T19:54:10.604-07:00Dear Jen,
Kath is really pretty good. My bare mini...Dear Jen,<br />Kath is really pretty good. My bare minimum is cowrite to her once a week. This week its a parcel of her favourite marshmallows, chocolate and things. Sometimes I drive over (it is over an hour trip) and take he some things she needs. I always watch out for nighties and things she needs a lot of. From that trip last year and to Jo's op shop I got her 8 nighties! <br />A stay home Fathers Day sounds very nice, I hope it is a lovely day (Assuming it is Sunday, today) Have a very good new week Jen! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-2268387339930257642017-06-17T19:49:24.471-07:002017-06-17T19:49:24.471-07:00Dear Annabel,
Your cooking looks so good! Well do...Dear Annabel, <br />Your cooking looks so good! Well done on your finds- I really like the knobs!<br />This was another good week for me, and I find writing things down gives me much more motivation. My total comes to $538 and some change.<br />This week, I saved on groceries, cooked breakfast and packed lunches and coffee on workdays, and made lots of freezer meals! I put up 24 beef, bean and cheese burritos, 2 lasagnas, 2 tater-tot casseroles, and a batch of spaghetti sauce. I also made a huge jar of pancake mix and three batches of cornbread mix. This not only saves me money by not buying premade, but also by keeping us from getting take out later on when the baby comes. I have also been cooking on a day we normally eat out, which for us is Wednesday after an evening church service. I figured this alone would save us $720/year. I also baked a loaf of beer bread this week and we have been enjoying homemade cherry vanilla milkshakes.<br />This week I also finished sewing up two double-sided baby blankets (making three total) and a single layer receiving blanket. I checked prices on etsy to calculate savings.<br />I purchased some muslin on clearance, yarn on sale, and knitting needles and paid with a gift card. I also found a Winnie-the-Pooh book at a garage sale for .50 and a teapot and large flannel sheet for less than $4 total. We also found some items on clearance including wool socks for my husband and an enamel watering can for me.<br />A few weeks ago, we got a puppy. She is a Great Pyrenees, and as it gets so hot here, we thought of getting a dog pool for her to cool off in. My husband said to wait and see if he could find something on the ranch. Well he did! We had an old water trough that had a hole in it, but he found that the hole was high enough he could just cut the top off above it. That is a savings of $20.<br />Today I was blessed with a few things from our church. We just sold our building and today moved our things out. I was allowed to take two tall old windows with white chippy paint, a bulletin board, some silk flowers, pages of old sheet music, and a huge chalkboard. I homeschooled a group of children using this chalkboard when I was 18, so it is sentimental. Well it is all sentimental, really! Now to figure out how to use my windows...<br /> Annabel, I hope you will be able to get your new floors soon. I will be praying for Andy's work situation to get sorted out, too. He is blessed to have a prudent wife.<br />With love, Kelsey<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-52476965527756499462017-06-17T19:28:01.375-07:002017-06-17T19:28:01.375-07:00Dear Rhonda,
I did the same thing! While they did ...Dear Rhonda,<br />I did the same thing! While they did do some good I didnt wet them and now I do and they clean things that otherwise I have not had success with... like marks on the surface of my glass stove top... voila! All clean again! <br />I have really had good tip offs now coming from social media. I ran down to K mart to get that body wash.... I never even thought of K mart for such things. I am happy to be leaning a lot at the moment! <br />Have a really good new week! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-36770627267376653642017-06-17T19:25:14.129-07:002017-06-17T19:25:14.129-07:00I like your name Sewingcreations and welcome and t...I like your name Sewingcreations and welcome and thank you for commenting! Well done on your savings for your home and for thinking the best way to do it as far as your future repayments go. This would be very motivating to save in everyday possible to achieve your dream! <br />It really is a case of little bits add up. Your pumpkin soup and apple pie sound beautiful! <br />Our electricity is going up 20% (again) and I do think this will mean a lot of people just do not have heating or cooling. Its getting serious. Currently I am trying to overcome the price hikes in food without even addressing this price hike! <br />It was really good you could also add to your pantry! Well done! Thank you so much for sharing your week and I hope this new week will be a good one for you! Love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-11288396537593191472017-06-17T19:17:45.332-07:002017-06-17T19:17:45.332-07:00Dear Jen, You did very well with all the baking an...Dear Jen, You did very well with all the baking and stretching the budget that way to pay the big bill! And I can see you will bake so that the kids will have plenty of afternoon tea and perfectly happy! <br />We are doing the same thing! All weekend I have re hashed the plans, budget, routine etc to come up with a new plan. This week will be the first week of travelling further afield and I guess I will know straight away if it pays off. Also what is going on?? Everyone is telling me the same thing about fruit and veggies (and meat) going up in price, not by a bit, enormously. Some of the US ladies have said it as well as Aust. and NZ. <br />I hope you get the chance to build your pantry back up and I hope your new plans work out to be good savings! You did so well you should be proud of yourself! With lots of love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-57892225482614116042017-06-17T11:08:05.470-07:002017-06-17T11:08:05.470-07:00Hi Annabel
I have my mums recipe for butterscotch ...Hi Annabel<br />I have my mums recipe for butterscotch pudding written down which is very similar to your golden syrup pudding. I loved it as a child, still do! I can't believe the price of the body washes! That's a great boost to the gift cupboard. <br /><br />You must be feeling organised with all the sorting of cupboards you are doing. It seems ridiculous that three people need to come and see a ruined floor when two have already said it needs replacing, hopefully three is enough to get some action! <br /><br />We have had a really lean week here, my car bill from last week was $500, and I'd decided I would pay it all in one hit and we would spend very little on food. So there was a lot of baking, I think I made 12 loaves of bread, chocolate cake, gluten free chocolate slice, focaccia, marmite scrolls, and chocolate chip cookies. And we made it lol. I was pretty stoked to be able to do a small stock up on groceries on Thursday, and will need to do a major shop next week. The baking supplies have taken a hit! <br /><br />For us, fruit and vegetables have become horribly expensive too, and the price of butter is awful. And we are surrounded by dairy farms! We have two supermarkets in town, and they do have reasonable specials each week, but the regular price is not great. And so often the specials are on the pre-packaged foods that I don't buy. So I think like you, I will travel further to do a major stock up. Thankfully, petrol is loads cheaper where we live now, around 30 cents/litre, so that helps. <br /><br />I wrote a new budget this week, now that we have a clearer idea of our expenses in our new area. We went through it together, and then worked out how we can limit trips in the car. And we realised that if we are really well organised we could save quite a lot. My partner will be able to do some school pickups so that I don't need to make the drive twice a day, and when the kids have after school activities we can stay in town provided I have a big afternoon tea for them. So I will need to be really well on top of things, but should be able to save between $20 and $30 a week between us. So I'm feeling quite positive about putting our plan into action!<br /><br />I hope you have a lovely Sunday and good week next week everyone<br /><br />Jen in NZJennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-76104670155178213002017-06-17T05:13:16.032-07:002017-06-17T05:13:16.032-07:00Hi Annabel and all. I do hope that Andy finds work...Hi Annabel and all. I do hope that Andy finds work shortly and your floors are fixed as well.<br /><br />I am fairly new to your blog but have been reading it for some time but this is my first comment on here.<br /><br />This week we stocked up on chips saving $21.69 on usual prices and shaving cream for DH to last to the end of the year. We also restocked our pantry with 10 tins of lychees, 10 tins of mangoes which were 4 tins over what we usually stock.<br /><br />Whilst out of town doing a favour for a friend we picked up fuel at a savings of 7.4c per litre saving $2.69 over what we pay in our small country town. I also picked up 4 new solar garden lanterns in boxes, a new leather punch in it's packet and 10 plastic garden pots at a garage sale for only $5. It was a pay what you think things are worth garage sale.<br /><br />We have cooked all meals and bread from scratch, made pumpkin soup from pumpkin puree in the freezer from pumpkins picked from our gardens which fed the two of us for 2 nights along with 2 guests, and a lovely homemade apple pie for desserts for 2 nights for us and two dinner guests.<br /><br />We have saved 180lts of town water by not watering due to rain and watered in newly sprouted seedlings with rain water from our rain water tanks.<br /><br />DH and I made a decision to save up a 50% deposit for building our home with rather than borrowing now to give us greater leeway in our budget for repaying the home loan much quicker. We are nudging almost 20% of the way there now.<br /><br />I am sorry to hear so many are getting massive hikes in both their electricity and town water charges as well. It is going to make it increasingly hard for a lot of families : ( . We are about to get a 3.3% rise here in our tariff prices but I know we are very lucky compared to a lot of other people.<br /><br />Have a great week ahead everyone : ) .<br /><br />sewingcreations15<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-78348111653468031082017-06-17T04:09:41.316-07:002017-06-17T04:09:41.316-07:00Good morning Annabel, the first time I bought Mag...Good morning Annabel, the first time I bought Magic Erasers, I didn't read the instructions. I was using a dry one on some marks but nothing was happening. I was wondering why in the world is everyone raving about Magic Erasers. Then I read to wet them first. 😂 Yes, I do like Magic Erasers now but whenever I use one, I remember how silly I was the first time. <br />I agree about the Facebook deal groups being helpful. <br />I am really enjoying your daughter's new blog ♥️Rhondahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898829593961271218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-84032345091518048632017-06-16T21:13:19.812-07:002017-06-16T21:13:19.812-07:00Dear Glenda,
I am glad you had a special day with ...Dear Glenda,<br />I am glad you had a special day with your Grand Daughter. That was lovely. And the patterns at that price! Patterns have become incredibly expensive here. <br />Keeping on top of food storage and gaps filled is so important. Life can be busy and we can easily get behind with this and I agree we should work on it now more than ever.<br />I hope you have a good weekend too... maybe some sewing!? With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-2829961745330600132017-06-16T21:10:22.623-07:002017-06-16T21:10:22.623-07:00Dear Leslie,
I love a baby shower! I hope it goes ...Dear Leslie,<br />I love a baby shower! I hope it goes very well.<br />You have cherries! I just love them. Being winter here I can only imagine cherries. And last summer the cherries in our state were ruined by storms so it is ages since we had any! <br />Thank you for your kind words... with love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-59937178326490378272017-06-16T19:30:56.652-07:002017-06-16T19:30:56.652-07:00Congrats on your great deals! Your sink storage wo...Congrats on your great deals! Your sink storage works perfectly. I appreciate your advice on filling our gift cupboards in the previous posts.<br />Also enjoyed a visit to Lucy's blog. <br />We had a busy week of picking, pitting and canning cherries.<br />And our lettuce is up in the garden. We are holding a lovely baby shower for my niece. i purchased some decorations for my daughter's birthday last month and reusing them for the shower. Fun!<br />Praying for Andy's job.<br />Blessings,<br />Leslie Leslie McKinleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08082544707682903607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-39921583323201672662017-06-16T18:26:49.619-07:002017-06-16T18:26:49.619-07:00Dear Debby, I don't think I can even imagine h...Dear Debby, I don't think I can even imagine humidity like that... it sounds like you must be almost swimming through it! I don't like humidity at all and it makes your hair go weird! <br />Seeing chair covers is a great skill to have! I follow a blog called Sweet Melony. She makes all her soft furnishing covers and is always changing them. They are gorgeous! She transforms things! <br />Finishing the quilt your Mum started is wonderful! She would be so please and now you have a real treasure.<br />I laughed at what you said about prices going up every ten minutes! yep! And no they never go back down they only go up!<br />Thanks so much Debby, have a lovely weekend! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-91986158688772719712017-06-16T18:22:16.850-07:002017-06-16T18:22:16.850-07:00Dear Vicky,
With these veggies stores I can incorp...Dear Vicky,<br />With these veggies stores I can incorporate other stores into the trip. I am thinking to do a weekly or fortnightly circuit. I will cost it out but I think I can save a fair bit. I just need to organise my week a bit differently. It just seems prices are going up so much!<br />The extra eggs are going to be great! Aside of so many things you can cook they are good to barter or sell as well. <br />I love the coffee themed gift for Christmas and putting those Kcups to good use! <br />It is amazing how you get free seedlings! What a bonus! <br />Being up to date on bills, especially after the hospital bills and dental is very very good! Well done! <br />Have a good weekend. It is rainy and dreary here. I am cooking and staying in! With lots of love, Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-84678841551438400912017-06-16T18:08:31.308-07:002017-06-16T18:08:31.308-07:00Dear Gardenpat,
It was fantastic that vet was so n...Dear Gardenpat,<br />It was fantastic that vet was so nice, encouraging and helpful! Your chicken house is worth a lot and the extra chickens will be fantastic! When you get them the chickens you have now wont like them at first. I keep the two parties apart for a couple of days... even with some temporary wire, then after that they settle in and all get on ok. <br />All the greens you get are fabulous! This is all worth a fortune. And so healthy! <br />I am glad your business is thriving! I think it will continue. Have you considered making small chicken houses? If I can find it I will send you a chicken house idea they sell in England... it is a lovely idea but made of plastic which I don't like... however its a small chook house and could be made of pallets! <br />I am glad you have your instant pot working for you! Think of it as a hand maiden! Get her working!:)<br />I enjoy hearing about your week so much! The work you have done in the yard is wonderful, you are running homestead! With love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.com