There were lots of ways we built up our home, saved, got ahead, added to the pantry etc. this week!
We decided it was time to pick the pears. Birds were getting a fair few and they broke easily from the stems or fell to the ground. Pears are strange as they don't ripen on the tree and you must pick them hard. This is a first for me! It was great fun picking the two trees and they were so heavy I couldn't believe it!
They are beautiful. We have five baskets of pears!
The apple tree is heavy with fruit. Each day they are getting brighter... I notice the difference now, I took this photo a week ago...
Last night I saw they were really red. There are hundreds of them!
I made all the plums I was given last week into things. First a cake. This was just a GF packet mix covered in slices of plum then dusted with icing sugar. Served warm a cake like this is a good dessert.
You can really slice any stone fruit over a plain old cake mix and call it a dessert and no one is any the wiser.
Also some jam. Dad got three jars.
I added some veggies to the garden... chard, broccoli and late season tomatoes.
I had op shop (thrift store) luck. Lots of luck actually! Several good books, beautiful soft palest blue muslin, a Wedgwood casserole dish ($4) and a set of vintage stationary ($2)
I made Harper a Cinderella pillowcase and Scarlett farm animals one and got her first pillow for her.
I was able to add quite a bit to the pantry and some potted plants to the front of the house and they look so nice.
We are still picking tomatoes and I made up another batch of relish as it is so delicious.
My niece has her birthday tomorrow. She loves my coconut ice so I made her a whole slab of her own.
I decorated it with dried rosebud (ever handy) and then cellophane and pink ribbon.
I have been given left over glass little candles from a wedding. There are 96 of them!
There are so many possibilities here! What a boost to my gift cupboard these will be!
We had a trip to the city. I was able to do a stock up at Aldi and I visited the peach tree in the lane where I used to get free peaches every year. I knew I was probably a few weeks to late to actually get peaches. But for some reason the peach tree was also late! I got two huge buckets of perfect ripe peaches!!!
I was so excited! I gave some to Mum and Dad and some to Chloe and Luke. We have lived on fresh peaches. Last night for Valentines Day I made a peach crumble...
Baked peaches are about the most delicious thing ever!
As you can see this is our time of summer fruit. It is really a time to make hay while the sun shines!
Dad called in with his hat full of Mulberries. He told us a place to go to pick lots and when we tasted them we decided yes please, we will make a picnic out of the trip to pick them. And Dad added there is a huge old apple tree covered in red apples. He said go in about two weeks as they are almost ready. So we are planning this trip... it is about an hour away. To me this would be so much fun. So now we have two apple trees to pick. But I figure there is a lot you can do with apples and we will share them. I will make a tray of baked apples for Dad too for telling us!
Isn't it amazing how much can happen in a week? The Tuesday Afternoon Club has me trying even harder to make the most of every opportunity, use it up, set it to good use... very motivating!
Today is a beautiful day. I need to get some washing out on the line.
How did you feather your Nest this week? I hope it was a good week for you! xxx