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.

Monday, 24 March 2014

Laine's Letters, encouraging words.

In less than a day I had a link to Laine's Letters thank you to everyone that helped! Her site is no more nor her contact details although I would love to write if I ever found it. Maybe she will blog again in the future.

 However the Internet Archive Wayback Machine holds things of the past, thankfully and Kerrie and Helen both found Laines Letters and Shell told me about Wayback machine.

 So I spent the night re reading some of Laine's letters. I am going to print them out now so this doesn't happen to me again.

 Oh the memories! I remember Laine would get up in the morning and get all her Handmaidens working. She said that for us our appliances are our modern day handmaidens. This is so true! So she (then I) would get the washing machine going, bread or rolls/buns/pizza dough etc in the bread machine and the dish washer or whatever helpful appliances you have. Then set to work as between you and your handmaidens you can achieve a lot and fast.

 Another one was Laine's baking centre. I set one up to so everything was out, on hand and ready to go. This made scones, cakes, anything minutes away at any time. So easy.

 Laine made your budget into a joy, your work into fulfilment and your home into a haven. She taught you how to decorate for free, use what you have and be grateful for it. 

 The number one thing though was she helped me as a stay at home Mum and our happy and peaceful home was influenced by her. At her wedding Lucy thanked me for her "fairytale childhood" and I seriously say Laine helped me with that as she gave me the clear priorities.

 Well, last night I made some more cards. Some of the easiest ones where really I am just using a magazine image.

Mum gets some really nice English country magazines. These are great for nice pictures just like on cards you buy. Too easy! Sometimes I buy a magazine like this at an op shop and sometimes I have bought a vintage bird book or something like that as for $1 or so I might get 100 images for cards and tags. Amazing.

I've used these up now so back to assembling things that go together tonight!

Gift bags are really handy but expensive. I save shopping ones, you can get people to save them for you...


This is a quick and simple one. There are so many ways to do it, just cover the logo and decorate!


Now filled with tissue paper I can use it, add one of my cards and a gift. A supply of these is so handy. And free. Later I'll post a fancier one. I have made some and noticed people re using them, decorating with them etc which means to me they liked them anyway.

You can also buy bundles of plain gift bags, Spotlight has them. I did that for the Hen's Party gift bags and decorated them in a bridal theme. I think they worked out about $1 each. If the kids are doing drawings have them draw on these and then you have personalised gift bags that Nana will think are lovely!

Yesterday I managed to get a big bag of Zucchini for $2.50. This is the best buy in a while. So I am making my first soup for the cooler weather as it is quite cool today. Otherwise I would have sat them in the freezer until the weather cooled down.

Also I got mince on special. It is ages since I bought it. Here it is cheaper usually to buy chicken or roast meats than mince (defeating the point!) But it was on a great special. So I am cooking it up and making several things as I go. I am very happy with this! I love shopping trips like this! I have a lot of meals right there for very little.

It is the coolest day so far. Time I got out warmer clothes it seems!

ohh and this is the link to the Laine's Letters Archive...


http://web.archive.org/web/20010420093507/http://www.lainesletters.com/

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12 comments:

  1. KayeB24 March 2014 at 19:16

    The cards look fabulous. I have a stack of old magazines I am going to go through and cut out any images I think might work before throwing them into the recycling. I even have a gorgeous "Paris" tin my friend gave me at Christmas with shortbread in and I will re-use for just this purpose. :)

    What I find challenging is what to keep and what to throw (ermm, I mean redistribute! lol) as I am trying to declutter here and not keep as much stuff! My frugal side wants - or has a tendency - to hoard items that "might come in handy" but I don't want to be drowning in stuff either!!!

    It is a skill I am trying to learn to keep the right balance.

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    1. Annabel24 March 2014 at 19:57

      Reducing magazines into a pile of images, recipes etc usually is a huge space saver. Ohh tins are gorgeous for cards! Also to make cards into gift sets, old tins and boxes... lovely.
      I have had too much in my craft room. I am having a "use it up challenge" so it is all turned into gifts, useful things or donated. Things I really don't fancy anymore I either re plan what to do with them or donate.I am about half way there... xxx

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  2. KayeB24 March 2014 at 19:19

    Forgot to say. I am so pleased you were able to get the links working for Laine's letters. I have saved them (most of them work ) now to make into a book as well. Thanks so much xo

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  3. Mrs. Kelley Dibble25 March 2014 at 18:09

    Me, too, Annabel and KayeB! I've printed off all the "In My Home This Week" letters so far through 1999 (the ones available). I'm also saving them in PDF form so they cannot be edited in any way. That way, I can print them off for young wives and mothers and single ladies who desire to be godly, biblical women.

    I'd never heard of Laine until I read about her here on TBANesting. I JUST LOVE THIS HELPFUL RESOURCE! Thanks again, Annabel!

    And by the way, your blog has a "Laine's Letters quality" to it, Annabel. I'm serious. You always share projects that are practical and of good stewardship of time and resources. You are a godly Titus 2 woman, my dear. Thank you for being a positive influence in my life.

    Hugs all around and happy highways,
    Kelley~

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    1. Annabel25 March 2014 at 18:34

      Kelley I think that is the highest and kindest compliment I have ever had. Thank you so much. I am so happy to have helped you find Laines Letters. What a resource they are.
      You have made my day and encouraged me, thank you.xxx

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    2. Mrs. Kelley Dibble25 March 2014 at 19:39

      It's the truth!

      Hugs,
      Kelley~

      Delete
  4. Julie in Autumn26 March 2014 at 02:01

    Hi Annabel Thankyou so much for the link to those lovely letters. Just the encouragement I need at the moment. God Bless. Julie

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    1. Annabel26 March 2014 at 02:12

      Dear Julie, I hope they help you as they did me. I am noticing time hasn't aged them. Also I never forgot them. To me this means they are really so true they don't date. The recipes and tips are wonderful too. I have read many of them countless times over the years! Love Annabel.x

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  5. Sunshine Mama18 May 2014 at 16:02

    Thank you for the link to Laine's Letters. I have been trying to find an old site that was called something like Homemakers University. It was a list of books to prepare a young woman for her role as a homemaker. I wonder if any of your readers remember what I'm thinking of or how to find it?

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    1. Annabel18 May 2014 at 18:15

      Hello Sunshine Mama. You are welcome! I feel I do remember various courses for girls in all the elements of homemaking and some blogs about daughters at home, raising daughters etc. and it just sounds familiar but I am not sure of where it was. If you find it please let me know. Otherwise I will look and try and recall as sometimes that works! There is the Keepers at Home, A Noble Calling and Above Rubies Blogs. If anyone would know they may. Good luck!

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  6. cyndi6017 December 2015 at 10:36

    Does anyone know if anything happened to Laine, not just the website? I was reading something about her when they said "was" as if she passed. Thanks

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    1. Annabel17 December 2015 at 13:05

      Dear Cyndi, on the right there is a list of blog subjects. Click on Laine and you can read an update from her that is quite recent.
      She is ok and a Grandma and homeschooling Lucy. I hope that helps. Love Annabel.x

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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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