One of the main reasons I write down the things I got done is because it encourages me. I have a friend who works so hard and does so much. Her correspondence with me means I could write up a list of all she achieved in a week, or at least some that I know about! Often though, she will say she doesn't think she got so much done. I am telling her to write it down as she did so much but she has forgotten! You feel better when you look and see just how much you did! The glass looks fuller! Well, this is how my brain seems to work and I feel encouraged seeing that I got somewhere. (usually!)
This is how I feel about the weekly review. But there is a bigger picture. Our work and attitude do a lot to create the atmosphere in the home. That is a big one.
Our work has a massive impact on the budget and savings.
And a huge impact on all the things that go with meals. Food is a lot of things. Comfort, togetherness, a welcome home and on our health. We are nourishing our family and building up their health. This has huge consequences!
All of this is a lot and just a fraction of the picture.
The bigger picture still ... and I have understood this for a little while now. Laine actually helped me to understand it and I am really lucky that this happened when the girls were very little.
That is that our work impacts the generations. Many generations.
Last week someone that I follow on facebook posted something that was right along these lines. This is one of my favorite teachers on You Tube for crochet, Yolanda Soto Lopez. She has taught me a lot of crochet! All for free I might add.
This is what she said ...
"The thing that keeps me going each day is knowing that I am building something to leave my family when I am gone. I'm not just talking about money as a legacy. A legacy of love, faith and hopefully some material luxuries. Something tangible that my children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy".
Yes! I was blessed a lot by that.
That's what I have to say today. Your work affects the generations!
Here's how I saved money this week:
I found quite a few great bargains. It seemed like my lucky week with these.
About fifty cherry tomato plants came up from a couple of icky cherry tomatoes that I planted. Now I am busy planting them out.
My herbs and potted tomatoes have grown and grown...
I finished two more Christmas presents.
The Christmas cakes are all wrapped and some are ready to give as gifts...
We had a meal that just used up left overs.
I made a big curry that fed us twice and I gave the girls some.
The usual things, used grey water on garden, made all meals and packed lunches etc.
Some ways I built up our home:
I had a big bunch of free pink roses on the table.
Also blossoms from our tree out the front which is covered in palest pink blossom...
I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Or that's what it felt like!
Also I added to the pantry and cellar.
How was your week and how did you save money or fluff up your nest!?
Yesterday was quite hot here and today is cool and beautiful. I have the house opened up with a cool breeze flowing though which is lovely. I am about to clean out the fridge with a giant empty everything out and wash the shelves and complete overhaul! I'll be glad when that's done!
Have a wonderful weekend! xxx
Annabel, our attitudes do indeed set the tone for our homes and in turn determine the kind of legacy we leave. We might not be able to change our circumstances but we can change our attitude. Your plants look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDear Patsy, Thank you. There are times a positive attitude is a challenge! I dont always succeed... but overall I think what we do makes such a difference.
DeleteI have a lot of tomato seedlings up... I need to get busy on them! Have a great weekend! With love, Annabel.xxx
Annabel,
ReplyDeleteSo true! I always hope that my boys feel they have a lead by example Mother and with Coty he enjoys his own garden now that he has his own house. Icky, that is one of those words I love! Your tomato plants look great, getting so big already! I traded 2 quarts of my tomato juice for 40 pounds of shelled sunflower seeds. I took 4 bags of stuff to the thrift store and got some great deals this week to add to the pantry and we got Mama matches! Addy the baby I think will be my legacy! She love's to be Mammy's big helper!(even though we may have to fold the same basket of clothes twice!) I think I need to write things down because I don't feel like I have done very much! Have a wonderful weekend!
XOXO
Vicky
Dear Vicky,
DeleteIcky covers a multitude of things! lol.
Ik what are you going to do with all the sunflower seeds? Do you give any to the chickens or are they all for your own use? Good trade!
Your not much is most peoples busy!
Have a lovely weekend! With love, Annabel.xxx
Annabel,
DeleteI will bag up a few to use in salads and give some to Coty, but most will be for the chickens which will give them a little more variety this winter.
Annabel, you achieve so much in a week! No spring cleaning here although it needs doing but I did save some money this week on several cans of Edgell's products which are half price at Coles. 3 sleeps till I see my grandchildren! I may not be able to comment while away for the week as the internet comes and goes at will where my girl lives ;-)
ReplyDeleteDear Nanna Chel, Have a wonderful trip! They will have grown especially the baby! How exciting for you. Then not long until Christmas either!
DeleteEnjoy every moment. With love, Annabel.xxx
Annabel, I think your attitude is spot on -"feather your nest Friday" is so much nicer than "job list". You regard your household chores not as work but as showering your family with love and care. I love being able to care for my family and our home. I hope that by watching what I've done over the years my (grown-up now) children will see that there is joy in cleaning and washing and weeding and vacuuming and cleaning toilets and scrubbing showers and wiping fingerprints off glass doors and baking and cooking and preserving and serving up delicious meals when those things are done with love for the people we love the most. Your family is blessed to have you as a wife, mother and daughter and I'm blessed to know you as a friend.
ReplyDeleteXXCath
Dear Cath, Thank you for such kind words.
DeleteI noticed things when the girls were little. Like if I sewed them pyjamas or something it was obvious they loved that I had made them especially for them. They seemed to feel special. I think this applies to all ages and husbands as well... you do things and they see it as love.
I think it is an action speaks louder than words thing.
Then we can do these things but some people seem to have an attitude of resentment or something and that pretty much cancels it out! I find that really sad. When things get too much I try and remember this!
My other thought is that when housework or other things seem A LOT is that most of the world would love to have a house and a life like I have. And grocery shopping is the same. Most of the people in the world would LOVE to be able to got to a beautiful store full of food and buy food for their family.And we complain! Well, I dont really but you hear a lot of complaints!
Thank you for your thoughts on this. I love your attitude through thick and thin you always have a wonderful way of looking at things. It must make for a happy household.
With love, Annabel.xxx
Beautiful words Cath xx
DeleteYour roses are stunning and your potted plants look lush and beautiful. We’re clearing the garden for winter here…which makes me sad! I’m a springtime gal myself but will make the best of the coming cold weather with candles and soups and all things cozy. Seeing the pantry stocked before the snow flies feels good!
ReplyDeleteI think our society negatively impacts our attitude about our efforts to feather our nests because it seems unsalaried work caring for the home and family is thought not to "really" be work and isn't valued. I've heard young women lament that they feel like freeloaders staying home with their children rather than bringing in a paycheck. How sad!
I'm thankful for like-minded friends and sites like Bluebirds that celebrate the more-than-money worth of a home, no matter how finely feathered it may (not) be. My daughter’s friend once described my lived-in house as “homey” and I took it as high praise. I’ve seen mothers of littles relax when they realize my house is not a museum and that their children can play here. I think homes are for living and loving and welcoming friends and family, not impressing and intimidating the neighbors or people on social media.
Okay…I’ll step off my soapbox now. ;) Have a lovely weekend!
Thank you so much! Atmosphere is a big thing in a home. Comfort. Security. Peace. In the world we need these things at home and children more than any. Also trends come and go... I remember not long ago a trend was very slick and clinical. I called it "dentist surgery" lol Changing to all these trends is just a money making business of course. Classics never change and having what you like is far more interesting than what everyone currently has.
DeleteAnyway I agree with you in every way.
I can imagine if we had snow coming I would be extra busy getting ready for that.
Have a great new week. With love, Annabel.xxx
I got a lot done but had to adjust my attitude yesterday. Honestly I think I was just overtired as I worked on a big project and it seemed like everything was just wrong, but it all came about right side up once more. I'm just not cut out to be a negative person, lol. Here's what I did this week: http://bluehousejournal.blogspot.com/2015/10/this-week-in-my-home-fair-savings.html
ReplyDeleteDear Terri,
DeleteWe all get over tired sometimes! And then nothing goes right.But Im glad it all worked out in the end. You always have a busy week and a good attitude!
Have a wonderful weekend! With love, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYou have had a great week! Those roses are so pretty as are the presents.
I have enjoyed all of your posts this week. You have inspired me to get busy and make some gifts. I have ideas buzzing inside my head everywhere :)
I have just posted this list over at Wendy's. It is a long list one this time around.
In my nest this week I:
~Only went to the supermarket for fresh fruit and veggies. I have used from my stockpile this week. This saves so much money when you buy up big when things are on special.
~Ate lettuce and baby spinach from the garden.
~Mulched the garden beds with leftover straw from old beds and last years bale.
~Cooked and baked from scratch.
~Gratefully received a large compost bin from someone Phil knew.
~Picked the remainder of our oranges. We only have grapefruit left now.
~Picked mulberries and put in the freezer until I have enough for a yummy dessert.
~Received gifted lemons from a friend.
~Sourced some free rocks for my wicking barrels.
~I dried some mushrooms and zucchini outside. These were on special.
~Received a bunch of yellow roses from my friend.
~Menu planned for a month and stuck to the menu for this week
~Used pre dishes water for watering plants.
~Watered my succulent garden with leftover water from our swimming pool {this is pumped into its own little tank}
~On the hot days, I did not put the air conditioner on until after 3pm, even when we reached 39C. I just used our fans instead. Nobody was home except me, and I don’t feel the heat as much as some.
~I am collecting the run off water from the air conditioner into buckets to put on the fruit trees.
~I made scones from leftover out of date cream.
~Line dried the washing.
~I have started planning for Christmas gifts after reading your inspiring posts.
~We sold and gave away excess eggs. The girls are laying 14 eggs a day. We also have three broody hens sitting on eggs.
~I even wrote a letter to my parents. It was lovely to sit down at night and write. I must do this more often, like I used to.
~Today I will be starting to make some of my own cards. {I am home alone lol}
Wishing you a lovely weekend Annabel,
xTania
PS We didn't get any rain...
Dear Tania, What a great productive week!
DeleteI hope you have fun card making. And I love scones. Love!
It is a glorious day here today (Sun) so I hope you are getting the same.
Have a wonderful new week! With love, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteThe photos on this post are gorgeous! I thank you for this post as it is so encouraging. I love that you shared Laine's words as our work truly does impact the generations to come. I needed a real adjustment this past week in my thinking as you well know, and I'm happy I've stayed on track. When things get hairy and scary it's too easy to think you can just get paid work and help...I now know that things would truly fall apart here and no amount of money would be worth that. Besides, there are way too many expenses that would increase if I got more paid work, it would be a vicious cycle. Best to keep doing what we are doing and wait out the storm.
This week I feathered my nest by taking care of my kids, cleaning, cooking, baking, shopping, and putting soup in the freezer for later. We did more decorating for Fall and my kids adore the house. When someone arrives, they immediately show them the mantle. It's so simple, fall garland some candles and a big acorn but the kids think it's awesome! I'm paying attention. The little things are the big things.
We made our savings goals, we ate at home, I worked one day assisting Bill at the salon while the kids were at school. We did hair cuts at home, brow waxing and sorted through a closet. Extras went to the dv thrift shop and I was thrilled to think of the people and children that would benefit from those goods. I put back a few Christmas presents and things feel nice around here :)
Today is homemade pizzas :). I hope your weekend is lovely, Annabel. Thank you for all of your posts. They are so encouraging and keep me moving, knowing I have all these other wonderful women working for their future generations as well. :)
Much love,
Colette xxx
Dear Colette,
DeleteYou did very well. And I can see your kids growing up to be great Mums and Dads. The way they show people the mantle is so gorgeous. They are glowing with pride at what you do. This is a little treasure alone...
I hope the pizzas are a big success. Left over pizza was in school lunch boxes way back then and now its in Andys work lunch box! Very handy! Also this might make you laugh but when feeding a heap of people I make my pizza to fit my biggest baking trays which are rectangle. So we have rectangle pizzas most times. Unless I make individual sized ones which i do too.
Have a wonderful new week! With lots of love, Annabel.xxx
Great score on the cherry tomatoes Annabel! I was feeling I hadn't done a great deal this week but when I was packing up my craft area I counted the tea towels yet to be hemmed. 18 more. So I'd cut them out, overlocked all 4 edges and now they need to be double hemmed. also put several items of food in the freezer, multiple which came out in time to feed my ds, ddil and dgs yesterday when they had an impromptu bbq dinner with us. So agree on that point, unless you write it down.......... you tend to forget. One of the mantra's for us Registered Nurses is "if it isn't written down it didn't happen". Ie keep your notes up to date. We've got visitors this afternoon so scones in the oven. Have a great rest of the weekend. Fi xx
ReplyDeleteDear Fiona,
DeleteAnother 18 tea towels! You have Christmas sorted I think. I must have nurses blood as I also think if it isnt written down it didnt happen! I have always been like this, everything must be written down.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. With lots of love, Annabel.xxx
A beautiful post. I couldn't agree more. Lately I have been feeling like this even more. It must be because I have had a baby. I realise the profound importance of being home and doing these home tasks on my son and consequently future generations. I love being home, in fact my heart sings. It truly is a gift to be a wife and mother. I love how you write down what you have done each day. I also like paper lists, technology doesn't cut it for me. I need to do this as often I will feel like I didn't get anything done. So if I write down what I did each day it will make me feel accomplished. I had to get a few things online (like contacts and a pass for the barge for our holiday) and I googled promotional codes and saved a small fortune for both. I also found my baby's formula at 30% off (and thanks to you ladies got 12 as rain checks). This was a big saving. I made my baby food and froze in ice block trays. I also used the rest of the baby apples to make muffins and I have made your Christmas cakes, which I am super excited about. I am determined to make most of my gifts for Christmas and for birthdays next year (except for the grand parents). Thank you for your inspiration, it feels 'homey' and time for a cuppa on here :) Love, Bridge
ReplyDelete