Allie helped me to paint on Monday and Tuesday. She showed me how to use Panoramic on my phone to take photos. This is a photo inside the front yard looking out...
Next week I will post the other way around which Andy took and I forgot to get him to send me!
We have a tree flowering too... I think it is a Crab Apple. It has tiny apples that the possums mainly get! But the flowers are like little rose buds and it is covered in them.
So I am enjoying Spring at last!
Some of the ways I saved money and built up our nest this week include:
Allie and I painted Monday and Tuesday. Having her help has set me up to finish all the painting early but then with her here I added the car garage into the paint job. Before I had thought this was too much. Allie worked on the highest sections and I worked down lower...
She is coming back over the weekend so I will be painting all weekend too. This is going to get me almost finished! You will hear the celebrations!
I started potting up succulents since I saw some prices lately and have a whole patch of them. I have lots more to do when I find more pots.
I took in a top and mended another.
Between Allie's house and mine was a lot of curb side rubbish. Someone was moving house near us. Allie got three wooden kitchen chairs and I helped her carry those home. I got two IKEA shelving units for storage. I wanted these exact same ones! I couldn't believe it! Ok not exact... these are black and I would have chosen white. But it is not like I don't have white paint! So by next week they will be white!
I made a heap more of the fruit and nut snacks...
Allie took home a tray of these.
I planted more basil.
Mum had knitted some little baby gifts. There was a little baby girl in the extended family recently. I added some grub roses for her. These ones are made of single thread fine wool.
Also I made some more matching envelopes and letter writing paper.
Our preparedness improved as Mum gave us a portable gas hot plate and a portable gas light. They are excellent! And both with spare gas cylinders.
I am thinking wow this was a good week!
When we stayed at Chloe's she had beautiful sheets on the bed. I thought to show these as they are an idea for everyone who is doing crochet edgings. It is just of the idea... your pattern could be any trim or crochet pattern and it would be lovely...
I am going to look for some vintage floral sheets and pillowcases to do this on! These were sewn on where as I would crochet them directly into the edge. Roseanne crochets the lace first then sews it on. So that is optional. So many possibilities!
Today is really a beautiful day. I have lots to do so that I can paint all weekend.
I hope you had a wonderful week. How did you build up your nest and get ahead?
I have good news to share. Thank you for everyone who prayed for Teri. Her son does not have a brain tumour! The mass they saw is not a tumour and is something he was born with. He still faces surgery but this is now so much better than what they thought! Teri is so thankful!
Now we just need good news from Cookie as Thursday was a big day for them...
Thank you everyone for praying and supporting these prayer requests.xxx
What a busy week you had! I had to say how pretty your roses are! Just a beautiful Spring it sounds like your having. We on the other hand had our first snowfall in Michigan yesterday!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your finds. We always happened along a find at the side of the road -about 2 dozen Blue Ball Canning Jars. They are so pretty! I love free. Have a good night!
Dear Vickie, It s kind of like Spring is two months late but we had a lot of extra rain which was good. Now its beautiful!
DeleteSnow! That must look so pretty! I can only imagine a white Christmas!
Oh my goodness you found Blue Ball Jars! You win find of the week I think! I would love to find a box of jars. Amazing. So happy for you. Like winning the lottery! Much love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYour yard and roses are so beautiful!! I'm sure the house looks gorgeous all painted. Glad your niece is able to help paint and she is close by.
You've had a very productive and busy Spring. Great find on the Ikea shelving.
Most of my week, this week, has been spent either shopping for food storage items or vacuum sealing. Total I have vacuum sealed for about ten hours this week. We like to buy in large quantities, then break that down into quart and half gallon jars and vacuum seal them for long term storage. Of course, I should mention I am talking about dry food items, such as pasta, beans, etc.
I did vacuum seal some butter, meat, vegetables, and fruits and placed them back in the freezer. Our next project is to dehydrate quite a few bags of frozen vegetables to have on the shelves for soups and stews.
Peas, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, just about any vegetable can be very successfully dehydrated and is nutritiously well preserved that way. Plus, once the dehydrated vegetables are put into canning jars and vacuum sealed they will last a very long time without taking up much room on shelves.
My goodness, I didn't mean to go on and on. I get rather excited about dehydrating and vacuum sealing, don't I (LOL).
I am so thankful about Teri's son not having a brain tumor. Prayer makes all the difference, as God holds the key to healing.
Love and hugs,
Glenda
Dear Glenda,
DeleteThank you so much! All my pruning finally paid off! It is so lovely to enjoy the flowers now.
I am so impressed with all your vacuum sealing. I know that does a great job to expend shelf life.
I also think dehydrated vegetables are a wonderful idea. As you mentioned to me the space saving factor is big as well.
Thank you for sharing your week as I can see it has been a very busy one. It is greta you achieved so much and you must be pleased. I love a week like that!
Thank you so much for supporting Teri also. Have a lovely weekend Glenda, with love Annabel.xxx
I agree with Glenda in that I am so thankful that Teri's son doesn't have a brain tumor and that God holds the key to healing. I am so grateful to our God for her family's answer to prayer.
DeleteAnnabel we don't have curbside items available for pick up here in our city which is probably just as well as my hubby is a hoarder :-) Your house must look just lovely with the new paint job plus those beautiful roses growing. Such good news about Teri's son. Praise God.
ReplyDeleteDear Nanna Chel,
DeleteLol I can see how that could be a problem! I found a chandelier once. That would be my best find. My lovely hall side table... most of my giant sized mirrors and just so many things have all been found this way! I am amazed what people put out. This time it was like an order filled.... except for the colour though but I can handle that! Thank you for your words to Teri, this is the best news! Have a great weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteSpring is finally here! Your home is looking really lovely and so fresh. Allie sounds like such a good worker! I was so happy to hear you both found items, and you found shelving you were after! That was a blessing for you. Your roses are beautiful.
Wonderful news on Teri's son. Continuing to pray for him and healing/encouragement for Jane/Bluey, Rachael, Cookie, Lynette, Patsy and others. You are all so often on my mind and in my prayers Xo
Love, Kaye xo
Dear Kaye,
DeleteAllie has been such a help. She has put me ahead by a whole month I think. Its a relief!
Thank you for your prayers for Teri and her son and also everyone else on our current prayer list.
I hope you are getting the good weather too. It is so welcome after weeks of terrible weather. It makes me feel more energetic and healthy and I think it is good for us. Have a lovely weekend Kaye, with love Annabel.xxx
Thank you Kay for your prayers. Our area is slowing recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew.
DeleteThank you, Kaye. It's been four weeks of healing for me! The eye is getting stronger now, and is taking better shape each week! I am grateful.
DeleteRegards,
Rachel
Praise God for the wonderful news for Teri's son! Continued prayers for Cookie. :)
ReplyDeleteI love seeing how things are coming along at your home and the beauty that you create. What a sweet gift that your mother and your collaborated on and one that I am sure will be treasured. Great finds too!
Thank you Debbie this is lovely news!
DeleteCollaborations are great... combining skills with someone else can be a big help! I am not a very good knitter! Have a good weekend! Love Annabel.xxx
Hi, I love your site, creations and cooking. Do you have a recipe section?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Yes I do... if you look on the top right hand side I have an index. There is a crockpot cooking section, Use it up and Save and other cooking as well. I gradually add to it over time! Have a lovely weekend, love Annabel.xxx
DeleteThanks for letting me know your name! Welcome Michelle!xx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYou've had a nice week! So many good things happened! And roses are so beautiful! We have some at the moment, but they're the last (it's late autumn here, so everything is preparing for sleeping).
Are the tiny apples you mention eatable?
Warm greesting from Hungary,
Szvetlana
Dear Svetlana, I love having someone here from Hungary!
DeleteThe apples are tiny... possibly one inch wide? However because of Patsy this year I will try them and pick some and maybe make a jelly or something like that. So I will let you know what happens!
Thank you for your comments on my roses. I really love autumn but spring comes second for me. Have a really good weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel and Annabel's mob,
ReplyDeleteHE'S HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay! Jane that is possibly weeks early than expected? This would mean he is doing extremely well! I am so happy to hear this and you must be over the moon!
DeleteEnjoy a beautiful weekend! I think this is AMAZNG! And thank you for letting us all know! xxxx
Jane, PRAISE GOD! I am so happy to hear this.
DeleteAnnabel there was a chap who had the same op and was in the hospital for 5 months. My Bluey man is a man of steel. He is a long way off 100% but he's home. LIFE IS BRILLIANT!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIm calling that miraculous Jane. Bluey had a massive amount of prayer. I think it worked! Absolutely amazing and wonderfulxxx
Deletehaha now you have gone from life is getting better to life is brilliant! Pretty good! xxx
Jane, this is just so wonderful!
DeleteJane, I think wonderful news from Teri followed by Bluey's wonderful news is worth more than ten years' of Show and Tell put together!! Bluey has stolen the show!!
DeleteRest well, both of you.
With very warm regards,
Rachel Holt
Wonderful news Jane! So pleased to hear that he is now home! Xo
DeleteJane, this is so wondeful to read. Blessings to you both. Cookie
DeleteOh Jane , that is brilliant news. Please take care of each other and be kind to yourselves. I have been thinking of you and Bluey.
DeleteLove Barb W.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers and kind comments. It is these things that makes this such a wonderful place to share the good and the bad that is happening in our lives. May all your kindness be returned tenfold. Much love to you all.
DeleteWonderful news Jane!
DeleteAnnabel, your yard is beautiful and your roses are breathtaking, they are so pretty! I know you are glad you are about to finish up the painting, what a massive job you undertook and got accomplished! I have finished the practice stage of my learning how to do grub roses and have started putting them on the wash cloths I did the edging for. What a nice finishing touch they make. I simply love these little grub roses! You've inspired me to learn how to do crochet edgings and make grub roses, what's next???
ReplyDeleteDear Patsy, Thank you! We painted most of today. Tomorrow is uncertain as there is another wind storm coming but we will go until we have to stop!
DeleteYou sound like you are going really well with the grub roses! And the crochet edgings! Seriously there are so many lovely applications for both. The other day I saw crochet edge curtains!
mmm if you already make your own cards then I will have to think about what next! I know you did soaps too so not that! I am working on a list for next year to vary the presents made for the present cupboard.
I hope you have a good weekend, with love Annabel.xxx
Hi Annabel (& Annabel's mob!),
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, this news from Teri and Jane is soooo wonderful - like refreshing raindrops on thirsty soil!
You know, Bluey has upstaged you, and he's not a child or a cute animal!! I'm so glad he has.
We're waiting to hear from Cookie.
I love your panoramic photo and your exquisitely beautiful roses AND those luxuriously delicate crabapple blossoms ..... and every feature, really. I think you should have a pink knitted hat, just like the ones shown, for yourself!
My week? ..... Well, Bluey might like to know that I did some work out in the sunshine; cut some seeding nettles; started some nettle tea buckets; did some catch up work; cooked mulberry preserves outdoors; made a lemon ricotta tart (bush baking!) to share; and got stronger!!
I have enjoyed watching a couple of lavender cuttings from Dad growing happily in an unwashed emptied 'citrus jam' jar of water. That jam was good, and I mean WAS! It felt like good medicine. I heard that mint plants like recycled tea leaves. I guess they do because, by the time I got to the mint with my collection of tea leaves, some unknown insect had had a good feed of mint in anticipation of the plant's prospective increase in well being! It might fare better without the tea?! What else? Yes, one (& only one) of the dopey things I have done in my recovery is to have accidentally burnt the bottom of a mulberry cooking pot, thinking that I had water there when I hadn't! After first simmering the burnt pot with only water, I tried cooking it clean a second time, using water, washing soda and a splash of conditioning olive oil. It worked a treat!! The pot has recovered well, and I am so pleased!! (Don't make this mistake, Bluey!!)
I still have lots to do, with loveliness amongst it all!
With very warm regards,
Rachel Holt
Rachel I read your comment to Bluey. He had a good chuckle. Keep taking care and stay away from nasty bushes.
DeleteDear Rachel, I cannot get lavender to take from cuttings. I did have a lavender bush and little ones came up everywhere and I would dig those up and pot them.
DeleteI have done many dopey things this week! haha! After a headache I feel like I am in a fog and this week that was the case a few times. So I possibly did even dopier things than you. Is dopier a word!?
I am glad you found a solution to the scorched pot.
Thank you for you comments on my garden. Next week I will have to dead head the roses so more come on. Much love to you Rachel, from Annabel.xxx
What an amazing week you've had, Annabel! So much going on :) Your roses are just breathtaking. Gorgeous! On the edgings...I think I would crochet directly onto the pillowcases, but for the sheet I would crochet first and then sew on. That's a long edging to have to be dealing with massive amounts of sheet, too! lol!
ReplyDeleteYeah!!! What wonderful news from Teri and Jane!I truly believe in miracles and the power of prayer and here is more proof. God is so good!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Dear Jenn,
DeleteThank you so much! I think you are right that a full sized sheet would be a lot of fabric to be handling as you crochet. I really want to do it as I think its os pretty! I will have to work on this, I have not worked an edging design just on a row of chain... but I think it should be fine. Especially after the first row... always the hardest.
I will be hunting for sheets to do. I thought I could do some sheets for Harper when she goes in a big bed.
Have a lovely weekend Jenn, love Annabel.xxx
Teri, that is so wonderful to hear! God is so good!
ReplyDeleteYou had a great week, Annabel. My daughter has the back IKEA shelving units and they are highly prized in the USA as they have been discontinued here, so great find! What a blessing to have such good help with all that painting.
We are continuing to get ready for cold weather which has not come so we are enjoying beautiful fall days and lovely colorful leaves. All of our children will be home but one for Christmas so we are motivated to get everything done in readiness. Have a great week!
Dear Lana, I never knew that about the shelves. It is probably a terrible thing to be paining these shelves white!
DeleteFall is truly beautiful. I love it. It is so good your children will all be home for Christmas! That is going to make it wonderful. So much to look forward to. With love Annabel.xxx
Wonderful news on Teri son and that Bluey is home and on the mend. And that Rachel's recovery is coming along too.
ReplyDeleteYou have had a wonderful week it seems! And the Sunshine is always a plus!
Thank you Laurie! There was a lot of good news the week! Have a lovely weekend! xxx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteMy goodness your roses are beautiful and the panoramic photo of your yard looks like it should be in a magazine. I've never seen crab apples or their blossoms, but their rose-like appearance must be just gorgeous in person. Are the succulents you potted native to Australia and grow freely in the landscape?
As for feathering, this week has been a whirlwind of getting the last minute things done. I have had a chance to work on Christmas gifts, go to the store for additional storage items, etc. do more advanced meal planning and cooking.
We now have the date and time for my husband's surgery which is kind of a double-edged sword of relief and reality. We are so thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers. Blessings. Cookie
Dear Cookie,
DeleteMay the Eternal wrap you both up with His peace that surpasses all understanding. May this challenge turn into a time of enrichment for you both. He is all you need.
Rachel
Dear Cookie,
DeleteI am not sure about these succulents ... I don't think they are native as I do not se them wild or anything. They sell for quite a bit in the shops so I thought I will give some away and use some as gifts.
It has to be daunting to face surgery. But the flip side is that an operation is available that will fix the problem and that there are good surgeons and Doctors to take care of it. This is the good thing!
You will be back to doing things to get ready and keeping life as normal as is possible. Which is hard.
Thank you for your comment son my garden. I need to cut lots of roses next week so more come on. I hope this is a good weekend for you Cookie, with love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, your home and garden look beautiful! Allie has been such a blessing to you. I appreciate your sharing Spring photos since our blooms are almost done due to the coming winter. I'll have to enjoy your pretties on our gray days.
ReplyDeleteWe have started stacking fire wood since we have two fireplaces now. We had to purchase the first batch (yikes!) but my husband has a lead on someplace he can cut and get the wood just for doing the clearing, so I hope we'll have more wood for less cost soon. I do love a wood fire when the snow flies!
I'm continuing to work on the pantry and feeling some urgency due to the upcoming election. We are a nation divided and I don't see it getting any better in the near future. This week I'm trying to use up some of the old freezer goods I moved from the old house to make room for turkeys and hams that I know will go on sale for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It will be some of the cheapest (per pound) meat prices I expect to see all year.
I'm also working on my Christmas list since I'm behind due to the move. I started a knitting project that may or may not become a gift.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
Blessings, Leigh
Dear Leigh,
DeleteYou're building a beautiful new home life!
As for your election, we in Australia are watching, too. What happens there affects the whole world. About the only book I've read in recent years is F. Tupper Saussy's "Rulers of Evil" (available as a free download from the Tupper Saussy Museum website, if anyone is interested). This is a very telling read of the US history that has to be learnt for ourselves. Of course, if we had learnt to follow the rules of safe keeping in the bible, we would have known the danger in the statues and murals of the Capitol building; the gravity of covenanting with other nations, and of having a ruler not of one's own people; and of following ways other than what everlasting biblical laws teach us. We're in for a wild ride, one way or another ..... until our people's ultimate rescue. There's no time to be shy! .. not anymore!
Rachel
Dear Leigh, A wood pile is a big insurance policy like a pantry! It is fantastic you found a source of more this way! Here it is very expensive but at the farm there is an unlimited supply for free.
DeleteI am also hoping to get Turkey and Ham after Christmas at good prices. The last few years this has been immediately after NY Day, then they reduce them greatly. I will be watching!
Moving is such a big job. I hope this will be a wonderful first Christmas (and Thanksgiving) in your new home! Lots of love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, first, such wonderful news at Teri's son and also that dear Bluey is home!!!! We should be having a party!
ReplyDeleteWe made crabapple jam here this year and it is delicious! your yard is beautiful and I cannot wait to see the full frontal view of your home, I just know it will be gorgeous! We are heading to California to visit my parents between Christmas and New Years. It is a surprise visit for my parents, they are thinking it is only my middle brother who will be there, but it is actually going to be all five of us and our spouses! Our goal is to paint our parents exterior of their home while we're there, so hopefully 10 of us and get it done in the 5 days we will all be together!
What wonderful finds you and Allie made, I love curbside shopping. We are heading to IKEA tomorrow and I am very excited. We are going to purchase some of the cubicle shelving units for my craft room so that I can finally become better organized in there! I'm sure to find lots of bits and bobs that I have forgotten I have, so I am also hoping this will stir up some renewed crafting ideas for gifts!
I wish everyone a wonderful weekend!
Fond Regards, Jeanette
Dear Jeanette,
DeleteYou recently mentioned deer drinking from your waterfall. Is this a natural waterfall? It sounds so peaceful and beautiful. Deer seem to be all over the place. They're in our area, too!!
I love that you've mentioned some beautiful, homely things - the crabapple, the family painting ..
It's lovely to read. Thank you!
Rachel
Dear Jeanette, You have reminded me to get Andy to send me the photos her took. His were better than mine! I will put one up on Friday!
DeleteWhat an amazing surprise for your parents! And you are painting their home! This is amazing. What a good family you all are! I really want to hear about all this after the event and your parents reaction! Get lots of photos too while you have everyone in one place!
I love IKEA and I love free finds! So this was good! I need to go to IKEA to get baskets to fill these shelves. It has been a saving of $180 or so for me. If you are like me then reorganising your craft room will reveal all kinds of things you can make without spending anything! I love supplies! That will be great!
Have a really good new week. I loved hearing about your plans to surprise your parents! Love Annabel.xxx
Hi Annabel,
ReplyDeleteYour home and garden are looking so fresh and beautiful - your hard working is definitely paying off.
Such wonderful news from Teri and Jane, good to see Rachel is well and truly on the mend, and hoping we'll hear similar good news from Cookie in the coming weeks.
Your Mum's knitting is just lovely and such a pretty gift for the new bub. I think plants generally have been getting more expensive lately judging by a recent visit to a well known hardware store recently, so you're on a goldmine with your cuttings.
It's been a bit of a slow week here, in fact, I'm not sure there's been much 'feathery' at all! Oh, well, there's always next week.
Have a great week everyone,
Janine
Dear Janine,
DeleteI really feel like I could do with a slow week myself and maybe this week will be it! I painted all weekend and am tired! Thank you for your comments on my garden! And also to Teri and Jane... Yes now it is Cookie's turn and hopefully we will hear soon good news.
I am amazed at the price of plants! I will keep potting up! Much love Annabel.xxx
Your yard is so beautiful! Nancy
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy! It is covered in pink petals now from that tree but at least it is a pretty mess! Love Annabel.xxx
DeleteI didn't work as hard this week but did spend time getting the foodstocks in order once more. Now I can actually find items in my pantry, yay! I don't even have my post up yet this week for my frugal things. I spent the afternoon wandering around inside the DIY store. We came away with more material to do more improvements and even added ideas to continuing to improve. We seem to be on a home diy roll. Love the roses and blooms!
ReplyDeleteDear Terri,
DeleteI need to do the same thing. I am painting my IKEA shelves and then I will be able to have more kitchen pantry room and a big re organise!
I look forward to hearing what you make! You are very good at your decor and recovering etc. I love it! Have a good week Terri! Love Annabel.xxx
I am so happy about the Lord's great answers for people on our list!
ReplyDeleteIn my home, I have been trying to feather my nest with housecleaning, peaceful routines and working on my garden. When I watch the news, I have to fight against anxiety.
I have planted most of the 350 flower bulbs I bought. I started a 30 day garden challenge because I was so overwhelmed that I had done this. (Like, how will I get this all in the ground?) I am almost finished and have one more day on the challenge. I have been digging so much that I have lost about 5 pounds and am sore from all the hard work. I am sure it's at least as good as a gym membership!
I am trying to remember the quote I heard awhile back that Big challenges require Small answers. It helps me stay balanced in all this anger people are expressing to their friends over election and choices. Around here the people are being so mean to each other about it. I don't understand why they don't just follow the etiquette rule of not discussing politics.
Dear Cristy, I understand what you are saying, I am finding the news distressing and not even truthful half go the time!
DeleteYou have done amazingly on your challenge! I remember when you first started and look at you now! It really is incredibly how little bits add up and even fifteen minutes or half an hour a day on something will take you far! As you say yours has many benefits including your health and fitness! Well done! I feel really proud and your garden when all these bulbs flower will be heavenly! With love Annabel.xxx
The roses and succulents are gorgeous! Those roses look so sweet on the pink baby set. Always love to read your posts! Have a beautiful and productive week ahead.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lynn! Have a wonderful new week! Love Annabel.xxx
DeleteBeautiful post as usual I love the photos of your flowers Do you ever frame them or get prints and make them into cards. Get glossy prints from Kmart about 10 cents each and they make wonderful cards. Love Shelley
ReplyDeleteDear Shelley, My aunty framed some sunset photos I took as she loved them. Thank you for the idea! Thanks so much! Love Annabel.xxx
Delete