We also had a short week with a holiday Monday. This always throws me out!
Spring has kicked in and the garden looks pretty with lots of flowers.
We had both warm days plus a whole night of rain which was lovely.
Chloe is settled living in the country now and loves it. She packed up the last of her city things and I had bags of clothes to go through. From these I ended up with some great fabrics including gorgeous flannelette in little duck and baby prints which I will make childrens soft handkerchiefs from. This topped up my sewing supplies!
I made peanut butter biscuits as they are a favourite with a certain small someone.
I made Greek Yoghurt then Vanilla flavour.
Last night I made a cheesecake as tonight Chloe is coming to dinner.
When I was helping Chloe with her things there were Galah's on the lawn. This isn't a very good photo but I love these (being pink) and they are so funny too as they play around!
This is why anyone here who is messing around or being an idiot is called a galah! (that is the Australian lesson for the day! 😊)
I have a whole bunch of things going on that I can't say online at this time. There are several areas that need prayer. Hopefully soon I can explain. Chloe is travelling and this is something I am not happy about so I would REALLY appreciate prayer over the next week and a bit. It is not the travelling I am worried about it is the location and circumstances.
I think I need a weekend of quiet and thought!
How was your week? How did you save, get ahead, build up your home?
Have a wonderful weekend! xxx
Life can be a bumpy road sometimes. Prayers for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you Vickie! Wishing you a good weekend! xxx
DeleteAnnabel, prayers are being said over your concerns and over Chloe's travels. It certainly is fine for you to have a quiet weekend or even more if you need it. You've had a busy time with all the renovations, that alone would be enough to stress anyone out. Those peanut butter biscuits/cookies look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you Patsy! You have a good weekend too, love Annabel.xxx
DeletePraying for you and family circumstances, I feel your Mama heart.
ReplyDeleteOur grandchildren are here for the night for the last time for many years as they move to Germany in less than a week and will not be able to come home until 2022. They wanted Poppa to pull them in the wagon and I told him that he'd better since when they come home to visit they will be too big. Little sad things keep coming to mind. Now they are upstairs in bed and singing. Oh my heart.
Hugs and much love. Being a parent to adults is so hard sometimes.
Oh Lana. This made me cry. This makes our stuff seem minor. I hope there will be a way for you to go to Germany to see them? Or them to visit you? Boy life is hard sometimes. Yes I agree... being a parent to adults is hard and just like no one tells you how it is to be a mother no one tells you how it is to be a Grandmother! In either case separation is AWFUL. Big hugs from me I really have no good words except I feel your pain.xxxx
DeleteLana, I too have absent family and it's dreadful. I feel your pain. Fi
DeleteLana,
DeleteOh My! I am so sorry to hear of the separation for such a long time, my heart goes out to you. ((HUGS)). My prayers are with you.
Thank you all. It means so much.
DeleteDear Lana, I pray that these memories of this night just soak into you. I know how it is to have soak up those precious moments and then let the children go!
DeleteDear Lana, there are such special times ahead, be assured. My sons have both lived 'away', and whilst hard, it was ultimately a good thing, and we all actually grew closer as a result. Sending hugs your way. Mimi xxx
DeleteLovely yard, yummy cookies (biscuits). Our family will be praying. Lord give you his peace.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Leslie
Your yard with flowers is so lovely. Thanks for the language lesson 😀. The galah sure is pretty , though. Your cookies look delicious. I have been thinking that I haven't had a very productive week. I did get to the grocery store to take advantage of the 10% senior discount, plus some other helpful sales and coupons. I picked up another turkey breast to put in the freezer at an even lower price. With this week's sale and discount it was only 89 cents a pound.
ReplyDeleteI will be remembering you and your family in prayer.
Love from Arizona
Elaine
Hello Annabel and beautiful bluebirds :) . Annabel you and your family are in our families thoughts and prayers at this time for your families circumstances.
ReplyDeleteYour gardens are full of spring floral cheer and the galahs are indeed mischievous. I had one last year picking off lettuce leaves off my lettuce plants in the vegetable gardens and spitting them out in front of me and giving me a wry smile I am sure of it before I hunted it off by clapping my hands.
First I would like to start off with the joys of our week is that we had lots of rain over the weekend and throughout the week and our 2 x 1100lt water tanks are just about topped as we speak as we are having more rain now with a storm over us. We were seriously low on tank water and down to around 1/3 in each.
Our Vicky challenge added up to $713.55 in savings :).
In the kitchen -
- Made a large 7lt pot of pumpkin soup made from Qld blue pumpkin in storage picked from the gardens and onions blanched and frozen from our gardens saving $54.50 over purchasing the equivalent amount premade in the supermarkets. I never realised how much cooking from scratch saves us in our own homes until I started pricing commercially premade products.
- Cooked another roast chicken we purchased on special for $3kg making 3 meals for us and some raw chicken wing tips and a meal of cooked chicken for Tabatha our kitten.
- Cooked all of our meals and bread from scratch.
- Blanched and froze homegrown turnips from the gardens making 15 more meals for the two of us and broad beans making 4 more meals for us.
- Saved vegetable steaming, washing and cooling water to hand water new seedlings and seeds planted in the gardens.
Purchases -
- Purchased our $300 grocery gift cards for this 6 weekly grocery and fuel purchases from RACQ saving 5% off their face value or $15 that we will use for our fuel and groceries.
In the garden -
- Picked 6kg of turnips and 2.2kg of broad beans from the gardens saving $48.27 over purchasing the equivalent amount in the supermarkets.
- Pruned lemongrass that had died off at the top and saved seeds from our bush bean strike and Cherokee wax butter beans. We mulched these up with the mulching lawnmower and saved them for mulch for the gardens rather than buying hay.
- Purchased a 25kg bag of urea from our local agricultural store saving $50.40 over purchasing the equivalent amount in the local hardware store.
- Purchased a large caged 8 x 5' trailer load (around 2.19 cubic metres) of cow manure from our local livestock transport company for $20 saving $405.91 over purchasing the same amount in bags from the local hardware store.
- We spread the cow manure over the rest of the house paddock lawns to fertilise them rather than buying commercial fertilisers. Yes to being watered in by rain last night and today too.
Trading and bartering -
- Received our first 15kg of honey from helping our neighbour move saving $129 over purchasing the same amount in the supermarkets.
Electricity savings -
- Only turned on our electric hot water system for 10.5hrs this week and used our solar lanterns to light our home at night saving $10.37 in electricity.
Have a fantastic frugal week ahead everyone.
Sewingcreations15
Dear Sewingcreations, Thank you for your kind words. I am thrilled for you about the rainwater tanks and the water on the garden too. Nothing helps like rain and it sounds like a good soaking. Full tanks are wonderful. I have many memories of once the tanks are overflowing finding other things to catch the over flow. When it rained Dad would say get out of the rain you are wasting it!
DeleteYour cooking and gardening are inspiring to me! I have gardening ambitions to be like you.
The honey is just fantastic. What an asset and long term too.
I hope you are having a lovely weekend! With love, Annabel.xxx
Prayers being sent Annabel. I hope everything pans out ok.
ReplyDeleteI understand your anguish with Chloe travelling. We took our DD to the airport yesterday for her flight to South Africa to meet up with her boyfriend then to 'who knows where' next. They both work in the dive/sailing industry and with the recent hurricanes through the Caribbean, their new work contracts are no longer :-(. It's hard saying goodbye, even if it's only for a short time.
Your garden is gorgeous! Harper is going to love those biscuits.
All the best,
Janine
Dear Janine, As it turns out Chloe is in South Africa too. Last night she ended the trip with 7.5 hours on a bus in the middle of the night to the Kalahari desert. I was not at all happy about this dodgy night trip. Not safe. I will pray for your daughter too. I feel better now knowing Chloe arrived after 30 hours non stop travelling mind you. She is exhausted. But safe. Parenthood hey.
DeleteHave a good new week Janine! With love Annabel.xxx
Oh Annabel! This is a worry. I trust Chloe is embarking a this trip for good reasons. I am sure she and you will be strengthened by her experiences. Love, Mimi xxx
DeletePrayers for you and your family, Annabel. You give so much to everyone and I'm so grateful for that.
ReplyDeleteNever be hard on yourself, even in your quiet weeks you achieve more than most!
Thank you for inspiring me. I am so tired lately, but I can hear you in my heart and I feel like I'm getting things done, albeit a little more slowly. Thank you for being a ray of sunshine in so many people's lives.
Lots of love, Bridge
Beautiful words Bridge. Annabel is exactly as you say. Exactly!!!! Fi
DeleteThanks so much Bridge. I am glad you are getting things done in your new home! It is a lot to move with a little one and expecting too! But what an exciting time! With love, Annabel.xxxx
DeleteAnnabel I am sending safe thoughts over to Chloe for her journey. She will be home safe very soon. It's hard loving someone with every breath in your body. Your garden is a treat. I don't think I'd seen the hedge behind your statue so high, you've either moved it or I am not noticing things too well. Have a great weekend. Fi. Xx
ReplyDeleteDear Fiona, I think the hedge has just grown. I know you had a very productive weekend! Congratulations! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteYou are due a quiet week! I will certainly pray for Chloe and your family.
ReplyDeleteThose biscuits look yummy and your garden is beautiful. Lastly, I loved the picture and lesson of the Gullah!
Thanks Megs! Have a wonderful new week! xxx
DeletePrayers needed? Consider it done, Annabel! 💗
ReplyDeleteThank you Maria! xxx
DeleteKeeping Chloe in our prayers Annabel. I'm stressing big time about Thomas and Hannah going off into the wild blue yonder, but I did make Wayne laugh when I told him for the first time in 28 years we may actually have the house to ourselves occasionally (AJ will still be home on occasion, he'll be travelling for work too). Not sure we'll know what to do :) I've had an easy week, managed to get washing dry on the clothesline and it smelled gorgeous from the sunshine; made the first three Christmas cakes today; have fruit soaking for puddings on Sunday; finished off an order of Christmas cards; spent a lovely morning with a dear friend on Monday and then with Wendy and Pamela on Tuesday and this morning Hannah took me to get roast beef @$6.99/kg. I bought four, and a whole rump, wasn't sure of the freezer space. There is room for another four roasts so we'll go back on Sunday before the special ends. Oh, and I ordered my tomato seedlings from Diggers Club. I have some growing from seed, but these are bigger so we should have tomatoes for Christmas. Have lovely weekend, Cath.
ReplyDeleteDear Cath,
DeleteYou have beaten me to the fruit cakes! October is my month too!
That is a great roast beef price! I haven't seen anything like it! But I have seen pretty good specials on lamb. Either way I would do the same and be adding to the freezer!
thank you for your prayers. She is there safely although the trip was fairly hair-raising. I am going to try and keep busy and productive this week. With love Annabel.xxx
Annabel,
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and prayers are with you and with Chloe for safe travels. May the Lord watch over and protect her.
Your Spring is coming in beautifully. Our flowers are done for the year here, it must be so pretty with all coming to life there. Ours are going to bed for the winter.
I don't feel like I accomplished much of anything this week, though I finished one afghan and started another, which is an accomplishment. I tried to bake a bit more this week and had made us a delicious Cheese, sundried tomato and garlic bread, baked custard, Oatmeal, raisin and walnut cookies and today I am attempting a Rye bread.
I have been Fall cleaning and purging, I add doing one shelf or one drawer in bedroom per day so that I don't get overwhelmed with decisions and clean one drawer or shelf in kitchen after the usual housework is done. All winter linen has been brought out and summer put up. So really when I look back it wasn't to bad a week.
Prayers your weekend goes well.
Love,
Rosanne
Dear Rosanne,
DeleteI hope you will mention your baking more often! It sounds beautiful!
Regards,
Rachel
Dear Rosanne, You do get a lot done I think! Each day doing something like that really adds up. Have a good new week! thank you for the prayers too, with love Annabel.xxx
DeletePraying for you Annabel. Take your quiet time to cast your cares upon the Lord because He loves you more than anything! Life certainly is trying. My little Ben (3) loved your bird picture. He wanted to get in the car and come see it �� I told him we'd need a plane or a boat. On a lovely note after 3 precious son's we found out our new little one is a girl �� we are still in a little shock but feel so very blessed. This Mama will be sewing pretty things!!! Hope your weekend is exactly what your heart needs! Love from Pennsylvania! Jesse
ReplyDeleteDear Jesse,
DeleteYour story of Ben hoping to hop into the car to see a galah is precious!! So is news of your new little girl!!
Regards,
Rachel
Sending prayers and a warm embrace your way...
ReplyDeleteThank you Jess!xxx
DeleteFall is settling in here even though here in the Midwest of the USA, it has been unusually warm. I'm ready for cold weather cooking again but by January, I'll be reading your blog to see the color green! :)
ReplyDeleteI've started doing Fall cleaning just a little at a time. Yesterday I lemon oiled a few pieces of furniture and the wooden frame around the mirror in our bathroom. By doing a little each day, eventually most of my seasonal To Do list gets accomplished.
Dear Brenda,
DeleteI love the idea of a task a day of extra things to keep things lovely. It certainly does add up! Have a lovely new week! With love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, Sending my prayers your way. Life can be so stressful. ((Hugs))
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie! Have a good weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteOh Annabel, I'm not really sure what to say. Having young children, I've never really thought about being a parent to adult children. It must be so hard sometimes. I hope Chloe has safe travels and is able to stay in regular contact with you. There will definitely be many people praying for you all!
ReplyDeleteI truly hope you have a restful weekend, I sometimes wonder if you ever rest with how much you achieve lol.
Thinking of you
Jen in NZ
Dear Jen,
DeleteHow it is with adult children is on the list with other things no one ever tells you! Mostly you worry just as much about them as when they are little. But especially in big times like having babies, travel, illness etc. Then you realise there is no difference really you feel the same about your children all along. The next thing no one tells you is you feel like this and just as strong about the Grandchildren! I bet you will remember this when you get Grandchildren in years to come and you will go yeh she was right! :) haha! I am seriously resting this weekend! It is lunch time and Im not even dressed! I hope you have a lovely weekend there, with love, Annabel.xxx
Praying for you and Chloe. I am praying Psalm 91 over Chloe. It is my favorite for protection. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord,"He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Annabel I am also praying
ReplyDeletefor your situation and pray that you will have a good report in Jesus name. I am glad that you will take a quiet
weekend. The lord says " be still and know I am God." It is a honor to pray for you. I pray the Lord gives you the desires of your heart. That he refreshes you, as you draw close to him.
Love,
Patti
Dear Patti, Thank you for your most kind words and prayers. They are going in my diary. Thank you.
DeleteI hope things are going well there for you either the mould situation is under control or you can find another house? I am praying about that. Also would you email me or get your daughter to as I want your new address! With love Annabel.xxx
Hi Annabel,
DeleteI sent you an email from the just for kids account.
Maybe it went to
spam? Glad to hear Chloe made it safely. :)
Love,
Patti
Dear Annabel, I shall have Chloe on my prayer list.
ReplyDeleteI had a busy enough week in my home. I didn't get to all I wanted to do but I did get to do some things that were on a 'someday' list and some day occurred this week! So there is that.
I wanted to share that here in Georgia, USA the fields are full of blooms for autumn. It's really one of our loveliest times of year. Nice to think we both get to enjoy flowers just now...
Dear Terri, Thank you so much If I could skip summer and go straight to autumn I would love it. I like it best of all. Its beautiful and there is nothing about the cooling air. Have a lovely weekend! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteYour Chloe has had your guidance for all her life. She will have this keeping her safe whilst travelling. Chloe is a clever young woman who will not put herself in harms way. Will keep her in my prayers and ask that she has a wonderful time in her travels.
ReplyDeleteAll my Spring cleaning is going to have to happen again. After being let down by two electricians, we finally got onto a good one. All the rusty ceiling fans and the yukky 70's light fittings have been replaced. LED lights are so bright. I can actually see what I am doing! Woohoo! I can also see that a deep clean needs to happen.
I made my first successful yoghurt, using your method, this week. It is delicious. I need to make some more.
I spent two days on the Sunshine Coast with my parents. I caught up with my visiting sister and her two youngest. Mum and I went to the Craft and Quilt Fair in Brisbane. There are some extremely talented people out there. I purchased a new self healing cutting mat whilst we were at the Fair. Super good deal on this.
I'm home and it's raining again. For this we are ever so thankful.
Life is good.
Thanks Jane. Unfortunately Chloe is travelling with people who aren't so wise or smart and have made plans anyone with commonsense would not do. Thats my biggest worry.
DeleteI am so glad about the yoghurt! Now you'll be right! There is just so much you can do with the sour cream, yoghurt, buttermilk and other applications. (and cheese)
I saw some of the quilts. Truly amazing. Somehow it is so happy to think how many people do make stunning things. Very inspiring!
It is great about your new lights! Another good thing done! haha I can see you cleaning away now!
Have a good weekend! Im glad your trip was so nice! xxx
*Prayers and love*
ReplyDeleteKelley~
Thank you Kelleyxxx
DeleteDear Annabel, you and Chloe and the rest of your family are in my thoughts. I hope Chloe is safe on her travels and will soon be home where she belongs. Hello bluebirds, I hope those of you who are unwell improve soon and I am sending hugs to you all.
ReplyDeleteMy week included:
Usual subsidised cleaning savings - approximately $36
1 hour fortnightly social support for someone to go and do my errands , saves me on taxi fares and in needed spending - approx $40 savings.
I needed a new bed , while this involves spending money I saved on delivery fees which would have been $180 if we went with a private company recommended by the furniture store because we needed it on the day . It would have been about $60 and a 4 day wait if delivered by the furniture store . Instead my Dad borrowed the family trailer and did the pick up and delivery himself . The bed frame itself was reduced by at least $80 so a potential $260 saving . I gave my Dad a Bunnings hardware store voucher for all his hard work in dismantling my old bed and setting up the new bed and everything that required. I also am counting an extra $100 savings as I would have easily had to pay that to have my bed taken apart etc if my dad didn't do it.
I bought a DVD as a treat and was charged a higher price than the ticketed price. I got my money back under the supermarket scanning policy , saving me $16 and getting a free DVD .
I was given a family sized chicken and leek and veg pie by my parents , which fed me for )2 dinners and a lunch , saving me about $15 .
I bought 3 boxes of my favourite tea bags on excellent special , saving me $16.50 .
I had other grocery savings of $25 .
I put $50 into savings .
Another saving was that I had 2 x 1 hour meal prep ( cooking) services . This saved me at least $40 on takeaway food or prepared food . We used food I had here so there was no extra outlay .
I made 12 cards this week ,some will be for a swap I am taking part in , some will be as part of a set for gifts. Saving me about $50
I will be using a gift from my gift cupboard , saving me $15 .
I didn't go out to lunch this week as we had planned saving about $20 .
My total for the Vicki challenge this week is approximately $670 !
Take care Annabel, I hope you have been having the quiet weekend you longed for.
Love Barb W.
Dear Barb, Your Dad is wonderful! I hope you are loving your new bed. Dad did save you such a lot.
DeleteAll your other savings are great too! Well done! The teabags were a great savings!
I am glad you made so many cards! That is wonderful!
Your grand total is fantastic!
I have heard this morning Chloe got to her destination after 30 hours non stop travel. The las apart was dangerous which was 7.5 hours in a bus in the middle of the night in Africa. Not happy time. But she is there and exhausted. At least I know she is ok at this minute. Thanks so much Barb, with love, Annabel.xxx
Now you can sleep until the return trip.
DeleteLynette
XXXXX
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteI am keeping Chloe in my prayers, that she will be safe and guided by wisdom. I am praying for you too. I know now what it is to worry over your child, and I hope she returns to you safely soon.
With love, Kelsey
Dear Kelsey, Thank you! She is there safe and sound after a pretty bad trip. We had a face time chat last night and I saw her room etc. So that was a relief! Have a good new week, I will try to have a "normal" week and get some stuff done! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteHi Annabel and everyone,
ReplyDeleteKeeping you and your family in my thoughts --- I hope all goes well.
Your flowering tree is beautiful, and I have never seen anything like those galah birds. The color!
I feel like I did not get much done this week, but did continue to pack all work lunches, eat dinners at home, gather veggies from the garden, and use stockpiled cards to send greetings. We were also gifted some tea, noodles, and dried fruit from a friend that we drove to a doctor's appointment, so that was a nice and welcome surprise.
I hope everyone has a good week,
Kathy