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 1 January 2018

Welcome to 2018. Setting the scene!

Yesterday we got started with making some plans.  I think all week we can be making and fine tuning  our plans!

I want to encourage thinking big and thought what better way to do this than give an example of a big plan coming to fruition!  I am going to share with you Vicky's 2017 goal.
First of all I will mention that Vicky's 2016 goal was also pretty awesome.  In  2016 she established her Victory vegetable garden and made over her cellar to be her preserves pantry.  It was epic!  You can take a look at that post here.   If you haven't seen this or can't remember it then take a look as it is inspiring to see what you can do in a year.

For 2017 Vicky set sights on another big project.   I had the fun of seeing each stage and to be honest I wondered if she could ever complete it in the year.  Her husband Rick did so much work on this and together they did it!  I know Vicky is still in the stage of adding her basket and final touches but still it is done!


73 comments:

  1. And I thought I had a big pantry lol!

    This is awesome Vicky (and Annabel), it is like having your own little store. It definitely makes me want to get in and organise my pantry better! It is on my list :)

    xTania

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  2. Oh my goodness. I tried showing these terrific pictures to my husband. He just rolled his eyes and said "Get some of these kids to move out first!" Haha, since our oldest is a boy who just turned 18, and shares a room with his only brother, who is only 7. And the 4 girls all share a room, it will be a long time before we have an extra room!

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    1. LOL Sarah! But if it helps the shelves only stick out 18 inches so you don't really lose a lot of space except wall space.
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  3. Vicky, lovely pantry. Mine is similar, it took three years of thinking about it and almost 8 months of demolished kitchen before we built our butler's. I have not yet got the custom shelves built onto the opposite wall, but the bench with sink and dishwasher is in, the overheads are in and under the bench instead of open, I've gone for pot drawers. My custom shelves will be very much like yours. Congrats on having it all done. I wish we had couponing here in Australia!!!!

    Hello Annabel, I did pop over to your Facebook page and have a listen/look at Vicky's pantry, I think you should do a talking one too - we have no idea what you sound like either.

    Yesterday I got out my enormous boxes of opp shop fabrics/sheets etc and my old linen and cut out 45 kangaroo/wombat pouches, I have them all stacked up ready to sew. They are lined hanging pouches with a centre split and a large pouch area towards the back, I try to line with flannelette as it's really soft for the babies, but some are just sheeting. They have three thick loops across the top as they are usually hung on a wooden rod, or suspended via strong clamps. The carers have frames these little babies hang on. I've seen them lined up around the rooms with little faces poking out of each one. It's very cute but very sad. I have bought myself a baby lock overlocker and as soon as I get it, I will zoom through these. I will also be making a lot more baby clothes this year and I have a top almost made for myself. I have bought satiny type fabric to make summer nighties and some cotton interlock to make myself a few t-shirts.

    Last Christmas you sent me a covered notebook and I think I said to you that my goal was to make 365 things, well I got up to 198! I blame a limb in plaster for two months and then rehab on not getting there. This year I intend to make 365 things. I want a crafty year. So I'll join in any challenge you start.

    Your planner looks good, I made my own this year, got it copied and then took it to office works and got it bound. It's awesome.

    Anyway, happy new year,

    Fi xxx

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    1. Hi Fiona! I love, love butler's pantries! I would love to see when you get your shelves and everything done. It is so sweet of you to make the pouches for the baby kangaroos and wombats my we see those too please?
      XOXO
      Vicky

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    2. well done on making the roo and wombat pouches. I am expecting to make possum pouches for DD#1 who is starting her own wildlife rescue/carer program.
      Margaret

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  4. Dear Annabel and Vicky,
    This is amazing!! Wow, what a dream come true. Vicky, I love the story of you as a little girl playing store and then cooking for your children :) Your pantry looks so well-thought out and I'm sure it took a lot of work and patience! I had a giggle at your son lol. Well done to your husband too for all the work he put in, it definitely paid off! All of that food is just incredible, how rich you must feel to have your own store! Thank you for sharing this Vicky and Annabel. It is truly inspiring. I just cant believe how amazing this is!
    Love, Kelsey

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    1. Thank you so much Kelsey! It is so nice to have everything put away and organized finally after boxing it all up for the work to be done. And LOL my son is a funny bunny haha!
      XOXO
      vicky

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  5. Dear Vicky and Annabel,
    The pantry turned out very nice. You have been one busy lady, my friend. I want to just type 'Awesome,' so I will.😊
    I am excited to see what challenges you have in store for us, Annabel. You are so creative and organized, it is bound to be good.
    Love and hugs,
    Glenda

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    1. Thank you Glenda! We are off to a good start! With love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Thanks Glenda!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  6. Now that is a pantry! Thanks for giving us a tour, Vicky.

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    1. Thanks Wendi! I just like hearing Vickys voice too! We spoke on the phone for Christmas. We couldnt stop laughing as we both think the others accent is so funny to hear! xxx

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    2. Thanks Wendi! The wait was so worth it once we got to the finish line!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  7. I expect to move from an apartment to a house in the coming months, and hope very much to expand my pantry stock. However, I am always plagued by one question when I look at this kind of remarkable achievement and consider the discipline it has required. Perhaps you too have thought about it - I wonder how you came to peace with your answer. How does one, as a Christian, come to terms with God's instructions to care for the poor and pray only for our daily bread at the same time as one has a large stash of food, and people in our cities go hungry? I know Proverbs, especially, calls on us to be wise in planning, and of course, I know there are those who are wasteful, but I live in what is now one of the three most expensive cities in the world, and most of our poor are working poor; the state in which I live now has one in five children living below the poverty line. I really struggle with guilt about putting away a lot for a potential difficulty for myself/family while others are currently in the midst of those very same realities. Thoughts??

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    1. Dear Judy, As Vickys friend I will answer as she might not tell you herself but I know having her pantry in fact allows her to continuously help people including with fresh vegetables from her garden. With out all this she couldnt do it. Do efforts like these can take you from someone ending help to someone able to give it. So why don't you coupon and grow things etc and then you can be helping some of the ones in your community as well? That would be wonderful!
      Of course we are also responsible for feeding our own family in hard times and Vicky and I both consider extended family part of that. The Bible has plenty of verses about being prepared and taking care of our families which we take seriously too. So it is both. With hard work we hopefully can do both. Also not being wasteful is a big thing. Thank you for your thoughts, with love Annabel.xxx

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    2. I hope this is appropriate to answer here, but if not, please delete, Annabel.

      Judy, I understand your concerns as I too live in a very expensive city, where food, accommodation, fuel and day-to-day living expenses are high.

      I think of having a well-stocked pantry along the same lines as the emergency drill on ships and planes - make sure you are equipped first, then you are better able to help those around who may be struggling. It is much less stressful to donate to food drives or charity hampers when you know you've also taken care of your own family.

      Just my thoughts,
      Janine

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    3. Sorry for my typos! Thank you Janine that is a very sensible way of putting it. How can we help others if we cant help ourselves? I know a bit about Dave Ramsey and he is a Christian and has the step by step programme and I know it is to pay of debts, get emergency fund, save for kids college etc, invest and help others. All this work makes it possible to get ahead and help others. So this makes sense. Thank you.xxx

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    4. Hello Judy and if I may I will answer your question and I relate to where you are coming from with perhaps feeling concerned about others.

      I will draw your attention to a scripture that says it all to me which is the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 which points out that we should be prepared which Jesus says by saying "I know you not" in these verses which reads -

      1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
      2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
      3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
      4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
      5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
      6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
      7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
      8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
      9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
      10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
      11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
      12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
      13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

      I have found in our family that because we are prepared and stock more than our family needs that we are better placed to help others when those situations arise. The way I look at it is our stocks are not only for ourselves but others as well. Without spare clothing we would not be able to clothe the naked etc.

      Some of the ways we have helped others is -
      - We donate some of our extra food from our garden produce to friends and acquaintances who are in a less fortunate position than ourselves.
      -Through having extra stores of medical supplies we were able to supply a close friend who couldn't afford to buy burns dressings from the chemist some from our stockpile instead.

      I hope this helps.

      Sewingcreations15.

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    5. Dear Judy, I understand your question, I think. Jesus does tell us to pray for our daily bread, but He does not say ONLY to pray for our daily bread.

      I look at a deep pantry as money in the bank. If Vicky or many of the rest of us who comment here, did not spend money on stocking up then that money would be sitting in the bank or worse, wasted on frivolous or foolish things.

      My pantry is a hedge against inflation, a way of looking after my family AND it enables me to help those in need. I can feel extra generous with donating pantry items because I have purchased these things at sale prices.

      In the Old Testament God used Joseph to interpret Pharoah's dreams to prepare for the upcoming famine. He saved untold numbers of lives by doing so! I think God has given many of us a sense of unease about our political, cultural and financial climate. I am heeding His call to prepare for whatever it might be that lies ahead.

      My preparing helps me care for the poor, not ignore them. I prep out of faith not fear. Faith that God will use what we have to bless others in addition to caring for my family.

      Preparing or pantry building is not an 'either-or' choice. For me it is not, because I prepare I cannot help others. It is 'because I prep I can help others-and more generously!

      Hope that makes sense!

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    6. Thank you, ladies.

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    7. I don’t comment often but read every post. I wanted to share some thoughts with Judy. I understand exactly what you’re feeling but have had to come to terms with it. Matthew 6:25-34, talks about “not to worry” about what we will eat, drink, wear, etc. I think we have to truly look at the “not worry” part. We can’t change things by worrying about it, but we can trust The Lord to provide for us if we put our faith and trust in him. He always blesses us when we need it the most. It may be that we classify in our minds, big blessings and little blessings, but He always takes care of us. We’ve probably all had lean times in our life where we didn’t have a huge full pantry to fall back on, but the Lord made sure we had something to eat. Maybe that “something” came from someone else’s full pantry. So now st this time in your life if you are able to work, save, & gather food in your pantry that’s a gift from God and in turn He’s giving you the chance to bless others when given the opportunity. I’ve learned that you can’t outgive God. The more you do, the more He blesses. So don’t feel guilty about having a full pantry. It’s being prepared like the Proverbs 31 woman. It’s keeping you from worrying about your own household plus being able to help others in times of need if you see fit. I hope this makes sense...Vicky in Ky.

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    8. Most welcome Judy and hope I helped a little.

      Thank you too Cheri as your words really spoke to me that preparing is a twofold thing both temporal (being aware of world and community events and taking appropriate action) and spiritual "faith". We stock out of faith and not fear too.

      The happy and wonderful side effects from this is that we are following scriptural advice, able to help others, our pantry supplies purchased on special are earning us better than bank interest and we have prepared enough our own families as well.

      Sewingcreations15.

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  8. wow! that is a lot of foods
    turning a spare room into a pantry is a brilliant idea!
    thanx for sharing

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  9. Vicky, I love your pantry! What a blessing! Annabel, I'm ready for your craft challenge!

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  10. Thanks Annabel for showing us Vicky's lovely pantry and how beautiful and well organised is that :) . You should be proud of your accomplishments Vicky.

    Currently we are in a rental whilst saving for our home but we have still turned the spare bedroom into a pantry anyway by adding gorilla shelving. It is starting to fill up in there and like Vicky I am admiring seeing our food storage lined up like little soldiers on the shelf :). It is a visual reminder of how much we have accomplished so far since 2014.

    When we have our home built that we have designed ourselves we will have a purpose built storage room in there which will be 4 x 4mts but it could be bigger we never know.

    Until then we will admire our food storage on the current shelves we have in our spare room and think longingly about that same food being in our own home.

    Sewingcreations15.

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    1. Sewingcreations,
      I am sure that once you get your house built that the pantry you are building now is going to serve you very well and be a big blessing good for you for building up the reserves now! And you will get to design your pantry from scratch too that would be fantastic!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  11. Your pantry is absolutely fabulous! Although you have a large stockpile, I wonder how often you shop. In Australia, I know food is dearer than England and coupons do not happen. Sometimes, items may be half price. Enjoy your pantry and have a great year!

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    1. I shop where and when the sales are the best I check each sales flyer carefully for the stores in my area so I can maximize my grocery dollars and always have a look around in any stores there are when I'm out an about which doesn't require much time because if the prices are not good and I don't find any mark downs I am back out the door. I shop anywhere from once a week to once a month and the last year or so without many coupons because they haven't been that great. For example the cans of white and kidney beans on the shelf were marked down to 30 cents a can no coupons used. When my garden is in full swing I don't have to buy veggies and certain fruits like berries so that gives me a little extra to use to spend on meat or sale items and when I first started meals were planned around what was on sale the cheapest and with what I saved it paid for meat. And once I started building things up the sales it freed me up to cherry pick the deals. One week meat would be great prices and all I would buy was meat and use what I had on hand another week it might have been canned goods. I looked at coupons as money and when we take our recycling in the paper dumpster is always a good place to look for coupons because so many people here throw them out. Before the couponing though the biggest help was just changing the way I shopped.
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  12. WOW!WOW!WOW! What a pantry, Vicky, and thank you Annabel for showing it. I can see a LOT of work has gone into this, not just the physical work, but also the planning and stocking.

    I'm 'formalizing' my planner this year. Usually I have a few things I want to achieve through the year jotted on a scrap of paper (it's usually lost within a few months), but this time I'm getting a diary and USING it. I always keep a log of things I sew by month - date started, pattern used, fabric & quantity use and finish date - I love seeing how much fabric gets sewn each year, and I set myself a target (most years I come close to target).

    There are a couple of major goals we'd like to achieve this year. Number one is get our foundations checked - we have a major crack developing in one wall and all the paving outside is badly cracked! Yikes, I have a feeling this is not going to be much of a 'saving', but better than losing the back half of the house.

    Secondly, I need to replace our canvas awnings. I made the current ones 30 years ago so they have lasted well. I have the canvas already, so it's just a matter of 'getting stuck in'. I probably should add new curtains to the list also, as once again, I have the materials on hand.

    I need to rein in some health issues. I had a scare this year with my kidney function dropping to 40% (only have one due to cancer), so need to continue with my weight loss.

    I'm up for any challenges here, and can't wait to read the sewing challenge tomorrow.

    2018 is going to be a good year :-)
    Janine

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    1. Thanks Janine and it sounds like you save a lot with your sewing that is a wonderful skill to have! I hope you do well with your health issues and good luck with your weight loss we will be cheering you on!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  13. Oh, Vicky, I have pantry envy! It is beautiful, just beautiful.

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    1. thank you so much Cath! It was definitely a project and one worth waiting for. Having everything put away has given me lots of space back and I am so grateful!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  14. What woman would not want that pantry as I sit here and drool,lol lucky you.

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    1. LOL Thanks Sherry! I have napkins in the pantry if you need one for the drool. Haha!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  15. Hahaha. My favourite colour paint is also "bargain" :D. Your son cracked me up too! But well done to you all - that is one impressive pantry. It's what my pantry wants to be when it grows up!

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    1. Thanks Allegra! My son can be a real corker at times! Oh yes when the hubby told me that paint was marked down to $9 it changed my mind quick! Haha!
      XOXO
      vicky

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  16. That is a sight to behold, Vicky! It kind of reminds me of the scene in Blast From the Past, where the mom is shopping in the bomb shelter. I always loved that scene!

    One of my goals this year is to expand my pantry, so I'm trying to think of creative ways to do this. No spare rooms here, so I need to put my thinking cap on!

    Looking forward to the crafting challenge, Annabel! Another goal this year is to hand make the majority of gifts :)

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    1. LOL thanks Jenn! I haven't seen that movie in forever I need to watch it again! If you have a wall that you don't use as much the shelving only sticks out 18 inches so it doesn't take up the whole room. They could easily be hidden with pretty curtains or you could go with something like boards and chicken wire for a country looking door or even doors and go for a den like look. Anything helpful there?
      XOXO
      Vicky

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    2. Those are great ideas, Vicky! Unfortunately, no walls. It's a small house and every inch is pretty well optimized. Even under the beds! lol!

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  17. Prized Ramen Noodle collection.... I love it! That is some pantry and reminds me so much of the country store! Congrats to Vicky on a wonderful job well done! Does Vicky have a blog?

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    1. Little Penpen,
      No I don't sorry. LOL my son is a nut haha he is always making fun of me. Thanks so much for looking at my pantry!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  18. Well done, Vicky. You are 'looking well to the ways of your household' . Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you Cheri! It has been very much needed over the years for us and others as well.
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  19. Wow, Vicky....that is DEFINITELY a grocery store! I love your story about how renovations work in your house...they are similar at my house...the frustration levels!!! But the funniest was your son's comment about the ramen noodles. :) What an accomplishment! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for posting the photos and story, Annabel!

    xx Jen in NS

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    1. Thanks Jen in NS! It did get very frustrating at points I think that is normal for everyone and there were days I just wanted to pull my hair or my husband's haha! And yeah my son is a hoot!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  20. Wow, what a pantry! Love it! I love to organize, so those photos just really got me inspired. I also loved Vicky's comments, had me laughing out loud, especially the comment by her son. And yes, I also loved playing grocery store as a child and had a play area set up for my children so they could play grocery store also (I saved empty food containers and they could 'shop' for them). My appreciation for a pantry goes back over 50 years when I was in the house my grandfather grew up in... this house was from the mid to late 1800's and there was a little pantry room with wood floors, wood shelves and a small window. I loved that little pantry room and it's been a special memory. When we looked at our present home (while home shopping) a surprise bonus was it has a walk in pantry--I knew this was the home for us! Enough on that story... as for a goal this year is to (attempt) to stay out of fabric stores until I've used up what I have on hand. The result of this will be more hand made gifts for my Christmas cupboard. Here's to a productive and fun 2018!

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    1. A walk in pantry is fantastic Joy! I would have loved to have seen your grandfather's house and the little pantry room there is always something to appreciate with any pantry room! Good luck with using your fabric!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  21. Hello,I am Vicky's Mom and I will tell you when we go to the store together she can spot the sales tags in a minute.She speeds over to the items,then I have to find her!Vicky has a very good heart and does help some of the different charities here. The canned drives for food pantries love getting canned goods from her.We also joke about me getting lost in the store when it's actually her! So she does prepare and also gives it is not hard to do both if you want to.
    Vicky's Mom

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    1. Hi Mom! Stay out of the chips in the pantry eat your cottage cheese!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  22. Wow, I have pantry envy, when we move a pantry is a must.

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    1. Oh yes! I hope you get your pantry it is a big blessing to have!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  23. ❤️❤️❤️ In pantry love!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

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  24. Vicky your pantry is amazing and it looks great as well. I have been thinking about our goals for this year. My partner is the main cook in our house of two. He keeps a good supply of the things we use all the time and cooks in bulk so he is not cooking every night. I am gluten free and I take my lunch to work every day. In the summer I make up salads and in the winter take a hot meal from the night before. Like every where else the cost of food has gone through the roof. It's a sad day when the basics like butter cost $5.70NZD on special. As a teacher we live on my income. We made this decision 10yrs ago after my partner had a life changing illness. I have no complaints. In that time we have brought our own home, have no debt aside from our mortgage, eat well, entertain mainly at home with family and friends, shop for my clothing at op shops. It helps I am a small standard size, so I have plenty of choice. I have many "label" clothes at a cost of between $5-10NZD. We pay cash for all major appliance replacements and house repairs and improvements. We holiday in New Zealand and are spoilt for beautiful places to go.
    One goal for this year I would like to achieve is to buy our main food items and stock when they are on their specials cycle. We do this with our meat and many food items but I would like to get closer to the 90% mark, as a way to counteract the growing increases in costs of living.
    The other goal is to track and reduce the incidental money trickling out. I have had a massive couple of years at work and last year it was the small amounts often that add up. Usually we are pretty good with this and I would like to keep it that way.
    I have a big old concreate, double wash tub that was outside the garage when we brought our home. I am going to make this into a herb garden.
    Enough about me. I so love reading your blog Annabel and everyones contributions and comments. When your on holiday I go back and read your older posts so I still get my bluebirds fix.

    Happy New Year everyone. May you and your loved ones be happy and healthy in mind, body and spirit. I look forward to contributing this year.

    Mandy(NZ)

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    1. Mandy,
      It really is like a game one thing goes up and we search for how we can make up the difference just take advantage of those sales and stock what you can and eventually it all adds up and you can cherry pick because of getting ahead. Your herb garden sounds like it's going to be really nice I would put in a tomato or two a cabbage or two and get the most from it.
      XOXO
      Vicky

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    2. It sure is Vicky. International visitors are often shocked by the high food prices here in NZ. We only have two major food chains here so they have only each other to compete with and a cornered market so to speak. Despite this we find ways around it and stretch the dollars.
      I should mention we do have a small productive vege garden thanks to my dad who is an avid gardener. We are just waiting on our new potatoes to be ready, the tomatos are nearly ready, new silverbeet is in, parsnips are planted for winter, courgettes are coming thick and fast, my lemon tree I nursed back to good health over the past couple of years produces many lemons to share with others, we have had many raspberries leading up to Christmas and the peach tree is looking good.
      I really get lots of ideas and encouragement reading everyones contributions, so thank you so very much.

      Mandy(NZ)

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  25. WOW what a fantastic pantry Vicki, thank you Annabel for showing us and I also enjoyed the fb tour of the pantry thank you Vicki.
    My pantry is also deep, but very different, as we try to be self sufficient on our piece of land and stretch our fixed income as far as we can, so preserving is mainly what we produce from the garden and buying apples direct from the orchard. We are very fortunate, that through hard work we a able to be self sufficient with our meat, have chooks so eggs and meat have cows (2 have now calved) so milk, cream butter etc coming in a couple of weeks, and we have a beast in the freezer, we also have sheep so plenty of lamb and we will be putting our own pork on the freezer in the next few months. So need to learn how to turn it into ham and bacon.
    We pass along a lot of our vegetables esp to Can Assist a local charity in town who sell loads of pickle and relishes etc that they make.
    We eat very little prepared food 99% is cooked from scratch, by choice and also because I am diabetic. Our family also love to help themselves from Mum's pantry I am still working on my aims and goals for this year, but I am sure in which way we want and need to go.
    Love Lorraine

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    1. Lorraine,
      Thanks for looking at both! We would like to be self sufficient, but sadly 100% isn't a possibility for us. We garden and can and have chickens and hunt wild game and compost and recycle and barter, but we wanted to get a cow, a pig and a goat and because we have a septic on our property we are not allowed to have livestock beyond chickens.
      XOXO
      Vicky

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    2. Hi Vicki, thank you for replying to my comment. We also compost, recycle, and dispose of most of our own rubbish on site, and we love to barter. We have septic on our few acres, in fact a lot of small acreage blocks around our town have septic because Council sewage ha not been installed in their areas, however we are in a farming area, and all farms have septic, and there are no regulations as such, except for being close to water ways. We have our pigs in the Pig Taj Mahal shed because if they roamed "free range" they would damage the creeks that are part of our property and flow through other properties and eventually in to a major river system.
      Our septic tank has it owns rubble drain and we have never and not likely to have any problems with it, it was approved by our Council.
      Here's hoping at some time in the future you will be able to have other livestock.
      Lorraine

      XOXO

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    1. AW Lana I am so sorry, but please let that go. We are human and we make mistakes especially in stressful situations and renos are stressful and I bet your husband who knows your personality better than anyone doesn't blame you one bit! If he has forgiven you then you need to forgive yourself as well and just move forward with love! I am guessing your cabinets are beautiful! Is there anything you could swap out in those cabinets for some of the buckets so that if you have to haul things from upstairs is would be lighter items?
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  27. Dear Annabel , thankyou for showing us Vicky's wow pantry shop :-)
    Vicky,I enjoyed reading your story and seeing photos of your well stocked pantry and hearing your voice , thankyou , and well done!
    Your Patience and planning paid off. Patience is needed here too and it's slow often but other times whizz, it takes off haha.
    Can you beleive we use to have a small walkin pantry but when the kitchen was renovated 24 years ago it was opened up and my pantry was a smaller condensed one behind bifold doors.
    Last year I got hubby to help and we moved a slim Ikea cabinet formupstairs to downstairs out to our back conservatory L shaped area,and I keep spare pantry items there on a much smaller scale than many of you here ,as I also need to store spare bulbs, tools and bigger not often used storage items in there.
    Across form that is a built in cupboard also narrow and earthquake bulky items and non food items plus medical kit are stored there . And in the laundry I have water bottles amongst a myriad of other things. I really need to cull a few things all over the house really. WE have a big area on paper but the reality is a lot of windows and little wall space with our staircases and attice topfloor windows.
    Hi to Mandy , Im another kiwi :-)
    Loved reading everyone's posts , welcome to the new Bluebirds, Love Maria xxx

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    1. Maria,
      Thank you too!
      XOXO
      Vicky

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  28. Vickey your pantry is a thing of beauty. Congratulations on that huge project being don't.
    Love Patty

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  29. Thanks for the welcome Maria. I have read with interest over the past year everyones preperations for natural weather events, storms etc. It is my partner who has us well organised in this department. We have plenty of water put aside and rotated and refilled. Bug out bag ready and in car. This includes food for the cat, first aid supplies, warm clothing. A full gas bottle for the bbq, plus a small charcole bbq. Frozen bottles of water in the freezer in case of loss of power, to keep food frozen for longer, torches and batteries. This all comes from living in a country rocked by earthquakes. I can relate to others experiences on here.

    Mandy(NZ)

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    1. Love the pantry Vickie! It is a thing of beauty. I am so happy for you and your neighbors.
      Much love,
      Patti

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