Feather your Nest Friday, 13th March, 2020.

Well, what an "interesting" week.  It was a week of not knowing where to look and what to do.  So This is what I did....

No ,not tractor driving!    I got busy "making hay while the sun shines!"
 
I took this photo on the way home from town last week.   I have always loved this saying.   And that is what we do.  We make the most of what we have and do what we are able right where we are now.

We made progress in several areas including the cottage.  Some rooms are painted!  We have three rooms that look clean and fresh!  Talk about a transformation!  

I had apples from apple picking last week and then Dad had brought me more!   I had zucchini ready in the garden and eggs from the chickens.  So I got cooking.

I made apple cakes,  zucchini slices/impossible pies and peanut butter biscuits as the girls love them.

I headed off to visit Lucy and as she is still getting over being sick I took one of everything.   The cake was a big hit.   All they are is a basic vanilla cake made in a bigger pan than normal so I can get the maximum amount of apple over the top.  Then dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar.   Any way to use up apples at the moment.  

On the way home I checked the apple tree on the side of the road...

They were almost ready.  I hedged my bets and picked two buckets and next week will do the same again if they are still there.   On the way back I found three more apple trees.  One had small ripe red apples.   I picked two bags of these as well. 

By the time I was home the back of the car was full. 

I washed up one batch at a time.

My method is just deal with the ones that need using soon.  Perfect ones went into the fridge and crispier for eating and keeping.   I made a basket of lovely little ones to take to Lucy and the girls.  I gave Chloe some good ones to send in Luke's lunch boxes.

I began to peel and stew some.    Last year I ordered an apple peeler. So finally I got to try it out.  

It is the best thing ever!!  This has helped so much. 

The first batch was stewed apples which I like for breakfast or with roast pork.

Next I started on apple puree.

With this lot I saved the peels and cores to simmer down and make apple jelly.   I strained that last night but I ran out of day so today I am adding the sugar and lemon to get it to set point.  

I intend on making batches of baby food in little containers and freezing those and canning the apple jelly.

During the week I also took up two pairs of pants for Andy and finished sewing up a pile of cleaning cloths.  

I also made myself some pantry curtains.  I had to face that my pantry was too light for food preservation.  Also the view out the window was only a water tank!   So now my pantry is darker which is good for the food in jars.

My fridge got a good clean.  I took out the drawers and washed them and re lined them.  

In between I have been writing and planning posts on how to make things that we might be facing shortages of at the moment or in the near future.  You will find them in the Pantries and Preparedness Section.   The next one is how to make hand sanitisers and wipes as these seem to be pretty much sold out everywhere.  We need not panic as there are very good alternatives!  

How was your week?  How did you get ahead, save and build up your pantry? 

Have a very good weekend!  xxx