Because it is cooling down so much I began to collect kindling. When I walk around doing anything I pick up sticks and pinecones and fill baskets.
My freezer has been filling. The big freezer we got mid last year was filled with bottles of water so that it would stay frozen longer should the power go off. Now I dug all those bottles out and re arranged everything and made a whole lot more room! I have also been freezing any rice or flours I manage to get and I found some of those! So my freezer is better and I have more space.
Our stores are still having shortages and there are many restrictions. So if I can buy flour or basics I do. My beautiful large sized Fowlers Vacola jars (this is an Australian Brand of reserving jar) have turned out to be lovely for storing these. Each holds exactly 1 kilo or rice or sugar. (That is 2.2 lbs) I have endlessly re arranged my pantry and also my jars have spilled out into the living area. But I don't care I think they are beautiful!
I continued to work through apples. I made applesauce, apple cake and dried apples...
I still had the figs that Scarlett helped me pick. I cooked them down to make Fig Paste. Next week I can show how it turned out. I need to slice it and wrap it next.
I had some milk that needed to be used up so I made a stack of pancakes and a baked custard.
Dad gave us two dressed rabbits. I cooked one and froze one.
I swapped some masks for some fabric.
For Chloe and Luke I made a chocolate cake over the Easter weekend.
My brother had a shipment arrive in a very large wooden box. He asked if I would like it to make a cubby house (kids play house) and I said YES!
He wasn't kidding about the size and it is really heavy! But I can do something wonderful with it!
Stage one will be cutting doors and windows which Andy will do.
Stage two I will paint it with an all weather undercoat of paint.
After that the fun will begin!
So it was an ok week but nothing spectacular! I have been very conscious of the pantry and what I use and how I use things. Of using up everything! If I have something that needs to be used up or incorporated into a meal I try and be right on to it. I feel I want to keep my pantry at the best level I can.
Over the weekend I hope to write another Pantries and Preparedness Post. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the long term foods one. This time the subject is multipurpose and lasting items that will keep you in washing powder or liquid for both the laundry and kitchen, soaps and cleaning items. I still see that any kind of soap is out of stock or very low at our stores. If you can get it then you are allowed to buy two items. This included a bar of soap or a pump soap or body wash. Being able to make all these items easily at home is a very good idea!
How was your week? How did you keep some normality, keep ahead, add to your pantry or garden? Oh this is another subject!! We will have to cover this but seeds and seedlings are almost impossible to get now. But we can find ways around this too, right!?
There is so much we can do. We are keeping the home fires burning! xxx
Annabel for someone who only had an OK week you still managed to get a lot done.
ReplyDeleteMy good news is that Bluey came and showed me an add in a magazine for a pre made chook tractor. We went online, I thought it was good but a bit expensive. Bluey just said to go ahead and purchase it. He then went to the produce store and put our name down for four point of lay chooks. The hens wont be available until early July but that is just fine. I am finally getting my own fluffy butt girls.
In February one friend asked me who the hungry hoards were that I was planting my garden for. That friend now knows the answer. I am so glad that I have been collecting seeds for years as this has meant that I havent had to endure the seed and seedling panic buying that is leaving shelves empty. I have been sharing some of the seedlings with friends and neighbours. My pantry has been getting a few items in return. I mentioned that I was looking for my Self Raising Flour to Bluey when one neighbour was here. The next day a 2kg package of SR flour was delivered over the fence. This is a lovely neighbourhood to live in, it truly is.
I do need to get some hay and some seaweed emulsion fertiliser. I will get the hay from the sugar cane farm. I put the catcher on the little mower and run it over a biscuit of the cane hay. This gives more of a chaff to be adding to my garden beds. I have made up a garbage bin full of weed and comfrey tea. This needs to ferment for another week or two before it will be a food fertiliser option.
Life is quiet, stay at home good.
Dear Jane, that is SO exciting about the chickens. We are hoping to get chickens soon too. Our coop arrived and my DH has to put it together. I am a bit worried about snakes, but I am really looking forward to chickens. I am very interested in your bin full of weeds and comfrey tea. What goes in it? I had a worm farm, but then Summer hit and we lost our worms. I would love to use it for something in the meantime. Lots of love, Bridge PS. You are such giving, generous, kind-hearted person, no wonder your neighbours are kind to you.
DeleteBridge I have a lidded plastic garbage bin. The lid is important and it must have a good seal. As I weed my garden I throw the weeds into the garbage bin. When I have had enough weeding, it is a never ending chore, I rip up some comfrey leaves and throw them in the bin as well. I then fill the bin up with water and put the lid on nice and tight. After about two weeks have passed I hold my breath and open up the bin. I give it a good stir and walk away and get my breath back. I then come back and using a plastic jug, I scoop out enough of the liquid to fill up one third of my watering can. Get the lid back on the bin. Fill the watering can up and get busy giving all your plants a nice tonic. It is a fabulous fertiliser. When I get to the gunk in the bottom of the bin, I tip this into my compost bin. Your weed tea bin smells like raw sewerage when it is nicely fermented. Hence the need to hold you breath a lot. Good luck.
DeleteHi Annabel, I am looking forward to see what you do with the cubby house reno. I was in Woolies to day and there was a woman standing staring at the empty shelves where floor cleaner and disinfectant used to be. She said to me with her arms wide 'Surely not everyone has had to rush out and buy floor cleaner." I looked at her very seriously and said, 'Oh yes they had to, you see with everyone staying at home and baking all day," (there is no flour or cake mixes left in our local Woolies either), "and having to rush off to the toilet so much because of all the cake," (still no toilet paper in the local Woolies - hasn't been any available for weeks), they then come back into the kitchen and start madly cleaning the floors." She burst out laughing and as we laughed at the lunacy of it all she said 'thank you I will remember that." All the while we kept appropriate social distancing measures in place. Laughing helps. I used to have a magnet which said the crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow, which is often true - well in my life it has been. And on the positive side our Woolies had hand sanitiser in stock, which hasn't been available for over a month.
ReplyDeleteThanks to stewardship practices we had in place we have built up our home and so are enjoying quieter times at home that this lovely Autumn weather makes so delightful. Thanks to God's good blessings of rain in January our dam was refilled and our veggie patch, which had lain dormant for many months during the drought, got going without any intervention from us, but it did provide a lot of inspiration to get going and replant and enlarge the veggie garden.
OOh, I love that, Sherri ..... “the crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow”!
DeleteRachel
I love that you shared that moment with the fellow customer. You are right, humour does get us through. I love that line too " the crises today is the joke of tomorrow". How I would love to see photos of your veggie garden! I love seeing garden photos. Lots of love, Bridge
DeleteAnnabel, you are amazing with what you achieve. I love all the baking that you have done and seeing those apples put to such a good use. Those dried apples look delicious. How lovely you made Chloe and Luke a cake for Easter. That is a wonderful gift. I have been distracted too and find it harder to focus. I have been planting some more seeds and have been given a heap of lemons and cuttings of Thai basil on the window sill. I am pleased to have got lots of weeding done! Lots of love, Bridge
DeleteYou have achieved much for a slow week, Annabel.
ReplyDeleteI have had a slow week. There is much I want to do. It is a case of the spirit is willing but the body weak. God bless.
Suzan I had a day yesterday like that. My body just said no no no. And it wasnt kidding! lol! xxx
DeleteHi Annabelle, so excited to see your kids playhouse. I know it will be adorable. Recently I reused a large crate to use for my chicks. We covered the crate in chicken wire and made a door in each end. It is a very large crate so they have tons of room to grow. I have been keeping them in the crate on my from glasses in porch so I can keep them warm with a heat lamp. Also I use this room to start my seeds for the garden. It acts as a mini green house. I made 8 quarts of beautifully rich veggie broth. I save all my veggie cuts and pieces in a baggie in the freezer. Once it is full I make broth to freeze for soups and rice. Also I went mushroom foraging with my dad. The mushroom season is just starting here. We found 21 mushrooms which my mom cooked to go with our dinner. These are morel mushrooms generally sell for at least $30 per pound so it is great to find our own. We were gifted some old pipe from a friend so we can use as supports for a new fence we are putting up in a new cow pasture. This saved us money on supplies. Best, Erica
ReplyDeleteDear Erica this is a great idea! I will keep this in mind. My son in law gets pumps and they are sometimes in a wooden crate. So I might be able to get hold of some. Your veggie broth sounds beautiful and nourishing too.
DeleteWe go mushroom picking at the beginning of winter. I dont know the kind though we just say field mushrooms. Yours sound more fancy!
You had a great week! I am sorry I was slow to reply. On Friday you will find out why! Things are ok now though! With love, Annabel.xxx
Sounds like a lovely week and a lot accomplished. I think your jars are beautiful. What a wonderful big box. I can't wait to see how darling you make that. The children will thoroughly enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend.
Thanks Cheryl, and today we found that inside the box is another box! Almost as big! So now I have to make more plans! xxx
DeleteMy week has been slow and quiet and all the better for that.
ReplyDeleteI have potted on some strawberry plants from the runners I pegged down last autumn, sown more seeds and potted others on and continue to sprout sunflower and alfalfa seeds for fresh greenery. I am now out of potting compost and have no idea if I can get more.
My little backyard has always been my 'garden for my soul' it has flowers and prettiness, but I decided this week that I will put some edible stuff in there too. I am limited as the yard gets no direct sunlight but salad leaves and some herbs will be fine and I think knowing and seeing food growing there will be good for me, plus I need to use every inch of my available space for food as who knows what the future holds.
Flour is now becoming a problem, I can't get any, anywhere. I am thinking of trying to swap yeast for flour as I have plenty of yeast. I have been making small loaves of bread in my small slow cooker and I really like it. I am currently trying it in a loaf tin in my big slow cooker to see how that turns out.
I stewed some plums that I bought and I enjoyed them so much that I think they should feature more often.
I am trying to simplify my eating somewhat, since I live alone there's no one else to please and I really don't need to make elaborate meals, simple and tasty is the way I plan to go, I think tonight will be a mushroom omelet and wedges, fuss free!
I have to say Annabel, those dried apple rings look lovely. As a teenager my pocket money was spent on them. I am thinking of purchasing a dehydrator but I need to do a little research before deciding, generally I prefer not to buy more gadgets, so a long, hard think is in order.
Anyway, take care everyone, have the best week possible and enjoy the peace and solitude as much as possible.
Su, there are so many vegetables still available for you to plant in your shady garden. :) Look at this article on The Spruce for planting shade loving veggies... https://www.thespruce.com/shade-tolerant-vegetables-1403388
DeleteOh, Annabel, I cannot wait to see the magical playhouse you create from this plain box! :) Isn't funny how that row of filled jars can fill you with such satisfaction? Love those jars by the way.
DeleteWe have actively been working in our garden this past week, but oh my, we had a couple nights of hard frost. I fear my peach trees which had already blossomed and were setting fruit may have been damaged. I plan to walk out and check them today. They are several hundred yards from the house...up a hill. Lol Hope you all have a very blessed week!
-Kath
Dear Su, If you have produce come your way then a dehydrator is really good. My fruit is free so it is good for me to put all this up one way or another. I love the sound of your lovely garden!
DeleteAlso dear Kath... Our yard is up and downhill also. Good for my legs... I hope the blossoms were not damaged! With love Annabel.xxx
It's been a good week here in southern Missouri USA. Our temperatures have fluctuated wildly for the last couple of weeks. My daughter and husband (the gardeners) don't know for sure when to plant.
ReplyDeleteI love the look of your filled jars. They are such calming and classic colors, they make great accessories!
Be blessed and safe in the blood of Jesus,
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Thank you Laura! I have heard others say that they cant plant yet some even had snow! I hope you end up with a good growing season though! Have a good new week! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteI love the look of the Fowlers jars! I agree - they can fit it anywhere in the house. We are heading into Spring here in the USA - in fact, here in the Phoenix, AZ area we are pushing into it quite fast so right now my garden is my first chore each day. It helps me focus on God's wonderful creation, especially during these crazy times.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the garden is good for us!! Animals and nature also... these are the things that make me feel happy and blessed. Today I harvested pumpkins and I certainly had that feeling! xxx
DeleteHow fun to be able to make a playhouse for the girls! Oh the possibilities! I see cuteness coming. I hope you will show us pictures!
ReplyDeleteI am finding that one of the most useful nonfood items in my stockpile is greeting cards. There have been a number of birthdays and other needs that have been so easily taken care of. I buy them when I find a sale and tuck them away for later in my card file. A few weeks ago Lidl had a whole display of cards reduced to 39 cents each so I stocked up while getting groceries.
On Monday we drove over to our best friends house and visited with them form a safe distance. It was wonderful. We bought some chairs to sit out on our driveway using pick up so we did not have to actually shop. All of our outdoor space is on the back of our house and we want to be able to connect with our neighbors during this time as they are out walking and such. Last night we saw our neighbors who are new friends as they walked by and it was great to see them.
We talked to all our kids on Skpe this week. Our oldest son is being furloughed from his job as he is an engineer for an auto manufacturer and cars are not selling so they are shutting down. I am so glad our government has put together a plan to get our country opened back up and the economy going once again even though it will still be weeks. It gives us hope.
A local chicken processing plant is selling their extra since restaurant orders are so reduced. It is in 40 pound boxes for $20 ti $40 each depending on what you buy so we are considering how best to do that. We could come home and fill jars and put it right into our two pressure canners and freeze the rest. We cold easily put 25 plus pounds right in the canner if everything was at the ready when we went to buy the chicken.
Have a great weekend! I am thinking we all need to just roll with what life brings right now.
Dear Lana, I will for sure show playhouse progress and I have ideas!
DeleteYou make a great point about greeting cards! I also keep a good stash and we have had a few birthdays in this time and I have had both cards and in some cases the gifts ready. This has been a big help. Also I think posting cards and letters now is so nice especially for older people who are staying home and this would be so nice for them to have something in the mail.
I like your social distancing visit. Out in the open fresh air with some spacing we can certainly chat and this is good for us all.
I am sorry your son is another losing his work. I hope it will not be for too long. The economic consequences of all of this are mind blowing. I think the chicken processing plant order might be a good opportunity. I would jump at it. Let us know how you go with that.
Yes... we need to be ready for whatever... it is like we have to adapt and adapt fast! With much love Annabel.xxx
Your granddaughters are going to love the house you make for them. I can just see curtains hanging in the windows now!
ReplyDeleteI remember when my oldest daughter was around 2-3, I got my first washing machine. I took the box it came in and cut out a door and a few windows. I put it in the back yard, close to the house. One summer afternoon,I couldn't find my daughter so I went out to the little house, peeked inside and there she was laying in the grass with her "blankie", sound asleep.
Dear Older and wiser, Kids love boxes... I realise ben if I did nothing to this box they would still like it haha! I can just imagine your little girl in their with her blankie! My girls did these things... if they had blankie they could sleep basically anywhere! Have a very good new week! With love, Annabel.xxx
DeleteI am so grateful for this blog! I come here as a respite from the rest of the world, and am constantly telling my famliy "Well, my Australian Lady's blog...." I don't know what I would do without the Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteThis week is the first week that felt a week (instead of a month) long! Not much accomplished outside of the everyday things. The stores are starting to look normal here in Ohio again, although I still can't get hand sanitizer. Not out, but would like to replace if/when I can. I have heard there are more options at the big store 30 minutes away, but have decided the risk is not worth the reward, yet anyway.
I made dandelion jelly and dandelion syrup this week, as well as got some seeds started, but then we had a cold snap, so I am afraid I will have to plant again, boo. We tried frying dandelion greens, the husband and I thought they were all right, but the kids did not like them, of course they don't like any greens except lettuce anyway. I guess greens are an acquired taste, I didn't like them when I was young either, haha.
I really hope that everyone is doing well and taking care of their mental health. Have a great weekend!
Sarah
Sarah, I find myself always referring to "my Astralian friend's blog" too! It really is a blessing.
DeleteDear Sarah, Oh thank you! This is gorgeous.... I just feel so many of you are like sisters and we all share so much. When I had small children I read Laines Letters. I loved her and she was in California. Each week she encouraged me so very much. She kind of guided the way. Now I am friends with Laine which blows my mind lol. But this makes me understand why encouragement is so very important. I still need it... and that feeling of working along side others even if it is in our own homes.
DeleteIf you can get any isopropyl alcohol this will give you a workable hand sanitising solution... I made single hand wipes in zip lock bags... they are so nice and work.
I agree about mental health. We need routines, goals and some good things like sunshine and fresh air. I am getting those today! With love, Annabel.xxx
What a lovely playhouse that big box will make! You will have fun planning and decorating and your grandchildren will enjoy many years of memories playing in it. It's so nice to make happy memories during these trying times. I was able to get hold of some yeast and even mailed some to my 85 year old mother who lives alone and still makes her own bread. I, too, have been carefully planning my food use and making sure not to waste anything. We went to the store Wednesday and I was so happy to find marked down fresh berries and mango. It won't last long but it sure is a special treat among the pantry food we've been eating. The shelves seemed pretty stocked to me (I live in Michigan, US) although there were limits on some things, like you could only buy two packages of meat. There weren't too many frozen vegetables left. They did have some seeds. I'm not a gardener, but I don't think I could start them right now. The packages say they need 8 hours of sun. It is so cloudy here, and it has been snowing all day. I don't have a grow light. So I'm hoping I can get some plants in a month or so. You really can't plant safely here until Mother's Day (early May). I've been making face masks every day. There is a huge demand for them.
ReplyDeleteThank you and the other Bluebirds for all the inspiration I get here. xo Deborah
Dear Deborah,
DeleteIt was lovely you could mail your Mum some yeast! Now that is a good idea!! I thought to mail masks... and yet many are having trouble with yeast!! I will try to lay my hands on some...
Well done on making face masks. They are so valuable and I think after this I will ALWAYS keep a good number on hand at all times! Have a good new week! With love Annabel.xxx
Those jars are gorgeous! One of my perks for the week was receiving 4 half gallon jars from my mom. They were old pickle jars and have the lids. Not canning jars but I will definitely use them for something. She also brought me an antique pitcher and bowl set she's had my entire life and got from her Grandma so I now have a lovely family heirloom!
ReplyDeleteWe are receiving a beef from my husband's parents and after looking all over for a big freezer (apparently they're now sold out), my mom reminded me she has an old one on her back porch she'll never use again and said it was ours if we wanted it. I'm excited to get stocked up on meat.
We have been carefully using up all foods and buying things that can be stored when stores have them in stock. I am trying to get a much better stockpiled home than I had before.
Our Easter was simple with a drive-in church service and a lovely meal with basic foods - honey baked ham, scalloped potatoes, salad, and oat rolls. My daughter and I made our first sponge cake using a basic recipe and made stewed strawberries and a lemon sauce glaze to top it. It was yummy and well received!
It was a lovely week, and I'm looking forward to another.
Dear Jenny,
DeleteThe jars from your Mum would be so nice. They are beautiful and so the jug and bowl would be. I have one full of flowers that I really love. The free beef will be amazing! Test the old freezer and I am a freezer checker. Apparently some have alarms if the power goes off or they fail... but none of mine do. So almost everyday I check the freezers. Freezers also sold out here. We had got in later last year and got a big one. I am so thankful for that freezer.
Jenny I am glad you are building up stocks. History tells us that there could be a second and even third outbreak of this that will make this one look minor. Hopefully NOT but these things are why we stockpile. It can literally be life saving. Your Easter sounds just lovely! I hope we both have a good new week! With much love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing the cubby house and how you Dr orate it. I'm not familiar with fig paste or its uses, but it sounds really interesting and delicious.
This week I finished more masks to mail out to friends and family. I made a huge batch of no'mato sauce , a tomato sauce substitute. A dozen muffins got baked as did a loaf of English muffin bread. I cooked two large acorn squash and added it to the freezer.
We're looking forward to the stable warm weather to be able to begin to plant. Right now it's a day or two of spring and then big freezes and back to winter. Stay safe everyone. Blessings Cookie
,
Hi Cookie! May I ask for instructions or a recipe for your no'mato sauce, please? Thank you!
DeleteTerri in Ohio
Hi Terri,
DeleteI found this recipe online. It is:
6 fresh carrots diced, 1 small fresh beet peeled and diced, 3 stalks of celery diced, 1 large onion diced , 1 bay leaf,
1 1/2 to 2 cups water. Bring to a boil and then simmer until vegetables are soft adding small amounts of water if needed. Let cool and then puree until smooth in high speed blender or food processor. I then freeze the puree in the portion sizes I want. To give it the "Tang" of tomato sauce you can season it to taste with apple cider vinegar. I have a condition where I can't use vinegar so I dissolve ascorbic acid powder in a little water to get the sour taste. When I'm ready to use the puree I add the seasonings, like salt, garlic, oregano, basil, etc. for spaghetti sauce and sometimes thin with water or broth. You can also make this sauce using canned beets and canned carrots. There are quite a few recipes on line if you Google no'mato sauce recipes. I like this particular recipe because I can season it using herbs and spices at my own discretion and not someone else's measurements etc. Blessings, Cookie
Dear Cookie, I am just slicing my fig paste today... I will show you. It really belongs on a cheese board with crackers, cheese etc. It is so nice. Quince paste is another very popular one.
DeleteI think a mask in the mail is the kindest thing!
I am also planting today as I managed to get some seedlings. For me this is the Autumn/winter planting. I am heaping on the mulch too.
Have a lovely Sunday Cookie, with love Annabel.xxx
Hi Terri,
DeleteIf you Google no'mato sauce you will find many versions. I like the one because I can use it as a base and then season it with herbs and spices that I can use.The basic recipe
is: 6 good sized carrots, 1 small beet,3 stalkd of celery,1 large onion 1 bay leaf, 1 1/2 cups water. Dice up all the veggies and put in a pot with the water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer until the vegetables are soft. Add more water if necessary . Cool and puree until smooth.
To get the Tang of tomato sauce add apple cider vinegar to taste. I use a little dissolved ascorbic acid for the Tang taste because I have a condition where I can't use vinegar.
I then divide the puree up into portions and freeze it. The puree will be thick and when and can be thinned with water or broth. I add the salt and other herbs and spices when I'm ready to make a recipe with it.Blesdings, Cookie
Hi Cookie
DeleteJust a note to tell you that your seeds were posted before I went into isolation at the end of March I don't know how long they will take to get from here in the middle of NSW to your place. I am hoping that you have already received them
Love Lorraine
Hi Lorraine,
DeleteI haven't received them yet but I know that whenevervI've posted anything to Australia it can take several weeks to get there. Now with the virus mail is unpredictable here. We've been in isolation now for 30 days. Hope all is well with you and yours. Stay safe. With Love Cookie
Hi Cookie all is well here we have been in isolation for nearly a month
DeleteHope is all good wth you and yours
Love Lorraine 💕
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteI think your jars look lovely. I can't wait to see how you make over the playhouse.
The whole pandemic has been pushed to the the back of my mind this week. I found out Sunday that I am pregnant!!! So that news has been all-consuming and we have added a whole new category of things to prepare for. We are so excited about this blessing.
I hope everyone has a good and safe weekend.
With love, Kelsey
Dear Kelsey,
DeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!! So happy for you and Colton. Hugs Cookie
Congratulations!
DeleteKelsey that is fabulous news, congratulations! I hope you are well, can't wait to see the beautiful things you make to welcome your little one !
DeleteJen (NZ)
Congratulations!!
DeleteCongratulations Kelsey!!! Yes, indeed a whole new category of things to prep for, lol.
DeleteKelsey!! Oh my goodness I know how much you have been hoping!! Congratulations!!! How exciting! I am so happy for you! And you are so well set up now with your garden and chickens and more. This is the best news!! xxx
DeleteCongratulations Kelsey!!!
DeleteXOXO
Vicky
Kelsey, congratulations! Children are indeed a blessing! I am so happy for you!!!! With love, Teresa
DeleteCongratulations Kelsey!
DeleteOh Kelsey what wonderful new for you, Colton and John will have a little mate
DeleteAll the best love Lorraine xxx
Dear Kelsey!
DeleteI love that everything else pales in comparison to the beautiful life that is being built! May life continue in this vein for you. This is wonderful news!!
Rachel
Congratulations Kelsey! This is the most wonderful news! This is the BEST news! I am so happy for you and your family! Lots of love, Bridge
DeleteDear Annabel and Bluebirds
ReplyDeleteLove the new cubby house for the girls, I am sure there will be many hours of fun had using it.
No idea what is happening with groceries - my husband is going out once a week and pops into the Queensland owned supermarket to pick up items that we need. He is learning to think like I do and while he couldn't get a 2 kilo pack of plain flour he could get 2 single kilo packs - years ago he would have just not picked any up.
He wanted flour for the bread machine so I suggested he pop into the bulk goods store where he got the yeast from - he came back with 5 kilos that I had to find a container for so it was another round of moving something from one container to another, first having washed the container and making sure it was dry then washing the container the bread flour was going into and making sure that was dry and then putting the bread flour into it.
My week has been spent dealing with lots of noise from heavy machinery - two sets of neighbours decided to rip their yards apart and start again, the next door neighbour removed the garage and all of the concrete to gain access to the backyard and the massive shed there. So while I had good intentions of working on my craft room - it was on the noisy side of the house so it is a job for this weekend. This neighbour has lots of 'boys' toys and cut up the old concrete slab from a shed that has long gone so that we can reuse the pieces elsewhere.
My husband has just popped down to pick up our fruit and veg from our preferred shop. I ordered differently this time - 2 different smaller boxes so will have fun putting it all away. The food saver will be used for some items because we will have way more than we can use before they start to turn. I wasn't happy with the price and the quality of our local IGA - items I get from our fruit and veg shop that normally last a fortnight barely lasted a week, so not good buying as far as I am concerned.
Excitement plus - my cheque from Montville finally arrived and I had a really good month - if the virus hadn't shut the shop I would have had a really good winter. Just as well I don't rely on my earnings like some of them do to bolster their pensions. With the price rises that everyone is mentioning the pensioners would be really doing it tough.
I am still knitting, testing patterns and building up my stock. Mainly knitting in navy blue because once winter comes it is going to be hard to see to finish the items off so I am taking advantage of the good natural light at the moment.
I have a few packet cake mixes on hand - one will be made up today but to try out a recipe from a FB group I belong to - blitz a whole orange in a food processor add the packet mix and 1 egg, mix and cook - no instructions as to what size pan or how long and temperature in the oven so I would use what is recommended on the packet as a guide. You can pop some almonds on top - and dust with icing sugar when cool and ready to be served.
My husband has been told by his boss that everyone will be working from home until at least the end of May.
I have been reading the daily reports from our State Health Department and our health area still has increasing numbers of the virus - it might be just a couple each day but the curve is not flattening in our area as far as I can see so I am staying home.
If it cools down a bit next week I will be popping next door to the place that we 'care take' and harvesting lemon grass. There are a lot of plants in there. There is also a garden bed that I think could be utilized to grow some vegetables in so I will be on a scouting mission as well to see what can be done.
Hope all are keeping well
Lynette
XXXXX
My husband has ordered a new tyre for the wheelbarrow - it should be here around the end of the month. Then the fun of setting up the back yard garden can begin, the banana tree will be removed along with the Moringa - I need to find a large pot to plant a Moringa in to keep it at a useable height.
Dear Lynette, I think reading the daily health reports is a good idea. Our online news is already bored with the virus and has gone back to reporting about Karl Stefanovics x wife and what happened in married at first sight. It makes me sick. NOT news! Staying home is the best thing. At least you are always busy and occupied on projects and knitting. When the shop re opens you will have lots of knitting ready! Have a restful Sunday! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteWhat a lovely surprise to get the big box, I'm sure you will have fun decorating it and making it very special. A good idea might be to do one outside wall with Blackboard paint, and maybe a lift up window space with a wide sill, that can be used as a shop.
ReplyDeleteHave fun, can't wait to see what it looks like.
Dear Margaret, Thank you for the idea of the blackboard wall! I will do that and I didnt think of it! I love the idea of a shop also. I thought of having window boxes too.
DeleteThanks so much! With love Annabel.xxx
Annabel,
ReplyDeleteA cubby house is going to be so fun to do. Miniature things always are.
I am being very mindful of what I'm using from the pantry and making sure to use things up and no waste. I am seeing ladies who say flour is hard to get yet they are going on big baking sprees. I understand, but then again I would be a bit more conservative until I know for sure I could or have replenished.
I have the garden all planned out and just waiting for the weather.
I am still keeping track of our savings each week so that we can see even during times of duress how we did or didn't save or earn.
so I have saved the cost of 4 stamps paying bills over the phone.
Still saving on gas by not being able to leave much.
I received some freebies in the mail that retail for $25.
I got $15 in CVS money for a survey for them.
I did an online focus group twice that paid $25 each time.
I made shower cleaner from Epsom salts, baking soda and dish soap. It works pretty good.
I used the drying rack to dry clothes and on the cold days we are still burning wood.
The ladies gave us 3 dozen eggs this week.
And I have a new goal. I'm devoting all of the bigger gift cards I cash out survey points for towards new flooring for the dining room. My goal is to get as close to zero out of pocket as I can and if the hubby decides no on the flooring then I will use them to stock up or towards Christmas.
I was gifted some bottles. They are not old though.
I used some of the ham leftover from Easter dinner and packaged some for the freezer.
During times like these I think everyone feels distracted, anxious or overwhelmed. Big changes have taken place and disrupted some of our normal routines and even the normal things we buy. And family is a good thing, but also stressful, but we can learn from this. Every day that we are safe at home and have food on our table or we are able to help someone in need is a good day and we are blessed for it.
XOXO
Vicky
Vicky, I can see you are in the US. Many restaurants are selling ingredients, and some restaurant supply house are selling to the public. Their supply chains are different from grocery stores, and they are not necessarily short on stock. The Panera Bread in our town has on the website that they have ingredients to sell. I have heard of people getting TP this way, too.
Delete--Maxine
mikemax,
DeleteThank you! I will pass this info along. I personally don't have a need yet, but I know others who might.
XOXO
Vicky
Dear Annabel and lovely Bluebirds!!
ReplyDeleteI love, love Annabel’s pantry decor! The tones are right, in colour and practicality!!
I am finding so many things to be thankful for.
Where I had been carrying a lot of stress for a long time, when I needed the help, the Almighty was there for me. Because of the virus, I have been provided with work, doing virus cleaning, at the local avocado pack house, and the work is expected to last into spring. I am working for, and with, wonderful people. I can truly say that the LORD is my keeper. Be encouraged; He is there for us when we put our lives into His hands.
Rachel
Dear Rachel,
DeleteThis is so good Rachel and also nice that the people are lovely and you are getting out and meeting new people. This is good! And it is amazing since so many have lost jobs that you are actually provided one created by the virus. Also it is important work as you are working to protect others who also need to keep going in their job.
I hope the new week will be a good one for you! With love Annabel.xxx
Good morning, Annabel and Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteI've been absent a while since the work requirements outdoors have picked up here. I had to replant several things in our gardens due to high winds and late cold spells. We have fire ants and grasshoppers here not to mention rabbits and whatever decided to eat half of my largest cabbage! Probably a coon or a possum. We only have about half of our garden areas fenced.
I've enjoyed staying at home and that is proving to be a money-saver. Amazon had Klean-Heat lamp oil for half-price so I ordered a gallon along with a new oil lamp I've had my eye on. We are concentrating on using up some older food items from our storage and replacing what we use with new purchases. Our store has limits on certain items but for the most part we have been able to find everything we need. I'm lucky that my husband doesn't mind eating leftovers so that really helps cut down on waste. I enjoy the challenge of "using it up and making do". I think careful planning ahead is the key.
Annabelle, you did great with all your lovely apples. I know you will work wonders fixing up the playhouse. I can imagine Harper and Scarlet in there playing for hours! Your Fowler jars look beautiful and what better way to decorate than with edibles in pretty jars!
I have made masks for us and I mailed some to my granddaughter as the nursing home where she works only allows them one mask a week. I told her that is not acceptable! I was glad to have plenty of fabric, thread and elastic in my stash as that has been part of my stocking-up plan.
I believe there are so many lessons to be learned from these quarantines. Makes you wonder if that isn't the meaning of it all. I know there are things I will never take for granted again! Have a great week, BlueBirds.
Dear Pam,
DeleteI have your problem... I need a complete fence. I am trying to address this even with temporary measures. Suddenly it seems to me that I need to do as well on the garden as possible and set backs are not helpful!
No one mask a week is not acceptable. Good on your for posting some! Well done... we really need to be making masks... it is the only solution as far as I can see in such shortages. From now on I will ALWAYS keep the biggest supply I can at all times! Yes you are right there are many lessons from all of this and we need to act on them. You know most people will just think things will go back to normal... I think there will be another round of this and maybe more.
Thanks so much Pam, with love Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel and bluebirds,
ReplyDeleteit has been another interesting week. People are settling into the new way of life.
We still have shortages and limits here. We used to be able to get groceries delivered but the service that does this charges HUGE delivery fees and they also mark up the groceries $7 dollars for one 2 lbs bag of potatoes and they were spoiled.
The food banks here have been giving food to the first one thousand families. The rest are turned away.:( So sad so many without food. We have not gone to any of these we just see it on the news for our city.
Meat is sold out or very expensive and I am not sure I want any. So many food and meat packing companies closed down indefinitely.
Because of huge Corona virus outbreaks.
I wish we had been more stocked but we just had (one) Kristis income due to my health issues. We were grateful for that. She is a Wedding Planner. :)and loved it. She planed, organized and executed the most beautiful events. She has always loved fashion,details,art,decorating and everything thing that goes along with a wonderful event. She is calm by nature so this suits her. The entire hospitality industry has closed for now. I wonder when events will happen again? Currently in our city all gatherings of any amount of people have stopped. To stop the spread. I bet the new normal will look different.
So now she will reinvent herself. Not sure what that looks like but she will need to find work.
One man in the hospitality industry has a restraint and he has
Turned into a kinda of grocery store. He takes on line and pickup orders and he will also deliver to your home.So if you can't get supplies try contacting a bakery or restaurant they seem to get supplies. Even soap,spices,meat flour, sugar,fresh produce.
So we just need to look in New and different places for our supplies.
We have seen a lot of kind people during this time. This make me smile. One neighborhood put bears out for the children to see as they drive by. Others have put up Christmas lights. Some people sing on here front porch. Others have started food drives one 16 year old here got 4,000 in groceries donated.I am thinking of trying to start a virtual storey time. I am not great with technology but I am great with Children.
As I reflect on the week parts of it still seem surreal and parts seem very peaceful and satisfying.This week I have been singing
Psalm 3 I believe He is my Glory and the lifter of my head.
May God bless and keep you this week.
Much love,
Patti
Hi, Patti! I'm sorry to hear of Kristi's income loss. I wonder if doing something like a wedding box where she provides a box of wedding things for a couple to be able to do a small wedding would be something to think about? I know there is a subscription box for every type of hobby or fun thing so why not a wedding box that can be delivered and has all the fun stuff for a couple to have a small wedding? Just a thought that popped into my mind I wanted to share :)
DeletePatti, I think I may have been humming that song, too!!
DeleteRachel
Annabel,
ReplyDeleteThe cubby house sounds amazing. I have been pining tiny houses for years. Probably because I always wanted a real life play house. My best friend growing up had running water and so I thought electricity. It was actually a hose hooked to a small sink with a drain and battery operated light's. Where I live tiny houses are a thing and they rent them for hundreds of dollars a night. Kind of a get back to basics thing. I bet you could trade eggs or something for the doors and windows you want. How fun fun for your family.
Much love Patti
Patti that is so adorable! What a good idea! The battery operated lights are just the best idea!!! Thank you. This would be easy to do and be so nice. Genius! Thank you for this! Also I love the Hymn you have been singing. I love all your good stories about kindness in your community.
DeleteI dint know Kristi was a wedding planner! I dont know how long events like weddings will be kept so small but there will always be weddings so I hope soon her work comes back. I am thinking hard for her re what to do in the meantime. In her job she would have had many contacts from photographers to caterers.....they also would be in trouble right now. I think they should brainstorm with each other... some might have supplies which Kristi could deliver to door steps or something that would fill a need/provide a service in this time. I will keep thinking on that!! With much love, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel & fellow Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteAnnabel, I love your jars, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pantry cabinet in the lounge!!!
To check expiration dates for different foods, can I suggest the site www.Eatfoodsby.com. It divides food into different categories, for easy look ups. I been very surprised at how long some foods actually stay good. As long as the food has been stored responsibly...no direct sunlight, cooler room temperatures, etc...many canned items last long past their “Best by” dates.
Also, using bay leaves and/or diatomaceous earth can help keep bugs out of your dry goods jars.
Just curious Annabel, but how do you keep your dehydrated apple rings from turning brown? They look beautiful!
Good luck to all during these trying times! Stay safe! Stay healthy!
Louise
Long Island, NY
Dear Louise, Thank you so much! Thank you for the website also.
DeleteI have only been dehydrating much for a year. I learned to make a bowl of water and squeeze a couple of lemons into that. As I peel each apple (I have one of the old fashioned turn the handle peeler and slicers) I throw each one into the water while I peel the next one. I make sure they are fully submerged for a bit. This does it! They stay white as can be.
Stay safe and be careful Louise. I watch daily events in NY since I have a good friend there. With much love, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, I laughed out loud at your brother's large packing box...I was thinking of a washer machine box as someone else mentioned. I should say that will indeed make a lovely cubby house and like all the rest I am anticipating seeing the finished product as I know it shall be truly adorable and oh so lovely when you are done!
ReplyDeleteWe still have very low numbers in our county so my granddaughter was with her mum this weekend and we went over to visit with her today. Lovely to see that girly again. She's about to turn five, so I think around Harper's age?
We got our stimulus check this week from our government. We had discussed prior to receiving what we'd do and my husband wanted me to get an extra shelving unit to put into the closet we use as a pantry. Then he ordered a generator that will power our fridge if power goes out. That is such a blessing! Last hurricane (two years ago now) our power was gone for a week and while the bulk of my freezer goods had thick ice crystals things in the fridge were long gone.
Then he surprised me this week and told me to buy pantry stock with a set amount of money and we went off to Aldi where we found things in fairly good supply and stocked up on canned goods. No green beans or peas (seemingly the ONLY canned veg anyone eats) but I bought the limit on most all else and felt quite pleased that we'd managed so much towards filling our new shelf.
Dear Terri, Haahaha! Well a fridge or washing machine box is good for little kids too but yes this is really a major box!
DeleteYes Harper is five in a couple of weeks! It is the most lovely age. I am glad you did this ... numbers here are very low also. There are no known cases in our town. We are being very careful but to me this gives us a change to do a few necessary things.
The generator is such a wise investment! Have a few practice runs. Getting a routine to change over to the generator when needed is good. Also for the freezer you can run the generator at 15 mins per hour. That is plenty to keep a freezer solid.
It sounds to me like your husband is observant... that was great to be able to go stock up at Aldi. I love your new shelves too! You have done well this is so nice to hear! Have a very good new week! With love Annabel.xxx
Rachael,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you found work!:) God is so good,He truly is Jehovah Jireh! He truly does provide. I pray for more miracles in your life. I used to work in a fruit and nut packing house. I grew up in a farming community. I let them know I did not mind ugly fruit or nuts and I always had more than I could eat.Big hugs!
Much love,
Patti
Oh, thank you very much, Patti!!
DeleteThe Almighty has always been the One to look after me. I consider it a treasure to have experienced how He has kept me ahead of debt and bills, when I knew that I only truly trusted Him to be my keeper.
I appreciate your comments, knowing that you speak from genuine experience! The fruit and nut factory sounds wonderful! ..... The boss has already given out free quality fruit and vegetable juices from a local factory that has not been able to function on account of the virus. I was also sent home with discarded avocados from the packing girls. They were from a premium batch of fruit!
Thank you for taking the time to comment! You are wonderful!
Rachel
Annabel well done sorting out your freezer and pantry items too and your chocolate cake looks divine :). We too are using things wisely and carefully too.
ReplyDeleteFinances -
- Paid an extra part payment off our mortgage.
- Added extra money to our home emergency kitty.
- Banked more into our 3 month living expenses emergency fund bringing us to 60.4% of the way there.
Purchases -
- On specials and markdowns we purchased 4 x blocks of old gold chocolate, 10 x kiwi fruit, 8 tins of longlife meat and vegetables and a pair of sandals saving $39 on usual prices.
Cleaning -
- Deep cleaned DH's AWD and washed it.
- Mopped all the vinyl floors in the home with a disinfection solution after DH vacuumed them all.
In the gardens -
- Filled in more pot holes in the yard.
- Trimmed all the star jasmine and hedges around the home with the hedge trimmer.
- We mowed all the home lawns.
Have a great week ahead everyone :).
Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).
Lorna,
DeleteI'm not sure if I ever told you but I think you do such a fantastic job saving! And extra mortgage payments are very wise it adds up!
XOXO
Vicky
Dear Lorna, Like Vicky I admire your savings and your consistency. Also how you break things down into goals and track the progress which I can see is very motivating. When times like this strike I would think a lot of people wish they were ahead on the mortgage, pantry and emergency fund. But it had become quite weird and "normal" that instead of any of these sensible things everyone went on expensive trips etc and never thought of a rainy day. Well now it is a rainy day.
DeleteI have to go to town briefly today so I am going to see what I can add to my own pantry. Have a very good new week Lorna, with love Annabel.xxx
Thank you so much Annabel for your encouragement :).
DeleteI too am seeing the new "normal" of most (not all) spending all they earn and sometimes more which is a disturbing trend. From reading Australians have the second highest household debt per income in the world :o as at 2019 .
It really makes us feel at ease to know we have a good pantry and money behind us to back us up in case of a rainy day or emergency but got to admit it never crossed my mind on a pandemic. I think if you prepare generally across the board you put you and your family in a good position to weather most storms.
At the moment it looks like if we keep up our current extra payments we will reduce our mortgage down from 20 years to 11 years but hope to pay it off in 10 years or better. We will see how we go.
Hope you were able to add more things to your pantry when you went out too.
Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).
Aww thank you Vicky and yes it does pay very much to have both some savings behind you for a rainy (coronavirus pandemic :o ) day.
ReplyDeleteWe think we are on track at the moment on our mortgage to cut it down from 20 years to 9 years by paying the extra payments. Trying to aim to have it paid off in 10 years though but will see how we go.
Thank you for your encouragement :).
Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).