Cupboard clean outs looking good

I am so pleased with the finished look in this,the first cupboard on my list

to get the clean out.

As this cupboard only has 3 shelves,I bought 3 of these excellent plate racks

from K Mart at only $4 each.

It helps me use so much more of the space. 

This is how the cupboard looked without the racks

Too much space wasted 

This is what came out of the cupboard,as in previous post.

How are you doing with your sorting and cleaning out?

Next time I will be moving into the next room

My kitchen cupboards are starting to look tidier after these dishes were removed

Happy week

Meet me at some nice linky parties this week

The  links are on my side bar and on my other blog

heirloomtreasuresbyjeanetteann.blogspot.com

xx jeanetteann 

I will be linking up this post with 

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 

Time to get started on a good clear out

The first thing I do when I decide to have a good clean out and de clutter,is to get together some of these very handy linen baskets. I have quite a few for storage and carrying items from room to room. It saves by back :)

I sit down with a nice cup of tea,sometimes in the garden.  I make a plan for my week ahead. Even though I am retired and you might say,"well that's easy when you don't go out to work",but I even did this when I did work full time and achieved far more than when I just drifted from week to week with no plan. 

I decide what I have booked for each day. Sometimes I have a hairdresser,doctor or dentist appointment. I try to book them all on the same day. Sometimes this isn't possible,but most times it is. That way only one day is taken out of my week.

I then decide what I'm going to do on each day. It could be baking and cooking meals in advance for the freezer,or house cleaning etc.

I made my list on Sunday ready for the start of this week. I have already stuck to my list so far this week and today is going to be cupboard day. By that I mean,I'm going through my cupboards one room at a time.
I have my laundry basket ready for the collection 


My first cupboard is in the sun room. This room tends to get things stuffed in there out of the way. 
We spend a lot of time here and so it's important I keep on top of it. 
As an avid collector,I have to de clutter regularly so that my home doesn't resemble a second hand shop.:)

I have this lovely cabinet in here that was my mothers. Because it was dark wood and didn't suit this room,I painted it white and like it lots. It holds quite a bit and I originally thought of keeping glasses for ever day use in here. I found that we like to use nice glasses most of the time, so of cause these never get used. You probably have lots you don't use as well. Most are only incomplete sets,so into the basket they go.

I have fruit dishes and all sorts of unused items here including water sets which are incomplete and never used.

So they go too.

Then I sort out what I can try and sell on Ebay,after all, our trash is another's treasure, hey

Whatever I can't sell goes to our local church jumble sale they hold twice a week.

I try very hard not to look when I go there. I usually take hubby as he keeps my eyes on the task.:)

So there you have it,a good start to getting organized

Have a great week and see you next time when I will be continuing my Organizing

I am joining some nice linky parties this week

You will find the links on my side bar

Please join me,they are such a nice way of meeting like minded souls 

xx jeanetteann

A roast chicken can go a long way

When I roast a chicken,I save fuel by cooking it for 20mins in the microwave first

I put a quartered onion into its cavity and butter under the breast skin

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

I finish it in a hot oven.

Push a skewer into the thick part of the leg until juices run clear.

When the chicken is cool and rested,pull all the meat off the bones

Place bones and skin into a pot and cover with water

Throw in a couple of bay leaves and onion and carrot

Simmer for an hour,then cool

Strain and discard the contents but keep the stock

Place into the fridge and skim off fat when set.

Keep the stock to start the next pot of soup with veggies from the garden

Chop the meat and mix with  a chopped carrot and onion and a beaten egg

Use the filling to make pasties.

Brush with beaten egg and bake in moderate oven until crisp and golden

With any left over filling,mix with the left over egg wash and 2 more eggs

and a dollop of natural yoghurt.

Cook in a frypan with a little oil or butter until set

I place it under the grill for a few mins to set the top 

This makes an omlette enough for two for lunch when teamed with salad and 

bread and butter

Stock to start the next pot of soup with veggies from the garden

I usually use 2 chopped carrots,1 chopped onion and a stick of celery chopped

Stir fry in a little oil, add stock made up to 3 cups with water

and 3/4 cup red lentils

Simmer until thick and cooked 

Season to taste.

Enjoy

xx jeanetteann

Growing veggies in pots and small spaces

Bay Tree in a pot

When space is at a premium,you can still grow veggies

I have quite a small garden and do enjoy roses and a little cottage garden.

So to grow some lovely organic veggies still can be done

I have some space at the side of the house which gets a large amount of sun

and room there for a row of pots.

An arch can be bought quite cheaply and allows vines such as beans

to be grown without taking up valuable space. 

Trellis along the fence is also great for growing peas and other climbing veggies.

pick as you go lettuce is great in a pot

You can just pick leaves as needed all year.

Lots of herbs such as basil,rosemary,mint and parsley

An apricot tree,I grew from a stone.

I planted it in a half wine barrel

It hasn't had fruit yet,but will I'm sure this Christmas.

We have pruned it so that it remains at a manageable height

We also planted a Lots of Lemons (Myer) tree in a barrel

Seedlings appearing in tubs.

Capsicums

If you think you haven't the room to grow veggies

look for an unused space at the side of your house which gets at least

6 hours of sun a day,and you will be surprised at how much you can fit in. 

Happy Gardening.

xx jeanetteann