Feather your Nest Friday, 9th April, 2021.

 I am late!   I had a trip to town yesterday and did a stock up shop with many extras like buying seedlings and seeds.   It was good to have a stock up.   But by the end of the day I ran out of go.

This weeks blog star is Scout.  If you asked her who she is she would say she is a beautiful girl.  That is what I tell her 100x a day. 

It seems to have sunk in as she knows she is special!  

It was a much more normal week and I have been catching up but I am behind on replies and correspondence so please forgive me if I did not reply to you.  I really hate to not reply.

Chloe asked Mum and I to come for an Easter afternoon tea.   It was beautiful.  We arrived to the prettiest set table.

I did a little sewing most days.   If I get back to my 15 minutes a day I seem to produce a lot more than it sounds!  

Being Autumn here,  and cooling fast,  I made the little boys their first very soft hankies (handkerchiefs) that are much more gentle than tissues (Kleenex) and while I was at it I topped up the girls supplies.   They are soo so soft. 

I also made up a few more Christmas gift bags.   The stack is growing. 

I cooked up a big turkey from the freezer.  Mum gave me this bird as she had one too.  She said "don't roast it, it will be tough."   She was not kidding.  I made it into a big pot of Turkey broth and thought it would never break down.   Finally I ended up with soft turkey meat and a big quantity of stock.

I portioned this up into containers and froze some.  Then I made a big lot of baby food with the rest.   So Thomas has had Turkey and veggies all week with a supply frozen ahead.   I saw Thomas yesterday afternoon.  There was an orange spot on his cheek.  I recognised it as with so many carrots and so much pumpkin I didn't need to be a forensic scientist to know what it was!

This freed up so much space in the freezer.  Odd shaped things take up space and I plan on filling that with nicely stacked goods next week. 

I planted five rows of carrots.   They were easy as the were seeds on tape.   I have watered those everyday and they half filled one of the raised garden beds.

In the pantry I filled lots of jars which emptied heaps of packets and created room.  And looks tidier! 

We had to take a trip for Andy's check up with the surgeon.   Last trip I worked it into the day that I could go to Harper and Scarlett's school and meet them as they came out.   I got the chance to see their beautiful school.   It would constitute an answer to prayer that they go to a Christian school.    They thrive in it.   As they ran out Harper (who was once so terrible shy) shouted at the top of her lungs. "That is my Nana!!"  and every head turned! haha! 

So now I have been there twice to great them and see Lucy and Sidney for half an hour.   It was beautiful.  

Very often I think "take every opportunity" and it applies in different ways. 

One day last year my Dad turned up and he wanted me to go for a drive with him.  I just dropped everything and went for that drive.   It resulted in a couple of beautiful hours together and I know he enjoyed it so much.   I am so grateful I took the opportunity.  Other times he invited me on whole day trips and I took each of those opportunities and they were wonderful days.   I knew at the time some of these were golden days I would always remember. 

Thinking of this reminds me that I was reading about someone who was lamenting how they had wasted their life and "squandered their God given talents."   It was very confronting to read and so sad.  They knew it was too late to rectify.   It is such a huge topic.  What are my talents?  Am I glorifying God with the use of my talents?  Am I a good steward of my life and my time?!   I like the blog The Prudent Homemaker.  I even like the word Prudent.  I like the words Stewardships and Diligent!   I think of them a lot in terms of the grocery budget and so on but this made me think of them much more in terms of life in general.  The Prudent Homemaker is a great blog on making a beautiful life on a very small budget.  She shows how much is in our own hands.   This afternoon I am planting flowers, working towards a garden as pretty as Brandy's.

How did you build up your home, pantry or garden this week?  I hope opportunities came your way and you had eyes to see them and energy to make the most of them!   

It has cooled down here and is threatening to rain so I hope it does! xxx