Feather your Nest Friday, 21st May, 2021.

 It was a beautiful week!  We had a mix of rain and sunshine so the grass has grown and the outlook is green again.  It looks lovely.   While it's like this I spend a lot of time outside.  Make hay while the sun shines. 

I check the sheep every day. Still no lambs!  I think one of them might be having twins though.  That would be so exciting! 

Some of the ways we built up the nest were:

Actual nest building.   I have carted wheelbarrows of hay every day this week.  With one load I filled some old crates and set them up in one of the chicken houses.   I just filled one and I turned to fill another. In that split second a chicken jumped in and began fluffing around claiming it for herself.   Before I left to go on to other jobs she had laid an egg.   She didn't waste much time.   Later I returned and I conclude that this new nesting box is popular! 

As I seem unable to stop getting more chickens I am looking at things in terms of maybe they could be a nesting box.   Many possibilities! 

One whole lovely sunny day was spent working on a run that will let the girls out to eat much more grass, bugs etc.   It isn't finished yet but we were able to scrounge around the farm and find most of the materials we needed.   Hopefully pictures next week.  

Even my little bantams now can free range most of the day.  It took a long while to get fences and we have Scout who seems to guard against foxes.  I set an alarm on my phone so I don't forget to go lock them up before it gets too late in the afternoon.   

Two of the bantams are loved up and seen the whole day like this...

The third bantam wanders around like the third wheel.  I hope this all might result in Bantam babies in the Spring.

The ten chicks I raised are now pretty big.   They have been promoted and are in a big coop with other chooks in the orchard.   They are loving being out and scratching around.    They sun bake.  When the sun is out they lay stretched out soaking in all the sun they can.  

So it was a week of chickens! 

I made peanut butter biscuits, chocolate cake and little cakes for the girls.

I was given MORE apples.

We have our first bonfires for the season.  

I love a bonfire!  We plant to work our way down the driveway and have a big clean up.   We had over 100 bonfires in the first two seasons here. 

I planted, planted and planted into the garden.  At first I was getting nowhere as each day was so busy.   So I decided I will just plant something every day rather than try and get a day to do it.   Six lavenders with root systems that I dug up went in.   Several more fig trees are potted up.   My lavender cuttings are looking pretty good.  I have rosemary,  succulent and daisies to plant out as well.   

I found a huge old Yukka plant on the edge of the scrub.   We took the trailer and a chainsaw and cut off big bits.   Reading up it seems that if you cut through the woody parts they will grow again.   In the end area of my garden that gets wind and sun not much will grow.   These look like they will tolerate anything and if they grow I will have a wind break also.  My Aunt said a windbreak will help that area do better.  I know in nurseries these are very expensive.  We came home with a whole trailer load.   I got them all in and some were so big I had to dig some pretty deep holes.   But they are in!  Because of their size they make an instant massive impact.   The other massive impact was on my back and shoulders from doing so much digging!    

Because plants seem to be such good gifts and things to trade with I am starting up a little nursery area.   The lady who I swapped fig trees for Roosters with messaged me.  She has two new beautiful Blue/Black roosters,  do I want to swap?   Well, yes I do!  Since I moved every chicken on the farm one to the left I can take two more.  

On Facebook buy swap and sell I found a lady selling boxes of cottons.  One box was all wooden reels.   I got them!  This ended up being four lovely Decor containers full of all beautiful cottons.  I sorted them into my supplies and the brand new wrapped ones went into my gift cupboard.   Beautiful beautiful! 

I made a giant pot of Pumpkin Soup and another of baby food.  Soup was delivered to Chloe and baby food to Thomas.   I also finished Thomas' blanket.   The last inches and final stitch of this reminded me of when a marathon runner drags themselves over the finish line then spectacularly collapses. hahaha!

Mum gave me a carton of cream.   I used it to make Honey Mustard Chicken and that fed us for two nights.

Today is also gorgeous.   As the afternoon ends I head off to check the girls...

And put everyone away safely for the night.

This is no problem.  They know I have treats and they come running.  I do a headcount and check twice before I shut the gate. 

I hope it was a good week for you, full of opportunities to build up your pantry, food security, gift cupboard and maybe garden!  Be watchful and be like a little ant working away! xxx