Feather your Nest Friday, 15th March, 2024.

Last weekend Chloe, Luke and the boys brought baby Lily home!   I was so excited to see her and them all.   And I began the "hot dinner meal delivery service."  😊

We had several really hot days... days we didn't get in summer but they decided to show up in Autumn.  Also they came with wind.  The worst fire conditions!  There was a big mess of leaves and branches down but no fire and no serious damage.  It was just a matter of getting through it and I had to remind myself it was still probably 5 or 6 degrees "cooler" than what we can get and it was three days and not ten!

I was given a huge bag of Passionfruit.   This has been shared around and is just delicious with my morning yoghurt.   A new person to trade with has emerged!   I sent her venison, she sent me Passionfruit,  I offered apples...   

After the heat I was able to pick up four trays of seedlings.  My veggie garden has been a wreck.  Each day I have done something even if it is a small something.   I pulled out everything that had finished producing.   Then I planted two pots with Parsley seed,  six Spinach, six Chard, six Celery and six Basil plants.  I watered everything in and already the garden looks more promising.  

The next day it rained!  And it rained steadily all morning!  So this was a very good thing for the farm, the garden and my seedlings.

Mum gave me a ham from her freezer.   I cooked this and made two really big salads (during the hot days) which were rice salad...

And potato salad.

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So the ham gave us all meals for a couple of days then a whole pile of rolls and sandwiches.

Cooking for someone else has been good as I am forced to set aside meals for myself and freezer meals as well.  I never could see the point in cooking small amounts.

Some of the meals were...  

A big pot of spaghetti meat sauce with added zucchini.     

Then from some of this a very large Lasagne.... Chloe froze half so she got two nights out of it.

Chicken, rice and veggies.

Chicken schnitzels and veggies.

Steak, mashed potatoes and veg.

Last night I used purchased little tart cases which I filled with sliced banana,  I boiled two cans of condensed milk in the slow cooker... added whipped cream on top...

Apparently these went down well...

Today was busy.   My Valentines Day chicken is now a teenager.   She needed to go into a small coop in the real world.   

I just picked her (or maybe him?) up and carried her as she is completely tame.

It was also a big apple picking day.  Last week I picked a couple of basketfuls.   Today it was about another six.

Now for Lily!  She is feeding well and looks like a doll.  💗💗💗

In this photo Nana Pat made her blanket and I made her bear.

We are all very blessed.

Chase is getting in on the act and understanding much more now.

My theory is the first weeks home are a very important settling in time.  If this goes well it is a huge advantage.  This is why a meal run is something I think I can do because also late afternoon you are tired, the kids are tired, it is bath time, dinner time and bedtime, one on top of the other.  A hot meal coming in the door right then makes a difference.   So yes, that's my theory.

All week I continued to organise, move things, rearrange, clean...  so much has been donated.  I looked at the bathroom Andy used with fresh eyes.   He always took showers where I always take baths.  I think I have found a way to make over this bathroom in a beautiful way without actually renovating it. 

I had a beautiful package arrive in the mail from my dear friend.

Bluebirds!!  Sooo beautiful!!  💗

Also cards,  letters and prayers.   Thank you to everyone.  I don't think I am going to be able to reply to all of them so please know that each day these have really made a difference to me.

 I have been able to think more clearly and look at the big picture a bit better.   Andy always believed in God but it was the last two years that he really seriously got stuck into Bible study and research and he prepared himself spiritually and had his affairs in order... and I did not realise what was about to happen.   

I always believed in God too.  I thought everyone did until I was four when told me there were people who do not believe in God.   At church I could feel the presence of God and I also thought everyone else did too.   Over the years I've done various Bible studies and attended several difference churches, taught Sunday school and when it was available I went to church every morning back when the girls were at school.  I also have been through long periods of "going it alone" although my faith remained.

The last two years Andy overtook me.  He for sure over took me in dedicated prayer time,  Bible study and desire to learn more.  

This week I decided to honour him by following in his footsteps and dedicating myself to Bible study as he did.   Also to start a gratitude journal again or at least somewhere write down my blessings for the day.  My Friday posts do already record my blessings as everything above has been an ocean of blessings this week.  

I consider Andy has gone ahead of me.  He got organised and prepared and was gone in a second.   

Everything I have written about, especially our little Lily are the hugest blessings.   Knowing Andy loved God and not needing to wonder if he is ok.   Mum is fit and well.  I had help with someone who took over the accounting from Andy and I do not have to worry about this.  Andy had left everything up to date and in perfect order.   I have an automatic lawn system going in to make it manageable for next summer.   I have help in so many ways.  I am very blessed.  Sometimes we can be so blessed and take it for granted. If we take things for granted we forget to be thankful!  

How did you build up your home, pantry or garden this week?  What are you tankful for?  I love to hear, we are on an important journey.xxx