Feather your Nest Friday, 1st March, 1st day of Autumn, 2024.

This week has been quite different.  I had some confronting things to do in town ie to do with Andy's will and with the accounting etc.,  all things that Andy did.  He had us up to date or ahead and everyone was very helpful and kind.  None the less I cried throughout and then in the stores.  So it is exhausting sometimes to do small things. 

We had a couple of hot days.   One of them gave me a pretty good fright.  I looked outside and there was smoke everywhere.   I opened the door and I could smell it.  Looking out further it was a blanket of smoke across the whole horizon.   It turned out to be smoke that had drifted from interstate.  While that was a relief it was terrible for others.   

Then we had a hot and very windy day.  It blowed a gale all day.  It took down branches everywhere including some trees.   It was just a mess but thankfully no fires.   

On the other hand there are many good things to report and some of them are things Andy would be thrilled about!  Like the table being delivered some things were planned for before he died.  Some decisions made and work booked in.   Seeing them happening I know he would be so pleased. 

One of these was the replacement of a fence line.  This is the fence that keeps our cows in.   Andy and Andrew had recently propped it up hoping to keep the cows in a bit longer.   We booked in the fencer as it was beyond us.  They have arrived! 

Another good thing was Luke delivered me six huge hay bales.  These are for the cows as at the end of summer feed gets low.   I have never needed to feed them before... it is not that there is less pasture it is that I have more cows.

Luke brought the bales three at a time over on his trailer.   Yesterday Andrew was here and Chloe and the boys were here at the same time.  So Tom went with Andrew in the tractor and together they unloaded the hay.  Tom thought this was great, unloading Daddy's bales.  Also feeding Doris.  Andrew also gave Tom a big ride on the ride on lawn mower.   Tom said it was very nice of Andy to have left the lawn mower behind for him.  😭   Chase wasn't quite brave enough for the ride but maybe next time.

 

When the cows came down they were just as excited about all the gum leaves on everything that had fallen as that was all pushed up into a big pile.   They got stuck into the leaves and the hay.

After the cows have eaten all they want then the wood will be cut up and I think there will be enough for a years firewood.   This will be for next winter though as it has to dry out.   We have always aimed to be at least one year ahead on firewood. 

The dogs know they are not allowed to chase the cows.  So they WATCH - very closely.  👀

Mum came over so I made scones.

I made some cards and gift bags from two calendars Mum gave me.  They have a farming theme which is perfect for the boys and son in laws. 

I also did some sewing.  This fabric comes flat ...easy to cut and sew. 

Then when you wash and tumble dry it the waffle shows up...

I made two extra large bath sheets and cut out 5 kitchen towels.  (Also extra large.)

Wednesday was a really bad day.  One of the worst.  My nerves and ability to cope just packed up and left for the day.  

Thursday Chloe came over.   She set things up to I can get the printer to talk to my lap top and print from Andys's computer or mine.   To test it was working she printed the most recent email in Andy's in box.  This is what it was...

It had arrived 29th Feb just a short time before.   So I sat and read it.  I was amazed.

Also I found this...

Amazingly this verse came to me over and over including on Instagram.   Even more amazingly had Andy turned the page the next day it would have been in front of him as he left his Bible open on Isaiah 55 and 56. 

I think it is true.  Andy had been really struggling physically.  He was on eleven medications.  He kept going but he was so tired.  There were medical things he needed to attend to and he just didn't want to.  I could see it but I didn't expect him to die either.  When the girls told me Andy has gone to sleep... well maybe that in fact is correct.  In an instant he was spared what was to come.  This verse still keeps popping up wherever I look.   My Dad died the same way.  In an instant,  at home where he wanted to be, on an ordinary working day, avoiding what they would have felt was the loss of dignity,  freedom and independence.  Neither would have had it any other way.   With Dad I said we got everything we prayed and hoped for but were still unhappy.   Like you can't win.  I THINK I will come to that place with Andy ,  that he was right with God and went in an instant and was protected from worse to come.  I just have struggles to quite get there yet.

I had two cook ups.  The first one was a tray of chicken mini roasts with trays of baked veggies.   

This gave me a meal (and a meal for later) plus a big family meal for Chloe's family.   The baby (if all goes on schedule) is set to appear next week! 

The second meal I did the same thing.

In town I left pears at the swap tables and came home with tomatoes and cucumbers.

I have a feta and tomato pasta bake planned for tomorrow night.  I think I will also do meatballs and cherry tomatoes.   Easy pasta meals.

Sweet Zackie has been smiling again,  she was Andy's girl and got daily rides in the car and lots of pats and love.   

Thank you for all of your prayers and support.   You have been wonderful.   Thank you to Bridget, Jane and Chloe who have filled in for me on Mondays and so we are on track for our year of basics which is just what we need.  Sensible basics. 

How did you build up your home, pantry or garden this week?  What do you have to work with at the moment?  I have pears, they have just ripened, also, the little tomatoes.  xxx

Oh, PS...  Last week I mentioned how words matter and what someone says can stay with you for a lifetime.  This week I found this verse...  "You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say.   What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words."  Prov 18:20