It has been a big week. I left off last week with a new calf, number thirteen and an orphan. She was frighteningly skinny. Now and then she would drink but mostly not. That left two choices, let her refuse and die or force feed her. There was no time to let her come around to the idea. So you already know what I did. I spent hours coaxing her and forcing milk into her. It was calf wrangling. My back has been so sore to sleep I've taken pain killers. But FINALLY on day six she drank more or less with no wrestling. On day seven she just drank the whole bottle up morning and night! And was wagging her tail. On day eight she walked over to me to start drinking... and as of yesterday now she is waiting at the gate wondering how much longer can I possibly be!? She is still thin but not ghostly as she was. I think I am winning! Never ever give up!
In between all of this I got on with a lot of projects. I got my dried fruit soaking over night and then made up my Christmas cakes.
Mum gave me half a bottle of Brandy so that is what I used!
The cakes are all gifts. I have not wrapped them yet.
The most urgent use it up project involved Bananas. I used nine and make four cakes. The peels all went into my veggie garden beds.
Two were gluten free. They got thick lemon icing. One was frozen, one fed helpers, one was for Mum and this one, below, I sent to Chloe. As it was still warm I sent the icing in a bowl ready to put on top.
I am collecting twenty eggs a day. The cakes used some. I am supplying everyone. Recently I got so far ahead that I was able to donate ten dozen to a friend who re trains and re homes dogs. She has saved so many. I was so happy to be able to do that!
But then the next day....
So even though I used 15 in the Christmas cakes and another 8 in the banana cakes I then made Lemon Butter and used another 9. Because after Bananas and eggs the next need to use up thing was lemons!
I froze several jars and made up little jar deserts for Chloe's family. Two bigger and two little.
I filled the freeze drier with lemon slices.
These turn out really well.
I labelled my Vanilla Extract for giving.
Also my Coffee Liqueur which I may or may not have tested.
I used a freezer meal beef and veggie pie plus the jar deserts to deliver a meal to Chloe.
I planted three different types of tomato seedlings, heaps of basil, more zucchinis, capsicums and cucumbers. My bath tub and trough planters are going pretty well. Room was made for new things by filling some additional pots and pulling out really spent silverbeet and celery. This all was quite a lot and fed the goats and chickens. They all demolished it. Then beds and pots were topped up with compost so each was filled up well.
I had a row of pots with Ficus trees along the front of the house. They were not looking good because I think they get too much harsh weather. So my helpers moved them up to the deck for me. I hope with more shelter and more water they thrive again. In the same way (kind of) a Lemon tree that is not doing well in a pot was moved into the orchard and I hope now it will take off. You have to try. You can see when something is just not going to make it!
The second or third day I had Justice it started spitting with rain. My helpers used the tractor to give her a little shed of her own. Andy turned this tank into a little house. It was sitting in another paddock so it was simple to just pick it up and move it into place. Well, for Tim anyway! You can't see it here but the other side had a lovely mesh door and latch. Once in place some hay went in.
I was not sure if she would get up and walk around enough to find it and go in. But it was set up nicely.
Also we added her own trough which is a big old cast iron pot. These are great because they cannot be knocked over.
That evening, just as it was getting dark, I went for a walk (in my nightie and slippers) to check on Justice. I couldn't see her! When I got close enough I found she had put herself to bed in her new little house! I thought this was the cutest thing! 😊
The next development is she liked it so much she didn't come out for two days.
Then as she began to drink properly she started to get out and about.
I shoved my latest lot of wildflowers into a canning jar ready to go into my "shop." (Pantry room.)
I have to include this photo of Chase and Lilly! 💗
When I bought my seedlings I got several punnets for Tom as they were called Tommy Toes. And he loves little tomatoes. Chloe helped him plant them and he was super happy about it. The next day he was convinced they had grown.
Does this child look like a small farmer to you?
I got a new phone as I had smashed my phone (along with my tooth but in unrelated incidences!) and my tooth is fixed as well. I hope I am done smashing things.
Tomorrow I am pretending not to be home. I soaked in an Epsom Salt bath. I will get up in the morning and wearing my nightie (and cloke of invisibility) feed Justice at breakfast then come back to bed for a while.
I hope you had a good week, full of opportunities and goodness! How did you feather your nest this week?xxx
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