Feather your Nest Friday, 22nd November, 2024.

Writing the date at the top of the post I realised we are basically a month before Christmas!  Luckily I have been working on things for a few weeks and for those of you who are part of The Tuesday Afternoon Club you know we have been working hard all year!  Now we reap the benefits.   I have been able to put together gift after gift from the things I've made.   

Also the Christmas cakes are wrapped now and all of these are gifts as well.

I (overall) went much slower this week and had quieter afternoons which I used to write cards,  wrap gifts and do lots of small jobs like sorting out my card drawer.

I am very consciously trying to make everything festive and cheerful.   

Going through my present cupboard and stash I found I already have twenty five wash cloths made for the children's shoe boxes for next year.

Because of making an effort to have some downtime I decided to TRY and learn a round wash cloth pattern, inspired by Cath.  Last week she showed on her you tube channel (The Cheapskates Club) the things she has been making for Christmas.  It included lovely flower like wash cloths.  I cannot read a pattern to save myself but I can follow along a video.   So I tried a couple patterns.   It is good for the brain to have to figure out something new!  Also fun!

I have worked one more since in another pattern.  I will try and learn one by heart to I can stop looking back at the tutorials!

Today is hot.  It's not great.  I have gone to doing my outdoor work in sections about 15 minutes at a time.  I have four sections of veggie garden,  chooks x 3,  Justice,  regular garden, fruit trees etc.  I get them done in bursts.   A lot of the garden is looking good and my herb towers are quite full.

The new beds,  the old bath and trough, are doing so well but they get battered by wind on a day like today.  On Monday my helpers will be here and we are building a fence of hay bales to be a wind break.   After my crops are finished the bales will feed the cows,  if needed.  

My cactus is flowering again.  I did not really care for cactus until I realised the flowers!! 

My cook up was making multiple chicken schnitzel meals,  lemon and sour cream were added.   I made a family meal for Chloe and two dinners for myself.

Mum came for afternoon tea and so her GF scones were made for her to take home.

Justice is doing well.  It is hard to get a good photo of her as she likes being in her house and her face is always covered in milk.  However she runs to me now, skips and gallops.   Next week she is being promoted to the orchard yard which has heaps of grass and running around room.   I just need my bales in place to protect my pumpkins and zucchini...   then I will move her.

Also my last lot of chickens were promoted into the main hen house.  I should be set for hens for a few years.   There are two main houses so all my eggs are not in the one basket!   

Another thing on my to do list... as summer is almost here I know that a couple of times when there has been a really hot day I have kept chickens alive by having a sprinkler on.  I need two new sprinklers and connections to have on hand in case.  I HOPE we don't get it that hot but it has happened.  

How are you going with Christmas plans?  How did you build up your home, pantry or garden this week?  

For those who watch Appalachia's Homestead Patara said we need to keep some energy in the tank.  We have all been working so hard as we see the need.  But what if we need some spare gas in that tank?  So I am interested in how you manage your time and energy so you have some reserves if you need them!  Share away! (Please!) xxxx