Feather your Nest Friday, 8th November, 2024.

It has been a huge week.  Probably for all of us! 

I left off last Friday with photos of a lot of beautiful produce I was given.   What a blessing that was.  So I got to using,  sharing and preserving it.   Freshness and goodness! 

I am still going with lots to use yet.   I also filled the slow cooker with beef, onions and capsicums.   This became very rich and tender and I added other veggies.   Chloe got this tray for her family,  ready to pop in the oven.   For me it was delicious over a couple of nights.

I have been trying to keep an eye on the fruit trees.    THOUSANDS of little pears formed so it was time to cover them.   If it is left too late the birds get them.   I re checked the apple tree and there are thousands of apples forming.   So my helpers came to the rescue and all three trees were netted very neatly! 

I was thinking how many jobs are things that need to be completed in a window of time.  Left too late the fruit would be gone.   A whole year would be lost.   These kind of things get done thanks to making a list.   "Prune in June" is always in my head and that means the pruning part is't forgotten either!

In the orchard I have been topping up the bath tub and trough planters with mulch/compost.     My giant pile of compost has broken down to really beautiful  - from the nursery standard - stuff!   It is amazing!   I literally have a truckload of it! 

Following Patsy's Circling the Wagons class inspired me to get some solar lanterns.  My house is ok but if I had anyone in the cabin or top house these would be helpful.   They were from Kmart. 

I smashed my iPhone and broke my front tooth.  In unrelated incidents.    I decided since the phone still works I would get my tooth attended to first.  It is all fixed as of today.  Very thankful it was a fast and painless job too! 

Of course having to travel I stopped on the way home and picked up a box of seedlings to plant over the weekend.

I got my cupboards lined,  the new cupboard cleaned and some treasures that were Dad's are on some of the shelves.  The little green jug Mum said was from when they were first married.  💖

More wildflowers came out and these are a much paler pink than the last lot.   I am planning to have a pale pink tablecloth in "the shop" with a huge vase of these...

A big digger was here as an old fence is coming out to build a much needed new one.

A lovely friend sent me these gorgeous jars and some craft supplies too!

On Wednesday one of my helpers told me there was a cow out on her own near the front fence.  It was election day and I had the TV on for the first time in ten months!   I waited for an ad and then I went for a drive to investigate.   Well,  I didn't find her but while I was there I decided to have a good drive around and then go check on the cows and calves.   Suddenly I saw a tiny calf just standing under a tree all alone.

This is not so unusual as cows do leave their calves and then go back to them.  But this calf looked starving,  hollow and  I don't think she had ever ben fed.   I picked her up.   Closer inspection convinced me she was dehydrated.   I put her in the ute and drove her way over to the cows and I put her on the ground trying to see if any cow was interested.   They just weren't.   I waited a while.  But no...

So I got her back into the ute.   She may be tiny but she is still heavy!   When I got back to the house  Tim was here,  thankfully,  and he lifted her out this time and I went and made her a bottle.   She actually drank her bottle pretty well.   This is where my animal pantry helps me so much! 

It is hopeless taking a photo of anything black in the sun... I hope she hangs in there and I have better photos next week.   

I named her Justice.

I tried to convince Andrew that he needs a dog and she is a large Labrador.   But no he didn't go for it.  But actually I adore her and feel so blessed that I went for that drive right when I did.   That's miraculous.

By the end of Wednesday I felt like I had been run over by a truck but what a day!

Now I have news to share.    Dear Laine has gone to her heavenly home.  She has been in home hospice for weeks and she wrote to me last about three weeks ago.  The last email I said " I love you Laine."   

I have loved Laine for more than 30 years.    I began getting her letters when the girls were at school.  I didn't know her from a bar of soap but I felt each letter was an actual letter to me and waited for each one.   She encouraged me so much and each letter was a combination of friendship,  Bible study, wisdom and tips.    

Laines Letters went on to be seen over the years by millions of women!  She had a global impact.  She told us we are doing God's work.  

She proves that you don't have to have a degree or be a celebrity to have a huge influence and leave a great legacy.   She was a wife and Mum and she just loved the Lord and served Him.

A couple of months ago Art told me they asked Laine if she was healed and was well right now what would she do?  And she replied she would get up and start serving her family!   

I expected to be very upset on hearing this today but I am not.  I can't stop thanking God for her.

In my wildest dreams I never would have thought I would ever become her actual friend rather than imagining I was one!   In my wilder dreams I never ever would have thought she would write articles for Bluebirds!   She shared a lot!   She just was a natural teacher.  She even taught hard lessons and made them seem easy.

She truly helped shape my family and now my Grandchildren.  Her ministry is indeed BIBLICAL!   

Her ministry will go on too with her family and all her letters.   It is my hope a new website might be made and all her letters reposted.   In my index you will find her letters here and also links to past letters.

I hope to speak to Art tomorrow.  If I find out anything else I will let you know.   Please pray for her family.   

So that was my epic week.  I feel encouraged but exhausted!   

How did you build up your home, family, pantry or garden this week?  

The Circling the Wagons class is epic.  It is not too late to join here.   Thank you to everyone who participates in either (or both)  The Tuesday Afternoon Club and or this class!  The participation and brilliant answers have made Patsy's class a real life scenario and I am learning so much.  It is a very fun way of learning too.xxx