Feather your Nest Friday. 13th June, 205.

 Last week we got the rain water tank in... and Saturday the rain came!  It was one insanely wild, wet, windy and stormy day.  I never got tired of watching water go into the tanks in the back yard.  The paddocks were drenched.  No one could really believe it!  Text messages were going back and forth comparing how many mils of rain each of us had. 

There was nothing to do but be hauled up inside, keep the fire going, bake and snuggle the puppy. 😊

I made a giant batch of Pasties.  This is the tray for Chloe's family with man sized ones and child sized ones.

I got 23 so I was really pleased.  Some made it into the freezer.

That evening I was asked if I could provide a meal for a local man in trouble.  Yes,  I could.  Two pasties, some relish and a lemon pie from the freezer.

One of my handy cardboard box lids, lined with paper,  was my tray.   This is why we have emergency meals!

Also I made a double batch of gf scones.  Some for Mum and some for a friend.

And today Tom helped me make two tray bakes of meat balls, cherry tomatoes and capsicums.   I pour pasta sauce over the top and cheese.   I have enough for two nights.  Tom took their tea home and was proud to have made dinner.

We did meat ball maths.  How many meat balls could Lily eat?  He thought one or two. How many could he and Chase eat... he thought 4 each.   He said four for Mum and one hundred for Dad.  haha.

Then I said I could have three but I wanted to have two dinners.....   so we counted them out to be enough then added some spares.

This all melts down to delicious molten cheesey goodness and served over pasta it goes a long way too.

With the indoor weather I finished Lily's dress.

It is a warm soft flannelette and double thickness bodice.

Now I have some lovely cottons to make this dress with short puffy sleeves... 

I have all my scraps and remnants out and grouped into colours I like...

A couple of sweet op shop finds sit in amongst my colours.  I got this little bluebird...

Many of my remnants are very old, never washed and were 50c.  Some are quite generous pieces.  The bits large enough for a dress or nightie for Lily I stacked separately ready to cut out.

Some are just dreamy!

I have been learning the actual price of brand new quality fabrics.  So I have increased my efforts to collect.  This week I was able to go thrifting with friends and found two pieces beautiful cotton with a silver shimmer thought it.

These were brand new (yet old!) also! 

I finished off a blanket for Mum with an edging...

I was given the gift of four pure Australian wool blankets.   I washed these two up in homemade wool mix.   They are huge!  Larger than queen and slightly smaller than King.  I am told this is an old size they used to call Prince.   

Anyway they are divine.

The third is drying near the fire now.  I am thrilled with them.   A brand new pure wool blanket is hundreds now.   

I was given generous gifts of potatoes, onions, wine and cheese!  Wonderful supplies.

Sparkie is really learning a lot.  

She brings back the ball.  She tells me when she wants to go outside.  

She has made friends too and gets very excited to see her certain favourite people!

Today we had bon fires.  There have been several beautiful sunny days.  This is helping the grass grow.  More rain is coming... so today was a do everything outside that can be done day.

So much firewood has been cut from fallen trees.   Lots of stuff that is too large to handle and not suitable has been cleaned up and burned.   The driveway is looking neat and tidy.  Plus grass can then grow.   This fire will go a couple of days I think.   Another bigger one is out in another paddock.    I have wood lined up at the back door in a big box because rain is expected tomorrow through to Tuesday!  This could potentially fill all my tanks!  

Tomorrow I want to have a pasta sauce simmering and make Lasagnes.  And maybe cut out some first quilt blocks from my fabrics.  I have no idea how many blocks I can make from what I have but I can get started.   

Many of us will be daunted by the news today.  Just keep the home fires burning and doing all the things to build your nest.xxx