Feather your Nest Friday, 27th June, 2025.

It feels like a month, at least, since last Friday.  In life,  and in the world,  so much has happened since then!

Last weekend I was visiting my younger daughter and her family.  While I had a major town to go to I went to Aldi and a couple of stores and stayed overnight so I had time to do extra things.  I don't drive at night if I don't really have to as kangaroos and even deer are on the road.  

Well... it was a lovely visit and although I hadn't thought of it several stores were having big end of financial year sales.  Accidentally my timing was brilliant!  One shop I really like had a huge sale and then several shelves of goodies on clearance.  I got so many things for my present cupboard and the most expensive was $3.  Just beautiful stuff.  Useful too!   Another store (Smiggle for those who know it)  also had a big sale and I put away a few birthday presents.

Firstly, I stocked up on laundry pods which I would not usually buy but they were 1/3 the normal price due to being cleared because of new packaging.  So that felt like a bit of a treat and I am set for a long time.  I buy a pink body wash/bubble bath from Aldi that I love and got 5 of those. 

In the thrift store (on the way down there)  I found a boys Katmandu water proof jacket,  a cardigan for Lily and a pale blue vest I think Harper will be keen on.

I took Lucy a lasagne and so later in the week I thought to make some more for some meals and a re stock.

I replaced the one in the freezer.  Made one for Chloe... she can get 10 serves which covers two dinners if she adds a side salad or garlic bread or such.

I made another with gf pasta for Mum.   The next day when it was cold and set I sliced it up...  I kept two serves for myself... and Mum got eight.  I pack them up into meal size portions and freeze.   Cutting and wrapping takes a little while but that is 10 meals and so handy! 

We both thaw them and then wack them into the air frier for a quick heat up. 😊

My other bake up was a chicken creamy pasta sauce that everyone loves and that also sorted me out for a couple of nights. 

I completed my second quilt block.  I think I went too complicated on this one and the star doesn't stand out so much.  But I like the colours.   

I have chosen the fabrics for my next square.  I am itching to cut it out and get going...

I am going to cut it out carefully so that the roses feature.  It is really exciting to see how it turns out...

Tom came over to help while Chase and Lily had their after lunch sleeps.   We had already hatched a plan.  It was his Dad's birthday.  We made a double batch of Chocolate Brownies.  While it cooked we played with Sparkie.

When it cooled I showed him a trick... he shook the icing sugar all over the cut out and when I lifted it up he thought this was particularly clever.

I like this almost zero effort way of making a cake look pretty.    Then we carefully tied it up with ribbon.

As you can see Tom is proud of it! HE had to carry it to the car and HE had to take it in to show Mum before Dad got home.

After this achievement it was time to work outside.  The plan was to catch the three fluffy bantams and move them to the big chook yard.  We decided now they had grown they needed much more space.   Tom got the wheelbarrow.  He loves the wheelbarrow.  I got the cage.  I showed Tom my method to catch tame chickens.  He was in charge of opening and holding shut the cage door.  So my method is to use some bread as bait and to put my hand in with the bread.  Then I count ONE, TWO, THREE  and grab a chicken.   They don't see it coming.  Tom thought this was very clever and said I was a good chicken catcher.    So when we had all three I shut the cage properly and Tom wheeled them up the hill in the wheel barrow to the chicken house.  I had a couple of turns but he did most of the way.  The chickens were hanging on for dear life I think.

When we got there we took the cage inside the coop, opened the door and put grain out where they could see and they popped out all on their own.  Success.   I have to repeat this with 9 others next week as I am simplifying some of my routines.

Then Tom helped the helpers and we checked the big bonfire going.  As we left Tom said he could sweep out the workshop for me.  He isn't five yet!  I said I thought he had done a lot of work and it was a great day and we should take the brownies home for Dad.  💗

After that day the dog was worn out.  She had followed the chicken catching,  the wheel barrow and other adventures. 

I felt the same actually. 

We had more rain...  and a storm.  The local town even lost the jetty! It was dramatic!  So when there were moments of sun Chloe rugged the kids up and got outside. 

I am the same. If you can get outside you do!  But if you can't well then it's a great time to bake, sew, crochet... so many good things.

Today was sunny and beautiful.  Since the rain this sun will help the grass grow.  And now we see more rain is coming.  This is fabulous! 

In a big improvement I now have starlink!   I no longer could count on either my landline or mobile to actually make phone calls.  I already know you must be able to call 000.   So now I have starlink.  I don't much care for actual phone calls but in an emergency I need this.  The bonus is now my internet is ten times faster!!

Last weekend the world news was quite terrifying.  It had been bad enough to mention last Friday then the weekend!  😭   One stage Mum said she was going to have a bath and go to bed and she wished she could take a valium.  So I am thinking she wouldn't be the only one!  I was reviewing my fuel storage and lists.

Last Friday I said just keep on keeping the home fires burning.  Add something extra if you can.  That doesn't have to be anything huge.  If you added one bag of rice to your stores as your one additional thing for the week then that is good.  Small steps add up very quickly.   They really do.  Maybe you got ahead in the next size kids clothes,  one or two items. Or shoes.  Or planted veggies...  added to your fabric stash....   They are all blessings! 

I have an extra post to publish,  The Comfort of Routine.  The last thing we need is to lose the plot.  We keep things as lovely as we can,  count every blessing and if we can add a couple of ducks (like Laura) or build up the gift cupboard (like Jane) or make jam to add to the pantry (like Lesley) then it is a bonus worth celebrating.  

One day this week I arrived at Chloe's and the kids were dancing.  Lily really has it going on as a dancer I have to say.  They were dancing to "Ive got joy joy joy down in my heart."   Watching Lily cracked me up and all week long that tune has stuck in my head!  I've been singing it to Sparkie.  She has joy in her heart I can tell you,  she is bursting with joy.  😊  Having some words of encouragement to sing and work to does wonders!xxx