Feather your Nest Friday, 15th August, 2025.

Pushed on by the #everybitcountschallenge and what Patsy says is looking with our "pantry building eyes"... this has been a big week.

I had an afternoon of using my essential oils.  It was very blissful.  I made up rollers of sleep and calming blends plus germ fighter and oregano ~ (which is my number one thing for sore throats and really feeling like I am coming down with something.)  Also.. I made skin serum and two bottles of relaxing bubble bath.

 

My pretty containers are thrift store finds.

I made extras of some of these as gifts.

My cooking... I used the slow cooker to cook up beef, onions, mushrooms, carrots and capsicums.  When it was all tender I thickened it with gravy to make meat pies.  (Although that evening I had this with sour cream and rice and it was really delicious.)

The next day... pie making began.  

The kids got little ones with their initial.   I also made some to freeze.

It was like a challenge to see how many pies I could get! 😊

One was a family sized pie for an emergency meal.

As usual I made scones.

Some of the stinging nettle was ready to pack.

My friend was in an organic cafe and saw stinging nettle for sale... see the price! 

I am getting two dozen eggs a day despite it being winter!

My challenge to give them weeds everyday has probably helped.   My helper and I pulled up the spent broccoli plants and the chief barrow pusher got them in the henhouse for me.

Then we collected the eggs. 

Next we went potato digging.  This big box is my potato patch.  Tom climbed in and began digging and discovered it is really fun! Yes it is!    We had a "who can find the biggest spud competition."   Most of the potatoes were small but nice.  We filled two baskets.

We left plenty to grow a new crop.

As you can see this was another day spent in pure winter sunshine.

Mum gave me a potted bulb just before it came out.   Now it is flowering on my outdoor table and just lovely.

My tractor has a flat tyre but my helpers took it into town to be fixed.

Today was amazing.  I traded eggs for lemons.  Now I have enough lemons to make Lemon Butter.   Then, my favourite trade...   veggies for the use of the cabin.

I was given so much!   All beautiful.  I have not even unpacked it all as it is now dark and I have run out of day and energy.  Tomorrow I will wash everything up,  plan and begin! 

I will take photos as I go.  I am just so excited.  Last week at the shops a Cauliflower on its own was $8.

My patchwork patch of the week didn't happen.  I had it all cut out and planned and I did't like it!  So I tried to change it around and swap out colours and it just did not work.  I had to walk away from it.

So instead... I cut out a bag.   This is lined with a pocked inside.  I have lots of bigger bits of fabric I can do this with and still have plenty to use in my quilt.

I am thinking to try and do one a week along with my quilt block.  

And finally... dog photo of the week.  😊

In town today there was also a massive book sale.  It was "fill a shopping bag for $5".  I filled a bag for Mum.  She likes happy English village/garden and Australia outback/country...    For myself I found preserving/cooking/homestead... and I forget what else because also I have not unpacked them.  I will take photos when I get that far! 

And... in the thrift store I found pure wool and a bag of 100% cotton!  

To finish off all the goodness we had several big downpours last night and today.   Just fantastic!  

So many blessings.  I am very grateful.  I hope the same for you!  xxxx