Feather your Nest Friday, 19th December, 2025.

It is almost Christmas!  And its been hot!  Yep,  in Australia you usually get slapped with some heat around this time. 

I travelled with Chloe and the kids to her baby appointment... which is a six hour round trip.  We stayed in the city overnight though as that is just too much with three small children.  And Chloe only has five weeks to go so she is feeling it too.

On Sunday I have an early Christmas lunch here.  This is because as with many families there are people in different locations to see.  I started my Christmas table and tomorrow I need to get it all set up.   My goal is that it is full of hidden treasures as three children will be full of excitement!

Last week I reported that I had a box each of apricots and tomatoes,  zucchinis and more to get to work on. 

I started on the tomatoes as they were getting soft but they were beautiful.  I filled my biggest frypan with onions, zucchini and tomato.  I added some oregano and pepper.   This cooked down a little.

Most of this went into a big baking dish.   This is ready for Christmas Day when I top it with crumbled up bread and cheese and bake until the cheese is golden.   (It's frozen until then.) This is my Nans meat stretching side dish I made every year and it is so good! 

Also I filled my biggest slow cooker and let that cook down and blended it to be pasta sauce.  I froze six big jars of this.   The few firmest tomatoes I used during the week in my meals.

Then I started on the apricots.  I ate the nicest fresh ones during the week and the kids had some.  I filled the slow cooker again and made jam. 

I also stewed a lot.  I LOVE stewed fruit in hot weather.   I have lived on this and froze four batches.

I got six large jars.

I already gave away three bottles of Coffee Liqueur.  This is the rest bottled up but no labels yet.   But goodness it tastes soooo beautiful! 

My friend gave me a beautiful big box of fresh local onions!  After Christmas I will begin on these!! 

Our area grows a lot of onions, amongst other things like crops, beef, lamb,  wine and also seafood, lobster.... 

My cows have settled in and are now friends with the other cows. 😊

I am happy to report with lots of deep watering all my veggie garden got through the heat and me being away.  I have hundreds of baby cucumbers coming on!  Tomatoes are almost ready! 

Chloe got a good doctors report.  It is a big baby with long legs!  (These long legs are sticking her in the side right now and not very comfortable!) 

 My Christmas preparations are going ok.  Some things have been such a success, like giving out foodie gifts all month.  Some things I didn't get done including a lot of cards.  My gift cupboard was full though from working all year on making things.  This I've loved as I could give lots of presents! 

Don't worry about things being perfect.   Nothing ever is.  Just try and spread all the love, faith and joy that you can.  Try and appreciate all the good things and cherish the special moments.  

I wish you a very Happy Christmas!  xxx