This week has gone by really fast! It started off well. At church we lit the first advent candle and celebrated the new season. The nativity scene was set out and everything looked, literally, heavenly. It was just inspiring and uplifting.
The whole theme was about fully appreciating every day of advent and doing special things too, to help others and share that joy with them. It was truly beautiful. I went with my friend and we spoke of it all the way home.
So... with this in mind I began the week with the plan to enjoy each day and take it all in as we move towards Christmas Day. Chloe did this in her household too as you will see.
As part of this we decided that instead of hampers at Christmas we would give out the foodie gifts week by week. This takes the pressure of having everything fresh at one time and spreads out the fun. I think everyone loves a little surprise.
I already had my fruit cakes ready and I was able to give two of those out this week. Then Tom came and we set to making up as many gifts as we could. This week was Nuts and Bolts. (In Australia). Maybe in other countries you would say it's a savoury cereal and nut snack. It is so good! I will put my Mum's recipe at the end. I doubled the recipe.
We ended up with four large jars and ten packs. I added mini tinsel to the packs as that is what I had for a pack from the thrift store.
As we packed we thought of people to give them too. Michelle the postie, Sonny the delivery driver etc.
Tom did the pouring and stirring. I passed him each ingredient. He took home all of these -
He loved it! So some giving was made easy and Chloe was helped as well..... (who is pretty heavily pregnant at this point.)
We also pulled up all the spent celery. I have had huge celery harvests for months. Some was shared and some preserved as well. But now it was woody and going to seed. I saved one for the seeds and the rest went to the chickens.
I have ten pots to replant which might not happen until after Christmas.
This was the kids first day of Lent.
Chloe also had them baking gifts to give. And they love it and it is serious business. 😊
I am picking and shredding zucchini and some celery also...
The hens are still laying well and I love the colours of each carton.
My cook up was a big batch of chicken pasta sauce with bacon, garlic, mushrooms, onion, cream... etc. This made 10 meals or more.
This week I had to move my cows. They were not keen, they are used to one paddock. But I moved them and in the morning the farmer who leases most of my farm came over the hill in his ute and the cows got a fright and bolted. They took off, tore down a fence going straight through it and were gone!
I went down there and said "where are the cows?" The farmer is a very nice guy and very experienced. He thought for the day the cows were gone and too stirred up but I said I would go and get them back. He looked at me unconvinced and I headed off.
He knew what direction they were so off I went and I didn't see them... and I just kept driving down the track for two or three kilometres.... then there they were! I was stressing at this point.
So, I managed to get past them and turn them around. Slowly we moved back in the right direction and I had to keep them away from fence lines as they were going to go straight through them and take off.
It wasn't without incident. I got stuck on a rock. The cows went into scrub and beeping didn't do anything so I had to walk through the scrub until I drove them through to the other side... then continue on in the ute. Then into another patch of scrub and there was a giant hive of bees so walking them out wasn't an option... but eventually they came through.
Finally we were approaching the last hill before home... I rang the farmer and said could he please move his ute and get out of the place so they don't see him. He said "you've got them???" (sounding surprised!) and I told him yes we are coming up to the last hill. He said to get through the last gate then veer left into the cattle yards....
Ok so I do this, they went through the gate and then we went left and one by one they each went through the big gate. I jumped out and shut it fast! The farmer then came over the hill, and said "you bloody beauty I can't believe you got them!"
Well... later that day this story was retold by the farmer to another farm worker and friend in front of Tom. After they left Tom said "Nana you are not a Nana in a house you are a real farmer."
And just like that my status was upgraded. 😊
I really tried to do as much in November as I could, with a limpy leg, towards Christmas. And many of you know also since January we worked all year towards Christmas in
The Tuesday Afternoon Club. Now I am just trying to do something every day, enjoy it, count every blessing, think of others and not worry if things are not perfect. None of us can do everything. Flylady always said housework done imperfectly still blesses your household. Well, cooking/Christmas/handmade gifts/decorating, all of it can still be imperfect and still bless people enormously!
With my planner I have my days laid out before me and lists to go with them. There is a trip to the city with Chloe for a baby check up in there too. Tomorrow is a dance concert I am going to see Harper dance. One thing at a time... and I intend to enjoy it all ... and collect a giant Christmas grocery order on the way home.
I hope you had a good week. How did you feather your nest, get ahead, work towards a beautiful Christmas? We all love to hear. xxxx
Lily is admiring a lizard in case you wonder why she is looking at a tree!
This is the recipe. It's very flexible. And used so often it has oil stains!
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