Feather your Nest Friday, 30th January 2026.

It might be a good idea to grab a cup of tea!  It has been a huge week! 

I will try and start at the beginning.  It was going to be very very hot.  My Basil was looking pretty good so I decided to pick some before it wilted.  Even then it wilted as I brought it into the house but I plunged it into water then into clean kitchen towels to dry in the fridge.

It was enough to make a pretty big batch of Pesto.  This is one of the best things of summer... the smell of basil is so fresh.  

I had this stirred through pasta for two dinners.

I still have some in the fridge and I froze some in this awesome divided container I was given at Christmas.   One of these with a steak would be so good.... or a couple thrown in with a creamy chicken dish.

My cook up was Chicken Enchiladas.  I got three trays.... plus two meals for myself.  The first one I served the mix over a baked potato with sour cream and cheese...  and the second one I did the same thing over rice.  It was really delicious.

Chloe and Luke were set to leave for the city to have the baby.   They were leaving Tuesday and Chloe would be going into hospital Tue evening to have the baby Wednesday.   So I took over this tray with a little salad for their meal.  I thought this would help them pack up and not have cooking and dinner to worry about.

Chloe is very relaxed about babies and I am not.  Oh, did I mention... Tuesday they had three hours to travel and it was going to be 45.  (I think thats 114F)  They headed off early and beat the worst of it.

On Wednesday my plan was to occupy myself with nice things until the expected phone call.   Tom and Chase were born early evening.   Lily turned up right after lunch!   So I thought maybe this baby would be the same.

Thanks to Leslie I ordered (on eBay) this gorgeous book of gardens (very cheaply) to use for my cards.  The images are my idea of perfection!

It was still really hot.  I dashed outside to water veggies but stayed near the phone.   I was still texting Chloe regularly and we got to 3 pm and nothing. 

My peaceful card therapy was lovely for a while but then I got a message "Mum we are fine but we are going in for a cesarean, don't worry." 

Card making no longer cut it as a distraction.

It seemed about 5 pm that the surgery was happening.   Lucy had three cesareans and I had one... so we kind of know the drill.   But from then until 8 o'clock we heard nothing. 

As each hour passed I knew something was wrong.  I asked Mum what did she think and she said "there is more to this."

I ended up on the bed praying and waiting and Mum was in her garden praying.   It just was an agonising wait.  I decided come 8pm I would be ringing the hospital. 

Then at ten to eight I got a baby photo.... a big 9lb baby boy.  Ike Alec.

But I still didn't know how Chloe was and it really wasn't all clear until the next day.   They had been told this baby might not be delivered naturally as he was big and has a big boy head.  She didn't want to worry me.  Well he had zero intention of ever budging. 

The thing that went wrong was the epidural and a series of events that meant Chloe was in recovery a long time.  

But she was ok and baby was ok!   He is a beautiful chubby placid baby.

The kids have been so excited especially Tom.  Yesterday they went in to meet Ike and see Mummy. 

Despite the heat Tom had to wear his hat to the hospital... you can see he has it on the ground.   

Weeks before Chloe had spoken about how you don't have a certain amount of love that has to be divided by how many you have in your family.... rather love grows to be bigger.  I thought this was a big concept for a five year old.  But as Tom held Ike he said "Mum I can feel my love growing!"

Which you can see!

They are all besotted with him and he knows all their voices of course.

So we are very very blessed and Chloe said "Mum my heart is full!"

They are coming home Sunday... tomorrow I am cooking and making salads for night number one.

I did get some things done toward my great reset.  I took another 14 shopping bags to the op shop,  worked on my veranda and filled baskets with leftover wedding flowers.

Gradually the outdoor area is looking nicer and nicer.  

I got out all the quilt blocks I made and realised I only need to make two more!   So that's very motivating!   I will say I will complete them in February and get this quilt make up!  

Many of you prayed for Chloe and supported me thank you.  I have friends I can call on to pray and this is the most beautiful thing.  There are times it is hard to pray,  like words fail.  Your friends matter.  

If you ever need prayer and don't have people to ask... ask me.  There are others here who most certainly will pray for you too.

Today I went to town,  went to Mass,   thanked God profusely,  shopped and ran errands...  I still have groceries to unpack.  I wrote up a meal plan for week one...  Chloe won't be able to lift Lily and we are all going to need to help.  

How did you feather your nest this week?  January... it was full of valuable things, the girls coming to stay, Sidney coming to stay, many birthdays and now one more.  I would not be upset though it February could be a little slower!  xxx