Feather your Nest Friday, 20th February, 2026.

It seems like a long time since last Friday!  We had a few warm days and a day of pouring rain.  It was amazing.   More is meant to be coming next week plus lower temperatures.  Could I hope these are the last days of summer.  Technically there are only ten days to go but for most of my life the first two weeks of March can still be hot.  However, the last few years this hasn't happened.  Cooler days and rain would be amazing!

This probably means some of you are itching for Spring in the same way I am waiting on Autumn! 

Chloe hosted a Valentines Day afternoon tea.  This was so lovely.  

She included a lesson on Saint Valentines and how he became a saint.  We all loved it.

We all had cake and little tokens and verses to bring home.  It was so special. 

In the thrift store I had amazing luck.   This partial Royal Albert dinner set reminded me of Limoges and the whole lot was $20.   Also a piece of cotton with rosebuds and several extra cups and saucers.

All my china is either white or pink roses.... so it kind of mixes and matches.  😊

This was not at all what I set out to find in the thrift store but, there you go, this is the nature of thrifting! 

The swap tables were a success too with cucumbers and an "I forgot to look for two days" sized zucchini.

I lost track of meals but today I roasted a lovely piece of beef and veggies.... I supplied gravy and all Chloe had to do was heat it up.   I think they will get roast meat for sandwiches as well.

Ike has grown and this week he really started to study faces and respond to voices.  He is just more interested in everything.

Today my helper came in the little kids nap time.  Well, we just have fun doing everything and even packing eggs is somehow hilarious.

If you remember I was given six pregnant Murray Greys for Christmas.   The farmer told me they were due in April/May.   At the time I thought they looked pretty fat, but what would I know.

Lately I thought they are really fat.  But I honestly never went out and inspected closer.  In my diary I had to begin daily rounds April 1.

Well, suddenly three calves were born!  

The other three look like this.

If you cast your eye to the cow in the back right of this picture.....

Check out that wide load!  

This all worked in my favour as this apparently would make them Murray Grey calves.  

They are just beautiful.  So now I am doing the daily or twice daily rounds.    Last night I went out at dusk.  They are all very quiet.

I have been working on Ike's blanket.  It takes seven squares to cover the top of a single bed plus overhang slightly.   As I intend to do a wide border this will mean it drapes over the sides nicely.   I think it will be nine squares long.  I am really loving it as each square is different.  My friend gave me a bag of new blues and greens to work in and last night that gave me a heap of new possibilities! 

Today I was given a lovely bag of brown onions.   We also inspected Chloe's fig tree and it is so enormous and covered that a plan has been hatched to make a platform and use the tractor as a kind of cherry picker.   I already have promised buckets of figs to a few people!

So a busy week.  I didn't get a stitch sewn on my last patchwork block!   That one will have to carry over to next week.

I hope you had a great week.  How did you build up your nest?  Are you looking forward to the change of seasons?   Different seasons offer different opportunities!   One of my opportunities next week is to harvest a lot of basil...  the heat then the rain have made it go crazy! xxx

Tanya H,  I emailed you as I lost your new address.xxx