Feather your Nest Friday, 17th April, 2026.

Oh my goodness it seems like a long time since my last post.  I have my Grandson staying over as it is school holidays and had the two five year old Grandson cousins playing all afternoon.  They had a great time and while I am usually tired on a Friday night I am more or less typing with one eye open and one shut.  

Where to begin?   Our news was quite full of articles on shortages and the government released an advertising campaign about conserving fuel.  The thing that caught my eye was a little graph/chart that was featured.   We had gone from "there is no shortage" to a four point National Fuel Security plan and we were apparently on level two.   I took a screen shot of this.  Level three is "taking targeted action". and lever four is  "protecting critical services."    So as things go by the end of the week there was a large fire at a fuel plant and today the news says we are likely to go to step two much sooner.  I don't know but I think that is likely to mean some kind of rationing or restrictions.  For those that are new we are in South Australia but this is Australia wide.  I am writing a plan for what to do incase restrictions come into place.

I've had some really helpful and in depth reports in the style of "Bluebirds on the ground"...  and I would like to put them together in a post but tonight isn't the night for a job this big.  I REALLY appreciate  these reports.  They also make me realise our situation is nothing compared to those would may face sub zero winters without heating oil...  And of course I am so glad for everything we have worked on over the years towards preparedness.  

The information is important but I have to use it as motivation and keep moving...

With winter coming I had the idea to collect pumpkins as they keep a very long time.  They don't need preserving...   I bought a couple and then my friend gave me some.   And then (like I mentioned last week). pumpkins began coming at me! 

Before this it was onions that kept coming in.   I had the idea to fill a space in my kitchen with a little set of shelves.   These arrived today!   The drawers are full of onions and the pumpkins are now (mostly) off the ground where I can keep an eye on them.

I finished Ike's blanket but I am still sewing in the ends.

Mum made a hat with leftovers from my pram rug so now it is a set.  This set went into the gift cupboard.

AND I finished my quilt top!  I feel this is some kind of miracle! 

So there projects!    I moved on to finishing another blanket I started last year.  And after school holidays I am going to start my wool fabrics patchwork blanket.

The nights have been cool and I started the fire.  Wood and kindling are right at the back door. 

The days though were mostly beautiful!   The kids (and adults) spent most of the time outside.  I grew up with work and play being intertwined.  We always collected wood and kindling and mushrooms and built things and so on and you just had a good time.  Chloe and the kids collected pinecones for kindling at Mums farm.  She has a lot of pine trees.  

I happen to know Mum had a wonderful time and provided a picnic.  The car was loaded up with kindling.

Later in the week they all were working on cleaning up a fence line.   The kids thought this was equally good and while the boys helped....

Lily thought she was helping. 😊

I made Honey Gingerbread knowing kids would be coming and going.   They all love these.

Then we had fun again picking another round of figs!   The kids are actually really good at it.   I used quite a few figs to gift and trade.  

Chloe had Ike on a blanket and he looked up into the tree leaves and loved it.

Anyway, it all was so lovely and we have buckets and buckets of figs.    The crazy thing is there are still green figs meaning this might be possible to repeat in another couple of weeks. 

So today... the boys had a great time.   Mainly they dug a really huge hole.

There is only one thing better that a really big hole and that is a really big hole full of water.   Yep they filled it up, several times as the soil absorbed the water.  It was great.   

So good times in sunshine,  harvesting figs and pinecones and wood.  

We are settled down for the night.   Sidney went out like a light.  Sparkie as well!  I will be next!

How did you build up your nest this week?   Your pantry and garden are important things.  Make hay while the sun shines!xxx