Feather your Nest Friday. 17th July, 2026.

It was a week full of goodness, sunshine and orange juice.   Following on from last week I have been juicing oranges every day.   

It was a big occasion here because Chase turned four. 

As always Chloe made a beautiful cake... he requested Monster Trucks.

So it had to have flames, apparently.  😊

My present for Chase was climbing ladders... kind of military style I think.  My helpers made a frame and it was a hit with all of the kids.

I want to show Mum's knitting.  She keeps all the kids in warm vests like my Dad always wore.   Browns and blues are Chase's colours.

Well, the big deal about turning four was that Chase will no longer have an afternoon sleep and will come over and help me Thursday afternoons with Tom.    He was so excited he was just about bursting.   Tom showed him the ropes of what happens on Thursdays and went into detail about the farm,  geography and how their farm can be seen from my hill.  So we had to drive to various vantage points so all this made sense. 

Once we all knew where we were we fulfilled Chase's big wish which was to make Honey Crackles.   He calls them Honey Crackers.   It seemed like a good idea to double the recipe.

We got those baked and headed outside.   They both had a turn on the mower and a turn being a passenger with a high tech cardboard box and blanket as shock absorbers.

We also worked on a windmill project... a windmill has been restored to go up on my hill where everyone can see it. I love Windmills!

Last week I had a box of produce arrive but it was both dark and pouring with rain so I didn't get my normal photos.  Here is just some of it.

With all I had already plus this lot I made a plan.   The cauliflower needed using first.   I made to trays of cauliflower and broccoli cheese. 

With apples in the fridge I made another two apple crumbles.  Out of everything everyone just asks for the crumbles. 

I had broccoli that I was not keeping up with and even though it was a small amount I blanched it and then froze it.   It is enough for five or six nights for me.

I made a big pot of pumpkin soup with two sweet potatoes thrown in.    Before I blended it I picked out a cup of pumpkin and sat that aside.

Mum gave me a huge slab of beef.  I roasted the whole thing and roasted a heap of the veggies.   This tray is a meal for Chloe's family.    It made many more meals as well.   Also delicious.

With the cup of soft pumpkin I threw this into my scone mix... added a bit extra flour so it wasn't too sticky and added a cup of cheese.

These scones were really good!  Like a meal in themselves!  I also froze and shared some.

And the produce still came in.  A lovely friend brought me a box of giant onions! 

I finally began to sew together my first wool boys blanket.   All the wool us 100% wool unless it is part cashmere.   So much time has gone into collecting, washing and cutting out.   Much of this pure wool came from blankets with some damage that are thrown into the "dog blankets" section of the thrift store.  A  few pieces I found are so incredible I couldn't cut them up. One was a pure wool Pringle of Scotland scarf, new with tags... in my colours (smoky blues) and I decided I am just going to make that my best scarf!   Another my friend gave me... it is so beautiful but it has a damaged corner.   I am cutting one row of squares from that and the rest I am making into pram rugs for little boys.... and working a crochet edging.    That is when I get my current crochet projects done...

Anyway...  these are not arranged as they finally will be but I have some rows complete.

I am loving it.   My backing will be a plain colour soft flannel.   Probably dark green or brown.   So I made a good start and realise I have so many squares cut out I think I more or less have enough for three blankets.  The blues are in a pile of their own.

I have made a pledge to finished Ike's blanket... as you can see I still have some ends to sew in but I am nearly there.    This is single bed size.

And finally....  I am up to the border on Chase's wool blanket.... and my goal is to have this finished by next Friday too!   My idea is if I post this here that will make me do it!

Today I went to town with my friend.    We took oranges to share at church and broccoli seedlings for the swap table.

On the way home we had a lemon tree to check on.  The ute was already full.    We found the lemon tree is covered in ripe lemons... mostly high up.  My friends tall husband and the ladder are going to be needed.

But while we were there we picked bags of huge thistles.   

Giant juicy thistles... and fitted them in the back of the ute with the groceries!

We drove right up to the chooks to give them these while they were so fresh.   Picking thistles and surveying the lemon tree in the sunshine = happiness! 

Hens are easy to make very happy too!   And beautiful bright colour healthy looking eggs are the result.  They are back to laying every day!  All the extra greens and scraps, hay and fresh dirt have helped.  

I have enough eggs to make some fruit cakes.  That is my plan.  And I know all these lemons are coming soon...  and it is A LOT.  Urban Queensland Homestead has a video today on using up citrus so this will be my evenings viewing.   

 

I think the best thing I can say is keep making hay while the sun shines.  If you see an opportunity step up and take it!  If you can produce something, grow something, bake, plant, sew, knit... whatever it is... busy hands make your heart happy and fill your home with good things.  

Tonight I only had to heat up a roast beef and veggies dinner.  I love that.  Now I have looked back over the week I am pretty happy!  I ill get on with working this edging around the blanket for Chase.  I have 4 laps to go!  

Have a lovely weekend.  Do tell... how did you feather your nest this week?xxx