Feather your Nest Friday, 31st July, 2026.

The last day of July!   Once it is August it's nearly September and once it's September it's nearly Christmas.  That's how it always seems to me.  I want to really appreciate this next month,  the end of winter, and soak this time in.

As with all of the last weeks produce kept coming.   This time lemons.

I don't mean a few lemons either.   Thanks to us asking permission to pick a lemon tree at a house with no occupants...   a tall man, a ladder and a ute this was the harvest.

You will also notice thistles... covered in tiny snails for extra protein too!

We estimate each basket is around 20 kilos....   sound around 80 -90 pounds all up.   

Today we took some to church to share of course.  Everyone is getting lemons whether they want the or not.

I made Lemon butter since I also have eggs.  The chooks are laying.  AND Chloe and I are both getting some new chickens next week.   Chloe is getting ten and I am getting five.  I try and get a few new ones every year so at no stage are all my chooks suddenly old and not laying.  I do keep a rooster and an incubator so if things are dire I can start hatching batches. 

These chickens though are laying giant eggs,  I cracked three in a row and each was a double yolker.

This is the last of this crop of Broccoli.   But I have a new crop coming on in big numbers.  I just hope it comes to fruition as it is several hundred plants!

I had Leeks from last weeks swap table so I freeze dried them. 

This was something I could add to my shelves.

Also I made Ike lamb bone broth then the meat, pumpkin and carrots baby food. 

I juiced oranges every day and made a giant orange cake with organ icing.

This went over to Chloe.   

My helpers came on Thursday.  My adult helpers and little helpers were here on the same day.  We coordinated and it was a massive days work.

The boys helped me in the garden.  It was a sunny day so I think get out in it!  I weeded some of my container gardens and we filled the big and small wheel barrow.     Also I planted up another bed of Broccoli.

We set off to the hen house.   This went well until we got to the hill.   Tom pushed the big wheelbarrow up the hill for me then came back and got the little one as well.   Then we emptied them in the chook house and collected the eggs.

On the way back to the house we stopped at the compost heap and filled the wheel barrow up with compost for my containers.

Later Tom reported to my friend that Chase had been "quite sensible."   haha 

In my container garden I have quite a bit of celery which is really coming on.

My big helpers cut me a very decent load of wood and even bring it to the back door and then into the house next to the fire.  😊

A major project has been to rescue an old and no longer used windmill from the scrub,  restore it and eventually it will go on the hill near the house.... and be seen as you come in the driveway.

I absolutely love windmills.  

Most these days lay unused as solar pumps have taken their place.  I really love that I can have one to admire.   I will show another photo when it is in its final spot.

This all made very entertaining viewing for the boys.  

I cut up left over veggies to go with a pork roast and potatoes I made for Chloe's family.

I made Date Loaves and also a tea loaf which was an experiment but I liked it.

As well as the jugs in earlier photos I got this lovely gigantic bowl from by, swap and sell.

With the two blankets completed last week I picked up Lily's blanket.   Since I took this photo I have added on quite a bit.

Sparkie is guardian of the wool.  This looks fine but as soon as I don't pay attention she grabs the ball and runs flat out down the passage with it.

 

Ike is 6 months old!   He is all smiles and laughs.

The other kids have to get in the photo too. Lily always has her hands in her pockets, standing up or laying down.

I started the dreaded last chest freezer organisation- clean out.  It actually wasn't as bad as I thought.  I bought these baskets last week from Kmart.

I really like them.  They are baskets of hope and categories.  I'm not finished yet but one more session and I will be.  So I am very happy!

My good you tube channel of the week is Seed and Sprout Homestead.   In this episode she showed me something I can really use in the next week.  A lemon juice concentrate that you can freeze in trays and come summer simple drop them into jugs or drink bottles.  So brilliant and simple and handy.   But she has a lot of beautiful information and inspiration.  I like this because I am not keen on citric acid and it needs none.   I have a fruit freezer and will fill a drawer with lemon and orange concentrates.  These will be fantastic in the hot weather. 

I THINK Jessica from Three Rivers Homestead will start the Every bit counts Challenge and I will certainly be doing that.  I will post her videos in the Tuesday Afternoon Club and post daily what I did that day.   We need to support Jessica as she lost her whole garden just recently.   The last couple of years doing this challenge has been a real eye opener to me.  And a lot of fun!  I LOVE a challenge!   

I hope good opportunities came your way and it was a good week for you.  I do see some of the ladies I follow have wildfires near them (USA) and I hope none of you are in danger.  xxx