Feather your Nest Friday, 14th August 2026.

I've had trouble with loading photos tonight and nearly gave up!  Fighting with a computer is so frustrating!   But I think at last I have it figured out!  

It was a really busy day!  

I finished Lily's blanket and was able to give it to her.  It is truly Lily's colours.  

I think a good border mades a blanket and it felt like it took 900 years to do one lap around the outside!  But I love how it turned out.

 

I continued working on oranges and lemons.   Plenty of fresh orange juice shared around.

I also did a batch of orange cordial concentrate which I froze in cups.  One cup will go to one litre of water in summer.

I like this a lot as there is no citric acid.   Just fruit and sugar. 

Then I did lemon...

Once they were frozen I labelled them and they went into the fruit freezer.

I know other countries have been through this but now it is bird flu here.  It is pretty inevitable I think that there will be egg shortages or terrible prices. Or both.    So I have hatched an egg plan.  😊

I froze this dozen.  If you will want them for cakes etc you stir them with a pinch of sugar.   For savoury a pinch of salt.   I did these with sugar.   This helps them thaw better and mix better.

I will show how they turn out.

I have been using a lot of small containers to freeze up small portions of all kinds of things for the #everybitcountschallenge.  This week I collected together (and added some more) good portion freezing containers.   I found some at the op shop too!   It becomes like food lego...  ie a portion of potato or rice, a portion of another veggie and portion of casserole/curry or whatever and it adds up to a good meal.

Also... Stephanie has shared how her husband cooks up a heap of eggs and bacon on the BBQ then makes up "McMuffins" to freeze.   Mum used to do this.... and you can microwave them or thaw and put in the sandwich press.   Sooo.... I decided I am going to make them up for my Grandkids.   Sidney LOVES a brioche egg and bacon roll.    

When I went to get the rolls the price was not too great and I walked on a bit further and all of these were half price! 

Stephanie added that cooking the eggs in the pie maker means they are perfectly round!   So this is on my next project list.   

I have only had success one year here with pumpkins.  It was in a spot near the driveway in a big pile of fresh compost.  I grew a whole wheelbarrow full!    But the next year they failed.   Dad told me why.   The gum tree roots had headed up into my good compost. 

I have failed ever since.   But I really want to try again.  So... today.... an old trough plus an old bath tub were moved into this little patch....  It is important because this area has a rabbit proof fence and a tap.   And it is really near the house which helps.

I have a huge rich compost heap.   Filling these up is next.  Plus chook manure.  Plus anything else I can lay my hands on to make it as good as possible. 

There was also a dead tree to be pushed over and then... a termites nest to get rid of.   It was like out of a Road Runner video... involving fuel, flame and a plan to blow them up.  What could possibly go wrong?  Don't worry the boys and me were at a great distance.  Tom thought it would blow up and we would all be covered in toasted white ants.   With the tractor action and fire and cutting up wood they had a great time.  

Sadly the fire failed to deliver an actual explosion but it did become pretty hot and burned a long time.  This is winning as other solutions would involve chemicals and I am not a fan.

My cook up for the week was cherry tomatoes, capsicums and meatballs.   I also made a couple of tea loaves.   Recipes without butter are a good idea given the price.   I will write up this recipe when I get it converted to cups instead of grams.

In the op shop, and with the help of my friend,  I got a big ball of Bendigo Woollen Mills wool...  and several others, all pure wool.

This is good because I started a boys pram rug in greens.   Last week I found two balls of a golden yellow wool.  I bought it because it was beautiful quality.   Normally I would not be keen on these colours but I have had boy blankets grow on me now and I am loving it!

Finally men were using the cabin.   They came with homemade sour dough loaves and veggies. 

You know I got to work on washing things up and the next few days I have lots to do.  They will help my #everybitcountschallenge along.

We had rain.... mostly gentle drizzle but it's adding up!  Just like with our work -  little bits add up to a lot!

Yesterday Mum came with me to town.  She had an appointment then we went to lunch and the supermarket.  It was a really good time.  I followed Mum's method and came home and made a loaf of bread into ready to toast turkey, cheese and cranberry sandwiches and frozen them.   After eating one for dinner actually.  As Mum said there is nothing wrong with a toastie or an egg on toast or a crumpet for dinner.   Every meal doesn't have to be a Masterchef audition.   I have a friend who can make a meal out of pretty much nothing.  She will think she has a tomato. And she had eggs.  So a tomato omelette with some garden parsley it is then!  And it will be delicious!  

I hope you had a week of building up your home and god things. xxx