Feather your Nest Friday, 17th July, 2020.

It was a big week.  The biggest thing was  Lucy and Sidney came home from hospital and met the girls.  Because of the virus restrictions they were not allowed to go to the hospital.  So this was very exciting.   There were some truely gorgeous moments!   Anyway now they are old hands at babies and Scarlett thinks she is in charge.

From the start Scarlett was ready to run off with Sidney and I thought ok they are going to have to watch out! 

Harper is older and she asks first!  The expressions on their faces tell the story.

They are besotted with him and it is lovely.

Some of the things I have been making are in use now.  I made a heap of softest flannel wraps in cute prints.   Here Sidney is snug in a doggie one I made months ago.

I have lots of beautiful farm and baby farm animal fabrics lined up.  Now I need time to sew them! 

Most of the crafts and making is posted over on The Afternoon Club where we share what we are making, reusing, putting to good use, baking and so on.   This is a strictly uplifting place, which is what we all need right now...

So some of the ways I feathered my nest were:

I added heaps to the raised garden beds.  I am surprised how it adds up.  I was given more bags of shredded paper.  I squashed cardboard boxes, added chicken manure from the coop, crushed egg shells and coffee grinds. 

I participated in A Working Pantry Challenge which was to add free things to your pantry.  This caused me to focus on all my various free resources and harvest what I could.

It inspired me to start a note book and list resources.   Some are things that are around all the time. We have endless firewood, rabbits, pinecones etc.  Some are seasonal so I set up months of the year... like apples in March and April.   It really got me thinking.   I started then to list things I could do with those assets.  i.e. the wood we cut up... we use it for our fire.  We could sell or gift loads of wood.  We could save the hollow logs and sell to people with aviaries ....  and so on.   I am still thinking of things!

In the thrift store I found another Elsa dress for Harper.  Perfect condition and different!   The last one I bought her she has just lived in it.  To her it is a dress for all occasions, around the home, in the paddock,  to town.  When she is not wearing it she is wearing an older Frozen dress (as above) so now she will have another!

I also found a box of beautiful jars.  One is a vintage one that I particularly collect and keep my dry goods in.  Others are newer jars but good with lids.

There were 7 of the smaller jars.  Six of them are full now of Lemon Butter I made from the lemons and eggs I had. 

Some of this is filling cup cakes today.  Some jars went into the freezer. 

Andy invested in a wood splitter.   It is amazing.  It cuts through big stumps like butter, splitting them into useable bits.  Our woodpile has greatly increased because of this. 

I planted some garlic that sprouted. 

I dried some left over mushrooms near the fire and added them to a jar. 

This week I did a pretty decent pantry stock up.  The atmosphere in the supermarket was kind of frantic.  There were a lot of unavailable items but not restrictions on how many of each item you could buy.   Each day the news has got a bit worse not a bit better.  Today it is worse again.  This is mainly in the area of numbers of new infections and restrictions and lockdowns.  But they affect everything don't they... confidence, how hospitals are managing,  travel restrictions, supply chains....

I continued on my pantry work.  New shelves I added behind the pantry door are full now.  There were the right width for cartons of long life milk so as I filled them,  this made space and neatened up my actual pantry shelves.   Also some left over strawberries became jam.  

We had a good, full of garlic and goodness, chicken soup.   I keep everything on hand to make this.  Some chicken in the freezer, most everything else in the pantry.  As long as I have bay leaves, onion, garlic etc I am happy to use the veggies I have on hand.

The cottage progressed as now I have a double bed ensemble from Buy Swap and Sell in as new condition for $50.   Now I have all the beds needed.  

I feel pleased with the week.  It is a fine balance to keep the home a safe haven and sanctuary when there is a crisis outside.  I was discussing this with someone yesterday and how things are at home is so important.  I wrote a series (which is in the index) called "The world within your walls."   There is so much we can do to create a safe and cozy atmosphere.  Routine helps.   Having lovely projects to keep your mind busy helps.  I cannot sit and do nothing but think.  This is a bad formula for me.  I have a new blanket I am working on for Sidney.  In the evening I work on that.   Stitching (of any kind) is calming and peaceful.  Great contentment comes from putting your heart into something and keeping your hands busy.  And learning a new skill or new stitch is so much fun.   

On the other hand we don't want to be off with the fairies either.  We need to keep tabs with reality and where possible anticipate smartly and be ahead.  While ignorance is bliss is won't keep your family fed.  We really have the power very often to avert trouble.  "A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."  Proverbs 22:3    It grieves me when it is the small children and Grandchildren of those who don't have their eyes open that suffer.  

In order to be prudent we need some knowledge of our local situation and the world more generally.  This group has helped me be ahead as many times the northern countries will experience something slightly before Australia... so this can be a handy tip off!  

I hope you found many ways to add to your pantry, preparedness and garden and many ways to bless your family this week.  Sharing your week with us is a big encouragement to others and all information and tips are welcome! xxx