Catching up...♥

"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

Greetings sweet friends...how are you all?

I cannot believe how long it has been since I have written and published a proper post! Keeping up with work on the homestead has kept us all pretty busy recently, especially since our milk cow and her adorable little heifer arrived a few weeks ago...I thought that a 'catching up' post was in order, {{smiles}}

~

^The last few remaining flowers in our garden...

Winter is almost upon us, and we are having to cover our garden beds with shade net at night, to protect the plants from the severe frosts. The vegetable garden is looking a little bleak at the moment, which is usual for this time of year. I have been busy spreading a layer of cow manure across all the empty beds, to keep them warm and composted during the Winter months. My sister and I have also been planting the Winter crops, such as onions, leeks and brassicas.

^Planting the onion crop...

My plan is to plant and harvest 3000 onions this year, which may seem like a lot, but will in fact, only last my family a couple of months, {{smiles}}

^Caleb loves my ducks♥

My ducklings are doing very well.  I have discovered that there are two females and one male. As I wish to increase my flock for eggs, I am keeping the females, but sadly, the drake has one more month left before he will be slaughtered. 

^Introducing Candy, the newest addition to our ever growing homestead...

^...and her sweet calf, Shalom♥

After a rather bumpy start, Candy and Shalom have settled into their new home and are doing very well! We have also established a good milking routine, and we all are enjoying the blessings of owning such a big animal, and the large quantities of fresh milk.♥

^Calf kisses...♥

Sofia, who is our little tomboy and animal lover, is loving having a cow and calf! She is quite happy to spend hours out in the field with them, and it is the sweetest thing to watch her frisking with her 'pet

 calf.' ♥

I have also been canning apples the past few days...it has taken me a while to figure out a recipe, but everything is running smoothly now. It is such a wonderful blessing from the Lord, that we are allowed to wander through the orchards and pick as many as we need..

And, as the weather grows colder, I am anticipating bringing out my knitting, sewing and crafting, and learning new stitches and skills...crocheting being something that I am determined to learn this year! 

I have sorely missed creating, and that is what Winter is for!

I hope that you have a blessed day, dear reader♥

Gabrielle

Pictures from the Homestead...

Blessings~Gabrielle

Rebekah and I with our nephew...♥

Hello sweet friends...

Rebekah and I spent a wonderful day with Kelly a little while ago, and enjoyed visiting with our older sister, and, of course, many cuddles with Nicholas♥

Nicholas and I...♥

His adoring Aunties...{{{smiles}}

Rebekah and Nicholas...♥

Kelly and her sweet baby boy...♥

Little Nicholas..what a cutie♥

We are so blessed to have a little nephew...it truly is wonderful being an Aunt, {{smiles}}

Blessings~Gabrielle♥

Meet my little nephew♥

"There is no man so great, nor one sunk so low, but once he lay a helpless, innocent babe in a woman's arms, dependent upon her love and care for his existence."

~Beautiful Girlhood, Mabel Hale~

Sweet baby Nicholas...

Dear Friends♥

I am so proud and pleased to introduce you to my adorable baby nephew..little Nicholas Aaron Coetzee! He was born last Friday night and weighed 4kg's {8.82 lb}

Unfortunately my sister had a couple of complications, and was unable to deliver naturally, and had to have a C~Section. But little Nicholas arrived strong and healthy♥

After staying in George a couple of days, to ensure that all was well, my sister, her husband and their little one went home. Kelly is recovering very well♥  Baby Nicholas is simply too cute, and I am one enraptured Aunty!

And now, time to show off my sweet nephew♥ {{smiles}}

Dear little Nicholas, I love you so very much!

Isn't he just too cute for words?! I am a very proud Aunty♥ 

More pictures coming soon.

Blessings~Gabrielle

In the month of January... ♡

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets and life will become a beautiful success."

~Louisa May Alcott~

Happy January dear friend, and a Happy New Year to you too!

Life has just exploded for my family~ It is preserving season and my days are filled with gardening, kitchen work and the usual housecleaning. I am struggling to find time for many of the hobbies I enjoy, blogging being one of them! 

However, Summer is always a busy time and we all are using this precious time to can and preserve as much as possible, for,we know that, all too soon Winter will set in and there will be plenty of time for sewing, crafting and writing♥

One little chick recently hatched, and the little ones have named him 'Cheeper'...isn't he sweet?!

I love sunflowers..they are so happy!

We were blessed with an abundant harvest of blackberries this summer, and I spent a couple afternoons in the kitchen, turning them into delicious berry jam...

Mog joining me for a morning stroll around the garden...♥

Marguerite...♥

Sofia unloading the wood-chips for Dad...my younger sisters and I have enjoyed helping Dad this holiday.  He has been taking us along to chop trees down for wood, and we helped him plant the poles for the nursery he's building for my Mom. It has been wonderful to spend time with Dad, and help with the outside work♥

It has been so hot recently that our Dad has taken us for frequent trips up to the dam for swims...it is an outing we all enjoy! Our friends down the way took us to a beautiful creek in the forest last Sunday~ The little ones had so much fun paddling in the water and cooling off♥  

Little Caleb...♥

Pretty potato flowers...

Mr Murdstone, our rooster...my sister Rebekah named him after reading David Copperfield...{{smiles}}

"If a kiss could be seen I think it would look like a violet."

Anne of Avonlea

Life in my family is always interesting and exciting!

 I am looking forward to seeing what this year will hold for us...♥

I hope that you all are well, and I will try to post more regularly now...blessings to you~

Gabrielle♥