I love taper candles. I don't think they can be beat for their versatility whatever the occasion or no occasion at all. They're just classic. But. They're fussy. They never fit right in my holders. I usually try to put foil around the bottoms, but it doesn't work well. It also looks tacky. I was excited to try these taper candle sticky dots.
I'm totally sold! Wow! I worked at a candle shop when I was in college, but I'd never heard of these. Who knows? Maybe they're new since then. It has been a couple of years... well, a lot of couple of years.
Bottom line, they work! They work well. They are perfect in my candle holders, but check out the second photo. Out of curiosity, I put a sticky dot on a candle and just stuck it on a dish. It stood up perfectly! It's still standing perfectly as I write.
I couldn't be happier. I just had to share this with y'all! No more tipsy candles for me!
Be blessed,
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
P.S. I'm a Vine reviewer for Amazon. I receive products for review for free. I'm always honest in my reviews. I'll only share products I really like here with you. Some secrets are too good to keep! Giggle. You know what I mean. You can see some of my recent reviews here. It's an affiliate link.
I hope you have some fun or peaceful plans for this weekend. It's supposed to rain here for the next few days. I have several things planned for this weekend. If I can squeeze it in, I may get my sewing room/office set up again. We had to take it apart to use the tables for the yard sale last week.
Plans this weekend:
Celebrate the life of a wonderful man of God who has moved to Heaven ~ done
Make chicken and rice soup ~ done
Blow bubbles ~ I didn't realize I was out of bubbles!
Have home group friends over ~ done Hand a great time!
Begin reading my new review book ~ In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer ~ done
Select a knitting pattern for Grandbaby Boy. Done ~ Newborn Vertabrae
Set up my sewing room/office ~ Ran out of time
Knit of course! ~ Done
My hope is to do this all at a peaceful, non-stressful, unrushed pace. I am really seeking God's peace and His presence. I'm listening to Ezekiel, and I'm getting a very real view of what happens when God's people don't seek Him.
Seek Him while He may be found my friend. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Having children is a huge responsibility that never ends just like the work never ends. Please allow me to share a few thoughts. One ~ Try to get to bed at a decent hour, so that you can try to get some good sleep.
Two ~ Require everyone to lie down for one hour each afternoon.
They may not nap, but they must lie down. Older ones need an hour of reading each day anyway. During this time, you can rest, read, pray, or do a load of laundry, whatever will help you gear up for the second half of the day.
Three ~ Make sure you’re eating fruits and vegetables, dairy and meats, not just high carbohydrate foods. You need nutrients.
Four ~ If possible, get some time away from the children once in awhile, even if it's only to go to the grocery store by yourself.
Five ~ Arrange a date time with your hubby, even if you stay home and put the kids to bed early.
Six ~ Invest time in Godly child training.
You might look at Above Rubies.They have free magazines and lots of articles on-line.
Seven ~ Don't give up! It does pay off even though we can’t always see results day to day. Look for the good and seize it daily.
Eight ~ Most of all, pray pray pray pray. You can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you. Nine ~ Really, this should be first, spend time with God in the Bible.
Note: If you feel depressed for an extended period, consider speaking with your husband, an older mother, or your doctor about whether you need herbal supplements or medication to help for awhile.
Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage, Mrs. Lane
An Older Woman
~smile~
P.S. See the comments below for some more great advice. Staying home is one thing that one of my readers reminded me about. It really helps to build routine.
"The attic was a lovely place to play. The large, round, colored pumpkins made beautiful chairs and tables. The red peppers and the onions dangled overhead. The hams and the venison hung in their paper wrappings, and all the bunches of dried herbs, the spicy herbs for cooking and the bitter herbs for medicine, gave the place a dusty-spicy smell.
Often the wind howled outside with a cold and lonesome sound. But in the attic Laura and Mary played house with the squashes and the pumpkins, and everything was snug and cosy."
"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 be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty." ~Louisa May Alcott Marmee's Advice in Little Women I've got to get this figured out and fast! I'm too busy to do the important things right now! Blessings, Laura Shared: No Rules
On my knitting needles... in my Scribd app... on my book pile! Knitting and reading in my free time and little bits of snatched time are two of my favorite ways to enrich my life.
Hello ladies!
What are you up to this week? I'm not even sure what I've been doing. I just know it's been one thing after another! We did harvest our first little zucchini from the garden. Tonight we need to check again. It's crazy how fast those little things can grow too big.
I've enjoyed time with family and friends, reading, knitting, washing dishes, cooking, ironing, vacuuming, dusting, watering the garden and plants, studying Spanish, etc. etc. etc. As the garden continues to grow, and we start harvesting, I'm sure I'll add preserving to that list. What I have not done is sew. I really do want to start doing that. It seems that it's a joyful something that always gets put off. I need to make sure there's something on my sewing needles by next week!
On my Needles:
~ The first blue, purple and green sock is nearly complete. These will be ankle socks. I am using leftover yarn from a friend's project. I hope I have enough yarn to finish the second sock! I'm using the Addi Flexi-Flips in size 1 for these. They're fiddly to begin with, but I am getting used to these needles. Who knows? They may become a favorite. I cast on 64 stitches, toe up, with a yarn over increase on both edges on one row followed by a knit row. I knit into the back stitches on the yarn overs to avoid holes.
~ I cast on the first multi-color sock on 9" circulars this week. I cast on 72 stitches on size 0 needles. These are top down socks. I cast on using two needles and a long-tail cast on to make them extra stretchy at the top. I haven't decided if these will be ankle socks or longer socks yet. I have plenty of yarn.
~ The second red and blue sock is on the needles. Still working on the toe. I'm using Chiaogoo size 1 circular knitting needles for these. These will be mid-calf socks. I didn't finish the first sock, because I want to see if I have enough to make them both longer. I'll wait until they are the same length, then put them on the same set of needles and knit them two at a time to the desired length.
On My Scribd App:
~ Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel
I was contacted to review this book. I am waiting for my hard copy to arrive. In the meantime, I thought I'd get a head start with the audio book on Scribd. Oh my, this is well-researched and intense. I can already tell after just a few chapters that I will need to read this at least twice to understand it. It's not light reading. I'll be writing a review later and explain more. It's very good.
~ Alison in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol
I'm listening to this in preparation for my book club next Tuesday evening. I didn't like the story years ago. I still don't like the story. I do remember being fascinated by it as a child though.
On my Book Pile:
~ Everybody Fights by Kim and Penn Holderness
If you haven't heard of them, check out their videos on YouTube. They make hilarious music parodies.
~ Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund.
Oh gals, this is so good! Different, too! Watch for a review next week.
~ Britfield & the Rise of the Lion by C.R. Stewart.
This will be the next book I start. I've really been looking forward to it.
This came in the mail this last week. I hope to start this book next week!
Don't forget to be in God's word. I'm inHebrewsright now.
Have a lovely week! What is on your needles? What are you reading? I would love to know. The fun of blogging is in interacting with readers. Talk to you soon!
Hugs to all,
Laura
Hopeful in all things
P.S. One of my favorite things is listening to audio books on Scribd. This month it is Alice in Wonderland for my book club. I keep telling you about Scribd, because it has been such an game changer for me.
It's only $9.99 a month for unlimited audiobooks from major publishers, books, magazines, sheet music, podcasts, and documents as you want.
I get well over $9.99 a month in value. I love it.
You can get a free 2 month trial by using my Scribdlink. I'll get a month free, too, so it's win-win to try it out.
Just had to share this with you again. My recipe was published in Gooseberry Patch Hometown Christmas! I have to admit, I was truly surprised when I received a letter from Gooseberry Patch requesting permission to use my recipe in their newest Christmas cookbook. I've sent in some more complicated recipes, but this one is easy peasy!
It's truly a recipe that I threw together using items from my nearly bare kitchen cupboards last winter. I called it Spicy Can Opener Soup. They changed the name, but the ingredients remain the same.
I was thrilled to receive my very own copy of the book. Of course, I had to make it up and take some photos to share with you dear ladies.
It's simple, quick, and delicious.
It's also one of those scrape the bowl clean recipes.
It's just this simple.
Spicy Can Opener Soup 1 can black beans 1 can Mexican corn with peppers 1 can Rotel type tomatoes w/chiles 1 package of Taco Seasoning Mix and simmer 5-10 minutes.
Oh what a refreshing afternoon I had! I visited my dear friend Joyce of Morris Patch of Heaven Homestead. We've been friends for years and have raised our kids together. Our visit was punctuated with her wonderful young children bringing adorable baby animals right into the house for viewing and enjoying. New life is always such a joy. Bottle lambs bring back memories.
I met Joyce through a homeschool group that met in a little house, at the other end of my block, that was owned by a local church. We enjoyed many years of mom meetings, homeschool field trips, pray and plays, park days and activities together. For a few years, we also had the pleasure of being church members together and participating in home groups that our children were welcome to attend. Ah, good memories.
Friends on a long ago field trip. Laura left, JuLinda center, Joyce right
While we were together this afternoon, the first since the distancing order, I felt refreshed by talking with my dear friend. We are kindred spirits, and it has been wonderful to talk over all that is going on and our personal and family responses to it.
We also talked of homemaking things and homesteading things as we always do. One of the things we agreed is that we need to make soap together again soon. Last time, she made it for her YouTube channel. She made an easy goat milk soap. I want to share that video with you here and ask you to give her some comment love and subscribe if you like what you see.
As usual, I always love to receive your comments here as well. How are you holding up these days?
Any great make do ideas to share? Any prayer requests? I'd love to hear from you. Please make sure to leave your email address if it's not part of your Google account or hit follow so that I can respond.
I hope y'all have a wonderful evening, morning, or day!
I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Choose to focus on the good in these days and keep busy. I'll be writing my next bucket list this week. I'll probably combine Spring and Summer since I've begun so late. Enjoy your life whatever it looks like right now. Get rest. You'll be happier for it.
Blessings to you all,
Laura
P.S. Please write to me in comments, email, or snail mail. My home address is available by emailing me at laura@harvestlanecottage.com.
No dramatic photos. Just complete amazement. I went to Dollar General tonight, in what I've thought of as my sensible hometown, and the toilet paper shelves were bare. Completely bare. I thought it was only happening in cities. Fortunately, I still have a few rolls left. Tomorrow, I'll be looking through my fabric and old t-shirts for fabric to make wipes. I've known about family cloth for years, but I've never done it.
I hope this is not a portent of things to come. I don't watch the news much, but every time I do, someone's panicking or causing panic about the Corona virus. I do wish that people would take this seriously but not panic. I'm not nearly as worried about the virus as I am about the hysteria that's surrounding it. Call me naive, but even as a cancer survivor, I will just practice good hygiene and wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands. I will also be careful around others who show symptoms of illness just like I would with other illnesses.
So, tomorrow I will make cloth wipes for tinkling and pray for our country and our world.
So good of you to drop in today. I've been thinking of things I would like to get done over the next week or so. You know how it is. Always something to do. So, here are some things I hope to do this week. I think I'll come back here and change the items to italics as I do them just to give myself a little encouragement along the way.
Planning:
menu
grocery list ~ My sweet man did my Aldi shopping for me! I ordered some grocery items online for pick up at Walmart, too. They'll bring it right to my car Saturday at noon! I got $10 off my first order. You can try it too if you use this link: http://r.wmt.co/v/laura_2516
projects ~ I've got a list of ideas and it's growing!
Cooking:
wheat bread ~ Monday
baked chocolate chip cookies with my eldest son
jalapeno jelly - I'll have to put this off until next week.
Reading: I need to make a service announcement here. ~giggle~ I am not going to finish all of these books this week. I am merely reading a bitof all these books this week. I'm not a speed reader. I just thought I'd put them all here so that I can make some progress in each of them. This list is just to motivate me.
YouVersion's Canonical Reading Plan. ~ Reading Jeremiah now. It's a long book!
The Hobbit by Tolkien for my book club ~ I've listened to a a couple of chapters.
An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer. Yes I'm that girl who loves Christmas stories year round! I did finish this one.
God's Will for You by Gloria Copeland ~ I've read a few pages.
Mother Culture by Karen Andreola to pg 96
Walden by Thoreau
Papa's Wife ~ read a bit on Monday
Knitting:
Knit with friends Tuesday evening
Finish the socks on my needles ~ All done! They're laying in my gift box waiting for Christmas.
Spend a couple hours with a good book and a nice candle
Meet a friend at the local coffee shop
If I finish all this list, I'll have been very busy indeed. I also need to spend time with my kids and do some ironing and cleaning. Thanks so much for dropping in! I'd love to hear some of your plans for this week. It's so nice to have a chat over the back fence internet with you today!
If you read my last post, you know that my husband found a computer for me. It's a Dell Optiplex 3020. That doesn't mean anything to me either. ~smile~ What I do know is that it's much smaller than my last desktop. It seems to be working great, too. I want to thank Penny Holland, Mr. and Mrs. David EntingerHelen Threlfo for their donations. Your generosity helped me purchase a very nice reconditioned computer. That fits my thrifty lifestyle.
Lately, I've been cozying up the cottage for the cold weather that will soon be here. It's been raining all day, and it's been in the forties. Next week there's a chance of snow! Just imagine. That's really early for Southern Missouri. That means I need to stock up on cocoa and soup fixin's!
I've made chili and a beef and cabbage soup this week. My husband has requested garlic cheese potato soup for tomorrow night. We've got good friends coming for a soup supper. My friend, Joyce, from Morris Patch of Heaven Homestead and her family are coming. Joyce is bringing minestrone. I invite you to go see her latest video, and tell her I sent you.
Well, I hope you're enjoying your Fall. I'm trying to do as many things on my Fall Bucket List as possible over the next couple of weeks. Why the rush? I found out this week that I'm going to have surgery again. I need to have my implant replaced. November 11th is the date. I'm not sure what recovery will be like this time. So, that means I need to pack in all the fall fun and Thanksgiving planning that I can between now and then.
Well enough for now. I hope you have a terrific weekend.
Laura
I've got something a little different for you today. One of my dearest friends is Joyce Morris from Morris Patch of Heaven Homestead. She's been making lots of videos about her homesteading life here in Southern Missouri. Joyce, her daughters Caitlynn and Avonlea, and her son Jedediah came to my house for a little tea party yesterday. While we were enjoying ourselves she and her son took some video. So if you've ever wondered what I sound like, here's your chance!
The photo below on the beginning is my buffet and our teacup and tea choices.
Enjoy! Be sure to check out Joyce's YouTube channel.
If you cannot see and play the video above, here's the direct link to the video. It opens with my friend, Joyce, talking.
https://youtu.be/P0HrwPyfhmk
1. Light a fragrant candle by your sink to enjoy as you wash dishes. I like strong fragrances of McCalls' candles. Their fragrances are strong enough to enjoy throughout my living room and dining room. I've shared a couple of nice fragrances below.
2. Listen to worship music, classical music, The Bible or an audio book you love as you work. I love listening on Scribd. It's an inexpensive way to listen to or read as many books as you wish in a month. Try two free months.
3. Clean one room at a time. Declare it off limits when you're finished with it.
4. Take frequent breaks to do something you enjoy for just a few minutes. Then get back to work. ~smile
6. Be thankful for what you have. Thank your husband and the Lord for what they have provided.
7. Start looking at yard sales and thrift shops for things that fit in with what you would like your home to become. Oftentimes, you can find things that are just perfect for pennies on the dollar.
8. Think comfort in all you purchase for your home. Some styles may be pretty; but if you want a cozy home, comfort is what you really want.
9. Determine to be thankful for what you have now.Gratitude brings joy!
10. Ruthlessly get rid of the things that you don't need or enjoy. Think real estate investment! 11. Smile! 12. Pray while you iron. 13. Invite someone over. It's great motivation; and, God tells us to be hospitable. It's also fun! 14. Make time in your day for doing something you enjoy...knitting, sewing, crocheting, writing, reading, whatever it may be. 15. Place your favorite chair near your husband's favorite chair. Reach over and hold his hand. Remember how you did this in your dating days? 16. Seek friendships with ladies who enjoy homekeeping and love the Lord. 17. Try new recipes regularly. 18. Make useful things for your home and for your family. 19. Make things homemade as often as possible. There's such satisfaction in it. 20. Take time for tea hot or iced! Homemade lemonade is refreshing, too. 21. Use it up; wear it out; make it do; or do without!
This list is for me, too. I do many these things, but not all of them. I'm looking for ways to enjoy homemaking, too. I'd love to hear your ideas.
Just Something to Think About.... Blessings to you all from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.... Laura Learning to Enjoy Homemaking More and More
As I write ... Very early Monday morning. The weather.... It was in the upper 70s on Sunday. It's supposed to be warm today, too. Right now I am... listening to the fan, water running, and the calm of late night/early morning.
Thinking... God turned our life in a very definite direction last week in a matter of just an hour and a half.
A quote to share...
♥♥♥♥♥ "If there's one thing I want you to take away from this study, it's that so much about living an abundant and fulfilling life has to do with your mindset and very little has to do with your circumstances." Sarah Coller Now Purposeful Steps Toward a More Abundant Life p. 21 ♥♥♥♥♥
I finished the Helix Hat with the pom pom.
The Alaska Hat is still a work in progress.
Looking forward to this week...
Meeting with my Trim Healthy Mama coach for the first time
Monday - Line dance class... beginner beginner super beginner line dance class!
Tuesday - Knit Night with friends
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Chai Tea Latte with a friend
Friday - Time with another friend
Saturday - Preparing for Sunday
Sunday - Church and family dinner
Looking around the house...
I've got a pile of games sitting on my buffet. I had the kids (17, 18, 19, 21, 28) pull them all out and we decided what to keep and what to give. I need to pack them up by Tuesday.
My joint and bone pain to stop. It's a side effect from the medicine that is supposed to keep cancer from coming back.
A stop to the madness of the invasion on our southern border.
Peace of Jerusalem and Israel
Wisdom, health, and protection for President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and their families.
Healing for our country so that we may be ONE nation under God.
My prayer for you, my reader...
Jesus, These ladies carry many types of burdens and responsibilities. Please help them to organize, prioritize, and get the important things done first whatever they may be. Give them strength and desire to work in their homes and yard. I ask it all by the power of the Blood of Jesus, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Thanks for dropping by. Please say hello. Laura Trusting in God's timing, provision, and healing power Joining with Sandra atHappy Homemaker Monday ~~~~~
