Autumn is...

I love Autumn. It has long been my favorite time of year. We live in Carthage, the Maple Leaf City.

Fall means the Maple Leaf Festival and the biggest parade in the four states.

Fall means pumpkins! A few years ago, my family lived in the country and had a pumpkin patch. I loved everything about it. I loved seeing the baby pumpkins as they formed and grew. I loved harvesting them. I loved selling them and the craft items I'd made. The name Harvest Lane came from our farm, Harvest Lane Farm. I'd been Laura of Harvest Lane online for awhile; so, when we moved to town, we called our home Harvest Lane Cottage.

Autumn is fresh apple cider with mulling spices, chai latte tea, homemade cocoa, soup simmering on the stove, bread baking in the oven, the smells of pumpkin and cinnamon coming from my oven or my favorite candles.

Autumn is snuggling up with a good book while I listen to the rain falling outside.

Autumn is knitting a wheat gold sweater for my grandson.

Autumn means reading a few Christmas books before the Christmas rush begins.

Fall means planning for Christmas gifts, sneaking in a little Christmas music while I'm working, and 

creating for for friends and family.

What is fall to you?

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

Enjoying my favorite season

God Kept Us Warm... He'll Do It Again

 We live in southern Missouri. While not as cold as Vermont, it still gets quite cold here. A furnace or woodstove is necessary. Well, this past year, we didn't have that luxury. Our furnace broke at the end of the previous winter, and we were unable to get it fixed. God was good to us. The insulation that we were blessed with last summer helped keep us warm without the furnace.

 We used space heaters, more clothes, baked and sometimes just sat in blankets next to the heaters. I'm so glad we had more than one. Somehow, God took care of us, even during the sub zero temperatures and wind chills. You do what you have to do, but I must admit, I do hope to get it fixed for this winter.

 Whatever comes, God's already there in the situation helping us every step of the way.

Laura

Trusting God in All Situations

Homemade Vanilla Creamer

 Hello!

    I love fall! It's absolutely my favorite time of year. We had an unexpected 93° yesterday, but we should have cool weather coming in this week. Cool is what I want, not cold! That will come soon enough. 

    It's time for warm drinks again. That means we use creamer, half and half and cream more often. Dairy's gotten a bit expensive here in Missouri, so I recently found a recipe that makes a delicious, homemade creamer.

     My husband likes this creamer in his coffee. I like it in my cappucino (powdered) or my chai latte. I'm not a full-fledged coffee girl... yet. I need lots of sweet and creamy to make it palatable. ~ smile ~

    This is so easy to make. You might even have the ingredients on hand. I did.  First, I measured 1 1/2 cups of whole milk into a quart jar. 

Next, I added a full can of sweetened condensed milk. 

    Lastly, I added a tablespoon of vanilla.

    Time to put the lid on and shake shake shake!

It's ready to serve! If you try it, let me know what you think. 

Homemade Vanilla Creamer

1 1/2 c whole milk (or milk of your choice)

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

Measure into a jar, combine by shaking.

This lasts us about a week. It all depends on how fast your brand of milk sours.

We like this so much better than the artificial coffee creamers we were buying. It costs far less as well. Do you make any creamers? I'd love it if you'd share your recipes in the comments for us all.

I do hope that you are enjoying early autumn. This week we're having the Maple Leaf Festival in Carthage, Missouri. There's something new every day. If you're in the area, we will have a fabulous parade starting at the square.  Small town fun!

Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage,

Laura

It's time to start saving your pennies
and your nickles and your rocks for Christmas!

You may enjoy:

Cocoa from Scratch

Candycane Cocoa Mix