On My Needles and What I'm Reading... January 26, 2022

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  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 all up to this week? 

On my Needles:

 My knitting needles have been busy. I'm knitting fingerless mitts and a black wool hat.

This is a double brimmed watch cap for my husband. It has a provisional cast-on with scrap yarn that will be removed later. 

My Everything November Mitt is coming along nicely.

On My Scribd App: 

I'm listening to And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder.

 Don't forget to be in God's word. I use the Bible.com app. I'm listening to Matthew right 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

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P.S. One of my favorite things is listening to audio books on Scribd. 

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, e-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 Scribd  link. I'll get a month free, too, so it's win-win to try it out. 

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Here are some books I've enjoyed recently. 

      

2022 Winter Reading List at Harvest Lane Cottage

Happy Winter!

 Winter is a wonderful time of year for readers. It's the perfect time to open a nonfiction book and learn something new. It's also an excellent time to slow down a bit while the world goes whirling by and slip into the land of make believe for a little bit.

  You can read in the car (but not if you're driving—unless it's an audio book), read while waiting for appointments, read while waiting for your kids to get out of lessons, read on your lunch break; or, if your hands are busy like mine often are, you can listen to audio books. I listen to at least a couple of audio books on Scribd each month. 

  My point is, if you really want to read, you can make time even if it's only a few minutes. 

Here are some books that I plan to read this winter:

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady has been sitting on my bookshelf for months. I didn't quite finish it. I plan to finish it this winter. 

Shadows of Swanford Abbey is a book that I am reading for review. Rather, I am listening on Scribd. So far, I've truly enjoyed every book that I've read by Julie Klassen. I'm just a few chapters in and thoroughly enjoying it. I'll review this in early February. The hard copy that I received from the publisher will be a gift. It's easier for me to find time to listen while I drive or work about the home.

I am listening to The Lost Apoothecary on Scribd, too. This book is for my local book club. It's not one that I would have picked out myself. It's a bit dark for my taste, but the narrator does bring depth to the rather dark story. While doing a bit of work today, I actually finished this one. Very good, but not my usual genre. I would not recommend it for young people.

And then there were Crumbs is the first in the Cookie House Mystery series by Eve Calder. It's also the January 2022 Cozy Mystery Book Club read. I saw a post on Instagram, so I thought I'd try it out. I'm listening... where else... on Scribd. I seriously use that app nearly every day!

I have a young friend who enjoys the Miss Marple mysteries. We've read and discussed Murder at the Vicarage and The Body in the Library. It is so nice to have a one on one little book club. Let me know when you're ready to start The Moving Finger Young Mrs. Smith! Yes, of course, I'll be listening on Scribd. 

Well that's the plan for the next couple of months. Then we'll start seeing bits of green and yellow and purple as the crocus burst forth! Ah Spring... but Winter has its pleasures, too. Enjoy now friends. 

Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage,

Laura

P.S  As you no doubt know, I highly recommend using Scribd. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus other reading materials for just one low price. $9.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 15 free months just sharing how much I love their service! You can too.

Find me online here:

Goodreads:  Laura Lane 

2022 I have finished 2 of my 51 book goal.

Ravelry:  HarvestLaneLaura

Facebook:  Harvest Lane Cottage  

Instagram: @lauraofharvestlane 

Email:  laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

Donations by Paypal lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com 

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #172

 Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, frugal cooking, and my blessings from God. 

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Ways I saved money:

I mended the hem of a bath towel. One more year of service!

Leftovers for lunch Tuesday 

No meat stir-fry for supper Tuesday

I ordered size 6 16" knitting needles, sock blanks for dyeing, and point protectors from Knit Picks while they were on sale. I also bought wool to knit a nice warm hat for my high school sweetheart of forty years, Lowell.

I stayed home more than usual. That saved gas.

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♥♥♥

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Ways I made money: 

I added to our family income by subbing 5th grade Tuesday. 

I filled out a survey with YouGov. It's the only survey site that I get points for every survey I fill out. The surveys are fairly short—usually around ten minutes. They don't just kick you out after you've filled out page after page of questions. Click on my link above to check them out. I'll get a few points, and you'll get a survey company that actually pays out. I've been using them for a couple of years. I don't make a lot of money, but I do get to save up my points for Amazon gift cards. 

I redeemed my YouGov points for a $50 Amazon gift card. I should get it within three weeks.

I started a return with Walmart pick up service. There were over $13 in products missing from my last order. I should get a refund within 10 days.

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♥♥♥

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Blessings:

I am knitting Everything November Mitts by Jen Yard in a pretty blue and white fingering weight yarn that my friend, Jill, dyed and gave to me for Christmas. I love the look and the feel of the yarn and the simple beauty of the pattern.

Dear friends gave us money to buy meat for our freezer. Thank you Deborah and George.

Challenges:

Our washing machine's computer decided to quit talking to the motor. ~ Lack of communication always causes troubles!

I took a big basket of clothes to the laundromat. It took three loads in their tiny washers. Each load was $3. I brought the clothes home wet to dry them! I am thankful for being able to laundry at home. What to do about the washer? I don't know. It was the third washer we'd gotten since 2012. They just don't last. So now, my husband is doing his research about what to do next. I did save money by drying at home! I am now trying to wash things out in my sink as we go. I'll probably end up taking more clothes to the laundromat, but I want to minimize!  We already wear clothes more than once if they don't look or smell dirty. That helps them last.

Well everyone, that was my thrifty blessed week What are you doing in your homes?

♥♥♥♥♥

 Do not give in to fear about circumstances. God has not given us a spirt of fear but power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

 We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philipians 4:13

 This is the time to get in God's word and pray. 

 You may give share prayer requests with me in the comments or by email.

God is so good.

Praise God!

What have you been up to lately?

Laura

Blessed to be a blessing

Do you like my blog?
Please share.

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads

2022 1 Finished Book

Goal 51

HarvestLaneLaura  on Ravelry

Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

PayPal donations to laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

On My Needles... What I'm Reading January 19, 2022

Fiddly Bits Scarf and Matching Hat

Hello Dear Reader,

 How is your week going? Have you done anything thrifty this week? Are you reading? Crafting? Do share your week in the comments. 

This week on my needles and what I'm reading. 

On my needles:

Everything November Mitts 
Pattern by Jenn Yard
in yarn dyed by my friend Jill.

On my bookshelf:

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady

In my Scribd app:

The Lost Apothecary
  by Sarah Penner
This is for my monthly book club.

and

Shadows of Swanford Abbey
by Julie Klassen

Did you know that you can listen to unlimited audiobooks, read unlimited ebooks, and even find sheet music on Scribd? 

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends.

God is so good.

Praise God!

What have you been up to lately?

Laura

Blessed to be a blessing

Do you like my blog?
Please share!

This post has affiliate links for Amazon. 

It's Time to Get Thrifty and Creative!

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January 2022

Hello everyone!

  It's been just a bit since I've written about thrifty things around here. Ironic since I've spent most of the last fourteen years writing about thrifty things. I looked back and found that my most recent post about my thrifty week was in October! Woo! That was around the time that I had surgery. I was a bit distracted by recovery and the holidays, and I forgot to keep track. Enough of being sidetracked! I aim to write my thrifty week posts weekly this year. Why? I'll tell you.

  Accountability! When I know that I'm going to be sharing my thrifty activities, finds, and blessings with you, I do a lot more! Sharing it with you is like getting extra credit ~smile~. It also stirs my creativity and makes me thankful for and resourceful with what I do have. So, starting now, I'll be sharing with you again every week. Look forward to my first 2022 post later this week. 

 I have just an inch or two of snow outside. It's been here two days now. I do love it. That's easy this time, because it never caused trouble on the roads. I've also been home a lot this week. I like to look at the snow, not be out in it! 

 Well, ladies, I hope you have a lovely week. I don't know if I will do any substitute teaching or not. Our schools went online last Wednesday. They are supposed to open Tuesday, but we'll see. We've had a spike in Covid cases around here. I'm not afraid, but I am wise about my activities. That's why we've attended online church the last couple of weeks. 

 May God bless you all, keep you safe in every way, and help you be thrifty and creative. Please share things you've been doing or plan to do in the comments. I need to get my creativity and resourcefulness revved up a bit!

Laura

Loving God and Loving Others along life's way.

* One thing that helps me keep busy is listening to audio books on Scribd. 

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 Scribd  link. I'll get a month free, too, so it's win-win to try it out.