Harvest Lane Cottage

Friday, July 31, 2020

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #155

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Hello Dear Reader,

It amazes me that we are more than halfway through the year. For me, 2020 has indeed been a Year of Optimism! Not because it's been sunshine and roses, but because Optimism, Faith, and Trust in God have been key to making it through and keeping myself upbeat and encouraging. Being optimistic also makes it much easier to share the love of Jesus, because I am not living in fear. I guess facing cancer helped me develop a faith that isn't easily shaken by circumstances, but that faith is in JESUS.

I was about to say that it won't be long before I turn my thoughts to Christmas plans, but I've already started knitting a gift. I like homemade gifts. I love Christmas books, Christmas music, and Christmas movies along with all of the things I do to make Christmas a special time of worshiping God for my family. I've said before that I start reading Christmas books in September. That's because I'm a reviewer, and that's when authors need help. This year, however, I found myself listening to extra Christmas books since they are usually happily ever after stories. That helped during a difficult time. Christmas music waits until sometime in October. That's when I start creating in earnest. It motivates me. Christmas movies begin sometime mid-November. BUT—as Christmas loving as I am, I don't want to see it in the stores until after Thanksgiving. I'm a bit old-fashioned still. ~smile~

Well enough of my rambling. Let me share my blessings and Thrifty Things Lately...

Thank you Miss Helen for your PayPal gift!

Friends gave us cheese, cream cheese, milk, cream, green beans, zucchini, cantaloupe, potatoes, onions, lettuce, and cat fod!

A friend gave me a bar of homemade soap

I made a silly chili with things we had on hand

I made a lasagna with some things we had on hand

I found some t-shirts on sale to go with my skirts.

I bought Cascade pods at Dollar Tree. There were 4 in a package—cheaper than Walmart.

I made a Low-Carb Make Do Sausage and Kale Soup: half a pound of bulk pork sausage (leftover from another meal), 8 cups of water, 5 Knorr boullion cubes (the double size ones often found in the Hispanic section), salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and turmeric to taste, 4 oz cream cheese chunked up, and a bunch of kale stemmed and chopped. I boiled the ingredients then added kale to wilt.

I used leftover hamburger buns from a bbq to make garlic toast in the electric skillet to go with leftovers on Sunday.

I packed shredded zucchini from our garden for future zucchini cake or bread recipes. Our garden is beginning to produce. It's the first one we've had in a few years. It's not big, but it helps.

I canned four pints and one half-pint of Zesty Salsa with garden produce including some peppers we froze last year. I need to clear out my freezer space. ~smile~

Homemade zucchini cake to celebrate my daughter's graduation

I made Small Batch Garlic and Dill Pickles using a video from Heart's Content Farmhouse. Oh my they were delicious! I wish I hadn't given away nearly all of my quart jars while fighting cancer. I didn't think I'd ever can again. We've moved to a house that has great soil, and the garden and gardeners (my husband and daughter) are thriving.

My friend, Heather, loaned me the book I need for book club. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I received three books for review: Biblical Minimalism by Cheryl E. Smith, Persian Betrayal by Terry Brennan, and The Gentleman Spy Erica Vetsch. Look for reviews over the next 2-3 weeks.

It's been a different kind of summer, but it's good because God is good!

Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage,
Laura

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