Harvest Lane Cottage

Well, we're in...three houses! We still have a few things in our old house. The new house isn't quite ready. Lowell and his friend, Bob, decided to refinish the wood floors in the living room, dining room and hall. They first pulled up all the old carpet, took up the tin nailed to the floor, filled in the holes around the few patched boards, then sanded for about 15 hours! Then came cleaning up the dust, staining, and the first coat of polyurethane. They then had to stop for the move. They still have more sanding and two more coats of polyurethane to go. All this translates to a minimum of one more week before we can move in! So, since no one is living in the big house, much of our furniture is in the hall, dining room and living room. Everything else is in the garage! So, for a day or two, my Lowell is a man of three houses! I'm at the old house cleaning. We'll be "camping" in the big house until the little house is ready. Fortunately, the carpet...

Well the books are packed, the china's packed, the kitchen's packed. Those are the biggies. Thanks to Chelsea and Caity and Emily for helping me. The walls are painted in the new house except for a few touch ups and for finishing the bathroom. Thanks David and Joyce. The trim's almost painted thanks to Chelsea, Johnny, Carolyn, Wayne, Emily, Gene, Caity, Michael, Amy, Hunter, Zach, Kaiden, Clayton and Jedidiah. Today the old wood floors in the living room and the dining room are being sanded. Thanks Bob and Lowell. At the old house, I've got to step back and get some laundry done and try to make some order out of the chaos. I've got to try to get some more boxes, too. My Amy has a yearly dr check up as well that was scheduled before I knew about The Big Move . As you can see, we get by with a little help from our friends. Thank you God for friends! Laura

That's what I'd call this week. Crazy busy. The big move is Saturday. Our dear friends, David and Joy helped this weekend. Dave brought a paint sprayer and sprayed all the walls a nice cream color. Joy helped with the yard sale and with packing china. Oh yeah, we had to make a run for the border at Taco Bell, too! I give you a hundred thank yous Joy and David! This week we'll be painting trim white, pulling up the carpets, cleaning the wood floors, packing, cleaning at both houses, and wishing for more sleep! Tonight, we're having a painting party from 6-9 pm. All hands are welcome. Gotta get busy! Laura

"On those days when the kids are beasties, and I want to get away from them, I hold them, and they become nicer children. Could slowing down help?" ~ Christine Moriarty Field Coming Home to Raise Your Children A Survival Guide for Moms

"Slow me down, Lord. I want to be available for the minute conversation, or the gentle hug, or the quick smile. Don't let me miss those important opportunities to bless those I love." ~Emilie Barnes Keep It Simple for Busy Women

"Good books, like good friends, are few and chosen; the more select, the more enjoyable." ~Louisa May Alcott I'm afraid that I need to take this quote to heart...the book part, that is. I have finished packing our books. I sorted, gave away, and am paperback swapping and selling some. I recorded each book that I packed on a 3 x 5 card. That way I can find exactly what I need when I need it. I have about twenty boxes. Whew! I think I'll have to sort again when I unpack. No wonder we're a reading family! By the way, I have really good friends. God chose well for me. Harvest Blessings, Laura

She was due August 30. She arrived fashionably late on the 12th of September. She is everything I ever hoped for in a daughter and so much more. Happy Golden Birthday Emily, my dear. May God bless you and keep you close to Him all the days of your life. Love, Momma

Emily helped the face painting lady at Farm Girl Fest and was rewarded with a free painting. It's the prettiest I've ever seen. So is Emily! No make-up until 16; but, face painting is just plain fun!

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 What more can I say?

Everyone had a wonderful time at Farm Girl Fest. Thanks to everyone who prayed about the weather. Even though the forcast was for thunderstorms, the weather was beautiful. Special thanks to Deb for the cinnamon rolls we got to share before we attended the little church on the premises. The rolls were wonderful! I was absolutely amazed at how folks flocked to eat the simple ham and bean soup and fried potatoes and onions Lowell made in the dutch oven and cast iron skillet. Cooking over the wood fire really was wonderful. I think we'll have to do it again soon with friends. Now, after a wee bit of rest, we'll be hard at work on the new home and the old. Labor day blessings to you all! Laura Full of Beans!

"May you live all the days of your life."

Hi, I thought you might like to see some photos that my Honey took a couple of months ago of the Little House and the Big House. We met with the owners today and signed a lease on the little house and discussed our duties as caretakers. God has really blessed us. They're going to pay for paint, new countertop in the kitchen, building a wall to make another bedroom, moving the laundry upstairs, and anything else that needs to be taken care of. Wow, I couldn't ask for more. First, here is the caretaker's cottage, the Little House: The big front porch is on the east side. I think I'll be heading out there with my Bible and a cup of tea some mornings. There are lots of trees out near the road that give the place some privacy. This is the view of the north and west sides of the house. The Big House is just to the right of the pictured area. Notice the window box. Petunias? Here we see the north side of the house from the front of the house. The yard is like a park. ...

"Walk by faith! Stop the plague of worry. Relax! Learn to say, "Lord, this is your battle."

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed when I think of all that needs to be done this month. We already had a rather busy month before we decided to move. Fortunately, my Honey was able to help me focus my thoughts a bit. One thing at a time. One day at a time. So tonight, I'm going to pack books. Just like I planned yesterday before I got overwhelmed. ~grin~ Why do I tell you this? I tell you because you might feel the very same way right now. You might think that you're the only one who ever feels this way. It's not true. So, I'm going to take every thought captive as the Good Book says and take baby steps as Fly Lady says. I can do this bit by bit. You can do what you need to do just the same way. I'm off to pack another box of books! Laura Books, Boxes, and Baby Steps

For me and mine, the three biggest factors in actually physically moving are books, clothes, and papers. Why? Because we have more books, clothes, and papers than anything else. So, today I started with books. Each time we move, I start with packing books. They're easy to pack; and, with the exception of school books and a few others, I can get by without them for the month or two that they are packed. Here's how I'm sorting books this time: 1. Keep out. 2. Pack and store. 3. Paperback Swap. 4. Give away. I've got the first bookcase sorted. I just got some boxes. I'll pack up what I've sorted, put the swap books in the swap box to be listed after the move, and then I'll be taking the give away books to the homeschool meeting. Now, I just have eight bookcases to go! Um... did I mention we like to read? Blessings, Laura I think I'll go read now!

It seems that Autumn is coming early to our area. Yesterday it was 73 in the house all day with the windows open. It was even cooler out of doors. This morning, the air coming in the windows is actually chilly! As thoughts turn to Autumn this year, I'm cheered knowing that this year we'll be warmed by a wood fire in the woodstove. No, we're not buying a woodstove. We'll be moving to a cottage just a few miles out of town. It's old and in need of paint and a few updates. It's the caretaker's cottage for an old colonial style house. No one lives in the big house right now. The owner lives in a nearby city and doesn't want to keep up the grounds and the house. So, my master gardener husband will get to work to his heart's content in the beautiful park like yard. As for me, I'm gathering my thoughts about paint colors, what my to do list will contain and how I'm going to get the to dos to done. ~smile~ So, for now, I'm off to get busy. Ha...