Harvest Lane Cottage

Just a couple more days! My favorite season is around the corner! You wouldn't know it though. It's been in the 90's. We actually swam in the creek yesterday. Ah well, time is on our side.

Meet Zoey! Pronounced Zo-ee. Grandpa Rick brought her to fulfill Emily's birthday wish. Thank you Grandpa! We have three very happy children and one very happy kitten!

Before you know it, it will be time to move the teapots to a safer location. The old woodstove will be cleaned and filled with dry wood awaiting the strike of the season's first match. Most likely it will take several matches since we're out of practice since last year. Ah well, there are always firestarters. Living in the country as we do, we have propane heat. Propane is way too expensive. So, we'll be looking for a place to stock up on nice, well-cured, dry, firewood. In the winter time, I'll use the top of the stove to heat water for tea and to cook pots of stew and beans. Well, that's a look into the future.... Cozy Thoughts from Harvest Lane Cottage Laura

Apple, peach, and pear butter. Be sure to leave a full inch of headspace in the top of your jar to allow for expansion during freezing. Don't ask me how I know.... ~grin~ Laura P.S. Thanks for all the great comments. If y'all haven't read them, and you plan to try the recipe, take a look.

I made peach butter this week. I was going to follow the directions in the Ball Blue Book, really I was. I just didn't have enough peaches. So, I adjusted the recipe and did it my own way with delicious results. First, I peeled my peaches. I didn't want to take time to dip them in boiling water. I just took my knife and peeled just the skin off carefully. Then I took the pulp off with my hands, breaking it up as I went. This saved chopping time. I measured two cups of pulp and three cups of sugar into my three quart saucepan. I added one tablespoon of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon each of nutmeg and cloves. I brought this to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. I then turned it down to low and let it simmer all day. I stirred it ocassionally as I passed through the kitchen. While I was busy in the kitchen, I turned the heat back up to medium to speed it along. Then, I turned it back to low when I left the kitchen. I let it cook down until it rounded up on my wooden spoon....

We enjoyed a visit to George Washington Carver's boyhood home today in Diamond, Missouri. They were celebrating Prairie Day. They had some wonderfully talented folks demonstrating old-time crafts such as spinning, weaving, soap-making, crocheting, quilting, wood carving, and candle making. They had live folk music. There were story tellers. It was just wonderful. So begins festival season in Southwest Missouri. Blessings to you! Laura *Edited to add Emily told the conservation officer about throwing a rock and hitting a hawk in the head as it was trying to carry off our hen. We were worried that we'd be in trouble since hawks are protected in Missouri, but all was fine.

Hi Everyone, I had a lot of comments on yesterday's post. And why not? The most wonderful topics, Fall, making Christmas gifts, sewing, knitting, making jam...ah maybe this is the most wonderful time of the year! My peaches were on sale at Aldi for $.25 each. I bought a case. I worked up half of them this morning. I decided to make regular peach jam this time. I just followed the instructions on the Sure-Gel package. I thought of making the second batch without pectin according to the Ball Blue Book recipe. After reading it, I found it took quite a bit longer to cook. I was ready to get off my feet; so, I took the quick and easy route of powdered pectin again. I've still got half a case of peaches. I'm thinking about whether I'd like to make more Harvest Peach Jam or whether I'd like to try making peach butter. It will be a question for tomorrow morning.  Harvest Peach is just as easy as regular jam. The dresses were pretty easy to make. The har...

I've really got to get my camera out and take some photos. In the last couple of weeks, I've made three dresses for my Amy's Vision Forum doll, Evangeline. She's like an American Girl doll. I've also made a sweet little yellow baby hat for a lady in Mexico who is having her first baby. Now, thanks to receiving my Knit Picks order, I'm getting started on a pair of Fuzzy Feet slippers for my Michael. Then, I'll be making a pair for Emily. I've been thinking about Christmas. I have so many things I want to knit and sew. I just may have to make a list to share. Yes, that might just be a good idea. I'll give it a bit more thought. Tomorrow or Monday my peaches will be ripe enough to make Harvest Peach Jam again. One thing's sure. I've got to get the camera out! Blessings, Laura

I cannot wait! I've been trying to wait, really, I have. It's all my friend Joyce's fault! I went to her house Wednesday for Bible Study. She'd done it! Her house was a fall wonderland! So, I've decorated for fall, too. I'm looking forward to adding some pumpkins and a mum or two. I've been looking around for great blogs. I've added some to my lists at the side. Do take a look. I've just found the statistics bar on the design page. I'm starting there. Did you know that you can now see who is sending readers to you? I'm visiting all you that comment as well.