Harvest Lane Cottage

Source: countrypleasures.blogspot.com via Sue on Pinterest Just sitting a bit and taking a break... I've been getting out the cold weather clothes and hanging them up.  I put them down for their summer nap nice and clean; so, all I have to do is shake them and hang them up.  They'll wait patiently for the iron. ~smile~ I pulled up Pinterest and found this beautiful photo of The Old Cotter House photographed by my friend Sue at Country Pleasures .  You really must click through and see what she's written. Old houses conjure up images of housewives of old cooking, cleaning, planting flowers, hanging out clothes, knitting and sewing.  Some of the same things we do today, but perhaps with a bit more satisfaction than we feel with the same duties.  I think we're so wrapped up in what's out there that sometimes we don't feel content right here where we are.  May God help us all to be more content to, as Teddy Roosevelt said, "D...

The Hens by Robert Duncan It's been a pleasant day puttering in the kitchen, thrift shopping, and grocery shopping.   This morning, I did some cleaning in the kitchen, then I made a batch of homemade wheat/white bread.  Four loaves and a whole bunch of rolls.  I served the rolls with homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch.  I'm still trying to perfect macaroni and cheese.  It tasted a bit gritty.  I am not sure what's causing that.  I guess maybe I need to read some recipes.  This afternoon, we went thrift shopping.  I found a couple of pairs of jeans for my son, Michael.  Then, it was off to Aldi for groceries and then to Braums for milk and sour cream.  It was hard to do, but I kept to my budget of $100.00.  I'll have to use some things that I already have in my pantry to make the food stretch for the week.  Here are some of the things I plan to make this week: Saturday ~ clam chowder, homemade bread Su...

Our family enjoys carving pumpkins. My husband explains why here . Have a great week! Laura

Thursday evening I was home alone.  That almost never happens with four kids and a husband.  I turned on the old classic " Christmas in Connecticut ".  I've watched it so many times, I can just listen and it plays in my mind. ~smile~  I made a batch of sugar cookies , wrote a review, and just enjoyed myself.  I've been listening to Christmas music since July!  I love the peacefulness and how it points my attention to my Jesus.  For me, Christmas is not about Jesus as a baby, though I know we spend nearly a month reading The Advent Book  each evening. It's a beautifully illustrated book of scriptures that tell the story of Jesus' birth.  I bought it many years ago when my family had to live in a hotel for 6 weeks during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  We created a new tradition.  Each night, from December 1st until the 25th, we read the book as a family.  On the first we read the book up through the first door, ...

It's 3:45 a.m. as I write this.  I spent the entire day yesterday at Farm Girl Fest in Carthage, Missouri.  It was chilly; we didn't get out of the forties.  We ate chinese on the way home then relaxed in the living room on our comfortable new-to-us sofa and loveseat.  After just sitting for awhile talking with darkness falling upon us, the family put on a movie, Me Again , that I'd seen recently.  It was a good movie; but I soon was nodding off. I crawled into bed early.  I didn't even check the time.  Now here I am.  Awake. But too tired to really do anything. Can you relate? I found this picture in my computer file.  I have no idea where it came from or why I have it.  But it spoke of comfort to me.  If you click on it, it should get big enough to read the recipe.  I've not tried it; but, it does sound good.  I definitely need to stock my pantry with things that will help me take the chill...