Harvest Lane Cottage

Hello! Just thought I'd share a little of what's happening at Harvest Lane Cottage this week: A trip to the dentist... enough said. A trip to the library...   We only go once a month or so.  Since we were in town to go to the dentist yesterday, we spent a couple of hours at the library.  While the kids were downstairs selecting their books and using the computers, I found a comfy chair and browsed through a tall stack of books to make my selections.  You guessed it, Christmas books .  Anyway, I glanced through this little book and thought I'd read the first couple of pages... well, maybe a few more... yes, I read the entire book!  It was soooo funny!  I couldn't laugh out loud in the library, but I did wave my hands a bit in excitement at just how good the story was.  I'm not going to do a review of this book, but you have to know it's the funniest book I've read in ages.  I stopped the girl shelving books and told her ...

Christmas time! It even sounds lovely. For us, the Christmas season begins the first of December. We focus each evening on the birth of Jesus Christ. We want there to be no question in our children’s minds about what Christmas is all about. Several years ago, we sold our house in the middle of November. We were supposed to move into our new home in two weeks. Mind you, we had a ten year old, a four year old, a two year old and a newborn. Two weeks turned into seven weeks! Momma had to make Christmas. We spent the entire Christmas season and Christmas itself in that motel room watching the wonderful celebrations on the Home and Garden Channel and the Food Network. That experience changed the way I “make Christmas” for my family forever. All of our Christmas things were in storage. A friend loaned us a pre-decorated two foot tall tree. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a couple of new Christmas decorations to put about and some candles. Then, I made the most wonderful discovery in my ...

I heard some mothers talking the other day about how their children were disappointed when they didn't receive a lot of gifts for Christmas.  It saddened me.  I have a word that has guided my gift giving with my children. Precedents.... What does that word mean to you? I looked it up on http://www.dictionary.com/ . As I was looking for definitions, most were related to law precedents. That tells me it's a pretty strong word. I am most interested in the first definition that the American Heritage Dictionary presented: "An act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances. " This is the definition that has been a guiding thought for me. In the past, my family has been much more affluent than we are currently. Nevertheless, I have always thought about the precedents that I am setting with my children when we give gifts for celebrating special days and holidays. For instance, even when we could afford it, and wante...

Thank you for your prayers, my brother-in-law is out of the hospital.  A wee bit of surgery and a lot of prayers have done wonders for him.  My foot is better after rolling through the house on my office chair most of yesterday. We were talking last night and realized that Hurricane Sandy blew through on my sister-in-love's birthday and Robin had emergency surgery on my husband's birthday.  That's a cycle that we break in Jesus' Name! ~smile~ Seriously, some of you are spending this day with your family, some with your friends, some all alone.  However you're spending it, remember that the focus of the day is thanking God. Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage, Laura

A memorable Thanksgiving and it's not even here yet! We've had my husband's family visiting for a few days.  Yesterday afternoon, my brother-in-law began having terrible pains in his abdomen and stomach.  They worsened until my husband took him to the emergency room.  A few hours later he had emergency surgery for a hernia in the wee hours of the night!  We are awaiting the doctor's visit to find out what the next few days will bring for Robin.  I'd appreciate your prayers. In the meantime, I'm hobbling around on my sore foot.  I turned it on a rock over a month ago.  It's getting worse instead of better.  No insurance, so I'm wrapping it and praying for healing. I hope your week is going much better than ours! Happy Thanksgiving from Harvest Lane Cottage to your house!

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Oh what a delight to open a package and find Liz Curtis Higgs' newest Christmas novel, A Wreath of Snow .  I am a book lover.  I'll bet you didn't know.  ~giggle~  This book is beautiful.  It feels good in my hand.  I decided to save it for those moments when I could relax with a cuppa and truly enjoy it.  You know, the moments when you hope you won't be interrupted.  I cuddled up on my bed with the book and "Mo--om!"  Oh well, try again later. ~smile~ Liz Curtis Higgs never disappoints with her books.  She's a warm writer who paints scenes and personalities with her pen.  With A Wreath of Snow , Liz has crafted a tale of pain, remorse, guilt, anger, and grudges that will melt under the warmth of God's love and mercy and grace.  It was an icy winter Christmas Eve, 1894, in Stirling, Scot...

This morning found me at my sewing machine stitching up some gifties for my girly girl.  I love making things for my family each Autumn to surprise them at Christmas.  This afternoon, I sat down and made what I believe to be my final menu for Thanksgiving week.  We are expecting my sister-in-love, Debbie, to join us for the week.  My mother-in-love, Judy, my brother-in-love, Robin, and my eldest son, Matthew, will join us for various meals through the week.  I'm sure we'll be making some goodies along the way as well.  I'm going to go and do some shopping this afternoon.  I'll save some of the shopping to do with Debbie.  After all, shopping is how we get some sister time.  ~smile~  If you've not made your Thanksgiving week menu yet, perhaps you'll find something here to help you.  May God bless you as you focus on Him.  Menu for Thanksgiving Week 2012 Sunday Breakfast - Cereal Lunch - Chili, corn...

 "And the LORD, He is it that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:  fear not, neither be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8 That promise is just as near as accepting Jesus Christ as your savior. That promise is just as near as surrendering your life to Christ.  He gets to be the leader, the boss, the Lord.  You get to be saved from Hell and saved from your sins and saved from yourself.  You must not only accept Jesus as the Son of God, you must also truly believe that He is who He said He is and can do what He said He would do.  I invite you to read the book of John in the Holy Bible.  You can get to know who Jesus is and what that means to you. Laura Blessed to be Known and Loved by my Jesus

Don't get all wrapped up in Christmas preparations and miss the rest of this lovely, beautiful, spectacular autumn season.  I love the golden tones of November... the cool and sometimes cold nights... the rainy days. The nesting instinct that comes with cooler weather and thoughts of winter on its way. After I help my scholars with their studies today, I'll be heading to the bedroom to do a little sewing.  Part of what I love about Novembery days is the draw I feel to sew and knit and crochet.  I've a little cd player in my room.  I'll be listening to 1 and 2 Corinthians as I work.  If I tarry long enough, I'll listen right through the Bible.  ~smile~ How do you love to capture these Novembery days? Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage! Laura

Good day!  Thanks so much for dropping by the cottage to see me today.  It's been a few days since I've written.  One of the things I really enjoy about homeschooling is that I can set our own schedule and scatter mini vacations throughout the year.  We'll be having holiday company beginning next Thursday, but this weekend we are the company.  I've been visiting my good friend Laura in St. Louis for a few days.  We drove up on Thursday and arrived just about lunch time.  Immediately, all the ladies, young and old headed to the destination Amy's been dreaming about... the American Girl Store! Oh, we dined and they shopped, though no one bought a thing.  Well, I did buy one small thing.  But who gets out of the American Girl Store for less than ten dollars?  The girls had a terrific time.  I enjoyed watching their joy.  I was amazed at how many dolls and accessories there were to go with these dolls.  My Amy's doll is on...

  'Nuff said.

It's been a pleasant weekend.  Saturday ~  I've been listening to the book of Exodus on Bible Gateway .  It's a great way to keep my mind busy while I'm working about the cottage or working with my hands.  This morning that meant laundry, writing, frying lots of bacon for blts and bacon bits, cleaning the kitchen, a quick trip to the store, and more laundry.  Now, with lunch over, it's back to laundry. ~smile~  Amy and I are going to make some pumpkin dump cake this afternoon.  Then, after we clean up, I'll be helping her set up my old sewing machine so that she can work on a project.  I bought the machine way back in 1982 when I graduated from high school with the gift money I received.  I gave it to a friend who subsequently gave it back to me when my new one died.  Last week, I posted my evening menu plan .  My husband called me and was happy to know what was coming up. ~smile~  So...

{this moment} . . . . . . . . . . {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. More moments at SouleMama