Harvest Lane Cottage

KnitPicks Swish Worsted Want to be knitting mittens for your little kittens for Christmas?  I learned to knit mittens a couple of years by watching a series of video tutorials from Knit Picks. I loved it, because I could stop the videos, back up and have Kelley explain it as many times as I needed. Kelley's instructions are easy to understand.  I loved having her help me step-by-step beginning to end.  My kids loved their mittens.  They've grown and need bigger mittens this year!   Wool mittens are so very warm.  Give it a try.  If you can knit and purl, you can do this.  I buy my supplies at Knit Picks .  I like their yarns and prices.  Their customer service is good, too, if you have a problem.  I feel so silly having to write "I am an affiliate or I am not an affiliate"; but, for Mr. Government Man, I am not an affiliate. :) I need to order some washable wool and get busy if I'm going to be Knitting Mittens f...

Can't find time to read?  You should try what I call "snatch reading".   Five minutes here, five minutes there. It works well if you're only reading one book and use a post it note to keep track of what paragraph you're reading. Once upon a time, it was the only reading I did.  Also, take a book with you everywhere you go.  Snatch every free moment to read a bit. Fall Reading List 2013 ~~~~~ May I suggest? Thoughts of Autumn and Fall ~~~~~

Hello Ladies,   It's so good to greet another week full of promise and possibilities, isn't it?  A fresh page on our daily or weekly calendar and a fresh start on our to do lists or our homeschooling.  Perhaps Friday or the weekend left you feeling a bit downhearted over what you haven't done right or perhaps, like me, you ate a few things that weren't all that healthy over the weekend.  Well, I have good news for you! God's mercies are new every morning! Here's how the Amplified Bible states it: "22  It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. 23  They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. 24  The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him." Isn't that terrific news?  We need only confess our sins, and seek His face to have a ...

Hello Lovely Ladies, It's a chilly morning here in the cottage.  Rain is in the air, I can just feel it.  That means I'd better think up some soup for supper. ~smile~ I must admit things are in a bit of disarray.  You see Buddy the Bug Man is coming today.  He comes every quarter just to make sure we don't have any little free loading tenants that we don't want around here.  This means everything must be pulled away from the walls.  The kids, therefore, are busy with their rooms.  We moved the furniture in the other rooms last night.  In a couple of minutes, I'll be making a final walk through to make sure everything's ready. I hope you find time today to begin thinking about the next couple of months.  Much to do much to do! Autumn Blessings, Laura Busy at Home

We use Teaching Textbooks Algebra for my 10th grade daughter.  Why?  Because I know that math is hard for me.   And because the teacher on the computer cd explains every single problem .  Emily came upon a type of problem last week that she just couldn't get.  I had no idea how to set up an equation to get the answer.  So... I sat down beside her and picked up a pencil.  We watched the teacher do each step of the problem.  Then we each did it ourselves, too.  I'd say, "I got xxxxx on this line.  What did you get?" Then we'd watch and see what the guy on TT did.  Then we'd do another problem and try to guess remember what to do next.  I don't know how much help I was, but misery loves company. ~smile~  After we did several of the same kind of problem, they got easier.  If you're not a math person, and you're looking for help or need to change the math you're doing with your kids, take a look at the website and...

Make some cookies, rake some leaves, have a picnic, play outside, sew, craft, read under a beautiful tree, play with your kids, snuggle with your hubby, go to a festival, make this weekend a fun one! I'll be at Farm Girl Fest in Carthage, Missouri with my family.  We'll be selling our big gooey homemade cinnamon rolls and demonstrating dutch oven cooking.  Drop by Red Oak II and see us if you're in the Carthage area. ~~~~~ May I suggest? Ask and You Shall Receive ~~~~~

Karen Tribitt  I guess I’m feeling a little introspective. I ran across this little saying, “Cherish Yesterday-Dream Tomorrow-Live Today” on a little wooden sign in a country primitive catalog. This sign is different, but it’s available from www. allposters.com . Don’t you just love country primitive decorating? You can use all the worn out, less than perfect things you find, and it looks great! Ah, but that’s another post altogether…. My mother died at 51, too young to my way of thinking, of cancer. It began as breast cancer, went into remission for several years, then reappeared with a vengeance. They’re sad memories that I’d rather not think about often. Anyhow, my momma was only 17 years older than me. She was a child bride, and I came along just before their first anniversary. I’m now 48.  I had a mammogram a couple of years ago, and the results were fine. I need to schedule another one as soon as I can find a way to pay for it. We have a lot of diffe...