Harvest Lane Cottage

Join us at The Simple Woman! Dear Ladies,  Hello!  It's a beautiful morning. In the time that it's taken to write this, the sun has risen and so has my youngest daughter. I've also seen my husband off to work. I'll soon wake up the other kids and make some breakfast. My Amy was thrilled to find we have cereal. It's usually eggs or oatmeal around here. ~smile~ I hope to get outside for awhile today. It's supposed to be a perfect seventy-one degrees and sunny! Thank you Jesus! May God grant you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him. God bless you! ~~~~~ Outside my window... I cannot see a thing except a few headlights on the highway. It's still early. 6:23 as I type this. 38 degrees and clear. According to weather.com, it will be 71 today and clear. Yay! I am thinking... of planning a spring break week after Easter. I am thankful... that my van is working well and gas prices have dropped again. In the kitchen... Lunch will be...

Our little Penny thinks Crocus are yummy! Penny's 11 months old this month. It seems like she's lived with us for ages, yet it's only been nine months. She sure has turned our household upside down at times. Our previous dog, Josh, was 15 when he died. We'd forgotten how much activity and trouble a puppy can bring. She's finally calming down a bit, and we're learning to live together peacefully. Spring brought softer dirt to dig in. That made Penny happy. Just try to stop this little Doxie mix! She doesn't want to leave my mums alone either! I hope you're enjoying early signs of Spring. Before you know it, it will be Holy Week!  Happy week ending! Laura

My friend Jes, of Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, recently received a comment on her pos t "Swept and Good Order" ~ The Mistress of the House . I felt compelled to respond to the comment and share it with you. Dear Discouraged,    I feel so glad that you chose to share your discouragement with Jes. She shared some good ideas. I know what its like not to be able to fix things up like you'd like to. Even after 28 years, most of what we own was either given to us (usually second hand) or bought second hand.   Please don't be discouraged. You've got to get creative. Find the things that cheer you. Maybe a candle burning (often cheap at yard sales), music playing (try Pandora or Spotify on-line if you don't have a collection), the fragrance of supper simmering on the stove shouldn't be underestimated! I find that when I think about what I can do instead of what I cannot do, it helps. When I didn't have furniture for my living room, I baked cin...

Join us at The Simple Woman! Dear Ladies,  Hello!  It's a beautiful morning. A bit chilly, but spring is coming! It wasn't a very productive week last week, but I'm hoping to play catch-up this week. I have much to do. Is it spring at your house yet? May God grant you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him. God bless you! ~~~~~ Outside my window... a cloudy morning has dawned. I can hear the traffic from the highway and birds singing and calling to each other. I am thinking... what a blessed life I live. I am thankful... that God has blessed us with this home. In the kitchen... boiling eggs for breakfast.  I am wearing... My black dress with my black Crocs that I got after the tornado . I am creating... If I get myself moving, I'll be crocheting some dishcloths and maybe sewing an apron . I am going...  I went... to my daughters' teen talent competition in Jefferson City over the weekend. They did great in in...

Do you love a rainy day? These lovelies do! Promise of beauty A bright spot in sometimes dreary days Hope after a long winter God's mercies spring eternal. Loving the last vestiges of winter and the rainy, colorful promise of spring. ~~~~~ ஐღ Laura ღஐ  ...doing what I can with what I've got where I am  on a short shoestring budget! ~~~~~

Join us at The Simple Woman! Dear Ladies,  Hello!  What a beautiful day it's been. The sunshine and warm weather made me want to just open the windows, put show tunes on Spotify, and dance through my housework! Well, I didn't get to do much of that before I had to go to the restaurant to help my husband, but I did enjoy bopping around to some fun songs from Singing in the Rain. My kids, 13, 15, and 17 love show tunes, too. The girls joined right in. What's your day been like? May God grant you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him. God bless you! ~~~~~ Outside my window... Night is slowly falling after a warm sunny day. I am thinking... about making some homemade cocoa! I am thankful... that I was able to drop everything and help my husband today. It's something I couldn't have done if I worked outside the home. In the kitchen... I'm going to make that cocoa! I am wearing... My black dress with red cherries. It reminds m...

Isn't this just a lovely time of year?  My  Amy  loves to photograph nature.  I enjoy her artistic eye.  She sees things differently than Momma.  Isn't that just how life is? Baking:   - I want to make  this lemon pie .   Reading:   -  I'm plan to finish Worry Less So You Can Live More.   I didn't finish, but I did make a bit of progress. Sewing and Crocheting: - Dishcloth - I may work on my apron . I've done the piece work, I just need to put it together. Studying: - Trim Healthy Mama book - Bible Faith Study Course by Kenneth Hagin Working: - I'll be helping Lowell as needed at our cafe and bakery,  Royal Delights . We closed for winter and reopen Tuesday.   An employee didn't show up, so I helped out for several days.  -   Homeschooling , of course.  I'm going to do some evaluations to see how much more each child needs to do this semester. Writing: - A post or two including...

Join us at The Simple Woman! Dear Ladies,  Good day to you! May the God of Shalom peace, nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing lacking bless your day today. Stay your mind on God today. He's the answer to every fear, worry, problem. Jesus came that you might have access to Father God's love and provision. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He came that you may have life and life more abundantly. Cry out to Jesus. He's waiting for you. His Holy Spirit is waiting to comfort and teach and lead you. God bless you! Outside my window... It's a breezy warmish day. Warm after last weeks's freezing temperatures anyway. The sky is gray, but I hear birds singing. It's a sure sign of Spring to come! I am thinking... There is so much to do for spring cleaning. I need to make a plan. I am thankful... God has been making some breakthroughs in my heart and teaching me more about forgiveness and releasing past hurts. In the kitc...

It's yet another snowy day in Southwest Missouri. You all know I was set on making snow ice cream this winter. I got to do that last week. It was scrumptious! This time I mixed up a can of sweetened condensed milk, a big bowl of snow, and enough milk to help the condensed milk mix throughout. It was delicious.   Here's a healthy version. Today I'm hoping to fill a big bowl again with snow. I had my son set my metal bowl out on top of his overturned canoe so that we can get nice clean snow.  Then I want to make another Little House in the Big Woods,  Laura Ingalls Wilder, inspired treat. Maple Syrup Snow Candy!   Maybe you want to try it, too. Enjoy! Blessings, Laura Happy with the snow It is winter after all!