Harvest Lane Cottage

Just a few to dos for the next few days.... ~ Dusting ~ Make menu ~ Sweep the floors ~ Laundry ~ Take down the February tree ~ Take bar soap from mold ~ Make foaming hand soap ~ Make deodorant ~ Check science ~ Update records (I've started!) ~ Help with math ~ Knit a bit ~ Quilt a bit ~ Sew ends in on washcloths ~ Sew snowman ornies What do you plan to do? ஐღLauraღஐ  ...doing what I can  with what I've got where I am  on a short shoestring budget! ~~~~~ Note... I did not make the toothpaste, because a friend gave me several tubes of toothpaste this week. Thank you Rhonda! Monday   Over the Moon The Art of Homemaking        Modest Mondays  -   Living Proverbs 31

Hello Ladies! Saving money by practicing thrift and old-fashioned frugal living has become second nature to me over the years. You can save a whole lot of money just by making do with what you have.  I missed a week, so I included a few highlights from last week. I hope you've got the snow or sunshine or rain you've been hoping for. I am still praying for snow and for a new job for my husband. He had three interviews this week. It's all in God's hands and in His timing.  Now.  I. Get.  To. Practice. Trusting. God. And. Being. Patient! ~ I made homemade soap with my friend Joyce. ~ A friend gave us her old car! We've needed a second car for a long time. Four drivers - one car. It's a 1989 Grand Marquis. It's an answer to prayer. Thank you Jesus! ~ Lots of homemade food and making do this week. ~ Homemade cinnamon rolls were the special treat I took to co-op this week. Nothing fancy, but delicious. ~ My daughter refille...

Hospitality is a habit. Once out of it, it seems a bit hard to restart sometimes. Since my husband is unemployed, and money is getting pretty tight, it seems impossible. But it is not. You know the old saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way!"  We've enjoyed good fellowship with a pot of beans and some cornbread before. ~smile~ In fact, once, we invited friends over to "break bread", and we did. I baked a few loaves of bread, set out butter, homemade jam, and we dug in and broke bread together! You've got to think creatively.  You've got to do things a bit differently.  You've got to focus on the people not the stuff. Hospitality is sharing what you have while extending a friendly smile, a listening ear, and the love of Christ.  Be blessed! ஐღ Laura ღஐ  ...doing what I can with what I've got where I am  on a short shoestring budget! ~~~~~

I'm reading A Life Giving Home by Sally Clarkson and her daughter Sarah. Over the years, my husband and I have opened our home many times in hospitality. We got out of the habit while we served in the Joplin Tornado recovery efforts and while we had a family restaurant.  It's time to get rebooted and open our doors again. What about you and your home? Is it time to open your doors and your hearts? Blessings, Laura

 Thrifty living is second nature after all these years of saving money any way I can. Writing it down like this helps me keep at it. Sometimes the list is long; sometimes it is short. Either way, it's good knowing that I'm helping to stretch our money until it snaps. ~grin~  We're still living on our savings and praying that my husband will find a good job. Even after he's back to work, I'll still be working in my home to be a thrifty and frugal homemaker.  This week in my home... ~ I made homemade laundry detergent again . I make small batches that fit in my liquid pump dispenser.  ~ I made foaming liquid hand soap for my dispenser. ~ I substituted canned jalapenos that I had on hand for fresh. ~ I bought gas that was cheaper than I ever imagined it would be again— $1.28 a gallon. ~ I took my daughter to sewing lessons which a friend of mine is teaching her for free. ~ My daughter's dentist gave us four sample tubes of toot...

A friend recently asked me what advice I would give to those living in despair. Here is what I told her. Trust God.  He will never leave you nor forsake you. You are not alone.   I have been through very hard times... death of loved ones, failed businesses, lost homes, lost vehicles, long periods of unemployment, life threatening illnesses, pain, depression, very low income. Now my husband is unemployed again after closing our business. Even though I have failed, my husband has failed, plans have failed, God has never failed me .  Live in Philippians chapter four.   God does not slumber or sleep. His arm is not too short. He keeps those in perfect peace who keep their minds on Him. Philippians chapter four tells us to be anxious for NOthing . In everything we are to pray, with thanksgiving, and make our requests to God. We have to trust Him. He then will give us peace that passes all understanding. I've got that peace right now even though my husband is u...

"This is what the LORD says:  Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,  ask where the good way is, and walk in it,  and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' " Jeremiah 6:16 Lord, when all seems to fall around me,please help me to remember that I did indeed stand, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, the good way.  I chose the good way. That's why I'm home with my children, teaching them, and making a home for my husband. Help me not to falter in my belief in what you've chosen me to do and in what I've committed to do for you and for them. No matter what my eyes see, no matter what my ears hear, no matter what my emotions tell me. You are God. You will never leave me nor forsake me. I can trust you to meet my family's needs at all times. Thank you God. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways ackno...

A cold winter's night at home...  I'm just getting ready to make a pot of cocoa, put on my jammies, and read  The Life Giving Home. What do you like to do on a cold winter's night? ஐღ Laura ღஐ  ...doing what I can with what I've got where I am  on a short shoestring budget! ~~~~~ Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Hello! It's a bright sunny day in my neck of the woods.  Bah! Humbug! ~smile~ I'm still praying for snow.  Some of you have had way too much. Could you send a cup or two my way? I want to make snow ice cream! ~ My husband fixed our bathroom sink himself. He used a wire coat hanger, packing tape, and tools he had on hand instead of buying what he needed. I told him if he could do it without buying anything, he'd make the blog list! He did it! Yay Lowell! ~ I didn't have enough Hershey's cocoa to make a pot of cocoa , so I used a bit of leftover baking chocolate that had been lurking in the cabinet for weeks. It was delicious. ~ I received a new hot glue gun from a company for review. ~ My Emily and I made some Cauliflower soup and substituted ingredients rather than go to the store. ~ My husband took our computer apart, cleaned it, and put in a new CD drive so that my kids can do their math! Their CDs wouldn't load on the o...