A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #70

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am honored by your visit.  Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God. 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!

This week was a little different for us. My friend's daughter came to visit us Sunday night with plans to stay a couple days. It's Friday, and she's still visiting. It has been a very pleasant week, and I'm glad you got to stay a little longer than planned. My Emily left for camp Sunday. She's going to be an intern for nearly a month. Having Amy's friend visit helped with the initial days of separation. Still, I miss my girl so very much!

I love it when y'all leave comments, so I can meet you and see your blogs, too.

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♥♥♥

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Here's my thrifty week:

• We rented some movies instead of taking the girls to the movie theater. They didn't like the idea of paying $10 for a matinee. Neither did I.

• The girls made some delicious cupcakes for one afternoon of fun. My husband thought they were the best ever.

• The girls swam in the creek a couple of times.

• They shopped at Walmart and found coordinating t-shirts. Yes. I paid retail for Amy's t-shirt. Yes. $12. Not very thrifty, but if you could have seen the fun they had picking them out. They loved the Christian sayings.

• I cooked from scratch using the odds and ends I had on hand at the end of the pay period. I used up lots of supplies including all my eggs, all my butter, and all my milk. Perhaps you remember from last week that I spent most of the grocery money to fix the van's air conditioner. 

• I made a cake using a mix my dad gave me while hubby was unemployed. I didn't have 3 eggs, so I used 2 and used milk for part of the water. I made frosting using a block of cream cheese and all the leftover powdered sugar I could find. A little vanilla and a little cream leftover from the girls' cupcakes thinned it to spreadable consistency. My man thought it was the best lightest cake he's had.

• I saved money on gas; because the van broke down, and I couldn't drive it. But God. Watch for more on that later.

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What are you doing in your home this week?

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ஐღLauraღஐ 

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

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You might enjoy reading...

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My Summer Bucket List

2016

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My Summer Bucket List 2016

Summer's a season filled with things to love and hate.  Love... swimming, fresh veggies from the garden or farmer's market, fireworks on the fourth of July, a lazy afternoon with a good book. Hate... heat, bugs, mosquito bites, dewy complexions—ehem.  Still, there's a lot to be said for summertime. Let's carpe diem... seize the day and make the best of this season... and praise God for air conditioning if you have it!

~ Swim in the creek
~ Blow bubbles
~ Eat watermelon
~ Chase fireflies
~ Go to a fireworks stand at night
~ Watch fireworks show at the park
~ Family fireworks
~ Make this salad
~ Ice cream cone run
~ Sonic Happy Hour run for Frozen Lemonade
~ Read a good novel ~ I enjoyed A Beauty Refined.
~ Finish tallying school hours
~ Plan school calendar for fall
~ Declutter books
~ Prepare for a September yard sale
~ Invite friends to enjoy the creek with us
~ Stargazing
~ Drive-in movie
~ 4 H County Fair
~ Get caught up on my reviews
~ Do a Pinterest project with my Amy
~ Make jam
~ Eat from our garden ~ Tomatoes and lettuce so far.
~ Paint something—I'm not sure what yet.
~ Barbecue with friends
~ Sew something
~ Make Kombucha - It's started!
~ Swim in the creek some more!


What are you planning to do this summer?

ஐღLauraღஐ 

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

Wild Beauty

Have a wonderful weekend.

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #69

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am honored by your visit.  Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God. 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!

I am not sure exactly where this week went... unless I look at my very full boxes on my calendar. It was a week full of doing for my family. That's not so unusual. Some weeks I just look up, and it's Friday. 

I love it when y'all leave comments, so I can meet you and see your blogs, too.

~~~~~

♥♥♥

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Here's my thrifty week:

~ I wrote some reviews on Amazon in exchange for a few free items... sticky notes, zip ties, an insulated lunch bag, wire brushes and such. Most items that are offered to me are from Amazon sellers who sell small items. I did get an offer for a dress for my daughter this week, but I haven't ordered it yet.

~ We ate primarily from what we on hand for most of the week. We had a big bill for fixing the van's air conditioner last Friday that ate up a lot of the food money from this paycheck. 

~ That air conditioner bill was better than a hospital bill for heat exhaustion!

~ We enrolled my daughter, Emily, in the local community college. This is thrifty because her Pell grant will go a lot further than it would at a state university or a private college.

~ We planned Emily's classes on two days of the week. This will reduce the number of trips that I have to make dropping her off and picking her up in the nearby town. I estimate it's probably around 15 miles to the school. I have to be in town on Fridays, so she will have the opportunity to be on campus 3 days a week. 

~ My son, Michael, got a summer job that will allow him to save for car and school expenses as well as give him some pocket money.

~ We cooled off in the creek at the edge of our property a couple of times. 

That's about it for this week. Not really very frugal, but it's the week I had! 

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What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~

ஐღLauraღஐ 

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

You might enjoy reading...

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Why I Love Homemaking

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Tending to the Vine

Bran Made Tags

The closer I stay to Him, the more attention I give to Him, the more I focus on Him, the better life is. He is my strength, my hope, my shield, my deliverer, my friend, my lover of my soul, my everlasting, my redeemer, my savior.

Jesus Christ

Son of the Most High God

Yeshua Hamashiach

My Daybook ~ June 20, 2016

Join us at The Simple Woman!

Dear Ladies, 

Hello! 
  It's Monday morning. I'm up before the kids. I was also up after the kids last night. I think I will probably be more tired than the kids today. ~smile~ With Emily's graduation past, and several weeks left until homeschool starts again, my mind is filled with ideas of things I'd like to get done. I think it's probably time to make another bucket list. I never finish all on my list, but it does help me to do more of what I want to do. Thanks for dropping by! May God grant you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him.
God bless you!
Laura
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For Today... June 20, 2016

Outside my window... Blue skies with a high in the upper '90's today. The van's parked in the shade awaiting my morning drive.

I am thinking... about my daughter, Emily's, college application process.

I am thankful... that my husband paid to have my van's air conditioner fixed! Thank you honey! You've changed my life... in many ways!

I am wearing... an old black dress. I'll be changing before I go out later.

I am creating... I definitely will be making baby bibs this week. I found a pattern that I printed off years ago that I'm going to use. I have a new niece and two baby showers to attend soon. I need to sew now!

I am going... to the community college in the next town to enroll my Emily. The years have gone so quickly. 

I am wondering... what God has in store for us.

I am reading... I've been visiting blogs while I wait for my next review book to arrive. 

I am hoping... to finish everything up for this school year this week. Then I can think about next year. ~smile~ Yes. I wrote this last week, too. I did photograph and get several items listed in My Ebay shop. My goal this week is to photograph and list five items for sale each day—on Ebay, in my much neglected Etsy shop, or on Craig's List. I am entering serious declutter mode. I must focus on my real estate investment strategy.

Just because Penny is funny sometimes!

A favorite quote for today... 

President Teddy Roosevelt

A peek into one of my days...  

The blessing at Emily's homeschool graduation

One of my favorite things... quiet mornings

From the Board Room... I've got lots of 4th of July ideas pinned on Pinterest.

A Favorite Link... Jes' blog, Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth
♥♥♥♥♥
Have a wonderful week!

Laura

Happy at Home

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You might enjoy...
I'm Calling a Hundred!
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A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #68

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am honored by your visit.  Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God. 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!

I love it when y'all leave comments, so I can meet you and see your blogs, too.

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~~

Here's my thrifty week:

~ I borrowed my daughter's camera to take photos of things I want to sell.

~ I listed several items in my Ebay shop. I've already sold a couple! I will reuse packing materials to save more.

~ We had 13 for dinner tonight. We ate bbq chicken and several sides. I got the chicken on sale last week for $.59 a pound. I thought frugal as I was planning the menu.

~ I got a frozen lemonade for half-price at Sonic. Oh yum!

~ I crocheted dish cloths for shower gifts. I used the last of my cotton yarn, so I won't be crocheting any more for awhile.

~ I used a 40% off coupon and my birthday gift card to buy some cotton batting at Hobby Lobby for a project I want to do. Score!

~ I received some more items for review  from Amazon sellers.

~ I wrote some reviews in exchange for some products.

It was a busy week of chauffeuring my children to appointments and jobs. I didn't really get a whole lot else done. Just some cleaning, cleaning out, and taking care of school things. I didn't keep track of how much I got rid of. I hope to do better next week.

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What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~

ஐღLauraღஐ 

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

You might enjoy reading...

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Minutes or Hours?

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My Daybook ~ June 14, 2016

Join us at The Simple Woman!

Dear Ladies, 

Hello! 
  It's Tuesday morning. Last weekend was full with my daughter's graduation, a wedding, and an engagement party. Today I have had a rare day entirely at home. I've enjoyed it. Supper's waiting on the stove. I made a nice chicken soup and my daughter made biscuits. 

Thanks for dropping by! May God grant you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him.
God bless you!
Laura
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For Today... June 14, 2016

Outside my window... It's partly cloudy and hot. Maybe I should say mostly cloudy, there's just a bit of blue peeking through.

I am thinking... about my daughter, Emily's, transcript and helping her finish the college application process.

I am thankful... that my kids love each other and enjoy each other's company.

My Littles a few years ago.

I am wearing... black shorts (only because I'm staying home) and a blue gauze peasant blouse.

I am creating... hmmm... not really anything at the moment, but I still hope to get my sewing machine out later this week and sew up something small...not sure what yet. I didn't get it out last week. Actually, I might make some baby bibs. I could add them to my gift box for baby showers. I like to make things ahead of time and save them for when I need them. I might use one this tutorial. I used to make baby bibs for all the baby showers. I like to repurpose old, soft denim to make boy bibs. 

I am going... nowhere today unless I need to get something at the grocery. Here's what I learned from my little dog about open doors.

Penny's always ready to go.

I am wondering... how to adjust to life with my children nearly grown.

I am reading... I'm reading the book of John. I've been using a facsimile copy of Kenneth Copeland's KJV which shows his notes and his Bible studies.

I am hoping... to finish everything up for this school year this week. Then I can think about next year. ~smile~ I also hope to get some things photographed to start selling online. Help me Amy!

A favorite quote for today... 

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."  Nathaniel Hawthorne

A peek into one of my days...  

One of my favorite things... Frozen lemonade from Sonic

From the Board Room... I've got lots of Trim Healthy Mama Beverage ideas pinned on Pinterest.

A Favorite Link...  Keep on the Sunny Side

♥♥♥♥♥
Have a wonderful week!

Laura

Happy at Home

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A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #67

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am honored by your visit.  Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God. 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!

I love it when y'all leave comments, so I can meet you and see your blogs, too.

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~~

Here's my thrifty week:

~ My grown son brought extra ground beef and chips to make our family night taco salad stretch farther. Thanks Matthew! There was enough for him to take home and freeze for another meal. Way to go.

~ I received a tote bag in the mail to thank me for a review I wrote on Amazon recently. I've been blessed with several items to review over the last three months. I always write honest reviews based on my experience with each product. That link shows my reviews, but I'm not affiliated with Amazon. 

~ Emily found a couple wooden letters at a yard sale and painted them for her bedroom door. E for Emily and A for Amy. They turned out really cute and Pinteresty.

~ We enjoyed a lunch of leftovers from a friend's wedding shower. Gyros catered  from a classy Greek restaurant. Oh yum!

~ We invested in about four cubic feet in our linen closet. We threw out some stained sheets, organized, and put some things in the giveaway/yard sale bag.

~ We enjoyed fried venison backstrap from the deer my son, Michael, shot last year. My son, Matthew brought veggies and margarine to accompany the venison for dinner one evening. Thanks sons!

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What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~

ஐღLauraღஐ 

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

You might enjoy reading...

~~~~~

"He Maketh the Barren Woman to Keep House, 

and to Be a Joyful Mother of Children. Praise Ye the LORD."

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This post was featured!

My Daybook ~ June 6, 2016

Join us at The Simple Woman!

Dear Ladies, 

Hello! 
  It's Monday again. A new week with so many possibilities. My daughter, Amy, just bought a new camera. I'm sure there will be some photo shoots of various people and items this week. Maybe I'll even have her make a new portrait of me. ~smile~ Thanks for dropping by! May God grant you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him.
God bless you!
Laura
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For Today... June 6, 2016

Outside my window... It's sunny and warm. The trees make a pretty pattern of shade in the circle drive. 

You can see a bit of our circle drive behind Emily.

I am thinking... about my daughter, Emily's, homeschool graduation on Sunday.

I am thankful... that I stayed the course to complete the homeschool journey with her.

Emily, Michael, and Amy 2010 

I am wearing... a tan dress with roses and my black Crocs.

I am creating... hmmm... not really anything at the moment, but I hope to get my sewing machine out later this week and sew up something small...not sure what yet. Actually, I might make some baby bibs. I could add them to my gift box for baby showers. I like to make things ahead of time and save them for when I need them. I might use one this tutorial. I used to make baby bibs for all the baby showers. I like to re-purpose old, soft denim to make boy bibs. 

I am going... to do a little grocery shopping and to pick up my son from church. He's helping our pastor to prepare for the Carmen concert on Thursday. Our family will volunteer at church on the concert night.

I am wondering... where the years went and what the coming years will bring.

I am reading... I just started the book of John this morning.

I am hoping... to finish everything up for this school year in the next week or so. Then I can think about next year. ~smile~ I also hope to get some things photographed to start selling online.

Amy with Marylou, the lady who helped her select her camera.

A favorite quote for today... 

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."  Nathaniel Hawthorne

A peek into one of my days... Amy's crochet class for 4 H.

One of my favorite things... Kittens!  

From the Board Room... I've got lots of sewing project ideas pinned on Pinterest.

A Favorite Link...  How to Have a Strong Emotional Constitution from Roxy at Living from Glory to Glory. Roxy is  a true Titus 2 woman. She's encouraged me and challenged me many times.

♥♥♥♥♥
Have a wonderful week!

Laura

Happy at Home

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You may enjoy...
A Morning Thought

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A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #66

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am honored by your visit.  Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God. 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!

I love it when y'all leave comments, so I can meet you and see your blogs, too.

We had to use this week's grocery money for car repairs last week since we don't have an emergency fund built up yet. I cannot stress enough how much an emergency fund can take the stress (pun intended) out of emergencies.  Eventually, I would like to have a fund just for car repairs.

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♥♥♥

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Here's my thrifty week:

~ Four days with no hot water. It saved propane and water. Do you know how fast you can take a shower with icy well water? ~smile~

~ My husband and his friend fixed our water heater.

~ My grown son brought fixin's to make a nice dinner for Memorial Day. Thanks Matthew!  My dad gave us some ribs a couple months ago, and they were delicious. Thanks Dad!

~ We ate split pea soup made with a bag of split peas, an onion, and a ham bone. I cannot say we enjoyed it, but it filled our tummies. We ate it with homemade cornbread.

~ I received a check in the mail from an old insurance claim from a couple years ago. I nearly threw the papers away, but instead I stuck everything in a big envelope, put $2 worth of stamps on it and sent it to the insurance company figuring they'd throw it away. Praise God I sent it! I hope I can use the payment to buy some curriculum this year.

~ I cleaned out the refrigerator and threw away old condiments etc. It makes it easier to see what I have to work with. Lots of empty space. ~smile~ God always provides!

~ I made the gel manicure I received for my birthday last three weeks! I used rubber gloves when I did dishes. After a week, the gel came off one nail—right before I went to church! Fortunately, my daughter had the same color in regular nail polish.  For the last two weeks, I've been re-polishing my nail every day or two. That's precisely why I don't usually wear nail polish!

~ We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary by going out to a nice steak house. That doesn't sound frugal, but we originally had hoped for a cruise. So, I think it was pretty frugal. ~smile~

~ We went to a free Memorial Day event. 

~ I reviewed Phil Wickham's new album Children of God.

~ I made chicken and dumplings using leg quarters my dad brought us. He really blessed us when he visited!

~ We ate leftovers for a few meals.

~ We ate a lot of bread based meals... toast... sandwiches... etc. It's a great filler for hungry tummies.

~ My son brought some things we needed... toilet paper... ice... chocolate!

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What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~

ஐღLauraღஐ 

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

You might enjoy reading...

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40 Ways to Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without

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