Harvest Lane Cottage

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! 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! ♥♥♥ Hey Girls!    We've made it past the busy-ness of Christmas with sweet memories and happy times. I hope you remember all the good things and forget all the bad. It's about our focus isn't it? "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."   I'm working on this one! I do have a tendency to see the cup half empty. I hope, with God's help, to change that this next year.    I'm glad to report that I was able to complete nearly everything  on my bucket list ...

It was a peaceful Christmas weekend. I'd like to take it easy for a couple of days. When you're a wife and mother, that's not easy. My family seems to make more mess at Christmastime than most any other time of year.  ~smile~ First there will be straightening and finding places for new things as well as a few returns to make. Then cleaning, homeschool planning, thrifty efforts and real estate investment must take center stage!  The New Year is coming! God bless you all. Thank you all for encouraging me relentlessly during a very long and difficult 2016.  ~smile~ I thank God He was there to help me through it all. He will be there to help me through 2017, too, whatever it brings. What about you? Have you given your life to Jesus Christ? "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in struggle." Psalm 46:1 He's proven Himself true over and over in my life. Make Jesus Christ Lord of your life. He...

No matter who you spend Christmas with,  whether you spend it with loved ones, friends,  or people who are difficult to be with, you are loved. God loved you so much,  He sent His son to be your savior. He also loved you so much, He chose to send his Holy Spirit so that you will never ever be alone. Take time to focus on God. Worship Him. Thank Him for Jesus and Holy Spirit. Be aware of Holy Spirit's loving presence, teaching you, guiding you, comforting you. You are never alone. Merry Christmas from  Harvest Lane Cottage Laura Note: You can receive the free gift of eternal life simply by believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died for your sins, that he's coming back again. Learn more.

Hard times don't take a Christmas vacation. Illnesses, lost loved ones, job loss, a budget stretched so far that buying a gift or a special meal makes it snap, loneliness—all are all cold realities for many families. Two ladies in our church have buried their husbands in the last two months. No matter how many friends and loved ones surround them, they will feel the deep longing for their dearests. Another friend had no money for gifts for the seven children in her home until God provided a miracle. Few of us have the means to give our families the gifts we wish we could give. I know several people who really stretch their money to make ends meet. There's only so much elastic in a dollar bill you know. I've been testing that stretch capacity full-time for twelve years now. Maybe you're like one of us. Perhaps you have another problem. Most likely you know someone who's struggling. Our families will be affected differently by these situations, but it will b...

Journey to Bethlehem Jesus is the reason for our hope— in Him  we live and breathe and have our meaning.  This is the meaning of Christmas in a sentence. No Rules Weekend Blog Party   Share Your Cup A Stroll Thru Life Countdown to Christmas

What is your must-have holiday decoration item or decor, and why?  For our family, we must have our beautiful Christmas tree, a ll our yearly ornaments, and some lights. These things are central to our most cherished tradition—decorating the tree. Each year I make or buy a new ornament for each child and one for my husband and me. We have three tree decorating rules. Father, mother, and all four kids must be present. Good food! The first ornament is gold tinsel that my husband twisted to form "I love you" back when we were dating. This is followed by our first Christmas together ornament—1986. We then add ornaments year-by-year and share a memory from that year. As we get to our children's birth years, they join in. The kids can't wait to be born each year! What is YOUR most cherished tradition? Blessings, Laura  Art of Homemaking Mommy Monday   Modest Mom   Countdown to Christmas   No Rules

Dear Readers, I was recently asked about my Christmas decorating style. We have a humble home, but Christmas is the perfect time make our home festive. I have a do with whatcha got attitude about decorating, but I enjoy watching for treasures at yard sales and in thrift shops throughout the year. I also enjoy making things. Although this may be a bit late, I wanted to share how I add Christmas cheer to our home. My Christmas decorating style includes many handmade items. I think that handmade makes things cozier. I dream of Christmas quilts for every bed. I enjoy making Christmas ornaments for my four children and for friends. Books! We have lots and lots of Christmas books. All the festive colors brighten things up quite a bit. Candles. There's just something about candlelight that makes things cozy. I just love rich red poinsettias. Snowmen and snowflakes cover my tree and are scattered around the house. I have lots of yearly ornaments from a lifetime w...

One winter our furnace broke down in the middle of winter. We didn't have the money to get it fixed. We did not get it fixed until late the next winter. Each morning I would get up, put the kettle on for tea, fill the sinks with hot water, and bake something. We used a couple of little space heaters. I would bundle all the children up on the sofa or on my lap with blankets, and I would read. That was the time that I learned about the difference of being chilly and being dangerously cold. I always said that I would find someplace to go if it got dangerously cold. I don't think it ever got below the upper fifties in the house even though it was quite cold outside. I cooked to keep warm. Those were lean times when there wasn't much to eat. I knew that if I didn't bake biscuits or something, we wouldn't eat. Unfortunately, at the time, I didn't know how to make bread very well. I did learn to make biscuits and cornbread and all kinds of soups. Oh, but the...

How are you doing on your Christmas creating and shopping? I thought I'd take a moment and share some things I've found online. Maybe they will spark an idea for you. I've included links, but I am not affiliated with any of these sellers.  Cuisinart ICE-21R Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker  $50 This is a little counter top ice cream maker that you can use any time for small batches. No rock salt or ice needed. Yes, dear husband, I wish for this! Pin it! Tile Mate Key Finder $25 Save your sanity or a loved one's with Tile Mate. They have small ones that can be attached to your keys, purse, backpack, whatever you need to find. They also have ones that fit in your wallet, or you can attach to your remote! Pin it! XY3 Key and Phone Finder $25 Just found this one! Sync your phone and keys. Your phone can then help you find your keys, and your keys can ring your phone! The batteries are replaceable, too. It comes in lots of colors. ...

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! 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! ♥♥♥ Hey Girls!   I'm smack dab in the middle of the busiest week of the year. I'll bet you are, too. It seems nearly everyone who plans Christmas events thinks the first week of December is the best time. So guess what the rest of us do? Yep, scurry from activity to activity. We've been busy with Bible studies, dance practice, Walk Through Bethlehem, and we still have our Tree Decorating Party, a progressive dinner, the town Christmas parade, Michael's Police Explorers' meeting, church, another dance practice, and our church's Christmas production all in the first ten days of the month—not to mention a visit from Grandpa Rick to replace a ceiling fan! Whew! Some of that isn't even on my bucket list...

Have you got lots to do this Christmas season? Me too! I've still got shopping, making, cooking, and baking along with visiting with friends and family. Still... there are things I just love to do during the Christmas season. Actually, I like to do a lot of them all winter long. Here are some of the things I'd like to do this month. Write my Christmas bucket list Make or buy a tree ornament for each child Sing Christmas carols Put up the tree Decorate the house Christmas parade Put lights on the house (Kids took care of it.) Talk to strangers (It's what I do!) Smile and spread good cheer Curl up with a terrific book Go to  Journey to Bethlehem Drink hot apple cider Tree decorating party with my husband and kids Drink eggnog Watch Christmas movies Progressive dinner Make homemade wassail Invite friends for soup and bread Make new Christmas decorations Listen to Christmas music Bake Gingerbread Cookies Advent book Christmas baking Costumes for ch...