Harvest Lane Cottage

Dear Reader, Being thrifty means doing with watcha got— making do, using it up, wearing it out, and doing without.  It means foregoing some costly pleasures and finding pleasure in less costly things.  As you practice thriftiness, it becomes pleasurable to find bargains, to make something useful again, or to practice self-control. Well, maybe self-control won't be pleasurable, but knowing you're saving money is pretty neat. Here are a couple meals that can be made inexpensively. They're both quite tasty, too. *Chicken Bone Soup* Sometimes, after I bake a chicken, I use the chicken bones to make soup  I just cover them with water and add a little salt.  I let them simmer awhile and look through my cupboard and fridge for other things to add. Instructions: Boil chicken bones until you have a nice broth, 30 minutes to an hour. Strain out bones and bits of meat and set aside to cool. Add:   chopped veggies of your choice or   leftover potat...

As I write this Sunday evening.... The weather.... is rainy tonight..  Right now I am... enjoying having my daughter Emily home from her spring break service trip. Thinking... about what color I'd like to paint the bathroom. The ceiling should be finished tomorrow night. That means I really need to decide by the time my husband comes home from work Tuesday evening! A quote to share... Reverend Billy Graham “ In my Depression-era growing-up years, I suppose we Grahams on our North Carolina dairy farm bore some resemblance to the fictional Walton family on television. It’s easy to feel nostalgic about simpler times, but they obviously were not easier times. Nor were they necessarily happier times.   What we did have back then was family solidarity. We really cared about each other, and we liked to do things together. Jesus’ word picture of a hen gathering her brood under her wing fits my mother. She saw to it that we gathered frequently and regula...

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! Do say hello! ♥♥♥ Dear Reader,  Some weeks I do so well at being thrifty. Other weeks just slide by without much conscious effort at saving money or resources. This was a slip by week. There's not much to it, but I hope joy this week's entry. ♥ " 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. "   Philippians 4:8 King James Version  ...

Getting things done is often one part work and two parts focus.  ~smile~  My Bucket Lists help me to focus on the things that I want to do that aren't part of my daily routine. They also remind me to have a little fun and enjoy the season! I will change the listings to italics as I cross them off the list. Here's my Spring Bucket List 2017. Write my Spring Bucket List Write my Spring Reading List Enjoy fresh strawberries Start working on school plans for next year Real Estate Investing (Decluttering) Go to yard sales ~smile~ Go to the drive-in with the kids... sort of... I sent them. Just couldn't go myself because of being sick. Maybe this summer. Fill planter with flowers to enjoy outside the door... hubby did this for me. Plant some spring flowers in my window box... thanks to hubby Get the vegetable garden planted... a few tomatoes, peppers and basil in 5 gallon buckets will do for this year. Picnic in the park Ice cream run with the kids Wa...

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! Do say hello! ♥♥♥ Dear Reader,   It's been quite a week here at the cottage. We've had two big storms come through that had to be prayed for while appropriating the Blood of Jesus for protection. My friend Ellen, took a turn for the worse and had emergency brain surgery because she had a stroke and her brain was bleeding—all this in addition to the bacterial meningitis. That was Monday night. She is responsive now though she's in a lot of pain. I'm still praying for complete healing. I just haven't been very thrifty this week, but share I shall.    VERSE " And the  Lord , He  is  the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor b...

While I've been a busy bee this week,  my heart has been reaching to God.  Lots of praying going on... ♥ for my friend Ellen who had a stroke and emergency brain surgery  on Monday and is fighting bacterial meningitis... ♥ for my friend Cheryl's niece Kristen who is expecting a baby and has a  blood clot in her lung and heart troubles... ♥ for protection in storms... ♥ for loved ones to turn to Jesus... ♥ for my friends' children  who are in trouble and need Jesus... ♥ for the families of two babies  who died in the womb this week. I've been pleading the Blood of Jesus over all the situations. ♥ What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. ♥ What can make me whole again? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. ♥ What are you praying for? God bless you all. May you find peace  and hope in our God and Savior Jesus Christ. ~ Laura ~ Update on Ellen from her husba...

______________________________ For Today March 6, 2017 ♥♥ ♥ ♥ Looking out my window... LOTS of wind. Hubby says that it's blowing in a storm this afternoon or this evening. ♥ I am thinking... about God's love for us and His desire to bless us. I'm also thinking about my friend, Ellen, who is very ill with bacterial meningitis. She's in my prayers often. ♥ I am thankful... that I now have a safe stove to cook on. Thank you Jesus for your gift through my friend Peggy and her husband. ♥ One of my favorite things... Worthers Original hard caramel candies ♥  I am learning... to trust the Lord more and more.  ♥ I am creating... order out of chaos... at least that's what it feels like on Monday mornings. ~wink~  ♥ I am wearing... my grey slacks and black long sleeved t-shirt. ♥ I am reading... ♥ I am hoping... that my husband gets to our little home improvement project this ...