Harvest Lane Cottage

As I write ... Sunday Night The weather....   The air is fresh and clean, the sky is overcast, and the fire was so inviting earlier this evening when my husband invited me for an impromptu dinner by the fire on the patio. Right now I am...  relaxing just a bit before bedtime.  Thinking... I'm beginning to feel better. Just how much can I get done this week without wearing myself out?  A quote to share... ♥♥♥♥♥ "You see, darlin', the roots on a willow tree run deep, clear under the ground to the source of water. That's what keeps it alive even when everything around it is drying out. Faith works the same way. It runs way down deep through our souls to the source—to God—and keeps us going when things get hard."   Kim Vogel Sawyer in  Where Willows Grow   ♥♥♥♥♥   On my reading pile...   Believing Prayer  by Andrew Murray I am reading this in my Kindle. The Enchanted Barn by Grace Livingston Hi...

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I'm so 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,   Hello ladies! Summer is in full swing now. Our little garden that my husband planted in five gallon buckets is growing beautifully! It's so much easier for him than weeding, too. Can't wait for my first summery bite of fresh homegrown tomato!    I want to remind you that summertime is the perfect time to watch sales to prepare for gift giving. You can purchase fruit to make jams and jellies, take advantage of the Fourth of July clearance sales, watch for new and next to new items at garage sales—all with thoughts toward Christmas and other gift giving occasions. Think ahead mama! Even with the tiniest of budgets, you can make things nice for your family if...

Summertime and the living is easy... or not. Is it not strange how we look forward to summer when things slow down, then we look forward to fall when things slow down, then we look forward to winter when things slow down? Well whether you find yourself in a slow season or a busy season, it's always the season to enjoy a good book. Read to learn, to relax, to visit a far off land, to enjoy with a book club, or to read aloud with your family to go on an adventure. I've a bit of time to read this summer, but I find that I'm wanting something light. I've got some faith builders on the list, but I'll be looking for some fiction to round out the list. Now don't judge me! I love Christmas books all year round, and I found the one on my list on my library's sale shelf. I start looking forward to Christmas in July . You should, too! I'm looking forward to adding to my list from a box of books I hear is coming my way from a dear friend. How exciting is...

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I'm so 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 Life's changed a lot around here in the last few weeks. We're all trying to adjust to the new lifestyle we're temporarily living. I'm learning that I cannot do as much as I could, and the family is learning to pitch in a bit more. It's a process.  This week's miracle:   We had money in our emergency fund to cover my daughter's car repairs. Thank you God. It may not seem like a miracle, but when you've lived most of your life paycheck to paycheck, having the money to fix something when it's broken is a miracle! God bless you all, thank you for your patience with me. I know I've not been answering your comments like I used to. I ...

Chemo Day 2 went well. I did not have any adverse reactions. Praise God! Thank you all for praying! Last time, the side effects set in on day 3. That will be Thursday this time. I ask for your continued prayers. My blood work showed that my white blood cells were down. I am therefore getting an injection today that is supposed to tell my bones to make more white blood cells.  One of the side effects can be bone pain. I've talked with the doctor and nurses and have a plan for facing it, as well as some of the flu-like side effects, so I'm prepared for the fight. Here is what I'd like you all to pray about: The new medicine will cause by bones to cheerfully make white blood cells to fight infection without grumbling or complaining. Philippians 2:14 Nausea, heartburn, diarrhea (Ugh did I just write that?), and mouth and throat sores will be non-existent or quickly treated by the medicines I have I will stay hydrated. I hovered on the edge of dehydration last time...

Hi friends,   I have my second round of chemo today. I was ill during the last cycle for over two weeks. Please pray for me that I will have a quicker recovery this time and not be so ill. Please pray that this chemo shrinks the cancer to the point where the next step, surgery, is easy! Thank you!   Thank you for continuing to pray for Cheryl's niece, Kristen , too. I haven't heard any updates yet. Cheryl's blog is Homespun Devotions . I'm sure she will give updates there.   I may be away from the computer for a few days. Thank you again for praying! God listens to you ladies. Seek him. He loves you so much! No matter what you are going through, you're going through it with Him. Lean in, listen for his voice.   Having trouble hearing the voice of God? One sure way to hear is to read His Word the Bible. Holy Spirit will make things stand out to you. Trust HIM. Ask Him to help you hear. Quiet the other voices around you. Get quiet. Listen. You'll hear ...

Hello friends,   I come to you with an urgent prayer request from Cheryl Smith at Homespun Devotions for her niece Kristen and her unborn baby. Dear friends, I am sorry to bother you today.  But, I come to you with yet another earnest petition for prayer for my dear niece, Kristen and her unborn baby boy. Most of you have been praying for them throughout, but for those who are not familiar with what is going on, Kristen developed a blood clot in her lung early in her pregnancy.  She has been at serious risk all through the pregnancy, due to the blood clot and also severe tachycardia.  She has been on a blood thinner called Lovenox through almost her entire pregnancy, and the doctors have said since day one that there is no way she should go into labor on Lovenox, as the risk of her bleeding to death is very high.  The plan has always been to switch her to the blood thinner, heparin, before she gives birth, because there is an antidote sh...

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I'm so 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 a better week for me. Thursday was actually a good day for me. Praise God! I am trying to focus on doing the things that mom does best rather than spending my energy on just anything. I've been learning a lot about managing my side effects. I am hoping that will be helpful when I take chemo again next Tuesday. I request prayer for chemo day. It took me two days of chemo last time because of side effects. I hope that the doctor will make the adjustments needed to help me handle it better. God bless the doctors and nurses. They've been amazing! This week's miracle: A double-edged axe fell from the workbench and landed a fraction of an inch fro...

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. It's a rather short list this summer.  Why? An added note:  There's been some concern from dear friends that I will be trying to do too much. I will definitely be focused on rest and healing. I have no intention of wearing myself out. This is a list that will stretch clear to September. I just cannot face this summer if it is only to be Chemo Summer. I want to try to enjoy it as best I can.  I'm holding on to this list very loosely. I'm holding on to Jesus very tightly. My Summer Bucket List 2017 Write my Summer Bucket List Write my Summer Reading List Start chemo May 23 Finish up school records for the year—almost don...