Welcome to another
Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!
Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God.
I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!
Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!
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Happy New Year everyone!
Yes, I know my greeting is late; but hey, it's still a new year, is it not? It's been quite a new year for us. We've visited family in Kansas City. We've already had to replace our washer, and we've already taken a trip. I've had a CT scan, and have been set up for radiation which begins next week on the 16th. I've had a nurse practitioner visit, blood work, an afternoon at the hospital for a test, and a round of mini-chemo (one drug) this week. I've also taken my son to get books for his first semester as a dual enrolled student with a nearby junior college. Life doesn't slow down, does it? Well, maybe a little, the surgeon cancelled my appointment this morning because of weather conditions. I'm glad to get a couple days without medical treatments/appointments before radiation starts its relentless schedule. ~smile~
Yes, I know my greeting is late; but hey, it's still a new year, is it not? It's been quite a new year for us. We've visited family in Kansas City. We've already had to replace our washer, and we've already taken a trip. I've had a CT scan, and have been set up for radiation which begins next week on the 16th. I've had a nurse practitioner visit, blood work, an afternoon at the hospital for a test, and a round of mini-chemo (one drug) this week. I've also taken my son to get books for his first semester as a dual enrolled student with a nearby junior college. Life doesn't slow down, does it? Well, maybe a little, the surgeon cancelled my appointment this morning because of weather conditions. I'm glad to get a couple days without medical treatments/appointments before radiation starts its relentless schedule. ~smile~
Well, enough for now—on to my blessings and a bit of our thrifty life.
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~~~~~"He maketh the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children.
Praise ye the LORD."
Psalm 113:9
I was a barren woman.
Read more.
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Here's my thrifty list!
Here's my thrifty list!
- My daughters and I cleared about six cubic feet of real estate.
- We ate things we had on hand this week.
- We saved money by reusing our Christmas tree this year again. Original purchase price $25 sight unseen from a friend moving to Michigan. It was big and beautiful. I love our tree!
- We kept gifts simple this year. We gave family photos to our family.
- My friend, Sarah of Classical Homemaking, invited me to a sew-in at a quilt shop in a small town between us. I didn't have a project going, so I took some fabric squares that Cheryl of Homespun Devotions sent to me last year. I prayed as I sorted the squares and found myself drawn to the camo and orange squares. I ended up using them together to make a small pieced top for a bereavement quilt. There's a man in our church who runs a cemetery. Sometimes parents don't have anything to wrap their babies in. It's a small way to show the love of Jesus to those who are mourning.
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| I'm using a free photo from Pixabay for my desktop. |
- My chemo port hasn't been working for blood draws well. My favorite chemo nurse, also Laura, questioned the order for port replacement surgery. I had a test done first, now it looks like I will avoid the surgery. That saved untold thousands of dollars!
That's my thrifty update.
Oh Laura, I'm glad you won't have to have your port replaced. That's good news. Your Christmas tree is beautiful and you will be able to use it for a long time!
ReplyDeleteYes, Penny. We've already used the tree for a few years, and it seems to be holding up well.
DeleteI'm glad to get to skip a surgery. Hopefully, they'll figure out how to get blood from the port.
Have a lovely week, be blessed!
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
That is a beautiful tree. A lovely family photo. Hoping your weather is not too bad, and gets in the way of anything thing too terribly important.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day.
We're supposed to get SNOW Sunday and Monday! I'm happy about it, too!
DeleteGood post! I love when I can read how God blesses others in my faith family.
ReplyDeleteA funny note--it has taken me about three times on your blog to realize that there are bird songs playing in the background. I would pull up your site, hear that high pitched shriek, and get up to go see if my cats had caught a mouse! Today I finally realized what I am actually hearing!
God bless
Busy life does continue on, doesn't it Laura?
ReplyDeletePraying for your upcoming week.. Praying the radiation will go well, and you will get it all finished up real soon. Praying God be with you and help you through each phase.. hugs sweet Laura.
Yes, busy never seems to slow down. BUT, after chemo on Wednesday,
DeleteI ate a quick bite of lunch, drove home, and went to bed for the entire
afternoon. I was too tired to do anything else. I was better Thursday
and Friday, but the pace of life is making me tired. I know I won't be
able to keep it up after a few radiation treatments. Fatigue is a common
side effect. My husband helped clean the house today. That should make
next week easier. I am going to have to make myself rest before I have
no choice!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAnd your tree is beautiful!!!
Have a cozy weekend, my lovely friend.
Prayers continue!
It was a neat afternoon, Billie Jo. I took a friend out for tea, but found the shop was
Deleteclosed. We went to the old corner deli instead and found they had an amazing variety
of hot teas. This time we opted for a calming chamomile. My friend had not been out
for a girl's time for many months. She was due for a little lady talk over tea. I'm so
glad I called her on a whim. It was time well spent.
Have a wonderful week, Billie Jo.
God bless you,
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Oh Laura you still have so much to go through, but with god all things are possible. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, God is good. He will be with me.
DeleteLaura, I clicked over and (re)read your story. I was struck with the thought of how much God is in control in your life. He must be even now.
ReplyDeleteHello friend! A good thrifty bit there. Yep, life does not ever seem to slow for any of us. We just do the best we can! Praying for you as you start your radiation! Oh and I love th pictures of the family. Love and blessings friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for praying Michelle. I must admit to breaking down in tears
Deletefor a bit tonight. I just don't want to do the radiation, but I know that
I must. It's hard knowing that I'm going to be in pain.
God bless you,
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
I will be praying for you through the radiation. That 5 day schedule alone would just whoop me. Praying for strength and your body to handle what is coming.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has been working on a plumbing repair to my bathroom sink that is saving us $300. We have hit many great grocery deals this week such as 24 cans of soup for $7. I waited to have some dental work done until we started a new year paying only $130 instead of $1300. We have stayed home a lot because of the extreme cold but the weather was a bit warmer this week so we have stocked up for the next round of cold weather. Our utility bill was shocking but we are thankful for our warm house and that we have all that we need. Our utility bills have been low for several months so I had just left the extra in the budget and we had what we needed to pay the bill.
We have been through the anniversary of my husband's heart attack and coma over the last few weeks. A dear one said that we should cry all we needed to and it has been healing. A huge blessing this week came in an email from our alternative medicine practitioner who has offered to treat my husband for no charge for as long as he needs her. What a blessing this is since he still has so many infections from the hospital.
Dear Lana,
DeleteI pray for complete healing for your husband. God bless you both. You've done wonderful things to save for your family.
Good week to you!
Laura
As nasty as it is to have those treatments, I'm glad you can get started on them, so they are finished up, and you are all fixed up sooner. I'm glad you can save money through it all!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you that you could find time to sew. It is always so fun when I get to sew, so I'm glad you had the pleasure this week!
I don't know how long I'll feel like sewing, Becky. So I'd better keep at it a bit.
DeleteBlessings,
Laura
I'm so glad you don't have to have your port replaced and you got a little break from all the medical action. Sounds like it was a joyous couple of days just for that. Isn't it amazing how much stuff we can accumulate? I'm always trying to clean out but it seems like it's a constant struggle. Have a great week and my prayers are going up for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Vickie,
DeleteShould I use yahoo or gmail?
It is so amazing how much we accumulate.
Sometimes it will pack our storage spaces
as well. I'm working on decluttering, but with
my present state, it could take year.
God bless you,
Laura
Happy New Year! I just wanted to share that my mom had a round of radiation and had absolutely no side effects! Hoping the same for you
ReplyDeleteDear obscure,
DeleteThat would be so amazing if I had no side effects.
Thank you for the encouragement. God bless you!
Please come back and talk with me again.
Sincerely,
Laura Lane
Harvest Lane Cottage
Laura I'm always encouraged by your thrifty week posts. I'm so very glad you didn't have to go through surgery. I think you have had enough of that.
ReplyDeleteFor my thrifty week we were able to have a left over salad with diner my friend sent home with me after an afternoon of fellowship.
We got a free pizza crust from Safeway through Just 4 You program
I used some yarn I got free to make some crochet projects
I have a ton of fabric scraps for sewing tea related items.
Good going Regina! I'm happy for your progress this week.
DeleteI could sew for a good long while with my stash of fabric
and scraps.
God bless you and yours,
Laura
I am your newest follower, Laura. I found you through that crazy Sugar---lol....
ReplyDeleteI will come back to read when I have more time. Meantime, I put you on my sidebar so I don't miss any posts.
I am so sorry to hear you are dealing with cancer. My husband has fought cancer 3 times in the last few years. The last one was Stage 4 and they didn't hold out much hope---but --- guess what? God stepped in and he is cancer free now for almost two years. You will be in my prayers.
Hugs- Diana
OH wow! You've honored me greatly Diana. I'm so glad to meet you. I'll come over for a visit. Which is your primary blog?
DeleteYou have an amazing testimony in your husband! Praise God! I am so happy for you both. My oncologist told me that I am in "rare total remission", but I still have to start radiation this Tuesday to make sure it doesn't come back.
Cancer cells die the death in Diana's husband and in me in Jesus' name!
Thank you for following me, I'm not sure who you found me through. Sugar?
If you've got the link, I'd love to look her up.
Blessings to you!
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Hey Laura, Diana was referring to a post I did over on my blog At Rivercrest Cottage. http://theothermeissane.blogspot.com I referred readers to two of my favorite blogs, yours and another. Diana's blog is Nana Diana Takes A Break. You can find her in my blog list if you don't find her by Googling. I've been doing posts on No-Spend Low-Spend January this month and linked readers to your Take Back Your Real Estate post as well as your current post. I always think of you and say a prayer for your healing every time I donate another bag to charity and free up real estate in my home. Bless you today and everyday!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to comment and say that is a lovely, graceful tree in your front yard (in the winter pic)!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful how God is at work in your life. I can see His handprints on all these blessings. Your faith is so strong. Very inspiring.
Me too! I hope I can come next time.
DeleteI need fun in my life right now!
Hug,
Laura
Sweet Laura, my heart goes out to you. There is power in prayer! He knows, he care where you are, and He right there. Let Him take you in His arms. Jesus know just where you are. Listen to one of my favorite songs HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u2QbyM1hpA
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Simply. Listening to it now.
DeleteGod bless you!
Good morning, Laura. Prayers for your upcoming radiation. Thank you for coming by.
ReplyDeleteThank you, BJ. As you can tell, I'm behind on my email!
DeleteHello Laura, thank you for visiting my blog and good luck on the drawing. I will be posting names on Saturday. Your family photos are wonderful. They are the best gift . . . I even buy frames for the ones I get on those postcard Christmas cards.
ReplyDeleteYou are in my prayers sweet blogging sister.
Connie :)
Thank you for praying. Have a terrific week Connie.
DeleteI had so much fun with you at the sewing night! See you soon!
ReplyDeleteHey Sweet Laura, praying for you. He knows where you are and He cares for you. Sharing a song with you. Stay encourage! https://youtu.be/3TZYJ7i6EaE
ReplyDelete