Harvest Lane Cottage

Do you remember when folks used to drop in?  A close friend (I was in her home visiting one afternoon last week) texted me about 5:00 yesterday evening and asked if we'd like some company. I quickly checked with my husband then texted YES! Were we ready for company? No. The house wasn't company perfect. Were we ready to share an evening in spontaneous hospitality? Yes. A friend loveth at all times! I had put a small pot of ham and beans on (only 1 lb), but I told her we'd make a big pan of cornbread and asked her family to have supper with us. She offered to bring dessert. She brought cheese and bread for grilled cheese, too. Super meal stretcher! Soon, we had four more at our table for the evening. Then, my daughter came home, and her friend and her mama stayed to visit, too. We had a houseful when we thought we'd be having a quiet evening. It was great fun.   I loved the spontaneity of it. It reminded me of my childhood when friends and family were always w...

God has been so close and so faithful through this cancer battle. He has truly shown Himself to be Jehovah Sabaoth—Lord of Hosts. He has fought this battle for me. I've clung to Him in a way I never did before. I've prayed for others and for myself in a way I never did before.  I am changed. Thank you for praying.  I am doing well with my treatments. This coming week is my medical week. I have treatments every three weeks. Doctor Monday. Knit night Tuesday. Chemo Wednesday. Recovery Thursday and Friday. Just five more Herceptin chemo treatments! Surgery in the fall. Then I get to recover from that and be more "normal" whatever that means anymore. I can hardly believe that April 22nd is a year since I found the lump.  Last spring I didn't know if I'd see this spring.  Thank you Jesus I am still here! You're all a part of that. Your faithful prayers, cards, letters, notes, gifts and encouragement have helped carry me thro...

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! ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Hello!   Last week I was ill and didn't get my post up, so I've combined it with this week's post. Good news! I'm getting a little energy back. I'm still taking it easy, but I'm getting things done in spits, spurts, and sputters. ~grin~   I've decided that since Tuesday night is my knit night with friends, I am going to try to make Thursdays my sewing day. I'll try to take at least a couple of hours to do mending, make charity items, and maybe even make some gifts.    ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Here's my thrifty blessed week! Spaghetti with a jar of Aldi spaghetti sauce made a meatless meal Borrowed DVDs from the l...

      I made quite a bucket list this spring. I don't expect to do everything on the list, and I don't expect to finish all of these books, but they give me some goals.       Do you find it hard to make time to read?   Don't fret. Snatch those small moments sprinkled here and there during the week. Snatch reading is key for ladies who have young children or work outside the home.        Don't be without a book!  For years my children would hear me tell them, as we were leaving the house, "Bring a book!" Still need suggestions? Try   5 Ways to Find Time to Read .      I hope this list inspires you to make a list of your own.  Peruse your own shelves or stacks, the library, or read some of  my book reviews .  I borrowed this from the coffee shop. Finished this May 14th. Well worth the read. I liked the rich history woven skillfully into this story. It began slowly, but a fe...

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! ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Hello!  I had my Herceptin chemo treatment this week. That, with a doctor appointment slowed me down quite a bit. I'm feeling better now. I'm looking forward to the time when I recover enough from all these treatments to truly be thrifty again. For now, I am doing what I can, with what I've got, where I am, and with the energy I have.    ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Here's my thrifty blessed week! I cast on a new hat using some sock yarn that a new friend gave to me. Thank you Shelly! I'm using a free hat pattern I found on Ravelry for the Sockhead Hat from Boho Knits . I am harvestlanelaura on Ravelry . Resurrection Day leftove...

Why a b ucket list?  Because it can change boring and rusty  to beautiful and fun! MY SPRING BUCKET LIST 2018   Last summer, after my diagnosis , I made a summer bucket list to give myself some things to look forward to so that it wouldn't just be the summer of chemo. It was a short list. It was still the summer of chemo, but I did some fun things, too.   I then made one for fall so that it wouldn't just be the fall of mastectomy surgery. I was able to do some fun things, then, too. Same with Christmas and the winter of radiation. It was all to give myself something to look forward to and to keep my mind off my treatments.   Nearly everything on each list was for enjoyment. My lists helped me make it through a very tough year. I can hardly believe that it's been almost a year since I found the lump. Believe me, I'll never forget the moment nor the date—April 22nd, 2017. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I knew I woul...

Chocolate Icebox Pie is a recipe that I received as a young bride. I cannot remember now for sure who gave it to me, but it went over quite well. It's quite easy to make and lends itself well to variations.  CHOCOLATE ICEBOX PIE INGREDIENTS: 3/4 c    butter 1 1/2 c flour 1/2 c    chopped pecans 8 oz     cream cheese 12 oz   Cool Whip 1 lg     Jello brand chocolate instant pudding (or chocolate fudge) pecans or shaved chocolate for sprinkling on top FIRST LAYER: Preheat oven to 350°. Melt 3/4 c of butter and put in 13 x 9 baking dish. Add 1 1/2 c flour and 1/2 c chopped pecans. Mix well and spread across bottom of dish. Bake 20 minutes at 350°. Allow to cool completely. SECOND LAYER: Beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1 c powdered sugar until creamy. Fold in 1 c Cool Whip and spread over crust. Refrigerate while mixing the third layer. THIRD LAYER: Mix one large or two small boxes of...