Friday, July 20, 2018

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #131

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage!

I don't know about you, but I need to save money, be thrifty and frugal, get projects done, and be thankful for my blessings from God. Perhaps things that my family has done lately give you a few ideas; then you can share your thrifty ways with me!

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Dear Readers,

I'm celebrating! I finished my last chemo treatment this week. On to healing! I'm pretty tired after treatment, but I know I'll feel better each day. That's how the cycle goes. I'm thrilled I get to go off the cycle after over a year! My first treatment was two days May 23rd and May 24th. What a way to spend our anniversary!

I hope as the days and weeks go by that I will get some extra energy and do some more thrifty things. I'm beginning to think about birthday season (late August through mid-September at hour place). I am also thinking ahead to Fall and Christmas. I made nothing last year. I love making Christmas with lots of handmade things for family and friends. Maybe this year I'll be able to do a bit.

I want to do so many things that I haven't done for the last fifteen months. I must be careful not to wear myself out. I need to use much of my energy in getting healthy again. Still... my favorite season is next! Fall! Gotta love it!

What have you been up to at your place?

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Here's how my family has been thrifty lately.
  • My Lowell stopped at a yard sale and bought a box and a bin of gift wrapping supplies for just $3.00!
  • Tomato sandwiches for lunch Sunday. We went to the farmer's market and bought three big slicing tomatoes for our BLTs yesterday. I paid $4.50. Yikes! But they each made enough slices to feed three to four people! We got three meals from three tomatoes!
  • I made a make do taco salad supper for three Sunday night. I cut up one cooked chicken breast, added three ladles of pinto beans that I'd cooked with garlic, a little of the bean broth, and taco seasoning. Beans are a great way to stretch meat in a salad. I served it with leftover sliced tomatoes, lettuce bought at the farmer's market, a small chunk of cheese shredded finely, some salsa my Emily made, and some tortilla chips. It was a great way to use up leftovers from our other meals this weekend. 
  • Amy is using up extra yarn and scraps of yarn to make a blanket. Bye bye little balls of yarn. 
  • I decided at the last minute to take a look at some of the deals on Prime Day. I bought a KitchenAid 6 Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer for about $220 with tax. Regular price is $390.99! I've had my current KitchenAid for 18-20 years. It's been moaning and groaning terribly when I use it for the last couple of years. I won it by kissing a dog. That's a story for another day!  Anyhow, I know that this is a good investment in a tool that will last a long time—and it's red for my hoped for red and white kitchen! It matches the blender my husband gave me for Christmas and the ice cream maker my son gave me for my birthday. Thank you to the dear ladies who have sent me gifts of money this past year. That's how I paid for this. Y'all have blessed me so much! 

  • We're still eating out of the deep freeze. We'll be able to defrost it in a few weeks and begin filling it for winter. 
  • My son brought us a few dozen farm fresh eggs.
  • A friend brought BBQ pulled chicken and slider rolls for lunch. We ate the leftovers for dinner. Yum! Thanks Joyce!
  • We invested in real estate. My daughters helped fill a few bags to give away.
  • My Tuesday night knitting group is one of the fun things I do just for me. We are currently meeting at a mall, so we usually walk over to get something at Chick-fil-A. It's a splurge, but it's my fun night. There was an error in making my sandwich. The manager not only made me a fresh sandwich, she brought me a coupon for a free sandwich for my trouble. Is that customer service or what? Just one more reason I use my dollars to vote for Chick-fil-A.

What have you done in your home this week?
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May you make the best of what you've got however much or little! 
 When we are faithful in little, God sees it.

ღLauraღ
...doing what I can with what I've got
where I am on a shoestring budget!
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Thank you all for writing to me. I read every comment.

Blogger is currently having issues with notifying bloggers of comments by email.  It is therefore difficult to respond.  

I will respond on the blog as I have time. You may subscribe to comments to see when I or others respond.
  
God bless you all!
 Laura
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16 comments:

  1. Congratulations on finishing up your cancer treatment! That's a huge big deal:)

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  2. I haven't been by in a bit. I love the new look of your blog. The cherries are bright and cheery!

    Having seen my mom battle breast cancer, twice, I know that it takes time to build your energy. I know it's hard, but please by patient. It'll come!

    I agree that if I'm spending my money I want good service, cleanliness and tasty food. Chick-fil-A always delivers.

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  3. Congrats on finishing chemo! Don't try and do too much. Maybe plan on two projects per month to get ready for Christmas. I have making my cards as this month's activity. Slow and steady gets it done!

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  4. Laura,
    I am so happy you are in the healing phase of your journey.
    I continue to pray for you and to thank God!
    I love reading about your days.
    Have a cozy weekend!!!

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  5. Congrats on making it over the finish line! Hoping you are blessed with good health from now on. I've been reclaiming lots of space by giving away all I can.

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  6. Congratulations on finishing your treatment! You deserve a celebration!
    And it sounds like you had a lovely week :)

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  7. Sounds like a great week and a great deal on your mixer. I don't use mine quite as often anymore. Maybe I'll be able to pass it down to someone. I'm going to look at the video for the ant poison thanks for the info.

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  8. I am thrilled to hear you had your last treatment, praying for a full recovery. Take care.

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  9. What, wait, you kissed a dog? (grin)---nice to see you blogging, sorry I haven't been visiting...dealing with a lot of stuff/issues here...my blog visiting has been erratic to say the least. smiles

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  10. Praise the Lord that you are finished with treatments. Onward and forward now! Don't over do it too quickly. I am so thankful you made it through this ordeal and are healing.

    You had a good week. I love tomato sandwiches and BLT's. Great going on the new mixer - you will get years of use from it.
    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  11. Deb (formerly from Missouri, now in Florida!)July 21, 2018 at 10:00 AM

    I am so happy that you are done with chemo! What a LONG road you have been on! So thankful for God's mercy with your illness!

    I LOVE your red mixer! I have the boring old white one (but I didn't kiss a dog for it!). I think we all need to hear that story!

    I am so thankful that you not only "survived" cancer, you were able to be such a great testimony of trust and perseverance. Your blog is such an encouragement to me!

    Take care and rest up!

    Deb

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  12. Praising God that your chemo is over! Your red Kitchen Aid is gorgeous! Exactly the color I would have chosen, too!

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  13. querida Laura, te siento activa y con muchas ganas de hacer cosas y proyectos. Eso es magnífico!!!
    Siempre en mis oraciones. Te quiero mucho, amiga
    Dolores

    Dear Laura, I feel you are active and eager to do things and projects. That is magnificent!!!
    Always in my prayers. I love you friend
    Dolores

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  14. Thank you all for your comments, your admonitions, your encouragement, and your warnings. ~smile~ I am sorry that I don't have the energy to run down emails and email you directly. I hope that Blogger will start notifications again soon.
    God bless you all!
    Laura

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  15. What an amazing milestone! Continuing to pray for complete healing for you. Around here, we're freezer eating, lots of beans this week in various forms *beans and rice, chili, soup, turning the a/c up a couple degrees at night, trying to stay home and out of town. Some weeks are better than others, lol. Tomorrow is voting, and library time. Yay for free books!

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  16. Laura, I'm so glad your treatments are finished and hope you are fully recovered soon. My recent "thrifty ways" include cutting way back on paper towel use. I keep a stack of dishcloths on the counter next to the sink and reach for those instead, saving the paper towels for things like cleaning out a greasy pan. I also did a bit of refrigerator organizing, making it less likely that something will get "lost" in there until it has grown a fur coat! :D

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God bless you! This life only works with Jesus. The next life is a continuation of this one—make sure you spend it with Jesus. Jesus is the only way to God the Father!

Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor