Harvest Lane Cottage

Once again this promises to be a Fall like no other. I'll be having breast reconstruction revision surgery on October 10th.  I've made an ambitious list, I know.  I want to squeeze all the joy I can from the season. I thank God that Autumn has come again for me. We think we plan our lives, but we know not how many Autumns we have left. I'll change each item to italics as I complete it. It is easier to read than crossing them out. How many of these things are on your list? Write my fall bucket list Celebrate  First Day of Fall  September 22nd Enjoy candy pumpkins Drink homemade hot cocoa Fall decorating ~ not much this year Maple Leaf Parade Burn a cinnamony, pumpkiny, spicy fall candle   - My son just brought me one! September Sewing Challenge Knit a hat for me Knit hats for charity - Operation Christmas Child , chemo patients, and the Community Clinic Bake  cookies  with Amy. Volunteer for a political ca...

Here we are! Last weekend of September. First Christmas book review. I love Melody Carlson Christmas books! A Christmas by the Sea is no exception. I consider reading Melody's Christmas books a tradition. They are just plain good! From the publisher: When Wendy Harper inherits her family's beach side cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in--temporarily, she reminds him--in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist. Join award-winning author ...

September is National Sewing Month. It is Sewing Challenge Month at Harvest Lane Cottage. I decided to keep a list of the things I do each day. It keeps me accountable. ~smile~ Read all about the challenge. September  1    Mended stars shirt 2    Altered gray shirt       Cut threads tan shorts 3    Mended shirt pocket       Mended pockets in gray shorts 4    Mended pocket in 2nd pair gray shorts 5    Sewed a button on my dress 6    Finished a baby quilt* and worked on another 7    Finished two more baby quilts*       Mended my son's work shirt 8    Mended my husband's hoody 9    Planned more baby quilts and possibly some bowl huggers 10  Sewed quilt blocks together for bowl huggers       Sewed blocks together for baby quilt* 11  No sewing but lots of knitting. I was away from home all d...

As I write ...   Sunday evening The weather....  Beautiful compared to the Carolinas.  Right now I am...  just finished eating a very late supper. I was talking with a friend on the phone long-distance when supper time came. Thinking... I need to sort a few fabrics tonight. I'm not going to sew, but sorting fabrics is part of the process. I have in mind to make a handbag this week, but I need to see if I have fabrics that I want to use. If not, the project will go on the back burner for awhile. A quote to share...  ♥♥♥♥♥   ♥♥♥♥♥   On my reading pile ...   I'm still reading the same books. Favorite blog posts last week...   The Door Will Open When it is Time What is the Little Ball for? For those of you wondering if I'm going to make a Fall Bucket List this year, YES! It should come out on or before the first of Fall. Something fun to share...  ...

As I write ...   Sunday evening The weather....  Very cool... I'll need a blanket tonight. Right now I am...  achy because I've been leaning over the table planning and sewing. Thinking... I need to be in bed. I've been staying up too late lately. A quote to share...  ♥♥♥♥♥ "The greater part of our happiness or misery  depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."  Martha Washington   ♥♥♥♥♥   On my reading pile ...    Favorite blog posts last week...   Is it This Simple? 30 Ideas for Letters to Write and Send 10 Things to Do in September My Autumn Bucket List by Amy For those of you wondering if I'm going to make a Fall Bucket List this year, YES! It should come out on or before the first of Fall. Something fun to share...  On my to do list...  Check out my sewing challenge progress in the tab above! ...

Did you know that September is National Sewing Month? I enjoy sewing, but I haven't sewn for many months.  While going through breast cancer treatment , just pulling out the machine  felt like too much trouble.  When I found the lump , I just put away the quilt I was hand quilting, the apron I was making, my crochet, my knitting, everything. Nothing seemed important knowing that I might not see the next season. Chemotherapy was rough. It took more out of me than I realized, and the side effects were horrible. Still through it all, I did my best to spread sunshine, happiness, and the love of God with others especially at the cancer center. Knitting chemo hats was the first creative thing I did. After I knit a couple for me, I started knitting for other patients. My nurse saw me knitting and invited me to come knit with her weekly knitting group. I didn't feel like getting out and meeting new people. When you lose your hair from chemo, and you l...