Wednesday, January 30, 2019

On My Needles... What I'm Reading... January 30, 2019

Two of my favorites—
knitting and reading
This week:
The Value of Home in Everyone's LifeBetween Two Shores
Reyna shawl in Wendy's Wonders hand-dyed fingering yarn
Copy Cat CC Beanie in Knit Picks Swish worsted wool

Hello again!

It's so good to talk with you again. I love it when you write back to me. I try to answer as many comments as I can. I don't always answer in order, because I usually answer as I get the email notifications. 

It's been quite the busy week. I've spent time with my husband and with all of my children. I only have four, but two are out of the nest, and one little birdie spends a lot of time at university and teaching private music lessons. I cherish the time I have with my littlest birdie. Even she performs at residential care homes and has a part-time job. My nest isn't empty yet, but the day is coming.

I've been finding ways to spread my wings a bit. Y'all know that I've got a great group of ladies that I knit with once a week. I've made friends and improved my skills over the last year since I first took the scary step of visiting the group as a cancer patient. I feared that they wouldn't want to talk to me because of my condition. Instead, they welcomed me with smiles and encouragement. There are a couple gals who I'd consider knitting enablers. Well—yarn enablers!

This month I read The Light Between Oceans in preparation for visiting a book club my friend Kathriann invited me to attend. I've not discussed books with anyone like that since college forever. We just clicked, and I fit in right away. I really liked the ladies. This next month the book will be Christy. I'll probably start it in a couple of days. It's over 500 daunting pages! I want to get the audio version so that I can knit while I listen. 

Check out my very ambitious Winter Reading List. I made it before I knew about the book club, so I don't know if I'll make it or not. I plan to get audio versions of as many as I can. After all, there's only so much time for reading and so much time for knitting.



What have you been up to?

Be blessed,
Laura

on Goodreads

2019 Finished Books
2 Fiction

on Ravelry

2019 Finished Knits
3 Hats


Light Between OceansReyna shawl in Wendy's Wonders hand-dyed fingering yarn
Copy Cat CC Beanie in Knit Picks Swish worsted wool

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Joining with Yarn Along and Crafting On

Thursday, January 24, 2019

On My Needles... What I'm Reading... January 24, 2019

I usually have a goal of reading 50 books a year. Last year I came dreadfully short. Why? In a word—knitting.

This week:
Light Between Oceans
Reyna shawl in Wendy's Wonders hand-dyed fingering yarn
Copy Cat CC Beanie in Knit Picks Swish worsted wool

This year, I decided that I needed to be more realistic when I set my GoodReads goal. I thought about it and decided that a book every ten days is reasonable instead of a book a week. It will still stretch me to use those snatched moments, but it won't keep me from knitting, too. 


You've seen the books that I plan to read on my Winter Reading List. Some of my knitting friends have joined a challenge to complete nine projects this year. I am not setting a goal for projects. I am just knitting along at my own pace. So far, I've completed three hats. I have one hat and one shawl on the needles.


This is a Bankhead hat. It is actually an army green. It's not showing up the right color on my screen. It was my first completed project this year. In the picture above, you can see that I'd finished it plus cast on a second one in a smaller size.

I have also finished a Bankhead hat in a marled gray for my husband. It has a half twisted rib brim that is challenging at first. It makes a nice touch though.

I wonder what you've been reading or knitting or crafting?

Be blessed,
Laura

on Ravelry


Reyna shawl in Wendy's Wonders hand-dyed fingering yarn
Copy Cat CC Beanie in garnet heather Knit Picks Swish worsted wool


Joining with Yarn Along and Crafting On

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Just So You Know...



Hi y'all!
 Just so you know, I'm going to be away from the computer for a few days. I've had some wonderful comments over the last week or so, but I haven't been able to respond to everyone.
 I expect to be back to blogging next week sometime. I should finish my third knitting project by then.  I'll swipe my husband's phone and take a photo. Enough for now, just wanted to let you know what's up.

 I hope you have a wonderful week ending!

Laura
Getting a little extra R & R,
knitting, and reading time!

Monday, January 14, 2019

Little Hats for Little Heads 2018

Hello!

  Last year I did a lot of charity knitting. I made hats for the cancer center, for Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoeboxes, and the infant clothing ministry where my step-mom Annie volunteers. Here are a few of the hats that I made in November and December this year. I wrapped these up as a gift to Annie.

















I'll show you what I've done since the first of the year later this week.
God bless you all!

What's on your needles?

Blessings,
Laura


Shared with:
Inspire Me Tuesday
Over the Moon
Crafting On 

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Harvest Lane Cottage Winter Reading List ~ 2019

Good new year to you! I don't have any resolutions, but I am making some lists to help me focus. I find my bucket lists really help me do some things I want to do but may not make time for each season. Having it all here in front of y'all makes me feel like I have a wee bit of accountability.

Do I have time to sit around and read all the time? Absolutely not! Do I read more when I use snatched moments when I'm waiting for this or that? Absolutely! Use your moments even if you wish for hours.


Karen Andreola's new book, Mother Culture, is now available! I've received my copy and cannot wait to set aside a bit of time to begin reading it. I love Karen's books. Even if you don't homeschool, I have a feeling you will find suggestions that will make afternoons, evenings, and weekends more meaningful for you and your family. My children are all grown. My youngest is 17, but I look forward to reading this for what it can mean for me and my culture!


On Reading Well
Karen Swallow Prior
I cannot remember who recommended this to me. Perhaps I found it on Goodreads. It looks like a nice brainy book. ~grin~
Note: I've decided to take this off my list for winter. Christy and The Light Between Oceans were not on my original list. They have and will take most of my reading time. I'll put On Reading Well on one of my future lists.

Bible Faith Study Course
Kenneth E. Hagin
I've been working my way through this one for a long time, but I have learned so very much that helped me through my cancer battle. Each time I pick Bible Faith up, I tend to re-read notes and highlighted portions before I read more. It slows my 


30 Days to Understanding the Bible
Max Anders
30 Days to Understanding The Bible by Max Anders is my current review book. I've just read a little. They suggest just 15 minutes a day. I'm still reading and studying, but here's the review I wrote based on going through the book and what I'd already read.


Miss Read
Tales from a Village School
~ Finished January 21, 2019 ~
Review
My friend, Karen Andreola, suggested Miss Read's Tales from a Village School. I will borrow it from our local library through the interlibrary loan system. You should check to see if your library participates. I've just discovered my library does it, and it's been super.

Note: I thought that this was the first book. I think perhaps it was Miss Read's Village School, the first book, that Mrs. Andreola suggested. ~smile~


For the Family's Sake
The
Value of Home in Everyone's Life
Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
~Finished February 4, 2019~
Mini-Review

The Light Between Oceans
M.L. Stedman
~ Finished January 29, 2010 ~
Mini-Review

I'm trying out a new local book club. The Light Between Oceans is the January selection. Christy is the February Selection.
Update: I truly enjoyed the ladies at the book club and our discussion. We watched the movie after discussing the book. I do NOT recommend the movie. We had to fast forward through some intimate scenes. There were no such scenes in the book.  Here's my Goodreads mini-review.


Christy
Catherine Marshall
I know that I either own this book or have given it away. It has been in my possession; therefore, I have chosen not to purchase it again for the book club. If I don't find it in time, I'll borrow it from the library. ~ I've started with a library book. It's really long— over 500 pages!


Between Two Shores
Between Two Shores  is an historical fiction book that was offered to me just this morning for review. It should be released sometime in February. I just received it January 28th. ~ I'm finished.


The New Testament

I finished my Bible reading plan for 2018 just before the end of the year. It's time to start again. I don't expect to finish this winter. I'll just do what I can then move the remaining books to my Spring list. I use Bible.com to keep track of what I've read, and sometimes use BibleGateway.com to listen instead of read. I have not yet chosen which version to use this time.

Matthew
Mark 
Luke 
John
Acts
Romans 
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Colossians
1 & 2 Thessalonians
1  Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude 
Revelation




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Saturday, January 5, 2019

My Winter Bucket List 2019 ~ Harvest Lane Cottage

MY WINTER BUCKET LIST
2019


Last year, I was facing more cancer treatments. 
This year, I rejoice in living.

This list is about doing things that
bring me joy.
What will you put on your list?

  • Write my Winter bucket list
  • Put the Christmas tree away
  • Put away the Christmas decorations
  • Sort through my Christmas decor for discards
  • New Year's Eve with our friends at church
  • New Year's Eve party with my husband's associates
  • New Year's Day with my extended family
  • Attend a book club
  • Review a book
  • Curl up with a terrific book
  • Drink hot tea
  • Enjoy candle light
  • Make chili
  • Double feature night 
  • Try a new tea
  • Try a new soup
  • Sew with friends
  • Lunch out with a friend 
  • Gaze into the fire in the woodstove
  • Knit a bit   
  • Sew
  • Snow ice cream
  • Train my little dog to window shop ~ It's been too cold!
  • Watch a movie at a theater 
  • Help Emily and Amy practice hospitality 
  • Worship Jesus under the winter stars
  • Get dog's nails clipped... I put it on here 'cause it's needed to be done. I tried, she was too scared. The lady at the shop said the dog needs anxiety medicine!
  • Celebrate my son's 28h birthday
  • Knit a Copy Cat CC Beanie hat for Emily I am harvestlanelaura on Ravelry.com. 
  • Knit a couple hats to donate to the chemo center 
  • Knit children's charity hats  
  • Spend an afternoon with a book and a candle
  • Finish infant bereavement quilts and donate 
  • Invite friends for dessert
  • Use my teapot—white sprinkled with cherries 
  • Make some Trim Healthy Mama food ~ 15 Minute Foccacia is good.
  • Read an evening away with a good book 
  • Finish my Emily's quilt  
  • Pedicure  
  • Manicure
  • Phone visit with Marilyn!



ღLauraღஐ 
...doing what I can with what I've got where I am 
on a short shoestring budget!
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Tuesday, January 1, 2019

First Words



BE CAREFUL OF FIRST WORDS!

Whenever something comes up, an illness, an accident, a layoff, a bill you cannot pay, whatever, the first words you say are powerful. They are a confession of what you believe about a situation. Your mind, your family, and the enemy are listening. 

Whatever your situation, no matter what goes right or wrong in the coming year, or whom you're praying for, be careful of first words! 

Trust in the LORD! 
Whatever you are facing, you all are not alone in it. 

Speak truth!
Facts are what you see with your eyes and hear with your ears, etc. 

Truth is whatever God's Word says! 
You and your family all need to speak life, healing, peace and hope. 

Don't let bad words or statements start a spiral downward. 
Speak God's Word!

Praise and worship!
Fight the good fight with worship and praise. 
The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. 

If you've already spoken first words about a situation, go to God about it. Tell Him about it, and then like the man speaking to Jesus say, "I believe. Help me with my unbelief." Then speak God's truth from that point on. 

Get in God's Word and find the truth!

Make this a year of speaking life, speaking hope, speaking God's promises, and speaking truth. 


May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and bring you peace.

Laura Lane
Trusting in the Lord
for 2019 and beyond