Harvest Lane Cottage

Hello ladies!  I've been spending my free time much like many of you— sewing masks. I began my sewing for the Covid Crisis by sewing tinkle wipes. I cut up old t-shirts and sewed 2 layers together. This reduced our tp usage, so we never actually ran out. Then I turned my attention to masks as I became aware of the need. By that point, I was unable to buy elastic. I had a card from the '60's or '70's that had some thin elastic cord on it. I don't know who gave it to me, but it had been in my sewing box for ages. I used that up making just a few masks. I also made some masks using clothesline. Finally, I turned to crocheting ties with dishcloth cotton. It works.  My daughters and I contributed thread, fabric, jewelry making wire, and yarn from our stashes. It's actually been a great way to clear some clutter while making something helpful.  A couple of nights ago, my little dog was begging to get on my lap because it was storming. I a...

Hello Ladies,  If you're looking for some weekend reading, here are some good posts I've read this week along with a couple of my own.  A Few Ways to Enjoy Homemakin g  ~  Laura  @ Harvest Lane Cottage // Honest Thoughts // Welcoming Words of Wisdom //   ~  Amy @  Hands Made to Love Preparing a Pantry With Food Staples ~ Roxy @ Living Glory to Glory Pantries and Preparedness. Ingredients that keep you able to clean and wash anything.  ~  Annabel @  The Bluebirds are Nesting A Day in the Life Shelter in Place Edition ~ Billi Jo @ Afternoon Coffee and Evening Tea Celebrating 28 Years of Being Smoke Free 1992-2020 ~ Rebecca @ Rebecca's Hearth and Home 2020 A Year of Optimism  ( I haven't changed my mind!) ~ Laura @ Harvest Lane Cottage  I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Choose to focus on the good in these days and keep busy. I'll be writing my next bucket list this week. I'll probably combine...

What will you do? Your family is watching. Your friends are watching. Your neighbors are watching. God is watching. I wrote an article that was published today at Homespun Devotions, it addresses this question. Calmly Trusting Our Shepherd ~ Guest Post by Laura Lane Be blessed friends. We will make it through this! Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

Hello ladies, please read my note at the bottom of this post.  I'm so glad you came by to visit me. I like to share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, frugal cooking, and my blessings from God. Keeping a record of the ways that God provides and the ways that I am resourceful truly builds my faith. I encourage you to keep a record, too. ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage! ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Hello everyone,  It's so good to be back again today to talk with you. I know many are still staying at home nearly all the time. Our governor in Missouri placed a stay home order on our state. I am still away from home a lot since chiropractic is considered essential, so I still work 18 hours a week. I'm very careful and disinfect often. Are you sheltering at home? If so, what have you been up to? ~ Staying home saves money! ~ We were given two big bags of farm fresh zucchini. Thank you Charles! We'v...

Hello ladies,   It's a pleasure to visit with you this afternoon. I truly enjoy our time together, both the time that I write to you and the time when I get to read your comments back to me. If you would like to write to me outside the comment section, you can always reach me at laura@harvestlanecottage.com. I invite your letters and notes.  If you prefer snail mail (I do), please send me an email, and I will give you my mailing address.   Someone recently asked me about the Fish Lips Kiss pattern  by Sox Therapist that I use to make my socks. It is actually a pattern for the heel, but it also helps you to size the sock perfectly for your foot or whosever you are knitting for. I had my doubts, but I have knit 3 pair so far using the pattern, and it worked splendidly.    I used Seam Free Rounded Toe for a Toe Up Sock by Lynne Ashton found on Ravelry.com. I use it, because my feet are wide at the toes. Then I knit knit knit in the ...

 It seems all the world is aflutter these days. Nothing seems quite firm under our feet right now. So many things have changed so quickly. Good thing we stand on the Rock of our Salvation. Cabin fever is, in some cases, being taken to an extreme. Have you noticed it? Are you home more than usual? Is your family home more than usual? Has there been an economic impact on your life? When one thing changes, there is often a domino effect. BUT GOD is rich in mercy. God did not cause this pandemic, but I believe He will use it for good. I believe that He is good, He loves us, and that He will work all things together for good for those of us who love the LORD and are called according to His purpose. That's all of us if we love Him.  I hope this finds you all well. These are certainly interesting times we're going through. Yes through. We will see the other side of this. Is it not amazing how quickly things can change? But God is unchanging, and it is in HIM that we pu...

Hello everyone, Did March pass in a blur for you like it did for me? I don't even know where it went. I can tell you one thing though, I am ready for blue skies, fresh Spring air, and the end of flu and virus season. Like you, I have been  washing and praying. On my knitting needles... on my bookshelf, in my Kindle,  and on my  Scribd app ! Knitting and reading in my free time and little bits of snatched time is one of my favorite ways to enrich my life. I love to listen to the Bible, to a non-fiction book that can help me learn, or to a novel to pass the time as I knit or work around the house. Do you have any favorites? Here are the things that I'm listening to this week: I just finished Revelation  on Bible.com. Now I need to decide whether to read the entire Bible or the New Testament next. Yes I'm one of those ladies who loves Christmas stories all year round. Donna VanLiere has written several stories all centered around the same little...