Harvest Lane Cottage

A Harvest Lane Cottage logo I used during my cancer fight. Dear Reader,  It's been an interesting day. Here in Southwest Missouri, they blew the tornado sirens. The storms went south of us, but the rain has been plentiful. I am going to fry some chicken in just a bit. I think I'll put some butter out on the counter to soften in case I decide to make chocolate chip cookies.  My kids grew up loving rainy days. They knew momma would bake cookies, and we'd read aloud. Soup, stew or chili often simmered on the stove as well.    I hope you find some ways to make your home and family cozy this weekend. My husband and I have been watching old episodes of  Hometown with Erin and Ben Napier. We like their interaction, the fact that they're Christians, the little town of Laurel, Mississippi where they live, and the way they reuse old things in every home they work on. It fits well with my Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without mindset. How to Make it Happen ...

  Hello everyone!  I trust you're having a good week. If you're not, I hope you're looking on the bright side as much as you can. The picture above is one of the original headers that I had way back in the day. I started writing around 2007, and this header came along not too long afterward. A blog friend made if for me, but I just cannot remember who now. The header at the top of the page now is actually a drawing my daughter made when she was a young teen. It's a drawing of the original Harvest Lane Cottage.  I've always been attracted to bungalows. We've lived in two, but now we live in a 1968 ranch on a quiet drive in town. When I named the first bungalow Harvest Lane Cottage, it was because it was small not because of a decorating style. Truthfully, you could probably call my decorating early American garage sale or marketplace. ~smile~ Nearly all of our furniture was purchased second hand or given to us. It's alright. I'm always looking for the thr...

  Hello dear readers!   Many of you know that I fought breast cancer during 2017-2018. I went to the cancer doctor this week, and my blood work looked good. Cancer free is a great way to be! I mention this, because I received an amazing number of cards, letters, calls, and gifts from my blog friends. The love and prayers that were poured out on me gave me so much hope and courage as I was going through those difficult months of treatment and recovery. Snail mail is truly a gift.   I just have to tell you that I'm excited about something!  I was scrolling through Instagram one day (@lauraofharvestlane), and I saw a post from @incowrimo. I was intrigued and followed the link.     InCoWriMo is International Correspondence Writing Month also known as February. The founder, Eric Orozco, has issued a challenge to hand write to someone every day in February. It can be sent by snail mail or hand delivered. No computers or texts. There are no other rules....

Jon Sailor Pixabay Dear friends,  I must say, this has been a sad week for our country. I continue to pray, and I do hope you will as well. God is still good, and God is still God. I've been in the mood to clear things out a bit this week. I really haven't done much that's thrifty other than getting stuff out of our house. Sometimes, that's enough. I am thinking about things we can do to tighten up things a bit around here. I didn't make a lot of money at my part-time job, but it was regular cash flow. ~smile~ After my surgery, the doctor just didn't need me anymore. Oh well. I am needed at home for sure!  Here's how I've been thrifty lately: ~  Thrifty Woman's Real Estate Investment 5 cubic feet of sheets given away 2 blankets given away Approximately 18 cubic feet of donations and trash removed from house ~ I've been cooking with zucchini that I froze last summer from the garden. ~ I made soup with leftover chicken and broth, half a bag of mixe...

Hello ladies,  It's so cold here in Southern Missouri. We have a light snow on the ground, and everything is so pretty. It fell all day yesterday, but the ground was warm, and it melted on the streets. My computer is near the window, and I feel the cold seeping through. Ah, the joys of old houses. ~smile~ This is my cat Tiger. He looks so very content cuddled up like that. I think that's what I'd like to be doing... with a cup of hazelnut cappucino from my Keurig and something to read or knit.  If you want to relax and read for awhile, you may find a book on my winter reading list or something intersting in this weekend reading list. I do hope you have a calm weekend and find a way to destress from the crazy situation we're in here in the United States. Keep calm and keep praying. No matter what happens, we need to completely cover the country with prayer. It's going to take a long time for healing to happen regardless of the outcome.  Thank you to all of my out of...

Stitching and Reading This Week  January 13, 2021 Hello ladies!  I SPEAK LIFE, PEACE, AND HOPE TO YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST! What an interesting start to our new year. Although the world outside is frightful, I am praying that the truth will come to light and that righteousness and lawfulness will prevail. Please keep praying. It's not over yet! I've been baking and doing a bit of housework, but I am also knitting a bit and and squeezing in a bit of reading. When do you snatch moments to read? What's on my needles... I just finished lengthening a hat for my son. It didn't fit him well, and his ears weren't covered. I didn't have enough yarn to lengthen it, so I chose some coordinating scrap yarn and used the helix method to make stripes. It worked great. I cannot wait to give it to him.  I am still knitting my vanilla socks using Malabrigo sock yarn in the color Mask. I am currently working on the cuffs. I like to knit toe-up using the Fish Lips Kiss patte...

 Hello y'all! Just a quick post to share my reading list with you for winter 2021. One of the things on My Winter Bucket List is to spend an afternoon and an evening with a good book. I look forward to doing it soon. I am embarking on a new work from home position in addition to homemaking and writing.  A few of the books below are audio books from Scribd . What's on your reading list? The Dress Shop of King Street  by Ashley Clark Book Review Completed January 8th Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas   Fair  by Heidi Swain Completed January 11th. I only gave this 3 stars, because although the writing was very good, and the storyline unique, there was unnecessary bad language and in the last few minutes, premarital s-x. Therefore, I cannot recommend it. Roots in Wood and Stone  by Amanda Wen Completed The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes Lost interest. United States of Socialism  by Dnesh D'Souza Recommended by my father I'm listening to it. It'...

Thank you Jeff Jacobs 1990 Pixabay 2020 was a year we won't soon forget. We certainly had 2020 vision and saw things more clearly than ever before. I am so thankful that my word for the year was OPTIMISM. It was my first word of the year, and God gave it to me. I needed it! God helped me to remain optimistic and to share that optimism with people, too. I am thankful for that. 2021 doesn't have a word. I just want to enjoy it, and make the best of things whatever may come. God is with me, and with you, too if you're a Jesus believer. He's always with us, yet we often don't even notice. When we pay attention, we can see his hand in so many things and feel his presence. I spend time with him reading or listening to the Bible. When we spend time with God, we get to know him.  This helps us to recognize his nature, to discern between truth an lies, and to recognize when he is using scripture or others to tell us something. I challenge you to spend time with Jesus. Get to...

MY WINTER BUCKET LIST 2021 It's a new year! I choose to rejoice in living regardless of what is going on around me. Does that mean my life is great? No, not necessarily. I'm recovering from breast surgery again. That's four years in a row. Thanks cancer. BUT GOD! He is faithful, and He has taken me through it all and brought me out happier and stronger.  Thank you for real Jesus!  I wrote this list to help me focus on the little things that bring me joy.  What will you put on your list? X Write my Winter Bucket List.  X Write my Winter Reading List. X Put the Christmas tree away X Put away the Christmas decorations X New Year's Eve with friends  X Attend a friend's wedding X Attend a baby shower X Review a book X Smile and spread good cheer X Curl up with a terrific book X Try a new drink at the coffee shop ~ Charcoal mocha X Enjoy candle light X Make chili X Knit a pair of socks for a gift X Try a new tea ~ ...