Saturday, February 26, 2022

A Thrifty Week #175 and #176

 

 Hello dear reader! I forgot to publish my post last week! So, I decided to combine the posts this week. So, this is really a Thrifty Things Lately post. I want to share each week, but sometimes, the week just gets away from me—especially now that I'm working part-time again. I think I'll give that some thought.  

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

  • Our Superbowl party was potluck. The one man who truly cared who won was happy with the results. 
  • My dentist filled my chipped tooth when I went in for a cleaning. That saved about half.
  • We washed our clothes only if they looked or smelled dirty to save on the laundromat. It really helps clothes last longer also. Washers and dryers are hard on the fabrics.
  • We bought a washing machine! Praise God we saved and bought it with cash. No payments means no interest and more financial freedom. 
  • We used the last of our "laundromat quarters" to splurge on a couple $5.99 pizzas to celebrate! My daughter received a $3 credit for our next pizza purchase... if we use it, that is!
  • I picked up a couple of days of work at the elementary school. I worked as a para with special ed students. I liked it.
  • I packed my lunch from home both days.
  • Made a delicous homemade chicken broccoli mushroom rice soup with 2 chicken breasts cut up and sauteed, 2 cups of frozen broccoli cut up, about 4 oz of sliced mushrooms, 3 cups of instant rice, and 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup. Oh, and about 6 Knorr boullion cubes and water to cover it all. It made a bit over a gallon of soup. We fed four with plenty of leftovers. I sauteed the chicken, removed it from the pan, deglazed it with hot water, then added all the other ingredients. I brought it to a boil and then simmered it for twenty or thirty minutes. I put the chicken back in about 15 minutes before serving. 
  • I downloaded an audiobook from Scribd to listen to while driving.

You know, I didn't do a lot this week. I was busy with other things, but you know what? Every bit counts. Some weeks I'm doing very frugal things. Some weeks I'm good if I don't spend money! This doesn't have the look the same for you as it does for me, and it doesn't have to look the same every week. Just...

Do what you can
with what you've got
where you are.

President Teddy Roosevelt

Week 175 starts here
  • A sweet blog friend sent a wonderful gift. Thank you T! I'll be writing soon. 
  • My husband and I went on a fun date. The activity was playing with puppies at his client's pet store. They were all in one area, and we went in and petted and cuddled and enjoyed them. One was especially sweet, and I prayed for a great home for him. We also hit a few thrift stores. We scored a nearly complete set of white dishes that match some odd white plates I had at home for only $10.
  •  Sunday the 20th was National Muffin Day. I made a new oatmeal muffin recipe, but it didn't go over well. There was no flour in it, so it was supposed to be healthier. They just fell apart. Oh well. The thrifty part is that I ate a few mini muffins this morning with milk over them like granola. They were good that way! Waste not!


  • Sunday's afternoon entertainment was a walk in the park with my husband and my dog. When we moved here in 1992, we lived just a few blocks from this park. I often brought my toddler to walk and to slide. I told him that the tiny flowers in the grass were blessing flowers. Only those who walked enjoyed the blessing of seeing them.
  • Monday morning, I had the day off for President's Day. I gathered the leftover rolls from last week and made croutons. ~smile~ See the recipe and photos on my Instagram page.
  • Sunday was National Muffin Day. I made a new oatmeal muffin recipe, but it didn't go over well with the family. There was no flour in it, so it was supposed to be healthier. Unfortunately, they didn't hold together. Everyone tried one, then they just sat there on the counter. Oh well. I ate a few mini muffins Monday  morning with milk over them like granola. They were good that way. Use it up!
  • I used up part of a cabbage that was getting wilty. I made a hamburger, onion, and cabbage soup.
  • I harvested buttons and elastic from a couple of garments that were beyond repair.
  • I sewed buttons on two dresses that have been in my mending pile for weeks. They're house dresses now, because they're faded. But hey, they're comfortable. They wouldn't look bad to go to the grocery store, they're just not "best foot forward". ~smile~ They help extend the life of my "good" clothes. That's a money saver.
  • I received Revolution in World Missions for review in the mail. It's good! I read the first 75 pages last evening. You can get your free copy here. This would be great for any Christian. I would have read it to my kids when I was homeschooling, too. 
  • I made banana bread with almost gone bananas. This was also National Banana Bread Day, but I forgot to tell the family. Oh well.  ~smile~
  • We picked up just a few things we needed and skipped the big shopping trip this week.
  • We saved on gas, because we were iced in! School was canceled, so I didn't sub Wednesday or Thursday. 
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Last week, I was asked to sub long-term until a new para can be hired for the position I'm filling. I gave it some thought. It means a big change in my lifestyle for a little while. I decided to take the position for this week, then give them a final answer. By the time I publish this post, I'll have a decision to share.  ~smile~
The decision: I've decided that I will take the position for as long as it lasts. I just adore the kids and enjoy helping them grasp simple concepts. It's K-3 special ed. I'm teaching reading, writing, and math skills on a very basic level. 

All this to say, I may not have as many thrifty things going on at home for a few weeks. We'll see how much time and energy I have available. ~smile~

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~
By the way, we paid cash for a washer last week. I love having a washer at home! Thank you to the ladies who recently sent donations.

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

So tell me now, what are you doing in your home?


♥♥♥♥♥


 Be strong and courageous, do not give in to fear.
 This is the time to get in God's word and pray. 


God is ever good and ever faithful.
I've been through many tough times in my life. 
God never lets me down. 
I can trust Him. 
You can trust Him.

Laura
Blessed to be a blessing

Do you like my blog?
Please share!



Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads
2022 7 Finished Books Goal 51
HarvestLaneLaura  on Ravelry
@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram
PayPal donations to laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Address available by email


Thursday, February 24, 2022

Hope in the LORD


Hope is a very powerful thing. Many years ago, when my eldest son was a toddler, I had a friend who was living near the poverty level just as my family was. We spent time together frequently, because we attended church together and had sons about the same age. We both struggled a great deal with just putting food on the table let alone all the other needs we had. There was a major difference between us though.

HOPE

I told my husband that the difference was that we were hopefully poor, and she was hopelessly poor. My husband was trying to provide for us. Her husband was making more money; but, he kept out a large percentage for his personal use and gave her barely enough to keep going. The key was that I had hope that things would get better. She really didn't expect anything to improve. In fact, she was tearing down her house with her own hands with her hopelessness.

Hope for hope's sake may help some; but, I must hope in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God our Creator. He is the only real hope. He saves us from being punished with hell and eternal separation from God for our sins IF we confess that he is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. Romans 10:9. We have to confess our sins and believe that he paid the price for our sins. 1 John 1:9.

He is not just hope for salvation from hell. He's also our hope for today, for everything we face, for everything we need. He promised to never leave us or forsake us. We need him daily. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds with the Living Word of God, the Holy Bible. Romans 12:12.

You know, you do become like those you hang around with. This year, I want to hang around with Jesus more and more in his holy, true, living word. How about you?

Blessings to you!
Laura



010509

Monday, February 21, 2022

Every Circumstance Requires a Choice!


Circumstances....
we can be above them or below them.
We can look on the dark side or the bright side.

Every circumstance requires a choice.

Unemployed?
It's either hopeless or a chance to watch God perform miraculous provision.
Cancer?
It's either a death sentence or a chance to see God's miraculous healing.
Lonely?
It's either a reason to despair or a reason to reach out to someone else who may be lonely, too. 
Afraid?
It's either a reason to give in to anxiety or to take every thought captive unto the obedience of Christ.

I choose hope. 
I choose faith.
I choose to reach out.
I choose miraculous healing.
I choose miraculous provision. 
I choose to take those thoughts captive.
I choose JESUS.

I choose to
keep on the sunny side of life!


Now... when I need it, please remind me friends!

What do you choose?


This old song by the Carter Family 
ministered to my heart today.
It's an old recording.
It makes me think of a country family
sitting out on their porch 
singing after supper.
It inspired me today.


God bless each one of you dear readers!

Thanks so much for your prayers, cards and notes!
For those who have asked, I am happy to give my address, but I would rather not post it on the blog. Just send me an email. My address is in the sidebar.

Enjoy and keep on the sunny side!

Laura
Happy at Home
Counting on Jesus




Sunday, February 20, 2022

Pleasant Words....


May God bless you and keep you as you seek Him today.
May you bring peace and hope to everyone you meet today.
May you feel Holy Spirit guiding you and protecting you today.

Be blessed!



Happy today!
Laura




Sunday, February 13, 2022

Saturday, February 12, 2022

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #174

 Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, frugal cooking, and my blessings from God. 

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

  • My husband and I talked seriously about our garden plans. What do we actually need most? What will we eat? What do we want to eat a lot of? Hello tomatoes!
  • My husband is painting our sunroom a creamy beige. It's been the same old dingy white since we moved in a couple of years ago. It's amazing what a little paint can do. This is thrifty, because my husband bought this paint a few months ago from the paint store. They had a few cans of beigey colors that had been returned. They were all different shades. They mixed them all together in a five gallon bucket and sold the paint to him for $10! What an incredible savings!
  • I made chicken soup with leftovers from the fridge including some leftover chicken, broth, and veggies. A bay leaf and some rosemary gave it a nice taste. 
  • Handwashed some laundry and took some to the laundromat. This is thrifty, because it is helping us avoid a loan for a dryer and the interest and payments involved.
  • I substituted at the high school for two days.
  • I wrote letters on stationery I received as a gift.
  • I had my teeth cleaned, and the dentist fixed my chipped tooth at no extra charge! What a blessing!
  • I gave a book to a friend to take to another friend in Mexico. They were new kids' books that I received for review from Zonderkidz. 
  • I also sent a bib that I made from scraps of dress fabric to a new mom in Mexico through the same friend. 


~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

I found that I was out of the house too much this week to be intentional about money saving. When I was home, I was focusing on cleaning. I need to make a list of frugal to do's that I can do in the moments I do have available. I'm not sure yet whether working as a substitute is actually helping our overall budget. It wears me out, and I don't find myself as productive at home, because I need some recovery time energy wise and mentally. Age I guess. ~smile~ I am planning on switching to older students and see how that goes. I'm planning to continue until the end of the school year, then evaluate.

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Well everyone, that was my thrifty blessed week What are you doing in your homes?


♥♥♥♥♥


 Do not give in to fear about circumstances. God has not given us a spirt of fear but power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

 We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philipians 4:13

 This is the time to get in God's word and pray. 

 You may give share prayer requests with me in the comments or by email.

God is so good.
Praise God!

What have you been up to lately?

Laura
Blessed to be a blessing

Do you like my blog?
Please share!



Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads
2022 6 Finished Books Goal 51
HarvestLaneLaura  on Ravelry
@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram
PayPal donations to laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Address available by email


Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Send Some Snail Mail This Month!

 



Let's spread cheer, love, and happiness!

Send someone a handwritten note or letter today!

February is International Correspondence Writing Month.

Send some joy in post box!




Saturday, February 5, 2022

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #173

 Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, frugal cooking, and my blessings from God. 

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Ways I saved money:

I mended an old dress.  It will give me another year as a housedress.

I did my own manicure with a $2.99 set of Lily and Fox nail wraps. I extend their wear with a Sally Hanson's gel top coat (it doesn't have to be cured with light). That saved about $22 over the price I used to pay for a manicure.

I cooked beef stew using hamburger, because stew meat is ridiculously expensive now.

We tried a different laundromat that was about two dollars less expensive to wash a load! We spent about twenty dollars washing everything up. I got behind when I substituted. It costs money to work outside the home. 

The snow storm kept us home this week. That saved gas money and other money that my husband or I might have spent.

Cooking at home from scratch.

Saving money on interest by waiting to buy a washer with cash in a few weeks.

Free Spanish lessons on the Duolingo App. 

Listening to Sugar and Vice a cozy mystery by Eve Calder on Scribd. You can get two months free.

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Ways I made money: 

Last week, I added to our family income by subbing in a K-3 special education class as a paraprofessional. It was my favorite subbing experience so far. 

I filled out a another survey with YouGov. It's the only survey site that I get points for every survey I fill out. 

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Blessings:

A gift from a friend. Thanks Deborah.

I was able to give two friends some of the wool that I bought on sale last week. 

Thank you to the ladies who signed up to try Scribd this month. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Take time to really look around. There are lots of books, audio books (my favorites), documents, sheet music and podcasts available.

A friend gave me some tiny balls of scrap yarn. I am saving scraps to make another pair of scrappy socks. Thank you Jean.


Challenges:

Our washing machine has to be replaced. Still washing by hand and taking towels and jeans to the laundromat. I did find a big washer that will clean a whole basket of towels for $6.75. That's a big improvement. I'm washing 1-2 loads a week and drying them at home. I found a better price on the other side of town.

We worked out a plan to get a new washer in a couple more weeks without borrowing money. We hate debt.

Well everyone, that was my thrifty blessed week What are you doing in your homes?

♥♥♥♥♥

My husband wrote a post on his blog called It's a Choice about our choices and our experiences with debt. 

♥♥♥♥♥

 Do not give in to fear about circumstances. God has not given us a spirt of fear but power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

 We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philipians 4:13

 This is the time to get in God's word and pray. 

 You may share prayer requests with me in the comments or by email.

God is so good.

Praise God!

What have you been up to lately?

Laura
Blessed to be a blessing


Do you like my blog?
Please share.


Find me online here:

Goodreads  Laura Lane 
2022 4 Finished Books...Goal 51
Instagram @lauraofharvestlane  
PayPal Donations laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Address available by email

Friday, February 4, 2022

On My Needles and What I'm Reading February 2, 2022


On my knitting needles... in my Scribd app... on my book pile!




 Hello ladies!
I enjoy listening to and reading Scripture and books daily. I also like to do needlework. I have been knitting lately, though I also crochet, sew and quilt. Perhaps this summer, I will pick up embroidery again. I haven't done it in quite some time and would like to make some pillowcases. 

  It's a cold and snowy day here in Southern Missouri. There's just enough snow on the ground to make things pretty. It's very cold for our neck of the woods and getting colder. School was canceled for a couple of days, so I got a bit more knitting in! I remembered to put out a pan to collect snow for ice cream. Have you tried it? I made a sugar-free version here. You can also pour sweetened condensed milk over snow like this

On my Needles:

I've set aside my Everything November blue and white mit for a bit. I've been exclusively knitting my husband's black wool hat.


This double brimmed watch cap for my husband is the Go-To Watch Cap pattern on Ravelry. It has a provisional cast-on with scrap yarn that will be removed later. 

On My Scribd App: 

I finished And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder.  Now I am listening to Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder. It's the next book in the series. 

 Don't forget to be in God's word. I use the Bible.com app. I'm listening to John right now. It's part of their New Thru 30 plan that takes you through the New Testament in 30 days. It's challenging. Today has eight chapters. 

 Enjoy this wintry week. How are you using these wintry days and evenings?

 Hugs to all,
 Laura
 Hopeful in all things

<>

P.S. One of my favorite things is listening to audio books on Scribd. 

I keep telling you about Scribd, because it has been such an game changer for me. 

It's only $9.99 a month for unlimited audiobooks from major publishers, e-books, magazines, sheet music, podcasts, and documents as you want.

I get well over $9.99 a month in value. I love it.

You can get a free 2 month trial by using my Scribd  link. I'll get a month free, too, so it's win-win to try it out. 


Find me online here:

Goodreads  Laura Lane 
2022 4 Finished Books...Goal 51
Instagram @lauraofharvestlane  
PayPal Donations laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Address available by email

Featured

A New Year's Choice

  Have you made a new year's resolution or two or ten? I haven't this year.      I have thought about what I'd like my life to l...