I've Learned So Many Things...

The little girl with white paws was adopted by my daughter.

 

I've learned many things from reading other ladies' blogs:

~to make laundry soap from scratch

~to count my blessings

~to sew tea wallets

~to sew a tote bag

~to make bread from scratch

~to make new soups

~to make new desserts

~to put photos on my blog

~to decorate my blog

~to make paper snowflakes

~to be more frugal

~to enjoy great music on Pandora.

~to enjoy new artists and works of art

~to make a refill for my foam soap dispenser

~to knit dishcloths and scrubbies

~to enjoy my family more

~to enjoy the seasons more

~to write better

~to get free books for writing reviews

~to use YouTube to find video tutorials

~to enjoy new genres of reading and new authors

~to make, do, and enjoy lots of things

~to be more self-sufficient in pursuing the
old-fashioned arts

~to get closer to the LORD Jesus Christ.

It is great to be part of a bigger community of Christian ladies who believe in femininity not feminism, home living, homemaking, homeschooling, and making do with what we've got.

Thank you ladies!

What have you learned from other bloggers?

God bless you all...

Laura

~~~~~
May I suggest?
Frightened of God... My Testimony
~~~~~

Shared with Grammy's Grid

Empty Nesting

 

 It's a new season in my life. I've had many seasons—

• childhood
• teenager
• college
• young married
• mom to littles
• homeschool mom
• mom to teens
• cancer fighter
• and a retired homeschool mom when my youngest graduated

  Until last summer, I had three young adults in my home. Then there was one. 

  First comes love. Then comes marriage... then my last little birdy flew the nest! 

  So now I'm an empty nester. It's come a little later for me than some. I'm well into my fifties. I'm very blessed to have the privilege of spending my empty nest years with my high school sweetheart. 

  Lowell and I started dating in October 1981, he asked me to go steady in November 1981, he gave me a gold necklace with a tiny diamond in it for Christmas. The hook was set, he just had to reel me in... or did I reel him in? Either way, he gave me a promise ring with six diamonds in the spring of 1983, and May 10, 1985, he gave me a diamond solitare and asked me to marry him. I did the following May right after school was out for summer. 

  I'm so thankful that we weathered all the storms of life together. We definitely had our share of good times and bad, of richer and poorer, and of sickness and health, but we've made it through it all. I thank God that He's been the glue in our marriage.

  Now, a new season is beginning.

  Our last little birdy is going to be a momma soon. I'm going to be Grammy Laura. I'm overjoyed! 

Please pray with me that Amy will have a healthy pregnancy and delivery and that little Gibby (my nickname for GrandBaBY) will be healthy. Thank you for your prayers my long-distance friends!

Laura

Shared at Grammy's Grid 

Blessed

Thrifty Things Lately ~ July 6, 2023

 Hello everyone!

  I've been doing thrifty things and forgetting to share them! Today is the perfect day for it. I'm taking a break after vacuuming our enclosed back porch. It doesn't seem like it would be a big job, but... let's just say I was dewy when I finished! 

Honey Oat Bread

• We're still eating primarily from our freezer and cupboards. 
• I'm brainstorming gifts I can make from what I have on hand.
• I've been checking Facebook Marketplace for months in search of a new couch. I found one recently that is high quality and comes with a matching arm chair. I asked the lady to consider $400 and she agreed.  I hope the furniture will last into retirement. 
• I made 2 loaves of homemade honey oat bread for less thant the price of one at the grocery store.
• The second loaf was a couple of days old, so I made french toast and my Grandma Bern's raisin bread pudding with it. I didn't have canned milk, so I used the whole milk that I had on hand. It worked just fine. I like my bread pudding cold, so I ate some for breakfast!
• I'm listening to the Bible for free on Bible.com.
• We're now eating a few cucumbers from the garden. More garden yummies to come!
• I ordered yarn at KnitPicks.com. I bought some yarn on sale. I googled and found a coupon code for free shipping, too! Score! I used birthday money from May. My daughter gave me cash and told me it was for yarn. Yay! Thanks Emily.
• My son, Matt, gave me $60 to buy a dress for my birthday and Mother's Day. I tried BloomChic.com and found two. I also combined sale prices and coupon codes and got both dresses for under $60! Score!
• I learned to repot my house plants. I moved three plants into bigger pots. I didn't even cringe when I got dirt under my nails. 
• My sons bought my husband an electric lawn mower for Father's Day. It is saving wear and tear on my husband who has knee and shoulder issues. It's much easier for him to start and run. He also isn't running to the gas station all the time.
• Tomato sandwiches are delicious. We haven't gotten any from the garden yet, so we're buying from the farmer's market.
• I made some delicous homemade coleslaw with half a cabbage that was leftover.  My new dressing recipe is below. My original coleslaw dressing recipe is here. 
• I have been driving my car only in town to make the tires last longer. They're going to have to be replaced before winter.
• I found a free app that is helping me so much. It's called Knit Companion. It's helping me as I keep track of rows on the sweater I'm knitting. I can upload my Ravelry patterns, keep track of individual projects, highlight the row I'm knitting, bookmark where I am, so I don't lose track, count rows, and I don't even know what else yet. There's a paid version with extra bells and whistles, but I don't need them. Free is the right price for me!
  
• I've filled out the surveys for McDonald's and received free fries and drinks. This is nice, because I meet friends there once or twice a week to knit and chat. This is an additional savings, because we used to meet at the $5 a cup coffee house. 
• We still like to go to the coffee house once in awhile, but I make sure to order a small to keep it under $5 and use my birthday gift card. Thanks Beth!
• I reviewed the movie, Sound of Freedom.
• I made homemade cocoa once or twice when we were craving chocolate.
• I made homemade old-time lemonade a couple of times.
• I've been making socks using gifts I've received. You can see them on Ravelry (HarvestLaneLaura) or Instagram @lauraofharvestlane.
• I reviewed books in exchange for free books.

SUGAR FREE COLESLAW DRESSING

  

  Combine and pour over 1/2 a shredded cabbage and 1 shredded carrot. Then chill.

• 1 cup Hellman's Mayonaise
• 2 T white vinegar
• 6-8 packets of Truvia

    

I hope y'all are having a great summer. Mine started out a bit roughly with a health issue, but it's improved a lot. I am feeling much better. 

I'm still reading from My Summer Reading List and doing activities from My Summer Bucket List.

Check my lists and see if there's something you want to read or do. Share with me some of your favorite books and summer activities. There's always room for fun!

Well, that's it for today! I've got to go plan my lunch and supper around the fresh vegetables from the farmer's market and our garden. 

Be blessed!

Laura Lane

Harvest Lane Cottage

PS Please write back!