Harvest Lane Cottage

  A Royal Christmas A Christmas Novella  Melody Carlson When I saw that Melody Carlson had written a new Christmas novella, I jumped on the chance to read A Royal Christmas . When it arrived, I was so excited! I've spent the last couple of days immersed in this novella every chance I get. ~smile~ That meant instrumental  Christmas music, candlelight, a hot drink, and a beautifully bound book. I felt so spoiled when I opened the cover, and the flyleaves were embossed! Luxurious ~ fit for a princess! A Royal Christmas is a relaxing read. It's definitely a Hallmarky or Princess Diaries type story. It's a type that's been done before, but Melody Carlson puts a lovely spin on it. Wouldn't we all have loved to find out we were fairy tale princesses? It's light and charming... just perfect for holiday reading. One of the things I enjoyed most was the inclusion and explanations of Montovia's Christmas customs. I hadn't known of Krampus before for instance. The d...

Hello dear ladies, This is what I've been reading this week!   I will finish A Royal Christmas quickly. I started it yesterday. It's a page turner! I set the mood with instrumental Christmas music, cappucino, and a holiday candle. Look for my review this weekend.   I've been listening to God's Story in 66 Verses a bit at a time. It's an interesting approach to a Bible overview. The chapters are short— usually five or six minutes. I'm listening on Scribd.  I've been listening to Plaid and Plagiarism for about a week. It's a new cozy mystery series for me. It's set in Scotland in a little town and a lovely bookshop. I have read Molly MacRae before and enjoyed her writing. I'm listening on Scribd.  I've forgotten how long I've been listening to John Adams by David McCullough. As you can see, I have nearly 15 hours left. I'm about 50% through the book. It's heavy. I usually listen while I'm driving or doing housework.  I'm ...

AUTUMN THOUGHTS I love Autumn.  It has long been my favorite time of year. We live in Carthage, the Maple Leaf City. Fall means the Maple Leaf Festival and the biggest parade in the four states. Fall means  pumpkins ! Quite few years ago, my husband and I lived in the country and had a pumpkin patch. I loved everything about it. I loved seeing the baby pumpkins as they formed and grew. I loved harvesting them. I loved selling them and the craft items I'd made. The name Harvest Lane came from our farm, Harvest Lane Farm. I'd been Laura of Harvest Lane online for awhile; so, when we moved to town, we called our home Harvest Lane Cottage . Fall is apple cider with mulling spices , chai tea, homemade from scratch cocoa , smoke from our wood stove, soup simmering on the stove or in the Crock Pot , bread baking in the oven, the smells of pumpkin and cinnamon coming from my oven or my favorite candles . Fall is snuggling up with a good book while I listen to the...

  Hello friends,  It's so good to be writing a bit more again. I'm feeling much better after a summer suffering from many headaches. I'm going to try to be a little more organized about writing. I've found that I can work around the house in 20-30 minute spurts, then I need to rest just a bit. Sometimes I work longer, but if I work too long, I feel it. ~smile~ This is just another example of do what you can with what you've got where you are, but regarding my energy!  I've curated a few good blog posts for you to read over the weekend. As I get more things done, I'll start up my thrifty posts regularly again. I love keeping a record of the things I'm doing to be frugal, because it motivates me to do more. I also love keeping a record of the blessings that I receive, because it keeps me thankful, and it's a record of God's provision.  Please enjoy these posts over the next few days. I enjoyed finding them for you.  From  Harvest Lane Cottage  Arch...

Barbara Kay Ramsbottom Conklin Hall 1947-1999 May her name be blessed forever! I was blessed to have a young mother. She and Dad married when she was sixteen, and I came along just shy of a year later when she was seventeen. She was energetic and full of life and fun. In a way, we grew up together. ~smile~ She loved it when someone thought I was her little sister! She moved to Heaven many years ago. I look forward to our reunion. I really miss her and what might have been. Do you have a loved one who's moved to Heaven? Isn't it a wonderful comfort knowing that if we both love Jesus and have accepted Him as our savior, that we can see each other again? I believe that Jesus is coming back soon. We'll be caught up with Him, and there will be quite a reunion. Yes. I'm looking forward to that. If you're not absolutely sure that you've given your heart and your life to Jesus, and trusted Him for salvation, please don't wait. Click here to learn more. ...

    We are a blessed nation. 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives the solution to this nation’s troubles. It all depends on us. “If my people, which are called by my name, (Christians)   shall humble themselves, (having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance) and pray, (just talking to God) and seek my face , (worship, Bible reading, prayer, quiet listening) and turn from their wicked ways; (What are we watching on t.v. or movies? What are we reading? Is it wholesome? Are we seeking a clean pure heart? Kind to others, even those at home? Honest? There are all kinds of sins that some Christians overlook. We need to really seek the Lord and ask him to reveal those to us. We need to be different than the average American.) then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Let’s do our part! Thank you God! Many of my readers are not in the United States. This applies to your country as well!

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage Hello everyone!    This wasn't the week I'd planned, but it was a good week nevertheless. Many of you know that I'm a substitute teacher. I'd planned to wait until after Labor Day to begin this year. It was a rather busy summer, and I just felt the need for a bit of time to relax and to get the house a bit more ready. As Robert Burns said in 1785, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." ~smile~  I was asked to work one-on-one in the special education room with a little girl who had some developmental disabilities. I did so for two days; then, I agreed to work in another special ed class for my friend Jen. Three days working doesn't sound like much, but in special ed, it's hard work. I didn't do much but eat and sleep and work this week. ~smile~ My husband blessed my socks off by cleaning up the house Friday while I was at work and making dinner for me. I had the night off, and I appreciated...