Harvest Lane Cottage

  The turkey has been eaten, the sweet potatoes consumed, the potatoes, gravy and mac & cheese enjoyed, and the napping is in session. Pie and putting up the tree to follow tonight. My thoughts, while I clean up a bit, are turning to Christmas. Sunday is the first. I'll be back writing about all things  Kringling and Christmas for the month of December. I love my Jesus and my family. My thoughts and my actions are devoted to both; but, this time of year, I'm Kringling, too. Come back Sunday to hear about Kringling. Be blessed! Laura  You might enjoy: Regarding Santa Claus

Happy Thanksgiving prepping! Laura 

  Happy Thanksgiving Week!  Yes, it's really here! Some of you  us may be getting a little stressed at this point. Thanksgiving is but a couple of days away. Mmmm... I'm dreaming of sweet potato casserole with lots of pecans! Oh, pinch me and wake me up! Back to planning. First, take a deep breath. Now, go take your turkey out of the freezer. Put it in the refrigerator to thaw slowly and safely.  Are you still reading? Stop it! Go get that turkey in the fridge and meet me back here in five minutes. ~smile~  Get yourself a delicious drink, light a candle, and put on some relaxing music.    Pandora  has some great Christmas music.  I like the Jim Brickman and Bing Crosby Christmas stations. Spotify has some great music, too. They let you build your own play list.  Sit down with paper and pen right now and think think think. We have a lot of control over how much tension we have in our own minds over ho...

     My husband and I have been privileged to have a fireplace or woodstove in a few of our homes. Unfortunately, we do not have one now. We've really missed it. Purchasing and installing one will cost thousands. Bummer.      When I found this little fire pit, I thought, why not? We enjoy candles. Maybe. Just maybe this will give us a hint of what we are missing.      Boy howdy! It did!      It cannot be simpler to use. A little rubbing alcohol is all we needed, and that was in the medicine cabinet. My husband poured a little in, and lit it. We were amazed and delighted with the effect. It lasted just about an hour. We enjoyed it immensely. The sturdiness of the pit calmed my nerves when the fire got big. I was confident that we wouldn't accidentally knock it over.    I'm sharing it with you; because, we are really enjoying it.       We had friends over for supper and made s'mores for dessert last ...

  You can purchase or watch it on Prime here.   I watched Meet John Doe tonight. It's an old Frank Capra movie starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwick. I watched it as a Christmas movie. What a surprise to find that it is so much more. Seventy years ago, people were feeling disconnected from others just as we are today. What began as a sensational story to save a job evolved into a movement. It was basically a Love Thy Neighbor movement. This is something that we are sorely in need of today in America and around the world. I highly recommend watching this movie. Then, go, love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be blessed,  Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage I watched on YouTube *affiliate link ~ I don't really care about this. If they give me anything for sharing it, it will be pennies.

  The Reverend Billy Graham was instrumental in my finding Jesus over thirty years ago. ♥ Billy Graham's Last Words I pray that you will seek Jesus. He has changed my life completely. I have a peace that passes my understanding in spite of all that's going on around me.  You can have that, too.  Most importantly, I have a relationship with Jesus.  It's not about being religious, it's about having someone to talk to about anything anytime who can actually do something about it.  It's about having someone who loves us just because he created us, and he loves us right now just like we are.  He's not waiting for us to be good enough.  Jesus paid the price for our sins. He loves us. He loves you. Please choose to say yes to Jesus. I urge you to pray the prayer with Reverend Graham. God bless you all.  Please write to me in the comments or at laura@harvestlanecottage.com . Laura Thankful for Jesus

 Michelle Griep's latest novel is a gem. From the Publisher: In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for rescuing black-market artifacts, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker. After eight years in India, Oxford's most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor's determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin--rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk--surfaces and they're left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . . Award-win...