Harvest Lane Cottage

  Photo by  Milada Vigerova   on   Unsplash I don't know about y'all,  but I'm tired.  I'm going to take a break from blogging for a few days. Back by the first of January, maybe earlier.  Happy Week In Between! Laura Ready for a Long Winter's Nap!

  Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash Matthew 2:1-2 ♥♥♥ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ♥♥♥ Christmas doesn't end on December 25th! ♥♥♥ I think most of us know that December 25th is a date upon which we celebrate Jesus' birth, not the date of his birth. ♥♥♥ If you find that your focus was not quite right during this season, I urge you to talk to our LORD about it. Ask Him to help you to focus on Him not only during December but all the days of your life.  ♥♥♥ God bless you as you continue to keep your focus on Jesus Christ. Laura

   I am very happy that my family will be home for Christmas this year. Once they're grown,  that's not in our control anymore.     Whether you're with, family, friends,  or by yourself today, take time to focus fully on Jesus.    It will be the best gift you give or receive.  God bless us every one! Have yourself a happy little Christmas!  Laura

     On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Jesus Christ on the Cross!     From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.     It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the H...

Before: "Bah, humbug!" 1 2 3 After: "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." May we too honor Christmas in our hearts and keep it all the year as Charles Dickens suggested. Merry Christmas All.... Laura

Photo by  Wim van 't Einde  on  Unsplash Good news from heaven the angels bring, Glad tidings to the earth they sing: To us this day a child is given, To crown us with the joy of heaven. ~Martin Luther Christmas Blessings to You! Laura Happy at Home for the Holidays

    Once upon a time, the year my children were 10, 4, 2, and newborn, we sold our house in early November. We moved everything into storage, because we had to live in a nice hotel for two weeks while waiting to move into our new home just in time for Thanksgiving. Except. The sellers didn't move out! So, we moved to a cheaper motel.     We lived in a motel for seven weeks from early November until the day AFTER Christmas! We spent the entire Christmas season with all four little ones and a little dog, in two adjoining motel rooms, watching Christmas decorating and food shows and Christmas specials. What's a mother to do?     I borrowed a pre-decorated 2 foot tree and headed to Hobby Lobby. I came "home" with snowman decorations, candles, and later, a beautiful Advent book. We enjoyed our Christmas celebration with all the kids piled on one of the beds. It was a Christmas to remember. It was also the Christmas that changed my focus from ...

     My family just loves the rich flavor of old-fashioned cocoa made from scratch.  Scratch means you start with basic ingredients, and go from there.  I love it because I always have the ingredients on hand.  My kids have the memory of Momma over the stove stirring the cocoa.  They came running when they heard the sound the whisk makes in the pan.      Here’s how I make mine.  All you need is Hershey’s cocoa, sugar, milk and a bit of water. Old Fashioned Cocoa from Scratch 1/2 cup Hershey’s cocoa 1 cup of white sugar 1/3 cup of cold water Enough milk to fill 3 quart saucepan (I prefer whole milk.) Combine 1/2 cup Hershey’s cocoa and 1 cup of white sugar in a three quart saucepan using a wire whisk. I do this while the cocoa and sugar are still dry, so that the cocoa will mix in nice and smooth without a bunch of lumps. Add about 1/3 cup of cold water and mix until smooth. Bring to a boil and continue to boil it...

     My momma always made sage dressing.  When I got married, wanting to begin a tradition of my own, I decided to do something different.  Somewhere I found a recipe for German Apple Stuffing. It became my husband’s favorite stuffing.  I am embarrassed to say that my children prefer Stove Top stuffing. Gasp! I finally decided to make a box or two for them since it's what they like, and it is a holiday! I just make a smaller batch of stuffing for Lowell and me. I always think I’m going to go back and make the Mom's sage dressing sometime, but I always make this! I hope you enjoy this stuffing like I do.  Happy Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas! Laura Lane of Harvest Lane Cottage German Apple Stuffing 1 lb loaf white bread, toasted and torn in pieces 1/3 cup butter 1 medium chopped onion 1/2 c chopped celery 1/4 c chopped celery leaves 2 T chopped parsley (optional) 1/4 t salt 1/8 t pepper 2 cups milk 2 eggs, beaten slightly 2 medium Red D...

Christmas is just one week away!      Although I realize Christmas is coming, and I'll be doing a bit of Kringling after I finish writing to you... maybe after a cookie or two— it is December— I'm always surprised how close Christmas is!      This photo is of my tree a couple of years ago. I still have some wrapping and some making to do. I love giving gifts, because I'm so happy for the gift of eternal life that Jesus gave me. On to Kringling now! Have yourself a merry little Christmas time! Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage  

    I left the sugar out of my pecan pie recipe! Thanks so much Friend Deb for noticing and telling me. It's fixed now. I do hope you'll try it. It's my favorite. Find it here.      It could be worse. I once made pecan pies at church. The sugar simply wouldn't dissolve even though I cooked it a long time. Finally, I just put it in the oven. Sugar dissolves. Salt doesn't! The salt bucket wasn't marked. It looked like sugar to me! Oh, the sour look the young man had who took the first bite! He wanted the pie so much, he tried to take a second bite. Even worse, Lowell had been bragging about my pecan pies! I've never lived that one down.      We all make mistakes. I'm glad I have a friend who cares enough to tell me. Thanks Deb! Mrs. Kringle I mean Laura.

  I remember as a child that I wanted to try making pecan pie. My mom always said that they were too hard to make. Perhaps they were in the olden days. Using this recipe, I think it's as easy as pie. NOTE: This fills one standard size pie plate. For a deep dish pie, double the ingredients. PECAN PIE 1/2 c butter, melted 1 c sugar 1 c light corn syrup 4 large eggs, beaten 1 t vanilla extract 1/4 t salt pastry for 9" pie 1 1/3 c pecan halves or 1 1/4 c coarsely chopped pecans Directions:    * Combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. (If you substitute salt for the sugar, it won't dissolve.) Cool slightly. *Add eggs, vanilla, and salt by tempering method. Put a little of the syrup into eggs as you beat them with a fork to warm the eggs. Then add the egg mixture to the syrup stirring quickly to combine well. *Pour filling into unbaked pastry shell. Top with pecans. *Bake at 325 for 55 minutes or until set. Number o...

   I'll never forget our first Christmas in Carthage. It was like a fairy tale. We moved from a city to this little town that we thought was like Mayberry. It only had 11,000 people at the time. With our little toddler, we made 11,003. ~smile~     It seemed like everyone decorated for Christmas back then. There were horse carriage rides on the square, lots of unique shops, lots of friendly people, and a courthouse that looked like a castle.    That first Christmas, Grandma Judy, my husband's mother, rode a Greyhound bus down to Carthage to spend Christmas with us. When Grandma Judy was with us, it was a holiday!    The kids are all grown now. We built a lot of traditions over the years. Now we're in the process of sorting which ones will continue and which will become memories. Hopefully, the kids will look back and remember their childhood as the good old days.    What makes it feel like a holiday to you?  Find the joy, let th...

Are you going home for Christmas? Have you written you'll be there? Going home to kiss the mother and to show her that you care? Going home to greet the father in a way to make him glad? If you're not, I hope there'll never come a time you'll wish you had. Just sit down and write a letter- it will make their heart strings hum with a tune of perfect gladness if you'll tell them that you'll come. ~Edgar Guest I encourage you to pick up the phone or a pen right now and reach out to your momma, your dad, and your loved ones.  There's a reason people send Christmas cards this time of year. Happy Christmastime! Laura

The view from my thrifty and frugal 1989 Mercury. Sparkle in the Park Hello Friends!      I've been thinking. We're all a bit short on money this year. I've come up with just a few ideas for inexpensive gifts.  $5 or Less Gift Ideas:  1. Constant Comment Tea with a thrifted cup or mug 2. Homemade shortbread, sugar, or snickerdoodle cookies 3. Decorate a composition book and include a nice pen 4. Handwritten recipe cards 5. Selection of stationery or cards from $ Tree 6. Inexpensive gloves with buttons sewn on them 7. Christmas ornament 8. Banana, Nut, or Zucchini bread 9. Loaf of homemade bread 10. Jar of homemade jam 11. Simmer pot: Cellophane bag with: orange, cloves, cinnamon stick, and possibly a sprig of rosemary I'm focusing on Jesus, husband, family, friends, and Kringling. I encourage you to spend some time this weekend making or finding some frugal Christmas gifts. I've got more Christmas posts coming out this coming week. Come on by and say hi! Laura L...

Breathe! Light a candle! Whisper a prayer! Hug someone! Smile! Make a list! Check it twice! Be nice! Happy Christmas Eve to you all! ~~~~~

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? . . Claustrophobic. . . Tee hee! Have a merry Christmas! Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage! Laura

  Once upon a time… a candy maker created the perfect candy to symbolize the true meaning of Christmas. It was the candy cane.  The white stripes would stand for the purity of Christ and his virgin birth. The red stripes would signify the pain and death Jesus endured on our behalf. The hook shape would also be a reminder to all people of the name Jesus & his role as Good Shepherd. ~ Author Unknown~ Enjoy a candy cane or share the story t oday! Laura Happy Christmas!

Candy Cane Cocoa  is one of family's favorite winter drinks.  I always make a big batch in December and hope that it will last. ~smile~  It's just as good in January or February as at Christmastime. I've had the recipe for at least twenty years maybe longer. Thank you to whoever gave it to me! We've enjoyed it. ~smile~ It makes a great gift in a pretty little jar with a cute tag, too. Candy Cane Cocoa A Harvest Lane Cottage Classic Recipe 3 candy canes, crushed 1 c. powdered creamer 1 cup sifted powdered sugar 1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa powder  Mix and store in an airtight container. I now use a food processer to crush the candycanes and combine the ingredients. Add 1/2 cup of mix to 12 ounces of boiling water. It's even better with hot milk! It is also a great coffee creamer.  A happy Christmas to you from Harvest Lane Cottage! Laura

Photo by Olesia 🇺🇦 Buyar on Unsplash Happy December!    I've been busy kringling for the last few days in between housework, decorating, baking, and substitute teaching. I'll bet you've been doing some Christmas preparations, too.    If you're looking for a few gift ideas that you may not have thought about, take a look at this list.  Younger Kids Melissa & Doug Wooden Construction Building Set in a Box (48 pcs)  Ages 4-6 Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks With Wooden Storage Tray (60 pcs) - Classic Blocks For Toddlers Radio Flyer Classic Red Wagon The Original Big Wheel,Blue-Yellow-Red, Giant 16' Wheel Ride On Tricycle   NERF Pro Grip Football, Blue, Classic Foam Ball Candy Land Sit and Spin Spirograph Hungry Hippos Older Kids NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Magnetic Marble Run - 75-Piece STEM Building Set   Suspend Family Game (31 pcs) - Wire Balance Game  ~ Even my adult kids love this! Trekking The National Parks - The...

"Christmas is not a time nor a season,  but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and goodwill,  to be plenteous in mercy,  is to have the real spirit of Christmas." ~ President Calvin Coolidge ~

Hello family and friends!     I hope that you find every bit of joy and happiness possible this Christmas season and new year. So much of our happiness is connected to our thankfulness and our focus.       Even though we may not be able to celebrate with those we love in person this year, let's be thankful for them, reach out to them by phone, video call, or letter.      Let's focus on our blessings and the good people, things, and experiences God has put in our lives in so many ways.      Let's be thankful and focus on the LORD Jesus.      I pray blessings over each of you in the name of Jesus Christ.      I pray that you will draw closer to Him, and you will be aware of His Presence with you. Jesus isn't just a baby in the manger. He's the one who brings us hope, gives us a way to reconcile with God, and if we allow Him, He will come into our hearts and save us and change us.    ...

2008 "Let no pleasure tempt thee,  no profit allure thee,  no persuasion move thee,  to do anything which thou knowest to be evil;  so shalt thou always live jollity;  for a good conscience is a continual Christmas."  - Benjamin Franklin

       Have you ever seen a children's book and just known you would like it? That's how I felt before I even opened I LOVE MY GRANDMA   A Celebration of Grandmothers by written by Kelly Reddin and illustrated by Sommer J. Buyante. The cover and the name just felt so attractive to me. I was drawn to it.       I'm Grammy to my little one year old grandson, B. Oh, the things we'll do as he grows! This book shares so many wonderful names for grandmas and so many wonderful things that grandmas do with their grandchildren. It's full of great ideas if you're looking. ~wink~ I'll be implementing some.       What I love about Kelly Reddin's  book is that it's just filled with the love of family. It shows how grandmas can be very different from each other, but just perfect for their own grandchildren. It highlights the wonderful things that children can learn from their Oma, Nonna, Grandma, Lola, Gram....    ...