Homeschooling Myself ~ Paradise Lost ~ John Milton

      Oh my! How does one review a book like Paradise Lost?

     I guess one might say that it's epic. ~smile~ Interestingly enough, I have never read Paradise Lost. I took Brit Lit in high school and majored in English in college. I cannot remember it ever being assigned. Who knows why?

Paradise Lost
John Milton

     Paradise Lost begins with Satan addressing the other fallen angels, chronicles the creation of sky, earth, animals, and man, then describes life in Eden, the conversations between God and man, between the the arch angel Rafael and man, and finally the fall, and the results from the fall.

     One phrase that stuck with me is that God created man sufficient to stand and free to fall.

     It is a highly imagined, dare I say fantasized, story expounding upon a few short verses in the Bible. It is how Milton thought it all could have come about. 

     It is obvious that Milton knew his Bible. It is also obvious that he had meditated on the scriptures in great depth. While there are no doubt inaccuracies in the poem, it has greatly influence church culture.

     I read this book as part of Hillsdale College's free course on Paradise Lost. I don't think that I would have understood nearly as much without the course; because, it's sometimes hard to follow the narrative, and frankly, it is a bit boring in places.

Google Hillsdale College for the course if you'd like. I'm enjoying the courses I've taken for free. I started with A Christmas Carol, then Paradise Lost; and now, I'm studying Western Heritage from Genesis to John Locke. 

     This year, I am continuing my education. At 59, I don't care about credits or grades. This way of learning is stirring a passion for academia that has been dormant for many, many years. It feels good. 

How and what are you learning?

ஐღLauraღஐ 

...homeschooling myself on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

Tipsy Candle Solution Found!

I love taper candles. I don't think they can be beat for their versatility whatever the occasion or no occasion at all. They're just classic. But. They're fussy. They never fit right in my holders. I usually try to put foil around the bottoms, but it doesn't work well. It also looks tacky. I was excited to try these taper candle sticky dots. 

I'm totally sold! Wow! I worked at a candle shop when I was in college, but I'd never heard of these. Who knows? Maybe they're new since then. It has been a couple of years... well, a lot of couple of years.

Bottom line, they work! They work well. They are perfect in my candle holders, but check out the second photo. Out of curiosity, I put a sticky dot on a candle and just stuck it on a dish.  It stood up perfectly! It's still standing perfectly as I write.

I couldn't be happier. I just had to share this with y'all! No more tipsy candles for me!

Be blessed,

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

P.S. I'm a Vine reviewer for Amazon. I receive products for review for free. I'm always honest in my reviews. I'll only share products I really like here with you. Some secrets are too good to keep! Giggle. You know what I mean. You can see some of my recent reviews here. It's an affiliate link.

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Laura Lately... Back to School! Finally!

    

    Some of you know that I was having some knee trouble that kept me from working in November. Then came December, and there just weren't many jobs. I only worked 3 days between the two months. Finally, after a long break (which I did enjoy), I went back to work yesterday. It felt good to be back in the classroom. Yesterday, I was at the high school. It was a study skills class; so, it was an easy day for me. That makes up for some of the really hard days I have sometimes ~wink~. 

    I'm not one who enjoys change. That's interesting since my vocation involves frequent change. I'm learning to flow with it. This is year four of substituting. I began in December three years ago. I've found my sweet spot in junior high and high school. I have spent a lot of time subbing in special ed classes. I find that is a good fit in that I can be patient and work with fewer children at once. It does, however, sometimes take a lot physically. So, I'm picky about my assignments. 

    I've been doing a fair bit of knitting lately. Once again, I am reiterating to myself that I am Knitting for Joy in 2025. Do you knit or crochet? Would you like me to share more about my needlework?

    Now, it's time to go and make a pan of cornbread. I've had navy beans simmering all day with a smoked ham hock. Yummy! There's just something about the down home goodness of beans and cornbread. 

    Have a wonderful weekend! Do tell me what you've been up to and what you'd like me to write about this year.

Sincerely,

Laura

Follow me on Instagram: @lauraofharvestlane 

#knitting

#knittingforjoy2025

 

31 Day Wisdom Challenge

 I'm a little late in joining the 31 Day Wisdom Challenge with Pedro Adao. It's all about wisdom in Proverbs. He'll have Christian guests every day, too. I just wanted to share this with you. It goes throughout January. Here's the first YouTube video replay that I'm watching now.

Happy January, may God lead us all into His wisdom.

Laura

Let's Start the New Year Right!

 

To truly start the new year right, we must take some time with God to wrap up the old year.  He wants us to give Him our whole hearts.  What's been holding you back from all He has for you?  Now is the time to get alone with Him for a little while so that you can truly start the new year right with Jesus.

Do you know Jesus?  Would you like to?

I accepted Him as my savior over 40 years ago on New Year's Day.  Jim Bakker was on the PTL Club show interviewing an ex-drug addict.  I thought, if Jesus can forgive a drug addict, maybe He can forgive me, too.  I was 14.  Just old enough to feel the burden of sin.  That thought led to a month long journey of "finding" God.  

When I went back to school, I asked Kim, a girl on my bus, if I could go to church with her.  I'm sure she was stunned.  I visited church with her. One of my neighbors, Pat, attended her church.  From that point on, Pat showed up every Sunday rain or shine.  I was going to church.  She stood up to my mom, and weekly attendance was established.  Period.  No discussion.  Better be sicker than a dog if I tried to back out!  ~smile~  Thank God for Pat!  By the end of the month, I'd walked the aisle, been baptised, and become a member of Rolling Hills Christian Church.  Good salt-of-the-earth people.

My life changed slowly; but, I can honestly say, I'm nothing like I was.  You seriously would not have wanted to know this angry teenager who had been told she was worthless until she believed it. It's been a long journey. God has transformed me. Reading His word has transformed me.  Listening to His Word has transformed me. Praying has transformed me. Worshiping God has transformed me.  Being with God's people has transformed me. Thank you God!

Have you begun your story?

Let's start the new year right.
Examine your heart.
Talk with God. Repent of any sins. Ask God for forgiveness. Ask Jesus to be the Lord, the boss of your life.

It's the best new year's resolution I ever made or kept!

Have a terrific New Year's Day and week.

Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage,
Laura
Happy at Home

Contact me by email or comment if I can help you with your story.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

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Something to Think About... The Date

 

Hello dear reader,

    I know that everyone has moved on from Christmas and is into new year's resolutions, decluttering, etc. But, this came to me in my email from Hillsdale College. I took their online A Christmas Carol course last month. This month, I'm taking their Paradise Lost course. Their online courses are free. You can check them out at https://online.hillsdale.edu/ . 

    Anyhow, they sent this video to me this week. It's about the date of Jesus' birth. Long ago, I remember reading about how the date had been set by early Christians during Saturnalia, so that they wouldn't be persecuted for celebrating. It seems that there isn't evidence of that after all. Watch this short video to get another viewpoint and to get a taste of the Hillsdale College online experience.

If the video does not show up for you, here's the link on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/2CwnOuiOSjY?si=bsHQLX9RUwoJ_laZ

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Laura

Winter Bucket List 2025

MARCH UPDATE! 

I'm trying to wrap it up!

I wrote this list to help me focus on the little things that bring me joy. I also wanted to get "credit" for some need to do things. Trying to motivate myself, you know?

What will you put on your list?

• ♥ Write my Winter Bucket List. 
• ♥ Write my Winter Reading List.

• ♥ Put the Christmas trees away
• ♥ Put away the Christmas decorations

• ♥ Curl up with a terrific book
• ♥ Enjoy candle light

• ♥ Make chili
• ♥ Knit a pair of gift socks 

• ♥ Make snow ice cream ~ We had a great snow, and I wasn't ready! Ugh! I did it with the big snow of '25!
• ♥ Celebrate my son's 34th birthday

• ♥ Spend an afternoon with a book
• ♥ Invite friends for dinner ~ We hosted a dinner at church.

• Catch up on mending
• Dip Manicure

• Invite friends for dinner
• S'mores with friends

• Read by candle light
• ♥ Bake bread

• Knit by the fire
• ♥ Worship Jesus under the winter stars

• Get dog's nails clipped... I put it on here 'cause it's needed to be done. 
• Read an evening away with a good book

• ♥ Sew a new knitting bag
• Train my little dog to window shop 

• ♥ Sew some little zipper bags ~ One done
• ♥ Pedicure  

• Use my teapot—white sprinkled with cherries 
• ♥ Double feature movie night

• Try a new soup 
• ♥ Lunch out with a friend 

• Gaze into the fire in our backyard fire pit. 
• ♥ Knit for Joy in 2025! I am harvestlanelaura on Ravelry.com.

• Implement Trim Healthy Mama again.
• ♥ Take a walk a day. Every day since December 26th!

• ♥ Knit a bit while enjoying an old movie  
• Complete my winter reading list!

• ♥ Put away winter and Valentine's decorations
• ♥ Smile and spread good cheer

I'll put a ♥ heart by each as I complete it. 

Follow me on Instagram to see my progress!

Please share your bucket list with me here or tag me @lauraofharvestlane #harvestlanecottage on Instagram.

ஐღLauraღஐ

 

...doing what I can with what I've got where I am 

on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

You might also enjoy...

• God's Perfect Timing
• Frightened of God...My Testimony

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