Harvest Lane Cottage

Money tight? I feel you. With six months left until Christmas, many of us have more time than money. I can remember a few Christmas Eves when I was up until the wee hours making doll dresses for my girls.   If you're feeling the money crunch more than the time crunch, here are a few ideas for homemade gifts.  Remember:  Christmas is about Jesus Christmas is about people not gifts Being thrifty is no indication of your love and care for the recipient. Use what you have on hand as much as possible.  Now for the ideas: Paper Craft ~ greeting cards  ~ decorate recipe cards From the Needles ~  tribbles ~  dishcloths ~  aprons ~  mittens ~  doll clothes ~ skirt ~  tablet stand ~ camera bean bag ~ key chain ~ Christmas stockings ~ hair baubles ~  casserole hot pad ~ drawstring bags ~ kitchen curtains ~ tote bag ~ pillow cases ~  ornaments ~ crocheted chains for hair ribbons ~  tea towels ~  doilies ~  pacifier...

Me at three My sixtieth birthday bothered me more than other milestone birthdays. It is strange to realize that even though I've always thought of old as 30 years older than my current age, I'm on the cusp.  Confidentially, it helps that I have friends that a few years older than I am. I've been watching as they gracefully meet the challenges that our sixties bring.  Some of those challenges are ones that have blindsided them. Maybe that is why I've felt bothered. My fifties rather blindsided me. My fifties decade was punctuated by breast cancer, Covid, children flying the nest, moving to a new home, financial burdens, and strained relationships that are now healed. All very difficult things. BUT GOD. God prepared me for the decade by helping me to be immersed in the Word. I started using YouVersion, now Bible.com, to listen through the Bible in 2011. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17. It was my friend, Deb in Florida, that...

Hi y'all!  Here are some things that are making me happy lately. Early morning Bible reading on the patio. I finished my Christmas socks. I wove in all the zillions of yarn ends on my socks. Finishing made me happy. This dog bone pillow supports and comforts my neck while riding in our car. We have a new hummingbird feeder. We moved it under a tree with flower baskets on either side. I enjoy listening to my Bible.com app morning and night. What's been making you happy Lately? Please talk back! ~smile~ Blessed,  Laura  * If you make an Amazon purchase within 24 hours of using one of my links, I receive a tiny sum for sharing with you. There is no cost to you. It's just one way to support me.  Goodreads:     Laura Lane  2025 Goal 60 books ~ 30 Finished so far Ravelry:          HarvestLaneLaura Facebook:      Harvest Lane Cottage Instagram:     @lauraofharvestlane

     It's been a tight month here at the cottage. Whenever we are short on money, it's made up out of the food budget. That's just the way it is when you live on a shoestring budget.       So I've been getting creative in the kitchen — using things up and making do. Cooking from scratch is key. I've been using our small budget for fill in things that we need like onions and potatoes and butter.      This is a chicken lentil stew that I made earlier this week. My husband really liked it, and he insisted that I write down how I made it. This isn't so much a recipe but the method I used to put it all together. You may not like lentils, but hang in here with me. There are options.       I had two chicken legs in the freezer. I put them in the slow cooker with some dried minced onions , salt and pepper . I covered it all with boiling water from my electric kettle (I love it so much, I bought a second for a gift.); the...

Hi y'all!  Here are some things that are making me happy lately. Visits from my son's Paco Sewing projects for my Etsy store reopening September 1st Finished projects  Knitting scrappy socks Starting my 60's with a new mug Portable fans to help with heat and humidity  I LOVE this one. This fast, sturdy USB-C charger Listening to scripture first thing in the morning and last thing at night using Bible.com app What's been making you happy Lately? Please talk back! ~smile~ Blessed,  Laura  * If you make an Amazon purchase within 24 hours of using one of my links, I receive a tiny sum for sharing with you. There is no cost to you. It's just one way to support me. 

  Oh dear, what should I do? To paraphrase Robert Burns, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Just a few days ago, I shared my summer reading plans . It was just long enough to keep me busy all summer. Now, I find that the first book, Dead Sea Rising , by Jerry B. Jenkins has a sequel! I really want to know what's going to happen! I can read the sequel without paying anything extra on Everand.com, but I'm trying to hold off and read some of my other books. What do you think I should do? Amazon Link   Tracy commented on the post that she recently read an old Margery Allingham "Campion" book and thought it very good. She didn't mention the name, but I looked it up and found the first one, The Crime at Black Dudley. It's an old detective who-done-it story. Now I want to read it, too!  Amazon Affiliate Link   Oh, what shall I do? There's no end to interesting books to read and listen to. Do you think I should add these to the summer r...