Harvest Lane Cottage

Do you love a homemade Christmas? I do! Everything just seems like it means a bit more when you've put your time, effort, and care into it. Homemade, handmade, heartmade, thrifty, money saving gifts can be a blessing to the giver and the receiver. It doesn't happen overnight though. Okay, I admit it. I've been the crazy mom sewing on Christmas Eve and trying to finish wrapping. I don't want to do that anymore! Now is the perfect time to start brainstorming what you want your Christmas to be like this year. If that is to include homemade gifts, it's never too early to start. Here are some ideas to get you going. It's easy to find tutorials on YouTube or Pinterest. I've added a few links to get you started.  Homemade Gift Ideas Paper Craft ~ decorated recipe cards (could add recipes and ingredients) ~ homemade greeting cards ~ scrapbook ~ family recipe book (This was a big project and a big hit with my adult kids last year.) From the Needles ~ tribbles  I love...

Leaves just tinged red and gold The slightest chill on the breeze Sun playing hide and seek Can we read in the tree, please? Pulling out the recipes for all the soups and stews It's still dark in the morning Just one more time—hit snooze Crafting, cooking, reading, cleaning Learning, planning, dreaming Secret plans for Christmas gifts Talking about the holidays and scheming! Blessings, Laura Lane ~~~~~ Memories in the making... memories made. 0913

     Isn't this just dreamy?  I can just imagine the aroma of woodsmoke drifting on the air as my husband steps onto the front porch after a long day at the work...replaced, upon entering, by beef stew simmering on the stove and the house lit with fragrant cinnamon spice candles.        After dinner, he'd hear the familiar scritch scratch of my whisk on the bottom of our saucepan as I prepare homemade cocoa to enjoy with big fluffy marshmallows.  He'd settle into a comfortable chair by the fire and open his favorite read aloud—Little House in the Big Woods.  Ah-- a girl can dream!       Some of those things can come true right where we are in our humble little cottage.  Just a little work here and there and I can make this a comfortable and welcoming place for my husband and me.  It's Autumn and time for some cleaning and feathering my nest.    ...

Growing in Spiritual Formation A new Bible study resource from Discipled Church Created by  https://discipledchurch.com/ vision-mission/      Growing in Spiritual Formation is based on the premise that spiritual growth is a very personal thing that varies from individual to individual based on many factors. Instead of a direct path of steps from point A to point Z, there are some zigs and zags based on the person's circumstances, background, personality, beliefs, and other factors.      Josh D, teacher and disciple-maker at Discipled Church maintains that most churchs no longer remember how to make disciples, but seek efficient ways to make faithful Jesus apprentices. It's not a personal process anymore. As he said on page vii, "...we are people designed for relationships—with others and with God—and we too often forget how our relationships and past experiences shape and influence our perspectives."     This is a challenging study that is de...

  Amazon affiliate link     It is always a pleasure to share books that I truly enjoy with you, dear reader. Today's book is Homespun Devotions by Cheryl Smith of the blogs, Homespun Devotions and Biblical Minimalism .     Mrs. Cheryl Smith is a true believer in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As a long-time reader of her blog, "Homespun Devotions", a personal correspondent of many years, and receiver of great personal encouragement in some of the hardest times of my life, I believe I know her heart for the Lord and for others. I believe a quote in chapter 13 of Homestead Devotions Volume Three, page 63, describes her beautifully. "Their calm demeanor, unshakeable faith, resolute determination to follow God to the end of their days regardless of personal cost, and utter selflessness were evidence of their close walk with Him and touched everything they did."     Cheryl has a way of describing an everyday situation and finding the God breeze in it. ...

 Welcome y'all!  Hello dear readers! I apologize for leaving you for so long. Over the last three weeks, we've had out of town company, my two year old grandson spent a weekend with us, we started a new Bible study group, and about ten days ago, one of my family members had a medical emergency. He has been staying with us after returning from the hospital. He is getting the medical care that he needs. I would appreciate prayer for him. He is my eldest son. During it all, I have been able to make great progress on these socks. They are a gift for my daughter. She loves fall as much as I do. It is my hope that my life is going to calm down a little bit soon. I haven't even decorated for fall yet! I woke this morning to a misty, cool, fall morning. Ah, a breath of fresh air before it gets hot again this weekend! Maybe I'll pull out the fall  tote and begin my decorating Thursday.  I'm taking the day off. I'll try to write to y'all again, too. For now, I've ...