Finally! Snow!

 

It's a poor photo, but three cardinals are hiding in our bushes.

We filled up the birdfeeders Friday evening. By last night, the one in the front yard was empty. The one in the back yard is half full. I need to brave the cold and fill the one out front. It's a whopping 9° today. I won't even look at the wind chill. I've been inside since Friday afternoon, and if I can get my husband to fill the bird feeder out front, I'm going to stay inside! Here in my neck of the woods we received about 6 inches of snow. That's just right in my mind— enough to be beautiful, but not enough to cause any major troubles. The temperature, though, frigid! 

I've done some computer work this morning. This afternoon, I'm going to find a warm spot, and watch an old movie while I knit a bit. I'm currently knitting toddler socks for my grandson. He recently thrilled me by giving me a name. I am now Gammy! It's the most wonderful music to my ears to hear him call and say, "Hi Gammy!" My husband has had a name for a few months now. He is Boppop (Bah-pop). I expect that will change as he gets older, but my husband is thrilled right now!

Well, my computer is in my workroom. It's a glassed in back porch that gets very chilly. I have a little electric heater by my desk that helps a lot. But— I'm ready to go inside and get warm!

Have a wonderful week!

Laura

Enjoying the one hurrah of winter!

Knitting Mittens for My Kittens

My Top Ten Tips for Socializing Real Kittens

♥♥♥

    Once upon a time, long long ago, three little kittens needed some mittens. Although their momma was still a novice knitter, she took on the challenge. She followed Kelly's Mitten Class from KnitPicks. She began with the oldest and proceeded to the youngest.  The results weren't exactly perfect. In fact, her young son's mittens had some rather large thumbs! Nevertheless, her kittens loved their mittens.

    Once day, recently, the littlest kitten, who now has her own little kitten, sent her momma a Marco Polo video. Her little hands were tucked into her sleeves as she tried to drive! Oh my! Momma's needles to the rescue! Just as soon as momma's needles finished with her grandkitten's mittens, they began clicking away on little mommy kitten's mittens. 

    

Mommy Kitten's new mittens

Grandbaby Kitten's Mittens

    My little kitten was thrilled to have mittens for her and for her little kitten. Needless to say, my knitting skills have increased dramatically. ~smile~ This time I used The World's Simplest Mitten from Tin Can Knits. They have an app now that makes it easy to follow just your size and keep track of your rows. It's great. I used it to make a Flax sweater for my grandkitten, too.

    I hope you have a wonderful week. It's looking to be a wintery cold one here in southern Missouri. Wherever you are, perhaps you'll take up your needles as well. If you do, you might enjoy a cup of homemade hot cocoa with your cozy blanket. 

Warm hugs from Harvest Lane Cottage,

and do try my cocoa recipe! It's a hug in a mug!

ஐღ Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage ღஐ 

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

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

 "The three little kittens, they lost their mittens,"

By Mother Goose

The three little kittens, they lost their mittens,

And they began to cry,

"Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear,

That we have lost our mittens."

"What!   Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!

Then you shall have no pie."

"Meow, meow, meow."

"Then you shall have no pie."

The three little kittens, they found their mittens,

And they began to cry,

"Oh, mother dear, see here, see here,

For we have found our mittens."

"Put on your mittens, you silly kittens,

And you shall have some pie."

"Purr, purr, purr,

Oh, let us have some pie."

The three little kittens put on their mittens,

And soon ate up the pie,

"Oh, mother dear, we greatly fear,

That we have soiled our mittens."

"What, soiled your mittens, you naughty kittens!"

Then they began to sigh,

"Meow, meow, meow,"

Then they began to sigh.

The three little kittens, they washed their mittens,

And hung them out to dry,

"Oh, mother dear, do you not hear,

That we have washed our mittens?"

"What, washed your mittens, then you're good kittens,

But I smell a rat close by."

"Meow, meow, meow,

We smell a rat close by."

A New Year's Choice

 

Have you made a new year's resolution or two or ten?

I haven't this year.

    I have thought about what I'd like my life to look like. I want more community in my life. That fell off in 2020, when we left the church we'd been in for many years. We were overworked in that church. It made both my husband and I timid about getting over involved again in our new church. The result has been that we've been on the fringes at church... involved but not involved.  There have been too many excuses. But, truly, I haven't made church a priority. 

    I've been seeking God through His word, a Bible study with ladies in the next town, videos and podcasts, weekly Sunday morning attendance. But. I've been feeling the longing for some time now to feel more connected to the body of Christ. That takes time and commitment. 

    Do I believe a person must be there every time the church door opens? No. But. That's the way my husband and I have lived much of our married life. Up until that last experience, it was all good. Even the last experience was not bad. We were there for a purpose, brought in during a natural disaster by God, but the heavy dependence on us wore us out. 

    What I am saying is that we I have been neglecting Wednesday evening Bible study with the ladies and Sunday evening services. I just haven't wanted to get too involved. Who's suffered from that? Me. (I crossed out we. I cannot speak for my husband.) I believe that I've made choices that lead me further from what God wants for me.

    So, no resolution, just a choice. I am going to stop avoiding church for whatever reason. You might say that I am repenting of being lazy about going to church and making relationships with God's people. 

    So, this year I choose to grow in relationships with other Christians in my own church. 

    I choose to listen to God when He speaks to me through the Word or by whatever method He chooses. 

    I'm getting away from the fence and into the fold.  

    Has this struck a chord with you?

Let me know in the comments. I encourage you to listen to this short video by Phil Robertson that I listened to this morning.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Laura