I LOVE YOU MONTH... LEARNING

I love learning!

    I love learning new things. Over the years, I've learned to quilt, bake bread, can, sew, crochet, knit, cross-stitch, embroider, and many other things. 

    Currently, I'm learning Spanish with Duolingo, Western Heritage from the Book of Genesis to John Locke with a free online course from Hillsdale College, rug twining using YouTube videos, and I'm using The Bible Recap on the Bible.com app, too.

    Monday, the 16th, I'm adding something new. I've resigned from the school district. I enjoyed four years of substitute teaching; but, God's moving me into a new phase and a new position. I've accepted a position in a pediatrics office just three minutes from my home. It will be a learning experience in a couple of ways. 

    First, I've got to learn the computer system and the job. At 60, that will be a challenge. ~smile~ I'm a reader and a learner, so I'll be able to do it. Second, it's been 35 years since I've worked full-time outside the home. That, too, will be a challenge. ~God's plan—not mine!~ His plans are always good, though, aren't they? I'll tell y'all about it sometime. 

    A third challenge will be that I've been having bad headaches three or four days a week for a long time. The doctors haven't been able to help yet. 

    

    Will you please pray for me?

• That I'll comprehend and grasp all the details of the position
• That I'll have the energy and ability to fulfill my duties at work and home
• That headaches will not interfere with my ability to focus and be pleasant

    Please be patient with me as I learn to balance all the areas of my life including this blog. I do not want to let any part of my creativity go. I'm not sure how I'll do it all, but I choose the abundant life. That means husband, family, friends, work, creative outlets like writing and learning, hospitality, and most importantly, growing closer and closer to God. 

    

    This is a new assignment. This is a new era of my life. This is the way that I shall serve Jesus until he moves me into a new era. 

    Don't give up on me if I don't write as much for awhile. Y'all are an important part of my life; and, many of you have been for a long while. 

    Have a wonderful week! 

Laura

Happily serving God in a new way

My new badge photo

*Image by ChatGPT

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."

On my Needles... What I'm Reading April 2, 2020

Hello everyone,

Did March pass in a blur for you like it did for me? I don't even know where it went. I can tell you one thing though, I am ready for blue skies, fresh Spring air, and the end of flu and virus season. Like you, I have been  washing and praying.

On my knitting needles... on my bookshelf, in my Kindle,  and on my Scribd app! Knitting and reading in my free time and little bits of snatched time is one of my favorite ways to enrich my life. I love to listen to the Bible, to a non-fiction book that can help me learn, or to a novel to pass the time as I knit or work around the house. Do you have any favorites?

Here are the things that I'm listening to this week:

I just finished Revelation  on Bible.com. Now I need to decide whether to read the entire Bible or the New Testament next.

Yes I'm one of those ladies who loves Christmas stories all year round. Donna VanLiere has written several stories all centered around the same little town and characters. I really enjoy this reader, too. I downloaded this to my phone on my Scribd app.

You can see other books I'm reading  on Goodreads.

While I listen or watch videos, I am also knitting earbud bags for gifts. I just finished these.

I just wove in the ends on my socks  

More tinkle wipes 

I think knitting for charity and praying during the knitting is one of my very favorite things to do. There are so many who need to feel cared for.  But right now I am working on filling my gift boxes and sewing things we need. It is good to be proactive. 

Blessings to all of you!
Remember... keep busy.
This too shall pass.

Have a homemade, handmade, heartmade thrifty week! 

Laura

P.S  I highly recommend using Scribd. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus other reading materials for just one low price. $8.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 180 free days just sharing how much I love their service! You can too.

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads

2020  9 Finished Books

Goal 50

HarvestLaneLaura  on Ravelry

Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

Paypal lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com 

Shared at:

Homemaking Party

What I'd Like to Get Done This Week ~ February 3, 2020 ~ Updated 2/8/20

Hello!

So good of you to drop in today.  

I've been thinking of things I would like to get done over the next week or so.  You know how it is. Always something to do. So, here are some things I hope to do this week. I think I'll come back here and change the items to italics as I do them just to give myself a little encouragement along the way.

Planning: 

• menu
• grocery list ~ My sweet man did my Aldi shopping for me! I ordered some grocery items online for pick up at Walmart, too. They'll bring it right to my car Saturday at noon! I got $10 off my first order. You can try it too if you use this link:  http://r.wmt.co/v/laura_2516
• projects ~ I've got a list of ideas and it's growing!

Cooking:  

• wheat bread ~ Monday
• baked chocolate chip cookies with my eldest son
• jalapeno jelly - I'll have to put this off until next week. 

Reading:  I need to make a service announcement here. ~giggle~ I am not going to finish all of these books this week. I am merely reading a bit of all these books this week. I'm not a speed reader. I just thought I'd put them all here so that I can make some progress in each of them. This list is just to motivate me.

• YouVersion's Canonical Reading Plan. ~ Reading Jeremiah now. It's a long book!
• The Hobbit by Tolkien for my book club ~ I've listened to a a couple of chapters.
• An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer. Yes I'm that girl who loves Christmas stories year round! I did finish this one.
• God's Will for You by Gloria Copeland ~ I've read a few pages.
• Mother Culture by Karen Andreola to pg 96
• Walden by Thoreau 
• Papa's Wife ~ read a bit on Monday

Knitting:

• Knit with friends Tuesday evening
• Finish the socks on my needles ~ All done! They're laying in my gift box waiting for Christmas.

Sewing:

• More bowl cozies ~ I made five!

Studying:

• Blogging resources

Working:  

• List two items on my Ebay
• Lots and lots of laundry! 
• Look for mending that needs to be done. I actually threw out two items that were too badly worn to be mended.

Writing:

• Work on cookbook
• Blog post planning
• Write two or more blog posts this week.

Winter Bucket List:

• Enjoy candlelight
• Prepare lamps with new wicks and oil.
• Spend a couple hours with a good book and a nice candle
• Meet a friend at the local coffee shop

If I finish all this list, I'll have been very busy indeed. I also need to spend time with my kids and do some ironing and cleaning. Thanks so much for dropping in! I'd love to hear some of your plans for this week. It's so nice to have a chat over the back fence  internet with you today!

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Happy at Home

~~~~~

May I suggest?

Minutes or Hours
~~~~~

On My Needles and What I'm Reading... November 20, 2019

On my knitting needles... on my Scribd app! Knitting and reading in my free time and little bits of snatched time is one of my favorite ways to enrich my life. I love to listen to the Bible, to a non-fiction book that can help me learn, or to a novel to pass the time as I knit or work around the house. Do you have any favorites?


Here are the things that I'm listening to this week:

2nd Chronicles and probably Ezra on Bible.com

Christmas in Winter Hill
by Melody Carlson
on my Scribd app.

You can see other books I'm making progress on them on Goodreads.

While I listen or watch videos, I am knitting a baby hat for Life Choices Crisis Pregnancy Center. 

Pattern Barley Light by Tin Can Knits
Yarn is Paton's Kroy Socks in Turquoise Jacquard

I've spent lots of time sitting and reclining during my recovery time. It's nice that my head has cleared enough that I can do some things that allow me to give to others in need. I think knitting for charity and praying during the knitting is one of my very favorite things to do. There are so many who need to feel cared for. 

Well, enough for now. I will see two of my doctors this week. We'll see how I'm progressing. 

Blessings to all of you who have prayed for me. I appreciate it so much. It's making a world of difference in my recovery.

Have a homemade, handmade, heartmade thrifty week! 

Laura

P.S  I highly recommend using Scribd. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus other reading materials for just one low price. $8.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 180 free days just sharing how much I love their service! You can too.

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads

2019  67 Finished Books Goal 50 60  70

HarvestLaneLaura  on Ravelry

Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email.

Joining with  Crafting On and Yarn Along

Post-Mastectomy Surgery Recovery Update

My Lowell made me some soothing chicken soup this week.
Recipe

Hello everyone.

 Thank you so much for praying for me this week. My surgery went well Monday according to my surgeon. I've spent this week relaxing with my feet up and enjoying quiet moments with my knitting, my little dog, and my big cat. They have been my near constant companions this week. I wonder if that has anything to do with my heated blanket?

 My incision looks good to me. I've been dabbing at it with colloidal silver on a napkin a few times each day. There doesn't seem to be any indication of infection or discharge. That's a major improvement over the last two surgeries. Thank you Jesus. I'll go in to see the surgeon again next Thursday to get his opinion on it. I am taking minimal pain medicine—just one tablet every four hours. I have pain, but it is tolerable. Sometimes I take two at night to help me sleep. I cannot lie down flat yet, so I sleep propped up in bed or on the sofa.

 Friends have brought me magazines and cookbooks to look at, a pot of potato soup, and flowers. I do appreciate having good friends to check in on me. Another friend's husband got ill, so she is going to visit me next week.

 Today I completed a  knitted hat for my brother-in-love and earlier this week I mended a pair of pants for my daughter. Sometimes we just need time to sit and stitch!

 Thank you all for your prayers for me. I truly appreciate it. God cannot get me off His mind with y'all praying like you do! Well, I'm going to say good-bye. The pain medicine is kicking in and making me drowsy. I don't want to leave you with anything TOO funny. Wink.

 Bye y'all,
 Thanks for checking on me and praying,
 Laura

On My Needles... What I'm Reading August 7, 2019

Hello, we are having the most beautiful day here at the edge of the Ozarks listening to the rumbly grumbly sounds of a thunder shower. It is not a storm that makes you fearful, just gentle rain. The air has turned cool. It was lovely to take a break and enjoy reading on the porch.

My daughter made cucumber cookies of all things. We've had lots and lots of cucumbers come out of our garden this year. Amy is quite the gardener. We are really enjoying the fruits of her labor.

My two daughters have had friends in and out today to visit. My brother-in-law is also here visiting us. I love having people here.

A few weeks ago, I showed you the toes of a pair of socks that I have been knitting for myself. Well last night, at knitting group, I was able to complete the foot part, and now I am doing the heel of the first sock. I'm using a method that is new to me. It's called Fish Lips Kiss. Crazy name I know. It's become quite popular over the last few years though. It seems to be pretty easy. I'm halfway done. I'll let you know when I get it finished. I'm actually knitting two at a time. That's why my knitting looks kind of funny on my needles.

I've been listening to Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs. I'm also reading Mother Culture by Karen Andreola and It's Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa Terkeurst. I didn't realize it, but she was fighting breast cancer at the same time I was. 

Well, I just wanted to drop in and let you know what's on my needles and what I've been reading. I hope you have a beautiful day whether it's raining or sunny hot or cold.

By the way, I'm listening to Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible  by Liz Curtis Higgs for free on Scribd. That makes for thrifty reading.

Have a handmade, thrifty week! 

Laura

Laura Lane

on Goodreads

2019 

51 Finished Books

HarvestLaneLaura 

on Ravelry

Joining with Yarn Along and Crafting On