My Daybook... May 11, 2015

Read other Daybooks.

FOR TODAY May 11th...

Outside My Window... 
spring greens and a blue sky with puffy clouds peeking through the trees.

I am thinking...

about growing older. Tomorrow is my birthday.

I am thankful for...

A cozy safe house to sleep in.

From the kitchen...

 I'm not feeling hungry this morning. We ate too much celebrating Mother's Day. I'll have to keep the kids out of the carrot cake my husband made. It will make a nice dessert tonight. We'll eat eggs for breakfast, then I'll have to decide what else to make today. I need to make menus for the week and do some shopping.

I am wearing...

my black dress.

I am creating...

nothing today except, hopefully, this week's menu plan. I'll be doing too much going.

I am going...

I need to take my husband to work, my son to the bank, my son to work, return library books in the next town, pick up my son, pick up my husband, make a quick dinner, then go to my class tonight. I'll be in three different towns. Twice in each. Because of the times I'm required to be in each, I can't combine them. It will eat up gas big time. It also wears on me, but we only have one vehicle. I'm the family's designated driver.

I am reading...

Beauty by the Book, Walk Across the Room, Called to be Amish, and Trim Healthy Mama.

I am hoping...

to begin sorting and decluttering in preparation for listing books for sale and maybe even a yard sale.

I am hearing...

my David Nevue station on Pandora. It's soft worshipful piano music. It's playing through my ear buds as the house is still and quiet.

Around the house...

My teenagers will be homeschooling. I need to tally hours, check grammar, and do my own homework for class.

One of my favorite things...

Candles. My son gave me a big one with a holder for Mother's Day. I love red, and my daughter bought me red coffee mugs. My youngest daughter painted a picture of our cottage. I'll probably share that with you soon. My eldest told me he'll have a surprise for me later this week. My husband cooked me a delicious breakfast and terrific dinner. He ordered pizza for lunch, too. Add that carrot cake and ice cream for dessert, and you know why I'm not hungry this morning!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Catching up on school paperwork... cleaning... sewing... cleaning...and decluttering for a yard sale.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Now, go check out the other Day Book entries at our hostess Peggy's blog, The Simple Woman.

God bless!

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Happy at Home

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #38

Hello Ladies!

Can you believe another thrifty week has come and gone? Spring is in it's height of beauty. We've had quite a few of these little dandelions popping up in our side yard. Do you remember the delight they brought as children? Oh how we loved their sunny brightness and puffing at their fluffy seeds and wishing. How do you see them now, glorious or annoying? It's all in how you think about it, isn't it?

Living a thrifty and frugal lifestyle can be a challenge or a pain. We get to decide. How do you look at it? Honestly, I look at it both ways. I'm doing my best to see it as a rewarding challenge. My thriftiness allows me to be a homeschool mom, and it allows my husband to do the work he wants to do. Here are some things I did this week.


~  I received a DVD that my kids have been wanting, Everafter, for $.49 + 1 credit from Swap a DVD. You can join for free.

~ Oatmeal is always a simple low-cost breakfast.

~ My children found lots of yard sale treasures for good prices.

~ I found a new Black and Decker food processor for $5. Now I just have to figure out how to use it!

~ I found out that a book I'd like to read is available at my local library. Now I just have to wait until it is checked in.

~ My son put up a clothesline for me on the porch. I don't have poles, so this was a frugal option for me. I tried to buy clothespins at the Dollar Tree, but they only had plastic. I'll probably check either Dollar General or Wal-Mart. I'd love to buy these Classic American Clothespins someday. They're pretty pricey, but the quality would be worth it. I expect they'd be the last clothespins I'd buy. I've been through several packages of the cheaper variety.

~ A friend loaned us her rototiller. That saved us about seventy dollars. Thank you, J!

Well, that's a bit of my week. I do hope you have a lovely weekend!

Laura
Happy at Home

A Simple Lunch

Mixed greens
Roma tomatoes
Red onions
Lemon juice




I'll add a wedge of light Laughing Cow style cheese (Aldi brand) and a baked sweet potato with a teaspoon of butter for an Energizing lunch.


Be blessed!
Laura







Fabulous Party

Encouragement and Comfort from God

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic?" Phil. 2:1

I think that having friends is one of God's most loving ways of giving us encouragement. Friends can give a listening ear, a word of encouragement, an understanding nod, a compassionate hug, a card or letter at just the right moment, a gentle word of reproof, just being there during a difficult time. Our best friends speak our names in prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us be that kind of friends. Speak your friends' names in prayer.




Fabulous Party

Today at the Cottage...Living and Loving This Life a Little at a Time

My family is scattered today. So, for me, on this lovely day at home and about...  

A little Bible...  I listened to several Psalms on Bible Gateway. I am currently using the Geneva Bible. That's the version that the Pilgrims used.

A little errand running...  I took Lowell and Michael to work at Royal Delights.  

A little treat... lunch out with my daughter Emily of Teen for the Lord.

A little cleaning... just a general clean up. I also have been rearranging my room over the last couple of days. I still have some things to put away or declutter. 

A little cooking...  While at the restaurant, I learned that Lowell needed oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies made. So, I mixed them up and a dozen of each went into the oven before I came home. We bake them fresh as needed. They joined his cherry pie, cinnamon rolls, and more cookies. He worked late last night making two coconut meringue pies, but they sold first thing this morning.

A little reading...  I'm going to begin reading Fear and Faith. 
It's my newest review book.



A little computer time... 
 E-mail, reading a few blogs, and a little writing.

A few minutes of relaxation, no doubt with a book, then a little sleeping.

Laura
Living and loving this life a little at a time.

This post was featured! 

Just Popping In...

Just popping in to say good morning, good afternoon, good evening, or good night! It's 4 H season, so much of our time has been spent taking our three not-so-little ones to meetings. My son found this strawberry pop and shared it with his sister.

Strawberry pop was one of my childhood favorites. Fanta and Shasta had their place, but it was Nehi that I liked best. An ice-cold bottle of grape or orange Nehi was refreshing, but my favorite was strawberry.

Isn't it interesting how a flavor can bring back the days of our youth? What flavors remind you of your childhood?

Time to get busy, have a beautiful week.

Laura
Feeling a bit nostalgic

My Daybook... April 27, 2015 Turkey in a Toga Recipe

Join us at The Simple Woman!

Dear Ladies,
It's now 8:42 a.m. I wrote this post in the middle of the night last night. I will be getting busy in a couple of moments, but I just wanted to say good morning. I was able to sleep a few more hours, but only after listening to the book of Job on Bible Gateway for awhile. 
God bless you!
Laura
~~~~~
Outside my window... 
 darkness and quiet. It's rarely quiet here because we live near a big highway. Not too many are driving in the wee hours of the night. It's just before 3:00 a.m.

I am thinking...

 about the love of God. I am in the book of Job right now.

I am thankful...

 that I have Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit to turn to when I feel overwhelmed or fearful. Thank you God!

I am creating...

 nothing right now. I've been doing a lot of reading in snatched moments.

In the kitchen...

 nothing's happening yet this morning. I expect I'll make eggs or oatmeal for breakfast. Tonight for supper, I'll be making Turkey in a Toga. It's a favorite at our house. When our children were small, we read A Roman Ransom aloud. This was a new recipe I tried at that time. Turkey Wraps sounded boring, so I called it Turkey in a Toga. They loved it.

Turkey in a Toga

• Wrap in a tortilla:
• Paul Newman Caesar dressing
• Romaine lettuce leaves
• leftover baked turkey
• red onion slices
• roasted red pepper pieces

I am going...

 to my study group tonight at church. We're studying Beauty by the Book.

I am reading...
several books, but today my focus will be Beauty by the Book. I've a ladies' study tonight at church, and I've not finished my homework.

I am hoping...
 to go back to sleep for awhile soon. It's now 3:04 a.m.

I am learning...
 I'm in two classes at church, Beauty by the Book by Nancy Stafford and Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels.

In my garden...
 my Amy planted some pretty flowers, mint, and a zucchini plant.

In our homeschool...
 just continuing.

From the boardroom...
Follow Laura's board Pinned It Made It on Pinterest.
 
A favorite quote for today...

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your path." 
Proverbs 3:5-6

A peek into my day...

A view from my computer as I look to my right.

 One of my favorite things...

  Sleeping all night long.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
  driving for 4H meetings, church Wednesday evening, a trip to the library.

Have a wonderful week!

Laura

Happy at Home

A favorite link... 

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A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #91