Why a Bucket List?

Why a bucket list? 

Because it can change boring and rusty 

to beautiful and fun!

MY SPRING BUCKET LIST 2018

  Last summer, after my diagnosis, I made a summer bucket list to give myself some things to look forward to so that it wouldn't just be the summer of chemo. It was a short list. It was still the summer of chemo, but I did some fun things, too.

  I then made one for fall so that it wouldn't just be the fall of mastectomy surgery. I was able to do some fun things, then, too. Same with Christmas and the winter of radiation. It was all to give myself something to look forward to and to keep my mind off my treatments.

  Nearly everything on each list was for enjoyment. My lists helped me make it through a very tough year. I can hardly believe that it's been almost a year since I found the lump. Believe me, I'll never forget the moment nor the date—April 22nd, 2017. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I knew I would never be the same. But God was there for me even in the moment and in all the moments that followed.

  God has been so good to me. I've still got months of treatments to go—IV Herceptin chemo treatments, lots of tests, at least two more surgeries, and long-term pills. But God will be with me every moment. My bucket lists will help me enjoy life along the way.

  Thank you all for being part of my prayer and encouragement team. God bless you richly!

 Hugs,

 Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

NOW GO MAKE YOUR SPRING BUCKET LIST!

Who cares whether you can finish it. You're sure to have fun! Don't forget to put blowing bubbles in your list!

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Chocolate Icebox Pie ~ One of Our Family Favorites

Chocolate Icebox Pie is a recipe that I received as a young bride. I cannot remember now for sure who gave it to me, but it went over quite well. It's quite easy to make and lends itself well to variations. 

CHOCOLATE ICEBOX PIE

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 c    butter
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c    chopped pecans
8 oz     cream cheese
12 oz   Cool Whip
1 lg     Jello brand chocolate instant pudding (or chocolate fudge)

pecans or shaved chocolate for sprinkling on top

FIRST LAYER:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Melt 3/4 c of butter and put in 13 x 9 baking dish.
• Add 1 1/2 c flour and 1/2 c chopped pecans.
• Mix well and spread across bottom of dish.
• Bake 20 minutes at 350°.
• Allow to cool completely.

SECOND LAYER:

• Beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1 c powdered sugar until creamy.
• Fold in 1 c Cool Whip and spread over crust.
• Refrigerate while mixing the third layer.

THIRD LAYER:

• Mix one large or two small boxes of chocolate instant pudding with 3 cups milk. Mix until thickened.
• Pour over second layer.

FOURTH LAYER:

• After pudding has set completely, put remaining Cool Whip on top. 
• Garnish with chopped pecans or grated chocolate.
• Refrigerate at least an hour.

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My Spring Bucket List 2018

As I am beginning to feel better, my thoughts are filled with ways to enjoy life. A year ago, I didn't know if I'd see another spring. I want to seize the day and enjoy the life God has blessed me with.

~smile~ 

My Bucket Lists help me to focus on the things that I want to do that aren't part of my daily routine.  I know I won't do it all, but it gives me ideas when I have a bit of time. They also remind me to have a little fun and enjoy the season! 

Here's my Spring Bucket List 2018.

• Write my Spring Bucket List

• Write my Spring Reading List

• Take a meal to someone recovering from surgery

• Enjoy a new Easter Lily - Thank you Lowell!

• Knit with friends

• Celebrate Resurrection Day

• Spend a few hours with an audio book and my knitting

• Food Truck Friday

• Pedicure 

• Finish Emily's quilt - I know, it's been on lists for ages.

• Talk to strangers

• Paint the Kitchen - with lots of help of course!

• My son's high school graduation 

• Knit a Sock Head hat 

• Sew with friends 

• Blow bubbles - great stress reliever

• Make some port pillows for the cancer center 

• Sonic happy hour run for peach water

• Destination unknown picnic

• Bake Ladybird Johnson's Lemon Cake

• Try a new pie recipe—maybe an old-fashioned pie or hand pies

• Enjoy fresh strawberries

• Start working on school plans for next year for (gasp) only one child!

• Real Estate Investing (Decluttering)

• Go to a few yard sales ~smile~ I'm looking for candles (love them) and a medium size glass mixing bowl. I used to give each child a dollar, and you'd be surprised how much they could get for a dollar. The youngest wanted hers in nickles! This is mostly something to do with the kids. I don't buy much

• Go to the drive-in with the kids... I couldn't go last year because of being sick from chemo.

• Flowers to enjoy outside the door 

• Plant some spring flowers in my window box ~ My family did this for me for my birthday!

• Picnic in the park

• Ice cream run with the kids

• Wash windows

• Make cookies for the kids on a rainy day

• Make strawberry jam

• Double Feature Movie Night

• Sew a new apron

• Sew a new skirt

• Invite friends for dessert

• Place wildflowers throughout the house

• Help Emily and Amy practice hospitality

• Invite friends for dinner

• Visit my friend, Laura, in St. Louis

• Celebrate my 53rd birthday on May 12th! The last year has taught me to be thankful for each year I have to love God and love others.

I may add or subtract as I go, but it's a start! My bucket lists inspire me and help me to enjoy life and get things done. I hope this list will inspire you to make your own list! I know some items will be passed on to my summer bucket list, but it is motivating!

What will you put on your bucket list?

Be blessed!

♥

~~~~~

ஐღLauraღஐ 

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

on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

Wonderful Wednesday
Grace at Home
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A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #124

Welcome to another 

Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God. 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!

Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!

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♥♥♥

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Hello!
  I'm feeling a bit better each day. I am excited for spring and hope that I can be more thrifty and productive over the coming weeks. I have a daughter who would like to learn to make strawberry jam, so I'll be watching for a good deal. My husband and I have decided not to put in a garden this year. He will be having knee surgery sometime in the coming months, and I will continue my Herceptin chemo treatments until the end of summer with surgery in the fall again. I do think we may plant just a few things in pots. We shall see. There are seasons for everything. We simply must be practical.

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♥♥♥

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Here's my thrifty blessed week!

• My daughter bought an 8 pack of wintergreen breath savers for me for $3.97. That's about fifty cents each. I've been buying them for around a buck and a half individually!  That's a huge savings. 
• I sewed the binding back on my son's blanket. 
• I met a friend at the coffee shop, and this time I got to pay. She's blessed me by buying my Chai Tea Latte in the past. It's just as much a blessing to give as to receive. Thanks for being my friend, Beth!
• Aldi had spiral sliced hams on sale for $.95 a pound. I bought two. I expect we'll eat one on Easter.
• Dear friends visited from out of town. Julia treated us to lunch at Panera to celebrate her birthday. Thank you Julia!
• A "secret admirer" bought our Sunday lunch at the restaurant. Thank you "secret admirer"!
• I received an email saying that I had been given a Walmart e-gift card. Thank you Michelle!
• I knit on Tuesday evenings with a group of stitch sisters at a coffee shop. I save money by purchasing iced tea instead of a fancy coffee drink.
• I donated a few hats to the chemo center last week that I made with yarn I'd been given. I'm learning new knitting skills and giving the hats away.
• I met a friend for lunch at Subway. I used a coupon for our lunches, then she surprised me by paying. Thank you Kelly!
• My husband took my daughter, Amy, to the catalog return store and bought a lot of clothes her and for him at 75% off.

That's my week.

What are you doing in your home this week?

Tiger is our dream kitty.
He's like butter in your hands and so sweet and affectionate.

~~~~~

♥♥♥

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May you find peace and joy this week 
regardless of  your situation.

ღLauraღ

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

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~

♥♥♥

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Thank you all for writing to me. I read every comment. I truly appreciate the support you've all given me during my treatments. If you'd like a response to your comment, please make sure that I have your email. I'm not taking time right now to copy responses onto the blog. I am having trouble keeping up. Please understand. Thanks! Laura

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♥♥♥

~~~~~

Grace at Home

How to Read a Blog from the Very First Post

Hello dear readers,

     Several months ago I decided to read my blog from the very first post back in December of 2007 up to the present.  I've been a bit hit or miss since I've felt poorly sometimes. I finally caught up this week. Have you ever read a blog from the beginning up to the present? If you have your own, I highly recommend it. It is also a great way to glean wisdom and get to know other bloggers. 

♥♥♥

How to Read a Blog from the Very First Post

     If you'd like to read (or skim) my blog, Harvest Lane Cottage, from the beginning, here's my very first post: A Cozy Christ Centered Christmas.

     After reading the post, just click on Newer Post. Read and repeat. After you've read as many posts as you'd like, simply bookmark the next page, and pick up from there next time you'd like to read. I put mine in the bookmarks at the top of my page. 

     I've read Mrs. White's blog, The Legacy of Home  and Aunt Ruthie's blog, Sugar Pie Farmhouse from the beginning. 

     I'm currently reading Karen Andreola's blog, Moments With Mother Culture from the first post to the present.  I am also reading Roxy Jones' blog, Living from Glory to Glory. 

      I highly recommend this practice though it takes time and patience. ~smile~

     Just a note, I'm feeling a bit better each day. I should be back to writing in another week or two. I don't want to put any pressure on myself. Thanks for being so patient with me!

     Be blessed in Jesus' Name!
     Laura
     Happy at Home
     Trusting for Complete Healing




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Thursday Favorite Things

Why You've Not Heard From Me

My Amy and Me

Hi everyone,
 I wanted to tell you why I've not been writing. As you may know, I finished radiation on March 2nd. What I did not expect is that my skin would continue to burn and get worse for a week or more, and I would be hit with fatigue.
 I'm now two weeks past radiation, and I am now feeling a bit better each day. The intensity of pain and burning has lessened a lot. I thank you all who have been praying for me.
 I hope to get back to writing in another week or so. I just haven't had the energy to write. I've rested a lot between the must dos of life.
 God bless you all! Don't give up on my blog. I'll be back!
Laura
Resting and Recovering

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ March 5, 2018

As I write ...  Monday night

The weather.... It was a sunny, breezy day. I just needed a light jacket when I threw the stick and walked with the dog in the yard.

Right now I am... writing to you before I relax and read. I just lit some candles.

Thinking... I hurt. The radiation burns are bothering me. I've got some burn cream and ibuprofen. 

A quote to share... 

♥♥♥♥♥

3 Reasons for Perseverance in Trials

 ♥♥♥♥♥ 

On my reading pile...   

• The Five Times I Met Myself  
• Consuming Fire

Favorite blog posts last week...  

• Motherly Advice... Achieving Your Life Goals... by Mimi
• It's Okay to Sit Down by Deborah Montgomery
• Roasting on an Open Fire by Karen Andreola

On the menu for this week...  I made Creamy White Chicken Chili from Northern Nester for supper tonight. Tomorrow and Wednesday I won't be home at dinner time. I haven't made plans yet for the rest of the week. 

On my to do list... 

• Rest and recovery from radiation.
• I just don't feel up to much else.

In the workbasket...  

• I'm knitting a plain vanilla white hat for the chemo center.
• I'm thinking about starting a Copy Cat C.C. Beanie with the new ChiaoGoo red circular 16" knitting needles that I purchased last week. I used Amazon credit that I earned from Opinion Outpost (referral link) for answering surveys. I earn credit there more quickly than at Swagbucks (referral link). I continue to use both, but Opinion Outpost is my favorite of the two.

Looking forward to this week...

• Tuesday - Knitting group at The Brew coffee shop
• Wednesday - Lunch with my friend Regina and church  
• Thursday -  
• Friday - Homeschool co-op 
• Saturday -  

Looking around the house...  "I can only do what I can do." 

From the camera... 

I've been thinking of my mother-in-love who moved to Heaven 4 1/2 years ago.
She was an excellent mother-in-love.
Judy Benson Lane may her name be blessed forever!

Devotional...   

• A Simple Devotion... Philippians 4:4-8
• Encouragement is a Seed

On my prayer list...

• Peace - I asked two ladies today what I could pray for them. Both said peace. Personal and country peace.
• Recovery from radiation. Burns will heal as will internal damage.
• Cancer will die the death in my body. My heart and bones will be protected from the medical treatments I'm taking.
• Protection and wisdom for our country's leaders.

My prayer for you, my reader...

Father God,
So many of us are lacking peace these days. Please help us to seek you and to be anxious for nothing as you tell us in Philippians 4:4-8. We want that peace that passes all understanding. I pray father that you will help us to find that peace in the midst of our circumstances. I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thanks for dropping by!
Please say hello.
Laura
Trusting in God's timing, provision, and healing power

Joining with Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday.
Homemaking Party
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