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 

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Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #151

Hello ladies, please read my note at the bottom of this post. 

I'm so glad you came by to visit me. I like to share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, frugal cooking, and my blessings from God. Keeping a record of the ways that God provides and the ways that I am resourceful truly builds my faith. I encourage you to keep a record, too.

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Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage!

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~ I sewed more tinkle wipes—this time by hand, because my machine was not cooperating. I need ball point needles, but I am making do. I used some mismatched thread that someone gave me in a portable sewing kit. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. The dark 6x6 squares are from my husband's old t-shirt. The light gray is from my old skirt. I've worn it for well over ten years—maybe even fifteen! It was worn out, so now it is repurposed! The wipes that I made last week have already saved us at least one roll of toilet paper. After all, my two adult daughters still live with us. ~smile~

~ I used a seam ripper to harvest the old elastic for use in a future home sewn skirt. That will save me a few dollars.

~ My daughter was reading her Bible and learning about God's provision. While she was yet reading and praying, one of my friends rang the doorbell and gave her these things! What an incredible blessing! Thank you Miss Shannon.

~ My daughter and I used a buy one get one free coupon as Tropical Smoothie Cafe through the drive-thru.

~ I spent about $8 at Goodwill and bought Amy a skirt and me a new burgundy shirt. I had been looking for a burgundy shirt for me.

~ I sewed even more tinkle wipes—this time by hand again. I think I probably have enough for all us girls now. ~smile~ I call them tinkle wipes or tinkle cloths since we don't use them for messy things. ~wink~

~ Strangers came to the door with three bags of groceries from Aldi. All things I would have bought myself! Good healthy items. They said they were from Sharon. We could not track down the person who sent them. If you're reading this Sharon Thank you! Thank you God!

~ I finished my multi colored socks. The yarn was given to me. I don't know what brand it is. I also cannot remember which friend gave it to me. If it was you, please let me know!

~ I used the leftover yarn to make an earbud pouch for my daughter.

~ I had an extra bag of flour that I was able to give when my neighbor mentioned her need. God replaced it the next day that my husband went to the store. It wasn't a thrifty thing, but it felt good to give. We need to help each other any way we can right now.

~ Thrifty Real Estate Investment: we threw away two broken frames, a couple empty cardboard boxes, and gave away five bags of clothes, one box of clothes.

~ Bought 80/20 chuck at the butcher for $2.79 a pound

~ A friend brought us a package of toilet paper

~ I'm knitting an earbuds bag with leftover yarn from socks I made with yarn given to me.

~ I am reading The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch which I received for review.

~ My daugther didn't need her brakes fixed after all, so she saved a couple hundred bucks.

~ My husband did our adult kids' taxes and saved them money.

~ My husband found a bigger tableware container that works great. It was on clearance for $2.49.  It was a great investment in organization.

~ Amy planted seeds for a garden.

~ My husband and girls cleaned the yard up themselves and mowed.

~ My husband's old keyboard and mouse died, a friend just got new ones and gave him the old ones.

~ Staying home saves money!

 Do not give in to fear about circumstances. God has not given us a spirt of fear but power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

 We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philipians 4:13

 This is the time to get in God's word and pray. 

 You may give share prayer requests with me in the comments or by email.

God is so good.

Praise God!

Keep calm and pray on,

Laura

Blessed to be a blessing

Do you like my blog?
Please share!

This post may have an affiliate link for Amazon. 

#thriftythingslately

#athriftyweek

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Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

So Important I Should Address It... But I Hesitate to Add More to The Internet... My Thoughts on Corona Virus

Hello everyone,

 I've not written about the Corona / Covid19 virus. It's at once so important that I feel like I should  address it, and so over talked about and written about that I don't want to add more to the internet about it.

 So, you all know the things you should do to protect yourselves. You've been told by everyone from the President to your mom and dad.  So, I don't really have anything to add to the prevention conversation.

 You've heard all the reports that are alarmist and that incite fear and fear based buying. I don't have anything to add there.

 You've all either seen empty toilet paper and cleaning aisles, or you've heard about them. I've already told you about sewing my own tinkle wipes and making super quick and cheap laundry detergent.

 You've been told to stay home to help level the curve, if you're sick, etc. We all know lots of things to do at home.

 So, what do I have to add?

 Fear not... Isaiah 41:10

 Do not worry... Philippians 4:6-7

 Be at peace... Philippians 4:7

 Trust in the LORD... Proverbs 3:5-6

 You are not alone... Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10

 Be strong and courageous... 1 Corinthians 16:13

 You can do all things... Philippians 4:13

 Jesus heals... Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24

 You can walk through the valley of death without fear... Psalm 23:4

 Control your thoughts... 2 Corinthians 10:5

 Think on these things... Philippians 4:8

 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." 

 Go ahead. Take the time to look up the verses. Use them to fight the battle in the spirit and in your mind. Lastly, remember that God is Jehovah Sabaoth... Lord of Hosts... He is fighting this battle for you. Pray dear ones. Pray.

 God bless you all and keep you safe in Jesus' name. 

 Sincerely, 
 Laura Lane

Shared at:
Homemaking Party

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #150

Hello ladies, please read my note at the bottom of this post. 

I'm so glad you came by to visit me. I like to share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, frugal cooking, and my blessings from God. Keeping a record of the ways that God provides and the ways that I am resourceful truly builds my faith. I encourage you to keep a record, too.

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage!

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♥♥♥

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~ Ham and beans and cornbread for supper then leftovers

~ I made 3 quarts of Super Cheap Super Quick Laundry Detergent.

~ I am knitting socks with yarn that was given to me. There was no tag, so I don't know the fiber content or the company. I am having fun with these colors.

~ I'm using the Fish Lips Kiss pattern for the heel which has resulted in perfectly fitting socks for me and for my husband. The pattern is only $1 on Ravelry.

~ I am saving so much time and avoiding impulse purchases by using Walmart's free pick up service! I encourage you to give it a try. Please use my referral link to sign up. It's free, and you get $10 off your first order, and I get $10 off my next order if you try it.

~ I signed up for Casey's convenience store rewards program and received a free slice of breakfast pizza.

~ When I bought drinks at the convenience store, I brought my own cup.

~ Mr. Lane and I went out to McDonalds after church, because we had to get right back to church to help with the Baldnobbers' concert. We each ordered the $2 double cheeseburger and fries and $1 iced tea. Lunch for 2 for $6 plus tax. Good in a pinch. ~smile~

~ I worked my part-time job. It's helping me add to our savings account, buy some necessities, and save for a wig. I've currently got my eye on Voltage by Raquel Welch in SS10 Shadow Shades Chestnut. I look forward to going to a local wig shop in a few weeks to try it on and see if I need the large or not. My hair just never grew back in correctly in the front after chemotherapy.

~ I mended some of my family's clothing.

~ I've packed my lunch each day that I work. It's been simple food:

• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with grapes
• Egg salad sandwich and grapes
• Tuna salad sandwich and grapes or applesauce
• Simple salads
• I also carry water and sometimes iced tea from home.

~ My son changed the filters and oil in our cars saving us about fifty dollars.

~ My daughter and I enjoyed buy one get one free smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

~ I wore the skirts I made recently to work. I wore this one with a black sweater that I've had for maybe 15 years.

~ I made even more Super Cheap Super Quick Laundry Detergent. My cocoa recipe is in that Gooseberry Patch book.

~ After being unable to purchase toilet paper, I used some old t shirts to make reusable wipes for tinkling. It will make the paper I do have last longer.

 Sometimes, there are going to be times that we cannot buy what we want or need. Maybe it's because we do not have enough money, the money we have needs to be used for something else, or maybe the product we want is not available. This is the time when our resourcefulness and prayer will pull us through. We need to pray and think about what we do have and how we can use it to meet our needs. The more resourceful we are, the better we live. 

 Do not give in to fear about circumstances. God has not given us a spirt of fear but power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

 We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philipians 4:13

 This is the time to get in God's word and pray. 

 You may give share prayer requests with me in the comments or by email.

God is so good.

Praise God!

Keep calm and pray on,

Laura

Blessed to be a blessing

Do you like my blog?
Please share!

This post may have an affiliate link for Amazon. 

#thriftythingslately

#athriftyweek

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I Can't Believe It Happened in My Hometown

!!!!!

 No dramatic photos. Just complete amazement. I went to Dollar General tonight, in what I've thought of as my sensible hometown, and the toilet paper shelves were bare. Completely bare. I thought it was only happening in cities. Fortunately, I still have a few rolls left. Tomorrow, I'll be looking through my fabric and old t-shirts for fabric to make wipes. I've known about family cloth for years, but I've never done it. 

 I hope this is not a portent of things to come. I don't watch the news much, but every time I do, someone's panicking or causing panic about the Corona virus. I do wish that people would take this seriously but not panic. I'm not nearly as worried about the virus as I am about the hysteria that's surrounding it. Call me naive, but even as a cancer survivor, I will just practice good hygiene and wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands. I will also be careful around others who show symptoms of illness just like I would with other illnesses.

 So, tomorrow I will make cloth wipes for tinkling and pray for our country and our world.

 Bless you all, keep calm and pray.

 Laura

Spring is Breaking Out All Over

The signs of spring are everywhere here in Southwest Missouri. My teacup tree is budding, the dog is lying in the sun on the back patio, the cat is sunning himself out on the front walk, the grass is beginning to turn greener, the hyacinths are coming up as are the tulips, the daffodils are blooming and so are the crocus.

My daughter and I enjoyed sitting on the front porch talking this morning, and I had to go in because the sun was so hot on my legs that they felt as though they were burning. We've had our share of rain, but today the sun is bright and the sky is blue with pretty puffy clouds dotting it with shades of white and light gray. They are the sort of clouds I used to enjoy as a young child when I lay on my back on the merry-go-round looking for shapes. Did you ever do that?

I've had a bit of a time adjusting to working outside the home after so many years. The work itself is good. I have the opportunity to help the doctor and to help my husband in a monetary way. He doesn't require it of me, but it's helping us through a lean time financially. My contribution is helping to rebuild our savings, to pay for gas and groceries, and for a few extras, too. I don't know if it's long-term, but it's what I believe God has for me to do right now. Mind you, my youngest is in college, so I'm not neglecting children, but my house is showing some neglect. Perhaps some of you working ladies can offer me some advice for balancing work out with work at home.

Well, I need to go now. I'm leaving you with a few photos. I'm reading Ishmael Covenant, and I plan to have a review ready for you by the end of the week. In the meantime, please enter the giveaway here. The giveaway is sponsored by the promotional company.

Have a wonderful week ending, and please share any tips you have with me about combining working in town with the housework at home.

Be blessed everyone!

Hugs,
Laura

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #149

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, frugal cooking, and my blessings from God. 

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♥♥♥

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Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage!

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♥♥♥

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Hey y'all!

Let's catch up a bit shall we? Here are some of the thrifty things I've done lately.

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

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~ Rather than call an exterminator,  I made a batch of this ant poison. It took care of the problem in a matter of hours.

~ I made this skirt using a pattern that was given to me years ago and fabric that my friend Michelle at Ozarks Sew n Sews. 

Thank you Michelle!

~ I mended the neckline of my red sweater to extend its life another year.

~ YouTube is a great place to learn new things for free! I have been watching a few videos about jelly roll rugs. I really need some rugs in my new home. They're pretty, but they want you to buy a jelly roll ($40+), ($12), a pattern, special needles and thread. That's over fifty dollars for something that is going to look like scraps and rags, and it's going to be on the floor! Not exactly thrifty. But, in watcing the videos, I found one about making a clothesline rug. That's new to me, but it's actually old-fashioned.  Here's the video I found by Olmzara's Calm. I really like the look, but the price is amazing! You can use a jelly roll if you want, but you still would have to cut it into 3/4" strips. 

~Using the video, I decided to practice the technique using some scraps of paracord that my son left when he moved out. I also used some scraps from the skirt I sewed earlier this week. I ended up with a little trivet. It wasn't easy, but the second one is going much better. I find that the hardest part is wrapping the fabric around the cord. I hope it will be easier with clothesline.

I decided to practice with scraps of paracord.

I wrapped the cord with strips of fabric left over from making my skirt.
I am using wooden clothespins as a thrifty alternative to Wonder Clips.

I zigzagged the cord in a cinnamon roll fashion.
Result: 2 nice sized trivets or mug rugs.
Total cost: $0

~ I cut my husband's hair and saved $25.

~ I made spicy lentil soup for supper. 

~ I made two quarts of Super Quick Super Cheap laundry detergent. 

~ I found a little antique cream pitcher that was my mother's to use to measure the detergent. I love how old-fashioned it makes me feel. I use 3/4-1 cup per load.

~ I used Dawn dish detergent directly on stains. It worked well.

~ I only wash clothes when they look dirty or smell dirty. This helps them to last longer. It also cuts down on laundry and energy use.

~ I cut up a towel and made cleaning cloths. I zigzagged around the edges to prevent fraying. Fewer paper towels to buy and one fewer towel in the land fill. Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do or Do Without. Another version says Make it Over. I've been doing my share of that this year, too.

The rags are on the left, and the things I mended are on the right.
That's a pair of sleep pants on the bottom.

As you can see, I've been making do and making over lately.

God is so good.

Praise God!

What have you been up to this week?

Laura

Blessed to be a blessing

Do you like my blog?
Please share!

This post may have an affiliate link for Amazon. 

#thriftythingslately

#athriftyweek

#harvestlanecottage