Something to Think About…Precedents

Precedence…. What does that word mean to you?

I looked it up on http://www.dictionary.com/. As I was looking for definitions, most were related to law precedents. That tells me it’s a pretty strong word. I am most interested in the first definition that the American Heritage Dictionary presented:

“An act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances. “

This is the definition that has been a guiding thought for me. In the past, my family has been much more affluent than we are currently. Nevertheless, I have always thought about the precedents that I am setting with my children when we give gifts for celebrate special days and holidays. For instance, even when we could afford it, and wanted to give my children their first bicycles, I would not buy such a gift for Christmas or a birthday. We don’t give many big gifts; we never have.

During the year, I look for gifts that I think they will enjoy. I put them away in a box until their birthdays, Christmas, or an I Love You day. Because I don’t give big gifts, they don’t expect them. Because I don’t give them often, they are thrilled when they receive one.

We are smack dab in the middle of birthday season at our house. All three of my little ones were born within three weeks of each other.

Last week, my daughter turned 7, I spent a grand total of about $8.00 at yard sales, over the last few months, for her gifts. She likes Winnie the Pooh. I was blessed to find a Pooh jewelry box, a Pooh plate, and Pooh pencils, along with some other things. Her big wish was for a jump rope. God so graciously provided a new one for her. She was so happy and so thankful.

This week, my son turned 9. I spent a total of about $5 on his birthday gifts. We were blessed with a big box of hotwheel tracks that we gave to the kids about a week ago. Michael is enjoying it so much. He asked for Hot Wheels, he actually requested that brand, for his birthday. So, off to Dollar General for a shopping trip. His sister and I found five of the coolest Hot Wheels cars and wrapped them up. Each of our family chose one to give to him. I also had a top and a beanie baby hedgehog for him. To make it extra special, my oldest daughter hid the gifts. She and my oldest son then made clues for Michael to follow to find his gifts. Periodically throughout the day, I would say, “It’s time!”; and, we would wait as he hunted for a gift.

He had so much fun!

The point to all this is that we must be careful of the precedents we set. Christmas is coming. It may be time to set a new precedent for gifts. If we talk with our children and relatives ahead of time, maybe we can make better choices that will allow us to enjoy the season, and the Savior, more this year.

See the bottom of my sidebar for a countdown to the Christmas season. I find that after December 1st, we’re too busy or rushed to really think out the preparations; that’s when things just happen.

Let’s think ahead, plan ahead, and do ahead this year.

God bless you!

Laura

Just Rambling… Autumn Thoughts

This post began as a comment to Miranda’s blog, Life on Hackberry Road. See her link in my sidebar. She’s having a give-away to celebrate her first anniversary of blogging.

AUTUMN THOUGHTS

I love Autumn. It has long been my favorite time of year. We live in Carthage, the Maple Leaf City.

Fall means the Maple Leaf Festival and the biggest parade in the four states.

Fall means pumpkins! A few years ago, my husband and I lived in the country and had a pumpkin patch. I loved everything about it. I loved seeing the baby pumpkins as they formed and grew. I loved harvesting them. I loved selling them and the craft items I’d made. The name Harvest Lane came from our farm, Harvest Lane Farm. I’d been Laura of Harvest Lane on-line for awhile; so, when we moved to town, we called our home Harvest Lane Cottage.

Fall is apple cider with mulling spices, chai tea, cocoa, missing our wood stove, soup simmering on the stove, bread baking in the oven, the smells of pumpkin and cinnamon coming from my oven or my favorite candles.

Fall is snuggling up with a good book while I listen to the rain falling outside, thankful that my children are gathered around me.

Fall means walks with my children, looking for pretty leaves.

Fall means school in the park. We love setting up on a picnic table, enjoying the weather, and then playing when we’re done, or during “recess”.

Fall means planning for Christmas gifts, sneaking in a little Christmas music while I’m working, and creating for for friends and family.

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

Looking forward to my favorite season.

Late Summer Things….

We’re doing late summer things today…inspired by the cooler evenings we’ve been having and preparations for Farm Girl Fest.

You can read more here.

Have a great day…busy…busy…busy!

Laura

A Late August Morning…

It’s a late August morning….
Here’s what we’re up to this morning:

My littlest, Amy is coloring and cutting out pumpkins in anticipation of Autumn decorating. ~Art~

My next, Michael, is reading a science book. ~Science~

My Emily is cutting up apples and making apple pie filling to freeze. ~Home Economics~

I am cleaning the office. Oh, how things do pile up! My husband is out of town today. He works from home part-time and travels to a nearby city part-time. I want to make our home office more restful and peaceful and tidy for his eyes. ~Loving my Husband~

Later today, lessons for the children, checking some assignments for me, and a little sewing or crafting for the Farm Girl Fest and my shop. I’ll be adding new items soon. ~Home Teaching, Home Business~

Just trying to keep busy and be productive!
~smile~

Blessings!
Laura

Farm Girl Fest

Inspired by Mary Jane Butters of Mary Jane’s Farm….

First Annual Farm Girl Fest

at Fox Fire Farm in Carthage, MO

Saturday October 4, 2008

10:00 a.m. to dusk

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Free Admission

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crafts, food, music, demonstrations and more

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For more information,

call Caitlynn Morris

@ (417) 793-6108.

Vendor booths $20.00 Deadline Sept. 20th.

My dear Friend Mrs. M, her daughter, Miss C, and I were talking one evening about how we’d like to put some of the things we’ve been making in a craft fair. Mrs. M and Miss C had already checked into the entrance fees and found them prohibiting for us. After much talk, and sharing of ideas, they decided to have a Farm Girl Day at their country house. Enter my husband, who knows who’s who around town. He called a local, famous artist, Lowell Davis, about using his wonderful Red Oak II. He, Mrs. M, and Miss C discussed it; and now, we’re having it there.

It’s going to be a lot of fun. If you live near SW MO, or just want to travel, please join us.

God bless!

Laura

Applesauce, Fresh Milk and Pressing Matters

In regards to comments recently received….

The red hots applesauce sounds delectable. I loved red hots as a child. I wonder if you can buy them this time of year. I always thought of them as a Valentine’s Day candy.

I am so blessed to have a friend with a cow. She’s been so thoughtful to share a gallon with me now and then. When we get back on our feet, I’ll buy from her more often.

I’ll share about Farm Girl Days soon. It’s a craft fair my friends are putting together. It’s going to be great fun.

I enjoy sharing my prayers of thanks to my God and my King. Jesus Christ has made such a change in my life. I don’t know what I’d be had I never met him and surrendered my life to Him.

If you know Him, press in! If you don’t know Him, press HERE.

If you are grieving over the loss of a friend or loved one, press HERE.

There is One God and Only One God in Heaven. He cares for you and is reaching out to you in love and mercy, in compassion, with His offer of salvation. He wants to save you from hell; but He also wants to change your life here as well.

I’m a little preachy tonight, I know. It’s just on my heart tonight. I have to follow the Holy Spirit. Someone who is reading this might just need to know what I’ve been writing. I know it’s the Spirit of God; because, I planned to write about Red Hots Applesauce and fresh cow’s milk. ~smile~

God bless you all!

Laura of Harvest Lane
Blessed Beyond the Stress

Thankful Thursday….

Good Day Ladies,

You just get to listen in to my thank you Jesus prayer this morning!

Thank You Jesus!

…for my home

…for my little kiddles

…for my big handsome nearly grown son

…for the love of my life, my Lowell

…for cool weather that reminds me of Autumn

…for bargains at the grocery store

…for a little girl that is thankful for birthday gifts from yard sales

…for good friends

…for blogging friends who help me learn to be content and resourceful

…for Laura Ingalls Wilder books that first sparked in me a desire to do it myself

…for fresh from the cow milk from a friend

…that I am still learning new things

…that as I learn, life seems to fit together better in my mind

…that YOU LORD never leave me nor forsake me.

THANK YOU LORD GOD!

Bless you all ladies. Take a look at more thankful posts over at Sting My Heart.

Laura

Thankful to Be a Child of the King

Apple Butter City Style….

Hello Everyone,
I had a question about making apple butter on my last post from Miss Carol.

“Hi there. Thanks so much for sharing your life…I so enjoy reading what you write! I have a question for you….is making apple butter quite impossible for someone who doesn’t (unfortunately) live in the country and pick her own apples?? I love apple butter, but have never ever made it. I also don’t have a recipe…help? “

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Well Miss Carol, I’m not sure I’m the one to answer this! The truth is, I usually cheat a bit at making apple butter. I don’t live in the country right now, but in a small town. Even when I did live in the country, I didn’t have my own tree. We have gone apple picking at an orchard before; and that’s just so fun with the kids. It’s not always possible; and, it’s a lot of work. So, here’s how this small town girl cheats a bit! ~smile~

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Apple Butter City Style

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First, I buy one of those great big cans of apple sauce, the kind that the restaurants and large families use. Sometimes I’ll buy two if I feel like making a lot.

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Next, I open the can, pour it in a big pot, and start heating it up over medium heat, stirring often.

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While it’s heating, I go to the freezer and get out my cinnamon and cloves, and sometimes ginger and nutmeg. The most important spice is the cinnamon. I use the others if I have them on hand. I also get out the brown or white sugar. Either one works; but, I like the flavor of the dark brown sugar best.

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Now, here’s the part that makes me blush a bit. I don’t measure anything! It makes it really hard to explain how to make it. I just pour in a bunch of cinnamon, a little bit of cloves, nutmeg, and and a tiny bit of ginger. How’s that for measurements? ~smile~ I also add a lot of brown or white sugar, until it’s as sweet as I like it. ~blushing again~ I guess you’ve guessed that I taste as I go! I do use a clean spoon though, in my defense.

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While I’m in the kitchen paying attention, I keep it on medium low and stir it occassionally. If I’m going to be about the house, I put it on the lowest heat and stir it when I walk through the kitchen. I just continue to simmer it until it gets thick and dark and delicious, adjusting sugar and spices until it’s just right. It takes hours.

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When it’s as thick as I like, I ladle it into jars and usually freeze it because I have plenty of freezer space. It can be canned; I just haven’t done it. Consult the Ball Blue Book for instructions on that.

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Well, that’s about all I can think of. Oh, here’s an idea your family might like. When you make cinnamon rolls, use apple butter instead of butter, cinnamon, and sugar for a filling. My family likes it.

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We have to do what we can, with what we have, where we are.

~

Blessings,

Laura

Happy at Home

Bags and Bags and Bags

of Granny Smith Apples!

Last night our family went apple picking. Boy did we go apple picking. We have several bags of apples covering our counter and on the floor just waiting to be processed. We were blessed to be able to pick the trees of a couple of ladies who didn’t want to use their apples this year. We came along at just the right time. Did I hear God calling us that way? ~smile~

So, I’ve been a peeling and a coring. My little kiddles have helped me, too. It’s so nice to work on something old fashioned like this with them. I’m taking a little break to get some of them cooked up.

What am I going to do with them all?

To start with, I’m making apple butter. After that, maybe an apple crisp. After that? Maybe apple pie filling. But first, apple butter. I’d like to make a whole lot of it.

It’s been a long time since we had to drop everything because of a harvest. I miss the farm, that I do. We were there just a couple of years; but, it changed us somehow. Now we long for a little land again. It’s that cow/chicken thang, ya know?

God bless you and happy harvest!

Thank you Lord!
Laura
Up to her elbows in apple peels!

Something to Think About… A Few Ways to Enjoy Homemaking

1. Light a candle by your sink as you wash dishes.

2. Listen to worship music, classical music, or something you love as you work.

3. Clean one area or room at a time. Declare it off limits when you’re finished with it.

4. Take frequent breaks to do something you enjoy for just a few minutes.

5. Use cleaning products that either smell great or are homemade.

6. Be thankful for what you have. Thank your husband and the Lord for what they have provided.

7. Start looking at yard sales and thrift shops for things that fit in with what you would like your home to become. Oftentimes, you can find things that are just perfect.

8. Think comfort in all you purchase for your home. Some styles may be pretty; but, they’re not always comfortable.

9. Determine to be thankful for what you have now.

10. Ruthlessly get rid of the things that you don’t need or enjoy.

11. Smile!

12. Pray while you iron.

13. Invite someone over. It’s great motivation; and, God tells us to be hospitable. It’s also fun!

14. Make time in your day for doing something you enjoy…knitting, sewing, crocheting, writing, reading, whatever it may be.

15. Place your favorite chair near your husband’s favorite chair. Reach over and hold his hand.

16. Seek friendships with ladies who enjoy homekeeping.

17. Try new recipes regularly.

18. Make useful things for your home and for your family.

19. Make things homemade as often as possible. There’s such satisfaction in it.

20. Take time for tea!

21. Use it up; wear it out; make it do; or do without!

This list is for me, too. I do some of these things, but not all of them. I’m looking for ways to enjoy homemaking, too. I’d love to hear your ideas.

Just Something to Think About….

Blessings to you all from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ….

Laura

Learning to Enjoy Homemaking More and More

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