Pleasure in the Simple Things

Sunny Daffodils

Mixing Up

Chicken and Dumplings

 A Gentle Thunder Shower

Soft Music 

Laura

Blessed 

to be a

Blessing


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You might enjoy... 
Pinned It Did It ~ Feeding the Wood
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Anything Goes

Thrifty Kitchen... Frugal Self-Rising Flour

Self-Rising Flour

4 c flour
2 t salt
2 T baking powder

Mix well and store in an airtight container.
Use in recipes calling for self-rising flour.

Whether you want a frugal option, or you run out of self-rising flour, this is a good make-do option.

Laura

Stock image from jupiterimages.com

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You might enjoy...

Plan for Making and Doing This Week & Funny Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

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Anything Goes

Monday in my Cottage... A Little Busyness

Dirty laundry... everybody's got it!

It's been a busy Monday in my little cottage.  Homeschooling and homemaking has perks.

A little Bible reading...  I've listened to Hebrews chapters 1 through 10 so far today. I also looked up some scriptures in Ezekiel and Jeremiah.
A little reading... I'm reading Blood Moons Rising by Mark Hitchcock.

A little cleaning...  Today just some general clean up and a couple 100's. That's a story for another day.
A little laundry...  Just coming off a week of go go going!  Time to catch up.

A little baking with my Amy...

A little spelling...

A little history...

 A little cake decorating practice...

 A little birdy...

 A little knifemaking...

A little book sorting and organizing...

  A little writing...

A little E-mail...  It's a great way to keep in touch.
A little blog linking... I link posts with these blog hops on weekdays.
A little keeping the home fire burning...

Laura
Living and Loving this Life a Little at a Time

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May I suggest...

My Faith and My God: Do You Fear the Future?

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Done... For a Few Minutes Anyway

Hello Dearies,

     It's Saturday afternoon.  The shopping's done, the family's all busy, it's not quite time to make dinner, the house is tidy, and the laundry is folded... until the next load gets dry. ~smile~ It's just the time to pop in and say a quick hello.

Thank you Amy for this lovely photo.
Click it to see her encouraging blog.

Hello!

     These lovelies are in our garden proclaiming the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  I know it's supposed to be spring. The sun is shining brightly, but I have a fire in the woodstove.  I've just felt so cold all day.  Soon though, I'll be wishing for air conditioning, so I'd best not complain. ~smile~

     Are you seeing the sun where you live?  I've heard of ladies who are still getting snow.  Another lady, Miss Amy of God's Grace Overflows, told me that they are having brown outs because of the dust.  She asked for prayer.  She's from Colorado.  Do join me.  There are many areas who are still having drought conditions.  Our loving God listens when we pray.

     Well, that's my quick hello.  Do have a wonderful Lord's Day.  He loves you completely.  Reach out to Him expecting.  He's waiting.

Blessings,
Laura

Trusting in the Lord

Welcome Spring!

I'm loving the color that's popping up in the garden. Just days ago I was enjoying the last snow of Winter. Yesterday, I enjoyed iced tea instead of hot tea at Starbucks. ~grin~  I went shopping with my good friend Deb for some new clothes for the new season yesterday.  What fun!  It's literally been years since I've shopped for clothes with a friend.  Now I wonder why.  I'm typing this late at night.  By the time you read this, I'll be off on my first yard sale adventure of the season.  This at the insistence of my children.  Homeschooling has its benefits.  We often start school a couple of hours late on Fridays so that we can hit the garage sales.  How do you enjoy the early Spring days?

Blessings,
Laura

Grateful for temperatures that are climbing gracefully

Taking a Little Break for Teen Talent

Taking a little break to support my little Teen Talent contestant, Emily.

She's a beautiful singer, dancer, and a natural performer.

She'll perform on Saturday.
Oh how I love this girl!

You may visit her blog and see how she dresses in a "Pretty Thrifty" modest fashion and about her relationship with Jesus.

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May I suggest?

Who is Jesus?

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Blessed Among Women in My Own Generation

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Love, it's what makes the world go 'round, or so they say. Who are they? I wonder. Perhaps it is. After all, the Bible states that God is Love. A scientist might say things about gravitational pull or "An object in motion tends to remain in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." I'm no expert about things like that. I'm not even a scientific novice. I'm just me, Laura, a gentile woman who has been saved by grace by my faith in my Lord Jesus Christ, the living Son of God.

I've thought often of the immeasurable love God has for me. Mary, Jesus' mother spoke of having been blessed among women. I have been blessed among women in my own generation.

I married my high school sweetheart almost 29 years ago. We've loved and lived through very tough times together. We're holding out for the better, the richer, and health!

I have four healthy children. That's twice the average number in America. I have a double portion. ~smile~

Even though I didn't grow up in a Christian home, I was chosen for God's pleasure. We all are. I just chose to respond and say yes to Father God even though I was so frightened. I think we, as Christians, forget how frightening God can be until we learn of and experience His loving forgiveness. Ah, being frightened of God...sounds like another post for another day.

Blessings from God to you all,
Laura
Loved of the Lord

Saturday

 

On this lovely day....  A cool day with a light rain.


A little Bible...  I'm reading and listening through the book of Acts.  I keep track of where I'm at with the chronological reading plan checklist on You Version.  I'm ahead of schedule.

A little reading...  I'm reading The Four Blood Moons by John Hagee.  

A little family time... Just finished supper.  After it's all cleaned up, we're going to watch a new movie, When Calls the Heart: Lost & Found.  I'll let you know what we think.

A little computer time...  E-mail and a little writing.

A few minutes of relaxation, then a little sleeping.

Laura
Living this life a little at a time.

Tuesday at the Cottage... Just a Little

On this lovely day.... Sunshine, a dusting of snow, and cold.

A little Bible...  I'm reading and listening through the book of Acts.  I keep track of where I'm at with the chronological reading plan checklist on You Version.  I'm ahead of schedule.

A little errand running...  I've run two this morning already and have a couple more today.  Sometimes they just cannot be combined.

A little cooking...  Kai Si Ming, a ground beef and cabbage soup, is on the menu for tonight's supper.  It's a family favorite from the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook.  I have three meetings this evening starting at 4:00 p.m.   Emily made it for me.  She's such a good cook.

A little reading...  I'm reading Balanced by Tricia Goyer.  Just a couple of chapters to go.

A little teaching time...  Helping my son with his writing.

A little computer time...  E-mail, linking a few posts to blog parties, reading a few blogs, and a little writing.

A lot of meetings... two with my husband then my monthly homeschool moms' support  meeting.

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.

 

Reading & Reviewing & Balancing

     I think I got a bit too enthusiastic way back in December.  You see I received several generous offers to review books that looked really interesting.  The trouble with reviewing books is that they take awhile to read.  There's also a problem if the reviews all come due during a relatively short period.  Oh my!  I looked back on my blog and realized that I've been writing a lot of reviews lately.  I do enjoy reviewing, but a newcomer might not think I write anything else!

      Well, the deadlines must be met, so over the next couple of weeks I'll be reading and writing.  I'll try to share some of the other things we've been doing at the Cottage, too.   Ironically, I'm currently reading Balanced by Tricia Goyer.  It's about balancing working at home with family life, household responsibilities, homeschooling, and outside responsibilities.  She has me thinking.  I need to rethink some priorities.  I definitely need to do some balancing.    ~smile~

      May God bless you for your support and patience.  I love all the comments I've been receiving lately.  My momma always told me not to talk back, but I love it when y'all talk back to me!

      Have a terrific week.  I'll write again soon!
          Laura
         Working on my balance!

Review: The Hero's Lot by Patrick Carr Book 2 of The Staff and The Sword



Thank you Bethany House for this review copy.

Last summer, I read one of the best books ever.  It was so enthralling, I declared there has to be a sequel!  This is that book.  Have you ever felt a compulsion to read one more paragraph, one more page, one more chapter?  This is that book.  It's a book to hide in for hours if possible.  Just warning you!  You'll be up too late if you start this at bedtime.  You'll forget to make dinner if you begin reading late in the afternoon.

The tension builds throughout the story, drawing you farther and farther in.  So many little mysteries and secrets arise leading you toward the next chapter.  Martin, Luis, and Errol, travel through new lands filled with danger, making new alliances and discovering enemies as they attempt to fulfill their own compulsions and untangle the gnarled and twisted sedition in the Conclave.

If you've not read A Cast of Stones, start there.  If you have, you already want this book.
The Hero's Lot is second in the Staff and the Sword Series by Patrick Carr.  Read my review of the first book, A Cast of Stones.

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From the Publisher:  With the King Near Death, Will the Kingdom Fall?"When Sarin Valon, the corrupt and dangerous church leader, flees the city of Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But he and his friends still have dangerous enemies working against them in secrets and whispers.

In a bid to keep them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom, and in that journey they discover amazing new secrets about the workings of Aurae.

Back in Erinon, Errol is unjustly accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon and kill him. To enforce their sentence, the church leaders place Errol under a compulsion--he must complete his task, or die trying."

Meet the author Patrick Carr.
*"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."