Pear tree lane Farmhouse

~Welcome home~

This blog is dedicated to my dear family who live many miles away, and to you dear ladies , who have a heart for keeping the home fires burning. You, who love and cherish your family, and have a desire to create a home that says "Welcome, you are loved and cared for."

My desire is that when you leave that you will be encouraged and know that you too are loved.

Sue~

Five special treasures & surprises

Written by Sue, Saturday, Nov.26, 2011                                Beautiful day, sunny temps. 70
I hope your Thanksgiving Day was filled with many blessings, we had a beautiful, quiet Thanksgiving, it was spent relaxing and just being "thankful".

Yesterday, I worked on decorating for a very "special birthday" that will be coming soon, One that the whole world celebrates too. Since this is such a special celebration, I like to really spark things up around the  Farmhouse. I want Him to look down and see the lights shining, both inside and outside, to see how we celebrate His birth, but mostly to see my heart shinning for Him!

I know you know whose birthday we are celebrating, It is the most special person in all of our lives, "Jesus" is just one of His names, but that is the intimate name I call Him.
~Jesus is the Father's gift to us~
Isaiah 9:7~ For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.
I will be telling you more about this celebration soon,  showing how we decorated, and celebrated for His birthday....

For today, I want to share how my day was so special yesterday...

I don't go shopping on Black Friday, never, ever,

besides I have a birthday to get ready for, and time is passing swiftly. ~smile~ As I was decorating  Mr P. went to my sister Judy's to winterize her home, she has been widowed for 10 years, Mr P. helps look after her home and rental property.

I get a call from him about 1.p.m. telling me he is on his way home, he also asks me if I have eaten lunch, he knows when I get busy,  I don't take time to stop and eat. I kinda hee hawed around and admitted to half of a peanut butter sandwich. His reply "you have got to have more than that, guess what I have for you?" I love the Chicken Thai salad from Penera Bread, yep. Does he know me or what?


That's not the end of the story... After giving me the salad, he goes back outside, comes in with his arms loaded with these...

Wait! Wait! the story doesn't end here. He points to the driveway and there sits these two guys, all smiling at me... And to an avid gardener, you think you have hit pay dirt.


And  there is still more to my story,.... and this tops the cake, while I was taking the picture,of my urns he places this by the tree.... It's an antique oak rocker.. Oak is one my favorite woods.

Such amazing details, the curved seat, and the etched carvings.
OH! if this rocker could talk, what stories she could tell. I wonder how many babies were rocked in this chair, or how many times a lady sat reading her bible and having special quiet times with Jesus. I wonder how many times she has knelt beside it and prayed?
Last but not least, Mr P. gave me this sprig of mistletoe, to which I gave and received  a kiss!


Now where did he get all these gifts? The salad we already know where it came from, but the poinsettias came from Lowe's. It seems Mr P. needed more caulking and while there he saw they were  99 cents each, and couldn't resist. A man outside Lowe's gave him the mistletoe, but Mr. P gave him $1.00  for it. I have to be real careful if Mr P. hears me say I would like to have thus and so he will somehow try and get it. Lucky for him I am not a diamonds and BMW gal.~ LOL~  Hmmm, maybe I need to rethink this.

The garden urns and the antique oak rocker came from sister, she told him she just wanted to get them out of her way. "Out of her way" why my name is "Jimmie", and I will take all that you "gimme". Did I tell you it came with a new chair pad?

 She happily sits by the fireplace in our bedroom, where she is much wanted.

They say someones junk can become another's treasure,  I am so thankful for my special treasures!..


The gifts definitely are special, but the thoughtfulness of my dear sweet husband means more to me than any words I could pen. I am always awed by the greatness of "God", and how he chose this man for me. It is not about things, though I enjoy the beautiful things he provides, but about relationships. It would have been so easy for him to have gotten his caulking and left, as I know he was not thrilled about being in the holiday shopping rush. Mr P. knew I enjoyed a certain salad, antiques and always plants, he has taken the time to get to know me as I have also taken the time to get to know him, thus our relationship is bonded and strong. We "KNOW" each other.

Isn't it this way with our Savior, Jesus, He desires this same type of relationship with us, one where we intimately "know Him", You see, He already knows us, but in order for a relationship to bond closely it takes two. My desire is to "know Him" more intimately than ever. As I plan for this upcoming special birthday celebration, may I continue to keep in my heart that "Jesus is the real reason for the season".

May your hearts be overflowing with His joy and with much Thanksgiving, as I am truly thankful for you.
Sue

A personal note to our son #1 who reads this blog...
Though You are many miles away, you are in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers. I remember, as if it was yesterday, holding you in my arms for the very first time and looking into your eyes and you looking back at me, our bonding which began months before continues to this day. A very "Happy Birthday Wish, Dear One". we miss you so much.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Written by Sue, Wednesday,Nov.23, 2011            cloudy, cool, but still a beautiful fall day!
 Hello  Everyone, a very Happy Thanksgiving Blessing to all!!


This year is more special to our family than ever, we are so thankful that our mother survived a car accident last Thursday. She was on her way to an appointment, when a guy using a cell phone rear ended her car. Folks, please do not drive and use a cell phone.... We are now not talking with our children while they are on their phone while driving!
photo.JPG

photo.JPG

Our day had started out as usual, when the call came from the hospital, we spent the day in the ER waiting for all the tests to be completed. Mother had a cut over her eye, and a mild concussion. They told her that by the third day every bone and muscle would be screaming for help..... Didn't happen, she went back to work the next day, and kept her schedule of having her family over to her home for her  annual Thanksgiving Day dinner. How awesome is our God!!!

I always enjoy coming to my mother's home, it is like a doll house filled with all kinds of whimsical toys. You see Mother says she is never going to grow up, and I don't blame her, it is more fun being a child,  Mr. P. and I have joined her , thus we all have decided not to grow old.

Mother  decorates for Christmas early, my Dad once told her that she didn't give Thanksgiving a chance. Her reply was, "Oh  but I do, I am "Thankful for Christmas' ~smile~


Before our blessing, Mother played a love song to us sung by Miss Red Hat teddy bear...

Always football they are watching, they are Panthers fans! The Panthers lost!
This is called a "Just Wonderful" cake, and I want you to know it is just wonderful!~yum~
 Getting every thing ready....
Do you see that lady in red standing over her family? What a remarkable lady she is, after having an accident three days before that totaled her car, she was now serving her family a big dinner. Two days after her accident I called her at 6:30 in the morning, (I knew she would be up lol), and she told me she had been up since 4 a.m. and had already baked two cakes, and vacuumed her upstairs.
There was much reflection and a lot of "Thanks" around  out table Sunday.
A few years ago, we started our  set of Christmas china, by Lenox, we are trying to get our set completed before Lenox does like everyone else... stops making it here in the USA.. Each year Mary and Steve  give us a place setting, since they would not be back until Christmas they decided to give it to us Sunday.
These two guys are my Mother's only and best sons in love. They love her so much and would do anything for her. They both call her each night to say goodnight.
 My sister Mary, Mother, and Moi... Mary and I  have always been friends, we double dated in high school, shared our clothes, makeup, not to mention all the secrets we have shared, throughout our lives,  we always pick up where we left off, that's  one way I measure true friendship!



This month has been one of a lot of soul searching for me since joining the Giving of Thanks Challenge. I have always thought of myself as a thankful person, but this challenge has caused me to become more aware of my many blessings given to me each day by my heavenly Father. Something as simple as a song bird singing as I walk each day, finishing a job, and realizing that I could not have completed it with God's help. Most of all knowing that God is protecting my loved ones!

I kept a list, but had not posted them on my sidebar, because until today, I dared not touch my computer. For almost two weeks I haven't even gone near it, not that I didn't want to, but I knew if I opened it up I would be on it for hours, so I chose to put it away, as I was on a mission, plus we have had the most spectacular autumn, yesterday it hit 80 degrees, and I enjoyed and savored every moment, Today is a different story. ~LOL~

What mission you might ask, ( I get easily sidetracked),... it was to clean my home from top to bottom, dry my herbs, do some baking..... mission was completed Saturday at 4 p.m. Oh! I heard  the computer calling my name over and over, but resisted. I thought of everyone, and wondered what you were doing, I also prayed for specific ones who had asked for prayer....

Now that the farmhouse is all spic and span, let the decorating begin. ~Smile~

Thinking  of you as you gather around your bountiful tables tomorrow, while you too give "Thanks".
Sue
Psalms 89: 1~I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. 

Oh! what a beautiful morning~



Written by Sue, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011                     Beautiful fall day, sunny, warm 70's


For scrubbing the porch,.. Our autumn keeps getting better and better. It has been a very long time since we have had a beautiful fall, like this one. It makes up for all the scorching, hot weather we had  this summer.~grin~
"Mommy, are we really going to clean the porch today?"  "Yes Lucy we are."  "Oh! boy! I can help!!"




Mr P's job was to scrub the ceiling, outside eaves and rails,   my job was to clean the wall, floor, and windows.
"this really looks like helping Lucy!!" "I didn't know you were going to use soap and water!!" says Lucy. She absolutely is allergic to soap and water, ....so she says.
All finished!! it took us most of the day, but so worth it!
WE need to put the furniture back on, which I did, but forgot to take a photo. Now!!! on with the decorating.. soon!!! I  like to have the porch clean before decorating for Christmas, yes, I said Christmas.~smile~ You know it will be here before we know it.

I have also been busy this week with cleaning and fluffing the inside, very slow with this too(only one room completed) ~lol~, if I don't soon hurry, Christmas will have come and gone. still lol


 For today, I am so thankful for beautiful autumn weather, and a clean porch!

So how was your day? I hope it was filled with many blessings.

Giving thanks for you today,
Until next time,
Sue
1John 1:9~ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Does it fit?

Written by Sue, Monday Nov. 7, 2011                             Beautiful absolutely beautiful, sunny, temps. high 60's


BTW~ I have five watches in here and yesterday, I found out not one works! Get some batteries," Sue~
What's the last thing you put on when dressing for the day? For me it is my jewelry, my decorations if you will! ~smile~ I go to my vanity, and pull out this drawer. Just costume jewelry, except for one valuable piece, I so wishfully looked at, wanting to wear it but couldn't, because it just wouldn't fit my finger anymore......

Some years ago Mr. P. gave me a gold wedding band for one of our anniversaries, as the years went  by, and I began to gain weight, I finally had to take it off, he offered to have it resized, but I opted not too, thinking " I am going to lose this weight." The years went by, with no significant weight loss,  I would go to my vanity,  and from time to time try and place it on my finger with no luck. That is,.... until yesterday.

As I reached in to pick it up,  I wasn't asking for a magic wand, just the fact that I had lost weight over the summer. I drew a deep breath, and said "Lord please let it fit! If you could only imagine my anticipation! Guess what? It fit!! I was doing a happy dance!! And this was just as we were getting ready to leave for church service. Talk about my thankful list growing!

Mr P. was in the other room doing what he always does... waiting on me!~lol~ I didn't say anything to him, but while driving to church, I took my hand and kind of flashed it before him, he looked puzzled at first, but on second glance saw the ring, smiled, grabbed my hand and held it tight. Sometimes words are just not needed!!
For today I am thankful for a special ring that fits!

May your days continue to be filled with much joy and peace in Him,
Giving thanks for you today,
Sue
Psalms:105:1~ Oh give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

To all of you who take the time to come by, and read these meeker words from my heart that  I try and place here, I am truly humbled! 

~A perfect ending to a perfect day~

Written by Sue, Sturday, Nov. 5, 2011                                 Sunny, windy, fall day, temps. 50's
I am a little late with my Thankful post! It is Saturday and we are kind of  lay back today. This is a followup on yesterday's post, as I have lots of Thankfulness in my day.

While I was out planting the pansies, Mr. P was gathering  leaves, with his leaf raker, he, riding, me, walking.~smile~ He empties them near the edge of the garden, and then we burn them, to make potash.

which is very good and needful for our soil. Oh! he explained everything to me last night, but I won't bore you with the details., as I have a hard enough time trying to make my post  shorter. ~lol~

He knows I like an outdoor fire,

 So he called from across the way, and asked if I would like to make a campfire. He made three fires, eventually the ashes will be spread across the garden.

 Before  he could turn his hat  around I ran in the house, and came out with this... roast beef sandwiches with homemade Italian tomato soup., He has coffee, I had, Candy Cane Lane tea,yum!!
We ate, we talked,we played...Look at him and Lucy... My husband has the strongest arms and his hands are large from working with them all his life. He often tells me stories of his early childhood.... They heated their house with wood, and when he was a young boy it was his job to get up early before everyone else to build the fire.
~Lucy testing dh's strength. They are truly bosom buddies~
The guys and girls just have to get in on the action too. Talk about trying to be alone for a romantic campfire, you can forget about it here at the farm.~grinning~ Can you see our ducks on the pond?  They were eyeing us too and later joined.
For today... I am thankful for"the perfect ending to a perfect day"
As I was walking away I looked up and saw the moon looking down, making it even more special!
Giving thanks for you too,
Hugs,
Sue
Psalms 118:24~ This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Beautiful in God's eye~

Written by Sue, Thursday Nov. 4, 2011                                       cold, rainy, temps. 50's.
am thankful for a beautiful, fulfilling day of gardening

Our perennial gardens have been put to bed, to sleep for the winter,  just in the nick of time, we had our first killing frost Oct. 29th. I love flowers, living where we do we are able to have some type of flower blooming year round. Pansies are my favorite for  fall and winter. I love their delicate faces,

they have such a sweet aroma.Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny, fall day.....

So...what does a farm girl do on a beautiful day like this... Buy and plant flowers of course...



Oh! beautiful! pansy that you are, 
you bring me much joy, 
 your face so shiny and bright 
as a morning star
written by Sue~smile~
Being an avid gardener, I study the plants that grow in my gardens. I like to look deep into their little faces, I see God's handiwork in every detail. If God took the time to create such beauty in plants and trees, how much more beautiful are we in His  eyes, for we are even more Unique, because we were created by Him in His own image. How Awesome is this !!
~May your days be filled with much beauty and joy,~
Sue

Genesis 1:27~ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Much thanks to Leah for hosting Giving Thanks Challenge! It is still not to late to join! I would so love to read your thankful list.

~A Godly example of aging gracefully~

Written by Sue, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011                                                       beautiful sunny day, temps. 60's
Just what is.. "aging gracefully"? (Notice I didn't say "old" lol). I have fought the words, old, senior, for quite sometimes. I know you have heard "you are only as old as you feel." This is so true, but what God is teaching me is that aging is a fact of life, That I am to embrace it with more vim and vigor than ever, but to do it "gracefully" And He has given me a beautiful example.
~Christmas is Mother's favorite holiday, and she always comes bringing me gifts~
One of the reasons I have fought getting older were the outward signs I saw, wrinkles, my hair graying, I didn't want to look old, and then there were the new aches and pains!....  I had been focusing on the outward, God wanted me to focus on the inward.... through many talks with Him lately, he pointed me to a woman that I know so well,.... My Mother, she defines "aging  gracefully"from head to toe. Not only from her outward appearance but to her "Inward spirit". Yes, she has wrinkles, the graying hair, the outward signs are there, but beyond these outward signs, is "grace"beyond words.
~no words, just love~
~simply-love~

~We had so much fun sewing these pillow cases, four generations sewing together that day.~

~Teaching the girls how to put icing on a cake, the proper way~grin~~

On a recent visit as I was sitting in her living room, I saw a woman who has embraced getting older with enough vim and vigor for all of us. Soon she will be 84, takes no meds, works 4 days a week, has a mini bakery in her home, crochets, sews, and has one of the most creative minds ever. Her secret...She loves her God with all her heart, and her family. But one thing I noticed is she always has a "thankful spirit" example... When I call her, I will ask her how she is doing, her reply is always "I am doing well, "thank the Lord".

As God is using my mother to teach me how to "age gracefully" I realize she doesn't do it verbally, but by example. And now as I am embracing my own "aging gracefully", my desire is that one day my children will be able to  say, "I know or knew a lady who knew how to "age gracefully".

"Thank you Heavenly Father for teaching me how to "age gracefully", by a lady who loves you with all her heart and "gives thanks" to You everyday.
For today, I am so thankful for a "Godly example of aging gracefully".

Giving thanks for you too,
love,
Sue

1Peter 3:3-4~ Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Thanking Leah at South Breeze Farm for hosting Giving of Thanks Challenge, and for all of you dear friends who come by for a visit.

~Keeping the sweetness~

Written by Sue, Wednesday, Nov.2 , 2011                             Sunny beautiful temps.60's
I have always thought and tried to be a thankful person, I was taught this early in my childhood, by Godly parents. I joined "Giving Thanks Challenge" for several reasons, one being, I knew it would cause me to pause, and  have more of an awareness of just how many blessings I am given each day. And I am only into day two and this is happening. If I named every thankful gift I was given today it would fill this page over and over......

My day two of "Giving Thanks Challenge" is simply this...

"Tuesday date night"...


Tuesday is a special day in our household, it is the one day of the week set aside for "Us". Why Tuesday? you might ask, I don't know why, it just fell into our schedule. Sometimes we take the whole day off, but most Tuesday evenings we go out to a favorite inexpensive restaurant way out in the country. We live in the country, but this place is Way in the country. Sometimes we just stay home with dinner  and a movie. We started this many years ago, early in our marriage, and it doesn't cost much. When the children were small, and funds were short, we would take some time after they had gone to bed,
Photo Elenna Madson

 to sit, talk, with coffee and a snack, and one of my favorite things to do is to put some oldies music on, music that we grew up with and dance, yes, we like to slow dance, even now after all these years.

If  I have any advice for young as well as older married couples, it is to keep the "sweetness" in your marriage, by...
taking time for each other. If only for a few minutes.  No matter how long you have been married, marriage is something you work on each day. There may be  days when you don't feel like it, but you still have to persevere. The rewards are worth it.

So yesterday on a beautiful autumn Tuesday,  Mr P. decides we will leave early and do some site seeing, taking the long way around.

When I was a child, one of my fondest memories was, seeing my father, while driving, reach out and take my mother's hand, and seeing them glance at each other and smile. He would drive for miles holding her hand, not  a word spoken just a loving gesture. I now know how special my mother felt, as Mr P. does the same with me. There is just something about a loving touch.
photo John Slobinik
I was not disappointed, the trees were ablaze in all their glory, ( I forgot my camera), I saw silos set against the setting sun, farmers gathering their fall crops, and house after house decorated for autumn with pumpkins. Red, orange and burgundy wreaths on the doors beckoning all to stop  come in and enjoy some  southern hospitality. Now one might say, "Sue you live on a farm why would driving in the country thrill you so?"..... Simply this,.... "I was with the one I love and adore"
Giving thanks for you today,
Sue 


Psalm 95:2~ Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;Let us shout joyfully to Him with Psalms.