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~

~The gift that keeps on giving~

Written by Sue, Thursday, February, 2019     sunny, mild, what a great day, 70

That gift is love, I John 4:11~ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

I've been busy today making  gift baskets for friends who need a little cheering up. Here are  a few ideas, for making these baskets. I am calling these my spring baskets and you will see why. I will make three baskets with plenty left over.

We always need some whimsical, to make us smile, blowing bubbles, stuffed animal, small figurines,
 an Easter cube puzzle.

 We must always be practical too, tissues, and hand sanitizers.
Lets not forget to freshen our rooms, love these fragrances for spring.

Whimsical socks to keep our tootsies warm.
 Alway, always something to snack on, healthy first and then some sweets.

Shower gel and cream are nice gifts too, great sale!
We must have something to read, I found these at the Dollar Tree, so wonderful.
 A special mug, with encouraging words, that can remind the person of who they are, and that they are going to be fine.
 More whimsy for sure, aren't they cute as a button.~smile~
Homemade cookies are so nice with either tea or coffee in the new mug. I finally finished baking yesterday, and have plenty of packages to mail, they are all going over the USA, (grandchildren and children.)

Number one is completed and will be delivered this afternoon,, My dear friend had back surgery, this week, after having a head-on collision over a year ago. She is doing well! But still has a lot of surgeries ahead of her. Prayers for a quick recovery are needed. Remember, only one is to be opened each day, and NO PEEKING!~WINK~

I am off to finish two more to be mailed.

Personal note:
I have so much fun finding items, wrapping  and giving them, but why do this one might ask? Because I have experienced prolonged illnesses, and each gift of love meant so much to me.

The items in the basket, are not expensive at all, and if you know me, I'm such a bargain hunter, every thing was on sale, I love nice things and I wait until they are on sale.

This has been such a busy work week for us, we have accomplished so much! Having a break in the weather has been such a blessings.
May your day be filled with many  blessings.
Sue

~Monday Morning Musings~

Written by Sue, Monday, February 25, 2019     sunny warm, 70 so happy to see the sun again today.

I do enjoy my slow cooker, I can  put some meat in and it cooks while I am doing other things, I can even go out and work in the garden, or walk.





Remember the pork roast I bought on sale, last week, very little fat, after rubbing with mixture of 1/4 tsp.ground ginger, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder,1/8 tsp thyme, salt, pepper , I browned it in pan on all sides, then into slow cooker, mix and pour over it with 2 cups chicken broth, 2T. lemon juice, 1 T soy sauce

 I found and tried this recipe from Trish Yearwood, Slow Cooker Pork Loin, simple and I must add it was so delicious.

And that gravy was so delicious, and easy peasy., pan drippings with cornstarch!

While the pork loin was cooking I decided to make some cookie dough to bake this morning, or freeze,  think I will bake half.


More cookies, for mailing, and gift giving to put in another gift basket that I will be making this week. I found out yesterday that a neighbor was having surgery this week and thought  she might need some cheering up.

You probably think all I have to talk about is baking cookies and making gift baskets, I suppose you are right. While discussing this with Mr P yesterday, I jokingly said to him that in my old age I want to be known as the "Gift Basket, and Cookie Making Lady." ~wink~

I made three different recipes, Barbs recipe, go to this link here Soft Sugar Cookies, I have been wanting to try this for a while, and finally got around to it., can hardly wait to taste them. I so enjoy Barb's blog, she and I have been friends for a long time here in blogland.

#2 was Snicker Doodle, my first memory of this recipe goes way back, when I was a young busy mother of four children and needed homemade goodies for school,and other activities, there was a sweet lady in our community that had a bake shop in her home that came to my rescue more than a few times. ~grin~

#3, is a recipe called Ranger Cookies, that I took and changed to fit my notion, (I do that a lot) we shall call it Sue's Ranger Cookie recipe, not very original, is it. I couldn't wait to try these so I baked a dozen, my professional Cookie Tester gave them an A+, You know who my professional cookie tester is, don't you, of course, Mr P.

What a welcoming sight for me this morning, it has been quite a while since seeing the sun streaming into my kitchen.

The weather has taken a change for the better, as soon as I bake some of these cookies, I am off to the green house.
May your day be filled with many blessings.

Love,
Sue

~Sunday thoughts~

Written by Sue, Sunday, February24, 2019        sunny,milder 60's giving thanks for the sun shinning

Took this photo recently at sunset, I love walking by the barn when the animals are eating, they are so quiet,except for the munching and crunching.~smile~

~Expounding on memorization of scripture~
This has been life changing for me. 
One of the most amazing things about memorizing scripture, and researching them, is, its begins to sink way down into our spirit man, causing us to search even more, Case in point, One of our recent memory  verses was short and straight to the point. Proverbs 7:2~ Keep my commands and live; and My law as the apple of your eye. ~sela~

Notice commands is plural, law is singular, We decided to run reference on law, which we thought we already knew,  Luke 10:27~ So he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." A very familiar verse to us, we decided to add this to our memorization book.

We study even further, going  up a few verses to see who is quoting this, it was a lawyer who had asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Where upon Jesus answered him by asking  him a question, (Jesus did this a lot, I believe to cause us to come face to face with our own self)
Luke 10:26"What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"

After the lawyer quoted from the Old Testament, Jesus sums it up for the him, Luke 10:28~ and he said to him, "You have answered rightly, do this and you will live."

I love how Jesus always responds in a way that causes each of us to think and evaluate our lives. I know I do each and every time I open the Living Word.


May your day be filled with many blessings,
Sue

Happy Friday evening. dear friends.

Written by Sue, Friday, February 22, 2019_       cold, rain, temps. 40's
My proclamation of no more playing this week,  didn't follow through, this has been a week of errands, shopping and finding some great deals, I sured played a lot.

Yesterday while at Lowe's Mr P found this beautiful camellia bush, nothing would do but that he would buy it for me. You see I have been wanting a camellia bush for quite a while, as matter of fact, years.~wink~ They are so pretty and can be enjoyed in the winter and early spring. I offered to help plant, but Mr P wouldn't let me, I think he just wanted his picture taken. ~wink~ The bush is loaded with blossoms, I am sure going to baby this plant.
While at Tractor Supply I found these led lights on sale for $2.49, I like these lights because they have a timer. I  have quite a few scattered about the house, along with let candles. I love coming home in the evening with the house lighted in soft lights.
I placed these in the guest bathroom, in a tin tub, with a few absolute musts in a guest bathroom.
We never know when we are alone in a bathroom what need might arise. I like to have available flushable wipes,
 along with Mr Doo,  a led candle just makes it more like home. They look so pretty on mantles, and in flower arrangements.
A few magazines too!
The next great deal was finding these cuts of meat, on sale, all natural, free of growth hormones, antibiotics
 Chicken washed, placed in freezer for quick freeze, and then into food saver bags.
 Pork loin, going into slow cooker tomorrow.
I am estimating five or six meals, at a cost of $3.25 for two, per meal.

For sure this has been a very busy week, not what I had planned but, a good One. I have more deals to share, I think you might like them~Wink~

 I am still enjoying my bouquets, from Valentine's Day, (yes, I received two more last week from our children.)
Today I went through them and made one.
I am going to let you decide,.... Am I spoiled or just loved a lot!!

Blessings, 
Sue

~I love to play~

Written by Sue, Tuesday, February 19, 2019       cold, rain, temps. 40

I  played on my computer this morning, trying to catch up on visiting friends here in blogland, to all those I visited today it was such a joy to see what you have been up to. I always leave so encouraged, and motivated! I also learn so much of where you live and of your  beautiful lives!

 About 12 o'clock I put a whole organic chicken in my crockpot., that just happened to be on sale. So simple, a crockpot makes a chicken so tender. It was busy cooking while I was baking, we worked so well together. ~smile~

 Last week one of our granddaughters called to say hi, and in the course of our conversation she just happened to mention how much  they enjoyed the cookies and jam we had sent them at Christmas, and that they had just finished the last jar of jam.`~wink~ so I promised to send them more as soon as possible, along with a batch of cookies.

 I love to bake, especially on rainy, cold days, today was just such a day..



I made three different kinds of cookies, Sinful Oatmeal,

Look at all those goodies mixed together, no wonder they are called sinful!

Christmas was the first time I had made these and they have become my family's favorite,  here are the ingredients. I try and use organic or all natural as much as possible.

1 cup butter; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 1/3 cup white sugar; 2 eggs; 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1tsp.baking soda; 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon; 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oatmeal; 1 cup raisins; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1/2 cups chopped pecans; 1/2 cup sliced almonds.
Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time, vanilla, mix well; add flour, baking soda, mix, add oatmeal, raisins, nuts mix well, the batter will be thick, drop heaping tsps. spoon full on parchment lined pan, bake at 350 10 to 12 minutes. Enjoy!

I made my old standby Chocolate Chip,  these used to be number 1, I have a secret ingredient in all my recipes,...LOVE!


Per her request, granddaughters favorite, Pecan Melt Aways, very simple ingredients, so delicious, not real sweet, I made extra that I will dip in chocolate tomorrow. Cookies are like people, they come in all shapes and sizes, unique, one of a kind!

I enjoyed playing today, but playtime is now over and I have got to do some serious housework this week, My dining room is begging to be cleaned and decorated for spring, yes I do start early as it takes me so long. It's and age thing,  something I haven't wanted to admit for a long while~smile~

Blessings,
Sue

~A Little of this and a little of that~

Written by Sue, Monday, February 18, 2019              rain, temps. 60's

Tis the season for a pot of soup, we have been having our typical winter weather, I had been thinking about vegetable soup for a few days. Once the house was cleaned Saturday, I made a fairly large pot, thinking it would last us at least a few days. 90% of the veggies that went into making this soup were grown and preserved here at the farm. Therefore it is so much easier to make, just add browned ground beef with onions, and simmer.

When Susan found out that I had a made one of her favorite soups, she asked if I had extra, and you know how we mothers are, we love doing, and giving to our children. So off this jar went.



We are so proud of her accomplishments while overcoming some very disappointing situations. Here she is speaking at her graduation from nursing school, she earned her BSN, and is now working on her Masters.

 Susan loves helping her dad with farm chores,  Here she is helping with the cleanup from hurricane Florence.

She always loves hanging out at the barn with the lambs."You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."~smile~


Today she starts a new job, assistant nursing coordinator at a rehab facility, she is very happy, because administration is her gift. She is so organized and is such a people person, the organization she gets from me, being a social butterfly, or people person  she gets from her dad.They both have never seen a stranger ~LOL~ 


That's about all for now, today, we will be going to one of my favorite stores to get farm supplies,(Tractor Supply) then out to lunch at my favorite country restaurant, (remember someone else is having my soup today.)~wink~ I have a few other projects on my to-do list too!


Love, 
Sue

Happy Valentine's Day

Written by Sue, Thursday, February 14, 2019.           sunny, cool temps. 60's

Hope your day was filled with many blessings.

This is how we spent our Valentine's Day, we called and invited my Mother  to her favorite restaurant for lunch, she accepted as she had an appointment at the hair salon at 1 o'clock! 

Does her hair look like it needs fixing, I don't think so. This is the way she looks from one appt. to another. I have never seen my Mother disheveled in any way. She always looks and smells so nice. Isn't she cute?
After we parted ways, Dh and I ran errands, I went to some of my favorite little shops, (as Dh calls them) and I did find a few deals.... a new paring knife, two hot pads, a pair of sox with sheep on them, room and linen freshener, a new quilt, boy do I have plans for you, and you are not going on a bed. ~wink.
It was getting late, and we were both tired, sooooo


we decided to end our excursion by eating a light dinner at  one of our favorite restaurant. But it doesn't end here.

While I was at the Christmas Tree shop, Mr P supposedly goes to get gas, when we arrived home, I went to shower, and this is what was waiting for me. Angel Annie, loves being photographed with all my pretties.i


Whew!!!!  am I 'tired, but a good tired!~smile~

Blessings,
Sue

"Baskets of Love"

Written by Sue, Tuesday, February 12, 2019                rain/clouds temps. 50's

Do you know of someone who is either living in an assisted living facility,  someone who is facing surgery or other medical procedures, that limit their activities?

I have this great idea to make their convalescence time more enjoyable, I call them, "Baskets of Love".

I have had the privilege to make and give three this month. I am showing two of them, as I forgot to take a photo of #three, which went to a friend who is now living in an assisted Living facility!

Here is the fun part, the recipient can only open "One" gift a day,  thus making the anticipation even more fun!

This one went to my dear friend, Frances, who is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. She has been quite ill, please pray for her, (she has given me permission to call her name., and ask for prayer.)
 This basket went to someone very dear to my heart too, my sister, who is also recovery from breast surgery! We are giving thanks  for a great report! Each day her DH would take a photo of her opening her gift and send it to me! You should have seen the smile on her face, (and mine), I got more enjoyment  than she did, and was sad when the last gift had been opened.



Here are a few suggested items for the "Love Baskets", A soft fragrant candle, small packs of Kleenex tissues, hand sanitizers, bath and body gel and cream, a journal to record their thoughts, soft fuzzy socks, a lovely mug, a box of tea, preferably their favorite, a devotional book, a note pad with pen, a small box of chocolates, I made  cookies and placed then in a mason jar, I also wrapped a jar of jam, a favorite magazine (Life Beautiful). The list is endless, it is amazing how a little bit of money and time  can brings so much Joy!

I found so many items at the Dollar Tree, The Christmas Tree Shop, TJ Max, Marshals,, on sale at some of my favorite retail stores.

Blessings,
Sue

"Monday Morning Musing"

Written by Sue, Monday, February 11, 2019            cold, rain, temps. 40's
Last week was absolutely beautiful temps. were in the 80's , we took advantage by making some repairs and doing more cleanup from the effects of hurricane Florence. I didn't decorate for Valentines Day this year, because we have been so busy with lambing, and cleaning up from hurricane Florence.

The first job was to repair my little playhouse, aka green house, most of you know how much I love to garden. Hurricane Florence really played havoc on her last fall. I am blessed that Mr P can make most of the repairs, with my help, of course, I really did help, pinky promise, someone has to take photos. ~wink~


It is now ready for sowing my vegetable and flower seeds! The bird feeders are hanging there until I can paint the platforms.

A great week to clean the garden too, it took me all day but I got it completed.

BEFORE!
AFTER! The green you see are turnips, collards, kale and onions, I am blessed to be able to have fresh vegetables in winter.



we planted our English peas, 

DH is covering the peas ever so lightly



My sweet Valentine worked on the driveway, we have so much  fun working together.


80+ temps. makes one thirsty, doesn't it. it was so refreshing one almost fell asleep drinking. ~smile~

One of my favorite places to take a break, when working outside.

Spring will be here before you know it, and the flowers will once again bloom, I am looking forward to planting and gathering, aren't you!

(Last years flowers)


Have a restful evening,'
Sue