Another New Year

Time is flying by quicker, than I can keep up. 2013 was a good year with my business and personal life.

Pear Creek Cottage is flourishing, and I thank God for enabling me to have such a business, and for helping me keep sane running it! {smile}

My family has grown as we welcomed a new granddaughter this last December. Little Michaela, decided to come on the date of her choosing, and not a pre-determined date by doctors and mid-wives.

Because of her "earlier than expected arrival", things were thrown into a whirlwind of activity. I feel so blessed that I was able to catch the next plane out of town, and be with Michaela and her mom and dad within the first hours of her birth.

What a beautiful, and sacred time. Nothing compares to the transformation that happens between labor, then delivery. Thank you God for the blessed, and safe arrival of Michaela into our world.

I had to include a picture of Gramma Jan with Michaela to document my first visit with her.

Welcome Baby Michaela! We are so thrilled to have you in our lives!

Right Now

Staring at a blank screen. Yes, it has been over a year since I've written on my blog. What happened? One word...LIFE! Days only speed up, not slow down as time passes. I can't believe that over 365 days have passed since I last posted.

Well, now that my unbelief has been revealed, I guess I need to move on, and ask for grace and understanding from myself first, and my followers second.

Even though my days have been full of running a business, running a house, and running after a granddaughter, I do feel blessed to be able to have such a plentiful life.

My business is growing, and keeping me very busy. My house is getting smaller, or maybe it just that I need to clean and remove clutter more than I am. And, my granddaughter is sprouting as a well watered garden, full of life and energy.

With each and every day that has passed, I am thankful. This whole past year, I've been trying to be more mindful of giving THANKS! Giving thanks not just for one day (Thanksgiving Day) out of the year, but as a "way of life".

None of us really knows what will happen in the next minute, hour, or days; so what we do have is RIGHT NOW!

Right now to be happy. Right now to be thankful. Right now to live.

So, with that, I will move forward today being thankful. Being happy for opportunities to share my life with others, and have them share their lives with me. I will thank God for RIGHT NOW!

Camping Vacation

This September, I was able to get away for a fun camping vacation with family. The weather couldn't have been nicer, except for a couple of rather warm days.

For the first time, I stayed in a yurt! It was really cool! I can see this as a great option in the future. Sort of camping, without roughing it too much!

Some of the things that I enjoyed the most, were singing old Sunday School songs around the campfire. Gazing into the night sky and watching for shooting stars. Also, just being together, visiting, recalling memories, laughing, and enjoying the uniqueness that God has placed in each individual family member.

Thank you God for my family, and for the opportunity to enjoy them.

Inside of Yurt

Canning Season Is Here

I've been busy in the orchard, and in the kitchen this last week.
Picking apples before the deer eat them all is an never ending "chore" around here.

Once we picked the organic apples, then "putting them up" is the next task on the list.

Thankfully, I've had the best kitchen help possible...my foodie fanatic daughter. Well, I must say, that is "fanatic" in the very best way! She keeps me sharp in my kitchen skills, and mostly, we just have a lot of fun together.

No wonder women of yesteryear, did things in groups. Sewing circles, quilting bees, and even preserving the harvest together. I've decided that together is the best way to accomplish what other wise may seem like a chore.

So, if you don't seem me around much on Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, or Etsy, just know that I'm in the kitchen, laughing and perspiring, and savoring the sweet smell of cooking apples.

Canning 2012

Learning, Growing, Changing

There is something about Fall that makes me get in the mood for "learning". After years of formal education, and Fall representing school starting after Summer break; my mind still wanders down the familiar path of being ready to learn. I seem more engaged and ready to "start a fresh", in the Fall more than the other seasons.

I am planning on not only designing new ideas for my little on line shop, but also nurturing my spirit/soul as well. Looking forward with anticipation to what God has to teach me this Fall, as I study and learn from Him.

My goal/plan is to post with more frequency and share the nuggets of truth that I'm learning and hopefully how I am growing and changing through applying these truths in my life.

Planning for Fall

The apples on our trees are quickly telling me that in a week or so, I will be busy making applesauce, pies, and who knows what other goodies I'll come up with.

In preparation for this years canning season, I came up with some new canning sticker designs. By nature, I'm an embellisher...if there is such a word. I enjoy adding a "little something" extra to most things that I do. So, with that in mind, I embellished these vintage inspired canning stickers with felt buttons and some raffia bows.

I'm excited to get started "putting up" this year's bounty, and use these fun labels for gift giving.

Fall Medley Harvest Decor

I just had to share what's new in my shop! I'm so excited! I love all things associated with Fall, so when I came up with cutting out these Fall Felt Shapes, I was tickled.

As I type this, I'm looking out my front picture window onto our heavy laden apple trees, and am already licking my lips for all the yummy apple goodies we will make.

With all these homey thoughts, I've been excited to create some decorations for others to use to design their own Harvest/Fall decorations.

I can just imagine these Fall felt pieces strung along some jute or ribbon for a folksy garland. Or these shapes are ready to be adhered to a scrapbook page, or a Fall card.

Hopefully, these ideas will get your creative engines going, and you will have endless ideas of how to use these fun felt shapes.