The Pear Tree

Last time I was home, my mother and I paid a visit to Aunt Patsy's pear tree. (It's OK. She knew we were coming—we weren't snitchin' 'em or anything.) Years ago, there was a gigantic pear tree, planted by my granddaddy if I remember right, that stood watch over an equally gigantic vegetable garden shared by Mama, Aunt Joyce, and Aunt Patsy. About the time the garden was finished at the end of summer, pears would be coming in, and there was a lady named May Lou who would just show up on my grandmother's front porch, ready to gather some. Grandme would invite her in for a visit, and then May Lou would head for the pears. That tree is gone now, but Aunt Patsy's doing just fine with this one. Mama and Grandme always made the best pear preserves. I'm here to tell you, there's nothing better with hot biscuits on a cold morning. I asked Mama how she makes them, and she started with, "Well, I don't really go by a recipe," which always gets me into trouble. I pressed her for specifics. "How many pears do you slice?" I asked. "When I've got that cooker that I use about half full, I know that's enough," she said. Right.

Comments

[Cindy McCranie Hicks]

yes Mam! I remember Grandme's pear preserves......un believeable!

[Valerie]

Mama still makes "the recipe"!