Pecan Grove « Pecan Grove (www.pecan-grove.net)

December 31, 2016

December 2016

Filed under: Pecan Grove,Senior Residence — knewman @ 7:40 pm

Many in the news are talking about what a terrible year 2016 has been. We disagree… 2016 has been a wonderful year in many ways. We’ve enjoyed so many privileges. December was no exception. Marybelle Armstrong arrived at PG from Redbud Canyon on December 1. Here’s a picture of her arriving and then with her good friend Mona who came for a visit. The other 2 pictures are of Mona playing a game with 4 residents, and then petting a wolf with Amy.

Clinton did okay for several weeks, then went downhill quickly. He had 3 falls in 2 days, maybe from a TIA. We took him to the emergency room, he was admitted to the hospital for 8 days, then went to a nursing home in Conroe. Here he’s playing a game of chess with Marybelle. She had a lot of patience! Clinton is somewhat better, but certainly needs to be in a nursing home. Marybelle (and Alice) love to pet Bambi, and all the dogs and cats. Marybelle tried to pet the Hoffman’s Great Pyrenees goat guard dogs through the electric fence, got shocked, jumped and screamed… now she can’t get the (usually very friendly) dogs to come close to her! Too bad we don’t have a picture!

Raymond (91) and Ruth (86) had birthdays in December.

The Spunagle family stopped in briefly on their way to Galveston for a cruise. The second picture is of Glenn and myself. Glenn (who owns Redbud Canyon) was a big help when I was getting PG started.

The Bolts and Nordics visited, as did Chris Burden visiting his aunt Doris.

Tom Davis made a fire pit for us, and delivered it. We’re glad he had time for lunch with some of his old friends.

The Birkhofers came for a visit. The Westerburs came to see John.

Finally… our grandson Dylan Kelleher is wearing a helmet to reshape his head. Sorry, this picture isn’t relevant to the residence, but it was too cute to pass up.

Happy New Year!

Ken

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November 30, 2016

November 2016

Filed under: Pecan Farming,Pecan Grove,Senior Residence — knewman @ 5:40 pm

Ray brought Clinton Goff from Virginia to be our 8th resident in November. Clinton is in worse condition than our other residents… but is slowly adjusting to PG. Clinton’s cousin, Don Lewis, who lives near here came to visit with Clarence. Don said Clinton has several strikes against him, physical, mental and being a Goff! Takes one to know one. The cousins are visiting on the couch in the picture below.

Tomorrow Marybelle Armstrong is to join us from Redbud Canyon. I’ll include that in the December blog.

Other visitors (that we have pictures of) included Jim Stipp, Delbert and Penny Lewis, Robert and Linda Klepzig, and then Marie and Joyce. Mike Callaway and Dave Larson are here visiting today.

There were about 30 here for Thanksgiving, most shown in the 2 pictures below.

Patrick Kelleher (our son-in-law who works here at PG) had a birthday. His little son Dylan got a helmet to help straighten his misshapen head.

Here’s Naomi and Roger in the nursing home. Naomi seems to be gradually improving… we see her up more, and her attitude is good. Roger is basically completely deaf now… we have to write notes to him, but his spirits are good. Teresa Goff is in bed more, but is in good spirits. She’s aware her brother-in-law Clinton is here, but we haven’t been able to take him in to see her yet.

Kathy and I made our yearly trip to Aberdeen Scotland. A few pictures of our friends there for those who may know them.

Ty has a longhorn cow and a young bull (not related) that will be a longhorn eventually. The bull follows the cow around like it’s scared. Bambi (who is growing horns, so is a he) is now sporting a red collar. Hopefully that will be enough for hunters to notice, now that it’s deer hunting season. He’s free to roam, but stays close.

Ken

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September 30, 2016

September 2016

Filed under: Pecan Farming,Pecan Grove,Senior Residence — knewman @ 6:49 pm

In September Bambi lost her spots! Ok, maybe that wasn’t the most important thing that happened in September, but it was interesting to see how fast it happened. Here are pictures of her at the beginning and end of the month. She escaped from her pen for a day or so… then came back. Now she follows Samuel around like a puppy.

The residents are doing well. Jean fell and thought she broke her arm, but it wasn’t broken, and she soon recovered use of it. Raymond had a few falls but seems to be doing fine. They cut back on the pain medications for Doris… she’s more “with it” and doesn’t seem to have pain.

Terry and Cathy Lawrence came to visit Doris. We took a group picture which includes the Lawrences (including Joyce who isn’t related), all the residents, Dad, Kathy and myself.

Marilyn, Joyce, and Jennifer visited, shown here with Alice. Diann and Patty came for the bible study one morning.

Jean turned 93. Her good friends, Don and Clarence visited here today, pictured with Elton and Hannah in the background. John had enough fish for another fish fry… so we had 26 here for lunch.

Elton had this picture taken at the nursing home with Roger, Naomi and Teresa (and Hannah). All 3 do well, though Teresa seems to be in bed most of the time when we visit. The Nordic’s have a pet wolf, Zeus, who lives here now, shown here with 3 of our grandchildren and myself.

The pecan harvest has started. There is one of the 8 varieties we have, called Pawnees, that is ready for harvest earlier than the other varieties. So far we’ve only been harvesting Pawnees. They are more susceptible to scab than the other varieties, and we had a very wet Spring, so the yield isn’t very good, but it’s a lot better than last year! Last year the squirrels and crows wiped out much of the crop… this year there are very few squirrels and crows. We’ve been hunting the few that are here… hopefully the numbers won’t increase for the rest of the harvest. The pictures show the tractor shaking a tree and then Dad pulling the harvester, picking the pecans up off the ground.

A business acquaintance that has a helicopter came to visit and gave us rides. This picture was taken from the helicopter. The Sr. Residence is in the foreground, and the pecan orchard in the background.

Ken

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May 31, 2016

May 2016

Filed under: Pecan Grove,Ponds,Senior Residence — knewman @ 4:17 pm

Our dear friend, Dale Maki, passed away Saturday morning. His soft spirit and friendship are already missed. His memorial service will be this Sunday. Here’s a picture of Dale with Patty and a friend from China, taken May 1. The second picture is of part of the group that was together that day.

Ruth Evans came from Georgia to join our residents at PG… so now we have 7 residents. Here’s a picture of Ruth, and then a picture of her with the Colsons, George and Norma.

Marilynn Frye is here for a visit from north Texas, and Marilyn Nutt and RoseMary Fandrich (shown with Elton) are here visiting Naomi in the nursing home. Naomi has rallied some with their frequent visits, but she is still very weak. Ron Nutt (Marilyn’s brother) took Marilyn up to Tyler for the weekend.

Jeff Chenault came to do some landscaping and to visit. Here he is with Elton. Michaela and Katie visited, shown here with Kathy and Jeff.

Samuel found a very young fawn in the woods. They are feeding it… it’s growing quickly… named it Bambi. Kathy had three 65th birthday celebrations in May.

A group of Spanish friends came yesterday for a Memorial Day picnic. Here are some pictures.

Here’s a group picture taken this morning, including the 7 residents.

We had another flood last week, the worst so far. Fortunately we haven’t had much damage at PG, but a lot of roads have been closed. Some of our grass carp went out the secondary overflow and were laying in the pasture below. Samuel picked them up and is cooking them… says they’re good! Even John wasn’t interested in trying them.

All the moisture is causing scab (a fungus) to grow on the pecan leaves (black dots). We lost much of our crop to scab last year, so we’re spraying fungicide more often this year… but there’s more rain in the forecast. We know now why farmers are like hound dogs… crying all the time!

Ken

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December 31, 2014

December 2014

Filed under: Pecan Grove,Ponds,Senior Residence — knewman @ 10:02 pm

The 7 residents at PG are finishing the year well. I forgot to mention last month that Bea went on a 6 day cruise with Virginia. Not bad for 96 and nearly blind! Esther has started telling folks she’s 16. She’s going to make it to 100 (next September) or die trying!

The first picture below (taken today – Dec 31) of the residents: Doris, Bea, Esther and Naomi in front, Betty, Jean and Teresa in back. The second picture is of the residents with those of us that were there for lunch, including my sister Ronda and her husband Mike from Arkansas.

Today is mom’s 83rd birthday. Yesterday Liz Wilbur brought Jerry and Kathleen Fredrick to visit. The Milles children and grandchildren were also here, with Mike and Ronda.

Samuel and Conchita are with Ronda and Mike in the first picture, in the house Ronda and Mike used to live in at PG… now rented by Samuel and Conchita. Scotty and Dorothy Scott visited with their daughter Glenda Kadir and her children (who live in Dubai) and their son-in-law Galen Grillo (who lives in California).

Terry (all hat and no cattle) Hoffman’s family visited from Wisconsin and Georgia. Ron and Anna Furrow (Brendan’s parents from Ohio) came to visit with Karla, the twins and Evren. Esther is always glad to see folks from Ohio.

Mary Sitton brought Bernie and Sarah Hatchett for dinner on Christmas day. These pictures show Mary with Hector, Conchita and Samuel, then Betty with Sarah and Bernie.

Sisters Betty Goss and Mary Stanton visited their old friends, Betty and Bea. Lyle and Ginger Meyer and their 3 – Jessica, Austin and Blake – were down from Minnesota.

Howard and Mary Ann Colson and Wayne and Dawn Overby babysat our residents so the staff could go to a holiday dinner. Ava and Oscar Waldo enjoy Naomi.

Our road signs (needed for 911) were installed.

Terry made a Texas slab at the bottom of the flag pole. There are still a lot of pecans on some of the trees! We’re to busy (or lazy) to bother with them.

Good progress was made on the Mille home… rafters were going up today. Our place was started in January… windows are going in now. That retaining wall turned out to be a lot of work!