We’re still having lots of visitors. Everyone was sorry to see Ed and Leah leave! Glenn and Shirley Spunagle from Redbud Canyon… lots of others. The asphalt and flag pole are finally done. The major things left to do include finishing the trail around the lake, grass and the fountain in the lake. The fishing is good, both the catching and the eating!
Crystal turned 90, and received more cards than that!
Mouse over pictures for titles, click on them to enlarge – twice.
We returned from Paris yesterday and went out to see the progress at the pecan grove this afternoon. Most of the plywood is on the roof of the Sr. residence, and all the studs are up.
Mike and Ronda’s house is coming along well. It’s “dried in” now, and is scheduled to be done in October.
Many of the pecan trees are loaded with pecans. The photo below shows a cluster of 7 pecans. Some of the trees are breaking due to the heavy load of fruit. One tree, show below, has split so bad it will need to be cut off and grafted again, so only the strong root will be saved. 
Some of the trees have grown slowly and have no fruit. Mike pulled some of these up and found that their tap root was growing in circles (see below). Young trees are started in buckets and the tap root is forced to grow in a circle. When the tree is removed from the bucket and planted, this root must be cut and the little that remains will usually straighten and go straight down. Evidently when these trees were planted this wasn’t done, so they have no depth of root, and cumber the ground. Unfortunately, we have quite a few trees that will have to be cut down… no amount of digging around them and fertilizing them would help.
Ken
Here are some of the more mundane things that are going on around here.
The figs are ripening at an amazing rate. Leona came yesterday to pick some and Jack said that a few people at CTES were interested in some. There are more figs than I can do anything with so I am glad others want some. The birds, wasps, ladybugs and bees are getting their fair share also. I have made some preserves and jam so Ken and Kathy can at least have a taste of what they are missing. I also successfully froze some whole figs yesterday.
The garden is also doing well. The tomatoes are bearing another load. I had picked all those that were red and thought that was the end of them but they have all kinds of flowers and little tomatoes again. Kathy’s cucumbers haven’t quit and the Rosamonds and Jack and Leona and a few others are probably getting sick of them by now. The squash isn’t faring so well. They all got some kind of disease that I still haven’t totally figured out but I replanted a couple of plants and there may be more squash later. The peppers of all kinds are bearing a lot more than I thought they would. I also have pumpkins getting orange and watermelon getting bigger.
I picked a hornworm off a tomato plant this morning. I don’t have picture of that one but here are the four that ate my potato plant. The potato plant is recovering but as you can see it was reduced to only stalks. Since then I have been on the lookout for them. Of course they blend in so well that the first thing noticeable is the missing leaves. kch
The new fence at the highway got a coat of primer and two coats of green paint.
Along the road, there are three culverts. The decision was made to move the entrance up to the west culvert. This is higher up the hill and hopefully will allow safer entry onto the 70 mph highway !
The new way out.
There was a ravine near the senior center site that we used to access the clearing before the road was cut in.
We had Dean Kolp plant some culverts to make the crossing smoother.
The pasture at the northeast corner of the property was accessible only by driving on the dam.
A stream crossing was created.
tgh
This set of pictures follows some perspectives through the various stages of road construction. Where there was forest, the progression is dramatic.
North view of drive just after going over the hill toward the ranch house.
View east from the ranch house going toward the senior center. Note the opening in the trees.
This view is from the mouth of the circle drive at the senior center and looking west toward the ranch house. The leaning tree at the center of each photo will help you get your bearings on these pics. tgh
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