Pecan Grove (www.pecan-grove.net) Pecan Grove and Senior Residence

Cindy Johnson made bibs for all our residents, and they were willing to model them!

Elton Cleveland, Louis Schroeder, future resident Clarence Mounce, Ronald Elliott

Alice Oetken, Marilynn Frye, Elsie Schroeder, Marie Mounce, Esther Duncan, Della Bolt, Joyce Naber

Following the Redbud Canyon email example, we’ll give a little update on each resident, in the order they came to PG.

Elton Cleveland came in March 2015.  He’ll be 105 October 10th, and does very well for his age!  He keeps up a large correspondence.  Focusing on and caring for others (and eating as much sugar as possible) may be the answer to a long life!   He plans on listening to conventions instead of attending in person this year. Here he is with his son,  David playing the piano for a sing this month, with Emma Perez, with his cup and again with David.

Alice Oetken came December 2015.  She’s 93, and has a cat, the only animal allowed in the residence, and only in her room.  She walks some for exercise, usually looking for or following the cat.  Here’s a picture of Alice visiting Fern in the nursing home.

Della Bolt came in April 2019 and is 89.  She is used to working hard and loves to help wherever she can.  Unfortunately,  her health and vision continue to deteriorate, making it difficult to do what she’s used to doing.  She does walk often for exercise.  Here’s Della with her daughter Chris and her husband,  Mike, and then again in a short hospital visit.

Ronald Elliott came May 2019 and is 94.  He is tottery when walking but gets around without bad falls.  He uses a golf cart some on the farm, and to haul other residents to meetings on the farm.  He enjoys reading, especially history, and feeding the fish in the lake.  Here’s Ronald with visitors Ed Lloyd and Frank Cook, as well as resident Louis Schroeder (with his arm on Ronald’s shoulder).  The second picture is of Ronald with his good friend Wendell Wilson and Wendell’s mother.  Jeff and Patricia Oliver visited Ronald and Marilynn.

Marilynn Frye came in October 2020 and is 78 (our youngest resident).  She has many health problems including ongoing bladder cancer, but she does well getting around and helping other residents as she can.  Here’s Marilynn modeling her bib, and with Bud and Mary Aldrich and their grandson,  Phoenix.

Esther Duncan came November 2020 and is 88.  She’s been in the US since she was 22, but is still Irish!  She attended 3 conventions recently in TN & KY, and had her gallbladder removed!  On her previous trip to TN last year she caught COVID.  But that doesn’t deter her… she’ll go again when the opportunity arises.  Esther is a big help to Della. and enjoys cooking sometimes.  She’s cooked many things including lamb and pavlova!  Here’s Esther with Brian and Kristi Garrett visiting (in her room which she likes to decorate) from Jackson, Mississippi.

Marie Mounce came August 2021 and is 89.  She has lots of health issues including a brain tumor, but still manages to keep active.  She also likes to cook sometimes.  Her years in the French and Spanish islands along with Cajun roots gives her a knowledge of all kinds of foods. Her latest creation was a “Pear Salad” she was very  happy about.

Louis and Elsie Schroeder came March 2022 and are 99 and 93 respectively.  Their family often visits.  This month was Louis’s 99th birthday and recently their 69th anniversary.  So Louis had us turn the 9 over on his cake, and showed their wedding picture.  Their daughter Carol Aarestad and her daughters Amelia and Sara from California came for the occasion.

Joyce Naber came May 2022 and is 79.  Joyce has a poor memory, but is also a help for Della and has a joyful and thankful spirit.  She has been here the shortest time but has settled in very well.  Joyce is in the group below with a blue top and dark skirt.

Clarence Mounce isn’t a resident yet.  But he visits and hopes to come on a permanent basis after conventions and some family time.  Here’s Clarence with his sister,  Marie.  Also with Malachi Klor and Talus Murphy who had 2 gospel meetings here in September.

Gilbert Reese came in January 2018 and is 98.  He was moved to the Park Manor nursing home in Conroe June 2021.  His memory is very poor and he needs a lot of personal care, but he stays about the same and is content.  Here’s a picture of Clarence and Marie Mounce visiting with Gilbert at Park Manor last week.

Fern Duncan came in April 2017 and is 92.  Last month she was moved to the Park Manor nursing home (see last months post below) and is now in a room across the hall from Gilbert.  She has gone down quickly in the nursing home and now we rarely see her out of bed.  When we can wake her, her mind is clear and she is content.  Here are pictures of Fern visiting with Marie.

Jack Newman came to live on the PG farm in 2010, and moved into the residence in March 2018.  He is 89.  He left PG in September 2019 after a bad fall.  He’s been on hospice for over 2 years in The Wellington at Conroe which is an assisted living center only a few blocks from Park Manor.  He has gone down significantly recently, even more since this picture was taken.  We hope his struggle will soon be over.

Patty Maki (who works part time at PG) brought fruit plates.  Her cousin, Wynesta and Steve Dale from California visited and it happened to be Steve’s 64th birthday.  Wynesta introduced Kathy to Ken in 1978!  Terry Hoffman smoked meat for us and nearby friends came.

Kenny’s was especially happy with this months message board, see for yourself!

Thanks for your interest in us here.

Ken and Kenny

Fern became weaker until she couldn’t get out of bed on her own.  She was taken to the hospital, then to the Park Manor nursing home where Gilbert Reese stays.  Soon after reaching the nursing home she had her 92nd birthday.  Salena made her a cake, and took Marie and Marilynn in with her to have a little party for Fern.  Gilbert was able to attend also. Fern is receiving some PT and OT, but with her arthritis pain she isn’t motivated to recover her ability to get around on her own.  Unfortunately it doesn’t look like she’ll be able to return to PG.

Dominique’s father took a turn for the worse in the south of France, so Dominique went to be with him.  He passed away not long after Dominique arrived.  Dominique stayed for the funeral and to take care of things there.  He was glad the French brothers, Dean Affleck and Deon Swanepoel came to be with him a few days.  While he was gone, Mimi’s nephew, Thomas and Melissa, from France visited Mimi, as well as Pierre and Elisa

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Jack Newman turned 89 in August.  Kenny and Salena took a birthday dessert in for him.  He continues to decline on hospice.

Ken and Kathy went to France for convention and then some vacation on the Rhine river and in Holland.  When they returned they made a presentation and Gouda cheese tasting for the residents, Overby’s and Basses.  Wayne and Dawn’s son Kory and family were visiting and so were included.

  

Candice Sandon visited her grandparents, Louis and Elsie, along with her 3 children, AJ, Miles and Brenna, and her mother in law, Julie.  The boys made mashed potatoes.  Miles made a sign for those who are familiar with Elsa in Frozen.  Sylvia McPherson and Pauline Waterreus from San Antonio visited and brought sour dough bread!

 

Slade Nordic has moved into our new apartment in the barn dominium we are creating from the old wooden barn.  He’s also working on the farm and helping with the barn dominium.  He brought his dog, Bear, who enjoys playing with our dog, Bella.  Here are pictures of the barn dominium, Bella and Bear swimming, and Slade mowing “snake island” which is on the lake in front of the residence.

Since Kenny and Salena moved here they’ve been taking pictures, showing how the recent rain made things grow and the sunsets.  We do have some pecans, but don’t expect a significant pecan harvest.  The black dots are “scab” which is a fungus that hinders the growth of the nuts.

 

Thanks for your interest in PG!

Ken and Kenny

July was HOT.  But otherwise a good month!  The 11 residents are about their usual.  Samuel and Conchita Valdez (who lived and worked here several years) came to visit with Samuel’s brother Noe and Malena.  Gary and Susan Peter have been helping Gilbert Reese get out to meeting most Sundays.  They brought him to union meeting at PG and stayed for lunch.  The second picture is of Gilbert talking to Alice before Mimi gave him a much needed haircut.  The third picture is of Mimi, Susan, Marie, Gilbert and Gary, after Gilbert’s haircut.

Marie’s birthday was July 3rd, but we celebrated it at lunch time on July 4th.  The group at the table includes Diane Thorburn (Salena’s mother) who has been here a few weeks in July helping Kenny and Salena get ready to move into the house Goldners vacated last month.

Supper on July 4th was on the porch.  Later from the porch we watched fire works and shot roman candles.

Marilynn  was picking vegetables from the garden, which is nearly finished now.  Kenny makes up sayings he thinks the residents may enjoy.  Joyce and Della enjoy a game together.  Esther made marmalade.

Don and Becky Schroeder visited Elsie and Louis.  Rich and Malachi returned after Happy.  Here Rich is visiting with Elton.  Carmen Schluter and her children Liam and Mela visited.

Ken and Kathy’s 6 grandchildren are here often in the summer.  Here’s Evren Furrow learning to drive, Karin, Katelyn and Dylan Kelleher with Kathy and Ken, and then all 6 ready to launch a rocket.

Rich and Malachi just had a gospel meeting at the residence… maybe 80 or so there.  One family we’re glad to have back in the US after 4 years in the far east is Jon and Gianine Peterson and their sons Julian and Jordan.

Thanks for your interest in Pecan Grove!

Ken, Kenny and Salena

June has been a hot one! Which means endless mowing and watering in the orchard. Because of the extra time spent in the orchard we have kicked up a few interesting critters. Left is Bella with a few day old fawn. We believe it was left by its mother in the tall grass but once that was gone it had to run for the woods. Bella did not hurt it, but got close enough to give it the fright of its life! On the right is a very confused box ear slider, we found it wandering in the orchard far from home. Kenny thinks that it would make the perfect mascot for the residents, call us the “Faithful Turtles”!

 

We have had some special visits this month of the human variety. Ronald’s nephew Bud Neff brought Ronald back from his family reunion in Missouri, and stayed for a visit. As well as some old friends who used to meet with us: Dorothy, William and Gage Sutton. They know several residents quite well so they dropped in to say hello, pictured right.

 

We had a wonderful visit with Amparo Gonzalez from Guatemala, Jennifer Downs and Ruth Taplin. Jennifer and Ruth are in the south Houston field. Here they are posing in front of the fire place as well as in a group chat.

We’ve had a few surprise visits with children as well. Pam Lacock joined us for a few days with her two grandsons, Asher and Willum, seen here in front of the entrance, as well feeding fish with uncle Ronald and Elsie on the deck.

   

Anita’s family came for a day visit, here they are in a paddle boat on the pond. Her daughter, Connie, and husband, David, and their son, Noel. Ed Smalley, who worked with Ken and Wayne, also came for a lunch visit. He got a kick out of Elton’s stories!

 

Rich was kind enough to stop by with one of the friends from Louisville Kentucky, Lisa Daly. She knew Esther from her time there, and remembered Fern from way back. Unfortunately she was on a five hour lay over so her visit had to be brief. Here she is with Esther, Fern and Della.

The Schroeder’s granddaughter, Candace Sandon, brought her three kids AJ, Miles, and Brynna for a few days visit of their great grandparents! Elsie got busy and made dinner and cherry pie for dessert! Here are Candace and baby Brynna, then all of the children with grandma Becky and great grandparents.

 

Only one birthday this month, our newest resident Joyce Naber turned 79! We celebrated a few days early in order for everyone to be able to join us for a nice steak lunch with all the fixin’s. Here is Joyce with her “Lemon Tower” cake and the biggest grin you’ve ever seen!  This was also a going away lunch for Bettie and Jerry Goldner, posing with Abigail in the last picture.  They had been living in the house Jack and Leona lived in, but moved this month to Pearland to be closer to their daughter, Michele Rodriguez.  Kenny and Salena plan to move into that house after some upgrades.

Esther received a very thoughtful gift this month, an entire tea set! Along with enough tea to last two years! She had a tea party in Marilynn’s room using her new tea pot just to stay fancy. Here she is beaming with her nice gift. On the bottom is Esther’s tea party, notice all of the festive hats! Della’s daughter, Henrietta, sent them for just this kind of occasion and they arrived the day of the tea party! How nice!

  

Shawn had the great idea of having “Resident Saturdays” for the kitchen, where he asks those who are interested to make a dish of their choice. He had several takers on the first go around.  Here are Elise and Marie making Moon Pies and Shrimp Etouffee, respectfully. Marylinn had fun making pancakes one morning. Another day Marie made Swedish meatballs.

  

 

All the kids are off for summer break, so Ken and Kathy have been having some fun in the sun with each one. Maren and Maven both have come to spend a night with the grandparents, and even got an opportunity to drive grandpa’s buggy! On the right are all 6 of the grandkids visiting their great-grandpa Jack, it looks like Dylan is really having a good time!

 

We hope everyone is staying cool in this heat! Thank you for your interest in us, we appreciate it very much.

Kenny, Salena and Ken

In the April update we forgot to mention that Leah Bolt passed away near Newry PA on April 8th.  The Bolt and Newman families have been close since the gospel came to the northeast corner of Maryland in 1936-37.  Ed and Leah helped get PG up and running in 2009.  Later they came as part-time residents for a few months at a time. Here’s Ed and Leah when leaving in March 2009, and then Leah the last time here in April 2015 with her grandson Travis Bolt.  David Bolt, Ed and Leah’s son and Travis’s father, visited PG in May, shown here with his aunt Della Bolt, Elton and Esther.

Joyce Naber came from North Carolina to PG as our newest resident in May.  Here she’s with Suzanne McCorkell who brought her from NC.  The next picture is of our 11 residents with 2 visitors.  The visitors are Rich Raschke and Suzanne.  The residents are: (back) Marilynn Frye, Ronald Elliott, Esther Duncan, Marie Mounce, Elton Cleveland: (front) Della Bolt, Fern Duncan, Alice Oetken, Joyce Naber, Elsie and Louis Schroeder.

Three birthdays were celebrated together for Dominque, Kathy and Ken.

There was another birthday party at Mille’s home for Dominique including their children, Pierre and Elisa Herd, and several of the friends from this area.

Several Schroeder relatives visited in May.  Randy Satterfield brought Roberta Stipp back from LA.  Jim Stipp drove down.  The first picture shows them with Amanda Darby who was visiting from Austin.  The second picture shows Jim with Louis and Elsie and their daughter Carol and husband Troy Aarestad from CA.  In the third picture, Jim left taking Roberta back to her field, and taking Ronald Elliott with them.  Ronald is going to a family reunion in Missouri in June.  The 4th picture is the Schroeder family including Don and Becky, their son Theron and daughter Lana Newman with her daughters.  The last picture is of Lana and Chase Newman from ID, and their daughters Lucy and Ellie.

Mary Hammack, Millie Robinson and Sharon Wahlin visited from GA.  Here they are with Rich Raschke and Judy Timmersman who was visiting from Euless TX.

Salena’s mother, Diane, aunt Doris and sister Shanda and Doug Thompson visited.  Doris, Shanda and Diane are shown with Marilynn and Joyce.  The second picture includes them with Ken and Kathy’s family, Karin Kelleher, Karla and Brendan Furrow, Kenny and Salena and our 6 grandchildren.  Two of Marie Mounce’s sisters, Verena McFadden and Annette and Lecil Bassett visited and took Marie to see Clarence in Georgetown.

Della’s daughter Chris and Mike Gerstenberger visited Della on Mother’s day.  Overby’s daughter Kari and Del Campbell from AR visited.  Dennis and Susan Thompson from TN visited, shown here with Esther.

Fred, Julie and their son Benjamin Adadjo (NY & TX) visited, shown here with Fern.  Alice’s cat is very much at home now.

Thanks!

Ken, Kenny and Salena