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

Lots of excitement at PG this month.  Hurricane Laura was exciting but we didn’t get anything… no wind and no, much needed, rain.  Karen Cleveland was finally able to leave her bach in Colombia where she’s been locked down since March, and return to the States for her home visit.  She came to PG to spend time with her father Elton.  Here’s an informal and formal picture of Elton and Karen, and Karen with her first hot fudge sundae in years!  Priorities!

Clarence Roachell came to PG as a resident (finally!).  He had been here for a few weeks before, but this time he’s here to stay.  His children brought him and are faithful in visiting him.  BTW, the state of Texas is relaxing the “no visitors” policy for nursing homes and assisted living centers… somewhat.  We still need to be very careful.  For example, Clarence’s family visits with him on the back porch.  We’re supposed to have all residents and staff tested weekly for the virus… before having visitors.  We’re hoping to have the first round of testing this week.  So here’s Clarence with his daughter Becky and her husband Mike, and again with his daughter Mary.  We didn’t get a picture of his son Wayne and Mary when they were here.  We’re glad some of his family is able to visit him regularly.

Joyce Lawrence returned from North Carolina and spent a few weeks at PG before going to the south Houston field with Ruthie Taplin.  So for a short time we had two additional residents, Karen and Joyce.  We took a picture of the residents including these two temporaries.

We also took a staff picture.  Dominique and Mimi Mille weren’t present, so they have their own picture.

Shawn and Anita Bass were married at PG.  Here they are show with Shawn’s aunt Linda and husband Kent who performed the wedding ceremony.  Later on his wedding day Shawn was bass fishing and got a fish hook stuck in his thumb so far that we had to take him to urgent care!  So… hooked twice in the same day!  This time a 200 lb bass!  (His last name is Bass… he hooked himself).

Fern Duncan turned 90, and got hearing aids!  She’s a happy camper!  Rachel, Karen and Joyce had a gospel meeting here. Karen and I had a visit with dad through a window.  He’s able to hear a lot of our meetings, but is still in lock-down.  His short term memory is very short!  But his long term memory is good (he remembered Karen).

Albert and Maja, with children Ana and Danny McSpadden visited us.  Here they are with Joyce, Kathy, Rachel, Brenda, and Dawn and Wayne Overby.

Last week, one of our field workers, Rachel, was able to have a video call visit via Face-time with Clinton Goff.  Communication was enabled by the social worker who helped amplify what was said. Clinton was able to understand that many are thinking of him and he said “Thank you”.  She explained that we would like to be with him but the current situation prevents it, and she felt he understood.  He is in a declining state… on hospice and bed-fast.

Duane and Joan Hinkley moved to Minnesota.  They’ve been in fellowship here for several years… and will be missed.  Darby brought her dog Clover in to visit the residents… Marybelle loves dogs.  The bird feeder is an important part of daily life at PG!

Ken

June has had good news and bad news.

Good news – no covid virus at PG!  We’re fortunate to be somewhat isolated on this farm.  But those of us who work here often go to town for shopping, etc.   We take residents to town, mainly for doctor appointments.  We try to be very careful… but the virus cases are spiking significantly in Texas.  We are fortunate to have 2 small fellowship meetings here on the farm (at our place and at Hoffman’s), with social distancing and some masks (the residents choose not to wear masks).  We also have our morning bible studies at the residence… the best part of the day for us and them.

Bad news – Clinton Goff was taken to the hospital with pneumonia.  They were able to help with IV antibiotics, but they sent him back to the nursing home he’s been in, on hospice.  The aspirated pneumonia is due to dementia, so they expect it to continue.  I was able to see him last Thursday in the hospital, but after that visitors were not allowed due to the spike in virus… hospitals are full.  That was the first time I’d seen him since March because no visitors are allowed at the nursing home.  He called me Jack, as usual, he has me confused with my dad.  But he did seem to remember some workers.  His speech was difficult to understand.

More bad news – Sunday dad had a 1 hour seizure.  It seems the seizure caused a stroke or TIA.  He’s recovering in the hospital ICU.  Again, no visitors.  I was able to talk to him by phone today and he seemed fairly clear.  His left side was affected but that seems to have improved already.  Sunday evening we were discussing funeral plans, and now it seems he may return to the assisted living place he’s been at in Conroe.  He started using a wheelchair most of the time in June because of frequent falls.

Good news – my sister Ronda and husband Mike Rosamond visited from Arkansas.  We aren’t supposed to have visitors at PG, but we make a few exceptions. They were able to visit with dad (before his seizure) through a window (talking by cell phone).  Dad had been to the hospital because of a fall, so was wearing a mask.  Here’s dad through the window and Ronda with Della at the residence.

Good and bad news – Nyana Thompson (19) (who has been living and working in the residence since March after returning with Fern) went back to North Carolina for a home visit and to bring back her car.  Her dad, Dan Thompson drove back with her.  Then she was asked to return to South Carolina to help Dorthy Steljes until convention time.  The following pictures are of her with her dad, then of her telling the residents of her call to the work (at 14) and her need to return to South Carolina to help, and then with Alice and Elton as she was leaving.  Bad news for us here but we are so glad she is willing and able to go!

Good news – David Cleveland visited his dad Elton for a few days.  Shawn Bass has been working at PG for a few months.  Shawn’s wife to be, Anita, has agreed to work at PG.  Shawn and Anita will be living in the cabin.

Good and bad news – our 6 grandchildren were able to wave to the residents through the windows of the residence.  We don’t let them enter because of the virus restrictions.  Children are such an encouragement to old folks, even from a distance.  The second picture shows our dog Vince with 4 of the grandchildren.  The bad news is that 2 weeks ago Vince disappeared.  He was a wonderful friend to the residents.  We all miss him.

Good news – lots of pecans and lots of deer.

Thanks,

Ken

April has been a good month here at PG, considering what others are suffering.  The workers (Lyle and Dale) have been here since mid March, so we consider them as “staff”.  They are helping with many things here on the farm.  We have bible studies and gospel meetings with only the residents and staff… but that’s wonderful compared to so many who are alone.

We do have a scare at the moment.  Alice Oetken was taken to the hospital this afternoon with shortness of breath.  Alice has a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), and has been hospitalized for it multiple times.  She refused her water pill this morning (which happens often), and her legs are swollen, so we hope they will help her as they’ve done before.  Of course we were concerned that it could be the virus!  I spoke with the nurse and she says they are testing for CHF… they don’t think it’s the virus.  I just (8 PM) called and spoke to Alice, she says she’s fine and wants to come back to PG!  We hope she can, soon.

John had some down days with low oxygen levels.  We were afraid he’d have to go to the hospital with CHF.  But we gave him oxygen and nebulizer treatments and he improved… he’s now back to normal.  Della was climbing down in a ditch to pick some wild flowers, fell had hit her head on a cement culvert.  We took her to the hospital to get stitches in her head.  They checked her neck and found a cracked vertebrae.  After 2 nights in the hospital her daughter Chris brought her back to PG with a neck brace, and Chris stayed for several days.  They had to quarantine in Della’s room for several days.  Marybelle now uses a wheel chair most of the time due to pain in her leg when she puts weight on it.  But she manages to get around on her own.  Here’s John taking a nebulizer treatment, Della with Chris and Marybelle.

Nyana Thompson came back with Fern from North Carolina at the end of March.  They quarantined for several days, and now Nyana is staying in the residence and working as a staff member.  We’re glad for her help!  Here she is playing the piano with Elton and then in the car with Penny.

There were 3 birthdays close to each other in April, Alice, Shawn and myself, so we had one lunch for all 3.  A “friend” provided a special hat for me to wear!

We had a hymn sing one evening.  We decided to work with some of the pecan trees, as a hobby, not a business.  Lyle has sprayed fungicide twice already.  There was a “drive by” at the assisted living center dad is living in.  Here he is with some of the others, when we drove by.  He seems to be doing okay with this lock down.  He’s able to listen to some of the meetings by phone.

Spring seems to be a time for snakes.  Here are 3 (dead) snakes.  Lyle is holding a rat snake.  The center one is a coral snake that the Milles found, and the last one is a small copper head that was near our garden.

We’ll sure be glad when we can have visitors again!

Ken

March has been a wonderful month… considering.  We started out with a large union meeting, 63 of us with pot luck afterward.  So large we moved it to the residence.  Here are some pictures including one with my 3 granddaughters… sorry!  We didn’t understand that we probably wouldn’t have a meeting like that for a while.

Fern flew to North Carolina to visit friends there.  Her first mission in 1955? was there, and there are a large number of friends from the 8 who made their choice at that time.  Unfortunately, because of the virus, she wasn’t able to see many of them.  But she sure enjoyed her time with Mary Lewis (97).  Her trip alone out there was difficult, so Nyana Thompson returned with her yesterday.  Here’s the Overbys taking her to the airport, and her return with Nyana, and the empty airport yesterday!

We’re so blessed with privileges in this difficult time… the workers (Lyle and Dale) have come to live here in the cabin… we consider them “staff” now.  We have a bible study every morning, and a gospel meeting Sunday afternoon, for the residents and staff.  One of the staff and her husband are listening.  Here’s pictures of Lyle and Dale with Elton, and Lyle mowing with the tractor.  Also  a picture of lunch with the Milles, the workers and ourselves.

Salena (27) and John (94) had birthdays this month.  Here Salena is shown with Shawn, Penny and Abigail.  John is being supervised by his sister Lois and Lyle, with Penny, Abigail and Shawn in the background.

Visitors included my sister Ronda, Destiny and Mike Rosamond.  Also Bert Gentry shown with John and Lois.  Bert and Louise and their 2 children lived in Bear, Delaware, when we were children 26 miles away in Havre de Grace, MD.  Louise passed away last year, and Bert moved to the Dallas area to help his brother.  Unfortunately, we were away when he was here… but we hope he’ll return.  He was originally from Tennessee, and knew the Culvers from years ago.

Other visitors included Sharon and Gary Nordic from Colorado, who were her to visit their son, Ty and Amy.  They’re shown here with Dale De Raad.  Also Nelson and Heather Whelan from my home part in MD, shown with Lois and John.

Finally, our granddaughters, Maven and Maren, feeding Ty Nordic’s horses Black Jack and Skitch, who are currently in our horse pasture.  And Vince who has had his spring haircut!

We’re “locked down” with no more visitors now, but healthy and enjoying fellowship.

Thanks for your interest in us here.

Ken