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

July 31, 2024

July 2024

Filed under: Newman Residence,Pecan Grove — knewman @ 4:27 pm

The year is officially half over, and time seems to be speeding up! July was another very wet month. We lost a lot of trees in hurricane Beryl, and have had our hands full with the outdoor work. We have had several great visits, some visitors came a long way to be with us.

Our first visitors were our good friends Don and Becky Schroeder. They popped in to see Elsie for a day. Don informed her that he was taking her to Illinois to see her family. Here they are at the table, finishing yet another puzzle.

They make it look easy

A brother worker, Chau, came to visit us from Vietnam. He knows Dominique and Mimi well from their time spent there. The Newman’s also fondly remember visiting him there on several occasions. He took the time to tell us a little of his testimony and how the work first got started in Vietnam. Here he is at lunch with the Overby’s and again with the Newman’s.

Chau also gave us a rare opportunity to capture almost everyone who lives and works here. This is a photo of us that Chau took at the table. The second photo is our July Union meeting group with Chau.

Our good friends and Fern’s frequent visitors Lynden and Nadene Laird visited from North Carolina. This time they took a quick tour of the property to see where Ken and Kathy will be moving to. (Ken and Kathy are down sizing to the log cabin and their daughter Karla and Brendan Furrow and 4 children are moving to their house). Here Lairds are with Elton and Esther, and again with the workers in front of the piano.

A family from Tennessee came to see Esther: Arnold and Jane Land and their three daughters: Christy White, Melissa Howe and Mary Aaron. They came for lunch and the Wednesday afternoon study. Here they are with Esther in front of the fireplace.

Melissa, Mary, Arnold, Esther, Jane and Christy

A Chinese man, Joe Zhou from our meeting visited with his wife LiPing and mother-in-law who is visiting from China. Here they are with Wayne and Dawn Overby and Kathy. The mother-in-law is 89 and thinks she’s old. She couldn’t believe Elton is approaching 107! He played the piano for them.

Marie celebrated her 91st birthday this month. She requested a simple white cake with strawberries. Here is Marie excited to taste the cake and Salena serving it.

Russ and Judy Rosehill thought of the residents while on vacation in Hawaii. They sent a nice care package with cookies and coffee, as well as lei’s and postcards. Here is one of the lei’s adorning our mixer, and Mister Prickles.

Each year we invite everyone on the property to come celebrate July 4th with us. We like to put on a fireworks show with some finger food and s’mores. Here are some of the kids with their roman candles, fireworks, and those watching from the back porch. Happy Independence Day!

Andray Howell has been working part-time here at Pecan Grove, mostly on the farm though sometimes in the residence. Here he is (in town) with his aunt, Emily Berry, and her daughter Elliott.

Andray, Emily and Elliott

Because of all the rain we have not been mowing as often as we would like. This worked out in our favor because a neighbor asked if they could hay the orchard instead. These are the result of all their hard work, 127 round bails. We’ve decided not to mow as much and let them continue to harvest hay.

Resident Journals

Alice Oetken

Alice had a pretty severe fall this month. She was reaching for her phone and trying to use a folding chair to steady herself when she fell and broke her hip. They operated on her right hip and inserted a metal rod. Now she is receiving physical therapy at Park Manor (the same nursing home Gilbert Reese and Fern Duncan are in) and slowly making progress, though it currently seems doubtful that she’ll improve enough to be able to return to Pecan Grove. She enjoys her visits and misses her cat, so Abigail brought her a photo of Kitty Kitty. Here she is with her visitors in the hospital, and again at Park Manor.

Elsie Schroeder

Elsie really enjoyed her time in Illinois this month, and we are so pleased that Don came to take her. Her daughter Carol came for a week long visit afterwards with her daughter Amelia. Elsie always loves seeing her family and for them to come for an entire week really cheered her up. Here she is in Illinois with her family: Jim Stipp, Roberta Stipp, Judy Garner, and David Stipp. Also, at the puzzle table with Nadene and again with her visitors.

Jim and David Stipp
Judy Garner, Elsie, Roberta Stipp

Ronald Elliott

Ronald has gotten new glasses this month, which we think should improve his sight and balance. He is not one to say much about his condition but he has commented that he likes them. Here he is trying them out on the newspaper.

Marie Mounce

Marie does well in the kitchen, and recently made some delicious gumbo for the residents. Her eye sight is weakening so we have moved a book magnifier into her room. It takes her a while to read a full chapter but she is very patient with it and continues to persist. Here she is with the Lairds.

Gwen Farmer

Gwen is doing well. She still works hard at the puzzles with Elsie and Joyce. She has some trouble with her eye sight but doesn’t give up on the tiny puzzle pieces. Here she is with Nadene Laird.

Elton Cleveland

Elton has had a rough month. He fell several times and during his worst fall actually tore his Achilles tendon. The doctor ordered him a therapeutic boot to wear on his right foot. Amazingly, he healed quickly and was able to walk the entire time. Here he is soaking his sore feet in his kitchen, and with the manager of his favorite restaurant Golden Coral.

Esther Duncan

Esther still has pep in her step. She continues to help in the kitchen everyday and keeps her watchful eye on Joyce. She makes sure Joyce uses her walker when going outside and always accompanies her when she does. Here she is checking on the progress of the newest puzzle.

Joyce Naber

Joyce does well when she is with Esther or Gwen. They look after her on walks and around the dinner table. She also likes to sit with Elsie outside to warm up. Here she is with her daily apple, and a mushroom she found while walking Kitty Kitty.

Fern Duncan and Gilbert Reese

Fern is having trouble staying awake during our visits. She appreciated seeing Lynden and Nadene and was able to respond to a few questions. Gilbert is doing well, he continues to enjoy his spot by the window. Some of the visitors took him over to see Alice when she arrived there. Here they are with Alice, again Fern with the Lairds, and finally Gilbert with Shawn.

Thank you for your interest and care for us here.

Kenny & Ken

January 31, 2016

January 2016

Filed under: Newman Residence,Senior Residence — knewman @ 4:44 pm

Many changes have already occurred in the new year, some good and some sad.   We’re  glad to have Leah Bolt back for the winter.  We’re sad that Naomi, Esther, and now Teresa have had to leave.  Naomi’s arthritis pain got to the point she was unable to walk, so she went to a nursing home here in Willis, 11 miles from PG.  She had been at PG since August 2011.  These pictures show Leah with Naomi, some of us with Naomi when she left, and then Hannah and Lety with Naomi in the nursing home, braiding Naomi’s hair.

Naomi and LeahGroup telling Naomi goodbyeHannah, Lety, Naomi

For a few months Esther had bouts of confusion, during which she needed 24 hour care.  Martha and Lois Houston came from Ohio and took Esther back to a nursing home in Morrow.  She had been at PG since July 2010.  The pictures show Esther with Jennifer, then with Don, Clarence, Martha and Lois, then the PG group when she left, and lastly with Linda at the airport.

Esther with JenniferDon, Esther, Clarence, Martha, Lois Group bidding Esther goodbyeEsther with Linda

Teresa fell and cracked her elbow and a vertebrate in the lumbar portion of her spine.  She’s currently in the hospital in Conroe, after which she’ll need to go to rehab, and likely a nursing home after that.  She’s been at PG since May 2009.  Here’s a picture with Kathy, ready to leave for the hospital.

Teresa leaving

Joyce came to PG with Marilyn and Nadine for a few days, for Joyce’s 70th.   Patty Maki made a fruit birthday turkey for those who couldn’t eat cake! They had a visit with Roger and at the Mille’s while here.

Nadine, Joyce, AliceBirthday  TurkeyJoyce, Roger, Marilyn, AliceGroup at Milles

Ron and Sharon Hanson and family from Washington came to visit Alice.  Also Ron and Delberta Trevithick from Anchorage came for a visit with Linda Ronhaar.

Sharon and ROn HansonAlice with the HansonsRon and Delberta Trevithick, Linda Ronhaar

Some have asked about our new house at PG… we did manage to move in the end of December, but there’s still construction, especially outside.  Here’s a picture taken today (it’s 77 deg F), and a picture of frost on the Sr. Residence one morning a few weeks ago.

New house at PGFrosty morning

Ken

March 1, 2014

February 2014

Filed under: Newman Residence,Ponds,Senior Residence — knewman @ 9:47 pm

Our dear Frances passed away February 15th.  She was 94 and had been at PG since August 2009.  There was a memorial service at PG for her on Feb 20th, which about 90 attended.  Much was said about her ready smile and faithful life.  The pictures below are of Frances on her birthday in 2012, and then of her daughter and family, the Makis, Josh, Dale and Patty, at her memorial service.  Frances’s niece and husband, Steve and Wynesta Dale were here for the memorial service too (this picture was taken after Houston special meeting).  Finally, a picture of the workers that were at the memorial service.

Fances Jan 2012 Josh, Dale, PattySteve and Wynesta Workers at Frances Memorial Service Feb 20 2014

A group of us, including all the residents, went to the nursing home for Roger’s 94th birthday.  His niece, Karen was here for a few days from PA.  The pictures show Roger with Karen, Roger with the residents, and then Roger with the group of us that were there.  Teresa, who is amazingly talented on a piano, was asked to play Happy Birthday for Roger.  When she started playing, a very lively version of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer came out!  Kathy had to sing Happy Birthday to her to remind her how it went!

Roger and Karen Mary Jane, Esther, Naomi, Roger, Jean, Doris, Betty, Teresa, Bea Roger's birthday group Teresa and Kathy

We had many visitors at special meeting time, but didn’t get many pictures.  The first picture below shows Mark, Ronda and John.  Clarence Rochell lives about an hour from PG, but came and stayed a few days during special meetings, so he could ride the bus with the residents.  Here he’s pictured with dad and myself.

Mark, Ronda, John Ken, Clarence, Jack

We have some big projects going on at PG.  One is to build a house for Kathy and myself on the farm.  Jeff Chenault has come down from PA to help on the excavation work for the house.  His son Trevor and Trevor’s new wife Heather (Bolt) were here for a few weeks as well.  Here’s Trevor, Heather, Karen and Jeff.  Jeff’s driving the compactor by the basement excavation for the house.  Basements are rare in this area, so progress is slow.

Trevor, Jeather, Karen, Jeff Basement Hole

The dam that creates the small pond beside the cabin was originally built with a spillway.  Years ago a rush of water washed out the spillway and cut a hole in the dam.  The beavers built a dam across the hole, and that has kept the pond until now.  We managed the offend the beavers enough that they (finally) left!  So… Jeff dug out the beaver dam and is repairing the damaged portion of the dam.  The pictures below show the excavator from the cabin (where the Milles are living) just as Jeff started removing the beaver dam, and then the cabin across the partially drained pond.  The repair of the dam should be finished next week.

Excavator from CabinCabin from dam

We don’t usually have much weather below freezing, but we sure had our share this year.  Here’s the deck of the cabin with some snow on it (very rare here), and a cardinal in the cabin bird feeder.

Snow at the cabin Cardinal

Ken

 

 

 

 

 

November 23, 2008

Sheetrock

Filed under: Newman Residence,Ponds,Senior Residence — knewman @ 3:27 pm

Progress on the residence continues.  The contractor still claims it will be complete January 31, and that seems realistic.  The first resident says she’ll be moving in February 7th.  Here are some photos taken yesterday, showing the nearly completed outside and the sheetrock in the building.

Work on dredging the lake has progressed.  Fortunately the weather has been fairly dry, allowing this work to be done.  The first 3 photos below were taken from the same place standing on the dam looking over the drained lake, left to right, showing Dad and Mom’s new place, the residence and then the pecan orchard.  The last shows the back side of the dam which was covered with trees.  It will filled in so it has a 4 to 1 slope, allowing it to be mowed.

Jack Nelson began working at the pecan grove a few months ago.  The following shows Jack with his wife May.  Vincent Occhipinti happened to be visiting at the same time.

Just to keep up the red neck tradition… here’s Ronda’s dog Alex showing how he rides in her car, in front of Jack Nelson’s 5th wheel trailer.

Ken

July 8, 2008

Newman house

Filed under: Newman Residence — knewman @ 7:44 pm

In the farthest, most remote, part of the property…

 

deeper in the forest than most people ever go…

over the river…

 

and through the woods…

will be the house that Jack built.  Well…, he’ll have it built ! :p

More to come on Jack & Leona Newman’s new home…

tgh

      

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