Pecans, Storms, and Hangers

Be careful what you wish for!  I wished for rain and the ponds are almost overflowing.  The storms were not too fierce for us.  Others were not so lucky.  I am grateful for the rain.

Many of you have heard how Mom and Dad planted pecans around the perimeter of the yard the year they married.  This will give you some idea of how the trees that survived have grown.

The small not improved version of pecans they planted taste magnificent and have more oil compared to our Paper Shell Pecan. During our recent winds pecans fell a little prematurely but that has not stopped the crows, squirrels, ground squirrels and other animals from enjoying the sweet meat.

This picture does not even begin to show the size of the tree.  I believe it would take two people to wrap their arms around the trunk. Two remain of the many Mom and Dad planted even before they built this house we now live in.

I have mentioned "hangers", limbs broken by wind or ice but still hanging on the tree.  They need to be removed for safety reasons. We use the tractor bucket to reach them for removal.  We can not reach them all.

Here is one hanger after all our wind.  This is sticking into the ground about four inches.  The wind tore off the dead limb.  Gravity planted it.  It would be most unfortunate to have been standing here when the limb fell.

Yesterday I picked up and piled limbs, mostly smaller ones since we've done some trimming and removal.  I began another pile to burn.

While the rains fell I oiled the school desk, adding an old Purex jar with feathers and pretties.  Now have a new place to sit and remove my muddy boots or shoes and have put an old piece to a good use. This is one of the few mirrors I have in the house.  It is reflecting my painting and the inch thick red heart cedar tongue and groove wood walls of the hall. The wood was harvested from this land, dried, milled and installed by Mom and Dad.  I will never paint it.  I oil it about twice a year and it will outlast me, I'm sure.

The weather had me sorting closets, cleaning cupboards and sorting clothes...and hunting for a sweater.  I have rearranged my painting/craft/sewing/project area repeatedly.

While cleaning the fridge I cooked fresh turnip greens with cornbread, the end of garden okra, banana pudding, chocolate pudding and a German Chocolate cake and a dishpan full of fresh salad (Andrew ate that is one setting!)

I am lost without my washer.  I've made one trip to the laundromat and must make another soon.  I surely dislike waiting for warranty repairs.

Wishing you safe rain and many blessings.