Kent & Sharon's Echo Acres Excerpts: September 2011

2011 AUGUST 31 -- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

The grandkids have been waiting for this day all summer, or actually since the last day of school in June!!! They have had their bags packed and ready for a while and been so anxious for school to start again. Ellie is espcially excited about starting 6th grade at the Middle School and is thrilled to have made the volleyball team! Ava is in 4th grade and will be doing soccer. She continues with her piano lessons and loves it! Mom Shelley keeps busy with her running most every morning and is practicing for a half marathon. Paxton is in 3rd grade and looks forward to playing basketball again this winter. Miss Shaelyn is excited about going to the playroom at Hampshire Hills and having fun with playmates there while her Mom works out. So all are busy little bees and getting back into the groove of the school year! It was fun seeing them off on the bus again their first day!

2011 AUGUST -- WITH PETE & CAROL IN MAINE

Kent's business partner, Pete, from Portsmouth invited us to spend a couple of days with them in Rockland & Camden, Maine on his boat. The first day was a beautiful day on the boat for a leisurely cruise out from Rockland. That night we went on Pete's cousin's boat out to Nebo's restaurant on an island and had a delcious dinner. Pete & Carol stayed on the boat that night, and we stayed in a beautiful inn, Berry Manor Inn in Rockland. The next day was rainy, so we didn't go out on the boat but toured around the shops, etc. in Rockland and Camden. Both such charming and interesting towns! Stopped in Curtis Jensen's Pharmacy in Rockland and chatted with him a bit and bought a few things. He has a very classy pharmacy! We had a very relaxing two days! THANKS, PETE & CAROL, FOR A GREAT TIME!!!

2011 AUGUST -- TOOK NAOMI TO PECAN GROVE IN TEXAS

We brought Naomi Nicholson home from Altamont Convention with us and then flew with her to Houston, TX to take her to the Pecan Grove Assisted Living facility owned by Ken & Kathy Newman. We had a connection in Cleveland on the way down and met up with Esther Potts and Linda Ronhaar that were on their way back to Pecan Grove after Ohio convention. Esther & Naomi had been co-workers together years ago and have corresponded since, so they enjoyed reminiscing together in the airport. We were warmly welcomed at Pecan Grove by all the care givers and residents there, including Frank Porter who we know well. Naomi got all settled in her beautiful room (suite actually) and loves it there! She says she is living in a beautiful palace! We had a lovely supper with everyone there that night and a mini tour around the facility and grounds. Then we retired to Ken & Kathy's cabin on the pecan farm where they stay when they come. They have a beautiful home on a lake in a nearby town where they live, but do stay often at the care center too. They weren't there when we were, so let us stay in their beautiful cabin! They also have a "bunk house" right by the care center for guests or often some of the care givers. Ken's sister, Ronda, is the manager of the care home now, and she and Mike have a home on the farm as well. Ken's folks, Jack & Leona, also have a beautiful home on the grounds and help out at the care center. Pecan Grove is an active pecan farm, so we saw the whole operation which will soon be busy harvesting the pecans. Another couple also live on the farm and others working there, so it is a "humming" little community of wonderful people! The next day Jack & Leona took us all around the farm and the facilities, including Ken's own business there, into everyone's homes, viewed the pecan groves, visited a couple in town, went to Ken & Kathy's home & Ken's office on the lake and also Ken's brother Brent's home, met Ken & Kathy's daughter Karin for lunch, and back to the care home for more visiting with Naomi and all there. Naomi had already done 2 loads of wash, made a copy letter, and was busily doing her usual letter writing at her table in her sitting area. "Don't you know I have a 100 letters to write?!!!!" We left her early Wednesday AM before breakfast, and she had already been out for a walk with her new walker/seat on wheels with another resident (Bea). It wasn't hard to leave her there, because she is so very happy there and thankful not to have to be moving around and packing up any more. We really enjoyed our time there and getting acquainted with those wonderful folks and left a piece of our heart there! Only sorry that we didn't get to see Ken & Kathy this time. Next time! :)

PICTURES: 1. Esther & Naomi chatting at airport 2. Pecan Grove care center
3. Ken & Kathy with all the residents 4. Frank Porter 5. Back patio
& pond 6.. DR, kitchen, & entry 7. Looking from kitchen to DR/great
room 8. Linda Ronhaar playing piano 9. Naomi at her writing table
10. Bunk house 11. Ken & Kathy's home in town on a lake 12. Ken &
Kathy's cabin at Pecan Grove 13. Mike & Ronda's home 14. Mike &
Ronda (manager) 15. Jack & Leona Newman's home 16. Jack &
Leona 17. Lounell Claibourn & Cindy Erickson (cooks & care givers)
18. Naomi seeing us off

Esther & Naomi chatting