♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
Hark! The Herald Penguins sing:
Please don’t eat our little wings!
Eat a goose down to the bone,
But leave Penguins all alone.
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
Baby ducks are very sweet,
Tastier than Penguin meat.
If we’re carried in your store,
Please don’t shop there anymore!
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
On a ranch in Bartonville, TX a 150-year-old pecan tree is the tableau for an annual spectacular light display every Christmas. The locals call it the “OMG Tree” – and with good reason!
It began as a suggestion back in 2005 from Bill Rathburn, owner of the Christmas Light Company in Dallas who the ranch owners, Barbara Nunneley and her partner, Jan Deatherage, had hired to outline the roof of their house with Christmas lights.
He noticed the huge, lone pecan tree out in their pasture and told them it’d make a spectacular light display. But at the time, Nunneley thought it was an extravagance that was a bit too expensive.
Her mind was changed two years later when her dad, who always said Christmas was his favorite time of year, was losing his battle to the terminal stage of prostate cancer. She decided the display would be an appropriate tribute to her father, so she called Rathburn and told him: “Let’s do it!”.
It takes a crew of up to eight workers from the Christmas Light Company about 20 hours to string the over 60,000 LED lights used to cover the tree. And because the pecan tree is so tall, they have to use a huge cherry picker in order to reach the top.
Nunnelly planned the inaugural lighting of the decked out old pecan tree as the featured event for the family’s annual Thanksgiving gathering at the ranch. But sadly, her father was not able to make the 70-mile drive from Nocona to Bartonville for the festivities. Sadly, he passed away the very next day.
Nunnelly said about the inaugural lighting: “It took my breath away.” And given the background for its inception she recalls: “It was a little spiritual, a little emotional.” But she philosophically adds: “My daddy did not ever see it from Earth, but I’m real sure he saw it,” casting her eyes skyward.
The tree brought them such joy they decided they would make it an annual tradition to honor her dad. And its notoriety has grown so that now folks from all over the South and Southwest travel to enjoy the light show.
So, let’s also join in for some of its mystical delight …
As its fame has grown, she notes that sunset is the most popular time for visitors to enjoy the light display.
And Nunnelly notes that over the years it’s become a favorite romantic setting for the younger folks in the area to stage their proposals – which is perfectly understandable …
Nunnelly admits she gets a kick out of the irony that over a dozen young men have asked her permission to “pop the question” under her pecan tree, in light of the fact that she’s a divorce lawyer. But adds she does have a personal rule that she’ll never take a case of someone who proposed under her tree.
If any of you folks in the area ever make it to the ranch, I’d enjoy hearing about your experience. Until then, I’ll just have to enjoy it vicariously …
RESOURCES:
GIFs are from CBS:
Pecan tree decorated for Christmas draws visitors from hundreds of miles away – CBS News
Story is largely from Texas Monthly:
An Old Pecan Tree Is a Beacon of Hope at the Holidays – Texas Monthly
https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/bartonville-pecan-tree-lights-holidays/
See, JD – we’re not the only ones who know how hard you work and how appreciated you are!
Just a quick note:
I asked Trinette WRT any updates and she said JD moved to the Rehab unit today.
I asked her if she knew the name of the facility and an address – but haven’t heard anything back as of this posting.
I yield the floor to Colleen – who spoke to her. She posted it in an earlier Comment – but it deserves its own posting:
I did call Joanne this Sunday afternoon at 3:00. She has had a couple of MRI’s but didn’t go into detail about them. She mentioned that both elbows were really torn up. Her thigh was in major pain too.
I asked her about her shoulder and she said that it wasn’t doing too bad, but the areas were. She’s thinking that she’ll only be in there another day. I asked her what they’ll do and she’s not quite sure, but mentioned some type of rehab location, since she’s not able to stand up on her own.
She mentions that she’s qualifies for VA medical health assistance, so maybe there’s a rehab place for her to stay and get her Physical & Occupational Therapy. Me not being military, I’m not familiar with VA programs.
She did ask me if I called earlier, and I told her I didn’t. Was that you Lona? She said she dropped the phone and wasn’t able to reach it.
Actually, I’ve called a couple of times. I have a special phone for the profoundly hearing impaired – but I didn’t get an answer. Not unexpected in a hospital where tests and x-rays are always going on.
JD’s friend this evening added that she begins her PT treatments – so sounds like “in house” before her transfer to Rehab.
A heartfelt “THANK YOU!” to Colleen! I’m sure it did JD’s spirit a world of good!
JD’s friend said JD will begin rehab w/ both Physical & Occupational Therapy (PT & OT).
But she doesn’t know where or when.
She didn’t share any more news WRT lab tests or x-rays/scans.
I wonder, has anyone tried calling her?
I had a nice text chat with JD’s friend who said she’s feeling better.
Her x-rays and/or scans didn’t reveal any fractures, but she didn’t elaborate further. Her friend didn’t share anything WRT lab tests & I’m a bit uncomfortable pushing too hard because of HIPAA regulations.
She did say it was her opinion that JD probably won’t be released until she can show that she’s ambulatory.
I know JD has said that she has a cane and a walker, but is not fond of taking the walker w/ her on her visits w/ Virgil because of the hassle.
Given the friends assessment, it wouldn’t surprise me if JD was getting PT of some type. And it’s rare for PT to be of a short duration – meaning I wouldn’t be surprised if HJD were there a few more days.
But that’s pure speculation on my part. Well, speculation tempered w/ the experience of my 101 y/o mom’s time w/ PT after she broke her hip in a fall.