Happy New Year!

2010 was a year of changes for the Pecan Shed. Some of them were easy to do, but some were harder than others. I think that is true for life as well.

All in all, I have to say that as I sit here about to close the store and celebrate the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, I am glad that my family is healthy, that my staff is a great one, and that I am still open for business. I know some people are not as lucky as me.

I hope you all have had a great 2010 and I wish you an even better 2011.

May God bless you always.

Until next year...Jill

Closing Early...

Just to give you some notice...

The Pecan Shed will close early Friday, December 31st. We will close at 3pm that day. We will also be closed all day Saturday, January 1st.

We will reopen Monday, January 3rd with our normal business hours (Monday through Saturday 9am until 5pm).

Congratulations Chad & Courtney!

Chad has been with the Pecan Shed family for many years. I personally have known him since kindergarten. We both went to a small school and we have been great friends for over 25 years...WOW we are getting old!

Chad was always the nicest guy you would ever meet. He was super popular in school...heck he is super popular in life! He is very funny, loyal, loving, giving, kind, did I mention funny, sweet, caring, smart, and oh so funny.

Chad was always the guy you wanted around at work or at play. He was the type of friend you did not call if you got thrown in jail...he was the type of friend that was right in there with you. (Of course neither Chad nor I have been in jail...it is just a figure of speech to show that he is the type of friend that will always be there for you during the good and the bad. I feel like I needed to say this because my parents read this blog...no worries guys...I have never been in jail with Chad or anyone else.)

Chad has been dating a real sweetheart, Courtney, for several years now. Courtney is a nurse at a local hospital and a saint for sticking with Chad for so long.

You see Chad is one of the best guys in the whole world but some of us doubted if he would ever settle down and get married. We all told him Courtney was a great girl and he had better not mess it up but Chad can be stubborn at times.

I am glad to say that over the Christmas holiday Chad proposed to Courtney! And the even better part is she said yes! I have not heard of a date yet...although I think Chad would do it tomorrow if Courtney was willing to hop a flight to Vegas.

Congrats you two on such a big step in life! We are all so happy for you!!!

50% OFF SALE

Did you forget someone this year? Are you attending a late Christmas party? Do you just love the Plain Chocolate or Chocolate Pecan Fudge and don't mind if it is in a Christmas Tree container? It still tastes delicious!

We are now having our after Christmas Sale. Many of our Christmas items are on sale for 50% off their original price.

Hurry in soon! Take advantage of these great deals.

Hannah's Last Day...

Today is so bittersweet for me. This is the last day Hannah will be working at the Pecan Shed. She has been here for three years. Not only is Hannah a valuable employee but she is a great friend.

This December, Hannah graduated with her nursing degree from MSU. She will be an RN at UMC in Lubbock.

While I am so proud of all Hannah has accomplished, I am sad to be losing a great employee and a true friend.

Hannah has done a lot of great things while at the Pecan Shed. She is our tech guru and she has updated our computer systems dramatically. This season alone she updated our billing system to be computerized. Before we had always had to write out receipts to our customers. Now, everything is printed and looks very professional. While I had always known we should get more up-to-date on our billing, I was just never willing to take the time and go for it. Hannah is always willing to help out in that area of the business and for that I will always appreciate her.

Hannah is not perfect though and she did have her negative points. She usually did not wear the correct color shirt to work. She was difficult to get her work schedule done because half the time she did not remember if she had a clinical, a class, or something else scheduled. She could be quiet at times which often made me worry if she was sad about something, worried about school, or just sitting there asleep. She has TERRIBLE handwriting. She often transposed numbers (which if I ever have to receive medication from her I am going to double check her myself). And she would eat sushi at work at times which totally grossed me out.

But other than that...and a few more I cannot put into print for all eternity...Hannah was pretty close to a perfect employee. (I hope you all know that while the negative points I made are all true...I was never upset with her about them.)

I will miss Hannah more than I could ever say to her or ever put into print. While many employees have come and gone over the years, some of them are very special. Hannah is definitely one of them. Hannah is not from Wichita Falls so I know that she really will not have much of a reason to come back to see us but I hope she knows she is always welcome and that she has friends who miss her and would love to see her anytime she is passing through.

To Hannah...

Thanks for your friendship. For showing me how to blog. For showing me how to do a lot of stuff on the computer. For showing me that just because someone is quiet, it does not mean that something is wrong. People don't have to be constantly talking (thus I can be quiet sometimes too). Thanks for sharing your life with me...the funny, the not so funny, the personal, and the public. Thanks for listening to my life story...the good, bad, and ugly. Thanks for opening up your heart to all of us. You are one in a million. You will be truly missed more than you will ever know. And I will always remember you. (Don't worry...years from now I will not talk about the girl in the headband who wore the wrong color shirt...what was her name??? I will always remember Hannah.) All the best...Jill

Last Day before Christmas...

Today is the last day we will be open for Christmas.
We are open today until 5pm.
We will be closed both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We will reopen Monday, December 27th at 9am.

Merry Christmas from all the staff at the Pecan Shed and the Montz Family.

Christmas Bonus...

For two days only...Dec. 22nd and Dec. 23rd...we will be paying $1.25 per pound for pecans.

We were paying $1.00 per pound so hurry in soon to take advantage of this limited time price increase.

We are open the 22nd and 23rd from 9am until 5pm. We will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The Fudge is Flying...

Our Homemade Fudge is flying off the shelves!!!

We sold LOTS yesterday and we expect to do so the next two days. Our fudge makers are working 13 hours a day to keep up with demand but I recommend you come in early if you are wanting fudge this Christmas.

We will be open 9am until 5pm today and tomorrow and then we are closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Hurry in soon!

Count Down

Okay...okay. The countdown has begun. Well, actually it began quite a while back I am just now starting because I am under 5 days left.

If you still have some people on your list that you still need a gift for the Pecan Shed can help.

We have lots of great gift ideas...
- Homemade Fudge (by the piece or by the pan)
- Fudge of the Month Club Gift Certificates
- Candied Pecans
- Gift Tins (filled with either candied pecans or plain pecan halves)
- Texas shaped containers (filled with candied pecans or plain pecan halves)
- Local Pecans (in the shell, cracked, or shelled)
- Texas gifts, home decor items, Christmas ornaments, and more
- Cookbooks, gourmet food items, jalapeno grillers, etc.

We are open this week Monday through Thursday 9am until 5pm. We will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Reason for the Season

Today my daughter's school put on a play called the "Christmas Story". Dotty was "Mary".

The teacher narrated and the 3 year olds acted out the parts (too cute might I add). When it was all over Dotty told me the story over and over again.

Then she said...."I love the Baby Jesus. And Santa."

Her school and my sweet daughter reminded me that even though the Pecan Shed is swamped with customers, even though I am working 7 days a week a lot this time of year to keep up, even though my feet hurt, my head hurts, and my mind hurts with all the stuff I have left to do, even though my tree has not a single present under it yet (all bought back in October just not wrapped yet), even though I dream at night about pecans, fudge, and customers, even though I answer my house phone "Pecan Shed"...the reason for the season is the same and it has nothing to do with presents, pecans, or people at all.

It is not about getting Dotty one more gift. It is not about the Pecan Shed only having 7 more days of our crazy retail time. It is not about Christmas parties I need to attend, Christmas cards I need to write, or Christmas presents I need to wrap.

It is about the birth of a sweet baby boy. And my sweet baby girl reminded me of that.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Last Day...

Today is the last day we will guarantee a Christmas delivery on anything we ship through standard ground UPS.

After today there is only "hope" it will make it there in time.

We can do 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air but it will cost a pretty penny.

Hurry in with your orders! Santa's Sleigh waits for no gift!

The Hustle and Bustle...

The Hustle and bustle of the season is upon us. Lots of people are still looking for the perfect gifts.

We have lots of them!

Our fudge is great to send to family and friends. We also have the Fudge of the Month Club you can sign someone up for. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving for months after the tree and trimmings are put away.

Hurry in soon! Christmas Day is just 10 days away!

It is NUTS!

Did someone say Christmas is less than 2 weeks away?!?

They must have because we have been crazy busy...which is AWESOME!

Lots of people are coming in to get gifts, have them shipped, and of course they are picking up lots of fudge!

Remember to get in your order soon. We do not guarantee any shipments to arrive by Christmas after December 15th!

Congratulations Hannah!

Being a small family business we have relied on family, friends, and college students to staff our store during our busiest time of year which is October through December.

Over three years ago we attended MSU's Part-time Job Fair and we were lucky to find two really good girls to come and work for us...one of those girls was Hannah.

Lots of college students only work a season or two but both girls have been special and have stayed on year round since the day they started working here.

I am proud and a little sad to say that Hannah will be graduating tomorrow with her Nursing Degree. I am so proud of how Hannah has persevered and kept up through all the pressure that went along with her degree. I have no doubt she will be an excellent nurse (although, if you get her, double check her numbers before she gives you medicine...just kidding Hannah).

I am sad to see her leave the Pecan Shed. We all become family around here. We know each other (perhaps we know TOO MUCH about each other), we care for each other, and most of all, we are all good friends.

I have a great staff and it is times like these that remind me how wonderful my staff is. Tonight at Hannah's "Pinning Ceremony" I have no doubt I will cry...tears of joy for my friend...and tears of sadness for myself.

To Hannah...(who is one of the few people I know who reads this blog...)
Congratulations Hannah! You are such a good employee (our computers will probably all become overwhelmed with viruses when you leave...or we will delete every customer record we have), you are an amazing person, you will be a great nurse, and you are a true friend. I have enjoyed getting to know. I will always remember our times bowling, the day I "fired" you, and many, many more things that I don't care to put into print for all eternity.

Just know I will miss you greatly!

Christmas Trees

The Pecan Shed now has Christmas Tree molds filled with our delicious Homemade fudge in either Plain Chocolate or Chocolate Pecan. We can also do Sucrose Free Fudge but you will need to place an order for that.

These trees hold almost one pound of fudge and are perfect gifts for friends, family, teachers, the postman, or the UPS Driver who is busy delivering all the other great gifts you have been ordering this holiday season. (Bryan Cash happens to be our great UPS Driver and he has been working extra hard this time of year with all the Christmas packages our customers have been ordering...thanks for doing such a great job Bryan!)

These fudge filled Christmas trees are $12.95 each. Stop by soon and pick one up today.

NEW!!! Chocolate Amaretto Pecans

Just arrived we now have Chocolate Amaretto Pecans available in a 5 ounce box for $6.95. These delicious pecans will just be available for a limited time so hurry in for yours today.

They make great gifts for teachers and are perfect as stocking stuffers!

We are open 9am until 5pm Monday through Saturday.

Supplies are limited so hurry in soon!

Christmas Delivery...

If you want to guarantee those on your Christmas list will get their pecans, fudge, or other holiday gifts in time for Christmas we recommend you have your packages shipped off no later than December 15th. Of course, the earlier the better!

We ship anywhere within the continental United States. We do so via UPS Ground Service. We will ship any of our products except we do not ship glass.

Texas pecans and homemade fudge are great gift ideas for family and friends. We also have our holiday tins that hold up to two pounds of candied pecans in them.

Remember our "Fudge of the Month Club"! What a great gift that keeps on giving for months after the holiday season.

We are now paying $1

As of today we are now paying $1.00 per pound.

We do buy pecans from the public and the process is very easy. We buy pecans Monday through Saturday 9am until 5pm. No appointment necessary. Take your pecans to the West end of the building (look for the big red arrow). Our store location is 1401 Midwestern Pkwy.

The pecans need to be new crop and well filled out. We cannot buy last year's pecans, pecans with the green or black hulls on them, or pecans with a lot of leaves, sticks, rocks or any kind of trash in them. They also cannot be wet.

We can only buy pecans in the shell. We cannot buy pecans that are cracked or shelled.

You can bring them in any container. We will weigh the pecans, then we will crack a few to check them, then we will pour the pecans in a hopper. If you bring them in a bucket, box, or something that weighs more than a pound, we will weigh the container back and subtract that weight from your total.

You then get paid for your pecans. Currently we are paying $1.00 per pound.

All the pecans we buy from the public are then sold to shelling companies or are shipped overseas. Therefore we must adhere to the standards set forth by these companies. We also buy based on a market so the price is subject to change without advance warning.

Fabulous Fudge Friday...

Did you know that if you call in your anniversary to 99.9 KLUR they will enter you in the weekly drawing for FREE FUDGE every Friday morning?!?

Every Friday Brad and Trista Lee draw from the weekly names of anniversary entries. The winner gets six pieces of FREE Homemade Fudge from the Pecan Shed. To claim the prize the winner simply comes in and picks out the six pieces he/she would like.

What a way to celebrate! Something sweet for your Sweetie!

Remember to call in your anniversary to KLUR during the week days during the morning show with Brad and Trista Lee.

Fudge of the Month Club...Great Christmas Gift Idea!

Pecan Shed is excited to announce a new product line. Their new Fudge of the Month Club is a great gift for anyone! The Pecan Shed is now offering gift certificates for their Fudge of the Month Club. You can sign up for a three month membership which is $39.95 or a six month membership is $75.95.
A welcome letter with a flavor calendar is included in the first shipment (which will go out January 2011) to welcome the lucky recipient. On the first Monday of each month the Pecan Shed will ship the recipient a piece of the Chocolate Pecan Fudge, a piece of the Plain Chocolate Fudge, and a piece of the Fudge Flavor of the Month for that specific month. Each piece is approximately one-fourth of a pound. The package is sent via priority mail through the United States Postal Service.
Sign up now as a great Christmas gift that keeps giving for months. Or sign up for yourself because you deserve it and the fudge is delicious! Either way - call or stop by today to reserve your spot for our Fudge of the Month Club!

Fudge Flavor of the Month for December is...

...Candy Cane Fudge!


This fudge flavor is perfect for the holidays. Red and white and bursting with mint flavor, Candy Cane Fudge is a must try...or rather a must buy!

Our fudge is sold by the piece for $2.95 each. Each piece is approximately 1/4 of a pound.

We have a deal where if you buy four pieces you get one piece FREE.

We even have a "Pecan Shed Special" that is six pieces of fudge for only $15 (and that includes the tax). You can mix and match the fudge or buy six pieces of your favorite kind...you choose.

We also sell our homemade fudge by the half pan for $26.95 or the full pan for $49.95. Homemade fudge is perfect to take to office parties or holiday celebrations with family and friends.

New this year is our Fudge of the Month Club. Enroll now for either a 3 month membership or a 6 month membership. Keep watching for more information.

30% OFF Select Christmas Items

We are having a holiday sale. Some of our Christmas items are now 30% off their retail price. This sale includes Christmas ornaments, stockings, holiday candles, Christmas cards, and more.

Deck your halls, fill up the stockings, and give them a gift they will love!

Stop in to see all the great deals!

We are open 9am until 5pm Monday through Saturday.

Wow! What a Rush!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

We have had lots of shoppers in today needing pecans for their pies, fudge, divinity, pralines, cookies, brownies, brittle, and so much more.

It seems like there will be a lot of baking going on tonight!

Of course we had plenty of people in who decided to skip the baking themselves and bought some of our delicious Homemade Fudge to take with them to share with family and friends. A great idea I have to say!

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving Holiday.

Hackers Hack Me Off..

There is a reason we do not have a shopping cart on the Pecan Shed website. Several years ago our website was hacked into and the hackers changed wording in both our product descriptions and in several other areas of the site.

It seemed like they never got access to the shopping cart information we had available on the site at the time and none of our customers who did buy things online had any problems with their accounts. Regardless we decided to pull the shopping cart option from the website just to be safe.

Again today I had a customer call me to say the product descriptions had been tampered with. A hacker that goes by the name "Petros" hacked into the system, changed some product descriptions, and changed my administrators password. Thus, I could not make changes to the website.

Our hosting company is currently working on the problem and while it is nothing major it is VERY annoying and makes me glad we do not have a shopping cart.

Okay...that is my rant for the day!

Now paying $0.90

As of today we are now paying $0.90 per pound for new crop, well filled out pecans (both papershell and natives). The price we pay is based on the pecan market and is subject to change.

To sell your pecans at the Pecan Shed, please take them to the west end of the building...look for the big red arrow. We are open 9am until 5pm Monday through Saturday. We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

We cannot buy pecans that are cracked or shelled. We also cannot buy pecans that still have the green or black hulls on them. They need to not have a lot of leaves or "trash" of any kind in them. Pecans cannot be wet either.

You can bring your pecans in any container you like. We will weigh your pecans on a certified scale and then if we need to we will weigh back your container and subtract its weight to get the total weight of just the pecans.

All the pecans we buy are either shipped to national shelling companies here in the U.S. or are shipped over to China. We DO NOT resale any of the pecans we buy. The only pecans we retail are the ones we grow in the Montz Orchards out in Charlie.

Homemade for the Holidays...

With the holidays just around the corner, people begin to think about family, friends, home, and home cooking too. The Pecan Shed is all that and more! This family business is just that…family owned and grown. The Pecan Shed was opened in 1981 by Tim Montz and Molly Montz, and over the past 29 years both the business and the family have grown and changed a lot. A few things have remained the same though. The Pecan Shed is still known for its top quality papershell pecans and for its wonderful customer service.
If you plan on baking some delicious home cooked pies, cakes, cookies, or brownies this holiday season you should use only the best ingredients. Nothing tastes better than when all those yummy treats are filled with some of the best pecans in Texas. Of course dessert is not the only use for pecans. Pecan Shed pecans are great in salads, on top of cereals and ice cream, used in glazes, breaded on chicken, or simply eaten by the handfuls themselves. Pecans add flavor, texture, and health benefits to every taste and treat.
However, if you are not sure of your cooking skills or you simply do not have time, the Pecan Shed can make sure you bring the best dessert to the next family get together or office party. Stop by and get their Homemade Fudge. Made with fresh cream and butter and heaped full of Pecan Shed pecans, this fudge is better than even your grandma used to make (of course you do not have to tell her that). The Pecan Shed sells it by the piece or by the pan. You can choose to make it all one flavor or do an assortment. With flavors like Chocolate Pecan, Butter Pecan, Maple Nut, Turtle, Tiger, Chocolate Mint, and even Sucrose Free Fudge it will be hard to choose which is your favorite. They even have fudge flavors made especially for the holidays like Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Nut, and Divinity Fudge.
In addition to the Homemade Fudge flavors, the Pecan Shed also has candied pecans that would be perfect to set out for family and friends to snack on. If you need a gift to send, a holiday gift tin filled with these delicious coated pecans would be perfect for anyone on your list. The Pecan Shed can even ship the gift for you anywhere within the continental United States.
Don’t forget the Pecan Shed is known for their outstanding pecans. Grown fresh in the Montz Orchards, these pecans are not only locally grown but they are full of wonderful flavor. The Pecan Shed now has all their varieties available including the Pawnee, Cheyenne, Choctaw, and Wichita pecans. These pecans are all available in the shell, cracked and shelled (Wichita is not available shelled). There is nothing better than a good ‘ol Texas pecan!
Stop by the Pecan Shed today to taste all their farm fresh pecans, yummy Homemade Fudge, and delicious candied pecans. The Pecan Shed is open Monday through Saturday 9am until 5pm. You can call them at 940-322-0756 or visit their website at www.pecanshed.com. The staff at the Pecan Shed is looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Charlie Pecan Festival...

Today is the annual Pecan Festival in Charlie, TX. The festivities start at 1pm. Lots of good food, good fun, good people, and of course good pecans are all found at this event.

There will be plenty of pecan pies, fudge, and other baked goods to bid on. There will also be pecan shelling contests, games, and a whole lot more.

If you have the time...and a thick jacket because lots of the events will take place outside...head to Charlie, TX.

Take Hwy 79 North to Petrolia. Turn left at the blinking light in town...this will put you on Farm and Market Road 810 going North. It is only 8 miles to Charlie.

Go straight at the stop sign and about 1/2 mile down on the left is the Charlie Community Center where all the action is to take place.

All proceeds from this event go to benefit the local volunteer fire department. Head out there for a good cause and lots of fun!

Fresh peanuts are now available at the Pecan Shed. We sell the raw Spanish peanuts in a one-pound bag for $3.95 and a three-pound bag for $7.95.

We also have two-pound tubs of flavored peanuts for $8.95 each. The flavors include Cocktail, Redskins, Jalapeanuts, and Hot & Spicy.

Peanut patties and brittle taste better with fresh peanuts. Stop in today for yours.

Fresh Pecans for Thanksgiving...

If you are wanting fresh pecans for all your Thanksgiving baking you might need to order them soon. Shipping times around the holidays tend to slow down due to the volume of packages that UPS and the Post Office are having to deal with. Thus, we suggest you place your order as soon as possible to make sure your pecans arrive in time.

The Pecan Shed tries to get every package shipped out the same day it is ordered. Remember though that UPS does not pick up, deliver, or move packages on Saturdays or Sunday.

We have pecans in the shell, cracked, and shelled. Call today and place your order!

Pecan Log Rolls

Back by popular demand, the Pecan Shed now has pecan log rolls available. Along with all our wonderful sweets and treats, pecan log rolls are great stocking stuffers. They are also great ideas when you need a little something to hand out to family and friends.

The Pecan Shed is open 9am until 5pm Monday through Saturday. We will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Divinity Fudge

We now have Divinity Fudge available at the Pecan Shed. This fudge is so yummy we can't hardly keep it in stock. With the flavor of homemade divinity and the texture of homemade fudge...Divinity Fudge is the perfect combination.

This fudge flavor is only available for a limited time so hurry in for your piece today!

We also have other popular fudge flavors including Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Nut, Chocolate Pecan, Turtle, Maple Nut, Butter Pecan, Rocky Road, Chocolate Mint, and so much more!

Fudge is perfect for the holidays or any day!

Happy Veterans Day!

To all those who have served, who are serving, and to all the families, friends, and loved ones who support them...we salute you!

Don't Forget...

Turn your pecans into the Wichita County Agent, Fred Hall, to have them judged in the Wichita County Pecan Show. The deadline for them to be turned in is this Friday. Call 940-716-8610 for more information.

The actual show date is Saturday, November 20th at the MPEC.

Choctaw pecans are here!

We just received a few sacks of the new crop of Choctaw pecans. We have them available in the shell and cracked. We hope to soon have them available shelled as well.

The Choctaw pecan is the largest pecan we retail. Known for its size and how easy it is to shell, this pecan is perfect for those who love to shell out pecans. The Choctaw is also very light in color which makes it a good pecan for baking.

Stop in soon to taste the Choctaw as well as the Pawnee and Cheyenne pecans to see which is your favorite.

Fudge of the Month Club

The Pecan Shed is excited to announce a new product line. The new Fudge of the Month Club is a great gift for anyone! We are now offering gift certificates for our Fudge of the Month Club. You can sign up for a three month membership which is $39.95 or a six month membership is $75.95.

A welcome letter with a flavor calendar is included in the first shipment (which will go out in January 2011) to welcome the lucky recipient. On the first Monday of each month we will ship the recipient a piece of the Chocolate Pecan Fudge, a piece of the Plain Chocolate Fudge, and a piece of the Fudge Flavor of the Month for that specific month. Each piece is approximately one-fourth of a pound. The package is sent via priority mail through the United States Postal Service.

Sign up now as a great Christmas gift that keeps giving for months. Or sign up for yourself because you deserve it and the fudge is delicious! Either way - call or stop by today to reserve your spot for our Fudge of the Month Club!

New Crop Pieces

New Crop Pecan Pieces are now available at the Pecan Shed. We sell them in a one pound bag for $8.50 or a four pound bag for $31.95. These pieces are from the Pawnee pecans. They are mostly large in size with a few medium pieces mixed in.

This time of year we are always at the mercy of Tim when we will get pecan pieces. He is usually so busy with orders for pecan halves he does not like to stop to do pecan pieces.

Hurry in while we have them. This time of year with all the baking going on they tend to go fast!

Shelled Cheyenne...

Today we got in a few boxes of shelled Cheyenne. We were able to bag them all up in order to offer them in a one pound bag for $8.50 or a four pound bag for $31.95.

Cheyenne pecans are great for baking. They are light in color and make wonderful toppings and keep pie fillings bright in color.

The Cheyenne is a smaller pecan but it very popular. Come in today and taste to see which is your favorite pecan.

Blustery Day...

Growing up I used to watch Winnie the Pooh and at times the 100 Acre Woods would have quite the "blustery day" according to Pooh Bear.

These last few days have been very blustery. The wind is supposed to get over 20 mph at times today.

All this is good for pecans. Cool air and wind are needed to help the pecans fall from the trees.

In our orchards in Charlie we have shaking equipment that we use during the harvesting process but most people do not have such a thing so they rely on Mother Nature to do the "shaking".

Right now we are buying pecans for $0.80 per pound. This is always subject to change but as of today that is the current price.

We also crack pecans for the public. The charge for this is $0.40 per pound.

T-T-F-N...Ta Ta For Now!

Wichita County Pecan Show

Wichita County will once again be hosting a Pecan Show. The date is Saturday, November 20th at the MPEC beginning at 1pm. If you would like to have your pecans judged and in the show you need to have your entry in by Friday, November 12th at 5pm at the County Extension Office located at 600 Scott Street on the 2nd Floor. For more information, rules, and entry submission details contact Fred Hall at 940-716-8610.

There will also be a Pecan Seminar on the morning of November 20th. The seminar is from 10am until 12pm. Registration is at 9:30am. The seminar is free unless you would like to get 2 IPM CEUs then the cost will be $10.00. Again, contact Fred Hall for more information.

This is great opportunity for anyone who would like to see all kinds of pecans or who would like to have their pecans judged to see how they rank. It is also a chance for you to have an expert tell you what kind of pecans you have if you are unsure. I hope everyone will take this great opportunity that we have once again. It has been several years since we have had a pecan show and I think it is great that Fred Hall has worked so hard to put this together. Let's all go out and show our support and interest!

The Fudge Flavor of the Month for November is...

...Cranberry Nut Fudge! We actually had it available a few days ago and so far the response has been great.

We had lots of request last season for this fudge and we decided to give it a try. With its unique flavor and bright pink color...Cranberry Nut is quite the fudge flavor.

Stop in today for a taste! We sell it by the piece or by the pan. Right now we are running a special on our fudge...you can get 6 pieces of fudge...all one flavor or a mixture...for $15.00 total (tax and all). That is about a pound and half of fudge...what a deal!

Great Customers

We are so lucky to have some really great customers. Being a small family owned business, we have many opportunities to get to know our customers...not only what kinds of pecans they like, but also a little bit about their families and their lives.

Many of our customers have lived extraordinary lives...done great things...even written best selling books. Some may have not gotten awards or honors or travel to exotic places, but the lives they live every day have made an impact on their loved ones.

Just recently some of our customers have shared with us heart breaking stories about what all they have been through recently. While it is all so sad I am amazed at each person's positive outlook on life, their faith, and their sheer determination to simply live each day to the fullest.

My life at times gets "nuts" as you can well imagine. There are days where I just struggle with even the smallest setback. However, God has a way of reminding me that I am lucky. I have a job. I have my health. I have a healthy daughter. I have friends and family who love me. I have food and clothes and a nice home. I am truly blessed. It is always nice to remember to "count your blessings."

We take pride in having great customer service at the Pecan Shed and thanks to our wonderful customers it is easy to continue that tradition. May God bless you all.

Cheyenne Pecans are Here

We now have Cheyenne Pecans available in the shell and cracked. These pecans are light in color and have a "sweet" taste to them. They are wonderful for baking.

Smaller and rounder than the other types of pecans we have, the Cheyenne is very unique. Stop in for a taste to see which variety of pecan is your favorite.

We still have the Wichita and Mohawk pecans available in the shell and cracked and we have the Pawnee available in the shell, cracked, and shelled.

"Trick or Treat" your loved ones this weekend with fresh pecans!

Sign Up to Get Emails...

Thanks to my fabulous Hannah...you can now sign up to get an email from the Pecan Shed Blog every time I post something new. It is FREE and you will only get emails when I make a new post.

I hope you all join so you can keep up-to-date with what is happening at the Pecan Shed!

More New Crop Pecans...

This afternoon Dad brought up some of the Wichita and Mohawk pecans in the shell. We did not get a lot but we do have them available for retail at the Pecan Shed.

We have them in the shell in a 5 pound bag for $18.75 each and cracked in a 5 pound bag for $20.25 each. We do not have them available shelled.

The Wichita pecan is medium in size. It fills out very tight in the shell. You will get well over 50% pecan meat from this pecan. It is a little darker in color but has a lot of oil. The Wichita pecan is great for roasting and toasting.

The Mohawk pecan is large in size. It fills out well but not as full as the Wichita or Pawnee. It is very easy to shell out. We usually do not have the Mohawk due to the fact we do not have many Mohawk trees so this pecan is very limited in availability.

Stop by soon and taste each variety to see which is your favorite.

Cranberry Nut Homemade Fudge

Cranberry Nut Fudge is now available at the Pecan Shed.

We had several customers ask us to make this flavor so yesterday Kathy whipped up a batch of it.

If you like cranberries you will love this fudge. It is so pretty and pink...Dotty and Presley just love the color!

Stop in soon for a taste!

Clarification...

If you read Dad's report from KAUZ he said he will harvest one million pounds of pecans on a good year.

Some of our customers are a little confused so here is a bit of clarification for you.

We can harvest around one million pounds off of ALL our orchards. We have about 800 acres in orchards (both old ones and new ones) and we have about 25,000 trees total (native, papershell, improved varieties, etc.). Some trees are native pecans, some are the older varieties, and some just do not fill out well enough to be retailed. These types of pecans are what we send to China and/or shelling companies.

We do not retail one million pounds of pecans. It would be nice, but that is not the case.

The one million pounds includes every pecan we grow...some are top quality, papershell pecans that we retail at the Pecan Shed in Wichita Falls...some are not.

Hope all this information helps!

Tim Makes the Local News...

Texoma Pecan Growers Trying To Keep Up With International Demand - KAUZ-TV: NewsChannel 6 Now | Wichita Falls, TX

Buying Pecans...

The Pecan Shed starting buying pecans from the public on Monday October 18th. We started out paying $0.70 per pound and now we are paying $0.80 per pound.

All the pecans the Pecan Shed buys go either to a national shelling company or are shipped over to China. None of the pecans are retailed at the Pecan Shed (the pecans we retail come directly from the Montz Orchards in Charlie, TX).

In order to buy pecans, they must be new crop pecans, filled out well, have no leaves or any type of trash in them. We also cannot buy pecans that are cracked or shelled.

Buying pecans is based on a market price determined by many factors beyond the Pecan Shed's control. The price can also fluctuate day to day. It can either go up or down without warning.

If you would like to sell your pecans to the Pecan Shed you can bring them to the far right side of the building (look for the large red arrow). We are open 9am until 5pm Monday through Saturday.

Find Our Fudge at the Feathered Nest

The Feathered Nest located in the Sikes Senter Mall now has the Pecan Shed Fudge available in Pumpkin Pie with Nuts. They will also be carrying the Chocolate Pecan Fudge tomorrow (we had to make it up today and will be delivering it asap in the morning).

If you have not been to the Feathered Nest you need to stop by. They have a great assortment of home decor items, women's clothing, shoes, and jewelry, and so much more.

The Feathered Nest also has a location in Henrietta, TX just off the main square. Both stores and stocked full of wonderful and unique treasures for your home or office and have wonderful gifts for friends, family, and coworkers.

Pecan Shed Commercial...

Caramel Pecan Pie Recipe

2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 eggs, beaten lightly
1 12 oz. jar caramel topping
2 cups PECAN SHED pecan pieces (large pieces work best)
1 9-inch deep dish pie shell, unbaked

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine eggs and sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Mix in topping and butter. Stir in pecans. Pour mixture into unbaked deep dish pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.

WE SHIP FRESH-SHELLED PECANS ALL YEAR!

All Parties Must End...

Birthday Cake Fudge is going...going...and will soon be gone!

Like all good parties, the celebration of the Pecan Shed's "birthday" must end...thus we only have a little bit of Birthday Cake Fudge left.

We need to get ready for the upcoming holiday fudge flavors and that means we have got to make room in the fudge case.

Hurry in for one last bite of Birthday Cake Fudge. Once it is gone it will not be available again until October 2011.

2010 Brochures are Ready!

Our new 2010 brochure just arrived. Of course it has all our great tasty pecan products in it but the best part of all is it has the new pictures of Dotty and Presley.

If you would like to have a brochure mailed to you please send me an email with your address. The Pecan Shed email is pecanshed@aol.com or you can call toll free 800-317-3226 and request a brochure as well.

Traveling...

It is that time of year again. The time when I barely get to sit down or even stand still. Today though I was lucky and James from Paris Pecan Co stopped by. He and I had made plans to go by and see Valley Pecans in Chillicothe, TX.

Valley Pecans is a great retail store owned by Mike and Kelly Baustert. Not only do they have all kinds of pecans but they also have a great selection of gifts.

It is always interesting to see how different stores, in different locations, with different clientele do things. Some ideas other stores do would never work at the Pecan Shed but some things we have tried.

I also like to see that all stores change and adapt just like the Pecan Shed. We are always learning new things, trying new products and tactics, and we sometimes find the best answer is the simplest one.

As James and I talked today, I have learned as I have gotten older and my life has become fuller (thanks to a sweet 3 year old girl) that the KISS philosophy (Keep It Simple Stupid) is the only way to go.

Caramel Pecan Pie Video

NEW CROP PECANS ARE HERE!

The Pecan Shed now has in stock the 2010 Pawnee pecans available in the shell, cracked, and shelled. The Pawnee pecans are the most popular variety of pecans we sell. They are great for baking or just eating, they shell out easily, and they have a beautiful color to them.

Check out the Pecan Shed's website...www.pecanshed.com...for more information about pricing!

Nuts for a Cure

The Pecan Shed now has our Plain Chocolate Fudge decorated on top with pink and white M&Ms in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. We call it our "Nuts for a Cure" Fudge.

For every pan (which is 24 pieces) we sell (either by the piece or by the pan), we will donate $50 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization (up to $500 total).

Breast cancer has touched each one of us in some way or another and we want to be a part of the fight to find a cure.

Not only is this fudge really yummy but it also will go to benefit a really good cause.

The Last Free Weekend...

New Crop Pecans are coming very soon to the Pecan Shed so that means I am about to be working at least 6 days (if not 7) a week. With all this in mind I booked a Girl's Weekend with my friend Jeri and her friend Kori.

Jeri and I headed to Frisco Friday afternoon where we met up with Kori. We ate. We shopped. We talked. We had a blast. But the best thing we did was we had a spa day on Saturday at Valencia Day Spa & Therapy Center located at 7600 Stonebrook Pkwy Suite 200 in Frisco.

I promise you if I could afford it, both in time and money, I would go there once a week. We got an hour of each...massage, pedicures (with the works), and facials...and the entire package cost $200 (which was a bargain let me tell you).

All the ladies that worked on us were fabulous and Michelle Reed, the owner, was a joy. But Lek Tonarttanavin who was the massage therapist was the highlight of the day.

I have had a lot of massages. I have had them in Wichita Falls, Henrietta, Austin, Ft. Worth, Stephenville, Las Vegas, and probably a few other places I am forgetting but Lek was by far the best ever.

She did not hurt...well at least after we confirmed my pressure threshold...and she really made the whole experience pure pleasure...literally I moaned. I would offer to pay her relocation expenses if she would move to Wichita Falls but I bet Michelle would not appreciate that.

It was so nice to get away and relax before life gets NUTS...both figuratively and literally. Thanks to Kori for letting me and Jeri stay with her and her hubby and for driving us "non-city" girls all around Frisco and Allen.

Harvest Time...

I have been told that we have begun to harvest the Pawnee pecans out in our orchards in Charlie, TX. This means pecans are just about a week away from being available in the store.

Once we get the pecans harvested from the orchard floor they then start a multiple step cleaning process before the pecans are actually available for sale to the public. The pecans must be "blown" to separate the light pecans that are not filled out well from the heavier pecans that are filled out well. The pecans are run through on an inspection table to check for holes or cracks in the shell. Then the pecans are sanitized in a bleach bath. Next, they are run through a sizer to ensure a uniform size is sold. Then the pecans are put into drying bins to remove any moisture which causes the pecans to taste green.

After that the in the shell pecans are inspected again to make sure they were not damaged in the cleaning process. If all is well, the pecans are then bagged up in 50 pound bags and ready for me to bring to the store to sell. We retail pecans in the shell in 5 pound bags for $18.75. If you would like them cracked a 5 pound bag is $20.25.

Shelled pecans still have a few more processes before they are ready for retail. Once the pecan has been through the cleaning process it must then be cracked and run through our shelling machine. After that, the pecans are inspected to check for shells still on the meat, broken pecans, or pecans that are not filled out well or have a blemish. Once they are inspected the pecans are then bagged up in either a 1 pound bag that we retail for $8.50 or a 4 pound bag which is $31.95. We also wholesale pecans in a 30 pound bulk case. Wholesale pricing is subject to fluctuations in the market so it is best to call to check on wholesale pricing.

Whew! That sounds like a lot of work...and it is. However, we do all this to ensure top quality papershell pecans are all that we offer our customers. We take pride in all parts of our business. From orchard management to the retail experience...we want to have the best in the business...and we think we do have just that!

Christmas Time is Coming...

...Christmas Time is Here!

The Pecan Shed is all decked out for the season...well sort of. We have all sorts of great things to help YOU decorate for the season.

Our display is packed full of unique Christmas ornaments. We specialize in Texas and Western ornaments so if you are looking for something that is one of kind you will find it at our store.

We also have "boot" stockings, western kitchen towels, Christmas mugs and so much more.

Of course pecans make a great Christmas gift for anyone on your list. The 2010 crop of pecans will be available by the end of October. We still have 2009 pecans available and all our candied and spiced pecans too.

Put on your Santa hat, grab your list that has who all has been naughty or nice, and head over to the Pecan Shed. We are open Monday through Saturday 9am until 5pm.

Merry Early Christmas Y'all!

Birthday Cake Fudge is Back!

For a limited time only...Birthday Cake Fudge is back at the Pecan Shed. This fun fudge flavor is our way of saying "Happy 29th Birthday" to the Pecan Shed.

Come in for a sample soon!

Happy Birthday!

The Pecan Shed turns 29 this year. As for the official "date of birth" for the store I have no idea. My parents don't either and apparently did not keep good enough records to have documented such a thing.

I assume they were just hoping to survive a year when they opened...maybe 5 or 10...and they really had no idea it would last this long or grow this much.

The store originally was located in Byers, TX and was open only a few months during the year. Basically just Mom and Dad ran it with the help of Kathy when things got really busy.

As the business got bigger, my parents decided to relocate to Wichita Falls and stayed open year round. Now during the busiest time of the year the Pecan Shed employs around 15 people. Most are college students and thus we have to accommodate class schedules but we typically need about 10 people working the store at all times. This does not even include all the people that work out in the pecan orchards year round.

So without knowing the "exact date" I just always celebrate the Pecan Shed's birthday in the month of October...pretty much the entire month. This helps to kick off pecan season and it just so happens to be my birthday month as well so it is convenient to remember.

My parents started this company when I was 2 years old (yep...you can do the math...and if you would like to subtract rather than add I will be more than happy to go back to 27). I hope someday Presley and/or Dotty will want to take over the store and who knows...maybe years from now my grandchildren (or maybe even the great grandchildren) will be celebrating 100 years of the Pecan Shed.

They still will have no idea about the actual date the store opened but they can have the celebration in October...any day is fine with me.

Fudge Flavor of the Month for October is...

...Pumpkin Pie Fudge!

With or without pecans...

This flavor was so popular last year we decided to bring it back! If you had this fudge last fall you know how GOOD it is. If you did not get a chance to try it then you need to come in for a taste.

We will have it available now through the holiday season so don't delay. Before you know it Christmas will be over and you will have to wait almost a whole year to have it again!

Cooler Temperatures...

The chill in the air always puts me in a good mood.

I love the Fall.

I love pumpkins, football, warm jackets, planting mums, scarecrows, the color orange, seeing the leaves change...

I love seeing my breath on a cold morning and being able to play with my little girl at 3pm without dying of heat.

I also love that cooler weather means pecans are on their way!

The countdown continues...New Crop Pecans will be here soon!

Rainy Days...

I always love rainy days. Mostly I love sleeping through them but if I do have to work I still love them.

Being a "pecan farmer's daughter" I never complain about rain. Even during the summer of 2007 when so much of Clay, Wichita, and surrounding counties were being flooded I did not complain about the rain. (This is mainly due to the fact that I was very pregnant so I would much rather have the rain than the heat.)

However, I do realize that rain is not always good for a pecan crop. Too much rain can cause problems. There are things like weevils and scab that tend to go along with rain that can really damage a pecan crop in a hurry.

A lot of rain also means that we can't run equipment. We don't want to get harvesters, tractors, etc. stuck in the orchard or cause ruts and so forth.

So today as the rain came down, I was reminded how much I love rain but also what it means to pecans. If we get too much rain in the next few days our harvest will be pushed back which means a delay in getting new crop pecans in the store. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

While I will never tell the rain to "go away". I definitely might ask for it to "come again another day"...like say December and June, July, and August.

Wichita Falls CVB

Dee VanWinkle with the Wichita Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.wichitafalls.org) is always so nice to send groups to the Pecan Shed. These groups are in Wichita Falls for various events (most of them taking place at the MPEC). With the help of Dee and others at the Wichita Falls CVB these visitors get to load up on buses or trolleys to take a tour of Wichita Falls and see some great local stores.

The Pecan Shed is honored to be on of the stops that the groups make. We are able to offer them Texas and Wichita Falls specific souvenirs, gourmet food items, our delicious Homemade Fudge, and the BEST pecans in Texas.

Each group is unique but we enjoy having them all come to our store to visit. Yesterday we had around 25 or so ladies in and today we are expecting around 50 guests!

A BIG thank you to Dee and the Wichita Falls CVB for promoting the Wichita Falls area and local businesses like the Pecan Shed!

Almost Harvest Time

When the pecans start to crack open their outer hull like the ones in this picture have it is a sure sign that "harvest time" is soon approaching.

I took this picture of our Pawnee pecans just today so it is in "real time" so to speak.

Pawnee pecans are the first to open up and thus are the first to be harvested.

If all goes well we should have pecans in the store and available to our customers by October 11th or at the very latest October 18th.

Other varieties that will be ready to harvest later include the Wichita, Choctaw, and Cheyenne pecans.

2009 Pawnee Pecans

The 2009 crop of Pawnee pecans is dwindling fast. We just sold our last two bulk cases today. Thus, all we have left is what we have bagged up in either the one-pound or the four-pound bags.

Not to fear though. New Crop Pawnee pecans should be arriving no later than October 18th.

The Pawnee pecan is our most popular seller at the Pecan Shed. This pecan is considered a "junior mammoth", has golden coloring, and is good for both baking or snacking.

We also still have the 2009 Wichita pecans that are similar in size to the Pawnee and have more oil.

Weevil Watch

In this family pecan business I know the role I play. My job is to sell pecans to customers both local and (at times) world wide. I am to create a store and a marketing plan that helps to promote the Pecan Shed...who we are, what we do, and how great we do it. My main objective (along with the help of Mom and all my employees) is to sell as many pecans as possible and I really do love what I do.

Jake's job is to make sure I have pecans to sell. He and Dad take care of the pecan orchards. They worry about spraying schedules, irrigation, weather patterns, crop forecasts, etc.

I have a business degree from Midwestern State University. Jake has a horticulture degree from Tarleton State University. (Mom and Dad have an "experience" degree from The School of Life.)

I have a limited amount of knowledge as to what actually happens in order to get the pecans from the tree to my store. I just know what to do with them once I get them.

So today when I called Dad to ask what he was up to he said they were spraying the orchards for pecan weevils.

I asked why when we were so close to harvest. He said that a bad case of weevils at this point could wipe out our entire pecan crop. I am smart enough to know that would be a bad thing.

I thought weevils were a problem early on. I didn't know they could be bad right now. Dad informed me that pecan weevils come out when the ground gets damp and this allows the weevil to climb up out of the ground and then infest the pecan trees.

Who knew?!

I pointed out that we had not had rain in the last few days but according to Dad since it rained last week we were still spraying in order to keep those "bad bugs" at bay.

Note: Mom will tell you that she knew we were spraying for weevils based on our chemical bills. Another reason why pecans can seem expensive at times and why we never claim our pecans are organic.

So for those of you out there with a pecan tree, or two, or two thousand you might want to be on a weevil watch. The good news is you still have time to put out some preventative spray if you don't see any. The bad news is if you DO see one or two you might have already lost the battle before you knew there was a fight.

New TCU!

We now have TCU garden flags and large applique flags (28" by 44").

Support your Horned Frog today!

Find Our Fudge at the Feathered Nest

The Feathered Nest located in Henrietta Texas is now carrying some of our delicious homemade fudge. Sherry Fleming (owner of the Feathered Nest) came by just yesterday to pick up the Chocolate Pecan Fudge which is packed full of Pecan Shed pecans.

If you have not been in to the Feathered Nest lately you have got to stop by. They have the cutest home decor items, jewelry, clothes, purses, and so much more. I always find a "must have" every time I go in. Her store in Henrietta is just up from the square on the east side. She also has a location in Sikes Senter Mall down towards the food court.

Pioneer Reunion is the weekend so I hope the Feathered Nest is just packed full of people and I hope Sherry has success with our Chocolate Pecan Fudge!

Happy Birthday Kathy!

Today is Kathy McGhee's Birthday. Kathy is very special for many reasons. She has been with the Pecan Shed almost since the beginning, she now is our Head Fudge Maker (most of the time she is the only fudge maker), and most of all she is like a member of the family.

Growing up and to this day, Kathy treats me and Jake just like her own children and she loves Presley and Dotty like grandkids as well. She is Mom's best friend and she is loved by those she works with.

Kathy is one in a million and we love her. Happy Birthday Kathy!

Cracking Open

The 2010 crop of Pawnee pecans have just begun to start cracking open. A few of the trees around our orchards have started to pop those outer green shells (called the hull) to show big, beautiful, and well filled out Pawnee pecans!

Of course we still have a few weeks to go and we will need help from Mother Nature but this is all a very good sign.

Once the Pawnee pecans have really opened up we will start running shakers and harvesters to pick the pecans. Then the pecans must be cleaned, inspected, sized, run through dryers (to take out any "green" taste they may have since they are the first ones harvested), they are inspected again, and then they finally make their way to our store.

Shelled pecans take a little longer because they must be cracked and shelled and inspected a third time before they can be bagged and placed on the shelf for our customers.

Still the first sighting of pecans is all very exciting! It means all the work and waiting and worrying we did since last January through the summer and until now was worth it...of course we will still wait and worry (which is a lot of work) until we have the pecans on the ground and in the store!

Pecans and Squash...Who Knew?!

One of our loyal customers...Kelly...has a blog called The Meaning of Pie (find it at themeaningofpie.com). She has lots of great and unique recipes and this new one "Squash Cake" seems to really fit both descriptions. She was kind enough to send me an email saying how once again she used delicious Pecan Shed Pecans in her new recipe and she wanted me to check it out...here is the actually link to the page...http://www.themeaningofpie.com/2010/09/squash-cake/

We love it when our customers let us know that they enjoy our pecans and we love it even more when they tell the whole world...via the internet of course.

Thanks again Kelly for using our pecans and telling your loyal readers about the Pecan Shed. Also, I can't wait to try out your recipe. Who knew squash would make a great cake...I guess anything tastes better when you add Pecan Shed pecans...at least I think so!

Wine and Dine

The Pecan Shed took Dark Chocolate Pecan Fudge and plain Chocolate Fudge to an event hosted by The Forum last night here in Wichita Falls. The event was to benefit The Forum in order to keep it up so that it can continue to be a hub of activity and a pride of Wichita Falls.

The entire evening was lovely and all the food and wine got rave reviews from those in attendance. The best compliment of all was from a wine vendor from Dallas who told me our Pecan Shed fudge was the best he had eaten since his grandmother...and he said that was the highest praise he could give me...and I have no doubts that it was true.

I want to thank Mom and Jeri for helping me with the event (especially since I was running late), I want to thank Kathy for making the fudge, and all my staff for helping me get ready for the show. I also want to thank Marsha and Sandy for asking me to be a part of the event and Carrie Spencer for answering my multitude of questions. Also a big thanks to the people who work at The Forum for helping me out while I was at the venue.

I am sure the event was a big success and will benefit The Forum greatly.

Wind is not a friend...

Wind and trees loaded down with pecans do not mix well. This time of year when pecan trees are loaded with pecans and the limbs are bowing under the weight of such a heavy crop pecan farmers cringe at even the slightest gust of wind.

This being said as the hurricane made its way towards our orchards in north central Texas we all held our breath and bowed our heads.

Thankfully our pecan crops were spared and we suffered very little limb breakage.

Hello Hermine...

We don't get a lot of hurricanes in north central Texas. Tornadoes...yes...high winds...yes...droughts...yes...but hurricanes are a rare deal.

Hurricane Hermine has made its way up the state of Texas (I am not a big fan of road trips myself) and while it is not packing much of a punch it is dropping tons of rain on our area.

I love rainy days!

Labor Day Weekend...

What a gorgeous weekend! The weather was beautiful and I hope everyone got out to enjoy it. The forecast calls for rain...and lots of it...for our part of the world for the next several days.

The pecan crop is looking great though. While farmers never want to complain about rain...they just usually complain about the lack of it...we do not need just tons this time of year. However, I know Jake, Dad, and all the guys out in Charlie will do their best to keep the orchards and the crops in tip-top shape to get ready for harvesters come mid October.

New Crop Pecans are only about 45 days away...unless Mother Nature has other plans!

Pecan Sale!

Harvest time will be here in just a little over a month so we need to clear out our 2009 crop to get ready for the new crop to hit our shelves in mid October.

Our 2009 pecan halves are now on sale...
$7.00 - 1 pound bag
$26.00 - 4 pound bag
$165.00 - 30 pound bulk case

Our 2009 pecan pieces are also on sale...
$6.50 - 1 pound bag
$24.00 - 4 pound bag
$135.00 - 30 pound bulk case

This sale will only last until we run out so stop in soon to take advantage of these great prices!

Fudge Flavor of the Month for September is...

...Caramel Pecan Cheesecake! This flavor is fast becoming a favorite. After just a few days of being in our fudge counter we have already had customers raving about this delicious new flavor!

Stop in today and try it or any of our Homemade Fudge flavors. We have over a dozen to choose from! Try one or try them all!

Sale, Sale, Sale!!!

While I know it is still 110 degrees outside, we have fall and winter gift items arriving daily. (The retail world is always a season or two ahead of the calendar.)

So we are having a SALE! Lots of Texas and western gifts, collectibles, and souvenirs are on sale as well as t-shirts, candles, purses, and other home decor items.

Stop in and check out the items that are priced to move as well as see what all we have new in stock!

Gifts for Guys...

Okay, Okay...I know I am a girl and being so I tend to buy "girlie" things for the Pecan Shed. I have never been good at buying gifts for the guys in my life and most of them can vouch for that fact. Now I am the "Queen of the Gift Card". However, I have gotten better at buying "guys gifts" for the Pecan Shed...with the help of my staff!

We now have items like the Jalapeno Grillers that are great alone or combined with our "Bags of Smoke" and "Grills Gone Wild" cookbooks. Throw in a Texas butcher style apron and you have got a really great gift for any guy and any occasion!

We also just got in a new shipment of our Jack Daniel's Whiskey Praline flavored pecans which are yummy and as the saying goes...it is 5 o'clock somewhere. Also, in gearing up for the upcoming hunting season, we now have Bourbon Praline Pecans done up in a "Mossy Oak" camo package that is perfect for any hunter (male or female).

And, back by popular demand, we have Cajun Roasted pecans. This treat is way too spicy for my taste buds but would be great for the more adventurous eaters out there!

Oh...by the way...we also have gift cards available too!!!

Dublin Dr. Pepper is Back...

Thanks to a recent road trip, Molly was able to swing by the Dublin Dr. Pepper Store and pick up several cases of Dublin Dr. Pepper 8 ounce bottles. We have 6-packs available for $7.95 each. We also have in stock the Dublin Dr. Pepper Cake and Frosting Mixes. These items make great gifts for family or friends or to treat yourself to a little something special after a long hot summer day.

Fudge Flavor of the Month for August is...

...Key Lime Fudge! Back by popular demand we have decided to offer Key Lime Fudge again as our flavor of the month. This fudge was so popular back in March and we have had so many requests for it we wanted to offer it again one more time this year!

If you like Key Lime Pie you will love our Homemade Key Lime Fudge!!! This flavor is unique and delicious! Stop in for a sample today!

New, New, New...TCU!!!

We have just gotten in some really cute new TCU items. If you know a "Horned Frog" or you are one (or you just want to be one) we have some unique gift items available at the Pecan Shed right now. We have an assortment of great totes, a lunch box/cooler, a travel bag, car coasters, coasters for your home, office or apartment and so much more. You have got to stop in to check out all the "purple" we are sporting!

Our store hours are 9am until 5pm Monday through Saturday. Come on by!

Dublin Dr. Pepper Cake Mix and Frosting...

We now have Dublin Dr. Pepper Cake Mix and Frosting back at the Pecan Shed. Just add Dr. Pepper to have a really wonderful and moist cake. The best I have ever eaten!!! Stop in today and be enjoying yummy Dr. Pepper cake by tonight!

Fudge Flavor of the Month for July is...

...Pina Colada. If you like getting caught in the rain...and we have thankfully had some lately...then you will love our Pina Colada Fudge Flavor. With a blast of coconut this homemade fudge treat is perfect for the summer heat!

Come in today for a sample and while you are hear try our other great flavors like Chocolate Pecan, Turtle Fudge, Vanilla Caramel Swirl and so many others Pina Colada is one of Kathy's favorite fudge flavors and since she is the fudge maker you know that means it has got to be good!!!

June 2010 Dallas Market...

This past weekend I attended the Dallas Gift Market with Mom and Becky. We had a lot of fun, did a lot of walking, saw a lot of great gift ideas, and put the credit card to a lot of use! The June Market is always the time we gear up for the Holidays. While it is hard to think about Christmas time in 100 degree temperatures, we are lucky they keep the showroom floors at about 50 degrees which helps us to think about cooler days ahead.

We reordered many of our most popular items. The horned (or horny...whichever your preference) toads have been such a big hit that we ordered LOTS more and will be getting in some new designs as well. We also found some great UT, Tech, A&M, and TCU items for those looking for unique collegiate gifts. And we ordered more jalapeno grillers, Texas waffle makers, and Texas gifts and souvenirs. Plus for my serious coffee drinkers (Jeri)...don't worry! I got plenty of our delicious Southern Pecan coffee headed this way! I told them to ship ASAP so I hope it will be here by the first of next week. They even have a new coffee flavor...Butter Pecan Rum that I got to try as well.

As I mentioned, we also focused on Christmas so we ordered lots of great Texas and western ornaments and home decor items. If you are looking for a unique gift come Christmas time, the Pecan Shed is the place to shop!

After two very busy and full days at Market my feet (and my bank account) were glad to be back in Wichita Falls. We came home to some cooler temperatures and nice rain too which made it even better to be back home!!!

Perhaps why an Elephant never Forgets...

Today on AOL there was an article about how nuts and other foods help people retain information. Basically the story said that the "healthy fats" found in nuts, salmon, vegetable oils, etc. help the brain to remember things better. The author used a lot of scientific terms, big words, and initials, but the main idea of the story (if I remember it right) was that nuts (PECANS, PECANS, PECANS) help people to remember things especially if consumed right before the person gets the information.

I guess this is why the old saying about elephants never forgetting holds so true...elephants eat a lot of peanuts. Just imagine how much they could remember if they ate pecans!!!

Father's Day...

Father's Day is just around the corner (June 20th to be exact) and the Pecan Shed has lots of great gifts for all kinds of Dads. We have University of Texas, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M gifts for the collegiate lover. For the Dad who loves to grill, we have Jalapeno Grillers, aprons, smoke bags, cookbooks, marinades, glazes and so much more. We also have unique Texas gifts for a unique Texas Dad such as horny toads, Texas flags, mugs, and magnets, Texas polo style shirts, and signs to decorate his home or office. Of course, if your Dad is one sweet guy, we have lots of sweet treats for him. Our Homemade Fudge comes in delicious flavors including Chocolate Pecan, Turtle, Butter Pecan, Mint Oreo, Orange Cream, and so much more. We also have our candied and spiced pecans, pecan brittle, pralines, and all sorts of jams, jellies, and preserves that I know he would just love.

So if you need the perfect gift for the perfect Dad the Pecan Shed is the place to find all that Dad would love! We are open Monday through Saturday 9am until 5pm so come on by for a visit!

Fudge Flavor of the Month for June is...

...Orange Creme Fudge! This fudge tastes just like the push pops I remember from the summers of my youth. My grandmother, Wanda Montz, used to buy a BIG box of the push pops from the Swans man and Jake and I would eat at least 2 a day...3 if we could catch Grandma not looking.

So not only is this fudge super yummy, but is also brings back lots of great memories! Stop in soon for a sample. We also have come up with a new flavor Mint Oreo Fudge (thanks to Hannah) and if you like Mint and Oreos this combination cannot be beat. Of course we still have all the great flavors like Chocolate Pecan, Butter Pecan, Turtle, Tiger, and our Sucrose Free Fudge flavors as well.

We hope to see you soon!

The Meaning of Pie...

One of our customers, Kelly, has a recipe blog called themeaningofpie.com and today she praised Pecan Shed pecans in a post called "Cracker Pie". Kelly has been a long time customer of the Pecan Shed and she loves our Pawnee pecan halves. I hope you will visit her blog and try a few of her recipes. Thanks again to Kelly for telling her readers about Pecan Shed pecans. We are always happy to hear when customers not only love the product but also the service we provide as well.

Happy Baking!!!

Great Gifts for Grads...

The Pecan Shed is more than just nuts! We have tons of unique gifts that would be perfect for high school or college graduates.

If you have a student headed off to the University of Texas, Texas A&M, or Texas Tech we have lots of great items. Everything from coffee mugs, coolers, and cookbooks to outdoor ideas like flags, jalapeno grillers, stepping stones, and garden gnomes!

We also have gifts such as Circle E Candles, crosses, picture frames, home decor items, bird houses, wind chimes, and decorative stars that will add a nice touch to any home or apartment.

And if you just have no idea what the new graduate might need or want you can never go wrong with a box of homemade fudge. With flavors like Chocolate Pecan, Turtle, Butter Pecan, Tiger, Vanilla Caramel Swirl, Raspberry Chocolate, and Strawberry Cheesecake (the fudge flavor of the month) you cannot go wrong with this sweet treat!

Today is the LAST DAY...

...for Fudge Dipped Strawberries! After we close today at 5pm, we will not have Fudge Dipped Strawberries again until February 2011!!!

Great Gifts for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 9th. If you are still on the hunt for the perfect Mother's Day gift we can help you out! A dozen of our Fudge Dipped Strawberries would be a delicious treat for that special lady on your list or any of our wonderful flavors of fudge would be tasty too! The fudge flavor of the month is Strawberry Cheesecake but we also have Raspberry Chocolate, Turtle, Chocolate Pecan, Butter Pecan, and many more to choose from.

We also have an assortment of cookbooks, aprons, kitchen towels, coffee cups, coffees, t-shirts, purses, wallets, home decor, and so much more! We have candied and spiced pecans, shelled pecans, and tins that can be filled with any kind of pecans. We have pralines, pecan brittle, preserves, salsas, and other tasty treats. We have crosses, stars, yard decorations, candles, birdhouses, wind chimes, and a store full of more wonderful ideas for Mom!

Stop by our store on Midwestern Parkway...we are open Monday through Saturday 9am until 5pm...and we would love to help you find the perfect gift for Mom this year!

One Week Left...

Only one week left for Fudge Dipped Strawberries!!! Saturday, May 8th is the last day for Fudge Dipped Strawberries. Once they are gone, they will not be available again until February 2011. These little "bites of heaven" are perfect for parties, showers, and of course for Mother's Day!

Place your order now! Only $18.95 per dozen.

Fudge Flavor of the Month for May is...

...Strawberry Cheesecake! This fudge flavor is perfect for Spring weather and of course it is a wonderful treat for a special Mom.

Remember, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9th and a box of assorted fudge would be a perfect sweet treat for the World's Best Mom.

National Pecan Month...

"Better late than never" as the old saying goes...April is (soon to be was) National Pecan Month. Why, you ask, did the powers that be pick April as National Pecan Month when pecans are harvested in late October through December and pecan pies are made in abundance around Thanksgiving and Christmas??? Well, the truth is I am not 100% sure.

However, my best guess would be that in the Fall people are already thinking about pecans so having a "National Pecan Month" then would not get much press. Thus, by having National Pecan Month in April this serves as a mid-year reminder that pecans are GREAT year-round. Plus "National Pecan Day" is actually April 14th and I believe that is because most people are going "nuts" due to filing their taxes.

So Happy National Pecan Month!!!

Remember pecans do make great pies, fudge, divinity, pralines, and logs but they are also perfect heart healthy treats year-round. Pecans give an added crunch to your morning cereal or yogurt, they are a great protein to add to cookies, in trail mixes, or just as a handful snack to get you through the day.

Pecans have tons of heart healthy benefits such as a good source of protein, they help reduce the bad cholesterol, they have over 19 vitamins and minerals, and they help to curb your appetite when you are dieting.

The Pecan Shed has shelled pecans available year-round. Come in for a 1-pound or a 4-pound bag today. Even if you do not use all of them right away, pecans can be frozen for up to 2 years and still retain their freshness!

Time is Running Out...

Fudge Dipped Strawberries will only be available until Saturday, May 8th. This means you only have about 2 weeks left to enjoy these delicious "bites of heaven". After May 8th we will not be offering them again until February 2011. So hurry in before it is too late!

Remember, Mother's Day is May 9th and there is no better way to show your mom she is super sweet than with a dozen Fudge Dipped Strawberries!!! Place you order today!

Red River Wine Festival 2010

The Pecan Shed had a booth at the 6th Annual Red River Wine Festival on Saturday night. The event took place at the J.S. Bridwell Ag Center from 6pm until 11pm and it was a blast! I believe I heard over 2,000 people came through the doors to sample Texas wines, unique beers, and lots of yummy food items (I loved the Double Dave's pizza). They also heard the Jay Hollis Band and there were tons of great merchandise vendors there as well.

The Pecan Shed booth sold over 200 Fudge Dipped Strawberries (in fact we ran out before the night was over) and lots of our delicious homemade fudge. We brought four different flavors...Raspberry Chocolate (Fudge Flavor of the Month for April), Strawberry Cheesecake (Fudge Flavor of the Month for May), Chocolate Pecan, and Plain Chocolate. All were a big success.

We also donated to the Silent Auction a gift certificate for 50 Fudge Dipped Strawberries. I believe the winning bid was $70.

We want to thank the Senior Junior Forum for once again inviting us back this year to be apart of such a fun event that raises money that goes to great causes like the Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind, First Step, MSU Scholarships, and so much more!

The entire staff had so much fun and we hope to be asked back next year. If you were unable to attend the Wine Festival please mark your calendars for next year...the 7th Annual Red River Wine Festival will be April 16, 2011!

Pecan Shed Party...

The Pecan Shed staff and their guests had a "Bowling Back to the 80s" party on Sunday at Village Bowl (I am sure we surprised a lot of people at the bowling alley since I forgot to mention it was going to be an "80s costume party" to the alley staff). With almost 30 people in attendance and 10 of them dressed in full 80s gear all of us had a lot of fun! None of us will become professional bowlers anytime soon but we all had a good laugh at each other and ourselves.

I want to thank all of those who did dress up for the party. I loved everyone's outfit! Rowdy was the overall winner in the vote contest but it was a close race because all the outfits were really good.

I am not sure how we will top this party next year but I have no doubts we will think of something!

Latest and Greatest Events...

Recently the Pecan Shed has had the opportunity to participate in many local events. We also have more coming up that we are truly excited about.

On March 25th we were asked to be a part of the Wichita Falls Chamber Business After Hours that spotlighted "Women in Business". This night featured businesses owned or managed by women and it was a fabulous event. Thanks to Yvonne Milner with The Chamber for inviting us to attend. If you have never been to a Business After hours you should go because they are a lot of fun. Visit www.wichitfallscommerce.com for more information.

The following week on April 1st (no fooling) we had a booth at the SAFB Girls Night Out. We had done a booth at the event back in September and both times were a lot of fun. We appreciate all the women (and men...although they were not invited to the event) who have committed themselves to serving our country and we appreciate their family members as well so anything we can do to give back is always welcomed. Thanks to David Shawver for inviting us again and we look forward to the next one!

Then on Wednesday, April 7th we had a "Hello Neighbor Tour" from Henrietta stop by our store. This group is headed by Sherri Hassell and we had around 30 people in our store. We gave the group a little talk regarding the Pecan Shed and our business, we had samples of fudge dipped strawberries for them, and we took them on a tour of our building. I think everyone enjoyed the experience...I know we sure did!

Upcoming is the Red River Wine Festival hosted by the ladies of the Senior Junior Forum. We have been a part of this event for several years now and each year it seems to get bigger and better. The Wine Festival is Saturday, April 17th from 6:00pm until 11:00pm. There will be a lot of Texas wines for people to sample and many food and merchandise vendors as well. The Pecan Shed will be selling our Homemade Fudge (Chocolate Pecan, Raspberry Chocolate, and Strawberry Cheesecake) and our Fudge Dipped Strawberries at a Special Festival Price! Tickets for the event are only $25 and all the proceeds go to benefit the Senior Junior Forum's charities like Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind, First Step, and many more. For more information go to www.redriverwinefestival.com. We hope to see you all out there!!!

Fudge Flavor of the Month for April is...

...Raspberry Chocolate Fudge!!! The girls at the Pecan Shed are raving about this one. They love it! We have also had it at 2 different shows in the past week and most people claim it is one of the best they have tried. I just love the looks of it. It is brown and hot pink swirled together so it makes such a pretty piece...almost too good to eat...almost!!!

Stop by the Pecan Shed for a taste! While you are there try our other great flavors like Turtle Fudge, Tiger Fudge, Butter Pecan, and Vanilla Caramel Swirl. YUM!!!

Fudge Easter Bunnies or Easter Eggs

Instead of buying the traditional milk chocolate Easter Bunny this year to fill your Easter Basket come by the Pecan Shed and get a Chocolate FUDGE Easter Bunny or Easter Egg! These Easter molds hold over a half pound of our delicious homemade fudge and they are perfect for any Easter basket!

Choose between either plain chocolate or chocolate pecan. Call ahead at 940-322-0756 to place your order. Please allow 24 hours notice.

Happy Easter!

Tips for Storing Pecans...

According to the National Pecan Shellers Association website (www.ilovepecans.org) here are a few tips for storing pecans...

- Shelled Pecans can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 9 months and in the freezer for up to 2 years.
- Pecans be thawed and refrozen repeatedly during a 2 year period without loss of flavor or texture.
- Airtight containers are best for storing pecans in the refrigerator or freezer. (Pecans can easily absorb odors.)
- After removal from cold storage, pecans will stay good for an additional 2 months.

In the Shell and Cracked Pecans...

I am sorry to inform everyone that we are now sold out of in the shell and cracked pecans. We will not have any more until the 2010 harvest which will be in late October or early November.

We do still have shelled pecan halves and pieces available! We ship shelled pecans all year.

Pecan Pieces on SALE...

Everyone loves a good sale and everyone loves pecan pieces so we have combined the two! Right now we are offering all our pieces at a reduced price. We have chopped pieces available in either large, medium or small piece sizes and we also have unchopped pieces (which is just a mixture of sizes).

A 1-pound bag is $7.95 (originally $8.50) and a 4-pound bag is $29.75 (originally $31.95). We are also offering our large chopped pieces at a reduced wholesale price. A 30-pound case is $144.00 ($4.80 per pound). This sale will not last forever so hurry in or place your order today!

Pecan pieces are great for baking, on salads, or mixed in cereal and yogurt. They also make wonderful toppings for ice cream. Add a little crunch and a healthy handful to all your meals!

For more information on the health benefits of pecans visit www.ilovepecans.org and click on the "Nutrition in a Nutshell" link on the left side of the page.