2011 - A Year in Review

So 2011 has come and...in only a few short hours...will have gone. My how time flies!

This year was pretty tough on the pecan industry. In late spring we had a freeze that hurt some crops and wiped out others in Oklahoma. In the summer we suffered through over 100 days of 100+ degree heat with no rain. The drought and the wildfires took care of what the freeze had missed.

The Montz Orchards did put on about 25% of a crop...thanks in large part to our irrigation system.

Due to the lack of pecans, prices rose considerably this year, but the Pecan Shed was still cheaper than grocery stores and Walmart. Our retail sales were about what they were the year before and that was something to be very thankful for!!! Some of our friends in the pecan business did not even open their stores this year...which is just heartbreaking.

This past year the Pecan Shed also celebrated 30 years of being in business! We had a week long celebration, ribbon cuttings, and more. It still amazes me that my parents had the guts, the drive, and the dedication to make this business work. I remember some years where times were tough (and being a kid...I am sure I was sheltered from a lot of the tough stuff). I remember my parents doing just about anything to make their business successful. It required long hours...sweat...and tears...but the joy was in its success. Thirty years is quite an accomplishment our family and our staff can be very proud of!

We also tried out lots of new fudge flavors...including...Jalapeno, Root Beer, S'mores, Fruitcake, and Watermelon...just to name a few. Some were big hits (my new favorite is the S'mores...it will be the fudge flavor of the month for March)! Some were not such big hits (Watermelon was cool looking but it had an acquired taste to it!)...but all the trials were fun and gave us something new for our customers to taste!

In our "Pecan Shed Family" we had a baby born...a graduation...engagements (yes plural!)...and so many more good things to happen to all my girls. We also had some sad times...and they were sad but we made it through by leaning on each other. Through it all the "family" is still that...family!

The Montz family has grown and changed too...and by that I mean Presley and Dotty are getting bigger and growing up into sweet...okay most of the time sweet...little girls. They are now 6 and 4 years old respectively. Presley started kindergarten and Dotty started her preschool without Presley down the hall. It has been a great year for all of us!

As we look ahead to 2012 we have lots of hope! We hope for rain...everybody start doing their rain dance now!!! We hope for prosperity, peace, and patience. With anything in life you have to take the good with the bad. We hope 2012 is definitely on the good side.

We wish all the best for all our customers and vendors in 2012. May your life grow and be blessed every day.

Happy New Year!

The Fudge of the Month for January is...

...Jalapeno Fudge!

That is right...I said Jalapeno Fudge!

Kathy loves it and so do several others who tried it when we had it available during our 30th Anniversary Celebration. It has a sweet taste with a bit of a kick at the end.

We tried to "spice it up" even a little more this go round...so make sure you stop in for a sample!

We couldn't wait until Monday to make this spicy sweet treat so stop in and get some today to kick off 2012 the right way...with a little heat!

New Year's Resolution...

Let me start by saying this post has nothing to do with the Pecan Shed...the pecan industry...or any kind of nut for that matter...well unless after you read this you think I have gone NUTS!!!
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I believe in guilt...yep...I said guilt!

I believe if I tell enough people about my PERSONAL New Year's Resolution the sheer fact that other people will know if I fail to achieve it will cause me to have so much guilt...I will in fact keep this year's New Year's Resolution.

Every year I make resolutions of all kinds...

Eat better...
Exercise more...
Try something new...
Push myself beyond my comfort zone...
Think outside of my box...

Well this year...I have one resolution. It sort of captures all the other resolutions and wraps them up into one neat little package.

Before December 31, 2012 I will run a half marathon.

Okay...I know for those of you that are in shape and healthy and like to exercise and like to run...13.1 miles (the distance of a half marathon) seems like nothing. But to me it seems like a giant mountain...I can climb it...I just don't really want to.

I do not like to run...I don't really like to exercise all that much either...I am not in good shape whatsoever...and my health is better than most but not as good as it could be.

Even in my hay day of fitness...my senior year...(no date named...I have to keep some secrets)...I still did not like to run and tried to avoid it at all costs. So the thought of running 13.1 miles at one time without stopping seems pretty crazy to me...

So crazy I plan to do it!

I like challenges...I like it when people tell me I can't do something...and I like finish lines...not necessarily the running kind but I always enjoyed looking forward to the end of a class...graduation...etc. I like to be able to work at something...have a goal and either achieve it or not.

I also believe guilt is a great motivator. I feel guilt easy over things and I don't like to feel guilty so I will try to avoid it at all costs...thus I try to do anything and everything I can to not feel guilty.

So...with that being said...I will keep you posted on my training...and I will let you know when I run that half marathon!

If you see me out...ask me how close I am to that finish line! I need the constant reminder!!!

Last Day to Buy Pecans - Jan. 14, 2012

Due to the drought, there are not very many pecans available in this area. Currently we are only buying pecans on Saturdays from 9am until 5pm. However, this Saturday, Dec. 31st, we will be closing at 2pm.

We are paying $1.25 per pound for well filled out new crop pecans.

Because of the lack of pecans, the last day we will buy pecans will be Saturday, January 14, 2012. After that Saturday, we will no longer be able to purchase pecans from the public.

All the pecans we buy from the public are sold to shelling companies either here in the U.S. or in China.

A Bucket of Nuts!!!

We now have holiday buckets filled with cracked and shelled pecans! The bucket of cracked pecans is filled with 8 pounds of pecans for $44.95. The bucket with shelled pecans holds 3.5 pounds of pecan halves and is $39.95.

Both buckets make great Christmas gifts to take to friends, family, or coworkers. They would also be perfect to snack on at holiday parties!

Hurry in while they last! We only have a few available and when they are gone...they are gone!

Fudge Flavor of the Month for December is...

...Divinity Fudge!

While we have actually had Divinity Fudge back by popular demand for a few weeks now...it is officially our Fudge of the Month for December!!!

For those of you who remember how good Grandma (or Aunt BeBe...as in my case) used to make divinity when you were a kid...this fudge will bring back all those great memories in just one taste!

Stop in for a taste! You can buy it by the piece or buy it by the pan!!! Great for holiday parties too!!!