The weather was what folks talked about this month, not just in Rudolph but all over Wisconsin. No major storms, mild temps and early snow melt---not what you expect in Wisconsin in March. The early warm-up had Mark and Hilde out working in the yard and finally getting the branches and damaged limbs from Christmas cleaned up. It took most of a weekend and several truckloads of brush, plus a half truck of birch and maple chunks. Meantime, the spring flowers started coming up early.
Mark had depositions down in Platteville for a couple of days early in the month, with Hilde going along. Although both are familiar with the town, driving around in the dense fog from snow melt was odd and eerie.
This year's Maple syrup season was short and skimpy. Although Mark and Hilde tapped 42 trees and did everything but wring out the trees, there was very little yield and they only cooked twice, short cooking times. That was less tiring, for sure, but disaapointing to get 25% of what they got from same trees last year. The rain deficit for 2010 is already over 2 inches here...doesn't bode well for the gardens and crops.
Every committee or board that Hilde is on held a special meeting and /or hearing in March in addition to the regular meetings. It really filled up the schedule and kept her hopping setting things up. In the middle of the month, a tooth broke off and since the dentist is having back problems, she couldn't get anything done...scheduled for after Easter.
The cultural highlight of the month was meeting John and Evie in Madison for niece Alana's senior oboe recital. Her talent is exciting, the English horn was wonderous, and we were enlightened as the the far-out sounds an oboe can emit.
No lion, March was a warm month, with daffodils blooming by the 31st--most unusual for central Wisconsin!
