Active April

Lots of family interaction this month, starting off with Easter. John and Evie came to Rudolph for a nice visit, including sunrise service on Easter. Niece Heidi Orchard joined us for Easter dinner, so there were five at the table this time. Mark's business in Wauwatosa later that week allowed Laure and Mom and Dad Bormann to meet Mark and Hilde for lunch. Late in April, Hilde and Heidi met for lunch , since even very busy, nearly done with UWSP seniors need to eat!

Spring elections resulted in Hilde's reelection to Wood County Board for the sixth term. She has been reappointed as chair of the Conservation, Education and Economic Development Committee which will also oversee the redistricting for the county next spring....that will be interesting.

Spring also means planting and cleaning up. Mark got both gardens worked up very nicely, early, but then had to spend some time with a metal detector searching for the winch handle which had vibrated loose while he was plowing. He did recover the handle! After spending a morning working with Land Conservation drew sorting and bagging the spring tree seedlings, Hilde brought home 100 tamarack seedlings. Mark and Hilde planted those in the lower 28 acres, where the acid wet soil ought to be optimal for success.

What a beautiful spring it has been in Rudolph! The flowers and trees have been long blossoming and the air full of wonderful scents (and pollen). Asparagus is producing early and well; the cherry, crabapple, apple and pear trees blossomed one day after another until the entire orchard was beautiful, and the lilacs add their perfume. Of course the early warmth meant that the lawn mowing season has also begun.

Mark has had some major revisions to his business schedule. The lawsuit in Maryland was settled favorably, but that meant no much-desired visit to Jim and Kayme. However, Mark will be adding several trips out west for another case, so he will be very busy. Actually, the case for early May settling was an example of God's grace, since it meant that Mark and Hilde are here in Wisconsin able to visit his mother on May 1st as she is fading from this life and heading home, after 91 years.