Noteworthy November 2011

November has been a fabulous family month, but it has flown by quickly.

The best and most joyous days were early in November when Mark and Hilde flew to DC and got to spend a long weekend with Jim and Kayme. The weather was wonderful: crisp, sunny and clear, so the five Henkels visited Mt. Vernon on Saturday, with little Rhia toddling up to “Martha Washington” and sitting on her lap! Since Rhia started walking, she seems never to stop and is deliriously happy to be so mobile—Grandma spent lots of time on her knees and on the floor playing with the speedy sweetie. After church the family went to Ft. Washington for a picnic and tour of the historic site, with time out for a nature study of a large praying mantis. It was hard to leave on Monday after a golden visit!

Central Wisconsin got an early dose of snow the 9th: we got 5 inches of very sloppy wet snow. Since there were still some leaves on oaks and it was windy, yes, the power was out for nearly two hours,. Hilde discovered that if the bread is almost done, leaving it in the oven will finish it off without additional heat, thank goodness!

Inevitably in a month foreshortened by holidays and trips, some secret formula decrees extra meetings and seminars for Hilde. Mining and zoning issues popped up, bringing small and large meetings, with lots of time on the phone, and the monthly county board meeting got lengthy and fairly acrimonious on the budget motion. Mark had another video deposition in Roseville MN, so a couple of days were spent on driving, deposing and driving, meaning the eager Packer backers had to listen to ONE of the many wins on the radio on the road.

Deer season had its good points and its disappointments. The weather was good (above freezing and not raining) for the opening, and Mark really enjoyed having Paul and Loren Fritz join him in the Seneca woods. However, no one saw any deer at all! Jim Douglas sat in the lower woods that morning and was entertained only by squirrels quarreling. It turns out to be good that the buck collided with the trailer last month…otherwise there would be no venison in the freezer.

This year for Thanksgiving, John and Evie went to Minneapolis (en route Evie delivered the hard copies of her doctoral dissertation in Madison!) and Jim and Kayme are coming in Christmas, so Mark and Hilde joined her family down in Pewaukee for the first time in years. Rachael and Ryan were down from Minneapolis, Curt and his fiance Lori were in town, everyone brought great food and the Packers beat the Lions---made for a wonderful get together!
Here is a picture of the grandchildren present for the holiday.

The final days of the month did get a little disordered as Mark and Hilde prepared the kitchen for new countertops. Mark had to finally install cut-off valves under sink and then disconnect everything. It is amazing what had accumulated on those counters and had to be moved. But the new countertops are beautiful and Mark has successfully altered the outlet faceplates to fit, so that Hilde can really push on Christmas baking--Christmas is just around the corner.