April 2014

Ray Bormann, 1929 - 2014

The month of April brought change, sorrow, gatherings, good-byes, all set in weather that refused to really warm up.  Early in the month, Hilde’s father, Ray, was moved to hospice as his condition worsened steeply.  The folks at AngelsGrace kept him free from pain and ministered too to the family members as they came to say good-bye, to spend time just sitting quietly, and praying with him.  He died April 18, very quietly slipping away.  Almost all of his large family was able to gather for the funeral April 25.  The services and visitation brought in people from all over and the family really appreciated the sympathy and respect paid to their loved one.

In the shadow of this big change, daily activities somehow continued for Mark and Hilde as they finished a very productive maple syrup season despite snow and cold, dealt with technology challenges and got seedlings started for the eventual garden.  They upgraded their home computer (good-bye XP, you were great!), learned some of the tricks of Windows 8 and Hilde was issued an iPad from the county.

Mark and Hilde shared Easter with John and Evie, enjoying their company, their newly floored home, a delicious meal and worshiping together.  Before and after the observances for Hilde’s father, they were also cheered and comforted by time in Sussex with Rhiannon and Rowan.  Those girls are growing fast and Rowan’s vocabulary growing by leaps and bounds as she tries to catch up with big sister.  Mark got to do some work with Jim in the garden and yard, so both enjoyed that.

 

The taekwondo front was active also.  Mark and Hilde assisted Dr. Stevens with the April testing, then Hilde and Karen Johnson taught an introduction to self-defense on UW-Stevens Point for the Women’s Resource Center which was lively and very well attended.  Mark and Dr. Stevens traveled up to Wausau to teach a seminar on board-breaking.

As April ends with lots of cold rain, the pure white of bloodroot is still pursing and waiting for warmth and sunshine, the fields are soaked and farmers fretting about delays, and folks are hoping that May will bring more seasonal weather and spring flowers.

Evie and John Easter

April 4 weather delayed cooking

March 2014

Mark and John lay floor

March was a whirlwind month---much happening in the Henkel and Bormann families and Wisconsin did not make anything easy with the third coldest March on record.  In fact, March did not come in like a lion, nor a lamb, it was more like a polar bear!   Several days started at minus 11 and 12 before Mother Nature relented and things thawed a couple of days.  Then more snow and cold---winter just didn’t want to end.

Mostly, March was full of family for Mark and Hilde, with the big item being helping John and Evie move into their new house in Palatine.  It is a lovely split level (houses in that area do not have real basements) and a fenced yard with a glassed in shed for plants—perfect!  John and Evie decided to redo the floor throughout the house, so first order of business was picking up the rental truck and 3,000 pounds of wood flooring.  It was loaded with a forklift, but the senior Henkels kept up with the other three in unloading it carton by 45-pound carton.  By noon, with two loads of larger items removed from the condo, the moving part was over and the flooring was well begun.  Mark and John worked at laying the floor in the master bedroom, and then everyone helped remove carpet, padding and the amazing number of staples in the great room floor.  By the time Mark and Hilde headed home on, John and Evie had moved into the master bedroom, Genghis  was settling in and the first rows of the great room floor were fitted.

Mark and Hilde also got to visit with Jim, Kayme and the girls in March, with Mark and Jim working together on constructing a workbench and Hilde delighting in Rhiannon and Rowan.  They are both growing and getting much better at communicating what they want.  Going to church with the family always makes a visit special.  Mark, Hilde and Jim were able to go to Waukesha and visit both Arlene, Hilde’s mom, and Ray, Hilde’s dad  Arlene has settled in to Linden Heights and is sharing her sewing and tailoring skills with some of the other folks.  Ray was happy to see family, but tired very quickly.

The only non-family travel was Mark’s quick flight to Michigan for depositions.  Due to weather other conferences and depos were done over the phone or by skype.  Technology really helps reduce hours on the road for him.  Mark also got one huge white pine and a dead maple safely cut down and most of the mess from that cleaned up.  

Despite the cold weather, Mark and Hilde finally tapped some 50 trees down in their swamp on the 28^th.  That was the first time the snow was so deep that not only could they not reach the trees on the ATV—they ended up using snowshoes and a sled.  The last days of the month were the first of the very late sap run, with very challenging and aerobic conditions for hauling the pails of sap out of the woods.  But it did finally start warming and the snow finally began to recede so it could be called semit-lamblike!

Rowan and Rhiannon with pink treasure box

Dad and Hilde March 9

Mark on snowshoes tapping first tree March 28