Bustling May & June 2017

May and June passed in a hurry for Mark and Hilde, with sunshine, many storms, visits and outages, and lots and lots of yard work.  Somehow, central Wisconsin got hit with downpours from the storms going north and the storms sliding south, so it was a very wet couple of months, but there was no watering required at all!  Trying to get outside activities fit in was challenging. 

Despite three power outages, Mark used the generator to keep the incubator and then the heating lights on so for the first time in several years, little chickens were hatched.  From a cross between a large aggressive barred rock rooster and rather meek but healthy rhode island red hens, the Henkels now have 36 vigorous little chicks.  Mark ‘clucked’ over them, watching temperatures carefully and keeping them comfy, so they have grown rapidly and are now dashing around the brooder run.  It is nice to have young chickens, although the numbers need to be  reduced—any takers please call!

With all the rain, it was hard to get the gardens planted----Rudolph clay loam is mostly clay!  Finally, Mark was able to plow and disk and the couple spent a couple days first planting and then erecting over 300 feet of five and six foot welded wire fence in defiance of the deer, coons and rabbits.  By the end of June, things were looking very nice indeed.

With a lighter legal load, Mark was able to be home most of the time for all the agricultural activities, but he and Hilde did go to Decorah for a court appearance and then he had a one- day trial right in Wisconsin Rapids.  Things will likely start up on the next stray voltage case in fall, although certainly lots of preliminary phone calls and planning are going on now.

 In late May, Jim headed to Grenada for the marine excursion and coral work (he had a wonderful time).  During his absence, Mark and Hilde went down twice to babysit for the kids, which was great fun.  Mark got to pick up Rhiannon at school, and had Rowan help him as he jacked up and reinforced the shed door frame.  One evening the grandparents took the three youngsters to culvers for a treat and a good time was had by all.  It is good to have more time to see what Jim calls the Henkel horde.  They are bright, active and happy kids.

 

Mark and Hilde got to Lomira twice more, splitting more downed trees for future syrup cooking and also managed to finally go to Point Basse and enjoy the Pioneer Festival there.  What a neat local history site.

Then in June, while Kayme attended the WELS Worship Conference, Jim brought the three grandkids up to Rudolph, for fun times.  Jim and kids came to taekwondo workouts with Mark and Hilde, and everyone got exercise of various sorts and had fun.  Rhiannon and Rowan are making good progress on taekwondo skills already!  The weather cooperated for a family strawberry excursion, fun in the wading pool and then a trip to the park and the cheese factory for ice cream.  All three generations enjoyed the time together.

With all the rain, many of the fruit crops really benefitted.  Mark and Hilde got to visit Arnold’s for more strawberries, a total of 4 mornings picking, so lots of strawberries to enjoy fresh, dipped in chocolate, frozen for winter, made into jam and coffee cake…over three weeks of deliciousness!  The cherries ripened at the end of June, not as abundant (late frost got them) but more wonderful flavor to enjoy.  Mark has worked hard to get the garden really tidy and lush, Hilde spent many, many hours on the lawn mower…she is going to remove more low tree branches when Mark is not paying attention, since having a rain of spruce needles in the  hair and down the shirt is unpleasant indeed.  Mark managed to split the VERY large chunks of elm trunk, so the last of the big tree is stored away and off the lawn.  Cutting wood surely provides lots of exercise!

June ended with a minor issue of a dirty nail from the chicken house puncturing Mark under a fingernail, and some difficulty finding vaccine locally---those power outages earlier had knocked out most of the local stocks, which was a little disconcerting.   The long-time neighbors with the beautiful horses sold their place and moved…Henkels are awaiting the arrival of the new folks, who will be teaching at UWSP.   Mark and Hilde enjoyed a brief visit from niece Alana, too.  It has been a good time for family contacts!  They also have been meeting with the YMCA to work on publicity and promotion of the Y taekwondo program—small numbers for the summer, as several other programs have experienced.  There is always plenty to do here between the many interests of the Henkels.

Beautiful lush summer—hope everyone is enjoying it as much as the Rudolph Henkels  are!