September is always a special month…the last bursts of
summer fun, the softening of the decreasing sunshine, the brilliance of the
grass and beginnings of fall colors.
This September in Wisconsin marked a very abrupt change in weather, and
lots of rain. In fact a few places
delayed the start of school because of flooded roads, but not for long! Still the fall activities of harvest and
families went forward.
Mark and Hilde got lots of time visiting family and friends
during the month: several trips to
Wausau to visit Dr. Stevens, a run up to Peshtigo to see Mark’s dear aunt
Veiga, who just turned 100 years old, and a short visit with Hilde’s mother,
now home from rehab and determined to stay there! Hilde managed to enjoy a lunch with her
crafts friends, after Irene got her surgery taken care of and before Melodie
headed south for the winter. Those times
are treasures laid up.
The garden did slow down, but Hilde spent many, many hours
dealing with tomatoes and then drying herbs and freezing peppers. The eggplants really produced this year and
each one was delicious! Zucchini was
ongoing, with lots shredded and many chocolate zucchini muffins frozen. Those are delicious when zapped in the
micro---instant chocolate dessert.
Mark had a very busy month with work as there were deadlines
for very complex expert reports on the one case and a farm visit in Sleepy Eye
MN for another case. He was able to
build an extension on the loft in the big shed, and managed to get the antique
brooder tucked away up there with help from our neighbor Robert.
Mark and Hilde were both picking fall
raspberries despite the attacks of hordes of late hatch mosquitoes which made
outdoor activities miserable for folks all over the state. The apples are ripening, so Mark spent time
picking the early varieties and Hilde raked and raked the windfalls and wormy
apples. A doe jumped into the garden one
night and couldn’t get out, so Mark had to take down part of the fence to shoo
her away.
Taekwondo has been exciting this month as the class returned
to the traditional 7 pm timeslot and more than a dozen new students showed
up. Hilde met the challenge of teaching
up to 19 white belts with a little help from others, and things are looking
good after the slow summer. The all
purpose room is full with students and lots of parents looking on. That means lots of energy and activity on those
Tuesday and Thursday nights. Both
versions of the seventh dan black belts arrived and now the head instructors
for Stevens Taekwondo Academy are wearing them proudly.
September was special for some fun times, too. Mark and Hilde grabbed some time to visit
Sturgeon Bay, the Whitefish Dunes park, and the Cave Point County park with waves
booming in the caves underfoot. They also overloaded on the colors and scents
at the incredible lush Green Bay Botanical Gardens and visited the railroad
museum…a great combination trip!
The highlight of the month was the long-awaited concert of
Andre Rieu in Milwaukee. Hilde and Mark
enjoy watching his concerts in evenings at end of day, but the up-front,
in-person sound and effect is truly incredible.
When an arena is full of happy, people humming, singing and swaying to
the music, it is quite a happening.
Being able to stay with Jim and Kayme and visit even briefly with them
(after Jim sternly admonished his parents for staying up so late and worrying
him!) was the icing on the cake. Going
to church with either of the offspring and their families is a joy.
The fall has begun in a damp fashion, but the colors are starting
change and fall flowers at their peak.
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