It didn’t snow in June, but the weather hit about every
other extreme with cold, windy, hot, rainy, storms and hail. While planning outside activities was tricky,
somehow things got done in Rudolph and elsewhere. Even on cloudy days, the energy of longer daylight
made everything possible somehow.
The
early days of the month included getting in the large Henkel garden and then
fencing it all, since one local doe seems to think she and fawn own the yard.
The highlight of the month for Mark and Hilde was visits
from the grandkids! Rhiannon, Rowan and
Caleb came for an entire week and great fun was had by all. Although it was cold and rainy for three days
of the time, no one was bored or even sat still for long. One sunny day they all played and picnicked
in Point, with soccer and Frisbee to play with Grandpa. On the coldest and wettest day, they all went
to a movie, despite having an obstacle course of construction. There was lots of puzzle-making and lego
fun. Rhi and Ro worked on a plastic
canvas project, making a mobile for a gift, with a little help from
Grandma. All three patted out and
personalized their own pizzas, too.
But the special time involved taekwondo. All three kids participated both night of
class, with Master Grandpa teaching, and practiced blocks and kicking with
Grandma at home so that Rhi and Ro could test for their high white belt with
Grandpa judging and Grandma holding boards for their breaks. All the Henkels had 100-watt smiles
then! Caleb kept up and was very
attentive, although he is only four, and his kicks and focus were impressive. It was a memorable time!
Adding to the joy and fun, John and Evie came for Father’s
day weekend with little Hazel ! the four
cousins played sweetly, all four were up for the children’s lesson at church
and the Henkels finally filled a pew.
The only hiccup for the visit came after church at the cheese factory,
when Caleb ran his face into a counter.
Jim took him to ER for 7 stitches under his eyebrow---he was very brave
and good. When all the loved ones
departed, the house was very quiet and empty.
The wet trend in weather kept grass and weeds growing at
tremendous rates. Every time it dried
enough, Hilde was mowing lawn, mowing and weeding blueberries, raspberries or
flower beds. Mark and Hilde picked
strawberries and enjoyed them with every meal toward the end of the month, and
Hilde made strawberry jam, plus froze a year’s worth of peas.
The month included some very happy social activities for
Hilde: a breakfast with the black belt
ladies (they miss Doc’s presence!) and a lunch with Hilde’s friends from
Point. Those two groups are Hilde’s “gold
friends”. Mark was increasingly busy in
trial prep in June, with depositions and meetings and conferences on phone, in
Madison and in the office. This should
be his last long trial, but nothing about legal stuff is very predictable.
In between all the interesting stuff, Mark and Hilde did a
private black belt testing for a man leaving the area, and mundane things like
getting eye exams, septic dug and pumped, photos for the church directory,
defrosting one freezer and a day in Lomira clearing the farm lane of prickly
ash again. Before the kids’
visit, Hilde sewed three little dresses for the girls and a shirt for Caleb,
from the fabric stash from her mother.
Finally at the end of the month, Mark and Hilde were able to properly
mount and fill the special belt rack which Jim designed and made. Having all seven of their black belts
displayed with the certificates of the last testing is very satisfying.
Finally all the rain didn’t just help along the grass and
weeds---the succession of bloom in wild and planted flowers has been wonderful
this month. The shrub roses and miniature
roses were spectacular, the iris intense and in general everything which could,
flowered profusely. June was busy,
beautiful and joyous.
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| White Buck in Dusk |
