By MYRNA FAUSKA
Here I sit without an original thought in my head, so I’ll get right to the good stuff, which is why you are reading this column in the first place.
At the top of Zirk Hill, Evelyn Zirk turned 97 on Sunday, Aug. 6. She began celebrating Friday, when she had dinner with her family at the Reedsburg Country Club. Son Randy was there with wife Sue, daughter Jenny and niece Emily McAteer of Madison, as was son Bruce and spouse Julie from Dutch Hollow, along with son Jerry. On Saturday, Frieda Jacobson arrived with a decorated birthday cake. On Sunday, Ev, Jerry and Frieda went to Necedah for lunch at their favorite restaurant, The Little Crane. In the afternoon, Jerry was at Milestone Assisted Living Center in Hillsboro to help Bernice Steffen celebrate her 90th birthday.
Down in the valley, Steve Schumann, Deb Wood with Bryana and Scott spent Sunday afternoon at the Schumann family reunion at the Elroy American Legion Hall.
Here at Fauska’s Funny Farm, we had company Wednesday afternoon, when Don Elsing stopped by for a visit. There was a lot of reminiscing about fishing and hunting. On Saturday, my husband Dave and I picked up Joanne Pasch and went to Ochsner Park in Baraboo, Wis., for the Zirk family reunion. Then, on Sunday, I attended a bridal shower in Mauston for Rachel Bjerke, who will join our extended family next month when she marries cousin Baxter Pufahl. Baxter is the son of Chris and Kim (Franke) Pufahl and grandson of Bob and Beata (Zirk) Franke.
Going up the valley and up the hill, Ron and Arlene Garvens joined Jim and Mary Parkhurst for Friday evening dinner at the China Buffet in Mauston. On Sunday the Garvens attended a 50th anniversary party in Elroy.
On Saturday afternoon, Deb Parkhurst of Lexington, Ky., and Erin Root of Indianapolis arrived at Jim and Mary Parkhurst’s to spend the week. Check this news next week to find out what they were up to while they were here.
Next door at the Koenig farm, Nikki and Tom Fierova, along with Noah, Hunter and Beatrix, came from Northwood, Iowa, to spend the weekend with home folks.
Heather Vlasak spent Saturday in Cashton, watching niece Julie and her husband Russ Everson move to town from their home in the valley.
On Thursday, Lynette Vlasak and Sally Dana lunched at the Kendall Senior Dining Center, and Sally attended the St. John’s Ladies Aid meeting at the church afterward. On Sunday evening, the gals enjoyed a movie at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, “Return to Grace,” which depicts the life and legacy of Martin Luther.
The Lord is blessing us with an unusually cool August this year, and I for one am very grateful. I always say my favorite temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees. Anything in the 70s also is acceptable. The corn that was able to get planted at the right time is tall and bearing small ears, and the soybean fields look healthy. In spite of the weather, there has been hay baled, and we enjoy seeing the grain shocks as we pass the Amish farms in our travels to and fro. No matter the situation, God is still in control, and He will continue to take good care of us even when our faith falters. So remember to keep Him upmost in your lives and praise Him constantly.