By MYRNA FAUSKA
Spring is springing, and so are the neighbors. For the past six weeks, this column has been uncharacteristically short, but now we’re back to normal, and I’ll begin with the news from our place. A week ago Monday, my husband Dave and I attended the funeral for nephew Jeff Martalock at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Kirby. On Wednesday I joined 10 other Red Hats Belles for lunch at Beezer’s Bar and Grill in Hillsboro. On Friday evening, Dave and I were at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall for the library’s showing of the movie “The Apple Dumpling Gang,” an oldie but a goodie.
Up the valley, Arlene spent from March 7–10 at a quilting retreat at Cattail Retreat near Poynette, Wis. On Saturday the KTY Jun Quilt Guild had a quilting day and made Quilts Of Valor for servicemen and servicewomen and had speakers from the organization. Since its inception, thousands of quilts have been donated.
On Friday evening, Ron and Arlene Garvens picked up Jim and Mary Parkhurst to go to Elroy for supper at the Valley Inn. On Sunday, Ron and Mary Melvin of Madison visited the Parkhursts.
Roland and Vicki Koenig enjoyed a visit from daughter Nikki Fierova with kids Beatrix, Noah and Hunter of Northwood, Iowa. Their timing was perfect as they did some skiing, snow shoeing and snowboarding on the farm. By this week the snow wouldn’t have been conducive to fun activities. One day they went over to Hillsboro to visit grandma Ruth Schumann at Milestone Assisted Living in Hillsboro.
On Sunday, Allan and Heather Vlasak were at Russell and Julie Everson’s home and family near Cashton, where they joined other family and friends and helped Julie celebrate her 40th birthday.
Although we haven’t heard much from the Marty family lately, they have been braving the weather for basketball and wrestling events. Last weekend was the end of this season’s sports for the family. Layla played in a basketball tournament in New Lisbon and won four games. They celebrated with a sleepover at the coach’s home. Brett went to regionals at River Valley for wrestling. On Sunday at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall, Mary saw her first robin of the year.
Sally Dana attended the Monroe County Nutrition meeting at the Kendall Senior Dining Center last Wednesday. Lynette Vlasak picked up Lynne Hanson and had lunch at the dining center. On Thursday, Lynette was in Holmen for a public library meeting. On Friday the Kendall Public Library hosted a birthday party for Father Peter of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. On Saturday the gals attended great-niece Layla’s basketball games in New Lisbon. On Sunday they went to Waunakee, Wis., to watch great-nephew Olin Zellmer play in the intermediate school game.
As I prepared to write this column Tuesday morning, hubby Dave saw his first robin out on the east lawn. Yesterday we heard geese honking as they flew over. God is blessing us with signs of spring, and we hope He isn’t allowing any more precipitation for a while. Our prayers go out to those who are dealing with floods from the snow melt and recent rain. We are in the midst of the Lenten season, during which we remember the last days of Jesus’s ministry here on earth. The Gospels record the events of those days as He prepared his followers for the culmination of his earthly life on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. We serve a risen Savior. Hallelujah!