Family Memorial and Reunion

Last weekend we traveled to Wisconsin for a memorial of M's parents and a rare reunion of her seven brothers and sisters and spouses.  This tree north of Spring Green was one of the most beautiful I have even seen in all its Fall glory late in the afternoon sun.

We arrived just as the sun set and drove to the new home of one of M's brothers and sisters-in-law.  The table was set and we enjoyed the first of many great times around good food and company in their beautiful contemporary home (our favorite style).

The next morning we could see the home clearly sitting on a hill overlooking peaceful pastures, grazing cattle, and corn fields.  The natural light from the floor to ceiling windows on both sides is amazing.

There is so much open space with the kitchen on one side and the book shelves opposite, that all twenty of us had room to spare.

I love the copious use of wood and the contemporary Rais wood burning stove.

We had three absolutely wonderful days of warm temperatures and mostly sunny days.  I could live on this sun porch.  I always said that I like a home with a "vista" and this one has it.  Across the field and beyond the first trees is Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright home, studio and farm.

Here is some of the detail of the construction of the home.

Since the siblings lost their Mother this past May, this was the most convenient time for them to gather and remember their parents at this time of reunion.  A tree was planted on the property in remembrance of their parents.  I have known this family since 1956 when their Father moved to town to be my pastor.  They are a little older now.

The tree planting took all the muscles of the brothers plus a little Grandson.

Since the Marquardts started out in Wisconsin, it was fitting to have this memorial in the home state and complete the circle of life.

What is a farm without a tractor and hayride?

We rode through the pastures where Daniel raises Devon cattle since his retirement from working in Chicago.  What a beautiful area!

Here we are minus one... with a few second and third generation children.

This is the picture of the "farm house" taken from the Taliesin property.  They are truly neighbors to Frank.

We got a late afternoon tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's studio, and home by one of the Foundation's Board Members... my brother-in-law.  We were able to see things that you don't see on the tours.

One highlight was a brief concert in the living room by four ladies from the area, one being our sister-in-law, on the cello.  I wish you could see that "barrel chair" in the background better.

Looking out the living room window the sun was reflecting off the Wisconsin hillside.  What great memories and fun we had together.

All good times do come to an end and as we left the farm the fog was heavy over the river ahead.

The trees were definitely hitting their peak as we headed west to Minnesota and North Dakota and the rest of the family scattered to Iowa, Arizona, Washington, Michigan, Oklahoma, 
Arkansas, and Italy.

Plans for another reunion were discussed but the person who was voted to be hostess for the next one  had a quick reply: "I am not going to be home that year."  (We elected her after she had left.)  So whether we have another or not, it will be hard to beat our time in Wisconsin.  Thanks D and L for being great hosts to your family!

Not my favorite

Crows are not my favorite bird.  They are noisy bullies who throw their weight around usually in a gang.  It is hard to get a good picture of them because there is so little contrast in their black bodies.  This guy was in the sunshine so it is my best attempt at a crow picture.  I heard that recently the Massachusetts' Turnpike Authority had found over 200 dead crows along a stretch of highway and wondered what had killed them.  They checked for Avian Flu but that wasn't the problem.  They did determine that 98% had been killed by trucks and only 2% by cars so an Ornithological Behaviorist was assigned to find out why so many were killed by trucks over cars.

After observing for several days he soon had the answer and wrote up his report.  When crows eat road kill they always have a lookout posted nearby in a tree to warn of impending danger.  His conclusion was that while the lookout crow could say "Cah,"none could say "truck." 

 

Top of his world

One of the critters that I always enjoy seeing is the Pileated Woodpecker.  They just showed up in the last two weeks of the summer.  Who knows where they have been hiding but there are a lot of forests in Minnesota.

Nearly as large as a crow, they make short work of trees that have Carpenter Ants, their favorite snack.

They are the largest common Woodpecker in North America and almost sound prehistoric when they call.  Click on "Sound" at this site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pileated_woodpecker/sounds

The Pileated Woodpecker and crow were both interested in the suet.  Notice the thermometer... it always registers between 60 and 80 degrees so I keep it up to remind me what a great climate we have in Minnesota.  It has already dropped below 40 overnight in Park Rapids... but not at our place...never gets lower than 60.

The rectangular holes, not round, are made by the Pileated Woodpecker... one of their peculiarities.  Smaller trees have been known to snap from these flying lumberjacks.