One day it's winter and the next it is spring.....

Last week it was so cold we decided to drive to the Lodge at Itasca State Park to warm up by the fire.  It was Memorial Day weekend and the people spending the weekend in the park were enjoying the warmth of the lodge too.

As we left the lodge we noticed a pile of snow still not melted along the edge of the trees.

When we arrived at 3109 we were greeted by blooms and very green (and long) grass.  Vic jumped out of the car and immediately started the mower.  He finished just in time for the rain to start.

Mother

Shortly after midnight my Mother slipped away.   She had some struggles the past few days but had been peaceful for 2 days.  This picture was taken on her 88 birthday when my sister Beth and I celebrated with her in Tucson.  We will miss you, Mom.

Violet Klein was born to Fred and Ida Klein in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 11,1922.   She passed away on May 15, 2013 at age 90.  She was the eighth child in the family of eleven children.  Klein's Bakery on 60th in Kenosha was where she spent many hours wrapping bread in the family business.  It was there she met her husband, Kurt Marquardt, who farmed with his father near Kenosha.  He came into the bakery and that's where the romance began.   They were married in 1943 and in 1946 they moved to St. Paul, Arkansas, to pastor a church and help in the beginning years of a Bible School in Ozark, Arkansas.  In 1956 they moved to Steamboat Rock, Iowa, where they had an 8 year ministry at First Baptist Church and then to Mason City, Iowa, at Grace Baptist Church until 1970.  They then began a ministry in Talahquah, OK, at Go Ye Mission.  After her husband's death she lived in Fayetteville, AR, Tucson, AZ, Schaumburg, IL, Grand Forks, ND, and Tucson, AZ, where she passed away.

Violet was preceded in death by her husband in 1984.  Surviving her are her eight children, Marilyn Luiken (Victor), Grand Forks, ND, Evelyn (Steve) Heard, Tucson, Az, Daniel (Linda), Spring Green, Wi, Stephen, West Fork, AR, Kenneth (Kali), Italy, Carolyn (Michael) Kilfoil, Miriam, Italy, Beth (Virgil), Mound, Ok.  Fourteen grand children and 18 great grandchildren, 3 step great grand children also survive.

Her life was spent caring for others as she raised her family and later as she worked in care centers for the elderly and others in their homes.   She loved to travel and seemed to set the pace for a family who loves to see the world.  She loved going to Europe to see her grandchildren and using her German she learned as a child.  Her trips were too numerous to count.  She was a thrifty gal and often became the brunt of many family jokes.  She was "green" before anyone thought of it.

A family memorial service is being planned.

From Tucson

There is very little change here from when I first arrived Saturday evening except she's maybe a little less responsive.   Her two brothers from the Phoenix area where here to see her which was so nice.   Mom's niece Joan from Tucson has been here too.      Thank to those who have asked for updates.

Mother

Delta will take me this morning to be with my mother.  I am not going so much that it is Mother's Day, but Hospice is now involved in her care and I want to hold her hand through the coming days.

Waiting for spring....

We made a quick trip to the Twin Cities to do a few errands.  It was a beautiful day so that evening we took a walk around a small lake near where we stayed.   Vic caught this picture of last year's grass during sunset.   

This little lake is an interesting place with housing around it as well as cooperate buildings.   In the summer it is full of people and paddle boats.   It has piped music along the walking path and that makes for a very enjoyable walk.    

Today we drove to a small community with an old time restaurant called Paula's.    I'm sure the same old stools are at the counter -- Vic laughed when he saw the table tops - they've probably been there since the 50's.    They definitely serve comfort food :-)