Marquardt Gathering #8 - The End

We enjoyed the countryside of Wisconsin.  Maybe it is because it reminded us of Iowa and our younger days.

I've always thought there should be a law that every farm must have a red barn.

Here's where I get a bit jealous - I've always wanted a few chickens in my backyard, but "it ain't going to happen at 3109".  I did learn something from my sisters in law.    You can't easily peel a fresh egg that has been boiled.

On the other hand, here's where I am not jealous - Daniel can have this creature.   Just his look makes me want to run.

Stephen helped me pick a box of concord grapes growing in a vineyard behind D&L's house.   My only regret is I didn't bring more home as they made awesome juice with no sugar added.

Thus, ends this special memory I have of our gathering together as eight of us shared with tears and good laughs of days gone by. 

Marquardt Gathering #7 - Ellie's birthday

Ellie was celebrating her 3rd birthday last Monday so we gathered as many family as were available and made a birthday video.    The director of this choir is Vic - he stops the singing to let the cows join in the chorus.

Happy Birthday, Ellie

Marquardt Gathering #6 - The Clock

Dad made many clocks in his lifetime.   He made this clock for Ken and Kali in 1982, two years before he died.   When they left for Italy they couldn't take the clock with them so some friends stored it at their home in Oklahoma.   Several years ago when I was there we decided the clock needed to find a new home so I brought it to ND.   When Daniel and Linda starting building their new home we thought it was a perfect place for the clock to be enjoyed by someone else in the family.   So, we packed it in the back of our CR-V and it found its new home in Wisconsin.

When D&L planned these bookcases they made the perfect home for the clock.   It was fun for K&K to see the clock again and know that it was in good hands.

Marquardt Gathering #5 - Tour

Daniel has been on the board of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation for several years.  His property is across the valley from Taliesin.   He and Linda arranged a tour of FLW's actual home and along with the tour Linda and friends played a string quartet mini concert.

These little benches line the hallway from the sleeping quarters of the house to the living quarters.

This is one of his most famous chair designs called the Barrel Chair.  You can still purchase this chair today. 

One of his most famous trademarks is the window seat.  This one looks out to the small patio and beyond to the beautiful farm land in this part of Wisconsin.

This was one of my favorite parts of the house.  The window itself is considered priceless.  You can see family standing out on the Birdwalk overlooking the pond and landscape.

His designs are everywhere you look in the house.

Frank & Emil

Birdwalk

Linda and her cello

Kairos and her dad listening to Linda play.  Brother Stephen in background.   

Awesome view from FLW's living room.

Marquardt Gathering #4 - Activities

Just arriving

Egg Gathering

Visiting - LOTS of visiting
(Not shown in previous pictures is Virgil, Beth's husband in cowboy hat from Oklahoma)

Rides on Kubota 

Work - digging hole for tree to be planted

Picture taking 

Twins dancing for us

Hayride

Food prep

More food prep

Lots of food prep

And then the goodbyes.....

Marquardt Gathering #3 - Faces

Stephen showing off a huge carrot and some leeks from his Arkansas garden

Michael and Carolyn 

Emil came along with his mother Kairos.  He was the hit of the gathering.   What a sweetheart he is.

Papa Daniel and Emil

Mok, Ken and Kali

Stephen and Linda trying to figure out a photo of someone from our past.

Twin sisters Elizabeth and Molly from England

Daniel installing an edging Brother Stephen brought from his shop in Arkansas Stephen's website

Beth, another camera buff in the family

"The Heard"
Steve and Ev with their son Bryce and twin grands.

Marquardt Gathering #2 - The Food

ML, Ken, Mok (Stephen's son from WA), Stephen, Linda (Daniel's wife) and Kali (Ken's wife) working/visiting in the kitchen and preparing this serving area.   I'm pretty sure they built this house just for this gathering.     

Salad Niçoise

Kale Salad with pears and toasted pecans

Grilled Salmon caught by Michael and Carolyn's son Ezra.  Hand delivered from the Northwest.

Moroccan Stew with Couscous

Roasted vegetables

Potato, Asparagus with Anchovies 

Hand delivered cheeses from Switzerland by Miriam

Miriam was up early each day preparing this fresh bread.  Kairos (Daniel & Linda's daughter from MI) preparing it for our meal