Leila's Welcome Arrival into the World

Dear Family, Friends, and Interested Observers,

After an all too long two-month absence, it is good to be behind the keyboard again working on a blog entry. To the great relief of the America's Dairyland, winter has loosened its grip. The grass has been greening, the trees have been budding, and the tulips have been blooming. Two of Madison's iconic warm weather rituals -- the Capitol Square Farmer's Market and the Memorial Student Union Terrace -- have opened for the season. Unfortunately, we're regressing a bit this week, and rain/snow mix is back in the forecast. (First below, icicles disconcertingly envelop Laurie and Mark's power line; second below, the snows of Colfax; third below, the ice cap over Lake Mendota melts into mist)

What has eased the last weeks of the bitter winter have been the many visits of family and friends. Mom and Dad have passed through town a couple of times to and from an odyssey through the American South. They visited the daughter of one of Dad's first cousins in Bloomington, Illinois, Don, Hope, and family in Arkansas, Mom's longtime friend and quilting associate Bonnie Vance in Mississippi, Dad's sister Jane (Lorilie) in Ocala, Florida, and Uncle Bob's family in Atlanta (shortly after the downtown tornado struck). On their return lag, they drove across the Carolinas, the only two states that Dad had not yet visited. All this in three weeks. Whew. (First below, Bob grabs the spotlight; second below, Mom enjoys a little wine in a big glass)

We also had a separate brief visit from Dad a week or two ago. Dad was on his way to O'Hare to pick up youngest brother Bill, who has returned from an eight-month-long stint as an English as a Second Language teacher in Perpignan, France. I volunteered to negotiate the rush-hour Chicago traffic for Dad, and we headed out together on a sun-soaked afternoon along old, two-lane U.S. Route 12. It turned out to be a good way to go -- and no tolls. On the way back to Madison, I missed a tricky off ramp to I-90, which led to some difficulty getting back on to the interstate. All the more time to chat with Bill, who plans to get a masters in E.S.L. at St. Cloud State in Minnesota while working as a T.A. He is also as skinny as a rake; I'm jealous, of course. (Below, Brother Bobert peruses a book)

However, the really big events have been occuring in the Hurlburt wing of the family as of late. In Febuary, Lisa and Jon decided to buy a house on a ten-acre lot outside of tiny Colfax, Wisconsin, thirty minutes northwest of Eau Claire. They will keep and rent out their old house on the North Side for the time being. I think the main motive for Lisa and Jon was to give the kids a chance to enjoy a rural upbringing. The idyllic rolling country around the house, replete with corn fields and maple bluffs, will certainly provide that opportunity. (First below, the back woods in Colfax; second below, Jon's roomy garage and tool shed; third below, a well place sun catcher)

The complication was that Lisa was about eight months pregnant at the time the house purchase was finalized. That made the made the move and the conversion of the Eau Claire house into rental property a little tough. Moreover, Mikey and Emma had to switch over schools mid-year. Jon and Lisa did a great job in making it all happen. (First below, Lisa's miniatures; second below, the cozy new living room in Colfax)

And so, little Leila was born at 2:00 am on Friday, April 4, after a very quick (alarmingly so) one hour-and-a-half labor. Laurie, older brother Don, and I appreciated Lei-Lei's good sense of timing, as we had preplanned a visit the following day. That Saturday afternoon, Lisa and baby were comfortably at home in Colfax. Mom, Dad, and Bob also showed up to see Baby, as did Jonathon Hurlburt, brother-in-law Jon's eldest, who goes to school and bar tends in the E.C. (First below, Laurie, Don, and I had a homestyle lunch and pie at the Norske Nook in Osseo on the way up; second below, Jonathon meets Leila; third below, Uncle Don slides on a new sleeper)

Despite it being a mild, sun-drenched spring day, there were still deep piles of snow in the backwoods, as Jon showed us the boundaries of the property. Mom and I each took gentle tumbles in the deeper banks, as Mikey tauntingly pirouetted along fallen logs. After an all too brief visit, the "younger" Bragg kids headed back to Mad-town. Bob and I got to see more of Don the next day during a jaunt down State Street. Don was in town to make a poster presentation at a forestry conference at the Monona Terrace. (First below, Mom, I'll help you up after I take this picture; second below, Mikey practices for log rolling at the Great Outdoor Games; third below, Emma shows off her hula hoop skills)I appreciate how well Lisa and Leila put up with us only one day after they shared a birthing ordeal. There is nothing quite as humbling and enchanting as holding a newborn.
Unless, that is, you are the newly displaced "baby" of the family!
We also got to see Bragg Family South during a brief visit at Easter. We shared in a scrumptuous and naughty buffet at Morel's. I discussed summer plans with Don and Hope and harrassed our server sister, Lulu. Bob showed up fashionably late. Kenny adopted and named a fly trapped in the window sill. Beth savagely devoured a plate of fruit, meat, and cheese. (First below, one of three delicious buffet tables; second below, tiny Beth gorges; third below, Kenny)As for little Stephen, he cooed to himself and played with his hands. His reign as baby of the extended Bragg clan was all too brief! Jim and I also got to catch a Brewer game with Bob a couple of weeks ago. The Brew Crew surrendered one to Aaron Harrang and the Reds, but we had a good time in time anyways. The deluge that followed the game was something else. Thank goodness Jim brought us some garbage bags to use as ponchos!

I should also mention that we had a great time last night hosting our friends, Mary, Perron, Tom, Scott, Patty, and Norrie for a Turkish-themed dinner party. This group of friends was our Puerto Vallarta crew, plus Norrie (Mary and Patty's mother) who we were especially delighted to host. Norrie has always generously allowed us to camp in her house in Des Plaines over the years before departing O'Hare for those red-eye flights to Mexico. Jim was excited to have the chance to put out his mother's china -- which she had patiently acquired by collecting ... stamps. I think the main entree, Hünkar Beğendi (beef stew over creamed eggplant), went over well. (First below, hors d'oeuvres; second below, the china; third below, enjoying the salad course)Of course, no blog post of mine would be complete without a little psychoanalysis of Bucky the cat. Bucky has agreed to his new feeding regimen. We upped his dietary limit a bit in the hopes that he would become less feisty and more contented. It seems to have worked, although Bucky is aware of feeding times to the exact minute. He needs to be on some kind of diet, as he has gotten fairly rotund as of late. (First below, Bucky takes advantage of a temporary cubby hole; second below, Bucky whips his tale as Jim tries to read the Sunday paper in peace; third and fourth below, portly Bucky parries off "Uncle" Bob)

Well, until later, my best wishes.jkb.in.turkey