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My Mother’s Day was a weekend of going from one thing to another. This included two musical performances, eating at Greek, Thai, and Chinese restaurants and spending time with family, all possible in Madison, Wisconsin.

My friend Viena Ebersold told me that Todd and Amy Schendel, her son and daughter-in-law, were presenting a farewell recital at Dale Heights Presbyterian Church on University Avenue. They lived in Madison for three years, earning their doctorates in music and teaching and performing. This fall they’ll be moving to Denton, TX, Texas University Women’s College, which is co-ed, where Dr. Todd Schendel will be a professor of Brass/Musicology. Dr. Amy Schendel will be in the Brass department, teaching one of her responsibilities. Part of their job description is to develop a course of study for brass instrumentalists, which the college does not have. To be on the cutting edge is an exciting challenge. Amy’s specialty is the trumpet and Todd’s the trombone. They’ve gifted my church, St. John’s, with their music and performed in their own brass trio when they presented Master classes in area schools. Since Texas is a long way from Ridgeville, I wanted to hear them one more time. On Saturday morning, then, the day before Mother’s Day, I joined Viena, Bob Schendel, Todd’s father, and the rest of the family, who had driven to Madison from Wilton, Tomah, and Chicago for a Mother’s Day breakfast at the church, followed by Todd and Amy’s recital.

For the hour and 15 minute program, they played six different brass instruments, accompanied by Martha Saywell on piano. Todd introduced us to the two valve-bass trombone, developed in 1960, playing mellow low notes. On her B flat trumpet Amy triple tongued her way through a solo that astonished me; could she really play that fast? Adding to this professional performance of classical music, traditional and modern, were the program notes they offered between selections, enriching my experience with background information.

It’s always a thrill to hear them and listen to their beautiful music. This summer Amy will still be close to home, performing with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Madison Symphony for outdoor concerts on the Square. She is on the faculty at the UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic and a member of the Dubuque Symphony and Madison Symphony. For eight weeks, Todd will be on the faculty of the Bay View Music Festival, located on the shore of Lake Michigan on Little Traverse Bay in northern Michigan in case you’re on vacation there. Bay View Music Festival is the oldest existing music festival in the United States and offers students learning and performance opportunities in orchestra, ensembles, opera and musical theater. A busy summer ahead for musicians Amy and Todd.

I was in for another musical treat Sunday morning at Wisconsin Lutheran Student Chapel. Grandson Eric Lanier played in the Chapel Worship Band, his bass guitar giving musical depth to several new hymns; a favorite, Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble? I attended both services 8:30 and 11:00, joined by the Green Bay Laniers at 11:00.

A sour note occurred on Mother’s Day when I received a ticket from the Madison Police Department. Someone told me meters were not checked on Sundays. This source was guilty of the sin of omission. Meters on the street are not checked on Sunday but meters in parking lots are, and I was in a parking lot across from the Chapel. The fine, $20, which I promptly mailed in on Monday having learned this lesson: If you get a parking ticket in Madison (as I did a year ago), and you put the ticket in the car’s glove compartment, more than likely you will forget it. You will receive a second notice and the fine will be doubled. Experience is an expensive teacher.

As I drove to the Waunakee Laniers’ house where we’d all be getting together Sunday afternoon, a big sign across the front of C’s Cafe and Bakery caught my eye: Rhubarb Week. Rhubarb on the Ridge is just beginning to grow. When I stopped in to see Pastor and Melissa last week, I noted their rhubarb patch behind the parsonage. Yes, Melissa said, she knew what to do with it. This past Christmas her brother had given her a book of recipes: One Hundred and One Ways to Use Rhubarb.

I was curious to see how rhubarb was being celebrated at C’s. Unfortunately, I was a day early but in time to read the week’s menu: Monday, rhubarb lentil soup; Tuesday, pork with rhubarb sauce; Wednesday, chicken smothered in rhubarb; Thursday, rhubarb chutney with pork loin; Friday, meatloaf with rhubarb fruit salad. All of this plus pies, bars, cakes, pie pockets, turnovers, muffins, bread, jam, rhubarb fool, parfaits and morning buns. There must be 101 ways just in this cafe alone.

If there can be a Peony Week, there certainly can be a Rhubarb Week. Coming next, a Rhubarb Queen.

The column, Journal Entry from Ridgeville, is a bi-monthly feature of the Tomah Journal written by Lyda Lanier, 20964 Cty. Hwy. A, Tomah