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The Schwark Home in Alpine California
The Schwark's live in a ranch style bungalow fronted by aromatic rosemary hedges in the foreground. You can see our camper parked in the driveway. Alpine Lutheran Church is out of the photograph on the right. Wednesday, April 22nd, our first full day in Alpine, California, and it is wonderful to finally be here. We have been looking forward to making it to the Pacific coast for a long time and Nathanael can hardly wait to dip his toes in the ocean. The Schwark’s have actually been expecting us since the last Lutheran Girl Pioneer convention in March of 2008 when I asked Laurie if it would be okay to visit.
Our hosts live in a ranch-style bungalow that they are renovating little by little. We have parked the RV in the laneway and the three of us sleep in the camper while sharing meals with the family. The Schwark’s have a wonderful yard where work continues on landscaping and where they raise honey bees in a special enclosure. An elevated vegetable garden grows mountains of strawberries in season while flowerbeds and bougainvillea line the laneway. There are several fruit trees on the property, as well. The yard is fronted by a rosemary hedge which is the home to several families of rabbits. One morning we counted 24 of them on the front lawn.
The Schwark’s have constructed solar panels in the side
The Back Patio
This view is of the wheelchair accessible back patio off the family room. It is taken from in front of the strawberry patch. yard to help with the astronomical electricity costs of California. They look forward to the day all of the construction will be completed and their home and yard will be a peaceful sanctuary where the family can gather together for rest and relaxation.
Laurie and James have a daughter, Joanna - 18, and son, David - 15. James serves as pastor to Alpine Lutheran Church and also holds down a full time nursing job at the University of San Diego. Lorie is a graduate of Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota, and works part-time as a spare teacher at the local Lutheran Elementary Schools, while homeschooling Joanna, as well. David attends California Lutheran High School in Wildomar, California, almost 90 miles away, so he boards at the school and comes home on weekends. Laurie’s parents, Lee and Lorraine Radicle, relocated to Alpine only recently to live with their youngest daughter and her family. They inhabit an in-law suite which, when complete, will be totally wheelchair accessible. The Schwark’s have a small swimming pool that was installed for their handicapped daughter, Joanna, to be able to undertake physical therapy at home. While visiting, we are all able to enjoy
Solar Panels
Here you can see the giant array of solar panels the Schwark's have constructed in their side yard. It is a big savings on the electric bill. The raised strawberry patch is in the foreground and the patio is just behind me. swimming against the current. Mind you, Nathanael is the one who takes advantage of it the most. This is a rare treat for him.
On the first weekend we were here, Laurie’s dad celebrated his 85th birthday with a pot luck dinner after Sunday service. (Janice was guest organist.) We got to meet various members of the congregation at this impromptu party. These parishioners are very close and care about each other dearly. They are like family. What an enjoyable time we had as we were welcomed into their midst, .... and a bonus, we picked up a great salad recipe, too!
Alpine Lutheran Church is a quaint little building which reminds me of the “church in the vale.” It is lovingly tended by the members of its small congregation who maintain the charming, but simple grounds and modest interior. There is no basement to this facility, .... which is common in the southern regions of the United States. Storage closets that are accessed from inside and outside are used, instead. The doorways to the washrooms are located on the outside of the building.
The church grounds are lovely with a multitudes of flowers
Therapy Pool
Nathanael enjoys the time he spends swimming in the Schwark's "Endless Pool." The pool was installed so the Schwark's handicapped daughter could participate in physio therapy on a daily basis at home. and rose bushes. A playground inhabits one corner of the yard. The gazebo in the church garden has been the site of several weddings under the pine trees that line the hill. It is a wonderful spot for members to gather and fellowship after service.
Alpine Church’s congregation is aging, and the only children/young people are the Schwark’s teenagers. The congregation just celebrated its 50th Anniversary. In celebration, Pastor Schwark, who is a master wood craftsman, worked on the sanctuary ceiling with other members, opening up the beams, plastering and painting the finished surface. The final results were beautiful.
While we are here, Nathanael and I continue our homeschooling in the mornings. We use the Bible study area inside Alpine Lutheran and we are able to leave our school supplies in the church during the week because there are no activities that go on during weeknights. Our studies have been going very well and on days in between, we are taking field trips “down the hill” into San Diego.
I have learned a new card game while visiting the Schwark's, called "Hand and Foot" (not "Hoof and Mouth" to those of you who I
Happy 85th Birthday
Sunday, April 24, we celebrated Lee's (Laurie's dad) 85th birthday after service. Here he is posing with his cake. know will tease me abouth that). It is loads of fun and we all enjoyed many a laugh while playing. Even though I wrote down the rules, I am probably not going to remember how to play by the time I get home. I guess I'll have to "Google" the game and see what comes up.
In our next blogs we will share our sight-seeing adventures in the area. Stay tuned dear friends.
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Christa
non-member comment
hello
Hi Diana I sure love those pictures of the flowers you took in California. That is definately a place I have never been. Maybe someday, but I thought I would drop you a note and say hi and let you know I am engaged...