The OWLs took full advantage of the spring weather in April with a fine Holy Week outing to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We had an excellent lunch followed by a tour of the grounds and buildings. Our potluck continued the fun with the first annual OWLs Easter Party. Ever try to pick up jelly beans with chop sticks? The OWLs now have it down pat!

April was great, but May is going to be fantastic. We will begin the month with an outing to Norskedalen. We will meet at the church at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 3 to begin this grand adventure. We will travel to Westby for lunch at Borgens Café, which serves excellent Norwegian and American food. Then it is on to Norskedalen, which is rich in natural beauty and diversity, encompassing about 400 acres of scenic coulee (valley) along Poplar Creek. We will begin our tour at the Thrune Visitors’ Center with hands-on nature exhibits, Heritage Room displays and an introductory video explaining the history and mission of Norskedalen. From there we will have a guided tour of the Bekkum Pioneer Log Homestead, which displays the Norwegian heritage of our region in buildings and artifacts. We should be back to the church before 4pm. Cost of the tour is $5.50. Lunch is on your own. We need to give the restaurant a head count. Please call (608-526-9700) or email owls@firstlu.org Brian Narveson by Monday night, May 1, if you plan to attend.

May’s potluck will be one week earlier (May 10) than usual. Mary and Brian need to be in Colorado the last half of May. It will be held in the fellowship hall at noon on Wednesday, May 10, so a speaker can use the projector and screen. Details on the speaker are still being finalized. Please watch your email for additional information. Looking forward to seeing everyone in May.

The OWLs are a group at First that welcomes anyone, First Lutheran members or not, who are 55+. For information or to ask questions, contact Brian Narveson.