Meet Peggy
Peggy and Ed Stellmach decided after 28 years in Missoula, Montana that that they would come back to their "real home" in Minnesota upon retirement. Peggy, having been a realtor in Montana, had seen many homes in her day and knew that with the sweet years of retirement around the corner she had big dreams of the house she and Ed would spend their glory years in enjoying their hobbies. Ed grew up in Barnesville and Peggy in Detroit Lakes so Lake Park would be a great place in the middle.
But, the real draw to the Lake Park community was Peggy's sister, Mary Ballard. Living in this small but spirited community felt like a great idea, especially with her sister just down the street. And when Peggy laid eyes on the 100 year old, two story on 4th Street she knew it was THE ONE. She loved the character of the home, the wrap around front porch, the narrow siding, high ceilings, open staircase and hardwood floors. And it was on this corner lot that Peggy envisioned her real passion, her flower gardens.
In only three short summers Peggy has turned her yard into a gardener’s dream. Ed and Peggy purchased the home in the fall of 2005 and planned to move to Minnesota in the spring of 2006. They were anxiously anticipating their move back to Minnesota when in November of 2005 Peggy's sister, Mary, had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. They feared the worst, but Mary was a strong woman with great determination. They prayed that Mary would beat this ugly disease.
She doctored at the Mayo clinic in Rochester. Surgeries, treatments and chemo-therapy were all part of her battle. Mary is the mother of 4 children, the youngest of whom was 4 years old; these children were the highlight of her life, and she wanted so badly to see them grow- up, marry and have children of their own. Ed and Peggy travelled to Minnesota several times hoping to give Mary the encouragement to beat this.
But, everything was turned upside down in December of 2005 when Mary and Peggy's mother, Betty Disse, of Detroit Lakes suddenly died. Betty had a few health issues, but her passing was a complete shock to the family. And it was especially hard on Mary who was using all of her strength to fight for her own life. Peggy was also devastated. All of those years she had spent away and now she had hoped to help her aging mother on a daily basis. She had dreams of spending time with her without feeling rushed. Suddenly that sweet element of Peggy's retired years was gone.
But, Ed and Peggy knew that their roots and their hearts were still in Minnesota and the plans to return remained. Then in April of 2006, Peggy's sister, Mary lost her battle with cancer. She had given it a strong and courageous fight. Now Peggy's vision of her move back home was becoming even more grim. She would no longer be living a few miles from her mother and a few blocks from her sister.
On the brighter side of things during Mary's illness Peggy had become very close to Mary's children. She was their support during this difficult time With Mary’s daughter, Angelica, now being only 5 years old, she very much needed Aunt Peggy. Ed and Peggy continued with their original plans and moved to Lake Park in July of 2006.
Peggy is one of those people that when life gives her lemons, she makes (hand squeezed, fresh) lemonade. Peggy created a plan to implement her two passions; gardening and quilting. And thus the "Garden Quilt Show and Tea" was born.
Peggy poured her heart and soul into turning her yard into a beautiful oasis of flower beds, created countless gorgeous quilts and organized a fabulous event. She gifts all the proceeds to the "Families Forever" Scholarship. Two annual scholarships are given in her sister Mary's name. One is awarded to a senior girl from the Lake Park/Audubon High School and the other to a Miss Northwest contestant. Peggy choose to name the scholarship "Families Forever" because of Mary's true love of family. Peggy had heard Mary’s concern that she would be forgotten, a common fear of cancer victims, especially mothers.
The show developed from that thought, and has grown each year along with Mary’s memory. The quilts range from simple, beginner projects to impressive works of art created by quilters of all ages. "People's Choice" awards are chosen each year.
Past year’s quilter awards included a $100 gift certificate to the Bay Window quilt shop in Perham, gift certificates to Mills End Textiles, and a rolling sewing machine bag. Admission is $5.00 / per person and includes tea and treats. There is also a light lunch available for purchase. Items for sale at the show include fat quarter baskets, homemade pincushions, pillow cases, aprons, pot holders, a sock monkey or two, and DVD's including hundres of pictures of the gardens and quilts from past shows. Door prizes are also given out. The show is an annual event and it is held the third Saturday in August; this year's show is August 18th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at 4020 4th Street in Lake Park.
We hope you will try and make it so you can see how this one woman turned something so discouraging into something so beautiful. As I wandered about the show last year I heard a passerby say "This is really unbelievable; it is like something out of a movie!!" Come see for yourself the sweet "lemonade" that Peggy has created.
But, the real draw to the Lake Park community was Peggy's sister, Mary Ballard. Living in this small but spirited community felt like a great idea, especially with her sister just down the street. And when Peggy laid eyes on the 100 year old, two story on 4th Street she knew it was THE ONE. She loved the character of the home, the wrap around front porch, the narrow siding, high ceilings, open staircase and hardwood floors. And it was on this corner lot that Peggy envisioned her real passion, her flower gardens.
In only three short summers Peggy has turned her yard into a gardener’s dream. Ed and Peggy purchased the home in the fall of 2005 and planned to move to Minnesota in the spring of 2006. They were anxiously anticipating their move back to Minnesota when in November of 2005 Peggy's sister, Mary, had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. They feared the worst, but Mary was a strong woman with great determination. They prayed that Mary would beat this ugly disease.
She doctored at the Mayo clinic in Rochester. Surgeries, treatments and chemo-therapy were all part of her battle. Mary is the mother of 4 children, the youngest of whom was 4 years old; these children were the highlight of her life, and she wanted so badly to see them grow- up, marry and have children of their own. Ed and Peggy travelled to Minnesota several times hoping to give Mary the encouragement to beat this.
But, everything was turned upside down in December of 2005 when Mary and Peggy's mother, Betty Disse, of Detroit Lakes suddenly died. Betty had a few health issues, but her passing was a complete shock to the family. And it was especially hard on Mary who was using all of her strength to fight for her own life. Peggy was also devastated. All of those years she had spent away and now she had hoped to help her aging mother on a daily basis. She had dreams of spending time with her without feeling rushed. Suddenly that sweet element of Peggy's retired years was gone.
But, Ed and Peggy knew that their roots and their hearts were still in Minnesota and the plans to return remained. Then in April of 2006, Peggy's sister, Mary lost her battle with cancer. She had given it a strong and courageous fight. Now Peggy's vision of her move back home was becoming even more grim. She would no longer be living a few miles from her mother and a few blocks from her sister.
On the brighter side of things during Mary's illness Peggy had become very close to Mary's children. She was their support during this difficult time With Mary’s daughter, Angelica, now being only 5 years old, she very much needed Aunt Peggy. Ed and Peggy continued with their original plans and moved to Lake Park in July of 2006.
Peggy is one of those people that when life gives her lemons, she makes (hand squeezed, fresh) lemonade. Peggy created a plan to implement her two passions; gardening and quilting. And thus the "Garden Quilt Show and Tea" was born.
Peggy poured her heart and soul into turning her yard into a beautiful oasis of flower beds, created countless gorgeous quilts and organized a fabulous event. She gifts all the proceeds to the "Families Forever" Scholarship. Two annual scholarships are given in her sister Mary's name. One is awarded to a senior girl from the Lake Park/Audubon High School and the other to a Miss Northwest contestant. Peggy choose to name the scholarship "Families Forever" because of Mary's true love of family. Peggy had heard Mary’s concern that she would be forgotten, a common fear of cancer victims, especially mothers.
The show developed from that thought, and has grown each year along with Mary’s memory. The quilts range from simple, beginner projects to impressive works of art created by quilters of all ages. "People's Choice" awards are chosen each year.
Past year’s quilter awards included a $100 gift certificate to the Bay Window quilt shop in Perham, gift certificates to Mills End Textiles, and a rolling sewing machine bag. Admission is $5.00 / per person and includes tea and treats. There is also a light lunch available for purchase. Items for sale at the show include fat quarter baskets, homemade pincushions, pillow cases, aprons, pot holders, a sock monkey or two, and DVD's including hundres of pictures of the gardens and quilts from past shows. Door prizes are also given out. The show is an annual event and it is held the third Saturday in August; this year's show is August 18th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at 4020 4th Street in Lake Park.
We hope you will try and make it so you can see how this one woman turned something so discouraging into something so beautiful. As I wandered about the show last year I heard a passerby say "This is really unbelievable; it is like something out of a movie!!" Come see for yourself the sweet "lemonade" that Peggy has created.