July 6, 1992 Orem, Utah
Dearest John; Roy, Patrice, Emily & Timothy; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
I have been outside all morning working mostly in the vegetable garden - you wouldn't believe how everything is growing!!! I picked a lot of squash and took over to Shawna Theobald - I have eaten squash for the past three weeks and it is just wonderful. My tomato plants have little green tomatoes on them and I pick cucumbers every day - I'm happy with the number of squash and cucumber plants I have - they produce just enough so I don't have a lot go to waste. Now - the tomatoes are something else - I'll have a tomato stand out in front - Ha!!! My egg plant plants are blossoming and look so healthy - I'm anxious to have an eggplant to cook. I also pick raspberries every day - Ann taught me last year how to freeze them and that's what I am doing instead of making jam right now - I'll make jam on the ones that come later. My roses have that mildew on them - I called a neighbor who has gorgeous roses and he told me what to do. There is a farmer's store just up the street and he said they would check a leaf from my rose bush and then sell me the right stuff to fix it.
We had a WONDERFUL family 4th of July celebration and we want to thank the Woolleys for all they did. Ann got everyone tickets for the Osmond Stadium of Fire program - they sell out every year within just a few days so we appreciate Annie for being on top of it and getting them in time. We had GREAT seats!!! They had the "Beach Boys" this year for the program before the big fireworks display and everyone in the stands absolutely loved them - their program was at least two hours long and they kept everyone's attention. I loved watching all our grandchildren swing and sway to their music but I was happy when the fireworks started - Ha!!!
We all met at the Woolleys about 5 o'clock and had a delicious dinner - I don't know when a hamburger has tasted as good to me as it did then and we had all the trimmings!!! Their home and yard looked just beautiful and we all ate on their patio and just relaxed and visited until it was time to start for the stadium. We walked from their home to the BYU stadium and the weather couldn't have been better. We ALSO walked back - we were all SO tired and when I took hold of little Brett's hand I could tell he didn't have much energy left in that little body of his but I did not hear one word of complaining from anyone. Bob & Claire & little Katie couldn't come because Bob was on call but the Weinerts brought Laura & Brett - Michael was already at the Woolleys because he had been to soccer camp that week with Russell. The group from the North spent the night at the Woolleys but John went back to his apartment and I came home - I got here about 1 o'clock in the morning and needless to say - I went right to bed. I had gone to the parade in Provo and had already walked about 12 blocks before walking to the stadium. I LOVE family get togethers like that better than anything else in the world - we missed the Roy Mellors and also Bob, Claire & Katie. I kept calling Sarah, Emily - I guess I just had her in my mind. They really celebrate the 4th here in Provo - Orem. They had balloon races that were just spectacular - the Woolleys went but I enjoyed seeing them from my yard.
Last week was busy with my Laurel class making quilts. They have finished two and they are just beautiful besides being very useful. The girls really did all the work but I needed to stay close by so they would "feel chaperoned" - I cleaned out some of my kitchen cabinets. I also fixed little treats for them while they were here. I told them I would be able to have them come this week also if they wanted to make quilts for each other but I haven't heard from them. It would count as service hours if they helped each other make quilts.
I thought Chris & Wayne would be here the first of next week but they called last night and they will be here a week later - on the 20th. They called from Gulf Shores and said it was SO hot they could hardly stand it - Rick & Linda and their children were with them and they said they spent most of their time in the water - Linda is pregnant and has those two little boys who are "destroying angels", according to Wayne - Ha!!! Chris & Wayne have their Hot Springs house up for sale and need to go do some things on it before they come out here. Their Linda (Garrett) had a scare with her heart last week - I guess she blacked out and nearly scared Ken to death - they want to check on her in Dallas too.
Susanna spent the past two weeks at BYU Girl's Academy - it's a special program they sponsor for girls starting at 7th grade. She just loved it and it was fun to hear her tell about the many friends she had made from California and Arizona. Jessie and Barji started it today - they were SO excited. I can't help but worry about Barji getting homesick because I remember how homesick Jeannie got when she went to her first camp. I plan to make them some cookies and go visit sometime during their two week stay - I didn't know you could do that or I would have taken some to Susanna. Jessie & Barji are SO close though and that will help and Barji will be able to call Jeannie if she wants to.
John is doing fine but no signs of a girl friend yet - Ha!!! Ron was telling me that he has been involved in making a catalog for Viewpoint and that has taken a lot of time. John tells me absolutely nothing so I'm glad to hear that he's still working.
Ann & I (and maybe some of her children) are going to the Mellor Family Reunion in Fayette this Saturday. We plan to be at the "Springs" around 7 o'clock in the morning for their annual breakfast and from there we don't know what we'll do - we feel that we should do that for Daddy!!! Bob is going to take his children to the cabin for the weekend - Claire is going to Oklahoma for her high school class reunion.