September 28, 1992

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:

What gorgeous weather we're having!!! One day last week they predicted a frost and I was VERY tired of my garden so I used that as an excuse and pulled up everything - my tomatoes and eggplant. I probably could have salvaged a fee tomatoes for another couple weeks but I didn't want to bother with it and the eggplants still had many blossoms on them but I couldn't get anyone to take them and I couldn't eat anymore. I'm kinda' surprised at how few people eat eggplant - one lady told me you were supposed to soak the slices in salt water for a couple hours before cooking them - she sounded like they were poisonous or something - Ha!!! I have had an absolutely WONDERFUL garden this summer - my tomatoes have been so sweet and good. I'll plant tomatoes next year too but not as many and nothing else.

Claire - thank you SO much for your wonderful letter!!! I love letters and read them over and over again. I loved hearing about your trip to Washington D.C. (They stayed at the Grand Hyatt hotel and it was within walking distance of the capitol. Claire spent her days going through the Smithsonian Museums and the National Gallery of Art. Bob enjoyed the Space Museum where they saw the Kitty Hawk and the Spirit of St. Louis). I'm SO glad you are able to do things like that. Your trip to Park City with the children sounded like lots of fun too (Bob had a medical meeting there just two days after they returned from Washington) - I have heard a lot about the Alpine Slide and I know the children loved it. I love Park City!!! I loved the pictures too and I'm SO proud of Laura for sewing that darling outfit - and lining it too. I'm glad to have some more "artwork" from the children to put on their frames.

I have surely thought about you a lot this past week, Claire. There was a sixteen year old girl who died from eating a Twix candy bar here in Orem. She was allergic to nuts and had eaten that same candy bar many times before without problems - they are assuming they used the same machinery to melt the chocolate or something that they had used in candy with nuts. I was closer to the situation than I normally would have been because I had my mutual class over night for sundaes and to wrap Christmas gifts for the missionaries - some of the girls had attended her funeral that afternoon and they were very sad and told me all about it. They said she was always so very careful to check the ingredients of everything she ate but since she hadn't had problems with Twix bars before, she thought she was safe.
I think it is very benevolent of you to plant trees in the neighbor's yard (Claire planted a "thundercloud plum" tree between their fence and the hot tub in the vacant house in back of them so they would have more privacy when it is sold)!!

I went to Jessie's violin recital last week and it was SO good. There were four soloists and then the four of them played in the quartet that was trying out for the Utah Valley Symphony Orchestra. The tryouts were Saturday and Jessie called yesterday to tell me they had won. I'm so proud of you Jessie - they will now solo with the orchestra. The Woolleys came over last night and presented a WONDERFUL Family Home Evening and I enjoyed it so much.

Jeannie & Annie & I had such a good time in Salt Lake last Tuesday. We met at the mall there by Burlington's (I can never remember the name of it) and we shopped and shopped - that's the longest I can ever remember shopping and I LOVED IT. Then we went to that food court and had lunch - we had a shrimp & beef Chinese something that was delicious. I'm thrilled with the things I bought - Daddy always used to say that some people go shopping and I always go buying - he was right!!!

Ann & I went to Linda Bye's craft show here last Friday night. That has been quite a famous event here in Utah Country for many years and Linda told Ann that this would be her last one. I believe I went to her first one - it was held in the living room of her home and for the past four years it has been held in the Junior High close by us.

Roy & Patrice - I haven't heard from you for a long time. I hope you're all doing good. I'll bet little Emily is loving her school and Timothy too. I hope little Timothy has a really healthy Winter this year - last year was kind' hard with his ears. What is the feeling in Little Rock about Bill Clinton? People are constantly asking me what I know about him. I don't really know anything except that I'm afraid he's going to win the election.

I'm going to my Family Home Evening Party tonight and I'm really looking forward to it. Now that I work in Mutual I don't get to see very many friends my ago so I have a lot of news to get caught up on. I enjoy my Mutual class but it is REALLY time consuming!

I still have a lot of company and that's good. My missionary friends, David & Polly Taylor, came yesterday afternoon and stayed until the Woolleys came. I started this letter about 10 o'clock this morning and it is now 4 o'clock and I'm just finishing it - I have had four different friends drop by.

This next weekend is General Conference. THIS IS THE PLAN: You are all invited to come here to watch conference - I'll serve waffles, etc., at noon and then after the afternoon session we'll have whatever Ann, Jean & Claire decide on. I suggested pizza or something really easy. I hope you will all be able to come. The weather has really turned hot - wouldn't you know it would just when I had my cooler serviced and turned off. I'm having two boys come tomorrow to wash al my windows and caulk them - I'm getting ready for a hard winter - Ha!!!
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