July 5, 1994 Orem, Utah
Dearest John & Julianna; Roy, Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
I hope everyone had as happy a Fourth of July Celebration as I did - it has been a very fun and exciting weekend.
We all met up at the Woolley Home for the annual Fourth of July Dinner about 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. We visited and ate the most delicious food for about three hours. John & Julianna were in charge of "appetizers" and they were SO good - I'm learning that Julianna is a very good cook (I tasted some of her manicotti up at the cabin later in the week and it was heavenly). Jean & Rick were in charge of fruit and as usual they had fruits of every kind and the most delicious fruit dip - I took some vegetable salads - I tried a new recipe of broccoli, bacon, red onion (which I left out for Bob), raisins, sesame seeds with a sweet vinegar and mayonnaise dressing (I loved it but I'm not sure anyone else did). Ann & Ron had wonderful grilled chicken breasts that had been marinated in three different marinades - honey & Dijon mustard, bar-b-que sauce and I can't remember the other one and they were served with garlic French bread wedges. Bob & Claire were in charge of dessert - Claire made the most delicious lemon bars and brownies and then they brought ice cream and different flavors of yogurt with toppings.
Bob laughs at the way I describe food in such detail but who knows, in maybe a hundred years if my letters are read, people who read them may be interested in the kinds of food we ate in our period of life - Ha!!!
We were all STUFFED so we walked to the BYU stadium for the "Stadium of Fire" extravaganza. Actually some "weaklings" rode part of the way and parked their cars at the temple. We were all amazed at how well Claire did with her broken foot.
The extravaganza was the best one I have ever seen - I believe we have been attending them for about five years. I think that the time has dragged during some of them but this year everything moved so fast and the fireworks display was "out of this world". They had the Oak Ridge Boys, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the High School Drill Teams all perform besides the fireworks and the parachutists - really, I wasn't ready for it to end!!! I was especially impressed with the patriotism throughout.
We all want to thank the Woolleys for organizing this - Ann orders the tickets well in advance and we had GREAT tickets this year. We were seated on benches with backs on them for the first time and they were so comfortable. The children are getting older and enjoy it more too - Jimmy lasted until the last five minutes before he fell asleep but he waked up and walked home.
I didn't know it but Rick, Ron & John all planned to go to the cabin on Sunday to finish the painting. I believe Rick, Ricky, Mary Ann & Sarah were the first ones there and then after church, Ron, Russell and Jimmy and John & Julianna all went. Ann, Susanna, Jessie & LeeAnna came over on Sunday night to watch "Murder, She Wrote" with me and right after they got here John called from Scofield to tell me they didn't have enough paint to finish. Ann & I hurried and called "Ernst" to see if they would be open so I could get some more - they were closed but I bribed them so they said they would mix some for me if I could be there in five minutes.
It was about 8 o'clock before I got home with the paint and since I would be traveling to Scofield in the dark, that sweet Susanna said she would go with me. It was really a "memory" as we drove in pitch black darkness - I believe Susanna was a little nervous and I KNOW I was. It was fun to see all the family in the cabin as they were finishing up some of the painting and getting ready for bed. They had all kinds of good food out on the kitchen table and that's when I tasted some of Julianna's manicotti.
I worried all that night that they didn't have enough food for Monday and also I felt so guilty about being home enjoying the parade on television while they were all working at the cabin. SO - the next morning right after the annual Boy Scout breakfast that is held in our neighborhood - I got some pizza from my freezer and left for Scofield again. As it turned out - they didn't need the pizza but I forced it on them anyway. Rick had brought hot dogs and other food and Ron had brought ham and other food. I can't get used to the idea that others can think of food too.
I got to the cabin about 9:30 on Monday morning and they were all painting - I was SO thrilled as I drove into Scofield West because I think the cabin looks a lot better. Julianna had to hold the ladder while John painted way up high and then Ron & Rick took turns doing the same thing. John & Julianna had to leave about 11 o'clock because they had someone interested in buying their car - I haven't heard yet to see if they have sold it. Rick & Ron finished the painting while the children rode the
MY MOST SINCERE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR HELPING - you really went the extra mile to miss the July Fourth celebration. Jessie & Barji had to march in parades so their mothers were with them in Farmington and Provo.
Bob & Claire went to Aspen Grove to attend the "Ezell Family Reunion". We have saved the North side of the cabin for them to help paint in the Fall - Ha!!! They have certainly done their share of work at the cabin - I LOVE THE BATH AND SHOWER!!! There are some cases of that "Hantavirus" in Utah now and Bob & John were exposed to that when they cleaned out under the skunk room to make room for the pipes from the tub - I don't believe any of us were aware of that at the time though. I told Ron I wouldn't have any more projects up there now - he wanted me to sign a paper to that effect - Ha!!! I hope now that you will all go up to the cabin whenever you want to. I love to go up there - I don't like to stay for very long but it's SO nice to have someplace like that to go.
Our Sisterhood month is over. We had our picnic last Tuesday and it was a HUGE success - we had the biggest crowd we have ever had at anything like that - 48. I had to keep coming over here to get our benches and extra chairs because we thought the most we would have would be 30.
We are now planning for Lake Powell and I promised Ann that I would give the assignments in this letter.
ANN - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner meals for TWO days. Also, cutlery, drinks, dish cloths, plastic cups and treats.
JEAN - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner meals for TWO days. Also, napkins, paper towels, toilet tissue, drinks, dish cloths & treats.
CLAIRE - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner meals for ONE day. Also paper plates, drinks, dish cloths and treats.
JULIANNA - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner meals for ONE day.
Grandma B - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner meals for ONE day. Also cleaning supplies, drinks and treats.
PLEASE PLAN FOR YOUR MEALS TO SERVE 20.
I believe the Woolleys will be the only ones who will be able to go as a family and stay the entire time. Bob & Claire will have to come back on Sunday. Rick has important meetings and won't be able to go at all. I am going on Saturday and I'm hoping that John and Julianna will go down with me. I said I would go after they got all the hard work done and got settled and then I would stay and help them clean up the houseboat. THAT'S FAIR - Ha!!!