July 24, 1995 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:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIMMY TOMORROW!!! Jimmy will be 9 years old and I hope you will have a very happy birthday - actually I believe you will be celebrating at Lake Powell.
HAPPY 24TH OF JULY TO ALL OF YOU!!! That used to be such a fun, fun day when I was growing up and it has been fun to watch television and see the crowds getting ready for the parade this morning. They started camping out along the parade route last night - they compared it to New Orleans Mardi Gras. I have my morning all planned out - after I write my letter I am going to iron and watch the parade on television. The ward Primary parade was last Thursday - they always march by my home and if I'm not outside they come in to get me. This day is insignificant to the Roy Mellor family but I hope someday they will be here to get in on all the festivities. They close most of the stores!!!
I had such a fun week last week. Chris & Wayne came in on Tuesday - they look just the same and we have had a wonderful visit. They are still driving their camper - the one we went to Alaska in with them - actually we drove our own van but we used their camper to do a lot of cooking. They were tired after their long trip so we just visited on Tuesday evening. Wednesday, Wayne made his famous "Seafood Gumbo". We have been concerned about our Homemaking meeting in August so I had my Counselor, Anne Smith, come over and Wayne gave us a lesson on how to make it so we could demonstrate gumbo making and then serve it for our taster's table. I don't know if we will do that or not but it was fun.
Thursday morning we drove to the Jordanelle Reservoir. Wayne's livelihood before he retired was inspecting dams for the Corps of Engineers so he has been interested in that. We went to see it two years ago when they were here so it was interesting to him to see it almost full. That afternoon we drove to the cabin.
The cabin and Scofield is SO beautiful and they just love it up there. We were out on the dock fishing when we were surprised to have Rick, Barji, Mary Ann, Sarah and one of their neighbor friends, Amanda Simmons, come. We rearranged the sleeping assignments and it was just WONDERFUL to have them with us. The girls fished and fished and fished. Rick had to go in to Price for a pacemaker job on Friday morning but he was back at the cabin about noon. The four-wheeler needed a new battery so he bought one in Price along with enough food for a week. We already had a lot of food but he worried that we wouldn't. We just "goofed" off all day and it was so much fun. They left to go home about 7 o'clock.
Saturday morning, Wayne finished the cabin. Rich was going to help him on Friday but we couldn't get the big ladder until Saturday. Wayne did a beautiful job - the bottom part that Bob painted tan is still tan but Wayne separated the tan with the blue and it blends in just great. I held the ladder and sprayed that really high part just scares me to death and Wayne takes more chances that Daddy used to. I had painted the shutters but I didn't know how to work the drill so I couldn't' put them on so he did that too and they add SO much. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE COLOR OF THE CABIN - I think it's by far the nicest looking one up there. THE DOC IS MARVELOUS and I hope now that when you all go up there you won't have to work!!! I can't think the fishing will stay very good - jus the people in Scofield West have about fished it out. Byrd kinda' insisted that Wayne get a license so he did and then he took him out on his boat and they both caught their limits in no time at all - they did that several times.
Chris & Wayne said they didn't want me driving back to Orem alone so they took me up on Thursday - I told them I do that all the time. I think they really wanted to come back and get their camper stocked for another trip they were taking. Anyway they brought me home on Saturday afternoon and then they went back to the cabin where they will stay most of next week. They are meeting friends from Arkansas there today - these friends already have called and left a message on my phone and they are in that camping place just before you get to the dam. These friends owned that "One Stop Place" on the way to Lake Hamilton - do you remember that place - Daddy used to shop there for fishing gear all the time. Wayne says they are millionaires.
I wanted to be here for my meetings on Sunday. There are SO many things to take care of and since I will be gone next week it was important to me to be here.
THE BIG NEWS!!! My brother Dee's wife, is married. Don called me and left the funniest message - I wish I could have saved it. I guess she didn't tell her children or anyone else - I don't know where they were married. All Don knew was that he was very handsome and has six children and his wife died two months ago. Don is very hurt because she didn't tell him - I don't really blame him. It would have been nice if she had told me too but Judy doesn't do too many nice things. She is just 56 years old and I'm happy for her - I just wish she had been more thoughtful.
I watched the weather reports a few minutes ago and Arkansas is due for a heavy thunderstorm. We have had a lot of rain this Spring but I believe we are due for a very hot and dry week. I miss Emily & Timothy when I am with my grandchildren - I miss Jesse too but in another way - Ha!!! Chris was telling me that Rick & Lindas' daughter (from Linda's first marriage) has been traveling by herself on airplanes since she was five years old. She goes quite often to visit her father and Chris says they really take good care of her on the planes. I'm looking forward to the time when Roy & Patrices' children can do that.
I am SO disappointed that John & Julianna won't be able to go to Lake Powell with us. Juliann's school has been off for most of the month of July and they start back to school the week of our trip so she doesn't feel right about asking to not be there. I believe John has something important he is doing at work too so it just hasn't worked out this year. This next year will be a much easier year for them - John will be finished with his MBA - I don't know when Julianna will finish her master's degree but I don't believe she has much longer.
The Woolleys came over last night - I didn't think they were coming so I was out doing some church work when they came. I was SO glad they waited for me. Ann usually brings me a plate of dinner when they come and I wish you could have seen what she brought last night. I wouldn't mention it but it was so spectacular I want it recorded. Two HUGE steak shish kabobs, a green salad with EVERYTHING in it (pearl onions, tiny, tiny fresh cobs of corn, fresh mushrooms, fresh spinach, tomatoes, etc.), lots of fresh fruit (cantaloupe, mush melons, peaches, etc. with a delicious dressing). There was enough for a family and I sat down and ate the WHOLE THING. I had told them when they were here that I was serious about going on a diet and then I sat and ate their dinner like I was starving to death!!!
We leave for Lake Powell on Wednesday morning. I was planning to drive my own car but when the Woolleys were over here last night they said they had to take two cars anyway and asked me to go with them. I will meet them at their home at 7 o'clock and I don't believe we are going to caravan with the Bob Mellors and Weinerts this year. I believe we will just meet them at Lake Powell about noon. This will be the longest I have ever stayed but I am looking forward to a fun, fun week. I have asked Jae Theobald to take care of my dogs and my yard. I have a new bathing suit and I look like a "Baby Blimp" in it!!!
I am not going to take any perishables. My dinner will be BLAH but I am not going to worry about keeping things frozen or cold. The lake is polluted so we are going to go to a far away place where it isn't so bad - that way we will not be able to go to the Marina as often as we have before.
We will miss the John & Roy Mellors. I hope sometime we will all be able to go before I get too old which I already am!!!
I love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO and let me know how I can help you.