October 2, 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:

It's Fall weather in Orem and I am loving it!!! I have pulled up some of my tomato plants but I left the ones with green tomatoes on them thinking they might ripen. I have really enjoyed my garden this Summer - just the right amount of produce.

We had such a WONDERFUL time yesterday at the Weinerts. It was our General Conference weekend and we try to get together as a family to watch the afternoon session. Jean & Rick invited the family for a delicious dinner so we all met at their lovely home at noon. I just LOVE being with each one of you and it is SO special to see the cousins together. WE MISS ROY AND PATRICE AND THEIR FAMILY. The weather was just gorgeous and the conference was good and all in all it was a very happy day. The man who performed the marriage ceremony for John & Julianna was one of the speakers and that was special.

My grandchildren are growing up. It seems like every time we get together I notice how much taller some of them are and yesterday little Sarah was wearing glasses. I am VERY proud of each one of them - Ricky is having such a fun year and is on the golf and tennis teams at Davis High. We REALLY need to have the younger ones around more often - I kept thinking yesterday how much attention Timothy & Jesse would have received and Katie and Emily would have had fun together. I'm looking forward to the time the Roy Mellors will be back for a vacation with us.

Patrice - thank you SO much for your phone call. You sound like you're doing really good and it was fun to talk to Emily - she is so darling to talk to and when she has said all she wants to say she says, "Well, I've got to go now". Roy & Emily had gone out to the Athletic Club on Highway 10 to check on the swimming pool and Emily said they couldn't go swimming because they were draining the pool. They belong to that club and it is really a nice place to go. I talked to Joy last night and she said you had had some rain - I know you have really needed it. It's fun to hear about Suzie's trips - I am proud of her for being so independent. She has just returned from a trip with the "Elders Hostel" group and they went to Washington State where she spent some time with her daughter, Liz. I sincerely wish she would come to Utah and stay with me for awhile - we could have some fun times together!!! Most of my single friends are so old and dependent on others for planning things. It's hard for me to relate to the way they think.

I had such a fun day last Thursday. Don & Cheryl came by to pick me up at 10 o'clock and said they wanted to take me around the "Nebo Loop". It was an absolutely gorgeous day and I have never seen more beautiful scenery. We drove to Payson and then went east up into the canyon and came out at Nephi. I can't believe I have lived here this long and have never seen that area before. Don goes fishing up there quite a bit and I couldn't help but wish Daddy could have gone fishing there instead of Utah lake. There is also a lookout at a place called "The Devil's Kitchen" that has rock formations similar to those at Zion. It's a prefect place to take a ride especially at this time of year because the leaves are just beautiful. We stopped in Santaquin at "The Family Tree" for dinner - we were all SO hungry and one of their specialties is "Scones" and they are huge but we ate everything. It was fun to be with them - just like old, old times because we really haven't spent that much time together for many years. Don REALLY misses Dee and I kinda' fill that void a little - they were SO close!!! I don't think Don is in very good health - he has diabetes and has had a lot of problems with his back lately - he goes swimming for therapy and says all it has done is to have him lose weight. They are leaving tomorrow with their daughter, son-in-law and two children to go to Disneyland in California. One of the little children is autistic so he requires a lot of help. I admire Don & Cheryl.

Elaine is in a "Care Facility" - I can't believe where they put her. There is a very nice place close to everyone and right by the hospital but they have her in a resthome that is why West in Provo. It was depressing to me to see her there but she won't have to be there very long. She was quite disoriented while I was with her and told me some very strange stories. Elaine has taken too much medication through the years and it will be hard for her to get off it but it will be much better in the long run. I'm going to try to go out again today to see her.

I went to two Relief Society book reviews last week. One was a church book and the other was written by an L.D.S. author but it was not doctrinal - it was "The Rummage Sale" and it was hilarious. We have pretty good attendance at them. Patrice - do you remember the book you gave me about the "Delaney Sisters"? I enjoyed that book so much and I found a tape by them so I took it to Elaine. She can't hold a book because of her broken wrist so she listens to tapes. I read recently that one of the Delaney sisters passed away - I believe she was 104!!!

I am going to work in the welfare cannery tomorrow. It is our last cannery assignment and I'm glad - IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE TO GO HELP. The last time I went there were a lot of young men - pre-missionary age and before jobs.

We have a new family moving into our ward so I need to go welcome them. I'll make them some cheese soup - that is super easy and everyone likes it unless you are on a diet. It's FATTENING!!! I like it over baked potatoes which make it twice as fattening.

I went to the cabin on Friday and REALLY made a mess. Byrd had called me and said they would probably have to turn the water off and he also had taken the dock out of the water and had to repair it a little. I thought the water had been turned off so I decided to empty the small water heater - I turned the tap to open it and then Byrd came and said the water hadn't been turned off so he turned it on for me. While I was visited with him the water drained from the water heater ALL OVER the carpet right next to the bathroom. I didn't have any way of mopping it up except to use towels so I did the best I could. It was getting late and dark and it was sleeting so I just left the mess. John & Julianna went up the next day and they said yesterday that the carpet was still soaking wet. If I had known they were going up I would have had them take the wet dry vacuum but I didn't know. John is going up this weekend to winterize it. It is just beautiful up three now and three will be deer hunters all over the place for the next month or so.

The Bob Mellors and the Weinerts are going to Sun valley, Idaho this weekend because it is the UEA vacation and school is out. The Woolleys are going to Park City on Saturday - they couldn't go to Sun Valley because Ann doesn't have UEA off. I hope you all have a WONDERFUL time. I remember the wonderful time we had in Sun Valley last year - that was such a special reunion with our family. I will have a wonderful time too - I LOVE being in my WONDERFUL home with good books, good food and not too much to do. I am getting LAZY!!!

I love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!! Let me know how I can help you.
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