March 17, 1997

Dearest John & Julianna; Roy, Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, Lee Anna & Jimmy:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EMILY ON WEDNESDAY!!! You will be 9 years old and will be celebrating in Gulf Shores - what a special birthday!!! It is SO much fun for me to watch my grandchildren grow and develop into such wonderful "people". - I'm proud of you Emily!!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU TOO - ESPECIALLY TO THE O'DONOGHUE PART OF OUR FAMILY. It's great to have a reason to commemorate this day - the most significance it has had for me before Patrice was in our family was that I needed to wear green - Ha!!! Chris Jordin loved her trip to Ireland and has introduced me to the author, Maive Binchy. She sent me her book "The Glass Lake" at Christmas time and now I am reading another of her books, "The Circle of Friends" and I'm enjoying it. The Irish people have so many superstitions and I didn't realize this until I read "Scarlet", the sequel to "Gone With The Wind".

I talked to John the other day and said I was going to have to repent after complaining that no one in Daddy's family wanted to take the initiative for the Family Reunion. Carol Ann called after I had told her I had reserved the Mellor Banquet Catering place for the food and she has all kinds of ideas. She said her sons have their "dental board exams" the week before so they will all be able to come for the reunion. Carol has suggested we have a "clothing rummage sale", and a "quilt auction" - evidently she has a quilt she would donate. Their son, John Braithwaite, has offered to teach the young boys how to play "marbles" and Carol Ann wants to make scones. She and Rosie are going to make the invitations.

John Mellor said he would offer his services for T-Shirts. Since it is the "sesquicentennial year" of the Mormon Pioneers trek to Utah - 150 years, 1847 - 1997., this is an opportunity to design something that would be meaningful. I haven't known what to call the reunion since our family is the only one with the Mellor last name. Carol Ann says it should be the Roy D. Mellor reunion and she suggested the slogan be something like "there is a little bit of Mellor in each one of us". John doesn't want to be on the committee - he will do what he can but he doesn't want to have a lot of meetings, etc. - Ha!!! I suggested we ask Jared Pinegar to be in charge of collecting the money for them - John said he could get them for us for $5 each.

The Woolleys couldn't come over last night because of the "New Beginnings" program in their ward. I missed having them come but I think it has been hard for them previous Sundays too. I have had dumb desserts when they come so I decided to do something special for last night. I got up early yesterday morning and made two raspberry cheesecakes - one for them to eat here and one to take home. I had to make them early so they could be refrigerated for several hours and since I don't get home from church until 4 p.m. I made them in the morning. I used my last bag of frozen raspberries from my garden too!!! WELL - when I came home and found the message on my machine saying they couldn't come I decided to take them to two families in our ward who have had new babies. I NEVER have anything good to eat when any of you come to see me unexpectedly and yesterday I was REALLY prepared - Ha!!!

One of your cousins, Jill Pack, had her missionary farewell yesterday in South Jordan and I deliberated about going to it. I probably should have gone but I HATE to go to those things by myself. Jill will be going to the Oregon, Portland Mission. I admire Paula and Mel for handling the financial struggles they have always had. Mel has a job now - he hasn't worked since they were married - Paula teaches 40 piano students. Mel works at repairing fiberglass tubs and showers - he has a degree in geology but hasn't been able to find a job he likes. What happened to my paragraph???? I have A LOT to learn about this computer.

You should see all the things going on in my backyard!!! UVSC has started the road construction that will add another lane to the perimeter road in back of me. It isn't going to be like I thought it would be and it really won't affect me very much. They are going to straighten the road and will take a lot of the little hill on the campus out. They must have sold the sod to people and it's fun to see families out there working to remove it - little children, women, men, young men and women and older people. They have it all piled up now for those big trucks to come get it.

We have a new Target store that is quite close to me. It just opened last week and has been fun to go shop there. I don't know what will happen to the Albertson and Smith stores that are across the street but I'm sure it will have an affect on them. I love being able to get groceries and other things in one place. I have enjoyed the WalMart store that is close also but the traffic is SO bad that I will probably go to Target instead. I would HATE to be in business these days - there is so much competition and I keep waiting for some of the stores to have to close.

I am looking forward to a fun "get together" on Wednesday. Some of the Alpha Chi alumnae from Utah State are getting together for a salad potluck. One of the women lives in Salt Lake in an apartment East from the Temple and she has reserved their "recreation room" for us to have lunch in. The friend who called me is from Brigham City and I haven't seen her for at least 50 years. There are three of us who live in the Provo-Orem area so we will go together.

It is raining today but it is supposed to clear up and then be in the 70's for the rest of the week. I am looking forward to doing some planting and hope I will be able to find "St. John's Root" for my hill.

A HEALTH TIP: My cholesterol was 262 the first of February. I went again last week and it is down to 170. Dr. Anderson put me on "zocor" and I'm sure it has really helped but I have tried really hard to improve my diet too. Jeannie told me that the popcorn I was eating could have a big affect on it so I stopped eating it - I love that popcorn I buy at Sams and I guess it is loaded with saturated fat. I am almost a vegetarian so I was surprised to have problems but I need to watch the fat in other things too I guess. WATCH YOUR CHOLESTEROL!!!

I MAY start taking the wallpaper off in my kitchen. I have wanted to for a long time. I just hate to get in "messes" and that would be a big one. It always amazes me how Claire can do this so easily. She changes her wallcoverings like I change my sheets - Ha!!! Jeannie was in a big mess for a long time and she handled it so I guess I can too. I am a status quo type person!!!

That's all the news and then some!!! I hope you are all doing REALLY good. I love you very much - let me know how I can help you.

Return to Home Page