Dearest Family,
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! This has been "Lake
Powell Week" so I know you have all been celebrating in one way or
another. I am SO glad I was able to go for a couple days and I have
MANY memories. I was VERY impressed with how the men all helped in the
kitchen - their wives did ALOT of the cooking and then they "cleaned up"
and I think that's GREAT. I was lying on the couch one afternoon with a
VERY guilty feeling as I watched Ron labor in the kitchen and that
morning Bob had done the same thing - the food was just delicious!!!
I'm sure that Roy & Rick did their share of cleaning too John is
excellent help in the kitchen and besides his help he enjoys it and
that's a real plus!!!
I couldn't believe how much things have
changed since I was there which is probably about 6 years ago. The
houseboat looks really good with new flooring, carpet and drapery - I'm
glad I don't know the expense involved. The lake is SO VERY LOW that it
is scary - Ron estimated that it is down about 150 feet in one place and
we could see rock formations that we have never seen. I got there about
8 o'clock on Wednesday night and I have NEVER been there when the
weather was so beautiful - we sat on the deck and visited and it was
like being on a cruise. That night I believe I was the only one who
slept comfortably - I had taken a sleeping bag besides some sheets and I
was very warm while everyone else froze!!! They called Russell and
asked him to bring them some sleeping bags the next day so I'm sure they
were okay - besides that, the temperature at Lake Powell on Friday was
96 degrees.
I also was VERY surprised at the expertise
of all my grandchildren as they skied, wake boarded, etc., etc. I
remember when some of them were frightened of getting in the water and
now they are like "fish". I asked where the children were when I first
got there because the adults were all there and all (three) the boats
were gone - Anniesaid "Mother, we don't drive the boats anymore - the
"kids" do". THAT'S KINDA SCARY!!!! - Ha!!! I was SO happy to see
Patrice - I haven't seen her for a year when they came to my condo after
leaving Lake Powell - Roy, Timothy & Jesse came last January for skiing
and Emily was here a few weeks ago. I was SO sorry to miss John - we
passed him on his way to the lake while we were going the opposite
direction coming home. I'm anxious to hear more news about his
activities - it was fun to see him in his "Hummer" pulling a "Sea Do".
We had hoped to pass him at a place where we could pull over and say
"hello" but we passed him in the canyons from Price and there was alot
of traffic.
Everyone was involved in a very fun craft
project when I left on Thursday. Jeannie had taken some beads, elastic,
glue, etc. and they were making darling bracelets.- I was sorry I didn't
get a picture of that. Katie had to come home to be with her
cheerleaders for the July 4th Parade in Kaysville so she missed that
activity - they promised they would make me a bracelet and I hope they
made one for her too. Claire has surely gone the "extra mile" - she
drove five hours to get us home on Thursday evening and then drove back
yesterday (Saturday) - I'm SO glad she would do that so they could enjoy
a couple more days at the Lake. I hated to leave on Thursday - I didn't
want to miss any of the fun but I also didn't want to miss the SPECIAL
dessert Annie had made - Ha!!! Ron had taken Annie, Patrice and me on a
"tour" of the lake and I appreciated that very, very much - I saw things
I will probably never see again. I also had not had much time to visit
with Michael & Staci - they didn't get there until midnight on
Wednesday. I was happy to spend some time with David & Mary Ann. I
hope I will be able to spend a day with all of you next year and I hope
Steve, Susanna, Jackson, Caroline, Boyd, Barji, Preston and ? will be
there too.
I met Brett at the Woolley's home in Provo
on Wednesday about 3 p.m.- he had to stay for his classes until that
time. It was SO funny - I had a subway sandwich that I was eating on
their front porch and all of a sudden, Russell came out of their front
door. I didn't think anyone was home but he was there getting ready to
mow their lawn before he could go to Lake Powell on Thursday.It was fun
to visit with Brett on the way to the lake and he is a good driver - we
didn't know exactly which roads to take but he figured it out quickly
and we didn't have any problems. Bob was at the dock for us and it
didn't take us long to get to the houseboat and I don't believe I will
ever forget the "welcoming party" waiting for us - I wish I could have
had my camera handy!!! Jeannie's dinner was still being served and it
tasted SO good.
I was disappointed when Roy & Patrice said
they might not come to Farmington after leaving Lake Powell - I didn't
expect that!!! I thought about that for a long time and decided that I
was VERY selfish to ask them to drive five hours to come and then five
hours to go back to about the same place to start their trip back to
Little Rock. I AM A SLOW LEARNER - Ha!!! They were SO very sweet to
come last year and I just thought they would come again this year.
Actually I didn't realize it was that far!!!
I left early enough on Wednesday to spend
some time at the "farm", the "cemetery" and I even drove by my former
home in Orem. I can't believe what they have done in the backyard. Do
you remember the "second" patio where Lynn had made a place for the
swing and chairs, etc., etc.? They have put some kind of a platform
over all of that and they have playground equipment on it - it is shady
and a perfect place for children to play. I would like to see it up
close sometime. They have taken much of the "flower hill" away so they
have a small area for flowers which would make it much easier to care
for. The "wall" Lynn built is still standing - Ha!
I felt sad when Brett & I passed the
entrance into Scofield - I wonder what has happened to our "cabin".
The morning I left to go to Lake Powell, the
phone rang and it was Chris Smith saying they would be to my condo on
Thursday evening. I have been expecting to hear from them for two weeks
- they went to Missoula, Montana to help their grandson, Scott find a
place to live. I thought they were going to "frame" a home for him but
they said he doesn't have a job yet so they helped him find an apartment
- would you believe he will bring three labrador dogs, a rabbit and a
canary with him? His wife is well qualified for a good job and Scott
does "handyman" work so they will be fineand will build a home next
Summer. Scott has Crohn's disease and is taking medicine that costs
$1,000 a month. I heard LOTS of news about Chris & Wayne's family -
they were here when Claire brought me home on Thursday night. I had
told them where the key was but they thought I meant the first
"sunflower vase" so they didn't get to come in until Margaret found them
after they had been here three hours - I FELT TERRIBLE!!! We went to
see Dick & Ann Cobb on Friday and we had a good visit. The Cobbs have a
lovely home in West Kaysville. Chris & Wayne surely do love Roy &
Patrice and their family - Wayne says, "Roy is just like Lynn". I went
to the Temple at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday and when I got home at noon they
were gone - they had told me they wanted to go to Dallas to help Linda
celebrate her 49th birthday and didn't want to take three days getting
there. They made delicious seafood gumbo and I have frozen it so I will
invite all of you to come for dinner soon rather than give it to you
individually - (I still have John's gumbo from last year when they were
here).
I went to the "Phantom of the Opera" with
Margaret and other friends on Tuesday night. It was at the Capitol
Theatre in Salt Lake City and it really was fabulous. I couldn't follow
the story line but then Claire said she wasn't sure there was one -
Ha!!!
I am "running late" so I had better close
and get ready for church. I'm anxious to hear from Barji & Boyd - it's
great that Barji has been able to carry her baby this long. Steve,
Susanna, Jackson & Caroline Ann are in Florida for a week and I know
they are spoiling that little baby girl - did I write that Caroline Ann
is the first girl in four generations of Steve's family. I miss Jessie
& Laura and I hope they will be here for Lake Powell next year. I LOVE
the pictures Claire has forwarded to me from Laura at her camp - she is
enjoying being with "her" girls and learning alot and that's good!!!
I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
Grandma B XXXXXOOOOO