For the past month or so I have more or less retreated (the act of withdrawing as into seclusion) from the society of friends, family and neighbors into my sanctum sanctorum . I blame it on the 10 D’s but so what? With a mighty big jerk on my boot straps, shoe strings or Nikes, whatever, I am trying to slowly ease back into communications and circulation again. Bear with me if I promise no more John Milton whom no one seemed to care for anyway; definitely no lamentations or complaints just up-to-date fluff! Woopi, ki, yi, ki YA!
Don: doing very well this week after 3rd Chemo. Has energy, visits Herb, walks around the block and keeps up with the News and O’Riley, etc. Answers lots of phone calls from concerned friends and family and has a Very Good attitude. He looks better than he has for a couple of months!
Sisters Reunion: Marilyn had a back injury and couldn’t come. Darn. She is a good sport and lots of fun. I’m so thankful Don’s sisters think of me as one of Them…a real sister. All of them, Cherril, Helen, Carol and Marilyn are ultimate examples of virtuous and spiritual womanhood and I appreciate and admire them so much. How lucky I am to be included with them on the Sisters’ Reunions. I cooked dinner for them two nights; we went to Thankgsiving Point, This is The Place Heritage Center in S.L.C. and to the MOA in Provo. I gave them a tour of the new art exhibit “Victorian Art During the Reign of Queen Victoria”. Beautiful art. I’ll try to put in a couple of the pictures that are displayed there.

At Thanksgiving Point
Blanding with Don. A quick trip to check on the house and winterize it. Bathroom leak and torn boat cover; Not too disastrous. Carolyn took us on a ride in her new pickup to Montezuma Creek…very interesting new homes built into the canyon walls. Carol invited us and all Don’s siblings to dinner. She’s a great cook. She even peels her tomatoes before slicing and serving them. Hmmm. Very pleasant evening visiting. Updates on lots of nieces and nephews and some surprises.
Jeanne came for a four-night visit. She cooked a great chicken curry dinner for us and I persuaded her to let me give her a tour of the MOA to see the Victorian Exhibit. She was a good sport! Like I said before, if I can get the pictures on this blog….the two beautiful young boys are the two sons of King Edward lst. They were murdered (smothered while asleep) by order of their Uncle Richard so that he could have the throne. (Read Shakespeare’s King Richard II….good play)
Chili Sauce: When I went visiting teaching with my partner last week she told me I smelled like chili sauce. A week later on my way to the LeLivre Book Club review my friends told me I smelled like chili sauce. Well, I did and so did my house. I open doors and windows and Don closes them. I open them again and Don closes them. Sooooo….I go around smelling like Chili Sauce. We didn’t have enough tomatoes in our own garden but thanks to the generosity of Garth and Cherril and of the Hunsakers, our home teachers, who gave me 54 tomatoes, I have barely replenished our chili sauce which had been totally depleted! I have the best recipe ….”Vivian Redd’s Chili Sauce” (Old-time Blanding resident.)
An Autumn Drive: Don and I took a drive over the Alpine Loop last week to see the colorful leaves. The North side of the Loop looked more like winter but what a pleasant drive it was.





Michelle came over to show me her beautiful new diamond engagement ring. She and I celebrated with lunch at the Olive Garden. She is adorably in love with JoRyan Johnson. I’ll try to post a picture.