1979 Family Letter -Apr.22

Monday morning

April 22, 1979

Dearest Family,

This time next week it will be a little more difficult to get up this early as it will be an hour later but since we didn't get a letter started yesterday thought I'd use the time this morning to at least begin a letter.  If we write later in the week they don't arrive at their destination until Monday or so of the next week and its really old news by then.

After having so many in church on Easter the crowd looked slim yesterday.  The weather was damp and cold.  Many were getting ready to serve the Eastern Star dinner at the school which was for the benefit of Jimmy Butler and Pam Williams who are to go to Europe this summer.  Jim sings with the all Ohio State Fair Chorus which had a concert yesterday afternoon.  Pam is to play in an orchestra or band group that is also to perform in Europe.  The chorus was very good but not as well attended as I thought it might be.  They choose about 325 out of 1000's of applicants and then smaller groups -- around 30-35 sing in various places in the state on weekends as rehearsal sessions.

Dad planted quite a bit of garden Saturday -- 3 1/2 rows of peas, onions, spinach and beets.  Asparagus looks promising and it got a rain on it afterwards which will help.

Saturday evening we went to Dayton to hear the Gaither trio which was good but the crowds were unbelievable not only in the UD arena but getting in and out of the parking lot and environs.  We ended up taking two friends of Mary Virginia and Elizabeth Johnson when some others cancelled out late Saturday afternoon.  I think everyone enjoyed it but the acoustics for such a program in that arena leave something to be desired.  We had no trouble  hearing for it was plenty loud -- it took a little getting used to.  Quite a few went from New Vienna but we didn't see any of them there in the big crowd.  The worst part for me was trying to stay awake on the way home and in church yesterday morning.

We went to the Eastern Star dinner, which was strictly quantity (not really too much in that area either) with ham, green beans, potatoes, cole slaw or apple sauce with dessert.

Our first tulip is ready to open up, tho down at the shop where they are protected they have been open for three weeks.  Mowed our field for the first time on Saturday and have the new fruit trees out.

Aunt Mary sent up a nice clipping about Joe Horton and how he is thinking of going more into painting than teaching.  He had another art show in Jeddah this month.  The art show in Salt Lake City never went off for he couldn't get time to go.

It is now Monday afternoon and we got your letter, Catherine, with the good pictures and looking forward to the ones you said Roberta would be sending to us.  Wendy is changing -- looks more grown up.  Glad you got to go to the circus and hope that you are feeling better than last week.  Good to hear that you have been golfing too.  I found some apricots and we have been enjoying them but those golden prunes from Casa de Fruta were beginning to turn white -- speckled.  Glad to hear all your apartments are rented and a waiting list even.

[Love, etc.]