bill and rosi

SMALL PLATES OF GRANDMA ROSI   #8  Woody

June 10, 2012

Dear Family,

Well, the week has flown by and my first week of summer vacation has gone with it.  I have had some students from school here helping me climb on top of the many house cleaning/yard things that go undone during the year.  I am paying them so that they can earn money to go on tour with us next April… three girls from the same family.  They really know how to work and I enjoy them.

As promised, I will share with you some of my memories of Woodrow George Mathews, Dad’s father.   He died of pulmonary thrombosis in 1972 when Luke was about 16 months old.  It was a sad day… very sad.  Grandpa Woody was busy packing for a fishing trip that he and Dad were going on.  Dad was excited.  It was going to be a great time.  They were headed for the Ruby Marshes by Elko, Nevada.  Instead, we got a telephone call early in the morning telling us that Grandpa was in the hospital.  He had a blood clot that had broken loose and had gone into his lungs.  Woody spoke with Bill and told him that it was okay, not to worry about him.  But a call a short time later from Lorraine, indicated that Woody was near death.  Dad drove 120 miles an hour from Reno to Carson City (about 30 miles) but his Dad was dead by the time he arrived.

Those were sad days.  All of our hearts were broken.

My memories of Woody the man:

I knew Woody for about two years.  I first met him when I went with Bill to meet Woody and Lorraine.  They lived in a big, white spacious home only a couple of blocks from the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City, Nevada.  Each parent had a comfortable easy chair that sat in their living room along a set of big windows.  (It looked so comfortable that I just wanted to sit down and join them.)  Woody would be readying the newspaper and often having a cup of coffee.  He was a good cook.  After Bill and I were married we frequently went to their house on weekends to escape the pressure of life in Reno…school and opera performances.  It was a haven.  Woody would fix us big breakfasts, (his specialty was omelets) or for dinner it would usually be steak.  He was a generous man and never skimped on food. 

He and Lorraine really enjoyed a drive.  We went with them on occasion.  I remember how they were particularly interested in the birds that we would see.  (on fence posts or flying)  Generally there would be a stop for hamburgers and French fries.  (Notice the plural…  he would buy extra.  Extra fries, extra burgers.  (Tyler would like that!!!  He has a wooden leg.) )

Woody had had health issues in the past and he got his exercise by walking back and forth to his work at the Nevada State highway department.  He was a highway engineer and designed freeways.  Dad could tell you which freeways in Nevada that he had designed. 

Woody had a ready and loud laugh.  He would sometimes come up behind me and “yelp” loudly and I would jump out of my skin.  When we were there visiting we use to play pinochle.  It was a complicated card game, but I LOVED IT!!!  Lorraine did not, but we would coax her and she would play.    

When Luke was born, he was the apple of both Lorraine’s and Woody’s eye.  They would occasionally take him for a weekend.  After one weekend, we were given MANY pictures of Luke.  (Every pose imaginable, but generally it was Luke with a huge smile.)  They really dotted on him and treasured him.)

I am SAD that none of you knew Woody.  You would have loved him.  He was a caring and talented person. 

Love to all of you.

Have a wonderful Father’s Day.  

If you haven’t responded with some memories of Bill, and would like to be included in the booklet I am preparing for him, please try to do that in the next couple of days.

Mom 

tim and jill

Here is my favorite memory of DAD:
 
Last year when we experienced one of the most challenging times in our life, Dad really showed his LOVE for our family.  As soon as he heard the distressing news, he was on the next plane here to be with us.  He was here, through all the tears, chaos, and struggles.  I will always cherish the conversations I had with him that week and how he allowed me to just vent, feel safe, and be ME!  He was playful with Elle and Liam and made them smile and laugh during a time of stress and confusion. That week, we really needed support, and the way he reached out to us and showed his LOVE and support during that time made an impression in my heart forever. That week, “Bill” became someone in my life that I will call “DAD” with a meaning behind it.  That title is very dear to me because I thought no one could ever come close to being a dad to me besides my own dad.
 
Love, Jill

bill and rosi

Small Plates of Grandma Rosi   #7

June 3, 2012

Hello Everyone!

Well, June is here and it’s celebrate Father’s Month.  (Especially your Dad, Big Bill, as his birthday is the same day as Father’s Day.)

Dad bore his testimony in church today.  It was the first time in a long while.  He lumbered up to the podium and had the brightest light in his face…smiled and when he couldn’t remember words, he would wave his hands and ask for help from those around him.  He touched many people as he spoke of his children and how proud he was of all of you.  I cried and wiped tears for the rest of the meeting.  Many people jumped to their feet to bear their testimonies when he was finished.  It was a beautiful moment and wish that all of you could have been there.

I have decided to dedicate this month’s weekly thoughts to the Dad and Grandpa  --Big Bill--  in our lives.

Luke’s family and I held a surprise birthday party for Grandpa Bill today.  Emma made up a treasure hunt with notes for Grandpa to follow in order for him to find his presents.  She did a great job and was very patient until it became time to conduct the “hunt”.  We all followed Grandpa from note to note like the Pied Piper.  Emma was often out in head directing traffic.  She laughed the whole time and Grandpa was such a good guy to make a big deal out of it.  I made his favorite dessert, Applesauce Cake, and by the time I got home from church a huge chunk of it was missing.  I also made a banana cream pie that got wasted as well.

I want to tell you about Bill’s and my first date.  Many of you already know this story, but I am going to take the time to write it down.

THE HAND HOLDING EPISODE

While at the University of Nevada I spent considerable time at the LDS Institute.  Our branch meetings were held there and I was the Sacrament Meeting chorister.  One day, I arrived late and as I was walking down the center isle to go up to the podium area I happened to notice a new guy.  He was a big guy with red hair (the top part of the hair was missing …but that is another story…)  He was bent forward in his chair and sat alone.  When it was time to sing, I could definitely tell that he had a whale of a voice.  As time went on, I was in charge of the ward quartet festival and I took the opportunity to put together four men to form a quartet.  Bill was one of those guys.  Another was a young man that I had met at school in the music department.  Robert (Bob) it turned out was an inactive member of the church.  He was a heavyset man with a ready laugh, a fun personality and boy could he dance.   One night we had gathered for a rehearsal of the quartet and while there, Bill asked me if I might like to go to the movie with him after the rehearsal.  Well, I thought, yes but there was a problem that I did not share with Bill.  Bob had already asked me to go to the movie with him.  But not to be put off, I suggested that we could all go together and we could go home and pick up my roommate, Reneal, as I was sure she would also like to go.  So picture this:  we are at the movie…    we sat in this order 

       Bob            Rosi               Bill                 Reneal

Part way through the movie Bob reaches over and takes my hand.  I thought that was okay.  But a while later Bill reaches over and takes hold of my other hand.  Whoa, this is a bit strange.  It didn’t take long for Bill to notice that I was already holding hands with Bob.  He quickly tossed my hand away.  Embarrassing!!   Later, he told me that he took Reneal up the mountain to Lovers Point.  (I am not sure if he was telling the truth.)  But this is a fact, I married Bill and Reneal married Bob. 

So, here is the deal.  Would each of you please reply to this email with an experience or a memory that you have had of your Dad or Grandpa Bill (grandchildren).  I will put these memories in a book and give them to him for Father’s Day.  It doesn’t need to be lengthy.  Even a few sentences would be special.

Next week, I’d like to talk about Woody and Lloyd.  I will be trying to decide which story to tell you.

Recipe for the week:

Dad’s Favorite Potato Salad   (from Lorraine’s kitchen)

8 potatoes boiled with skins on, cooled, peeled and cubed

1/3 cup diced celery

¼ cup diced onion

6 boiled eggs, cooled, peeled and cubed.  (Save one for garnish)

Salt and pepper to taste

Best Foods Mayonaise

1/3 cup mustard

Stir all together.  (Add more mayo if needed.)   Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Word for the week:   Father   hmm    that's a very person word.   I think it has a different feel for all of us.  You define it.

Love you all.  Have a great week.

Mom   

bill and rosi---do over of last week

May 22, 2012  --   Small Plates of Grandma Rosi #5

Hello Family,

I went walking this morning and this is what I sang:

Blue skies smiling at me

Nothing but blue skies do I see

Bluebirds singing a song

Nothing but bluebirds all day long

Never saw the sun shining so bright

Never saw things going so right

Noticing the days hurrying by

When you're in love, my, how they fly

Bing Crosby use to sing this song.   A happy, pleasant, positive tune with lyrics.   Our sky was so blue, not a cloud (or difficulty) in it.

This week's recipe:

Lorraine's Spaghetti

This is Grandma Mathews recipe for her famous spaghetti.  In the past two weeks I have made two batches and both have been applauded.  I thought I should pass it along before I forget what I did.  (Other famous dishes prepared by Lorraine includes potato salad, applesauce cake and fried rabbit.   I think that I will pass on the rabbit, but if you'd really like it, I will give it a try.)

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained of fat

26.5 oz  Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce   (mushroom or traditional is best)

1 small can tomato sauce

minced, dried, onion

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic  (I like the type that you buy in a jar and keep in the fridge)

about 2 teaspoons Oregano

1 teaspoon basil

2-3 tablespoons of pickling spice and add some crushed red pepper (both are found in the  spice area of your grocery store)

         Pour pickling spice and crushed red pepper into the center of a circle of cheese cloth.  gather up the edges and tie off the spices with an elastic.  Trim off excess   

         fabric with scissors.  (This is what makes Lorraine's spaghetti unique.  Just can leave it out.)

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and stir.   Cook on low for about 4 hours.  Combine cooked spaghetti noodles with sauce and serve.

Word of the week:

Toxic:  poisonous; many things can be poisonous including foods and relationships.  

Saturday Dad and I went with old friends from the Reno area up to the Huntsman Cancer Center to visit our mutual friends, Reneal and Bob Trimble.  Our friend's names are Lizanne and Orson Huntsman.  (Distant relation to John Huntsman.) I want to tell you a story about our early friendship with these folks.

Grandma Rosi and Wasps

As a young girl, I was always afraid of wasps and their relatives.  Early on, if a wasp came into our house, I would leave.  One time, while in school at Utah State, I was driving and a wasp flew in the window.  I stopped the car in the middle of the road and ran.  Once I married Grandpa he gradually convinced me that wasps were not so dangerous and that if I would stay calm they would leave me alone.  So.....   One weekend we went to the Sierra Nevadas with the Huntsmans to go fishing.  (Lizanne is a real fisherwoman.  Rosi is not. Orson and I went along for the ride.)  We woke early to a beautiful morning filled with wasps.  As we ate our pancakes, the wasps would gather on our plates in the syrup.  I was such a good girl.  I remained calm, kept eating and felt pretty good about myself.  Well, after breakfast, we got ready to go fishin'.  Loaded with gear we walked out of camp prepared for a fun day.  Bill led the way as we crossed over the shallow river on a log.  Unbeknownst to all of us, Bill stepped into a yellow jackets nest hidden in the hollow of the log and really stirred them up.  Well, instead of attacking him, they came after me as I was right behind him.  First they attacked my face and I would swat at them until I could feel them stinging and biting me through my jeans, then I started slapping my legs.  Then back and forth... face, legs, face, legs.   Bill was there trying to help me but it was a battle and the yellow jackets were winning.   Finally Lizanne came for us as she had spotted a deep area in the river.  Bill quickly led me there and I went under the water. Needless to say our trip was cut short and we came home.  I had many bites as well as stings and my fear of wasps still remains (but honestly, it is not as bad as it use to be.)  So that is some of the history between the Huntsmans and the Mathews.  

We had a very nice day yesterday and were able to spend quality time with Bob and Reneal.  She is so ill and so brave.  Wow, it makes all of us appreciate our good health.  We came home from Salt Lake and ate Grandma Mathews' spaghetti.  Hmmmm good.

Becky and Adam, these are our friends that live in Spring City.  I am sure that you remember our fun visit there.  We showed them Adam's glass ware and they raved.  (I served them water in the glasses.) 

It has been another busy but productive week.  Dad is working daily indexing names in Family Search.   I continue to work busily at school.   A concert on Thursday evening went well.  My final concert of the year is this next Tuesday.  (May 22) It looks like we will be going to New York this next school year with a performance at Carnegie Hall.  It is very exciting.  The parent helpers are driving me crazy.  They are so ambitious and want to raise money for all students to go.  They are wearing me out, but I know that they mean well.

Yesterday (Saturday) in the morning I was in charge of a skit for our Visiting Teaching Celebration.   It was adorable.  I was given the script.  My only job was to direct it.  We had six women who were ants"  Obedi "ant", Dilig "ant", Persist "ant", Serv "ant" and more.  They were dressed all in black and had antenna with red hearts on the end of the antenna.   Four of the women were 80 years old or more.  I had them marching and acting beyond their own belief....cute, cute, cute.  It was fun and it was nice to be contributing.

Love you guys.   

Note:  Dixie is having her gall badder removed tomorrow.  Keep her in your prayers.  

Second note:  Dad's 70th birthday is the weekend of Roderick's graduation.  Do you think that we could celebrate while in Las Vegas?  Can you think of something fun to do?

Mom

bill and rosi

May 28, 2012

Hello Family,

I've been in Logan and Paradise this weekend for Memorial Day.  I'm drawn to that area anyway but always enjoy being there especially on Memorial Day.

The Sorensens and I visited the Logan, Hyrum and Paradise cemeteries on a stormy, rainy Sunday afternoon.  It was wet and cold for most of the weekend, but Monday the sun came out and it was lovely.  I spent Saturday night with the Sorensens and Sunday night at the Clifford log house with Luke's family, Kathy, Linc's family and Dix and Linc.  Way fun...lots of great food.

Speaking of the food, Dad and I spent about 3 hours on Saturday morning making potato salad.   10 lbs of spuds, 18 boiled eggs, lots of celery, onion, mayo and mustard.  It turned out great!   Dad peeled 33 potatoes.  It wore him out, but it is fun for us to work together and I know he enjoyed it.

On Saturday, I arrived in Logan in time for Deb's birthday party.  It was very fun.  There were 5 of us at the party and after eating some specialty foods ...  including a neopolitan cake...  the hostess pulled out separate containers for all of us to soak our feet in.  It seemed so odd, but actually felt very good soaking our feet in HOT water and then giving ourselves  pedicures.  They had at least 50 different nail polish colors and pedicure tools.    

Recipe for the week:

Added at the bottom of this letter is Grandma Mathews' Applesauce Cake recipe.  It was interesting that Carol would send it our way just when I was planning to put it together for all of you as our weekly recipe.  It is Big Bill's very favorite cake.  Sadly, I can never make it as good as he remember's his Moms.

I just opened a package from Roderick.   Pictures!!   Yea, I love pictures.  You are one handsome Dude, Rick!!!   We are looking forward to attending your graduation on June 18th.  Other important June dates include:  Bryce's birthday on June 1, Dad's 70 BD on June 17, (also Father's Day) and Bec & Adams's Anniversary June 28th.   (Four years for the Frus'!!!)

Last Tuesday was my final Choir Concert for the year.  It was great, "magic"...  in places.  I battled all year to bring our A Cappella and Chamber Choir up to par, and on Tuesday they did it.  Good timing, I must admit.  We made a fundraising evening out of it.  We held a bake sale that day beginning at 3 pm.  Tables were set up in the trees on the East side of our school.  Students stood in choir robes along Center Street waving signs and luring patrons in to purchase baked items.  Wow, there were fabulous goodies...   I purchased a delicious cinnamon roll, pumpkin chocolate chip cake,  breads and candied apple.  The excitement was palpable and carried on  into the lobby for entertainment prior to our concert and a silent auction...  and then on into our concert which began at 7 pm.  (We made over $2,000 on the bake sale.)

Word for the week:   

     "palpable":  capable of being touched or felt, tangible.

Love you all.  Hope you have a wonderful week.  

Love Mom    

tim and jill

Hello  Family…(I am up way too late this evening, doing MomME things while the house is quiet :) ) 

So nice to always hear how everyone is doing!  We are all doing well.  Tim is anxiously awaiting his interview for the Program Director position.  It’s so funny because it’s clear that his boss wants to hire him for the position, but they are making him go through all the protocols first.  Tim has done such AMAZING things for the Boys Town site here…I am excited to see what he will do as Program Director! 

Tim and the kids were so sweet to me for Mother’s Day.  I love them so much and am so lucky to have such a great husband and two of the best little kids in the whole wide world!

Elle, Liam and I planted a flower garden this past week and it is beautiful!  We love taking care of it together and finding caterpillars, earthworms, and other fun bugs and insects.  Elle recently has taken a liking to especially caterpillars and will do anything to save their lives.   Elle is also having her 5^th birthday party with all of her pre-school friends this Saturday, so I have been busy planning the birthday festivities and hand making all her decorations, gift bags, etc...!  Oh my, it’s a lot of work, but super fun!  My scrapbooking skills are coming in handy!  She had 16 kids RSVP for the party!!!  Whoohoo…this is going to be FUN entertaining little ones.  She is having a Cowgirl party using the theme of Toy Story’s Jessie.  For the party, we are having a cowgirl/cowboy fashion show, scavenger hunt, doing the limbo and having a cookout!  I have had to get really creative to stay within my budget!    I’ve been calling her my little “Ellie Sue Cowgirl” and she just loves it!  We found her a little outfit so she can Cowgirl it up at her Party!!!  Thank you Dad, Mom, and Debbie for the birthday cards they were very thoughtful.   Thank you Dad especially for the phone call to Ellie, it meant soooo much to her to hear from Grandpa!

Liam is doing well.  He is a momma’s boy lately.  He really has been enjoying Yoga Story Time or as he calls it “WOGA time".  He gets to make yoga poses like animals and sea life and then makes their sounds.  He is ADORABLE!!!  My favorite part is at the end there is mommy/toddler cuddle time and he just loves to snuggle up to me and takes his deep breaths.  It is the sweetest thing EVER!

The weather is finally getting warm here and we will be enjoying the beaches very soon.  We miss you all.  Tim is planning to come out for Roderick’s graduation.  I am so happy it will work out.  Thank you Marlies for helping make it possible!  I’m sad we all can’t come out, but I know Tim will be a great support for Roderick!  We are so proud of Roderick and are thankful for Marlies and Melissa for helping him so much! 

Lots of Love to you all!!!

kathy fueston

What a wonderful message Marlies.  Thanks for sharing.  The Mathews clan (includes that dear Melissa) have been a blessing in Roderick’s life and in turn, he has been a blessing to you as well. So awesome!  Can’t help but see God’s hand in our lives.

Love to you all!