Friday, April 25, 2014

April 20 2014 Weekly Letter

Australia Sunday Apr 20, 2014    
HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!     
It is 9 pm here and we just finished getting everything put back together from our dinner.  We had so much fun and everyone just wanted to stay and visit.  We moved the couch and chair over where our table usually is, and moved the table and chairs over by the sliding glass door.  We got the big glass picnic table from the Moore’s and their chairs and had everything set up by 3.  It really looked cute.  The Moore’s and the Allen’s had a meeting at 4:30 until 7 so she brought her salad over early.  The Smith’s, Archibald’s, and William’s came, then the Killebrew’s so we went ahead and ate.  We had ham sandwiches, with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese, green salad, fruit salad, chips and dips, and cheese and crackers.  For dessert Sister Archibald made a cherry dump cake and ice cream.  We had the marshmallow eggs on the table on little plates for everyone.  They were really good and no one had had homemade marshmallow.  I would not try to make them here again, they just don’t have all the good ingredients.  We just sat and visited and laughed, then the Moore’s and Allen’s came and we visited more while they ate.
When we got to the office on Thursday there were chocolate eggs on everyone’s desk from the service center.  They are so fun!
The Allen’s got here Wednesday and they are from Mutton Hollow Road so they know a lot of the people we do.  Deven and Tyson if you see Jerry Stevenson or Noel Flint tell them Ray and Pat Allen are here to serve in the Public Affairs.  They are going to be a lot of fun.
Now tomorrow we have the dessert and lesson for Family Home Evening.  We are going to make the Peach Cheesecake for in the morning, and we have a farewell program for the Williams and Jeff’s, and celebrate Dad’s birthday.  Dad has also put together a picture program on the computer for the Williams.
Friday was Good Friday, and they really celebrate it here, everything was closed, all stores and Costco.  We had Friday off, and Monday for Easter Monday, and next Friday off for Anzac Day.  I don’t think we are going to get too much done at the office this week.  Friday we went into the Blue Mountains, the back way to Bilpin which is the apple capital of Australia.  There were acres of apple trees wherever you looked and they are all covered with white nets so the birds won’t eat the fruit.  We stopped at a stand called the Fruit Bowl where all the apples had just been picked, about 8 varieties, and they also had potatoes, onions, avocados, tomatoes, all raised there in Bilpin.   We got some pink lady apples, avocado, and each had a piece of fresh baked apple pie, Dad’s with ice cream and mine with whipped cream, it was really good and we hadn’t had breakfast.   They were making the pies right there in the store so we decided to buy 2 and share them with the missionaries.  We then drove on up the road and found a sign that said walnuts and chestnuts for sale.  We went up a dirt road for about a mile and there was a little place with a stand where you could buy them already bagged or go pick your own.  The lady told us how to roast the chestnuts and for us to go pick some.  We got a couple dozen to try and she wouldn’t let us pay for them.  We need to find the time to roast them, the lady said they are really good, she puts them in salads and in the kid’s lunch box instead of potato chips.   We then went up the road and stopped a couple of places for pictures.  It was really a beautiful drive.  About 1 we found a little restaurant on top on the mountain with great views all directions.  It was called The Monkey Creek Café.   We got home about 4.
Yesterday we went to the meat market early and got ham for today, some pork, chicken, beef, and sausage to put in the freezer.   It feels good to be stocked up again.  We put it all away and went to the office to talk to the kids at the Easter Party at Vaun and Mandy’s.  It was fun to see the kids finding the eggs, and to talk to everyone.  Looked like they were having fun.  Then we went to the store, wow, it was packed, good thing we knew what we wanted and got in and out.  We did eat lunch there because we missed breakfast again, well we did have a piece of apple pie and a marshmallow egg.  Then we came home and cleaned and did laundry and got ready for the party today.
Last Monday we went to the store after work and got a certificate for free hot cross buns but they were out until Tuesday so we went over for lunch Tuesday to get them. They had raisin and chocolate chip, so we got 3 of each kind, and shared with the Williams before we went to the Temple.  They were good, we don’t think we have ever had them before.  We had the last 2 for breakfast on Wednesday.  We also went with the Williams over to the Mall for lunch on Wednesday because that will be the last time they will be in the office for lunch.   They have zone conferences Tues, Wed and Thurs, and they leave for home Friday morning.  Wednesday afternoon at 2 Mark had an afternoon tea for the Williams.  There was the 5 of us, and the Paul Pardon’s who have worked with the Williams in Family History.  Mark had a caramel cake and tarts.  They were really good.  We just visited for 2 hours and it was fun. 
We got a letter from Ann and Dan this week, also one from Mike and Suzanne Moss.  We LOVE getting news from home.  Now I need to find time to answer them. 
Happy Birthday Grason on Saturday.  We will try to call on Sunday while we are at Church.  This weekend we travel to Port Macquarie and we will leave on Friday and find something to do and someplace to go because of the holiday. 
Love you all and you are all in our prayers!
Mum and Dad



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