#5 Martha

No, not that Martha. This woman is a color genius. Her unassuming manner is deceptive. Martha will look at your swatch of color and quietly tell you to add two drops of black to the gallon. Do what she tells you. It will be perfect.
(Don't let anyone else in the store help you; come back later if she's out.)


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University Conference

I have to pause in my list. Roger's Stake is having Conference this weekend. Yesterday we spent a wonderful day with a visiting Seventy and Area Authority. I love the personal conversations over dinner with them; I love the order as the local men look to them for authorization; I love the talks they give and the Spirit present; I love their wives and watching them help their husbands. ("Untuck your tie," she whispers as he stands up to make remarks.) It's because of Roger that I get in on these things.

Today Roger gets released. It's not a small thing, the amount of service these men give. He's been up every Sunday at 6:00 or sooner to get ready to go to town for meetings. Usually he spent most of the day there, most often without eating. Then there were the mid-week appointments and interviews and activities and training. When assigned a talk, he always planned and studied and wrote it with care. It's nice to watch him do his work. He conducts meetings with exactness and propriety and respect. I'm proud of him and all he's done.

Throughout the 30 years he has lived in this area he's treated everyone with kindness and good will, so that as he goes around town now, everyone he encounters--acquaintances from coaching or former wards or his work--they're all happy to see him. No one is every brushed off or dismissed, not even the store clerk. What a great man!

#6 Dairy

#6 Cheese

Rockhill Farms cheeses are pricey but wonderful. I think they rival anything you get in Big Cities.

The larger cheese factory outlet offers good buys on the usual colby/montery jack types. Prices have gone up, but now and then I can get something for under $2 a pound.

We don't get a deal on milk unless you go to our 16 year old neighbor, Lawson. He sells raw milk for $2 a gallon, but his customer list is full.

I support all the herdsmen and ranchers who milk cows and irrigate and keep the valley beautiful.

#7 Commuter Train

# 7 Front Runner


Utah's commuter rail means you can board the train at Brigham City and be whisked all the way to Point of the Mountain. Front Runner, to begin operation April 26, will add additional lines in the future.

#8 Bakeries

#8 Crumb Brothers

Yes, your city has good bread, but it's seriously remarkable that an area like ours, without a dense population, would have so great a bakery. Usually the term "artisan" when applied to bakers is an affectation, but these people know what they're doing. I love the ciabatta in oil and vinegar. Shop early; they close at 1:00 in the afternoon. Meanwhile, there are excellent "normal" bakeries here, too--Great Harvest and Old Grist Mill, where you can almost always get a deal-- buy two loaves, get one free.

Reason # 9

# 9 The Sky

Top Ten - #10

OK, I can see I need to get a little aggressive about selling my current hometown and environs. We're not exactly getting inundated with offers. This really is a lovely place to live. So here are the Top Ten reasons YOU should move here.

#10 Smithfield Implement



Definitely not your box store. No matter where you live there is not a place like it. Every time I go there I find something I need--something substantial, practical, good looking and affordable. You can find 15 kinds of scissors, every sort of tool, smoker ovens, serious rain slickers, genuine long johns. And these boots in little girl sizes, $11. Easy parking right near the door; no waiting in line except during big sales.

David W. and Elizabeth Evans

This house, just down the block and around the corner from Jared and Liz, was the home of my great-great-grandparents. It's on Utah's Historic Registry.


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7 Apr 1962

When Joshua was born 36 years ago Dad said, "April 7th. That's the day I was baptized." He was happy Joshua was born on his day. Through the years Dad said a couple of times, "We should do something with the kids--to celebrate my baptism on April 7th." We didn't get around to it, so today, Happy Birthday Joshua. And Happy April 7th to Dad.

(Pic. from San Jose State yearbook, where he was going to school when he joined the Church.)






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(Josh in Riverside, FP Reunion at Zion's, skiing in the Sierra's in CA, ballooning in SG)

Conference

We loved getting to the first session of conference. I felt fortunate to be there in person.





On Sunday I went to the afternoon session with my neighbor, Evelyn. We ended up in the wonderful old Tabernacle, newly restored, sitting on the same wooden benches only now with plenty of legroom. I have to say that it surprised me how small and almost quaint it seemed. It's hard to believe that the great historic choir had fit in so small a choir loft and that the building had met the church's needs.

Signs of spring

The birds are back: Canadian geese nesting; great herons paired off and feeding in the fields; pelicans and ducks on the marsh; a robin singing in our yard today.