You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


It's Rose again with a quick update. I am in Chicago for my normal four-day stay, having come here yesterday. Sue is in Louisville with Scott and family. Mark Goldman (a young man always available when we have something really, really heavy to move) took both of us to the airport yesterday. From reports out of Louisville, all is going well there. Brayden and Jalen are delighted to have Granny visit. And Granny is delighted to visit.

Sue and I went to the Lake on Wednesday to inspect the new siding. Joe drove up and met us for dinner. We had a lovely evening, dining (on Joe) and catching up with all the family news. Turns out, Joe had a great tip for us. He said from now on forget about Pete's credit card. There is something much, much better, something Joe called "Pete's milk check." Seems when we lived on the farm and kept dairy cows, our family got a 'milk check' every two weeks. Lucky Pete and Janet. They still have a cash cow or two.

I talked with Pete and Janet a couple of times yesterday. They had just arrived in "Q" Arizona and were getting settled into their house there for a nice winter away from Idaho weather. Pete said he had talked to Bernie and learned the big fall butchering day came off fine though Bernie wasn't able to help very much.

After our great dinner, Sue, Joe, and I visited late and spent the night at Sue's lake house. The place is looking good, and the new siding makes it very classy. It is a light grey with white trim. We have before and after pictures to post, but all that has to be done on the St. Louis computer.

Chris and Shelly were at the Lake over the weekend so that Shelly could attend a state teachers' meeting. Margaret and Norman are hosting some of Norman's family from North Carolina. All the Abbott Clan was gathering at Stephanie and Dan's house over the weekend.

As some of you may know, Randy and some friends from the church have been taking truckloads of items to people who lost so much in the hurricanes. Stephanie told me there is to be one more Big Trip. Randy has been deeply moved and is distraught about the plight of the people he has met. Now, many of the children are facing a bleak Christmas unless people are galvanized to act. Once Stephanie heard that, she was galvanized. She is organizing a 'giving tree,' details yet unknown, to raise money for gifts for these displaced and unfortunate victims. I'll post more information as it becomes available. Meanwhile, if any Dear Readers are moved to do so, send your checks to: Stephanie Schmitt, 80 Michael Court, Troy, MO, 63379. She is working with Randy and members of the church to coordinate more relief effort.