GREAT HOLIDAY

For the first time ever, I actually watched the whole 4th of July parade from a chair in front of Pat's Place dirt! It was a little strange to walk through the dirt that used to be Pat's Place. It was a great parade. It was even better not to have to worry about working.

We celebrated Patrick's mother's 80th birthday on Sunday. Her birthday is actually today. We had some surprise visitors from the family, which always makes it more fun. It was a wonderful time. She wants to make it to 100, so we are planning more celebrations.

Thank goodness for the rain we have been having. Anything that reduces the risk of forest fires is welcome. It looks like it's supposed to rain the rest of the week. You won't find me complaining.

Rainie and I are busy sewing to get ready for Pioneer Days in Snowflake. We have lots of ideas but probably not enough time to finish all of them. We are having loads of fun working on our projects.

I have been working on recipes for the cookbook. My family really likes having to sample the goods. It's all coming together, slowly but surely.

FIRST ANNUAL PAT'S PLACE REUNION

We'll be out in front of where Pat's used to be for our First Annual Pat's Place Reunion on July 4th. The parade starts at 9 a.m. this year so we'll be there by 8 a.m. Hope to see all of you.

This month sure has gone by quickly. I had the grandsons for nine days while Corey and Rainie took a vacation to Cancun. They were celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary. Those boys are loads of fun but they sure are a lot of work, too. They spend a lot of time outside so they need a bath every night. They hardly ever stop eating. You better have lots and lots of fruit in the house when they are around.

I have been working on some of the recipes for the cookbook. I made pizza for the family last week. I still need to work on the recipe a little. It's not quite the same at home as it is making large quantities for the restaurant. The sauce was good but the crust isn't quite right. I am going to try the Mexican Sauce this weekend.

I have been having loads of fun working in my yard. I am working on painting one of the bedrooms, as well. Rainie and I have been sewing for the next craft show. We are going to be at Pioneer Days in Snowflake July 17 and 18. Stop by and see us if you are over that way.

Rainie and I are heading up to Red Rock Lavendar Farm next week. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'd love to hear from all of you.

Rainie and I are off to the Show Low Daze craft show tomorrow bright and early. We haven't had a chance to do much sewing but you have to start somewhere. We will also be selling some Pat's Place memorabilia. My brother made some beautiful wooden pens we are going to sell. I hope lots of our customers, employees, and friends stop in to see us.

Rumor has it the city will be tearing down the building June 9 or 10. The street is going to look pretty funny with the building gone.

I have started on the cookbook. After the craft show I will really get busy on it.

CATCHING UP

Time sure flies when you are busy. I have been doing a lot of catching up at home. One can't really expect to clean up years of neglect in one month but I'm sure trying. It's nice to be able to have the time to devote to the house and yard. It's been a long time since I have been able to do any of that.

Rainie and I have been busy getting ready for the craft show this coming weekend. We will be selling some Pat's Place memorabilia such as mugs, shirts, hats, pizza stands, pizza pans, and autographed menus for those of you who missed our last days. We are also selling some of our crafts we have been working on. We don't have a large selection this time around but we still have lots of ideas to try out. We plan on having lots of fun and hope to see many of our customers and employees.

Don't forget the 1st Annual Pat's Place Reunion before the 4th of July parade in front of Pat's Place or where we used to be (in case the building is gone). I'm not sure when they plan to demolish the building.

The weather hasn't really been ideal for planting gardens. It seems like everyone I know is later than usual this year. It just hasn't been quite warm enough here or even places where my family lives like Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. That was certainly a freak snow storm late in May but I think it probably pushed the fire season back a week or two which is a good thing. It will dry out fast enough, especially with the wind we have been having. The wind has been an issue for the northwest as well. We should all be grateful we haven't had tornadoes.

I hope this finds all the Pat's Place family healthy and happy.

MY NEW LIFE

It seems strange not having the restaurant but it's great to be able to catch up on my work around the house. It took the girls and I nearly two weeks to get things cleaned up and organized for the auction. The auction went very well. I sold everything, thankfully. It would have taken me years to get rid of everything had I tried to sell it all myself. Rumor has it they will be tearing the building down sometime in July. I am still planning a First Annual Pat's Place reunion in front of the building or on the corner where the building used to be. I hope all our friends and customers stop by to see us. I do miss all of you but it's nice to be getting some sleep!

I am going to start work on the cookbook in June. I am very excited to get started. I have a lot of ideas in my head so I am anxious to get them down on paper.

I attended weddings the last two Saturdays for former employees. It was wonderful to be able to attend instead of spending the day working. All the men in the bridal party at last week's wedding had worked at Pat's Place. There were a lot of former employees in attendance as well. It was loads of fun. It is wonderful to be a part of such an extended family.

I am still looking for your favorite adventures at Pat's Place. I would love to incorporate some of the stories into the cookbook. I wouldn't mind having so many stories that I have to write another book! You can post them here or on the website for Pat's Place.

May the grass grow long on the road to Hell for want of use. Irish proverb

TWO DAYS LEFT

I am getting down to the wire here. I am so grateful for all the love the community has shown us the past few weeks. I have heard so many stories from customers about how Pat's Place has been a part of their lives the past thirty years. I have even heard stories of the grocery store that was here before our time. I love all the history and would love to find a way to record every bit of it to keep it alive. The Show Low Museum is planning a Pat's Place room. They want to incorporate some of the history of Nick's Market and how the building evolved into Pat's Place. It will be very exciting to record some of that history.

The final day, April 13th, I am having a Farewell Wall. For $1 anyone can sign the wall as a farewell gesture. All the money raised plus a matching donation will be donated to the VFW to pay postage to mail packages to our soldiers overseas.

It's off to work now.

The Last Week

This is the last week of Pat's Place. It is bittersweet. Patrick and I will miss the many friends we have made over the years but it will be nice to start new adventures. We have enjoyed the last 30 years but the restaurant business doesn't often leave time to enjoy life. It will be nice to try that for a change. We are planning a Pat's Place reunion on the corner (where our building used to be) before and during the 4th of July parade. We hope to see many of our customers and employees.

I am going to start the cook book as soon as I get past the auction on April 26th. I will post updates here and on my website as the book progresses.

I am very excited to be able to start gardening again. It is a perfect time for new beginnings.