June 3, 1947 Rolling Time, Connecticut Geography, Coming Home, Offering Frizz and Potato Salad

Bonnie's sister writes a little advice in her autograph book, 1929

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Time is really rolling by.  Here it is June already and school will be out in two weeks.  There are classes all this week and next week is exam week.  Commencement is Sunday, the 15th, at 5:00 in the afternoon.  B has to be here for that of course.  We plan now to start home on Tuesday, the 17th.  I can tell you for sure in my next letter which will be the last if we start then.  We are both anxious to start home and plan to stay a month if you'll have us that long.

It is still too cool to go coatless but some days are warm enough to have windows open.  It rains too often for it to get real warm and stay warm.  Yesterday was sunny but windy and it just poured rain last night.  Aggie had planned a party for faculty children but had to call it off because the yard is so wet.  The trees are all leafed out now and the woods and fields are full of wild flowers.  There aren't many gardens out yet--a little lettuce and not much else.

We took a ride Sunday and the tobacco fields were being fixed for planting.  A few had been planted and there were dozens with the cheesecloth shades already up.  We are quite close to the tobacco section of the state and when you get on a hill you can see white patches of cheesecloth in every direction.

We keep thinking we have seen most of Connecticut but every time we go for a ride we manage to find some new sideroads.  That is where you find the pretty and interesting places.  Every little cow path is black-topped so there is no need to worry about the roads.  Sunday we found the hilliest spot I've ever seen here.  It was much like the Shepherd of the Hills country in miniature.

I thought I could stop worrying about Beulah now but here she is having trouble again.  She should go back to the hospital for a thorough examination.  Tell her to stop that working for I want her to be full of pep when I come home.  I scolded her about it once and she wrote back that she didn't do much.

I hope Grandma is up by now.  Granny Gibson has gone to Oklahoma from Kansas City and is having a wonderful time.  Isn't she some gal?  Stayed in bed all winter and was real sick!

The faculty is planning a picnic at the shore next Saturday.  I promised to take potato salad.  We each take a dish of something and then chip in on hamburger.

Is there anything you want us to bring when we come?  Would you like some Frizz?  It is .25 a box and we can get as much as you would want.

Well, we'll be seeing you before long."

                Lots of love,

                       B & Bonnie

NOTE from Ann:  Shortages of soap continued through 1947.  The ad above from Family Circle magazine, Jan. 1947, encourages the saving of used fats.  Even though products such as Duz, Lux, Frizz and Palmolive were widely advertised, availability did not match the demand in many parts of the country.

Bonnie's Traditional Potato Salad

Boil, peel and chop about 4-5 lbs. potatoes.  Mix together 2 c. mayo., 1/4 c. chopped parsley, 1/4 c. chopped dill,  mustard, salt & pepper to taste.  Add 1 chopped onion, 3 chopped hard-boiled eggs, 1/3 c. chopped pickles and 1/3 c. chopped olives and 1-2 T celery seed.  Refrigerate overnight for flavors to blend.  Adjust seasoning as needed. 

Bonnie's Spicy Potato Salad

Boil, peel and cube 3 or 4 large potatoes to equal 4 cups.  Heat in skillet 3 T olive oil.  Add 1 tsp. mustard seed and stir.  When seeds begin to bounce, add 1 large onion, chopped, 2 tsp. turmeric, 1 tsp. dry cilantro, 1 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. chili powder, pinch of garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 c.
water.  Add potatoes and heat.  Garnish with fresh tomato wedges.