April 10, 1948 The Howling Winds, The Enormous Appetite, The Small Dresses, Another Exciting Adventure and Tea Sandwiches

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is winter again.  The winds are howling and it is cold.  We had several nice days this week so Bobby and I got outside.  You should have seen him eat after we had been out.  The fresh air helped his appetite which is always enormous.  He has strained fruit now and we have just started giving him strained vegetables.  He can't eat wheat cereals.  They cause so much gas.  So now we are trying a barley cereal.  I gave it to him today and he was just fine but it takes two or three days to tell how something will effect him.  He is the sweetest thing and just talks and laughs.  Most of his dresses are too small now and we've been putting little overalls on him.  On Tuesday we took him for his monthly check-up and he weighs 13-1/2 now.  The little pig had gained 2-3/4 lbs. in one month.

The Little Pig at 4 months

I guess I should have told you this right at first as long as we have been waiting about it for it looks like we will be moving to Ill. in September.  B had a letter Thurs. and they asked if he would take the job so he has his acceptance ready to mail in the morning.  The two letters (theirs and his) constitute the contract.  He is to teach philosophy and perhaps some psychology.  He will be second man in philosophy and there is a possibility that the person who is now first will have to retire because of illness and then he would step into first place and they would get another person.  The salary is not as big as we had hoped but the job is more desirable and the title is better and there are more chances for advancement.   B plans to hand in his resignation Monday but he will still probably teach here this summer.

Our Faculty Wives party turned out very nicely.  One of the girls had an Easter lily so we used that with white candles on the table.  We served coffee and tiny fancy sandwiches.  I was chairman and I got compliments on the pretty table and food.  Everyone thought it was so nice and we had all worried so much about it that their compliments sure made us feel good.  Alice kept Bobby and Aggie's baby.  We took Jody with us.  The club has a nursery for the children of the members but I think Bobby is too little to be with so many children.

We are already planning what we want to move.  It is going to be a big job but we would lose too much on our things if we sold them--things like our refrigerator or desk.  It is going to be a bit hard to leave Conn. and know we aren't coming back in a few weeks.  It is such a beautiful place and has such wonderful summers.  We can be happy anywhere, though, so it will be just another exciting adventure.  Hope you are all as happy about it as we are."

                  Lots of love,

                        B, Bonnie & Baby

NOTE  from Ann:  B's letter follows: 

Truman addressed a wide variety of questions at his news conference this week, including an opening question about his opinion of the German art collection at the National Gallery:
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=13151#axzz1vmzn4nev

Bacon-Cheese Tea Sandwiches

Mix together 1/4 lb. grated cheddar cheese, 2 T crisp, crumbled bacon, 1 T catsup, 1 tsp. mustard and 1 T chopped onion.  Add a little mayo if consistency is too stiff to spread easily.  Remove crusts from thin rye, wheat and white bread.  Cut into small triangles, squares and circles.  Butter the bread, and to serve open-faced, top with mixture and garnish with parsley or cucumber.  To serve as sandwiches, butter the bread, add the mixture, top with parsley or cucumber and a second piece of bread.  

Chicken Tea Sandwiches

Mix together 1 c. very finely chopped chicken, 2 T. finely chopped celery, 1/2 c. chopped almonds, and salt and pepper to taste.  Bind with small amount of mayonnaise.  Can add chopped dried apricots or golden raisins, if desired.  Remove crusts of bread, cut into desired shapes, spread with butter and chicken mixture,  top with another piece of bread.  Can also use several layers of different breads and cut into strips.