June 21, 1952 Avoiding the Measles, Painting the Cabinet, Wanting a Refrigerator and Disappointed in the Country

Ladies Home Journal, Dec., 1951

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This is the best paper I can find so it'll have to do.  It is so cold that the children have winter sleepers on tonight and we'll have to have a fire tomorrow if it doesn't warm up.  We had a hard rain today too.  I wish you could have some of it.

It is so quiet with the house shut up and Toni left with the children today to go to her Dad's in southern Ill.  She hoped to avoid the measles and will stay as long as she can to keep away from them.  So far, we haven't any symptoms but it may still be awhile.  The Dr. hopes Ann won't have them at all.

I've been painting a cabinet in the kitchen and am going to paint the woodwork.  The walls are o.k. but Barbers didn't paint the woodwork when they did the walls and it is a different white and looks crazy.  Some people do things in queer ways.

Have you read what Consumers has to say about refrigerators?  They give all the information on a lot of them and rate G.E. and International Harvester as best.  Do you want one with a freezer top?  I wish I had one and the biggest one I could get.

Good Housekeeping, Aug., 1951 A femineered refrigerator!

The part of the south that we went through didn't seem to be very thickly populated.  Some of it was hilly and you just didn't see any crops but there were cotton fields (small ones) scattered along and a mule or two in most of the pastures. There weren't many tractors--not like here anyway and no huge fields of anything like these corn fields.  But they say that this is the richest farm land in the whole country so it isn't fair to compare it with the poor states.  I was disappointed in the country for it just looked like that stretch of road between St. Louis and Richland--same dirt and all.  The only thing new was the way the old houses were built with a breezeway down the middle of the house.  Jim said it separated the kitchen from the rest of the house in case a fire started in the kitchen.  It was just a long open hall right thru the middle and there were dozens of houses just alike.  The magnolia trees were nice and Eve had gardenias growing in her yard.

It's getting late so I guess I had better go to bed.  Hope you are both fine."

                    Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

NOTE:  The news of the presidential campaign was starting to heat up in the summer of 1952, and Bonnie will be commenting soon.  To see and hear a bit of candidate Estes Kefauver:  http://www.t3licensing.com/video/clip/4932557418_025.do

Time, April, 1952

June 7 and 15, 1952 The Arm, The Calf, The Only Thing Wrong and The Alabama Trip

Map image courtesy of eBay

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This has been a real hot day but we just hope it will soon be a little cooler again.  Eve says it is terribly hot in Alabama but I guess we can stand it a few days.  We plan to leave about 4:00 Sunday morning and come back Friday or Saturday.  If the trip is too hard going down we'll take two days to come back.

Ann's arm is about well but the scab hasn't come off so I have to watch her closely.  So far she hasn't bothered it.  She is sleeping better again but another tooth has just barely pierced the gum so she'll probably be off again.  That will leave only one more tooth.

Bobby is fine.  He loves the warm weather and plays so hard that he is really worn out by night.

My painting is finished in the dining and living rooms at last.  Now I need to wash the windows.

I'm sorry about the calf.  Was it the one that wouldn't eat?

We'll try to get your Dad's day gift off tomorrow, Daddy.  It will be early but we don't want it to be late.

Don't worry if our letter is late next week.  We may be on our way home and might not have a chance to write.  Jim's address is James E. Wheeler, 72 Springbrook, Tuscaloosa, Alabama if you should need us for any reason.

I must go to bed for there are dozens of little things to do tomorrow."

                   Lots of love,

                            Bonnie



June 15, 1952

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We got home last night about 6:00.  It was terribly hot until we were about 50 miles from home and it began to get cooler.  It was 100 in the shade in Centralia.  It was cool here but Toni said it had been awfully hot.  About 8:00 it started to rain and really poured.

Alabama was as hot as you might expect.  It stayed around 100 and that sun is really hot and glaring.  It didn't bother the kids one bit and Bobby tanned quite a lot. He was so white beside all the other children.  Jim had made an attic fan for the house and that helped a lot.  Why don't you do that or a window fan and pull out the hot air at night.  It's amazing how much it helps.  We got one some time ago and it's wonderful.  Jim used a washing machine motor.

Bobby had such a good time that he didn't want to come home and wanted to go back when we were half way home.  We didn't do anything special for Jim had to go to school every day.  They have a big yard and all the children played hard all day.  Both children were very good on the trip and we enjoyed it so much.  It took 13 hrs. to go.  We had to go clear to the tip of Illinois, across the corner of Kentucky, across Tenn., the corner of Miss. and then into Alabama.  We were only 28 miles from Paducah, Kentucky but felt we couldn't take time to make side trips.  Illinois and Kentucky are lovely and hilly but the other states are desolate spots full of shantys.  It is hard to see how these people can make enough to keep alive.  The soil is grey or red clay and nothing like this black dirt here.  Alabama soil is mostly sand and Jim says the people raise cattle or trees for wood pulp.  The paper mills are everywhere and smell to high heavens.  The University there is much, much larger than Normal but after seeing it all I would rather be here.

The only thing wrong with our trip is that Eve called this morning to say that the kids have the measles.  They had been exposed but had shots and it had been so long that we didn't think they would have them.  There is little chance that Bob and Ann won't take them and Eve's Dr. thought we should give them a shot now so she called.  The shot should lighten the case in both and maybe prevent Ann from taking them.  Our Dr. thought she was too small to have them if we could keep her from it.  It will be almost a month before we know.  They can't give it to anyone until they really begin to take it so we don't have to keep them in or anything.

Hope you have a nice Dad's day.  If the shirt doesn't fit send it back to us and we'll change it."

                 Lots of love,

                       Bonnie

University of Alabama (image from U of A digital collection)

May 31, 1952 The Dresses, The Strawberries and The Paint

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Ann and I are the only ones up but she is so cross I may not get this written.  I told you she had a vaccination.  It has really taken and her arm looks awful.  She has been fussy but not sick and has been awake a lot.  Of course, every time she rolled on that arm she woke up.  It has started to heal and I hope it does in a hurry.

It's cold again and we've had to have a fire.  Eve said it had been like this in Alabama so I don't know what to take at all.

I have almost made two dresses this week but haven't buttons on or belts made.  I got some nylon for a 1.00 a yard so that's what I plan to take to Alabama whether it's cold or hot.  They won't have to be ironed.  It isn't nearly as nice as that I told you about but it'll do for everyday wear.  Did I tell you I got the dress I had ordered from N.Y.?  It was too big so I sent it back.

We still haven't found a day to go Chicago to the zoo.  There always seems to be something.

Bobby keeps begging to come to Richland.  I wish we didn't have to wait until August but there isn't any choice now.

Strawberries aren't getting any cheaper.  I saw some beautiful ones at .49 but that's too high for preserves.  Mine are gone, I think.  One jar was spoiled.  Did you ever hear of that?

Are you going to Elm Grove today?  I don't know what we'll do--work probably.  I'd like to paint but it's too hard to keep the children out of it so it'll have to be tonight.

Well, there isn't any news so bye for now."

                           Lots of love,

                                     Bonnie

NOTE:  Below are Truman's brief Memorial Day remarks, 1952.

May 23, 1952, Memorial Day Statement.
"Memorial Day has been traditionally a day of prayer for those Americans who have died in the defense of their country. On May 23, 1950, pursuant to a joint resolution of the Congress, I proclaimed each succeeding Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and suggested 11 o’clock in the morning, eastern standard time, as an appropriate time for each American, according to his own religious faith, to beg Divine aid in bringing enduring peace to a troubled world.
I believe that this year enduring peace is more nearly attainable than a year ago. This is so because our strength and the strength of other free Nations has steadily grown. Our strength and determination to remain free are leading to peace.

On this Memorial Day we should again pay tribute to the men who, by their supreme sacrifice, have helped maintain our freedom in the rugged hills of Korea and, before that, in the great wars when all mankind was threatened with enslavement. We should pay tribute to them especially because they have shown that aggression cannot pay off. They have thereby given the world a vision and a promise of lasting peace. We must not let these men down now that the goal is so nearly attainable.
I have asked before, and I ask again, that the press, radio, television, and other media of public information help unite the Nation on the morning of Memorial Day in a universal prayer for permanent peace." Source:  http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=14127

May 24, 1952 The Vaccination, The Cat Woman, The Stomach Aches, The Hat and The Dirty Hair

May 24, 1952 Peanuts (www.gocomics.com)

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I hope you'll be able to read this for I'm writing on the arm of a chair in the living room.  It is so noisy on this street with the windows open and I always listen for the children.  Ann has had her smallpox vaccination at last and it is taking today so she will probably be wakeful for several nights.  It is hot today but I have to keep long sleeves on Ann to keep her from scratching her arm.

Graduation is two weeks from tomorrow.  If all goes well we will drive to Alabama on the 8th.  We'll probably stay about a week unless it gets too hot down there.  They have all had the flu and been terribly sick.

I wouldn't dare buy you a hat.  What I'd like might look awful on you.  Do you have an old one you like?  Maybe if you'd send it to me, I could work it over. 

Bonnie and a favorite hat

And a summer hat

Mr. Dorland died this week.  He's been sick for 6 weeks and they've sat up with him day and night.  Neither of us could go to the funeral so I just sent a card.

You remember Mrs. Smith (the cat woman) who lived next door to us at Dorland's?  They have finally got those houses cleaned up and are selling them at auction.  It will be interesting to see what they bring for so many people have said they wouldn't have them because of the cats.  I'd love to have one of them--7 rooms on one floor, I think.

I haven't painted a bit this week or done much else.  If I don't get busy I'm not going to get it done before it gets awfully hot.

B and I were both sick the first part of the week with a stomach ache.  Our stomachs were so sore we could hardly stand it.

Ann is always asleep when our sitter comes but is all right when she wakes for a drink but I never leave her in the daytime.  She's throw a real fit.

Bobby's hair is so dirty with sand most of the time I don't know whether it is light or not.  I think it gets darker, though."

                    Lots of love,

                           Bonnie

NOTE:  An entry in Truman's diary on May 18, 1952 indicated great frustration over the Communists and the Korean War.  To see the entire entry:  http://www.trumanlibrary.org/flip_books/index.php?pagenumber=1&titleid=261&tldate=1952-05-18&collectionid=ihow&PageID=-1&groupid=3733

May 17, 1952 The Kindergarten Party, The Crinkled Nylon, The Paint Progress, Church, Television and A Real Monkey

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Rain again.  I wish you had some of it for your strawberries.  We have had a week of it and cold weather and Bob is so tired of staying in.  We got new sand and the new hasn't worn off yet so they stay in the sandbox every minute they can.

We went to a party for children and parents who plan to go to kindergarten next year.  We had a sitter for Ann but Bob got to go.  They showed a colored movie of activities for a day.  It was a wonderful movie and Bob knew some of the children in it so that was better.  Then they served punch and cookies.  It was all nice and Bobby really enjoyed himself.  He is anxious to go to school.

Wards has had nylon (crinkled) on sale for 1.49 a yard.  It is beautiful and is 45" wide.  Would you want some if they still have it?  They have had navy and black besides the brighter colors.

My painting isn't getting very far.  It has been so cold and we've had to have the house closed up so I haven't done any until last night.  I painted the walls in the living room just like it was.  We hadn't intended to do this but it looked so bad in places.  I guess I'll go ahead and paint woodwork next week whether it rains or not.  I haven't decided what I'll do about drapes for the dining room yet.

I went to church Sunday but I don't think I'll go there anymore.  It was interesting of course, but not my kind of worship.  I'll take an ordinary service any day.

I still haven't seen anything on television.  It must be nice the way people talk about it but we want to wait a while before getting one.  If you get one do you still want B to build your radio?  Where will you put two cabinets?

We haven't cut Ann's hair at all.  It is almost to her waist when it's wet and still turns up softly on the ends.  Everyone comments on it and it is so glossy when it is clean.  I don't braid it because it breaks it so badly.  I tried it for two or three days and when I brushed it out it just was straight as could be.  She talks every minute and is a real monkey.  When she thinks she's being cute or funny she yells, "Looka ooka, Mommy".  I still can't keep her clothes on her--especially shoes and sox.

Hope you are both fine.

                        Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

Is Jerry's birthday the 27th?"

May 10, 1952 Raining, Painting, Kissing and Loving and Thrilled About Twins

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's cold and rainy again and we have a fire in the furnace.  It is pretty hard to take after the wonderful days we have had.  Bobby is getting awfully tired of staying in.  We have new white sand in the sandbox and they almost live out there.

Our dining room is just about finished.  I have to scrape the paint off the windows and paint the inside of the china cabinet.  I plan to get some drapes but want to wail until I get the painting done.  It takes so long when I only work at night.  B took the kids to the park one afternoon so I could paint but I had a phone call and had to cook supper so I really didn't paint but about an hour.

Sunday is Mother's Day and I hope it will be a nice day for your both.  You should have your package soon, Mother.  Some women up the street have invited me to go to church with them Sunday (Catholic) and I'm going if nothing happens.

Are the iris growing?  The woman promised they would bloom this year and I'm anxious to see if they really do.

I had a letter from Beulah this week.  It had been so long since I heard from her.  It must have been mental telepathy for I'd been thinking of her for days before that letter came.

Bonnie, "Buddy" and Beulah, about 1940

School will be out in about a month and if all goes well we are still planning to go to Alabama.  We will have a week off.

Ann has another cold.  I guess she got it from David.  He kisses her and loves her and we can't make him leave her alone.  When she yells, "No Daydee", we know he's getting too rough.  He is only six months older but much larger.

Are you going to have any strawberries this year?  Arkansas berries are coming in now and are cheap for the beginning of the season.  We gave .39 a quart today.  When they get a little cheaper I want to make some preserves.

Bobby was all thrilled about the twin calves.  What do you plan to do with all of them?"

                      Lots of love,

                             Bonnie

NOTE:  Time magazine's top choices for movie-goers included one of B & Bonnie's favorites, An American in Paris. 

May 2, 1952 The Plaid Wall, The Flowers, The Memories, The Mess and The Wonderful Ironer

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Ann and I are having breakfast so I'll see if I can't get this written.  I have been painting every night after I get the children in bed which makes it pretty late when Bobby has taken a nap.  I have the walls and ceiling done in the dining room and am going to hang the paper on the one wall tonight.  I told you it was plaid, didn't I?  Last night I painted a little woodwork.  It will take the time.  B has been fixing screens.  I don't think a screen has been fixed for ten years.  He is putting new wire on everything since our landlord is paying for it and they are all in such bad shape.  Maybe we won't have to many mosquitoes this year.

Missouri Redbuds

We are having wonderful weather.  A redbud tree is in full bloom just beside our kitchen window and violets are everywhere.  We drove out to the lake the other day and Bobby and I picked flowers to our hearts content.  Made me think of all the Sundays that Daddy and I used to roam over the river banks looking for Jack-in-pulpits and blood-root and Dutchman's breeches.  That was one of the nicest things I remember about being a little girl.

How old is Jeanie?  It seems like she should be almost as old as Bob.

Have they found out about Bill Halter?  Is he in a serious condition?  It seems terrible for a young man to die and leave a family and I always think of the case we had here.  I told you about our friend who had some gall bladder operations and didn't come out of the last one.

I wish you could see Ann and Bob.  Ann is still taking off her clothes.  B went in to check her in the middle of the night and she had taken off her pajamas and thrown them out of the crib--happy as could be.  I have to pin everything that has buttons.  She works until she unbuttons things.

My poor house really needs some cleaning.  Bobby can go out to play without me but I can't let Ann out alone so I just walk out of the mess.  It might be embarrassing if someone came.

Did I ever tell you that our ironer top had some chipped places on it?  It was simply poor finishing so we wrote Sears.  The factory shipped us another one prepaid and it was worse.  So they sent us another one and it's fine.  Whirlpool makes the Sear's ironer.  It is wonderful.

I'd love to have a Deep Freeze.  I think one could save you a lot of work as well as have fresh things to eat.  That will have to wait a while though.

It's about time I got B up if he's going to school today so I'll say Bye for now."

                       Lots of love,

                                Bonnie

NOTE:   Among the letters there are several "Pretty Petals" greeting cards, each with a quotation about flowers on the back, such as this one.

In the news of May 2, 1952, baseball's Ted Williams was called for active duty in Korea.  Having already been in WWII, he was outspoken about having to go again.  For more information:
http://www.militarymuseum.org/Williams.html

In other news, Time magazine featured continuing conflict around the globe.

April 26, 1952 The Latest Trick, Being In Connecticut Again and Ready for Warm Weather

B's slides, April, 1952

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is quiet around here for a change since the children are in bed.  Ann talks as much as Bobby so B and I just never get to talk much while they are around.  I wish you could see the children--especially Ann.  She has grown so much more than Bob, and of course gets cuter every day.  Her latest trick is to take her clothes off.  Some days I can't even pin her diapers tight enough.  She manages to wiggle out of them.  Bobby never did that.  On these warm days I see Bobby only at mealtime it seems.  He stays outside as much as we will let him.

We are enjoying the Mirror.  B's birthday was yesterday and the only way we celebrated was to have steak.  I baked an angel food for him but didn't get his present I had ordered.  I ordered a stand for his electric drill and it hasn't come.  He has wanted one a long time so is willing to wait for it.

Your letter hasn't come this week.  I do hope you have the iris by now.

We took our lunch last Sunday and went to a state park in Northern Ill.  I wish you could have been along.  It was almost like being in Conn. again.  We enjoyed every minute of it.

We have had some terribly cold days this week but it's supposed to be warm tomorrow.  I'm ready for warm weather.

Hope you are all fine."

                   Lots of love,

                          Bonnie

NOTE:  The family outing was a visit to Starved Rock State Park on the Illinois River.   For information on Starved Rock:  http://starvedrockstatepark.org/history/

April 12 and 19, 1952 The Wonderful Time, The Terrible Cold, The Eleventh Anniversary, The New Babies and B Turns 32

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We have been trying to clean up after our company.  They left soon after 8:00 this morning so we have been washing all morning--sheets, towels and the usual extra things it takes.  We all had a wonderful time--didn't do a thing we didn't have to and just enjoyed ourselves.  We had lots of company so had to keep the downstairs cleaned up but Eve helped so it wasn't hard.  The kids were all amazingly good even if much of the week has been rainy & they had to stay inside.  The men had a nice trip to St. Louis and it was a real nice week for everyone.

Ann developed a terrible cold last night and has some fever but the rest of us are fine.

Tomorrow is our eleventh anniversary.  We'll spend it resting if Ann isn't too cross.  She was up most of the night last night.

B & Bonnie, 6 mo. anniversary, New Haven, CT

We'll check on the iris as soon as we can.  We still haven't had a chance to go get our vine.  They promised the iris would be there by your birthday so tell me next week whether they have come.

Which Mary Lee has a new girl?  We don't get the Mirror anymore.  Mabel is quite thrilled over the baby and the fact that it didn't have to be born by Ceasarian.

B's nephews, Steve & Sid (the new baby at 6 mos.)

Toni gave me and Eve both permanents last night but I haven't combed mine out yet.

B has to go mail this so I'd better stop.  Hope you have a nice Easter."

                    Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

April 19, 1952

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We're both real pleased about B's birthday present.  At first we didn't miss the Mirror much but really do miss it a lot now.  It will be nice to have it again.

I was so sorry about Clair and Dr. Simmons.  At first, I thought I'd send some cards but your letter didn't come until today and the funerals are all over so I decided it would be better not to send any.

Ann's cold is about gone but she still coughs a little and is cross.  She was up at 4:00 this morning to stay so we're tired tonight.  Bobby took her cold and it has really been a bad one.  It is in his eyes now and they are so red and look terrible.  I called the Dr. today about it and have been using ointment on them so they seemed better tonight.

I am sure the nursery had forgotten the iris but they promised to send them Tuesday afternoon.  I bought them at a Normal nursery and not at Kruses.  If you haven't got them by next week I'll call them.

I'm not sure which number from my birth certificate you'll need.

                                            Registration District 275
                                            Primary Registration District 5170B
                                            File No. L
                                            Registered No. L

We are having marvelous weather.  Bobby stays out as long as we'll let him.  I must go to bed.  I can't even see to write."

                   Lots of love,

                          Bonnie

B and his siblings, 1923

B and his sister, 1924

1928

 B and his 6th grade class, 1932

Happy Birthday, Dad!

NOTE:  Early in April of 1952, Truman took control of the steel industry in hopes of averting a strike and maintaining production.  The decision was met with significant opposition and eventually a federal district court determined that his actions were unconstitutional.  In his news conference of April 24, 1952, he addressed the rumor that he was going to seize control of the press and radio by explaining again his actions regarding the steel situation.  For the complete text:  http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14092
 

April 5, 1952 Happy Birthday, Working Hard, Getting Fired and Spraying Water

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Happy Birthday, Mother!  I hope you have your package by now.  It doesn't look like much but there are three kinds of prize iris.  We went to a nursery and had them send the package so I don't know how big the clumps should be.  They are supposed to bloom this year and are the kind with enormous blossoms.  There is a pink, a mahogany and a pink edged in purple.  They promised to mail them so you'd have them by your birthday so let me know if they haven't come.

It isn't very springlike here.  We have a light snow on and it's cold.  I have a cold and have worked so hard to keep the children from getting one.  I just hope they don't get it.

We expect the Wheelers on Sun. afternoon.  They will freeze if the weather doesn't get better.

My pottery class is all over except for getting our finished pieces after they get fired.  I brought an ash tray and a candy jar home last night.  We can't get the other things for about three weeks because of our Easter vacation.

We haven't found any cabinets we like yet but I've been thinking it might be nice to have book shelves on each end of it for you won't need all that cabinet for the radio but if you should think you might want a record player in it sometime the cabinet will have to be made for it.  We'll keep watching & find one sometime.  B gets radio magazines and catalogs all the time.

Bobby filled his dime bank and we let him spend it for what he wanted.  He bought a fire truck that he can ride.  It has a hose and a pump and really sprays water.  It took the whole 10.00 but is such a nice toy and he has certainly enjoyed it.

Have a nice birthday, Mother."

                 Love,

                       Bonnie

                

NOTE:  Bonnie's parents are pictured below on their wedding day, 1906.  Clyde was 18, Lizzie, 16. 

This is the pin Lizzie was wearing and it looks as if Clyde wore one with her picture as well.

Here they are about 10 years later:

And with Bonnie, 1920.

In about 1949:

And in 1952.

Happy Birthday, Grandmother!

March 29, 1952 Watching the Trains, Expecting Bedlam, Wearing Blisters and Hunting Parts for the Radio Cabinet

The radio cabinet, long gone

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"B has taken the children to watch the trains come in the depot so I'll have to fly to do all the things I have planned before they get back.  I can work so much faster when they are out of the house.

Now that the weather is nice why don't you plan to come to see us?  Surely Daddy could have a few days off and you could get your glasses here.  I wish you would.

We are planning Big on having a good time during our Easter vacation for Wheelers are coming afterall.  They will be here a week.  B and Jim will be at a meeting in St. Louis from Mon. thru Wed. so Eve and I will have the kids to ourselves.  I know it will be bedlam with five kids (they have 3) but I'm not going to worry about the house or noise and just have a good time.  I just hope people will leave us alone but I know there will be lots of them wanting to see Wheelers.  We'll go to Alabama in June and be home to see all of you in Aug. when we have a month.

We had fun in Peoria even if it did rain most of the time.  We took our lunch and ate in the car.  The kids were so good and we all had a nice time.  I bought some shoes--Natural Poise--that are rust with natural nylon mesh.  They are real nice.  I got a natural straw purse too, to match the hat I made last year.  B had his razor checked and that is the extent of our shopping.

We ordered Ann some new shoes--red with two straps.  They are awfully cute and she's so proud but they are too big and almost wore blisters yesterday.  We'll have to put these away and get another pair but these are so cute that we don't care if we do have to keep them.

It still stays cold but is so springlike that Bobby has been playing out a lot.  The sandbox is wet and dirty but he doesn't care.

Our radio cabinet is 18" deep, 37" high and 38" wide.  I've been watching ads for pictures but haven't found much.  If you make one this size it will be big enough for any size chassis.  B has decided on part of it but is hunting parts now and that is a slow job.

Ann does better all of the time now without her bottles and hasn't had one at night in several days.  She just loves "mum" (gum), likes to play with her Daddy's "screwdoodle" (screwdriver).  She'll be talking a blue streak by August.

I keep forgetting to look for Bobby's quilt material but will try to remember soon."

                     Lots of love,

                           Bonnie

NOTE:  B loved electronics of all kinds, was always building radios, assembling stereo systems and always trying to create a better sound...a good thing since he liked his music loud!

March 22, 1952 Parsley and Petunias, Eating and Sleeping, Plan It and Build It

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's pouring rain tonight but yesterday was so nice we were outside in sweaters.  I planted some parsley seed around a flower bed at the back door and have petunia seed planted in flower pots in the basement.  It has been so long since I did anything like that they may not even come up.  I bought the seed that Consumers recommended so maybe they will.  Our lawn is terrible--has so many bare spots.  B and Watty keep planning to do something about it but never do.

Bobby loved the circus.  It was after 11:00 when they came home but he wouldn't leave until it was all over.

Ann is still eating a lot and slept all night long last night without waking.  I got up this morning with a crick in my neck.  I told B I wasn't used to sleeping all night and must have stayed in one position all night.  You should hear Ann talk.  She is saying phrases now and picks up a lot of things from David.  He talks real well.  If you do something she likes she says, "Do it again, Mommy" and if I ask, "Who wants an egg?" or anything like that she raises one hand way up and says, "I do".  Her hair is getting so long and she has a fit every time I wash it or comb it.

I had a letter from Bessie this week thanking me for the Christmas presents.  We had Roger's & Marjorie's names so she had expected them to write.

You had better not have the radio cabinet built until B finds out just how big the chassis will be.  It would be terrible to have the cabinet a half inch too narrow.  You might go ahead and plan it then as soon as B makes up his mind on size you could go ahead with the building.

We are planning to go to Peoria tomorrow so I'd better get to bed."

                         Lots of love,

                                  Bonnie

NOTE:  While I'm sure B loved taking Bobby to the circus, on March 22, 1952 he would also have loved seeing a live telecast from Carnegie Hall of Toscanini conducting the NBC orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.  B had an extensive record collection of many great conductors and he loved music.  This particular performance took place 3 days after Toscanini's 85th birthday, and would be his last live telecast because of extreme heat and lighting quality issues in Carnegie Hall.  To see and hear some of the program:  http://conductingmasterclass.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/toscanini-telecast-march-22-1952-from-carnegie-hall-new-york-city/

Time magazine, April 7, 1952

March 15, 1952 The Obligation Dinner, Hiding Bottles, Trying Another Coat and The Pottery Class

Ash tray made by Bonnie, 1952

 Dear Mother & Daddy,    

"Last night we went to a big dinner party so didn't get our letters written.  Two couples went together and had a dinner for 36 people at a hotel.  They are having another one tonight.  That is an easy but expensive way of paying off obligation dinners I guess, but it is lots more fun to have small dinners in homes.

We are trying to take Ann's bottles away from her and she hasn't had a daytime bottle in several days.  We give her the night ones for she simply won't go back to sleep.  We tried offering crackers or a cup of milk but she just begged for a bottle.  Maybe when she gets used to going all day without one and really gets filled up she will sleep all night.  She had got so she didn't eat but a very few bites and then wanted her bottle.  Sometimes she'd want two bottles.  She was filling up on milk and it didn't stay with her.  Since we hid the bottle she eats real well and if she keeps on she will soon start sleeping, I know.  We quit asking the Dr. for help on her sleeping long ago.  They all said we'd just have to hope she'd stop waking.  We have tried everything we can think of and maybe this will do the trick.

It looks so warm out but is really cold.  We bought a used high chair this morning and took the tray off so Ann can sit at the table with us.  She does real well and has been sitting on Bob's stool but he's uncomfortable on a chair.  We can strap her into the high chair too so she can't fall out.

B is taking Bob to the circus at school tonight.  It is quite a big affair and Bob is so excited he can hardly wait.

I have washed our woodwork but it didn't help much for the paint is chipped in so many places.  There are too many coats of paint, I imagine, but I'm going to try another one.

B hopes to teach this summer but we won't actually know till then, I guess.  We hadn't planned to come home until August.  We will have more time then.   Although Jim wrote that he couldn't drive his family up here, we still have hopes that he may change his mind and bring them at Easter.  We are making plans to go to Alabama in June sometime.  I don't know when.  Wheelers have a Pontiac but Jim has thyroid trouble and his blood pressure gets so low that he doesn't have any strength for anything.

The pottery class is lots of fun.  The pieces we make are fairly small--no big vases or flower pots.  I have made a candy jar and some ash trays.  They have to be glazed yet and you can never be sure they will be any good until that is done.  Sometimes they blow up if there is an air bubble in the clay.  If I get anything nice, I'll bring a piece home sometime.

Pottery pieces Bonnie made in the class, 1952

The maple sounds nice for the cabinet.  Have you planned it or where you'll put it?

I don't plan getting any new clothes for spring.  I can wear the checked suit I made and the green coat I made.  I may need a dress but haven't thought much about it.  I have enough hats from last year but am going to have to have some gloves.

B is ready to mail this so bye for now."

                     Lots of love,

                              Bonnie

March 8, 1952 Tired of Snow, Bonnie Turns 32, Postponing the Trip, Papering the Walls and No News Since Christmas

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"More snow!  I am so tired of snow and mud but surely we can't have much more.  I guess this is the kind of weather farmers like, though for the snow melts into the ground so slowly.

I had a real nice birthday.  We didn't do anything special but enjoyed staying at home and not having to go someplace.  B gave me some crystal and I got some tea towels, perfume and some Florida jelly from all the Belshes.  Thanks a lot for your nice package.  My things were awfully nice and the kids just loved the books and candy.  Ann acts so big when she gets a book, too.  She likes to look at the pictures herself but won't sit still and listen to a whole story.

We are having to postpone our trip to Alabama that we had planned for Easter. There is to be a meeting in St. Louis that B and Jim have to go to so we'll go to Alabama in June.  We want Jim to bring his family here to stay during the meeting but he doesn't think they can.

We want to do some papering and painting when it gets nice but this house is so dirty.  My kitchen walls are dirty already.  It has been a long time since I did any papering but I think I could do it.  I'm going to see if I can get pre-pasted paper.  Sears has some and it looks pretty nice.  You just dip it in water and put it on.

I guess I'd better get to work.  I'm sitting here in my pajamas and the house is a mess.  Seems like there hasn't been any news to write since Christmas."

                       Lots of love,

                              Bonnie

 First Grade photo, 1926

About 1936

8th Grade Graduation, 1934

1938

 Happy Birthday, Mom!