December 1, 1956 The Scouts and the Three Kings, The Moths and the DDT, and The Home Improvement Contest and the Prize Money

The scouts 3 Kings ornaments

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's about bedtime for I've been working all evening on a sample Xmas tree ornament.  My scouts have to make ornaments plus a gift for their mothers & dads during December.  I always have to make the things first so they can see what they are doing.  The Scout office gave each Den Mother $10. to buy materials during the year so I don't have to buy the colored paper, paste, etc.  I've spent a lot of time on scouts this week.  All day Tuesday and then Tuesday night we had a program that my group had a part in.  It was a good program so I guess the work was worthwhile.

I know Beulah's family will enjoy the furnace.  I haven't heard from her since I wrote to her.

Our house looks like we just moved in and has most of the week.  Our big rug is at the cleaners so the living room looks so bare.  We started to turn the rug around and found moths in two spots.  They were right at the edge so it won't show much.  We have literally turned the house inside out since then and sprayed everything with DDT.  The house stinks like spray but there wasn't anything else to do.  We didn't find moths in the clothes closets at all.  There were a few under the edge of the dining room rug but they hadn't eaten on it.  We think they were in the house because it had been empty so long when we came in.  We are lucky we found them before anything was really ruined.

I have entered the Better Homes & Gardens home improvement contest but I'm not going to spend the prize money until I get it.  It was a lot of work to fill in the entry form and I probably won't get anywhere with it but so many people talked about the changes we made to our house I thought it would be fun to try.

B has an all-day meeting tomorrow at school.  We have invited Mildred Wells and her son for supper so I'll spend most of the day cooking.  I got a little turkey.

I've started on my Christmas cards but am not finished yet.  Helen and Billy sent us an announcement when their baby came and I've never answered that.  I cut out a blouse about two weeks ago but haven't even looked at it since and I could use it too.  I want to clean the living room ceiling while the rug is out.  It will be so much easier to move the furniture around without the rug.

I am about to fall asleep so I guess I'd better go to better bed."

                           Lots of love,

                                   Bonnie

Clipping of Ann and friends welcoming the Christmas tree at school

NOTE:  Bonnie was always entering contests for fun--original recipes, clothing designs, jewelry and quilt patterns, etc.  I used to tease her about it, dismissing them based on the time and effort it took to enter.  In the late 70's and on a friendly bet, I challenged her to a recipe contest and submitted one without ever having tested it.  Her response was, "Why Ann, you can't do that!"  I did, and to our great shock and surprise, I won $50.00 for it.  We enjoyed many years of joking about it.  Below is the recipe with the name changed by the editors to reflect the theme of the entry, using herbs, if I recall correctly.  Hence, the name of the blog, Haddock and Dill.

Over the next 20 years, Bonnie would win national recognition for a variety of intricate and beautiful Hawaiian quilts, patterns and winning designs.

November 24, 1956 Longies for All, Turkey for Supper and Ham for Lunch

Woman's Day, Nov., 1956

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I hope your rain keeps coming and soaks things good.  We have a good snow on and the kids have really been enjoying it.  B took them to a hill this morning so they could slide.  It is really cold here now and Bob put on his longies without a word.  One of my cub scouts told me, very proudly, that he was wearing long underwear now.  I'm glad you remembered Jerry's in time.  I had wondered if he could wear it.

We didn't do much on Thanksgiving.  I spent most of the day cleaning.  Wattersons brought their turkey and came for supper.  The kids don't get to be together much anymore and they really enjoy themselves when they do.  After supper Watty, B & I went out to their house to look around.  Toni stayed with the kids and did the dishes.  Their house is nice.  The children's bedrooms are in the basement and the walls are plywood panels or sheets.  I would prefer plaster.  The whole house will be finished before long, including the recreation room.

Images from Woman's Day, Nov., 1956

I had a letter from Bessie last week.  Our letters had crossed for I had written her one.  She says they won't be in Richland until the 22nd.  I had hoped she would go order the cake but I'll do it by mail.  If Mrs. Clark can't help us maybe Dorothy Phelps will.  They say Mrs. Clark is better but I think Dorothy did all right last year.  If you bake the ham we won't need anything else but bread for sandwiches and coffee.  I told Bessie everyone could fix his own lunch that day.

Ladies Home Journal, Dec., 1956

I don't know what to suggest for Xmas.  Bob can always use another pair of jeans (12s).  Ann could use a knit cap or hat.  Both children might like books or records.  B needs u. wear and mostly undershirts (42 or 44) or ties.

Hope Daddy feels better by now."

                       Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

NOTE:  As is noted in the article above, 77,000,000 turkeys were produced in 1956, but in 2011, the US produced 248,500,000.   Due to an expected higher cost of turkey feed, the 2013 forecast is for 5.8 billion pounds of turkey meat, down a bit from 2012. 

November 18, 1956 Pumpkin Pie and Ice Cream, 50th Anniversary Details and Planning to Paint

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Saturday is almost gone and I still haven't got my letter written.  Bob had an extra piano class this afternoon and we went from there into Bloomington to get the kids some shoes.  Now it's almost supper time.  B and I are going to a potluck and I am taking pumpkin pie and ice cream.

Tell Rosalynn I appreciate her letter and wish I'd asked her for information sooner.  It had been so long since we heard from her.  She told about her Dad going to Jeff. City but your letter was the first we'd heard about it.

I spent all day yesterday on the anniversary plans and mailed them to Bessie & Beulah today.  I told them you would furnish the coffee, tea, sugar, cream & lemon and that you would hire Mrs. Snoden Clark to make the coffee and wash dishes that afternoon.  We won't plan any Sunday dinner but have stuff for sandwiches and coffee.  Then if anyone comes in expecting to eat they can fix their own.  I think I've told you all of this before.

Everything is frozen now and if we can, we want to cut off the petunias and rake the yard again tomorrow.  Watterson's house is almost done.  B & Watty planned to paint it today but it turned too cold.  I doubt if they'll get it painted before spring now.  We have talked about having Thanksgiving together but they want to work most of the day so I've suggested supper together.  Whatever they want to do is what we'll do for I know how every minute of work counts with them now.  Toni is the most thrilled person I ever saw and she has reason to be.  The old apartment is falling apart and much too small for them.

I had better stop and fix something for the kids to eat."

                               Lots of love,

                                      Bonnie

Snapshots with the letter, Bob, Pretzel & Ann

NOTE:  For pumpkin pie and French vanilla ice cream recipes use the links:

http://www.annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/01/october-9-1942-laundry-pie-and.html

http://www.annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/07/april-1-and-8-1950-skimmed-milk-and-ice.html

November 10, 1956 The Winter, The Dress, The Shirt, The Bakery and The Burmese Dinner

Woman's Day, November, 1956

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Winter has caught up with us and it has been real cold.  For once, I had the kids' coats clean and ready for them to wear.  I had to let down the sleeves and hem in Ann's coat and just hope she can wear it all winter.  B has almost worked himself down to get the storm windows on.  He was determined to paint them first and then had to wash the regular windows before putting them on.  He finished them last night.

I have been trying to get the kitchen cleaned and finally got all the painted surface washed.  That place over the stove is awful to wash without climbing up on the stove to do it.  The cabinets need cleaning out too and I'll clean the wallpaper.

Clippings in the letter

Ann's dress is all done but the buttons.  I want to get them on today so she can wear it to S.S. tomorrow.  I also fixed a shirt of mine which has been too tight for comfort.  It had a big hem so I took the band off and make the shirt bigger.

Will you ask Rosalynn some things for me?  I could write her but she probably wouldn't answer as soon as you'd be writing.  I want to know the name and address of the bakery in Lebanon where we got the cakes last year.  If she doesn't know the address look it up in the telephone book.  I'll have to write about the cake, I guess for I doubt if Beulah would get to Lebanon.

We just got another load of dirt for the north end of the yard.  That means another hard job but we'll be so glad next spring.

We all went to a family supper at the church last night and had such a good time.  B and I are invited to a Burmese dinner tonight.  We have a lot of foreign teachers visiting our campus and B lectured to them several times so a Burmese woman invited us to dinner.  I would love to invite them all for supper some night but don't know when I'd do it.

My mums are real pretty now even if they are funny shaped.  Some petals are long and some short.  The petunias are still blooming but the marigolds and foliage plants are frozen.

B has gone to school to work and the kids are at the neighbor's so I'd better get busy myself."

                            Lots of love,

                                     Bonnie

November 3, 1956 Getting Out the Vote, Paying Off the Mortgage, Mamie Sends A Picture and Mrs. Nixon Sends A Pencil

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'll start this but have a gang of scouts coming to hang voting reminders on door knobs and they have started to gather now.  It's another "get out the vote" scheme for the scouts to do.  I'm tired of all the yelling and screaming and politicking.   Whoever comes out on top in this election will have to be a genius to settle affairs.  Things look bad again in the world and I guess it'll take the wrath of God to bring men to their senses and live in peace.



I have been sewing a little this week and have Ann's dress from the material you gave her about done.  I had to let out the hem and sleeves on her winter coat and get that to the cleaners.

It may turn cold any day now even it it acts like is never will.  Yesterday was a wonderful day.  I finished setting out bulbs along the drive.  They were little and scrubby so they may not amount to anything.  My neighbor gave them to me.

One day this week I cleaned my stove and spent the whole day on it.  It's so clean now I don't want to cook on it.  I never have got around to cleaning my ceilings and can't see much chance of doing it.

B was gone all day yesterday to a meeting but went with some other men so we had the car.

It was a year yesterday since we bought our house.  That was such a stormy, snowy day that we'll always remember it, I guess.  We paid part of our bank loan yesterday and want to pay the rest in the spring.  We haven't bought anything or done anything since we made that and we want to get it out of the way.

I'm supposed to send a cake to a school affair tonight.  We're not going, though.  It's a money making party and we have bought tickets.  They auction and sell everything imaginable.  This year they are having a hat auction and have hats from lots of well-known women.  Mamie sent an autographed picture and Mrs. Nixon sent a pencil.

Maybe there'll be more news to write next week.  Hope you are both fine."

                         Lots of love,

                                 Bonnie

October 27, 1956 Bonnie Risks Jail, First Graders Talk Politics, Practice Makes Perfect, Assignment Moscow and Pies Sitting Down

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This is the only paper I can find to write on.  Maybe I won't end up in the cell next to Hodge if I use it.  Even the first graders talk politics now.  I heard Ann ask Bobby one day if he was for Ike or Eisenhower.  He patiently explained that they were the same man.  The kids come home with poems and riddles about the candidates.  One poem was:

                Ike's in the Whitehouse ready to be elected,
                Stevenson's in the garbage can ready to be collected.

They don't get this in the schoolroom but on the playground from older kids.  Ann asked the other day, "Why did Stevenson kill the dog when he stepped on its tail?"  None of us knew, of course.  She laughed and said, "Because the dog said Ike, Ike, Ike."

Bob's piano lessons are coming along fine now.  He had such a good lesson yesterday that he got a lot of points and stars and was the happiest kid you ever saw.  He has to practice 45 minutes by the clock and everyday except Sunday.  So far, we are doing fine with it and I think yesterday's lesson showed him what good practice can do.  His private teacher is wonderful with him.  She is younger than the one you saw, Mother.  He has one class every week with each teacher.

Everything has been so dry we started watering our lawn.  It is getting green again and we finally had almost a half-inch rain.  Everything looks so much better now.  I think all my mums are white.  If yours bloom try to remember where the yellow ones are, will you?  I'd like to get one of them.

Bob was fine by Sunday and went to S. School.  I found out then that this sort of thing was going all over town.  It hit me Wed. night and B had a touch of it Thursday.   I was real sick Thurs. but Toni brought me some medicine that settled my stomach.  We had so many things to do Thurs. but all I managed to do was make two pies to send to a school supper.  I did that sitting down but I had promised and had to do it.

B took them to school for me.  Then I went to bed.  I was supposed to take two new wives to a party in the afternoon but called the hostess and said I couldn't.  B took the kids to the school supper and we sent our regrets to another party that night.  I wanted to go because it was a reception for a newspaper correspondent whose assignment was Moscow.  He showed some pictures afterwards.

The kids are going to a Halloween party at the church this afternoon.  I have to send a couple dozen cookies so I'll have to stop & get them ready.

B is cutting wood for the fireplace this morning.  It stays warm but each day is just a mite cooler so one of these days we'll wake up to find snow."

                           Lots of love,

                                    Bonnie

NOTE:  Orville Hodge was the Illinois State Auditor, imprisoned in 1956 for embezzling 1.5 million from state funds, creating a big scandal (the first of many to come) for the state.

October 21, 1956 The Falling Leaves, The Wonderful Vacation and The Busy Week

Woman's Day, October, 1956

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Another beautiful day!  Everyday I wonder how many more we're going to have.  The leaves keep falling and we keep raking.  That big elm in the back really has a lot of leaves.  The mum buds are beginning to open.  We keep watering them so they'll bloom because everything is so terribly dry here, too.  The buds aren't open enough yet for me to tell what color the mums will be.  I really don't care but it's fun watching them open.

We're supposed to get a load of black dirt to fill in on the north this morning.  I finally had to call a man in a little town about 16 miles out.  There wasn't any good dirt in Normal or Bloomington for sale now.

Bob is sick this morning.  Nothing much seems wrong but he lost his supper in the night last night and has a little fever.  He doesn't even have a sore throat so I guess it's just an upset stomach.

Ann is fine and loving school more every day.  She is learning to read and does so well that it always surprises me when she can read a simple story to me.  She seems so little to me.

B is helping Watty waterproof their basement today.  I haven't been out to see the house this week but the plastering is done in two rooms and they are ready to work in the basement bedrooms.

I think you had a wonderful vacation.  I'd like to go to Roaring River sometime.  It seems like we're always too tired of riding once we get to Richland to go anywhere else.

It's been a pretty busy week even if there isn't much news.  I sold another article but won't get paid for it till Feb.  It's to go in that issue.  I set the bricks in under the water faucet & downspout by the back steps one day, waxed the kitchen floor & took the scouts to the park one day.  We all went to a Sunday School picnic last Sunday evening and had a wonderful time.  Tomorrow I have to help in S.S. kindergarten.  They have started a new type of program (like school) so I have to do some reading on it before tomorrow.  Next week is full of things to do.  Hope you both are fine."

                           Lots of love,

                                  Bonnie

NOTES:  To see what was on TV for October '56:

And there are clippings in the letter from the Bloomington Pantagraph, Oct. 19, 1956.  I remember very well when the library received the Lois Lenski drawings.  We made many trips to the ISNU Library to see its extensive and varied collections of children's literature over the years.  Many readers will be familiar with Lenski's easily recognizable illustrations.

Me and friends

October 13, 1956 ISNU Homecoming, Hopping Bonnie, Falling Leaves, Waiting for Good Dirt, Green Tomato Mincemeat and Autumn Cranberry P-Apple Salad

The Index, 1956

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This is homecoming week-end here so there is lots of excitement around.  I wish you could have been here to see the fun.  Last night we drove around after dark to see the houses all decorated up and then went to the bonfire.  There were so many houses to see that we didn't get in on the pep meeting they have around the bonfire.  Each year they make a pile of boxes and boards about as big as a house and have a pep meeting before the big homecoming football game.  This morning we watched the parade from Watterson's front porch.  Bob marched in his cub scout uniform and you never saw such a proud kid.

Woman's Day, Oct., 1956

This has been quite a week.  There has been something extra everyday so I haven't even done the things I need to do like iron or clean.  I've had a meeting with each of the kid's teachers, worked at a church supper, and both B & I had another church meeting besides two days for piano and today was swimming day.  Then I had the scouts here Tuesday after school.  There are 8 of them and they keep me hopping.

Today is such a marvelous day I wish we could go some place special.  The leaves are all colors and are falling fast.

Did I tell you we planned to fill in a bit north of the house?  We still haven't got the dirt because the place was out of the good dirt I got before and we've been waiting.  Mrs. Hodge had her bulbs dug up and gave me a box of them.  They are mostly narcissus and I put them around the walk and drive.

We were glad to get your letter and know that you were home again.  We really enjoyed having you here but the time went awfully fast.  I'm glad you had such a nice trip and I don't blame Daddy for not wanting to go to town.  It's about time he had a vacation.

I had a letter from Beulah after you got home.  That was real luck on the linoleum.  I'm so glad she could use it.  The bulbs finally came but I haven't had a chance to mail them to her.  It will be a rather late birthday present.

I made green tomato mincemeat and it was delicious.  It's every bit as good as real mincemeat.

We have a Sunday School picnic tomorrow afternoon and I have to make a salad to take.  Maybe I'd better get it done.

Hope you aren't too tired."

                      Lots of love,

                              Bonnie

NOTE:  Bonnie enjoyed college and pro sports and understood the games well.  She would find it amusing that a woman's magazine provided details as pictured above.  Readers who knew her can imagine her saying, "Why in the world would you bother to watch a game you didn't understand!"

September 29, 1953 The Upcoming Visit, The Directions, The Rugs at Last and The Worrisome Drapes

Lizzie and Clyde, Bonnie's parents

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Ann bounced in from school just as I started this.  She talks a mile a minute so it may not make sense.

We are thrilled to pieces that you are coming to see us and don't worry about bringing anything at all except yourselves.  We will look for you Tues. but if you can't get here by then you had better call us (if there isn't time to write) because I'd be worried.  The kids can hardly wait.

I suppose you'll go to Buddy's on the way.  We are easy to find.  Stay on 66 until the turn off for Bloomington.  That is City 66 and goes straight thru Bloomington and on into Normal.  City 66 is also called Main St. both in Bloomington & Normal.  Stay on this street until you come to a stop sign beside the University farm.  66 turns right here and becomes Willow Street.  Stay on Willow for three blocks.  This takes you to School St.  Turn left onto School St. and our house will be the second one from the corner on your right.

I'm so glad you have your rugs and know you are both glad, too.  Deciding on something big like that can almost make one sick, sometimes.  My drapes almost worried me to death.

I want to get this mailed so we'll be looking for you."

                           Lots of love,

                                Bonnie

            

September 22, 1956 A Beautiful Morning, Company for Supper, 212 For Dinner and A Bus Ride to Town

Chase and Sanborn coffee ad, Ladies Home Journal, Sept. 1956

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is a beautiful morning after being cold much of the week.  There have been so many colds around since the cold days started and now Ann has one.  She was awake most of last night with a stuffed up nose and coughing.

We had company for supper and they stayed late last night so we're all kind of lazy this morning.  The man who is teaching B's classes (while he works on curriculum) is married and has a 6 year old girl.  She and Ann had a big time.  I had invited Mildred Wells and her little boy but he was sick so they couldn't come.  Bob had to have someone to play with so we invited a neighbor boy to eat with us too.

B is on the program committee for the Philosophy of Ed. Society which meets in the spring at Easter time.  The chairman has called a meeting for today and tomorrow near Champaign.  They wanted him to come and stay all night but he didn't want to and besides we had promised to go to a pot luck supper tonight.  He'll try to get back before 6:00 tonight and then go back tomorrow and have to hurry back for a reception at 3:00.  B was disgusted about the meeting being called but can't get out of it.  The reception is for new faculty couples and we have to take the couple we had here last night.  We have to introduce them around and be their hosts.

My big dinner will be over Tuesday night.  We have all worked so hard, and have had to make some quick changes on things so we were afraid there wouldn't be many there.  But we have 212 reservations and that's the most that have ever come to one of these things.

Bob grumbles about piano but enjoyed his first lesson.  They all had fun.

Will you go through your Olson stuff and send me a shipping tag.  A friend gave me an old 9x12 rug and I don't have a tag to tie on it.  It ought to give you a lot of poundage.

I made rolls for supper last night.  They were the first ones I've made in ages and turned out real good.  I used one of the recipes Beulah gave me this summer.

The children still like school.  We are lucky about them going to the University training school because they won't take but just so many in each room.  There are about 26 in each room, I think.  The public schools here are terribly crowded.  Normal is building another grade school in the north end of town.  It's to be ready next year.

Ann's hair looks real cute.  It isn't very curly because she was too impatient for me to take the curlers out but it is soft and the ends turn up.

Woman's Day, Oct. 1956

I've done pretty well on my sewing this week.  Both of my dresses are almost ready to wear.  The "wash and wear" one is real pretty with the red trim on it.

B will have the car today so I'll have to take the kids to Bloomington on the bus for Bob's swimming lesson.  So I'd better get moving or I won't get my beds made."

                Lots of love,

                    Bonnie
                                         

Milnot Rolls

Mix 3 cups flour, 2 tsp. sugar and 1/2 tsp. salt.  Heat 1 can Milnot & enough water to make 2 cups.  Add 1/2 stick butter and 1 T sugar.  Soften yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.  Mix all together.  Add 1 cup flour and knead until smooth.   Form into rolls, let rise & bake at 375 for about 10-15 minutes.  Brush with melted butter while still hot.  

September 16, 1956 In and Out Like Flies, In Full Swing, Sour Apples and A Bundle to Send

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Maybe I can write this but the kids have been going in and out like flies all morning.  It is cool and cloudy after a big rain last night.  Our grass seed hasn't started to sprout because it has been so dry.  We tried watering but that isn't like a rain.  Maybe it will come up now.

School is in full swing now.  The kids registered Wed. afternoon but didn't start till Thursday morning.  They are both so happy about it.  Everyone was ready for it to start.  Bob's piano classes begin next week.

 

I have been sewing this week.  I'm still working on that blue crepe.  I cut Ann's dacron dress material that you gave her (the blue check) and then cut the material I had ordered from Sears.   It was so ugly when it came that I almost sent it back.  After I looked at it awhile I decided it would make up all right.  I'll put some red trimming on it and a red belt.  If I remember it, I'll put a sample in so you can see what it's like.

I gave Ann a Toni this morning.  Her hair looked so terrible I thought I'd try it.  It is still rolled up so I don't know how it will look.

Those apples we picked off that little tree are the sourest things you ever saw.  Maybe they were too green but they are so tart you can't get them sweet.  I've made pies and apple crisp too and put almost two cups of sugar in the apple crisp.  It was still sour.

It is beginning to look like fall now.  The lawns are getting brown and some leaves are starting to fall.

Bob got his monopoly set and has played almost every free minute.  It is a long game and one game will go on for days but the kids leave the board set up and come back to it every day.  I'm surprised that they interest lasts so long.

B's mom wrote that she had ordered her rugs.  I still have a bundle to send to Olsons so you can have the coupon if you should decide to order.  Why don't you and Daddy decide to get rugs and go to Springfield and get them or else order them.  They won't get any cheaper and the longer you wait the harder it is to decide.

I must stop and get some lunch.  We're all kind of droopy after the first week of school.  There was something extra most every day for one of us."

                        Lots of love,

                            Bonnie                                        

September 8, 1956 The Phone, The Lawn, 42 Quarts, 8 Pints and The Sore Toe

Woman's Day, Nov., 1956

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This week has seemed long and yet I haven't got much of anything done.  Most of my time has been spent on the phone or talking to someone about the dinner for the Faculty Women.  I'll be so glad when that is over.

We fertilized and seeded the lawn one evening after supper.  There aren't even any weeds around the patio and we want some grass started there before winter.

The weather is like winter almost.  We had the furnace on this morning and smoke was boiling out of chimneys around.

Our neighbors are home so I won't be canning any more tomatoes.  I had a bucket ready to can when they got home so I just took the tomatoes to them since I had cleaned the patch that morning.  I have canned 42 quarts and made 8 pints of preserves and I think that is quite a lot of free tomatoes.  Ours are ripening now but they had better hurry or the frost will get most of them.

Life, September 21, 1955

Bob and Ann have been lost this week with their pals in school.  The public schools began last Tuesday.  I let them set up a Kool-Aid stand one day and thought they would drink the Kool-Aid before anyone even passed but they fooled me.  They have made .45 and Bob won't let even Ann have a free glass.  He's saving for a monopoly set, he says.

We've been practicing a little piano this week and doing fine with it.

I finished Ann's dress and my dress and wore it today.  It looks real nice.  I ordered the other one for myself.  There wasn't anything downtown that I cared about.  I ordered some wash and wear print from Sears.  Wards had some Dacron left from summer but it was .97 a yard and not too pretty.  I didn't think you'd want it so I didn't get any.  If there are any Vogue patterns you want send me the numbers and I can get them for you.  They are good patterns.  I have a crepe dress cut out but haven't even basted any on it yet.

Watterson's house is started.  The foundation is practically in.  Toni can hardly wait and I don't blame her.  The man who owns the house on North St. where we lived has started working on it at last.  They tore out the old furnace and the basement partitions and put in a new oil furnace.  They are redecorating the whole thing.

Daddy must take care of his hand and I hope it is about well.  B has had such a sore toe but it is healing.  He stuck the spading fork thru his shoe (canvas shoes) when he was digging some potatoes at his Dad's to bring home with us.  It is his big toe and the nail is going to come off.  The soreness will soon be gone but it will be a nuisance until the nail is off.

Take care of yourselves."

                    Lots of love,

                              Bonnie

NOTE:  For the tomato preserves recipes:

 http://www.annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/05/september-9-1947-vermont-house.html