December 14, 1958 Snappy, Overtired, Fun and Real Lucky

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's snappy today.  It was 3 below when we got up but the temp. is going up a tiny bit now that the sun is out.  B has taken the children to Bloomington for the day--or a big part of it anyway.  They wanted to do some shopping and I am invited to a luncheon so he's going to let them eat downtown, too.  They may come home with the Xmas tree.

I have been down at the church working on costumes for the Xmas program.  The girl who was supposed to do it is sick so we all had to help out a little.

B and I were hosts for a church supper last night.  He helped me fix the tables at noon yesterday and then I set the dishes on by myself.   We took bread and butter and made the coffee.  The rest was pot luck.  Bob didn't go with us because it was Bruce's birthday and he went home with him for supper.

This has really been a full week.  I've been trying to get my Xmas cards done but am still working on them.

I got overtired so spent Thursday in bed.  My throat was sore that morning and I couldn't stay up.  I'm all right now but a little wobbly.  I missed a band program at school that Bob was in and the Quill club Xmas party but simply couldn't stay up.

Our dime store purchase, 89¢

The Clarinetist

I didn't realize this paper was so thin.  It's hard to read this so I'll start a new page.

My party Wed. night was real nice.  We each told about a Xmas family custom or a Christmas idea.  It was fun.  That was all the program.

We still plan to come home on Dec. 23 so I probably won't write again before then.  It depends upon the weather how early we start so I have no idea when we'll get there.

Hope your cold is better.  We've been real lucky so far."

                 Love,

                     Bonnie


Thanks for reading another year of letters!

December 6, 1958 The Potluck, The Two Coats, The Shopping, The Education Wives and The Hall Walls

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Saturday again!  The days go so fast I can't keep up.  We had our potluck supper last night so I'm a little mixed up.  It is usually on Saturday.  B has gone to school for the day.  There is a big meeting going on and we have to go to a tea this afternoon for a new Dr. the University has hired.  Bob is watching TV and waiting for Bruce to come.  That's his farm pal.  They are going to have lunch here & then go to a movie.  Ann has gone shopping with a friend.  She took most of her money so no telling what she'll come back with.

We ordered two coats for her and she has had a terrible time choosing between them.  As soon as she made up her mind we wrapped and mailed the other one back.  I can't see why there is such a difference in price in the catalogs & stores.  We ordered this one from Sears and it is better quality and cheaper than the ones in the Sears Peoria store.  The Sears store here doesn't sell clothes anymore.

I had a nice letter from Bessie.  I guess they left Thurs., as planned.  I really didn't expect an answer to my Xmas letter but was glad to hear from her.  We'll mail Francis's children their gifts.  We just got books for them all--even cloth books for Patty.  I just about have my shopping done but haven't started writing cards.  That is such a job.

I entertain the Education Wives next week so I have to do a little extra cleaning.  My hall walls are awful.

We probably will come home on Tuesday, the 23rd.  B's mother is planning her party on Xmas Eve as usual but you probably have already talked to her.

I must stop & get to work.  Hope you both are fine and keeping warm.  It's terribly cold here."

                                Lots of love,

                                      Bonnie

November 29, 1958 The Quiet Thanksgiving, The Plain Ridiculous Price, The Talk and The Rolling Rice Cakes

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Winter has really come to us now.  We got up yesterday and there was a good snow on the ground.  The kids were dressed and outside before we even thought about getting up.  It snowed all morning but not hard.  Storm warnings were out everywhere but we didn't get much out of it.  Most of it was south of us so we went to Peoria yesterday afternoon.  We did a tiny bit of shopping.  I guess grass is always greener on the other side of the fence but we can do as well in Bloomington as any place.  Everything is too high everywhere.  We looked for Ann a coat and there wasn't anything less than $20.  That is plain ridiculous.

I'm so sorry about Mrs. George but at least, she didn't have to be sick a long time.

We had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving alone.  There weren't even any kids running in and out.  Maybe I told you we wrote to Wheelers after you said you couldn't come.  They couldn't come so we asked some people here.  They were going to Joliet so I quit asking and we ate alone.  We had a little turkey with the trimmings including our best china and crystal.  That's the way the kids wanted it.

I had planned to get a lot done this week but I was asked to give a talk on Monday to a college class on Japanese children's stories so I spent the first part of the week working on that.

I knew I couldn't work on it with the kids home & their vacation began Wed. noon.  Toni was here, just visiting, Wed. morning so I just had Mon. & Tues. to work but the class doesn't meet till 3:00 Monday afternoon & I just hope no one comes Monday morning.

I finally got a letter from the Japanese china company.  They don't even know what kind of china I bought--apparently they don't keep records like that.  But they'll give me a price if I send them a sketch, or better yet, a plate.  I'm not going to send them a plate but when we're home at Xmas I'll sketch a plate.  I used to have an illustrated folder from them but threw it away.  Maybe we'll get some prices from them by next Xmas.

I want to write to Buddy & Bessie so had better stop."

                    Lots of love,

                             Bonnie

November 22, 1958 Shopping, Cleaning, Writing, Typing and Behind with Housework

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's beautiful but cold and has been for several days.  I would like to do a little more yard work today but there are too many other things to do.

I took Ann to choir practice at 9:00 this morning and we went from there to a piano recital.  I'm real proud of the way she plays.

Bob is still in his pajamas watching TV and B has gone shopping.  I started cleaning yesterday but stopped and went to Bloomington.  Ann had to have new shoes before Sunday because the choir is singing in the Thanksgiving service.  I bought some Christmas cards yesterday, too.  We'll have to get the ones to Japan on their way soon.

The store where you bought your Haviland is closing out their pieces like your set for half price.  I asked if the pattern had been discontinued and the man said it was retired.  They won't stock it but some pieces can still be ordered from the factory.  He said the prices would be high and he couldn't guarantee getting any of them.  They had only a few pieces in the store and you have all of them except the sauce dishes.  He had just a dozen of them.  They were priced at $17.61 for the dozen & that is just half the price they were.  I was tempted to buy them but was afraid you might not want me to.  They might still have them if you should want them.

I still haven't heard from the Japanese china company.  I don't see how they could send a dozen saucers for much less than the Haviland.

My Christmas play centers around a little boy who wanted to have a birthday party for Jesus at the family's Christmas celebration.  Part of the party is the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible while it is acted out.

I've worked on my book a lot this week and I guess that is why I'm behind with my work today.  I still have a closing chapter to write and that will be hard to do.  I haven't even started it.

Ladies Home Journal, Dec., 1958

We will have Thanksgiving by ourselves I guess.  When you couldn't come, I wrote to Wheelers.  They couldn't come so I invited some friends here and they couldn't come so that's that.

I promised to type out some recipes for our church youth group.  They are making up a cook book to sell so I'd better get to work on that.

Hope you both are fine."

                     Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

November 15, 1958 The Storm Sewer, The Slim & Trim Class, The Christmas Play and The Ironing Board

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The morning is practically gone and I haven't done anything much but we didn't get up very early.  We all went to a church potluck supper last night and were late getting home.  They have these suppers once a month and we enjoy them but haven't got to go much this winter.  There is always something else we have to do.

Our street is a big mess.  The town is laying a storm sewer (an extra one) because so many people get water in basements and because the town is growing so fast.  There is a big ditch in front of our house and they will be digging up part of our drive.  Things probably will be in a mess all winter.  The men got rained out yesterday or they probably would be past our place by now.  We needed the rain but I wish it had waited till after today.  I would like to have gotten the yard cleaned up again.

We raked leaves once but I spent two afternoons this week and still didn't get done.  We have most of the leaves off the yard but I want to get them off the iris and other flowers.

The Faculty Women have started a 30 min. Monday night class for women which they call Slim & Trim.  It is held on Swim nights so you can get all warmed up with exercises and then swim a while.  I went last week and it was lots of fun.  I keep telling B that I'm going to be so slim and trim by next summer that I'll have to have a new swim suit.

I've spent a lot of time working on slides this week.  I'm going to talk to the 7th grades at school on Monday.  They have been studying the Far East and their teacher called me about it.  I don't know him but I said I'd come.

We hadn't thought much about Christmas until this week.  Our Dec. calendar is beginning to fill up and I'm beginning to feel the pressure already.  Our Sunday School is going to use a play I wrote for their Xmas program and they have started on that.  I won't have to do any of the work but I may want to go to a few rehearsals to see how they are doing.  I spent a day typing out the parts and that is a big job.  I was quite thrilled at first about their doing it but I get cold feet when I think about it now.  They are going to do a nice job though, and are going to make new costumes for it.  They have picked good people to do it so it should turn out fine.  It will be given on Sunday night before Xmas and we still don't know when we'll get to come home or how long we'll get to stay.

I must write to Bessie soon.  I wish we could have been with all of you.  They must be excited about their trip.  I know I would be.

I wish Maxine could sell her novel and I hope she has a good agent.  I don't think I'd ever send a peanut to one.  That agent kept my book two years.  I can't seem to find a bit of time to work on rewriting that book.  I keep thinking I'll get going on it but never do.

I guess I had better stop this and get busy.  The ironing board is waiting for me, as usual."

                       Lots of love,

                              Bonnie

NOTES:  I don't remember anything about the goofy snapshot and there was no notation on the envelope or photo.  I assume it may have had something to do with preparing for the presentation on Japan for the 7th grades.  Most likely Mom was going to take the kimonos to show and we were just messing around.

It would be a year before the Christmas play was published, but I know Mom was pleased with the play and enjoyed seeing it at the church.

November 9, 1958 The Extra Things, The Killing Frost, The Nice Sounding Quilt and The Kids Got Supper

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'm late this week but I've done a few extra things the last two days and that always takes longer than I expect.  I went to school yesterday morning to talk to Ann's teacher awhile.  So I spent the afternoon cleaning the house up a bit.

B went to Springfield to some sort of meeting on school business and was gone all day.  A few stores are open Friday night so all of us went to the dime store and got Ann some mittens.


It rained last night and none of us woke up very early this morning.  I really had to buzz around to get some pies made because I had promised one for a luncheon the church was serving.  It was still hot when I took it down there but it was pumpkin so that was all right.

Then this afternoon I decided to get a permanent and that took the whole afternoon.  B and the kids had gotten supper & were eating when I got home. 

We had a killing frost one night but it didn't get all the flowers.  I cut all I could yesterday but it didn't get as cold last night as they expected.  It still hasn't been very cold yet.

Your wool quilt sounds nice.  I don't think I have a thing you could use.  Neckties are pretty sometimes but wool ones are few around here.

Ann is going to a birthday party after school Monday.  We all hope to go swimming Monday night.

We are all fine but there isn't much news.  Hope you both are fine."

                             Lots of love,

                                     Bonnie

NOTES:  The children's story pictured above is from an old University of Chicago publication and the content is purely coincidental, even though I'm sure Bob and I probably thought it was strictly for us!

All of the women in our family were always working on quilts of one type or another.  The wool one referred to in the letter and pictured above always seemed to me almost too heavy to be practical although it's the warmest one ever.  It is a simple, pieced quilt, made from years of leftover wool scraps and backed with flannel. 

The oldest family quilt we still have was made in the 1830's by Mom's Great Great Grandmother.  It was made with hand-loomed linen and has raw cotton batting.  It is stored carefully and never used in order to preserve it as best we can. Quilts will be a continuing theme throughout the letters for the next 2 decades.

November 2, 1958 The Babysitting Queen, Trick or Treat for UNICEF and Not Much of a Letter

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We've been having the most wonderful weather--chilly but sunny.  It is beginning to rain now though, and is raw outside.  It really is time for bad weather to begin.  Three years ago today we bought our house and that was the wettest, snowiest cold day.  We have made a lot of changes in the house since then but still have things to do.

Ann had a recital this morning.  I think she plays so well to be so little.  Bob isn't doing much on the clarinet yet, but maybe I expect too much too quickly.

Phyllis didn't come last week-end.  In fact, no one came in for coffee even but I was ready for them anyway and it didn't matter.  We went to the ball game and almost froze.  Did I tell you one of our sitters was queen?

Judy Darby

The kids almost popped they were so pleased.  We fixed a big bouquet of mums and took them to her room in the dormitory.  She was really happy about it.

The kids dressed up and went trick or treating last night.  Ann went out for UNICEF first and then took a paper bag later.

The Watterson kids came in and went with them so they had fun.  Bob's room went on a skating party and Ann's room had a regular Halloween party at school.  I had to send cookies for it and have to fix something for Cub Scouts.  I may just buy candy bars for them.

This isn't much letter but I just can't think of anything to write.  Hope you both are fine."

             Lots of love,

                    Bonnie

NOTE:  Trick or Treating for UNICEF has been an active program of kids helping other kids around the world since about 1950 and is still in operation.  Consider involving your children!  Here's how:
http://teachunicef.org/take-action

October 25, 1958 The Town is Buzzing, The Houses are Decorated, The Potatoes are in the Oven and It's Homecoming Weekend

Friday Night

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is Homecoming Week-end here so the town is buzzing.  The houses are decorated and there will be the big parade and ball game tomorrow.  After dark tonight we'll drive around to see the house decorations and then go over to the big bonfire.  We have been expecting Phyllis to come in but she may not come this year.  I have some ham and scalloped potatoes in the oven if she does come.

The weather has been wonderful and my mums are beautiful.  The yard was so clean a week ago after we raked all day but it is full of leaves again.  Most of the leaves are past being pretty now and will soon be gone.

This has been a busy week but not so bad since we didn't have to both be gone at the same time.  I had a committee meeting Mon. night and B took the kids swimming.  We both went to Sorensen's Tuesday night and B had a meeting Wednesday.  I went to Quill Club Thurs. night and we were both  home the rest of the week.

This is Saturday.  We have been to see the parade and I can't get warmed up.  It is cold and cloudy today.  B will go to the football game but I don't know whether I'll go or not.  Ann can't make up her mind about what she wants to do.

I have written to Japan about the dishes for Mae and I also asked about the berry dishes you want but I haven't heard from them.  I asked for a price first.

I know the wide panels will look nice in Beulah's house.  Those rooms are so big.  Wattersons used that kind of paneling in the kids' bedrooms.  We considered it for the upstairs but got a better price on the narrow boards.

I'm not quite ready for cold weather.  The kids need gloves and Ann needs some slacks.  I must get them soon.

Hope you both are fine.  Do you think you can come Thanksgiving?  I still haven't written to Buddy & Bessie."

                           Lots of love,

                                  Bonnie

October 18, 1958 Cookies and Cranberry Tea, The Six Pound Meatloaf and The Ideal Weather

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"For a change, I am home tonight but B is out to a meeting.  The kids are watching T.V.  This week hasn't been so bad, though.  Our church group met here Monday night so I cleaned up the house a bit and made some cookies that day.

I had a houseful--20 some.  We had cranberry tea and cookies so it didn't matter how many came.  It is a little like a hot punch and is real good.

I went to a committee meeting Wed. afternoon and then helped with the P.T.A. penny supper last night.  I made a 6 lb. meatloaf for it and then helped served salad last night.  It was a good supper and I guess we served around 1500 people.  We have 600 children in our school and when all those families come it makes a crowd.  Lots of towns people go to eat, too.  I was tired after it was over but yesterday was Etta's birthday so I went down to see her a while before bedtime.

My cold is much better.  My ears were stopped up for a few days but they are all right again.  I still cough a little but not much.  I didn't go to S.S. last Sunday because I was coughing pretty much but the rest of the family went.

The paneling will be real nice in Beulah's house.  It's a lot of work to finish but is easy to take care of.  Their house will be easier to heat, too.

I would love to see Granny Gibson and I'd like for the kids to get to talk with her.

The weather is ideal now.  We drove to the country last Sunday & the kids found some Paw Paws.  We kept going & wound up at a nursery full of mums.  I bought a spoon mum to add to my collection.  My mums are beautiful now and I have several colors.  Those from home are budded but are so slow at coming out.  They must not be suited to this climate.

B & Bobby plan to rake leaves tomorrow.  Our yard is full but there are still lots on the trees.

Bobby and the gang

Well, I'm out of news and paper too, so bye for now."

                            Lots of love,

                                     Bonnie

October 12, 1958 The Full Week, The Faculty Women, The Quill Club and Tom Sawyer

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This has really been a full week but we haven't done anything today except clean up after our dinner party last night.  We had a nice time but we had all the dishes to wash today.   Some of the women wanted to wash them last night but I'd rather do them myself.  I tried to get a student but there aren't any classes on Monday because of a teachers' meeting so all the girls were going home.  We got along fine and everything was good.  Woody really has some good pictures and so many interesting things to tell.  He gave us a set of his new books.  There are four of them and one of our slides was in one.

Included in the letter

I went to Faculty Women's Club Tuesday night and introduced the four new women from our department.  I got my suit finished and wore it but almost roasted.  It was rather warm and rainy that evening and the air conditioning was broken so it was terribly hot in the dining room.  My throat was a little sore and Wednesday morning it was terrible.  I was supposed to work at the church.  I got up and went down for a few minutes but came home and spent the rest of the day in bed.  B took the children to the church for supper and brought mine to me.

Quill Club met here Thurs. night but I didn't clean my house.  I just dusted & I didn't even clean yesterday.  B swept the rugs and I spent the day cooking.

I've been wearing my brown dress but it will be just a "clean-up" dress.

Maybe if Daddy asks for that back interest every week for awhile you'll get it.

The kids went to the show (Tom Sawyer) in Bloomington & B has to go after them.  I want him to mail this so bye for now."

                              Lots of love,

                                     Bonnie


NOTE:  The classic Tom Sawyer movie was originally released in the late 30's, but re-released in 1958.   Watch a little of it below.