December 21, 2013 Getting Organized, Working My Sox Off, Thanking Readers and Wishing All a Very Special Christmas and New Year!

The waiting letters

 Dear Friends,

We have nearly reached the half-way point in the letters!  As you can see, I have a lot of organizing to do in order to begin the next 29 years.  I'm taking a break and so it will be a few days before we begin the 1960s.  As Bonnie would say, I've about worked my sox off!  

Thank you for reading the letters,  for your emails and comments.   May peace and joy be yours this holiday season and always. 

Best wishes,

Ann

To get into the 1959 holiday spirit:


The following piece from the December, 1959 Family Circle magazine was much beloved and read for many years at Christmas time.  I hope you enjoy it!

And finally, below is a brief look at a decade of ads and images from the popular magazines of the 1950s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVyUUm8xo4M   See you in 1960!

December 12, 1959 Tea and Cookies, Shopping Finished, Sort of a Hectic Day and The Last Letter of the Decade

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Our house looks like Christmas had hit it.  We put the tree up last Monday night and it is pretty.

 Of course, we unpacked all the decorations but I haven't had time to really arrange any of them so things are just piled around.  The mantle is a mess and the dining table is just as bad.  I haven't been home long enough to do anything.

Went downtown two days and got most of my shopping finished.  The weather was nice so I wanted to do it while I could.

I helped Faith Larsen with a tea Thursday afternoon and made cookies to take to the Quill Club party that night.   I was a hostess.

B was in Peoria all day Thurs. and that night too so I had to get a sitter to stay with the kids.  It was sort of a hectic day.

I have mailed most of my cards but have a few to do yet.

I have to help with a tea tomorrow afternoon and then help Faith with another one Mon. afternoon.  Besides that I am invited to a tea, a coffee, have a Brownie Xmas party, give a talk to the High School Home Ec. Club and go to the kids' Xmas program at school all between now and next Friday.  Do you think I'll make it?  I forgot about our Potluck Christmas party which is tomorrow night.

Clippings from Bonnie's Christmas file, 1959

Our church is having a Christmas supper so I'll have to fix tables for that on the 20th.  That is better than going every day for practice on a play.  I suggested the supper instead and wrote the invitations to send to families.  They want to have the play again next year.

I guess I'd better get the house straightened up a bit.  Someone will come if I don't.

Hope you all are fine."

                       Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

December 5, 1959 Cold & Dreary, Branches of Barberry and Hum-Dingers

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We have had two beautiful autumn-like days but it rained last night and today is cold and dreary.  I worked in the yard yesterday morning--raked leaves for the fourth time.  My neighbors' leaves kept blowing back.  We have such a little bit of grass in the front that I was afraid the leaves would smother it out.  And the pile of dirt from the porch is still there.  I put a little of it into the ruts the cement truck made but I ran out of time and energy and had to quit.  B hoped to get the rest cleaned up today but he has an all day meeting at school today and the dirt is awfully wet now.  The speaker for the meeting is the former superintendent of Little Rock--Blossom I think his name is.  I would like to hear him, too.

We had our S.S. class supper last night.  I made apple cake for the dessert and everyone liked it.  There were 26 people there and we had a nice time.  I had painted branches of barberry white and hung little red paper birds all over it for centerpieces.  I used red candles and Xmas napkins so the tables were real pretty.

I have been struggling with Xmas cards and shopping.  Have the cards about addressed but still have a lot of notes to write.  My shopping isn't nearly finished and the next few days are going to be hum dingers.

It begins tomorrow with a S.S. teachers' meeting, the Christmas program at the University and a dinner-caroling party tomorrow night.  Quill Club party is next week and I'm a hostess (have to take cookies).  We go to a dessert party, our potluck group party and I'm scheduled to help Faith Larsen with some Christmas coffees she always has for different school groups.  I don't have to make anything--just help her serve.



 We plan to start home after lunch on the 23rd.  It will be 9:00 or 10:00 before we get there but it will be better than driving Xmas Eve.  That way we can be at Belshe's on Xmas Eve and with you on Xmas day if you plan it that way.  We will have to come back on Sunday.  It is awfully short but better than not at all.  It seems like Xmas is coming awfully quick this year.  We got our first card yesterday.

I must get to work on the house.  I meant to clean yesterday but when the weather was so nice I spent the time outdoors.

Hope you both are fine."

                           Lots of love,

                                   Bonnie

NOTE:  Read about Virgil Blossom's work on the integration of Little Rock's school system:

http://libinfo.uark.edu/specialcollections/findingaids/blossomaid.html

November 26, 1959 The Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, The Cranberry Uproar and The Christmas Cards

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We have had an old-fashioned Thanksgiving with snow and everything.  It has stayed so cold that none of it has melted and it has stayed clean and pretty.  The kids are talking so much I can't write with any sense.

Our Thanksgiving was real nice.  The Blankenships have the one little girl about Ann's size so she came early that morning and they had a big day together.  Ann went home with her, stayed all night and then all day yesterday.  Bob went sledding both days with Dennis so he has had fun too.  The heat and lights are cut off at school while they are connecting a new building to the utilities so even B has had a vacation.  He did interview a man for a job yesterday but he came to the house so we have been quite free this week-end.

We had turkey and the trimmings on Thursday & we're still eating scraps.  We didn't have cranberries though.  I have two cans of sauce but I think I'll throw them away.  It isn't worth the chance.  Bob was sure disgusted about not having them but there has been such an uproar about them that there must be something to be concerned about.

I'm glad Daddy's shoulder is healing so fast.  He'll have to be careful at first because it will be weak until that new bone can harden.

Poor old Granny Watterson has had a time.  She walks but has arthritis in the back so badly that the pain almost kills her.  Now she has something else wrong--they don't know what--they were to x-ray yesterday.

I hope Eva's boy is better.  I don't know what I would do if something like that happened.

Did Aunt Jane say she had my note?

I cut Ann a dress yesterday but when the teacher called that he was coming to interview I put it all away so didn't do any sewing.  I went into the study and worked on Christmas cards.  I made a good start on them but have a long way to go before I'll have them all addressed.  I ordered them in Oct. but I don't think I'll have enough.

Have you made any plans about Christmas yet?  Does Buddy and his family plan to be there?  We don't know yet when we'll get to come but we are hoping to come even for a day or two.

I have to get some materials for my Scouts to work with so I guess I'll go to Bloomington this afternoon.  Hope you both are fine."

                          Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

NOTES:  Housewives were told not to use cranberries for the 1959 holidays.  The adults in our family preferred "real" cranberry dishes, but Bob and I loved the slimy stuff out of a can.  It was especially fun to cut.  Use the link to read about the cranberry crisis of 1959:  http://repository.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2010-12-8794

When turkey tetrazzini came on the scene, Mom was thrilled to make it from our turkey leftovers.  She was really the only one who liked it and she took a lot of teasing from our dad who sometimes called it "Terrible Tetrazzini".   She always used the same recipe, the one pictured above. 

November 21, 1959 The Dress, The Scouts, The Shoulder, The Arthritis and The Falling Business

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It has warmed up a bit so we aren't shivering this week.  It seemed like spring when the temp. went up to 30° again.

This week has been a little quieter than the last few and I have really wasted a lot of time but I was so tired I could hardly move by Monday night so I've been reading and taking things easy.  I did get a dress made for Ann.  I'm almost ashamed to tell it but I just finished her dress with the birthday material you sent.  It made a pretty dress and she has it all ready to wear to her recital tomorrow morning.

Bob is packing up for a camping trip.  The Scouts are going to the lake tomorrow morning and come back Sunday.  I'm so glad it warmed up but he plans to put on several layers of clothes so I hope he won't get too cold.  They have a cabin to sleep in.

I hope Daddy's shoulder is better.  How did he fall?  Did he have a dizzy spell?  I'm sorry you can't go to Fannie's but I don't think it would be a good idea to drive on the highway now.  You had better stay at home.

Thanks for the addresses.  I have a note ready to mail to Aunt Jane.

I had a letter from Charlotte today.  I had sent her stockings and stationary for her birthday & she must have written the day she got the package.  She is always so prompt with her thank yous and that is a mighty good quality.

B was in Chicago only for the day and spent all of it in meetings on the Federal Loan Program for college students.  We had talked about going somewhere on Friday after Thanksgiving but will probably stay at home.  It is a rare treat to get to stay home.

Granny Watterson is not too well.  She has arthritis in her back now and it pains so much.  Poor old Etta isn't getting along very well.  She is in a nursing home but isn't too happy about it.  The home is all right but she is just plain lonesome for own home and friends.  I took her back home today to get a few winter clothes and she appreciated it so much.

I think you two had better be a little more careful.  All of this falling business is not too good.  Hope you both are feeling better."

                         Lots of love,

                                Bonnie

November 15, 1959 The Ice, The Snow, The Stamps, The Luncheons and The Dinners

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Well, I'm really late but this is the first chance I've had to think about a letter.  We have had terribly cold weather and still have ice and snow over most everything.  Ann said everything looked like silver when the sun came out and it did.  The trees are beautiful but the dead elms are so dangerous with the ice on them.  I'm glad we don't have any.

We were so lucky about our porch.  B got the rails on and it does look nice.  The pile of dirt is still there and I'm afraid it will have to stay as long as the weather is like this. 

Thank you for the stamps from Aunt Jane.  Send me her address and I'll try to write her a note.  Bob was pleased to think she'd send them from Iowa but he doesn't have any idea who Aunt Jane is.  Send me Roger's address one of these days, too.  I have never had it and would like to send him a Xmas card.

I have started thinking of Xmas but that's about all.  I'll keep my ears open for ideas but haven't much to suggest.  Ann said she'd like to have a new billfold the other day--one with a little place for coins in it.  Bob & B both need belts.  Bob need a 32 and B needs a narrow black 38.

Don't worry about that book.  I haven't promised it to anyone so take your time with it even if it's another year or more.  I do think it will be a classic someday and I want to keep it.

This week has been so full and long that I'm not sure what all I have done.  I went to a women's party Monday night, then to a luncheon Tuesday.  B & Bob went to a chili supper at the school farm Monday night and then B drove to a meeting in Chicago Thursday.  I went to a coffee Thursday morning and poured at a tea that afternoon.  Our University Y.W.C.A. was the first one in the world and they were celebrating their 55th birthday that day.  It was all day but I couldn't go for any of the other things.  In the meantime I had to take Ann to piano and go after her because it was snowing hard and blue cold.  Friday night  I went to a dinner and last night we had 16 people here for dinner.  I went to a luncheon today which was a meeting of the Pen Women so I'm about fagged out.  Next week doesn't look much better but I won't be getting ready for company here so it will be a little easier.

I want to get this mailed so I'll say bye.  Hope you both are fine."

         Lots of love,

                  Bonnie

November 7, 1959 Soggy Leaves, Rattlesnakes, Stamps and Coffee Cake

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is blue cold--in the 20's--and everything is frozen.  Yesterday morning was warm so I raked a few leaves.  They were soggy wet so I couldn't burn them and I put them in buckets for the garbage man to take.  They froze overnight and he couldn't empty them.  The mums were pretty and I thought I'd leave them out another day to open a little more.  I cut some this morning and put them in a bucket of water but they probably won't be any good.  It has snowed all day but not enough to cover.

We got the porch done just in time.  It looks nice but we'll have to wait awhile to get the rails on or the yard cleaned up.  There is a pile of dirt from the footings and the truck tire tracks have to be smoothed over.  Some of the neighbor kids thought we had to tear out the porch to get rid of our "rattlesnakes".  Our garter snakes have taken up winter quarters under the back porch for we caught a little one on the patio last week for one of Bob's friends.  We had promised him one and we found this one in the sun so we just put it in a fruit jar and took it to the boy one noon hour.  He has it in a big fish aquarium.  When the workmen tore the porch out I asked them if they found our snake family.  They looked at me like I was crazy and said they hadn't seen them.  The hamsters both died.  We don't know why.  The kids didn't seem to care much.

Bob is still working on his stamps.  He has so many I really don't know what he has but he's always thrilled  over any he gets even if he already has it.  One of the men at the post office said he was one of their best customers.

This week hasn't been too bad.  I've been making a shirtwaist dress for myself and it's about done.  Next week is full up.  There is something extra every day and we have invited 14 people for supper Sat. night.  Our family will make it 18 so that will mean a lot of cooking.  If my letter is late you will know why.

It's about supper time and I'm making a coffee cake for a church bake sale so I'd better check on it.

Hope you both are fine." 


                      Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

October 31, 1959 Taking Advantage of the Quiet, Raking Leaves, Moving Peonies, Baking Pumpkin Pies and Trick or Treating

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Everyone is gone and it is quiet, for a while at least, so I'll take advantage of that time and write my letter.  Bob has gone to the Post Office to get some new stamps, Ann has a piano workshop, and B has gone to a meeting at school.

The week has been fairly quiet for me and I have done some things that I've been trying to do and couldn't find time.  I raked leaves most of two days and got them done just in time, for the rain started again.  The yard will probably need to be raked again but if it stays wet and cold like it is now no one can work outdoors.

Yesterday morning I started working in the yard real early and moved a lot of peonies from next door.  We are making sort of a hedge with them.  Maybe you remember that we started it two years ago.  We got the line so crooked that lots of the plants were in the other yard and Mrs. Hodge wanted the row so I'd have some in my yard when they (Hodges) are gone.  The plants were all in her back yard but I did all the work.  She can't do anything like that even if she loves to.  I had to work in the rain part of the time and my gloves got so muddy I could hardly hold on to the tools but I got it done.

The men came and put the footings in for the porch yesterday, too.  They worked in the rain and said they could finish Monday.  I hope the sun comes out and dries things up enough so we can get it finished.

The furnace man came too and adjusted the furnace so it seems that everything happens at once.  We had called him and the concrete man a month ago.

The kids went out trick or treating last night and got the biggest bag of candy, apples and all kinds of stuff.  They had a lot of fun.

I made some pumpkin pies while they were gone.  The Optimist Club is having a money-making auction today and asked me for a pie.  I didn't want to make one but the money goes for playground equipment for Normal's park so it is a good project.

I hope you are better, Mother.  Where and how did you fall?  You are lucky you didn't break a bone.  The woman across the street from us breaks a bone almost every year and she isn't careless either.

I don't know that we will do anything different on Thanksgiving.  I haven't thought that far.  I hope you do go to Fannie's if you feel all right.  You don't get to see Buddy very often.  I wish we could come too but the day is too short.

We served apple cake and coffee for our Ed. Wives meeting.  The cake had a dab of whipped cream on it but that was all.  We have to keep things fairly simple when there are so many of us.  I'd like your new recipe book but just save it for me.  I have started planning a dinner party that I should have had a month ago.  We'll have between 15 and 20 for that and I want to have some coffee parties, too.

I had better get going on my cleaning.  The house is a mess and I have to do some pressing.  We are going to Sorensen's to a birthday party for Faith Larsen.  She will be 50 tomorrow.

Hope you both are fine."

                         Lots of love,

                                Bonnie