August 26, 1944 The Farewell to Friends, The Feed Sacks, The Tiny Pictures and Gingersnaps

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We are still having wonderful weather.  It's real cool and you can work so much better.  Today it has been raining a little bit.  The rains came almost too late to save many gardens here.  I'm glad you're having nice weather too.

We had a Dames meeting this week.  It was a farewell party for two of the girls who are leaving.  The Caughlans are going next week so we're having them for dinner Monday night.  We really hate to see them go.  He isn't going to get his dissertation done before they leave but he thinks he can hold a job and finish it so they are going to Boston.  He has a civil service job for the duration doing some research work in the schools.

Sully and his girl came last night and stayed all night but left about 10:00 this morning.  She brought me a real nice sack of tomatoes out of their garden.  Last night they took us to a show. 

Your sack dress will be very pretty.  The material is really nice.  Give the plaid sacks to Beulah or save some for me for next summer.  I would never get it made now.  I bought some sharkskin and have been sewing on a blouse.  I think it will be real nice when it's finished.  I've been looking around for your dress material and I found several pieces of polka dots--lot of navy.  One piece had dots about as big as a pencil and I liked it but didn't buy it until I asked you.  It's $1.00 a yard.  They had green (greener than your bemberg but close to the same color), light blue, rose, purple.  These had smaller dots about like that pink dress you have.  Let me know right away if you want it because it probably won't last long.

I hope Daddy got his package.  It wasn't much of a present but we send all our love and good wishes for a nice birthday.  The cookies were gingersnaps but I didn't expect them to be so hard.  I told B I should put in directions for eating:  Soak in milk.  Ha!


 What book did you get?  What color is the bedroom to be and did Mr. Bowman fix the paper in the living room?

Horace sent us a lot of film so we've been taking some pictures.  We printed them ourselves with some of the stuff we brought back so that's the reason for the size.  When we get some real good ones we'll have them made larger.

Write soon and happy birthday, Daddy."

                                                          Lots of love,

                                                                 B & Bonnie

 NOTE from Ann:  For those who may be unfamiliar with feed sacks, read this from Amazon:

One of Bonnie's quilts pieced from feedsacks

"Feast your eyes on these fascinating fabrics! Cherished by America's farmers for years, cloth feed sacks are part of America's rural history and are now entering the marketplace as hot collectibles. Over 500 color photographs illustrate fabulous patterns on beautiful feed, sugar, flour, potato, corn meal, salt, rice, and even bank and lead-shot bags. Also presented are examples of the aprons, tea towels, and bonnets commonly created from these pretty printed textiles. This colorful, entertaining, and useful book shares heartfelt reflections of life in the country and will appeal to quilters, crafters, and those with fond memories of farm life. Includes price guide and helpful hints on starting one's own feed sack collection."

I know that many family readers have aprons and quilts made from colorful feed sacks.