May 11, 1946 The Other Book, Moving Again, Black Eyed Peas and Peach Cobbler

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Tomorrow is Mother's Day.   I hope you have a nice day, Mother.  We will be thinking about you.  We sent you a little package this week.  You should have it by now and I hope you will get lots of pleasure out of it.  Some Yale men helped revise it but there are very few changes.  The men tried to make some of the words simpler and easier to understand.

Everything here is awfully late.  The dogwoods are just now at their nicest stage.  These hills are simply covered in both white and pink ones.  The wild flowers are just beginning to bloom and only a few gardens are up.  It has been too cold.  We still have to have a little heat.

I wish that baby would hurry up.  I guess it is pretty easy for the Drs. to miscalculate but it certainly is hard on the rest of us. They say that two weeks before or after the date set is the ordinary thing to expect so I guess everything is all right.

Dorothy left Wednesday.  She had to give up her school and everything.  Norma (Dorothy's sister, the nurse) will probably take care of the children.  She has been with them for the past two months.  We are going to have to move the first of the month after all.  Some of the neighbors complained because we had this house all to ourselves and really did not belong here when some of their relatives with several children had been waiting for one of these houses for a long time.  We hate the thoughts of having to move and we like this place more than any other place we have ever lived.  It would be so nice in the summer.  Some of the Hopkins teachers will be going away for the summer and we will probably sublet from one of them.  By the end of summer we will know whether we're going to stay here and then can look for a house.

The Lovells are having a tea tomorrow from 5 to 7 and I have been asked to be one of the hostesses.  I would rather be just a guest but of course had to say I would help.

Come over for lunch.  I have a big pot of black eyed peas and a peach cobbler.  We still have some of the fruit we canned last year.

Take care of yourselves and write soon."

                  Lots of love,

                         B & Bonnie

NOTES from Ann:  Bisquick was introduced in the early 30s.  Bonnie didn't think it was any good for biscuits, but helpful for other quick recipes!

And about the gift which some Yale men helped revise:  It was the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.  "A committee of 32 scholars, under the chairmanship of Luther A. Weigle of Yale University, took charge of the revision, and the New Testament (or New Covenant, as it is named on the title page) was published in 1946, the Old Testament following in 1952. The revisers were able to benefit from the latest scholarly discoveries, drawing in their revision of Isaiah, for example, on readings found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947."  Weigle was the Dean Emeritus of the Yale Divinity School. http://www.kingscollections.org/exhibitions/specialcollections/bible/english-bible-after-king-james/revised-standard-version

Black Eyed Peas

Soak the peas overnight in a large kettle of water.  The next day, drain, rinse and return peas to the pan.  Fill with water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until peas are done.  Season with pepper.  Fry 1/2 lb. of bacon with 2 chopped onions.  Remove the bacon and set aside.  Drain peas and add to bacon fat and onions.  Stir until thoroughly coated and moisture is nearly gone. Adjust seasoning as needed.  Serve with a slice of bacon on top next to cornbread or hot biscuits.


Easy Peachy Cobbler

Preheat oven to 350.  Add sugar to taste to 4 c. sliced peaches and pour into a baking dish.  Dot with 3 T butter.  Combine in another bowl 2/3 c. brown sugar, 1-1/2 c. baking mix and 1-1/3 c. buttermilk.
Pour over peaches.  Bake 50 min.  Let rest 10 min. before serving warm with cream.