March 26, 1949 The Baby Goes Wild, The Scribbling, The Dinner Party, The Alterations, Green Beans Almond, Coconut Sweet Potato Casserole and Easter Macaroons

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"A rainy, gloomy day but it's warm.  We haven't kept fires for several days--just enough once in awhile.  B is building a fire now and it's mid-afternoon.  Bobby is watching him from the playpen.  We put it in the basement and he stays in it while we do things down there.

Bobby has been fine only gets up so early and has been waking in the middle of the night feeling fit and ready to play.  We think he's sleeping too much in the daytime and the last two days he's taken only one nap so maybe he's making another change.  You never can tell what it is for they change so often.

We have had such wonderful days and I've been letting Bobby run on the sidewalk.  He just goes wild when he gets out of the stroller.  I take him to the campus and turn him loose.  He picks up sticks and leaves and talks to all the students that come along.  They all talk to him and call him "Butch".  Bobby is just learning to ride the horse he got for Christmas but still likes for us to push him.  I guess he'll have to have a small tricycle this summer.

The club which B sponsors at school is having its annual contest with another club tonight.  They are the oldest clubs on campus and each year have held this contest except during the Civil War years.  (Bobby is on/ my lap wit/h a red penci_l).  Their program is speech, singing and music.  They hire a judge and give prizes.  We will go see how it is.  I was invited to a luncheon today but B had to help the students.

We're having a dinner tomorrow night so we couldn't go to an "At Home" tomorrow afternoon either.  And then B's Aunt Ione in Peoria called and wanted us to come there for dinner Sunday.  We couldn't go of course so it seems we're having our dinner at the wrong time.  There will be 14 of us so we're moving our drop leaf table to Watterson's because it's easier to move than theirs.  Tony will take care of one table and I the other.  We're having baked ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, pineapple cheese salad, brick ice cream topped with a coconut cookie and coffee.  Everything is to be on an Easter theme.  The cookie is a macaroon shaped like a nest with jelly bean eggs in it.  Our centerpieces are Easter baskets and our place cards are paper eggs.  The main color is yellow.  We bought our baskets in the dime store.  They had such pretty ones. 

My housecoat is all done but the button holes.  It made a pretty housecoat and I think I'll make a brunch coat off the same pattern later.  The jacket I'm making is made from a tweed jacket B had but I'm discouraged with it.  It's so hard to fit and I have such bits of time to work at it.  I'll keep at it though and get it finished.  Then I got some grey wool for a skirt to go with it and got it too little.  There is a big kick pleat in the center back and it turned right out so I'm going to take the band off and make the pleat smaller.  There is plenty of material to work with.  I haven't even touched Bobby's coat and he's going to need it soon, but it won't take long to make.  The table cloth is ready for the edging.  I'll have to follow direction for that so it will go slowly at first.

We'll soon have another anniversary.  We ordered the rest of our china some time ago in hopes of getting it for our anniversary but they said they couldn't say when we would get it for they haven't started making it again but they will, so our order stands and maybe we'll have it next year.  It hadn't gone up much in price.  So we're going to buy the rest of our silver.  It won't be much--iced tea spoons and a few odd pieces.  We're going to get Bobby a small knife, fork and spoon, too.  Haviland gold band dishes are available again but I didn't ask the price or anything about it for I was a bit disturbed about my dishes when I was in the store.  I had first been told that I could get my dishes, then that I couldn't then I went down to the store (the other talks had been by phone) to find out for sure.  Now I know I will get them one of these days.

I can't find your letter so I don't know whether you asked anything or not.

Hope you're all fine."

            Lots of love,

                     B, Bonnie & Bobby

B and the students of the Philadelphian Literary Society.  The explanation of the club's activities from the yearbook follows:

"The oldest organization on campus, having been formed in 1858, the Philadelphian Literary Society continues to offer its members an outlet for the furtherance of their literary and musical interests and abilities.  The year was marked by the formal initiation of the new members in the fall, by a concession at the Annual Women's League Carnival, and by numerous parties.  A variety of different programs were presented by the members at each meeting.  Highlight of the year, however, was the 88th annual Phil-Wright contest held in Capen Auditorium on March 26.  "Phils" turned out in full battle regalia for the affair, consisting of a vocal solo, oration, piano solo, dramatic reading and an ensemble. " (Index, 1949)

Bonnie's Easy Green Beans Almond

Wash and trim if needed, 2 lbs. green beans.  Blanch briefly in a small amount of salted, boiling water.  Test for desired crispness, lower heat and cook until done.  Drain.  Add 1/2 c. toasted slivered almonds, 1/2 c. butter and 1/2 tsp. salt.  Serve immediately.

Coconut Sweet Potato Casserole (Serves 8, easily doubles)

Cook, peel and cube 2 lbs. sweet potatoes.  Put in a buttered baking dish.  Mix together 2/3 c. maple syrup, 1/4 c. butter, melted and 1/2 tsp. salt.  Peel 2 apples and slice paper thin.  Layer apples over potatoes and pour mixture over both.  Sprinkle on 2/3 c. coconut.  Bake at 350 for 30 min. covered.  Then bake uncovered for an additional 30 min. till apples are tender and coconut is browned.


Easter Macaroons

Stir together and mix well 2/3 c. sugar, 1/4 c. flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, 4 egg whites, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 c. finely chopped almonds and 2-2/3 c. shredded coconut.  Drop by full tsp. on greased cookie sheet.  Bake @ 325 for about 20-25 min.  Edges will be golden when done, and the top will be light brown.  While still hot, quickly push in edges of cookies to make nests and top with 2 or 3 jelly beans then remove from sheet immediately.