October 16, 1948 The Work, The Teeth, The Meat, The Machine and The Help

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'll try to write while the house is quiet.  B, Bobby & Penny are all asleep.  Penny is almost as much trouble as Bobby.  She likes to stay in the house and almost runs us crazy barking when she is outside.  We are trying to housebreak her and so she has to be watched quite closely.  She makes lots of extra running but if we can train her she will be lots of fun.  She does real well on the leash.  We walk every afternoon and people now stop to look at her instead of the babies.  It is almost like having another baby.  I'd advise you to buy one that is all trained when you get one.  It is too much work.

Bobby is fine.  The doctor said he was a perfect baby but needed more to eat--more meat and eggs.  So now he eats meat twice a day, vegetables twice, bacon, eggs, toast--most anything he likes and can eat.  We liked the doctor real well and he was certainly thorough.  The shot bothered him much less than the first one and those teeth are through now--one upper and one lower--which makes 7.

I like my machine more every day.  In fact, I think I like it better than yours.  It is a little different but not much--larger and has three drawers which is nice.  It hasn't been closed since it came.  I made B a robe and my black dress this week.  I'll send a scrap if I can remember it.  I used the pattern like my pique but made 3/4 sleeves.  I'll look for your material the first chance I get but don't know when that will be.  Do you plan to put a false hem on the skirt or what?

We are going as sponsors on a hayride tonight and it's going to be cold.  I bought some nice brown wool slacks to wear and am real proud of them.  Then tomorrow is the tea at Larsen's.  That is why I wanted to get my dress finished.  Next weekend is homecoming at the school and there will be lots doing--parades and everything.

Bobby is awake so I'll have to cut this short.

You'd better get Mrs. M. to help you.  She won't come to work drunk and what do you think FM does with his money?  I'll bet he doesn't buy peanuts with it!

Hope you're both fine."

                  Lots of love,

                       B, Bonnie & Bobby

NOTES from Ann:  In Eleanor Roosevelt's My Day entry for October 16, 1948, she discusses peacetime housing issues for enlisted men with families.  http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/myday/displaydoc.cfm?_y=1948&_f=md001099

And in the Ladies Home Journal for October, 1948, she responds to a reader's opinion on another matter:

Making news around the globe:

If interested in Evita Peron's legacy:  http://www.evitaperon.org/evita_peron_legacy.htm