Haddock and Dill: September 4, 1948 Moved, Weak with Laughter, Wiggly and Climbing, Grape Jelly and Conserve

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We are moved but still trying to get things put away.   It's lots of fun to see what we have for it is easy to forget just what we do have. We have been moving things a few at a time since Wed. but our furniture came Thurs. and we stayed all night last night for the first time. Bobby has really looked everything over. Maybe he's remembering some of our things. Everything looks nice and we're going to like it here. There is a small back yard and a good sized front porch. We put Bobby in the play pen out there and he played all morning.   The little girl next door is 4 days younger than Bobby but so much smaller. She gets around lots better, though. We all laughed till we were weak this morning when we put them together in the play pen.   The little girl wanted to play with Bobby's toys but he wanted to pull her hair and thought she was so funny.

Bobby tries to climb out of everything and would succeed if we didn't watch him. He gets wigglier every day and cuter.

I wish you could see him but I'm glad we didn't try to come home. B's vacation is half gone and we've worked hard the whole time. We made jelly and some awfully good conserve. We made a little juice, too. The vines were still full but we couldn't use them all. Tomatoes are $1.50 a bushel and we want to can a few.

I still like my permanent. I think it's the best one I ever had.

Our telephone is 8742-6. Hope you both are fine."

   Lots of love,

   B, Bonnie & Baby

NOTE from Ann: Jazz fans will enjoy this Miles Davis recording performed on September 4, 1948.

THE BIRTH OF THE COOL by Jeff Sultanof

"On September 4, 1948, a live broadcast from the Royal Roost featured a group led by trumpeter Miles Davis. This was not a quartet, and Charlie Parker was nowhere to be found. This was a nine-piece all-star ensemble with arrangements by some of the top young writers on the scene. Its instrumentation was a bit unusual, and the musicians had to work hard to make the music sound right. They did, and it did."
(Source: www.jazz.com)

To listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-ULylAOcP8

Concord Grape Jelly (New Hood Cookbook, 1939)

Wash and stem partially ripe grapes. Place in kettle and mash with potato masher. Cook over low heat until soft. Strain through heavy cloth. Measure juice. Add 1 c. sugar for each cup of juice and cook rapidly to the jelly stage. Turn into sterilized jars and cool. When set, seal with paraffin.