March 17, 1956 The Cowboys, The Tulips, The Walls, The Yard and The Meeting

Dear Mother & Daddy,

It's about bedtime for the kids but they are in the middle of a cowboy show so I'll start my letter.  Yours hasn't come yet this week.  We had a letter from B's mother on Wed. but haven't heard from her since.  We have been pretty worried but hope everything is all right since we haven't heard.

Last Saturday we all worked in the yard all day long.  We got the back all cleaned up and the tulips moved.  We used a whole gallon of kerosene burning the trash and then had about three bushels of wire, tin cans, etc. for the junk man.  My muscles sure got a workout and my right arm is still sore.  I started on the hall Monday.  It took me all week to get the paper off.  I worked every morning and one whole day on it and haven't done much else.  I guess we'll paint it but I still have a lot of work before that can be done.  The sizing has to be washed off and a few cracks fixed.  The wall is in excellent condition.  We wondered what we'd find under the paper.

The weather has been miserable this week but the snow has melted in between times so the boys could start the garage.  B had to get the building permit after we got the plans.  The blueprint looks very nice.  The largest garage we can have is 13x21.  It will be attached to the house and the roof line will be the same so it will lengthen the house.  It will have a 9x7 overhead door facing the street and three high windows on the side just for light.  The garage will extend four ft. to the front so there will be side door in the garage so we can walk under the overhang from the garage.  There will be a backdoor so we can carry groceries into the back door of the house.  Eventually we hope to have a patio back of the garage.  The ditch is all ready for the footings.  I guess they'll pour concrete Tuesday.  They work only two afternoons.

I stopped to put the kids to bed last night.  B had gone to a meeting.

We had to take our T.V. tower down because it was in the way of the garage so our reception is not too good now.  We'll put it back up after the garage is done so we'll know where we want it.

B leaves next Sunday for another long meeting.  He goes to Detroit this time until Wednesday.  He'll be on the train all day.  I was surprised that it was so far away.  This is the meeting where he and Jim always share a hotel room.  The kids are all in too many things for Eve to bring them here to spend the time with us like she did.

Bobby has been studying about honeybees at school so we had honey in the comb for breakfast.  He had never seen it that way.  I even made hot biscuits to go with it.

We haven't planned anything new for Easter.  I may make Ann a dress if I can but she can wear her last year's coat.  I've got some Japanese material for myself a dress but don't care whether it's done by Easter or not but I do need a dress.  I've worn my suits all winter and they show it."

                 Love to you both,

                         Bonnie

NOTE:  For older posts that include biscuit recipes, use this link:
http://www.annbkennedy.blogspot.com/search?q=Biscuits

Among the favorite cowboy shows:  Gene Autrey,  Kit Carson, The Lone Ranger, Cisco Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Annie Oakley, Sugarfoot, Spin and Marty and of course, Gunsmoke.   

March 10, 1956 The Boxing Gloves, The Spurs, The Cookies and The Tornado Warnings

U. of Chicago Lab School book

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's a bit snappy today but seems to be warming up.  After our wonderful days when Bob didn't even wear a jacket to school it got bitter cold again.  Both Bob and Ann have colds but Bob hasn't had to miss school.  Ann was home three days because she had a little fever.  So many things have been going thru school (measles, mumps, chicken pox) that I wanted to be sure it was just a cold.  Course, she couldn't go to school with a fever anyway.  The nurse would send her right home.  Then with B gone I didn't want a sick kid on my hands.  The flu has been real bad here but so far we have escaped.  Ann felt just bad enough to be ornery and I didn't get a thing done while she was home.  She is used to having company to play with so she was lonesome.

David came yesterday morning to play and I wish you could see his black eye.  He and Bill got boxing globes for Xmas and Bill (the little one) had given him the shiner.  He looked so funny.

I went to a kindergarten mothers' meeting yesterday and took cookies for refreshments.  I've made so many cookies this winter.   I told Toni I was going to say no the next time anyone asked me.  But I won't, I'll just make them.  Even Bob noticed it and informed me that I was always making cookies for someone else.  So I've been making bigger batches so there are some extras.

We are all going to work in the yard today.  Things are getting green so we want to get the yard cleaned up.  I worked two afternoons in one corner of the lot where junk had been thrown.  It was a mess.  I also have to move a bed of tulips.  It may kill them but the garage has been staked out and it will enclose this bed.  The boys will start work as soon as the permit is o.k.ed I guess.  We are real pleased.  There are so many little problems about it that we're glad this friend is supervising the project--like planning so the upstairs window can be saved.  We have to move the T.V. tower but we want the garage to be as long as we have it so we'll have storage for bikes and tools.  I can tell you more about it when they really start work.

I think I'll start on the hall next week.  I'm going to take the wallpaper off and then paint it probably.  Every paper I like is out of the question in price.

Our spurs were like these--available now on eBay

None of us went to church last Sunday.  Ann was taking a cold and B was getting ready to go to Chicago so we all stayed home.  B got home Wed. afternoon.  He brought the kids some spurs and me a Japanese frying pan I'd been wanting.  It sure was good to see him.  We got along fine and the only worry I had was when the tornado warnings went out.  The sky was terrible looking but the children didn't notice.  I kept watching and was glad when the cloud passed over Normal but knew someone was catching it.  I guess you read about the farms that were torn up.

Well, I must get outside or won't get my work done."

                       Lots of love,

                              Bonnie

 School Cookies (Chocolate Oatmeal Prizes)

 Sift into a bowl:  1 c flour, 1/2 t soda, 1/2 t salt and 1 c sugar.  Add 1/2 c shortening, 1 egg, 1 t vanilla, 1/2 t almond extract and 2 oz. chocolate, melted & cooled.  Mix well.  Dough is very stiff.  Add 1 c oatmeal and 1/2 - 1 c coconut.  Mix.  Form into small balls and put on lightly greased cookie sheet.  Flatten and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake 12-15 min. at 350.

March 3, 1956 The No-Cake Birthday, The Seed Catalog and The Sears Catalog

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Seems like I've had a birthday all week.  I've had a card or package most every day.  Thanks so much for the money.  I hid it away and will get something for the house with it.  I've been drooling over the seed catalogs but I don't want to plant a thing until we know about the garage.  The class has been out here to look and measure a few times.  They are drawing plans but have never promised definitely to build the garage.  Of course, they want to be sure they can get what experience they need from it before they can go ahead with any project.  If they do build it we want a combination drive and sidewalk and then we'll have to take up the brick walk that cuts across the yard.  After the drive is done we may want to do some planting on each side of it.

B surprised me with a fireplace screen but it was too big and he had to take it back.  We couldn't find one we really wanted but I dug out the old winter Sears catalog and they had one we liked.  We ordered it and it came today.  We have it up and it looks so nice.  The kids can't wait to build a fire but we are having such grand spring-like weather we don't need a fire now.  The screen had to be screwed to the front of the fireplace.  We hated to do it but managed to put the screws in the mortar rather than a brick and we couldn't find another screen we wanted.  Most of them were brass all over and I wanted the curtain part to be black.

I didn't make myself a birthday cake but made cream puffs for dessert instead.  Toni and Watty and Edna & Woody came down for the evening.  Edna & Woody brought me a potted hyacinth.  It smells so good.

Bessie wrote me a nice birthday card.  She said Dana was better now and could come to the table to eat.

Bill is here to play and they are all having a big time.  Lynn & David come to play often and Bill gets awful mad because he doesn't get to come much.

B goes to Chicago on Sunday and will be there until Tuesday.  The kids have been telling him all week what he should bring them.  He won't have much time for present buying so they probably will get a candy bar.

Bob plays in a recital Monday night.  They have been practicing hard for it.

I guess I'll stop.  It takes me so long to do anything when all the kids are around."

                 Love to you both,

                          Bonnie

February 25, 1956 Finding Gold, Showing Slides, The $5.00 Article and Not a Bed Made or a Dish Washed

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is beginning to sound springlike and I can't wait.  Tulips are coming up in our yard and there are a lot of them.  There were bare spots next to the house and I had planned to plant some flowers there but now I'll wait till the tulips are through.  When the kids first discovered the tulips they were as excited as if they'd found gold.

The kids have marble fever now and that's another sign of spring.  They do more trading with them than playing.

We had friends in last night to see some pictures so I got my house cleaned yesterday.  There are still a lot of our friends who have not seen the slides.  I served cream puffs filled with ice cream and topped with a chocolate sauce.  They were real good and are so easy to make.  That would be something nice for you to serve your club.

I got a $5.00 check for my article that I told you had been accepted.  It is only one page so I think that was a good rate.  They sent me three copies of the magazine so I'll save one for you.  They sent one of my articles on flower arrangement back and said it was too hard for children but they have kept two others.  If they think they can't use the articles they send them right back but others they keep until they can fit them in their plans.  I don't like having to wait so long to be paid but lots of magazines do that.

Yesterday was wonderfully warm but the wind is cold today and there is a light snow on.

B and I are on a committee for a tea for foreign students next Wednesday.  We will have about 50 people.  I have to make cookies and help pour coffee.

We still haven't had an announcement from Ruth & Francis.  The baby sure has a pretty name.

I want to go downtown this afternoon and look for wallpaper for the hall.  It is going to be hard to pick it.

We have our hopes up again on the garage deal.  We had decided we would tell the teacher to draw the blueprints whether his class could build it or not and we would pay him for it.  Then we would have the plans at least and would know what to plant and where.  The man draws house plans for some of the lumber yards in his spare time so we thought it only fair to pay for our plans.  He had his class up here last week to look over the prospects and then told B there was still a chance they might do it.  He is still figuring.  We are hoping they will, even if it means extending our loan for it will save us a lot of money in the long run.

I must get busy.  There isn't a bed made or a dish washed."

                  Love to you both,

                            Bonnie   

 NOTE:  I don't know what article was written and published.  There are several undated manuscripts with the letters, but with the exception of the 2 Japanese books, they are fictional children's stories and plays.  I will post the published material when they are mentioned in the letters.

For the cream puff recipe, see these posts:  http://www.annbkennedy.blogspot.com/search?q=cream+puffs

Our dad was busy heading up the effort on curriculum revision for I.S.N.U. Much of his travel was related to the work and he was released from teaching responsibilities during the semester in order to work on this task.

3rd paragraph from the bottom should read...Two successes already have been reached.  Typos in the daily paper were a frequent point of conversation in our home.

February 18, 1956 Relaxing, Scrubbing, Bucking the Crowds and Thinking About Buddy's Birthday

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"While the kids finish a wild cowboy show I'll start my letter.  B is out for a dinner meeting in Bloomington so the kids & I ate in front of T.V.

I have relaxed the last of this week and have been doing my usual housework for a change.  It took two days to finish the children's curtains and after I got the paint scraped off the windows and the curtains up I sat down and relaxed.  I didn't get the windows washed but it shouldn't take long to do that.  It was so late when I got the curtains pressed that I didn't take the time to wash the windows.

The children were home today because of a teachers' meeting so I didn't do much except scrub the kitchen and bathroom and do some washing.

Yesterday was dollar day here and it started to rain just as Ann and I left the house to go downtown.  Before we were half way to town our windshield was covered with ice.  I stopped and scraped it off and then the defroster kept it off.  We got some real bargains and got back home without any trouble.  The streets were like glass and everyone was driving carefully.  It is still bad today but has thawed some and rained a lot.

I wish you could be here for one of these dollar days.  You can get real bargains if you have the energy to buck the crowds.  I got Bob some jeans for a dollar, Ann some beautiful nylon blouses (2) for a dollar each, some stretch nylon stockings for .77 and the kids some sox for .10 a pair.  Ann's were all nylon and Bob's were nylon & cotton.

We were supposed to go to David's birthday party today but Toni had to cancel it.  He has been sick and Watty was sick today.  He's the third one in the family to have the sore throat.  Lynn & Toni won't get it.  They never get anything.

Beulah put a short note in with the valentines she sent the kids.  She said she hurt her back but didn't say how it happened except that she fell.  I had written her a letter but she hadn't got it then.  The kids loved the valentines you sent.  They got a lot of them.

B's ankle gets better all the time but he still has to wear the bandage.  Most of the swelling and blueness are gone but it seems so weak.  He left the bandage off one day but had such a leg ache afterwards that he put it back on.

I had been thinking about Buddy's birthday so I sent him a card and wrote a letter.  He'll probably faint when he gets it.

Bob wanted me to tell you that they are planting seeds at school to see how they grow.

We don't think we're going to get the garage built.  The (building trades) class isn't big enough to handle the project.  The idea was almost too good to be true anyway.

Hope you both are fine."

                Lots of love,

                       Bonnie

NOTE:  In my opinion, nylon anklets weren't worth a penny, much less a dime.  They never stayed up and were typically under my heels making shoes feel awfully uncomfortable.  I couldn't stand them.  Funny what we remember.

February 11, 1956 Painting, Limping, Coasting and Collecting Rags

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"You may not be able to read this for my hand is tired.  I've been painting again.  This time in the children's room.  It was a hodge-podge of colors but one wall has a nice circus paper on it and there is a wide border of the same pattern around the whole room.  The background of the paper is light blue so I'm painting the other walls & woodwork the same blue.  I bought blue sheets to make drapes and it will be a very pretty room when I get done.  I'm using an oil base paint for I don't like the water paint at all.  It doesn't get hard enough and chips off.

Life, Sept. 25, 1955

B's foot is better but he still limps and still has it bandaged.  It looks much better but hurts.  He has walked to school most of this week.

This has been a real messy week with snow and then mud.  There are big puddles between home and school and the kids can't resist wading thru them.  I don't know how many times they have been soaked this week.  They love the snow and our yard has just enough slope for a little coasting.  Some of the children go to slide on one of the streets that is a good hill but I'm not letting mine go for the street isn't blocked off from traffic.

I know you can find enough rags for your rugs.  Ask the club women.  Any old rags would do.  I sent some old rag rugs that were in shreds.  Olson would send you the rugs with the coupon I have for 30 lbs. & the rest can be sent later so when you are ready to order let me know.

Tell Beulah I'll try to write her soon.  I'm ashamed I haven't even thanked her for Bob's nice birthday gift.

Take care of yourselves."

                 Lots of love,

                         Bonnie

February 4, 1956 Quiet and Happy, Black and Blue, Snowy and Blustery and Pumpkin Pie

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"All is quiet in the house after a big day.  Lynn came home with Bob from school and stayed for supper.  I fixed their suppers on trays so they could watch T.V.  and they had a big time.  Ann was happy too.  She went to Watterson's and played all morning.  Then she was invited to play with a little girl friend after school.  She came home happy.

B and I went to P.T.A. last night.  It was the last one we had to help plan although there will be more meetings that others have planned.  It came out real well.

I haven't done much work this week--at least, work on the house.  B fell and sprained his ankle Monday afternoon so I have done all the little chores around the house which he usually does.  I had to drive him to school and go after him because he could hardly walk.  He limps only a little now but his ankle is black & blue.

The new professor and Mildred Wells came up Wed. evening.  I made a pumpkin pie.  The man is unmarried but he's our age.

We have had a cold, snowy, blustery week just like you have had.  Even Pretzel holds his paws up off the ground when we go out.  The kids have really enjoyed the snow.  Bob has had to have two pairs of jeans every day.

David has a birthday this month so I'm knitting him some mittens.  I can do that while Bob has his music lessons.

I'm sure you can get enough old rags for your rugs.  You won't have to send it all at once.  I think I have a 30 lb. coupon and that's a good start.  You can have it and one of these days I'll get another bundle together.

It has taken me an hour and a half to write this letter so I might as well stop."

                Love to you both,

                       Bonnie

NOTE:  All of the Margaret and H.A. Rey books were favorites.  The one pictured above is not old and I no longer have the original which was published in the early 1940's I believe.  It was the inspiration for our dog's name.

There will be lots of comments on the rags and rugs in upcoming letters.  My grandmother was very "proper" and I suspect she didn't care for the idea of anyone seeing her old rags!

For posts which include pumpkin pie recipes:  http://www.annbkennedy.blogspot.com/search?q=pumpkin+pie

January 29, 1955 Cowboy Shows and School, Drapes and Curtains, P.T.A. and Transportation and Gunny Sacks for Olson

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The children are watching cowboy shows and B is getting ready to go to school.  This is a long week-end for the children because it is between semesters.  They had Friday and next Monday off but B didn't have any free time.

B enjoying some students

We expect the man who is taking B's classes next semester, to come sometime today.  He probably will come to our house tonight to go over his work.  I'm going to make a pie and we'll just have coffee and pie.  I'd like to ask him for supper but just can't fit it in.

This afternoon Bob is in a recital so we have to go to that.  He's doing fine in music and hasn't been fighting it like he did.  He's working for some cowboy boots so that helps.

Both children brought home school reports this week and if they are really as good as the reports say we have two wonderful kids.  We were so pleased.

Fear not, I won't post every saved report card!

Bob's room had a puppet show on Wed. and invited the mothers to come.  Their play was so cute.  They had made the stage and puppets in art class.

Drapery ad from Ladies Home Journal for fiberglass

I have spent most of the week on the dining room drapes.  I have them hanging but they have to be hemmed and pressed.  They do look nice and I'm pleased after all the hard work.  I don't think I ever made anything that took any harder work.

I had ordered brass rods for the kitchen but they looked so cheap when they came that I sent them back and ordered some others.  Now we are waiting for them to come and then I can hang the kitchen curtains.

Thursday night is the last of our P.T.A. meetings and we are glad.  It takes a lot of planning to have a good meeting.

My article on flower arrangement came back--too difficult for children they said.  I sent it to another magazine but it came back again.  Two other articles haven't bounced yet.  I never did get an answer on my book but haven't decided what to do next.

Ann is fine again.  She takes cold so easily but I think it's because she gets overtired.  She goes like a whirlwind as you know.  She almost talked my ears off when she was home.  Her room at school took a train ride to Lincoln, Ill. and then came back on the school bus.  They had been studying transportation and this was the finishing point.

We didn't go to church last week.  Ann was coughing and I wanted to keep her in and none of us were very peppy so we all stayed at home all day.  We really enjoy our Saturdays and Sundays by ourselves.

And I won't post every saved school project!

You have to send material to Olson for rugs but I know you could find things to send because they take anything no matter how ragged--gunny sacks, rayon, cotton--anything.  It doesn't cost a cent to send the stuff.  I have a coupon for quite a few pounds you can have and probably can find some old clothes to send off.  You read your book and you'll find out how easy it is.  I'll help you next summer and we'll dig up some stuff if you want to.

A little Olson history from their website

I must get busy so bye for now."

                        Love to you both,

                                  Bonnie

January 21, 1956 The Pressing, Sewing and Knitting, The Lovely Birthday, The Foot Tall Cake and Worn to a Frazzle

ISNU Yearbook

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Our house is beginning to look like we lived here.  The drapes for the living room came Monday and I got them up that night.  They are so wide it was an awful chore to press them.  I also got the material for the dining room drapes but haven't even cut them yet.  It will be a job.  The kitchen curtains are almost done but I've made them by hand and it has been slow.  Bob lost a mitten so I had to take the time to knit a bit so he'd have some.

It has been real cold and has snowed a bit.  B had to make a talk fifty miles away last night and we were worried about the roads but they were o.k.  He is out to a dinner meeting (all men) tonight.  We were invited to a pot luck supper but he had already made this reservation.

Ann has been home sick again.  She had a cold and the excitement of Bob's birthday was too much for her.  She was sick all night Wed. and Thursday.  I think she was just overtired for she didn't have a fever.

In Bob's words he had a "lovely birthday".  Your package came Saturday.  He was so happy with the shirt & tie.  He wore them to church on Sunday and then wore the shirt to school Monday.  He sure looked sweet in the pink.  We got him some new guns in holsters.  That's what he wanted but it will probably be the last ones he'll want.  He wears them every minute he can.  We had a party after school Wed. with 12 children.  It was a real nice party but I was worn to a frazzle by supper time.  Bob asked for cake, ice cream and pop.  And the cake had to be 3 tiered.  It had six layers and was about a foot tall.  We're still eating cake.  The kids eyes bugged when they saw the cake.  It took all day Tuesday to make it.

I got out some dress patterns to send to Beulah but haven't got them wrapped yet.  It seems to take me longer to do little jobs than big ones.

B has the door made for the cabinet he cut down and is painting it now.  He has also reset the tiles in the hearth that were loose.  He is learning to do a lot of new things.

Toni is having a surprise party for Lynn tomorrow.  I'll take the kids and stay to help.  She helped me with Bob's party.  It is too much to do by oneself.

Hope you are both fine."

                          Lots of love,

                              Bonnie

January 14, 1956 Happy New Year! Two Coats of Green, Half the Windows to Clean, Liver & Onions and Some Sour Cream

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It seems like months since we were home.  We've been working pretty hard and can see that we've done a few more things to the house.  I painted the woodwork in the dining room to match the living room and that took two days because it was white and I had to put on two coats of green.  Another day I spent scraping paint off windows.  It had never been done so it was a real chore.  I still have half the windows to clean.  The drapes still haven't come but I have the windows ready now, anyway.  I ordered some material for the kitchen curtains too and it should be coming soon.  I'll be sick of curtains by the time I get them up.  The kitchen hasn't any blinds nor rods either so I am going to use brass rods and make cafe curtains with brass rings so I can draw them if we need to.  It is hard to tell how much sun we'll get when the leaves are on this big tree in the back.

After looking and looking for drapes to go in our bedroom I finally took our old living room drapes and fixed them to fit.  They are a bit skimpy but will do for awhile.  That will save a bit and we can wait until we know what we want to do to the bedroom.  We don't want to have to paint it and these old drapes look nice with the walls.

The dining room rug wouldn't shrink a bit when it was cleaned so I'll have to cut it off.  The cleaner tried to shrink it but it wouldn't work.  While the rug was gone I cleaned and waxed the dining room floor.  Bruce floor cleaner is wonderful stuff and our floors sure are pretty.

We're still eating the food you gave us.  The liver & onions were delicious.  I cooked the last of the meat last night but still have cream.  It is sour of course but makes wonderful doughnuts.  I've made two batches with it.

We haven't been any place except church.  Ann went to S.S. but we just sat down in church when she began to get sick so I had to bring her home.  She had missed two days of school but we thought she was o.k.  She was o.k. Sunday afternoon and has been fine since.

We are all fine and hope you both are."

                   Lots of love,

                        Bonnie

December 10, 1955 The Last Letter of '55, The 50th Anniversary and The Published Article

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It just doesn't seem like this could be Christmas.  It is cold out but sunny everyday.  We put our Christmas tree up today and just finished decorating it.  I have been trying to write a few Christmas cards but it is a slow job when there are so many other things to do.  I finished a dress for Ann's Christmas and am going to make her another one.  Rosalynn wrote of the plans for the open house for her folks anniversary so Ann must have a yellow, partified dress for that.  I found a piece of yellow dacron that will be fine for year round wear and she really needs a good dress.  She does love to dress up.  She has almost worn that can-can slip you gave her until it gets so dirty I'm ashamed of it.  It makes her skirts stand out.  It doesn't take me long to make her a dress so don't worry about making one for her.  She takes a size 5 now.  Bob would like jeans.  He won't wear anything else to school.  He takes a 12.  They have to be rolled up but are right in the waist.  Don't give extra for double knees.  They don't last any longer than the others.  I don't have any other ideas unless it would be a plaid cotton flannel shirt.  He wears them to school too and wears a 10.

This is Autie, our Grandmother Belshe,  in her wedding dress.

We plan to come home the 22nd or 23rd and will stay thru New Year's Day because of the anniversary party at Belshe's.  I'll write again next week and tell you just which day we'll be there.

This is Ovid, our Grandad Belshe.

I have had a short article accepted by a teachers' magazine but I won't be paid for it until it appears in print and that is supposed to be in the spring.  I haven't the faintest idea how much I'll get for it but very little, I'm sure.  At least, it is a start and the editor asked if I had others to send.  I've been trying to get some material together to send but can't get it done.  I haven't even had time to write about my book.  I can't do things like that with the kids around and haven't had time anyway."

                     Love to you both,

                             Bonnie

The anniversary tea pot

NOTES:  Our grandparents were married on January 21, 1906.  The open house to celebrate their 50th anniversary was during the Christmas holiday.  I was intrigued by the notion that all gifts were to include something gold  and that my dress therefore would be a very bright yellow.  I remember the dress well and loved it.  However, the fabric was slippery and it was nearly impossible to keep the large sash tied into a bow and so it hung to my ankles most of the time.

50th Anniversary, Jan., 1956

This is their house, long abandoned now, where the anniversary party was held.

December 3, 1955 The Piano Practice, The Manuscript, The Rug and The Furnace

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'll write my letter while I drink my coffee.  We usually practice piano now but there are special TV shows on Saturday so we'll practice later.  Bob is doing fine with piano.  They are learning Christmas carols now.

Green star means "very well done" but practice still needed.

Red star means "good job" but practice still needed.

I haven't done much in the house this week.  The children have had several others here to play and I can't do a thing when there is a houseful of kids.  I have been making Ann a dress.  She is growing out of her clothes.  I thought I might save this as a Christmas present so I can sew just when she's gone.

Thursday was a full day and I'm still tired from it.  The Education Wives met at 1:15, then music class and then I went to another club meeting that night.  It was too much for one day.

I haven't had a chance to write about my manuscript.  Woody says the agent may have given it to some publishers who have had it for a long time.  He says they are very slow and he thinks it is all right.  He does want me to write the agent and ask her what she has been doing with it and if any publishers have seen it.

We try to go to church but it is hard.  Ann goes to S.S. every Sunday and Bob willingly goes to church with us but we can't get him to go to S.S. with Ann.  She will beg him but it doesn't do any good.  They both are pretty good in church but I could get more out of it if they would go to S.S. and let us go to church.

We like our rug very much and it doesn't show dirt like a plain one.  It is 12'8" x 20 and covers the floor completely except for the place on each side of the fireplace.  Olsons are reversible, you know, so we didn't get the rug cut out to fit around the fireplace because sometime we'll want to turn it.  The fireplace is not centered.  It looks like it is but there is about 4 inches difference.  Did you get your Olson catalog?  I sent your name in.

Image courtesy of eBay

I think you'll get used to the furnace.  Ours makes noise too.  The even heat is so wonderful and to not shovel coal--that's heaven.

I must get to work.  Woody is coming after some boxes.  They are moving into their new house next week.  It isn't finished but they will live in three rooms until it is done.  They are tired of paying double bills and rent.

Don't work too hard."

                    Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

NOTE:  Daily piano practice was always closely supervised and always rewarded so it wasn't too bad most of the time. 

November 20 and 26, 1955 The First Thanksgiving on School Street

 Nov. 20, 1955

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We are really looking forward to your coming.  I wrote Bessie this week to tell them how to find our house.

It has been terribly cold and now we have snow on the ground--since supper.  I hope we can have nice weather while you are here.

B is out for a meeting.  Bob is staying with Lynn tonight and David is here with Ann.  Ann and Dave had their second polio shots yesterday.  Bob gets his second one on Tuesday.  They don't mind them at all.  They seem to understand how wonderful it is that they can have them.

I never did mention Christmas to Bessie.  Maybe we can settle it while they are here.

Take it easy and we'll see you soon."

                      Lots of love,

                             Bonnie

Yikes!  Woman's Day, 1955

November 26, 1955

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's rather quiet now.  The dog and I are here alone.  Buddy and Bessie left about 2:15 and then B took the kids with him to the barber shop.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving but missed you terribly.  Of course, we know you couldn't come as things turned out but that didn't lessen the disappointment any.  Ann really howled when we got your letter and Bob wanted to cry but can understand a little better so he didn't.

Buddy and Bessie got here about 3:00 Wednesday afternoon.  The kids rode his lap the whole time he was here but I'm sure everyone had a good time.  We didn't do anything but visit and I guess it is the longest time we ever had together.  I had my menu planned so we didn't spend a lot of time cooking but we had our turkey and trimmings yesterday.

That's the rather gay, but lovely rug!

Our rug came this morning early so Buddy helped us put it down.  We were really glad he was here to help.  The piano is such a problem to move.  The rug is rather gay but lovely.  The background is grey with bits of black, red, green & yellow woven into it.

Tell Beulah that I told Bessie about our not trading gifts and she thought that was fine.  She said Beulah and I could buy for our own children and she would buy for hers.

I have a little birthday gift for Charlotte that I was saving to give her when she came so I'll try to get it mailed to her soon.  I hadn't forgotten.

We haven't even thought of Christmas.  We won't do much and the dog is part of the kids' Xmas.  I feel like I have already had my Xmas and then some with the house.

My next project is to get the drapes done.  We don't have much privacy as it is.

I'm going to write about my manuscript again.  Sorensens are supposed to be here tomorrow night and we're going to plan something to do about it.

We were glad to have your letters and your regular weekly one came before Buddy left so they got to read it too.

Take care of yourselves and it won't be long until we'll be home for Christmas."

                          Love to you both,

                                 Bonnie

NOTE:  I don't know what prevented our grandparents from coming to Illinois for Thanksgiving.  Buddy was our uncle, and he was always great fun and very playful.

The Thanksgiving menu:  Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, beets, cranberry/orange relish, olives, pickled carrots, rolls w/ apple butter, pumpkin and pecan pies.  I can't recall a Thanksgiving where the menu ever varied from this traditional dinner, served mid-afternoon.

About Olson rugs:  These rugs were among the first to be made from re-claimed materials. Costomers were encouraged to send scraps of fabric which were then weighed and credited against the price of the rug.

November 12, 1955 The Move, The Once Over and The Long-Promised Dog

Meet Pretzel!

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The past week sort of seems like a dream.  We worked so hard that the week went too fast.  The day after we signed the papers we started to bring little things up here.  Every time the car was out we would bring a load.  The house was dusty so we went over it all with the sweeper and then I painted the living room walls one day.

The movers set everything in place so by Wednesday night we were all moved except for a few things we wanted to move ourselves.  I got those yesterday and gave the old place a quick once over.  It is rented already and we will be reimbursed for the rent we had paid for this month.  The people bought our coal and part of my drapes.  They couldn't be used here.  We have some curtains at part of the windows but they don't fit.  They will do until we can do better.  We're going to take our tie and get what we want so we may still be without curtains when you come.  We're trying to make out our rug order tonight.

We love our house.  There is so much room and closet space.  We are all so happy.  This big kitchen is going to be lived in.

We finally got the long promised dog.  He is a nine month old dachshund and is pedigreed--a very nice dog.  The people had to sell him because they were moving into an apartment where dogs were not allowed.  Bob and Ann had a time going to sleep after having so much fun with the dog.

Have you decided what day you are coming?  Bessie didn't know in her last letter.  I must write to them soon and tell them how to find our house.  It will be nice to have you all come.  I wish Beulah and the others could come too."

                       Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

NOTE:  At about 6 years old, I started collecting china dogs, as did most of my friends.  After having been packed away for several decades, I managed to find the few remaining.

November 5, 1955 402 North School Street

November, 1955

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The house is ours!  I intended to write you the minute we closed the deal but we haven't had a free minute.  We were called about noon on Wednesday and met all the other people involved at 3:00 that afternoon.  It took about an hour to do the paperwork.  By the time we left the bank it was raining, snowing, and sleeting.  We wanted to go take a look at the house then but it was getting late and I had to get supper and clean the house before company came.

The envelope with Grandmother's notation

Last night we had our big P.T.A. meeting which we helped plan.  It was a huge success.

Saturday Evening Post, Oct., 1955

 I have spent today working at the new house.  It had been empty for almost 6 months so there was lots of lint and dust.  I took the sweeper and went over all the walls and ceilings.  I'll have a stiff neck tomorrow.  The bedrooms (walls) need to be washed but I'm going to try to clean the worst parts and let it go.  The floors are lovely so I want to clean and polish them before we put rugs down.  We are all anxious to be moved and plan to move next week sometime.  Our address from now on will be:

                                          402 N. School St.
                                          Normal, Ill.

That was real nice of Mamie to answer your card.  I think I'd brag about it a little.

We are all fine and anxious for you all to come to see us."

                       Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

NOTE:  I knew that my grandmother had written to Mamie Eisenhower, but I haven't seen the card she received from Mamie, and don't know where it might be.  I'm looking.

Our parents would live in the house on School Street until the late-80's at which point they moved up the street a few blocks.  Weary of the noise and disruption from the growing number of university fraternities and student rooming houses taking over the neighborhood, it seemed the prudent thing to do.  I recently contacted a friend to see if he could go by the School St. house and take a picture of it for the blog, but I was too late.  The week before, it had been demolished and construction had begun on more student housing. 

The fall of '55 was a busy time, but for Halloween, our mom made us paper masks from patterns she had ordered.  I still have the patterns and wish I had the wonderful masks!  It was a wet and cold Halloween so I suspect they didn't survive much longer than a night or two.

October 29, 1955 Not in the Mood, The Penny Supper and Waiting on the House

A very typical 50's ad message that smoking was important, from Life, 1955  Bonnie would disagree.

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'm tired this morning and not in the mood to work so I'll write my letter.  This week has been like a merry-go-round and we've about run down.  B had lots of extra things at school.  Bob was sick Sunday and Monday and looked bad yesterday so we have been giving him sulfa again.  Any germs that get near him land in his throat just like I used to be.  He looks and feels better this morning.  Maybe I told you he is going to wear long underwear this year in hopes that he won't have so many colds.  We were afraid he'd object to them but he liked them so much that he put them on as soon as we got them.  It was cold that day but has warmed up and he's gone back to shorts.  He is invited to a wiener roast this afternoon.

Last night was the big penny supper at school.  The mothers send the food for a cafeteria supper.  Everyone goes and buys food they have sent in the first place.  It is a money making scheme.  I sent two cakes and helped serve pie.  They have this thing every year so they really have it organized.  Over 1000 people ate supper in about two hours.

Wednesday night B & I went to a friend's house just for an evening of talk.  Our Japanese friend lives there so we all enjoyed it.  Some other people have asked to see our Japanese slides so we are having to have a little party next week.  There is another party this Saturday night.  We are beginning to say no to a lot of things we'd like to go to but we can't do everything.

We're still waiting on the house.  I do wish we'd hear.  It would be so disappointing if we can't get moved before Thanksgiving.  One reason for the slowness  is that there were some little points in the abstract that had to be changed.  Bessie said that they still planned to come but didn't mention Marjorie coming.  I don't see why Charlotte couldn't come.  I'm so glad Beulah is getting the pump.

The new house is not far from church--maybe 4 or 5 blocks.  We aren't sure about the color for the living room.  It is dark and sort of green so I'm going to take a couch cushion up there and see how it looks.  We have written for rug samples and curtain samples but they haven't come yet.

I haven't had much time to think about my book.  I never did have an answer to my last letter.  One of these days I'll write another one.

The leaves are beautiful and coming down fast now.  We'll have to start raking soon.

Hope you both are fine."

         Lots of love,

               Bonnie

October 22, 1955 The I.S.N.U. Homecoming, The Japanese Dinner and The Terrible Accident

Image from The Index, Yearbook, 1955

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This is a noisy town tonight.  It is the start of the big homecoming weekend.  The rooming houses are all decorated and everyone in town seems to be driving by to look at them.  There is a big parade in the morning.  The children can hardly wait for that.  B has to go to a luncheon at noon tomorrow but I never try to go to anything.  If it is a nice day we plan to take the kids on a picnic in the evening.  They have wanted to go on a wiener roast for a long time.

 Our Japanese dinner was a big success.  We had only three guests--the Japanese professor, the chairman of the art department and his wife.  Yokosawa-san ate and ate (about four bowls of rice, I think.)  He laughed and told B to imagine how good a steak would taste to him after eating Japanese food only for five years. 

He has cousins in Ohio but they were born in America and don't know how to cook Japanese food.

An earlier informal Japanese dinner with the Sorensens and Larsens, 1954

Just before supper time that night we had a terrible accident.  David spilled a pan of boiling eggs on his chest and one leg.  He got two bad burns but they are healing fine.  He was so good about it all.  We poured aspirin in him and he went to sleep and slept all night.  It hasn't hurt him since.

We're still waiting on the house.  The people moved the last few things out last Sunday.  We were up there for a few minutes and got another look at things.  The living room will have to be painted but soap and water will fix up the rest for now.

We plan to get an Olson rug for the living room and use the rugs we have for the bedrooms.  The Olsons seem quite a bit cheaper than other brands.

We have given up trying to keep it quiet about the house.  Everybody in town knows it.  I guess the neighbors up there probably asked who bought it or someone saw us up there.

Piano lessons are still a struggle.  Bob does fine when he wants to but the trouble is that he doesn't want to.

We all went to church last Sunday.  The kids got wiggly but the service was a little longer than usual.  They serve communion every Sunday, you know, and Ann was so mad because we wouldn't let her have some of "that stuff" as she called it.

Hope you both are fine.  We had a letter from Bessie.  They still plan to come here Thanksgiving.  The kids can hardly believe you are coming.  They get real excited when they talk about it."

                         Lots of love,

                                Bonnie