Dear James,
We were so pleased with everything in the package. The percolator is sitting on the stove beside me as I write. The children have gone after the milk this morning and I have these few quiet moments to write.
It was coolish last night but the days are lovely. We had company on Monday. Roy and Reo and George and Emily [James’ sisters and their husbands] dropped in on us for a few minutes. They left home last Thursday, drove up to Grand Marais and Ely, and stopped here on their way home. They stayed in Alexandria that night. They had their own bedding and cooking things and stayed at cottages along the way. It rained most all the time they were out and they were pretty disgusted with the weather.
Our yard looked very untidy so Tuesday I got busy and raked together the piles you started and all the loose papers and such, and had a bonfire. The ground is well soaked and we burned a lot of it without danger of fire. It rained again that evening and put out the rest of the fire. I had a tub of soft water that had got spoiled for anything else so I swept out the old house and mopped the floor, then we piled wood inside next to the east wall. John has sawed and carried in most of the stuff you brought into the yard.
Yesterday Ruth built the fire and made dinner alone. She fried potatoes, bread, and eggs, warmed up the coffee, and had prunes and cake for dessert. They are making paper doll clothes out of the wall paper sample book. This time they drew boy dolls and made overalls and knickers, suits and snow suits etc.
The cat has 4 new kittens. Last night she started to get sick while lying on the couch. The children carried her out to the old house where they had a nice bed fixed for her and everything was all right. Don’t you think we had better dispose of the new ones and keep the old cat and Tommy? I would like to find a home for Tommy. He is a beautiful cat and a good hunter now.
The children are waiting for school to begin. Send John another pair of pants and we need two padlocks, one on the house and one on the Little House. I’m glad you had a chance to visit with Roy and Gladys.
Love from us all,
Martha
PS My balance on hand August 31st $8.15.