December 1932 – Dear Daddy – The Farm Letters

Month: December 1932

Dec 19, 1932-from Martha to James

Posted on December 19, 1932 by ddadministrator

Dear James,

We received your letter and the package on Sat. and are glad you have your vacation time settled. The children’s’ presents are all nice. We are putting all presents in a big box and I am the only one who can go into it. They have made a number of things for everybody and have them wrapped and labeled. It was much warmer yesterday and today, and the last snowfall was light. If the weather is right I’ll ask Mr. Shaw to start the car and we’ll drive to Park Rapids to meet you. We’ll need groceries for over Christmas. The beads and purse are fine. How about another game, like “Old Maid” and some candy canes for the tree? I haven’t a thing for anybody and it seems strange. Buying the things is half the fun. Never mind about the radio, it would probably be too expensive. The children have a 6 weeks vacation as this is an 8 month school. These last days are going to drag.

Today is fine, the sun is bright and the temp. is 20 above. We’ll meet the train if we can get the car started.

Until we see you, love from us all, Martha

Dec 11, 1932-from Martha to James

Posted on December 11, 1932 by ddadministrator

Dear James,

Well this has been a busy day, even if it was Sunday. When we got up it was snowing a fine snow that looked as though it could keep up all week, so after breakfast Ruth stayed inside to keep the fires going and tidy up and John and I went to work on the wood pile. The children had scattered the wood around a lot when they built their houses, and we filled John’s house with big chunks and John filled Ruth’s with kitchen wood, as we call it. There are a lot that don’t need splitting and a lot that need to be split only once so we have wood for several days, dry and easy to get at. It snowed the same all day, about 3 inches.

The ends of my fingers and nose were frostbitten last week, and I have had a time trying to sew or knit or do anything. I am knitting a little outfit for Ruth’s doll and we can give her the cloth and ribbon and she can make the doll dress herself, and if you want to make a little boy happy give him that ax. Held rather have that than skates or anything else and I don’t believe he’ll get hurt. They can change off using Ruth’s skates if the ice is still good.

We had a baked dinner today, a pork roast baked with sweet potatoes and onions, and mashed potatoes. It was so good I thought you might like to try it. Get a thick pork chop and brown it on both sides, then put it in the baking dish with a 1/2 inch of water and surround it with peeled and quartered sweet potatoes onions and apples, cover and bake slowly until done, about 3/4 of an hour. We used cranberry sauce instead of apples.

(Monday)

It is 20 below and the children are staying home. We need some matches and salt. They will write letters while they are home. I’m baking bread. We are all well and hope you are taking good care of yourself.

Lots of love from us all. ” We’ll be seein’ you “, Martha

Dec 10, 1932-from Martha to James

Posted on December 10, 1932 by ddadministrator

Dear James,

It is not so cold today but still below zero. It is snowing a little. We got your letter just now with the money. Thanks. John picked out the sample he likes best. Ruth says she wants the jersey. Send thread to match and 2 yds. narrow ribbin to match. Am glad you are getting more work. Unless you use the radio a lot can you have it fixed so that we can have it up here? That is all the Christmas present I want. About Christmas again, get 1 yd of pretty yellow flowered material and 1 yd ribbon 1 inch wide for Ruth’s doll and 1 yd. pink and, white checked material. We can make the doll shoes out of imitation leather. Get each one a book, get Ruth one about girls her own age.

Love, Martha

Dec 9, 1932-from John to James

Posted on December 9, 1932 by ddadministrator

Dear Daddy,

How are you? I am fine. I sure would like to have a little car or maybe a train. I sure liked that pretty paper you sent. It is real good skating only it is a little rough in places, and there is some snow at the lowest parts. I don’t know whether the other boys have skates or not well the mailman is coming so goodby lots of love from John.

Dec 7, 1932-from Martha to James

Posted on December 7, 1932 by ddadministrator

Dear James,

We received the letters and packages, the vegetables on Mon., the books and samples yesterday and another letter today. Last night was a real winter night -15 degrees at 6:30AM and just as cold in the house. The water pail had a 1/2 inch of ice on top and the clothes soaking in the tub were frozen. I’ve done the house work and will keep the fires going the rest of the day. It takes a lot of wood but after we get the house warm we are quite comfortable. The children wanted to go to school so they bundled up and will stop at Jensons if they get too cold. The teacher has been keeping a good fire lately.

I drove the car to town yesterday. I wanted to meet the County Supt. We had a nice visit and I found that others had complained about the school too. I’m satisfied now that I have talked to him. Things will straighten out in time. I drained the car and put the battery in the cellar. My driving is improving all the time but it will take a lot more experience before I’ll be satisfied with myself.

The cloth from Powers is the best buy. John needs new Knickers to wear under his overalls. He also needs long black stockings and Ruth needs warm anklets. Will you send some dried fruits, apples, peaches and raisons, and 2 lamp wicks, one for the lantern? We have plenty of kerosene.

The children send a big hug and lots of kisses from each one.

We’ll be looking for you soon, Martha

Dec 5, 1932-from Martha to James

Posted on December 5, 1932 by ddadministrator

Dear James,

Another week has come and gone. The weather turned very cold Sat. night, it had stormed off and on all day, but Sunday was lovely and today is warm but cloudy. The children played outside most of Sunday and in the afternoon I read to them from “Kidnapped” and we popped some corn and wished you were here too.

I have heard Mr. Shaw cutting in the woods once or twice. Remember that John is pretty young to write as often as Ruth but I can see that he gets pretty lonesome for his daddy even if he doesn’t say much.

Love from us all. Martha

Dec 4, 1932-from James to James

Posted on December 4, 1932 by ddadministrator

My dear John

Well John, Christmas is only 20 days away and Daddy will soon see you and then what a lot of fun we will have. What are some of the things you would like best for Christmas? Did you like the pretty paper I sent you? I hope I get a nice long letter from you soon. How do you like to skate on the lake? Is it better than these little places in Mpls? Do any of the boys there have skates and if they do what kinds are they? Yesterday when I was down town I saw a real live deer in one of the store windows. They had a nice little pen fixed for him and a little manger filled with hay. He seemed to be real tame. Well I can’t think of any more news so by-by with lots of love from Daddy.

I’ll be seeing you soon.