Sat 7 Jan 1922
Mary's Journal Entry
wrote letter home sunshine cold. P.M. went to beach eve. show
Letter Sent Home
Dear ones all.
What has become of you all have not heard from you this week only my birthday card. Pa says don’t write business on post cards he was so afraid Steves would see it. we happened to be right there when it came so they did not get chance to read it he took it & hid it in his suit case. Hattie Tillotson sent me card too got hers the 4th & the 5th all day not one of them. Pa as well “never tho’t” of my birthday. the next morn. Steve come in kitchen & commenced to paddle it on they all looked cheap. enuf. when I told them they were to late, so aside from your cards no one knew I was ever born (one on them) Well we come over to Len’s last night. we left Steve’s about 11:30 after the morn. mail had come went down to the Ocean shore spent A.M. along shore & on piers watching “Pelicans” on pier tame as chickens. then come here about 5 o’clock. Len & wife had just been back from Los A. about an hour. we had quite a shower here last night the sun shines nice this morn. say if any one tells you it is not cold in Calif. tell them it is a mistake. I got me some ankle length pants made one a heavy cotton weave housedress with long sleves wear two underskirts 2 pr. of stockings & I don’t sweat any either. only “under the colar.” day before yes. morn. the roofs were white with frost (unusual for Los A.) if their houses were built warmer & heat in them would be different but to try to warm two large rooms with a “hinky dinky” fire place that smokes like a smoke house & only kindling (that pa drew) to burn gets me it they only had a little stove (sheet iron) like some do. would save fuel & get more heat but a stove is such a dirty thing. P- has a broom in her hands half the time. they all hover around that fire place like the pups used to around the ash pail. some one has to sit back so I out on more cloths. before I go to bed (if there is room) I sit with my back to the fire & warm up before going to bed. I have not had a cold yet. I’m pounding on wood (my head) am “feeling” very good am sugar gree as far as I know have not heard from Tues. test take it for granted its O.K. Pa had another little boil on his temple aside from that feels fine. I tried yes. to get a birthday card for Russell & could not find one so send him one that perhaps he will like as well. pa did not take it but did try to take the ostrichs they are in cam.yet so maby will have osme more to send. thanks for the Xmas box come in fine shape “how could” you guess had just bo’t three. always handy am sending you a paper with some of the “flotes” pa took some too so save the paper then when pa finishes his you will have more of them there were about 50 flotes they were all covered with flowers of different color. never saw so many flowers before. Oh it was just fine. but cold & rained a little. I was comfortable but the fuss the rest made I wanted to tell them to go naked. then grumble no wonder they have colds get my “nanny.” just as soon as it gets warm hope you are all well wish I could give R- a birthday hug say if you see Holiday number of Womans Home Journal, that’s Wilfred.
Mother