Mon 8 May through Tue 9 May 1922
Mary's Journal Entry
cold, awful cold in camp, quiet
Letter Sent Home
Dear ones all
we got here sat. & expected to go into Yosemite National Park 100 miles east & up 4 or 5 thousand feet they are working to get snow out of way was real hot untill Monday since cooler rained last nigh all night but is cool & fair this AM have not fully decided whether to go on to Sanfrancisco or wait here a week for to get in Park if we pass it now may never see it hardly like to go in on train expect it is cold in there now but will be cold if we go on north this is a valley 400 miles with out a hill north & south & all good roads Planted to Grapes Almonds Apricots. Peaches & Alfalfa some irigation canals but lots of wells & pumping plants to watter the land went through the sunmaid raisin packing plant Sat. they let us see all with a Guide some times put out 30 cars a day & the Growers in this valley rec. 46 million Dollars for their 1921 crop. I am sending ont of the contracts that Growers sign they the corporation own or lease the Packing plants. the one is Fresno covers 20 acres & they want more room at every town coming up the valey you see Sun Maid Raisin Corp Plant no 36 or 46 dud not learn how many they operate canning factories in the valey are offering $70.00 a ton for Apricots no Price on Peaches yet tried to get one of their contracts may do so yet.
we slept good through all the rain this morning one of my shoes was full of watter when I emptied it Ma laughed that & one sock was all that got wet was on running board under canvass watter got through canvass where it touched top then dripped on shoes car stands under a Fig tree 7 1/2 ft. in circumference at smallest place. branches spread 60 feet the largest we have seen & full of figs (not ripe yet) this is the village camp free for 3 days. Ma said this morning it is move or pay rent guess it is pay rent as it is most noon & she is still busy writing a day after 3 days. you should have the box of freight by the time this gets to you you can put the Portiers up find the little screw hooks they are to screw in top of door casing in yours 2 1/2 inches apart in ours 1/16 less use an awl make a hole for screws as they twist off easy should have some on each side on top to hold diamonds in shape the rings go on hooks. the beads cut strings in handling if bent to short do not remember all else in box if cant wait for us to tell write & ask did not hear how the crop Growers Ass- made out did the canning Factorys come to time or did it all fall through the canners here look for a good year. will send a book by parcel post that Ma & I just finished saw the Play also the points of interest will put a Fig leaf in Bood also small ostrich Feathers from Ostrich in Park in Fresno
good by with Love to all hope this finds ou all as well as it leaves us Pa & Ma
Dear ones
that daddy of yours has written all the news. I wrote cards to Nettie, Phebe & Hollis & Gertrude Elton a B- card sent Blanche one a week ago. say what do you know left L.A. a week yes. pa has made tow tests since & sugar both times (now why?) its discouraging allright maby whole wheat bread maby not, can’t tell. “well what can’t be cured must be endured.” no sugar since the middle of Nov. now just as I commence to feel good over it back it comes. it makes me blue. I still weigh 147. two new neighbors just come in & are pitching their tents. expect you have the lemon blossoms. also the post cards are sending book becuse we do not want to carry it. we roasted in Bakersfield & Fresno & freeze in Merced. accent on last cylable. a nice little town not so little either. Nettie put us up a box not to be opened till we were far away so opened it on tues. P.M. turnips, carrots eggs bacon fried cakes & a work basket for me to keep crochet in filled filled with stuffed dates well its dinner time. one neighbor has 4 kids & one has cried ever since they landed hope it gets done by tonight they are next to us with a dog too. it makes one sick seeing them drag dogs along.
by by. Ma
hope you are all well the sun is under cloud & its colder looking for long pants again & all the rags we have to keep warm. I am wearing one of pa’s Kaki shirts 3 skirts 2 pr. stockings sweater hat & apron not sweating either