8th January 1928, Wellington, Colorado. U.S.A. Written across the top of the letter - I got the books on the 10th. There's one missing between them and last lot and one between these two. My dearest Mother, I had been looking for a letter from you for weeks and finally received one on Friday. You have never said a word about your Christmas puddings or cakes this year, mother. Did'nt you make any? I made three cakes, we started on the last one today. It seems funny Annie did not get my letter (I wrote her a nice long one) but perhaps it has arrived ere this. You know the seas have been so rough and stormy that ships have been delayed. No mother, the children have not got rid of their coughs, altho they are not bothered quite so much. They are both busy writing just now and I keep trying to coax them to prepare for bed. Mary always undresses and dresses herself, laces her shoes and everything. We bought Liza a blue rayon (silk) fast colour bed-spread for a wedding present the other day. Gee Whiz! Ted sure must be a big fellow. I always thought he would be fairly big but not very tall. He's made me look like a shrimp. I don't know how much Walt weighs now but he says he never has weighed more than 159 pounds. Yes, I sure felt sorry for Doris, she seemed to be all broken up, and no wonder! I read in the papers that England was having such cold weather and lots of snow. 16 feet in some places. For the last few days we have had lovely mild weather but before that, we had a spell of the coldest weather we've experienced for many a day. Walt and I and the folks were invited down to Aunt Lizzie's at Collins for dinner last Sunday but it was dreadfully cold that we had to stay at home. The cars would have froze up sure. Today, I had a dinner party. Frank, Lizzie and three children were here, also pa, ma, Nida, Jim and Beattie. I had roast pork and beef, cauliflower, peas, potatoes, gravy, pickles, cheese, Waldorf Salad, Celery, Lemon pie and fruit salad for dinner. My fruit salad consisted of strawberry and orange jello, a can of strawberries with their juice, sliced bananas and nut meats, topped with whipped cream. I had Christmas Cake and Angel-food cake for lunch. Just wait until you come to visit me mother, I'll fix up the darndest stuff you ever saw, or ate rather. I tell Walt that when I do come home I'll fix up up some American dishes. Well, I'm glad this dinner is over I owe all the married girls (ours) a dinner then I'm thru for a while. Next Sunday the folks and us are invited down to Aunt Lizzie's again. I hope we'll be able to go this time. Well mother dear, how did you get along at Christmas time? We sure had a nice time. We were up home all day and had the usual turkey dinner and supper. I got a lot of dandy presents. Before Christmas Walt said the only thing could think of to buy me for Christmas was a canary. Well, he then bought nearly seventeen-hundred dollars worth of cattle so asked me if I could wait a little while. I said I could. Anyway on Christmas Eve he handed me a package saying he had not missed me yet and would not let this time pass without a present. Talk about surprise, you could have knocked me down with a feather! The package contained a pair of silk bloomers, a pair of silk teddies and a silk vest, lovely things! (Written sideways beside this, reads,) Can you fancy Walt buying these, O why he wont even buy his own underwear. I'd like to have seen him. Rose gave me a pink rayon silk vest and Dorothy gave me a light green one (Walt's were pink) Emily sent me an embroidered towel with a colored hem. Mother gave me half-a-dozen small irridescent fruit dishes, (and a purse). Mrs Smith a large one, and Jim gave me a length of goods for a house-dress. I also got a pair of pretty garters with a bottle of perfume and Mrs Deines gave me a linen tablecloth with blue striped border. Winnie M sent me a box of violet toilet soap and Nell a string of the loveliest beads I ever saw. They look like pink brocaded velvet, with lots of other colors on them. The girls are crazy about them too. Nell also sent Mary a string of pretty blue beads with a tassel on them and Edward a dandy box of paints. Well mother, I'm pretty tired tonight so I guess I'll quit now and go to bed. I was up late last night and early this morning. Jan 10th - Here I am again and just about ready for bed too. I had a big washing yesterday and in the afternoon I was up home for a while and paid a couple of visits in town besides doing a little business. Last night we went to Deine's for the evening. Walt churned this morning and I made up the butter. I made a double batch of date bread for the Aid, did part of my ironing, and finished it tonight, having just got thru, On Saturday, Walt asked me if I'd like to go down and see the canaries. (A lady in town raises them for sale). We went and Walt bought me one. We borrowed an old cage from the folks and got our bird right away. On Sunday he began to sing and today, oh boy!. He's just been singing his head off all day. Tomorrow is Aid meeting and I am onE of the hostesses. We are going to serve pineapple salad and date bread sandwiches. I've never made any before but this batch sure looks and smells good. Father had some sheep on the market today and Jim some cattle. We have not heard from them so I guess they're not home from Denver yet. Walt sold his cows last week and made pretty good on them Mother is having an awful time with her leg again, it is pretty bad. Well mother dear, I'll say Goodnight and God Bless you "Us four" send lots of love to all of you Your loving daughter XXXXX Dolly xxxxx