"I'll be looking for the dress"

July 5, 1956
Dear Mother,

Received your last letter. Thank you. Sorry not to have answered sooner. We’ve been busy since vacation started, the children have been going to vacation Bible School for two weeks. Then I had to go back and work one week at the college for a convention. This week has been broken up with the “Fourth”, so it reall doesn’t seem like summer has “set in” yet.

We had a nice warm spring, but so far we haven’t had much summer. I hear you’ve had some good hot weather back there. Too hot, I suppose.

I’m sorry you couldn’t use the dress. However, you didn’t say whether it was too big or too small. How about being more specific and send your measurements. The best thing to do would be to send back the dress. I know I wouldn’t be able to get a cash refund, but if you send your proper size and measurements I would try to exchange it for a different size.

While we’re on the subject, if you would be a little more specific about everything it would be a little easier to understand you. Your life and conditions where you live, for instance.

Also, when you wrote about Martin, you say, “If you want his address, ask me, and I’ll send it.” Would it have taken any more ink or effort to have simply written his address? What’s the idea?

I haven’t made any definite plans to go to Portland, or over to see Elin. I hope to though, before the summer is out. When I’m only home for a few months in the summer, I have quite a few things to do to catch up on work around the house. I’ve caught up on the washing, ironing, and mending. Now I have some little painting chores I want to get done. Also, do a little wall-papering. And, of course, sewing! That’s perpetual.

So somewhere, in between, things I’d like to run down to Portland, and over to see Elin.

Oh, and I’ve promised the kids to take them to camp in July. It’s a 4-H camp. I’ve been asked to work in the kitchen and take the little kids along. So we’ll all go out for a week – all of us except Bob, that is.

Thank you for blue striped material. I haven’t figured out what to do with it yet, but I’m sure we can work out something.

Heard from Pop and Dora recently. Both of them had been quite sick with the flu. I think they’re all right now though.

Well, I must close and get this in the box before the mailman comes.

Write again – I’ll be looking for the dress and will see what I can do in exchanging it.

As ever,
Lottie