"Marian learned to roll over and over and over"

June 29, 1979 (from postmark)

Tuesday

Hi Dad -

Just talked to Mark yesterday. This Monday, the man sez. Today I will order the lumber. Could you send up 2 thousand? (We'd like to borrow 4T total). I'm not sure if the lumber man wants cash or if he'll send a bill - and if it's cash he's gonna take all of Stan's paycheck - and then some! Also the cabinets should be done by the end of the week, too, and I know he wants cash.

This weekend we got the store room emptied (and Marian's room filled) and spent Saturday at the swap meet. We cleared over $80 - not bad for a bunch of junk! Came home with a fantastic sunburn - my face was swollen 'til today - especially my forehead - I looked kinda freaky.

Stan's putting an Amity kit on the kitchen cupboards today and yesterday. Crazy man - he just woke up yesterday and said he had decided to do it - I didn't even nag or even ask.* Weird. Usually he sneaks out to the garden every chance he gets. Anyways, they look gorgeous. *As a matter of fact, I had a box of cherries ready to can that morning - of course, they're still sitting in the frig.

The varnish finally dried on the picnic table - I'm not about to put another coat on it - it'd be August before we could have a picnic. So far, we've eaten outside every day- even breakfast! (It's usually warmer outside than inside. You know me - I pick the warmest possible spot.)

Marian learned to roll over and over and over - 'til she bangs her head on something and cries. Cute kid. She also eats 3 meals a day now. She's pretty cheap to feed though - lots of applesauce!

Anna and Elisabeth have learned to pick everything! The only good strawberries are in the middle of the bed anymore. And they eat all the snowpeas before I ever get there. And every day Anna pulls a carrot up - "Still just a top with no bottom" she says. She'll have them all pulled up before there are any ready to eat! Dumb me - I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't eat much lunch or diner - I thought they should be real hungry since they're outside all day!

Every day the kids ask when Uncle Mark and Grandpa are coming. They're really looking forward to your visit. Anna keeps checking on when Aunt Marie and Grandma are coming too - I don't think she remembers Marie - but I told her that Marie was bringing new clothes and she can hardly wait! If I don't muzzle her she'll probably greet her at the door with "Where's my new stuff?" No, on second thought, that's something Elisabeth might do - but never Anna.

Well, my test is about over. It's so warm in my testroom today I'm about to fall asleep.

Take care - see you next week - love, Jacque