Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - October 4, 1925

Old Mission, Mich. Oct. 4th 19-25 My Dear Miss. Taft:- We couldn't get any straw from Lannin's so don't know of any other place. Joseph is hauling all the fodder in a load at a time & husking it in the barn. The squirrels can't carry part of it off that way. He has over half of it husked & only 40 bu. of corn so far is saving all the seed there is amongst it. He has some very beautiful ears saved up. There isn't near the fodder there was last year it seems very light. Mr. Breeden said if you only wanted 3 loads of gravel he would give it to you but if more was needed you would have to pay him .25 per load as he didn't want to dig holes in his land for nothing. Joseph thinks it would take 25 or 30 yds. of gravel to finish up around the barn the way it should be. I thought I had better mention it in this letter & no wait for so many times I forget. Ledger got very little out of the apples that were shiped out. They are paying .80 at B. Harbor for peelers & .35 for ciders. Haven't sent Mrs Stutsman's yet as we thot they would grow more the weather is cooler & very nasty and damp out. Hazel & Roger both have colds in their heads. The crows are very troublesome they are feasting on farmers corn. They cleaned the sweet corn up clean. I am provoked about it as it costs so to buy seed every spring. I was mistaken about the heifer we had to take her again if this doesn't prove satisfactory will take her to Jone's next time. We we almost sure she would be all right But just roared [roamed] around all day yesterday Hope the weather is cooler there & you are better. Roger is coaxing for a new kind of a flannel blouse the boys are all wearing they are only $5.00 guess I will have to buy one for winter. Bobbie Drew & other boys like them so he has to be in style. With love Essie Some time ago I went over to your mail box & nothing there. I intended to mention in my other letters & forgot to. We had 5 bu. of potatoes in all wasn't that dreadful last year we had about 20 bu. we will have to buy some where. The carrots are small & under size this yr but may grow some yet Am thankful the meadows are not brown any longer. Joseph has changed the cow barn the right way so animals don't stand humped up. Did that the day after you left. There was a few grapes over to S. place some one picked some of them I don't know who goes there so regular. Can't think of more to write so will stop.