Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - October 9, 1927

Old Mission, Mich Oct. 9th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Today is Sunday & raining. It is queer how our weather goes to exremes one way or the other. But how thankful we can be for our crops such as we have.

I had a lovely letter from Mother yesterday & she said what crops didn't dry up froze early. They are paying $1.20 a bu. for their potatoes now. The farmers who depend on potato & grain crops here are out of luck as the rain keeps every thing so wet that can't get things in.

Your corn is all cut now we need some nice dry weather to get it ready for husking. Had our first frost Fri evening but didn't touch your farm as we can see. This sure is a nice location.

The new seeding is coming fine as thick as hair on a dogs back & the rye is beautiful & green. Nothing would please me more than to have you spend Sunday with us. Come & have dinner with us it is cool & nice now. And the woods are beautiful in their gay new colors.

Your cherry trees are very green & nice yet. Look fine for to go into the winter with. In fact every thing is better than most. For so many orchards haven't any leaves. Am so glad Jos. could stop the blight. Now if the Winter & Spring are kind to us there is no reason why we can't have cherries another year. I guess we all need them too.

Have you heard any thing of any propects of selling? There hasn't been any one here so far. Lets all hope for a good Summer to come. If when you write to Alberta I would be very glad if you would ask her if Mr. Stutsman would finish a few of those snap shots for us. I would like to send some home to Mother. Maybe I can do something nice for you some time.

We brought your little stove home & have covered it up nice for winter. We have every thing stored here now. Joseph wants to put the sprayer away for winter & get every thing in tip top shape.

He wanted me to mention that the mice are still chewing into the grain bins & he wants to store the old corn away very soon now & make room for the new crop in corn crib. Do you want him to tin the whole bin or what the mice would soon destroy enough to pay for a lot of tin. I know how to feel sorry for you because every cent we get goes like wild fire since we bought our place. But am glad we have it even tho' it isn't much of a place.

Guy Tompkins had another operation and has cancer of the liver it is partly eaten up now he has only a few days to live at the best.

I have taken some of that work to do that I spoke of and have nearly $21.00 worth ready to send out. Sometimes I think I am foolish to try & do it. But there are so many extra things we need that I decided to make a try at it. It is a good way to earn a little money besides doing my house work.

If you don't happen to sell your hooked rug I think I know of a lady that might take it. That resort lady would like to have had me do a lot of children's sewing for her also quilt some quilts. But I can't do the extra work now. Joseph has a spell every day or so about my working. But all men are like that. I would far rather work harder & see my family get along than sit helpless & not try. Sometimes I wonder and think of what you said this Summer if it pays. I notice that lots of women don't try & they have things too.

Well I must write to my dear Mother too. So must close now. With love Essie