Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - November 30, 1930

Old Mission, Mich Nov. 30th 1930

My dear Miss Taft:

We are having a grand cold winter and lots of snow. Come on up we can play snow ball now instead of picking cherries. Our weather chaged very suddenly and looks as tho' winter is here in earnest.

Joseph got all the Fall work done up very nicely before the change came but didn't get the storm windows and doors up so we nearly froze.

We still have Bird yet Jos. doesn't like to dispose of her and run chances of picking up another horse in the Spring. She isn't any better. Horses are so hard to buy here unless you pay a big price for them and then they may die with in a years time. He has kept them busy up until last week.

You need not worry about your orchard it has gone into the winter looking fine the leaves froze up on the trees and no cherry blossoms showed up here. We will have to wait and see what the Spring brings forth for us. But all is well so far. Every one says we will take less for our cherries another year if there is a crop at all.

The Alfalfa hay Homer W. brought is not good hay and Jos. is going to tell him so he opened up a bale & it is very dusty. But the [$22?????] hay is very good but isn't alfalfa. We are going to try and buy our hay else where another year if we can It was so scarce this Fall and hard to buy or most farmers were trying to hold for better prices. I suppose we would do the same thing our selves.

Yes lots of the neighbors went on the deer chase but Jos. never leaves the place unless it is to go up to work on his own farm. Roger has looked every where for a job but can't find one he feels kind of blue about it. We paid him while he helped us. But that is only for a few months and then its too late to get a steady job.

I'm glad Alberta is getting on so well and am sure her vacation means more to her than the money she can earn down there.

It certainly will be nice if you do have the elctric lights put down here but it will cost a lot as you would need a transformer all yourself. Marian and Fay Dohmns had to do that way. It certainly is nice to step inside a door and turn on a switch. You would be surprised how much oil it takes to turn lamps and lanterns here for a winter. I would much rather pay for electricity.

I know your rug will be pretty when finished. I have mine all done & it looks nice.

The wind is howling and more snow falling so suppose it will be a [?rand????] day tomorrow.

Must get supper now so will try to write again later on.

With love, Essie K.