Route 1 Box 380

December 28, 1944

Dear Edward,

Christmas is over and two weeks from today is your birthday. As you may guess I will be thinking of you more than ever on that day as we all have during these Christmas days. Your beautiful Christmas gift to me, beautifully packaged by Effie, was under our tree for a week before Christmas day when I opened it first of all. Thanks more than I know how to tell you. Effie said you had selected it especially for me and it is just right, and exquisitely embroidered table cloth in such beautiful shades of rose! It is surely going to be treasured and used often. Jack was able to get home on Christmas day from noon until seven when he got a ride back with a neighbor. Jack hasn’t been home for Christmas for seven years. Bae contributed ten of her ducks for dinner and we had a gala time opening gifts and singing Christmas carols around the piano. Christmas giving in our family is more and more practical, clothes, household necessities, etc, not as much money spent but still so much fun. I got a patchwork, missal, umbrella, set of bowls, well stocked first aid kit (from the doctor) , apron, poinsettia with four gorgeous blooms, box of pecans, etc. The ranch is in fine shape. The navel oranges are all turning bright orange now and all the trees are loaded! Daddy has worked hard to improve the grove and the trees show it. We should be over the damage caused by the wind of November 1943 with the present crop of fruit. All reports of Jamie indicate that she is more beautiful, more amiable, and more intelligent than either you or her contemporary rival Kathleen. Effie is so enthusiastic. I am so glad that she writes all about Jamie to you. It helps so to keep you posted on her progress. Bob wrote that he hasn’t had any word of you recently. Let him know of your location.

All our love and best wishes for the New Year and for your birthday,

Mother