Sept 30, 1952
931 Seaview Dr
El Cerrito, Calif.
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
I should be out in the kitchen
painting but it’s a rather warm evening and I haven’t too much
ambition so I’ve been dawdling around all evening. These 85°F days
that come ever once in awhile (like today) really take the starch out
of a person, particularly when you’re used to the 70°F kind. I
suppose that you, Verner, tho would think it a very mild sort of day.
Come to think of it, seems I’ve heard in various & sundry
letters that its been rather warm in the midwest at times too, so I
guess I should be talking.
Like Vivian, I’ve got one thing
that’s its very easy to write out since it occupies so much of my
time. With Viv its Ruth Laurine but with me its my house (My in a
certain be-mortgaged sense). So, for a time I’ll write about the
house. As I mentioned I should be in the kitchen painting or I shan’t
have things fixed up the way I would like by Christmas when I hope
the folks will come for a visit. The kitchen is going to be yellow
with black trim and I’ve painted enuf of it to know that I’m
going to like it. The trouble with me as a painter is that I don’t
get a nice sharp line between the yellow & the black — it sort
of wiggles around etc etc. Usually by going back with either color
alternately I can straighten it out fairly well but its no
professional job. Outside the house I have about 2/3 of the lawn in;
the rest will wait till next year. On the schedule before winter are
some shingle repairs both on the sides (which are cedar shingles) &
the roof (asbestos shingles). These shouldn’t take too much time so
perhaps I can accomplish a few other things too.
I have decided geraniums are my
favorite flower since they grow so easily. Along the road next the
curb I have been trying to get some ivy started but without too much
success. Last night I dug a slip up to see if [it] had taken root at
all & it didn’t look like it had. That particular one looked
pretty dead like most of the others, but a few still look like they
might make it. If they don’t begin to show progress I think I’ll
try to find something else nice & hardy like the geraniums.
My work continues to keep my
quite busy and indeed last Saturday I had to spend working on a rush
project. Needless to say I regarded this with a singular lack of
enthusiasm since I had a full day of work on the house planned. I’ve
moved to another office so I can no longer see the Calif Contained Co
activities; this is definitely a hindrance to spending a leisurely
contemplative day at work — the pilot plants that I can now
overlook aren’t nearly as interesting.
Right now I feel very virtuous
having penned my contribution to the R.R. [round robin] so soon after
I got it. I feel moved to go upstairs & sit in the bathtub &
cool off.
With love
C.P.
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