Tuesday, September 30, 1952

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.