Tuesday, February 17, 1953

Feb 17, 1953

931 Seaview Dr

El Cerrito, Calif.

Dear Brothers & Sisters

It’s about 7:00 pm on this quiet evening in Calif and by now the last traces of the sunset are gone altho with the rapidly lengthening days it won’t be long till I can be out working in the yard till this late. The last month or so here has been very nice sunshiny, dry weather for the most part — largely compensating for Dec & the first half of January which were quite dismal months. Today was a beautiful day altho not as warm as some others. Because of the warm weather, fruit trees & flowers are much earlier this year than normal. Several trees (apricot, plum, etc out in the yard) are blossoming now and along the city streets many ornamental cherry trees are flowering. The narcissus flowers are gone by now & the irises are starting (I have about 3 or 4 out). I don’t have any call lilies blooming (all I got is plants from Mrs. Udden newly set out) but in other places these too have many flowers right now. Mother has planted others flowers in the yard too — snapdragons, pansies, marigolds, so the yard should really be a riot of color when they all start in.

I have certainly enjoyed having the folks out here — & as would be expected — they have certainly done much to improve the place since they arrived. Inside mother has got curtains up, waxed the living room floor & succeeded in creating a real “homey” atmosphere. Outside, pop has been cleaning off a big tangle of underbrush on the slope north of the house & has almost got done. This summer I plan to terrace this side to keep the slope under control.

My work at Shell continues in more or less its normal course. As usual I am quite busy, right now finishing up one experimental investigation by a “catchall” final report covering numerous minor tests that were run. I should have this completed in a month or so at which another program will be inaugurated. I also have promised for me an interesting literature & theoretical problem later on which will occupy much of my time after the middle of the year.

I have been spending some time working on the “attic” putting up figured building paper on the walls, which looks like wallpaper if you don’t get too close. This project is about ½ finished & when it is complete that part of the house will be quite presentable. After I get the linoleum in upstairs & the bedroom where the folks are sleeping painted or papered, the inside will be just about finished — at least I think so. Probably other things will turn up that need to be done.

Tonite I am rather tired having attended an AIChE meeting last night. The talk was interesting & was worthwhile but the meal was too large & I missed a train by two minutes so that the evening was rather tiring. Guess I’ll hit the sack early.

With love

C.P.

P.S. I’m really getting out of practice in writing letters as long as the folks are here.