Letter 2020.102.162

Phelan, Cal. May 29, '17

My dear Dedie:

I am at the mailbox waiting for the carrier. There is an auto track, but it does not look fresh, so I guess he has not gone by.

Mr. Sherwin came up 3 weeks ago and, when he found I had not been well, he insisted on taking me down for 10 days rest. I did not want, (or feel like), to take the trip but finally consented. Came back last Wednesday. Fred forwarded your card to me at L. I meant to write soon as I returned, but was so long getting rested and felt so bad. Better now.

We wanted to give you a call coming back, but it was raining when we (over)

2 left L. and drizzling when we passed the double drive & we know we ought to come right along for expected troubles (and had 'em too) and did not want to be after dark. We just made it by dark, (left at 8 a.m.). Half dead. Oh, such a long tiresome trip! We all spoke of how we would like to bring one of the girls, but we were packed in like sardines in the little Saxon & not room to move our toes. Machine o.k. for mail, but too small for all the females in our family.

No, not one of our expected guests came. Times too hard etc. the plea. I would have enjoyed having my friends, but still do not get lonely, for, as you know, I am usually

3 a "busy lady." I have a stack of fancy work that I wanted to do, but hope I may find time next year. We will only be here three weeks longer & I have more to do than I can accomplish. I know in that time.

Am going to do up our summer clothes before going down, wash our spreads, blankets curtains etc. & clean house thoroughly, sew a few pounds more rug rags, do a little outdoor work, write letters etc., besides eating.

Fred started for Lankershim about two hours ago & will probably make your place tomorrow night, (Wednesday). I am sorry I had nothing to send in your little

4 pail. He did not expect to go quite so soon & I was going to fill it but was not quite ready. The filling will come later. You see nothing of an eatable nature is growing on our claim because we did not plant the seed. Trying to grow vegetables in L. but has been so cold & backward. Apricots, very scarce, walnuts also. Hope to have enough to pay taxes, but doubt it. Thank goodness, flour is coming down anyway!

Pa Milliken has been very sick, (seriously so). Had acute indigestion & neuralgia of heart. Was walking about room last report. It is so hard to be so far away at such times. Two sisters and three brothers went home, but Ella & I, too far away.

5 No signs of carrier and I am getting so cold. Think I'll chuck this in box & go to a warmer place. He usually comes so late but I may have missed him. Then this may not go out till Saturday. I came down at 8 o'clock. But sometimes, he takes passengers for the early train & goes before that, otherwise, not till 10 or 11 o'clock.

I'll write again. Let me hear. Hope to surely visit you this summer. Much love to all.

Auntie Ga

The girls are picking wild flowers. We have so many here & such pretty Mariposa lillies.