Mrs J. C. Bitterman Madison, Wisconsin Feb. 10, 1923 Dear Circle: I am actually "setting" down to write my sheet in the middle of the PM on Sat. You see I've been doing as I please for the past six weeks and the less I have to do, the less I seem to want to do. However, I worked at the church twelve hours yesterday getting a supper ready for the men's club so that evens up some of the other days. Grace left yesterday for Mason City to be present at Florence's wedding on Sat. and to see Dale, who is convalesing at the Mercy hospital from an operation for appendicitis, and to stay a few days with Rena and Jean till Dale gets back home. Dale is doing very well but, of course, it takes about so long before one can be removed to his home. Ruth and Dick moved to another furnished house on Wed. where they hope to stay until the middle of April when they will leave for Sturgeon Bay where they will stay for five months. Their moving record is only equaled by that of Ray & Theo. I noticed Theo's picture, Henry but just forgot to mention it when I wrote my sheet. Theo is as handsome as ever and doesn't look over thirty years old. There's my "once over" Henry. Charles, as soon as I get through writing, I'm going to make some of those cookies! We were glad to see the wedding pictures of Rollo & Alta. I am inclosing one of the flash light pictures Dick took of Grace & Noel, which was not so clear so I don't mind folding it and putting it in the letter. Hope we shall see one of Florence & Earl in the next "Robin". We wish them a long & happy married life.[Rollo is son of Arthur, married Alta Fessenden, Aug 14, 1922 ] [Florence is dau. of Ellen Wilkinson, married Earl Dean Feb. 10, 1923 ] Ella has been laid up with a lame knee the past week, but is somewhat better at present. Cal and I really went to "Prom" as "innocent bystanders" for a couple of hours but wouldn't care to waste sleep again for it, I guess. Hope Myrta is better by this time. Dale wrote us that Ethel Youtz wrote him that she was to have an operation for appendicitis in a week or two. We are as well as usual here. Love to you all from Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mrs. J. C. Bitterman Madison, Wisconsin March 18, 1923 Dear Circle: This is Old Lady Bitterman writing. At least it seems that she has been married thirty three years tomorrow. But Henry and Ella were over to dinner today and HE told me that I looked 13 years younger today just because I waved my hair and pulled it down over my forehead a la the "flapper" and wore a net. I may as well confess the rest, I wear sleeveless underwear, low shoes, collarless dresses and CHEW GUM in this year of 1923. There's no telling what 1924 will bring forth. Cal says that I may say for him that he weighs 190 lbs in his birthday suit in spite of 33 years of wedded life, high taxes and low salary. I am enclosing a cartoon that bears on this marriage problem that has given me many a good laugh. We are invited to have dinner on the 19th with Grace & Noel and of course we will have the traditional 4- hole tarts as per 33 years ago. It has been a howling blizzard all day with the thermometer at about zero, but Henry & Ella walked from the carline to the house & three other friends came, too. The street car co. are running the snow plow night & day to keep the track clear. Our supply of coal is getting very low as so much cold weather takes a lot. We have escaped the flu but Dick and Ruth have had it, but are better again. Dale & Rena also were in bed several days each with it but are out again. Cal has used the car all winter for the first time but will have to shovel tomorrow if he gets out to the street. Goodnight and much love from Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. April 22, 1923 Dear Circle: Henry and Ella called and took us riding this afternoon and then to their house for Sunday night lunch, so now I must write fast to get this letter off tomorrow. We had an all day rain yesterday which washed every thing off and made the grass quite green, but it has only been WARM two days so far this spring here. It is very late to have no field work done but it surely will be fit soon now. Cal is going to make the garden this year but has done nothing yet but trim the grape, raspberry bushes and roses. You "sooners" that got your house cleaning done so soon will be out of work first thing you know. I hope to get at it in MAY, but I have had neuritis in my right arm for several weeks so that has put a damper on such work. It is better now but this week there is so much going on and I am chairman of a supper at the church for seventy on Fri. so will not begin till that is off the board. Grace is recovering from her appendicitis operation as well as she possibly could, but is careful not to do any lifting or much bending yet. Noel is out of the city this week on his barberry work so she is alone. Ruth and Dick leave in a few days for Sturgeon Bay. The snow was so deep up there that they did not have to go quite so soon as they expected to. Theo and Ray moved to their cottage yesterday and sublet their flat in the city. Galli-Curci comes to sing in Madison in May. Her husband used to live across the street from Ritch in Eau Claire and they knew him well. His name is Samuels, I think. I'm going to tell you that Henry has sent his dress suit to be pressed, etc, in preparation for a formal reception on Tues eve by Dean Birge of the U. to the board of regents & faculty & SCHOOL BOARD. His first OFFICIAL APPEARANCE! And I think he'll make a creditable debut! We are well and hope this will find you all the same. With love from Annie Willa's letter is VERY good. Wish we could all see the pictures she sent. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. May 26, 1923 Dear Circle: We have made our semi-yearly trip to Iowa since the last letter. Our old Overland is truly a long distance car. It can scarcely limp up to the square & back with Cal some days here, but just turn its hood in the direction of Iowa at 5 AM some morning and she takes a long breath that reaches to the river and another that lands her at the farm. We did the trip both ways in 12 hours this time. Came back by way of Calmar instead of West Union in Iowa & by Wauzeka & Arena instead of Fennimore in Wis. Found good roads both ways. We see a mighty improvement in the roads over what they were the first trip in 1915. Cal announced when he came home tonight that he had invested in two new Federal Cord tires that he expected to last at least two years. for $70.00. He likes that kind best. We are hoping that we may be able to go to Sturgeon Bay next Sat & return Sunday to see the cherry orchards in full bloom & to see the Jones' also who are cosily settled in the same cottage they had last year. Grace & Noel left on Thurs on a barberry trip to Decorah, Ia., Clinton, Joline, Ill. & Waukegan. They expect to be back on Tues. Charles, I am enclosing a notice of the new church just built here. The twins are cunning & look like healthy boys. Ella got home from her long drive safely and she will be starting out for most any place from now on, I suppose. Bedtime now, so I will wish you all goodnight. Love from Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. July 29, 1923 Dear Circle: Today we took the ride that Henry speaks of in his letter. Down thro' Monticello where we stopped to look at the old house thinking no one lived in it, it was so shabby, but when Cal knocked at the door, a man came & answered so we did not peek into the windows as we had intended. We went on down to Monroe where William, Lettie, Flora & Amelia went with us four to Freeport. We easily found the house Father had built, though it has been enlarged considerably and the Huchinson house and the Averill house are there much the same but needing paint. Then Henry decided to find the house we lived in before our own was built and sure enough there it was close to the R.R. track, very weatherbeaten. The factory is no more, having been incorporated into some larger building but he showed us its site and all those churches where you boys and Amelia went to Sunday School. We went 160 miles today. Left home at 7 AM and got back at 8 PM. Had picnic dinner in the park at Freeport and supper at Flora's. Grace and Noel left on Fri. on their trip to Yakima, Wash. Will camp on the way and take in Yellowstone Park & Denver, etc. Will be gone about 6 weeks. Amelia Churchill was having electric lights installed in her house in place of the gas lights. At the end of this week, both my roomers will be gone and with both of our own girls gone, I think its going to be rather quiet around here. However I shall be able to keep busy with canning etc. Ruth & Dick are sending Henry's & us and Ulve's (our next neighbors) a crate of cherries each, and then there are the beans and carrots, too. We hope Ellen is getting stronger all the time and will be restored to good health in time. After listening to our roomer play classical music for three years, I feel just as this clipping puts it. So I'm afraid I'm wholly plebeian. Love to you all from Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nora Spring, Ia. Oct. 3, 1923 Dear Circle:- We are at the farm again for two weeks and will be here till Sunday, I think. Cal. has been so busy with the barn that he had not taken time to go even as far as the road in front of the house for a full week after we came. He has had Wendell helping them for two days so that they could be sure to finish and also make a new foundation for the crib before we had to go back. I was so glad to see Wendell's letter in the Robin and hope he will feel that we still want to hear regularly of Ellen's family if we may no longer hear of her dear self. [Sarah Ellen Pickford Wilkinson died August 26, 1923] She was my CHUM, and I am heartbroken that I can not see her again. Ever since as girls of 19 and 17, when we took Mothers place in keeping the home together for Father, we have had so much in common. Always wiser and more far sighted than I, she was at once Mother and sister to me in those years. Then our double wedding and all our years of meeting on our anniversaries, the problems of our children & earning of our homes so near together have seemed to keep us especially close together all our lives. I cannot yet realize we shall not see her in her home again. We had a letter from Ruth & Dick today. They are now at Seattle, Wash. and are enjoying their trip and the visit with Dick's parents very much. I went up to Manly with Dale on Tues. He went on to Grafton for potatoes & I visited with Alice Holden for two hours till he came back. Alice's oldest girl, Celia, is at Iowa City Univ. for her Soph. year. Oliver and Amy are Juniors in Manly High. Grace is in 8th grade & Arthur is working the farm. She says she intends each one shall go thro' high school but they will have to help themselves thro' college. Celia is working 3 hrs a day for her board this year. I have three girl roomers at home taking care of themselves at present. We are all well. Much love from Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Oct 28, 1923 Dear Circle: The town is quieting down again after the game yesterday. The stadium was full, 38,000 people and the game was a tie, 0 to 0, Wis. & Minn. Edith & Rudolph & Merle & Ritch & boys & Carol and husband were at the game and left for home today, I suppose. We were all out to Theo's cottage for supper last evening. We expect Ruth and Dick home on Tues. or Wed. at the latest. The youngsters have had some fine trips this summer. Merle & family, Grace & Noel & Ruth & Dick to the western coast, and Theo and family & Roswell & Kate to the eastern coast. The older generation don't seem to be able to break away so readily. I don't see any obstruction in the way of your starting a saving acct. Charles, with such industrious hens with eggs at 55 cts per 12, and then all those "eats" handed out besides. I have gotten so that I never lose sight of my purse in my waking hours. If there isn't some one at the front door or the back door wanting cash, then I have to go a marketing. I remember distinctly times in our married life when we didn't have enough cash for weeks at a time to buy a postage stamp. Uncle WiIlliam and Uncle Walter are now both alone. I must write to them. [William & Walter Pickford, younger brothers of Benjamin] I hope Ethel is feeling well again by this time. Grace asked me to send this snap shot of Charles, Alice & Paul, that she took in Sept., around in the letter and I am glad to do so. It is very good, I think. I was glad to have the picture of Ellen that Mary sent, for I scarcely had a picture of her since the one before her marriage. I don't think I have one of Rufus since his marriage or of Arthur, and I want one. It is bedtime so I will close. With love from Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Dec. 6, 1923 Dear Circle: I am beginning my new year by getting up early (6 o'clock) for me, these days. Cal had to be at the office at seven this morning instead of eight. He is superintending decorating the Square and State and King Sts. to the N.W. Depot with evergreens, as they did last year, also, for the Christmas season. As usual, I am not very well advanced with my Xmas gift work. There is so much going on all the time, I can't stay at it. I have been at the church two days and will be there again Sat. this week in connection with the Bazaar we have had, and today the chorus I belong to meets in the PM and Ruth has invited us, & Grace and Noel to a birthday dinner for me at six. It seems pretty fine to be invited out on all these special occasions instead of always having to prepare the meal myself. We had such a pleasant time on Thanksgiving. We are to have the Christmas dinner for such of the relatives as do not go out of the city. We know how much the old home group will miss Ellen at these gatherings. She was always so willing to do more than her share, dear girl. We are glad to see the children's pictures. They are all so sweet and cunning. Ruth and Grace are in favor of the cousin's Round Robin, Charles. It would be quite a bulky bird in one flight, but it would be very interesting, I think. It is very mild weather here and the ground is barely frozen. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy & prosperous New Year. Love from Annie