~A LITTLE SEPHA-A LOT OF LOVE~

Sutherland, Utah
Sept. 27, 1929

(Today would be grandma's birthday, I think that it is odd how she never really mentions it. Perhaps she may have felt that it would be too selfish on her part...).

Dearest Ward,

Again I am spending the evening in silent visit with you. Why don't you write? Lover if you only realized how worried I am.

The children are all well and happy. The older girls share my anxiety. We watch the mail expectantly and then go to work disappointed.

Today has been a hard day. I have had lots to do and am not feeling very well. I went out last night to help the children with the sheep and have had to pay for it today. ( Remember she is 8 months pregnant).

All of our seed is down now. Marian has a little more to pile. It was so windy Al told her to wait until early morning. So she went out and helped Doris with the threshers. I can't tell just how his seed is running but maybe I can tomorrow evening.

I have a lot of business letters piled up but they can wait until your return.

Mr. Thornton hauled 2 loads of hay today. They had to quit because of the wind.

There is no news and as I write every day what there is will not get very stale.

I will close hoping to see you soon now. But let me know how you are lover, for I am lonesome in a crowd.

With all the love you can handle.

Sepha

(This was the last of the letters that grandma wrote to grandpa while he was in the hospital. To the best of my knowledge grandpa spent approximately a month in the hospital. The most part was spent flat on his back wrapped up like a mummy for the treatment of blood clots...It's a wonder that he survived the treatment! For those of you who read these little pieces of history I have to tell you that after talking to Aunt Mildred who, was completely unaware of these letters...She told me that grandpa had gone into the hospital because of a severe case of hemorrhoids, this is where my tendency to "over think everything" comes into play. Remember when I said that I thought that grandpa may have had colon cancer? I am convinced that if they would have had colonoscopy's in 1929 he would have been around for a lot longer. As it turned out however, he died about 4 years and two more children later from...Okay, I'm just going to say it "METASTATIC" BRAIN CANCER....That is just me making that diagnosis but, it makes a lot of sense doesn't it)!

The next entries from grandma are from her personal journal and some business journals. They are interesting and more than a little sad at times. Her life was hard. There was not a lot of time wasted. Aunt Mildred said this of grandma. "She was not a 'happy' woman but, she was a 'good' woman and I LOVED her! I am not sure there were many "happy" women during the depression, but to raise 10 children mostly by yourself the last one being a "special needs" child and still be a "good woman" is pretty much calling her a heroine in my book!

Check out Bella's post...I thought that she needed a little COLOR!

~ABIGAIL~

Abbie has been so fun to watch grow. Her hair is about as long as she is tall! She LOVES being outside and is always busy with friends or making conversation with...well anyone!

Abbs is #5 in order of grandchildren and an official member of the Three Musketeers (Cole, Madds and Abbs). They hike small mountains in an afternoon finding all sorts of treasures and fascinating things. We have such great conversations on these hikes, I especially love the ones about dog poop! They have learned to be strong and not cry when they fall, even sometimes when there is "blood". Abbie taught them that one! She learned very quickly that "blood" meant that you had to turn around and go home...Now it is just "red stuff".

She is a wonderful big sister to Emma and helps her mom all the time. She loves having her daddy home and is often seen at his side when he is in town (permanently) until he has to go again. He travels a lot with his job so she takes advantage of his being home when she can.

Abbs is a thinker. She has such cute conversations with her mom. I love hearing about them. You can almost SEE the wheels turning inside that little brain of hers.

Clark and Cami moved to Springville
not long ago so we get to see a little more of Abbie than we did when they lived in Farmington. YEA! I am trying not to make a nuisance of myself like I most certianly have with the rest of my kids so that perhaps they will choose to stay...


We LOVE you ABBIE!!!

~A LITTLE SEPHA-A LOT OF LOVE~

Sutherland, Utah
Sept. 26, 1929

Dearest Ward,

Once more I am writing to you. Are you getting tired of the same old thing? I sure could stand a few more from you.

Are you feeling better or are you kidding me? You see I am cynical again, but I am so worried. I sure will be glad when you are able to come home where we can see you and talk to you once in a while.

We are all well and very busy. I washed today. The girls have been cutting seed. Al and Norrah Erickson and Bro. Thornton helped them this afternoon. They will finish easily tomorrow forenoon if nothing happens.

The wind blew so hard that Mr. Thornton could not haul hay.

Your father and grandma Willis and Myrl came up and spent a couple of hours with me this afternoon. They are all better. They had been having a birthday dinner for Q. I didn't know his birthday was so near mine did you?

Archie Lewis was over today. He said Guy came down to Salina last night and told him you were in the hospital and as he was going to Holden he came on over. He sure is a fine old gent. He had another old man with him who fell for the girls. Both men commented on the girls taking things in hand so nicely.

Archie went out and looked over the seed. He laughed about it, but wondered why we couldn't get a real crop. Of course, we wonder that too.

Your father is quite emphatic in saying he thinks we ought to quit this place. Of course he doesn't realize the conditions. But really it would be nice if we could do something agreeable.

I am starting to stuff the two sows. George sold father's old sow but, I told him I wanted 3-4 little pigs so it will be just as well to fatten these for our nest. Don't you think?

The wind is still blowing and since sundown has turned off cold. No clouds so far. Maybe we will get a frost. We can't expect it to stay off much longer. As I sit here writing I wouldn't be surprised if we get an early winter.

I guess this is enough gossip for one time. I don't want to tire you altogether so you won't come home. But, maybe it will amuse you for a few minutes.

I will close for tonight. Maybe I can think of something else in the morning. With love by the car load and I don't mean a Ford.

I am you loving wife.

Sepha


Grandma was obviously getting frustrated but, the mail had to take some of the blame. By the time grandpa received one letter and tried to reply, grandma had written another...As you will see in this letter written to her dated Sept. 27.

L.D.S. Hospital
Sept. 27, 1929

Mrs. Sepha Robison
Sutherland

My Dear Wife and Family,

Your post card was rec'd yesterday and your letter came while I was eating soup. I was in hopes that I would be home for Sept. 27 but Dr. B.T.R. said this morning that it is a little too soon yet.

This is the second day I have been UP! Sneaked out of the hospital this morning. Went crost the street to the store...No one the wiser yet. I will try the same stunt this afternoon. I weigh 134 pounds this morning so you see that soup hasn't put much fat on my bones. I can't sleep nights but, daresent say anything. Fraid they will keep me here longer.

Let the bucks go but keep the date. (I am not sure what a "date" is but that's what it says in the letter...If anyone knows please tell me. I am SO not a sheep person. It has to be the female, but I have never heard them called 'dates' before...).

And take care of yourself. Will let you know when I can get out.

With lots of love to you and the children I am forever your husband.

Ward


Can you even imagine sneaking out of the hospital today? How funny is that!

~BELLA in BLACK and WHITE & SOME COLOR~

I had to add some pictures of Bells in color. I just couldn't resist. She is such a beautiful little girl that although I LOVE her black and whites, I had to have pictures of her in color too. The problem is more, which ones do I choose. There are so many of this little girl that are adorable.

Bella is growing up so fast. She is now at the age where she does not want to be left behind. She is always surprising me with what
she can do even when I think she
might be too little...

I have always loved taking pictures of Bella in black and white. Never having been a big fan of B/W I seldom shoot anything in it. I have always preferred the colors...Except for when it comes to this little girl. There is just something about Bells that is SO awesome in black and white!

The fist B/W picture was taken last year when she came Triky Treating...She was a Bumble bee but, put her sister Maddie's witch hat on for this picture...Bee...Witching!
B/W Picture #2 was taken when the little
girls were playing "dress up". They love to pull out all of my scarfs and wrap up in them. This was ALL she had on!
#3 B/W is my favorite 2 year old pose... Looking for potato bugs in the back yard. The lazy days of summer...Gone so soon!

Bella is a charming little one. She's not big on long conversations yet but seems to be able to get what ever she wants with few words spoken, a smile or by leading you by the hand...Those big "baby blues" seem to get her point across also!

LOVE YOU BELLS!

~CAN"T GET ENOUGH~

I can't seem to get enough of the beautiful fall colors! Steve and I risked our lives last weekend as we rode through the mountains taking in the breath-taking beauty of the changing leaves. Seems it is time for the sheep herders to get all of the sheep to lower range land for the winter. Lots of semi-trucks loading lots of sheep one of which was going WAY to fast ran us off the road. We were very grateful that we were not next to a cliff when he decided to come barreling down the mountain road and around the corner in OUR lane brake-less! It wasn't that he didn't have any...He just chose not to use them so that he could keep his speed up for the hill to come... After realizing that we were alright and that we hadn't rolled the truck we "sort of" forgave the dork, I mean, how can you stay mad in such breath taking surroundings...

Don't you wish the leaves could just hang on for a couple of MONTHS instead of weeks when they are so pretty?

~A LITTLE SEPHA-A LOT OF LOVE~

Sutherland, Utah
Sept. 27, 1929

Dear Ward,
I received your letter this morning and it goes without saying that we were glad to hear from you. I have been worried and I am sorry you are not doing so well.

We are as well as can be expected with all this rainy weather. Makes my back ache, both literally and figuratively. Rained again last night, still cloudy but the clouds are shifty. It may clear, surely hope so.

It sure beats the Dutch how you can live on chocolate! Maybe you will learn to like it.

Dr. Wright was here Wednesday. He wanted to take Eleanor's tonsils out but, I told him we would wait for awhile. I have a sneaking idea that he wanted some money too. Delilah said he visited them for $5.00.

Marion finished the seed down home Saturday. Eleanor went to work for Lawrence Christensen. She liked it all right. Got $1.25 for her day's work.

Everybody advised us not to shock the oats last week. They said it could be hauled to the thrasher all right but, because of the storms I kept Lela out this morning and started them to shocking.

Mr. Thorston is here now unloading some wheat. He had 155 instead of 165. He tells me he sold 55 bushels for himself unloading 45 bushels in our granary and will sell the rest to settle the threshing. Perhaps there will be a few dollars for us over and above the bill.

Mr Craner was here just now after oats.

Marlan sold the calf yesterday for $15.00. It hasn't been doing too well the last week. Both Lawrence and Howard thought that was a pretty good price. We haven't been herding the sheep the last two days. The bucks got out Saturday night. We couldn't separate them yesterday. Shall I try again or let them go?

Lawrence has been very good. He and Josephine were here a little while last night .

George is going to thrash the rest of his seed. I don't know whether we can get the thrasher before you return or not.

The girls say the grain is drying fast. Shall I try and get the girls started to school or shall they remain home and help get the fall grain in. If I thrash, shall I get the drill and some fall wheat from Al and seed the 20 acres or can that wait a little longer?

Do you need anything from home? Let me know and I will try and get it to you.

Grandpa did not write back...This is obviously very frustrating for Grandma as you will see in the next letter. I also thought that it was interesting that they opted not to have Aunt Eleanor's tonsils taken out...She would later die at the age of 53 from complication of Rheumatic Fever as a young girl. Too many strep infections and too little knowledge. Just a little penicillin when Aunt Eleanor had her sore throats would have kept her from a heart condition that eventually took her life at such a young age.

Once again how priviledged we are to have the technology we have in our lives today.

~CONFERENCE WEEKEND~

LOOK UP!