Monday afternoon -- almost 4 -

I'm sitting out in the White Place -- my back in the
sun -- I've been in the shade and I'm cold -- but the end of
this white place I see the long line of the Sangre de Christo
Mountains - some 60 miles away -- a fine blue -- all snow on the
top --

It is a fine warm still day so I came over here for the last
time this year -- It is just a wonderful day -- the sort of day
when you feel that maybe time is standing still. Well -- I may
feel that way but I know differently

All the yellow leaves are gone but the silver
of bare branches is almost as wonderful

Thank you for the Wilkie speech -- I had
heard it on the radio but was glad to read it -- I understand
more clearly what I read -

I wish you could be here just to look
around for a moment -

Well -- I wrote my long letter to Dave Saturday and
mail it today -- Yesterday I painted in the afternoon -- looked
at my beautiful rocks in the morning and helped Maria fix her
stove and I suppose ether unimportant things -- Sewed on some
buttons and fixed the hem on my apron

It is a fine day today -- a kis floats out of
this lovely valley on a very light breeze -- with fine warm sun -

Good afternoon !

Thanks for McBride clipping -- I received it this morning, Wednesday -- also the N.Y. Times. The Sunday paper usually comes on Wednesday -- Monday and Tuesday were two perfect days -- sunny and windstill -- I wrote you about going to the White Place on Monday -- yesterday I went to a place I have never been before. On the way up here from Abiquiu there is a patch of earth way off in the hills that is so bright it always looks as if the sun is shining on it -- bright red and yellow ---- Well -- always I have wanted to go to it so yesterday we went. The day was so wonderful I had to do something special ---- It was really special too. When I think back to it it seems as if I had taken a walk and a climb into a wonderful red and bright yellow sun set -- It was a climb too ---- up over three places that must be quite high water falls when the water is running

-- It all had an untouched look as if no one ever goes there -- except one place where there were drawings -- simple markings -- as if primitive people had lived there long ago -- at that place the water had washed the rocks so that it held water like a big tub -- The whole walk and climb is as unreal as any place I've ever been -- so bright - and so pure --

Well ------ such things I do --- and wish to do again only
next time I wish to go much farther because now I know the way --
another year I guess

A kiss to you

Thursday evening

Yesterday afternoon Louisa came with Johnnie.
I asked him to bring her up --

He came for the night and today
-- she is staying till Saturday

Have just had a long walk but it is
a dampish creepy day --

I'll write more later --
I want to send this with Johnnie
He always asks about you
A kiss to you --

I'll write more later --

Friday afternoon

Well --- Louisa is still here -- she goes in the
morning -- We talked late last night and the night before-- All
this morning we lay on the bed in my corner room looking out the
window

After lunch we started on education -- It got pretty lively
-- She has certainly developed into a remarkable woman - much
more interesting to me than any one I find around these parts --
It is very nice having her come and stay a few days -- I have enjoyed
it very much --

It gives me a rest too as we have been quiet except
for the walk yesterday

We will be walking again now

A quiet kiss to you

It is a wonderful day -- Sunday --

Good Mornings ! I have washed my head and feel pretty smart
about that always ----- I've put it off for a couple of weeks on
account of my sinus so I feel particularly good to be through with
it.

Yesterday was a fine day too --- Louisa had to go so I drove her
down to Espanola -- We drove in the open car -- slowly -- right
after breakfast. Her friends met us in Espanola -- we drove out and
had a picnic lunch on the desert near Marie Garlands ----- it is
all such familiar country to me around there I enjoyed sitting
there in the hot sun -- looking about while we ate --

Then they
went on -- I went down and spent half an hour or so with Marie --
sitting out in the sun at the side of the house then
went on to my errands and was home a very little after sun set.
It was a lovely day and a very good drive. I so seldom drive myself
that when I do I enjoy it very much -- About a hundred miles in
all but it didn't seem far -- it is different here.

I enjoyed having Louisa -- She came on Wednesday and left
on Saturday. It seemed the only real talk I've had with any one
all summer --

Maria is all right but she is so young in so many
things --

The weather while she was here was rather gloomy and
didn't show the country with its usual brilliance -- I was sorry
about that but everything considered we had a very pleasant time.

However people are hard on me and I was glad to settle down
to my usual life again. People usually tire me and Louisa was no
exception ---

2

It is fine to sit here with my head clean -- the brilliant
sun shine outside and feel that I am alone --

Mr. Bennet was here this morning before I was up --
but I didn't get up till nearly noon -- Maria was reading to me.
He is out only for a week

The War news of yesterday in some way relieved
the feeling I've had that we didn't move at all

A kiss to you

Oh Alfred ---

I sit with my back to the sun in the little corner room where I sleep

the sun is dropping behind the mesa and the sharpness of the last lights on the cliffs are so fine as the shadow creap up

It's so still ---

I've been painting --- badly today --
rather well yesterday ---

And so it goes
No news

--- A kiss to you

Alfred --- so your sinus is bad again. That is too bad but
you also say it is better ---

I didn't write yesterday -- I went to
Espanola with some of my cedar boards and spent the day with the
carpenter ---

Oh - electric carpenter tools are wonderful -- I had
a fine time -- He let me use his sander -- a most wonderful tool
for smoothing a board --

Well -- I am just that foolish that I can
have a fine time in the carpenter shop all day -- He planing and
sawing and changing the shape of my boards-- some of them are so
very beautiful. I never had that sort of a day before -- He said
he never had a woman working in his shop all day either

Well ---- I was all pink sawdust -- even in my
shoes. I had to wash my red dress today. I got it so dirty --

and
Oh I am so dumb -- I can't let any one else wash and iron my woolen
dress -- I must do it myself. Just so! too afraid it will be
spoiled -- I tore it so had to mend it too. In the same way I must
always make my own bed -- I wonder if I'll ever get over being
careful -- It is a sort of a curse -- the way I am careful --

About Cady ---- Oh wait till I get there --
his framing done mostly by mail is pretty bad I guess --

I thought

I could make a good show of it using something from different
periods -- It seemed to me that they would look well -- that he
had moved along and that he said some thing ------ but of course
you must do as you please. Don't decide till I get there. Maybe
it would be just as well not to open the next lot till I come

I sit by the mail box --- The sun has gone from here
but all the cliffs are still softly bright -- It has been a
warm still day

By warm I mean warm enough so that I could sit out
on the wagon comfortably to work -- If the wind had blown it
would have been cold

I am painting on the cliffs again --- It
will undoubtedly interest no one but me --- but I am at it and
like my start --

The bus came

Saturday afternoon

Oh --- you would laugh if you had been here just
now --- I've been out painting on my pink and yellow cliffs and I
came in very cold and hungry a little after four -- I had only had
an apple and some cheese for lunch as I had taken it with me ---
Maria asked me how I feel and I said cold and hungry -- then she
said -- "Shall I bring you something to eat"-- and I said -- "no
-- I'll wait for supper -- We'll have it early and go to bed"
-- then she said "You don't really want anything now?" --- and I
said --- "No -- not unless its awfully good -- a piece of
wonderful cake or something like that -- I must write my letter "
-- She said "Well I'll bring something" -- and as I sat here about
to write in she came with a tray -- a bottle of milk and a handsome
cocoanut cake -- I had to laugh -- she had made it for my birthday
-- for tomorrow ------ I so seldom think of wanting cake ---- and
she just couldn't wait till tomorrow to show it to me. It was
very funny ------ and nice too

I haven't had a birthday cake in years

Well --- the $500 for the little painting seems
like a sort of birthday present too

A kiss to you - this must go

Monday Morning --

Good Morning -- -- Yes ----- my birthday came and went.
I had your birthday letter this morning -- Thank you --------
--- also two other letters and the Marin catalogue -- So the
Marin show begins today. It is a fine day here -- I was out painting
yesterday -- it was sunny and windy -----

Last night I wrote letters
--- clearing up many little things I want done when I leave
here ----- again this morning I've been at the same thing

Yesterday two Mexican women from a little
town down the road came to see me. I had often talked with one
of them at her house -- it is on a cliff where I often stop
because the river view is fine ----- They are so quiet -- and so
warm and alive -- It was nice --

Otherwise there is no news --

With country living quite a bit of time is spent
just managing to live --- and it doesn't make news-------- Yesterday
after the two women left we went out and gathered wood for our
dining room fire place - it is a fire place where we stand long
sticks of wood on end -- heats very quickly and is very pretty

-- I like gathering wood --- but such things aren't
exactly news

The cats catch big rats now ------ Maybe that is
news -- I don't know --- Yes my life here is different

The wind blows hard today --- long white clouds but much blue
and sun --- it greets you with a kiss -

Tuesday afternoon

Oh - I've been out painting --- the same one
for days --- I was liking it but asI came in just now as the sun
is low I say to myself

Oh dear !

It is so cold out too -- and I really don't mind once I'm
settled but

Oh -------- well ---- painting is difficult

I am glad you like your Marin show

There is really nothing to write -- I am just here -- that is all
and soon I'll be there where you are.

Last night I darned stockings-- thismorning I mended my
coat and leather jacket. They are both old but I like them. DeWalld
brought me the coat fromGermany long ago. Sel gave me the leather
jacket -- I wear them both and my long woolens and my woolen pants
when I go out to work

I'll send this just so you get an envelope

------ I know there isn't much in it.

I am feeling first rate

A kiss to you with the sun set

VIA AIR MAIL

Alfred Stieglitz
Room 1710

509 Madison Ave.

N.Y. 114

MORGAN
ANNEX

I have the tea kettle on my little stove here to make some tea --
the kettle is almost as large as the stove --

I didn't write

yesterday --

went down to Abiquiu to get my gas rationing cards and
to register my tires --- Maria went on to town for shopping and
her own affairs

I climbed hills between here and Abiquiu with my
Spanish Indian woman friend -- We had a great time -- got way
up on points I have often looked at with such interest -- She has
climbed all about it before and knows the way -- She took me to
a piece of land that had been a long time -- wide river land -- a
few big trees -- a small orchard -- it seemed wide and sunny --
Her little 8 year old grand child along -- a fine boy --
when I came home I got a dozen fresh eggs from her -- a great
treat here now and she gave me two little perfect loaves of
bread -- a kind of sweet bread -- very good

It was a fine day --
the sun was gone when I
got home -- nice to be here alone too -- I always find out
about many little things that should be attended to when I am
alone -- things I don't notice if I'm not cooking and fussing
about myself

Today I've been painting -- was up at dawn --
my favorite kitten at the door telling me to get up

--- 4:30 and I'm tired -- will mail this --
drink my tea and work as long as I can see --

It is a greyish day

A kiss to you

## Friday afternoon --

It has turned really cold flurries of snow all day all round in the far away but not enough to leave anything on the ground except in spots on the flat topped mountains --

And we have had company for lunch -- The man and woman that take care of Mary Wheelwrights place -- He an old Texas cow man -- a real character -- his tales of early days in Texas are wonderful --- He is much more fun and real interest than Mary --

They came for lunch -- Had to look all round at everything -- It was really fun having them. They have been so nice about giving us vegetables and fruit when ever we go there whether Mary is home or not I was glad they came.

It is really amusing when one lives so far away that visitors come so seldom. It always makes me laugh that any ones coming is so exciting

That is all the news today -- I didn't get to work -- too much excitement over visitors -- I was so tired last night when I went to bed I didn't even turn on the light or make a fire -- just got into bed -- the room pretty light from moonlight that comes in -- wide windows on two sides -- I was in bed a little after eight Maria drove in a little after nine -- I made no sound so she didn't come in till this morning

I wish you could visit me here. It would really be fun. I can see you looking around and liking it -- I believe you would really like it

I had a very funny vivid dream about Kalonym last night -- will tell you when I get home -- it was so funny --

A kiss to you
through the snow - wind -

MORGAN
ANNEX

Saturday afternoon --- with the low sun very bright in my little corner room. A week from today I will have left it -- I leave here on Saturday -- Leave Santa Fe early Sunday morning and will be in N.Y. Tuesday morning -- Dec. 1st --

Well --- I hope you will like to see me

It seems odd to think that I'll be in the city again--

It is very cold today -- I haven't been out except to get some wood -- and to stand out in front and look at the mountain for a few moments in the sun

Have been painting -- Oh -- its an odd one -- the back of my skull. John and a broken pot -- Have been at it all day -- and that's all the news

I wear my red dress and like it -- It seems to fit the cold weather and my bright sunny corner room

Oh -- the moonlight last night out this window was so clear and bright it seemed to crack -- I walked out into it with my quilt around me --

I have a very small stove in this room it always seems so alive when there is a fire in it

-- The cedar wood we burn cracks a great deal --

The sun is low -- all the color so warm with the last light even tho I know its cold out

Two letters from you this A.M. and that Peggy Guggenheim letter you sent

Oh --- yes the world is strange -- N.Y. will undoubtedly seem very strange to me

A kiss to you

Alfred ---

I'll be along next Tuesday so hold any mail for me --

It is Monday -- I was up before dawn and saw it
come as a full moon was going --- it was wonderful

There will not be much to say this week
except that I'll be packing up and closing up

Maria spilled the whole breakfast over the rug by
my bed this morning --- it was a grand spill --- I had to laugh
--- and she says -- "When awful things happen you alugh -- and
over little things you make such a fuss "

I had to laugh again --- and
remarked that the awful things only prove the little things so
they seem funny to me

A kiss to you from a fine day

Tuesday evening --- the sun low again --

It has been a lovely day --- two days quite
warm and fine. This afternoon I was out painting for the last time
on my cliffs --- Will work on it a little indoors yet --

When I came in -- almost 5 -- Maria was
in the kitchen making candy -- pecans with raw sugar -- it tasted
very good -- as we have had so little all summer -- a little
sweet chocolate -- very little is all we have had. She had also
made cookies -- great excitement to have cookies --

This morning I struggled with my gas rationing
again --

Maria decided this morning to stay here for ten days after
I go -- It makes my getting away easier not having to close up the
house when I leave -- A week from today I will be seeing you --

Oh Alfred -----

I am tired -- I've been packing paintings
-- It has taken me all day -- it always does but it is done all
but screwing the covers down -- It is hard work

The other excitement is that a lot
of the Packs knives and forks and other little things of theirs
were found in our little girls room today -- She and a little
girl working for the Packs were cleaning the Packs out in a big
way --- We found nothing of ours taken but it was a good haul they
had taken from the Packs --- the little girl over there had 5
pairs of Phoebe's silk stockings and about 30 dollars worth of
groceries as well as fine table equipment -- all stored away to
take home -- It was a great stir --

My only news is that I'm

packed and tired

A kiss to you

Thanksgiving afternoon ---

I wonder how the day is for you --- Here
it is a beautiful day but I have spent it packing -- putting my
country clothes away -- cleaning up my big room from packing
paintings yesterday -- one box is all screwed down ready to go
when addressed -- The other will only take a few moments -- My
suitcases are about packed -- not much to do but put on my town
clothes and go --

We ate lunch outdoors in the sun -- it was fine
and warm -- beans and a very good Mexican egg dish and a wonderful
salad -- and some herb tea -- Day in the sun a little while ---
then back to the packing and putting things in order -- The
sun is low - a little wind -- all so beautiful off to the cliffs
--- quite cold out -- sunny and warm in this little room --

the walls are a deep earth yellow -- very
deep almost brown --- curtains red over white -- real red too --
a stone floor -- a double bed -- white facing toward the cliffs
through the big window -- the very small black stove -- this table
I write on -- small -- another low one under a mirror -- the wall
back of the mirror and the head of the bed is white -- It is a
nice room --

I'll be glad to see you -- I begin to be in a hurry
now -- a hurry to get there

A kiss to you

I may not write again --