She sprays her fields with much care and sweat -- then other peoples
beetles fly in from the near by fields that are all eaten up - and
in a few days her bugs start all over again --

Pretty hard in a country when beans and chilly are
the principal food -

I hope this finds you at least fair in body and
mind --

A kiss to you

It is a very fine clear blue day -- with clouds -- but very

*clear air*

A.S. Marked: Rec'd Aug 28/43

Postmarked: Abiquiu

Aug 26, 1943

Thursday Morning -- Good Morning !

I sit at the mail box -- Received your letter telling of
having 5 from me at a time after my camping --
I thought you would
probably worry but what can I do ? If you were here you would probably
worry every time I go out of the house -- It is so foolish of you --
and I am very good at finding my way and taking care of myself --

There is nothing much to write -- Maria and Orlinda were canning yesterday -- I was painting -- There isn't much to write about that -- clouds -- big dark ones - wind and a sprinkle of rain that I thought would be more brought me in early -- that is -- before it was really dark --

Then there was beautiful light pink - rose pink - under the dark clouds -- the long mesa all misty -- for the last of the sun -- that long mesa to the west has a fine line on the top against the sky --

Like the long mountain line over the Lake only
different -- It is very long and subtle

I sit here thinking shall I paint those sherbet cliffs
again from here -- and I think I'll not --

As I sit here Arthur came for his mail and we had conversation --
pleasant -- but I think he is a rat --

My fine white cat could fix him only he is too skinny -- sort of a bony mosquito

I forgot to tell you that I killed my first rattle snake a few days ago -- Maria found it and said it would spoil her afternoon if she had to kill it -- If I lived here alone I think I wouldn't kill them --

It is a fine still morning -

A kiss to you --

Postmarked: Abiquiu

Aug. 27, 1943

Good Morning --- Friday --- I at the mail box again -- more mail for me than usual -- a letter from you -- rereading my letters and wanting to print some -

A note from Henwar -- a note from Louise -- will have another baby in October -- a note from my friend Richard wanting me to visit him and go camping on the mountain -- next month -- late -- I will go I think --

also my income tax to sign -- I am taking the full allowance for the two of us -- The paper is just a little slip 3 inches by 6 as it will not bother you much --

We had a good rain last night in the night -- I also had a mouse in my room -- must have come down the chimney -- I got up and killed it with a cane and fed it to my pet kitten this morning -- It was his first mouse and he had a fine time with it -- He is so small but he growled in fine style

There were clouds of mist early this morning but now it looks like a fine day -- wide and damp and beautiful

A kiss to you

A.S. marked: Rec'd Aug 31/43

Potted: Abiquiu

Aug 25, 1943

Good Afternoon --

How are you --

Don't let things get on your nerves
there-- enjoy the sun - when it shines-- and the clean air -- and
look around at the outdoors--

Human doings aren't much at best --

Too bad Agnes is not wd 1 -- I hope she will be better soon --

And you -- do be careful with your eating and keeping
your insides in order --

I am feeling very fine -- It has been cloudy
- with all sorts of clouds and patches of blue --

I've been painting
over my Back Place painting -

It isn't much -

Last evening we walked - climbed out in the Red Hills --

Oh -

It is good -- only I don't get out there enough -- Washed
my head late -- it was good walking -- feeling my hair loose

With this I mail my income tax blank to the bank - I
use the address 59 E 54 -- It seems the only one I can use - Maybe
Marily did not write yet because she did not get away

Have been reading some Benrand Russel - What he says
of China is interesting

This is only to say to you that I am fond of you --

And think of you so often

Henwars address is 400 E. 50

Postmarked: Abiquiu

Aug 30, 1943

Monday afternoon -

Good afternoon --

It has rained hard -- and still drips -- This
morning was so cool that I put on my old red woolen dress till nearly
noon -- It was grey -- rained in the night --

I only worked enough to
know the wind was blowing in very hard and liked the idea of telling
it blow --

I've been stretching canvas --

I don't like damp days --
Yesterday afternoon we drove about three miles up the road --

then
walked to a high small plain I had been seeing in the distance and
wanting to go to for years -- I am glad I've done it because every time
I saw it I wanted to -

After that we walked down into the big arroy
where the water is running these days from rains up in the high
country -- For this country a low wet place like that seems very lush
and at this time all the bush is blooming yellow -- There are very big
cottonwood trees -- The earth very red -- and across it all --
the cliffs -- yellow and pink and red -- fantastic --

Oh -- my crazy
world -- always so many new angles on it -- such short distances away
-- I brought home flowers -- sun flowers -- and sage and asters --
Then with the sun going down - dark eminous clouds with thunder and
lightning -- I haven't had the mail today -- was going to Abiquiu - it
is a big fiesta day there -- and thought to get the mail and mail this
on my way out -- so went I may not go

Maria is making tea for the chillyness -- Akiss to you -

Postmarked: Abiquiu

August 31, 1943

Tuesday Morning

--- your letters last night make me sad

— You in bed a day and going to town tomorrow or
Thursday or Friday ---

You may not have written me exactly as
things are but your letters have sounded as if the air and sun
and laziness were good for you ---

I suppose I should be there
to keep you longer in the country —

Here ______ the sun shined this morning on
our wet world ---bees hum in the Jimson flowers in the patio
-- it is still --

Johnnie came up last evening as my letter to you went
out to the mail -- It was raining and as Maria went out to the
mail box I was making toast and cooking bacon for tea --When
she came back Johnnie was right behind her. -- We had a fine
tea of green chilli - bacon - toast - raw tomatoes and tomato
preserves -- and tea

-- Johnnie had to have fried eggs -- so it really turned into
supper in the kitchen on a red table cloth ---

felt good by the
stove after the rain —

-2-

At about nine we all went to Abiquie for the Fiesta
dance -

Of course no young men worth speaking of -- but it
was crowded with what is still at home from babies to great
grand fathers ---

The young men are the ones that shoot and
stab and as they have all gone to war it was quiet and orderly

&& I enjoyed it ---the faces --- almost all dark but
even at that it seems a population of many mixed bloods --

The
young girls about fifteen are very beautiful -- the boys too --

Yes, I was interested ---

My neighbors - I never before
looked so carefully at so many of them at one time --
beautiful
-- but not my civilization --

One man I talked to a long time
was gassed in the last war - Orlinda's uncle - he seems to
have a kind of alive quiet understanding tolerance that is
wonderful -- very lean and handsome -- reminded me of Exudero
--- but a kind of quiet that almost has weight to it - You
would like him - he would like you -

I've been thinking much about a "way of life" this summer --
He was a real pleasure - Orlinda was there just sparkling
-- really sparkling -- easily the beauty of the community - a
sort of favorite daughter --

Fermin - her uncle had taken her

in the afternoon -- she had been dancing from daybreak on
--- in new shoes with hearts for buckles ---
I suppose her
feet were bleeding again when she got home last night - shoes
bought by mail do that to your feet --

She returns to us tomorrow --

be able to come today )

She knew she wouldn't

Well -- I send this to town --- to greet you there
--- do be careful and take things easy ---

A kiss to you --- greet your new white room for me -- !

Postmarked: Abiquiu

Aug. 31, 1943

Alfred -- I am sorry that you go to town so soon but I can under-
stand --

I have just written you a long letter to town -----

I'll be thinking -- and thinking ----- now till I hear
you are safely settled in town again -

My day here looks beautiful this morning

-- Tuesday ---

Johnnie came last evening -- Maria has gone off with
him for the day -- Orlando is at home --- so I am alone and it is
fine ---

I wish you could stand here with me and look about if
only for five minutes

A kiss to you

I must use my quiet day -----

A.S. marked: Marked Abiquiu

Aug 3/43