Letters from Ireland: a transcription of letters from Patricia Foust Tweedy to Ruth and Hoyle Foust between 1979 and 1984. compiled by Jonathan Tweedy

Compiled in Fall 2010 for a Digital Libraries class project in the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science.

Letters written from Patricia Tweedy to her parents Ruth and Hoyle Foust in Lexington, North Carolina while living with her husband and two small children in Limerick, Ireland.

4 pp. Sun. Nov 4 Letter from Patricia Tweedy to Hoyle and Ruth Foust, 1979-11-04 Sun Nov 4 Dear Folks,

I certainly had intentions to write again before now but this week has been a busy + stressful one. We moved into the house last Sun with all appliances finally installed except for a defective clothes dryer. Edw had gotten the ok from BI to keep sending our laundry to the Limerick Inn since it rains too much here to depend on drying clothes by hanging them out. About 3am Mon Jonathan woke up, nursed + vomited. Then after 7 Mon am he started a bad round of diarrhea much worse then Ph ever had. Edw had a stomach virus over the weekend which JOn caught and I had Mon. Fortunately Mon was a "bank" holiday so Edw was home. There's a young doctor up the street from us who makes house calls + has evening ofc hrs. He checked him every day through Fri + prescribed several Rx's for him. He said Jon. had one of the most upset bowels he'd seenin a baby in a long time. He became very dehydrated + lost about 4lbs. By Friday he perked up in response to an antibiotic Dr. O'Connell had given him. We are very relieved that he's well so sooon after that. Our 1st week in the house was anything but fun to say the least.

Most things are organized + put away. We need to shop for light fixtures, curtain rods, picture hooks, etc. + will probably get to that next week. The grass is very tall + will get mowed when it stops raining long enough.

I appreciate your willingness to oan me the money for the car. Certainly $2500 is fine. I can manage with that.

cont Mon Nov 5

p. 2

I don't get much written at a time. Seems I'm being diverted by a cild or chores. I'm not accepting the kitchen here very gracefully. No upper cabinets for my china so it's stacked on the bookcase until... No dishwasher which cramps my style. The counters are knee hight so preparing food is not very comfortable work. All the appliances (sm + lg) are different so I'm slower getting jobs done. Wed + I are both angry with company policy about the dishwasher + cabinet situation. I asked about getting extra cabinets + he told me how standardized the company had to be in providing for the homes well. There's a lot of differences in the housing - I've been in 6 other BI homes + can see for myself. Apparently a dishwasher is in that list of standard items the co. will provide but our house is not plumbed for one and there's not enough space for a sull-size one. We could accomodate a smaller portable but have been hesitant to spread out. I'm really at my wits end especially with Jonathan's illness. I have grown tired of the extra work + inconvenience. Food takes longer to prepared - few convenience foods, no chicken parts except for expensive fileted breasts. (I cut up a chicken today + couldn't help but think of Granny Vel! She would have been proud of my effort!) Anyway, I thinkn Edw will look tomorrow at the appliance store. I think he senses my desperation. He washed dishes last night + didn't have a place for clean ones when he was finished.

[.p3]

A following comment regarding your question as to what from Granny Vel's I would like. It really doesn't matter. I did like the chest, china closet. Also her coffee table, many of her bedroom pieces. Whatver suits. What will happen to her house - will it be rented or sold? I think it's hard for grandchildren to see a place sold altho I can understand why it sometimes has to be. (Please send me Bonnie's address. Would like to send her a note.)

We are so relieved to have Jonathan well. We have had one management problem w him. When we put him down for a nap or night, he violently throws himself around + banks his face + head on the crib - has several bruises. Out of desperation, I turned to Dr. Spock's book. He writes that boy babies often resort to headbanging, etc - rhythmic motions as a way of regressing to earlier infant stages when rocking etc were impt to them. That was new for me but I do know that illness causes different forms of regression in children. He advised not restraining or scolding such activity but offering rocking, comforting activity. I tried to nurse him often when he's tired + we take turns rocking him to sleep.

He's really interested in playing w vehicles + running his little motor. Hoyle, he's definitely related to you as much as he loves wheels!

I think Phillip misses you folks + the Tweedy's + his school. He's sociable enough to enjoy the new kids at school but he liked Guil Primary a lot.

Our invitation for you for Xmas still stands. Early reservations for transp. are very impt esp at Xmas holidays! Please feel welcome + plan whatever meets your needs. A couple of new Irish computer programmers will travel to Greensboro for trg in Nove + Dec + stay over for Xmas holidays. If you're there perhaps they will contact you.

I hit the jackpot today w/ 3 letters from Melissa, Cheryl + Saralynn. Definitely nice happenings for this rainy Monday. The rainy season has set in w/ very windy nights. The wind really whistles, too - no tall trees to break the wind.

Tomorrow J + I are going w/ a BI wife to a coffee for Americans. Judy Hood's husband. Tom is plant manager + they ahve come back for a 2nd round after going back to the U.S. for a yr. Judy's very nice, intelligent, and unpretentious (not the typical "corporate" wife") - Has a 9 yr old son + really adores Jonathan. She kept him the Fri our furniture came + both boys the next day to free us for getting settled. She took me to her meat mkt Sat - just very helpful.

I really do look forward to getting the car. Believe it will provide me with some comfort weatherwise + mobility that I value now. Thanks again for your help.

Let us hear from you We miss you Pat