After Margit’s six children had left the house and moved away, the family set up a letter writing circuit to stay in touch. Each child (or their spouse) would write a letter and send it to the next in line, who would remove their previous missive and add their newest to the pack of letters and send it along. This “Round Robin” lasted for several decades.

The following are excerpts from Margit’s letters that relate to her painting.

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The bluffs and valleys around here have changed from snowdrifts and slush, to the softest and mistiest amber green

April 27, 1959

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Paint jars, paint brushes, easel, and pictures sitting all around in the living room.

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After I’ve finished a picture, I like to have it sit around where I can see it while doing house work. Getting away from it I see places I can improve on them so I have quite a gallery around here some times.

For exercise I take a brisk walk up to the shale pit just as it gets too dark to work in the evening. It will help to keep me in shape in case I’ll have to help Dad shovel snow. I skip the walks when it’s below zero.

January 26, 1961

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Time passes by so fast, it must be riding on a jet plane. Already, one early morning Jack Frost visited Broadview Acres and surrounding bluffs. He made a few strokes with his paint brush, touched up the birches and cottonwoods in delicate shades of gold. The sumac he painted a brilliant red. He left the rest green for the time being. But this morning, October 4, he had covered the ground with frost.

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My eyes are not any worse. Things look wavy but I started to paint and it works. I need good light for both reading and painting. Thank you all for your prayers. I know they were heard. I’ve been thankful to God for this gift, but it is so easy to take things for granted and forget that each day is a gift from God for all of us.

October 4, 1965

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Note: When Margit noticed her eyesight failing, she became worried her painting career might be ending. She felt she needed to give a religious-themed painting to the four of her children who didn’t already have one. In 1966, her she recorded the following paintings as gifts:

• 66-19 “Thou preparest a table” for her daughter Ellen
• 66-20 “He leads me by –” for her son Paul
• 66-21 “Thou preparest –” for her son Arne
• 66-22 “I lift up my eyes” for her son Alf

After her vision scare, Margit was prescribed new medicine, her eyesight stabilized, and she continued to paint for many more years.

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