Tempus fugit

(1959 February 1)

Mary M and I feel so very sorry because we were so late and especially since by your remarks I could tell you didn't believe us. Actually, it is often hard to account for time which often goes by quickly especially in a department store. I have been wondering myself where the time went. I suppose we were about 20 minutes in Manchesters where we observed teen fashions and bought my black tights. Then about 15 in Barons where M bot her black tights. And at least half an hour in Rendalls to buy M's jacket and wait until snaps were sewed on. Then the wait for the bus, the delicatessen, the sausage shop, the wait for the cab and the long snaillike pace. I really do think your wife might understand better than you about shopping, but anyway, please try to understand the feminine mind and that we are so very sorry to have caused you so much inconvenience.

Coffee ploy

(1959 January 3)

I wanted to tell you how I have been managing my coffee lately as I was so embarassed when the top fell off the old pot. Well, I perk it in the big pot which is too big to pour from, but doesn't boil over as did the old pot. Then I pour it into my copper tea pot which is just right for pouring and always keeps its top on. And that is how I keep the trouble away caused by the old pot.

Missing

(1959 January 2)

I have lost my Sunday School teacher's book and have searched everywhere for it. Sent MM with LL at 1:00 to look at church but not there. But she says we have new pews. Some Lake Geneva no longer needs.

[Added later in green ink with note: "M borrowed my ball point for her Xmas letters."] Well, that was Mabel [Kanable] on the phone and she has found the book at church right where MM looked!

Boxing days

(1959 January 2)

Another morning spent on putting away Xmas decorations. New Year's Day MM alone took down tree and put all decorations in boxes and took upstairs. Today we got them up in the attic in a box under the eaves. Oh, the strain of bending over under the rafters and fitting every box in a big box. What a struggle getting Gabriel's wings to stay on their nail and the paper to cover them to keep off the dust. The costumes for the Nativity pageant, the creche, the crowns. Finally we emerged exhausted thinking if we saw one more damn angel or forgotten candle we would pitch it in the wastebasket. Thus our Xmas spirit ebbing.

Winter woes

(1958 December 14)

Well, just as L, M and I were going out the door - he to work at Kiwanis Pancake Day, M and I to shop, there was a loud rumble and I think the furnace exploded. So I sent them on and I am waiting for Holly [Strang, electrician].

Last night I made a fruit cake and put 1/2# butter in it and put it in a leaky pan, so butter leaked out and caught afire inside oven - all aflame. After we coped with fire and I cleaned oven, put cake back, and outside of being a little crisp is not so bad, but it does look a little rescued.

Plumber here all morning yesterday thwing laundry pipes. Frozen again today and can't wash. Yesterday when I did wash one batch, all turned light blue - robe faded. That is about all the news from home - our tree is here and the lights are up. Have ordered goose and quills [for pens]. Wish Holly would come. Getting colder & colder.

Noah's Ark

I have Marsha Lord and Ellen Birkett only in my Sunday School class. Last Sunday we had Abraham. Sunday before, Noah and the Ark. Because the class is so small, we made cute clothespin dolls of Noah complete with a beard (donated by Penelope [cat]). Today Marsha brot her doll back to class wrapped in a baby blanket and referred to her as Norah! No idea of the story. Ellen remembered Noah built a boat and then Marsha said, Oh yes - she remembered, too, it was Noah who went on a long trip to find a new country and built a "thing" (altar). Well, I quickly went over the Noah story again, letting the new lesson slide and then I got to the place where it had stopped raining for some time and asked - "What did Noah send out then?" - "A rainbow?" An indication one must try harder, wouldn't you say? Or plainer? Or simpler? ABC blocks?

Background

(1958 October 17, on note card showing arcitect's concept drawing of St. Barnabas' church)

Our Auxiliary is selling this paper. The setting seems to be Sherwood Forest, to block out other buildings. [The same drawing was recycled in 2009 to illustrate the plate celebrating the church's centennial.]

Cramming and cramping

(1958 October 17)

At the Homecoming game which we lost to Reedsburg 39-7 she [MM] ate the following: 1 hot dog (Friday), 1 root beer, box chicelets, brot from home, big bag of pop corn, and 3 apples, finished off with Susan Sanner's Ski [sic] and a pal's coffee. The following Saturday found her abed with violent stomach cramps, sacrificing opportunity to earn money helping the crew put on storm windows.

Sliding down scale

(1958 October 10, Homecoming)

Yesterday after all I went to the Executive Mansion and drank my tea. Also got my 5-year pin. We left Richland Center at noon and some of the girls had eaten no lunch so on the way home we stopped at the Sport Bowl and had a sandwich and watched the end of the World Series. "Well," I said to myself, "here am I a leader of youth, just having received my 5-year pin for service, sitting in a bar watching the World Series with a lot of truck drivers." And I mused upon Life.

Writing uphill

(1958 August 20)

I am very tired tonight. Went to bed early and am writing in bed. I have never been a devotee of the ball point but will say I can write in bed with them whereas ink always runs away from the point in fountain pen, for writing on the knee in bed.

Croquet

(1958 August 20)

As Auntie Mabel left Saturday it felt like a long week; and being alone again was fun doing something together. Altho we had an Alice in Wonderland time, yet the fact remains that at 81 she can still play a better game of croquet than any of us can! Amazing.

Real Americana

(1958 July)

Last night we had Ann and Carl [Meadows] over for supper. Ate in the dining room tho considered eating out only it kept threatening rain. After supper Ann and I washed up while C. and LL played the hi fi. Afterwards we strolled around the grounds. Carl fascinated by our jungle [wild slope down to river]. When the mosquitoes got too much for us they decided to go and we all walked over to [son] Mike's convertible which he did not take to Colorado with him on his job this summer. Impulsively suggested they give us a ride so off we went. What a windy thrill!! Not fast either.

Ended up at the park where Square Dance Club was dancing on the tennis courts. About three figures going. We got out and watched and in between records and calling we would talk to the dancers we knew. Just as we were leaving Donna (our stenographer) arrived on the scene. We had no idea that all was going on and of course our dancing teacher was fascinated because, as she pointed out, it was "real Americana."

All that glitters

(1958 April 29)

P.S. About M's gold blouse you wrote her about - I never saw one just like it. When it came, it looked almost metallic - the first time she wore it, her underwear was covered with gilt. Then I washed it separately by hand and the water was full of gilt. But after a while it quieted down and now I like it even better as it is softer and goes well with a black skirt of mine with gold Egyptian insets.

Katzenjammer

Well, you should have been here last night to see us all in action. After a quiet evening of reading, sewing, TV, baths, etc., MM said goodnight and not to forget to let Penel [= the cat Penelope] in. Before I got to it, L said there was a terrible caterwaling in the apple tree. Finally I got out there in old winter coat and scarf and here was our cat at the top of a branch and 3 tom cats in tree, on ground lurking and more coming. Calling was in vain. Then I came in and got M to jump in her jeans and jacket, shoes on bare feet, and help. "Here, Kitty Kitty" was a waste of words. M climbed the tree and I went in the basement and grabbed a kitten, wrapped it well up, and took it out to lure her down. Nothing doing. I said to M, "If it would only cry." "Pinch it" says she in the tree in the high cold wind. Then I put it back as all P would do was stare out from her perch for possible lurking toms. Then we decided to get the big ladder from the garage, so we did and M got up higher. Then L came out and helped us and I got a wall brush to whack her. She woldn't budge for M and so I climbed up and then she came part way. At last M went up to the top of the ladder, a thing both of us were afraid to do before, and got her. Then cold but triumphant we came in after putting all the stuff away. L was so cold he had to have coffee and a chicken sandwich. Que cosa!

Jersusalem

(1958 April 29)

Confidentially I must tell you how very disgracefully your father acted in church Sunday. The service dragged out and that always makes him feel uneasy as he feels everything must be done on time, as you know. Then, too, it was Daylight Savings Set-your-clock-ahead-an-hour Day and he was disgusted with the Brain Boys for interfering with his Routine. So here we were in church with very few there and Jean playing all the verses of every hymn and Daddy feeling mean. So on the last hymn he quit singing. "Sing!" says I, bossy-like. It was a long hymn, a take-off on "America the Beautiful." Only instead of "AMERica-a-" it went "JeRUsalem, JeRU--." Now as you know, Daddy often uses the word "Jersalem" for an expletive - so when I said "Sing!" off he went. On the first verse he sang all words softly until he came to "JeRUsalem" and then he bellowed forth until I was ashamed of him. Then on other verses (about 8) he let fly only on the words "JeRU---." Now, believe me, in a small building with about 12 present, none strong singers, an output of volume like that cannot go by unnoticed. I became very disgusted - and then it got funny. What a guy ---.

Oriental rugs

(1958 April 6)

Well, dear, the Oriental rugs [from the estate of Alfred Kay] have not only arrived but are laid. Mrs. (Angel) Gray happened to be here and helped me. A big one is down in the dining room and covers almost the entire floor. We wonder if we should have it there but argue a colonist might have had a seafaring relative who had brot one back from Syria or Turkey. The one in our bedroom makes the bedspreads look just too folksy. And our slippers are all wrong. We are going to ask for some that turn up at the toe for Xmas. The scatter rugs are scattered here and there.

Glockenspiegler

(1958 April 6)

Well, MM has been pretty worried about the contest Friday and here she is unable to practice her glockenspiel. I called her band teacher who wants to look at our piano Saturday. He said she is afraid to hit the bells hard enough. She maintains no matter how hard she hits the cymbals drown her out. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Spanish by the direct method

(1958 February 11)

Como este Vd.? I have been to my Spanish class twice now and enjoy it a lot. My teacher is dark and handsome with no crew cut. We seem to progress slowly and I wish we had more in the way of a real assignment. The texts are still in the thinking stage and as there are only ten classes, I can see how beneficial they will be. But it is fun taking an academic subject and I have things here to practice on. I am no good trilling rr's.

Junior High woes

(1958 February 11)

I know you are always interested in M's grades so I will enclose them. As in points A = 4 and B = 3, she tells me she thinks she is on the Honor Roll for the last 6 weeks but there has been nothing in the Oriole [school paper] or the [local] paper. I think it is so difficult to interpret these marks. The A in Singing was put on by mistake: the teacher is not supposed to give 7th graders a mark! Yet they go and they sing. She does not know why she got a C in Phy Ed except the teacher does not like the way she runs. She says there's a strut to it. Also some remark about having too much poise. Last week she was sent to the office from Math class, teacher furious because she had all her problems right but two. L had checked them over with her after she had done them alone. Miss S forbad her taking her book home again. Her gym shirt has been stolen. A bag was found in the hall containing one of her drum sticks broken to bits with a note, "Ha ha I did it again." She dropped her activity ticket at a game. It went under the bleachers and before she could get it, a boy tore it up. This goes on and on.

Child Life

(1958 January 2)

Here are the tree ornaments you cut out of Child Life and pasted together. At the time I surely had no idea they would last all these years. I believe you made the star in kindergarten. Hope you have a place for them on your 1958 tree.

Tech talk

(1958 April)

My dress is cut with not a half inch to spare. Hardest of all is to follow printed directions. I think I can read English until I start on those. It seems unless you already know what they are trying to say, you cannot work it out from the directions.

Fair days

(1957 September, Sunday)

Saturday was a big day around here with the Fair on and all. Mary M <12> is going with another farmer, Sam Anderson, who lives beyond Premo's Orchard. He phoned me he had, with a friend Denny Coppernall, fixed up an old surrey and would call for her at 9:30 to take her to the Fair. Also call for D's girlfriend K.D. About 10:30 they pulled in the drive, the surrey drawn by a team of gigantic white work horses. Behind was tied Dolly, Sam's beautiful brown riding horse. Well, I took a lot of pictures. She was covered with confusion, poor girl. It took Sam 2 hours to go from home to fair [about 2 miles]. Daddy and I also went to the fair - in our car - and sat in the grandstand for as long as we could take it. Saw the stock auction, the 4-H club parade. Many of MM's farmer friends in this, some girls leading monster bulls, Sam on Dolly, leaders in surrey, kids with projects. Then M and friends rode back to farm where they borrowed surrey and now returned it, 2 hours. Sam and MM doubled on Dolly to Andersons. Then Sam brot her back in his car, old Ford. Today she is highly indignant because she has to spend a quiet day at home. Nearly kills her. Also Friday she was all day at fair with other friends and spent nearly $5.

Twittering

(1957 August 21)

At least the Japanese wind chimes are keeping you happy. No, dear, we don't have them - I just don't care too much about them - they are too much like canaries, always unexpectedly twittering about. But that is merely a difference of opinion, of course.

A good idea

(1957 Summer)

Father B. was here yesterday and we talked about starting up the Sunday School again. Everyone thinks it is a good idea for everyone else to do.

The first Frisbee

(1957? June)

And the Saucer is such fun. MM says no one around here has seen one like it. Once I was too slow and it went into the jungle [overgrown slope behind Grove St. house], but she got it. She and Kas kept it under control yesterday.

Busy day

(1957? June?, Tuesday)

I baked a cake, got supper, helped the painter set back the furniture on the varnished upstairs floor & do odd things before he figured up his bill (counting on fingers at kitchen table) and helped Mrs. Gray houseclean M's room until 4 p.m. which had been used to park canvases, ladders etc. and still had enough vim to wash the dishes, talk MM into a hot bath, shampoo her sandy hair and wash one batch of filthy camp clothes besides fix a place for the turtle in the laundry tub in the basement.

Attic improvements

(1957? June)

No painter yet, but a carpenter has taken the attic in hand and took down hornets' nests, killed 2 bats, boarded up hole sparrows were coming in, laid more boards on floor, tomorrow puts tar paper on ceiling to prevent dirt from dropping on everything, and then we shall sort stuff out and try for that elusive state, Order.

Dacron

(1957 June 4)

Thank you, dear, for endorsing dacron shirts. We shall have to experiment. They sound time saving. MM wore a wash & wear to Kassie's today and when K's Tropical Punch spilled all over MM, Dorothy washed it and hung it on the line and had she not mentioned it, I'd not have noticed.

Oldtimer's estate sale

(1957 April 22)

Saturday afternoon we 4 went to the Aldrich auction, LL to protect the estate's interest. Things I came home with I had no intention buying were: a deer hide, a candle making form, fencing rapiers, aluminum pans, and a 90 piece silver set marked A, Reed & Barton plate. Things I did not get tho bid on were: Indian snow shoes, cavalry rifles, sea shell collections. Also offered in glass case was bonnet of Chief White Swan. Wonderful photo equipment, rock collection. Edison phono and big record collection brot 9. Sewing machine 2. LL bid a big grandfather clock up to 150 (to protect estate he says). Jay Buchanon got it and I was sort of relieved. Do you know of anyone who would be interested in the silver? Will sell.

Slick Methodists

(1957 February 18)

Saturday night the Girl Scout Box Social in Methodist Church basement. My troop gave a puppet show and at the very end the stage (planks on horses) shot out into the audience. The floor is new and varnished and slick. I was thankful no one was hurt. But that's me all over.

Tea shock

(1957 February 18, Monday)

I read an item which has shaken me to my depths today - which says that all tea grows on the same type of bush and that what makes the difference is the way it is cured, etc. (and what branch). Shocking - isn't it?

Forgotten music

(1957 January)

When the Richland Center band arrived in your town [Madison] to play for Vernon [Thompson, governor & RC native], they discovered they had forgotten their music at the high school. So director Johnson phoned RC police who raced to Madison with it and got there with ten minutes to spare!

Sick leave

(1957 January)

MM was washing dishes Monday and let a milk bottle fall and break in the sink and cut herself on her right hand between little and ring fingers bad enough to need both fingers bandaged together for healing. As this prevents both music lesson and practicing, she is not too badly off.

The dancing juggler

(1956 December, Wednesday)

Also and this is very very important - you are all hereby invited to MM's dancing class to see "The Juggler." This is, I believe, at 4:30, so please stop in as soon as you get to town. It is at The Auditorium in the basement. If you arrive in the middle of an act, you may have to stand until it is over before seats are offered you, but I am sure it would be just about two minutes or so.

Confirmation

(1956 June)

This morning all went well. Before Church MM <11>opened her Prayer Book from godmothers and the book from you. Very happy about both and read some in each but I must admit far more carried away by our library book, The Nylon Safari, a gem. After church, home and back at 12. Right behind our car the bishop pulled up so no delay. MM wore same outfit as at your wedding only the veil. All went off well and she got a certificate about as big as this paper [8 x 6"]. A hundred years ago Baptism & Confirmation Certificates surely were more impressive than they are today. When I looked up those of my mother's family, I found them to be very well illustrated and at least twice as big as MM's.

Bad bus ride

(1956 July)

At last we got on that bus! Relief on both sides! All the seats were taken except the back where a man of sorts was doubled up like a jackknife sleeping it off. Gradually we worked up to the front where it was less bumpy. One woman told me the reason for being so late was drivers from Chicago being new to the road, substituting for others on vacation. Daddy was there to meet us, still able to smile after the long wait. I told him not to!

A rare occasion

(1956 November)

The [the Birketts] recently got TV and had friends in election night who had had them over 4 years ago. I said that was the kind of club I might get my husband to join that met every 4 years.

A visit

(1956 November)

Today we called on Birketts and honored their 5-month-old daughter with a gift, 5 months late. MM is wonderful with children and had fun with Ellen, now about 3. They took a walk and M brot her some of her cups and saucers and they had a tea party, etc. We all took turns holding the baby until she spit up and then no one wanted her and she was put in her teeter.

Heads up

(1956 November)

I dropped into Mary Speidel's [gift shop] last week and told her you were so happy with all the things she picked out for you. She said the last time she saw you, you were walking down the street reading a book. My goodness, you mustn't do that, honey. People think you are missing and mention it to me in a nice way. Let's fool 'em and act normal, eh?

Long distance

(1956 November)

The other night the phone rang about 10:30 and Daddy rose from his warm bed to answer. No one on the line. Dead silence. But now and then a loud and long ring, after which he would bellow "Hell O." Then came a fearful ring in his ear that brot forth an oath - and then - nice as you please - he was connected with his father. After a little legal chat back and forth, Grandfather said he was sorry he could not come for Thanksgiving as he had already accepted an invitation; however, he could come Friday.

Roadside stands

(1956 October)

We stopped at the roadside stand at Middleton for MM's pumpkin, ground cherries, tomatoes, Indian corn and a taffy apple. At Green Thumb got tulip bulbs.

Apples & pears

(1956 September)

Sunday LL & MM went to Premo's [orchard] and got a bushel of apples - juicy and good - and a bag of the juciest pears I ever tasted.

Pizza mixup

(1956 Easter)

Sunday night I made an Appian Way Pizza Pie Mix I happened to have on the shelf and filled it with a ground meat mixture besides the sauce in the mix, and I never cooked anything worse. The dough or crust was so tough we could not chew it and it could be cut only by using force on the kitchen shears. To top it off, after supper I got one of my gastric attacks and went to bed fending off MM who wanted to put an ice pack on my poor stomach.

[Marginal note:] Are all pizza pies that way? Our first.

Dial phones?

(1956 July 3)

I see a telephone truck is stopping here and I suppose they will wire us for Dial which will have next year. No - they are trimming the tree. No they are attaching a cable - putting several wheels on a wire - ?? with a pole - ??

Handyboy

(1956 July 3)

Yes, Skip had had lots of experience in many directions. Never a week, barely a day, at home but what we had some darn project underfoot like taking out a rug or building a shelf or even turning a mattress. He usually stayed at home and enjoyed puttering at times, but you-know-who [MM] says "I'll be seeing ya" and off like a rocket.

Missed your graduation

(1956 July 3)

We had the radio on the whole time and were disappointed not to hear your name spoken. Supper was prepared, eaten, and dishes washed before it was over. As you said, long to sit. Just as I was using my garbage disposer, Charles Starr's name was called!

Progress

(1956 Summer)

Lorin's desk got rained on and we got a new roof on deck, hot water heater blew a fuse in the thunderstorm, we get a bible school teacher tomorrow, - on with progress! (I must kill a fly now.)

Batting bats

(1956 Summer)

There is an old laundry case in the attic which might be pressed into service if you aren't afraid of the bat up there. Lenzes were here to supper last night and Don killed one but no one knows where the other is.

The puppet king

(1956 Winter)

MM has a puppet project on at school and we have been making a puppet king with two outfits, an ermine trimmed purple robe over a dark red gown, or robe, and also an ermine trimmed nightgown and nightcap. It was a lot of work, especially hunting the materials. But it turned out well, except the ermine. On that everything went wrong. First I washed an old pair of white fur mittens, cut it into strips (got rabbit hair all over). Then I painted on the black stripes with some black ink which looked wonderful. Only later when it wouldn't dry did I reflect it was ink for a stamping pad designed never to dry! So I blotted that up with a Kleenex, put on hair lacquer, and painted it over with white oil paint and touched up the black with oil paint. That isn't dry yet either. But Mary Margaret forgave me and thot it was wonderful!

Dutch teapot

(1956 January)

In the meanwhile I have used the tea pot, a lot. When I first saw it I fell in love with the beauty of the shape and the metal. But when I became more acquainted with it I got to know what a wonderful little pot it really is. It goes on and on keeping the tea piping hot. I don't know why it doesn't cool off, really. And as if that were not enough, it never spills no matter how full it is. I didn't know before the Dutch were that clever. I have the one that matches my kitchen china and a small one for just a cup. But neither are one bit obliging if I pour in a bit too much water to suit them.

Kodak's fault

(1956 January)

Come home - all is forgivern - Keegans [drug store] tested my camera and immediately gave me a new one and shot the other back to the factory because there was a short in it. So far - I haven't used it. There has been no particular occasion. But I know I shall.

Oysters

(1956 January)

I am now going into the kitchen to try my hand at scolloping some oysters. I tried last week but too much pepper in the sauce and threw the recipe out.

More painting

(1956 January 13)

But I have smelled paint again and am in the throes of decorating the cupboad for towels, blankets, etc. which sits in the sewing room. Today I painted the inside of the upper half blue (2-1/2 hours). When I finally get all the ground work done, I'll decorate it. I got out the Peter Hunt book Skip gave me in 1954 and out of that will come something, I hope. Lorin wants me to paint MM jumping out of the bath tub. He thinks it's unique. She puts both feet tight together and leaps. I think it very dangerous and put a stop to it, but he thinks it should be commemorated to posterity. Instead, I think I'll draw her on a bank with her feet in a stream of water.

Painting

(1956 January 13)

We have been having the painter and now all those hideous brown (of various shades) doors are all a lovely ivory once more. We were so confused and jumbled up around here for three days. Lorin couldn't get clean shirts out of his closet as that door was painted. Neither he nor MM could hang up their things in the usual hall closet near the north door nor would I let them come in that way. All wraps on dining room chairs! The guest closet doors painted too. And MM and I had our wraps hanging on the shower curtain pole. All is back now!

Towel talk

(1956 January 13, Friday)

I have been attending the January sales and while at Krouskops remembered to get the other half of your Xmas present, only the green towels were gone. So I did get the yellow and then to make up for the green ones got others which I hope will do for a start anyway. If you are not wild about them, always console yourself with the thought that they will wear out! But I thought they were attractive and maybe you will too. I know you will excuse me if I do not spend half an hour doing them up beautifully, but shall send them with your laundry.

Home sweet home

(1956 April)

We got home about 2 and I was so thankful to be in a home again and at once did all the things you can't do away - like go to the fridge for a nip of ice cream and put on bedroom slippers and old clothes, etc.

Postal privacy

(1956 May 4)

We were so glad to get your card, to know you had actually moved and know what your address is! But I do think all your private thoughts should go in the privacy of an envelope and not on a postal for the boys in the Post Office to read and chuckle over. I have said this before.

Bookkeeping

(1956 May 4)

I am not at all surprised to hear you have too many books. I have been begging you to sell some for years. The situation will grow worse as time goes on and moving to another city will cost a fortune. (Good Xmas gifts!)

Girl Scout cookies

(1956 April)

Scouts today. My troop got a certificate of merit for selling cookies, over 25 boxes per girl. I am so proud of them.

Puppy love

(1955 December 3)

Thursday night MM and I wrote out an ad for Pixie [our incontinent puppy] and when Herb brot us home, I gave it to him to mail to WRCO, the Trading Post. I meant to listen at 1 p.m. but M was having a girl over to make angels to decorate those Xmas tress for dance, and so we were so full of arrangements that we forgot, but at 1:10 the phone started ringing and six people called and 3 at the door. Wow! And Daddy taking his rest. At that he said it was better than the hospital [he just got back from]. More restful. M had taken him [Pixie] for her rest for the last time. When the first applicant arrived, I could hardly give him up. A not too bright farmer from up Horse Creek. I thot Pixie was too small and cute and so many nice people called. So I called M and told her to take a peek at him on the porch and she said he looked nice to her, so I put the puppy in his arms and immediately I knew it was all right. His face lit up and he fondled Pix and said, "Don't you worry. I'll take good care of him. I want him for my little boy." Pixie was licking his face and he was loving it. M said she saw the little boy in the car so happy. When he left I was ready to burst into tears for being so cruel both to Pix and to her. But she was radiant! "Wasn't that wonderful, Mother! Everything worked out just fine. Now Pixie can chase the cows and fool around the farm and will be so happy and so will the little boy." Isn't she astounding?

Winterizing

(1955 November)

I brot in the garden hose and got ready for winter. Picked the chrysanthemums in the dark last night anticipating a freeze.

Moles

(1955 August 23)

Also we are tortured with moles tunneling up what grass we have.

Tedium

(1955 Summer)

Boulets are still gone and the visiting priest forgot to come this morning. So there we few were standing on the walk. So the men put their heads together and Franz Wagner put on his cassock and we went inside and said the Te Deum and went home early.

Tricky circus

(1955 Summer)

A circus came here and MM and I went with Lenzes. Fairly good. Not like the old days when seeing the animals was free. The gorilla, giraffe, python, others grouped, were in special tents with special admission.

A fish story

(1955 May 23)

Yesterday Kassie Lenz came over and I took the girls fishing down by the footbridge. We had one pole and 5-minute turns. Kas had a strike and pulled a small fish out but he immediately got off the hook. When M's turn came, he bit again and she pulled him in. A 6" bullhead. Was she ever happy!! We brought him home and revived him in a pail of water. When Mr. Lenz came for Kas, he took him along for Le Hew's cat.

No pain, no gain

(1955 May)

I have MM <10> home this morning with a pain in her back. Saturday before breakfast she fell off the 10-foot wall hunting asparagus on south front. Later she rode bike down and back getting her bike licence, down and back again for music lesson, to movie where she broadcast a duet of "Billy Boy" (horrible!), engaged in active play till bedtime, Sunday School, Church, hiking out to Avery Marshall farm for Rogation ceremony, picnic at park - played ball - and then suddenly when she was asked to take her picnic basket out of the car, she was so overcome with this pain she had to go right to bed and is there yet. Is she spoofing me?

Writer's unblock

(1955 April 28)

Next problem. The only way I ever found to lick that stuff was will pwer. You get good and tough with yourself and you say (as for instance when you should be writing something and you think to yourself, "I'll sit down and have a cigaret and think it over for a while") you say, "Come On Kay! Commence!" and before your bottom ever hits the easy chair, you lower it purposefully into the typing chair and you commence.

I can imagine how things are piling up that must be done and in. My advice on that is do them fast and get a B rather than much detail work and an A. Get the thing all organized and speed up on it. Try to speak freer, write freer. To hell with syntax and sentence structure. You should let your ideas come tumbling out of you fast. This will give your work a freshness. I mean this. Otherwise you will soon read like one of these professors with a long white beard.

Pillowtalk

(1955 April 18)

I was able to exchange the foam rubber pillows for sheets and now have a feather pillow on your bed for you to test next time. There are no feather pillows for sale in Richland Center that I know of. This one was one I had on hand. Dacron is the big seller, and foam.

The gift ham

(1955 April 18)

We are still on our ham [an Easter gift] and when I stop to consider how expensive it is, I should be very thankful; but really, I am a bit tired of it. Not too.

Thunder, hail, & alarms

(1955 April 18, Monday)

Trust you were dry during this morning's thunderstorm. Daddy was trapped at Hubert's [men's store], caught between the two banks; Maggie was doing her Arithmetic in which she got 0; and I was drying my hair, afraid to turn on the dryer but did even so. Suppose you were in that little shoe box of yours never realizing there was a storm.
. . . . .
Hailing now - big Rocks. I am in the study scared stiff. Dark - pitch - sheets of rain - Bang on roof - Hammering on all windows - Marble shooters whacking - I am afraid the glass will break - walk through the house - Goodbye, Mother.

Excelsior!

(1955 Easter)

Learn to work well and quickly and NOT MULL (the way I do). I simply could not, nor could my bottom, considered here as a separate entity, stand all that sitting and reading. You need to shake it, my love, and excercise more, mix more with the world and life in general.

Bad day

(1955 Easter)

No, I didn't go to the Quiet Day Wednesday, but I did go to Madison with Daddy Thursday. Colder, more miserable weather I have seldom walked in. The damp wind on the Square nearly blew me flat. Manchesters were closed all morning and I had to travel around the Square. I got MM a little dress at the Emporium and a skirt at Pennys and that was all. By noon I was so exhausted I couldn't get a thing for myself - alarming. Was home 3:45. And glad to be here.

Liturgical upgrade

(1955 March 13)

Church this morning - with six acolytes, four [of them] torch bearers which go in and out, in and out - why no one knows - disturbing the service. MM has been asked to sing in the children's choir and accepted, drawn by the fascination of wearing a robe, though I'm not sure it was promised.

Birdwatch

(1955 March 13)

Have you seen a robin? MM has but I have not. I saw a pair of woodpeckers twice in the lilac hedge - downy or hairy? Couldn't decide after consulting book, but think downy. Also beautiful pair of grackles one noon. If pushed I'd say bronzed rather than purple.

Sunday night

(1955 March 13)

Sunday night, and after a dull day, which seems to be what Daddy needed to face the week tomorrow, we are on the verge of retiring. Maggie already is tucked in, not too sleepy perhaps, as she was exhausted and slept until 10 this morning. Daddy is working a puzzle of about 500 pieces, every one blue, and get one piece about every hour.

Synthetic heels

(1955 February 5)

Thursday I spent two hours on the kitchen floor and waxed it for the first time and it does look fine! First I washed it, then rinsed it, then waxed it. All on hands and knees, going over it three times. What made me so particularly particular was wanting to get it perfect before the first coating of wax was put on. Finally, at long last I got the last of the black marks from your heels off. Now please do not come home with those again. Replace them or wear them out there. They are vile.

Engagement

(1955 February 5)

I was engaged to Daddy for five long years and we were every minute of it longing to be together and making a life of our own. He was studying and preparing to make a living and I was teaching in a small town where transportation was almost nil - there were no buses and sometimes no trains through - so we seldom saw each other.

Busy signal

(1955 January 24)

We are all very busy here; I, in particular, must stop saying and start doing.

The kindness of strangers

(1955 January)

Well, it was a lovely party, wasn't it? as MM <10> says every hour. "Mother, wasn't it fun in Madison? That's were I'm going to live." It will probably do until she sees something bigger. She is a perfect mouse on the bus. She will have nothing to do with us, but goes and sits with a stranger and has the time of her life. She did everything possible at the hotel including reading the Bible, but hadn't time to try out her desk. So she brought the stationery along and sat with a girl who had a ball point to loan and wrote Ginger. Handily standing in the aisle was a grade supervisor who helped with spelling and commas. No one had a stamp.

Cement shortage

(1954 Fall)

We are still on Flying Squirrel Hill and it looks as if we'll be here all winter. We can't move until the drive [at 33 Grove St.] is laid as it is all dug out now and the van couldn't go over it. They can't put the drive in because there is a pile of sand and a pile of gravel in front of the garage to make the side porch. And they can't make the side porch because there is no cement in town and hasn't been. So here we sit like....

The bean and the bear

(1954 August)

The Jumping Bean is now eclipsed by a caterpillar named Teddy Bear, a brown and black furry one. He lives in a soap box with a screen top and eats and eats. Uninformed children believe he lays eggs too. The Jumping Bean lives in his old Ink Bottle on the kitchen stove and we often think him to be quite dead until we use the stove and he warms up and starts to kick.

Quiet time

(1954 August 12)

Perhaps you can be slightly useful and do a little on the moving. You might get some of your own stuff over there, for instance. I am not planning a thing for you to do. Only scat so I can take my nap. It is nice at the park - maybe bring swim suits?

My watch

(1954 July 5)

Did the thunder storms bother you? I was awake a couple of nights. Hard to get back to sleep with light flashing in my eyes and thunder booming in my ears. LL slumbered through all, serene in the knowledge that I would cope with MM's fears, open windows, high wind, threatened flood. He's been very drawn and weary lately, but OK.

Transitory Archbishop

(1954 August 8, Sunday)

Father Gutman with the Archbishop of Scotland dropped in the office to say hello on way to this Anglican Congress. Will stop with us on the way home, whenever. What if August 21? [moving day]. Oh well - we have 2 houses now.

Fierce flies

(1954 August 8, Sunday)

About the proposed picnic - I hate to disillusion you, but the flies have been fierce this year. Perhaps two weeks ago trucks went through spraying a fog mist [DDT?] all over to kill them and mosquitoes. MM and I tried to eat in the yard when LL was in Viroqua and gave it up because of flies. Considering pokio threat perhaps wise.

Second thoughts

(1954 August 8, Sunday)

There are so many major decisions to be made [about remodeling the Grove St. house] - sometimes one a day. I wake up at night wondering if I have decided for the best, if it's only a trifle. (You know me.) This keeps up and so does the tension. But if I decide wrong, I'll be sorry forevermore. I wish I were a different person! I wish I were a cow without any nerves! I wish I could just do anything that came into my head and never know the difference! Anyway, I am very very happy about the house and in a month or so shall very likely be in, though far from settled - never never settled down tight though - or so?

Home sweet home

(1993 January 31)

I am very tired of this [Schmidt Home] and want to go home. So would you be. There is a high-pitched bell ringing on and on. Someone is calling for help. This my roommate. - I just wish I could go home. Jan says she thinks I may not be allowed to live alone. She may be partially responsible for this. Bill says, "I'll ask Skip." I tell him you are not paying for this and want to go home. I recall Ruth Nee [R.N., a friend] saying many people long for their homes. O dear.

If I am not in the rotunda watching TV, my roommate Helen comes after me to watch TV there.

Inez

(1993?)

I am very restless so may as well talk about this place [the Schmidt Home]. Inez is very sick and may not live. She grew up on a lonely farm near Lone Rock and had to feed the pigs before walking 3 miles to school. She worked 30 years for the telephone company. Yesterday she was taken from the table to her room in a wheelchair. "Coffee killed the women," she would quote, "but it was whisky that killed the men." She was about 5 feet and worn-lookings. I don't think she had many things given to her.

Kneejerkers

(1954 August 1)

Saturday MM resumed her music lessons and today Marsha went to church with us. She and MM kept going up and down on the kneelers and in so doing jerking the pew ahead which we were leaning on. Thought we'd land on our faces a few times. LL got wild and cross when jolted in the middle of a solemn moment. Then the time was just the same as at her church but it seemed longer (11-12).

Don't know it all

(1954 July 12)

We are glad to hear you are working hard [nights] on your thesis, the work behind the [day] job. I am cheering for you. I, too, would be fed up on what happened in 1225. And I think that the sooner you start teaching to see if you can teach and if you like it and are liked, the better for you, and learn more later on if you find (just killed a silverfish) you can't get along on what you already know.

Exploring the attic

(1954 Fall)

Yes, the [new] house [33 S. Grove St.] is wonderful, isn't it? You know, Skip, it has always been a dream of Daddy's (or objective) to have a nice home - to get one I would be happy with. You know some of our struggles along the way, not all. Then so many things in between - family troubles, my sickness with big bills, yours, Daddy's, your education. But now quick in a rush before Maggie has college bills we're going to have the house. And it will be beautiful! By the way, this is a silly whim - but don't let on to the relatives. They know we are "doing a little fixing" but not what.

The stairs to the attic is done now and we find generations of hornets in the rafters. It is enough to discourage a less doughty person than I, but having won out over flying squirrels and cockroaches, rats, mice, and almost over crickets, I am not too set aback. The attic floor waves up and down because the hand-hewn joists are uneven.

The director

(1954 June 28)

I am glad MM <9> is off to swimming lessons. There is too little direction in her life vacations and that is true of all children hereabouts; so they quarrel and bicker until I loathe the sound of it. So I am glad she has the class and I hope she learns to swim.

A sticky situation

(1954 June 28)

We worked at the lawn party 6-8 last night. LL dipped ice cream and I dipped berries. He would not sit down on the chair provided and therefore utterly exhausted himself so he had to sit in the car and wait for us. After much prying at home I got the admission that the chair seat was sticky with ice cream. I am still mad at him because had he but mentioned it, a newspaper was handy. But you know your father.

Hosanna

(1954 April 10, Palm Sunday)

We have a new little 4-year-old, Buddy, in Sunday School. Father B gave out the palms early in the service and he had quite a time with his. Is a very active child and he and Butch sat alone in front pew unless I came and sat with them. This I did in the interest of welfare for all, when Buddy performing with his palm hit me a thwack in the face with it! An experience.

all around the mulberry bush

(1954 May 23)

Before Grandfather [Alfred Kay] left, MM went up to pull some rhubarb for him and found a nest in the pine tree - three robins, quite large and staring at us solumnly. Mother came with a worm when we were hiding under the mulberry bush watching her, but she wouldn't go to the nest until well satisfied we had stopped watching and were on our way home. Very interesting.

Almost an Ozark hour

(1954 May 23)

I have been busy writing the script for the Music Club Hour on Saturday - you know how long it takes me ! This week it was Elie Siegmeister's Ozark Set and J. J. Niles (our records). It was quite thrilling to listen to, and agonizing too because in spite of all my timing it ran short and the studio stuck another record in.

Sickness in the home

(1954 May 2)

Tuesday PTA - my last program - MM is in a folk dance. Besides dancers there are a ballad enacted, puppet show and a movie entitled "Fitness in the Home," which I understood to be "Sickness in the Home" and therefore is in paper thus. Everyone is all agog, esp. MM - all boys and girls wear white shirts - girls full dark skirts. Election officers - not IT!

Mincemeat

(1954 March)

Saturday was church bake sale. I had nothing so sent LL to buy something and give them some money. As usual, he had to overdo it and got brown bread, rolls and a hot mince pie which he poured all over himself and arrived home furious. I cleaned it it off perfectly and had the pie for lunch. My piece was merely two pieces of pastry. Not a raisin in it!

Facing the music

(1954 April 21)

Music Club District Meeting here today. Baraboo, Reedsburg and RC. Supposed to meet at 2. Lorin took me at 3 and it hadn't started yet! He said his bus left every hour on the hour (patience thin). Got there at 3 at Methodist Church and it hadn't started yet. I had typed 58 lapel name cards and Ann Rose was registering the crowd of 50 persons and I kicked in and sat down. Lengthy business meeting and long windy talk by our state president, out of which I walked at 4:30. ...

Back to M.E. church about 7:45. Church jammed. LL had trouble parking close enough to curb. MM immediately thirsty, hot, tired, and had to find bathroom - I said no. On my left and near door LL was sulking because people jammed into him. Then he kept track of each piece and wrote what the time required was for each piece on program plus encores. It was a lovely relaxing time, and I stayed until after Helen Starr sang and then left as did she and parents. So hot - 85 or so.

Thanks for the food

(1954 March)

I had a shock when I brought my plate to [rosemaling] class. Mrs. V. complimented me on how I have improved in my shading. Then when she put on the board some Norwegian sayings for plates, I discovered that TAK VOR MATEN is three words. Mrs. Soffel thought it might come off with turpentine and so it did, and just now I have it back on properly. It is done except for a few more flowers I may think up for the border.

Food fussing

(1954 January)

We bought a capon yesterday, $4, and bacon is 89 cents a pound. I like the farmers but I wish prices would come down some. We are still eating beans from the Xmas bazaar I froze.

The python

(1954 September 24)

Thank you for doing your own laundry. Can you help me out by doing mine for a while? This is what happened: I put 3 sheets and 1 pair of cases in the wash yesterday. All went well until final drying, when there was a frightening rattling down there. Afraid to approach by the inside door, I ran around outside and behold the monster had broken its moorings and was waltzing around the room. Conquering a desire to flee (as from the python), I summoned up courage and turned it off. Forest hasn't fixed it yet. All the wash had wrapped itself up heavy. This whacking about set it off balance and it has to be put back on the track. Always something unforeseen.

Sitting

(1954 September 24)

Try not to sit too long at a time. Break it up with a few setting up exercieses or dash around the block. In the long run you will find you can do more and keep at it longer and won't have such backaches. The backaches are why I never kept at typing, I guess.

Master of arts

(1954 September 24)

I must tell you we got just a batty letter from Auntie Mabel the other day. One of us must have written her that you got your Master of Arts. "O," says she, "O, I didn't know Skippy had taken up art ... how splendid! What a fine future he will have ahead of him in the field of art!" etc. etc.

(1954 September 24, Friday)

We are so happy for you about your job! [in UW Archives]. Maggie said, getting wind of the mail at the lunch table, "What is Skip doing?" Daddy: "His new job is sorting waste paper in the basement of the library." MM: "Is he really sorting waste paper in the basement?" Then of course I could stand it no longer and told her you were cataloging important documents." That held her.

Lonesome

(1953 December)

Yes, I suppose you miss your old crowd. I always did. I had two bad jolts - one when my schooling was over and I left my kind and went off to teach in a lonely little town [Bear Creek WI], and again when I was first married and September came and teachers and scholars were going back and I wasn't; I was plenty lonesome. But after you came into my life I had plenty to think about.

Duplicity

(1953 December)

Maggie <8> was disgusted with the duplicity of the world the other day. She opened a new tube of toothpaste, expecting it to be cholorophyll, and it came out in a lather. Says she, "There, right there on the box, it says Walgreen and it's white.

That was easy to figure, but what she ate at school which she glowingly described as Nazarenes I still wonder at -- "We ate some Nazarenes today at school, and were they yummy!" Like little oranges? Three grew together.

(1953 December 13)

I traced down the Nazarenes. They were really kum-quats but at first were thought to be and called "Necatrines." Thought your mind might rest easier if you knew. Mine did.

Mercury

(1953 December)

I dropped our thermometer and broke it and I think it was worth the fun we had with the mercury. Daddy got to telling how he would bring some to school in a hanky and press it and it would go right through the cloth.

Windfall

(1954 January)

I had a windfall yesterday and I must tell you! LL and Mr. Sharp somewhat laughed at me when I rescued old thermostat and took it to Sears to see if it could be resold. But nothing but respect for me when at Kiwanis Mr. Lloyd gave LL $6.00 for me from it! More than the whole furnace brought at junk yard, $2.90. (Of course I have [saved] some [parts of it] for trash burning.).

Grapes again

(1953 September)

Fearing frost, picked 2 bushels of grapes yesterday afternoon. Now my days are full of juice and jelly and fatigue.

Hot stuff

(1953 Summer)

I trust you enjoyed your walk back home [in Madison] more than we our ride back home. Thinking I would have a refreshing drink of ice water in thermos, I took a big swallow and gagged, as it was almost boiling; in fact, I did pour the remainder over spinach to get it cooking for supper. But home safely.

Kiwanis picnic

(1953 June)

Tonight, Monday, was the Kiwanis picnic at park. Potluck and lush. Then games etc. afterward. One stunt was to line up 6 couples and give the ladies each a roll of toilet paper to wind completely around their partners and then prizes to the best mummies. Daddy was first in hanging out a wash but didn't get a prize as his sagged and touched the ground.

Half holiday

(1953 late June)

Daddy says not to forget to tell you the fireworks is at 9:45 this year July 3 so that the VFW boys can go on trips over the weekend and that it will not interfere with the stores' trade as stores will be open till 9:30.

Cowardly language

(1953 May)

Tuckers were in Milwaukee the same weekend as it was Mother's Week End. Two plays were given for entertainment, and one was "Fumed Oak" by Noel Coward. All were shocked by the filthy language. I just must find it and read it, or if you could tell me about it, it would suffice.

Whistleblower

(1950 June 1)

Thank you so kindly for Mary Margaret's whistle which she blows shrilly constantly. She also loves the hot water bottle and fills and refills it with water when the first has leaked out. Appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Fish story

(1950 June 1)

This morning I heard MM's voice in the neighborhood, much later looked for her in vain. About noon saw her coming up from the Foot Bridge with four boys, happy as a lark. She told me later they had caught a Harp and were going to put it in the watering trough. It has been so unpleasant all day disciplining her for going and for saying she didn't.

Varmits in the attic

(1950 February 27)

Well, Skip, the pay off was last night - such a rat wrassle you never heard. It's a wonder I didn't have hysterics. Just awful. Then a little creature sang for about 5 minutes in a high squeak - like a bat, a tree toad, a cicada - a rat! Baby owl? They say flying squirrels bark. If there ever was an indifferent mortal it is your father! I had to turn to someone, so I called Mr. Miller, the county agent, who was simply intrigued and said he would come with a lot of new poisons and traps if I wouldn't laugh at him for catching nothing in case it was a ghost! When he did come it was only with poisoned oats, now in our attic. Not a sound so far tonight. But last night I could hardly get to sleep for the noise.

(1950 March 4)

The poisoned oats has tracks in it and the noises are almost gone too. I hear a faint rustle sometimes which may be bats, but we think others were flying squirrels.

Canasta instead

(1950 February 27)

Tomorrow, Sunday, is band concert for new uniforms, and as Ellen plays, we bought two tickets but probably won't go. Eve is having us and Propsts over for supper and to play canasta (ha, ha) - although we really should be at a church potluck supper they really shouldn't be having at all because of fuel shortage.

New dressmaker

(1950 February 27)

Friday Ruth came and she cleaned the encyclopedias. We arranged she was to let me know whether she could baby sit in the p.m. so I could go to the dressmakers. But our phone went out of order and she thought I was hurt and couldn't get to it so came anyway. Susie Dorjan? - go up 3rd street til you come to high school gym, turn right, second house on right - very nice little dressmaker. I had to keep trying on my jacket from 3:30 to 5:00 ... My jacket will be done for Easter (at least).

Not on the right page

(1950 January 15)

I want to stop right now to thank you ever and ever so far for that beautiful and handy date book! It has revolutionized my life and if I don't do something at least I know I should be doing it, and not overlooking it entirely. I don't see how you could part with it really. The pictures are so beautiful - and maybe it's as my undoing, as MM loves to page thru it and frequently leaves me on the wrong week!

A grand afternoon

(1950 January 20)

Yesterday I took Mary Margaret to town and we had a perfectly grand afternoon. At the 5 & 10 got assorted candles for her cake [birthday January 22], a paintbrush to paint back hall, Valentine book for her, then at Fleming's shoe store Bob F (Rosie's finacee) waited on us and we got her a pair of brown oxfords and a pair of patent leather pumps for Easter and parties, as her old ones are too small. (Big sale.) Then as we had time on our hands, went to Soffels [music store] and listened to a Bugs Bunny album of a race between Bugs and the tortoise and Bugs B won. Just terribly cute. Then for me a fine floor waxer. Got Daddy [at his office] and all had a coke and home. Bob Fleming gave her two balloons....

The Kiddie Hour

(1950 February 20)

Mrs. R took Ronnie and MM to the radio station last Saturday. They sat in the front row and Uncle Bob asked R how old he was - said 6.
MM: "Oh no he isn't! He's 4."
UB: "Who is this? Your sister? No? Your cousin? Who is she then.?"
Ron: "She's my girl friend."
UB: "Are you his girl friend?"
MM: "Yes I am."
UB: "Ooh - what we have down here on the kiddie hour today!" Etc., etc.
Ron recited "Little MissMuffet" but MM said she would next time. It seems everyone in town heard her.

A long Library Hour

(1950 February 20)

Lately I have been taking the kids to the Library Hour, going back with Daddy at one. First Di went with us, then Di and Ronnie, today Di, Ron + 3 Bogarts, thus making me in charge of 6 kids. I arranged with Uncle Lyle [Bogart] that I would call him when it was over (1:45) and he would come for us. Only when it was over, the Coles [next door] hung on to the [party phone] line until 2:05. Here they were all howling on the Library steps, scantily clad, thinking they would be popping in and out of cars - and once chased by the janitor for jumping off pillars into snow banks. I thought I'd never get that line but finally did.

Facts of life

(1949 December 8)

The word is that Father Stewart was quite a talker at the PTA meet last night where "Birth of a Child from Conception" was shown to parents to see if they would approve showing it to kids. Nazarenes all against it. Stu took all comers and talked himself hoarse. Tuck: "Wonderful speaker."

[Polly's husband, Lorin, gave a juicer account:] Father Stewart had, I am told, an exciting evening Tuesday, when he and Dr. Meyer [M.D. and R.C.] showed a sex instruction picture they wanted the PTA to have shown to kids in school. Rev. Mr. Meyer, the Nazarene, got up and objected, saying it was very disgusting to him; Fr. Stewart drew himself up and said it was the first time he had heard that the works of the Lord were disgusting to anybody. The battle ended in better than a draw, the majority of articulates speaking up in favor of the Picture. Meyer the doc and his reverence make quite a team, with Rome and PE's lined up against the Protestants.

Scat

(1949 December 8)

Mary M <4> heard me say "scat" and now she has a new word. Only she says "scatter."

Holy Oakies

(1949 December 8)

These "oakies" the Haddocks - the ones Father Stewart befriended - have left town. A priest from another town called Father S to ask about them as they were now at that church asking for help. disgusting to think of them working their way over the country, begging off the church, known the Church will always help, pulling up stakes and leaving in the night - on to the next town, next parish.

Robin Hood

(1949 December 5)

Kathryn Bailey [moving to an apartment] brought picture [she had painted ten years ago] of you as Robin Hood in big gilt frame. Unless you want to take it back with you Xmas to hang in your room [at college!], Daddy may hang it in the office. [And so he did; now Skip has it.] It now leans against the piano looking at me with Skippy-blue eyes that you had when you were young and cute.

Square dancing

(1949 December 5)

Last night, Friday, Ann Rose and friends had a Square Dance Party above old Penny store. Helen Dixon baby sat and off we went, about nine. The dance school master taught about 50 or so of us. It was fun but very tiresome standing for instruction. We learned a lot tho. In our square was a young man, very nice, Mr. Kelley, who is the radio announcer. It was curious to see how people we haven't seen for a long time have aged - like ZZ. Suppose they were thinking the same of me too. Refreshments were cider and donuts on a Xmas decorated table. I was tired before I went, having gone to the clinic in the morning and scrubbed and waxed kitchen floor in the p.m.

[Lorin Kay saw things differently, on December 1:] I am in misery. This noon Mother announced that Anne Rose and a number of others are throwing a Square Dance party in the old Cosmos club tomorrow night, Friday, and we are invited. Mary Margaret is enthusiastic, and wish I could figure out some way of sending her as my substitute, but I suppose it will wind up with me going.

[Next semester, Skip would take compulsory Square Dancing in gym class.]

Terrorist

(1949 December 5, "Santa Claus Day")

I always like to have an excuse for writing on this [cheap notebook] paper and now I have a good one. My other paper is about gone. I really wonder myself why I haven't written you all week. I think first of all I decided to wait for your letter so ours wouldn't cross. It just came today. Then there is the terrifying thought that you are keeping all my letters. That dries the ink before it starts to flow.

Friendship

(1949 November 3)

Speaking of pictures, Louis Dodge [retired music professor] had 200 pix of himself printed up and is now giving them forth on every side. Busy as a bee. A contest to see whether he has 200 friends that will agree to take them, say I.

Halloween

(1949 October 31)

I have to get going on this costume now. Oh - forgot to tell you - Mary is going as Red Riding Hood with [your German shepherd] Vica as The Wolf. Mrs. R called to ask if M could walk with Di in parade. Said Di had grass skirt and beads but would have to wear over snow suit as it's so cold. I convinced her The Grandmother would be a more suitable and warmer character....

Vica was very good all through the festivities. All up and down the street everyone was saying, "Hi Vica - Vica -- that's Skip Kay's little sister. Look at Red Riding Hood and TheWolf." "That's no wolf, that's a dog." "Is too a wolf - see Red Riding Hood." Mary was just a honey and doubly cute with Vic. Think I'll get a film and take some pix myself. [She did.]

P.S. after the Parade. It seemed to me it was Department of Utter Confusion tonight. (1) 6:30-7:30 kids assembled in Auditorium and howled with nothing to do. No entertainment. (2) Band was late again. (3) Street lights went out just as we marched out. Had to stand shivering with little kids. (4) Band played quick music kids couldn't keep up with. (5) Films for movies didn't come, but some were later dug up. (6) We marched to Park Hotel and back twice instead of once as in paper. (7) All prize winners were marched on stage and held there for 15-20 minutes until hooked up with radio. (8) Pictures were posed, taken by Farness on stage instead of off as planned. (9) Kids got restless and chanted "We want a show." (10) MM and Vica were darling but no prize. (11) Farness said to come up right after he took groups and he would take their pictures (for me) and we did. Then someone thrust a marvelous prize in her arms - a suitcase full of nurse's equipment! How to explain to Diane and Patty etc. who were with us? But who is happy? You guessed it - Little Red Riding Hood.

Code

(1949 October 19, postcard)

Throw away your knitting needles - crisis not at hand. Mom

[Code for "Your bitch is not pregnant."]

Enceinte?

(1949 November 16)

[Postcard to Skip who was taking Freshman French:] Je pense que votre chien est enceinte. [He got it just before class, and anxious to know what was wrong with his dog, he asked his teacher to translate enceinte and was mortified when the old lady snapped "pregnant."]

Varnished in

(1949 October 10)

Goodnight, Sweet Prince - I shall now go up to bed and varnish myself in and hope that Mary M doesn't have to paddle down the hall in the middle of the night and that all will be dry by morning so we can rise. If not, a perfect excuse for not attending services. If we get out and go to church, I will mail this letter tomorrow and if you do not get it, that is a sign we are still varnished in.

Cleaning the study

(1949 October 7)

I am so tired I can hardly hold a pen. Now I am housecleaning Daddy's study and hope all goes well so I can get it back together before he gets home [from California]. I can hardly push the stuff back far enough to get a square yard to varnish. Then I wait a day for that to dry and thus I continue. -- Yaas - now that I have got the three worst offenders out of the house, I am trying to restore the poor thing.

This morning finished varnishing the study except way under the safe. It seemed too terribly heavy to move because I was tired. I know it has casters and really isn't and feel guilty. Mary M unloaded the oak bookcase you made, and I cleaned and put all back, though I fear not in identical spots.

I know just how it will be: Daddy will come home and glance in and see the shiny floor and all in order and his heart will sink. But he will have guessed how hard I worked and so he will kiss me and say how wonderful it looks. Then when the welcome is over, he will sit down and dig in. Then things will start to fly and thump and that will be a good time for me to rake leaves, if daylight, or take a bath, if evening. But then it will be clean - after all, once every 3 years when he goes to his church convention.

Outing

(1949 October 7)

Tonight I went to Woman's Club program in a cab, the first I took since Daddy left [for church convention in California] - pretty good for us. Heard Mineral Point artists and saw their pictures. Mrs. F had puppets she made to put on St. George and the Dragon, and she decorates bowls etc. Mr. F had pictures he painted (and will sell). They bought an old rock house and restored it. Then I saw many old friends I hadn't seen in years. One does feel stuck in the woods once in a while.

Fried eggs

(1949 October 7)

[The new mother's helper] is by far the nicest girl I've ever had.... She fried the eggs last night while I took a bath and Mary Margaret came up and said, "How do you want your eggs, Mother? S'all we turn 'em over or s'all we let 'em lay?" This with the cutest gestures you ever saw.

Cosmic humor

(1949 October 4)

Today on hike:

Me: "Look at the moon, girls."

Diane: "Hey - what's the moon doing in the sky when the sun is out?"

Mary Margaret <4> (sighing as if the universe is too much for her): "Oh, God's a funny guy."

Sandman

(1949 late September)

Saturday morning a young fellow, Al something, from Coast to Coast, brought this guy Woody out with the sander. Vica [our German shepherd] was in the house and didn't see the car come nor see them get out until they were at the door, when I thought (and they were sure) she would tear them apart. So I put her in the basement. Old Woody: "No sir. I want to be apart from the dog, as I can see he don't like me" (quaint). They were both green they were so scared. Well as things went on we discovered the dining-room plug didn't work and an extension was needed. I told Al to go look in the basement. He yanked open the cellar door and there sat Vica looking right up at him. He acted just like a scared guy in a movie. His knees shook and he clutched the door and said in a sinking voice, "Ooo man!" - almost a prayer. I wanted to laugh in his face but called Vica and sat down on a kitchen chair and she put her paws on my shoulders and kissed me, and if I had been trifling with one wild black panther they could not have been much more impressed!

Floor plan

(1949 September)

Have I mentioned I am refinishing the dining-room floor? Saturday afternoon man came and sanded it. After supper I finished scraping. Today 4:30-5:00 put on first coat of sealer. I paint it once a day with something and hope to be done by end of week. All we need now is unexpected company with dining room furniture in living room.

No apologies

(1949 September)

Skip, let us make a pact, us two. Hereafter let us not waste time and words apologizing for our typing and handwriting. That alone will run into wells of ink and typewriter ribbons galore if we keep that up while you are in school. Now I know you can type, and you know I write in bed with the ink flowing up the pen, and you know I know where to put apostrophes and other punctuation, heaven knows. So if we both appreciate it is simply a matter of time and the idea conveyed is the thing -- we'll save ourselves a lot of trouble and use time for something else (writing to those who do not allow for errors).

All in order

(1949 September)

The pamphlet on dogs has long since helped start one of my fires. (They do go out and then I saw and chop until I get wood for another one. But tonight I came across a darling box of wood.) My ambition is to burn all the trash in that mess of boxes. Then have it cemented. Then build shelves of the lumber you pulled out of fruit room. Good place to store stuff. Don't you think? Not until then can we get order.

Cukes

(1949 September)

Concerning your cucumbers, I regret to say the crop was a failure this year. I think the reasons were that they were planted too late and not weeded. A cucumber is long, not round. I was up there the other day to look for you and found two bottles empty. I surmised the blossom had wilted off. Two had very small cukes in but could still slip out of neck of bottle. Frost is here and growing time over now, so there will be no more during this year. You will have to get an early start next year.