Endgame

(1994 October)

I had a short talk with the Head of this place [the Schmidt home] - asked her if she would like any furnishings of the home on Grove Street I was leaving. She said no, not unless I wished to bring pictures to hang on the wall to remind me of home. I may just skip it. One spends a lifetime to get these things, only to wonder what to do with them when death is near.

Bread bag

(1951 September 21)

I set a hot pan on plastic bread bag and today bought more plastic for another bag at Peases - pink with big fruits - all made and holding the bread this minute! Applaud!

Flash flood

(1951 July 25)

[There was a flash flood in Richland Center.] It is almost unbelievable how quickly the waters rose and how quickly they receded. Saturday afternoon LL just had to go to the office to meet a man, and when the man had gone and LL tried to get home, he found the water was up over both bridges, and there he was stuck over in town! About 3 WRCO went off the air after telling us to boil our water, etc. And BQ picked that day to decide to deliver my groceries after lunch. Ah me, I had a few grave moments when I drew water and boiled it and thought how I could live by getting eggs from NN [down the road] and picking a few berries to go with the eggs. Not a piece of bread in the house, but muffin makings. Now and then LL would call. Decided to spend the night in the office, but I called ZZ and she said, "Come ahead" [he could stay with them].

But later the flood hit its crest at 5, and by 6 LL got the groceries all but meat and ice cream (which BQ brought at 10:30 p.m.) and made it home [a roundabout way] over Paul's Hill and back by [US highway] 80. We were all so tickled!

But typhoid shots are being given at Soldiers Grove and Viola & Boaz. The people are so downhearted; many have lost everything they had. Red + is helping. I got together a box of bedding and clothes this noon and may find more tomorrow. Of course you know the Footbridge floated away. And no electricity. Men worked day and night making a new levee.

Watch your step!

(1994 Thanksgiving)


Years ago in Richland Center [a mother] was on her way to church for a supper and put her pies on the floor [of the car] and the kids on the seat. [Her little girl] put one foot in the pumpkin pie and the other in the mince, I think the story went. Of course years ago.

A Martha/Mary complex

(1952 August 14)

You see I am alone so much of the time I find it impossible to concentrate when others are present visiting. I wish this were not true, but it is a habit I unconsciously have formed by waiting until the house was quiet and the gang gone before I dug into anything important. I guess you will just have to baby me and wait on me until I get off [on a vacation] - if I ever do.

Darn it!

(1951 November 13)

You know I almost never have time to write a letter for myself, or sew on a button or do a thing for myself - just you and Maggie and Daddy and the house (and of course those cats). And so you would think that all of you would get more attention, but those hours roll by and then I am getting another meal again. But just keep on mentioning your needs and I will do what I can for you. Do think seriously about marrying some nice girl who is fond of darning. She could spend hour after hour on all the little holes and have a wholesome time. Wasn't that fierce?

Reality check

(1951 October 4)

When I first moved here [in 1938] I felt perfectly terrible for about six months, always kept thinking what a good place I left behind, etc. Finally I went back and was genuinely shocked to find how I had overrated it in my imagination and how small the yard really was, etc.

A reluctant librarian

(1995 January)

Once I took a correspondence course in something from the University of Wisconsin. I think it was library science. I stayed at Ripon and believe I became a school librarian. It was a lot of work in the stacks. One day some friends were going to Green Lake swimming and they insisted I come too. They accused me of not having been in Green Lake all year, and that was true. So I gave in and enjoyed it very much. I was never glad I had become a school librarian. Those using the library got along just fine without me. The English classes use part time in library lessons now.

Keyboarding

(1951 October 20)

I don't know what to do about this typing [class]. I am interested in it but it makes me so nervous to do it I can hardly stand it. The reason is because we are going too fast for me, a pokey. I concentrate so hard on which finger to use and then hit the wrong one. Half the time I think I will quit and half the time I think I will keep on. I think I shall at least go until I have all the rules and then practice at home if I care to and as much as.

Lunch & rummage

(1952 December 14)


Church Xmas Sale today very successful. We served a lunch cafeteria style: beef barbecue, turkey sandwiches, cranberry sauce, potato salad, baked beans, pickles, drinks. Father B cashier. I was set to selling rummage at 10 a.m. and so continued till I left at 2:30, with time out to eat. One man wanted a pair of shoes for $1 but came without it. Wantd me to deliver them to Lone Rock bus station where he would leave the dollar.

Speechless

(1952 September 23)

[After returning from Episcopal convention in Boston] went to pot luck supper at church that night. Very few there. MA gave report on fair stand and we cleared about $250.00. Then Lorin talked a little about Convention. I had my speech all ready but wasn't called on and all the kids who had to stop running around would have rejoiced.

Bringing the Auxiliary to order

(1951 June 13)

Auxiliary at Q's at their farm on Ithaca Road last night. I made a speech urging snappier business meetings and to this end urged spending 5 minutes a meeting on Robert's Rules of Order. RH seconded it so we could discuss it, said we didn't need it. It would take up too much of our meeting time. Then having seconded it, voted against it! No, it went through by one vote.

Making it happen

(1951 July 2)

This morning we had a little Commencement Exercise in Sunday School for my class. Father Stewart went to Madison and got some medals at the Church Mart for prizes, and of course I gave out more saints' pix you got for me, and also their certificates. Parents came and it was very nice. Each child gave her name and life of her name-saint. I looked each up and wrote and mailed parents, filled out certificates, wrote up what Father Stewart was to say - it must have taken me about 16 hours. Lots of phone calls and hunting up addresses. But as I said - it went off well.

Amen

(1951 July 2)

I wore my pink shortie coat in church today. Auxiliary officers were installed in a ceremony and we went up front. A woman behind me from Mazo[manie] almost had me giggling during prayers. Every time it was up to her to say "Amen," she would let out a groan - "through Jesus Christ our Lord" - "Ummmmah" - "through JC our L" - "Ummmmmm" almost in agony, some of them.

Ice cream social

(1951 June 25)

Sunday 4 - 8:30 we had an Ice Cream Social - Strawberry Festival on our church lawn. It looked very gay with bridge tables here and there, and all of us flitting about. Platters heaped high with a variety of cakes, jugs of hot coffee. Yummy. It was the sole duty of HD and me to ladle the berries over the ice cream, and this we did bowl after bowl, to the receipts of $60.00. Well, about 5:30 we came home and ate supper and LL and MM took me back and went back home and I worked on.

The Stinker

(1950 July 20)

The smell was much worse, so I finally called Mr. Klenzing [the plumber], who came and took down the cold air pipe but found nothing but dirt, then looked in the register sideways and located a dead mouse. What a morning.

I smell a cat?

(1950 July 11)

I have a horrible problem. The whole living room smells and reeks of CAT and I can find nothing. Guess I will have to scrub the furniture and rugs with ammonia if my strength holds out, and my nose. Maybe it's a skunk, but smells like cat - Daddy will cuss - I don't love her anymore.

... I can stand this stench no longer - now for the bucket and brush. A R O M A MEOW

... P.S. Just had a terrific thought - maybe smell is dead rat trapped in cold air chute - the one who gnawed for four nights!!!

Payoff

(1950 July 12)

Caution has finally paid off. I looked through Daddy's pants pockets before washing them and discovered seven lovely little dollars, all for me.

Uncle Ed at work

(1950 April 25, Monday)

A rainy day, dreary but I feel happy inside so the drops on the roof seem pleasant. Ed [the handyman] has been here all morning, and, in fact, since Thursday, putting a new roof on the ceiling of the upstairs porch and patching the one down here. It looks well and he did it excellently, but for a while the Gateway [Lumber Co.] was busy coming over here with wainscoting and molding, and pine and nails, one at a time as he conceived his needs. If all workmen were as true and honest in their work as he, this world would indeed be a better place to live in (literally, as the carpenters build the houses). This afternoon, free of charge, he is coming to clean up the basement, ready for the cement people, a job I thought you might have done while you were home.

Another of those damned, fat, square, thick books!

(1994 April)

I keep reading your book [Dante's Christian Astrology] and admire the weight. What a volume! Skip, I shall be a long time reading this one. It's a beautiful book, a ponderous one.

From 78s to LP

(1952 April 24)

Radio came back today and it is like new. LL wants a new Wetsler-Chicago unit put in for records but ours measures 8" and the unit is 9". Personally, I think ours is very nice as is but am saying little. We never have time to play it so why put money in it?

Timber

(1952 April 24)



I saw men cutting up a big tree with an electric crosscut saw that could be heard for blocks.

How to deal with loud music

(1994 April)


Dear Skip, my heart goes out to you in your problem of not being able to sleep because of [daughter] Sally's playing her records all night long. Now this is the very best and better [plans] and try them and stand FIRM.


Plan 1. You do not state your bed time, so I have to guess at that. Let us say Sally <15> has "a little girl over" and you and they retire at 10 with the understanding that leaves one hour for baths, shampoos, record, with QUIET at 11. Be very strict about this and shout if you must. Explain if you are going to provide food and shelter, you must have sleep. What will happen? Sally may play anyway. Then go calmly, take the records or machine to your room and do not give in that night but return all when you wake up.


Plan 2. Put her out in your shack [i.e. study] to spend the night, and let her play as much as she pleases. If that ground is too sacred, buy a tent and put it as far away from the house as possible. Have a plan with RR [Sally's godfather] to disguise himself as an Indian and come hooting down on her and break at least one record, scattering large pieces of paper on which "QUIET" is written, or "Go to Sleep."


I have a lot more, but perhaps the best of all is to explain well why you need sleep; and if ignored, give a couple good spanks on her bottom. Try these, and if results do not please will get new ones. BE FIRM. Of course there is bribery, and taking away favorite things. 11 p.m. is the time for SILENCE and be adamant! What about Sherry? Does she suffer in Silence?


... It seems to me I have talked to parents who entered into the child's fun and played games and danced right along with them until all retired at 11, exhausted. That was never LL.


Of course she has been having her way for some time now, and you will have your talk all ready. Sherry must be on your side.

But here is another thing: Is she never to be allowed a night to entertain? After all, she is one of the family. Explain to her that this is the way it has to be unless she is going to start supporting the family herself. So pick a night, not always a Thursday, Friday, etc. But by the week. Maybe you could trade - you could do her dishes so she could and must go upstairs and play records. But when you go to bed, it's LIGHTS OUT.


... I am surprised Sherry has put up with this.

Did you ever try these Ear Plugs travelling men often use while sleeping in noisy hotels?


Now, you try all these things, one a week, and if you still can't control her, I promise to write her a good stiff letter and hope for good results. So much for "Sleepy Time Sal" - if only!

Becalmed?

(1952 April 24)

The kids are yelling like mad and wanting me to fix up a bonfire and roast marshmellows, so I better see if there's a wind so I have an excuse not to.

Warmup

(1994 April)

Yesterday I was lying on my single bed when I felt myself being shaken by Dorthea. "Get up! Wake up, and go across the hall and tell a man what a fine place Schmitt is." The room across from mine is used for many meetings, such as beauty shop, little talks, etc. I went in and was introduced to RF, a tall well-filled-out man with a space between his two large upper teeth. It turned out he was from WRCO, the local radio place, and was here for a story. He was casual and easy to know, and we soon got over being strangers. The first thing he said was "You were a school teacher - weren't you?" I silently indicated I didn't want to go on the air about that, and he laughed and said he could tell from my speech, the grammar and syntax so good, etc. We talked quite a bit - I was careful of my interview when suddenly he said, "Well now I think we can start to tape."

A cute desire

(1993 April)

Had quite a conversation with Diana who comes around about 10 or 11 to give the last pills. A big girl and very very nice. Was sure French acute accent was è because that's the way she put it on her little girl's name, which is Desirè or something like it. I told her should be acute é but she denied it yet pronounced it so.

Artificial aunts

(1994 April)

By the way, do you say ANT when you refer to a relative? We always did - "Aunt (ANT) Lois" etc. AWNT is correct. I tried it but it seemed artificial.

A wild wind

(1994 April 18)

Sitting in my cold room before supper and listening to the wind sigh and moan as it never has before, like a wild thing. Because of a little headache, I was allowed a cup of tea in the dining room. Better now.

Bats in the belfrey

(1994 April)

Jull found hideous bats in our attic, and Will has selected a helpmate, Beaularel, and they are going to see if they can roust them soon.

A shuffle in the sacristy

(1953 April 13)

I thought of you today in church and how you would have been delighted over this situation. Here it was time to start and we were all sitting expectantly. Five minutes went by. The organist was on the qui vive staring at the mirror. The congregation shifted in its seats. All of a sudden there was a little shuffle in the sacristy and we all looked, ready to stand. When - in came little RH on her crutches, [her sister] EH behind her ... [with the family that drove them to church]! After they were seated, the procession, etc.