(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.
October 31, 2009
October 30, 2009
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.
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.
October 29, 2009
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!)
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!)
October 28, 2009
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.
Scouts today. My troop got a certificate of merit for selling cookies, over 25 boxes per girl. I am so proud of them.
October 27, 2009
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?
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?
October 26, 2009
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.
I brot in the garden hose and got ready for winter. Picked the chrysanthemums in the dark last night anticipating a freeze.
October 25, 2009
October 24, 2009
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.
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.
October 23, 2009
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 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.
October 22, 2009
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.
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?
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?
October 20, 2009
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.
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.
October 19, 2009
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.
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.
October 18, 2009
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.
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.
October 17, 2009
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.
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.
October 16, 2009
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.
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.
October 15, 2009
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.
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.
October 14, 2009
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.
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.
October 13, 2009
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.
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.
October 12, 2009
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.
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.
October 11, 2009
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.
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.
October 10, 2009
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.
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.
October 9, 2009
Busy signal
(1955 January 24)
We are all very busy here; I, in particular, must stop saying and start doing.
We are all very busy here; I, in particular, must stop saying and start doing.
October 8, 2009
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.
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.
October 7, 2009
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....
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....
October 6, 2009
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.
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.
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