January 31, 2010

Evenings with Auntie

(1960 June)

It was so wearing to answer the same questions every day and so hard to play any mental game as she [Auntie Mabel] could not remember the rules. I told her to play on the ends of the dominoes and she would try to play on the middle of the line. O dear. - Then she would doze off watching TV and wake up not knowing where she was. One night she thot she was home and had a terrible struggle with our window, opening in, because it didn't go up like hers at home, and she thot she was home. I was alone watching TV at night with her and was so frightened. Once she dozed off and woke up and said, "Who was that woman who walked out of here?" L said, "Why that was Mary Margaret." She was content and said, "O." All this is very wearing, I guess, because we become extremely nervous.

January 30, 2010

Entertaining Auntie

(1960 June)

Now back to Aunie Mabel's visit. I had been feeling so guilty about not having her last year that I decided to do it as soon as the weather would permit her being out. So it rained every day for months. At last I named the day and she came Sunday, June 12, and left Sat. a.m., a week. She I believe is sweeter than she was, deafer, lots of the old fight gone, still vigorous. I talked to MM carefully before she came so that we spelled each other. I would play games with her while MM was cooking a meal or washing up and vice versa. L took her for rides after work. One day I took her for a walk. MM took her for a walk and played 16 games of croquet with her, of which Auntie won half. L gave her a ride, and we played dominoes in the evening & TV and altho we were exhausted, she was fine and at 83 or whatever.

January 29, 2010

Fabrication

(1960 June)

Yes I agree on hating most dress materials with you. I think that is one reason I wear mine so long - such an effort to get something ready to put on. In the long run I think I like solid colors, but loud flowers, no, not even in kimonos.

January 28, 2010

Easter novelties

(1960 April 3)

Father Brunner announced Maundy Thursday we will have a 6 p.m. service to celebrate the Last Supper, as 6 p.m. is when most people eat. LL blew up to me but needed you Skip to keep up the argument. Good Friday services start at 1:30 and will not be 3 hours. He like to be different - or startling?

January 27, 2010

A very quiet day

(1960 April 3)

We had a Quiet Day at church Wednesday and prepared for 25, food, etc. Had the church cleaned, ceiling in Sanctuary, lights, etc. And due to fog, no one (from away) came, only eight of us. Father Wittenburg, Father Martin's assistant, slept here Tuesday night so as to be on hand. It was a long pull, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. not talking, except responses. We were all tired of sitting. And worst of all we have to pay his mileage ($32 at 10 cents a mile) and probably why we are giving another odious Fish Supper this Friday.

January 26, 2010

Matching question

(1960 March 17)

Just had to help the painter. The question was what to paint the mantle. Finally I went up to the attic and got my old oil paints and mixed up a blue to match the blue in the rug - a long operation with lots of sitrring, 1-1/2 hours all together. Hope a good choice.

January 25, 2010

Cape Cod chair

(1960 March 17)

Did I write you Daddy burned my tall Cape Cod chair by dropping a cigarette on it? So now I am choosing a new cloth for that, having found an upholsterer. Also this morning Hansens here to put a dust cover under yellow love seat - old one was rotten and held up by pins and Scotch tape. This goes on and on until I think that me moind weel geeve way.

January 24, 2010

Davenports

(1960 March 17)

Our old davenport just fell apart and to fix it up would be $60 for labor, about $100 for materials and $65 for foam rubber cushions, so we gave that up and now am hunting a second hand one.

January 23, 2010

Mismatch

(1960 March 17)

But most of all, the news is I am doing the room upstairs with the fireplace and am about scatty because the color seems so different on the wall than it was in the sample. I was just wild this morning. The painter is $1.85 an hour and this is his 3rd day. Tuesday he steamed off old paper and started washing off the layers of calomine and put one coat on ceiling. The tan I picked was the only plain paper in the good books. Everything is fancy with gold or silver streaks. Well, when the paint for the trim (which was mixed to match the paper exactly) was on, it seemed to have a lavendar tone. The painter, Byron Turner, said I could send back the paper (paying postage both ways and for one roll) and he could get new paint for the final coat. But L said he thot it was OK and I guess it won't be too bad when the furniture is in.

January 22, 2010

Smash Wednesday

(1960 March 17)

Now I suppose I must tell you about life here in America as we have been living it lately. I can never exactly remember where I left off with you on the news, but Ash Wednesday we debated going to church because of a snowfall. Tossing a coin, L decided to go, so go we did. Coming home altho we had our snow tires on we could not make the hill it was so slippery. After trying 3 times we gave it it up and parked opposite Vrana's. When Al Vrana backed out the next morning to take the kids to school, he smashed right into it. What a howdedoo! L came home and called the police who arrived and took notes, etc. Jones [Chevrolet] towed the car off as the doors could not be opened. Now we are riding in it and it works and not too bad at all tho a new door on rear is sent for. We vowed not to try that again and for the last 2 Wednesdays it has snowed and we have skipped church much to M's delight. Then we have family prayers and discussion with Forward [Day by Day] books 7:30-8:00 and her spirits go down. That gal.

January 21, 2010

Teacher placement

(1960 March 17 = St. Patrick's Day

I know you'd love Toronto [if hired] but don't feel bad if you get something else instead. You know you will soon work up. I had to teach during the Depression when professors were driving taxi cabs to put food in their children's mouth. I recall my folks were provoked that after all the years of my schooling I had to take a school where outdoor toilets were in use [in 1928 at Bear Creek WI, between Waupaca & Oconto]. But I had written and written to principals and school boards, and when this opening finally came, I took it and found those children just as in need of education as any other children, tho the pay and facilities were not so good for me. [Walter Goffart got the Toronto job.]

January 20, 2010

Symbolism

(1960 February 25)

August Derleth was written up in the "Milwaukee Journal" Sunday and he says a boy called him to ask about the symbolism in one of his books. He said, "What symbolism? It means just what it says." Boy said, "That's what I think, Mr. Derleth, but I can't convince my teacher." But all depends, I guess.

January 18, 2010

Birdwatching


Here I am all alone this morning at 10:15, sitting at the kitchen table with your bird book in front of me. My heart sings, for oh! tr-la! I have just identified a white-breated nuthatch which has been to our feeder twice. I feel so good about it. The feeder I made (junco here now) is about 3 feet from the ground and when we eat beakfast and lunch we got a good view when they come. I took a post with a spike in the end left over from a Girl Scout weathervane project and to this I hammered on the top of it a bushel basket and on top of that the metal top of a detergent pail. Voila! We might have better luck if Lulu Barnes [next door] hadn't been feeding the birds for years and has a much better setup and if our bird watcher cat would let up a little. If she is on hand she shakes and scolds and gets ready to spring until if I am serious about watching myself I give her some catnip to occupy herself elsewhere.

January 17, 2010

Ivanhoe

(1960 February 15)

I am going through Ivanhoe with MM <15> who is bogged down. She says it is boring when she can't understand it I think, so we are at it together. 5 chapters to go. She likes the people and the story, but the language is hard for her and I am sure she doesn't understand chivalry etc., and what is worse, doesn't want to. The big difference between M and her brother is that whereas he is curious, she is not. They should even off somewhat.

January 16, 2010

Gift box

(1960 January 4)

[Christmas gifts from Bob Kays in Neenah WI included] Box from Kimberly Clark, paper products, toweling, Kleenex etc. L gave much speculation before opening, as "KC made paper products for all uses, you know,' and when open hooted, "There it is! There it is!"

January 15, 2010

Dry Christmas

(1959 Christmas)

We had such a pleasant day yesterday and also Xmas Eve - most of the time. The watermain by the bridge broke, putting us West Siders on the spot - off and on for two days, Mon. and Tues. - no water/ It was very hard to bear with cooking going on and baths to take. That and the holiday fatigue were the only hard parts to bear.

January 14, 2010

Eye shadow

(1959 December 7)

Yesterday she [MM, 14] asked me if I minded if she wore eye shadow in the house. Thinking she bought some and was afraid to use it, I said, Why no, go ahead. Much later I found she had used my water color pencils and we had quite a time getting it off at night.

January 13, 2010

Hats and coats

(1959 December 7)

My last millinery class ended last week and I made one brown cloche with a quill matching beaver collar on a winter coat and one small one of tweed material of tweed coat. The former took 6 weeks, latter 1 hour. I think I shall not go on with this as it is time consuming and I do not care for hats that much but am very glad I learned how hats are made - theory etc. My tweed coat turned out well, too, and the same observation on hats applies here.

January 12, 2010

5-year review

(1959 December 7)

I am taking Monday off to devote to a few things Polly wants to do as I have been too devoted perhaps to the needs of the house and the family. Sometimes when I write in my diary at night - I am now on the 5th year again - and I look up the page and see that I have done just about the same thing on the same day in the past five years, I begin to wonder if I could do better if I tried harder; however, I have tried to find a good time to write all week and haven't - so today this is first!

January 11, 2010

Camper's woes

(1959 July)

Have you heard from MM [14, at summer camp]? Three girls pretended they were from Reform School and pushed her around and threatened her the first day, so that she was moved out to a cabin with a god friend who lives with her brother because her mother is dying in a hospital. Also the place is being sold for a Rest Home and they are selling off the horses next month. She has been wondering whether she can stick it out another week and I at last told her to think it over well and make her decision. It is all right with us only we can't make hurry-up trips. Maybe she could come by bus. I have an idea, however, she will see it thru. Sure picked a good one that time.

January 10, 2010

Babysitting

(1959 July 1)

Last night she [MM, 14] sat from 8:30 - 12:00, her first nocturnal experience [babysitting] and came home very thrilled with another dollar earned. She worked 8 hours Monday and 5 hours Tuesday and is getting rich fast. I am very proud of her attitude. She has solved all her problems alone so far - put Pat to bed when she had a fever, took axe away from Terry when he was going to use it on a pal over baseball dispute, etc.

January 8, 2010

Pruning

(1959 May)

Yesterday we cut down a dead plum tree and big thorny rose bush in same condition. Also pruned lilacs until we have a pile by the curb half as big as the garage. When I say we, I should say my active partner is Jim Sanner, very handy and with good tools from their former orchard.

January 7, 2010

Porn squad

(1959 May)

I think when a child makes a choice away from home and on her own between good and evil it does not help matters to know that her parents and relatives condone wickedness and dirt even tho it may be amusing as well. Of course growing up too pure and innocent isn't what we are after either. Wait until you are bringing up your daughter - you will know just what I mean. Believe me it is not too easy a job! [Mary <14> bought a book of racy cartoons while visiting Skip in Madison.]

January 6, 2010

Under tension

(1959 May 8)

Today was almost a blank for me because a tension [attack, depicted by a mess of scribbles] laid me low; but I did a small ironing, got Mrs. Gray to clean our office, boy across the street to take on the lawn, got the meals, fed the cat, finished the ring books at last!

January 5, 2010

Teeny troubles

(1959 April 19)

Tomorrow I meet with MM's [Girl Scout] troop which remnant has been put with girls of St. Mary's in their school basement. There is so much jealousy in a group of 4 girls that age one wonders how to accomplish anything. I am thinking of having them come over here to do a little outdoor cooking when it warms up again. Maybe the walk, and the change, will mix up the St. M's and Jr. Highs. Not much time left. And no Day Camp Director yet. About July 1 all my troubles will be over.

January 4, 2010

Prolix priest

(1959 February 11)

Monday night to Auxiliary at Lenzes - started about 8:15. Little business, but to every smattering brot up, Father Boulet talked 5 to 10 minutes. Then he took half an hour to make requests for someone to put up a bulletin bord, do some painting pews, retable, hymn board. He isn't handy. Then it was 10 p.m. and he had the program and talked on organization of the Church until 10:45. We were all so tired and nervous or sleeping. What a man.

Poor Don Lenz - he went upstairs with the kids to be out of the way and was in Kassie's room until she went to bed, then went in Bill's room until he said, "Well, Dad, if you want to stay on in here you'll have to sit in the dark as I'm turning in." So then, as there was no place else to go and he heard Father B commence his talk, he thought he'd take a bath to fill in the time but reported being excessively waterlogged the following morning.

January 3, 2010

Snow days

(1959 February 11)

We have been having the weather tho! Tuesday it snowed all day. L was bound to try to go, tho the driveway was level at 8 a.m. already. I told him what would happen if he tried, but he had to get stuck to prove it. 105 schools were posted by radio as "not today." Debb Whitess had a notice for cars to be off streets so his crew could plow. St. Marys let out at noon. School buses quit. On and on it snowed. M & L rode with Hinkes Tuesday, then neither home for lunch - a long day for me. I shoveled off the south deck so ceiling wouldn't sag - one 3 ft. drift. Poor me. After school they came back in a cab and dug the car out and got it in garage, L too tired to [work on his] stamp [collection]. This morning drive still level and Hinkes' car stalled so they got garage to come - battery trouble. However when they got to Shell Oil, Ruth got a flat tire and car stopped again. L called a cab for Tom, Di, MM and he walked. They were 20 minutes late. All day again today I was snowed in. I laundered one pair of M's curtains and did some housecleaning in her room. Shoveled more snow off deck. They came home in a cab once more at 4:30. Gaylord came and shoveled the drive but L was so apprehensive at driving thru a tunnel [his field of vision] at night we didn't go to church. I think he will try it tomorrow tho. So I say if we are having a crisis in weather Saturday, include me out.

January 2, 2010

Advance planning

(1959 February 11)

[When in Madison] I could do a little shopping. Unless there is a very special lure elsewhere I really must try to get myself something if it is only cloth, as I can hardly go out anymore and will have to fake a fever Easter if this keeps up.

January 1, 2010

Proper Valentine

(1959 February 15)

Daddy has laid out for me a dear sweet nice little Valentine from [your mother-in-law]. It was what most normal people think of when the word "Valentine" is mentioned. It had flowers on it. There was lace, and a verse. There were no crude drawing of slobs. There were no old sayings misconstrued that some people do find so so funny. It was just a nice little Valentine and it said she liked us and I wish I hadn't been snowed in by the Blizzard (see Madison papers) and had sent her one.