Riding horses

(1974 June 9)

Riding seems so healthy and wholesome and I am glad you three [Skip, Sherry, & Lawrence] enjoy it. Bet your old bones ached the first time! I am glad Lawrence is doing things with you.

Small-town fun

(1974 Good Friday)

I was late in buying Easter cards to send to the kids this year. Only to Ben, Lawrence, Tenaya. I thot I could get them at the Empire [drug store] and address them there and drop in [mail] box at corner, so brot stamps along. But no cards. So I went to Schultz [dime store], Keegan's [drug store], and found some at Noeer's [office supplies]. I addressed Lawrence's there and asked the clerk if there was any box closer than Empire (I was so tired by then - to go back) and when she said no, a woman customer spoke up and said she would mail it; she was going right there. Looking at the address, she said, "Is this for the one they call Skip?" I said his son, and she said, "I am Mrs. Lawrence, and I think my daughter Jo Ann knew him." (Fund in a small town.)

Hobnobbing

(1974 Good Friday)

Wednesday is the Auxiliary State Historical Tea [in Madison] and I am planning on going. I have a special invitation to attend the Board meeting [as a trustee] and have a sandwich with the members at noon. It will be interesting meeting those I have been writing to. Plan to come back on evening bus ... to keep it simple. Wish I had some new clothes - about time.

A lively lad

(1974 October 20)

Lawrence and I got along well this trip - not hard to do when the time is short. But one cannot expect a lively lad [age 8] to draw, read, and watch TV all the time. Then what? A walk to town for more comics is all that presents itself. Last trip he got to the front of the Library and turned back [a block short of the business district]. The Saturday p.m. movies are still on, but often you are back by then to hike and entertain him. I am not in with little boys as I once was.

Longhair alert

(1974 December 2)

Unasked for advice: ... (2) I hope you will cut your hair so that you present a very neat appearance. When you go to ... do business, [at] banks where older and neater people are, you will find they would rather do business with a person who does not present a wild (collegiate) appearance. "I hope you realize I am saying this for your own good." (Calm down, now.)

Book alert

(1974 December 2)

Unasked for advice: (1) Decide to part with some of your books. They are more of a liability to you than an asset. It seems to me you could sell at your bookshop or give to library those you haven't looked at in years and perhaps never will. We hear of people who so turn their homes into museums collecting antiques that they are impeded in living. Can be true with books. Or your could bring 50-100 of them with you every time you come [to Richland Center] and give them to library here.

Da capo

(1974 November 14)

Well, I have gone on enough about this [saving, not spending]. I am worried about the state of our country. Things are in recession. More unemployment, rises in prices! Where is it all going to end? Our congressmen are off to Europe on lovely trips. People all over the world are strving. Births are up. I hope none of us are ever hungry.

The fun lifestyle

(1974 November 14)

I know you have lots more fun than I do. You have a sports car [just a Capri] - you take many trips - you go to every convention - you buy what comes into your head if the money is at hand. It's not a bad life style. In fact, vary satisfactory, I'll say. If I could drive and were in better health, I might do the same thing.

Tight fist

(1974 November 14)

I think you should think twice before you spend a dime. I am sorry I burst forth so when you came home all so happy abut buying those books at the newsstand. I could no more have spent money like that when I was in debt as you are than I could take off for Alaska. As I see it, it really isn't your right to spend it. You can save!

Barber mom

(1974 November 14)

I have sent for a Hair Trim Tray, a gadget like a cape with a rim all around to catch hair. I have an idea I may put it to good use over Xmas vacation. The scissors re sharp or bring your own.

A better bird feeder

(1974 November 14)

I am going to try to go to town on errands this afternoon, one purchase a small bird feeder. I made one out of the top of an ice cream 1/2 gallon carton, a big paper saucer on top of which is fastened with paper fasteners a 1# coffee can in upright position with lid on to keep out rain and to permit seeds to be added. So far have had chickadees and the little ones with topknots - what are those now? [Tufted titmice?] But I don't think I can get thru the winter with FOLGERS in bright red staring me in the face every time I look out of the window.

Love thy God

(1974 November 14)

I think so often of what Daddy used to say about loving God. He said the most important thing in life was loving God. Because if you really love God, you will not want to do things God wouldn't want you to do. You will try to lead a good life.

A whatsit

(1973 December 30)

Also found a part I cannot identify. It seems to have been ripped from its moorings. Can you help me? It is made of steel perhaps. Square on the bottom, about 2 inches long. One side of top is hollowed out as for scooping. What can this be? found under living room TV. [Answer: Skip's pipe tamper.]

Too much DST

(1973 December 30)

I feel glum too - I feel it is too bad in the few years I have left to have to be so cold in winter. This permanent Daylight Savings is the last straw. Really, it is too much. I bolster up my spirits by telling myself I have lived thru three wars and can certainly manage a little discomfort better than some who have not my experience. But here I sit at the kitchen table in zero weather with ice cold feet.

Yoga

(1973 December 30)

You will be encouraged to learn I have been practicing my yoga! [Skip gave her a book on yoga for seniors.] I tried to tell you before but don't think you realize the state of my muscles. They have tightened and set; in cetain areas I cannot bend at all. But I did notice after soaking in a hot tub, I could bend my head down a little farther. Please don't worry about my overdoing. I won't. I will take it easy. Also I have been doing simple exercises as my muscle tone is almost nil. I am sure it is good for me. Thhank you.

Ponderosa

(1973 August 26)

In church today some visiting ladies, all related, sat ahead of me with 2 small girls. I judged their combined weight to be about 800#. Every time they sat down, their pew creaked warningly! I kept waiting for something to happen, but the nails kept faith.

Cartalk

(1973 September 19)

I am not very knowledgeable on makes and types of cars, but I can tell you what I think and like. Well, with the fuel shortage on, the little cars are more economical; of course that helps. All the new cars must say how many miles they go on a gallon of gas, so you would have that to go on. But I do feel unsafe myself in a little Beetle - OK for city driving but on a highway with trucks and all I would say no. What about other makes like Ford, Chevrolet, others - ? I do not like a 2-door sedan. You wish you'd never bot it every time the person in the front seat has to get out to tip his seat for the person in the back seat to get out. I do not like bucket seats. If you have a long seat across the front, it is so nice for a place to put a purse, road map, a sweater, packages or two other persons. I do not like stick shifts. Power steering [she means automatic transmission] takes all this grinding of the gears out of your hands. Try it, you'll like it.

Better flag

(1973 November 30)

Probably I broke the law by painting a large white circle over the red paint on my mail box flag. But I could not see the flag at all against the background of leaves - so if Mr. Nixon says anything, I will just explain that I have a touch of flu and can't be running in and out all winter. Now I can see just fine!

Pride & Prejudice

(1973 November 30)

Edith and I went to see campus play "Pride and Prejudice." Jean Birkett directed. The set, living room, was in perfect taste, beautifully done; the costumes were charming with many changes.... Paul Fowell was a fussy clergyman and did very well, a comic part. The cast a combination of RC Community Players and campus, and good to have a variety of ages.

Scope crisis

(1973 November 30)

I think it would be best if I say something about my gift for Lawrence [8]. MM shopped for him (for me) and got him a pretty good telescope so he could see Kohoutek, birds, etc. I told her to open it to see if it were OK, and Bruce found the lens broken in three places (yesterday - Sunday). So, greatly alarmed, MM flew to the phone, but no one had any left! They bundled up the baby and set forth to look, but the best they could do was come home with a microscope which may be exchanged for a telescope if some come in, an expected shipment. Now if he already has either of these, you could quickly tell me. Or say which he would rather have. We thot you and Lawrence could enjoy the telescope together seeing birds and stars, etc. Better than microscope?

Lying down to sleep

(1973 November 30)

Another very odd feeling is being sick alone in the house. Comes time to put the light out and I think, Well, I wonder if I'll wake up here or some other place. Often takes courage, but there's an element of curiosity, too. Is Heaven real? I wonder how it will really be.

Mandatum

(1973 St. Patrick's Day)

Your Sunday group would scare me off. If anyone wanted to wash my feet, I would first have to take off me panty hose. When I got that far, I might have the rest off - and streak! I don't think foot washing illustrates the Golden Rule anyway - do you?

Energy crisis

(1973 November 8)

Did you hear President Nixon's speech telling us to lower temperatures in our houses to 68 degrees? I don't see how I'll get thru the winter - I am cold at 72 degrees. Poor man, I am sorry for him and all he is going thru tho I fear he is to blame on many counts.

Compulsive performers

(1973 November 18)

Some people are compulsive performers. I suppose most of us can be. Lately I am saying a little less. It is not necessary to pipe up with all I know about puppets when the word"puppet" is spoken. I may always find out later I'm talking to a famous puppeteer.

No fun

(1973 November 18)

Learn as much about as many things as you can and a lot about a very few. I know if I were a good bridge player and enjoyed bridge parties, I would be asked out to play. The times I have gone, I have been very bored, very tired, and a migraine the next day. That crowd is not for me. If it were, my circle would be wider. Just so I might have bowling friends, golfing friends, etc.

Roadkill

(1973 November 18)

Did I tell you last Monday night when MM came in [from Madison], she at once said, "I have to call the police." When she came back, she explained near Gotham Charlotte [her ride] had run over a dead deer lying in the road. Blood all over - two cars parked beyond. They slowed down, and one man said, "Keep going." As they went on, they began to wonder, Was it a deer or a person - ? But the police told her, Yes it was a deer. (Ah!)

Easy stages

(1973 November 18)

I am going to do things by easy stages. Today I am going to make a start on Xmas cards if I only get one done. At least I'll get the stuff out and organized on bridge table etc.

P.S. [next day]: I tried to start the cards, but it was too much and I gave it up. Will try tomorrow again.

Mislaid

(1973 November)

I started a pocket book to read in bed and then could not find it. Went on to others. Yesterday I found it in my waste basket under my night table! Now I wish I could find my old oil tube paints. Gone. I pulled out a box upstairs beyond the ironing board and the thing flapped upside down and a plate I had used for a pallet years ago splintered - a mess! But not my old oils. I am too tired to look any more today.