Cheerios

(1976 June 1)

[To Lawrence:] Well, - off you went along home [to Kansas] and left me with half a box of Cheerios to finish off. Perseverance has its rewards, however, and I at last ate my way to the Jiminey Cricket decal which I could claim, as "possession is nine-tenths of the law." But I am such a darling, kind grandmother, I will pass it along to you with the fond hopes that you may get in trouble pasting it in some wrong place! (Ha Ha)

Biker

(1976 August)

Lawrence, now that you have a bike of your own, you can be more independent in going places. Right? .... You could hop on your faithful steed and be off and not wait for Skip to drive you. Of course you would have to get his permission.

Terrible two

(1976 July 22)

David [Burnett, Polly's grandson] was two on Friday and was so naughty! MM had mothers and kids in for coffee, and he bit the children and bit [his brother] Ben till the blood came. Locked his father out of the the car at Hot Parking Lot while grocery shopping, climbed on stove with lit burners, after supper poured shampoo all over himself. Sherry - still time to think it over!

Novelty

(1976 July 22)

One day I was feeling unusually well and thot I could take Dee for a walk to the Foot Bridge. Betty Brindley happened to see me and invited me in, and besides having a good chat she gave me excellent Italian Beans bought at Farmers' Market at Court House Square at 7:30 a.m.

The Mill Pond

(1976 July 22)

When I go there [to the Thrift Shop] I walk over the Dam, and when I look to my right, I see debris making the waters ugly. But when I look to the left, I see the ducks, of course, but most of all those lush green green islands which always remind me of what I dream Ireland is like.

Thrift shopper

(1976 July 22)

Today [at the Thrift Shop] an old codger bought from me a winter coat $1, a good jacket 40 cents, and electric clock $1. As he settled up, I asked him if they all fit - he said it was all right if they didn't - he gave them away to them who needed them. Confided he had lots of money - his brother left him $5000 - it was in the bank! I advised him to leave it there and not let anyone get it away from him, as he was telling me how the kids teased him for money. Pour soul - he was wearing two pair of pants, a black pair pulled over a green pair - a matching jacket and felt hat - in all this heat!

Thrift Shop

(1976 July 22)

Today was St. Barnabas' day to work at the (Church) Thrift Shop. When I arrived at 1:30 to relieve Helen Dixon, she was deluged with a group of foreigners from the circus (at Fair grounds) talking Spanish (?). One boy was going to walk out with a pair of shoes. - I never go there without coming away having learned something from the poor.

Hitch up

(1976 July 22)



And Lawrence has made the headlines! Thank you for letting me see his picture.... It reminded me of the one of you sloshing thru a puddle on your way home from Kindergarten. I wonder if Lawrence's son will have a weather picture in the paper. Very good & natural of Lawrence but please tell him his grandmother said to hitch his pants up so his navel doesn't show next time. I know chorus girls put emeralds in theirs, but just the same a hitch on the pants would have improved the portrait.

Silver secret

(1976 January 9)

P. S. I hid the silver in a box in the hall closet under my coats.

Family Xmas fun

(1976 January 9)

Another thing - this, funny - [after the Kansas Kays left] I could not find one yellow plastic wash basket. I had 3, now only 2. I knew Sherry used one, but felt there could not be room for it in your car, so where could it be? A search of the house would not reveal it. Finally I noticed one was set inside the other! ... Well, these little incidents are what make up a family Christmas. Daddy was forever telling about "the year Dede [his sister] stepped in the turkey gravy," somehow set on the floor.

Pasty

(1976 January 9)

[After hearing that you got back to Kansas:] You better look around a little harder for that pasty [a delicacy from Mineral Point]. While I was getting at the dishes, and all of you had left, I distinctly recall Sherry's coming back and getting her pasty out of the refrigerator. I turned around, and she sort of shook it at me and said, "My pasty! My pasty that I bought! I want to take it home and have it!" I said, Ah, Yes, Yes - and she went out. So you better search your car and boxes! Heaven knows --

Car cramp

(1976 January 9)

I pray that soon you can trade that tiny one-man car [a Capri] in for a nice roomy station wagon, and then everyone will be comfortable, with nothing needed to be left behind, or held on laps to Kansas!

Gail's apple pie

(1976 January 9)

And I recall ... that summer Gail was here, she made a sour apple pie, apples from our trees. She started as soon as I was finished in the kitchen after lunch, 1:00 or 1:30, and then I had to help her late in the afternoon, and when the beautiful pie did come out of the oven, she decided just to show it to us and have it later in the evening, and when you found it out, you and Lawrence walked down town for dessert. Remember? But everything I have ever eaten of Gail's has been very delicious, I must say. And I am very pleased with her. She is a very fine girl, and I am satisfied she will make her way in the world very well indeed.

Deja vue

(1976 December 8)

We urge our Treasury to print more money and make more fake money when we vote on federal benefits and less taxes. So the economy slips.

Rattling on

(1976 December 8)

[Your sister, MM] is not the only one who can spend a whole evening or more talking about herself.... You used to be the same way, dear, and I am glad you have seen the light. I used to preach about how good conversation is like a ball to be tossed here and there - back and forth. Sometimes the person who knows the most about the subject involved doesn't talk at all because the rest are having such a good time without his two bits and he doesn't feel he has to shine. - But I know very well what you mean - too much rattling on and on.

Goose

(1976 December 8)

I am glad to hear you had a goose for Thanksgiving, as you were so disappointed last Christmas here, running all over for a goose. Now I will go ahead with my roast beef plans, now that the craving for goose has been appeased.

Rearended

(1976 November)

Jean had been rehearsing ["The Inspector General"] night after night - and Friday she didn't have to, so Bill was going to take her to the Black Cat for fish (across from Shopping Center) but when they made the turn, someone ran into them from behind and ruined Jean's new car, a blue Chevvie. She was sitting on the floor. Hospital check up but OK I guess. So Saturday night, on with the play, and Sunday morning playing the organ. You can't beat that family for pluck.

Wasted nickel

(1976 November)

Tonight is Opening Night of Jean Birkett's play "The Inspector General" .... I changed my mind and went to the play Saturday after all. Called a cab, looked out and saw grass covered with snow and quickly changed to boots. As I went alone, I hoped to call a cab quietly to come home, so friends wouldn't feel obligated to fetch me home. The phone rang and rang but no answer. So along came Bill Birkett and took me home; also Cleo Goplin, LaVonne's mother. It was very slippery underfoot.

Welcome home

(1976 March 21)

[After a vacation in Madison] it seemed so good to be setting out [for church] with Bill Birkett - and picking up Portia - Church is at 10:30 now [with new priest[. The first thing Father Maier did on coming out was to kneel at a prayer desk, in center aisle, back to us, and say the Litany responsively. Then the first hymn etc. I was surprised to see Jean and Ward get up to the Lecturn and read the lessons. At last the announcements - pray for this bishop, that church; note so & so - - - then "And now, for the very first time to my knowledge, since I have come among you here at St. Barnabas in Richland Center, we have with us attending church this morning - Polly Kay." !!! At this point no doubt the acolyte would have pulled the bell rope had it not been outside. - Apart from this, I did receive many warm greetings of various degrees of heartiness from many people, all making it nice to be back.

Mary Hartman

(1976 October 31)

Mary Hartman is here now and is at the place where Loretta is going to the Faith Healer. Altho it is too frank so as to be common and vulgar on topics considered improper in good society, yet I will say this - it is of the people, lower classes maybe, but not much worse than what I hear over our lovely State Station - only dramatized to the point of vulgarity.

Trick no treat

(1976 October 31)

Thursday I was in my study making a pair of purple bookmarks for church when I heard the fire engine. Looked out the window, and up Grove St. it came and turned in on Chandlers, house at the street. I could see 5-foot flames back of the house in leaves and smoke! I couldn't see Williams. It all blew north by a high strong wind, none of it to me tho. The Chandlers were in Madison, got home in evening and knew nothing at all about it. Missed all the fun! No one knows who started it or who sent in the alarm, but as school was out for Teachers' Convention, we guess.

A lovely time

(1976 August 13)

Wednesday night I had a lovely time. David Kopitzke, museum director, invited me to dinner served on the roof of the [Frank Lloyd Wright] Warehouse. When I went thru the building, it all seemed so much like going thru a basement - dirty & dark & cementy. So when I got off the elevator, I was amazed at the transformation - blooming flowers in white tubs, long tables with white cloths & red cloth napkins, candles, vases of flowers, nice silver. Beef brats were being cooked in two or three big black cookers, and the salads and desserts!! Four different beverages, the most fascinating was the beer, which required a good pumping up before a glass was drawn. The Board gave the dinner so some Richland Center people could meet the students from Taliesin [Wright's school in nearby Spring Green], and I sat between two, and some were indeed fantastically garbed.

Pasteover

(1976 April 7)

While at St. Andrews, Madison, I saw the program stated "insert" on Prayer Book page so and so. Meaning on the page in question the identical prayer (new version) was pasted over the one in the Prayer Book!! I told Portia, and she was shocked. Said it was almost sacrilegious!

A little French

(1975 May 24)

I am enjoying reading a little French every day and usually translate after I go to bed. Often I just get the idea and let it go at that. Often I go for the literal. Sometimes the differences between what I thot it was and what it turned out to be after looking up the words is hilarious! Now I am on Daphne & Chole. The book is falling apart, and I feel I should be using an older copy. Mine is special.

Allergic reactionary

(1975 May 24)

This lovely Sunday morning finds me doing housework and sitting under the hot hair dryer. The next time you see me, I may resemble the gray-haired mither the Irish tenors extol. My confession is - suddenly I have developed an allergy to hair tint, which I have used for years. I have tried various kinds, and all produce a rash over face and neck. I might just give up. The itching makes beauty seem second best, altho I have a salve to put on it. So this morning I could not bear it another minute and shampooed. Much of it is still in and not unbearable. But je souffre. Is that one too many f's?

Easy Wisconsin winter

(1975 March 13)

The enclosed newsclipping of snow reaching to the top of a STOP sign (tho possibly helped by a snow plow) will give you an idea of how the weather has been in Wisconsin. Altho it has been an easy one as winters here go, yet it was ten below when I got up this morning; and my friends, afraid of turning around in my drive because of the high walls of snow, have been dropping me off in the street.

A peep at Kansas

(1975 July 9)

I enjoyed my visit [to Lawrence, Kansas], a peep into your way of life. I still wish I could have gone to a class with you (I keep thinking of the old room [in Strong Hall] when I think of your teaching). And I wanted to see Sherry's studio so much and also see some of her graphs. I wanted to see her horses but had to settle for pictures. And I never will get to see Kansas City! Or the Crewel Cupboard (again). For one thing, it was so hot afternoons and I wasn't used to it. And for another, I am somewhat lacking in initiative, as you may have noticed. But I did go thru the tunnel with Lawrence and had a quick look at school, pool, and library - the better to picture you all, my dear.

Marvel comix

(1975 December 7)

Now let's talk about Christmas. [Lawrence], I took your enclosed offer on the Marvel Special Editions to the newsstand when I next went to town and showed it to the owner of the store. Frank showed me the special editions for $1.50 and also pointed out by comparing it with a 25-cent book that the story and drawing were identical, only larger in the big book. Then he laughed like a fool and said he wondered who would buy a thing like that. Putting it that way, it does seem slightly preposterous, don't you think?

Chinese lantern

(1975 November 3)

A son of a friend of MaryM's ate the seeds of a Chinese Lantern, a form of Deadly Nightshade. Later after much ado they found it is safe to eat when orange colored and ripe, deadly when green. And this mother has her yard full and sells them to the florist for dried winter bouquets! All unknowingly.