Cat taming

(1978 April 5, my father's birthday)

All your activities are just too many to comment on this busy morning. Besides I am so tormented by a cat who thinks this is the time to learn to write I can hardly. He is a splendid, loving creature, and we are attached to each other. The only problem is his fits of play or fighting - very ferocious, and sometimes I really am afraid of him. I watch my chance and get him by the neck and pop him into the dungeon.

Morels

(1978 May 8)

Mike S. found a few morels in the yard, but they looked old and tough, and I gave them to Ruses.

The Oxford Movement

(1978 February 15)

I am reading a solid book called The Oxford Movement, which I recall LL's reading many times. Once will be enough for me tho I will come out with lesser understanding. It is somewhat a psychological analysis of Cardinal Newman. Dupuis regarded Christianity as a corruption of primitive astronomy. Christ = sun, Virgin Mary = virgo, and the Cross was the intersection of equator and ecliptic. Pusey was horrified.

Mischief

(1978 February 15)

Life with the Burnetts - one night Bruce was painting the basement floor and MM had a headache and took a bath; each thot the boys were with the other. When MM emerged, she found Ben [4] pounding Fritos in the livingroom rug with a pingpong paddle, while David [3] was working away in the basement bathroom filling the toilet bowl and shower with peanut shells! They were spanked and put to bed, but no guarantee on what's next.

Champagne breakfast

(1978 February 15)

Andrews asked me to Top of the Park [while visiting in Madison] to a champagne breakfast to meet Roy Vogelmans. Surely you remember Roy, WHA newscaster for 30 years. He is now reduced to 10 minutes and says the Establishment is trying to phase him out and also all Senior citizens like me. His wife Marilyn teaches journalism nearby. They get up 5 a.m. every day! I thoroly enjoyed it - a witty bunch. And I am sorry (or glad?) to tell how we ate, helping ourselves to the delicious buffet!

Impressionism

(1978 February 15)

I have been ailing ever since I came [to Madison to spend some time near MM] and am very tired of it. Across shoulders, arms and neck nervous pain. Embroidery mades it worse, and I am doubting I can tackle your pictures, tho I want to very much. In case I do not, please encourage Sherry to do one in water color. I think she has real talent in drawing and painting. Even tho she may not. Tell her to look at the Unicorn Tapestries for shading. Perfection is not necessary - it is the glimpse or impression.

Book jacket

(1978 February 15)

Tho I received many varieties of valentines, none more meaningful than yours, the jacket of Dante's Swift and Strong, a splendid title with the depth of Dante behind it. I like everything about it, but I do have a few questions.... Now that you know from experience how much work something like this is, I hope you will keep out of trouble and not write another one! [sketch] (This is a picture of me winking, not a one-eyed pirate.)

Harlequin romance

(1978 August 8)

I have done little more on Harlequin Romance but I think a lot. I am hoping my [Fiction Class] teacher can help. Privately he said he enjoyed having me in the class. (I am a quick study.) I told him I aspired to write a Harlequin Romance, and he said he knew I could - he could tell. MM brot me a dozen to read, and I am laying a foundation. There is always a man who is horrid to the girl but later declares his love. She has many run-ins with him but finally realizes she loves him.

Saved by Moby Dick

(1978 August 8)

[Then the Fiction Writing class took turns reading aloud.] Another How To exercise was How to put in a diaphram - also funny. Luckily it ran out as it was passed around, so that when my turn came to read it was Moby Dick. I am sure the same lessons in How To could be learned with other subjects, but young people nowdays do think of themselves as being so enlightened by being a little dirty.

Dirty story

(1978 August 8)

But, dear me - school isn't what it once was as far as proper and suitable subjects. One story he [the teacher of Fiction Writing class] read from a book for discussion was about two people in a carnival lying naked in bed together - the Tatooed Man and the Fat Lady. The FL bet the TM $20.00 she could piss in a whiskey bottle 3 feet away and he took her up on it. The rest explains her method step by step. At the end the TM gladly paid up and said it was worth it. Wow.

Fiction teacher

(1978 August 8)

A word about my Thursday class on Fiction Writing. I went at 7 and found I was half an hour late! ... When I looked in the classroom door, my heart sunk. A guru-looking man very thin sat with back to blackboard with his class in circle pulled up close. There was a chair for me and within 10 minutes I saw what a kind man he was and capable of getting us to think. He is writer in residence this summer, sponsored by Arts Council. He uses the Story Method. If you can tell it, you can write it. So we have to think of certain words when he waves those long thin fingers at us.

Bentwood bonaza?

(1978 September 29)

MM had a problem of what we were going to use for chairs at her Xmas dinner. So I went to Byron Turner's auction and got 4 plain solid oak chairs. Then I saw an ad for 6 Bentwood Chairs and I went to see them - at the Gnome King's Castle. They are like ice cream parlor chairs. $30 each; all the pieces of the chair are made of bent poles. Seat is round. She may not want these at all. [Not clear if Polly bought them or if Mary wanted them. The original bentwood chairs were made in Austria by Thronet and are now a high-dollar collectible. The "client's chair" in Lorin's office was a genuine Thronet (with label) and now has a place of honor in my study.]

Apple Butter

(1978 September 29)

Hirschys are preparing for their Apple Butter Bee, which is this Saturday for the 4th year. Lenore and Jan have been to lumber yards or saw mills for loads of free wood and to orchards to pick up about 20 bushels of apples for cider and apple butter.

Number please

(1978 September 29)

I have been very busy lately answering the phone for the vacancy ad of house next door (Lulu's). Have key and show it by appointment. ... This has been an interesting experience for me, meeting the public, so to speak. One caller, a foundry worker, was so sleepy when he called he could hardly speak. When I asked his phone number, there was a long silence. Then he said he couldn't find it. -- Then he said, "Six thousand seven hundred and forty three."

Worthwhile summer

(1977 July 1)

Every day, my dear [Lawrence, age 11], you should set yourself some worthwhile thing to do. Don't wait for someone to decide this for you. You do it. You could say, "Now tomorrow the windows are going to get it." And get busy and wash all the windows in the house! Or completely clean your closet - take everything out. Wash the floor and dry it. Sort things! Sew on buttons!! Have a housecleaning! You can think up lots more. In a heat wave, clean the basement. It's cool there usually.

Friendly

(1977 August 25)

[Taking bus back to Richland Center from Middleton] the Bus Station there is in a Gas Station and it closed at 5; so there I was standing in the rain waiting for a late bus. I had on a rain hood and a plastic jacket and wrapped my raincoat around my tote bag (had embroidered). When I got in at last, I sat with a horrid girl about 13 who didn't want to share her seat. She kept telling me she was expecting a friend. But friend never showed up while I was on!

Abstracted

(1977 August 22)

[On a visit to the Andrews in Madison] Ruth and I went to visit a neighbor, Virginia Tiffany, who illusrated three books I have, Tell Me Cat, Stevenson's verses, and Rumplestiltskin (your shirt model). I told her about it, and she said, "Oh, that horrid little dwarf! I had to draw him so many times!" We were there two wonderful hours. She is doing a lot of absracts now and sells her stuff thru Century House. Sat and worked all the time we were there.

Singleminded

(1977 July 16)

Daddy closed his mind to everything about the house except his study. One night I asked him to hand me up my pajamas and he said, "Where are they?" I said, "On the nail next to yours in the bathroom where they have been for the last 15 years." He said, "You could have just told me where." But he could make decisions and organize many things I could not, and so I left it to him. It was often better so, as he would get so annoyed if I did it wrong. No one person is good at everything probably. Though some do act so at times.

Approval

(1977 July 16)

As we go along it becomes more and more evident some people are good at things other people cannot touch. At Krouskop's Sale I met Alice Premo - with two dresses. Said, "I wish my husband were here to see me in these dresses. I hate to buy something he doesn't like." I said, "Alice, you know why that is - your father always went with you and picked out your dresses." She laughed and agreed. I urged her to take the plunge, but she would not.

Perfect excuse

(1977 July 16)

I am going now to finish up many [craft] articles started and put aside - I was going to say "for some reason" but I know the reason well enough - something needed for it has been lost and I am waiting for it turn up. It always does!

Old Dog Dee

(1977 July 16)

Has been too hot here especially afternoons to do much but take a bath and lie on the bed and read. Last night a refresing thunder storm. Dee was airing before bedtime and got soaked. He no longer barks back at the thunder but is uneasy. Suffers badly from heat, though I sponge him off and comb him out. Poor love - 15 years old.

Lawnmower

(1977 July 16)

Glad to hear Lawrence [11] has gone to camp. A good thing. Also a good thing and high time he is mowing the lawn. David W. wears football spike shoes so he does not slip on my slopes in back. He is too exhausted to do it today as he is on a hard job in 25 degrees digging trenches for irrigation system at Boaz for new apple orchard. But is coming after Church.

Portia's project

(1977 July 16)

This [clerical] stole I never should have started but that Portia gave it to me to finish, already on the frame with a few stiches by her. I said, "Portia, the pink is missing." She said, "Small wonder. We moved three times since I first started it 25 years ago! The frame was made to order by a carpenter." Mrs. Carswell found some pink for me one day.

The clerical stole

(1977 July 16)

I have just completely finished the Clerical Stole you saw on the embroidery frame here, and happy am I. I think I have been at it 3-4 years - not working all that time. I have the vision, but often get too nervous when I do such fine work to go on for more than 15 minutes a day. I found out why LL smoked constantly while stamping, though he never would tell me.

Stray cat

(1977 October 6)

Last Sunday 6:30 a.m. Prof. Malik went to Campus for a book - a half frozen and starved yellow common short hair kitten 3 mo. was at the door. Naeema asked me to take it, and I did but do not take to it. Has perfect manners. Comes when called, etc., etc. But Saturday I will put it in a bushel basket and take to Festival, to Friends of Animals Booth where strays will be given away. I call it "Teacher."

Housekeeping fun

(1977 May 22 or so)

I wish Lawrence <11> were here to throw a big load of wood in the basement. It is outside my kitchen window, and will take quite a few trips back and forth to basement window. I am going to save one chunk for a bird bath though it is low. We don't have too many prowling cats any more. The next thing to do is contact painters to paint the dining room woodwork. On & on - a student's life is so peaceful - or so I've heard. But keeping a house is fun too.

Cleanup crew

(1977 May 22 or so)

The crew of six or so has about left [after removing the elm tree]. There was Mr. Schoonover, the boss, about 3-4 very husky hairy young men, two girls, one Mrs. S. with 2-year-old daughter. The girls picked up and raked up after the men. They cleaned up after themselves with a scoop and it is so bare down below the big Butternut - not a blade of grass! I hope nature will restore itself.

News Stand

(1977 May 22 or so)

After the P. O. today I went to the News Stand for the last time. Bot a couple books including some Moliere's plays. 40% off. Many of them are ripped to pieces and the covers sent back as they do, a thing that seems a terrible waste to me.

timber

(1977 May 22 or so)

I heard the door bell and here stood Delbert Whiteis and Mr. Schoonover, the tree cutter, wearing very long faces indeed, and all over taking down my old elm in back, re: my dear neighbor Mrs. Stibbe. She, too, had an old elm, which Mr. Schoonover took down for $80 - $200 job for her permission to go on her land to take down my tree, so no part of my dear old Butternut would have to be removed in order for the tree to fall properly toward the Pine River. However, the Stibbe tree did happen to fall in such a way as to mar her lawn - in the back and she at once took back her offer - called all the Wheels she knew in town, threatened this & that - and on the whole made a fool of herself - tho feared. So there was no way for them to take down my elm tree unless I gave permission for one limb on the river side of nut [tree] to come down. I would not be so ignoble and small as Mrs. S., so I at once said certainly, go ahead. I always quail when high winds rock that tree. If it did fall on the Stibbe garden building below, she would surely take me to Court. It is in tight places like this I miss Lorin L. But I know what I shall say hereafter if she asks my permission to gather nuts.