Fruit cake

(1969 December 7)
On December 7 we were snowbound and [Lorin and I] made fifteen pounds of Fruit cake.  (Jokingly we wondered if such a big recipe wouldn't last us the rest of our lives.  Only too true [noted in margin, June 1970].)  It was unusual for us to do these things together, and we thoroly enjoyed it.  He helped me partly because of the fun and partly because both of these projects [mincemeat and fruit cake] were too much for me alone, and he knew it and came to my rescue, as always.  We packed it all away with brandy ... and stored it in the attic after first taking out a cake for Christmas and sending one to Aunt Mary Maibuchner in Fond du Lac.

Mincemeat

(1969 November 15)
On Saturday, November 15, Lorin and I made five quarts of rich mincemeat from the recipe in the "Woman's Home Companion Cook Book."  Lorin's favorite pie.

Stamp collectors

(1941 Fall)
[To her Aunt Lois:]  Skip loves his school this year [fifth grade] and loves his teacher [Wanda Roberts].  She disciplines them, yet is kind.  I must take the stamp off your letter for him.  He saves everything for his album or for trading with other boys.  Lorin is so good to him, and they go over their stamps together.  Skip is so like his father in appetite and all.

Over 90

(1994 May 10)
I am often sleepy.  Does this have anything to do with being over 90?  Just refused invitation to kick a Beach Ball around.

Holy week

(1967 March 20)
Well, we are in Holy Week now.  Just finished embroidering another cross on another purificator.  Daddy's last class on Revelations Wednesday.  ...  I am going to make name eggs for each Sunday School child.  ...  Also have a wonderful Easter and a big smile for te first robin.

Nightmare phoning

(1967 March 20)
Last night I dreamed I was phoning, facing breakfast alcove, when the ceiling came down and an electric shock caught my hand in the phone making it limp.  I called MM from upstairs, and she came, and I told her to get Joe R. to fix the ceiling.  Then you came in all covered with a yellow oilskin, no holes for face (sort of KKK) - but I knew you right away.  You said, "What's all this?"  I said, "A mess.  Where did you come from?"  You said, "Oh, I have been staying with friends who have a little cottage over here on the Wabash.  Been doing a little writing."  This kept pegging at me - Wabash?  Here in Wisconsin?  Until I finally work up.  Queer.

Go easy

(1967 March 7)
Future [at KU] sounds bright and cheerful and, as you say, if you go easy on wine, women and song, and beards, berets and sandals, all will be very well indeed.  I am not worried about the teaching because I know in my heart you are a very dedicated person.  And I am glad that you are satisfied with the library and the possibility of development.  Skip, twice you have said how harmonious it is there.

Location, location

(1967 March 7)
Since you first mentioned the possibility of Lawrence, I have been trying to lay my hands on a map to find out where it is located, but only found it yesterday.  The maps of Kansas we had did not give it.  But now I found my old black atlas book and located it.  Seems to be near Topeka, Kansas City and Leavenworth.  Also the Missouri River near there.  As map is so small, cannot tell whether river goes thru Kansas at that point or whether lines are railroads.  You will have to expand on it or get Chamber of Commerce of Kansas to fill me in.  Looks to me like a good location - better than center of state, for instance.

Lawrence Richmond

(1967 March 7)
Random thoughts [about Skip's new job at Lawrence, KS].  Who would ever have dreamed after all these Ozzy years there really was a place called Kansas?  And won't the baby be confused wondering if he is a person, place, or thing?  ...  Bad enough with that Richmond middle name, but now the first also.  Fate.

Got the job

(1967 March 7)
Yesterday noon as I was getting lunch, Daddy came home - and in response to my hello burst out with "Good news!  Good news!  Skip got the job!" [at Kansas U].

Bible class

(1967 February 27)
Daddy is giv a Lenten Bible Class, and so far we have read Deuteronomy and Amos.  He is excellent but too few come.  Yet all are anxious for the class.

Lenten excercise

(1967 February 27)
For a little Lenten exercise, I have taken over a box of linen left by the LeHew sisters in which are a few altar linens half finished - also cloth for making more - so I am embroidering crosses on those and hemming them.

Warm pyjamas

(1967 February 27)
Sad to say I was stricken again with this rheumatism I had before, and on top of it have a heavy head cold.  ...  I haven't been fully dressed since Valentine's Day.  I could, but I am warmer and more relaxed in warm pajamas and robe; besides it is easier to go on like this when I alternate work with rest periods.  I have help twice a week and my family helps too.  Dee lets me know when we are getting oil or groceries and Penelope [cat] gives me lots of love.  So I wait for my cold to go away and Spring to come and then I'll be fine.

State of the Union

(1967 January)
Last night we went to the Irish movie, "Fighting Prince of Donegal."  About a dozen people there, no more.  Tonight President Johnston is on TV for 2 1/2 hours and the place may be packed.

Ngaio

(1996 March 29)
What are you reading that can be talked about?  I am still on "Grave Mistake" by Ngaio Marsh.  When you find out how to pronounce "Ngaio," let me know.

Costume wardrobe

(1966 October)
I am sending the little girls [Gail & Elizabeth] a costume for Hallowe'en....  I only wish I had time to make two good outfits, but it is getting cool now and I have work to do on Lawrence's outfit.  Just want you to know the Miss Patches [an Oz book character] took hours of work, and I sent it with a hope you will take it with you when you leave [Colorado] and have the girls start a costume wardrobe.  It is such a joy to dress up even if it isn't Hallowe'en, as well we know.

Powder plant

(1966 September 9)
Yesterday the Powder Plant at Baraboo exploded and several fire departments called out.  $500,000 damage.  It was the building making bullets for Viet Nam.  Rockets OK.  No one knows cause.

Restoration

(1966 September 9)
Yesterday I spent some time restoring an old doll that Edith's old auntie had when young.  Recovered the body.  Leather arms and hands and boots are ticklish.  Fun to do.

Sunday School

(1966 September 9)
I am again going to have my class in needlework in the Auditorium this fall, if enough sign up.  Almost wish they wouldn't - I have so many projects lined up.  Thought I was all set on Sunday School book and at last minute Anna Lord wanted to combine her class with mine and take younger group, so now I am short 3 books  ...  but think they are out of print though excellent.  So I must dream up a course until I hear [from publisher] or get new ones we can afford all around.  Also on layman Sundays [when no priest here] I take the Morning Prayer session of the combined Sunday School.  Small, true, but the preparation about the same.

Sheets

(1966 September 9)
It is amazing how long some sheets (linens) last.  I have some that were in Vina's household.  The sheet I sent you I got the year I moved here [1938] when Carolyn Bancroft worked in Krouskops.  She is a grandmother now.

Norwegians

(1966 August 13)
Norwegians, old and hard of hearing, gather in the hall chairs [outside LL's hospital room] and talk like crazy.  LL tells the nurses it doesn't bother him at all but tells me it does.  There is no lounge on 2nd & 3rd floors.  He wanted the radio on and the nurse got all mixed up and handed him the TV remote control.  Then the loan radio of Holly [Strang]'s wouldn't go.  ...  Holly brot him a new FM that played beautifully, blocking out the Norwegians with concert.  Helped a lot.

What'sup?

(1966 August 10)
We follow the adventures of the Kentucky Kays with eager attention.  By the 24th will Laurie be walking?  Will the cat have kittens?  Will the Volvo speedometer be working?  Will the bill on prayers in schools be dropped?  Will the French landlord change his mind on taking out his bedding?  What about the snags in the Doctor's MS [about the Council of Bourges]?  Will they be ironed out?  [No - it was finally published in 2002.]  Can Gail bring her bike?  Were Elizabeth's winter boots packed?  Is there room for Miryam's roller skates?  Don't forget your camera.

Dying

(1966 August 10)
You can have no idea what a relief this has been to me [that LL is OK].  Before the operation, he talked so sensibly about dying.  He said now he had had ten more years than people with his trouble [diabetes] often have.  He has had a good life and a happy home, and if this were it, all right.  HE may have been ready, but I was not and am plenty glad the Grim Reaper gave us a miss.

Ruth Nee

(1966 August 10)
[The night after the operation] I phoned Ruth [Nee RN] about 10 p.m. and after learning all was well, we both [PK & MM] got a good night's rest.

Gall stones

(1966 August 10)
[The day of LL's operation, Polly was waiting in his hospital room.]  About 2 along came a RN with the [gall] stones in a neat little box!!  Offering them to me?!!!  I gave her a disgusted look and she laughed and said, "You can make them into a necklace and wear them around your neck."  I turned away and looked out of the window and think it revolting.  However, I guess this is the usual procedure, as you say.

Hospital

(1966 August 7)
I was talking to Jean yesterday and TERRIBLE screams came over the phone.  I asked if someone was hurt - fighting? - te kids were just playing hospital!

Nursery

(1966 August 7)
[A few days before LL's operation] I went to the hospital about 2....  Well, he was tired of being in bed, and I persuaded him to take a long walk to the Nursery to look at the babies.  When we arrived at the window, not a child!  Quipped he:  And this is the population explosion they want us to build a new school for!

Merit badge

(1966 July 31)
David Spear came to pass his stamp merit badge, and although Daddy had planned to watch the play "Mary Mary" with me, he spent 2-1/2 hours passing him - helping him do some hard things.

Mr. Apfelbaum

(1966 July 31)
Saturday Daddy sold his foreign stamps to Mr. Apfelbaum for $5000.  We were so glad they came on Saturday while he was still here [and not yet in hospital] and could handle the transaction.  Mr. and Mrs. Apfelbaum have a retail stamp store in Philadelphia employing about 50 people.  They tour months at a time buying up collections.  ...  They arrived about 9 a.m., stayed to lunch, left about 4:30.  We were all exhausted.  It took 8 cartons from movers' size to small, which had to fetched from attic & basement.  ...  Mr. A reminded me of Grandfather Kay, dapper, slightly bald, shrewd, same oxy sense of humor:  Would you like to get in this box?  (Ha Ha).  ...  Lunch was a nightmare.  Everyone on diets, all different.  Mr. A was off fowl, fresh fruits and salad, coffee, cigarettes.  Whew!

Gall bladder

(1966 July 28)
[LL must have a gall bladder procedure.]  When I tell you he will hate every second, every minute of having people poke him and wash him and hurt him, and yet cheers us up about his going, not a word of complaint or self pity, only hard work to the end to straighten out his affairs, which are more complex than you ever dreamed of, you can understand perhaps why I think he is the bravest and most courageous person I ever knew.

Probably barefoot

(1966 July 8)
In case you are wondering and you probably are not, I am wearing a beige cotton knit two-piece to the wedding [of Marthea Kay] with a blue hat, white purse, probably barefoot.