Sick abed

(1930)
I became sick and weak in my pregnancy and for a week or two was flat on my back in bed with a trained nurse and specialist.  When the nurse left, one of the Pedrick twins [also a nurse, from Ripon] came in.  I was sorry for Lorin because of the expenses and worry; however, I got stronger and was able to keep my own house with a Polish woman once a week.

Furnishing

(1930 June)
So, after picking out our furniture, choosing living room and dining room draperies to go with the Chinese rug, the place [on Oakland Avenue] began to look pretty good.

Opportunity

(1969 March 17)
P. S.  Daddy gone now [to Milwaukee for a funeral] and to stay over night.  So tired.  I hated to see him go.  Very quiet here.  Took the opportunity to paint inside medicine cabinet and toilet seat.

Not too bad

(1968 Summer)
I told Daddy last night, now I was better, I was going to see to a lot of things and pick up the house.  He said, "Oh, the house isn't too bad"  In the past we have had some bad times when his shirts were ironed badly and my sewing was all over.  I have learned to do the things that are important to him.

No maid service

(1993 April 19)
Are the maids on strike?  No beds made today.  ...  Writing this off and on took two days.  I know why the beds aren't made - the snow - schools closed etc.  Maids couldn't get in!  Well, mine is done.

Soapdish

(1993 February)

I saw my good mail but was too exhausted [after tour] to open it, but on awakening saw my fine soap dish - already in use. Now I'll tell Beverly not to clean it with her old rag, or else I'll put it under my pillow nights.

Cottages

(1991 September 2)

[On Labor Day] People are driving by with boats today, probably to their cottages on some lake. I have talked to women who have them, and they say it's just like keeping up two houses.

Silverware

(1991 July ?)

I found my missing forks. One day I got all my silverware out and sorted it. Whew! Put all the sterling back in the chest and in the dining room buffet. For a while I had it in a cereal box under kitchen window. Must tell MM also I changed back.

Junk mail

(1991 February 20)

I am sitting at my desk trying to see how much milIcan throw out without answering.

Overdue update

(1987 June 3)

I have something you don't have - or at least I might. It's a new fire extinguisher Ralph Klinzing brot and put up today. It is cream and fastened on the wall between the bathroom and my [bedroom] door. My old one expired in 1965, and I phoned Ralph for instructions on how to dispose of it properly. He came right over and got it and took it to the Dump himself. Then got this one (Gamble's) and brot his electric drill and put it up today.

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.

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.

Silver secret

(1976 January 9)

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

A kitchen drawer

(1974 February 28)

I had a go at one of my kitchen drawers Tuesday. The one with the Kleenex and napkins. I used paint remover to take off daubs of paint on the upright boards you don't see when the drawer is closed and then shellacked it inside and out and put a new sheet of wall paper in the bottom. It is so nice and clean looking. I intend doing the other two on two different weeks as the rubbing etc. is tiring.

Batman

(1966 February 18)

You have got us looking at Batman. So glad they recovered from whirling on that wheel and caught The Riddler. ... Would those old Batman comics [from the early 40s that Polly threw out] be worth $25 a piece? Oh dear, and think of all the worthless junk in our attic.

Clean your clock

(1965 October 5)

I took the electric kitchen clock apart to clean the inside of the crystal, which shines now - but the clock doesn't go. (It will.) ... (PS - it did).

Uncle Ely's sword

(1965 July)

At Fond du Lac went to Retlaw [hotel] ... then to S. Lincoln Ave. [to visit her aunts Lois & Mary]. Entering a dark house, we heard Lois snoring and thru a window saw Mary weeding the garden.... In about a minute Lois was up, amazed to see us, denying she had snored at all. Turning on her heel, she went to the stairway to get her father's brother Ely's sword for you. Mary: "What are you looken for?" Lois: "I'm getting that sword for Skip! And I put it right there and where is it?" Mary: "Don't ask me. I don't know." Lois: "I wrapped it in paper and put it there. Uncle Ely's sword." Mary: "If you wrapped it in paper and put it there, there is where it ought to be." Funny. Finally she came out with it, a Knights of Columbus sword I think. All far gone for shine. Lois: "Do you think I ought to touch it up a little?" We said heavens no and L took it out to the car to get it out of the conversation.... So now you have a sword.

Boscobel antiques

(1964 March 1)

Yesterday Daddy and I had an outing we had planned all week. MM asked if she could come, so OK. We drove to Boscobel where we visited a second-hand shop near the [Wisconsin] river. Aisles of junk, even racks of clothing. I nearly bot a little miner's lamp and a 3-tined fork but came away with a new rag rug $3.00. The lamp looked like a piece of tin a cow stepped on, but I kept thinking of the miners at Linden etc., and yet when it came to buying it, voted no. There is something that holds me back, and I think it is a feeling of life being short now and many things to be disposed of here without adding to it. As to the forks, John Gould (in his book) mentions how wonderful they are and impossible to buy - yet I have all I need, Grandma Leedom's - they were 50 cents and like those in museum. I got MM a cover for a frying pan, as she has none, and a lemon squeezer, and she bot 2 salt and pepper sets for Mrs. Marshall's collection. Daddy finally sat in the car.

A soft life

(1963 Spring)

Oh - a new blessing! The Culligan Man comes once a month and brings us soft water!

Recordkeeping

(1963 October?)

I get so nervous thinking of all the records not kept or hiked out, I'm at the point when I simply cannot throw away an old address book. (You'll see when you clean our attic someday.)