Saturday, December 31, 1927

Saturday, December 31, 1927
Cold

Getting colder and snowing. Cleaned up the house and got ready for dinner tomorrow.

Friday, December 30, 1927

Friday, December 30, 1927
Rain, warm

Went down town to order the cleaner man and get materials for waists. It was a bad day to shop but lots were doing it.

Thursday, December 29, 1927

Thursday, December 29, 1927
Rainy

The house is just so dirty I can’t get the dirt out of carpets without raising dust everywhere. I’ll be glad when I get my cleaner fixed. The babies get black playing around.

Wednesday, December 28, 1927

Wednesday, December 28, 1927

Well the bookcase came. Mama was here but she didn’t get to see it up as we saved that pleasure for Gilbert who was as anxious as a kid about it. We spent the evening putting it up and rearranging books.

Tuesday, December 27, 1927

Tuesday, December 27, 1927
Fair and warmer

Washed in morning and went to Missionary at Mrs. Craigs in afternoon. Was expecting book case which arrived in town Saturday but too late to get out. Left Albert to sign for it, but through mistake they asked for money and he didn’t have any so they didn’t leave it.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "It was a sectional bookcase, and you could add more shelves. I believe we had four shelves, with glass fronts to raise on each shelf. I remember a lot of the books - Elbert Hubbard's "Little Journeys", a set of Edgar Allen Poe books, etc.")

Monday, December 26, 1927

Monday, December 26, 1927
Fair

Gilbert was home and we enjoyed a chance to rest. Didn’t get up until about eight. Had dinner about 4. Mac came and stayed a couple of hours and when boys went to show asked us to come over and hear their radio. We went and enjoyed the visit but the radio all static much to Mac’s disgust.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "We didn't have a radio until Daddy had to retire because of Parkinson's disease when I was about 10 years old. The radio was a gift from Daddy's boss. I think the radio was more educational as one had to use their imagination whereas on TV you can stupidly just sit and watch, no need to imagine the events. I remember wonderful radio programs. My oldest son still has this radio in his home.")

Sunday, December 25, 1927

Sunday, December 25, 1927
Fair – cold

A lovely winter day but no snow. Last night the boys woke up and dressed thinking it was morning. Then called us and it was only 1:15. I had only slept one hour. I made them go back to bed till 5:45. Went to Sunday school. Folks came for dinner.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I heard about this Christmas when they got up so early! The rule was always that kids must be dressed before coming downstairs, so they wouldn't catch cold. The boys were mad they had to go back to bed, so they didn't get back into their pajamas. They even went back to bed with their high top shoes on. From then on the rule was we couldn't get up until 6 am on Christmas morning.")

Saturday, December 24, 1927

Saturday, December 24, 1927
Cold – fair

Dale and George cycled to see their teachers and had a wreck. I did everything that a mother of 5 would do the day before Christmas. Boys also excited they declared they couldn’t sleep but they went to bed early.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "George must have been a friend of Dale's. I don't remember hearing about a wreck -- a bicycle wreck?"

I wonder if "had a wreck" was an expression of speech meaning "had a good time"?)

Friday, December 23, 1927

Friday, December 23, 1927
Cold

Dale went and got Marjorie’s chair from Grandmothers. Got the tree and put it up. Dale and the boys did it all as I was busy cleaning and dressing Marjorie’s doll. Fixed up old body with a new head and dressed real cut. Boys went to fire station party in the evening.

Thursday, December 22, 1927

Thursday, December 22, 1927
Warmer

Boys went to news boys' show – Albert’s first, Robison Crusoe at the Circle. I finally got my packages off and cards, too.

Wednesday, December 21, 1927

Wednesday, December 21, 1927
Cold

Went to town in the morning and finished up my shopping. Came home and cleaned the house. Tried to sew and make candy, etc. Why didn’t I begin on things sooner. Hope I can next year.

Tuesday, December 20, 1927

Tuesday, December 20, 1927
Cold

Sewed on twins’ dresses, Mama came over. My cleaner is out of whack and the house is so hard to keep. Boys everywhere and so many secrets! They go on a dozen trips a day shopping on 10th St. Dale and Dick help make candy in evenings.

Monday, December 19, 1927

Monday, December 19, 1927
Clear and cold

Boys at home for the week. Washed but don’t know when I will iron. Cut out two dresses for the twins. Started on the candy making by having boys crack and pick out nuts. Went to Collins in evening.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "It used to take more time cracking and picking out nuts than it did to make the candy.")

Some of Grandma's candy recipes included Grandpa Campbell's Cinnamon Roll

Sunday, December 18, 1927

Sunday, December 18, 1927
Cold, snow flurries

Mama’s big day. She has talked of nothing else except Eastern Star for months. Uncle Jess sent us 2 turkeys. Plenty! Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves though I had rather dreaded it, the kids usually make Mama so nervous.

(Grandma didn't note in her diary that this was her birthday. She turned 35 on this day.)

Saturday, December 17, 1927

Saturday, December 17, 1927
Cold

Finally got all the things together for the Campbell crowd and sent them over by Gilbert. Mama doesn’t like the idea of giving up her dinner on Christmas day but Guys arranged not to come that day so she has to have it tomorrow.

Friday, December 16, 1927

Friday, December 16, 1927
Cold

A big day with so much to do. Mama having her dinner Sunday instead of Christmas shoves it a week ahead so less time.

Thursday, December 15, 1927

Thursday, December 15, 1927
Cold

Dick was in a play but I was too busy to go. It is pretty raw out anyway to take the babies. Made the 3 teachers each an apron. Also helping Albert out on his yarn flowers he started for his Aunts’ Christmas gifts.

Tuesday, December 13, 1927

Tuesday, December 13, 1927
Clear and cold

Sewed all day. Christmas presents and Marjorie’s dress, too. In the evening the new auditorium at the school was dedicated and G & I went leaving the boys to care for Marjorie and put her to bed. Some boys according to their teachers!

Monday, December 12, 1927

Monday, December 12, 1927
Rainy

Didn’t feel like washing and Ann and Mama were coming anyway so I cleaned up the house real good and then cut out Marjorie’s pink bunny dress. Ann is sure a change from Mable and an improvement I believe.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "As I recall, Ann wasn't much better than Mabel (Ann was Uncle Harry's second wife. Mabel was his first wife.) That marriage last only a few years.")

Sunday, December 11, 1927

Sunday, December 11, 1927
Rain and warmer

Went to Sunday school with kids. Gilbert went to C’ville to see Bess et al, found her better. I had a nice long rest while the kids went to the show all but Dale who made fudge. Ann arrived in town but I was too tired to go over – it was rainy and gloomy.

Saturday, December 10, 1927

Saturday, December 10, 1927

Bess too bad to have us visit them tomorrow so we sent the $10 it would have cost us to make the trip and hope she will have her teeth pulled, she thinks now they are causing the trouble. Her heart is bad for some reason.

Friday, December 9, 1927

Friday, December 9, 1927
Cold

Mrs. Smith’s party – a big job to take the babies to Mama’s then go on down. Almost froze, but thank goodness the wind didn’t blow like yesterday.

Thursday, December 8, 1927

Thursday, December 8, 1927
Cold and windy

Couldn’t keep the house warm the wind was so cold and strong from the west. I made Marjorie’s coat. The boys froze their fingers on their news routes and were too cold to go to C.E. Our fire almost went out and we blew two fuses and the clock stopped.

Wednesday, December 7, 1927

Wednesday, December 7, 1927
Cooler and windy – rain

The wind howls something awful tonight. I cut out Marjorie’s coat, which was like cutting three. Went to the store in evening after the shower and got threads to make it. Boys drenched on their route.

Tuesday, December 6, 1927

Tuesday, December 6, 1927
Fair and warm

Put in the day ironing and expected to get done lots sooner but had 2 pairs pants to press. Mama called up. Ann had just called her and she was all excited over the prospect of seeing her soon.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Ann was Uncle Harry's second wife. Apparently none of the family had met her yet.)

Monday, December 5, 1927

Monday, December 5, 1927
Fair

Pretty good wash day for winter though pretty cold. I got along pretty well but have to do remarkably well all week if I get done all I want to.

Sunday, December 4, 1927

Sunday, December 4, 1927
Cold

Went to Sunday school and the kids and I took dinner with the folks. Gilbert worked at the plant. Mama and I went to the Stelhorns after we went to an auto wreck at 40th St. John and Mary brought us back and then Guys came and I could hardly tear the boys loose.

Saturday, December 3, 1927

Saturday, December 3, 1927
Cold

Cleaned the upstairs, then went down town. Took Albert and Dale. Got A high tops, him and Dick sheepskin coats. Me a dress, lining for Marjorie’s coat and put in most of the day. Spent too much money.

Friday, December 2, 1927

Friday, December 2, 1927
Clear, cold

Finished papering at 10. I swept the floor, put the rug down., got cleaned up and left the kids with Mrs. Collins and went to the O.E.S. bazaar and supper with Mama and Papa. She won’t be happy till I’m a member. Mrs. Stelhorn died this morning.

Thursday, December 1, 1927

Thursday, December 1, 1927

Thought the paper hanger would surely finish today but he didn’t quite. He is not swift but very neat and good. I cleaned the dining and the little north room. Last night Mac and M came in, all that mess!