Friday, April 30, 1926
Hot
Let the fire go out but it got too hot before it went and Marjorie took an awful cold. She rattles something awful when she breathes. Made Gilbert’s shirt with goods Mama gave him for Christmas.
(They did not seem to buy any of their clothes. I'm sure the fabric was nice, but it seems like an odd Christmas gift, since it meant more work for Grandma.)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Thursday, April 29, 1926
Thursday, April 29, 1926
Warmer
(Another diary entry with nothing noted except it was warmer. Spring can be busy!)
Warmer
(Another diary entry with nothing noted except it was warmer. Spring can be busy!)
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Wednesday, April 28, 1926
Wednesday, April 28, 1926
Cool
Mama came and we mended. She helped me some this time. Made the buttonholes for Ned’s new brown pants I made last Friday.
(I wonder what made this day different that her Mama was a help versus a hindrance to her work?)
Cool
Mama came and we mended. She helped me some this time. Made the buttonholes for Ned’s new brown pants I made last Friday.
(I wonder what made this day different that her Mama was a help versus a hindrance to her work?)
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tuesday, April 27, 1926
Tuesday, April 27, 1926
Warmer
Didn’t get my ironing done till supper time for all my good start yesterday.
(At times, Grandma's world did seem to revolve around washing and ironing clothes. Some days, ironing must have been all she did, and I think that even when she wasn't ironing, she was thinking about how she needed to get to her ironing.
What's our 21st century "ironing"? What are we constantly doing or worrying about not doing?)
Warmer
Didn’t get my ironing done till supper time for all my good start yesterday.
(At times, Grandma's world did seem to revolve around washing and ironing clothes. Some days, ironing must have been all she did, and I think that even when she wasn't ironing, she was thinking about how she needed to get to her ironing.
What's our 21st century "ironing"? What are we constantly doing or worrying about not doing?)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Monday, April 26, 1926
Monday, April 26, 1926
Got up early and washed got done by noon and ironed some in the afternoon but was so tired by supper I don’t know whether it pays or not.
(Eleanor wrote, "Sounds like she could have used some household help. I'm always exhausted after reading about her work day."
My other grandmother, who lived on a working farm in southern Indiana, had a hired girl who came and helped with cooking and all, especially during the summers when they were canning food.)
Got up early and washed got done by noon and ironed some in the afternoon but was so tired by supper I don’t know whether it pays or not.
(Eleanor wrote, "Sounds like she could have used some household help. I'm always exhausted after reading about her work day."
My other grandmother, who lived on a working farm in southern Indiana, had a hired girl who came and helped with cooking and all, especially during the summers when they were canning food.)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 25, 1926
Sunday, April 25, 1926
Cooler in evening
Took Ned to Sunday school and wore my new hat and coat and nearly froze. I should have worn my winter coat but I feel so tacky in it.
(Eleanor wrote, "I remember having new Easter clothes and insisting on wearing them even when it was cold enough for winter coats."
I can't believe Grandma thought she should have a winter coat so late in the spring...)
Cooler in evening
Took Ned to Sunday school and wore my new hat and coat and nearly froze. I should have worn my winter coat but I feel so tacky in it.
(Eleanor wrote, "I remember having new Easter clothes and insisting on wearing them even when it was cold enough for winter coats."
I can't believe Grandma thought she should have a winter coat so late in the spring...)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Saturday, April 24, 1926
No diary entry for this day. Maybe it was one of those beautiful spring days and they spent it outside working in the yard? Grandma liked to garden and I remember she had many different flowers in her back yard, along with a quince shrub. I think in the 1920's, she also grew some vegetables and had more fruit trees than later on when she was living alone.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Friday, April 23, 1926
Friday, April 23, 1926
Made a Ned a new suit and a pair of pants, fixed up his old ones. He had torn the back of one pair and the front of the other so, as they were the same goods, I ripped the bad front out of one pair and put the good front in and they are okay for Sunday. Last week he cried to go with the boys so I promised to take him next Sunday.
(Eleanor wrote, "Good repair job, but she had a lot of experience mending clothes."
I can't sew at all. Grandma would be appalled at how I sew on a button. And sewing clothes? Out of my league. Mom (Eleanor) sewed a lot of our clothes when we were growing up, and did a great job.)
Made a Ned a new suit and a pair of pants, fixed up his old ones. He had torn the back of one pair and the front of the other so, as they were the same goods, I ripped the bad front out of one pair and put the good front in and they are okay for Sunday. Last week he cried to go with the boys so I promised to take him next Sunday.
(Eleanor wrote, "Good repair job, but she had a lot of experience mending clothes."
I can't sew at all. Grandma would be appalled at how I sew on a button. And sewing clothes? Out of my league. Mom (Eleanor) sewed a lot of our clothes when we were growing up, and did a great job.)
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Thursday, April 22, 1926
Thursday, April 22, 1926
Warmer
Hoping Spring might be on the way. I invoiced the boxes in the attic and got out our summer underwear, boy’s short sleeved waists, etc.
(Eleanor wrote, "I got my summer clothes out too early this year (2007) which is why we had a cold spell!)
Warmer
Hoping Spring might be on the way. I invoiced the boxes in the attic and got out our summer underwear, boy’s short sleeved waists, etc.
(Eleanor wrote, "I got my summer clothes out too early this year (2007) which is why we had a cold spell!)
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Wednesday, April 21, 1926
Wednesday, April 21, 1926
Fair and warm
Spring at last. The first day I could dress the baby without putting on an extra little sack around her shoulders. I thought I would get some sewing done today, but had to mend first as usual and that took all day. Ned tore his best and only wool pants so if it doesn’t get warm by Sunday, we will have to stay home again and last Sunday he said when the boys left that he wanted to go to Sunday school, too and I told him we would next time. He is old enough to start regularly now, and get used to playing with other children.
(I feel the same way in 2007, "spring at last". I thought it would never get here!)
Fair and warm
Spring at last. The first day I could dress the baby without putting on an extra little sack around her shoulders. I thought I would get some sewing done today, but had to mend first as usual and that took all day. Ned tore his best and only wool pants so if it doesn’t get warm by Sunday, we will have to stay home again and last Sunday he said when the boys left that he wanted to go to Sunday school, too and I told him we would next time. He is old enough to start regularly now, and get used to playing with other children.
(I feel the same way in 2007, "spring at last". I thought it would never get here!)
Friday, April 20, 2007
Tuesday, April 20, 1926
Tuesday, April 20, 1926
Fair and warmer
I felt awfully bum today – felt like I might be taking the flu. Took anti cold tabs, etc but ironing was uphill business. I got done however although it was draggy work and I ought to have finished lots sooner, but I had to stop and lie down a while at noon. Ned and Marjorie both still have their head colds. Lots of people are cleaning house and I must get at it as soon as their colds dry up a little. I dread it this year as these two babies will be right with me in the dirt and inhale all of it.
(Eleanor wrote, "This must be spring cleaning season when everyone tried to get the soot and dirt out of their homes. I know I always had to clean the wallpaper."
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Spring housecleaning was very important every year. I can remember all of us kids spending spring vacation cleaning wallpaper, varnishing floors and steps, cleaning windows, and Mother washing curtains. It was kind of exciting accomplishing things."
Also, I've added some additional throughts from Aunt Marjorie to April 18 and April 19.)
Fair and warmer
I felt awfully bum today – felt like I might be taking the flu. Took anti cold tabs, etc but ironing was uphill business. I got done however although it was draggy work and I ought to have finished lots sooner, but I had to stop and lie down a while at noon. Ned and Marjorie both still have their head colds. Lots of people are cleaning house and I must get at it as soon as their colds dry up a little. I dread it this year as these two babies will be right with me in the dirt and inhale all of it.
(Eleanor wrote, "This must be spring cleaning season when everyone tried to get the soot and dirt out of their homes. I know I always had to clean the wallpaper."
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Spring housecleaning was very important every year. I can remember all of us kids spending spring vacation cleaning wallpaper, varnishing floors and steps, cleaning windows, and Mother washing curtains. It was kind of exciting accomplishing things."
Also, I've added some additional throughts from Aunt Marjorie to April 18 and April 19.)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Monday, April 19, 1926
Monday, April 19, 1926
Fair
Still cool. I got the washing out by noon and ironed some in the afternoon. The boys – me too and Marjorie all have colds in our heads. They insist in playing out and digging a cave in the damp ground. They turned the sand box upside down over it a for a roof, just had a little opening in it big enough to get in. It was dark down there so they got a wick for the old lantern and took it down there. But Gilbert put a stop to that for if it should upset and explode the boys would not have a chance in the world to get out before they burned to death.
(Those boys were at it again. Must have been quite a big hole if the three older boys fit in it. Good thing Gilbert was there to stop them from setting themselves on fire. Remember, these boys still fairly young when they were doing this. Dale, the oldest, was not quite 10.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Our backyard was only 40 feet wide (I believe) but long. The half close to the house contained a vegetable garden and a lot of flowers and forysthia, snowball bush, and lilacs & grapes. Then an apple tree and a couple of cherry trees & quince - then the back with an old barn like building and plenty of space for the boys to dig all they wanted to. One summer, they built a "town" with roads to drive their little metal cars on. I thought it was a perfect yard to live with. Oh, yes, Daddy got 2 tall pipes from the gas company connected at the top holding the clothes line with a swing for Eleanor and me.)
Fair
Still cool. I got the washing out by noon and ironed some in the afternoon. The boys – me too and Marjorie all have colds in our heads. They insist in playing out and digging a cave in the damp ground. They turned the sand box upside down over it a for a roof, just had a little opening in it big enough to get in. It was dark down there so they got a wick for the old lantern and took it down there. But Gilbert put a stop to that for if it should upset and explode the boys would not have a chance in the world to get out before they burned to death.
(Those boys were at it again. Must have been quite a big hole if the three older boys fit in it. Good thing Gilbert was there to stop them from setting themselves on fire. Remember, these boys still fairly young when they were doing this. Dale, the oldest, was not quite 10.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Our backyard was only 40 feet wide (I believe) but long. The half close to the house contained a vegetable garden and a lot of flowers and forysthia, snowball bush, and lilacs & grapes. Then an apple tree and a couple of cherry trees & quince - then the back with an old barn like building and plenty of space for the boys to dig all they wanted to. One summer, they built a "town" with roads to drive their little metal cars on. I thought it was a perfect yard to live with. Oh, yes, Daddy got 2 tall pipes from the gas company connected at the top holding the clothes line with a swing for Eleanor and me.)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Sunday, April 18, 1926
Sunday, April 18, 1926
Fair and warmer
Papa and Mama came over for dinner. Winifred was to have come too but Mable arrived from Memphis at 11:35 and Winifred had to go home with her as she was so tired. She has been there since the first of the month, where she applied for a divorce and custody of Winifred. It seems to me if she is as bad as Harry makes out, she ought not be allowed to have Winifred if he thinks as much of her as he lets on. The boys went out and were rolling down the long ladder in the barrel my dishes came in and Dale tore his good clothes so Gilbert got them in and give them a whipping.
(Harry was Grandma's brother, Mable was his wife and Winifred was their daughter. I think later Harry ended up with Winifred, but I'm not sure how it all worked out that way. I know that Winifred joined the Army during WWII and married a solder, who was killed in the war. She was pregnant when she was given the news of her husband's death, and ended up in labor, giving birth to twin boys. She and her father, Harry, ended up raising the two boys.
It sounds like my uncles were quite the daredevils as young boys. I can't believe they got in the barrel and rolled down a ladder in it. What were they thinking!?
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother had said that this was the only time Daddy ever spanked his kids, as he felt so bad about it afterward. Mother did the spanking and didn't believe in leaving the discipline to children - not fair to Dads having to be the "bad guy". ... I have heard not too many nice things about Aunt Mabel, but I always liked her and she was good to me. Mother always had good relationships with Mabel. Besides, I remember the beautiful flower garden she had in Irvington when I was young. Mabel taught Winifred the lovely needlecraft work they were both masters of.")
Fair and warmer
Papa and Mama came over for dinner. Winifred was to have come too but Mable arrived from Memphis at 11:35 and Winifred had to go home with her as she was so tired. She has been there since the first of the month, where she applied for a divorce and custody of Winifred. It seems to me if she is as bad as Harry makes out, she ought not be allowed to have Winifred if he thinks as much of her as he lets on. The boys went out and were rolling down the long ladder in the barrel my dishes came in and Dale tore his good clothes so Gilbert got them in and give them a whipping.
(Harry was Grandma's brother, Mable was his wife and Winifred was their daughter. I think later Harry ended up with Winifred, but I'm not sure how it all worked out that way. I know that Winifred joined the Army during WWII and married a solder, who was killed in the war. She was pregnant when she was given the news of her husband's death, and ended up in labor, giving birth to twin boys. She and her father, Harry, ended up raising the two boys.
It sounds like my uncles were quite the daredevils as young boys. I can't believe they got in the barrel and rolled down a ladder in it. What were they thinking!?
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother had said that this was the only time Daddy ever spanked his kids, as he felt so bad about it afterward. Mother did the spanking and didn't believe in leaving the discipline to children - not fair to Dads having to be the "bad guy". ... I have heard not too many nice things about Aunt Mabel, but I always liked her and she was good to me. Mother always had good relationships with Mabel. Besides, I remember the beautiful flower garden she had in Irvington when I was young. Mabel taught Winifred the lovely needlecraft work they were both masters of.")
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Saturday, April 17, 1926
Saturday, April 17, 1926
Snow
A cold damp disagreeable day. However I went to the show at the Apollo. Harold Lloyd’s “For Heaven’s Sake”. It was good. It looked foolish for me to go out in the bad weather but I had stayed in so long, was disappointed so often that Gilbert insisted that I go and get a good laugh. I did.
(Note for the weather, Grandma wrote "snow". 81 years later, we've had a few "cold, damp disagreeable" days in April, too.)
Snow
A cold damp disagreeable day. However I went to the show at the Apollo. Harold Lloyd’s “For Heaven’s Sake”. It was good. It looked foolish for me to go out in the bad weather but I had stayed in so long, was disappointed so often that Gilbert insisted that I go and get a good laugh. I did.
(Note for the weather, Grandma wrote "snow". 81 years later, we've had a few "cold, damp disagreeable" days in April, too.)
Monday, April 16, 2007
Friday, April 16, 1926
Friday, April 16, 1926
An awfully discouraging day and I don’t like to record my discouragements as they really do not last long and always are a result of my not feeling quite tip top. I am very nervous this week and below par all around.
(Everyone has bad weeks, it seems, even in the "roaring 20's". Maybe it had to do with paying taxes because since 1913, when the 16th amendment was passed, there has been a permanent income tax in the United States.
An awfully discouraging day and I don’t like to record my discouragements as they really do not last long and always are a result of my not feeling quite tip top. I am very nervous this week and below par all around.
(Everyone has bad weeks, it seems, even in the "roaring 20's". Maybe it had to do with paying taxes because since 1913, when the 16th amendment was passed, there has been a permanent income tax in the United States.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Thursday, April 15, 1926
Thursday, April 15, 1926
Fair
A lovely day but cold. I feel much better but Marjorie has taken such a bad head cold and Ned too, so I was undecided as to whether to take them or not. I called up Mrs. Collins and found she had the flu and Pegg’s had it too. Well I guess there is lots of it around and all the children diseases too, so I had better not expose the babies with their colds. I was so disappointed I had a cry about it. I have been shut in so long. But I guess the two babies are worth it and I can go plenty when they are bigger.
(Grandma was upset she couldn't go someplace, I assume it was to the Sunday school party she mentioned in yesterday's diary entry.)
Fair
A lovely day but cold. I feel much better but Marjorie has taken such a bad head cold and Ned too, so I was undecided as to whether to take them or not. I called up Mrs. Collins and found she had the flu and Pegg’s had it too. Well I guess there is lots of it around and all the children diseases too, so I had better not expose the babies with their colds. I was so disappointed I had a cry about it. I have been shut in so long. But I guess the two babies are worth it and I can go plenty when they are bigger.
(Grandma was upset she couldn't go someplace, I assume it was to the Sunday school party she mentioned in yesterday's diary entry.)
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Wednesday, April 14, 1926
Wednesday, April 14, 1926
Partly cloudy
Mothers’ meeting at the school. Entertainment by the primary grades and Albert was in it and I wanted to go so bad, but I had a bad sick headache and had to lie down a while. I simply wouldn’t make it over there. Mended what time I could work and shortened my coat, so as to be ready to go tomorrow to the Sunday school class party at Mrs. Raferts.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I recognize the name Rafert. When I was in Methodist Hospital with appendix operation when I was 18, Cora Rafert was at the same hospital and had a bouquet sent to my room, as she had so many flowers and no room for them all.
I would guess Albert was also disappointed that Grandma didn't make it the mother's meeting at school.)
Partly cloudy
Mothers’ meeting at the school. Entertainment by the primary grades and Albert was in it and I wanted to go so bad, but I had a bad sick headache and had to lie down a while. I simply wouldn’t make it over there. Mended what time I could work and shortened my coat, so as to be ready to go tomorrow to the Sunday school class party at Mrs. Raferts.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I recognize the name Rafert. When I was in Methodist Hospital with appendix operation when I was 18, Cora Rafert was at the same hospital and had a bouquet sent to my room, as she had so many flowers and no room for them all.
I would guess Albert was also disappointed that Grandma didn't make it the mother's meeting at school.)
Friday, April 13, 2007
Tuesday, April 13, 1926
Tuesday, April 13, 1926
Warm and fair
Ironed all day. Put the baby on a comfort on the floor in the door in the sun. It would have been a lovely day to go out, but of course nothing doing in that line for me.
(Tuesday seems to be the day for ironing, since Monday was the day for washing! I can't imagine spending a whole day ironing, especially if it was a nice day outside.)
Warm and fair
Ironed all day. Put the baby on a comfort on the floor in the door in the sun. It would have been a lovely day to go out, but of course nothing doing in that line for me.
(Tuesday seems to be the day for ironing, since Monday was the day for washing! I can't imagine spending a whole day ironing, especially if it was a nice day outside.)
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Monday, April 12, 1926
Monday, April 12, 1926
Clear and cool
Washed as usual.
(Grandma always did her laundry on Monday. I do mine on Saturday and it doesn't take near the effort. When do you do your laundry?)
Clear and cool
Washed as usual.
(Grandma always did her laundry on Monday. I do mine on Saturday and it doesn't take near the effort. When do you do your laundry?)
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Sunday, April 11, 1926
Sunday, April 11, 1926
Well it turned cool and rainy so we went to the folks between showers but I wore my old coat. Ventured my new hat and didn’t get it wet it happens. The kids were worse than usual. They didn’t know what to do with themselves and we had a time keeping them from tearing up jack. Was glad when the time came to come home.
(Hats were an important part of a woman's wardrobe in the 1920's. And Grandma worked as milliner (hat maker) before she got married, so I think she had an 'eye' for pretty hats.
Those boys must have been something else when they all played together. Hmmm... reminds me of a couple of nephews, well, actually reminds me of all of my nephews who in their day were quite capable of "tearing up jack".)
Well it turned cool and rainy so we went to the folks between showers but I wore my old coat. Ventured my new hat and didn’t get it wet it happens. The kids were worse than usual. They didn’t know what to do with themselves and we had a time keeping them from tearing up jack. Was glad when the time came to come home.
(Hats were an important part of a woman's wardrobe in the 1920's. And Grandma worked as milliner (hat maker) before she got married, so I think she had an 'eye' for pretty hats.
Those boys must have been something else when they all played together. Hmmm... reminds me of a couple of nephews, well, actually reminds me of all of my nephews who in their day were quite capable of "tearing up jack".)
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