1970 Diary

(Transcribed by Kathy Desterhaft)

Previous month - January

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1970 - It was quite a long day. I got up and had my breakfast over in time to watch the Mass for Shut-ins. Then I read my prayers. Wrote to Bessie. Lillian came down & visited for a while over around the noon hour. Then I got my dinner ^+& watched TV. and then said my rosary & prayers. Got a bite for supper then Louise & Carl came down. We watched TV. & Louise got things she needed for our party.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1970 - I got up in good time, had my breakfast and wrote a letter to Sister Dorothy Ann & Rose Gladale & also sent cards to Libb & Lyle & Marguerite Wieskamp & letters to Bessie & Alan. I read my prayers, finished holders & worked some on quilt block. I called Libb to tell her about Marguerite. Joan, Pat, Gene & Wilma all called me. I'm sort of tired tonight.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1970 - Around 11 of 12 below zero this morning. I got around in good time, had my breakfast, cut out 2 aprons, watered plants and sewed some on the blue apron. Read my prayers. After my dinner, I sewed some on apron, mended. I made out checks to Mutual Protect (?), Ia Ill Gas & Elec., Jesuit Sem., the Maryknoll Fathers. Wrote letter to Bro. John. Put up my hair & got ready to go to our card party. Louise & I were hostesses. Carl took us & Rita Dvorsky went along. Only had 15 at our party.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1970 - I had a pretty good nights rest after I went to bed, so I didn't get up too early, but felt fine. I had quite a lot of telephone calls this forenoon and Louise came down and brought the stuff left from our party and we settled up. I got Sisters letter written & got my washing done the A.M. and my dinner ready in time to watch the TV. stories. I got my prayers read this P.M. & folded clothes, & folded clothes, sewed & mended some. Leonard didn't come this eve. as Doug and Donna were sort of sick so Deb didn't get to catechism.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time and got my breakfast. I got a BD card written to Hank & also a donation sent for some cards. Johnnie Milder came down for his farewell visit before he leaves for Reserve training tomorrow. I got a new block laid out at noon. Got more work done on apron. Wilma & Clarence came this eve while Ann was at singing. I made late Holy Hour.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1970 - Today I managed to get around in fairly good time, got my breakfast, wrote to Gerald's & John Frantz. Watered all the houseplants, then Betty left Philip & Brenda here while she went to the Dr. She feels awful bad with the flu, so she got some medicine. I got along fine with them. Then I read my prayers & got my dinner. Did a little cleaning in the kitchen & then sewed some & more prayers & then Ben brought Barbara out to stay with me while they went to B-ball game.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1970 - I got around in pretty good time & got along fine with my work. First I took my bath. Lillian came for her eggs. Also, Gene got their eggs & for others & then Leonard's came & Marilyn did my hair for me. I read my prayers & got my dinner & watched ball game some. Gene decided we would go to the 5:10 mass. So I got ready for that. Betty & children are some better.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1970 - I got up fairly early & got my breakfast over before I listened to the Mass for Shut-ins. Then I read my Mass prayers and said my rosary, then got ready to go with Pat's to Ed's & Mary's for Rosemary's birthday. We had a very delicious dinner & then went to see their new house in Columbus Junction. It's really nice. Then they stopped at the bowling alley. After we got back we listened to some music on the stereo then came home.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1970 - I got up fairly early and got my work done. Did some ripping on my apron, read my prayers & got a good dinner. Joann called this A.M. Marguerite called around a little after noon and said she was going home. A man looked at the aluminum house this P.M. Thinking some of buying it. Wilma & Pat called & I talked to Louise & Carl & also called Libb. I didn't get any mail today so missed Bro. John's letter. I worked on apron tonight.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1970 - A pretty nice day. Gene very sick with the flu today, so Betty brought in the mail & took Philip to school. I worked on my aprons and quilt block. Read my prayers before noon. I made a good dinner. Later this P.M. I wrote to Joe M. after supper, then Bro. John, Sister Margarita. Also got card ready for Connie & N.W. Bell Tel. Co. before supper.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1970 - Pat & 3 children came & brought me azalea plant for Valentine. Leonard & 3 children came out tonight. Snowing a little this morning and I seem to have cold in my eyes, so I have been doctoring them. Jackson called & said that my income tax papers were ready. So Louise got them for me & also went to the Court House about freezing my taxes & then brought everything out for me to sign & then took them to mail for me. I also send a check to Vietnam & Atty. Jackson today. I did my washing today & sewed some.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time & got my work started. Did some sewing on the machine & then did my ironing. Lillian came down for a little while & then got the letter we brought from Ed's. Betty got the groceries & I called the Dr. & he said to come in tomorrow if my eyes were not better by then. I think they are better tonight. I sewed on the pink apron & also laid out a new block.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1970 - I didn't get up very early but got along real good with my work. Watered all the plants and sewed on apron and got my dinner on time. Read my Mass prayers too before noon. After noon I sewed more, rested a little & read my prayers. This eve Libb & Lyle & Rita came up & Libb & Rita helped me get my purse from Gertrude & Nick fixed up.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1970 - Valentine's Day. 5 more valentines. I got around real good today. Put up my hair and did my cleaning and then got my dinner and watched some of the Big 10 ball game. Then got my prayers all finished and then Gene called and decided to take me to 5:10 Mass, so I got ready. It was quite cold & I don't believe I took my cold. There was a very large crowd out to Mass.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1970 - I got up early & got my breakfast over & work done so I could see the Mass for the Shut Ins. Then I read my prayers and got ready to go to Wilma's for Connie's birthday dinner. I had a very nice day. We had good weather too, instead of the snow they had predicted. Wrote to Alan tonight.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1970 - I got up quite early & got my breakfast. Then I wrote a letter to Veatress & also to Myrtle. Then I got my regular work done and planned a good dinner. Lillian came down for a little while after my dinner & brought Pvt. John's address. Joann called this forenoon. Gene & Pat called this P.M. I worked some on Wilma's material this eve, also on a quilt block.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1970 - I got around in fairly good time. Got my breakfast & got started on Wilma's aprons. Watered all the house plants and got my prayers read & made a fairly good dinner. I sewed more this afternoon and then Louise came for a little visit. Pat called this eve & Margaret Richey called quite late.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1970 - This was a fairly good day for me. I got my washing done early & I wrote to Bro. John & Sister M., and also a card to Pvt. John Milder. Betty got my groceries & also gift for Lisa & got my new Sears catalog today. I sewed quite a bit & finished a quilt block. Set out another. Pats brought in a good supper tonight & visited while Glenn took the children to Catechism. Leonard didn't come.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1970 - I got around fairly early & had breakfast & put up my hair starting to get ready for tonight. Read my prayers then I did my ironing after dinner and read more prayers. Then started to get ready to go with Paul's to Tom & Marty's for supper. Had a real nice time & very good meal. Got home around 10:30 then wrote to John Frantz & Harold Dexter.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1970 - I slept later this morning and then I got my plants watered and other things done and prayers read and then dinner. I rec'd letter from Larry today. I sewed some on Wilma's aprons. Gene, Libb, Pat & Wilma all called. Gertrud & Nick came out this eve. We had a good visit. Then after they left I wrote to Joann in C.R., also to Sister Margaretta.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time and got started at my work and then stopped to get my mass prayers & others said. Leonard's came and Marilyn shampooed and put up my hair, then I finished my work before I got my dinner. Then watched the ball game after dishes & read my prayers & got ready to go to confession and Mass. Paul & Lillian came this evening.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1970 - Today was a fairly good day. I listened to most of the Mass for Shut Ins. Then read my Mass prayers. Talked 2 or 3 times to Libb. They decided to bring dinner in & eat with me. Wilma called & we talked a long time. Pat called. Louise came. Then Libb & Lyle came & we had our dinner. She wrapped the silver wedding gift for Chas & Irene. We talked clothes then went to the Hosp & seen Marguerite, then to Kmart & shopped a little. Then home & a long eve. I got Dexter's gift wrapped & Betty came over for it.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1970 - No mail today. I got around in fairly good time & sewed quite a bit around dinnertime & again this eve trying to get this apron finished of Wilma's. Joanne called - also Pat the eve. I called Lillian & Gene. The children got their rubelo (sp) shots today. I played some solitaire this eve but sort of tired.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1970 - I feel pretty good this morning and I got my plants all watered and did some sewing and praying. Made a good dinner. Sewed more this P.M. and said my rosary & then Philip & Brenda stayed here while Betty got her car. Gene helped Glenn this P.M. I wrote to Sister Margaretta, Bro. John & Sgt. Joe tonight and balanced my checking account.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1970 - I got up earlier so I could get started at my washing. So I got done early and got along real good with my work today; basted in the seams on good dress. Pat & Jerry & Nancy came out this evening & she helped finish it then washed & ironed it. Leonard & the 3 children came out this evening. Glenn brought the children out after Catechism.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1970 - I got around in fairly good time and got my breakfast & started to sew on Wilma's apron and other work; read mass prayers. Pauline called & said they were coming for supper & would bring it, Colonel Sanders chicken, which they did & it was really good. We had a real nice visit & then they went home early. I sewed on W's apron & got one finished up quite late.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1970 - I got up fairly early & got along OK. Kept Philip & Brenda while Betty went down town. I called Pat. Joann called me. Louise called to say they were leaving for Florida. I also watered plants and finished Wilma's apron after dinner. Ben, Joann & Barbara came out. I gave them their gifts. I sewed on my dress & ironed this P.M. after they left. Gene & Betty brought me 2 good fish sandwiches.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1970 - It was a pretty good day. I got up in good time & took my bath. I hurried along with my work & I kept Philip & Brenda while Betty taught Catechism and then Betty took me down for 12:00 o'clock appointment to get my hair fixed then I went with Gene to Mass at 5. Then after a light supper I went with Libb & Lyle, Paul & Lillian to W. Branch to Charles & Irene's 25th anniversary. Then after that, we, Ed & Mary went to Gerald's & played cards.

Next month - March