1970 Diary

(Transcribed by Kathy Desterhaft)

Previous month - June

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1970 - I got up early & got my washing started. It was pretty big but I got done in good time. Gene took me down to the bank after 1:00 PM and I got my business done there. Also shopped a little at Woolworth & got my glasses tightened. After I got home, I processed 20 pts of beans for Betty. Mr. Man from railroad came to see about renting house. Leonard's came for eggs. Pat's family came late. Made out check for missions $10.00.

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1970 - I got around in good time and got a note & check ready to send to Margaret for Dexter flowers & mailed my other mail and started ironing and kept at it off and on until I finished. Betty got my groceries for me and took her beans home. Pat sprained her ankle bad this PM. So they needed help to dress chickens as Wilma was getting hers tonight. Betty & Lillian went out to help. I stayed with Phil & Brenda. Gertrude & Nick, Libb & Lyle came out to see me. Gene had to put on air conditioner at Lavonne's beauty shop.

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1970 - We had quite a strong windstorm, rain etc. about 3:00 AM this morning. I got up & lit the Blessed candle & put rugs by the north window sop up the water that was blowing in. I kept fairly busy today. Watered plants and fixed flowers etc. etc. Finally found out that Gedekes wasn't going to rent the house. I got in contact with the man from the railroad. Betty came over & put up my hair & vacuumed the floors for me. Paul got their basement dug so Gene was helping up there tonight.

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1970 - I got up and took my bath and made a good breakfast and kept busy most of the day. I also processed 4 pts. Beans for Betty, washed 3 rugs etc. etc. etc. Wilma & Clarence here for a little while & they brought mea box of red raspberries. Ben stopped in & gave me a lot of cucumbers. In the eve Louise & Carl came for a little visit. I sewed some on quilt blocks & played solitaire as usual.

SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1970 - I got up in good time to get my breakfast & get ready to go with Betty & children to 9:00 Mass. Then when I got home I watched TV some. Joann called & we had a long talk. Ben came out later & brought Joe & Tina along. They surprised their folks. We had a nice visit. In the eve I went with Gene's to Wilma's. We played cards & had ice cream& cake & a very nice evening. Wrote to Helen & Bennie after we got home.

MONDAY, JULY 6, 1970 - I got up and got my letters mailed to Helen, Benny & Mutual Ins. Protection, also Jesuits. I got a few weeds pulled & powdered the roses. Read my prayers. Joann called & told me all the things they are giving to Joe & Tina. So I hunted up some things too & had Betty buy a nice table cloth for them. They guy came & is not too favorable about the house. Jill & Pete came over this eve with the rent. Joe & Tina were going back so stopped in here for their things.

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1970 - I got up in good time. Kept pretty busy all day. Got the plants watered & reset some. Gene's gone today for vacation with Fr. Benda down by Mt. Pleasant. No news from any renters today. Got Sister & Bro. letters today. Louise came & got me & I had supper with them in their new apartment. It really is nice. Then we went to our card party. I got a ride home with Dorothy Krall & Celeste. Nice party again. I wrote to Sister & Bro. after I got home.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1970 - I got up fairly early. Got my washing started & letters mailed. Lillian came down for a little while & got sauerkraut salad recipe. Gene took my checks to the bank & I got nice letters from John Frantz & called Libb to read it to her. Kept Phil & Brenda while Gene & Betty went out for supper for her birthday. Joann & Barbara came for a little while as Ben was at the garden. They brought fish & gave me beans and cucumbers. Leonard & Marilyn came for pickles.

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1980 - Betty's birthday. I got up in pretty good time, as I was to go to Wilma's today. Connie came for me around 10:00 AM & we stopped & shopped at Alden's - Wilma was there - & got me a dress to wear to Phyllis' wedding & also a navy blue shell to wear with my good suit. Then went to Wilma's for dinner & supper. Had a very nice time. Tore a few carpet rags for her & we played some Yahtze before supper & cards after supper.

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1970 - I got around in good time this morning and got started early with my ironing. So I finished it this forenoon. Got my prayers read, Joann called & talked for a while. Gene mowed the yard & talked for a while too. Lyle called & said that Al was coming out today from Chicago & he might stop in but the didn't. Ron & Pat came this eve for a little while. I wrote to John Frantz tonight.

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1970 - I got up & took my bath, mailed letter to John Frantz & N.W. Bell Tel. Co. Got my breakfast, trimmed off old roses & got a few weeds. Cooked prunes & beans & made apple pineapple dessert. Washed my hair & Betty came over & put it up for me. Also vacuumed floors. God Bless her. Joann, Barbara & Ben out for a little while & got garden stuff. I got the quilt blocks fixed & pressed for Lillian to quilt for Pat & Ron. Wilma & Pat & Gene called. Had a pretty long day.

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 1970 - I got up early & got ready to go with Gene to 7:30 Mass. Then it was quite a long day. Louise was down this forenoon. Also Gene came over twice. I got quite warm so had to run the air conditioner quite a lot. I wrote letters to Myrtle & Maurice's & sent order for wedding crosses. This eve I went with Libb & Lyle Louise's. Also, Wilma & Clarence came there. We had a very nice evening.

MONDAY, JULY 13, 1970 - I got up fairly early and got my breakfast & mailed my letters to Maurice's, Myrtle & order for 2 wedding gifts. I kept Brenda for a little while before noon while Betty took Philip swimming this PM. I tot my work finished and an early supper. After supper Mr. R. Nehre came & signed the lease & made a down payment on the rent.

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1970 - I got up and got my breakfast. Got all my plants watered, dug up a few weeds, cleaned up my sink & washed some mirrors. Lillian visited me before noon, brought kraut salad recipe and got the quilt blocks for Pat Milder's baby quilt. This PM I wrote a big letter to Sister M. and also one to Bro. John. I sewed quite a lot on quilt blocks tonight.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1970 - I got up fairly early & got my washing done. Betty came over & put up my hair & got my groceries & shoes. Then I had to take them back. They were one size too large. I got my ironing done, prayers said in the PM & then got ready to go out to supper with Velva, Lemoyne & Bessie. We went to Howard Johnson. All had fish but Velva. She had chicken.

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1970 - I got up early & got partly ready to go to get my hair fixed. Then got my breakfast & Betty came to take me down around 8:10 for my 8:20 appt. Then she came & got me to take me home. I read my prayers and got ready to go to the luncheon at Mrs. Hunt's. It was very nice. 9 of us there besides the hostesses. WE came home early. I did a little sewing this eve.

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1970 - I got around fairly early & got my work done & plants watered. Pat called and wanted me to come in the forenoon. So she came after me. I had a real nice day. Big dinner & supper & card games & ice cream in the eve. Bob & Maggie& Ed also were there for Kathy's 16th birthday. I got home late. Feel pretty good.

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1970 - I got up & took my bath, got breakfast & worked around here all forenoon & finished my work. I warmed up the fish I brought home from Pat's & had enough for my dinner & supper. Betty & I went to confession and Mass. We had quite a hard rain this morning. I wrote a letter to Joe & Tina this forenoon.

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 1970 - I got up in time to have the Shut In Mass on TV. Then got my breakfast & read prayers. Paul & Lillian came down & we had a good visit. I got my lunch. Had a good rest & said my Rosary and got ready to go for my birthday supper at Hill's Hall. There were 66 of our family & 6 guests, 72 all together. Had a very nice time. Nice gifts & big supper. Can't get sleepy at about 2:00 AM.

MONDAY, JULY 20, 1970 - My 79th birthday. I couldn't get to sleep early last night. So I slept later this AM but got around pretty good. The weather is cool. Got 7 more birthday cards, 34 all together. Larry called this eve & we had along talk. Wilma & Clarence, Louise & Carl, also Pat's & Gene's came. We played cards. Gene came late after helping Paul with house. We had ice cream & cake.

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1970 - I got up and got my mail ready & in the mailbox. Letter to Benny & order for Johnie Milder's wedding gift of Sick Call set & 2 sets Christmas card. I didn't get any mail. Sewed a little on blocks & mended corset. Watered plants. Real tired today. Gene mowed the lawns. I wrote to Bro. John & Sister Margaretta and watched TV. No company. Betty mailed Joe & Tina's wedding gift.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1970 - I got up fairly early & got my washing started. So it was finished early. I felt pretty good today, much better than yesterday. Heard from Bro. John & he is coming July 29 to July 31. So that's something to plan for. I hemmed up my pink dress today and Gertrude & Nick came out this eve for a little while. I wrote thank you notes to Ed's & Gerald's & Velva & Bessie for a start.

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1970 - I got around fairly early this morning. I washed my bedding & special pillowcases, then did my ironing. Betty got my groceries before noon. So I was pretty busy. This PM Mike was in & out while he was working in the garden. Then Linda & children & her mother came after him. I wrote 10 thank y0u notes tonight.

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1970 - I got up fairly early as I had quite a list of things I wanted to do today. I got along OK. Mailed thank you notes but no mail for me. Watered plants, made kraut salad, sewed some on quilt blocks. I wrote to John Frantz tonight, also thank you notes to Joyce & Denny, Anita & Dean tonight. No company. Warmed up some today.

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1970 - I got up and took my bath. Pat called first & told me that Bro. John had called to tell them about his vacation and when he was coming home I was pretty busy all day. Ben & Joann came out & brought her sister Jean & husband along & we had a little visit. Ben gave me corn & a bunch of cucumbers & Betty came over & vacuumed my floors & put up my hair. I sewed on quilt blocks this eve.

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 1970 - I got up & got my breakfast & got ready to go to 9:00 Mass with Betty and the children. Libb called & wanted me to go with them to Marilyn's for the little boys birthdays, which I did & had a nice time. Dick & Reg & family & her sister Marilyn were there. Also Dave & Rita Ferrin. Went home to Libb's & she made my supper, then they went to Farm Bureau picnic & I went with them. Louise called & I went with them to Gene's to play cards.

MONDAY, JULY 27, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time & got my breakfast. I had quite a few things planned to do today. Betty got a few groceries for me. Wilma called to say she was coming this PM& she did. It was just wonderful; really helped a lot. Libb called to tell me about Joyce. Bro. John called to check that we knew for sure when he would be here. It was a pretty warm day.

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1970 - I didn't get up too early but I got plenty done today that I had to. Besides cooking a chicken & taking it off the bones for future use & also made a nice bowl of fresh applesauce. Libb & Lyle brought me some nice apples. Marilyn & Doug stopped in for a little visit. Betty took a box of things for welfare. I'm pretty tired tonight.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1970 - I got up early & got my washing done & dried. I washed my hair & Betty came over & put it up, then left Philip here for a while & when she came back she combed out my hair. I mailed a letter to Sister & Joe & Tina & I got a letter from Tina. I had a big dinner. Gene's got Bro. John at the airport. I got sick at my stomach & cramps and diarrhea. Got to feeling better before the eve was over.

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1970 - I got up feeling fairly good & ate a big breakfast. Then Betty got my groceries. I got my prayers read then made baked potatoes. Carol came with steak & lettuce for dinner & we had a very nice dinner. Bro. John went with Leonard to see his work. Then visited with Carol. Then we talked to Sister at La Crosse. Carol told her they would bring her down with them August 9. This eve Leonard's & Louise's came & brought supper. Then Dick's 6, Ed's 4, Gerald's 6, Moe's 2, Wilma's 3, Paul's 3 all to see Bro. John.

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1970 - I got up at the usual time & got dressed& bed made & already to get Bro. John's breakfast when got up. WE had a good breakfast & did the dishes. Bro. John went with Gene for a trip around town & then Gene's came over & had dinner with us. In the PM Ann, Tony & Connie came out to see Bro. John. Later Mike stopped in. Libb & Lyle & Rita & I went to the airport. Rained hard. Went to Libb's for supper. Came home & got bedding washed & made up for Sister. Ann & Rita learned to play cards, 5 handed euchre.

Next month - August