1970 Diary

(Transcribed by Kathy Desterhaft)

Previous month - May

MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1970 - Rainy after noon. Sump pump running. We didn't go to Mary Lou's recital on account of the rain & my bad cold. I got up fairly good time, not really too early. We got breakfast over. Sister M. & Louise went downtown. They got me shelf paper edging for my cupboards. I got my prayers read & dinner ready. We watched the stories & done the dishes & Sister M. worked all afternoon on cupboards. Done a fine job. Dietsch's here tonight.

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1970 - We didn't get up very early. I had quite a lot of stomach cramps in the night. So then got relief & slept later. Marilyn was here before we were through breakfast. The later Louise, Lillian, Libb & Pat & Betty came after dinner. TV man out says my picture tube is burned out. So Gene dealed with them for a new TV. Bob brought us out a small one to use. No company this eve. Pretty tired.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1970 - We got up in fairly good time. I wrote to Bro. John & Joe Milder this morning & Sister done her washing all before breakfast. They brought my new television and it is very good. Wilma came & helped Sister finish the house cleaning of cupboards & breezeway. Also help sort out my clothes in my closet. We had a good dinner & supper. New strawberries from Elizabeth.

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1970 - I got up pretty early, as I wanted to get my washing done & Sister wanted to do baking. So we got along fine and she hung out my starch clothes. I got ready to go the Dr. So as soon as our dinner was over, I got ready & Betty took me. I had a fairly good checkup. Had gained a few pounds but BP was not bad. 140/85. Later in the afternoon, Betty took Sister & I to confession from about 5:30 PM we went to Leonard's for birthday supper for Diane.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1970 - Feast of Sacred Heart. We got around in good time this morning. Sister M. baked a rhubarb pie. Finished putting edging on cupboard shelves & cleaned flowerbeds. Gene took the Light & Gas bill down. Also put checks in bank. I wrote to Benny and John Milder this morning. We went to our Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart at 5:10 with Gene's family then we got hamburgers & French fries. In eve went with Libb & Lyle to Rita's graduation. Afterwards to Libb's, then Dave, Rita & Rose Ann brought us home.

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1970 - We got around fairly early. I took my bath & we had a good breakfast. Sister mad up her bed with clean sheets & pillowcases. So I washed them & the bed spread and other things & she ironed them. She also cleaned the floors & stove yet & got packed to leave. Gene & family took her at 2:15 PM. They got home in good time. Then we went to Mass and then to Lyle & Eldon's for the picnic for Rita & Alice.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 1970 - Gene called in PM. Pat also called this eve. I got up in time to got my breakfast & then watch the Mass for Shut Ins. I watched different things on TV and read prayers. Played Solitaire & did some reading. Walked around my house once. It was a long day. Oh yes, I watched part of ball game & auto races & slept some. So now the long day is about over. Louise was here a little while this morning. I called Libb & will go down there tomorrow to help stem strawberries.

MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1970 - I got up about 6:30 AM as I had a few things I wanted to do before going to Libb's. Rita came after me a little after 9:00 AM and I got right to cleaning & stemming strawberries for them. So Libb was able to put 10 qt. In the freezer & had a strawberry pie for dinner & strawberries for supper. They were very good. I also did a little mending. We came to Iowa City & they did some shopping. I tried on some dresses then came home & set out chrysanthemums & planted glad bulbs.

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1970 - I got up around 6:00 AM & got busy getting a few things done before I went out to Pat's. She got here around 9:00 AM or a little later and we left right after the mail came. I worked this AM at my rhubarb & got 8 bags done. Then I did a little mending after a big dinner of fried chicken. I rested a while & sat outside. Walked around quite a lot to see the garden & big dog, etc. etc. I really enjoyed the day. Pat's family brought me home.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1970 - Joann called & said Moe was in hosp with pneumonia. I got up early again today and got my washing started & got it all done & run through dryer & starched clothes, hung up in bathroom and got everything done & 2 trips to mail box and Betty was ready to take me. I was pretty tired today but stemmed quite a lot of berries for Libb & she gave me 12 pint. I put in jars; they look awful good. Libb & Lyle brought me home then Leonard's came to say goodbye & leave their vacations plans.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1970 - I got up early & wrote card to Moe, also Dexter's & letter to John Frantz. Then I did my ironing, got my dinner over & ready to go to get my hair fixed by 2:15. Home around 4:00 PM. Made Holy Hour, got my supper & ready to go with Betty to the shower by 7:00 PM. It was very nice & a nice crowd there. Louise & Carl sold their house so they will soon be moving. I played some solitaire. Put on air conditioner for a while.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1970 - I got up fairly early & got my breakfast. I seem to have lots of little jobs around here & kept busy. Also run sweeper over carpets. Glenn came in & cut down trees for Gene & then came over here & cut some down for me. God Bless him for his good work. We had a good rain. I went to Paul's for the evening. Bernice & Lois were out & we played cards.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1970 - I got up and took my bath. Not too early. Cleaned up house some and kept busy. Finally finished the hem in my dress tonight. Veatress & Harold came out as Harold's brother Roy was in the hospital. H. went back for a little while & V. stayed here. Later in the eve we had ice cream & cake.

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1970 - It was a rainy early morning but I went with Gene to 7:30 Mass & by that time the rain had stopped. I spent a quiet day. Joann called & we had a long talk. I ate my lunch & rested a while and then got ready to go with Gene's to the Milder Reunion. There were only 64 there tonight. 39 of our family. Wm. Milder's 9, Wiescamp's 15 and 1 guest.

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time & got busy with my work. I cooked an old hen & made room in the deep freeze form y new chickens as Gene & Betty went out to Pat's & helped butcher 25 for themselves and 6 for me, 3 for Pat's. I stayed with Philip & Brenda. It was quite hot today, so I ran the air conditioner until late this eve. I wrote to Sgt. Joe this eve.

TUESDAY, June 16, 1970 - It was a little late when I got up but I got plenty done to get tire anyway. I got a good letter from Sister M. I got my flowers watered & set out some rose moss & petunias. Got a good dinner. Catherine stopped in & visited for a little while. Libb & Pat called. Ben & Mike worked in the gardens a while. I wrote to Sister Margaretta & Bro. John this eve.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1970 - I got around fairly early & got my washing started. Had 2 batches today. Gene helped me with my sheet. They also got my groceries & took my dresses to the cleaners. I finished sewing the strip of blocks this eve. Also got sympathy card ready to send to Harold's as his brother Roy died last night. Also got a card ready to send to Leonard's in Wisconsin. Rain, thunder & lightening storm around noon & again tonight.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1970 - I got up fairly early & washed my pink dress & ironed it. Mailed card to Harold's & letter note to Leonard's. Did my ironing, pressed my blue & white dress then was tired. John & Pat L came to see me. Johnie just got home this forenoon. Then I made my dinner & Carol & Louise brought down a bunch of things to give away. Then went to Bro's to see what was needed there. Pat came in this evening & got some of the bedding etc.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1970 - I got up and got around real good this AM & made some strawberry jam & lettuce dressing. Then went to Betty's to stay with the children while she went down to her mother's. Came home then I got my dinner and heard my stories. Gene & Betty & children stopped in & got the boxes for Louise. Ben's came in before supper& got some bedding & rugs from Louise. Gertrude & Nick here for a little while this eve.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1970 - I wrote to Benny & Hattie today. Sent check for cards. I got up and took my bath. It was quite cool this morning and raining. So I turned up the furnace for a while. It was Carl & Louise's sale day so I wondered how it would go, but from all reports, it went real good. Louise talked to me tonight & they were quite satisfied. Gene's & I went to Mass then Gene got hamburgers for me & brought them home. Dean's were at Gene's tonight.

SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 1970 - I got up early & had my breakfast & work done, so I could see the Mass for Shut Ins. Then got most of my prayers said & got ready to go with Libb & Lyle to Rock Island to Rose Ann & Lee's. It was a very nice trip & nice time. Big dinner & I also enjoyed playing cards. I was quite tired when I got home around about 5:30 PM.

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1970 - I got up fairly early. Got my breakfast. I made some peach tapioca & thawed out chicken to fry for my dinner. I also dug up a few weeds when I got the mail. I started to straighten out the top drawers of my dresser; worked late. Gene & Betty stopped in for a little while. Louise went to the courthouse to se about my taxes & Mike came in for a little bit & used hone & got a drink of water. Ben & Joann & Barbara were out & Ben gave me some new beans.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1970 - Today I got up in fairly good time. I had lots of extra jobs I did, dug up a few weeds in flower bed, washed my yellow plastic table cloth, cooked rhubarb, mended slips & washed 3 slips. Louise came again with some things to give away. Mike stopped in for al little while as he had been working in the garden. I wrote to Sister M. & Bro. John tonight. Also ann. card to Gertrude & Nick & order for labels. Also worked on my checks & account book.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1970 - I got around in good time & got my washing started, but mailed my letters first as it was a little rainy. Got a good breakfast for myself as I was sort of hungry. I did quite a bit of mending. Louise called & we talked about the lease. Gene & Paul here this eve to measure up for my cellar door boards. Betty got my groceries & mailed pattern to Sister M.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1970 - It was a pretty good day today. I got around & did my ironing before the mailman came. Then I dug around the flowerbed a little & cut off my red roses by the front porch and did odd jobs in the kitchen& elsewhere. Had my last TV tray from Christmas today. Just 6 months. It really was good. Mr. Bro over this eve to say they would move Aug 1.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1970 - I slept a little later than usual, as I took a rest pill last night. I got along real good today with my work. Watering plants & some outside work and sort of picking up things. Libb wanted me to come down & help with beans but I didn't think I could as I expected a call from Mr. Gedekes and Louise to come. Louise came this eve but he didn't call, so I wonder. I rested a while this PM and its nice & cool.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1970 - I got up and took my bath & then got my breakfast & kept busy & about 10:00 AM I washed my hair & Betty came & put it up for me. In the PM Gene made my cellar door & painted it. Then we went to confession & to Mass. Then Gene got the yard all mowed & Gene's & Pat's brought me supper in. Also made homemade ice cream after supper. Paul & Lillian came. We played 3 games 8 handed - women 1, men & Mary Lou 2.

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 1970 - I got up in time to watch the Mass for Shut Ins at 8:00 o'clock. Then I did up my work & got all my prayers done. Ben & Joann came out at noon. Also Barbie, Larry & Jim & Joann had the baby Tracy as Mike, Linda & Michelle & Steve all went to Independence. Mike & Steve were playing in a tournament. They gave me a catfish & pan of nice beans. In the eve went to party at Paul's for Gerald & Pauline's 20th anniversary.

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1970 - I got up early so that I could get mail ready which was the water bill & card to Lillian & then get my work done up so that I could go to Libb's to help with chickens today. We got 24 done. Rita was such a good help. Lyle helped pick some too. Anyway I helped with pinfeathers & cut up 9, then I rested a little. Then Libb & Lyle took me our for supper & we then came home. Libb watered the flowers outside for me.

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1970 - 98 in Iowa City today. Hottest in the state. I got around in fairly good time this morning. I seemed to keep busy all day. Had quite a few telephone calls and Lillian visited me this PM. Also Joann & Barbie was here for a little while, as Ben was out to the garden. Gene & Betty took a little vacation with the children. I put air conditioner on at 10:00 AM, run it until I went to bed. Heard from Sister M. today. Wrote to Sister M, Bro. John & Sgt Joe Milder.

Next month - July