1970 Diary

(Transcribed by Kathy Desterhaft)

Previous month - April

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1970 - Didn't get up too early as I had company, but got around fairly good. Watered plants, got a big dinner made up meatloaf for future use to be frozen. Got a nice letter from Benny. Watched our TV stories, light supper. Gene took Bessie home after 6:30, rode along, then stopped at Louise' for the evening and Charles birthday. Charles brought me home.

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1970 - I got up fairly early & took my bath and then got my washing started. I worked right along all forenoon and was pretty in my legs. Only sat down a while to read my prayers. Had a good letter from Sister M. Sounds like she will be closer to us next year. Only 1 telephone call today. That was Pat tonight. I called Gene & Betty & Libb. Didn't go to Mass tonight.

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 1970 - I got u early to go with Gene to 7:30 Mass. Then I got my breakfast. Lillian came down & we had a good visit & she said I could go to Nichols to the church supper with them & Paul paid for my supper, which was very nice. Then we came back past Wilma's & I stayed there for the evening. Gene's family came down. We played cards and I came home with them.

MONDAY, MAY 4, 1970 - I got u fairly early & got ann. card mailed to Maurice & Joann & letter to Sister M. I did up the ironing & seemed to keep busy. Joann & Barbie & Michelle & Tracy, Mike's 2 little girls came out while Ben & Mike worked on the garden. They brought me a mess of mushrooms & 2 messes of fish. I got Bro. John's letter today so wrote to him this eve besides writing out checks for bills & insurance.

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1970 - I didn't get up too early, so didn't get the news until 8:45 & then herd about the students riot. So we didn't have our card party tonight on acct of the trouble with the students. I mailed letter to Bro. John's letter & the other regular bills & Capper's insurance & for cards etc. I watered plants today and other jobs & sewed on quilt blocks and wrote to Pfc. John Milder in Arizona & Pfc. Benny Milder in Vietnam. Made late Holy Hour.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1970 - I got u rather early & did my washing & wrote a letter to Myrtle and finished my letter to Benny. Also sent ann. card to Paul's & confirmation card to Keith. I also got my ironing & mending done today. Getting ready for Holy Day. Pat & Glenn & family came this eve. after Mass & brought hamburgers & French fries. Glenn took the children to catechism. Leonard & 3 children came out while Debbie also was at catechism.

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1970 - I got u fairly early & got my breakfast & ate it, then got work done u & got ready to go with Betty & the children to 9:00 Mass. We got along fine. Ann came over for a little visit. I got my dinner then Wilma came. She got my clothes ready for the wedding. WE had a good visit. Pauline came with their wedding gift for Alan & Linda. Also told us her mother was in the hospital. Pat called this eve.

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1970 - I got around quite early & got started at my work. I had all the plants to water & do some sweeping in the breezeway. Joann called. Had my appt. for my hair. Gene, Betty & Brenda took me down & Betty came after me. Louise came & picked some lilacs for me & transplanted a rose & cut off more dead rose busy & brought candy cake. In eve. Frantz's came & transplanted my chrysanthemums & got my nasturtiums planted. Jill brought me a big plate full of brownies. Sent card to Gus Bro. Gave First Comm card to Sherry.

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1970 - I got up fairly early so that I could get my work done before we went to the wedding. I got along fairly good and Gene & Betty took Louise & I. We got down there in good time. The wedding was very nice & I enjoyed it a lot. We came home in the rain, which we needed badly. I ate my supper, then Paul & Lillian & Linda came as they couldn't come tomorrow. We played cards & had a nice time. Also ice cream & cake.

SUNDAY, MAY 10, 1970 - Happy Mother's Day. A long & happy day. 48 here. Also Bernice & Lois. Went to 7:30 Mass. When I got home, Gerald's family was here & making a very lovely breakfast for me. Then they left & Ben & Joann & Barbara came. Brought me a blanket. They left & Leonard's family came & brought dinner. After that, Ed's family came, also Richard & Reg & family & Duane came. Also Gertrude & Nick. Then, after they left, I got my rosary said. Rested & got a little to eat. After supper Pat's family & Gene's family & Wilma's family & Libb's all came & we had a very nice time. Played cards & had ice cream & cake. After all were gone, Larry called & wished me a Happy Mother's Day & he and Joanie was married in April.

MONDAY, MAY 11, 1970 - I slept late this morning after taking the sleep capsule. So I felt pretty good today & kept busy. Louise came early to tell me of their plans for our next Sunday night Mother's Day dinner. Then Joann called. I had late breakfast - cooked up asparagus & rhubarb & put both in freezer; rhubarb raw. After dinner Gene & Betty came. They got windows washed & window sills painted. Then Libb's 3 & Louise & Carl took me out for chicken supper. Then Libb & Lyle set out my plants in window boxes & got the breezeway cleaned up. Rita put out geraniums in front. Washed bedding & Betty made it up with new blanket.

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time. I had a lot of extra things to put away from Mother's Day party. Watered plants too. Wilma called; also Betty & Rita & Bessie and I talked to Pat & Sueppel came to collect the insurance. And I got a little rest this P.M. Betty bought the bags for me for the vacuum cleaner. I wrote to John Frantz, Sister Margaretta * wrote check for N.W. Tel Co.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1970 - I got up fairly early & hurried to write my letter to Bro. John. Then got my letters mailed. Then I did my washing and got done in good time. Got my prayers read, was sort of tired today. Mended a little & got my clothes dampened for tomorrow. Louise came down & brought 2 boxes of petunias & set them out. Pat came in the eve & worked on my aquarium. Leonard& children out for a while as Debbie was at Mass; last time for catechism.

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1970 - Well it seemed to rain quite a lot during the night. I got around in pretty good time & got along real good with my work of ironing etc. this forenoon, but was awfully tired this P.M. Gene's got my groceries. Louise brought my new mirror for bathroom. Gene mowed part of the lawn tonight. I watched TV tonight as usual. Sewed on quilt patched & played solitaire.

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1970 - I got up rather early & got started at my work. I cleaned & polished all my silverware today. Also with Gene's help, I got the freezer part of my refrigerator defrosted. So I really found plenty to do. Also watered plants & then wrote 5 letters this eve. to Sgt. Joe milder, Sister M., Joyce & Denny, Anita & Dean & Veatress & Harold. Libb & Lyle were out & took my rocker home with them to cover. I'm tired & sleepy.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1970 - I got up fairly early and got started at my work. Cleaning here & there. Also bath first & washed a batch of clothes. Leonard & Marilyn, Doug & Donna came & Marilyn washed my hair & put it up. They brought the sherbet & ice cream for tomorrow night. I got along fairly good, but legs & feet hurt a lot. Gene & I went to confession & Mass. Arch Bishop Sheen was there & preached the sermon.

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1970 - I got up in good time so I could eat my breakfast & get around for the Shut Ins Mass on TV. Then I worked around at one thing & another. Got my prayers read after dinner. Louise came & put u tables. Then later Lyle & Rita came & brought my chair that they covered for me & fixture to hang my mirror. I rested a little & then I got dressed & the families began to come. 11 sons & daughters & their better halves. Ed, Louise, Wilma, Libb, Paul, Ben, Gertrude, Gerald, Leonard's, Pat's & Gene's & they gave me a lovely Mother's Day pin too. Big supper & played cards.

MONDAY, MAY 18, 1970 - Sister Margaretta 's birthday. She is 58 years old. I was pretty tired today. I got up early enough so I could write a litter to Maurice's & also get Larry's letter mailed. I didn't get much done today. Lillian came with my pin. Betty talked a little while this noon. Joann visited me this eve while the men worked in the garden. Louise brought down the clean tablecloth she had laundered for me.

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time. Got letter from Bro. John. Thank you note from Linda Milder. I watered plants. Gene took me down to the banks & I got my business done at the Hawkeye Bank. Home in time & got my dinner by time to get my TV program. Kept busy all day, no rest. Quite a few telephone calls. Wrote letters to Pfc. John Milder. Also Sister M. & Bro. John. Pretty warm tonight. Sort of tired again. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1970 - I got up earlier & got my washing started & got along real good today. Kept busy all forenoon. Gene's got my groceries. Ben was in and visited a while. His work is shut down on account of the painters striking. Pat called this eve. They are going to get done planting corn. I sewed some this eve. Had early supper.

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1970 - I got around early again & first washed my old black & white Bemberg dress & ironed it. Also pressed the blue dress that Wilma straightened the hem for me. Washed the material from the chair that Libb upholstered. Also did all my ironing this forenoon. Sort of tired this P.M. but didn't get time to lay down. Louise, Wilma, Pat all called me & I called Betty. It was quite hot again today but I didn't turn on air conditioner.

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1970 - I got up fairly early & mailed Get Well cards to Mrs. Dohrer & Mrs. Ockenfels. Then I worked in packing up Dad's things that were still in the drawer. Then I got my interest check in the mail & Gene took me down to the bank after dinner. They also shopped at Woolworth's for cards - Birthday, Graduation, Anniversary. It was quite hot so put on air conditioner. Ben, Joann, Barbie & their 2 grandchildren came out for a while. Betty brought me a lot of lettuce. I wrote to Ed's & Pauline this eve. We got a little rain. Also thunder & lightening.

SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1970 - I got up and took my bath & got my breakfast. Got all my housework done this forenoon. Gene got me another Graduation card. I made a good dinner & supper for myself. Betty had her meeting for the shower. We had quite a hard rain around suppertime. We didn't go to Mass this evening.

SUNDAY, MAY 24, 1970 - I got up early to have plenty of time to get ready to go to Mass with Gene's. Ben, Joann & Barbie came out for a while as Ben was getting stuff out of his garden. Libb called & wanted me to come for dinner, so I said yes. She & Rita came after me. They had a very good dinner. I enjoyed it a lot. WE played cards in the afternoon. They brought me home after supper & then went to Regina Days.

MONDAY, MAY 25, 1970 - I got up fairly early & finished Sister's letter & then mailed it. M. Man came before 9:00 AM. I didn't really get too much done today. I cooked an old hen & got some good meat ahead to eat. Also talked to Libb & Louise & Lillian, Pat & Wilma called. Also Libb called to tell me they heard from John. I worked quite a bit on hemming up my pink dress this eve. Also got my checks & checkbook OK. Wrote letters to Sgt. John Frantz & Bro. John. I got Sister's & B. John's letter today.

TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1970 - I got around in fairly good time, both my letters mailed to Bro. John & John Frantz. I also watered plants and got my prayers read and dinner on time. Stomach didn't feel very good this morning, but better by night. Wilma visited me this PM. Ben, Joann & Barbie were also out. Anna Marie over this eve to collect for United Cerebral Palsy. Sewed on dress hem this evening & finished it.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1970 - Well today being washday, I got up fairly early again & had washing finished in good time. Did extra hand washing too. Gene's got my groceries this PM. I did some sewing this eve. Joann was out for a little while as Ben was working in the garden & also planting. Ben was to Dr. Noble today & found out he had arthritis in his arm & shoulder.

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1970 - I got around in good time *+& got my ironing done and prayers read & many other little things picked up around here. Getting ready for Sister to come. Gene & Ronny left around 1:30 PM & got back home here around 8:30 PM. We had a nice visit and got to bed in fairly good time. I had my coughing spell again at night.

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1970 - We got around in good time & I washed my bedding. They we got our peonies picked & ready for the cemetery. Sister picked lettuce from Ben's garden & I cleaned it. She reset some houseplants. I also cut up asparagus to put in deep freeze. After dinner, we fixed the flowers for cemetery. We took 7 bouquets to Mt. Calvary & 4 to the City Cemetery at West Liberty. Came home in pretty had rain. My throat still scratchy & sore.

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1970 - MEMORIAL DAY - We had a nice breakfast & had a real good day. I still have a lot of cold in my head & ears. Sister made rolls & doughnuts today & gave some to Gene & Betty. In the evening, Libb & Lyle & Rita came & brought our supper. Hamburgers & potato salad & chips, baked beans, rolls. Sister's rolls, ka-bobs of banana & marshmallows.

SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1970 - Got up early to go with Gene to 7:30 Mass. Then we had a good breakfast. Then Paul & Lillian came a little later & after them, Leonard's came. In the afternoon, Libb, Lyle & Rita came & they took pictures of Rita & myself. Also us with Sister. Also Rita & Libb & Lyle. We rested some & then we went to Pat's for Mary Lou's birthday summer with Louise & Carl. Tired as usual & cold seemed some better today.

Next month - June