1970 Diary

(Transcribed by Kathy Desterhaft)

Previous month - August

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1970 - I didn't get around very early again. Pretty good sleeping. I watered plants, pressed my dress and washed my hair, so I kept busy most of the day. I wrote to Sister M & Bro J then went to card party. Gene took me down. Rita Dvorsky brought me home. I had very poor luck tonight playing cards. After I got home, I wrote a letter to Jo & Tina & card for Ron & Pat.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1970 - I got up in goodtime & got my washing started & finished fairly early. I mailed letters to Bro John, Sister M, Joe & Tina & card to Ron & Pat. Sewed some on skirt & mended on the sewing machine. At little rain this eve. Bessie called me twice today. I talked to Libb. Pat called. Sewed quilt blocks this eve & played solitaire & watched TV. Couldn't get to sleep till almost 3:00 AM; took a rest pill.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1970 - Got stung by a wasp. I got up in fairly good time and had a busy forenoon, as usual. I did my ironing and was glad to get it finished. Betty took my checks to the bank. Alan came out to see me & told me Linda lost their baby. Linda was getting along OK. Ben & Joann came out at suppertime. I paid them for their work across the street. I wrote out checks tonight and also got BD cards ready for Bessie & Anna Sullivan.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1970 - I got up in good time as I had my letters to mail. Then I got my plants watered early & got along pretty good with my work, slow but sure. Finished fixing my skirt & got the bedrooms & B room floors done. Pat called. Got my check from Pete. Betty took to down to the bank. I also mailed check for cement used across the street. Marty called me & invited me for supper Sunday night for Laurie's birthday. Hand and finger started to swell this PM.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1970 - I got up very early as my finger & hand was swollen, so I couldn't sleep. So I took my bath. Later I called Dr's office abut my wasp sting & Dr called back to tell me what to do, that was nothing unless I soaked it in ice water. It started to get better. Ben & Joann & Larry came out & they got rid of the wasps for me. Ben got the holes in foundation down at the big hours plastered up. It was quite a lot of work. Betty & I went to confession in the PM. I took things a little easier for a Saturday, but kept pretty busy in my slow way. Nick & Gertrude came out to show me the movie of their vacation trip to Florida.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1970 - Ben's 48th birthday. My alarm went off this morning, so I got ready for 7:30 Mass without having to hurry too much. Went with Gene & family. Then I had a fairly quite day. Then Ben & Joann & Jim came out. Ben's birthday & Ken called to let them know he was coming home this month. Then a little later, Leonard's family came & we had a little visit and I told them about tomorrow and the help we hope to get to get the buildings tore down & trees cut up. Then Paul's came for me & we went to Tom's for supper for Laurie's birthday. A very nice time.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1970 - LABOR DAY - I got up in fairly good time as I was expecting some of the children to come home today to help tear down the old buildings & cut down some trees. So Gene came, also Wilma & Clarence & Ann, Libb & Lyle, Louise & Carl, Leonard & Douglas & Glenn. Then later Glenn had to go to do baling & Gene & Kevin came & helped. They got everything down & 2 loads haled to the dump and a load of lumber Glenn hauled home in the eve. So there is lots of tired people tonight. God Bless them all.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1970 - I didn't get around very early this morning, but kept busy until I took a little rest this PM. It was a lovely day, not hot & not cold. Glenn came with pickup & hauled out the last of the lumber. Pat visited a little while he got loaded up. Wrote letters to Joyce, also this eve to Benny, Sister M. & Bro. John. Read part of the paper. Pretty sleepy too. Good letter from Bro. John today.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1970 - Joyce & Denny's baby boy born today. 7 lb, 1 oz. Mary called me early today & they will call him Patrick John. I got around in fairly good time. Mailed my letters, did my washing and kept real busy all forenoon. It got quite warm today & this evening we had quite a storm, lightening, thunder & wind and more than an inch of rain. I wrote to Joyce & Denny, Helen, John F. & Harold's tonight. Sort of tired.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1970 - I didn't get around too early but really had a busy forenoon, but got a fruit salad made, iced a cake & did my ironing. Betty got my groceries this forenoon. Pat Milder called & invited me to the Home Mass Sat eve when little Christopher will be baptized. I got my Holy Hour made & then Elouise brought Bessie out & we had a very nice evening.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1970 - Got up in fairly good time. I took the mail to the box & we had a good breakfast. Took it rather easy today as Bessie was here and we visited & made a good dinner. We sort of looked for Harold's but they didn't come. So Bessie went home around 8:00 PM. Gene took her in. I worked on my books getting it straightened up. Lovely day today. Betty finally got my shopping done.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1970 - I got up and took my bather and got my breakfast, mailed my letters and got a little work done around here. Then Betty left the children here while she went down for instructions on Catechism classes. Then after dinner she came & vacuumed the floors & put up my hair after I washed it. Paul came for me this eve so I went up to their place for Mass & the christening of Ron & Pat's baby, Christopher Robert. It was very nice.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1970 - I got up in good time so that I could have my breakfast over & then hear the Shut In Mass. It was very nice, as usual & I spent quite a lot of the forenoon getting my prayers ready & getting caught up reading the newspapers. It was a real damp day. I got ready to go with Betty to Coralville for the shower for Pat Lowrance. A very nice party. I had a very long evening. Joann & Pat called.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1970 - I didn't get up very early. I was awfully tired this forenoon, but kept going. Read my prayers & started to get pieces ready to make another pack of quilt blocks for a baby quilt. It was a rainy day. Pat & Gene each called. Betty stopped in & took out the garbage. Strange phone call tonight. Someone calling for Jack Lawrence. Can't find the number in the phone book. I finished hemming my new dress that Louise made for me.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time, got my plants watered, cooked an old hen, ready prayers & finished my new dress. After dinner, I marked more blocks. I was sure disappointed I didn't get to Wilma's for Louise's birthday party, since I was the first one to suggest it, but I had to go to Mike's for the girls birthday party, as I had promised. After I got home I wrote to Joe & Tina, Sister M. & Bro J.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time. Sort of had the blues this morning but got my washing done & got into a pretty busy day. I marked blue & white quilt patches to get started on a new baby quilt. Louise, Wilma, Pat & Joann called. I called Libb. They still haven't heard from John. Mike & Tracy came out this noon & brought Pat Lowrance's shower gift. Gene mowed lawn. I worked on quilt blocks, as usual.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1970 - Got up in good time. Cut some on quilt block and did my ironing, didn't quite finish before noon and did my dress & pressed my new one before supper. In the PM I made my Holy Hour and Pat & Glenn & family came in this eve & brought a lovely big supper, then she & the girls helped me to get my geraniums set out. I'm so thankful for that. Pat brought in some skirts for me to hem. Lillian came out to get Pat's gift.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time, got my bite of breakfast and got the mail & worked around with the plants & watered them, also brought in the poinsettias and sewed on Pat's skirts. I got 2 more done today. Joann, Wilma & Pat called. I called Betty. Got a letter from Myrtle. A beautiful day.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1970 - Got up & took my bather, worked pretty hard all day getting house cleaned up after dinner. Betty came over & put up my hair & vacuumed my floors. I mopped the kitchen & bathroom also this AM & read my prayers. Libb called & said she had a good letter from John & wants to get the hens done next week. Very nice day, got pretty warm.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1970 - Got up early to go to 7:30 Mass with Gene's. Then I made a good breakfast. I worked around getting pint jars ready for my canned chicken. Leonard's family came around noon and visited quite a while. Ben stopped in & gave me a mess of lima beans. Lillian came for her eggs. Gene sewed fertilizer on our ground next to pavement. Wilma & Clarence came this eve. Also Libb & Lyle & Rita came and then took my jars home to be ready to can chicken tomorrow.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1970 - I really didn't get up too early as had a hard time getting to sleep. Too warm, I guess but I got around this morning. Got my work done & ready to go by the time Lyle came around 9:00 AM. So I went there today & they butchered 7 hens for me. I helped what I could & we got 22 pts canned -quite thick of chicken. It really looks good. God Bless then all for helping me. I hemmed up a skirt for Rita then they took me to Louise's for a birthday party for Anna May. Anna May brought me home. Charles had to work. Gene paid my taxes today.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1970 - I got up in fairly good time. Seems like I kept busy today but don't know if I got much done. Watered plants, sewed on Pat's skirts, finished another & started on the last one. Also, Gene took me down to the Hawkeye Bank so I could take out some savings & put it in my checking acct at the Iowa State. Heard from Sister today but not form Bro John, but I wrote to him & Sister M. & Benny tonight & also balanced my canceled checks. Joann, Pat, Wilma, Louise, Gene called. I called Pat & Libb.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1970 - Rainy Day. I got up in good time & got my washing started, mailed letters to Bro John, Benny & Sister M. Dried clothes & folded them. Also got my ironing done and also finished Pat's skirt, so I can them home tomorrow. I have to go out there to help with grapes, as I promised. I got letters from Benny & Bro John. Have quite a backache tonight.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24,1970 - I got around fairly early, got my breakfast & then got ready to go out the Pat's for the day & help her with grapes. She made lots of jelly and grape juice. It's all so good. Also did a little mending. Betty got my groceries. I stayed until after supper. Glenn & Pat brought me home about 10:00 PM. They showed pictures of their vacation.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1970 - I got around in fairly good time, as I had to mail birthday cards to Mary & Hattie. I watered plants & made a batch of pineapple cookies and got a good dinner warmed up from Pat, fish & baked potatoes. Then after dinner, I made out hamburger cakes from 3 lbs of hamburger and got my work done up. Legs & ankles hurt a lot. I finished the quilt block & mending. Paul & Lillian here all evening. He got Dad's hearing aid. Regina won over Linn Mar, 26 to 7. Larry had 2 touchdowns. John Frantz got home from Vietnam today.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1970 - I got up fairly early & took my bathe and then got breakfast and started on my day's work, cleaning up the house. Betty came over & put my hair up. Then we went to confession. Then after I got home, I mixed the sausage. Ben, Mike & Ken came out & got the potatoes & gave me quite a lot. Pat is the only one that called today. Gene went to 7:30 Mass tonight.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1970 - Got to see John Frantz for the first time. He looks fine. I got up early; it was dark yet, to get ready to go to Mass with Betty at 7:30. Then I had my good breakfast, read prayers this AM & PM and then got ready to go with Libb's to St. Wenceslaus for supper. It really was good and I enjoyed it a lot. Then I went home with them & we had a nice evening watching TV and playing cards. Bill & Marilyn & family were there too.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1970 - I got up in good time as I knew I had a big days work ahead. So got started before breakfast and worked hard all forenoon. I got the noodles stirred up & all rolled out before noon. Then after dinner and after my stories, I began to cut them and do up my dishes and I was all finished & got floor swept & dress changed by around 5:00 PM. Louise called & talked a while. Then I got my prayers read before I ate supper. I finished a block tonight and laid out another.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1970 - I got up fairly early & got my breakfast & started getting some quilt patches hunted up & cut out. Then got the mail & plants watered. Heard from Bro J & Sister M. Sister M may come Friday if we can get her & be here for the wedding Sat. Kenny & Pan & baby visited me this PM. This eve the Frantz's came for the noodles then we went over to Gene's for a visit & play cards.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1970 - I got around in good time & got the washing started & breakfast over. Mailed letters to Sister M & Bro J. The I also washed bedding & Pat came out this even and made up my bed and wrapped the wedding gift for John & Pat. I called Sister M after supper & found out that she can come next Friday after dinner. I am very tired tonight.

Next month - October