Lots of digging, lots of family

Wed., August 19, 1936 - Howard helped dig silo over home.  The men came over here for dinner.

Thurs., August 20, 1936 - Went to town for Old Settlers Picnic.  Had dinner up home.  Rained good about 6:00 this evening.  We were home by 12:00.

Fri., August 21, 1936 - Howard went over to the folks this afternoon and they dug silo.  I washed up the dishes for Raymond.

I cannot begin to imagine how much digging would be involved to install a silo.  Big around, and I imagine fairly deep to be sure the darned thing would stay put in a high wind.

How interesting that Old Settlers should pop up, given that the weekend before last was our every-three-year family reunion.  Grandma and Grandpa both would have really enjoyed it.  For the first time, I believe, our branch of the family tree was represented via the youngest in attendance; Tanner was 5 weeks old over that weekend.  The number 17 on his onesie says that he is the 17th Iversen born here, from Peter and Maggie's children to Tanner.

As usual, I talked too much to the people I see often and not enough with the people I do not see so much.  Lots of Aunt Helen's family came back for the interment of Uncle John's ashes.  It was a nice service.  I learned quite a bit I did not know about Uncle John when the minister read his obituary.  For example, I had no idea he played in the band for Truman's inauguration.  How cool is that?

In all, a great reunion -- lots of people said so.  And as I said, Grandma and Grandpa would have enjoyed it, probably even more so than some.

Scooter must not have lasted long

October 26, 1965

Dear Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Tom,

I'm going to cause a snowstorm or something by answering your letter right away.  Got Gary's card yesterday.  Thank you for his birthday present.  He hasn't decided what to use it for yet.

No, Bill never sent any snapshots.  As I told you on the phone, I haven't had a letter from him since last May before Memorial Day.

I'll bet you're really enjoying not having any night classes.

I never found a Perquacky game.  I look up at Raley's every time I go up there.  I thought sure they would have one now that they have all their Christmas stuff out -- but no such luck.

Was that Mrs. Jason Preston that substituted?

I got a card saying I would receive 12 issues of Redbook as a gift from you so maybe I'll get it this time.  Sure hope so.

Oh, this Mary.  The other day she had eaten her cereal but left the milk in the bowl.  I told her to drink it up.  She says, "The milk doesn't taste good.  It tastes like wet carrots."  Almost every morning she has some wild dream to tell about.  I'm sure she makes it all up as she goes along.  But she is so serious and her eyes get so big.

We have two dogs now.  A stray came around.  Gary thought he looked so funny he decided to keep him.  He is part poodle, I guess.  Any way he is gray with curly hair.  Some of it hangs over his eyes and you can hardly see them.  I think he's cute and he's so friendly.  Spotty is pretty jealous yet, though.  At first he wouldn't let Scooter eat.  I'd give them each a dish. Spotty would take a bite out of one, then run to the other and growl at Scooter if he so much as moved toward either dish.

I went on a sewing spree last week.  Made new pajamas for the kids and a nightgown for me.  Plus 5 hand puppets for the school carnival.

The kids have had quite a cough the last week or so.  But it is finally letting up.

I got myself elected treasurer of the auxiliary.  I sure was surprised.

October 27, 1965

Didn't get this finished yesterday.

Gary's Mom called last night.  Gary's Uncle Oscar passed away yesterday morning.  If you remember at the shower at Wynot, he was the one who acted as master of ceremonies.  He was sick about a week.  Mom wasn't even sure what the trouble was.

Since you don't have anything to do these days I thought you might enjoy this thing.

Guess I'll close and get this mailed.

Love, 
Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

I do not recall hearing about a dog named Scooter.  Hope everything worked out for him.

A sad day for a little boy

September 13, 1965

Dear Mom, Dad, Tom, and Grandma,

Guess I better sit myself down and write you a letter.  Don't know what's the matter with me lately.  Seem to be so busy, but really can't think of anything I've done.  Guess it's a case of "the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get."

Well, Dale has started school.  After the first day he said he wanted to carry his lunch rather than eat in the lunch room.  Then the next day they sent home menus for the month.  When I read to him what they were going to have he decided he would eat the hot lunch.

I had ordered Dale's clothes from Sears.  They didn't get here til Wednesday after four.  So he had to wear his Sunday School pants to school for two days.  I had told him he would have to wear them to school.  So the first morning I went in to get him up he said he wasn't going to get up because he didn't want to wear his Sunday pants.  So I said okay, but then he got up anyway.

He catches the bus at 8:15 and gets home at 2:30.  School is from 8:45 to 2:00.  I get up at 7 every morning.  That's really something after being able to sleep as late as I wanted for nearly a year.

I have Pat's kids today (the one that looked like Leila).  She got sick during the night.  Her husband called me up at 6:30 this morning and asked if I'd go over and get the boys.  Then they put her in the hospital.  The doctor said he thought it was pancreas infection.  But he won't know for sure til the results of the blood tests are in.

Jim's mother is on her way up so I won't have these little live wires much longer.  Sure is a job taking care of them, when I'm not used to it.

We have a different TV now -- a console model.  Gary traded a gun for a pistol for the TV.

The only things you left here were your tablet, the crossword puzzle book, and a handkerchief.

When we got home that night after taking you to the train Dale said, "This sure is a sad day with Grandma and Grandpa leaving."

Shirlee and Bill spent one night with us.  They were on their way to Lake Tahoe.  Sure was a surprise when they drove up.

Dale rides his bicycle without the training wheels.  I sure was surprised when he told Gary he wanted them off.  I thought he would want those wheels on for a long time.  But it was just a month that he used them.

Now, I can't think of any more to write about.  Guess I'll close and get this thing mailed.

Love,
Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

How sweet and intuitive of little six-year-old Dale to recognize a sad day.  I don't think the photo shows what Mom ordered for school clothes, but those are from the 60's.  Look at the prices!

Two more letters from the 60's and then we are back to Grandma and 1932.

Gemini 4

June 3, 1965

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, if I'm lucky maybe this will get there in time for your anniversary.  I'm watching the Gemini flight on TV.  It's in the air now so I guess I can relax a little bit.

Gary and Dale are still asleep.  But Mary is up and around.  She was reading to her dolls a little bit ago.  But now she is coloring and singing to herself.  My lady-like daughter who is scared to death of worms just loves to play with snails.  She has two jars with about six in each one.

How was the Alumni banquet?  We had our fireman's ball that night.  There was a very disappointing turnout.  They sold lots of tickets, but hardly anyone showed up.  But we had a good time anyway.

I had a nice letter from Janice Jaeger last week.  Where is Janet Carson now?  Did they go to Rhode Island?

Did I tell you I had Mary's hair cut?  It sure looks nice and is so easy to take care of.

Our new address will be 8856 Timm Ave., Fair Oaks.  As it looks now we will be moving about the 18th.  Dale's last day of school is June 11.  I have to go to school tomorrow for a birthday party for the kids who have birthdays in the summer.

Mary went to the dentist Tuesday and I'm very happy to say that she doesn't need any work.

Did you get your reservations for August 4th?

Mary is telling me some wild story about a mouse that put dirt in her eye and she chased him into the jungle.

Dale and Mary have been going around here asking riddles.  They got a book of riddles from the book club so that's what we've been hearing.  Gary just about fell over when Mary asked him this one:  "Why does the elephant wear sunglasses?"  "So nobody will recognize him."

Say, if you ever happen to run across my notebook that I made in Public School Music, please sent it or bring it.  But don't look for it especially.  I may even have thrown it away.  I can't remember.

I can't think of anything else to write about.  So I guess I'll close and get this out in the mailbox.

Happy Anniversary.

Love,
Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

Here is a little about the June 3, 1965 space flight (from wikipedia, of course).  And the fabulous photo is of Astronaut White during his space walk:

     Gemini 4 (officially Gemini IV) was the second manned space flight in NASA's Project Gemini, occurring in June 1965. It was the tenth manned American spaceflight (including two X-15 flights at altitudes exceeding 100 kilometers (54 nmi)). Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward H. White, II circled the Earth 66 times in four days, making it the first US flight to approach the five-day flight of the Soviet Vostok 5. The highlight of the mission was the first space walk by an American, during which White floated free outside the spacecraft, tethered to it, for approximately 20 minutes. Both of these accomplishments helped the United States overcome the Soviet Union's early lead in the Space Race.

     The flight also included the first attempt to make a space rendezvous as McDivitt attempted to maneuver his craft close to the Titan II upper stage which launched it into orbit, but this was not successful.

     The flight was the first American flight to perform many scientific experiments in space, including use of a sextant to investigate the use of celestial navigation for lunar flight in the Apollo program.

Absolutely a mean mama!

November 6, 1964

Dear Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Tom,

I guess I better get busy and write a letter or I'll be getting a collect phone call.

Thanks for sending the Wayne Heralds.  I really enjoyed them as usual.

We've had some rain over the weekend.  Really soaked things up good.

No, you hadn't written that Merle was coming.  Goodness, last time I saw them Willy was just a baby.  Or did we see them when Nancy was a baby?

How does Tom like college?  Do they work him pretty hard?

Is there any news about his hearing?

Well, Gary's folks won't be coming out.  Yesterday Gary's mother had her hip operated on.  I told you that she had been having lots of trouble with her leg.  Her doctor finally told her to go to a bone specialist.  The specialist told her that it was either surgery or soon she wouldn't be walking at all.  She couldn't see being an invalid so she had the operation.  Gary's dad called last night and said that she came through it real good.  What they did was cut off the ball of the hip joint and put in a steel ball.  Then they dug out the socket.  The doctors said that she had apparently had this trouble since birth - a shallow hip socket or something like that.  Anyway she'll be in a cast for three weeks.  Sure hope this takes care of her trouble.

Hope you enjoyed your visit in Fremont.  I've been meaning to write to her, but never get it done.  The way time is flying it will probably be Christmas before I get it written.

I'm so mad.  You know those place mats I was making for Aunt Ramona?  Well after I got them hemmed, corners mitered, etc. I find that they mean to have you work on the side with just one loop. I could just scream.  So now I'm making a border on the sides.  But it sure makes me mad.

I think Dale will enjoy the Lego bricks most. He's been wanting some of them.  We got a Christmas catalog from Sears.  I looked at it and put it out of sight.  I just couldn't see listening to "I want this and this, and this."  Am I a mean old mama?  I hear enough of that from what he sees on TV.  Mary isn't too bad yet.  Guess she doesn't see anything she wants.

Gary can use socks and T-shirts for Christmas.  He wears size 12 socks.  Or maybe a sport shirt.

Gary is done with his part time job at Monroe.  Now maybe he can finish up at our other house and get it sold.

We're all just fine.  The kids are just as ornery as ever.  Right at the moment I can't think of any clever things they've said.  They're always coming up with something though.

We found a Lutheran church a little over a mile from here.  It is pretty new.  Just six years old, about 200 members, and a LCA church.  I like them real well.  The people are real nice and friendly.

Guess I better get to work.  I've got some bread ready to put in the pans.  Also some of that inevitable ironing.

Love,
Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

Thank you for Gary's birthday present.  He hasn't bought anything yet.

What size of shirt and socks does Bill wear?  Don't know what I'll get him for Xmas.  But would like to know his size.

I got a Candy Land game for Dale for Xmas.  Did a little early shopping last night.

I am guessing the letter Mom is needing to write is to Dora.  Also, yes it is very mean to hide catalogs from kids.  Actually, I used catalogs to keep mine quiet for a bit while they studied them.

The photo is of Grandpa and Grandma Bowder, shallow hip socket and all.  I think they made a very handsome couple.

Short and sweet and some big softies

June 28, 1964

Dear Mom and Dad, Tom and Grandma,

Just me and the dog are awake and the Sunday paper isn't here yet, so I guess I'll drop you a short note.

First of all will you send me right away, air mail, directions on how you can apples with aspirin.  Send every detail.  I'm afraid I have forgotten everything (which was very little) I knew about canning.  Also how to can applesauce.  I can't use my pressure cooker, it's too small for quart jars.  But Gary did buy me a "hot water bath canner".

We've had some very pleasant and welcome relief from the heat wave.  Friday it was only 84 degrees and yesterday was about the same.

This silly dog is playing with an old shoe.  Shaking it, laying it down, and growling at it.  I never thought I would care much for a dog, but I'm kind of attached to this little mutt.  Gary says he is going to build a dog house for him so he can sleep outside at night.  But I don't know.  We had to take the dog along to the drive-in movie the other night because Gary said he was too little to be left home alone.

The pup gets mad when I leave him alone to go to the store.  When we get home he looks at me with those big sorrowful eyes and then crawls away someplace to pout, usually under our bed.

Well, I better wake the kids up and get them fed.  I'm going to try and get start early enough this morning so there won't be that rush, rush, rush at the last minute.

Love, Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

The other night Mary was playing in their room and I called her to come eat supper.  She sits in there and says, "I can't hear you."

Thank you for the birthday card, Grandma.

Canning with aspirin?  That is a totally new one on me.  And must the apples have been rotting before her very eyes that Mom needed directions sent air mail?  Goodness!

Who wouldn't have fallen in love with Spot?  Most of us remember Grandma saying when Spot stayed at their house that he knew his spot was on the rug behind the stuffed rocking chair, not in it.  When Grandma would come down in the mornings, Spot would greet her happily from the rug, but the chair still in motion gave him away that he had just jumped down in time.

The latest on Muggsy -- I taught her to "shake" and of course, she gets rewarded with a treat when she does it on my command.  Well, she is a big ol' chow hound and thinks she needs to eat a lot.  So, a couple of times now, when she must have been feeling deprived, she sat down and raised her paw unbidden, suggesting that she should have a treat.  As you might imagine, I easily gave in.

Gotta love dogs

 

June 25, 1964

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well Daddy, I sure am pokey about getting your Father's Day card sent.  Hope you had a happy day.
The kids got another book today.  They really get excited when a new one comes.  Everyday when Mary takes her nap I read one of them to her.  She has two favorite ones. Today I didn't have to read to her.  She went into the bathroom.  Later I didn't hear anything and when I went in there, there she was sitting on the toilet sound asleep.

We're really having some hot weather.  It hasn't even cooled off much at night the last couple of nights.  There hasn't been a bit of a breeze.  The house stays pretty cool in the morning, but along about this time (3 o'clock) it's getting pretty warm.  And about 5:30 on it really gets hot.

Dale is taking "swimming" lessons this week and next.  At one of the city pools they give free lessons to little kids.  They are supposed to learn to float and learn to stick their head underwater, etc.  He has always been so afraid about getting his face wet.  Hope he gets over his fear.  He has been going with one of the neighbors.  He's been pretty evasive about what they're doing.  I guess I'll have to go along one of these days and see if he has done what he is supposed to be doing.

Mary has been bad lately about biting Dale when she gets mad at him.  And we've been biting her back.  The other day they were in the dining room and she bit him again.  When he started yelling she ran out to the living room.  When Gary got up she laid down on the floor and started crying.  He went in to see Dale and then she ran into the bedroom and crawled under the covers.  When Gary came into the bedroom she covered up her head and said, "Go away."  She sure knew what was coming.  But Gary said he couldn't bite her, he got so tickled.

Last Friday night Gary brought home a puppy.  It is mostly cocker spaniel with some springer spaniel, too.  It sure is a cute little pup.  It is white and sort of a gold-tan.  The kids named him Spot.  Gary was suggesting some other names such as Elwood and Lyndon.  Dale said, "Well, Dad.  I can't remember names like that, but I can remember Spot."  

There have been a couple of new babies in the neighborhood.  Dale and another little boy were discussing the new brother and sister.  They decided that they didn't want any babies, but Dale said he would like a big brother or sister.

Mary is so disappointed that she can't go "wimmin."  Oh, do you know that Mary goes to "Dunny Scoot"?  That's what she calls Sunday School.

I got a birthday card from Bill.  He wrote on the card that he was going to Norway for a month.  Didn't say if he was on leave or if the Air Force was sending him.

Say when you come out, is there any way you could make room for my card table or is it too big?

Sure is something about Winside being on direct-dialing.  Thought it would be years before they got on that.

When I was at Aunt Helen's she said something about Jean taking care of three foster children.  Is she still doing that?

Thanks for the picture of Tom.  I still am amazed at how big my "little" brother is.  

Guess this is all for this time.

Love,
Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

What a nice family I have.  This is the first I ever remember hearing that I was a biter.  I suppose the fact that I eventually outgrew it was probably to my benefit as far as future embarrassment.

I can't lay hands on a photo of Spot at the moment, so instead I will use a photo of our brand-new doggie, Muggsy.  She is a real sweetheart (so far) and a bit of a goof.  She snorts when she is awake and snores when she isn't.  Pretty much my canine equivalent.  This photo shows her "I know you have a treat" face.  Note the blurry tail.

All the bases covered

June 9, 1964

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, here I am, late again.  Hope you had a happy anniversary.

We've been having winter weather.  It really rained yesterday.  But it was really needed.  Snowed up in the mountains.

Took Dale to the doctor yesterday for his physical.  They strongly recommend that all kids have a physical before starting school.  I'm very glad to say he is healthy in every way.  Mary was amazed by the whole process.  Dale had to strip to his shorts and she wanted to take her clothes off, too.  After
the nurse took his temperature she said, "My turn, my turn."  The doctor was real nice.  Talked to Dale all the while and put him at ease.  The kids both got the Sabin oral vaccine.

We had a nice letter from Aunt Ethel.  She said they had gone to the Alumni Banquet and saved Gabe from getting the flowers again.  Have they quit sending out cards about the banquet? I sure would like to get back to one of them some day.

Ever since we got back from Aunt Irene's I've been going in circles.  Seems like I'm busy all day, but I still don't get anything done.  I should be doing some real good cleaning of closets, shelves, drawers, etc.  But never seem to find the time.  Guess I'll just have to set a certain day to start and do it no matter what else needs doing.  Can't say I'm looking forward to it very much.

I'm getting an itch to do some sewing again.  I have a shirt for Dale and a dress for Mary (the same material) all done but.  But haven't felt like finishing them.  I haven't even done any work on my afghan lately.  I don't know what I do with a day.

Sure hope it clears up today.  The kids are just about out of underwear.  I can hang clothes in the basement, but it takes about 24 hours for things to dry.  Especially things like underpants.

I'm afraid my visit to L.A. sort of ruined my weight losing.  All that delicious food and easy living and I gained back nearly everything that I'd lost.  Not that I had lost much, but at least I had made a start.

We got a letter from Bill last week.  He didn't have too much to say, but he sounded in better spirits than he must have in your letter.

Nancy said Lloyd was home.  Is that for good or just a leave?

I didn't get to see Ramon while I was in L.A.  Just happened that he was out to sea at the time.  After all the weekends that he's been in and then he has to be gone just when I'm there.

Tom is coming along this summer isn't he?  Judy and Trina wanted to know.  They said they were going to try and save the bus fare and come up while you folks are here.  I sure got a bang out of those two.

Raymond said he was coming, too.  To see Dale.

Well, I really must get to work.

Love, Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

Mom sure got a lot of things talked about in this letter.  From what she said (not my interpretation at all), she may have been avoiding things like cleaning by writing an extra long letter.  I know that is what I would be doing.

I am guessing the Raymond that was coming to see Dale was Raymond Jones since Mom would have probably referred to Uncle Raymond as . . . Uncle Raymond.

The photo was developed in 1964, obviously from a visit to Nebraska.  I'm using it for two reasons -- it is likely close in time to the letter and it is one of my absolute favorite photos of all time.

Several little nuggets in here

July 19, 1963

Dear Tom,

Thank you so much for the beautiful birthday card.

Have you found out any more about that coin that might be worth $38?  Is it one of your pennies?  How many pennies do you have now?

We have been having some hot weather again. But last Saturday Gary bought a cooler so now the heat doesn't bother any more.  I really do like that cooler.

We are moving tomorrow.  We are moving closer to Sacramento.  Our new address will be:

Our name
Del Paso Trailer Park
4428 Auburn Boulevard
Sacramento 21, Calif.

I don't know the ZIP Code but will let you know as soon as I find out.  What is the ZIP Code in Winside by the way?

Have you and Daddy done much fishing this summer?  Or have you been too busy at the school house?

These kids are really characters.  Mary is trying to say a few more words.  She says "side" when she wants to go outside, "ba" for bath, "good" when she wants a drink of water, and "hi" but it sounds more like "ha".  When she has been sitting on the potty, the minute I take the tray off she hops up, looks in the pot and says "good girl".  She says that whether she has done anything in the pot or not.

Dale is outside all the time.  Really has fits when I make him take a nap or when it is time to go to bed.  When it is bed time he says, "I never have a chance to play."  Here he's been playing all day long and then says that.  Another of his favorite expressions is "One of these days."  "One of these days buy me this" or "One of these days I'm going to do this", etc.

Mary has learned to shake hands.  She comes up to me, holds out her hand, and says "do-do" (that's Mary for how do you do).  She gets so tickled when we shake hands with her.

Some softball team you have there.  Hope your record has improved a little.  Just one little win, huh?

Have a happy birthday.

Love,
Gary, Greta, Dale & Mary

Let's see . . . I didn't know Tom ever collected pennies, was not aware when zip codes came on the scene, am thinking the school house reference is Tom employed to work on the "new" school maybe, and definitive confirmation that Dale has always been a bit of a con artist (just kidding!).

I found some photos from this time and since the next letter I have skips to December, I'll post them both here.  (Of course, it doesn't hurt that they are both of me being adorable.)  Well, I take that back -- the first one says July 1963, but I have much shorter hair than the other photo which had 1963 written on the back.  So, given a delay in getting negatives developed, the box photo may have been from some time before.  Plus, I'm not really dressed for July weather in that photo.

"She completely amazes me" . . .

June 20, 1963

Dear Dad and Mom, Tom and Grandma,

Well, I've done it again.  Father's Day has come and gone and I still have the card I bought.  Wonder if I'll ever change?  Probably not and I'm sure it would be too much of a shock for you folks if I ever got a card sent on time.  I think I may have got either Jim's birthday card or their anniversary card sent on time.  Don't know for sure how long it takes for a letter to get there.

Goodness I didn't know I had written three letters to you in a week.  Guess I'll have to quit that.  Ha!  Ha!  I just answered the letters you wrote me.

Your courses at summer school sound hard, but the teacher's sound interesting so that helps.  (Sorry about that apostrophe in the teachers.  I'll have to be real careful how I write to you with you in a comp course.) [This was a typed letter, so not so easy to just cross out the errant apostrophe.  MJS]

Is this advanced comp of some kind?  And how come another speech course?  Wasn't the other one enough or have they changed everything around?  Say, while I'm thinking about college courses -- does it cost a dollar to have a transcript sent?

We all had colds over the weekend.  Sure is a heck of a time of the year to have colds.  We're all pretty much done with sneezing and blowing noses.  You never heard so many sneezes as there were around here on Saturday and Sunday.  And to make matters even worse it was so hot over the weekend.  Yesterday it cooled off quite a bit and today seems to be starting out fairly cool.

I got a beautiful birthday card from Bill the same day we got your letter.  I was so mad because he owed us a letter and didn't write a word with the card.  But today I got a letter from him.  He said he had been working at the NCO Club at night as a waiter, so I suppose that keeps him pretty busy.  I guess I'll send Aunt Helen's letter on to him.  I'm sure he'll enjoy reading it.  I sure like it when you send letters from relatives on to me.

By Beverly Davis Hansen do you mean my old teacher?  It certainly is sad.  Carol Topp wrote to me and said that they thought Mrs. Lloyd Schneider might be all right, now.  She had been to Rochester for several operations and they thought they had all of the cancer out.

Did Betty Ann have the baby at home or did she at least make it to the hospital?  Needless to say I like the name Gary Richard.  You hadn't even told me that they were expecting.  Shame on you.

It really amazes me the way Mary likes to be read to.  I keep going on about it in all of the letters I write, but like I say, she completely amazes me.  Her favorite book is one about Woody Woodpecker.  Sometimes she sits on the davenport and "reads" to herself.  She sits there and jabbers and giggles and shakes her head.  The other day she as looking at a magazine.  She saw a picture of some cereal with bananas in it and she was trying to pick up the bananas.  She got so mad and squealed.  What a nut!

I think our bathtub is lower than yours.  Anyway Mary just hops in and out like it were nothing.

Yes, Gary wears a white shirt every day.  A clean white shirt every day.  Except Saturday and Sunday when he doesn't work.

Who are the Dedrickson's that you are going to share the garden with next year?

Say do you suppose you could call Daisy Janke some day?  I recently got a new copy of the towns that have Family Record Plan Studios.  There is a studio in Norfolk that takes pictures for them now.  Maybe Daisy knows it already, I don't know. The name of the studio is Christian Photo, 117 S. 4th.

Dale really likes Sunday School.  He goes around all week singing the songs they sing in Sunday School.  Sometimes the tunes are a little weird, but at least he is trying.  They sing a lot of the same songs that we sang in Winside.  Dale's favorite are Jesus Loves Me and Fishers of Men.

Well, it is real nice and windy and fairly cool so I think I will get some blankets and other bedding washed up.

Hope you had a happy Father's Day, Dad.

Gary got a new necktie and a minnow dipper.

Love, Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

The photo is from earlier than June of 1963, but I think I look completely amazing here, so I'm using it.

More 1963

March 5, 1963

Dear Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Tom,

Well, I am answering both Grandma's and Mom's letter in one.

I guess I'll start out with some of Dale's latest "bright" remarks.  I may have told you this one already so bear with me.  The other morning he got up and told me that he couldn't breathe very well because he had sinus congestion.

Then day before yesterday Dale and two of his friends came running to the house.  They informed me that they were the Marines and hadn't had anything to eat for three months and that they just had to have some cookies.  Do you think they got some?  Ha!  Ha!

And then the other night -- Mary was pestering Dale.  She was tickling him and following him every place he went.  Finally Dale said, "Mary is such a nuisance and makes me so nervous."

One of the neighbors just had a baby.  Dale is so excited.  He always wants to go and see Philip's baby sister.  Mary got so excited when she saw the baby.

Did I tell you yet that Mary has started taking a few steps on her own?  The other morning Dale was sitting at the table coloring.  Mary was standing by the davenport and she wanted his crayons.  She stood there and yelled for awhile and finally took off on her own.  She took about three steps before she fell.  She really is proud of herself.

We're having some real crazy weather.  Yesterday it was up to 89 and this morning it was snowing.  But it is pretty warm again now.

I'm sure sorry to hear about Uncle Ray.  Is it still that phlebitis that is bothering him?  I think that's what you said he had.

Mary is also starting to climb.  A couple of times she has pushed the hassock over by the davenport.  Climbs up on the hassock and up onto the davenport.

Thank you for Mary's present.  I haven't decided yet as just how to spend it. I'm thinking of patent leather slippers and some of those socks with lace on the cuff.  Do you mind?  She really doesn't need a coat. It is getting pretty warm down here.  She has been wearing a coat and bonnet that Louise gave me when we were home.

Have they found out anything yet about who robbed the bank?

There aren't any special directions for putting that quilt of Dale's together.  But when it is finished please have it about 40 x 80 so it fits the bunk bed. If you want to why don't you just tie it rather than quilt it.

Thanks for sending those Snuffy Smith cartoons.  We used to get them in the paper in Fayetteville, but it isn't in the paper here.  Gary really gets a kick out of them.

I can hardly imagine Bill with a mustache.  We got a letter from him yesterday but he didn't mention any mustache.

I certainly was shocked to hear about Marvin Gunderson.  I feel so sorry for her and Lynn.  Do you know what was the matter with the Troutman baby?

Dale does exercises every day so that he will grow up and then be able to drive the car.  Goodness, I didn't think he would start that this soon.

Mary has gone and lost my hairbrush.  I let her play with it one day and haven't been able to find it since.  I'm afraid that she put it in the wastebasket and it got thrown out.

Well, I better stop and get some supper started.

Love, Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

I didn't know the bank was robbed.  Now I am wondering if they found out who did it yet.

Switching gears . . . to 1963

Whilst looking in Grandma's trunk for something wholly unrelated, Mom discovered some letters she had written home to Nebraska from, so far as I've ready, Texas and California.  I think they are a bit of a hoot since she talks about Dale and I quite a bit.  Not everyone has timely reporting on their childhood antics.

So, I will leave Grandma be for a bit and do one of these letters per post until I run out.  I think there are a dozen or so.  Off we go . . .

February 15, 1963

Dear Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Tom,

Well yesterday was a lovely day for us -- got letters from you, Bill, and the Bowders.  And it was nice weather-wise, too.  We had snow on Monday.  It was a wet snow and so pretty.  There was snow on the ground until Wednesday noon.  Dale had a grand time playing in the snow until somebody threw a snowball at him.  Then he had had enough.

Glad to hear Geserich said something to Kant about her dirty floors.  Hope she remembers it.  Have you ever asked Geserich if he has a sister named Carol married to a fellow by the name of Neil Edmonds?  Don't know why I think I have to know.  Just curious I guess.

Oh, this Mary.  I think she deliberately torments Dale.  She takes things away from him and then laughs when he hollers.  The two of them are really having a battle right now.

We got a cuckoo clock from Bill, too.  He had written that he was getting a clock for you and one for Nancy and Jim.  I told Gary that if he didn't send us one too I would skin him alive.  I really like it.  Every time it cuckoos Mary's eyes got so big and then she laughs.  Dale thinks we have a pretty smart clock that can say cuckoo like that.  It comes in real handy when I'm putting him down for a nap.  I put him down at about one and tell him that when the clock cuckoos two times he can get up.  Well he lays there real still and listens for it and of course goes to sleep.

I'll bet Dennis Morris is happy about Bob's having a baby.  I remember Sophie saying he wanted to have a nephew or niece here.

I sure do like my pressure cooker.  I haven't cooked any rice in it yet but have used it for a couple of batches of beans.

I made some whole wheat bread last week.  Gosh, what a mess.  It just didn't behave like white bread.  I don't know what I did wrong, but it tasted good anyway.  Was awfully crumbly though.

We used the money from Aunt Nan for several tings.  We bought new plastic and a heavy stapler and recovered the kitchen chairs.  Then Gary made a cupboard in that space above the refrigerator.  (When Dale saw the cupboard he said, "Oh my, that's wonderful.")  We also bought a rubber mat to put in the bathtub.  The rest of the money I'm going to use for such things as a double boiler, rolling pin, flour sifter, etc. as long as the money lasts.

Aunt Addie sent Mary some money for her birthday.  We used it to buy her some new shoes.  The shoes have bells on them.  Dale really thought the bells were something.  The first couple of days he would go up to her and shake her to hear the bells.  Then the morning when it was snowing he grabbed her shoes (she didn't have them on) and went around here shaking the shoes and singing "Jingle Bells."

Gary has just 39 days left in the Army.  It doesn't seem possible that there is so little time left here in Killeen.  It really will be nice to get back to San Antonio.  Gary is going to take a few more days of leave in March shortly before he gets out to go to San Antonio and get a job settled.  When he was down before the didn't get to talk to anyone about the electricians union.  But did find out that he might be able to get into the carpenters' union as an apprentice.  He also looked into a job at Sears.  But nothing is settled by a long ways.

I guess that is all for now.

P.S.  I thought Grandma might enjoy the clipping; Dale started to cut it up.

Not sure what to add here.  I don't know who Geserich is.  Also didn't know that we ever went back to San Antonio after leaving there shortly after I was born.  I guess I never asked, or maybe it didn't happen that way after all.

The photo is obviously before February 1963 but it was the best I could do at the moment.  If ever I needed to quickly lay hands on the Infamous Sucker Fight photos, this is it.  Hopefully I can find them soon.

Family reunion 1994

"July 1, 1994:  Rain and wind.  Couldn't go to Elmer's in the evening for the weiner roast.  Bill, Jenny, Jayme, Jayson, Lora, Tom and Merilyn here in evening -- played cards.  They all stayed in motel in Norfolk.
July 2, 1994:  Reunion at Legion Hall.  Paul, Trina, Lynn and Lorraine, Gary, John and Mike; Jean, Toni, Marjorie, Frances, Dana.
July 3, 1994:  Heather and Mike here in p.m.
July 4, 1994:  Jean, Marjorie and Dorothy Jo here in a.m.  Nancy left about 1:30.
July 5, 1994:  Rose's funeral in a.m.  She died July 1.  Lorraine, Lynn, Paul and Trina here in p.m.

As hectic a time as Grandma was having in 1994, I had quite the hectic few days here in 2012.  Thursday evening and Friday morning was spent finding to aged basset hounds that had wandered off.  Fluky thing with a door blowing open.  These same two dogs got winded just galumphing around the pasture a week ago.  In fact, one had to be hauled back to the house in a wagon.  However, when left to their own devices, they manage to wander over two miles from the house.  Found one by the side of the road, seemingly waiting for we pokey humans to show up; shivering, wet, a bit dazed but otherwise okay.  The other was less than a mile away on the other side of the road, and seemed a bit perturbed I woke him from his nap.  He was far enough down in the ditch that it nearly required me to slide down in the wet weeds to push him up and then wait for a rescue of my own.  Thankfully he was able to pull himself up with a little help from me pulling on his collar.  He is the terminally ill one but seemed much less stressed than the other, healthier one.  Then on Saturday and Sunday we moved the dog kennel panels around the yard and otherwise made a big job of relocating all four dogs.  In the end it looked great and we had an excuse to take some of the family out to eat to celebrate our combined efforts.

Now back to 1994.  Grandma must have gotten interrupted on July 2 as she has an incomplete sentence there and in reality it had no period, but I can't stand to leave it sitting there without one so I took some poetic license.  Other than that, it looked like a typical family reunion with folks coming from all corners of the USA to be there.  Fun times, to be sure.

I stumbled across a photo from Jayson's wedding.  Mitch isn't doing the silly, squinty smile he used for the professional photos, but he is cute nonetheless in his little tux.  Actually, it's a pretty good shot of all three of us, I must say.

Visit to Aunt Irene

"March 28, 1992:  Mary, Rick and Mitch at Greta's for the weekend.
March 29, 1992:  To Norfolk with Helen and John to visit Irene.  She seems to be quite congested.
March 30, 1992:  Quilted at church.  To Scholarship meeting in the evening."

The meeting Grandma is talking about is the Winside scholarship foundation -- an idea that came a decade too late for me to take advantage of.  Seriously, I am glad it came to fruition and is helping students.  Grandma was a charter member.  Or whatever the proper word is . . . she was there at the very beginning is my point.

Since I am at a bit of a loss here, I am going to post photos I have been dying to use.  No explanation necessary.

I love how Aunt Irene stylishly has the tag poking out by her cheek.

A funeral and a birthday party

"August 6, 1990:  Went to Helen's in the evening to visit with Gary and family.
August 7, 1990:  Mamie J.'s funeral in morning.  To Johanna's in p.m. for her 95th birthday.  Irene, Helen, Kathy M., Marilyn M., Arlene P., [another] Arlene P., Mary Lynne, Teresa, Dorothy Jo and I were there."

I adored Mamie.  I knew her granddaughters and her husband, Leo.  I never went to her home nor had serious conversations with her.  But she was cheerful and happy and...I know it doesn't matter, but she was also...cute.  I can't picture her without a smile.

The same can all be said of Johanna, except I did go to her house.  Her neat-as-a-pin, no-dirt-particles-allowed, cute little house.  I think Micki and Teresa and some others took Johanna out for her 90th birthday (or some other impressive numbered birthday) to have pizza.  Apparently Johanna had never had pizza before.  I never found out if she liked it.  I am guessing she would not have let on if she didn't.

And I can't talk about Johanna without mentioning her peanut butter cookies.  The cookies by themselves were exceptional, but what was even better is that the cookies were made into sandwiches with more peanut butter in between two of them.  Absolute peanut buttery heaven!

I have to reuse a photo to get one of Johanna.  If I find a better one, I'll find a reason to post it.

More quilting and some visitors

"April 1990:  I started quilting the outing flannel rail fence quilt the 4th of April -- finished it on the 10th.  We had .70 inches of rain on Monday, April 9.

Mon. April 9, 1990:  At 2:00 p.m. John, Helen, Shirlee and Raymond J. left West Covina -- arrived in Winside Thursday April 12 about 2:30."

I love how Grandma made a point of the time the group left and when they arrived.  Not sure of the reason for the detail, but I like it.  In reading ahead, it appears that the California visitors came to escort Uncle John and Aunt Helen back to Nebraska.  Everyone both those two eventually left, and they took possession of their Nebraska home within a month or so.

What to say about Aunt Helen?  For some reason, I think it is funny that Gary introduced Aunt Helen to Uncle John.  I think Gary was a teenager at the time and thought John was a decent guy.  Aunt Helen agreed, obviously.

Aunt Helen seemed to me to be able to have fun whenever and wherever she wanted.  Even in telling a story where she was frustrated with someone or aggravated about something, she seemed to end her tale with a laugh at the whole situation.  I like the story about her standing in line to register for the 9th grade.  The superintendent saw her and told her the 4th grade room was downstairs.  I have no trouble at all believing that she politely, but firmly told him how the cow ate the cabbage.  She was all of 4' 4" tall at the time but mighty, I am sure.  She is second from the right in the photo.