Laurel, but not Nebraska

Wed., February 26, 2003 - Mary took me to have my hair-do and Zoya brought me home -- we had planned to have lunch together but she wasn't feeling too well.  Went to Book Club in evening.

Thurs., February 27, 2003 - Called Marjorie C. -- today is her birthday.  Tom came in the evening for the usual reasons.  We played 2 games of Rummikub.

Fri., February 28, 2003 - Went to the movies in the library this evening.  Saw a Laurel & Hardy show and also a Roy Rogers show.  Called Helen.

And here's some information on Laurel and Hardy, most of which I absolutely did not know.  From Wikipedia:

    "Laurel and Hardy were a comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in the silent era, they later successfully transitioned to "talkies". From the late 1920s to the mid-1950s, they were internationally famous for their slapstick comedy, with Laurel playing the clumsy, childlike friend to Hardy's pompous bully.  Their signature theme song, known as "The Cuckoo Song", "Ku-Ku", or "The Dance of the Cuckoos" (by Hollywood composer T. Marvin Hatley) was heard over their films' opening credits, and became as emblematic of them as their bowler hats.

    Prior to emerging as a team, both had well-established film careers. Laurel had acted in over 50 films, and worked as a writer and director, while Hardy was in more than 250 productions. Both had appeared in The Lucky Dog (1921), but were not teamed at the time. They first appeared together in a short film in 1926, when they signed separate contracts with the Hal Roach film studio.  They officially became a team in 1927 when they appeared in the silent short Putting Pants on Philip. They remained with Roach until 1940, and then appeared in eight B movie comedies for 20th Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1941 to 1945.  After finishing their film commitments at the end of 1944, they concentrated on performing stage shows, and embarked on a music hall tour of England, Ireland and Scotland. They made their last film in 1950, a French-Italian co-production called Atoll K.

    They appeared as a team in 107 films, starring in 32 short silent films, 40 short sound films, and 23 full-length feature films. They also made 12 guest or cameo appearances, including in the Galaxy of Stars promotional film of 1936.  On December 1, 1954, they made their sole American television appearance, when they were surprised and interviewed by Ralph Edwards on his live NBC-TV program 'This Is Your Life'. Since the 1930s, their works have been released in numerous theatrical reissues, television revivals, 8-mm and 16-mm home movies, feature-film compilations, and home videos. In 2005, they were voted the seventh-greatest comedy act of all time by a UK poll of professional comedians. The official Laurel and Hardy appreciation society is The Sons of the Desert, after a fictitious fraternal society in the film of the same name."

Happy birthday to Aunt Helen

Thurs., February 20, 2003 - Myrtle called in a.m.  Had to cut our visit short as I had a visitor, Marilyn Mark brought me a delicious pastry -- don't know what it is called.  Tom came for supper and the usual chores.

Fri., February 21, 2003 - Helen's birthday.  Saw the movie "Road to Hong Kong" with Bing Crosby & Bob Hope -- silly but funny.  Only 5 of us there for the show.

Sat., February 22, 2003 - Tom came for me & took me to church.  Merilyn was at a shower and came by herself.  Went to Tom's after church.  Merilyn brought spaghetti for our supper & then we played a new type of dominoes -- was lots of fun.

I'm guessing that was an evening church service for Merilyn to have had time to go to a shower beforehand.  

According to the following plot summary from Wikipedia, it does sound like a fun but silly movie.  Especially the end.

The story is told in flashback as Diane (Joan Collins) explains to American Intelligence how transmissions from passengers picked up from a missile to the moon are by Americans rather than Russians.

"Harry Turner (Bing Crosby) and Chester Babcock (Bob Hope) are defrauding people in Calcutta by selling a "Do-it-yourself interplanetary flight kit" that ends up injuring Chester, giving him amnesia. An Indian doctor (Peter Sellers) says the only way for Chester's amnesia to be cured is through help from monks in a lamasery in Tibet.

At the airport, Chester mistakenly picks up a suitcase with a marking designed to be a point of contact between agents of a SPECTRE-type spy organization called "The Third Echelon." Diane (Collins), a Third Echelon secret agent, is supposed to give plans of a Russian rocket fuel stolen by the Third Echelon to the man with the suitcase, who will be taking them to headquarters in British Hong Kong. She mistakenly thinks Chester is the contact.

In Tibet, the two make their way to the lamasery in Lost Horizon fashion. Not only do the lamas cure Chester, but they have a Tibetan tea leaf that gives super memory powers to those who consume it. Chester and Harry observe as great works of Western literature in the manner of Fahrenheit 451 are committed to memory, one giggling lama (David Niven) memorizes Lady Chatterley's Lover. The scheming Harry decides to steal a bottle to give Chester the power of photographic memory for lucrative nefarious purposes.

Returning to Calcutta, followed by Diane, Harry has Chester test the results of the memory herb by memorizing the rocket formula that Diane placed in Chester's coat. Not knowing what it is, Harry destroys it after Chester has successfully memorized it. Diane arrives too late, but after seeing Chester recite the formula, she offers them $25,000 to meet her in Hong Kong. On the way to Hong Kong, an agent of the High Lama replaces the stolen Tibetan herbs with a similar bottle containing ordinary tea leaves.

The Third Echelon is seeking the fuel for its own spacecraft with an underwater launching pad in Hong Kong. The goal is to be the first on the moon, where a base is to be established to launch nuclear weapons against Earth and to bring survivors under the agency's control.

With a Russian launch to the moon carrying two apes imminent, the Third Echelon, which was going to emulate the Soviet achievement, decides to gain respect at the United Nations by launching two human astronauts, Chester and Harry, instead of apes. The two are used as guinea pigs (and fed with bananas) to test the capabilities of the spacecraft and the effects of spaceflight upon humans. The mission is successful, with moonlight bringing back Chester's photographic memory.

Diane decides to leave the Third Echelon when she discovers that once her colleagues have extracted the final formula from Chester, they plan to dissect Chester and Harry to see the effects of space travel on their bodies. Diane helps the boys escape. They are pursued through Hong Kong, eventually leading Diane to the authorities. Chester and Harry happen to meet Dorothy Lamour at a nightclub where they are recaptured by the Third Echelon.

Chester, Harry and Diane all end up in a rocket bound for another planet. They think they're alone after landing, but they're not—Chester calls out, "The Italians!" as they are joined by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Not chopped liver, I hope

Fri., January 24, 2003 - Today is Myrtle's 95 birthday, they're having a card shower for her.  This evening to movies in library.  Saw the 1st episode of "Gunsmoke" and the 1st episode of "Rawhide."  Received candy from Helen -- the delicious "turtles" for my birthday.

Sat., January 25, 2003 - Called Greta - gave her a list of things to bring next Sunday -- dried beef, etc.  Called Helen to thank her for the candy.

Sun., January 26, 2003 - Nancy worked yesterday so Mary came.  She & the kids came about 6:00.  I showered & Mary vacuumed.  I made 2 pans of sticky rolls - gave one to Mary.  Delores came in evening - found out she had known Rick's grandmother, Ruby!

Well, Grandma mentioned it was Aunt Myrtle's birthday on the 24th, but not that it was also mine.  But, I'm thinking that's because it was a big one for Aunt Myrtle -- ending in a "5" or "0" counts as a big one.  Heck, anything past 90 is pretty big news in my opinion.  So, I'm not offended.

I'm pretty sure I haven't seen the first episode of Gunsmoke, but I sure watched plenty episodes at Grandma's after school back in the day with Grandma Anna.  We must have watched a good amount of television in the summer, too, because I remember lots of game shows, Perry Mason, and The Rifleman.  But no soap operas.

The photo is obviously not from the first season, but I picked an image from the show that I remember.  I remember portions of one episode rather vividly.  Some bad guys had some good guys held hostage and were making them go about their regular daily business to avoid anyone knowing something was wrong.  One thing that happened was one hostage had to go out and put the flag up on the flagpole like he did every day.  Not too long after, the Gunsmoke crew came and took out the bad guys and rescued all the good guys.  I think Festus may have been one of the hostages.  The thing that got them rescued was that the guy putting up the flag did so with it upside down -- a signal of distress.  The bad guys obviously didn't notice.  I was really impressed that the guy took such a big change.  It was also the first time I learned that the flag could be used that way.  Information, thankfully, that I have not had to use.

I'd sleep, too

Sat., September 21, 2002 - Left at 8:00 for Lincoln.  Went to Nancy's first and then they brought me to the apt.  We got Raymond and then we went to Valentino's for dinner.  Too much good food to choose from.  They then took me to my apt. and went their way.  Raymond was going back to Winside with Greta.  Greta did some shopping and saw her "kids".  I slept the rest of the day!
Sun., September 22, 2002 - Jean Hansen called.  Luayne was in Lincoln and she called just to visit.  I called Ray & Aileen -- yesterday was Aileen's birthday and their 55th wedding anniversary.  Nancy came at noon -- had cornbread for dinner.  Usual shower, etc.  She also did the laundry.
Mon., September 23, 2002 - Membership meeting tonight -- so no cards.  Had apple pie a la mode for lunch -- real good.

More being busy for Grandma.  It's a wonder we didn't wear her out completely once she moved down to Lincoln.  I can say with confidence that she didn't mind and told us if she wasn't up to our taking her hither and yon.

Added this photo because of the mention of Uncle Raymond and because I miss all these wonderful people.

No way

Sat., August 31, 2002 - Greta called in a.m.  Nancy came in a.m.  She had been to the Farmers' Market -- brought me some potatoes, radishes and green onions.  Lois Bowers here in p.m.  She came for the State Fair.  Marie Parker isn't too well.  After supper I played Rummikub at Delores' apt.
Sun, Sept. 1, 2002 - Nancy came at noon -- she brought "corn chowder" for our dinner.  Nancy washed sheets, a blanket and mattress pad for me -- also flipped the mattress.  Helen Jones called in p.m.  According to her Raymond I. still might come to visit.
Mon., Sept. 2, 2002 - Nancy came at noon so I could shower (forgot to do it yesterday).  Played Seven-Up tonight.  I treated with some Kit-Kat bars.

Nancy touched green onions long enough to buy them for Grandma?  Don't believe it.  Maybe she coerced the seller to pick out her purchase and bag it without Nancy having to make contact.  That makes more sense to me.

My information shows Marie Parker died in October 2002.

And here from wikipedia, is more than you ever knew there was to know about Kit Kat bars:

"The origins of what is now known as the Kit Kat brand go back to 1911, when Rowntree's, a confectionery company based in York in the United Kingdom, trademarked the terms Kit Cat and Kit Kat. The original four-finger bar was developed after a worker at Rowntree's York Factory put a suggestion in a recommendation box for a snack that "a man could take to work in his pack". The bar launched on 29 August 1935, under the title of Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp (priced at 2d), and was sold in London and throughout southern England.

Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp was renamed Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp in 1937, the same year that Kit Kat began to incorporate "Break" into its recognisable advertising strategy. The colour scheme and first flavour variation to the brand came in 1942, owing to World War II, when food shortages prompted an alteration in the recipe. The flavour of Kit Kat was changed to dark chocolate; the packaging abandoned its Chocolate Crisp title, and was coloured blue. After the war the name became Kit Kat, with the original milk chocolate recipe and red packaging.

Following its success in the United Kingdom, in the 1940s Kit Kat was exported to Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1958, Donald Gilles, the executive at JWT Orland, created the iconic advertising line "Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat". The brand further expanded in the 1970s when Rowntree created a new distribution factory in Germany to meet European demand, and established agreements to distribute the brand in the US through the Hershey company, and in Japan through Fujiya.

In June 1988, Swiss company Nestlé acquired Kit Kat through the purchase of Rowntree's, giving Nestlé global control over the brand, except in the US, and production and distribution increased with new facilities in Japan and additional manufacturing operations set up in Malaysia, India and China.

The Hershey Company has a licence to produce Kit Kat bars in the United States which dates from 1970, when Hershey executed a licensing agreement with Rowntree which allowed Hershey to retain the Kit Kat licence so long as Hershey was not sold. Nestlé, which has a substantial presence in the US, had to honour the licensing agreement when it bought Rowntree in 1988. As Kit Kat is one of Hershey's top five brands in the US market, the Kit Kat licence was a key factor in Hershey's failed attempt to attract a serious buyer in 2002.

Variants in the traditional chocolate bar first appeared in 1996 when Kit Kat Orange, the first flavour variant, was introduced in the United Kingdom. Its success was followed by several varieties including mint and caramel, and in 1999 Kit Kat Chunky was launched and received favourably by international consumers. Variations on the traditional Kit Kat have continued to be developed since then. In 2000 Nestlé acquired Fujiya's share of the brand in Japan, and also expanded its marketplace in Japan, Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela, in addition to markets in Eastern and Central Europe. Throughout the decade Kit Kat introduced dozens of flavours and line extensions within specific consumer markets. It celebrated its 75th anniversary on 10 October 2009.

The traditional bar has four fingers which each measure approximately 1 centimetre (0.4 in) by 9 centimetres (3.5 in). A two-finger bar was launched in the 1930s, and has remained the company's best-selling biscuit brand ever since. The 1999 Kit Kat Chunky (known as Big Kat and Kit Kat Extra Crispy in the US) has one large finger approximately 2.5 centimetres (1 in) wide. Kit Kat bars contain varying numbers of fingers depending on the market, ranging from the half-finger sized Kit Kat Petit in Japan, to the three-fingered variants in Arabia, and the twelve-finger family-size bars in Australia and France. Kit Kat bars are sold individually and in bags, boxes and multi-packs. In Ireland, France, the UK and America Nestlé also produces a Kit Kat ice cream, and in Australia and Malaysia, Kit Kat Drumsticks.

In 2010, a new £5 million manufacturing line was opened by Nestlé in York, to produce more than a billion Kit Kat bars each year."

The boys

Mon., March 15, 1937 - Howard cutting wood today.  Tonite we went to Wayne with Raymond & Helen.  The Wayne IOOF had a play & program.
Tues., March 16, 1937 - Baked 2 pies & a cake.  We went to town tonite with Raymond.  The boys had to see about getting a truck to haul wood -- they loaded the wagon too heavy & broke a wheel on the way home.
Wed., March 17, 1937 - Bill Loebsack hauled the wood today.  The boys have to go back tomorrow because his truck wouldn't hold all of it.

I'm guessing Grandma is referring to Grandpa and Uncle Raymond as "the boys".  I've not heard them called that before.

I didn't know before that the Odd Fellows started across the pond, but now I do.  From wikipedia:

"The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a non-political and non-sectarian international secret society and fraternal order of Odd Fellowship. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Wildey in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Evolving from the Order of Odd Fellows founded in England during the 1700s, the IOOF was originally chartered by the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity in England but has operated as an independent organization since 1842, although it maintains an inter-fraternal relationship with the English Order. The order is also known as the Triple Link Fraternity, referring to the order's "Triple Links" symbol, alluding to its motto "Friendship, Love and Truth".

While several unofficial Odd Fellows lodges had existed in New York City circa 1806-1818, because of its charter relationship, the American Odd Fellows is regarded as being founded with Washington Lodge No 1 in Baltimore at the Seven Stars Tavern on April 26, 1819, by Thomas Wildey along with some associates who assembled in response to an advertisement in the New Republic. The following year, the lodge affiliated with the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity and was granted the authority to institute new lodges. Previously, Wildey had joined the Grand United Order of Oddfellows (1798-) in 1804 but followed through with the split of Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity (1810-) before immigrating to the United States in 1817.

In 1842, after an elementary dispute on authority, the American Lodges formed a governing system separate from the English Order, and in 1843 assumed the name Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows became the first fraternity in the United States to include both men and women when it adopted the "Beautiful Rebekah Degree" on September 20, 1851, by initiative of Schuyler Colfax, later Vice-President of the United States.

Beyond fraternal and recreational activities, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows promotes the ethic of reciprocity and charity, by implied inspiration of Judeo-Christian ethics. The largest Sovereign Grand Lodge of all fraternal orders of Odd Fellows since the 19th century, it enrolls some 600,000 members divided in approximately 10,000 lodges in 26 countries, inter-fraternally recognised by the second largest, the British-seated Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity."

Photo from cheatsheet.com

More woodcutting and more cards

Fri., March 12, 1937 - Howard cutting wood all day.  Elmer & Myrtle came about 10:30.  Elmer went to town & Myrtle stayed here.  Snowed off & on about all day.  To lodge tonite.
Sat., March 13, 1937 - Cleaned the house this a.m.  We went to town about 1:30.  I got a new pair of everyday slippers.  Went to Mrs. Wolff's with lodge work & then up home.  We received a rose bedspread, a wedding present, from Trena & Mildred in the mail.
Sun., March 14, 1937 - Nobody here all day.  Howard and I played Pinochle this afternoon and evening.  We were over home a few minutes this p.m.  Helen got a gift for me to give Gertie in Norfolk yesterday.

I am not sure who Mildred is, but Trena would be the wife of Andrew Andersen, first cousin to William Andersen.  I really like the idea of getting a gift the March after a June wedding.  Busy people put in extra time to make something for the new couple.  Would loved to have seen the bedspread.  (I just plucked a photo off the internet to add here; photo from Pinterest.com)

I don't know who Gertie is.

Canning stuff

Sat., March 6, 1937 - Finished rendering out the lard.  Got all the meat canned except head cheese & liver sausage.  Absolutely hot outside all day.  Howard hauled the straw from Chris' old place.  I helped unload it.  Took Mom home tonite.
Sun., March 7, 1937 - Howard fixed a rack for the canner & partitions for silverware drawer.  I canned 8 half-pints of head cheese & 4 of liver sausage.  Leo, Nels, Raymond & Helen here this evening.  We played cards & popped popcorn.
Mon., March 8, 1937 - Howard's Uncle Nels from Colorado, his dad, & Raymond were here for dinner today.  I put the meat in brine this morning.  Howard to lodge with Mike & Art.

I've heard family members talk about head cheese but do not recall anyone mentioning home-canned liver sausage.  Sounds rather interesting, I must say.

I remember hearing of Uncle Nels of Colorado, but am short on details.  I will have to do a little research.  Is this him in the photo on the left with Grandpa Peter Iversen on the right?

Pound shower?

Sun., February 28, 1937 - We went to church.  Stayed after church for the pound shower & dinner for Rev. Knaub, the new minister.  Over to Graef's tonite for Raymond G.'s birthday with the kids.
Mon., March 1, 1937 - Baked 2 cakes but neither was very good.  We went to installation with the folks.  Wayne installed for both Reb. & Odd Fellows.
Tues., March 2, 1937 - We went over home to butcher.  I expected Myrtle to be there but she stayed home to bake bread.  They butchered 3 hogs.  We get a half & a quarter.

I had to do a search and am not sure, but I think a pound shower is where you bring a pound of something.  Perhaps this was a welcoming gift for Rev. Knaub?  I had not heard of such a thing before but it's a neat idea, I think.

Here's me today for the photo.  I got a new haircut just an hour ago.  Don't count on it looking like this again, though.

Skipping ahead a bit

Mon., February 22, 1937 - Went with Howard over to Chris & Clara's to help move.  We packed fruit jars this morning.  I stayed all night.
Tues., February 23, 1937 - Packing! & more packing.  I went home with Howard tonite.  We got a grant check for $16 today.
Wed., February 24, 1937 - Jo helped today at Clara's too.  We were over to the new place & had dinner at 12:00.  Cold & windy with occasional snow flurries.

That was a pretty good grant check, I think.  I did a little looking online and it appears the buying power of $16 in 1937 equates to about $280 in 2018.

I will have to remember to ask where Uncle Chris and Aunt Clara were moving from and moving to.

I still like this photo of (l. to r.) Aunt Irene, Aunt Helen and Aunt Clara.

We kids?

Sat., February 6, 1937 - I baked a cake and fried a chicken to take to Clara's tomorrow.
Sun., February 7, 1937 - We went to Jensen's this morning.  From there Mike, Jo, Helen, Raymond & we kids went in the bobsled to Clara's for her birthday.
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Fri., February 12, 1937 - Baked cakes today to serve at lodge tonite.  Helen, Raymond, & we kids went to lodge with Mike & Jo in their car.

Is Grandma referring to her and Grandpa as "we kids"?  If so, I'm loving it.

Birthday celebration, and what I hope was a lovely bobsled ride aside, I must share the "fun" I had this morning.

I should have been soundly sleeping at 4:00 a.m. but that was not the case because the one dog was barking incessantly starting at about that same time.  Normally I would go out and see what the problem was, but the smell of skunk spray was already in the house, so I knew what was making the hound bark.  Our closest neighbors are far enough away that the barking wouldn't be bothering them so I wasn't being inconsiderate.  I figured I would not have to go out and deal with the skunk at all as it certainly would soon tire of the noise and wander off.  Wrong. 

I opted to pass on my second hitting of the snooze button around 5:40 a.m. and instead wandered out in the dark with my headlamp for light.  Turns out the poor skunk got itself into the dog's pen and could not get itself out.  So, Roscoe had it in a corner of the pen, barking in its face.  Thankfully it was in a corner with a gate.  Unfortunately, the gate is rarely used and the grass has grown up around the bottom a bit, making it unclear to me if I can even get it open with the speed I am hoping for.

Here's a mental picture --- me, in my nightgown, light strapped to my forehead, at the corner of the fence.  I am trying to get the dog to stop being so excited about its treasure to let me grab his collar on one side of the corner while I'm stretched against the fence trying to keep myself as far from the skunk as possible while reaching for the latch just around the corner on the adjoining side of the pen so the stinky thing can find its way out. 

Remarkably, luck was on my side and the dog let me hold him, the gate did open somewhat, and the confused and likely tired skunk pushed itself right out and wandered off.  Instant silence, but the fog of skunk perfume was still in the air so I have no idea if the dog got himself sprayed or not. 

Don't let anyone tell you I don't live a fascinating life.  I should also mention the female dog was wisely hid inside the garage, as far away as she could get from the noise and smell.  Smart dog. 

Photo from abcwildlife.com

The winter that won't let up

Wed., February 3, 1937 - Snowing & windy today.  It's impossible to go after the car.
Thurs., February 4, 1937 - Jo & Mike brought our mail tonite.  About half on hour after they came Raymond, Helen & Bess came.  The girls had walked all the way from Rews.  The weather was too bad yesterday on my birthday so they came tonite.  Mike & Jo didn't know they (the girls) were going to come tonite.  So we were all surprised.
Fri., February 5, 1937 - Howard went over home to see about taking the tractor to get our car but decided it was too cold.

While it's not fun to swelter in summer heat, it surely doesn't sound like the extreme opposite in 1937 was any better.  Nice, though, that Grandma got a bit of a surprise, well two maybe, for her birthday.

And here's a photo of a birthday 68 years later, Grandma's last as it turned out.  Gosh, but I still miss her so much.

I got nothin'

Mon., December 28, 1936 - Howard cutting wood. Misty & cold.  Helen & Mom stopped for the girls.  I went along to Clara's.  Went to Dane Xmas tree with kids.  Ate our lunch at Alma's.  Good crowd considering weather.
Tues., December 29, 1936 - Howard cut wood this p.m.  He brought a load home with the tractor.  We went to bed quite early.
Wed., December 30, 1936 - Snowed all a.m.  Cleared up this evening.  Howard & I played Pinochle tonite.

Not a lot to work with here.  So, I'll just add a photo and get this posted.

Photo from brooklynpaper.com

A Sunday recipe, finally

Fri., December 25, 1936 - I finished the holders while Howard baked peppernuts.  Were over home for dinner.  All the kids there.  Got some lovely presents.  Spent the evening at home eating nuts & candy.
Sat., December 26, 1936 - Cleaned up the house.  Invited to Jo's for supper.  Those there:  Rews, Iversen kids, Clara's, Margaret's, Alma & John.  Ate too much as usual.  Jean & Marjorie came home with us.
Sun., December 27, 1936 - We got up late.  Between spells we played 500 Rummy.  We all played tonite.  Irene went back to Sunol today.

How fun to imagine Grandpa baking peppernuts so Grandma could finish her handiwork.

I do not recall Grandma or anyone else making this recipe, but it's in her book and in her handwriting.  I'll gladly be corrected if she did make it often and I'm just not remembering.  It certainly is a possibility.  Also possible it was made for Christmas once or twice.

Fudgie Scotch Ring

1 cup (6 oz. pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup (6 oz. pkg) butterscotch chips
1 can Borden Eagle Brand Condensed milk
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. walnut halves
Maraschino cherries, if desired

Melt chips and condensed milk in top of double boiler over hot (not boiling) water.  Stir occasionally til morsels melt and mixture begins to thicken.  Remove from heat -- add chopped walnuts and vanilla.  Blend well.  Chill 1 hour til mixture thickens.  Line bottom of 9" pie pan with a 12" square of foil.  Place 3/4 cup walnut halves in bottom of pan, forming a 2" wide flat ring.  Spoon chocolate mixture in small mounds on top of nuts to form a ring.  Decorate with remaining nuts.  Add maraschino cherries if desired.  Chill in refrigerator until firm enough to slice. Cut into 1/2 inch slices.

I am guessing once the mounds are in place, you spread the mixture out a bit to also make a 2" wide flat ring.

The lovely 1936 Christmas card is from:  https://the-light-keeper.blogspot.com

Look at me, posting on a Saturday

Tues., December 22, 1936 - Baked cookies & stirred up peppernuts.  Tonite Howard & I made out our lodge reports.
Wed., December 23, 1936 - Sent my lodge report this p.m.  Howard took me to town while he went to McClary sale.  Went with kids to Elmer & Myrtle's.  The rest of the bunch came later & surprised Howard & Elmer for their birthdays which were a week ago.  I believe they here surprised.
Thurs., December 24, 1936 - Worked on Xmas presents.  Tried to make some candy but it wasn't so good.  We went into town tonite.  Mom was pleased & surprised with her quilt.  Home at 12:00.

So, it all was a surprise -- how nice.  And Grandma Anna got a surprise, too.  I wonder what the quilt pattern was.  Photo borrowed from ahhhquilting.blogspot.com.  Look at the neat quilting there -- I think I may need to check out that blog.

Being Danish

Sat., December 19, 1936 - Iny came home today.  Cleaned the house.  Irene, Helen, Bess, & Dorothea came over tonite for our slumber party!  Iny & Bess slept on the lounge.  Howard stayed over home.
Sun., December 20, 1936 - Up to Margaret's for dinner with the folks.  Had a grand dinner.  Tonite we & the Rews were over home and made candy.
Mon., December 21, 1936 - Made some candy.  One batch failed, but the other O.K.  Went to town tonite to lodge Xmas party.  Everybody brought candy or popcorn.  The lodge bought apples.

I can just see Grandpa's reaction to an upcoming slumber party at his house.  I wonder how quickly he beat feet out the door.  Haha.  First no birthday celebration, and now this.

I went to my first Danish Sisterhood of American function this weekend.  It was not a regular monthly meeting, but their annual district convention.  Which was very nice as there were people not in our local lodge there, meaning there were extra people to visit with.  I learned over supper (and it was news to most of us at the table) that back in the earlier days of Danish immigration, there were basically two groups -- Happy Danes and Holy Danes.  The Holy Danes were very strict due to religious beliefs.  The lady next to me at supper was probably in her 70's and she said she was not allowed to go to movies or dances, and there was not a deck of cards in their house until she was in high school when her mother apparently thought she was old enough to handle the temptations and evils attached to playing cards.  She said she played Solitaire, which I imagine was fairly safe.  From what I gathered, the Holy Danes were, for whatever reason, more likely to put aside their "Danishness" -- traditions and history, etc.

The Happy Danes liked to drink and dance and were eager to embrace and preserve their "Danishness".  Based on the above photo (Uncle Nels Petersen and Peter Iversen), and the thousands of hours spent playing cards in just my childhood, I am sure that we are descended from Happy Danes.  I think I will take the photo to the next meeting as my proof.

But back to Holy v. Happy Danes.  When the Danish Museum that eventually ended up in Elk Horn, Iowa was being contemplated, the nearby town of Kimballton thought they should have the museum because they were Happy Danes and were the ones already preserving their heritage.  However, someone gifted land in Elk Horn to the museum (in their will or otherwise, I didn't hear) and that clinched that.  There were hard feelings between the two towns (only about three miles away from each other = awkward) for quite awhile.

But, that is behind them now and the museum, genealogy center, and windmill are quite the big deal for the general area.

Poor Grandpa

Wed., December 16, 1936 - Howard kept pestering me all day as to whether they were going to have a party for him.  The kids didn't -- they're waiting until next week when Iny is home.
Thurs., December 17, 1936 - Helen, Raymond,  Howard & I went to Elmer's for his birthday.  Myrtle had gotten some tickets to a free show in Pilger, so we went -- "36 Hours to Kill".  A gangster picture -- not so much shooting.
Fri., December 18, 1936 - I baked 7 kinds of cookies today.  We took some into town tonite & Mom & I packed a box for Ray.

I can't tell really if Grandma was putting Grandpa off -- if the later party was a surprise -- or not.  Or if the poor man just thought there was not going to be a party for him at all.  Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

Here's the movie plot summary, courtesy of wikipedia.  I got a bit lost, but it seems like it might be enjoyable to watch:

Duke and Jeanie Benson, an outlaw couple hiding out under assumed names in a calm, suburban community, read a newspaper article about a sweepstakes winner who has not yet claimed his prize. Duke realizes that he has the winning ticket and will win $150,000 if he can cash it in without getting apprehended. Fed up with suburban life, Duke decides to board a train to Kansas City, where he bought the ticket, while Jeanie plans to fly there and get a "stooge" to cash in the ticket. At the train station, reporter Frank Evers boards the train and starts a conversation with Duke, who calls himself "Downey." At San Bernadino, Anne Marvis boards the train, followed by Doyle, a process server. Finding the door to Duke's room open, Anne hides in his bed, and when Duke sees Doyle enter in pursuit, he pulls a gun on Doyle, who says that he mistook Duke's "wife" for the woman he was after. Duke is attracted to Anne, as is Frank. When Jeanie gets on the train because her plane was grounded, she suspects that Duke and Anne are having an affair and pulls a gun on them; however, Duke calms her fears by introducing Frank as Anne's husband. Anne and Frank go along with the ruse. Sometime later, Frank accompanies the conductor to a room next to Duke's, where they listen through a surveillance device to Duke and Jeanie bicker about their plans to have the "boys" meet him in Kansas City. Frank, in reality a G-man, hopes to nab the whole gang and decides to hold off arresting Duke. After Jeanie gets off the train at Albuquerque to board a plane to Kansas City, Duke tries to flirt with Anne, but she rejects his advances. That night, Frank and Anne agree to be honest with each other, and Anne reveals that she is really a Los Angeles reporter and has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury concerning a political scandal which she had unearthed. She says that she felt it would be "healthier" to go out-of-state for awhile. When Frank continues to claim that he is a reporter for The Telegraph , Anne indignantly reveals that she works for the paper and knows that he does not. In Topeka, after Flash, a porter, inadvertently finds the listening device in Duke's room, Duke knocks out the conductor. Anne receives a wire that it is all right for her to return to Los Angeles and gets off the train. When Duke sees Frank pursuing him, he gets into Anne's cab. They go to Borden's Sanitarium, where Duke meets Jeanie, who is unhappy to see him with Anne. When Duke reads in a newspaper that another man has surfaced to claim the lottery prize, he sends his shyster lawyer Rickert to dispute the claim to the insurance company that handles the contest. While Rickert is away, Duke kisses Anne and asks her to leave with him after he collects the money. Anne agrees, but he locks her in her room anyway. Jeanie then unbolts the shutters of Anne's room to help her escape, and Anne hitches a ride on a truck, but the driver works for Duke's gang and brings her back to the sanitarium. Upon deducing that Jeanie let Anne out, Duke slugs Jeanie. Frank, impersonating an insurance agent, accompanies Rickert to the sanitarium. Duke shoots Frank as a carload of G-men arrive and then unlocks Anne's door to take her with him, but Jeanie shoots him and then cries over his body. The gang is captured, and Anne is pleased to see that Frank is only wounded. On the train to Los Angeles, Flash comments that Frank and Anne have not come out of their cabin in two days. They kiss and it is revealed that they have recently married.

What I want to know is what happened to the $150,000?

Poster credit:  By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48538771

Cottonseed meal

Thurs., November 5, 1936 - Worked like the dickens.  Uncle Chris & Gerald were here for supper.  We had milk & dumplings, chicken, baked potatoes, string beans, vegetable salad, and graham cracker pie.  After supper we played Pinochle -- Uncle Chris & I against the others.

Fri., November 6, 1936 - Howard borrowed $25 at the bank.  He bought 9 bu. of oats & 2 sacks cottonseed meal which cost about $10.  We went to the party dance at Hoskins with Gerald -- Helen & Dorothea were among those giving it.

Sat., November 7, 1936 - Cold today and snowed some more.  Howard cutting wood again.  Too cold to go to town tonite.

I must admit I've never heard of cottonseed meal before.  I learned it can be used for animal feed or for fertilizer.  Grandma skipped several days, but even so, since Grandpa was buying oats, too, I am guessing the cottonseed meal was for feed.  But, he did have a garden going as well.  Maybe he used it for both. 

I think graham cracker pie sounds really good.  Seems like the name comes largely from the crust as the pie filling only has crumbs on the top -- at least based on my quick internet search.  And can be made with or without meringue.

Photo from:  thespruceeats.com

Slow down, already

Fri., September 18, 1936 - Raymond and Howard still cutting and fixing the binder each day. We went with Raymond and Helen to a party dance at Hoskins -- Gus Perskes and Ed Schellenbergs among those giving it.
Sat., September 19, 1936 - Howard, Raymond, and Dad ground fodder this a.m.  I went with Helen, her mother, Clara & kids & Jo to Wayne to 4-H Club fair and school exhibit.  Howard and I went to town tonite.
Sun., September 20, 1936 - Chris & Clara, Elmer & Myrtle, Mike, Peter, & the folks were here today.  The men made the silo bigger.  We were over to Lettmans awhile this evening.  Howard wanted to see Ed Heithold.

Seems everyone is quite busy, busy, busy.  Glad there was some down-time involved.

Interesting how Maggie is Helen's mother and not Grandma's mother-in-law or Mrs. Iversen or something like that.  Nothing to infer, but somewhat interesting.  To me, anyway.  Here's an undated photo with some of the many people mentioned in this post.  Who is that with their arms folded in the background?  For that matter, who is sitting next to Maggie/Little Grandma?

Canning peaches

Fri., August 28, 1936 - Howard helped Carl Troutman this p.m.  We went to Lodge tonite.  I was named delegate to the Rebekah Assembly which is in October.
Sat., August 29, 1936 - I canned 14 quarts and 7 pints of peaches today.  Howard went to town tonite but I stayed home.
Sun., August 30, 1936 - I canned 10 pt. of peaches this a.m.  Howard helped cut corn over home today.  I went over there for dinner.  Helen and I went to her school this p.m.  Stopped at Rews on way home.

Gotta love canned peaches.  I have never seen the house Grandma and Grandpa are living in at this time, but I believe it was on the small side.  Where did Grandma store all those many jars of canned goodies?