What to pick from?

Sat., March 1, 2003 - Talked to Greta. Lydia Witte died last week.  Ruby Ritze's granddaughter had triplets -- a boy and identical girl twins.  On TV watched "Milestones and Memories" of Lawrence Welk shows.  Very very interesting.

Sun., March 2, 2003 - Nancy came at noon and brought pizza. The same Sunday routine.  We played several games of Rummikub.

Mon., March 3, 2003 - Played cards in the evening.  Delores served pumpkin pie.

For only three, somewhat short entries, I have several things to talk about.

I don't know which Ritze granddaughter that is, but regardless, I wonder what the medical odds are of triplets that include identical twins.

I could comment on memories of my own of watching Lawrence Welk.  For instance I, or Grandma, recorded on a tape recorder (nothing so much as a VCR then) an episode or two and I remember listening and re-listening to one of them.  I'm not sure what the theme of the show was but two of the songs were Edelweiss and Loch Lomond.  Which then leads me to remember how when tape recorders were new, we'd turn one on and secretly record family conversations, usually over a meal.  I suppose people nowadays would consider that low-tech and likely not fun, but I recall we did get a bang out of listening to some of those afterwards. And there is still the classic, and long lost, recording of, at a minimum Aunt Irene and Aunt Helen, in the car somewhere and lost.  I can't recall a single word of it but do remember it was hysterical to listen to as they tried to figure out where they were.

And on a slow day, I could also research and/or comment on pumpkin pie, a real favorite of mine and of Mitch's.  I tell people we can't leave him alone in a room with one.  Perhaps not so much now that he's grown, but definitely when he was growing up.

Lastly, and unrelated to Grandma's entries, I'd like to mention that yesterday was my 60th birthday.  Rather a non-event given the current Covid restrictions. I had hoped to rent out the Joyo Theatre on Sunday and have a showing of a movie, open to family that wanted to come.  I thought having the theater to ourselves would be okay since we could all spread out. But since I had been exposed recently and new cases are through the roof, I thought it wise not to do it at all.  And normally I would bring treats to work, but out of 20 or so of us, I think 6 were here.  I didn't know that the night before but I was strangely unmotivated to make anything.  Kinda glad I didn't since I would have had extras to bring home and no one wants to be tempted with that.  It was such a non-event that around 10 p.m. I finally reminded John what day it was since he had not yet mentioned it.  But, the highlight of the day was Anna dropping by my office with a gift from her and Dakota and Mitch -- a Cricut machine.  Something I had been secretly interested in but had not thought to buy for myself.  So, good call on the kids' part.  The gift was really nice, of course, but the best part was having a little unexpected visit with Anna.

Three straight days of playing

Sat., January 18, 2003 - Played lazy all day.  Watched Lawrence Welk & Guy Lombardo in the evening.  Talked to Greta.

Sun., January 19, 2003 - Nancy came.  She sopped at Boston Market for our dinner.  We played Rummikub.

Mon., January 20 ,2003 - Played cards this evening.

It took me a second to notice that Grandma used a form of the word "play" for three days in a row.  Good for her, especially the playing lazy part.

The photos are of my dining room just this week.  Grandma's buffet had been in our bedroom holding up the television in there, but we did some switching out of furniture in the bedroom and it occurred to me that we could put the buffet to better use.  So, the corner cabinet that had been Jane's (John's mother) and had been, well, in the corner, went to Tasha who very much liked having her grandmother's cabinet, and the buffet was put in its current spot.

Right now it holds some of Grandma Anna's china and for the life of me, I don't remember even one thing that Grandma (Marian, that is) kept on her buffet.  Excuse the wrinkles in the dresser scarf there; I put it on quickly to see if I liked it and then promptly forgot to go iron it and put it back. Also, the mirror is streaky.  Egads.  I should have just started over with a new photo.

Baking and baling

Wed., November 11, 1936 - Howard baling for Dale Brugger.  Clear & warm all day.  I baked bread for the first time since I've been married -- and it was good!
Thur., November 12, 1936 - Howard baling for Leo Nelsen.  I sewed all day.  Elmer and Myrtle were here a few minutes this noon.
Fri., November 13, 1936 - Howard baling for Hoffman Bros.  I washed some clothes by hand -- some job!  We went to lodge tonite.

I still have not made a yeast bread with any success.  Tried maybe twice and neither worked out.  But, I'll try again after attempting to figure out what I have been doing wrong.

I did make aebleskiver this weekend.  The first pan of seven looked somewhat like sad, abandoned turtle shells, but I got better as I went.  John liked them quite a bit, so perhaps I'll make them on a regular basis -- after all, practice makes perfect.  That, and Youtube videos.  Photo from frugalityisfree.com.

And should that be Dale Bruegger?

Furiously embroidering

Mon., May 11, 1936 - Clear and warm today.  Herbert Temme and Howard weren't at school.  I don't suppose they'll come until Friday.  Embroidered after supper on pillowcases.
Tues., May 12, 1936 - We worked on fair work most of the day.  Embroidered tonite.
Wed., May 13, 1936 - More fair work.  Earl took exams in town.  Mrs. Nieman to Altona this afternoon.  I was chief cook and bottle washer again.

Other than my John, I have not heard anyone use the phrase "chief cook and bottle washer" -- in fact, John says "head cook and bottle washer".  Since I have only heard it from John, I assumed the phrase had a military origin.  I found this on a webpage with a lively discussion re this topic:

     "The main sense of the phrase I'm familiar with is: someone who is in charge of most all matters in an organization, both the important and menial.

     I found a reference to the phrase in Early American Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases by Bartlett Jere Whiting which lists two citations:

     1809 Linsley Love 40: I acts cook, steward, cabin boy, sailor, mate, and bottle washer.

     1844 Hone Diary 2.705: Gen. Jackson’s chief cook and bottle washer, Col. Polk.

     I also found an interesting reference from 1835 which referred to the Devil as being the "chief cook and bottle-washer of the slave-trade."

     The earliest citation refers to "cook" and "bottle washer" as being just two of the many tasks the narrator needs to perform on board a ship.

     Since the earliest citation refers to life at sea, I have a strong suspicion that the phrase originated in the sailing/naval sense. I haven't done any research in 18-19th century naval life, but I imagine that "bottle washing" was a task often performed on sailing vessels. I have to presume that bottles of rum, messages in a bottle, ships in a bottle — all these bottle-related naval tropes have some basis in history. Certainly a bottle-shaped receptacle for drinking is more practical on rough seas than water/grog/rum sloshing over the rim of a mug or cup." (from english.stackexchange.com)

Another person wondered if it was more correctly "chief, cook, and bottle washer."  Food for thought.

Photo borrowed from navyhistory.org.

Turning a corner?

Tues., May 5, 1936 - Mr. Nieman went after Mrs. N. after supper.  Reuben went to League, so Verdelle Mae and I were alone.  Mr. and Mrs. N. came home just as we were going to bed.
Wed., May 6, 1936 - Mom called up before supper and said that the soreness she had in her neck over the weekend was almost gone.  I went to town tonite with Niemans.  Mom wasn't home.  She had gone to R.N.A. lodge.
Thurs., May 7, 1936 - Mrs. Nieman went to Altona again tonite after supper.  Verdelle Mae and I made tally cards for Card Club tomorrow night.

This seems to be the first time Grandma uses "night" instead of "nite".  Maybe all that teaching had an impact.  I have always puzzled why she used "nite" -- seemed unlike her, but then again, I did not know the 20-something year old Marian Andersen.

Here's a photo of Norman.  And also my sock and laundry basket, but those aren't important.  Norman was almost 11 years old when we got him two years ago.  He was very spry for his age and quite a character.  He died yesterday very suddenly from a twisted stomach.  We knew we wouldn't have him for a long time to begin with, but it was still an unwelcome shock.  Rest easy, buddy.

Who needs physiology anyway?

Mon., April 20, 1936 - Windy and cloudy.  Sprinkled a little in a.m.  The girls came after me tonite.  We went to town to practice for initiating Carroll's new member this Friday night.
Tues., April 21, 1936 - We really didn't have much school today with the seventh grade gone.  Went to bed early tonite.
Wed., April 22, 1936 - Talked over examination questions.  They were pretty easy except Physiology.  We planted trees this morning and the boys fixed the approaches to the school yard.

Based on other entries, I am guessing "the girls" are Aunt Irene and Aunt Helen.

For some reason, I really like the idea of country school kids planting trees and fixing approaches.  Even then, not everything at school was books and chalkboards. 

Speaking of trees, I took the photo above this week.  Anna gave me a tree for no particular reason last year.  I dutifully planted it and put a protective wire cage around it to be sure it wasn't mowed or driven over.  It stayed alive all last year but never seemed to grow much.  Then this winter, someone (not me) drove over my sturdy wire cage and dented it up pretty well.  In their defense, we had had a bunch of snow and the pickup is tall, so they probably couldn't see it.  I was not hopeful for the little tree, but did go searching for it a few weeks ago.  I thought a little skinny stick I found might be it, but I was not sure.  Then this week, I spied the tree in the photo.  It is in the right spot (as far as I can tell since my cage was severely dislodged from its original position), it's an oak (which is what Anna gave me and what she said is in the photo), and it's alive!  So, I put a temporary cage around it and will clear out the grass and weeds and see if the little thing can make a go of it.  Updates as conditions warrant, if I remember.

Sorry, I've been absent a bit

Fri., April 17, 1936 - Nice again today.  Reviewed after school.  Went to bed early.  Today didn't seem like Friday -- it really didn't seem like any of the days of the week.
Sat., April 18, 1936 - Lovely warm day.  Made up our other day.  Dismissed school at 2:00.  Howard came after me about 5:00 instead of after supper tonite.  Went to a dance at Winside tonite that Raymond and Leo Nelsen were giving for their birthday.  I didn't dance, was afraid to.  Stayed til after intermission.
Sun., April 19, 1936 - Ray home today.  Ray, Mom and I went out to Ola's about 12:00.  Had dinner there and stayed until about 4:00.  Howard brought me to Nieman's tonite.

Life has been a bit busy for me for the following reasons:

1.  John was visiting Liz in Wisconsin for several days, so I took the opportunity to get lots of things done around the house and yard.

2.  I have a work project that has taken some planning and will take a good deal of time, all of which has taken away from my few minutes away from work to do this.

3.  Two more baby goats!  Well, they haven't taken me away from the blog, really, but they are so darned cute and little I just had to mention them.  There they are in the photos, less than 24 hours old, and cute as can be.  I can't even describe how small the white one is.  Definitely the teeniest of this year's kids.  But, she seems to be doing okay so far.

As I was saying . . .

Mon., November 11, 1935 - A tire was flat this morning when I stopped in front of the schoolhouse.  The boys fixed it at recess.  Earl back in school after 3 weeks absence.  Mom and I teased Ray tonite when he was reading!
Tues., November 12, 1935 - Mrs. Wolf brought some patterns for lace collars tonite.  Mrs. Lindbergh was here to try on her dress.
Wed., November 13, 1935 - Howard stopped at the schoolhouse awhile this evening.  He had a thorn in his wrist, infection set in, the place was lanced last nite.  Mrs. Trautwein brought Grandmother some flowers.  Miss Nuss and Ethel were here awhile tonite.

Well, I made it just under a month since my last post.  Time certainly got away with an early family Christmas, Anna graduating from college, Mitch visiting, John having surgery, momma goats having baby goats with one rejecting a baby . . . what else am I missing?

I am glad Grandma seems to be having a quieter time of it in 1935, flat tire and all.

There's a photo of my little graduate at the recognition on East Campus the day before the big graduation ceremony.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Anna!

April 19, 1932 - Rainy all day today.  The kids played marbles in the schoolhouse.  Got a ride to school with Mike this morning.  Called up Mom this evening and wished her a "Happy Birthday".  Got a letter from Mrs. Smith and wrote to Florence S., Helen C., Martha and Florence Jenkins.  Didn't practice this evening because of the rain.
April 20, 1932 - Fair weather today.  I've started Louise making programs and Raymond and Louise making posters for our play.  Mrs. Walker went to quilting today and wasn't home for supper.  Evie, Mote, and Bud went to church this eve.  Studied my part this evening after I was in bed.
April 21, 1932 - Weather didn't know whether to be cloudy or clear today.  Kids played marbles in school.  We went to play practice in the Ford tonite.

Playing marbles in school -- sounds a bit scandalous!

Here's 1887 in the Winside history book:

     January 25, the first case was tried in the Justice of Peace Court.
     March 1, Railroad Mail Service -- The Sioux City and Norfolk route is 73.96 miles in length, and the number of miles traveled annually by the one clerk employed is 46,299 miles, an average daily run of 147.92.  The average speed per hour is 22.22 miles and the average daily weight of mail carried is 1,260 pounds. The size of the mail apartment is 11 feet 9 inches by 9 feet 4 inches, and the pay of the clerk is $1,000 per year.
     April __, Carter and Clark grand ball, dedicating their new building before they put their stock in place.
     May 4, there has [sic?] been several young men casting their eyes in the direction of Miss Fair of Dakota City, the new teacher in Chapin precinct.
     August 12, Tom Morin, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Morin, was the first child born in Winside.
     December 6, the Post Office changed its name form Northside to Winside.
     December 27, Samuel Stephens in indeed the "crack shot" around Winside, he shot across the creek at a poor innocent little rabbit and after the innocent little rabbit got tired of the noise and smell of burnt powder, modestly walked off and left Sam to mourn the loss of his shot and powder.

Poor Sam Stephens!  I certainly hope he was a good sport.

I know of at least two people right now that would like to run the rails for their job, probably even at $1,000 a year.

And someone please tell me who is in the photo with Grandma Anna . . . Tanta Emma and who?

Sarcasm?

April 16, 1932 - Raining this morning.  Mr. Walker took me into the train.  Ray met me at Winside.  Washed and fixed my clothes.  Tonite Ray and I went to the dance at Hoskins.  I was up to Bernice's before the dance.  Didn't have a very good time, not much of a crowd there.
April 17, 1932 - Went to church this a.m.  After dinner Ray took me back to Walker's.  We stopped in at Ola's for a few minutes.  We practiced the 1st act of the play at the schoolhouse this p.m.  The girls and Bud didn't go.  Raymond and Gilbert were up there a few minutes.  I had League this evening.
April 18, 1932 - Got a ride to school with Mr. Walker this a.m.  Louise and Raymond are making things for the Fair.  We practiced this evening.  We're going to give the play April 29.  Willard asked me to go to the Hoskins class play with him this Friday.  I don't want to, but suppose I'll have to!

I wonder if Grandma really had to go to the play; her exclamation point instead of her usual "grrr" makes me think she doth protest too much.  (But, eh . . . what do I know?)

We are to 1886 with the Winside history:

     January 1, an estimate of the building done in Hancock precinct near Northside may roughly be placed as follows:  R. R. James house, $1200; H. N. Moore cattle sheds, $500; John Lenzier barn, $300; M. H. Dodge addition to house, $500; E. L. Jones house, $500; Warner Starr house, $500; R. G. Sines corn cribs, $100; Martin Redmer house, $1200; E. Nairn barn, $150; A. Krueger barn, $150; Tom Lound addition to barn, $150; John Elliott sheds, $75; J. W. Tillson, house, $400; No. 39 or Long school house, $500; Jay Phillips blacksmith shop, $250; J. O. Milligan & Co. warehouse, $500.
     January 29, it is a settled fact that the U.P. railroad will build their road northward from Schuyler in the spring, coming form Pilger up the Humbug as far as the farm of Mr. Hoffman, there taking a northwest direction crossing the M. & O. road near the Wm. Frazier place, there going north through the Wm. House ranch.  Where they intersect the M. & O. road, they will lay out a town.  (This road never was built.)
     February 5, a trainload of 22 cars of stock was shipped from Winside the past week.  The stock was owned by A. T. Chapin, A. B. Slater, P. W. Oman, Ran and Will Frazier, the six cars contributed by the latter being pronounced the finest lot of steers ever shipped from this station.  Among the "punchers" who accompanied the owners were, B. Feather, Link Neely, Ed. Smith and P. English.  The boys returned home from Omaha where they disposed of the stock at prices ranging from $4.25 to $4.75.
     February 26, Aden Arnel who sold his farm recently to Peter Ulrich moved on his new farm in Cedar county.  J. W. Tillson sold his lumber yard to the J. O. Milligan Co. and will devote his time to his farm near Northside.  Tom Lound has commenced an action contesting Charles Thiedies right to a homestead three miles south of H. B. Miller's place.
     March 16, Mr. Hornby has moved from the Moore farm to a farm north of -- shall we call it This Side.  Warner Starr won't look at This Side anymore.  His mind is fixed on the Other Side.  H. B. Miller killed a wolf Sunday and two Monday.  If everyone would kill off the wolves at that rate, the people could raise chicks without taking them into the kitchen every night.
     April 30, Jack Cherry has just unloaded the fifth car of lumber at his yard this spring.  Edward Neilan is teaching the Long school.  Jay C. Phillips has invented a sod cutter that is really a good thing.  Farmers are expecting to plant corn this coming week.
     June 14, the plat of the town has been filed and recorded in the county seat.
     September 24, Art Chapin's herd of thoroughbred Polled Angus cattle attracted universal attention at the County Fair and in passing the pen, several red and blue ribbons were in evidence.  Sunday Law, Sec. 241 -- If any person of the age of fourteen years or upwards, shall be found on the first day of the week commonly called Sunday, sporting, rioting, quarreling, hunting, fishing or shooting, he or she shall be fined in a sum not exceeding $20.00 or confined in jail more than 20 days.
     October 1, Jack Cherry's mansion is nearly ready for the painters.

A few notes --
1.  I wonder what kind of mansions the James and Redmer houses were to be valued so high compared to the rest.
2.  I guess settled facts aren't always settled.
3.  From last year's (last post's) information, the "new Star" discovered one morning was Warner Starr's baby.  That wasn't abundantly clear to me reading the other entry but makes perfect sense now.  Maybe I was not quite awake yet.
4.  The gentleman having trouble keeping lumber in stock is the same one that sold the lumberyard to spend more time on his farm.  Perhaps he was a better farmer than businessman.
5.  I wonder if the Sunday Law is still on the books.
6.  Lastly, I wonder what my husband would think if I brought my poultry in to the kitchen every night. Hmmmm.

Now what's this??

September 25, 1931 - It didn't rain today but it was cloudy and cold.  Ray came after me after school. We went out to Ed Schellenberg's to the barn dance tonite.  It was just a neighborhood affair.  I went home with K.C.!!!  We were with Mayme and Loyd.  In all the excitement I forgot my hat at Schellenberg's.  Martha came home today.
September 26, 1931 - I went down town this morning and got my raincoat.  I also had Dr. McIntyre show me how to examine my pupils.  Mother helped me wash out my clothes today.  Ray and I went to the dance at Hoskins tonite and had a real good time.
September 27, 1931 - There was no church this morning.  I studied part of the day and also slept. This evening Mother and I went to the program at the Evangelical Church in Hoskins.  Ray took us but didn't go in because he didn't feel good.  We stopped at the farm and I got my hat.

This K.C. character rated three exclamation points.  Any guesses from anyone as to who Grandma is talking about?

Funny about the hat.  That's absolutely something I would do.

John and Mom and I went out to Aces Haus, a local restaurant with German fare, tonight for my birthday. We had a very nice time and the food was 'delish'.  Mom gave me a cookbook that has some yummy recipes inside, I must say.  Now, just to convince John that something cooked from a recipe can be as good as his "dump" cooking.

I don't have a birthday photo scanned and ready to use, so here is one that was developed in 1963, which likely means that I had had a birthday by the time this was taken.  Close enough!

I'm back!

September 19, 1931 - I went down town this morning with Mother.  I got a new hat and ordered a new raincoat.  Ray and I went to Wayne to the Fair this afternoon.  I found Louise E. and Ester M. and spent the afternoon with them.  We were all in the grandstand together for the performances this evening.  After that Ray and I found Florence and Edwin.  Ray and I got home at 11:30.
September 20, 1931 - We went to church this morning.  Edwin was at our place when we came home.  Ray, Florence and I went with him to McLeon to see Bernice.  Meta, Lyle, Clifford, Marie, Orville, Hans and Lillie were there, too.  Coming home we went over the worst roads we could find.  Uncle Hans came home form Rochester today.  Edwin and Uncle Hans brought me here this evening.
September 21, 1931 - I was tired tonite and went to bed quite early. The kids went to play practice tonite.  The league is giving a short play and program at the church next Sunday night and that's what they're getting ready for.

He tried to dissuade me from my view, but I told John, my dear hubby, that it would take him minutes to fix my blog problem and I was correct.  I am not super computer-stupid, but finding problems and solving them on here are definitely NOT my forte.  So, I'm back, up and running.  Now, once I turn this off tonight, I may have to engage his help again if I get the same problem, but I will know it is a quick fix and summon him directly.

Some of us will remember that Grandma said she never liked buying hats because she didn't like looking at herself long enough in a mirror to select one.  Or something to that effect.  I found that somewhat sad, but since then I have been known to go to work with stuff on my face because I rarely look at myself in a mirror either, so it's not sad, just un-vain.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I set about to find a photo with Grandma wearing a hat.  This is the closest I came.

And where or what is McLeon?

One trip a success, another cancelled

"November 30, 1994:  John and Helen went to Lincoln.  Tonight they'll go with Tom and Merilyn by plane to Las Vegas and then drive to Laughlin.  Will meet Trina, Paul, Marina and Raymond there.
December 4, 1994:  Cold -- didn't go to church -- have a cough.  John and Helen came home this p.m.  Finished piecing the 3" square block quilt top.
December 5, 1994:  Was to go to Yankton to Dr. Sprik today.  Cancelled the appointment -- very cold, just 10 degrees above -- and my cough is still a problem.  Will go Friday instead."

It's still Saturday, right?  I didn't miss a whole weekend of posts again, did I?  Unfortunately, it is Monday.  Fortunately, however, my laptop should be fixed soon so that I can post from home on the weekends again.  We do have another computer at the house, but when I think about posting John is in the middle of something and when he isn't, well I don't remember to go post something.  Ah, well.

I had to blather on a bit about that topic as I don't have any particular thoughts on Grandma's entries.  I don't like to think about 10 degree days, I do have a thought on that matter.

For no reason, here's a photo of Grandpa talking to a dog.  Looks like Fuzzy to me, but I'm not sure.  As a bonus, I realized there is a quilt in the photo so it ties in with this entry after all.  It's not the 3" square quilt though, that's for sure.

Surplus pies

"November 26, 1994:  Baked two pumpkin pies, an apple pie and an angel food cake to take to Nancy's tomorrow for our Thanksgiving dinner.
November 27, 1994:  Brrrr!  Started snowing about 6:30 a.m. -- received about 4 or 5 inches -- windy -- so no trip to Lincoln.  We had oyster soup for dinner and pie!!
November 28, 1994:  Am working on a 3" square patch quilt."

Grandma must have been pretty tickled about that 3" square quilt.  This is the second time she's mentioned it.  I am not judging however, because I repeat myself quite a bit.  I am not judging however, because I repeat myself quite a bit.

I do not recall this particular weather-affected event.  I do remember when I was in college and Mom couldn't come down for Christmas.  That was AWFUL.  She was my biggest Santa and that time and . . . nothing.  I did survive, however and Santa Mom came through later when the weather was better.

Speaking of pie, John and I like it so much we have forced ourselves to have it only once a month.  It's a tough existence, but we are remaining strong.

It's a good thing there's no photo of the college-non-Mom Christmas because I was probably pretty sad-faced.  Here's a happier one circa 1966.