I remember this concert

Tues., December 11, 2002 - Grace came at 8:30 and took me to Randolph School.  Mitch and Anna were in a recital.  Mitch played a solo role -- Star Spangled Banner.  After the program Mary took me to the hair dresser -- she also took me home again.  Lois called to find out if I'd be home Sunday -- but that's the day Dolores is taking us to a special program.
Wed., December 11, 2002 - Sent more Xmas cards.  Went to Book Club in the evening.  Mary brought me some stamps.
Thurs., December 12, 2002 - Talked to Myrtle in a.m.  Wrote some more Xmas cards.  Tom came in evening.  The usual routine supper, laundry, shower & Rummikub.

The photos aren't from the concert Grandma mentions but from the same school year, so close enough.  I do remember taking a photo of Mitch playing his solo, but I can't find it.  Good times at ol' Randolph Elementary.

Big stuff

Wed., September 18, 2002 - After work Nancy took me to North Bend where we met Greta.  Then I went on to Winside.  Raymond Iversen flew into Lincoln at 9:00 P.M. -- for a 2 weeks visit.
Thurs., September 19, 2002 - Called Myrtle in A.M. - pretended I was still in Lincoln.  Then to Rabe's to get my quilt that Arlene had quilted.  Visited & had coffee & cookies.  Then to cafe for chicken fried steak.  Met Lena, Edna & Otto Carstens there.  Elsie Janke had a doctor's appointment so I didn't see her.  Lester fell & Greta had to go home so she didn't eat with us.  In P.M. we went to Myrtle's.  Lois told us not to tell her too far ahead of time we were coming -- she gets all worked up & tries to do things.  Had a real nice visit.  Greta & I played Rummikub in evening.
Fri., September 20, 2002 - Went to Oberle's in morning.  Happened to see Dorothy Jo as she was headed for the bank.  She came to the house & we had a lovely visit.  In P.M. we went to see Sophia Morris.  John is in the nursing home -- he's getting Alzheimer's & Sophia couldn't take care of him.  She still crochets & pieces quilts but is hard of hearing.  Rather hard to visit with her.  Rummikub in evening.

Busy few days for Grandma leading to longer diary entries for her.  Giving me carpal tunnel syndrome here.

Chicken fried steak is one of those foods I absolutely love but don't have often, which is likely a good thing for my waistline.  Photo from the Food Network.

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."

Argh!!

July 29, 2002:  Played [??] in party room this evening.  Dolores came afterward and we played Rummikub.
July 30, 2002: Mary took me to Beauty School for my hair-do.  The new girl Angie is faster and more on time than Kitty was.  Dale's birthday is the 30th.
July 31, 2002:  I baked three loaves of frozen bread.  Went to Book Club this evening.  Brought home "Once Upon a [??] by Bob Greene -- about North Platte during World War II.  Jayme's birthday.

The title of this blog is because I finally am online (at home) and trying to hurry this up, and what happens? -- for the first time I can remember since beginning this blog, I cannot decipher two words of Grandma's handwriting in the same post.  I can look up the title of the book, perhaps, but the card game is totally lost to me.  Oh, well.  I don't suppose it is terribly important.

Today many of us were up at the Winside Cemetery (one of my favorite spots, you may remember) to inter Uncle Raymond's ashes.  Lynn and Lorraine came from Oregon with the ashes and led us in a somewhat short, but informal and fitting send-off for a man we all loved very much.  I told Mitch about it and he was sharing a beer with all of us all the way from Arizona.  Afterwards we went to Lois's for sandwiches and such.  A very nice time was had.  Lorraine brought some photographs that were Uncle Raymond's and we got to choose the ones we wished to keep.  There were definitely some I had not seen before and that is always fun.

Found the book -- Once Upon a Town, about the marvelous canteen the town of North Platte pulled together when the trains came through full of men going off to war.  I remember reading a newspaper article about it.  One of the things the ladies doing the cooking and baking did was to have birthday cakes available for however many soldiers were having birthdays when they came through.  One man took a cake even though it wasn't his birthday.  He was shamed so by the others that he ended up giving it back.

Since Uncle Raymond was part of The Greatest Generation that served during WWII, it would be very fitting if I could post a photo of him in his Army uniform.  I am sure I have seen one.  However, I do not have it scanned and ready to go, and I am tempting fate and my internet as it is by making this somewhat long, so I am posting a photo of Uncle Raymond and Grandpa eating some sweet corn.  Works for me.

Don't like one answer, try someone else

June 11, 2002:  Missed hair appointment.  Hot weather.
June 12, 2002:  Nothing much happened.  Attended Book Club meeting -- read an article about the history of the flag to the group.
June 13, 2002:  Called Lois -- Myrtle still in hospital -- not sure how soon she'll be home.  Called Frances C.  She's moving in with Dana and wife.  Called Myrtle after dinner -- she doesn't know when she'll be home.  Has therapy every day.  Tom came for supper.  He did the laundry.  I showered and we played Rummikub.

Did Grandma not like Lois's answer to the question as to when Aunt Myrtle was coming home?  In all reality, it may have been that Lois thought Aunt Myrtle would know more later in the day, but it reads that Grandma maybe didn't like or trust her information and wanted to go to the top.

I think I can speak for the group and say that we had a grand time at Lois's yesterday for the 4th of July gathering.  Not as large a crowd as other years, but sometimes you get to visit better with people that way.  In any event, a fine time was had by all.  And cream pies were present.

Here's a photo from a 4th from the past.  I am thinking 1999 or thereabouts, but I am not sure.  Some were there, some were absent, and some are gone from us.

Of course

May 30, 2002:  Tried twice to get Myrtle. Then Lois called that she had taken Myrtle to the hospital in Wayne.  Myrtle's good leg was swollen and both were painful.  Tom here tonight -- had supper.  He took care of laundry and I showered and of course, we played Rummikub.  Merilyn called and said she had bought a new cat!!!
May 31, 2002:  94 degrees today.  I hope all summer won't be that bad.  Last winter was so mild I only wore my extra warm winter coat once.  Nancy came at supper time.  We stopped at Popeye's for chicken dinners -- went to her house to eat.  Then we sat on the deck and enjoyed the lovely evening.
June 1, 2002:  Hot again today.  Mitch and Anna here in evening.  We played Rummikub -- then watched cartoons on TV.  They went to sleep fairly early.

Nice that Grandma recognized the massive amounts of Rummikub playing that went on back then.

And that must have been some kind of record; Tom and Merilyn were without a cat for a whole nine days!!!  (My turn for exclamation points.)  I am just funnin', of course.

And here's Tom with Nancy's favorite cat, Satch.

Neighbors!!!!

"November 9, 2001:  Maintenance men here to work on radiators -- no warm air, just cold.  By evening all okay.  Arlene P. called from York.  They like it there.

November 10, 2001:  Nancy and Lois came at noon with lunch from Popeyes.  They watched Nebraska football game and then state finals of high school volleyball.

November 11, 2001:  Greta came to Lincoln.  Greta, Nancy and I met Mary, Mitch and Anna at Boston Market.  After the meal we went shopping.  I found a light to put under the cupboard above the sink.  We went to see Dale's house -- will be great when finished.  Tom came in late p.m.  About 5:30 a woman came and said the pounding disturbed her when she was working!!!!"

Those four exclamation marks are exactly what Grandma had written down.  I suppose it was a bit of an adjustment to have to worry about disturbing people after having always lived in a house and not multi-unit housing.  There are bound to be some stinkers in any group setting.  Overall, I believe Grandma's experience at The Pioneer House was a positive one.

And Grandma was right.  Dale's house is great even though it nearly killed him, and by extension, Lynn, too.  Here he is with me drinking milk in 1965.  We are reading real estate news and I think Dale has a milk moustache.

Oh, and shame on me....I missed saying something on Grandma's birthday!!  Happy 101st!

Grandma must have been worried

"July 20, 1995:  Howard to Dr. Patel -- took biopsy.  Raymond's took us to Toni's to eat.
July 21, 1995:  Pinochle at Ida's.  Gaylord's and Lee and Virginia N. here in the evening.
July 23, 1995:  Helen and I played Scrabble.  Bill here at noon -- Jayme was at music camp.
July 25, 1995:  Helen and I played Scrabble here.  John brought the stand for cassette tapes.  Raymond and Marina went to Elmer & Myrtle's."

I am thinking Grandma was worried about Grandpa's health, or very involved with company and cards and Scrabble, but I am positive we were up to Winside prior to July 25 to introduce Anna to the family, and there's been no entry by her about that.  Even if that date is incorrect, I have looked ahead in Grandma's journal and there's no mention of a visit prior to Anna's baptism in August and I know we were up before then.  But, I will forgive her the lack of a mention.

I imagine Mom remembers how ornery we were with the first Anna visit.  I hatched a plan and Rick dropped Anna and I off in St. Paul's parking lot and then he and Mitch rode down to Mom's.  We had to tell Mitch it was okay to tease Grandma this one time.  So, they get in the driveway and Mom comes out and Rick tells her that it was hot (which is was) and I was really tired so Anna and I stayed home.  Mom admits she told them in sullen tones to just come on in the house then.  By that time I was walking down the hill with Anna, so we didn't tease her for too awfully long.

Well, I thought I had a photo ready of Grandpa and Anna during the introduction visit and now I can't find it.  So instead, for no particular reason, here are Uncle Elmer and Grandpa living it up.

Storm at Sea

"January 19, 1995:  Sunny and thawing a little.  Much better than the foggy weather we had last week.  Lois and Linda went to Fremont to see Dora -- she took a turn for the better -- knew them and visited with them.  Started Jayme's Storm at Sea quilt.  Greta cut all the pieces for me.
January 22, 1995:  Too much ice for me to go to church.  Spent the week working on Jayme's quilt and doing some cleaning.

By my count this is the third Storm at Sea quilt Grandma made.  Well, the third in the journal I am working from right now.  I do not recall what colors were in Jayme's, but I imagine I would have seen it at some time.  It is a wonderful pattern in my opinion.  It looks like you need to be concentrating pretty well to get it all pieced properly but to a pro like Grandma it was probably a pretty tame project -- alliteration, anyone?  An internet search will bring up quite a few different variations, but the photo above is I believe close or the same as what Grandma used, although she used more monochromatic themes.  It's neat how the lines look curved when in fact they are all straight.

Outings and aboutings

"December 11, 1994:  To Lois and Gaylord's for dinner.  John's van wouldn't start so we had to use the Pontiac.  Just John, Helen, Howard and I were there.  Mark and Jeff, too.  Tom came late evening.

December 12, 1994:  Tom and I left at 7:00 for Sioux City.  Got to doctor's office before 9:00.  After examination and pictures of eyeball taken we ate at a Wendy's place.  Then Tom drove to the casino at Sloane.  Stayed about an hour -- won nothing -- back to doctor's office and then home.
December 14, 1994:  Went to WELCA Christmas dinner and program. Snowed during meeting."

Grandma got to go to the casino and Grandpa didn't?  Oh, the humanity.  I wonder if it was a spur-of-the-moment decision to go or if maybe they planned it and Grandpa just didn't feel like going out.  I know if I would have been there, I would have won nothing, also.

Here's a photo of Tom, thinking of something, I'm sure.  Probably not an outing to Sloane.

The sky is falling.....fell, actually

"September 22, 1994:  Rained all day.
September 23, 1994:  About 4:00 this morning the plaster above the stairway came down.
September 24, 1994:  We went to Legion Hall for a pot-luck supper -- a surprise birthday part for Janet B. McCormick.
September 25, 1994:  Lois and Gaylord stopped in late p.m.  Gaylord said he and Mark would fix the ceiling.  We've had over 2 inches of rain since last Thursday."

I do remember seeing the big area of the stairway ceiling that fell down.  I'm pretty sure Grandma said it made quite the noise.  We were obviously thankful no one was using the stairs at the time.

I thought for sure I had a photo of Gaylord scanned and ready to go, but if I do, it's hiding from me.  So, Plan B is a photo of the house.  A note on the back indicated this was taken in 1925.  I will again state for the record that I liked the house this way, without the front porch addition that Grandma loved so much.  It's a point where we could not agree, not that I ever argued with her about it.

Graduation parties

"May 13, 1994:  Nancy came in evening.  Mark M. drove.  He's working Lincoln for Tom.
May 14, 1994:  Nancy and I to Wakefield to buy plants.
May 15, 1994:  Tom and Merilyn here.  Tom worked on patio.  Went to Lois's in p.m. for Jeff's graduation."

Graduation.  Such fun.  I am pretty sure I did not go to Jeff's graduation.  Whether that is because I was not invited or just couldn't/didn't go, I am not sure.  I think maybe I was a ways down on the cousin family tree and didn't get an invite.  And that's fine.  We are trying to figure out where to start and stop with Anna's graduation invitations right now.  Some people will be invited to the ceremony, others to the mainly-for-friends party, and then others to the family party, probably with some overlap.  Good thing we like company.

As for 1994, I don't have much else to say.  Seems I was elsewhere when all the excitement was going on.

Here's the best, but not good, photo I have of the patio.  It's there, but you have to look in the vicinity of Aunt Irene's gams to see it.

Grandma's birthday

"February 6, 1994:  Greta, Lester, Mary, Rick, Mitch, Gaylord, Lois, Mark, Nancy, John, Helen, Dale, Dane, Kyleah, Myrtle here for dinner.  Bob, Mary Lynne and Dorothy Jo here in p.m.  My birthday dinner.
February 8, 1994:  -20 degrees at night.
February 9, 1994:  Missed WELCA -- too cold and icy for me."

It's too cold and icy for me right now just thinking about -20 degrees.  I know it can happen every winter, but geesh!

The last sentence of the February 6 is written in a different ink.  Interesting that Grandma felt a need to write in her own journal an explanation for a family get-together.  Maybe she knew someone would be reading her stuff some day. 

Speaking of cold, here's this same winter photo I've used before.  Just a reminder of how much fun snow can be.  I also need a reminder to get more photos scanned . . .

Johanna

"August 30, 1993:  Nancy came in evening.
August 31, 1993:  Nancy left with Lois, Mark and Jeff for Wisconsin to visit Jean and see Mark C. in a golf tournament.
September 5, 1993:  Johanna died.  Went to Lincoln for Dane's birthday -- dinner at Mary's."

I don't remember that I did so much entertaining.  Glad that I did.  Just noticed that I am over halfway through this first notebook of Grandma's.  Best be starting now to find the next in line.

I have nothing but fond memories of Johanna.  If she ever spoke a harsh word to anyone, I never heard about it.  This photo is from 1988, the first family reunion after Grandma and Grandpa's 50th anniversary grand get-together.

Still in the hospital

"January 16, 1993:  Gaylord and Lois took Helen to Omaha.  John is at Clarkson Memorial Hospital in intensive care.  Doctor told Helen to go home -- she'd get sick too if she stayed.
January 17, 1993:  I called Nancy in a.m.  In p.m. she, Tom and Merilyn visited John.
January 20, 1993:  Snowed most of the day -- had 5 - 6 inches.  No wind to speak of so no drifts.  I was to have Busy Bees but meeting postponed until next month."

It was a rather tough spell for both Aunt Helen and Uncle John during these couple months.  To me such things seem even worse when they happen in the cold of winter.  Yikes.  I just realized that in a few days from this post I had my 31st birthday.  No wonder I can't remember some of this stuff -- that was eons ago.  31??  Heavens!

And just to make myself feel even older, here's a photo from high school where I was rockin' my red band uniform.  I loved that horn.  Even it is old now.  I need to go lay down and rest a bit . . .

Christmas party and doll feasting

"December 12, 1992:  Nancy, Mary and Mitch came this morning.  In p.m. to Lois and Gaylord's.  Those present were Elmer, Myrtle, Lois's family (Dana had to work and couldn't come), Joan, Monte, Bob, Mary, Irene, Dorothy Jo, John, Helen, Greta, Mary, Mitch, Nancy, Howard and I.  Before coming home we drove through the campus of the college to view the Day Christmas lights.
December 13, 1992:  Nancy carried down gifts, decorations, etc. from upstairs.  Started to snow about 10:30 or 11:00.  Nancy, Mary and Mitch headed for Lincoln a little before 1:00.  Nancy home and unpacked by 4:00.  The snow ended at Wisner and rain from then on to Lincoln.  We had 2 to 3 inches of snow."

Gosh.  Another entry for the family Christmas already?  Time flies when you post about three entries a day and when Grandma hadn't written something for each and every day to begin with.  I do remember our drive through the campus to look at the lights.  Mitch was at a good age to enjoy it which made it even more fun.

Here's a 1962 Christmas photo of me with a Christmas doll where I am trying to prove what a big mouth I have by completely swallowing its head.  The dress is long gone, but I do believe that is the same doll I have sitting on a shelf in my dining room right now.  I have always loved those type of glasses Mom is wearing.  I want some the next time I get frames.  Retro is in, right?

Busy, busy

"October 17, 1992:  Dane here in a.m.  Baked, etc. in p.m.  Went to German Dinner at auditorium in evening.
October 18, 1992:  Lois, Gaylord, Mark, Jeff, Nancy and Irene here for dinner.  Lois brought Irene.  Greta, Dane, Helen and John here in p.m.  Killing frost last night -- 20 degrees this morning.
October 20, 1992:  John and Helen took us to Pierce for flu shots -- no doctor there so couldn't get them.  Went on to Norfolk and visited Irene -- then to WalMart's and I bought a new Tappon microwave.  Charles J. plowed the garden."

A busy few days there between having guests and baking and going downtown and cooking a dinner and travelling and shopping.  No wonder Grandma didn't plow the garden herself -- too tired!

Since Aunt Irene got a couple of mentions, she gets to be featured in my Photo of the Day.  I have that wooden rack on my desk and it has a few birds on it.  One of the birds in the photo looks familiar -- I may have gotten it from her things or else I have one very similar.  I'm becoming a bit of a bird lover and bird collector myself as of late.

Hot and not-so-cold stuff

"August 15, 1992:  Lester took Raymond to Omaha this morning.  His flight left at 10:30.  Something's wrong with the refrigerator -- the ice cubes melted.
August 16, 1992:  Gene J. came at noon.  Need a new compressor!  Greta, Mary, Mitch and Rick here in p.m.  Gaylord and Lois came, too.  Gaylord brought Howard a wood burning stove."

This must be the wood burning stove that went in to the Honda House.  What a great addition that was!  Just ask any of the cats that used to hang out there.  It's hard to truly describe the Honda House to people.  It was a get-away, a club house, a tool room -- all kinds of things rolled in to one.

Best photo I have on hand with the Honda House in it, even though it is in the background.

Found the book!

"June 30, 1992:  Norris, Vicki and Ann N. visited here in p.m.
July 3, 1992:  Nancy came at noon.  We fixed food for tomorrow -- played Manipulation in evening.
July 4, 1992:  Picnic at Dorothy Jo's.  Those present:  Norris, Vicki, Ann; Ramon and Linda; Myrtle, Gaylord, Lois, Mark and Jeff; Irene; Bernie, Carol, Kris and Ryan; Marvin, Betty Ann; Linda and Christopher; Gary A., Jennifer and Karen; Kevin and Mary; Betty Jo; Rick, Mary, Mitch; Greta and Lester; Helen and John; Nancy; Howard and I; Bob, Mary and Michelle.  Lloyd in hospital for tests, an irregular heart beat."

Grandma had a new line in her book for each family unit so her list looks more impressive.  But it was still a pretty good-sized bunch that year.  And we just had our early 4th this last weekend.  Wunnerful.

I have pictures of Christopher from this particular 4th, but I gave them to Linda a while ago.  And of course, I don't know where the photos I kept are at the moment.  This photo is of a different branch of the family tree and may or may not have been taken on the 4th but I simply love it, so I am posting it.  I don't care if I've used it before or not.  Love it!  Love it!

A very merry unbirthday?

"February 2, 1992:  Bill, Jayme, Nancy, Tom, Merilyn, Dale, Dane, Kyleah, Mary, Rick, Mitch, Greta, Dorothy Jo and Johanna here for dinner.  Gaylord, Lois and Linda and Myrtle came in p.m.  Lester came home from hospital in p.m.  Myrtle Jacobsen died.
February 5, 1992:  Myrtle J.'s funeral.  I didn't go.
February 11, 1992:  Lila took me to Norfolk.  I bought a new floor lamp -- cost $120.79."

All those people there and no mention that it was for Grandma's birthday.  Her 80th birthday in fact.  She cracks me up sometimes.

Of course, we can't let a mention of Myrtle Jacobsen go by without relating how Nancy believed Tom came to join the family.  Rather than share the story of the birds and bees with Nancy, Grandma told her she fell down and hurt her leg and Myrtle Jacobsen felt sorry for her so she gave her a baby.  Nancy confesses that sometimes she wasn't sure if she liked Myrtle Jacobsen or not.  I for one, always liked Myrtle Jacobsen.  And I do believe Nancy has come around as well.

The photo is from Grandma's 90th birthday, but it was the best I had.