Birthday party time

Sun., February 2, 2003 - Tom took me to Dale's for dinner.  All there except Merilyn & Jayson's family.  Jeff & girlfriend Sarah were there for dinner & Doug, Dana & Madison came in afternoon.  A nice warm day.

Mon., February 3, 2003 - Snowed today.  I went to Card Club in evening.  Delores made a cake & Grace furnished ice cream -- a surprise to me.  Then Nancy & Mitch came which was a real surprise.  Delores had asked them to come.  Anna was sick so she & Mary weren't there.  Jean called today & so did Raymond Iversen but we didn't talk much -- he could hardly hear me.  The trouble must have been in his phone because Jean didn't complain.

Tues., February 4, 2003 - I cancelled the hair-do appointment.  Nancy said the sidewalks were icy.  Delores here in evening for some Rummikub.

Darn, but I don't remember not going for cake and ice cream because Anna was sick.  Nice to know that Nancy and Mitch were able to pull off the surprise, though.

I've been re-starting my genealogy research of the family and came across a humorous little thing from the Winside paper.  Thankfully, well hopefully, it had nothing to do with anyone in our find, upstanding family but I need to share it anyway.  Here goes:

Winside Tribune, April 22, 1920:

Luthern [sic] Church Emblem Smeared with mud.

Disregarding the motives of the parties guilty of smearing mud on the emblem just above the entrance of the St. Paul's Lutheran church Wednesday night, the act surpasses any barbaric deed that was ever perpetuated in this locality.  Anyone that would condescend to such an outrageous and blasphemous act isn't as good as the mud he used to express the degenerate machinations of his furtile [sic] brain.

We haven't any idea who the guilty parties are but if we haven't made this article emphatic enough parties in question can call at the office and get what we didn't have space for in this weeks [sic] issue.

Well, amen to that.  

Seems I should have Nancy in charge of photos for my posts since she is the most organized photo queen in the family.  But, a nice photo of the church isn't a bad thing, right?

Watching movies

Wed., December 25, 2002 - Nancy & I went to Dale's.  We ate about 2:00.  Lynn's brother Rod & family were there -- Mary, Mitch & Anna were there, too.  Nancy called Greta before we went to Dale's -- had a nice visit.  We went home about 4:30.  I watched some movies in the evening.
Thurs., December 26, 2002 - Myrtle called about 10:30.  Tom forgot it was Thurs. -- came late.  Usual things accomplished -- laundry, etc.
Fri., December 27, 2002 - Dolores took me to have my hair-do.  Mary brought me home.

For some reason, the fact that Grandma would watch movies at all hours of the day and night, even into the wee hours, tickled me.  I'm glad she enjoyed them.  I know we discussed movies every now and then.  We might even on December 27 when I took her home from her hair-do since she usually fed me lunch on those days.

For no reason other than I like it lots, here's a photo of Kyleah and Willa and Mom.

The chair!

Thurs., November 28, 2002 - Thanksgiving Day.  Nancy took me to Dale's house.  Lynn had invited both sides of the family.  Had a wonderful time.
Fri., November 29, 2002 - Home nurse came again.  I can take a shower now instead of a sponge bath.
Sat., November 30, 2002 - Nancy took me shopping.  First we picked out new glasses for me.  Then to the Village Inn for dinner -- then to pick out a new recliner that lifts a person out.  Bought one at the Havelock Furniture Store.

The "teapot" chair, right?  Because it tips you over and pours you out.  I think that's the name Grandma called it, or at least I've got the spirit of the name anyway.  And unbelievably, I found a photo of it in no time at all.  And there's Maude way on the left.

Western, schmestern

Fri., October 18, 2002 - Went to main lobby & saw a movie - a Western with Dean Martin.  Residents with VCR are showing a movie on Fri. night.
Sat., October 19, 2002 - Dale came for me about 5:30 & took me to his place.  Kyleah was home, Lynn was in Omaha & Dane was at a banquet.  Dale went for Chinese food for our supper.  After supper we played Rummikub.  Lynn's mother came & visited a while.  When Dale went for Dane he took me home.  A real good evening.
Sun., October 20, 2002 - Nancy came in a.m with my groceries.  I showered & then we went to Boston Market for our noon meal.  We stopped at the Family Dollar Store!!! We didn't play Rummikub today -- too tired.

There is more than one western with Dean Martin in it, so I don't know what movie Grandma saw.  There's plenty of information to be found about the man himself, but I will stop at just this, from wikipedia:

"Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, the son of Italian father Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967) and Italian-American mother Angela Crocetti (née Barra; 1899–1966). His parents were married in 1914. His father, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, Abruzzo, and his mother's origins are also believed to be from Abruzzo, although they are not clearly known. Martin had an older brother named William Alfonso Crocetti (1916–1968). His first language was Italian and he did not speak English until he started school at the age of five. He attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, where he was bullied for his broken English. As a teenager, he played the drums as a hobby. He dropped out of Steubenville High School in the tenth grade because he thought he was smarter than his teachers. He bootlegged liquor, worked in a steel mill, served as a croupier at a speakeasy and a blackjack dealer, and was a welterweight boxer.

At 15, he was a boxer who billed himself as "Kid Crochet". His prizefighting earned him a broken nose (later straightened), a scarred lip, many broken knuckles (a result of not being able to afford tape used to wrap boxers' hands), and a bruised body. Of his 12 bouts, he said that he "won all but 11". For a time, he shared a New York City apartment with Sonny King, who was also starting in show business and had little money. The two reportedly charged people to watch them bare-knuckle box each other in their apartment, fighting until one was knocked out. Martin knocked out King in the first round of an amateur boxing match. Martin gave up boxing to work as a roulette stickman and croupier in an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop, where he had started as a stock boy. At the same time, he sang with local bands, calling himself "Dino Martini" (after the Metropolitan Opera tenor Nino Martini). He got his break working for the Ernie McKay Orchestra. He sang in a crooning style influenced by Harry Mills of the Mills Brothers, among others. In the early 1940s, he started singing for bandleader Sammy Watkins, who suggested he change his name to Dean Martin.

In October 1941, Martin married Elizabeth "Betty" Anne McDonald in Cleveland, Ohio, and the couple had an apartment in Cleveland Heights for a while. They eventually had four children before the marriage ended in 1949. Martin worked for various bands throughout the early 1940s, mostly on looks and personality until he developed his own singing style. He flopped at the Riobamba nightclub in New York, when he followed Frank Sinatra in 1943."

I didn't know Grandma was so fond of Family Dollar.  Glad she was excited to go.

Sandwiches

Tues., October 15, 2002 - This was my dad's birthday.  Had my hair washed, etc.  Nancy came after work & took me to "Jim's", a place that specializes in home health.  New "skis" were put on my walker -- take the place of the tennis balls (Called Greta to report on dental deal).  We then went to Staufers' Restaurant & had chicken fried steak, etc.  Was really good.
Wed., October 16, 2002 - Went to Book Club in evening.
Thurs., October 17, 2002 - Called Myrtle this morning.  Also called Marjorie C.  Tom came in evening & brought some special sandwiches.  The usual routine of laundry, shower & Rummikub.

Speaking of special sandwiches . . . Mitch, Mom and I hosted 15 of our family members (plus Tanner and Willa) for a meal Sunday at Mom's of traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches.  Well, we researched and were as traditional as we could manage.  We were a bit nervous as to whether everyone would like the nutty, malty Danish bread but very little of anything went in the trash at the end of the meal.

Afterwards, some of us played Squeak -- something we had not done after a family meal in a very long time.  Needless to say, it was great fun.  So glad everyone could come and that they enjoyed our efforts.  We should probably do it again sometime, I think.

Bud in a dress

April 25, 1932 - Cloudy all day today.  Ray came up to the schoolhouse and took me up to Mayme's.  I got 3 of her dresses, one for Hazel, Bud and myself.  We practiced at the schoolhouse tonite.  Went in the Ford.  Mike, Evie and I sat in the truckbox.
April 26, 1932 - Trying to clear up today.  Got a ride with Bob N. to school this a.m.  Straightened the library.  Raymond and Louise are tracing patterns for me.  Last time to practice at the schoolhouse tonite.  Practiced quite late tonite.  Laurence Jochens and Willie Stahl birthdays.
April 27, 1932 - Grandpa Kahler died.  Nice today.  Got the grades today.  Raymond passed with an average of 90 1/2 and Louise 90 13/14.  Dismissed school at 2:30.  Evie, Mote and I went down to the pavilion to get things fixed up.  We had a terrible time.  Washed my hair.  Practiced at the pavilion this evening.  And it was terrible!!!  Harold Jensen's birthday.

Sounds like a fun play already if you have a boy in a dress.  Can't go wrong with that.  I remember one of Dale and Lynn's friends (nicknamed Tree as I recall, or could have been at least) dressed up as a woman for Halloween one year.  Not original, but very, very funny.

Oh, teaser alert - my next post will have Grandma's review of how the play performance went.

Here's 1889 in the history book:

     March 1, Winside is decidedly on the up grade.  Everyone is happy and doing well.
     April 27, fire destroyed the McDerby store, Miller and Cherry's drug store and the unfinished building of Frank Matthews, designed as a paint and furniture shop.
     May 9, McDerby has nearly completed his new store building and Dr. Cherry will have his drug store finished soon.  (Dr. Craig's office).
     May 23, Carl Bronzynski's mother, sister-in-law and two sisters arrived from Germany.  The chances are Winside will not have a ball team as all of the equipment burned in the fire on April 27th.  (This is the first hint found pertaining to Winside baseball.)
     May 24, the town park north of the depot recently donated by J. T. Bressler and the town site representatives is taking shape, through the efforts and energy of the enterprising citizens.  Jimmy Hall, our agent, left for Bancroft.  Jimmy will certainly be missed at Carter's store as well as at the depot.
     June 14, Winside won the baseball game from Hoskins by the narrow margin of 56 to 16.  It was a fair game.
     July 4, Winside put on its first celebration this year in grand style.  The day started out with a salute of 100 guns and plenty of fire crackers at 4 a.m.  Frank Fuller was the speaker of the day, followed by foot races, horse races, ball game with Hoskins and in the evening a good display of fireworks.
     July 14, the first death in Winside occurred this morning when Harry Morgan, small son of a Mr. Morgan died.  The Morgan family was traveling by wagon back to Illinois and stopped on the way to visit A. H. Carter and a relative near Wayne.  The little boy had been very sick while they were traveling form Grand Island so Dr. Cherry was consulted while here and he pronounced it Cholera Infantum.  The little lad was too far gone to do him any good.
     July 30, F. H. Peavy is building a $20,000 elevator, yards for stock and corn cribs.  J. E. Barnett of Norfolk has opened up a barber shop and a pool hall the first door west of Dr. Cherry's drug store.
     August 1, McClusky and Needham are paying 10 cents for butter and eggs.  Winside bought the school site from J. T. Bressler for $500.

Seems they got a baseball team together after all, perhaps fueled by the idea that Winside could handily defeat Hoskins some day in the near future.  And Mr. McDerby sure didn't sit around once his store burned down as his new store was almost done less than two weeks later.

The photo is of a Winside baseball team taken "in the 90's".  The only players identified by name were "the tough looking" player in the front row on the extreme left (Wylie McClusky) and the player on the extreme right (Vere Carter).  Also playing on the team, but not noted in the photo were Tom Johnson and C. E. Needham.

Who is Grubby?

March 26, 1931 - Nature Study test today.  It started raining this morning and turned into snow tonite. It acted like a regular blizzard.  Stayed up until 12 o'clock tonite working on my Nature Study notebook.
March 27, 1931 - Woke up at 6 o'clock this morning and worked on my notebook in bed.  I called Mom up this afternoon and told her I couldn't come home because the folks are going away tomorrow.  Aunt Mildred asked Grubby and Pete over this evening.  Pete and I played against Grubby and A. Mildred.  We played 500 and lost 5 games out of seven.  Had lunch when Uncle Chris came home.  Ray's car is on the blink.  "A valve head blew off and poked a hole in the piston."  That's what they said happened, can't prove it by me!!!!
March 28, 1931 - We got up late this morning.  I helped Aunt Mildred clean up the house.  They left this afternoon for Louisville at about 5 o'clock.  I made candy this evening and Mrs. Smith and I played cards.  Ralph called up about 8 o'clock and said he, Florence and Edwin would be over this evening.  They came and we played pinochle rummy.  Florence and I played against the boys.  Gee we had lots of fun.  Florence said if Martha came to see her tomorrow they might come over.  I hope they do.

Does anyone know who Grubby and Pete are?  Sounds like a good name for a play or a comedy duo or a cartoon or something.

I missed posting last night as I stayed in Lincoln late to go hear Dane and his group sing downtown.  A very nice performance.  Dane's fan club included Mom, Dale, Lynn, Kyleah, Allison and myself.  Nancy and Wayne couldn't find a parking space and were not there.  Kyleah was late and missed the entire performance so Dane asked his friends to sing one more song.  They went outside since another group was going to be performing inside where they had been.  The one song was such a hit, they decided to do another.  Great fun.  Grandma would have enjoyed it to be sure.

Kyleah was much happier after that special performance than she looks in this picture.

Almost too much excitement, then and now

August 1, 2002:  Talked to Myrtle this morning.  Tom here this evening for the usual tasks -- laundry, shower and Rummikub.
August 2, 2002:  Made rhubarb swirl for tomorrow.  Not a "blah" day.  Dolores came right after dinner and we played Rummikub.  Zoya came about 3:00 -- brought some Pepperidge Farm snacks. Delores left then.  Later Marilyn M. came -- she brought some "egg rolls" -- first time I had some -- really good.  Zoya and I played Rummikub before Marilyn came.  Was a very enjoyable day.
August 3, 2002:  Tom came for me at 11:00 a.m.  Merilyn had to work today.  We went to Nancy's for the July birthdays.  Bill's and Jayson's couldn't come -- had a wedding in Omaha.  Greta, Mary, Mitch, Anna, Dale and family, and Jeff M. all there for dinner. The men helped Dane move some furniture.  We gals and kids went over to Dale's new house -- really nice.  They will be spending tonight there for the first time.  Quite an occasion.  Mary, Mitch, Anna, Tom and I had lunch with Nancy before we went home.  A wonderful day!!!

Well, I got a bit confused with the above retelling of 2002 events.  I think the men probably helped Dale move some furniture since Dane would have been 14 years old and hadn't moved out of the house yet.  And I think the last bunch of us had supper before we went home; lunch was probably with the big bunch.  But, it sounded like a grand couple of days for Grandma, so maybe she was thinking faster than she was writing.  Or else, equally possible, I am just missing something obvious to everyone else.

The internet at home is up and running!  As it turns out, three volunteer trees, one by the east pasture gate and two in the goats' pen had grown enough to block the radio signal from Ceresco.  So, the very nice internet guy that came out (ex-Army, which explains it) helped John cut down the trees.  Then we had a 100% signal.  Yay!  I told John to leave the branches in the goats' pen where they were because 1) it was 98 degrees out, and 2) the goats love eating leaves and bark.  That turned out to be a bit of a mistake.  The goats had a great time to be sure, but one of them apparently does not have an "off" switch.  He was bloated-looking last night but acted okay.  This morning when I went for chores, he was down instead of standing like he always is.  I had read previously that sick goats can go downhill very rapidly and die without much warning.  So, I consulted some online friends and have been tending to poor Andy ever since.  We went for a couple of walks to get his innards moving and of course, had to take Barney along so he wouldn't cry.  I have massaged Andy's belly and generally have been checking on him every 30 minutes.  I think he may be out of the woods; for awhile there he was straining like he was throwing up, but instead of anything coming out, his cheeks would fill a bit and he would chew, like a cow chewing cud.  I am thinking that meant he was re-arranging things, so to speak.  I also heard some loud bowel sounds around that time.  Lesson learned with excess leaves.

Here's a photo of the sick boy and myself last night before he got sick.  [Oops, noticed after originally posting that this is Barney, not Andy.  And for the record, Andy seems to be doing much better.]

Never too old to ask Mom

"June 14, 2002:  As usual I played lazy today.  Did fold the laundry and put it away.  Talked to Nancy in evening.
June 15, 2002:  My neighbor, Bernice, called to borrow two round cake pans.  She was baking a special cake for her husband.  Greta called in p.m.  Arlene R. had brought five chickens and Greta wanted to know how to package them.  I told her about our plans for tomorrow so there won't be a Sunday morning call.
June 16, 2002:  Nancy came a little early -- we left here about 7:45.  Went to Dale and Lynn's church.  Dane was an acolyte.  Lynn was at some convention in San Antonio.  After church we went to IHOP --  a special pancake house.  Dale treated us to our meal.  Then Nancy and I did my grocery shopping -- took it to the apartment and took a nap.  Went to Tom and Merilyn's about 2:00.  The kitten is really special.  He walks around the place as if he owns it.  Jeff M. came while we were there.  I was back here about 5:00.  Nancy went right home to rest.

As an over 50-type person, I am glad to see that in 2002 my mom was still asking her mom things she didn't know.  It is supposed to work that way, of course, but I am still glad to read this.

And did Tom and Merilyn ever have a cat that didn't think it owned the place?  They have/had a knack for some real characters, even for cats.  I was telling someone about that rough-and-tumble Keena (sorry, if I am spelling that wrong) just the other day.

Here's Mom learning something about gardening from Grandma, no doubt -- something I am learning now.  Looks like a healthy bunch of something they are picking there.

Well, that explains it

May 12, 2002:  Tom took me to Nancy's for Mother's Day gathering.  Merilyn came alone as she had to help Linda.  Bill and Jenny and Jayson's family came in p.m.  Rest of family there for pot luck dinner.  Lynn couldn't be there -- some sort of track meet.  We had a most enjoyable day.
May 13, 2002:  Nancy took me to the doctor in p.m.  Still doesn't know why my right [foot?] is swollen and causes pain at times.  Played tapes that Lester made for me -- some beautiful songs.  Played Seven-Up in evening.
May 14, 2002:  Had my shampoo and set.  Started copying material from old journal into new one Greta gave me for Mother's Day.  Called Lester to thank him for the tapes -- 4 of them.

I had noticed that this most recent journal, unlike others before it, were written in the same ink and in very consistent handwriting.  I would bet that this journal is the new one Grandma is talking about and the one she had been copying in to.  I peeked ahead and found other colors of ink and other variances.  Mystery, small as it was, solved.

Grandma left out a word and I thought it was her foot that she was having problems with.  Maybe we will see as we go along if I am right or wrong about that.

The photo isn't from 2002 since it was taken at Bill and Jenny's, not Nancy's, but I am thinking it may be a Mother's Day photo but the mix of short and long sleeves may mean it was Easter.  I like it nonetheless.

All kinds of things work out in the end

"April 12, 2002:  Another queer day - I slept until 8:00.  Had a drink of fruit juice -- then watched three episodes of "M*A*S*H" and then "The Easter Parade" with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.  So I had breakfast at 11:00 a.m.  Had a prescription delivered in the afternoon.
April 13, 2002:  Mitch was sick so he and Anna didn't come tonight.  I reorganized my cassettes.  Mary came after work and adjusted the air conditioner fans.
April 14, 2002:  Nancy brought chicken dinner from Popeye's.  After dinner we went to Dale's new house.  Saw the first floor.  Railings weren't there for upstairs or basement.  Really will be nice.  We had root beer floats on the way home.  I took a shower and then we played Rummikub."

Ah, the good old days when Dale and Lynn's house was being built.  Crazy and aggravating for me looking in so I can't begin to imagine how dreadful it was there for them right in the thick of it all when things went completely south for a bit.  But, in the end the house got built, they moved in and the dust, literally and figuratively, settled.

This bit of journal reminds me again about how much Grandma enjoyed her cable and the ability to watch lots of movies and different shows.  I remember her making a passing remark after Grandpa died about not watching a particular show because Grandpa wanted to watch something else.  I believe it was the first and only time I ever heard her say anything even remotely indicating a disagreement with Grandpa.  I am sure they had their differences of opinion over all those years of married life but they kept them well under wraps at least from the grandkids, even when those grandkids were grown and would understand that people could agree to disagree.

Here's a photo of them being overly agreeable.  Big smile from Grandma; something we didn't see all that much in staged photos.

Restaurants, schmestaurants

"March 19, 2002:  8:45 appointment this a.m. at Bryan Hospital to have circulation in feet tested.  Nancy took me.  At noon Mary took me for my weekly shampoo and set.  In the evening to Delores's apartment and played Rummikub.
March 20, 2002:  Mary came at noon for lunch.  Tom came in evening -- we ate -- he did the laundry -- I took a shower and then we played Rummikub.
March 21, 2002:  Loafed around all day.  Called Myrtle in the morning.  Tom came at 7:00 and we went to Grasanto's, an Italian restaurant -- good eating!!!"

I just have to poke a bit of fun since the restaurant was actually Grisanti's.  But, Grandma was close.  Much closer than Aunt Irene when she was trying to think of Tony & Luigi's and instead asked if we could go back to that one place . . . Anton & Frank's.  I still giggle about that one, but only because Aunt Irene did once we figured out where she was talking about.

I am going to work on a little something from the Winside history book to see if it is as interesting as I think it might be.  If it is a "go", I'll include it in a later post.

Speaking of Aunt Irene, here's a very lovely photo of her with some greatgrands.  I think we all look very cute in our 80's attire.

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!

A van?

"June 18, 1995:  Greta, Howard and I to Lincoln to Nancy's for Father's Day.  All the kids there -- weather was ideal.  Dale's got a "new" (to them) van.
June 23, 1995:  Sophia Morris and Arlene Lurz here in p.m.  I had Arlene R. play for me at Pinochle Club.
June 25, 1995:  To church in a.m.  Helen came here in p.m and we Scrabbled.
June 27, 1995:  Jean, Marjorie, Dorothy Jo and Helen here in p.m."

I am guessing the out-of-state folk were in town for the 4th of July even though it wasn't a big reunion year.  Which is very nice.

Either Grandma is playing fast and loose with the word "van" or I am totally forgotten that Dale and Lynn ever had one.  I just don't remember that or see them as van people.  But, as I have admitted on this blog before, I don't claim to remember much.

I have always liked this photo of Jean and Marjorie and Grandpa.  They certainly got a kick out of their Uncle Howard, and vice versa.

Yay, January!

"January 13, 1995:  Arlene R. took me to Pinochle Club at Elsie J.'s.
January 14, 1995:  Finished piecing baby quilt for Jayson and Lora this past week and started putting the 9-patch sampler quilt together.
January 15, 1995:  Greta, Howard and I left at 7:15 for Lincoln -- trees, wires, everything covered with frost until we got close to Lincoln.  Foggy most of the way.  Went to Nancy's.  Mary, Rick, Mitch, Bill, Jenny, Jayson, Lora, Dale, Lynn, Dane, Kyleah were there.  They brought the dinner -- soup. sandwiches, salad and dessert.  Celebrating Mary's, Kyleah's and Jayson's birthdays."

All right!!  I remember gathering during more than one July to celebrate those birthdays, but here we did January's people.  We skipped several months, ten if memory serves, since July and January are the only multi-birthday get-togethers I remember.  Of course, it was due to a preponderance of birthdays in those months.  I imagine we didn't do December because of Christmas, but we had Grandpa, Lora, Mitch and Gavin all in December -- I hope I am not missing anyone.  And we have more Julys since 1995, too.  Maybe we should resurrect that idea.

No disrespect to two in the photo (my ancestors) and the man with the cake, but I hope we had more fun on 1/15/95 than these folks appear to have been having when this photo was taken.

Go Big Red!

"January 1, 1995:  We're both on the mend.  Didn't go to church.  Jean called today.  They will go to Florida next Sunday.  The Cornhuskers defeated Miami -- they are National Champions.  Game was exciting.
January 2, 1995:  Greta came and put things away for me -- like Christmas boxes, etc.  She took me to her place and cut the strips for my 9-patch sampler quilt and for a baby quilt for Lora.
January 3, 1995:  Tom came in p.m. for wood.  We played a few games of Pitch.  Cold - cold - cold but no strong wind."

Sweet!  I probably watched the football game but cannot recall anything about it.  I really reading and being reminded, however, that we beat Miami.  I do remember watching the one game (Orange Bowl?) when we could have tied with a point-after kick, but went for two and didn't make it and lost.  I watched that in Wahoo with Dale and Lynn when they lived up there.

Speaking of Dale, here we are with a homemade tackling dummy.

Eagle Scout

"October 30, 1994:  Helen, Dorothy Jo, Greta, Howard and I went to Wahoo.  Left at 8:30.  We had dinner at Bill's and then to church by 2:00 for the Eagle Court of Honor for Jayme.  After the program a reception in the basement and then to Bill's to visit -- Dale's, Tom, Merilyn, Nancy, Rick and Mitch were there.  Mary wasn't feeling too good.  Jayson and Lora there, too.
October 31, 1994:  Lois K., Arlene R., Lila and I finished quilting Greta's quilt in p.m.  Nice evening.  Had about 20 - 25 tricksters."

I remember missing this particular event, and I know now probably why I did -- morning sickness which sometimes lasted more than just the morning.  Little Anna was on the way.  I am not sure if we knew that at the time but I know I was sometimes sick in the early going.

It would be appropriate here to have a photo of Jayme as an Eagle Scout, or perhaps Anna as a little baby, but since I have neither of those ready to go (and our scanner conked out), here's a hybrid-ish photo of Jayme as a baby.  Interestingly, it looks like he's holding a red Solo cup.  Hmmmmm.  Must have been quite the Christmas party.

More baseball

"July 15, 1994:  Greta and I went to Lincoln after her work day.  I stayed with Nancy.
July 16, 1994:  Nancy took me shopping.  Greta and Dale's went to Kansas City to a ball game -- Greta's Christmas present from Dale's.
July 17, 1994:  Nancy took me to a Sears store in p.m.  Mary and family came over in p.m.  Got back to Winside after 10:00."

I remember going to Kansas City for a Royals game when I was in junior high.  I think a pretty large bunch of us went down.  I also think that was the trip when we got lost in detours but Mom pulled us out of our apparent going-around-in-circle pattern.  I do know the Royals played the Yankees; I have been to two major league games, that one and one in New York and so have seen the Yankees both times.  At the New York game I won some prizes from Canon (it was Canon Camera Day) because of the serial number on the camera I had borrowed from Aunt Irene.  I think I still have some of my treasures -- the Canon visor and camera strap at least.  That was when I was in Syracuse for legal assistant training.  Kim and I went down to a game with tickets I won from WPIX.  Missed a Don Mattingly home run because I was collecting my goodies and getting my photo taken.

But back to 1994.  I imagine a fun time was had by Mom and the Bowder clan.  And it seems Grandma had a productive visit (shopping) and an enjoyable visit (got to see me).  So, to use an over-used phrase -- it was all good.

This photo wasn't from a trip to Kansas City, but I am about the same age as the trip we made when I was in junior high.  The socks and hat are great, I think.  I put that hat on the lamb I showed at the Wayne County Fair when I was an honorary Benshoof daughter.  Not during the showing, of course, but Martian was stylin' when he was wearing it.

The TV saga

"June 19, 1994:  Greta, Rick, Mary, Mitch, Dale and Dane here for dinner.  Kyleah had been sick during the night so Lynn stayed home with her.  Nancy finished cleaning the front porch.
June 20, 1994:  The TV had a burnt out fuse and a loose dial -- cost $37 to repair.
June 22, 1994:  Raymond and Marina came.
June 23, 1994:  Nancy came in evening.
June 24, 1994:  Nancy took me to Norfolk and got the TV."

Looks like maybe Nancy was naughty and didn't get to have dinner on the 19th; she just got to clean the porch.

Now, 1994 wasn't that long ago but when was the last time you, dear reader, had a television with a dial on it?  It's been awhile for me.  Some comedian was saying how his folks and grandparents told him how tough they had it when they were young, like walking two miles uphill both ways to school.  He wondered what he would tell his grandkids -- that he had to get up out of the chair and turn a knob to change channels?  Such a tough life.  One time when the electricity went out and Mitch was young enough to be a bit scared about it all, I told him the things I didn't have when I was his age like Nintendo and a computer and such.  Even at that young age, he was impressed thinking how miserable my childhood must have been.  The photo is of me on my non-motorized vehicle laughing at his naivete.  I am guessing those are my diapers on the line behind me.  How scandalous!

Away to Wyoming

"March 13 and 14, 1993:  Greta and I in Lincoln.  Dale and Lynn in Wyoming to visit Lynn's father who had heart surgery.  Dane and Kyleah were at Mary's.  Stayed there all afternoon.  I spent the night with Nancy and Greta took the little ones to their home.  Dee -- Lynn's mom, came in p.m. and then Greta came after me and we arrived home in good time.  The past week was warm and there was flooding along the Elkhorn and Platte Rivers -- much, much damage.
March 17, 1993:  Busy Bees at Ella Mae C.'s.  Ruby R. gave me a ride to club."

Odd that I don't remember Dane and Kyleah staying for this visit.  I remember them staying, but I thought it was after Rollie died.  So, either they stayed twice, or I am goofed up as to when they stayed exactly.  I remember they were no trouble at all and we had a pretty good time of it.  I was doing daycare already so I didn't have to bundle them up and drive them anywhere.  It all worked out okay.

The photo was well after 1993 but I wanted something with Dane and Kyleah in it.  I have a few ready with just Dane, but definitely need to find and scan more Kyleah photos.  I love Alicia's expression.  She looks to be checking on the birthday girl to be sure she's having a good time.