2015 goings on

September 29, 1932 - My "Wayne County Teacher" came and says that Institute is next Monday and Tuesday.  I played ball this noon.  Talked to Mayme tonite.
September 30, 1932 - Mom came after me about 5 o'clock.  We went over to Behmer's a few minutes to see about having the school furnace fixed.  Annie and Ola and kids were in this evening for watermelon.  Claus, Pete and Clara were here a few minutes, too.
October 1, 1932 - Mom, Ray and I went to Norfolk this morning.  I got some school prizes.  I went with Ray to the barn dance at Carr's tonite.  Had such a good time that I want to go next Saturday.

I am guessing Institute is what we called teachers' convention (I think that is what we called it in my day anyway . . . my day is 35 years ago now).  I do remember we got out of school for a few days and that was what mattered.

This last weekend was the Nielsen-Iversen family reunion.  We didn't make it up for the Friday night weenie roast and fireworks, but went to the gathering on Saturday at the Legion Hall in Winside.  I feel safe in saying a good time was had by all.  Dorothy Jo wished to pass along her recording secretary duties and gave them to Mom, who wasted no time in passing them to me.  I suppose I should find out what all is involved so that I do not drop the ball somewhere along the way.  I did a very quick count of the sign-in sheet and counted 89 people for the Saturday lunch.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.  The next reunion, in 2018, will be Grandpa's kin's turn to be in charge.  The last I knew the weenie roast would be at our place and the Saturday meal in Wahoo.

I made a concerted effort on Saturday to talk to people other than those I see most often and did pretty well.  I had a grand time sketching out the family tree for Sabrina.  I think I managed to clear the air rather than muddy up the waters, but the family tree is a slight bit confusing for the younger ones.  I am so happy that she wanted to know who was who and what was what.

The photos are from 4th of July picnics in the past.  Thank goodness.  Some of these hairstyles and fashion statements definitely need to stay in the past. (The blog program has a limit on the characters in the label box where I name who and what is in the post -- so I couldn't get everyone tagged.)

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.

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 fixed

"October 4, 1994:  Gaylord and Mark worked in stairway evening.
October 8, 1994:  First sunny day in a week.  Past week cloudy, damp and cool.  About 3/4 inch of rain is all.
October 9, 1994:  Mark finished the ceiling in stairway.  Arlene P. in Wayne Hospital -- had a stroke last Thursday on way to Mullen." 

Interesting shorthand there for the 4th, but who am I to judge?  I have my little journal I have been keeping and I pity whoever tries to read it some time later.  For shame.

I don't know that I knew about Arlene's stroke.  Hate to hear of anyone having one of those.  Nasty business.  The fact that she was headed to Mullen makes me think of her son Mitch and then of course, also, my son Mitch.  So here's a picture of him yukking it up in Arizona.

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.