Monopoly disrupted

Fri., August 7, 1936 - Just had a hot pack today as I had a funny pain in my chest.  Rained most of the day.  Tonite we were invited by our foot doctors Hazel Linard and Dorothy Masters to play Monopoly with them.  We were just nicely started when we had to go home because they had a call to fix a lady's sprained ankle.
Sat., August 8, 1936 - Iny took her last bath yesterday.  She read while I took mine.  We went to a beauty shop this p.m. and had our hair shampooed and waved.  We didn't like the place very well.
Sun., August 9, 1936 - I took my last bath today. Carrie Sweet, Dora & Olga came down today to visit Aunt Kate.  They persuaded us girls to wait until Tuesday and go home then when they do.

Ah, Monopoly.  The creator of family feuds and angry board-flipping incidents.  But, still fun.  Here's what wikipedia had to say about the game's history.  Interestingly, it appears it was still very new when Grandma and her group were attempting to play.

"The board game Monopoly has its origins in the early 20th century. The earliest known version of Monopoly, known as The Landlord's Game, was designed by an American, Elizabeth Magie, and first patented in 1904 but existed as early as 1902.  Magie, a follower of Henry George, originally intended The Landlord's Game to illustrate the economic consequences of Ricardo's Law of Economic rent and the Georgist concepts of economic privilege and land value taxation.  A series of board games were developed from 1906 through the 1930s that involved the buying and selling of land and the development of that land. By 1933, a board game had been created much like the version of Monopoly sold by Parker Brothers and its related companies through the rest of the 20th century, and into the 21st. Several people, mostly in the Midwestern United States and near the East Coast, contributed to the game's design and evolution."

We all know what a Monopoly board looks like, so I'm sharing a page from the patent submission of its precursor. 

Very busy day

Tues., August 4, 1936 - We went to the matinee and saw "The Dancing Pirate" -- a picture in colors.  Rec'd a letter from Howard and one from Mom.
Wed., August 5, 1936 - Rec'd another letter from Mom.  Iny rec'd 4 letters today.  Were up to see Aunt Kate tonite -- we've been going up every night after supper to see her.
Thurs., August 6, 1936 - This p.m. Aunt Kate, Iny and I went sightseeing.  We were out to Lake Maurer, an amusement park, and to the Jesse Kennels.  Saw all kinds of pups there.  This evening Iny and I went to the show.  We saw "Dames" with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, and "Sins of Man" with Jean Hersholt and Don Ameche.

Photo above and this summery from lakemaurer.com:  Lake Maurer has rich history.  As early as the 1920’s-30’s, Lake Maurer was an amusement park where families spent their weekends.  In 1965, the Assemblies of God purchased the grounds and developed a camp and the Northern Missouri District offices.  In 2008, the NOMO District moved its offices to Columbia, Missouri.  The leadership appointed Lloyd and Bunny Hartzler as Executive Directors to further develop the grounds into a retreat center with year-round activities.

From wikipedia re "Dancing Pirate":  This movie is an American musical comedy film directed by Lloyd Corrigan. It is the third film shot in the three strip Technicolor process and the first musical in that format.  The film features the debut of stage star Charles Collins and the cast includes Rita Hayworth as one of The Royal Cansino Dancers. Other dancers in the film were Pat Nixon and Marjorie Reynolds.

Set in Boston in the 1820s, the film tells of dancing teacher Jonathan Pride, shanghaied by pirates and forced to be a slave aboard his own ship. Jonathan is able to join a provisioning party that lands on the coast of California, then a part of the Spanish Empire where he makes his escape; his only possessions being his umbrella and music box that he uses for his dancing lessons.

He is seen by a shepherd who warns the nearest town whose excitable population transform Jonathan's arrival into a full-fledged pirate invasion. The Alcade Don Emilio Perena leads the militia into shooting up their own town whilst Jonathan is later captured in the boudoir of Alcade's daughter Serafina. Jonathan is sentenced to death.

When Serafina and the women of the town discover Jonathan's profession of dancing teacher, his execution is delayed until he teaches the waltz to the women of the town.

Meanwhile, Serafina's suitor, Don Balthazar a Captain of the Guards of the Presidio of Monterey and some of his soldiers visit the town to not only marry Serafina, but unbeknownst to the town has been cashiered from the Army along with his men who seek to loot the town. Don Balthazar also plans on secretly executing his rival Jonathan.

Jonathan makes his escape and motivates the local downtrodden but peaceful Indians into an uprising through a teaching them a torrid war dance. The Indians use their only "weapons" their lassoes to capture the former soldiers now bandits. Don Balthazar challenges Jonathan to a duel with swords but Jonathan defeats and captures him with his umbrella and his dancing skills.

The photo was also found on wikipedia.

Another summary and photo from wikipedia:  "Dames" is a 1934 Warner Bros. musical comedy film directed by Ray Enright with dance numbers created by Busby Berkeley. The film stars Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Guy Kibbee, ZaSu Pitts, and Hugh Herbert. Production numbers and songs include "When You Were a Smile on Your Mother's Lips (and a Twinkle in Your Daddy's Eye)", "The Girl at the Ironing Board", "I Only Have Eyes for You", "Dames" and "Try to See It My Way".

Eccentric multimillionaire Ezra Ounce (Hugh Herbert), whose main purpose in life is raising American morals through a nationwide campaign, wants to be assured that his fortune will be inherited by upstanding relatives. He visits his cousin Matilda Hemingway (ZaSu Pitts) in New York City, in Horace's view the center of immorality in America. What Ounce finds most offensive are musical comedy shows and the people who put them on, and it just so happens that Matilda's daughter Barbara (Ruby Keeler) is a dancer and singer in love with a struggling singer and songwriter, her 13th cousin, Jimmy Higgens (Dick Powell). On Ezra's instructions, Jimmy the "black sheep" has been ostracized by the family, on pain of not receiving their inheritance.

Matilda's husband Horace (Guy Kibbee) meets a showgirl named Mabel (Joan Blondell), who's been stranded in Troy when her show folds, and connives her way into sleeping in Horace's train compartment as a way to get back home. Terrified of scandal, he leaves her some money and his business card, along with a note telling her to not mention their meeting to anyone; but when Mabel discovers that Horace is Barbara's father, she blackmails him into backing Jimmy's show.

Photo from wikipedia, summary from imdb.com:  In this drama, Austrian church bell ringer Freyman loves music and wants his two sons (both played by Ameche) to love it too. The first goes to America and the second is born deaf-mute but gains hearing during WWI bombing.

I am really liking all of these movie posters.  Very cool.

More movies

Sat., August 1, 1936 - Usual routine.  Miss Linard, the foot specialist told us some places of interest to see.  Went to show -- Jane Withers in "Little Miss Nobody" and John Wayne in "Winds of the Wasteland."
Sun., August 2, 1936 - I took a bath and had a foot treatment.  Iny didn't take a bath.  We had dinner at the Lucerne - 4 tables each seating 12 - served like home - very good meal.  Slept all afternoon.
Mon., August 3, 1936 - Same round of drinking, eating, and bathing.  Got some library books to read.  Had 2 foot treatments.

So they got ideas on places to see, but went to the movies instead.  I can understand that.  From the wikipedia article about "Little Miss Nobody":

     Judy Devlin, a mischievous girl in the Sunshine Foundling Home, gets the best of grocer Harold Slade and his son Herman. After everyone enjoys a Thanksgiving meal with turkeys Judy stole from Slade, Mrs. Sybil Smythe and her son Junior look over the little orphan girls to adopt a sister and playmate for Junior. He makes nasty comments about all the girls until he sees Mary Dorsey, whom he insists on having his mother adopt despite her dislike of him. Judy and Mary are friends who have pledged to be adopted together. To discourage Junior, Judy starts a fire drill and turns the water hose on him. Hiding afterwards in the cellar, Judy finds the boxes containing the clothing in which the orphans were originally found, including her own. Later, Mrs. Martha Bradley, patroness of the home, threatens Judy with reform school if she does not behave.

     While Judy is cleaning the office, Mr. Gerald Dexter, district attorney for Springfield, arrives. Ten years ago, his pregnant wife left him after he prosecuted a relative of hers. He shows a crest that the infant born to his wife may have worn on her clothing, and Judy recognizes it as the same as the one on her outfit in the cellar. As she is about to explain, Mary calls her, and Judy goes to switch the clothing to save Mary from the Smythes. Everyone thinks that Judy was trying to make them believe she was Dexter's daughter, and she accepts the blame, sacrificing herself for Mary. Judy is sentenced to two years in reform school, but she escapes on the way there. When she is hit by a bicycle and a policeman insists on accompanying her home, she leads him to a pet shop whose owner she calls her uncle. The proprietor is John Russell, who avoided a prison sentence, and he listens sympathetically to Judy's story.

     Criminal Dutch Miller knows that John was a bank robber named Phil Ormsbey back in Kansas. Seeking a hideout, Dutch moves in on the happy John and Judy. Judy goes to the Dexter estate to see Mary and promises to return the next evening when her father will be away. Learning of this, Dutch knocks out John and drives Judy to the house, which he attempts to rob. The girls discover him, and John, arriving in time to stop Dutch, shoots him in a struggle. John then goes on the lam, and although Judy refuses to talk, John is caught. Examining the duplicate records on Judy's case, Dexter sees a notation about the crest found on her clothing when she was a baby. He realizes what has happened, and father and daughter are reunited.

I had to read that twice to get it right.

From the same source, as to "Winds of the Wasteland":

     The film is set in 1861. John Blair (John Wayne) and his partner, Larry Adams (Lane Chandler) are dismayed when the arrival of telegraph ends the Pony Express. Hoping to utilize their horse-riding skills, they decide to start a stage coach transportation business. They go to Buchanan City and ask local magnate Cal Drake (Douglas Cosgrove) if he is willing to sell them a stage coach. Instead, Drake offers them a franchise from his own stage coach line - a line out to bustling Crescent City.

     Upon arriving at Crescent City, Blair and Adams quickly realize that they had been bamboozled into paying for the line as Crescent City is a ghost town. The only residents are the mayor, Rocky O'Brien (Lew Kelly), and Dr. William Forsythe (Sam Flint). The mayor is thrilled to get not only new residents to double the size of the town, but a stage coach line too. Blair disparages as there are no customers to transport and will have to lose his business so quickly. The mayor says there is a way for Blair to get all the money he owes and more. There will be a contest in the next few days where the fastest team in a race will win a $25,000 government contract to deliver mail to the area. With Blair's luck returning, he also meets a telegraph crew, who he saves from poisoning after drinking from a local water hole. In appreciation, the telegraph crew offers to run the line through Crescent City if Blair will give them laborers to build the telegraph line.

     Blair is able to get laborers to build the telegraph line and the population of Crescent City begins to skyrocket. Drake, upset that Blair is actually a competing business out of his lie, then decides to hire Blair to drive a gold shipment to Sacramento only to ambush him. If Blair can get the gold to the destination, Drake will take $1,000 off of the original loan. Blair escapes the ambush and collects the money at gunpoint. Drake next hopes to stop Blair at the race. He gets his henchman to throw obstacles in Blair's way to defeat him by any means necessary. But despite all odds, Blair wins the race and the $25,000 reward.

It says the movie is sometimes shown on television with the title "Stagecoach Run".

As for the Lucerne, from exsmo.com:

     In a 1900 publication by The McLain Land and Investment describes the Arlington Hotel as follows: "Has a basement under the entire main part built of flat blue limestone rock, concrete bottom. All cornices and towers are galvanized iron, making it as fireproof as possible. On entering, to the right and left, the visitor who ever had the pleasure of being a guest at the Elms Hotel, will recognize the two elegant mantels saved from the wreck of that famous history."

     After a few years of operation, the McLains leased the Arlington to the Excelsior Club. It was a rather notorious club and information has it that it was so notorious the Gov. Folk had it closed.

     After that it was occupied by Harriett Lindsey, who operated the Lindsey Sanitarium (the city's first hospital). It closed and was later reopened as the Lucerne Hotel and operated by Mrs. C. P. McGaugh and, in 1920, by Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Adams. It served meals and before each meal, someone would appear on the front porch and ring a hand bell to call all diners in.

     Originally, the building featured lion heads decorating the porch, each of which held a light bulb in it's mouth. The lion heads were removed with a west portion of the porch, and donated to the Excelsior Springs Historical Musuem by Lindell Jarman.

The photo, also from exsmo.com, shows the building as the gray one right on the corner.  I cannot find why the Excelsior Club was so notorious, but we'll assume it was something nefarious.

Outing and abouting

Wed., July 29, 1936 - Iny's temperature O.K.  We went to the movies and saw Spencer Tracy and Walter Abel in "Fury" and Robert Taylor and Chester Morris in "Society Doctor."
Thurs., July 30, 1936 - 7:00 before we got up.  I got a letter from Mom.  The usual schedule of drinking, eating, and bathing.  Aunt Kate is feeling very good.
Fri., July 31, 1936 - We got up at 6:00.  Had rolls and plums for breakfast.  After baths and dinner we went to a chiropodist.  I'm going to take 12 treatments.  My feet are quite weak and may be the cause of the sciatica.  Went to see Aunt Kate.

I think I would enjoy both of these movies.

From wikipedia:  "Fury" is a 1936 American drama film directed by Fritz Lang which tells the story of an innocent man who narrowly escapes being lynched and the revenge he seeks.  The movie is loosely based on the events surrounding the Brooke Hart murder in San Jose, California.

En route to meet his fiancée, Katherine Grant (Sylvia Sidney), gas station owner Joe Wilson (Spencer Tracy) is arrested on flimsy circumstantial evidence for the kidnapping of a child. Gossip soon travels around the small town, growing more distorted through each retelling, until a mob gathers at the jail. When the resolute sheriff (Edward Ellis) refuses to give up his prisoner, the enraged townspeople burn down the building, two of them also throwing dynamite into the flames as they flee the scene. Unknown to anyone else there, the blast frees Wilson, but kills his little dog Rainbow, who had run in to comfort him in the cell.

The district attorney (Walter Abel) brings the main perpetrators to trial for murder, but nobody is willing to identify the guilty, and several provide false alibis. The case seems hopeless, but then the prosecutor produces hard evidence: newsreel footage of twenty-two people caught in the act.

However, Katherine is troubled by one piece of evidence. The defense attorney had tried to get his clients off by claiming that there was no proof Joe was killed, but an anonymous letter writer had returned a partially melted ring belonging to Joe. Katherine notices that a word is misspelled just as Joe used to spell it.

She discovers that Joe escaped the fire and that Joe's brothers are helping him get his revenge by concealing his survival and framing the defendants for his murder. She goes to see Joe and pleads with him to stop the charade, but he is determined to make his would-be killers pay. However, his conscience starts preying on him and, in the end, just as the verdicts are being read, he walks into the courtroom and sets things straight.

About "Society Doctor" from tcm.com:  At the Metropolitan Hospital, where Horace Waverly is Physician Superintendent, doctors Bill Morgan and Tommy Ellis vie for the attention of nurse Madge Wilson. One day, Frank Snowden, son of the wealthy and influential Harris Snowden, is brought in with an acute case of appendicitis, which requires immediate surgery. Harris insists on waiting for Dr. Harvey, their family physician, to arrive and give his opinion of the matter, but Dr. Morgan performs the urgent operation after quickly securing the consent of Frank's wife. When Dr. Morgan is reprimanded by Waverly for taking Dr. Harvey's patient and is dismissed from the hospital, he angrily criticizes Waverly's and Harvey's unethical behavior, accusing both of serving only the petty whims of the rich and obstructing basic medical care for the sick and injured. One of Metropolitan's wealthiest resident patients is the chronically lonely Mrs. Crane, who, after learning of the young doctor's dismissal, uses her influence to have him reinstated. Meanwhile, two reporters arrive at the hospital and wait for the impending arrival of gangster Butch McCarthy, who has been released from prison for one day to visit his hospitalized mother. The reporters try to get the story about how Waverly has kept the con's visit a secret, especially considering that police officer Harrigan, who is being treated for the gunshot wounds from Butch's gun, is on the same floor. Dr. Morgan spoils Madge and Dr. Ellis' plans for a date when a staff shortage requires him to instruct Ellis to stay at the hospital. The eager Dr. Ellis proposes marriage to Madge, but she tells him that she is in love with Dr. Morgan. Later, when Dr. Morgan learns that his reinstatement came not from his own merit as a physician, but from Mrs. Crane's doings, he decides to leave the hospital in the name of saving his self-respect. Mrs. Crane wants Dr. Morgan to be her physician, so she offers to set him up in a private practice and keep him in business by sending her rich friends to him. Seeing no other alternative, Dr. Morgan accepts the offer, but when Madge finds out about his decision and believes that he has acted out of greed, not self-respect, she spurns him and agrees to marry Dr. Ellis. Escorted by the police, Butch McCarthy is brought to the bedside of the woman who is supposedly his mother, but once his handcuffs are removed, he grabs the gun that was smuggled in by the phony patient and goes after Harrigan. After Dr. Morgan is shot by the convict while trying to stop him, Harrigan's wife succeeds in preventing her husband's murder by shooting Butch. Dr. Morgan is rushed to the operating table, where it is discovered that the nature of his bullet wound is so severe that all hope for his recovery is abandoned. However, the still-conscious Dr. Morgan pleads with Dr. Ellis to perform a method of operation that only they have studied at the hospital. Dr. Ellis agrees, and under Dr. Morgan's guidance, the risky operation begins. During the procedure, Dr. Morgan tells Madge that he had reconsidered Mrs. Crane's offer and turned it down, thus fully redeeming himself. When the operation ends successfully, Dr. Ellis insists that Dr. Morgan ask Madge to marry him, and she accepts.

Fun in Missouri

Sun., July 26, 1936 - Hunted up new cafes for our meals.  Slept most of the afternoon.
Mon., July 27, 1936 - To Dr. Musgrave this a.m.  Iny has a temperature and can't take a bath today.  My back is weak and my blood pressure a little low.  I'm supposed to drink around 12 glasses of different waters.  I took my first bath this p.m.  It's lots of fun.  Rained tonite, lights went out so Iny couldn't wave my hair.
Tues., July 28, 1936 - Aunt Kate entered the McCleary Sanitarium today.  Iny's temperature still a little above normal.  She took a bath anyway.  I have to stay 2 wks.  Brrr!

The photo is of the McCleary Sanitarium and Clinic in 1930.  I borrowed it from exsmo.com.

I learned elsewhere on the wonderful worldwide web that the sanitarium was founded by Dr. A. S. McCleary in 1901 for people with gastro-intestinal issues.  He specialty was curing hemorrhoids without surgery and he advertised success or the patients did not have to pay.  The sanitarium remained in business until 1974.

On the road

Thurs., July 23, 1936 - Cleaned the house.  Howard fixed shelves on the porch.  Started to iron after supper.  Andrew Andersens came over so I had to quit.
Fri., July 24, 1936 - Finished the ironing.  Iny came at 2:30.  We went to Fremont and stayed with Aunt Kate all nite. Aunt Kate is going with us to Excelsior Springs.
Sat., July 25, 1936 - Left Fremont at 3:25.  Stopped an hour at Shenandoah for breakfast.  Were eating dinner at Excelsior Springs at 12:30.  We are 334 miles from home.  We're staying at The Avalon.

I don't know when the photo was taken, but you'll note the sign says "Avalon" and I did find it with a search for Excelsior Springs.  Neat-o!

Fast forward

Mon., July 20, 1936 - Howard gone threshing.  I was working on the chokecherries this p.m. when Pearl, Aunt Mary, Annie & Margaret Miller came to see me.

Tues., July 21, 1936 - Went to town and washed clothes this morning.  Howard finished threshing today.  Elmer and Myrtle were up here this evening.

Wed., July 22, 1936 - Worked with chokecherries.  We went to town tonite.  I went up home and helped Mom fit the lace dress I got in Sioux City for her.

So, the best we know from the gap in reporting, so to speak, is that Grandma went to Sioux City.  Hopefully she did other fun things, too. 

Speaking of fun, I still remember as a kid watching Mom and Grandpa trying to siphon Grandpa's homemade chokecherry wine and getting a little giggly in the process.

The clipping was in her diary just waiting all these years to make a repeat appearance.

Tada!

Sat., June 6, 1936 - Had my hair fixed by Anna Boyd after dinner.  Helen & Irene came in p.m. to decorate.  Annie and Ola here this evening awhile.
Sun., June 7, 1936 - Nice warm sunshiny day.  Annie Miller came at 11:00.  Ray went to Wayne for my flowers.  He stopped for Howard & Helen on way back.  We went to the parsonage at 1:30, home again at 2:00.  After dinner went to Norfolk to have pictures taken.

And after this, we do not hear from the new bride until late July.  Which is probably as it should be.

I know Grandma was not overly fond of wearing hats, but I'm really glad she took the plunge here.  I think she looks fabulous.  Now if they were only smiling . . .

Fun at the shower

Mon., June 1, 1936 - Washed oodles and oodles of clothes.  Went down town with Alma to get Lena Nieman Miller's shower present, went out to Iversens' to see about dishes.  Had my hair fixed at Anna Boyd's.  Came home in the rain.  (Grandma Anna's handwriting)
Tues., June 2, 1936 - . . . 

I only have something for June 1, followed in the next post by June 6, the day before the big day.

Grandma kept a few mementos of her shower and I am quite happy to have been entrusted with them.  If I recall, Grandma told me the guests were asked to write down some marital advice for her.  Whether the slips of paper were read during the shower, or were to be referred to later (maybe as needed!) I am not sure. There sure are a bunch of them, so it must have been a very well-attended event or else the guests submitted more than one tidbit each.  Most of the authors are unknown, but a few added their name or initials.  Here they are, misspellings included for interest:

+Never wash separator in soapy water.
+All way feed your old man good then he will all way be good.
+Try and always be pleasant about every thing.
+Don't forget to arise to get Howard's breakfast every morning.
+Alway yes Howard.
+Always have dinner ready when hubby come in.  Will keep him in good humor.
+When Howard gets cross take the broom and show him your boss.
+Always serve the breakfast with a smile so he won't mind the burned toast and strong coffee.
+Don't ever let the baby keep Howard awake at night.
+Make your husband get the breakfast and help wash the dishes.
+Greet your husband with a smile every morning.
+Your way will be the best.
+Baby him, but don't let him know he's being babied.
+Don't delay -- hurry and cook some good food -- many thanks
+If Howard says "black" is "white" always say, "Yes, Howard".
+Never leave Howard go to town alone after dark.
+Get up before breakfast every morning.
+Always keep your husband's clothes mended, and socks darned.
+Be careful and not forget to sew on buttons.
+Never let him know you can build the fires. - N.H.
+Be carefully how you use the Maggie.
+Never fail to say the last word, however small.
+Always sweep the floor once a day.
+Keep yourself happy and live long.
+Don't scold if he comes home late from work.
+Have meals on time.
+Train your husband the first year.
+Don't start building fires, unless Howard is sick.
+Remember -- never repeat your sad experience of washing the seperator with soap suds.
+Be shure to train him to hang up his clothes.
+To win a mans heart you must feed his stomach.
+Get up in the morning and build the fire and milk the cows. 
+Be sure to keep on hand a bottle of castoria.
+Catnip tea is always good for baby's colic.
+Begin at once -- and don't delay -- teach him to obey.
+The way to a man's heart is thru his stomach.
+Bake a pie every day to make your husband gay.
+Milk the cows for Howard.  Don't sing "Animal Crackers in My Soup" - Toots
+Darn his socks, mend his clothes, have hankie for his nose.
+Work and slave; never become discouraged but keep on smiling.
+Remember to feed the cats.
+Be sure you don't take too many extra winks in the morning.
+Beware burned potatoes, and flies in the soup.
+Always greet him with a big smile when he comes in from work.
+Serve his breakfast in bed.  Give him a kiss.
+Always have your meals on time.  Never keep your husband waiting.
+Always insist on your husband getting his own breakfast.
+Thou shalt mend thy husband's socks before Saturday night.
+Don't be afraid of spoiling you husband.
+When you go to bed take a drink water and then don't take another thing all night.
+Greet him with a grin.  Get the best of him.
+Don't do any unnesscary frolics with your rolling pin toward Howard.
+Feed him on sugar and make him mind.  - Anna Jordan
+Keep your husbands trousers pressed, and be sure the creases straight.
+Be sure and darn Howard's socks and give him a good breakfast before he goes to the field.
+Dear Marian, I hope you will get along with Howard.
+Raise lots chickens and serve us chicken pie.
+Always have your meals on time, and your husband will be please.
+Be a good cook, as a mans heart is close to his stomach.
+Never have but one let (?) be the limit.
+My advice is have your husband build the fire evry morning for you.
+Don't waste your time petting the kittens.
+Never burn the meat but always have it well done.
+Start training him right away to help you with the dishes.
+Beware!  You will soon be on your way to Reno.

That last one has me stumped, but I'm sure that is what was written.  One can see a common theme of good cooking and conflicting advice on building the fire.  But, all are fun in their own way and I still marvel that Grandma thought to keep them her entire life.

Getting closer

Fri., May 29, 1936 - We baked today.  I had to go down town this p.m.  I was to meet Alma to buy a shower gift for Lena Nieman Miller but she went to Norfolk.
Sat., May 30, 1936 - Decoration Day.  We went out to the cemetery at 6:30.  Came home, had breakfast and went out to "the place" and painted.  Came home at noon.  Aunt Emma, Hilda, Roland, and Seigfreid here in p.m.  Mom and I hemmed napkins.  I went after Ray tonite.
Sun., May 31, 1936 - Ray, Howard, Marian and I went out to the place and painted a while.  Sunday evening Ola brought Willie down.  Howard and Marian took Ray to Jones', Willie to Hamer's and Irene to Pete Christensen's.  It rained a very little bit around 11:30.

Any readers out there will immediately note the use of "Marian" in the May 31 entry.  There's nothing in Grandma's diary for that day, but there's a folded up piece of paper stuck in there with Grandma's handwritten notes for May 30, and Grandma Anna's notes for May 31.  Grandma Anna also comes to the rescue on June 1 and I'll post that next time.  I guess Marian had a lot on her plate coming down to the wire.

The newspaper clipping from the wedding (also stuck between the pages of the diary) reports Grandma's bouquet contained blue delphinium, and white sweet peas and roses.  I can't get much from the wedding photo regarding the delphinium, but here's a photo of some that may or may not resemble the type she had.  Photo from outsidepride.com.

Well, wasn't that nice?

Tues., May 26, 1936 - Alma came down this morning and said that she, Bess, and Dorotha were going to give me a shower next Tuesday evening.
Wed., May 27, 1936 - Washed the walls and woodwork in kitchen.  Blackened the little heating stove.  In p.m. we went out to "the place."  Washed the dirt off the woodwork so we could paint.  Painted some of the woodwork.  Howard was harrowing over there.  Bess, Dorotha and Alma here a few minutes in evening about shower.
Thurs., May 28, 1936 - Cleaned basement this morning.  We went out to "the place" and painted this p.m.  Howard was there -- he went to town for glass for a window and brought back some ice cream.

I definitely prefer ice cream to glass.  However, I do have very fond memories of cutting glass with Grandpa when he bought a new glass cutter.  Maybe I have already mentioned it here, but for some reason I was able to make swirly, curved cuts without breaking the glass.  Grandpa, not so much.  I was probably still in elementary school then, which likely confounded him even further.

Poor planning on my part

Sat., May 23, 1936 - Didn't do so much -- were tired and had to rest.  I took the car and went to Jones' for Ray.  We went to a dance at Uncle Hans'.  Howard, Helen & Clarence Davis came about 10:30 -- went home with them about 2:00.
Sun., May 24, 1936 - Ray and Willie came about noon.  They mowed the lawn.  About 5:30 we went out to the place and then over to Iversens.  Tonite Mom and I took Ray to Jones', stopped at Ola's on way home and Willie stayed there.
Mon., May 25, 1936 - Mom worked on Cora Brodd's dress.  I went to Norfolk on the train to get my slippers and other stuff.

Here it is, Grandma and Grandpa's anniversary in 2018 and I am not yet to the wedding day in 1936.  Would have been neat planning on my part to have both days converge on this blog.  But prior, proper planning is not my best suit.  I will save pics for the corresponding post on the actual day.

An old story

Wed., May 20, 1936 - I went to Wayne in Ray's car this a.m.  Told Uncle Chris and Gerald about June 7.  Took my fair work to Miss Sewell.  Had my books signed by Mr. Mann.  This p.m. Mom and I went out to "the house" again and tore off more paper.
Thurs., May 21, 1936 - Annie Miller went along out to "the house" today to paper.  Finished the bedroom -- papered the ceiling and part of walls in living room.  Howard came here tonite and gave Mom and me a ride in the new V-8 the girls got Tuesday.
Fri., May 22, 1936 - Rained this a.m. after we got out here.  Finished papering this p.m.  Howard was here this afternoon and fixed some things in the house.

This has nothing to do with anything at all Grandma wrote, but I thought I'd share a Mol (aka Molbo) story.  I thought I had created a label for way back when I shared some, but it appears I did not.  So, without looking back at all 900+ posts, I do not know if I have already shared this particular story.  Bear with me.

I was cruising eBay one day several years ago for things related to Denmark and ended up buying a little book printed in 1967, "Old Stories From Denmark".  From the back of said book:

"Every country has its stories about simple folk like the traditional yokel, bumpkin and gawby of England or the hayseeds and hicks of America.  Sometimes the stories are generalised and told about simple people in any part of the country; but they often come to be identified with some small town or country district.  In Denmark the people of Mols were singled out for this dubious honour some two centuries ago, and they have had the good sense, which goes with humor-loving people to be proud of the old stories and they are nowhere more popular than in Mols itself."

It goes on to say that the first printed collection of these stories appeared early in the 1770's.  Seems some humor is funny regardless of the century.  Here's one story in particular that made me chuckle:

"A Molbo, wearing his best clothes for a visit to the market town, took to his homeward way having done just a little more than quench his thirst.

The hot sun had a strange effect upon him and he sat down to rest awhile; but he quickly fell fast asleep at the side of the narrow road.

A poor craftsman, on his way to another town in search of work, noticed the Molbo's fine, new stockings and he could not resist an exchange for his own, which were very dirty and had many holes.  He carefully exchanged stockings and went happily on his way.

Shortly afterwards, along came a man driving a horse and trap.  He pulled up when he saw the sleeping Molbo with his legs stretched out on the road, "Pull your legs in or I'll go over them", he shouted.

The Molbo woke up.  He looked down at his legs, but as he did not see the spotless white stockings Mother had given him before he left home that morning, he did not move.  "Drive on, my friend," he called.  "They're not my legs".

Getting closer

Sun., May 17, 1936 - Ray was so late getting here, that we had Edwin take us out to the schoolhouse for the picnic.  The North and South schools had their picnic together.  Around 80 people there.  Howard was here this evening.
Mon., May 18, 1936 - We went out to the place this p.m. which he's letting us use this week.  We tore off old wallpaper and patched up cracks in the plaster with cloth.
Tues., May 19, 1936 - We washed and baked today.  This evening Mom and I went out to the schoolhouse and cleaned it.

Time sure flies when you comment on three days at a time.  The big day will be here very soon!

And speaking of big days, Jayme and Ashley's baby arrived last night somewhat earlier than expected, choosing to be born on his Grandma Jenny's birthday.  Tanner William Iversen and his mother are doing well at last report.  Dad and Grandpa are probably okay, too.

School's out for summer

Thurs., May 14, 1936 - Mrs. Nieman home in time to eat breakfast with us.  We finished fair work.  I cleaned out desk drawers after school.
Fri., May 15, 1936 - Packed books away this a.m.  Dismissed kids at 11:30.  Finished mounting fair work and cleaned the school house.  Mrs. Nieman took me into town about 5:00.
Sat., May 16, 1936 - Mom and I went to Norfolk in Edwin's car.  I got my wedding dress and hat.  We also got paint, the bedroom suite and cookstove ordered.  The wallpaper for "the house" came today.

She's using quotes, so maybe Grandma is still getting used to the idea of having her own house.

I do not know what Grandma's cookstove looked like, but here is one from the 1930's.  Pretty spiffy.