Skipping ahead a bit

Mon., February 22, 1937 - Went with Howard over to Chris & Clara's to help move.  We packed fruit jars this morning.  I stayed all night.
Tues., February 23, 1937 - Packing! & more packing.  I went home with Howard tonite.  We got a grant check for $16 today.
Wed., February 24, 1937 - Jo helped today at Clara's too.  We were over to the new place & had dinner at 12:00.  Cold & windy with occasional snow flurries.

That was a pretty good grant check, I think.  I did a little looking online and it appears the buying power of $16 in 1937 equates to about $280 in 2018.

I will have to remember to ask where Uncle Chris and Aunt Clara were moving from and moving to.

I still like this photo of (l. to r.) Aunt Irene, Aunt Helen and Aunt Clara.

We kids?

Sat., February 6, 1937 - I baked a cake and fried a chicken to take to Clara's tomorrow.
Sun., February 7, 1937 - We went to Jensen's this morning.  From there Mike, Jo, Helen, Raymond & we kids went in the bobsled to Clara's for her birthday.
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Fri., February 12, 1937 - Baked cakes today to serve at lodge tonite.  Helen, Raymond, & we kids went to lodge with Mike & Jo in their car.

Is Grandma referring to her and Grandpa as "we kids"?  If so, I'm loving it.

Birthday celebration, and what I hope was a lovely bobsled ride aside, I must share the "fun" I had this morning.

I should have been soundly sleeping at 4:00 a.m. but that was not the case because the one dog was barking incessantly starting at about that same time.  Normally I would go out and see what the problem was, but the smell of skunk spray was already in the house, so I knew what was making the hound bark.  Our closest neighbors are far enough away that the barking wouldn't be bothering them so I wasn't being inconsiderate.  I figured I would not have to go out and deal with the skunk at all as it certainly would soon tire of the noise and wander off.  Wrong. 

I opted to pass on my second hitting of the snooze button around 5:40 a.m. and instead wandered out in the dark with my headlamp for light.  Turns out the poor skunk got itself into the dog's pen and could not get itself out.  So, Roscoe had it in a corner of the pen, barking in its face.  Thankfully it was in a corner with a gate.  Unfortunately, the gate is rarely used and the grass has grown up around the bottom a bit, making it unclear to me if I can even get it open with the speed I am hoping for.

Here's a mental picture --- me, in my nightgown, light strapped to my forehead, at the corner of the fence.  I am trying to get the dog to stop being so excited about its treasure to let me grab his collar on one side of the corner while I'm stretched against the fence trying to keep myself as far from the skunk as possible while reaching for the latch just around the corner on the adjoining side of the pen so the stinky thing can find its way out. 

Remarkably, luck was on my side and the dog let me hold him, the gate did open somewhat, and the confused and likely tired skunk pushed itself right out and wandered off.  Instant silence, but the fog of skunk perfume was still in the air so I have no idea if the dog got himself sprayed or not. 

Don't let anyone tell you I don't live a fascinating life.  I should also mention the female dog was wisely hid inside the garage, as far away as she could get from the noise and smell.  Smart dog. 

Photo from abcwildlife.com

The winter that won't let up

Wed., February 3, 1937 - Snowing & windy today.  It's impossible to go after the car.
Thurs., February 4, 1937 - Jo & Mike brought our mail tonite.  About half on hour after they came Raymond, Helen & Bess came.  The girls had walked all the way from Rews.  The weather was too bad yesterday on my birthday so they came tonite.  Mike & Jo didn't know they (the girls) were going to come tonite.  So we were all surprised.
Fri., February 5, 1937 - Howard went over home to see about taking the tractor to get our car but decided it was too cold.

While it's not fun to swelter in summer heat, it surely doesn't sound like the extreme opposite in 1937 was any better.  Nice, though, that Grandma got a bit of a surprise, well two maybe, for her birthday.

And here's a photo of a birthday 68 years later, Grandma's last as it turned out.  Gosh, but I still miss her so much.

New one for me

Mon., January 25, 1937 - Mike over this a.m. to see if Howard would go to town with him tomorrow.  Raymond brought our mail this evening.  Howard feeling better today. Clear - quiet.
Tues., January 26, 1937 - August here to see Howard this a.m.  Howard went over to Jensen's when August left & went to town with Mike.  Clear -- wind in south.
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Tues., February 2, 1937 - We went to town today - second time for me this year.  Coming home our car stopped half way up Hagleman's hill.  Cold wind from the south.  They took us as far as Jensen's stubble field & we walked the rest of the way home.

I don't know that I've heard of Hagleman's hill.

I wonder if Grandma was getting a bit of cabin fever having not been to Winside hardly at all in 1937.  I think I would have.

For no particular reason, a nice photo of Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Raymond.

Grandpa sick and wonderful 2018 news

Fri., January 22, 1937 - Howard was down to Vahlkamps and over home today.  They're busy over there scooping out roads again.
Sat., January 23, 1937 - August Vahlkamp & his team & Howard & his lumber wagon went to town.  Howard brought home chicken feed.  He had chills & a headache when he came home.  We each had a hot drink & greased ourselves.
Sun., January 24, 1937 - Howard went to town with August again -- brought home some coal.  Also oysters, frozen fish & soup beef.  We had the oysters for supper -- also a hot drink before retiring. 

I wonder if the hot drink was warmed blackberry brandy.  I don't know that anyone ever warmed it, but I do know that it was Grandpa's cure-all for what ails you.  Or maybe just one of his cure-alls, I'm not sure.

Friday over lunch at Mom's, we were treated with the news that Dane and Alison are expecting a little one in April.  Sooooo very excited and happy for them!  If Dane had only provided me with the wedding photos reprints I ordered, I could post a wedding photo of the two of them.  I must admit, his delay in getting them to me only proves we are closely related.  As it is, here's a photo from their trip to Europe last year.

What a winter!

Tues., January 19, 1937 - Men finished opening the road to town.  I went home with Carl & Dorothy about 4:30.  Howard came after me about 6:30.  We stayed for supper.  Talked until 10:30 after we got home.
Wed., January 20, 1937 - Howard was going to town with the Ford but about 9:00 a.m. the wind began to blow & by noon the roads were blocked -- a heck of a note!
Thurs., January 21, 1937 - Howard scooped out the silo.  Clear and quiet.  Impossible to go to town since the wind blew so hard yesterday.

It's bad enough now when the road crews have to go out to clear and then have to do it all over again fairly soon, but this was much worse.  What a mess.

Here's a photo of me last winter on a particularly cold day.  Have fogged up glasses, frost in my hair and on my hat, and hay on my face.  Who says I don't have a good time?

Of course

Sat., January 16, 1937 - Clear & warm today.  About 5:00 tonite we decided to walk to town.  We left at 6:00.  About 1-1/2 miles from town the wind changed to the northwest.  Soon after we got a ride with Clarence Hoeman.  We played Pinochle from 12 to 3:30.  Stayed all nite.
Sun., January 17, 1937 - Howard walked home about 9:30.  Mom and I canned 12 pints of sausage and 12 quarts of roasted pork today.  We talked all the time of course.
Mon., January 18, 1937 - Howard came about 3:30 this p.m.  All of VonSeggerns except the 2 older boys are sick in bed with flu.  Dorothy Troutman & I are supposed to stay there tonite.  After we got there they took Janice [Janie?] who has pneumonia to Wayne.  Jo stayed here, too.  Carl & Howard were here until 12:00 Howard stayed with Carl.

Why, of course, Grandma and Grandma Anna talked all the while they were canning.  I would be shocked if it were any different.

We went to Jayme and Ashley's wedding this last weekend.  Such a lovely and wonderful couple they make.  So happy for them.