My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of July, 1940

My first years…  

from Eileen's Diary

Highlights of July, 1940

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grapes_of_Wrath_%28film%29]

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

Month of July highlights:

Mon. Jul 1 - [Birthday note: Billy]
Billy is one year old today. I canned 9 quarts of cherries. Edith & Erna came over in p.m. & bro’t him material for 2 suits. Up to Lillian’s after Mom & Bussy. They had picked cherries. Had a pint of ice cream to celebrate Billy’s birthday. Home at 10:00.
Tues. Jul 2 - Put Billy money in bank $14.23 now. Had his hair cut at Rex’s. He didn’t cry at all. Just got along fine.
Wed. Jul 3 - Lost 2 sheep last night by dogs.
Thur. Jul 4 - Fixed fried chicken. Mom & Bussy went to Spring Lake with us for picnic. I skated awhile, watched them dance. Home & chores. Mom kept Billy & we went back again to dance. So hot & crowded & the floor was terrible. Didn’t stay very long. Had good fireworks.
Tues. Jul 9 - Wet in morning. Pete picked 2 pails of beans. I looked them over. Mom canned them. I drove tractor on binder until 6:00.
Blank pages, Jul 11 - 18. Two words on 19: Started threshing.
Sun. Jul 21 - Pete, Billy & I went on picnic at Squirrel Hollow… …went to “Grapes of Wrath.” A dreary show but some wonderful acting.
Jul 22-24 blank
Rest of month about feeding threshers at different farms. Collective activities…


My comments:

My first birthday important, but just one of many activities.
Mom drove tractor all day!! ;-)
Picnic at Squirrel Hollow… interesting bit of news.
The Blank Pages in the diary would indicate she was very, very busy with work, in the heat! ;-)
Her reaction to “Grapes of Wrath” movie were most interesting, to me. I’d have probably felt about the same, actually.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of June, 1940

My first years…

from Eileen's Diary

Highlights of June, 1940

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Tom_Edison]

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

Month of June highlights:

Sun. Jun 2 - Made a meatloaf. Pete went in after ice & then froze a gallon of ice cream. Took a cake too to Williams Picnic at Lillian’s. Nearly 60 were there. Played piano awhile & then we played volley ball over the fence. Had a keen time.
Mon. Jun 3 - Billy up. Left him at LVene’s & I went to Bible School. I taught the beginners. Got Margaret B. to teach them from now on. … Lizzie Moylan died this morning at 9:30. Surely feel bad about it. Pete finished planting beans over on 80.
Blank until 12th… Down to Myrtle Daileys to committee meeting.
Thurs. Jun 13 - Entertained at Julia’s for club. Made 2 white cakes. Had ice cream. About 60 there. Quite tired at night.
Blank until 18th… Mom & Bussy here. Canned 10 pints of peas. Quite a job.
Wed. Jun 26 - [Birthday note: Mom] Mom & Bussy came out. Made ice cream at night to celebrate Mom’s birthday.
Sun. Jun 30 - Pete & Irene picked cherries. Had leg of mutton for dinner. Orel, Margaret, LVene, Verle, Arnold, Julia, Patty, Wilson came in pm. We shipped 2 sows & up home they sold a bull. Home at 6:00. Clored and took Billy to show with us “Thomas Edison the Boy.” He slept right through it.


My comments:

Always enjoyed the Williams-Kinnick family reunion picnics… lots of cousins we rarely saw!
The month’s entries all seemed hurried, and a bit frazzled. She must have been very busy, and very hot… working hard!
Mrs. Moylan died.
Mom was really active in a lot of clubs at this time…
Interesting to me to see which family and friends groups got together at which time! ;-)
My first movie!! ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of May, 1940

My first years…  

from Eileen's Diary

Highlights of May, 1940

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

1940 U.S. Census, I'm the bottom line, above

Month of May highlights:

Thurs. May 2 - Pete plowing on 80. Another sheep had a set of twins. Census taker here in morning.
Tues. May 7 - Rained. Howard Patrick papered kitchen. … Hal Stewart Fireman’s dance. Had the keenest time ever.
Thurs. May 9 - Got ready to go to  Club Luncheon at Mrs. Wheelers. The had a nice dinner. Sat by Mrs. Krenmyre & Julia. All were there except Lou Schultz. They bro’t my new refrigerator when I got home.
Sun. May 19 - Orrin woke us at 5:00. They have a new little girl. Judith Ann. Born at 3:30.
Wed. May 22 - Cleaned up & went to Workers Conf. at Ruth Grim’s. Laura, Lula, Rhoda, Hazel, Gurtha, Agnes, Josephine & the kids were there.
Tues. May 28 - Billy cut 7th tooth.
Wed.  May 29 - Mrs. Moylan so bad we couldn’t see her. [At Carroll, at hospital]

My comments:

Got included in 1940 U. S. Census, for sure!!
“keenest time ever” - she was still only 21 years old… ;-)
Assume this is the same refrigerator we grew up with!! ;-)
Judi Hilgenberg born!!! ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Book Giveaway - last chance

Book Giveaway - last chance

Many of you reading this have already received your free PDF copy of my 23K word eBook, “The Kings of Oak Springs, Vol. One” (Some say it reminds them of a ‘Little House’ story)… for signing up for the free Dr. Bill’s  “The Homeplace Saga” Newsletter.


Join us in discussing family saga and family-related story-telling and reading... ! ;-)

You can still get your free PDF copy today, by simply signing up here with name and email address:
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If you share this URL with your friends, and they sign up, they will also receive the free PDF.


Families are Forever! ;-)

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Ancestor-based eBook Published

Ancestor-based eBook Published

Currently available at: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/drbillshares

Latest eBook finished..."Weston Wagons West," James Weston and later, his descendants join the John and Mary Kinnick family to Ohio, then Illinois, and some on to Iowa, where I showed up...

In 20 episodes, first published at: http://drbill-wml-smith.hubpages.com/

Compiled in eBook (ePub format) for ease of reading in one spot.

Covers one full ancestral line (mother's father's surname line: Kinnick) from 1640 to early 1900s...

Families are Forever! ;-)

My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of April, 1940

My first years…

from Eileen's Diary

Highlights of April, 1940 

 

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

Month of April highlights:

Mon. Apr 1: [Birthday note: Delbert Ford] -
Did my washing. Clothes dried real good. Cleaned the dining room. Aired curtains. Wiped the walk etc., waxed the kitchen floor. Pete in town getting tractor repairs. Really tired at night. …
Leo Williams was at Mom’s & we talked with him awhile.
Fri. Apr 5- Billy, Mom & I went to Carroll in pm. … & then had to wait on the Dr. …Dr. said he’s getting 2 more teeth. Weighs 24# 10 oz.
Thurs. Apr 11 - Pressed new white blouse & skirt & got dinner. Ate & then went to club at Ruth Bolger’s. Really was a big crowd there. Sat with Lil. Bertha Thomas gave a talk on Mexico.
Fri. Apr 12 - Left Billy at Moylan’s & we went to Edith’s school play & pie social at night. The place was clear full. She had the best program. Stayed & talked afterwards. Home at 11:30. Mrs. Moylan has help. She doesn’t look very well.
Sun. Apr 14 - At nite we left Billy at Lund’s and we went to the show “Fighting 69th.”
Tues. Apr 16 - Had sheep shearers here for dinner. 2 of them. Pete finished sowing oats on the 80. I went to S.S. Worker’s Conference at Margaret’s. A lot there.
Fri. Apr 19 - Folks came out at nite to show us their new car radio.
Sat. Apr 20 - Roy Holliday gave me a music lesson.
Sun. Apr 21 - Left Billy at Lund’s & we went to “Gulliver’s Travels.” Good in cartoon technicolor.
Sun. Apr 28 - Decided to go to Leo’s with the folks. Left at 9:45. Mom, Dad & I went to church there. Karen baptized. Had fried chicken. Surely have a nice home in a nice town. Rained hard. Went down to the bank & rode around. Home at 7:30. Rained all the way. 

My comments:
I was less than a year old, but many of these activities we were also doing as I grew up. Went up to Lohrville many, many Sundays. I even remember visiting “the bank” and driving around, in later years.
Folks’ new car radio was interesting… an add-on accessory, as American Pickers would point out!
“Roy Holliday gave me a music lesson” was a fascinating thing to see!!
I made note of Mrs. Moylan being “doesn’t look very well.” - more on this in next couple of months.



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Birthday (July 1) - 4th of July Special Offer

Birthday (July 1) - 4th of July Special Offer

I made this offer on Facebook, and was pleasantly surprised at how many signed up.
I want to extend it to all my readers, in case you missed it:

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