From Mom’s Diary… 1943 - July 1 - 4th Birthday

From Mom’s Diary… 1943 - July 1 - 4th Birthday

A few days earlier, Mom mentioned ordering Children’s Activities Magazine - I remember growing up with it… neat. Also, comments on ‘finishing Billy’s upstairs bedroom.’ Had my own room, at 4! For a year or so…

 Thursday, June 29:

… Billy & I went to Carroll. Bussy at Toots’ Simonizing care. Got Derrick, suit, shoes for Billy. …

Thursday, July 1:

Nice day. Did up work. Pete laying corn by. Ate, did dishes, cleaned up & Max bro’t Gary. He went in town with us. Got Billy’s hair cut, went to Cafe. Saw Gladys Lovell Goeppiage & baby Jean. Home at 6:00. Took boys pictures. Lucht’s came after Gary at 9:00. Had ice cream & angel food cake for supper. Boy’s blew out candles about a dozen times.


My comments:

Pretty exciting birthday… got my hair cut! … and blew out candles about a dozen times. Fun! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1943 - April 4 w/dated photos

From Mom’s Diary… 1943 - April 4 w/dated photos

By April 1, 1943, I was moving toward my 4th birthday on July 1…


Friday, April 2:

… Billy & I went to Workers Conf. at Laura’s. Billy, Nancy, Dennis, Kay played with beads. …

Sunday, April 4:

Nice day but windy. All 4 of us went to S.S. [Buzzy was out at our farm, as he was most weekends…] Folks were here when we got here. Had beef steak for dinner. Planted peas, radishes, potatoes. Pete spaded. Don & Norma came & we took Marla’s picture. Made a cherry pie & Pete & Billy & I went to Evelyn’s for First Aid Party. Gave Irene a blanket. Billy went to sleep. Played pitch. Home at 1:00.

My comments:

These First Aid Parties had been quite common through the spring. I assume related to the war effort in some way. Learning how to do bandaging and so forth. Perhaps just extension service, or something. Curious, none the less. Note: Reading ahead, on April 7, "...last meeting. Took the exam. Didn't seem as bad as I thought." Interesting, for sure! ;-)

Photos good reminder this was old box brownie photo time, not digital. Didn’t see what you got until weeks later. Cut off my head real clean… but the baby was the focus, of course: Marla Ann Williams.


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1943 - January 14 at Brannan’s

From Mom’s Diary… 1943 - January 14 at Brannan’s

From left: Bob Bolger, Bill Smith, Roger Brannan, Barbara Brannan, Carolyn Bolger, Nancy Bolger (in front)

On July 1, 1942, I celebrated my 3rd birthday. This is just past six months later. This is the first photo that I am aware of with Nancy and I in the same photo.

Photo taken at club, at Margaret Brannan’s.

Thursday, January 14:

Thawing went we got up. Did up work. Gave Billy a bath before dinner. Ate, I took a bath & we went to club at Margaret Brannan’s. Had a nice time. Stopped at LVene’s on way home. Home at 6:15. Ate, Cleaned up the house. Read and went to bed.

Bonus Photo: Dated January 1943:

 Billy and Karen Kinnick, on trikes, in Lohrville

My comments:

A few days after this, the temperature is 15 below zero for a few days. This was Iowa, after all…

Additional late January notes:

Jack Bowman was preparing to join the Navy.
Mom notes getting 'new ration books' on a shopping trip in town.


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - August 16 Sunday

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - August 16 Sunday

 On July 1, 1942, I celebrated my 3rd birthday. Mom and Dad had bought a farm a mile east of the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa, a couple of miles north of where they had been living.

A photo of Grandma Kinnick in her back yard with Karen, Kathleen and myself.. that I’ve always wondered about. Now, I’ve come across the daily diary entry that goes with it. Neat.

Sunday, August 16:

Swell day. Painted living room floor another coat.  Canned 1 qt. 1 pt. tomato juice. In to Mom’s to chicken dinner. Leo & Ida there too. Played croquet in P.M. Gertrude, Everett & kids stopped awhile. Home & chores. Fixed pickles. Popped corn. Went in town. had ice cr. and came home.

My comments:

There was always work to do on the farm.

Perhaps Grandma was playing with the little kids while the adults played croquet?!?! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - July 4th family gathering

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - July 4th family gathering

 

On July 1, 1942, I celebrated my 3rd birthday. Mom and Dad had bought a farm a mile east of the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa, a couple of miles north of where they had been living. The spring planting was done, and cultivating was underway…

 

Mom is left of the post, right behind me.

My Grandma Kinnick - far right.

I’ve always been fascinated by this photo, of the Sorenson side of the family. Now, I’ve come across the daily diary entry that goes with it. Neat.

Saturday, July 4:

Up at 7:30. Washed & ironed some clothes. Made spud salad. Baked beans. Left at 12:30. Louise’s for picnic. Delma’s, Leos. Folks there too. Norma H. with them. Took pictures. Played croquet. Rode ponies.  Home at 6:00. Chored. All here to supper. Rasmuses came afterwards. Went to Dance. Claire, Ferne, Pete & me. Leo Daeges. Home at 1:30. Leo, Ida here all nite. Billy slept on floor. Us on studio couch.

My comments:

Claire and Ferne were nieces of my Grandma Kinnick… first cousins to Mom. Mom always considered them the most musically talented of the whole musical family. They lived in Sioux City area, then moved to California… where the girls and their husbands actually performed semi-professionally all their lives.

I always wondered why Mom had her hair pinned up. Now I know… she was getting ready to go the dance, in the evening… that was her first priority. Now that I know it was a holiday is also useful information. The porch is at Rasmus Nielsen’s (Louise’s husband, she was Grandma Kinnick’s sister, of course). Their farm was along the Raccoon River, south of Bayard, What fun!! ;-)



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - Billy’s 3rd Birthday and more

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - Billy’s 3rd Birthday and more

 On July 1, 1942, I celebrated my 3rd birthday. Mom and Dad had bought a farm a mile east of the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa, a couple of miles north of where they had been living. The spring planting was done, and cultivating was underway…

Mom was regularly baking angel food cakes, per her diary entries. Whether this is my birthday cake or another day, I do not know. I don’t seem to have a photo of Billy with a cake for this year, so this will do… standing in that favorite spot east of the house, facing south!

First, a notable event occurred on Saturday, June 27:

… Ed Kult came. He leaves Mon. morning for Navy. … [First one mentioned… ]

Tuesday, June 30:

… When Billy woke we went in town & got his big wagon. …

Wednesday, July 1, 1942: [‘Billy’s Birthday’ noted]

Swellest day. Mom and Bussy came out. Made Billy’s cake. Got dinner. LVene & David came in P.M. Took pictures. Did dishes. Over to Toot’s and got pail of mulberries. LVene helped us. Home & canned 7 qts. of mul. & rhubarb. Pulled weeds in garden. Chores, ate, took Mom & Buss in town. Down town till 12:00. Parked by Irene in front of Garst’s. Billy got $5, shirt, slacks, jacket, 5 cards.

Oops, I found another one taken this day:

There is the Wash House, in the background, at the end of the walk!
This is cousin David Thomas, Billy in his new wagon, and uncle Buzzy, nearing 14...


My comments:

No other mentions of war, or others going, yet.
On July 2, mentioned “Watkins man came.” Earlier, she when to a Stanley part at someone’s house.
On July 3, first time: “Pete mowed lawn.” Several mentions through spring of ‘raked yard’ but this is first mention of a “lawn.”



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - Billy and Chickens - 31 May 1942

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 - Billy and Chickens - 31 May 1942

In late spring of 1942, I was approaching my 3rd birthday. As of March 1, Mom and Dad bought a farm a mile east of the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa, a couple of miles north of where they had been living. Moving in was an on-going process…

Another of the 1942 pictures I have is this ‘famous one’ of me with the chickens dated May 31, 1942.

Nothing particular said about the photo in the daily diary entires. Late March it was mentioned they had gotten 250 chicks from Headlee’s, however. Also, there were several references to cleaning out the brooder house - which is the building in the photo, northeast of the house. Just off to the right, when looking at this photo is the Hen House, where the eggs were collected. The Wash House, mentioned in an earlier post, is just to the left, in this photo…

Mom ‘fixed a chicken’ three or four days a week, so having a lot was necessary.

“Sugar Board” and “Sugar Rationing” was in effect at this time for the War effort… everyone was asked to ‘cut back’ and coupons became necessary to get sugar. There are a half dozen references to Dad being appointed to a Sugar Board, and then getting off of it. Mom went in town to help out with issuing the sugar coupons, it seemed like, at the school. No other references, yet, to the war …


My comments:

In the middle of May, there were a couple of weeks with no entries at all. No mention of why not. Assume she was sick, or such, but wouldn’t have written about herself in that situation. Otherwise, very normal entries about all the same family activities.



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Have 22 Mar 1942 Photo

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Have 22 Mar 1942 Photo

 

 In spring of 1942, I was approaching my 3rd birthday. As of March 1, Mom and Dad bought a farm a mile east of the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa, a couple of miles north of where they had been living. Moving in was an on-going process…

One of the little old black and white photos I have was actually dated ‘March 22, 1942’ - so I wanted to see the diary entry for that day… here it is:

Sunday, March 22:

Swellest day. Scrubbed the porch. Got ready for S.S. Folks came & Ida & Karen went along. 47 there. Home & ate dinner. Did dishes. Men wired wash house. Kids left for Dorothy’s early. Lil, De. came for supper. Did dishes, really tired. To bed at 11:00.

 

My comments:

Prior day’s entry said, “Got the lights tonite. Gerry here for supper.” So - the house had not been wired for electricity, but the lines apparently were already in place going by the farm. They had been wiring for the first time…. again. Amazing! In later years, Dad was on the R.E.C. board for a number of years… wanted to keep that electricity coming, I guess!! ;-)

Editorializing: Still amazed how much folks just ‘showed up’ at meal time and ate together.

47 was a good attendance at Star Church. Mom was teaching Sunday School Class, so was going every week during this time.

In the photo of cousin Karen and I, we are sitting on the east side of the house, by the porch. That sidewalk ran from the porch to the wash house to the northeast of the house. Pretty fancy!! ;-)



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Mid-March in New Home

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Mid-March in New Home

In spring of 1942, I was approaching my 3rd birthday. As of March 1, Mom and Dad bought a farm a mile east of the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa, a couple of miles north of where they had been living. Moving in was an on-going process…

Here are four days demonstrating life in the new home… and the work to be done…

Thursday, March 12:

Gerry here to wire again. Made a butterscotch pie for dinner. Boys working in kitchen & basement. Ate, and did dishes, read, After Gerry left I swept whole downstairs. Billy & I went outdoors. Got 51 eggs. Watched Pete milk. Ate, did dishes.

Friday, March 13:

Gerry came & worked in the morning. Pete & I in to Mom’s to dinner & then to Carroll. Picked out fixtures. Pete went in town & bro’t Billy home - I came home with Ruth, Lil, & Buelah. Mrs. Jergans lead the practice. Didn’t learn much. Had hamburgers at Clyde’s. Home at 6:00. Ate, read, & went to bed.

An Oil Burning Furnace

Saturday, March 14:

Did up usual work in morning. Pete hauled a load of manure. Ate dinner. He moved the oil burner & laid down wool rug. Had to level the stove. Did dishes, straightened up the house. Ate, read, went to bed early.

Sunday, March 15:

Washed my head. Billy & I went to church. home & fixed dinner. The folks came out. Men walked around the edges of the farm. Mom & I scrubbed & waxed the kitchen floor. Popped corn. Ate supper, did dishes. Dad went to sleep. They left at 10:00. Went to bed.


My comments:

Kind of fun to see some full entries again, as they did up something around the house each day. I could really visualize Dad and Grandpa Kinnick walking ‘around the edges of the farm.’ I’ve done it. It was 160 acres, but with a road down the middle, length-wise, eighty acres on each side. Neat memories.



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Moves in March

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Moves in March

 In spring of 1942, I was approaching my 3rd birthday. We lived on a rented farm on the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa. But, that was about to change…

An image I couldn't pass up; even though not real accurate!! ;-)

The 1st of March on the farm was always a day of change, but especially if you were a renter. Not unlike apartment dwellers today. Historically, on Iowa farms, annually leases ended, and started, on March 1 each year. Mom and Dad moved on March 1 the prior year. This year, they bought a farm, with the aid of some inherited funds, but they were replacing a renting family. So, they had to work together. Following are some entries that relate to some of these moves…

Friday, February 27:

Up early. Took Billy in to Mom’s. Over to Max & Orrin's. Helped them move. Max had LVene bring dinner over to their new place. Ate & went in & got Billy. … Pete got new glasses. …

Tuesday, March 3:

Norma came in morning. Packed dishes for me. Pete & Elmer in to see Keister. We’re moving for sure. Ate, did dishes. Pete & I had to run in town & sign at South Bank. Norma stayed with Billy. Home & did more packing. …

Wednesday, March 4:

Howard came before Noon. Don & Norma here a little while in morning. Got quite a bit of packing done. At night Pete took down cupboard & Howard took down curtain fixtures. …

Thursday, March 5:

Howard here again. Marg. & Elmer moved their upstair’s furniture over today. We moved fruit jars & stuff from the shop. Mom & Buss came out for supper. Did some more packing. Rolled up the rugs. LVene & Verle came for a little while. Dad came after folks. To bed at 11:00.

Friday, March 6:

Up at 5:30. Ate, did dishes, sep. Delbert, Bud, Pete, Howard, Bill, Harold, Verle, Toots helped move. Got over here before Noon. Norma helped here & LVene & Margaret got dinner. Ate, came back & got the house pretty well straightened up. Nice day to work. Really tired at nite. Chores & went to bed about 10:30.

Saturday, March 7:

… Bro’t out chickens over. Mom & I papered the pantry. …

My comments:

I can really visualize them all making the move, and doing the various things that got done. Wow!

It appears that Elmer and Margaret Lucht & Mom and Dad swapped residences…

Note: Whereas I noted that Mom and Dad were painting and putting up ‘their things’ in the other house, all year… now, all of a sudden, they were doing it all, again, but this time, in their ‘own place.’

Over the following couple of days, they had a fellow in wiring the whole house, upstairs, downstairs and in the basement… first time they had a basement!!

Transitions are fascinating!! What fun!! ;-) This is the farm where I grew up...  ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Bought the Farm

From Mom’s Diary… 1942 Bought the Farm

 

In spring of 1942, I was approaching my 3rd birthday. We lived on a rented farm on the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa. But, that was about to change…

I’ll post occasional interesting tidbits.


This is one of the posts I wanted to find…

Thursday, February 5, 1942:

Was cleaning the house when Ensey came.
Cleaned up & went in to Mom’s for dinner.
Went to Carroll with Tome in P.M.
Bought the Farm.
Quite an undertaking.
Had a lunch and came home. Real foggy. Got Billy.
Chores, ate, did dishes, read and went to bed.
[All in one paragraph. I separated them, for my emphasis.]

My comments:

She had only mentioned ‘looking at land to buy’ a couple of times over the past couple of months, but nothing specific about finding anything. Then, out the blue… they did it.

For ‘quite an undertaking’ it was very low-key in her diary… but, wasn’t everything?!?!?  ;-)

I have these two photo of the farm, taken a few years later. I just have the black and white image. Jim had the color image, framed, on his wall, many years ago, last I knew of it. This is where we were raised…

Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom's Diary... 1941 Pearl Harbor

From Mom’s Diary… 1941 Pearl Harbor

 

In fall of 1941, I had already had my 2nd birthday. We lived on a rented farm on the county line between Carroll and Greene County, north east of Coon Rapids, Iowa.

I’ll post occasional interesting tidbits.

 

President Roosevelt, 1941

Listen to Fireside Chat 19… on the Declaration of War with Japan…
http://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/speeches/speech-3325

Nothing was mentioned in her diary about Pearl Harbor on the 7th or 8th, but, on the 9th…

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1941:

Got up & washed. Kinda cold but the wind blew and the clothes dried good. Did up the house work. Chores, folded clothes. Cut out Judy’s dress. Listened to President’s speech. Went to bed.


My comments:

Very interesting to me how few times she mentioned politics or national news, but when she did, it was meaningful. I know they listened to the radio regularly, and read local, regional and state-wide papers every day. Just not mentioned unless really important, it seems.



Families are Forever! ;-)