75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 31, 1939

75 Years Ago Today
Eileen's Diary
July 31, 1939 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Monday, July 31:

Took Pete up home. They threshed flax at Vonnahme's. I had an end curl from Jennie. Up home for dinner. Karen & Billy both there. Down town shopping in pm. Home at 5:30. Pete didn't come till quite late. Chored, ate, & went to bed.

My comments:

Here is a photo of Karen and Billy at Grandpa and Grandma Kinnick's house, actually the following year. Don't have earlier ones. This feels right, to share, today, however! ;-)

Aren't they cute!! ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 29, 1939

75 Years Ago Today
Eileen's Diary
July 29, 1939 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, July 29:

Threshing at Moylan's. I was going to help but baby seemed to have a little cold so I stayed home.
Made a burnt sugar cake & cleaned whole house. Up after Pete at 6:00. Chored, ate, bathed & went to bed.

My comments:

"How convenient…" Do you suppose she thanked me, for having "a little cold??"

Good excuse to look at a 'burnt sugar cake," again! ;-)  YUM!!! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 28, 1939

75 Years Ago Today
Eileen's Diary
July 28, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Friday, July 28:

Couldn't thresh in the am. Pete went in to town awhile. Had chicken dinner early & he went over to Bud's to thresh. Did dishes & went in to town, & washed & ironed. Home at 6:30. Ate, Ed Kult came. Made 2 qts of ice cream. Bathed & went to bed.

My comments:

Since nothing special, today, I'll catch up with that "airplane ride" that Buzzy took a few days earlier… I had this photo of a plane like he likely flew in...

This is a 1939 Stinson...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 27, 1939

75 Years Ago Today
Eileen's Diary
July 27, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, July 27:

Up early. Made 2 cakes. Took Pete up home. Threshed here.
LVene, Polly, Folks, Delma, Clyde, Ferne, Claire, Buzz here, too.
Had chicken & ice cream. Real hot & were we ever busy. Played & sang in pm.
Ida & Leo came awhile. We girls rode up home with Pete a minute. Home, chores, ate, Pete bathed, Leo & Ida came again & then Claire played again & we all sang 'till 10:00. To bed.

My comments:

Fed the threshers at their house… and had family company, as well!

Ferne, Claire and Buzz were the children of Clyde and Delma Luse.
Ferne was Mom's age, Claire a little older, Buzz was younger… "favorite" first cousins, it seemed.
They became semi-professional musicians in California a few years later.
They all loved to sing!

Here are Claire and Ferne, about this time, perhaps a couple of years later:

I think this was probably taken at their home near Sioux City, but I'm not certain.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 26, 1939

75 Years Ago Today
Eileen's Diary
July 26, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, July 26:

Pete threshing at Laurensen's & Herron's. Washed my hair. In town to dinner. Clyde & Delma's came. Home at 4:00 & cleaned my house a little. Pete came at 7:00. Chored & all the folks came out for a few minutes & then went down to Rasmuses. Cleaned up & went in to town until 11:00. Home to bed.

My comments:

Delma was another sister of Dorothy, Eileen's Mom. Clyde and Delma were uncle and aunt. They lived up near Sioux City… eventually went to California for rest of they lives.

Here are the three Sorensen sisters, within a few years of this date:

Louise, Dorothy, Delma

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 25, 1939

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 25, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, July 25: 

Bussy had a blood test for his tonsils. Cleaned the house a little bit. Looked at new catalog & rested. Down & picked a few beans, tomatoes & cucumbers. Pete threshing at Bowman's. Folks came out at nite & stayed until the baby fed. Bathed & went to bed.

My comments:

Doctors seemed to like to "take out" the tonsils!

Glad she rested some…

Haven't shown cucumbers yet? Have you picked any yet this year?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 24, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 24, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Monday, July 24:

Took Pete up home. Bathed baby & then Julia & Edith came & got cream to help serve Berthal's threshers. Left for Carroll at 10:30. Mom, Buss, Billy & I. Real hot. Ate at Carroll. Saw Dr. Baby weighs 10 1/2 #. Home at 3:30. Quite tired. Mom & Dad & Buss left here at 6:00. Rainy. Chored, bathed & went to bed.

My comments:

She was tired… her writing style showed it! Billy gaining weight 'nicely.'

Notice that threshers moved around the community… different groups of men, worked at different sites… big noon meal at different  place each day. Quite a well orchestrated tradition!! ;-)

Cream came from the separator… milk separated into milk pail and cream can. Cream sold, milk consumed… by family or hogs.

Here is a 1939 new International Harvester separator - with model! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 23, 1939

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 23, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, July 23:

Up at 6:15. Fed baby. Cleaned chicken & did the supper dishes while Pete chores. Ate, gave baby his bath, fed him, did the separator, got dinner. Had fried chicken. Fed baby, did dishes, folded the diapers & then Pete & I slept until 3:30. LVene, Margaret, Edith, Aunt 'Sadie', Wilson Dale & Patty came & stayed until after 4:00. Chored early.

My comments:

Well… back to being nameless 'baby' - she must have been really tired… ;-)

First mention of diapers, that I recall. Real world stuff! ;-)

Did she have pins like these, or, did they only come later??? ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 22, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 22, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, July 22:

Up early. Took Pete threshing. At Williams'. Home & did separator & made a white cake. Dishes & bathed Billy. Cleaned the house. Slept from 1:00 'till 2:00. Grant & Rita came about 5:00. Pete home before 6:00. Chored ate, bathed, shaved & went in to town. Left Billy at folks. Down town & ordered groceries. Up home & fed Billy & then Lil & Del came. Down & got groceries. In to Boehler's new cafe & had sundaes. Home at 11:30.

My comments:

Wow! Quite a day. Billy very active. Hope he was sleeping while she was! I liked staying with "the folks!" Grandpa and Grandma are neat! ;-)

Funny, as I read… ", bathed, shaved & went in to town." I could see and smell my Dad… I knew just how it was… funny how those things happen!! ;-)

Really stepping out on the town with the new cafe!! But, I'm still thinking about that white cake she made… usually a sheet cake in 9x12 metal cake pan… as I recall, in later years…  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 21, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 21, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Friday, July 21:

Up at 6:00. Fed baby just as Pete finished chores. Hurried & ate & took Pete up to thresh. Home & did my work and went back up again. Had 12 men for dinner. Polly slept until 3:00. Grant, Rita, Betty came & ate dinner. Took Norma home. Home at 4:00. Fed baby. Priscilla had been here and she left the cutest cover. Late with the chores. Folks came & got the washing. Bussy had an airplane ride today. Fed the baby & went to bed.

My comments:

Assume Polly was involved with Toots "operation" and/or recovery. All pitching in. Threshing needed to be done while weather good. NOTE: See article in paper, below the photo.

Have an airplane photo to go with comment on Bussy… hold it off a day or two…

Here is a threshing crew at work… remember them well!

***** Coon Rapids Enterprise, July 17, 2014, p. 5:

75 Years Ago
July 14, 1939

Threshing rigs in operation about the country report medium yields of fair quality grain. W.A. Kretzinger, who threshed Monday, reports his oats went about 35 bushels to the acre.



Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 20, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 20, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, July 20:

Didn't get up very early. Couldn't thresh. Pete up home after beans to take in to sell & then we went in town to dinner. Looked at washing machines. Had ice cream at new place. Mom kept Billy. Home & chores early. Toots operated on at Jefferson. Up home at nite. Helped Junior wipe dishes. Over to Max & Orrin's a minute to tell them about threshing. In town after ice & home at 9:30. Right to bed.

My comments:

"Mom kept Billy." - Wow… moving along! ;-)

"Looked at washing machines." Suppose they looked at one like this?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 19, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 19, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, July 19:

Got up and fed baby, went back to bed & didn't get up until 7:30. Ate, Pete picked a pail of beans. Bathed baby & fed him & then fixed 9 quarts of beans. Got dinner. Fed baby, ate, & then took Pete threshing at Anderson's. Up & talked to Polly a minute. Home, did dishes, & canned 5 quarts of tomatoes. Polly came down a minute. Fed baby. Late with chores. Really tired. Ate late, I slept while Pete bathed. Fed the baby & went to bed. Rained a lot.

My comments:

Quite a day. Much canning going on… but, "fed the baby" a lot, as well!! ;-)

How about those tomatoes, today! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 18, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 18, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, July 18:

Up early. Pete over to Orrin's helping shell. Did work up early. Tried on all my last year's dresses & started to hem my green one. Got dinner, ate, Pete picked beans with I did the dishes. Snapped them. Aunt Kate, LVene, Margaret, Julia, Edith & Patty came. Brought baby a ring. Down in garden & picked a pail of tomatoes.
Pete chored. Pop, Merle, Toots here. Brought baby medicine from Carroll.
Ready to eat when the folks came. Ate, talked, folks left at 9:30. To bed.

My comments:

Another incredibly busy day, with visitors and work. Nice to see the men brought medicine for "baby!"

I believe "Aunt Kate" was Kate Preston, wife of Harry Preston - brother of Pop's wife, my grandmother Ella Preston Ballard Smith. First time I remember her being mentioned; she would have been 66 year old.

Shelling corn from crib to make room for new, later, and to sell, for money, to pay bills, and feed animals…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 17, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 17, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Monday, July 17:

Up early. Pete went in town & got a haircut & brought the washing home. Ate dinner & then Pete went out & picked a pail of beans. We snapped them & put them on. At night we took or baths while they finished. Sat on porch awhile but the bugs were so bad that we finally came in the house & laid on floor.
Took beans off, fed the baby and went to bed. Don & Norma here about 4:00. Bro't the baby a little kimono.

My comments:

Well… "the baby"… tired of him already… or, just hot? ;-)

Canning beans…. remember that well, in the 50s as well!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 16, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 16, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, July 16:

Didn't get up till late. Folks came out. Pete was up home all day working on tractor. Had fried chicken for dinner. Scrubbed & waxed kitchen floor. Edith, Helen, Lenore here till 6:30. Folks went down to Louise's. Ate supper. LVene, Verle, Arnold, Julia came & bro't ice cream & cherry pie. Don & Norma came. They all left early because it started to storm. Fed baby & went to bed.

My comments:

You can bring "ice cream & cherry pie" any time - or, just the cherry pie… I'll provide the ice cream!! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 15, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 15, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, July 15:

Pete up home in morning but was home to dinner. Ila & I talked about Grandma etc. most all morning. Pete mowed the yard in afternoon & we went in town. Ila washed. I went down town. Had pop at Leo's. Shopped awhile, up home & ironed a bit & came home. Pete took team home & I went after him. Chored, ate, did dishes & then I took Ila Jean in to town. Got 2 Smoozies at Leo's & brought them home to eat. Fed baby & went to bed. Pete stayed with the baby.

My comments:

"Pete stayed with the baby." Wow, our first "separation!" Progress. How neat! ;-)

As a reminder, here is "Grandma" they are talking about - Grandma Nettie (Williams) Kinnick - quite a woman, according to her obit! ;-)

I wrote about her briefly, here: http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2014/02/52-ancestors-6-margaret-jeanette-nettie.html

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 14, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 14, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Friday, July 14:

Pete didn't get up until 7:00. Fed the baby. Bathed him. Did morning work. Washed my hair. Marget, Wilson Dale, Patty & LVene here awhile. Ila & I ate dinner alone. Rested. Dwight brought ice. Went in to wash. I went down to Leo & Ida's. Rasmuses came down there to see the baby. Up home & then went down town to do a little shopping. Home & got supper. Ila went to bed before Pete was through choring. Took baths & went to bed.

My comments:

Another full day. Not sure about that first list of visitors, but that is what she wrote… It is Margaret Thomas, with Wilson…oh, his full name is Wilson Dale Thomas… his sister, Patty. Margaret was LVene's sister-in-law… all neighbors, as well. Ok, figured that out! ;-)

Realizing I don't really know, for sure, where Leo and Ida lived at this time… seems to be on the south side of Coon Rapids, from Mom's expressed used to describe. NOTE: See News Articles, below!

Note that Ila Jean is staying at the farm house, with Pete, Eileen, and Billy… ;-)

This isn't actually Dwight delivering the ice, for the ice box they had (no refrigerator, because no electricity, yet), but it does show the block of ice like he would have brought!

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CrowleyRussellLeeIceman.jpg

NOTE: From the Coon Rapids Enterprise: July 10, 2014, p.5:

75 Years Ago
July 7, 1939

Leo Kinnick of Bradgate, recently purchased the Tallcorn Inn off A.F. Tatman and took possession
this week. Mr. Kinnick is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Kinnick and was raised in this community.
For the past few years he has been associated with his father-in-law, Ray Bell, on a farm near Bradgate.

My comment: This explains where they were living. Need to learn more about this!

“Ping” Herron, 15 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Herron, suffered severe head and chest
injuries Saturday when his team ran away with a hay rake he was operating, and he was dragged
underneath the machine. He was rushed to St. Anthony’s hospital at Carroll for treatment where he is expected to make a complete recovery.

My comment: This was mentioned one day in the hospital last week!

Coon Rapids and this part of the state really got soaked during the first week of July. Monday night
a deluge of about three inches fell here in a trifle over an hour and Tuesday night’s rain amounted to
approximately half that amount.
While the rain benefited crops it also did considerable damage in many places. Small grain was beaten down and corn blown over but the damage here was small as compared to bridges washed out in Audubon and Guthrie counties and elsewhere in the state.
The deluge gave the cinch bugs a decided setback. Corn is considerably advanced over normal for
this season of the year and much of it is beginning to shoot tassels.
Where it got sufficient rain in June the crop is excellent. Spots where the June rains missed don’t look
so good. The small grain harvest is well under way and shocks now dot many fields. The straw is
short but quality of the grain is reported as good. “It’s not so much the heat as it is the humidity,” everyone is saying and right now Iowa is experiencing an honest-to goodness hot spell.


My comments: Mom said it really stormed... Dad was late to the hospital one day, because of the storm... this was obviously it!! ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 13, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 13, 1939 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, July 13:

Up in pretty good time. Had Polly come down to see rash on baby. Took him to Carroll to Dr. Polly, Pop & I. Got new shoes. Didn't get home until 6:30. Ate at Carroll Cafe. Pete milked & then we ate. Glenn, Ruth, Bobby & Carolyn came & stayed until 10:00. Took baths & went to bed.

My comments:

Assume the rash was taken care of… shopping… ate at Cafe…

Not mentioned, of course, is that Nancy was there, as well, about 3 weeks or so from making her first appearance. When we say we grew up together, we were not kidding! ;-)

Here are the three Bolger kids, a couple of years later…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 12, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 12, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, July 12:

Overslept. Didn't get up until 6:30. Did we hurry. Junior helping bind again. Polly here a minute. Bathed baby. Ila did sep. & dishes. In town & washed. Home & got dinner for boys. Baby fussed awhile after dinner. Ila cleaned the house. Rested. Gertrude, Everett, Anita Carlson, John, Jeanette here just while we were eating. Lil & Del, Bertha, Warren, Roberta, Dennis came use as Pete got through milking. Left early. Bathed & went to bed.

My comments:

Baby not getting enough attention…  !!??!!  ;-)

Too many "guests," as well. ;-)

Binding oats, in the field...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 11, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 11, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, July 11:

Up at 5:45. Ate, gave baby his bath. Had chicken dinner. Junior here. Baby fussy in pm so I called Polly. She said he had indigestion. She left about 6:00. Ate & then Pete chores. Max & Orrin & folks came. Pete bathed & then we went to bed. Really slept good. Baby fed at 3:00.

My comments:

Beginning to get back to normal, perhaps. Still have visitors, though.

Chicken dinner. Fried? Yum! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 10, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 10, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Monday, July 10:

Could hardly wait for Pete. Watched them bathe Billy. Sister Aletta dressed me. Up to Clayburg's & down town a minute in Irene's car. Home a little before 12:00. Ila here. She had dinner about ready. LVene, Carrie, Julia, Edith here awhile. Folks came out at nite. Loan Co. man caught Pete over on 80 & so we were late choring. Late to bed, too. Fed baby at 1:00.

My comments:

Ila Jean was apparently going to stay for a few days…

One page of Baby Book spoke about this day…

[Click for larger image]

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 9, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 9, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, July 9:

 Birthday note: Margaret Neilsen [Nelson, actually, I think?! - a Kinnick first cousin]

Awake before 5:30. Fed the baby. Two new baby boys form this morning. Ate, read awhile, fed baby again and then got up and sat in a chair awhile. Clayburg's came & stayed till closing. In bed awhile & then got up to eat supper. Folks & PEte came about 7:00. Stayed till 8:30. Really anxious for tomorrow.

My comments:

About to go home, it appears… it has been over a week…
Another Baby Book page... not a lot of entries!! ;-)

[Click for larger image]

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 8, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 8, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, July 8:

Really nice day. Side still hurts a little. Marjorie gave me my bath. Rita & Lois Kult here awhile. Baby circumcised in morning. Talked to Dr. Walter a minute. Ate, fed baby, rested. Gladys Hartwigsen came while I was feeding the baby. Mabel Manville came later. Her father is on 2nd floor. Rested, ate supper. Fed the baby. Jean Jenks here & then Pete came. Sent some of my stuff home. Had a keen time. He left at 8:30. Fed baby & went to sleep.

My comments:

Moving along… Dr. stopped by… that must have been an exciting conversation! ;-)

Starting to send stuff home… good sign...

Another page of the Baby Book… looking ahead:

[Click for larger image]

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 7, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 7, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Friday, July 7:

A nice day. Fed Billy. Sister Aletta gave me my bath. Read awhile. Ate dinner. Fed Billy. Rested awhile. RIta Kult here in the morning & afternoon. Clayburg's were here in pm. Bro't flowers. Worked puzzle that Rita bro't up. Ate, fed Billy, worked puzzle & read until Pete came. Irene, Max, Gary & Ed Kult here too. Left at 8:30. I read the Enterprise & then to sleep. Side hurt after 1:00 am. feeding so they gave me a couple of pills.

My comments:

Assume Rita worked there in the hospital. Good to see the pills were an apparent exception.

First inside page of Baby Book with entries - vital statistics, enter contemporaneously…

[Click for larger image]

Love her penmanship! ;-)



Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 6, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 6, 1939

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, July 6:

 Really hot. Awake at 5:30. Nursed baby, had bath. Had fan on all day long. Read until dinner. Fed the baby, ate, rested awhile. Rita Kult, Mrs. Rafferty & Dick here in pm. Read, rested, ate supper. Fed Billy, read until Pete came at 7:45. Stormed & he stayed until baby fed. Left about 9:30. Didn't sleep very well. Too much storm.

My comments:

I would think a storm would be the least of her concerns? Must have really been bad?!?!?

First of several images from my Baby Book - here is the cover:

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 5, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 5, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, July 5:

Wakened at 5:30. Went back to sleep until time to nurse Billy & then I went to sleep again. Ate, fed baby & then had my bath from Sister Aletta. Ate dinner. Really hot. Finished addressing my cards. Really had company in pm. 19 were here. Ed Kult in morning. Most all of them watched him nurse. Lizzie gave him a fork & spoon & Julia & Edith a baby book. Rested till supper & then fed baby.  Mom & Pete came at night. They left at 8:30.

My comments:

"We" were certainly popular!! Nice gifts!

Did the fork and spoon look like this?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 4, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 4, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, July 4:

Slept real good again last night. Nursed baby at 6:00. Had a fancy red, white & blue cookie for breakfast. Marjorie, my favorite, gave me my bath. Ate, fed Billy, rested awhile. Was feeding Billy at 3:00 when Don Herron & Glenn Betts came. Betty, LVene, Polly, Irene came. Stayed until the bell rang. Rested awhile, ate, fed Billy. Read a little bit. Pete & Dad came in good time. Mrs & Mr Lund came too. Really hot. Dad & Pete stayed to watch the baby nurse. I just couldn't sleep. It was so hot & my breasts hurt. Finally rained a little bit & cooled things off.

My comments:

Everyone wants to watch her feed the baby… amazing…  ;-)

Suppose her cookie looked like this? Happy 4th of July! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 3, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 3, 1939

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Monday, July 3:

Didn't sleep too well. Nursed at 6:00. Ate, nursed at 9:00. Had a keen all over batch. Wrote quite a few announcement cards. Rested, ate dinner, fed Billy. Rested & read. Aunt Lucille was here a little while. Washed, read, ate, fed the baby. Pete didn't get here  until 8:00. Stormed awful & he couldn't get the car started. Bro't Wilbur & Donald & took them & Aunt Lucille home. Ping has been here since Saturday night. He had a run away with team. Pete left about 9:00.

My comments:

Wilbur, Donald and Ping (Wilson, Jr.) all sons of Lucille (Kinnick) and Wilson Herron. The young men were first cousins of Eileen… near her in ages, as well.

Here is an early image of Lucille (mid-40s at time of visit, this is about that time, I think):

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 2, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 2, 1939 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, July 2:

Really slept keen. They woke me at 6:00. Nursed baby again. He really is nice. [!!!!!!]
Washed up. Slept awhile again. ate breakfast at 7:30. Slept again. Put on clean top and bedding. Had a keen dinner. Rested after the baby nursed. Pete, the folks, Leo, Ida, Karen & lots of others here. Had a swell time. Ila Jean came after hours for awhile after the others had all left. Rested, ate, fed the baby at 6:00. Rested & read until Pete came. Helen, Josephine & kinds here a minute too.

My comments:

Think she is enjoying being "looked after" - what do you think?! ;-)

Lots of visitors… and it gets moreso, in coming days, at hospital… then at home… !!

Ila Jean Kinnick was Mom's first cousin, two months older… we'll be seeing her a lot in coming days, so here is her photo… assume this is high school graduation, three years earlier. ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 1, 1939 Happy Birthday to ME! ;-)

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 1, 1939 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, July 1:

 Birthday note: Billy Smith    [BIRTH day!]

They came at 5:00 & gave me caster oil and a little later an enaea [sic]. Started pains at 7:00 and the baby was born at 8:30.
Got along just fine. Pete stayed with me until I came out from under the ether and then he went home. Rested pretty good. Baby sure is nice. [That is gratifying!]
Weighed 8# 14 3/4 oz. Billy Leverne. Doesn't seem possible it's over.
Ate a good dinner. Feel keen.
Berthal Jones, Paul, Katherine Kimball, Barbara & Johnnie here in pm.
Nursed baby at 3:00. He sure took right a hold. Rested good.
Ate supper. Clayburgs & Pete here. Clayburgs bro't a little white dress. Pete left about 9:30.

My comments:

Successful day… not that there was really any doubt!  ;-)

No early baby photos that I am aware of… sorry! Or, maybe not! ;-)

Suppose the "little white dress" looked something like this?

Families are Forever!  ;-)