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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

November 5, 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, November 5:

I went to church. Billy & Pete stayed home. Got dinner. Ate, Toots, Butch came & took Pete over on 80. Did dishes, sep. Irene & Betty came. Fixed Irene’s hair.  Mabel Hupp, Dean, Wanda here a minute. Bro’t back lamp. Pete bro’t picker at 5:30. Chores, made waffles & went to bed.

My comments:

Harvesting in full gear.

Had waffles lately? I do want to catch that drip...  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 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 Thursday, October 26:

Pete up home again. Real cold. Cleaned up & went to club at Luella Schultzes. Had pumpkin pie. Up home for a duck supper at nite. Stayed till nearly 10:00.

My comments:

Irene had brought the duck down. Then, tonight, they went up to eat the duck supper. Strange, to say the least.

Duck for supper…  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 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 Wednesday, October 25:

Did up usual work. At nite I went in town after a nipple. Irene stopped & left us a duck. Chored & went to bed.

My comments:

Hope and assume she got the nipple she was after!

Why would Irene bring a duck???

Suppose it looked like this one??

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 10, 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, September 10:

I didn't get up until 9:15. Bathed & fed Billy. Mom, Dad & Bussy came out. Had beefsteak. Mom made a chocolate cake. Ate, doing dishes when Polly, Merle, Betty, Irene came down. Irene fitted my skirts again. Looked at fixture pictures. They stayed until 5:00. Ate some muskmelon. Chored. Fed Billy. Had pancakes for supper. Folks left at 9:00.

My comments:

Billy fed well, again, today. ;-)

Beefsteak for dinner.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 3, 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, September 3:

Didn't get up until 8:00. Cleaned to two bedrooms. Bathed & fed Billy & then got beefsteak dinner. Pete went in to town after kerosene. Ate, did dishes, cleaned up to go riding when Irene & Betty came so we went to Scranton with them. Home at 5:30. Irene took my skirts to shorn. Fed Billy, got supper. Folks came. Ready to eat when Vic, Ger. & kids came. Listened to Roosevelt speech. They all left early.

My comments:

Busy Sunday, good dinner, nice ride, visitors. Listened to the President's Fireside Chat.

Fireside Chat 14: On the European War (September 3, 1939) - see the whole thing:
http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/speech-3315

Roosevelt shortly after giving one of his famous fireside chats.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireside_chats



Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 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 Thursday, August 31: 


Bussy rode his bike out. He & Pete plowed awhile in am. Ate, did dishes & went in town. Pete had his hair cut & I got 2 permanent curls. Home at 3:30. Chored, cleaned up & took Billy to Polly for her to keep. Went to Des Moines with Irene, Bernice Eyestone. Danced to Paul Whiteman. He really was good. Pete drove. Home at 3:30.

My comments:

Irene had asked them to go to Des Moines this evening in her car. Sounded like they had a great time. Paul Whiteman had been known in earlier years at the King of Jazz. Here he is, as he appeared in the film, "Rhapsody in Blue," in 1945:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whiteman

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

 

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 13, 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, August 13:

Up at 5:30. Real busy all morning. Lils, Edna, Gertrudes & WIlbur were here. Had fried chicken $ ice cream. Gertrude showing pictures of their trip. Took pictures of the group. Had the watermelon that Gertrude brought. Leo, Ida , folks stayed for supper. Aunt Lena, Nellie, Polly, Irene here awhile. Ate supper. Leo sick. After folks left we went up home. Saw Toots & Swanson's. Home at 11:00.
[Under, in big letter:]
Celebrated Mom & Dad's 25th Anniv.

My comments:

Never mentioned the gift. She was fully occupied with playing hostess. Seemed to pull it off well.

Swansons were to become Toots' in-laws… from Shenandoah, or thereabouts, as I recall.

Watermelon anyone?

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 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 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 - June 29, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 29, 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, June 29:

Up in pretty good time. Took Pete over to plow beans & then went in town & got Buss & Mom. Did usual work. Slept an hour in pm & then went down in garden awhile. Over after Pete. Pop stopped awhile over on 80. Home & chores & ate supper. Doing dishes when Polly, Irene, Betty came with papers for me to sign. Bathed shaved after folks left & went to bed.

My comments:

Have to wonder what the papers were…

Cake left over from the day before, YUM!

White coconut layer cake:

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 25, 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, June 25:

 Pete didn't get up until 7:30. I dressed our first spring chicken while he chores. He worked in garden awhile before dinner. Had keen dinner. Both of us out in garden until 3:30. Up hime & Pete picked a pail of cherries. I watched Irene make a dress for Betty. Home at 6:00. Chored. Folks came out after the washing. They left early. Sat on back porch awhile & then went to bed. Really nice out.

My comments:

There is another of those phrases: "…dressed…chicken…" Know what she means, but not normal meaning of the words! Ain't English great!! ;-)
See: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_a_chicken_called_dressed_chicken?#slide=1

Another image, here… Eileen very pregnant, overdue, per her doctor, sitting watching Irene make a dress. ;-)

I really like her last comment: "Really nice out!" Especially in her condition!!

A "dressed chicken:"

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 23, 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, June 23:

Up in fair time. Pete crossing corn. I did my usual work. Irene called at 10:30 & said they wanted 11 bushels of beans so I took the car, got Pete & we went up home. Ate dinner there. Gret. said they didn't want them 'til nite so we came home at 2:30. I changed my clothes & we went in & got our driver's license. Didn't have to wait at all. Home & Pete went out & plowed 'til 5:30. I weeded in the row of carrots while Pete milked. Ate, Pete read awhile. Took baths and went to bed.

My comments:

Busy day. Found it interesting how closely they worked with Grettenbergs on just when they wanted the beans delivered. Small town courtesies, it seems!

Do you suppose Mom's carrots looked like this?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 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 Friday, June 16:

Up at 8:00. Folks came before I had the dishes done. Pete crossing corn on the 80. Ate, did dishes. Mom & cleaned out the big box and Dad fixed the dresser & chest drawers so they'd open good. I cleaned up & Mom went down in the garden awhile. I slept while Pete milked & Mom got supper. Ate, did dishes & sat outdoors. Lillian called & said maybe they'd com but they didn't. Irene came, folks left. She stayed & talked until 10:00. Pete took a bath & we went to bed. Almost too hot to sleep.

My comments:

Another hot June day on the farm. Who remembers what "crossing corn" meant? I'd forgotten about it until I read this entry… but lots of memories, when they came back.

How about some really clean corn rows??? ;-)

P.S. These obviously were not "crossed"... ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

May 21, 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, May 21:

Pete up at 6:30. Did chores. Went to SS & church. Over to LVene's for dinner. Grant, Rita, Pop, Irene, Polly, Merle, Betty, LVene, Verle.
Pop is 70 yrs. old tomorrow.
Talked until 5:00. Home, chores, took washing in. Sat on porch & talked until after 10:00. Home to bed.

My comments:

A full family birthday dinner for Pop. Neat! [Oops! Max, Orrin & Gary not there...]

The never imagined it then, of course, but that was to be the last birthday for him. He died on October 8, 1939. This photo was about a year earlier….

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

May 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 Sunday, May 14:

Keen day. Pete chores, I took him over to Gene Wm's after the bull & he walked it clear over to Morg Evans. Dad froze ice cream. I made potato salad. Cleaned up & all went in folks' car to Louise's. Lil's & Del there too. Ate picnic lunch in the timber. Home at 5:00 in folks car, they went home with Del & chores. Roberta & Buss home with us in folks car. Irene & Betty came down and got their hair fixed. Lils, Del, folks here for supper. They bro't some more little chicks. They left at 9:30 & we went right to bed.

My comments:

I can picture Dad walking down the road leading the bull…

I love Mom's, and about any, potato salad! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Aug 25, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Aug 25, 1938

 

This entry is an irregular post on this blog from the diary of nineteen year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date.

From March 1 thru April 29, I posted every day, to cover the marriage and the early married life of Pete and Eileen (Kinnick) Smith, but decided to 'take a breather.'  Posts will be added, from time to time, as items of particular interest appear.

State Fair Time Approaches...

Here is the daily entry for Thursday, Aug 25:

Up late. Just finished breakfast when Betty, Pauline, Irene came down to get their hair set. They're going to the fair tomorrow, too. Canned 22 quarts of sauerkraut in p.m. At nite went in to town & ironed dresses and shirts. Mom cleaned a chicken for us. Home about 9:00. Went to bed right away.

My comments: Is this how you would prepare to go to the fair??

Eileen still using her Mom's iron, it appears. Here is an image I used earlier…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - May 20, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - May 20, 1938

 

 This entry is an irregular post on this blog from the diary of nineteen year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date.

From March 1 thru April 29, I posted every day, to cover the marriage and the early married life of Pete and Eileen (Kinnick) Smith, but decided to 'take a breather.'  Posts will be added, from time to time, as items of particular interest appear.

 

Here is the daily entry for Friday, May 20:

 Didn't get up very early. Pete up to the other place. Came home & did up the usual work. Planted 5 rows of beans, 1 peas, 1 beets and 20 rows onions. Went to town. Made out & sent order to M.W. Underwear, socks, dress material. Out to Lund's awhile. After Pete. Did chores, ate, went to bed early. LVene & Verle married at Carroll. Polly & Merle went with them.

My comments: Pete's sister LVene married Verle Thomas. They went to Carroll, much as Pete and Eileen had.

This image is from the Smith family history book LVene compiled with her sister Irene. LVene did not like to have her photo taken… so if she included this one, it must have met with her approval! ;-)


More planting in the garden. Pete had brought home the onion sets the prior day, from Smith's garden storage, I assume. The prior day, she had also subscribed to County Gentleman magazine, as well.



Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - April 3, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - April 3, 1938

 

 This entry is the daily post on this blog from the diary of nineteen year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date.

Starting March 1, a weekly comment on these daily entries appear on the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog. Those weekly entries, on that blog, on each Friday of the week, will continue, with links to some of these daily entries.

 

Here is the daily entry for Sunday, April 3:

 Up at 9:00. Real late with work. Just doing separator when Pauline & Merle & LVene & Irene came. Went over to Norma's with them. No one home. Folks here to dinner. Dad to Ger's in pm. Cleaned up the yard. Got supper, chores early, did dishes, separator, took baths & went to bed.

My comments: I can just see LVene and Irene riding with Pauline and Merle… Mom would have squeezed in the back seat. No one Home! Assume they took her back…

Here is photo of Pauline and Merle about 15 years later, with their two daughters, Joan and Joyce.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - March 20, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - March 20, 1938

This entry is the daily post on this blog from the diary of nineteen year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date.

Starting March 1, a weekly comment on these daily entries appear on the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog. Those weekly entries, on that blog, on each Friday of the week, will continue, with links to some of these daily entries.

 Here is the daily entry for Sunday, March 20:

Up at 7:30. Did dishes & separator. Cleaned the house & porches. Wrenched my knee. Pauline, Merle & Betty here in morning. Lil's & Dell and and the folks here to dinner. LVene, Irene & Betty here in pm. Edith, Howard, Erna & Pressy, too. Folks stayed to supper. Pete brought the cows so I had the separator to do after supper. Late when I did it. Max & Orrin here until 10:30. Washed & went to bed. had an awful time getting the cows to the barn.

My comments: Most a town girl, now living on a farm with responsibilities. Working hard at it. Cows arrived… now she has 'her own' separator to clean twice a day!

Many guests on this busy Sunday!

Families are Forever!  ;-)