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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 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 Tuesday, October 31:

Pete up early. Chored & we went up home. Pete helped pick & I helped cut up meat. Ate dinner, came home about 2:30. Max & LVene were there too. Pete bro't me home & then he went over on 80.

My comments:

They were still cutting up that pork they butchered a few days ago. Here are some chops, they cut, that they eat, tomorrow! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 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 Saturday, October 21: 

Did usual work. Betty at Max's. Polly came down & had her hair set. She helped me do the dishes. Toots, Wayne B. & Merle here moving oats. Polly brought Billy's pictures. In to Mrs. Shavers'. She gave Billy a white blanket. Home & chored & then went back in to town again. Home late.

My comments:

Sure wish I had "Billy's pictures" - I don't think any have survived… from that time. Darn!

Glad they got to go back into town for "Saturday nite" - they always enjoyed that… over many, many years!!

Suppose that blanket looked like this?? ;-)

Note: Next entry will be Oct 24... ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - October 19, 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 19:

Really busy. Set up front room stove. Cleaned whole house. Make 2 cakes. Had ice cream with b.r. sauce. Don, Norma, Ruth, Glenn, Vic, Ger., Max, Betty, Gary, Verle, LVene, Arnold, Julia,  Merle, Polly, Margaret, Orel here. Sang. Stayed till 11:00.

My comments:

Quite a party. All very familiar persons. Could have just as well been ten or twenty years later!! ;-)

Cake and ice cream sounds pretty good, to me!!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 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 Wednesday, September 20:

Pete up home all day making hay. Max, LVene, Julia here in morning to get their hair fixed. Lillian & Dennis came after dinner & went to club with me a Pruiett's. Billy good. Home, chores. In town. Pete got a hair cut. Up to folks' awhile. Home late.

My comments:

"Billy good." Still makes me feel good to have my mother's approval!! ;-)

Dennis was about 21 months old, at this time. Here is a photo of him, just a little later, perhaps.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 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 Wednesday, September 13:

Up late. Did dishes, separator. Max came after tomatoes, took cream to town. Bakery burned last night. Over after Pete. Home to dinner. Took him back. Got soft water at Mos. Moylan's. Home, fed Billy, washed my hair Pete chores, we ate, bathed.

Hot!

My comments:

Guess it was hot, again! ;-) Assume Bakery burning will be in Enterprise next week…

Max came after tomatoes...

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 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 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 - May 16, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

May 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 Tuesday, May 16:

Real warm day. Did dishes, separator, scrubbed, rested a bit. Ate dinner, took Pete to work. Home did dishes & went in home. The baby's things came. They're all just real nice. Home, went after Pete. Chored, getting supper when Max, Orrin, & Gary came. They bro't back the sheller. Left at 9:30. To bed.

My comments:

We had an old hand sheller around the farm as I was growing up. Could it have been the same one? I looked a lot like this one.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

 

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

May 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 Thursday, May 11:

Up in good time. Did separator, fed chickens, fixed cottage cheese, in to town after ice. Up to LVene's. Served about 35 club members & 6 hostesses & waiters.
Valeria K., Edith L., Max served. Norma, Gertrude & I hostesses.
Had Hor D'evvess (sic), Individual Meat Loaves in Bacon rings, buttered beans, creamed potatoes, pear salad, buttered rolls, pineapple ice cream, angel food cake, coffee. Had maypole decorations at 3 long tables.
Really tired at nite. Over on 80 after Pete at 6:00. Home, ate. Otto, Stella here a minute. Chored, Polly & Merle came & stayed till after 10:00. Cleaned up & went to bed.

My comments:

I've been scrolling through photo images of "Meat Loaves in Bacon Ring" - at supper time. Not smart… may drown in my saliva before I finish this…

Did they look like there, perhaps?? ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

May 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 Tuesday, May 9:

Up in good time. Max here from 9:00 to 10:00. Pete planting. Ate dinner, did dishes, up home a minute, over to LVene's, in to town & got plow lathes. Betty, Polly, LVene here to get their hair fixes. Max, Gary, Norma here too. Had to get a setting hen from Norma. Out to chicken house when Edith Lund & Harold Johnson came. Harold milked 2 cows. Ate, took baths & went to bed.

My comments:

Lots of folks in and out during the day…

Harold milked 2 cows… with Pete?? I assume…

Needed one more setting hen??? Too many eggs? Just got new chicks, not eggs. ???

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Mar 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 Sunday, Mar 19:

 Birthday note: Orrin H.

Up late. Did usual morning work. Ate dinner, did dishes, making 4 holes chicken setter.
Read "The Golden Hills." Don and Norma here just before Pete chored. Want us to come to. S.S. party Wednesday nite [This sentence underlined].
Chored, cleaned up, LVene & Verle came and we went over to Max & Orrin's. Played cards. Had Angel food, chic. cake, Bavarian Cream, sandwiches, coffee. Home at 1:30.

My comment: Good food! ;-)

Suppose they go to the Sunday School Party on Wednesday??

Found a good image of "4 holes chicken setter!"

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Feb 20, 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.
Now we are beginning 1939 - the year I was born, on July 1 - Bring it on! ;-)


Here is the daily entry for Monday,  Feb 20:

Up at 8:10. Mom called at 8:30 and said she had the washing all done. Had fried chicken for dinner. Made B.P. Biscuits, too. Pete up  home just before Noon. Ate and then read the paper. Did up my work while Pete went down to creek and chopped wood. To town at 4:00. Got freezer & the washing & Verle's socks. Pete milked while I made a gallon of ice cream. Cleaned up. Up to LVene's & Verle's to his surprise party. Max, Orrin, Polly, Merle, Betty, Howard there. Played cards and ate. Home at 2:30.

My comment: Verle's 28th birthday. Quite a busy day. They got him socks for a present and made a gallon of homemade ice cream to take along. Neat! I love when there is detail!! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Feb 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.
Now we are beginning 1939 - the year I was born, on July 1 - Bring it on! ;-)


Here is the daily entry for Saturday,  Feb 18:

 Pete up at 6:00. Me at 8:00. Did usual morning work. Max, Orrin, Gary & Betty here a minute. They brought the saw back. Don W. here while they were. Pete had to go in to the bank to a Soil Conservation Meeting. Brought Mom & Bussy out with him.
I scrubbed bedroom before dinner. Helped Saw wood. Cleaned rest of the house. Scrubbed the kitchen. Pete chores really early. Ate tomato soup. Took baths and Bussy & Pete and went to Sectional Finals. Coon beat Gray 33-23. Really some game. Sat with LVene and Verle. Down to Boehlers. Ed Kult and Edith Thomas sat with us. Home at 11:00.

My comment: A busy day. Never said what her Mom did all day… interesting.

Obviously very important "who they sat with" at events! ;-)

More wood sawed, now that the saw was back…  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - Feb 1, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Feb 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.
Now we are beginning 1939 - the year I was born, on July 1 - Bring it on! ;-)


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday,  Feb 1:

Up real late. I made a 2 egg cake. Had pancakes for dinner. Cleaned the house a little bit. Pete cutting down trees along the creek. Chored and ate real early. Up and got LVene, Verle, Polly, Merle, Betty. Over the Max & Orrin's but they weren't home. Over to  Max & Orrins's. [She probably meant LVene and Verle's or Polly and Merle's!!]
Ate pop corn & played rummy until 12:00. Just got in Verle's yard and the car broke down. They bro't us home. LVene gave us a loaf of bread. Home & to bed at 1:30. Really cold and windy.

My comment:  Assume Dad was cutting trees for wood to keep the house warm!

A difficult evening, for sure. Dad has just worked on the car. Young couple with a serious problem, it appears. Very frustrating, for sure.

A 2 egg cake is also known as a pound cake:

 

YUM!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Jan 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.
Now we are beginning 1939 - the year I was born, on July 1 - Bring it on! ;-)


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, Jan 14:

Pete got up early. I got up at 8:30. Did the chores and cleaned up. Max & Orrin came at 10:30 and we went to Carroll with them. Ate at the Carroll Cafe. Max did her shopping. I went to the Doctor at 2:30. Didn't get to see him until 3:15. Perfectly all right. Surely glad. Got Hot Dogs and came home. Kinda peeved cause Max & Orrin kept saying how late it was etc. Got all right again though. Made some sugar cookies for supper. Pete chored. Fixed account books. Looked at catalogs. To bed at 10:00.

My comments: Happy to see her Doctor visit went well!

See liked her catalogs!

Had to choose between Sugar Cookies and Hot Dogs...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - Dec 21, 1938

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Dec 21, 1938

This entry is a 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.'  Resumed with Dec 1, 1938...


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, Dec 21:

Up late. Pete ate dinner and then went up to Toots' again. I did up the work, scrubbed back room. Fed chicks, took cream in to town. Pete home at 4:30. Chored early. Bathing when Max & Orrin came. Went to A.I.B. & Galveston games in their new car. Galveston beat. Out home & played one game of chekkers (sic).

My comments: I hate interruptions during my bath - don't you? ;-)

"Fed chicks" - suppose they still look like these?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 12, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 12, 1938

 

This entry is a 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.'  Resuming with Dec 1, 1938...


Here is the daily entry for Monday, Dec 12:

 Pete got up early & we were in town by 9:30. Both of us did washing. I got dinner. Slept part of the afternoon. Got my ironing done. Home at 5:30. Chored. Just eating when Max & Orrin & Gary came. Used the new poacher Aunt Gertrude gave me. Really nice. Popped corn while Pete & Orrin went in to town & got some cards. Played bridge till 12:00.


[She had written "Dorothy Thomas" beside the date. That means it was her birthday - just two days before her own (Eileen's twentieth) - they were same age - Ruth (Thomas) Bolger's younger sister.]

My comments: Gotta have new cards to play bridge - apparently! ;-)

This photo is for a few weeks forward, but, on the right are Orrin, Max, Mom, Dad and Gary (being held by his grandfather Smith) at this point it time! Neat - and so young! ;-) Love it! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 11, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 11, 1938

 

This entry is a 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.'  Resuming with Dec 1, 1938...


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, Dec 11:

Up kinda late. Chored & got ready to go to LVenes for dinner. Max, Orrin, Merle, Polly, Arnold, Julia, Lvene, Verle, Don, Norma there. Chicken & biscuits were really good. Bavarian cream. Home at 4:00.  Mom & Bussy here to supper. Dad took Cantata to Carroll. [that last sentence underlined] Buzz & Pete & I to Shirley Temple in "Little Miss Broadway."

My comments: An interesting six couple dinner. Life-long neighborhood friends, for sure, as well as some siblings. Neat!

Fascinated she spelled Bussy in one sentence and Buzz in the next! Is a change coming??

In the Shirley Temple movie, among other familiar names, Jimmy Durante played Jimmy Clayton, a bandleader…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 7, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 7, 1938

 

This entry is a 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.'  Resuming with Dec 1, 1938...


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, Dec 7: 

 Keen day out. Did up work early. Polly & Betty got their hair fixed and we decided to go to the Annual Harvest dinner. I took rolls & pickles. Had the keenest dinner. Home at 4:30. Changed clothes & did my chores. Went in to town and got a grab bag present. Bro't Bussy home with me while folks went to see Lil. Moved couch. Max, Orrin, Gary came and we played bridge 'til 12:30.

My comments: She had a full day. Assume the Annual Harvest dinner was at Star Church, just a little over a mile from the Smith farm. It was a tradition. First mention, that I recall.

Bussy - as she always spelled her younger brother's nickname in her diaries; others spelled it Buzzy!

Lil was her aunt, who just had the baby, Dennis, on Dec 1.

Dad's sister, Max, husband, Orrin Hilgenberg, and their young son, Gary, spent the evening.

Playing bridge - all evening!

Families are Forever!  ;-)