The Annual "Invasion of the Cousins" - Monday, July 31, 1961

I've got the windows shut up here since it was beginning to rain and it's getting stuffy. I've been writing to Mrs. Cowan. I spent the entire morning cutting out my green gingham dress. It was slow work for some reason. After dinner we kids went into town for a dip, then came home and Phyllis helped with the straw and I mowed grass. Leets got to Grandma's this afternoon. Here comes the annual "Invasion of the Cousins."

This Was a Very Hot Day - Sunday, July 30, 1961

This has been one of the hottest days I remember. We'll all be sleeping downstairs again. We got up this morning to chase in Stout's pigs that had come over here through the corn. At first we thought they were ours. We didn't get to church until time for Sunday School and Daddy wasn't able to get there for that. Our class listened in on Isabelle's. There were more pigs to "chase" tonight. It was too hot to do anything else all day except eat, sleep, watch TV, read and pick scraps with each other.

The Dodge Has 96,000 Miles on the Odometer - Saturday, July 29, 1961

It's very hot again. We baled straw out at Grandma's and got the whole field finished up and in the barn. The very last load going up dropped out of the fork just before it went into the barn. It seems like I always know when a load is going to fall. Coming home (Daddy was again on the tractor, so I was driving the Dodge), the mileage changed to 96,000. And it lacked only 0.3 of a mile changing over in the exact same place it changed to 95,000 (see June 17). I re-sewed the tops of my curtains. Now they're loose enough to slide on the rods.

A "College" Shopping Spree with Mom - Friday, July 28, 1961

Mom and I went on a "college" shopping spree while the kids went swimming. I used my graduation money to buy a Remington Princess electric razor - light blue. I also got a good girdle, three blouses, an orange (tangerine) bulky knit cardigan, mattress cover, pillow, hose, and blue suiting and green gingham to make two new dresses with. We also got my watch back. It looks like a brand new $50.00 watch. I baby sat for Fudges tonight. The rest of our family went to the donkey baseball game, but it wasn't as good as the donkey basketball games were.

Walking Around Half Asleep in Iowa City - Thursday, July 27, 1961

We girls made another trip to Iowa City with Mom this morning. I must have been walking around half asleep because I forgot two of the things I wanted to be sure to look for - buttons for my house coat and the print rain coats at Kresge's. This afternoon Mom shortened my winter coat for me. We'll also have to shorten my suit. It didn't rain enough last night to stop their combining this afternoon. I should write to Vivian Pavlis. Ann went home with Darlene after her horn lesson.

Buying Shoes at the Ben Franklin in Wellman - Wednesday, July 26, 1961

Mom did her wash in Wellman this morning so Helen didn't have to take me home. I bought a pair of white flats on sale for $2.00 at the Ben Franklin store. They had some lavender tennis shoes that wold have been nice but not too practical and some heels for $3.00, but none I liked fit. Phyllis has her driving done for driver training  now. She and Bill Bauer drove today since Deanna had a 4-H tour to go to. They drove all around, including Muscatine. Piano lessons as usual. They're combining oats here now.

Got Governor Erbe's Autograph at Barbecue Day - Tuesday, July 25, 1961

Here we are again at Helen's slumber party. Everyone except us same three ended up not being able to come. The Barbecue Day was quite the thing. I went over on the band bus and met the girls. We watched the parade (Mary Ellen was on her 4-H float) and then had the free barbecue dinner. In the afternoon we rode the ferris wheel and took in the carnival. We went to Helen's to take baths and change clothes and then went back to Kalona. There were so many kids from the class and high school there that we were able to see. We got Governor Erbe's autograph.

A Free McCalls Pattern From Toni - Monday, July 24, 1961

I spent the afternoon mowing the grass. This morning I got my button holes marked but I'll wait until I get the buttons to make them. I also practiced and got dinner. Mom had an oral and she'll have one tomorrow. I got the free McCalls pattern that I sent for from Toni [hair products company]. It will be real nice to make a winter dress with. I pressed some clothes to take to Helen Birkey's tomorrow. We're going to have a Barbeque Day get-together.

A Strange Sunday With A Guest Minister - Sunday, July 23, 1961

Cuddebacks were here this afternoon and John Combs came up on his bike. Dr. Thompson was here for church. Peters are back in Minnesota for two weeks. After Dr. Thompson finished the closing prayer, he looked up and said, "My driver's here; I've got to go now." Grandpa decided to call out and ask him if he'd be back next week, then. Dr. Thompson can't hear very good any more and Grandpa was practically shouting by the third time when he finally heard. I don't know why Grandpa took a notion to say that anyway.

Babysat For Fudges Tonight - Saturday, July 22, 1961

About the only worthwhile thing I accomplished today was babysitting for Fudges from 5:00 till 12:30 (Sunday). Those dear little kids. Becky is a little doll and Craig and Jeannie are so cute and nice most of the time. It was pouring out when I came home. Let's see, this morning I didn't do much of anything. Nor this afternoon. I sewed a little and that was about it. Maybe next week will be better.

Gus Grissom's Flight Into Space - Friday, July 21, 1961

We watched Gus Grissom's flight into space this morning. For some reason a malfunction occurred that caused the hatch to blow off after the landing and the capsule filled with water and sank in three-mile-deep water. Grissom got himself off and started swimming. The lift-off was so easy and smooth and the flight perfect. The control crew was so calm. Alan Shepard was the one who got to communicate with him. I sewed some, wrote two letters (finished Vivienne's), washed my pleated skirt. It rained all day. Ann got dinner. Mom finished her comps.

Planning For Room 207 in Hawley Hall - Thursday, July 20, 1961

I gave one chapter of the lesson in Social Circle this afternoon since Mom wasn't able to be there. Grandma did the other chapter. Virginia and Mary gave their camp talks. There weren't too many there. The rest of the day when I wasn't sleeping or doing chores I was writing to Vivienne. I've got to get her letter off tomorrow or she'll disown me. She suggested bedspreads from Sears in her letter and now I'm suggesting drapes that could be used with plain spreads.

Hearing Man-in-Space Proceedings - Wednesday, July 19, 1961

We listened to records until 2:30 in the morning. I woke up ahead of Helen and Linda in time to hear the man-in-space proceedings on the radio. (Birkeys don't have television.) They postponed it because of the weather again, though. Helen brought me home around 10:30. We had piano lessons. We had to send Ann down to the ditch to run down the Dodge before we could go. I took the kids to see The Absent-Minded Professor tonight.

Band Concert, Ice Cream and a Slumber Party - Tuesday, July 18, 1961

Tonight Linda Scott and I are staying with Helen Birkey for a slumber party. We talked to Mary Ellen on the phone tonight, and next Tuesday (Kalona Barbeque Day) we're going to do the same thing again. I rode over to Wellman with the West Chester band kids. They had a concert and ice cream social. Helen, Elizabeth, Linda, Karen Plecker, Ronna and I had pop in Cappers. Birkeys, Linda, and I drove over to Kalona in our pajamas to get their sister at 10:30. Phyllis and I went in to do the wash this afternoon.

Area Boy Suffocates in a Grain Bin - Monday, July 17, 2011

This was my day of contributing somewhat toward my earning of room and board. I got both dinner and supper, hoed the garden and picked raspberries. Mom took the first part of her comps today. I guess they were pretty hard, but at least she knew what they were talking about. Gary Tadlock suffocated in a grain bin last night. Mom had him in Kindergarten. A Bible Story Book salesman was here. We bought the 10-volume set for $86.00.

Mary Todd Lincoln Was Like Scarlet O'Hara - Sunday, July 16, 1961

I had opening exercises downstairs again for the Sunday School kids. Mom said I did a real good job reading Noah's Ark. For some reason, yesterday seems longer ago than yesterday!?! I'm reading Love is Eternal about Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln. She was a brat about like the mythical Scarlet O'Hara (film version); and she (Mary Todd) came from the richest family in Lexington, Kentucky. Virginia brought the cutest kitten home from camp. They had four down there that they wanted someone to take home since they would be catching the birds.

A Fresh Air Child is Staying on Nearby Farm - Saturday, July 15, 1961

The new Miss Universe is Miss Germany. She is an electronics engineer. Miss United States was fourth runner-up. I'm glad she didn't win as the U.S. has the most of any country. I understood a little of what Miss France and Miss Switzerland said. I got a letter from my roommate. She is very nice. Her father got his doctorate from SUI and she used to live in Iowa. She had been at church camp for ten days so that's why she hadn't written. We kids stayed with the Parcell kids while Mom went to get Virginia and Mary, and Peggy went uptown.  The Gingerich family has the cutest little "Fresh Air Child" Negro girl.

Mom's Thesis Has One Minor Error - Friday, July 14, 1961

We went along with Mom to Iowa City this morning. She got her thesis back and all they said that was wrong with it was that page 34 didn't have an inch and a half left margin. It is a page of the test results [Counting Abilities of Three, Four and FiveYear Olds] and I'll be glad to do it over as I considered doing so anyway [at the time I typed it] since I double- rather than triple-spaced the test items. Ann, Denise, Phyl and I went swimming this afternoon. I got Mom's pair and my other pair of glasses. I got three tubes of lipstick for 7 cents each at Osco Drugs. We had a weiner roast tonight out by the burning trees.

890 Letters From 43 Pen Pals Since 1953 - Thursday, July 13, 1961

Tonight scattered about my room are stacks of letters from 43 pen pals that I've had since 1953 for a total of 890 letters. That isn't counting every one I've received but most of them. We went to the club ice cream social at Duvalls in town tonight. Connie, Dorothy, Phyllis and I were walking past our church when the Dusenberry and Lampe boys jumped out from a bush and yelled. I was so scared I "wet my pants". Dorothy had thought she saw someone so at least we had some warning. The trees down in the draw that I always saw from my windows are gone. They were my landmark.

Upper Part of Ditch Was Filled In - July 12, 1961

This afternoon I went down to Janacek's for my piano lesson and to get Ann's band assignment from Tracy. It's raining a quiet little rain. I decided it was a good time to look in my last year's diary to see what I was doing a year ago. I put together my first-three-years-of-high school scrapbook (I was ambitious last summer) and the Democratic political convention was on. They filled in the upper part of the ditch. Ann, Mom, Oakey and I walked out to look tonight. Phyllis went to the show with Linda Pence.

A Picnic at Lake Darling with the MYF - Tuesday, July 11, 1961

I guess I didn't have anything but good clothes (no chore clothes) on all day today. This morning Phyllis and I drove over to Wellman to get her proofs. They're real good. This afternoon Phyl, Mom and I went to town to wash and get our glasses. Our appointment was for 12:30 but we didn't get in till late because of the pre-school free vision tests. My new glasses for dress-up are light blue with for Mother of Pearl insets and strange curving side pieces. They're real different and cute. Our youth fellowship was invited to a picnic at Lake Darling with the MYF. It was a lot of fun.

Virginia Went with Mary to Camp - Monday, July 10, 1961

We took Virginia and Mary down to Forest Lake Baptist Camp today. I sewed on my batthrobe (or housecoat) this morning. I got the pockets put in and the collar ready to put on. Tonight I practiced and answered a penpal letter. Last night I read Good Morning, Young Lady. I didn't read every word but I read enough to get the gist of the story. I brought a French text book home from the library that I've gotten some good use and review from.

"Out of His Mother's What?" - Sunday, July 9, 1961

Today was the start of another summer week. I don't seem to be getting anything done though Mom seems to think I've done "enough." I hope I get in the mood to really plunge in with my sewing. I had my typewriter up here for the first time. It seems quieter than ever when I type up here. Maybe I should give my old Seventeen magazines to the Salvation Army. They're coming tomorrow. Sunday School class was quite funny to me [as the teacher] this morning when David Johnson came to the word "womb" in the Bible. Cynthia said "Out of his mother's what?" I said "You make me laugh."

The Grass Has Been Too Dry to Mow - Saturday, July 8, 1961

I wish I could stop these fast weeks. We went swimming this afternoon. Mary went with Virginia. Norma "got me up" this morning to have me go over to help Fred Wright get the lawn mower started. Fred, Dale and I couldn't get it started. Dear little Fred went home and brought theirs up dragging it behind his bike. Daddy had to take ours to town to have it fixed. The grass has been so dry that it's only just now needing mowing. Phyllis, Ann and I walked down to see the work being done on the culvert and the dammed up pond.

The Iowa Old Capitol Building - Friday, July 7, 1961

I went with Mom to the Old Capitol Building this morning to turn in her thesis at the graduate office. I saw the pretty white and brown spiral staircase that starts in the basement and goes to the dome. We kidsshopped while Mom went to the library. I had a banana split at Woolworth's; then found out you could break a balloon and pay from 1 cent to 39 cents. I got 36 cents. I started sewing my white terry cloth housecoat. Phyllis took me for a ride on Duke. They are putting an addition on the culvert and filling in the ditch in the field below the barnlot.    

Thesis Reminds Me of Criminology Paper - Thursday, July 6, 1961

I just sighed a much needed sigh of relief. How long ago I should have sighed it, I don't know. We have the thesis all typed except for the table of contents and the list of tables. Every time I work on it I think of all the time I spent on my criminology paper that we didn't get to keep. I got a letter from Helen Birkey and the picture (colored) that her sister took of us on Class Night. It's very good. Phyl had band practice so I did chores without her. It's funny how yesterday was a rainy day entirely between two bright ones.

The Strangest Cloud Way Up in the Sky - Wednesday, July 5, 1961

It rained gently all day today. I don't know when that's happened in years. I spent the day typing Mom's thesis. We should get it finished tomorrow. I just hope I haven't made any mistakes. It's good experience though and real easy with the new typewriter. By the way, Sunday after we left Cuddebacks, when they were on their way to the other farm they saw the strangest cloud way up in the sky that they stopped to look at. It was pretty little when they first saw it. Then it completely disappeared. And came back and got bigger, changed shape, etc. Marion said it was almost dome shaped with vaporish clouds below - right at the last.  

The Biggest Fish Any of Us Have Seen - Tuesday, July 4, 1961

Phyllis about caught the biggest fish any of us have ever seen down at Lake Darling this morning. It bent her pole over double before it got away with the line, hook, sinker, and bobber. Then she had it again (she saw the bubbles) but it bit the hook off. Boy, it was a big one, probably 20 pounds easily. We saw a deer while eating our picnic. We went out to grandma's tonight for  homemade ice cream. I tripped over the black pup while we were out in the yard. He ran howling - I dived along but finally caught myself. We had some sparklers here at home to celebrate. A Glorious 4th!

Ernest Hemingway "Killed Himself" with a Gun - Monday, July 3, 1961

Mom and I had appointments at the eye doctor's this afternoon. I'm going to get a second pair of glasses (real different light blue ones) so I'll have two for college. Mom is going to get a different pair and have another pair to read with. She bought me a dark beige two-piece suit-like dress that will be real nice for fall. I looked at rain coats. I better start sewing on my housecoat. Phyllis got $186 back from the $40 she invested several years ago in pigs. Ernest Hemmingway, the Nobel-prize winning novelist, "killed himself" with a gun.

Playing Softball All Afternoon - Sunday, July 2, 1961

This  afternoon we went down to Cuddebacks. We played softball all afternoon. John Combs was there and Jane Greiner was there a while. John, Phyllis, Ann and I beat the others. The Wolfs from Minnesota are out at Grandpa's. Rikki, Sonja, and Sheri went home after spending most of the past month out at Grandma's. I typed on the thesis till I goofed and typed "of of". It was mendable though so I didn't have to re-do the page. 

Writing by Candlelight - Saturday, July 1, 1961

We're presently without electricity and I'm writing by candlelight. We're having a little more rain and we had another 0.1 this morning. The  kids and I went swimming this afternoon. I enjoy it, but I'm going to have to learn how a lot better plus how to dive before I graduate from Park, I'm afraid. I have Chapter II (the one I started on) of Mom's thesis typed, and now I'm on Chapter III. Phyllis went to Riverside
with the band this morning.