Ready to Return to Park - Friday, August 31, 1962

This is my last night in this house. This afternoon I packed for college. It seems easier when you pack at college to go home - I guess everything is in a compact place and not scattered all over the house. I wonder what all I'll forget. Mom and Dad and Stouts went to the Mid-Prairie picnic at Wellman tonight. Kent and Robbie stayed here. Virginia went swimming. Grandma and the Schroeder kids stopped this afternoon. This vacation began June 1st and ended the last day of August! Usually one has some days in May or September or both.

Hem Lengths: 23 Inches or 24 Inches - Thursday, August 30, 1962

This morning I fixed up several things - buttons, tucks and a hem. I guess I'll leave my 24 inch hems the way they are, though one inch can really make a difference and I like 23 inches better. There's argument in the fashion world this year as to whether or not the hemline should be lowered a speck. Our water isn't working. It keeps shocking us when it's turned on and today Ann and I even got shocked when it was off. We keep it off except to run enough water to use. So we girls went out to Grandma's to wash our hair. Schroeders' kids are there. Virginia and Phyllis helped Isabelle serve lunch at the church to the West Chester teachers.

Three Dresses Are Too Tight - Wednesday, August 29, 1962

Tonight I realized that I had an acute problem: that I don't have anything to wear (for everyday classes). It's my own fault. I should have discovered long ago that three of my dresses were too tight. Mom gave me two skirt and blouse outfits and kept the dresses. I didn't feel justified in taking them but she said I'd get more use out of them than she would. We washed this afternoon. I was about broke but I got a pair of blue earrings on sale for 25 cents. I talked to Jim Orr and Billie Embree.

Letter Tells About Improvements at Park - Tuesday, August 28, 1962

Phyllis and I went to Iowa City this afternoon. I got two pairs of hose and a silver pin to wear with my suit. Accessories to go with sewed clothes mount up, but it's fun to pick them up. I replaced two broken zippers that I've been meaning to do all summer. I got a letter from the college to the returning students. Sounds like they've been making some improvements on the campus. Janet and Larry were here today.

Tan Suit Looks Nice With Brown Braid Trim - Monday, August 27, 1962

I finished my suit today. It looks real nice with the brown braid trim and brown leather belt. Mom worked in her room at school today. Virginia and Ann went along this afternoon. I went out to get the milk this evening. It sure seems different when we kids hardly ever go out there any more - after all the hours we used to spend helping with chores. Tomorrow I'd better mend some things and check over my wardrobe. Hope I have a few wearables for this fall!

A Party for Grace Hill Church and Our Church - Sunday, August 26, 1962

At church tonight we had a party for the Peterses. Our church and Grace Hill got together for a potluck supper. We gave them a bunch of silly little gifts that people brought and two pieces of Samsonite luggage. The weeks speed by. And just that soon I'll be back at Park and the family will be returning home without me again. There certainly aren't many people left around here of my age. In some instances, as at church, there rarely ever were.

Pole Lamp Came from Younkers - Saturday, August 25, 1962

My pole lamp room divider that I ordered from Younkers came today. It will be nice in our Herr House room. I drove the kids to town this afternoon. They swam while I shopped and looked around the stores and went to the library. I woke up with my left eye half swollen shut from a bug bite. I held hot cloths to it several times today and it's about better now. I saw Rose Graf and Linda Scott in town.

We Saw "Blue Hawaii" and "Shane" at Drive-In - Friday, August 24, 1962

This morning we girls went along with Grandma and Grandpa down to see Parcells. Shawn has really grown since I last saw him on New Year's Day. We even ended up staying for dinner and didn't get home till 3:00. We took some old toys and clothes down. The kids really got a charge out of them. We girls looked around a few stores with Grandma while Keith cut Grandpa's hair. Tonight we went to see "Blue Hawaii" and "Shane" at the drive-in.

Shelling Corn All Day - Thursday, August 23, 1962

Rain again. That's good because it's cooling it off, but I hope the lightning and thunder don't amount to much. I drove Virginia, Diana and Bonnie over to register this afternoon. Phyllis went along. Daddy and Bob were at Cuddebacks shelling corn all day so we didn't have to get dinner. My blouse is coming along. I mowed grass. It went two weeks again this time.

A Bad Thunderstorm Last Night - Wednesday, August 22, 1962

We had a bad thunderstorm last night. It cracked around so close that Phyllis and I went downstairs for the rest of the night. Phyllis and Virginia went swimming this afternoon. I had a few things I wanted to get so Ann and I shopped and helped Mom do the wash. I got some more bottles for my soil samples, a red scarf for my gray suit, a card and handkerchief for Mrs. Cowan, stationery on sale at the bookstore, and brown braid for my suit jacket. I trimmed it except for the sleeves (have to do them yet) and it really sets it off.

Mom and Dad's 21st Anniversary - Tuesday, August 21, 1962

This was Mom and Dad's 21st wedding anniversary on the 21st. To celebrate we went down to Cuddebacks' pond for a picnic lunch and to fish. We didn't get a single fish. We hardly got a bite. We took Andy along and he had a big time eating all the chicken bones and running through the edge of the pond chasing dragonflies. Virginia is up at Mary's tonight. They went swimming with Oneita at the Y. Cuddebacks took Ann along when they went to register for school this morning. I sewed some and am reading The Long Winter.

"Little House" Names for Our Homes - Monday, August 20, 1962

I finished reading Song of Years. I didn't get much else accomplished for the day except to start on my blouse. Mom suggested we could call the three places we have lived "Little House in the Big Woods," "On the Banks of Crooked Creek," "Little House on the Prairie," and the place we're going to live, "Little Town on the Prairie." It was hot again today, or more so, tonight.

We Went to Look at What Will Be a Nice House - Sunday, August 19, 1962

This afternoon we went up to look at the house. It will be real nice. They'll probably move in before the first of October. This was one of the hottest days of the summer. Typical for August I guess, but this has been such a cool summer it seemed really bad. Well, two weeks left. Not enough time to do anything more than the things I should have been doing all summer. A faster one I've never seen, but of course I always say that.

Mom, Phyllis Saw a House in West Chester - Saturday, August 18, 1962

This afternoon Mom and Phyllis went up to the lumber yard to ask Gerald DeLong about renting their house in West Chester. He said "Sure," and took them over to see it. It's a nice house. He said he's sort of particular about who he rents it to but would be glad for us to. So I guess we'll be leaving this house before too much longer. I won't come home to it. It seems as if a lot of parents move while kids are in college. I sewed most of my jacket and cut out the blouse. Mom's article for Arithmetic Teacher was accepted for publication in the November or December issue. She and Daddy are at the drive-in tonight.

We Are Going to Have to Leave This Farm - Friday, August 17, 1962

Norma came over this morning and asked us if we "got the letter." We hadn't. She said she felt bad about it and hated to tell us, but we were going to have to leave this farm after the first of the year. We still haven't seen anything of the letter. We'd been expecting as much any time now. It will be ten years. Charlie and Helen probably talked her in to selling the place. I'm working on memorizing the books of the Bible. I did it once for the Old Testament to make up a Sunday School absence. I'm reading Song of Years by Bess Streeter Aldrich.

$1.5 Million Massachusetts Mail Truck Robbery - Thursday, August 16, 1962

Mom washed this afternoon and we swam. The pool was the coldest I've ever known it to be. I looked for a gold sweater in Wards to match my two new gold skirts but they didn't have any. A robbery of a mail truck in Massachusetts of $1.5 million Tuesday night surpassed the Brink's robbery. I have my skirt done except for the hem. It's a little big around the waist though. Hope I don't get quite that fat! They vaccinated pigs and the ponies this morning. We canned thirteen quarts of tomato juice.

Looked at Courses for an Education Major - Wednesday, August 15, 1962

We went to the Lions Club picnic at Orrs' tonight. It was a nice group. Leland Griggs had a tape recorder and that provided a lot of entertainment. I worked some on the skirt of my suit. I got my elementary education requirements sheet and catalog out and looked over the list of courses. It doesn't really look so bad - all of the courses I'll need to get in in my next three years. Ann went swimming with Denise. Daddy and Bob baled about a load of hay that we had out here but they didn't need us to help.

Among Us We See Three Movies - Tuesday, August 14, 1962

Mom, Daddy, Ann and I went to see "The Trap Family Sings" at the drive-in tonight. We stayed for part of "Sail a Crooked Ship." Phyllis and Virginia had taken the two Lindas and Abbie to "That Touch of Mink." I cut out my tan suit. I also wrote a letter to Mrs. Cowan. They worked some more on cleaning the garage. I guess Cuddebacks cut their Washington, DC trip short because they ran out of money.

We Watched for Two Russian Spaceships - Monday, August 13, 1962

We watched at 7:30 and 9:00 tonight for two Russian cosmonauts to come over in separate spaceships but we never saw anything of them. I finished my gold skirt. The suit and matching blouse are next. We cleaned out the garage this afternoon. We carried out a lot of stuff to burn and took a pickup load full to the ditch. We didn't get clear finished. Ann and Denise fell off Rango this morning. Ann got a bad bruise on her arm where the horse stepped on it. Mom took her in to the doctor to see about it. He gave her a tetanus shot.

We Had Grandma and Grandpa for Dinner - Sunday, August 12, 1962

Three weeks from tonight I'll be back at college. Seems impossible! We had Grandma and Grandpa here for dinner for Grandma's birthday which was Thursday. We showed the slides of our trip and some others this afternoon. Tonight Stouts were here for homemade ice cream and cake. Doris's sister Verna was along. Margaret Smith's niece Jeannie was here this afternoon to ride the horses. We have the three now that the kids can ride without any help. I rode Duke a while with Phyllis and then with Ann.

Hoover Presidential Library was Dedicated - Saturday, August 11, 1962

We went over to look at the new high school tonight. They have quite a way to go on it yet, but they plan to have it ready for use as soon as possible this fall. We looked all around in it. Just as we were ready to leave, Jim Slockett, who had been working overtime, came and poked his head out the window we had gone in through. We had a few words with him. I sewed quite a bit on my gold skirt. The National Spotlight was on Iowa yesterday, Herbert Hoover's 88th birthday, when he and Truman were at West Branch to dedicate the the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library.

Received a Free Place Setting - Friday, August 10, 1962

Phyllis had a tooth pulled this morning as part of the dental work to straighten her top row of teeth. She and I picked out sweaters that Mom paid for. Mine's red with a white stripe and zipper down the front. I also bought a tan, gold and white wool plaid skirt. Mom got me a free four-piece place setting at Osincup's. We took advantage of their China Club plan. I picked out a pretty tan pattern - "Spring Time." I finished my green skirt. We went in to the root beer stand for supper.

Weighing 120 After Gaining 10 Pounds at Park - Thursday, August 9, 1962

Tonight was the club picnic. They had it at Lampe's rather than in the park. Mom had missionary meeting here this afternoon. Phyllis and I went over to ask Norma if she was coming (this morning) and to get some gas for the lawn mower. She sent some glads over with us and said I had put on some weight this summer. This summer? During the school year, yes, but I didn't think I was still gaining. I do weigh 120 now, after gaining 10 pounds during my first year at college.

Enjoying Daddy's New Hammock Under Trees - Tuesday, August 7, 1962

Hot again today, and I was lazy. I finished "On the Shores of Silver Lake," cut out the material for a skirt, and answered Marilyn's letter. We have a hammock that we got Daddy for his birthday and it's so nice to lie out under the trees. It doesn't seem like it was a week ago tonight we were about to wind up our trip and were in Spencer.

Marilyn Monroe Committed Suicide - Monday, August 6, 1962

Time rushes on. This was a hot day. Marilyn Monroe committed suicide early Sunday morning with sleeping pills. I've been reading "On the Shores of Silver Lake." It's so interesting to read about the girls and Ma and Pa out on the prairie right where we were. They took down one of our landmarks today - the big elm tree in the far south fence row. It almost looked human when it fell, as if it were writhing in pain. I wrote a long letter to my "little sister." I got one from Marilyn where they live now in Florida and one from Mrs. Cowan.

Shopping in Washington - Wednesday, August 8, 1962

We went swimming this afternoon while Mom washed. I went uptown then and bought a pair of red slacks to replace my worn out red shorts. I'm getting too fat for some of my clothes. I hope I can still get into those blue slacks I got from Donna Marshall. Mom got me a new girdle, slip and panti-slip (one of the new fads). I mowed the front side yard tonight so it would look nice for missionary meeting tomorrow. Mom had a committee meeting at Ralston's this morning so I helped get dinner started.

Rev. Clark Was at Our Church Today - Sunday, August 5, 1962

The Clarks from near Iowa City were here for church today since Peterses are in Minnesota now. Grandma had them and us for dinner. Mrs. Clark was born in the old parsonage in West Chester fifty years ago. And she's also taught at Frenchburg. Yes, it still is a yet small world. Virginia played the organ for church and did an excellent job. She and several other girls have been taking lessons from Mrs. Helcher at the church this summer. It was a rainy day. It just doesn't seem as if the big Leet reunion at Grandma's was a year ago today.

Hearing About Deaths of Five Near Volga - Saturday, August 4, 1962

We went in to town for a short while tonight on a few items of business. I didn't get out of the car. I finished my suit. This afternoon on the Ft. Dodge radio station news I heard "Volga" (they head each news item with the name of the place). At first I thought they meant Russia, then heard something about the murder of five "in this small northeastern South Dakota farming community." Sounded exciting (!) and I heard a little more at 3:00 and 5:00. Since it's where Jim and Dick Peeke are from, it's a small world.

Determining Who Will Bring What to Our Room - Friday, August 3, 1962

Friday again already. I've almost decided to give up trying to do anything this summer except in the clothes line. Marge wrote and said in none too considerate words she didn't think we needed the pole lamp room-divider, then proceeded to say she was bringing a 4x4 stuffed donkey some guy had given her. I wrote back about the same to her, only softening to my old self in the last paragraph. We have two new cousins, Martin Andrew Estep and Calvin Ray Varner, born August 1st and 2nd. Cuddebacks leave tomorrow on their trip to Virginia.

Saw Horse Shows This Afternoon and Tonight - Thursday, August 2, 1962

We (Mom, Dad and I) went in to the horse show as the climax of the county fair tonight. Ann went in with Denise and Virginia and Phyllis went with Timmonses. We girls were also at the one this afternoon while Mom washed, but that was all that was left of the fair. They really had some nice horses. I sewed a little more on my suit and Phyllis and I got most of the grass mowed. I've never locked a diary. Maybe I should write down my loves and hates and do so.

We Followed the Sac-Fox Indian Trail - Wednesday, August 1, 1962

We got home from a wonderful trip about 3:00 this afternoon. We drove past Buena Vista College at Storm Lake and then came on home through Boone, Ames and Tama. We followed the Sac-Fox Indian Trail, several miles of gravel road, and saw some Iowa Indians. Everything is as usual here. I had a letter from Mary Ellen and one from Vivien. I guess Park got her minister as the new college pastor. Right now I feel like going to bed and starting to re-read some of the "Little House"  books. Phyllis went to the fair with Pences. Peggy McKinstry, representing West Chester, is Miss Washington County. Diana Reiff and Deanna Statler had the champion 4-H demonstration, Larry the champ lamb.