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.