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.