April 1960

Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 1, 1960

Cloudy all day and became very windy. Mrs. B. called early having her hair done so wouldn’t get together. I called Edna for her as she was to be at her table. Did some cleaning, Lo stayed down and ate with Ann Pat. I cleaned up Lo’s car. It was so dirty again, won’t do much good as it was in the mud again and rained some. After getting back from cabin Lo went down town.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 2, 1960

Did a big wash, very windy but hung all I could on porch. Mrs. B. called, after going down town asked her to come here which she did. By then I had finished. Made French toast and coffee for “brunch.” She stayed until noon. Lo ate with Lily. Ironed things that needed it. Took care of all other things. Were invited with Cooks and to Dorothy’s to eat. A nice meal and a lovely home.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 3, 1960

Lo didn’t sleep last nite. Picked Carrie up, went no. of Hebron to look at a place. Home to get dinner. Carrie came and ate there. Lo bathed and dressed. Took Carrie home and we drove to Beloit. Left at 3:00 up there at 4:00. Stayed two hours and home. Borrowed K.J.’s luggage told them we were flying to Fla. Surprised yes!!


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 4, 1960

Didn’t wash today. Lo drove her car, many errands. Brot two loads of hats for me to try, (not good). Hugh brot oil in P.M. Mrs. B. called for me to come over for coffee. Called Amy, not coming to Service Class. Something doing at school. Went to Carrie’s with her money. Wrote Bob and Ole.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 5, 1960

Cleaned up stairs and stairs also down. Cooked eve. meal. Did some washing. Out to cabin and home. Lo to pick up Carrie for Service Class. We (Mrs. B. and I) went later. 17 members. Cake and coffee served. Couldn’t go to sleep.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 6, 1960

Couldn’t get up early today when I needed to. Called Amy, later Edna then Mrs. B. Lo picked me up for hair appt. at 10:20 was thru at 12:10. Lo had to go back at 12:30 for hers. Mrs. B. came over this P.M. We had coffee then she went to see Mrs. Gould she not good. All set for morning. Lo had bath and nails done. Pink called and Lo called Aunt Zella, Uncle W not good.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 7, 1960

A bright morning. All set. Lo feeding cats. Left the house to board the train for city. Helen came down to see us off. Arr. at N.W.O.R. took cab to Palmer House, then limosine [sic] for air port. All set to go when announcement was made — a little mechanical trouble holding up the flight. Left at noon. A beautiful smooth ride. Arriv. at Ft. Lauderdale shortly after 3:30. Folks there to meet us. Fran prepared meal at home.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 8, 1960

Fran had to work, Dwight took her down to M.L. Lo and I went along. Had a most enjoyable day going through shops etc. Later went home and rested. M.L. got supper.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 9, 1960

Fran stayed home so went to see several beautiful new homes all ready for occupancy. Pretty hi priced. Ate a “heavenly hamburger” and coconut custard pie and coffee. Later went home. Took M.L. where Judy was babysitting. She came back to dress and later went with the kids to have fun.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 10, 1960

Lo and I up earlier than the folks, did pack some, ate late, M.L. to Sunday school. Lo, she and I walked to a shopping center. Fran was washing. Later went to Howard-Johnson’s to eat. Then home for the grip and away to Ft. Laud. Very windy, plane didn’t make quite as good time but reached Chicago safely. Had a big meal on plane. Champagne before. Classy. Very cold and windy in Chi. Got a cab to N.W. Depot. Reached home at 1:00. Started to rain before getting off. Helen to meet us, we were sure glad.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 11, 1960

Cloudy and rainy but cleared. Geo came up ate some breakfast and on to office. Loie really tired. Kept doing all day till most everything was done. Out to cabin to clean up kitchen etc. Cats hungry. Lo shopped at Piggly’s, stopped at Carrie’s, home to bed.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 12, 1960

Still tired, went to vote at noon. Later went to funeral home to see Clara R. Waite there. Beautiful day. Out to cabin and stopped to see Ole. Seems pretty good, not dressed. Had a lot to tell us. Lo tried to call Maggie when we came home, she was away. Lo to bed early. ’Phone rang, Fla. calling, both talked with M.L. Chica had five puppies. Fran and Dwight both talked to us.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 13, 1960

Cleaning here and there. Mrs. B. came for coffee. Not a bit good. Looks badly. Very windy. Finished my work later and did some cooking.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 14, 1960

I over to Mrs. B.’s read letters for her. Lo home and back to have her hair done by 12:30. Wanted to work out doors but too windy.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 15, 1960

Did a little work in drive a little raking and picked up sticks.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 16, 1960

Up and doing as the folks were coming in time to eat with us. Did a number of important things early and then called Mrs. B. She came over for about an hour. Lo didn’t come home to eat lunch. Had a long day it seemed. Folks came early. We went out to cabin before Lo came. Cooks came with G.B. Had our meal but no work done up when it stormed no lites. Left dishes and went home.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 17, 1960

A gloomy rainy Easter Sunday. Up quite early G.B. came before 7:00. He and Lo to cabin to check. Lites on and everything O.K. Fed ponies and cats and home. We went for Carrie. Came home and found Karen talking with G.B. We had brot a lily and a lizard that came up Helen’s drain. Helen all to pieces over it. K.J., Lo and I out to do up dishes and work. M. and P. up and had their coffee etc. Carrie came after church, we ate rather late. Took Carrie home. Folks went home at 9:00. Talked insurance for hours. Called Maggie and Zella also Aunt Mary.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 18, 1960

Up early — began working and decided to wash and a big one. A nice bright breezy day so everything dried nicely. Mrs. B. called for me to come over so went for coffee. She not herself yet. Lo shopped at A&P at noon at nite — at Piggly Wiggly. Stopped at Carrie’s.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 19, 1960

Did many things before ironing. Went to see Ole at noon. Bess came about 2:30. When Lo came she took her home. We went on to cabin pretty late, had food cooked so didn’t take long.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 20, 1960

Did some cleaning in basement. Mrs. B. came for a short while. She going to Ringwood to luncheon. Fixed some things for Lo then went out to clean up under the bushes. Spent the P.M. there. Lo came a little early — sowed some grass seed at cabin, later it rained. Not hard.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 21, 1960

Cleaned garage got things ready for Sal. Army. Scrubbed floor so bad. Mrs. B. came over quite early, she’s not good. We had coffee.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 22, 1960

The Sal. Army came at 10:00 for papers rags etc. So glad to get rid of the mess. Got up about 5:30 went out front to rake, managed to finish before breakfast, looks some better. Wash towels used in between windows also other things left around all winter. Put our bedroom inserts in. Seemed good to have air. Very warm 80 degrees here higher in city.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 23, 1960

Warmer than yesterday. Planning for Cooks to eat with us also Jim. Cooked leg of lamb and made blueberry pie. Did some cleaning all thru. Lo stayed down for lunch. Watched TV after eating at cabin. Set clocks ahead so ready for morning.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 24, 1960

Lo out early to feed. Later picked Carrie up. She came after church. Lo “fixing” chest drawers others and closet. Worked at it all day discarding etc. Took Carrie home about 3:30.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 25, 1960

Cloudy and much cooler. Washed later, dried nicely. Mrs. B. better she thot but not too good. She resting all day. I missed Census taker after watching closely. In P.M. had a little rest. Began to rain before Loie came home. Out to cabin, stormed quite hard. Shopped at Piggly’s.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 26, 1960

Very windy, sun shining. Ironing a few things. Hand and arm so stiff. Guess my gall bladder acting up too.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 27, 1960

Up and made pie for pot luck, a small cake for ourselves. Lo took me to the parsonage. A big turn out and good time. Lo brot the “Post” with Bob’s article in it. Very interesting. Talked with Amy. We had a letter from Bob. Had gotten his candy.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 28, 1960

Didn’t get up until after 7:00. Lo dressed so hurried. Having perm at 11:00 so won’t be home for lunch. Mrs. B. came over. Marvel called. Talked with Edna.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 29, 1960

Mrs. B. called me to come over. Had coffee. Stayed quite a while as she had interruptions. Cleaned all around. Out to cabin, Lo trimmed around bushes. Cleaned up kitchen floor etc. Also did down stairs bath room. Dead bugs around.


Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 30, 1960

Raining. G.B. came up so Loie had a ride down. Cleaned refrig., baked lemon pie, cookies and very few donuts. Cooked meat and had things ready for nite. Helen and Doc ate with us. Had turned cold so fire in fire place felt good. Cooney had kittens dead.

Sarah Simpson