July 1960
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 1, 1960
Mrs. B. came over, her sister coming tonite for over 4th. Made coffee, she needed it as she had been working all A.M. cleaning liv. room.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 2, 1960
Cooked meat, prunes etc. Quite warm. Lo picked me up at 3:30 to take me to Dr. He thot I doing pretty good so won’t go back! Waited a while for Loie to finish at office. Out to cabin a while before Cooks came. We had packed a lot as we were staying over. A bad storm started about 10:30. Later went to sleep and guess I slept better than Loie.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 3, 1960
Woke up early and got up as we had oodles of work to do. Geo came out and brot a Sun. paper. Had breakfast and really started in to work and stayed at it all day, Loie until sunset. Most satisfieing [sic] when things look so nice later. She vacuumed the whole place I did other things. Aired every thing loose in the house as well as washed sheets and cases.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 4, 1960
Up again early, another day to work. Geo came. We were eating when Jim arrived to mow. Delayed us over an hour which couldn’t be helped. After he had coffee and left we got into the harness again as Geo had moved stove and refrigerator for us. I fixed cover on cot and cleaned up basement. Having lunch when Pink came to see if we were there gate locked. Geo came and all had something to eat. Came home after eating supper, Lo and Marian to do laundry. Pink had found squirrel drowned in tub. Folks left about 10:00.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 5, 1960
Lo up early and to work. Didn’t start ironing as I had hair appt. for perm. at 11:00. GB picked me up as Lo was too busy. He brot vacuum home. Lo picked me up at 2:00. She had been home to lunch and did some shopping. Cooked for eve. then sat to rest. I was really tired. Out to cabin but back early. Lo picked Carrie up. Mrs. B came here so all went to Edna’s to Service class. Didn’t go to sleep till all hours that nite or A.M.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 6, 1960
Was about to iron when Ole and Amy stopped in on way to Bob’s. Then Mele and Mira came on their way to town. Had a good visit. Later Mrs. B. came for coffee. Ironed some and the cord blew so had to use the old one much heavier. Had made brownies so K.J. could have them. Out to cabin and left from there to pick K.J. up. She and I stayed up to watch Jack Paar, a dilly!
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 7, 1960
Did a few things before K.J. got up. Lo had perm. at 11:00 so after 1:30 took us out to cabin. She came home from office and mowed back and front then came out. After eating etc. came home for K.J. to have bath as she had fooled with ponies and got real dirty. Carrie was to ride with us but had callus so didn’t go. Will some other time. She wanted it that way but it was such a beautiful eve. the moon so perfect.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 8, 1960
Felt some better so cleaned up stairs pretty well. Then Mrs. B. came for coffee. I hadn’t gotten over the hall as yet. Later I vacuumed hall, living room and dining room. After lunch did dust. Feel so much better that it all looks cleaner again. Had a little rest in the chair. Out to cabin stayed a while. Hoping it won’t rain Saturday as we’re planning steak grilled out of doors.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 9, 1960
Just a little cloudy, woke up early but to sleep again. Lo went early brot steaks and rolls home. Worked out side picking up. Later made donuts and peach pie also pound cake. In the P.M. Mrs. Spillard and friend from Elgin called. Hadn’t seen her in years. Of course it rained but Lo put grill under a tree and got along fine with steaks. All enjoyed them.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 10, 1960
Such a rainy gloomy day. Carrie came after church. Lo had gone to the sale and didn’t get back till about 5:00. Carrie and I ate alone and when Lo came took her home; very chilly had burner on all day.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 11, 1960
We were surprised that furnace men came to start on converting to gas. Worked all day and got pretty well done. In the A.M. Hoddy and Harold stopped in. In the P.M. Ole came. Stayed most of afternoon. They had been to Bob’s. Told about that. The men were coming back Tuesday to finish and did.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 12, 1960
Woke up at 5:00 so at 5:30 got up, put in two screens. Man came and finished working on burner and Mr. L. came to help with tank. Then the fun began for me, such dirt. After Loie went I started scrubbing floor, not 100% but got the worst grease etc. so as not to track it up stairs. Couldn’t do all I wanted to as I too tired. It was warm and very humid.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 13, 1960
Didn’t do too much, getting things straightened around. Went over to Mrs. B’s for coffee. Out to cabin. Lo had call from K.J. not to come at 7:30 (too early). Lo had to work at office for almost an hour then we went for K.J. Seemed in good spirits to our surprise. She and I watched Convention. Didn’t get to bed until 1:30.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 14, 1960
Did some baking and cooking. K.J. to have hair trimmed. She went with G.B. down in Bull Valley. I dozed in a chair while K.J. was up stairs. Found her having a crying spell but did get over it. Very unhappy about the situation at Lake Geneva. No one blames her, too tough to begin with. Went to see the little colt and chased pigs. Then to cabin and back home to go to funeral home for Bruce L. Lily going with us and on to take K.J. back. Trying to settle things in her own mind.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 15, 1960
A beautiful A.M. Cool. Mrs. B. came for coffee. Stayed quite a while. Lo came home to lunch. K.J. called. Going to have from 10 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Sunday’s. Wants us to come up Saturday eve.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 16, 1960
Made pie and fried chicken for eve. Made salad. Cooks ate with us. Later Helen, Lo and I went to Lake Geneva to see K.J. Really funny the folks didn’t go away that nite. “Too tired.” We went into town K.J. with us. Helen took us for a black cow etc. K.J. told all about her talk to Mrs. M. Gave her the works I guess. She was expecting folks Sunday to pick her up.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 17, 1960
Took Carrie to Sunday school then to cemetery. Then Loie mowed. Carrie came after church. Same old story if it wasn’t Mrs. A she raved about it was something else. One contradiction after another until I told her off. We both were madder than hatters so she went home when Lo was thru mowing front yard.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 18, 1960
Washed, rained a little but cleared off clothes dried. Went to Mrs. B’s for coffee. Having a busy week. Cleaned up stairs quite a bit after making my bed. Cooked rest of chicken. Made pudding etc. for eve. Lo had shopped at noon.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 19, 1960
Did just a little ironing before going to have hair done. Home at 10:30 so finished ironing before noon. In P.M. took a walk to Mrs. Sears. Stopped in at Nolan’s. Glad to see me. Home before 5:00 and out to eat.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 20, 1960
Found things to do. Washed our robes. Made white cake and g. cookies. Mrs. B. going to Mrs. Becking’s so didn’t see her.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 21, 1960
Did extra cleaning in dining room. Called Mrs. B. She glad to come over. Read her letter. Pretty hot in P.M. Mrs. B. going to Circle at Wonder Lake. Geo. got trucker to take ponies to Thompson’s for their boys. Took Reimer’s pony to Schusteef.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 22, 1960
Woke up sort of sick. Cold on my chest and head. Didn’t sleep well again last night. Beastly hot so closed everything so was cool inside and quiet. Went to Mrs. B’s for coffee earlier. Wrote to Mary Ann and [?]. Didn’t feel too much like it so only did two. Because cloudy, thot we’d have rain but blew over. Lo cleaning corral, and I helped a little would have finished if it hadn’t looked so stormy.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 23, 1960
Cooler but bright and we had no rain. A long A.M. Mrs. B. gone. Lo didn’t come home for lunch. Didn’t sleep again so tired. Thot perhaps I might be hungry so made French Toast (my favorite). Cooked lamb. Out to cabin. Cook’s anniversary. Lo had gotten cake and special ice cream.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 24, 1960
Down as usual to pick up Carrie, ready and willing! Took her to cemetery. Took her home quite early. Later K.J. called wanted us to come up so did. K.J. not feeling too good. One more week. We are to pick her up Wednesday nite. Kids were cute including Larry. K.J. showed us thru house.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 25, 1960
Washed, not as much as usual. Dried nicely. Pretty hot, makes all so tired! Mrs. B. came over.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 26, 1960
Cleaned up yard some as Jim was picking up rubbish later. Did go over to Mrs. B.’s for coffee but watched for him. Didn’t come until noon. After coming home from B.’s ironed so that done.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 27, 1960
Got up at six to make cookies for pot luck. Margaret to pick me up, going to Lauderdale Lake. A lovely place and nice cottage and so clean. Mrs. Dyslin very friendly had a good meeting quite a ride and very hot. Reached home 4:30. After going to cabin to eat left to pick K.J. up. Listened to convention after getting back.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 28, 1960
Really hot and so tired. Mostly from Wednesday’s trip. Cleaning Lo’s car. K.J. did tires. Frank and Elaine came wanted to see folks so called them at noon. Stopped for Carrie and took her along with us to Lake. Home by ten. Listened to convention.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 30, 1960
Baked pie for eve. Expect folks. Started meat. Hendricks came, after they left, Dorothy Tallman came. Folks were bringing Wilbur down, she taking him to Mundeline. Hendricks came back wanted P. and M. to come to open house at R. Andrews. We went to cabin just to eat, there until dark home to visit.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 31, 1960
Woke up early to bathe and get breakfast. At nine picked Carrie up for S.S. Up to cemetery and home. Lo to mow did the the front, later the back and painted chairs and as usual ran out of pain so still isn’t finished. K.J. called up to talk to her mother. They leave at 4:30 to pick her up. We ate and sat around for awhile. P. and M. washed dishes. Later had coffee. They took Carrie home. Called Zella had tried all day. She had been at [???].