February 1960
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 1, 1960
A raw chilly day no sun. Did a big wash put sheets and some cases on porch. Other things in basement. Lo took me to Ole’s while she shopped. Went to cabin then home to shop at Piggly’s and over to Carrie’s. Edna called in P.M. not going to service class Tuesday because of cold. Lo will take us.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 2, 1960
Ironed sheets and other things that were dry. Didn’t go to Ole’s. Started cookies cut my finger on broken cup. Couldn’t do much for a while bleeding badly. Did drop cookies. Out to cabin. Soft boiled eggs and toast. Home to get ready for service class at Emily’s. Lo took us, Minnie Moore brot us home and such a time. Lo up and waiting.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 3, 1960
So trembling just didn’t want to do anything but managed a few things. Ironed what was left. Had several ’phone calls. Up to see Ole for an hour. Seemed pretty good.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 4, 1960
Didn’t get up to see Ole. Wrote letters. Lo had hair appointment early.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 5, 1960
Lo took me up to see Ole and picked me up. Washed a few things.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 6, 1960
Lo up for bath, I got up and immediately discovered the burner was dead. Lo called Leanna. Came before 9:00 didn’t take long to get it working. Baked a pie and cake, later found out Cooks weren’t coming to eat. Helen had cough. Went to Carrie’s. She has a very bad cold and not going to Sunday school tomorrow. Lo getting things at drug store for her.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 7, 1960
Up as usual. Didn’t go to Carrie’s until 10:30 with her things from drug store. Mrs. A. lying down I guess. Loie’s nose and eyes were running such a spell. Unexpected; very miserable. After eating took her bath and went to bed. 4:30 and haven’t heard a sound, so quiet all day.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 8, 1960
Up quite early, Lo as tired as ever. Cold not much better. Washed and turned out to be a nice day. Should have washed spreads and other things. Warmer snow melting. Lo took me up to see Ole. Pretty good. Lo shopped at A&P. After feeding ourselves and stock Lo shopped at Piggly. Then went to Carrie’s. Had gotten coffee for her etc.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 9, 1960
Had a quick bath. Took care of clothes that had dried. Talked with Mrs. B. She’d had a full morning and was going with Flora to see the aunt. Lo and I up to see Ole. Had a nice chat and home to do some more washing. At 4:00 it began to snow. Lo gave cats and ponies an extra big feed and lucky as it was storming badly and kept it up most of the nite.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 10, 1960
Up to snow drifts everywhere. Lo cleaned walk. Some filled up again. No school anywhere. Amy went but came home. When later Stork said no school. Couldn’t get her car out for drifts. I cleaned off upper porch as it was so heavy. Ironed sheets and the rest was dry. One spread still in basement. Men and Loie started out to the ponies but couldn’t make it. Too bad for the animals but had extra hay and oats the nite before and cats and more milk.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 11, 1960
Up a little early. Lo and Jim were going to feed animals, got to first gate fine. Drifts as hi as gate. Backing out slid out of track. Called wrecker so sat for 2 hours, G.B. sent someone. Took a minute only to be pulled out. I finished cleaning stove and moved it out to clean behind it. Did some upstairs work. Had such a head ache, finally relaxed which helped.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 12, 1960
A bright beautiful winter day but very cold. Jim and G.B. came at 7:00. G.B. breakfast Jim coffee. Lo and Jim out to feed the stock. Good luck today. Cleaned up stairs did some down. Baked donuts and date bars. Had an easy supper. Lo meeting train to pick up Marian.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 13, 1960
Up early, Jim and G.B. came for milk to feed cats. Marian got up later to call M. Jolly. Doc came and took her to the train. Drive not shoveled yet. Lo had bake sale and busy. Jim and G.B. picked us up to go to cabin for Helen’s birthday. Marian came on 6:30. Too bad not to have gotten her to eat with us. Sat around till 10:00, Lo had Doc’s car so took her down, train late. Carrie had called going to Sunday school. A pretty plant came from Florida folks.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 14, 1960
A beautiful day, but ice and snow underneath. Lo and G.B. to feed ponies and back to take Carrie to Sunday school in G.B.’s car. She was going home from church. After errands and ’phone calls Lo started on drive way and chopping ice on walk. Found a package in door from Secret Pal, soap and B.B. Had such a headache all bones in my head sore.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 15, 1960
Washed, not such a big one but three very dirty rugs. Hung porch full and basement. Dried fairly well. Out to cabin then Lo shopped both stores. Had been up to see Ole during noon hour.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 16, 1960
Did ironing and washed pantry curtains, did window and wall surrounding. Got it up before noon. Lo and I up to Ole’s. Amy wasn’t coming home until late as she had big dinner for F.M. church people. Had gotten door curtains down and washed when Bess came so didn’t finish. She stayed until 5:30. Late getting to cabin, late eating, and late getting home. Lo to bed early, I to do dishes clean floor and iron curtains. Washed the two doors and got things in order.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 17, 1960
Up and at it again this A.M. The window curtains washed and ironed and up again. Finished walls etc. can stand it for a while at least. Done before noon. Washed front window so dirty too cold to do much. It is getting colder. Lo got her sno [sic] tires she’s very happy now she can go most anywhere. Cooked meat and veg. for nite. Went up to Ole’s a few minutes. Spirits good.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 18, 1960
Straightened kitchen cupboards. Mrs. B. stopped in on her way home from Maria S. We had coffee. Marvel called earlier. In P.M. after being up to Ole’s washed dining room window and wiped walls etc. and vacuumed thoroly. Looks better. Lo came home about 4:30 after having a perm. Left for cabin. G.B. to C.L. to meeting so ate bacon and eggs. Then to begin the cleaning, plenty of it. Came home about 9:00.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 19, 1960
Cold this A.M. 10 degrees predict colder tonite. Changed bed and cleaned room and bath room. No more cleaning today. Washed sheets etc. and half dozen rugs we had used at cabin. Very cold today clothes froze stiff. Up to see Ole at noon. Didn’t mention hospital nor I. Out to cabin to feed and eat. Came home early both tired.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 20, 1960
Up quite early, cold, Lo to have bake sale. She stayed down to eat with Lily. Helen and Doc not eating with us. Helen’s cough so bad. Lo came home before 3:00 and we two went to Edith Bohen’s for tea. Her sister and a friend were out for week end. Stayed about 2 hours. Home to change and go out to feed. Came home after 7:30. Listened to Lawrence Welk. Hugh brot oil.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 21, 1960
Woke up early so finally got up. Had snowed a lot. Lo and George out to cabin to feed. Snow had drifted so were stuck. Walked up and fed then finally got out. Got here a little after 9:00. Down to Carrie’s, got her to Sunday school. Mrs. Merchant brot her after church. After eating took her home. We were glad to stay in. Amy called, she and Del had taken Ole in to hospital. He stayed for treatment. Zella called. Later Lo called. Beloit everything O.K. Then she called Dorothy and Mary, all talked.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 22, 1960
Decided I’d better clean the living room. Was at it all day. Didn’t quite finish. Ate at home. Lo said walking was very bad at cabin. She and Jim went out in P.M. She shopped at noon at A&P. After eating dinner shopped at Piggly Wiggly. I cooked kidneys for the cats and ground etc. Now to bed.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 23, 1960
Up as usual, not getting into much as having my hair done. Lo picked me up before 10:00. Thru at 11:30. Washed a couple of doors etc. So dirty. Couldn’t make the cabin so ate at home. Lo did make it when they went out to feed. Lo worked again until 10:00.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 24, 1960
So jittery couldn’t work. Lo took me around to Mrs. Beards for Circle. Read a letter for Mrs. B. and a couple of cards. Mrs. Becking and I helped serve coffee. Mrs. Newcourt had very nice devotions. Carlota had sent in games, she had a cold. 16 and 2 guests (Millie and Mrs. Elfers). Mrs. Elfers and I did dishes Mrs. B. put away.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 25, 1960
Predict snow and it is ever windy. Drifting in the country badly. Jim and Lo went out to do chores early P.M. Walked from Hil. Corner. Not going out tonite. Washed under things and nite clothes. Mar called in forenoon. Has had a bad cold.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 26, 1960
Mrs. B. called early, later Edna. Lora B. stopped in for vanilla, going to city to Daughters’. Lo and Jim out to feed during noon hour. Mar’s sister-in-law left for Fla. last week, all are relieved for a time at least. Lo went back to office after eating tonite. A lot of work of late and a big day tomorrow. I try to do a little of this and that every day, not only to keep busy but it needs doing.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 27, 1960
Finished general cleaning up stairs and some down. Baked pie and cookies. Cooking meat. P. and B. got everything ready to take to cabin, Jim and Cooks eating with us. Had snow plowed out easy driving now. Men went home early. Helen came with us. Watched Welk.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 28, 1960
Up early, Lo to cabin to feed, back before 9:00 to pick Carrie up for Sunday school. She came after Sunday school as she was sure of a ride. Made a sponge cake, baked potato. We ate quite early. Took Carrie home at 2:30. Amy called. She and Del had been in to see Ole. Poor guy had come down with flu Thursday. Seemed real sick. Del will go in Wednesday again.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 29, 1960
Did a big wash. Brot Lo’s jeans and parky in frozen stiff — dried them for nite work. Carrie called in P.M. Cold worse not planning on Service Class so couldn’t get her check to Lo. After shopping went down with bread, coffee, lemons, money, etc. Had to park at Wood Residence. Didn’t stay long, home to watch Perry and Bing on Bing’s show. Took clothes down some frozen.