Saturday, June 10, 1995

We received your nice letter & pictures of the boys.  They are growing so fast.  Nice report card for Eddie.  We look forward to seeing all of you.

Wrote a long letter to Gen for her birthday.

School is out & the kids are free to play etc.  St. Paul & First Luth. combing. for Vacation Bible School at 1st.

A week ago Lar & men of the church landscaped the front of the church & edged & weeded the plots on the parking lot side of the church.  It looks very nice.  Last Sun was Pentecost & members bro't red geraniums to decorate the altar area & they were planted outside on Mon. & they add color.  Lar made the plans, ordered shrubbery & directed the planting.  That job was really needed.

They laid the cement & blocks for Lar & Kim's house.  This week they should start the structure.  They are glad it has finally been started.

When Lar works at Careys & edges the grass by the sidewalk, he takes the time to do ours & Barb & Dale clean it up.  It is such an improvement to our property.  In Dec. the car will be paid for & we're hoping that next summer we could have the house sided.  Painting doesn't last & something is needed.  We might get away with just painting the shingles as they hold up much better.   Time will tell.

Our pastor & wife had to take a trip to Houston as Margaret's mother took a fall & laid for some time before she was found.  She uses a walker & isn't that well.  Lives alone & doesn't want to give up her home.  Their son graduated last nite from high school & it must have been hard for Mary to be away at this time as she teaches school.  Roger Thelin preached last Sun. & Jim Greenlund took the liturgy.  They did get home for graduation.

Wrrn. is busy celebrating 200 years.  It all ends with the 4th of July doings.  They'll have a special edition of the paper on 200 yrs & we'll save it for you.

I finally read some of M. M. Kaye's books & enjoyed them.  Murder in Kenya, Zanzibar, etc.   Her name has been familiar for a long time but I never bothered to check her out.  Am glad I finally did.  Light, enjoyable reading.

Barb is working outside.  Vacuumed the car but didn't wash it.  And now she's weeding, etc. in the garden.

Just about lunchtime.  More later.

Stella called last Sun.  She is still weak & can't get out.  Dan & family are back - 11 living in Stella's house - now Dan's.  The oldest son Danny got married in Fla. to a gal who already had a son (now 18 mo.)  Sounds like she wasn't married & the father could care less about them.  With Danny she had a miscarriage.  He isn't working.  So it's Dan & Barb, Danny, wife, her child, plus their 6 other kids.  Don't know if Dan is working & didn't ask.

I saw a petunia at Hatch Patch that is different.  A light maroon pink & the center is maroon & looks like a star.  So Barb & I went up there & I got a white geranium & planted 4 of the pet. around it.  It should be pretty in full bloom.

We tried out the air cond. & it's great.  It's suppose to get more humid so it will go on again this weekend. Interrupted myself.

After Hatch Patch Barb & I went to Lar's place & the cement & block work looks good.  Lar has built a stone step way down to the stream & over a bit an easy path down to the water.  Did the boys get shoes for the water - to protect their feet.  KMart has them on sale but I don't know sizes.

Time to sit on the porch with a cup of coffee.  Oh yes I got our 1st local strawberries at Hatch Patch.

Also got the New Penneys catalog & have been dreaming & making lists.  See several things I like.

We love all of you & send you all a big hug.

Saturday, September 19, 1992

It's a beautiful day, a big change from the hot, humid days this past week.  But Dale enjoyed them as he was on vacation this past week.  He slept in, worked on his car & sat in the sun.  He chose a good week - no rain until last nite.

For 3 weeks Barb baby sat 4 girls ages 3-8 & they are a handful.  What one can't think of, the others can.  Quite an experience.  Today she is sitting for the family she starts working for next Mon.  8-4.  The girl is in school all day so it's just the baby.  Time has changed to 4:30 or 5.

Today I'm making veg. beef soup for supper.  Also homemade rye bread & choc. cake (box) for dessert.

I'm back after taking time out for exercise on the stepper.  A 15 min workout.  Now I'm going to have coffee!

Kim is enjoying teaching very much, also the paycheck!  They want to visit her sister in Fla. & grandmother in Atlanta during the Christmas holidays.  But they want to spend Christmas here, so they're hoping they could get a Christmas aft. or early pm. flight to Fla.  If that works out I'd plan a turkey dinner for Christmas Eve & a special Christmas breakfast, & then the 4 of us would just snack the rest of the day.

K Mart is going to be so nice & large for this area.  As you enter to the left you see at the far side the shiny stainless of Little Caesar's pizza.  They have a few tables & chairs & they have other things -- like cookies & coffee.  Opposite that where the flower shop (plants, etc.) used to be are the TVs, radios, etc.  It should be completed by Nov.  Also the music store (tapes, cassettes, etc) has enlarged to take in the empty bldg by its side & it is so bright & beautiful.

Warren football is 3-2 this season after a few seasons of 30-1.   They beat an Erie team in the 1st game & last nite beat St. Mary's & both happened in the final seconds.  Exciting!

The Christmas Club check should be here in about a month or so & I'm making lists.  I'd like you to think about gift ideas for the boys.  I tho't a boy for each - something special they'd like & clothes.   So I need hints & sizes.  I'd appreciate hints for Mom & Dad, too!

We watched the Brewers beat Baltimore today.  Barb is rooting for them.  Now we're watching Atlanta & Houston.  Maybe it's the Pirates turn to win this year seeing Atlanta's catcher Olson was hurt.  Dale roots for the Pirates.

Talked to Gen last week & all is well there.  Gen, Ed & another couple are at Nantucket until Wed.  Ed & the other man are doing some carpentry work for a couple who live on the island.  It's a vacation for the gals. The couple are on vacation so Gen & Ed, etc. live in their home while they work.

All is well here.  I told you didn't I that Dan & family moved back to Utah.  He needs more training to pass to be a chiropractor in Utah so they were going to move back to Mich. again.  Stella & June had a meal already & waiting & they never showed up.  So Stella called Dan's father-in-law & was told they changed their mind as as Dan was driving a truck.  They never told Stella & she was ready for a meal for all of them.

Wednesday, July 9, 1986

It's still too warm & muggy to clean so I'll put it off til Thurs. & writer letters.  Dad went to get a haircut & then we'll get groceries.

Yesterday was a fun day.  Ate breakfast at Perkins & decided to drive to Erie.  Went to the Factory Outlet Mall & got a couple of things.  Then to Millcreek Mall & found 2 skirts on sale & Dad got a pair of pants.  At lunch at the Brown Derby, walked around some more & returned home.  Tried on my purchases & then went out to eat dinner.   My kind of day.

Interrupted by the phone & it was Ruth to tell us Svea had a stroke & is in the hospital.  She can talk but is paralyzed.  Now things might come to a head & she'll realize she can't live alone in that big house -- keep it up, lawns, etc.

Min, Lila & Gen might go down there to be with her as they were planning a trip.

And Stella won her case but doesn't know yet how much money she'll get back.  Not all of it.

And Dan decided he should go back to Palmer so his wife called & they were having a crash course (10 days) on Therapy (what he needed).  He was accepted, got the money & got there & got 2 A's on the courses.  Now he'll have two more Utah tests to take & then he'll be able to be a Chiropractor.  A new Dr. is in Utah & he became friends with Dan & encouraged him & maybe after the 1st of the year Dan's dreams can be fulfilled.  He can go into practice with this Dr.  Now he is a school custodian & that can't support his family too easily.

Joyce & Greg bot a house on Puget Sound, South of Everett.  They'll be moving soon.

We had a quiet 4th.  Lar & Kim stopped by in the evening.  I got a corn popper for the microwave & it works well.  Cheaper than buying the micro popcorn.  With this you can use the regular popcorn.

Afternoon baseball as the Mets play the Reds - they'd better win this aft.

Dad hasn't played golf yet this week.  Mon. to hot; yesterday we were gone; today wet.  Maybe tomorrow as it is suppose to be nicer.

Last nite Lar & Kim & Lee Borger & his wife rode their motorcycles to Nik l Inn for dinner.

Next Mon. we are going to Peek'n'Peak with Bensons, Hollertzs & Shaffers.

How are things with you.