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.

Monday, April 17, 1995

I'm lazy today & don't feel like doing  much.  Could start spring cleaning but ---!

Thurs. we went to Erie - Kim, who drove, Barb & I & 2 friends of Kim.  We left at 9:45 A.M. & ate lunch as soon as we got there.  Then we had about 2 hours to look around.  They now have Barb's favorite store (where you got the sweatshirt) & we spent some time there.  Barb got a couple of tops & shorts.  They have so many nice things.  We also spent time at T. J. Max & PharMore Drug store.  Latter is where I like to look for things.  We were home about 5 pm./  Rained all the way home.

Barb took Thurs. & Fri. off.  After my hair appt. on Fri. Barb & I went to the Pastry shop for an early lunch & we shopped a bit.

Sun. Lar & Kim were here for a 5 pm Easter & Birthday dinner.  We waited to celebrate Dale's birthday. I'll think you for his card & book.  Both he & Lar enjoyed looking thru it.

About 10 days ago our pastor had a mini stroke & missed Palm Sun services.  The asst. to the Bishop was with us.  Then he was hospitalized due to an extremely high blood pressure count & they also found he has sugar.  He was in church on Sun. & preached but the Bishop's Asst. had the liturgy & communion.  Gary will have to take it easy for awhile.  He is 48, a dangerous age so he's had his warning.

Heard from Gen.  Edith, Edna & Frank would be at Gen's for Easter dinner.  Mon-Wed they have Swedish relatives on Ed's side.  They'll stay with  Edith & be at Ed & Gen's Mon. for dinner.  They'll sightsee, all be at Edith's for Tues. dinner.  Wed. they'll go out to eat & they leave at noon on Thurs.  Because of this visit, Millie's birthday luncheon is delayed.  Edna, Millie, Edith & Gen go out for lunch on each birthday.

Gen wrote Edna saw the eye Dr. & she's had some bleeding on one eye & will have some laser work on it.  I meant to call her last nite but forgot until it was too late.

Frank (cousin) is now at a Jewish home & seems to be doing better as they have more therapy there.  He invited Ed & Gen to a Seder dinner on Good Fri.  A prime rib dinner.  I'm anxious to hear more about it.  It's funny.  Gen is so concerned about Frank's clothes when he has to see a Dr.  She makes sure he should wear slacks, shirt, etc.  She'll wash his shirts if they look dirty.  He usually wears jogging outfits which is best as they are so easy to get on & off.

Ed found a kitten in their barn & fed it milk so now they have a cat.  Gen wrote come & meet her!  She knows I'm not fond of cats.

Gen likes the family picture.  Her's is the first I've heard after sending them.

Are you knee deep in taxes today, or have you already mailed your taxes.  There is a lot of "stuff" on T.V. today concerning late payments, resistors, etc.  Can be interesting to listen to.

There was an interesting cartoon in the paper last week.  It showed a man trying to resist watching baseball on T.V. & he couldn't resist.  I watched a preseason game on Sat:  Braves beat the Yankees & part of the Sun nite game on E.S.P.N.  We're ready to watch WWOR, ESPN, & TBS.  The 26th the Mets play at Colorado & I hope they show a lot of the new stadium - like they did in Toronto.  Part of ESPN's "triple play".  Aft it's the Yankees & late nite a coast game.

Better get busy - put clean clothes away.  Fun to be lazy.

Friday, June 27, 1986

This is the A.M. to get my hair done & I'm ready early so here goes another letter.

Last nite we were sitting on the front porch in our new, comfortable chairs & Kim stopped by. She was going to take a bike ride (which she never did) but we got talking & time flew by. She is taking care of the horses in Youngsville again for a week & she was telling of one horse that can get the stall opened no matter what they do.  Lar didn't believe it & he was helping & while his back was turned the horse opened the stall with his teeth.  Twice he did it to Lar, so now he believes.  Kim said they have narrowed the date to April or May.

Sun the 29th is World Soccer final game & Lar is having the local soccer players over to watch the game.  He'll have dips, cold meats, beer, etc.  Stag.  The gals will be at a gal's home.  Kim has a baby shower go to go.

Wed. we drove to Thiel College to delivery Dad's 56 books of Luther's Works.  They said they'd like them & Dad will never use them & they came out in reprint 10 years ago & it is good for us, too.  We need to start clearing out.

It was a beautiful day with the puffy clouds against blue sky.  We went a different way - -thru Spartansburg, & what a roller coaster road that is.  Beautiful ride.  Came home via Erie & the Mall but didn't buy anything.  Oh yes Lar & Kim plan to buy a microwave.  Saw one at Sears on sale.

Have you read about the Rainbow people congregating in Marienville area.

We have a hummingbird feeder on the front porch.  As we were sitting out last nite our bird came toward it but our talking must have frightened it.  But maybe they'll come now & feed.  I love to watch them flutter in their air & feed.

The bathroom is back to normal again & the mirror is so nice & makes such a difference. The new lights give much better light.  What can I think of next!

Dad's playing golf this A.M. with Don Greendahl.  Dad gets out twice a week.

Today is Gen's last day of work.  I sent her a retirement gift & enclosed a package of microwave popcorn for the new micro. she plans to get.  Johnny should like that.  Good popcorn, too.

Dad had to do some hospital visitation this week as the pastor is on vacation.  Cindy Andersen Farnham had a mastectomy.  She is young for that, and coming along well.  Also 3 others to visit.  One said she wishes Dad was still the pastor.  Gary told Dad he has had a rough spring.  At a council mtg. one young member really chewed him out & they had to adjourn  the mtg.  Nice to be retired!

New its Tues AM, my day off.  We plan to go to Jamestown for breakfast & then grocery shop.  Still on the cool side but I like it.

More about Cindy Farnham.  This A.M. she is having the other breast removed, will have to have kemo therapy & might have to have her ovaries removed.  She noticed the lump last Nov. but waited.  She is an Aid at Jefferson School & have sick leave, etc. so its too bad she waited.

Edna & Wally spent a week at S. Yarmouth, Ma.  She enclosed the article about Tech & Classical.  I didn't realize Tech's origins.  Have a good 4th.  Ours will be a quiet one.

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