Monday, September 30, 1985

We had a lovely weekend.  Colors are starting to be pretty.  We were at the Valley - dad didn't preach.  A farewell potluck for one of the members.

More work for Dad!  The pastor (not yet 40) had 4 heart attacks so synod called & asked Dad to take the communion service Oct. 6 at Galeton (9AM) & Coudersport at 11 AM.  About a 2 hr. drive so it will be an early A.M. drive.

Sat. Dad had a wedding at the Valley & we're invited to the rehearsal dinner Fri nite at Bud's Carriage House.  Last Tues. he had a funeral from the Valley.  Is he retired?

Wed. we went for lunch with Don & Pat Greendahl at the Vinyard, Fredonia.  Then we shopped at the Mall nearby.  Got a pair of real comfortable navy walking shoes.  I love them.  And a dress - light purple with a jacket.  Just what I wanted.  Expensive but I still got it.

We leave Oct. 8 for Gen's.  They had some tree damage from hurricane winds.

{Enclosures]

Sunday, September 15, 1985

How are things with you - are you enjoying your "professorship"?

Oct 8th we'll leave for Mass.  That is election day & we want to be here to vote for mayor.  So we'll leave shortly after 8 AM.  Should be a nice time for a drive.  Be gone for about a week.

Today we were at the Valley for the Communion service.  In Oct Dad will confirm 2.  Last Sun. we were in Dagus Mines for the Communion Service as they are without a pastor.  They wanted Dad to come 2 Sun. a mo. but he opted for just 1 Sun.  Afterwards we met Hollertzs & Bensons & went out to dinner.  This coming Thurs. we're going out to lunch with Don & Pat Greendahl, former lay pastor at the Valley.  Going to a nice Motel at Fredonia.

This past week we went to Holiday Inn for breakfast.  It has been refurbished and it looks so nice & we had a good breakfast.  In Oct. we'll go there for dinner with Hollertz & Bensons.

Have you been looking for a new car?  Tried to call Barb today - no answer.  We don't try to call you because we figure you'll be in Madison with JoAnna.

Last Thurs Danny (the gal who does my hair - her 3 yr old) was here for a couple of hours.  Got some toys from the attic & we had a good time.  Went to McDonald's for lunch.  He wants to come again.  Lori is expecting in Nov. & I told her I'd help while she is in the hosp.  So I want Danny to get used to us.  He is very outgoing & no trouble & I enjoy it.

We had 1 real hot week & I did nothing.  Then it cooled off & almost too much too fast.  No frost for us yet.  Higher areas got some.

Just a note to say hello.

[Enclosures]

Sunday, September 1, 1985

Just a little note to enclose a clipping of the Levinson wedding.  Didn't you help - can't think of her name [Renee Shulman] - babysit the girls.

Also a couple of cartoons from the Phila. Sun. paper that amused me!!  First time we've had this paper & we find it interesting.

Last Wed. nite Bensons, Hollertz's & Nelsons went to Olean to The Library for dinner.  Remodeled old library into a restaurant - interesting & good food.

Next Sat. we're having a breakfast picnic at Kinzua Bridge Park with same people.

Went to church at St. Paul today.  Found out Karen S. is expecting twins end of next May.  They're pretty sure it's twins.  Rick has twin brothers.

Also remember Jack Hoffman.  Has 3 sons, one Barb's age, one Dale's.  He is seriously ill with leukemia.  Has a 50-50 chance but it doesn't look good.  He just retired last spring.

Our weather this past week was like the lake weather.  Got down to 46 last night & I was cold in bed so I put the elec. blanket on the bed today.

It's beautiful today & we'll take a walk to mail letters.

Kim stopped by twice this past week.  She calls Lar "Nels" & they are cute together.  She made muffins & brot some over & they are good.  Guess she missed Lar while they were apart - she was on vacation the previous week so it was a 2 week separation.

We're enjoying tomatoes from the garden, cucumbers, too.  Enjoy your teaching assignment.

[Enclosures]

August 1985

A note to tell you of our change of plans.  We won't be coming to Oshkosh.  Dale totaled the Olds last Sat. on the way to the junkyard.  He called from the hosp. for Dad to get him.  Had some stitches on his face & a black eye so he was lucky.  Going too fast according to State police.  So the 4 of us will drive together, leaving early Fri. aft & go as far as Toledo & stay overnite.  That way we'll get to the lake by late afternoon.  Otherwise Lar would have to drive his truck & he'd rather not.

Today Dad went to see Tom Scarcella & we bought a Celebrity Station Wagon.  A good deal.  Had been used as a rental car - 5600 mi. on it.  Light gray & gray interior.  More on it than usual - power windows, extra seats in the back so we can all go in one car when we go out to eat at the lake.  Even the carrier on car roof.  Difference is 6237.00 plus Dad got the guardian service for 381.00 for 4 years.  The difference for our present car was 7636.00.  We got 1000.00 off as a used car plus a good deal.  So by next Mon. we'll be driving at S.W.  It will give us more room for luggage when we travel.  We took it for Lar & Dale to see & they thot it was OK if we did it.

Naturally Dale is sick that his beloved car is a wreck.  He'd just put something new in it Fri. nite costing 160.00.  He put a lot of money into it.  Sam is taking him to work & Marcy is still coming & picking him up.

Tomorrow we go out to dinner with Hollertz, etc.  We're going to a place in Clarion, Pa.  That's closer for Schaffers who are now in Ohio.

The play last Thurs was good.  Almost a full house on the 4th.  This Thurs we'll see "They're Playing Our Song".  Last week on George M. Cohan.

Just a little note to tell you of our change of plans.

June 16, 1985 (to JoAnna)

We're watching baseball on T.V. & the Mets have gone from first place to fourth, much to our dismay.  They are losing today to Montreal.

We received your letter & naturally it pleases Carl very much that you want him to marry you & Paul.  He has had weddings with a priest in attendance.

We have had some cool, rainy weather so haven't picked strawberries yet, but we hope to this week.  We like to eat them fresh rather than frozen.

We did enjoy having you & Paul home for a week and we are pleased to have you for a daughter-in-law.  None of the relatives were surprised to hear the news & they are happy, too. 

This past week the girls from work got together for a pot luck lunch.  Learned a new card game that is fun.  It was a rainy day so we had to stay inside.

Carl & I are deciding where to go to use our Erie Fine Dining Card.  Big decisions!

We were at the Church Synod meetings and enjoyed seeing friends there.  It was an interesting convention.

Time to get to the Sun. crossword puzzle.

Sunday, June 9, 1985

Went to church at St. Paul today & there was a coffee hour so we had a chance to visit around.  We spread news of your engagement & Marie Mathis said maybe she'd be knitting a Christmas stocking sometime - if she wasn't too old!  She makes lovely ones.  There were questions about Lar & Kim & even Lois Himes said she's seen Dale & Marcy.

We had an interesting synod.  Roth was defrocked 499-33 & he leaped upon the stage & took over the microphone.  Finally after 2 recesses he was arrested & let go when he promised to stay away.  They tried to introduce a motion to change things but it was out of order & they got nowhere.  It did put a pall on the convention.  Bishop Crumby did very well as presiding officer.  What amazes me is the number of ballots needed to get a majority for office.  For Dad to be elected twice to Thiel Board & once to executive board is something, esp. when we are considered to be in "the hinterland" & not as well known as those in Pittsburgh area.

We will be picking strawberries this week at Wentzel's.  They pick first & offer them for sale so we got a qt. & they are good.

We saw some of the tornado damage & it is bad.  Atlanta, near Greenburg, was really hit.  Amish are there & Amish from all over came to help & they refuse govt help but will take underwear & shoes & material to make clothes.

Jacque W. Shoup had a son after 2 girls.  Born during the storm.  Janelle Welsh & family are moving back from Calif.

How was your trip back.  The peanut butter fudge is still in the fridge.

Just a little not to say hello.

[Enclosure]

[Richard Nyquist is my oldest cousin on the Nelson side of the family.]

Tuesday, April 23, 1985

It was good to hear from you.  So I'll try the new typewriter.  I'm still getting used to it.

The new back door and storm door looks so nice.  There isn't much to be done and they are little things that won't cost too much.

We'll have to concentrate on the yard work - get rid of weeds, etc.  But with this nice weather it won't be hard to work outside.

Tues. a.m. we go out for breakfast and that is lots of fun.  We have used our Erie dining out card 3 times.  Once in Erie and we enjoyed a meal at Farrell's.  Lar recommended. it.  We will have to use it more with daylight savings time coming up.

Lar has plowed the garden getting it ready for planting.  We took down the bird feeder as he didn't want it in the way and the birds missed it.  We were getting too many starlings now so I didn't mind getting it down.  They were going thru 10 lbs. of feed a week.  We buy the generic brand.

We went to see Don, the layman at the Valley last Fri.  He still has trouble walking so we think it will be some time before he is back.  We don't care to go out there all the time and in May I want to visit one Sunday so something will have to be done.  Also Don thinks it is time for him to give up preaching so he can go to church with his wife so they will have to start looking for someone to be out there.

I cleaned out a couple of dresser drawers so company can use them.  It is easy to let junk accumulate.  Dad has been working in the attic and there is stuff to be thrown away up there.  He used the old bedroom doors as shelves up there for his books, Christmas stuff, etc.

One of the things I forgot to ask when you called is concerning sleeping arrangements when you and JoAnna are home.

We want to hear more of what JoAnna will be doing and look forward to being able to when you are here.  We are happy that you will be visiting.

A week ago the girls at work had my retirement party.  It was suppose to be earlier but I goofed up on the date and then Lent came so we decided on last week at Penn Laurel and it was so nice.  16 of us.  They gave me 35.00 but I haven't decided how to use it yet.

This Fri. nite Bensons, Hollertz and us are going out to eat at Limberlost - they have good food and we will have a good time.

Just a little note to let you know I still write letters now and then.  Oh yes, we postponed our trip to Spfld. til Fall as too much is going on in May.  Player's Club is putting on Joseph and his many colored coat and they say it will be excellent.

[Enclosures]