Friday, February 7, 1997 (Letter to Andy)

Your Dad tells us about your basketball games.  We are happy you like sports.  Soon there will be baseball spring practice and pre-season games.  We look forward to watching baseball on T.V.

Nascar racing starts this weekend and Uncle Dale will be watching his favorite racer.  Dale Earnhardt - number 3 car.  It's good we have more than one T.V.

Aunt Barbara bring Scott over here and he always wants a cooky.  He likes my cookies just like y ou and Eddie do.  We also have to put teh M&M candy out or reach.  Otherwise he wants some.  His mother says no candy.

Wednesday, January 29, 1997

Late nite Ruth called to tell us that Stella is moving to the Augustana Retirement home in Mpls.  She'll have a 1 bed apt on the 6th floor.  She'll be happier there as she has friends living there.  Also I have a friend who lives there.  Donald is improving.  Today Ruth is will be going to the P. A. Peterson home in Rkfd.  It was getting to be too much for Ruth.  The daughters (Ruth) didn't approve - Mimi offered to take her but they aren't home to care for her nor realize the extent of care needed.  There are 6 people from her church there so she'll know people.  It's been a hard experience for Ruth - I agree with her decision.

Lynn got a new, larger freezer for her home.  The old one is a small one.  Knowing Kim would like to get a freezer, Barb asked Lynn about it.  Result:  Kim gets to buy it for 75.00.

I've been cleaning out drawers while watching T.V.  Nice to have things in order again.

Holder's house is for sale, so we'll be getting more new neighbors on the St.

Hope to remember to enclose an article from the paper on our library & it's monetary problems.  The County commissioners & School Board are all having money problems.  Teacher's are still hoping for a contract that was due last July 1.

Now it's Fri. the last day of March Jan.  I have the last day of Mar. on my mind + SPRING.  In time.

Got your letter today.  Very interesting reading.  There's been a lot of T.V. & in the papers about Star Wars.  Your skating sounded like fun - good family sport.

Am enclosing a recipe for C. C. cookies with oatmeal!  It's easy & delicious.

We had fish sandwiches for supper.  Dale just came home & will have the same.  He surprised me.  French fries & a milkshake.

We'll get this ready to mail tomorrow.  I get a hair trim tomorrow & really need it.

Friday, January 17, 1997

It's cold here with periods of snow.  At 4 pm.  I defrosted the freezer today - put the contents on the front porch & went to work on it.  Had everything back in by lunch time.

No school today - due to blowing, snowing & cold.  Kim & Taury stopped by this AM for coffee.  At 1:30 she & Nancy were going cross country skiing.  Cold for that.

I''m making veg. soup for supper - to go with a fish sandwich.  I've made the Blender Banana Bread twice & we like it a lot.  Will make another one Sat. as I've got too many bananas.

Paula Carey called today to let us know she & her husband will arrive tomorrow & I'm to put the key under the mat for them..  She would like to move back here & he has an interview with a law office.  Bill Hill Jr. is retiring & also another whose name I don't recall.

Thanks for your 2 letters Paul.  I can just see Eddie raising his hand & making the comments.  Good for him.

We watched Dole get his Medal of Freedom & I tho't it was a very nice thing to do.  Both Clinton & Dole had good talks.

I sent an order to Penney's & it came on Wed & I'm very pleased.  A Leslie Fay dress - shirtwaist style, pleated skirt in a jade print & I love it.  Looks nice on.  Have to return a pair of slacks as the zipper doesn't work right.  I like the color, etc. so I'll reorder.  Easiest way for me to shop.  Easter comes early this year & maybe it will be too cold & wintry for a spring dress.

Scott told his mother Barb was his mother.  So Lynn said, "What am I?"  "You're my girlfriend," he replied.

We aren't going for groceries tonite so it will be after I get my hair done.  Last week I walked to my appt.  It wasn't too bad.  Barb said she'd take me over tomorrow.

Green Bay goes to the super bowl & we'll be rooting for them to win.  They should.  We'll be watching & thinking of all of you when they score a TD - towel waving, etc.

Now it's Sun A.M. & again I'm ready for church with time to spare.  It's minus 3 & I'm wearing my wool slacks & again will wear my "cold weather coat" - one I only wear for real cold weather.  It's ages old but since it doesn't get much wear, it's in good condition.

Got the pictures & letter yesterday.  I can imagine the Super Bowl setting - lots of towel waving & toasting when G. B. wins.

Kim always enjoys reading your letters.  Larry has a 4 pm soccer game & meets with Nancy at noon to discuss plans for the Dr.'s new quarters to be.  Lar has drawn up all the plans.  They can't get started until the 1st floor tenant moves out.  Kim & Taury will stop by this aft.  They got some kind of strips - roller to make it easier to roll out the freezer & fridge so we can clean behind it.  Dale was reading you should do that yearly & vacuum the coils, etc.  So now he'll have a job to do.   He likes to do that & I'm glad he does - he is a big help.  He cleaned & shined the kit. cupboards with Liquid Gold & that really improved them.  He said they were quite dry & really needed the work.  All you "guys" are good workers.

Yesterday after lunch Dad said "Who will take me home, now."  I told him he was home.  He gets muddled like that at times.

Happy Days it is suppose to warm up this week.  I feel the need to get out & walk a bitg.

Sunday, January 5, 1997

Again I'm ready for church but it's too early so I'll start a letter.  It's raining hard & I hope it lets up a bit.

After you left I went back to bed for awhile & slept.  Had more ambition & got washing don e& upstairs cleaned.  On Fri. I took the tree down & cleaned downstairs so I'm back on schedule.

Sat. Larry put up the new storm door & it is great.  So much stronger than the one we had.  And it stores the screen so it will be easy to change when spring comes.

Had a late card from a friend in Mpls. & she said they've already had 40.5" of snow.  And I see more has come to Mn.

Sat was an exciting day football wise.  We enjoyed the Gr. Bay game & was glad they won.  Such mud!  Wouldn't care to launder those uniforms.  The next game was even more exciting - who ever thought Denver would get beat.  I'm sure everyone tho't they'd be in the Super Bowl.  More excitement this aft.   Hope Pitts. can win.

Kim stopped by Fri. nite with Taury & the first thing Taury did was to hunt for the boys - but no Andy or Eddie.

I have the "forgotten" articles boxed & ready to mail.  Hope to get it mailed Monday - mailed to the library.

Today I'm wearing a dress I ordered from Penney's.  Since we don't eat out anymore I hasn't been worn yet. It's my favorite style - shirt waist, button down the front.  A dark med. blue - I'm ready to call in an order from the new catalog & it will include a dress for spring - Easter.  Again a print shirt waist but with a pleated skirt.  A jade print color instead of blue.  They have those adjustable waist slacks for 19.95 so I think I'll try a pair.  If you order before a Feb. date you can get a 15% discount.  Catalogue shopping is easier for me & I'm satisfied with the goods.  Have them sent by UPS.

Dad is watching a Lutheran service from Erie - 9-10 AM & then Dr. Kennedy from Fla. comes on & he watches that.  Not the same as being in church but the next best thing.  He falls asleep too easily & I think people would overwhelm him - if he went to church, as much as he'd like to be there.

It was great to have you home once again & to meet Cyndi & to see Albert again.  I hope they will swoon announce a baby on the way.

Thanks again for everything.  I loved the cookies & everything you gave us, esp. the door.

Monday, December 16, 1996

I'm making an easy supper - Betty Crocker's Hamburger Helper Swedish meatballs.  Looks good.d  I want an easy supper as I have 4 kinds of cookies chilling in the refrig. & plan to take them tonite.

2 suggestions for Dad & me.

For me video.  Gaslight or 42nd st.

For Dad:  The Great Caruso.

You can call using 800#.   I'll enclose pages, etc.

Some time later - the cookies are all stored away for munching & the meal was good.  Barb doesn't care for meatballs but these had a sauce with noodles & it was tasty & so simple to make.  She surprised me by eating the meal.

On Mon nites I enjoy the pregame activities on ESPN.

Lar & Kim  will come for supper tomorrow (Tues) nite instead of Thurs. as they are going to the soccer banquet at Holiday In.. Warren had its first soccer season & did well.  It is supposed buy parents & friends.  School as no money for it.  It looks like Buffalo will be the loser tonite & Dale will be happy.


We're going to look for a radio controlled car for Andy at Radio Shack.  T hey are advertised in their ads.  I'll mail this after tomorrow as Barb gets off early on Tues &* we'll make a quick trip to the mall.  (We got a smaller one for Eddie - we figure he'd want one, too.  Got a more expensive one for Andy.)

Tues.
Back from a quick trip to the mall.  Got the Game of Life & Snow White.  Saw the video Black Beauty & think I'll get that too.  Next time we'll have more time & then I'll look for Jr. Clue at the Toy Store.

Tonite after supper we decided to check out the cars to make sure they work OK.  Both work fine.  But Torey didn't like them.  Eddie's just goes forward & backward but Andy's turns & does more things.  His cost more - -we just got a cheaper one for Eddie to keep the peace.   Lar made the car go in circles & so was Torey U& he was barking & I was laughing so hard.  Barb & Lar said we didn't get gifts like these when we were kids.  With just 2 grandchildren we  can do a little more - for the time being anyway.

Will get this on the way & bring to a close.  I'm waiting for suggestions.  Hint! Hint! Hint!

Wednesday, November 27, 1996

Will you spend Thanksgiving with friends?  Lar, Kim & Torey will be with us.  Had a card from Millie & she & Linda will spend Thanksgiving at Allan's.  Larry & family go to her folks.  Gen & Ed's sister Edith take turns entertaining & I don't know their plans.

Our snow has gone - had a few flurries today.  Sounds like the Western storm might hit us Sun. nite & Mon.  Hope it loses its power.

Do you watch Frasier Tues nites.  We really enjoy it.

Barb wrapped gifts last nite & I've wrapped some of mine.  Haven't started to address Christmas Cards yet.  Have started to check out the tree lights as soon after Thankg. I start to put up Christmas decorations.  Watched QVC this aft. & ordered a "bulb tester".  I waited til the end before I ordered so I hope I got it.  Have a QVC card so I could enter the order automatically thru the telephone.

Tonite the workers at Shults have a dinner meeting.  Dale looked nice when he left.  H e can drive again as of Dec. 1.

Carey's came back Tues from Fla.  They leave the garage opener so Barb can use their garage.  Mr. C. came over for ice as they disconnect their refrig.

We have new neighbors - they moved in last Sat.  Yesterday they had their driveway blacktopped.  We don't know who they are.  Have a preschool son & one daughter who goes to Beaty.  A younger couple.  Older aged owners are still in the majority but as time goes on that will change.

Is Andy happy watching the Bulls play without a loss.  I watched them play in Atlanta last week.  Last nite I watched Pitts. vs. St. Louis in hockey and Pitts finally won with some new players.  I like Gary Thorn (ESPN) as an announcer so I watch games he announces.

Dad is needing more help now, esp. in dressing & sometimes getting out of a chair.

Last week Everett Borg came over & showed slides of the new church & others of early Warren.  You'd enjoy seeing those, Paul  He's hoping to sell his bldg.  Something is brewing but nothing definite.

A favorite program has come on so I'll close.  Don't eat too much turkey!

Saturday, November 9, 1996

I can't sleep anymore so I'll write letters.  Winter is suppose to come this weekend.  We had snow flurries last Sat & Sun & then it warmed up during the week.

Paul I forgot to congratulate you for becoming V Pres/Pres elect of the Wi Lib. Assoc.  That is wonderful.  We are proud of you.

Dale has been on vacation this week - worked on his stereo speakers & in the basement.  He got his eyes checked for new contacts.

Barb was home Fri as she didn't feel good -- diarrhea.

We finally saw the Dr.  Dad's aches & pains are related to Parkinson's & there's not much help.  I saw the Dr. female asst. & I liked her a lot.  She did more explaining.  Had to have a blood test & she called with the results & things are good.  They have to check on the cholesterol medication to see if it is harming the kidney, etc. but all is well.

My Christmas Club check came & Barb & I started our Christmas shopping & yesterday I started wrapping some gifts.  After Thanksgiving, I'll put the tree up.  Am looking forward to that.

Signe called yesterday & wants a picture of Dad taken in 1973 - the year Joyce got married.  Reason - Carl was the only one not there for a sister-bro picture & she wants one of Carol to add to the picture.  I wouldn't know where to look.  I said maybe Genevieve or Charles would have one taken around the '70s.

John Pearson was 35 on the 4th of Nov.

Johnson's house has been sold but they haven't moved in yet.  A younger couple with a boy around 4, I'd say & maybe one a little older.  They've taken out the old rugs, raked leaves & I'm sure there is a lot of work to be accomplished before they move in.

Bo't my Christmas stamps yesterday - got them early as I want the one you don't have to "lick".  Don't have any cards, tho.  Will have to look around.

Elections are over & also the bad ads on T.V.  Thank goodness - some were real nasty.  The next Pres election is 2000 - hope I'm around to see 2000 come in.

Guess I'll see if the paper is here.  Just a note to let you know we're thinking of you & love all of you.