rainy all day clear this evening-
Harry oiled the floor in south front room and stained clock shelf and sawed off curtain rods
Clara fixed curtains etc and Harry, Mother, & Clara went to Ithaca this afternoon and Harry and Clara went to Auburn this eve-
Iliff called this eve-
Mother very quiet
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wednesday, April 29, 1936
Iliff's birthday
plesant morning but thunder showers this afternoon
Harry and Clara went to Ithaca shopping all day.
I raked the south yard
Mother was very restless because Clara was away and had a real spell when Clara came home about 5-30 P.M.
quiet this eve-
(Mom & Dad broke out the genealogy this past weekend & have been looking it over in earnest. Mom's been adding research from Ancestry.com & we may have some new information soon.)
plesant morning but thunder showers this afternoon
Harry and Clara went to Ithaca shopping all day.
I raked the south yard
Mother was very restless because Clara was away and had a real spell when Clara came home about 5-30 P.M.
quiet this eve-
(Mom & Dad broke out the genealogy this past weekend & have been looking it over in earnest. Mom's been adding research from Ancestry.com & we may have some new information soon.)
Monday, April 28, 2014
Tuesday, April 28, 1936
cloudy but plesant untill evening begins to rain
I made oat flake cookies and ginger bread and stewed prunes
Clara finished cleaning front room-
Harry rebuilt the coal box and ordered 500# coal*-
Aunty began doing chores with Harry's help-
Mother has been just fine all day-
*For the younger generation: No, Irene did not mess up the hashtag. This means Harry ordered 500 pounds of coal.
I made oat flake cookies and ginger bread and stewed prunes
Clara finished cleaning front room-
Harry rebuilt the coal box and ordered 500# coal*-
Aunty began doing chores with Harry's help-
Mother has been just fine all day-
*For the younger generation: No, Irene did not mess up the hashtag. This means Harry ordered 500 pounds of coal.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Monday, April 27, 1936
plesant all day-
Clara cleaned paint in the front south room all day
Harry and Aunty worked in door yard and I made a lemon pie for dinner and got the meals and done the housework and washed the base boards on two sides of the front room-
Mother was fairly good-
Harry & Clara went to show this eve
Clara cleaned paint in the front south room all day
Harry and Aunty worked in door yard and I made a lemon pie for dinner and got the meals and done the housework and washed the base boards on two sides of the front room-
Mother was fairly good-
Harry & Clara went to show this eve
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Sunday, April 26, 1936
Sunday very plesant but cold wind
Harry took Clara, Mother, & Aunty top Half Acre for afternoon-
Mildred Searles came and got me to spend the afternoon and evening with them to celebrate Iliff's birthday*
Aunt Parmeal^ and Susie was there-
and Donald, Francis and little Donnie to supper**
*Iliff's birthday was April 29th. Mine is April 24th & I am having my 40th birthday party today 78 years after my grandfather's 39th birthday party.
^Mom says her name was actually Pamelia Apgar, & she died in 1937.
**Frances is Mildred Searles' sister. She married Donald Sharpsteen & had one son also named Donald. Frances died in a tuberculosis sanitarium in the Adirondacks a few years after this. Donald remarried & Donnie didn't have contact with his mother's family until he was in college.
Harry took Clara, Mother, & Aunty top Half Acre for afternoon-
Mildred Searles came and got me to spend the afternoon and evening with them to celebrate Iliff's birthday*
Aunt Parmeal^ and Susie was there-
and Donald, Francis and little Donnie to supper**
 |
*Iliff's birthday was April 29th. Mine is April 24th & I am having my 40th birthday party today 78 years after my grandfather's 39th birthday party.
^Mom says her name was actually Pamelia Apgar, & she died in 1937.
**Frances is Mildred Searles' sister. She married Donald Sharpsteen & had one son also named Donald. Frances died in a tuberculosis sanitarium in the Adirondacks a few years after this. Donald remarried & Donnie didn't have contact with his mother's family until he was in college.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Saturday, April 25, 1936
plesant but windy south
Harry took Clara, Mother, & Aunty to Ithaca to see the Mutt Parade* this forenoon
I stayed home and made crabapple pie and mopped the kitchen and got dinner and pressed Mothers black dress-
I done all the chores
Mother has been angry and nervous because Clara worked in front south room this P.M.
*This is exactly what it sounds like. The Ithaca Mutt Pararde started in 1932 in celebration for Be-Kind-to-Animals week. By 1936, it was in its 5th year with over 400 dogs participating. Other animals, like goats, rabbits, cats, & chickens participated as well, but only non-pedigreed dogs were eligible for the 33 prizes. 1st prize went to a white Shepherd Collie named Laddie (Elsie Austen, owner), while 2nd place went to an English Setter named Don (Jean Fetter, owner).
Harry took Clara, Mother, & Aunty to Ithaca to see the Mutt Parade* this forenoon
I stayed home and made crabapple pie and mopped the kitchen and got dinner and pressed Mothers black dress-
I done all the chores
Mother has been angry and nervous because Clara worked in front south room this P.M.
 |
| Logan- white Collie mix- 2010^ |
*This is exactly what it sounds like. The Ithaca Mutt Pararde started in 1932 in celebration for Be-Kind-to-Animals week. By 1936, it was in its 5th year with over 400 dogs participating. Other animals, like goats, rabbits, cats, & chickens participated as well, but only non-pedigreed dogs were eligible for the 33 prizes. 1st prize went to a white Shepherd Collie named Laddie (Elsie Austen, owner), while 2nd place went to an English Setter named Don (Jean Fetter, owner).
The Cornell Daily Sun, Volume 53, Number 139, 14 April 1933- http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/cornell?a=d&d=CDS19330414.2.53
The Cornell Daily Sun, Volume 56, Number 137, 7 April 1936- http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/cornell?a=d&d=CDS19360407.2.52&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------#
The Cornell Daily Sun, Volume 56, Number 154, 27 April 1936- http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/cornell?a=d&d=CDS19360427.2.56#
^image from I Want a Pound Dog blog- http://iwantapounddog.blogspot.com/2010/11/unnamed-white-collie.html
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Friday, April 24, 1936
plesant all day
Harry, Aunty, and I cleaned door yard /\nearly all day
Harry sowed lime* on back yard-
Charles drawed up the wood and drew away one truck load of junk-
Clara came 10 p.m. tonight
Mother has been good today
*Lots of yard work still happening. Harry was probably spreading lime to even out the pH of an acidic lawn. Here is some information about spreading lime for a great lawn: "Applications of lime on established lawns may be made at any time of the year, the most favorable time of the year being fall, winter, or early spring, in that order. If applied when the soil is too wet, it is difficult to obtain an even distribution."
Harry, Aunty, and I cleaned door yard /\nearly all day
Harry sowed lime* on back yard-
Charles drawed up the wood and drew away one truck load of junk-
Clara came 10 p.m. tonight
Mother has been good today
 |
| Lime spread on a lawn |
*Lots of yard work still happening. Harry was probably spreading lime to even out the pH of an acidic lawn. Here is some information about spreading lime for a great lawn: "Applications of lime on established lawns may be made at any time of the year, the most favorable time of the year being fall, winter, or early spring, in that order. If applied when the soil is too wet, it is difficult to obtain an even distribution."
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Thursday, April 23, 1936
plesant all day
Harry burned over the orchard and picked up the north side of yard-
Aunty ate too many prunes* so did not feel well today-
I made tapioca custard and picked up some junk and done all the chores.
Mother was good all day
*Oh no, Aunty! I don't know if they still had an outhouse, or inside plumbing.
Harry burned over the orchard and picked up the north side of yard-
Aunty ate too many prunes* so did not feel well today-
I made tapioca custard and picked up some junk and done all the chores.
Mother was good all day
*Oh no, Aunty! I don't know if they still had an outhouse, or inside plumbing.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Wednesday, April 22, 1936
Cold but plesant
washed Mothers wool dress
Harry came with a hay buyer to look at hay and took him back to Auburn then Harry came back to work in yard-
Iliff came and we went to Ithaca for afternoon
Mrs. Evans and Elenora came to call-
Mother has been good all day-
washed Mothers wool dress
Harry came with a hay buyer to look at hay and took him back to Auburn then Harry came back to work in yard-
Iliff came and we went to Ithaca for afternoon
Mrs. Evans and Elenora came to call-
Mother has been good all day-
Monday, April 21, 2014
Tuesday, April 21, 1936
Rainy and cold all day
clear sky and stars shining this eve-
Done all the chores and made corn strach custards and stewed the last phenix apples*
Rec'd letter and $15.00ncheck from Clara pays from March 24 to April 13-
Mother has been quiet all day-
*I cannot find a listing for a phenix/phoenix apple. One site says that there are over 735 variety of apples, of which only about 50 are grown in any number. That's 6.8% of the apple varieties being grown now than in 1892! My dad, who worked in a apple orchard for a number of years, has never heard of this apple. It's possible it was a local name, or that it is no longer cultivated.
http://www.orangepippin.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apple_cultivars
clear sky and stars shining this eve-
Done all the chores and made corn strach custards and stewed the last phenix apples*
Rec'd letter and $15.00ncheck from Clara pays from March 24 to April 13-
Mother has been quiet all day-
 |
| Cortland apple created in NY |
*I cannot find a listing for a phenix/phoenix apple. One site says that there are over 735 variety of apples, of which only about 50 are grown in any number. That's 6.8% of the apple varieties being grown now than in 1892! My dad, who worked in a apple orchard for a number of years, has never heard of this apple. It's possible it was a local name, or that it is no longer cultivated.
http://www.orangepippin.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apple_cultivars
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Monday, April 20, 1936
Plesant day all day
Took the leaves used as banking from the north wall of house and from around the dog house
worked in yard most of day-
Elnora Evans called this eve selling Girl Scout cookies*-
Aunty rec'd a letter from Clara
Mother has been good all day-
*You have now idea how excited I am that Irene has mentioned a girl in the neighborhood selling Girl Scout Cookies. My sister & I sold them for years. I helped my daughter sell them when she was a Brownie Scout. Now a bit of history from the Girl Scout website: Basically, Girls Scouts had been selling cookies to raise money for years, but in 1934 the council in Philadelphia started selling commercially made cookies. New York followed suit in 1935 & used the trefoil symbol. In 1936 (the year of Irene's diary), national got involved, & by 1937 125 councils were on board.
Took the leaves used as banking from the north wall of house and from around the dog house
worked in yard most of day-
Elnora Evans called this eve selling Girl Scout cookies*-
Aunty rec'd a letter from Clara
Mother has been good all day-
 |
| Box of Girl Scout cookies c. 1940 |
*You have now idea how excited I am that Irene has mentioned a girl in the neighborhood selling Girl Scout Cookies. My sister & I sold them for years. I helped my daughter sell them when she was a Brownie Scout. Now a bit of history from the Girl Scout website: Basically, Girls Scouts had been selling cookies to raise money for years, but in 1934 the council in Philadelphia started selling commercially made cookies. New York followed suit in 1935 & used the trefoil symbol. In 1936 (the year of Irene's diary), national got involved, & by 1937 125 councils were on board.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Sunday, April 19, 1936
Snow and hail this afternoon-
Made a chocolate pie for dinner-
See a woodchuck in the garden-
Cleaned dandruff* from Mothers head and washed her neck and ear this A.M-
Shampooed my own head and took a good bath this P.M.
Iliff called this evening-
Mother has been good today-
*I wonder what Irene used. A quick internet search brought up this site of homemade dandruff treatments, one of which states it was used in the 1930-1940s. It is quoted below. Who knew Listerine was so versatile!(I am not offering medical advise. I am simply looking for clues as to what Irene might have used for historical context.)
Directions…
Mix 2 parts water with 1 part Listerine. After you shampoo, spray or pour the solution onto your scalp, massage in well, and let sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with water."
^This image, which was originally posted to Flickr.com, was uploaded to Commons using Flickr upload bot on 08:16, 10 November 2012 (UTC) by Dreamyshade (talk). On that date it was licensed under the license below. Uploaded from http://flickr.com/photo/88884459@N00/8013850844 using Flickr upload bot - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Listerine_bottle.jpg
Made a chocolate pie for dinner-
See a woodchuck in the garden-
Cleaned dandruff* from Mothers head and washed her neck and ear this A.M-
Shampooed my own head and took a good bath this P.M.
Iliff called this evening-
Mother has been good today-
 |
| 1920s Listerine bottle- glass^ |
*I wonder what Irene used. A quick internet search brought up this site of homemade dandruff treatments, one of which states it was used in the 1930-1940s. It is quoted below. Who knew Listerine was so versatile!(I am not offering medical advise. I am simply looking for clues as to what Irene might have used for historical context.)
"5. Utilize Listerine
Listerine was actually created in 1879 by a doctor in Missouri and
used as a powerful surgical antiseptic for dentists. When the good
doctor sold it to a pharmaceutical company, it uses broadened and it
became the first over-the-counter mouth wash ever sold in the United
States. In the 1930’s and ‘40s, one its original purposes was also to
fight dandruff. It may seem random, but consider that Listerine fights
fungus, and one of the most common cause of dandruff is an overabundance
of…you guessed it, fungus...Directions…
Mix 2 parts water with 1 part Listerine. After you shampoo, spray or pour the solution onto your scalp, massage in well, and let sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with water."
^This image, which was originally posted to Flickr.com, was uploaded to Commons using Flickr upload bot on 08:16, 10 November 2012 (UTC) by Dreamyshade (talk). On that date it was licensed under the license below. Uploaded from http://flickr.com/photo/88884459@N00/8013850844 using Flickr upload bot - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Listerine_bottle.jpg
Friday, April 18, 2014
Saturday, April 18, 1936
Snow on the ground this morning but melted off by noon-
Snowed some all day but melted as it fell.
Made tapioca custard and 32 cup cakes* and stewed apples-
Swept and dusted and mopped the kitchen-
and done all the chores as usual-
Mother has been fairly good today
*Considering the amount of baking Irene did weekly, I think she would be proud of her pastry chef, great-granddaughter, Heather Dolton, who created the cupcakes in the picture above.
Snowed some all day but melted as it fell.
Made tapioca custard and 32 cup cakes* and stewed apples-
Swept and dusted and mopped the kitchen-
and done all the chores as usual-
Mother has been fairly good today
 |
| Cupcakes by Heather Dolton |
*Considering the amount of baking Irene did weekly, I think she would be proud of her pastry chef, great-granddaughter, Heather Dolton, who created the cupcakes in the picture above.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Friday, April 17, 1936
Cold and windy with rain this evening-
Done all the chores and regular work-
Mended stockings and petticoats* today-
Mother has been fairly good all day but is difficult this evening-
*Petticoats, or underskirts, were not overly common in the 1920s & 1930s for everyday wear, so maybe Irene is talking more about slips. But she does actually mentions making a slip on March 17, 1936.
Done all the chores and regular work-
Mended stockings and petticoats* today-
Mother has been fairly good all day but is difficult this evening-
*Petticoats, or underskirts, were not overly common in the 1920s & 1930s for everyday wear, so maybe Irene is talking more about slips. But she does actually mentions making a slip on March 17, 1936.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Thursday, April 16, 1936
Cold north west wind with flurries of snow* at times-
made a lemon pie this morning and done the chores as usual-
measured the couch for tape to make a new cover and wrote a letter to Clara-
Finished the ironing this afternoon-
Mother has been very good today-
*Well, Irene, we got more than flurries. We got an inch of snow overnight after a lovely weekend in the 70s.
made a lemon pie this morning and done the chores as usual-
measured the couch for tape to make a new cover and wrote a letter to Clara-
Finished the ironing this afternoon-
Mother has been very good today-
 |
| About an inch of snow fell in Greenwich, NY on April 15-16, 2014 |
*Well, Irene, we got more than flurries. We got an inch of snow overnight after a lovely weekend in the 70s.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Wednesday, April 15, 1936
Plesant but cloudy with rain this evening-
Thunder showers during the night-
I done part of the ironing this morning and stewed apples and got the meals-
I carried away leaves from kitchen wall and cleaned out the stones and raked the bed of Forsythia* this P.M. Mother has been quiet and lovely-
*Image can be seen HERE. 2007-04-19 21:51 JGHowes 960×480×8 (246394 bytes) 50-year old Forsythia in Baltimore, Md., March, 2003. photo by [[User:JGHowes]] == Licensing == {{attribution|James G. Howes}}
Thunder showers during the night-
I done part of the ironing this morning and stewed apples and got the meals-
I carried away leaves from kitchen wall and cleaned out the stones and raked the bed of Forsythia* this P.M. Mother has been quiet and lovely-
 |
| A 50 year old Forsythia bush- ATTRIBUTION. © by James G. Howes, 2003* |
*Image can be seen HERE. 2007-04-19 21:51 JGHowes 960×480×8 (246394 bytes) 50-year old Forsythia in Baltimore, Md., March, 2003. photo by [[User:JGHowes]] == Licensing == {{attribution|James G. Howes}}
Monday, April 14, 2014
Tuesday, April 14, 1936
Plesant but begins to rain 5 o'clock P.M.
Done a big washing and made butterscotch custard and stewed prunes-
Mrs. Evans called a few minutes this afternoon
raked in the north side yard about an hour this P.M.
Mother was fairly good about the washing-
Mother got letter from Clara
Done a big washing and made butterscotch custard and stewed prunes-
Mrs. Evans called a few minutes this afternoon
raked in the north side yard about an hour this P.M.
Mother was fairly good about the washing-
Mother got letter from Clara
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Monday, April 13, 1936
Rainy and cloudy all morning but getting clear this afternoon so Mother and I went for a walk and called on Marie Barron in the gothic* house.
Mother has been restless all day.
I rec'd Easter card from Bertha George & family-
Earl Beckwith has dislocated his shoulder-
*Gothic architecture was typically created in stone, however in the late-19th century carpenters in the US adapted to style for timber houses. The steam-powered jig saw allowed for intricate "gingerbread" type designs to be cut out of wood & applied to houses.
Mother has been restless all day.
I rec'd Easter card from Bertha George & family-
Earl Beckwith has dislocated his shoulder-
 |
| William Rose House, Stony Point, NY (image by Daniel Case 2008) |
*Gothic architecture was typically created in stone, however in the late-19th century carpenters in the US adapted to style for timber houses. The steam-powered jig saw allowed for intricate "gingerbread" type designs to be cut out of wood & applied to houses.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Sunday, April 12, 1936
Easter Sunday
Rainy this afternoon
Baked a pie shell and filled it with strawberries sweetened and covered with whipped cream
Had short steak and asparagas*
Clara took Aunty over to see Dr. Stuard this morning-
Clara left us at 1 o'clock-
and Harry left us at 3 o'clock P.M.
Mother has been good today-
Iliff came this eve
Crocuses are in bloom
*Asparagus is a spring vegetable. My father hates it because his mother always boiled it & the smell made him ill. Mom & I love it & make it frequently on the grill drizzled with balsamic vinegar. The other day Dad told me he would try it the next time I make it. Victory!
Rainy this afternoon
Baked a pie shell and filled it with strawberries sweetened and covered with whipped cream
Had short steak and asparagas*
Clara took Aunty over to see Dr. Stuard this morning-
Clara left us at 1 o'clock-
and Harry left us at 3 o'clock P.M.
Mother has been good today-
Iliff came this eve
Crocuses are in bloom
 |
| Easter Eggs by Jan Kameníček 2006 |
*Asparagus is a spring vegetable. My father hates it because his mother always boiled it & the smell made him ill. Mom & I love it & make it frequently on the grill drizzled with balsamic vinegar. The other day Dad told me he would try it the next time I make it. Victory!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Saturday, April 11, 1936
Cloudy
Clara and Harry carried storage things from front south room this forenoon-
I done the house work and got meals and done the chores-
We all went for ride this afternoon to Genoa to see Dr. Stuard but did not find him home-
Clara gave Mother a good bath tonight-
Mother has been pretty good-
*Google maps
Clara and Harry carried storage things from front south room this forenoon-
I done the house work and got meals and done the chores-
We all went for ride this afternoon to Genoa to see Dr. Stuard but did not find him home-
Clara gave Mother a good bath tonight-
Mother has been pretty good-
 |
| Ludlowville to Genoa in central NY* |
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Friday, April 10, 1936
damp and cloudy
cooked chicken dinner with strawberry shortcake
Clara done up carpet and old clothing to send to Olsen Rug Co*-
to make a rug for front south room-
Harry took Mother and Clara to Ithaca this afternoon and Harry and Clara went to movie of Cecil Rhoodes^ this eve-
Mother was good
*"Olson Rug Company was established in 1874. The manufacturing mill was located in Chicago at Diversey Ave. and Pulaski. During the war era, when raw material was scarce, people would send in their old wool rugs, rags, clothing etc. and Olson Rug would turn them into a beautiful area rug." (Quote & above image from History of Olson Rug of Chicago)
^Cecil RHODES was British businessman involved in the diamond mines in Africa. In 1936, a biopic came out about him called Rhodes of Africa starring Walter Huston as Rhodes. Presumably, this is the movie Harry & Clara went to see.
cooked chicken dinner with strawberry shortcake
Clara done up carpet and old clothing to send to Olsen Rug Co*-
to make a rug for front south room-
Harry took Mother and Clara to Ithaca this afternoon and Harry and Clara went to movie of Cecil Rhoodes^ this eve-
Mother was good
 |
| Ad for Olson Rug Co making recycled rugs* |
*"Olson Rug Company was established in 1874. The manufacturing mill was located in Chicago at Diversey Ave. and Pulaski. During the war era, when raw material was scarce, people would send in their old wool rugs, rags, clothing etc. and Olson Rug would turn them into a beautiful area rug." (Quote & above image from History of Olson Rug of Chicago)
^Cecil RHODES was British businessman involved in the diamond mines in Africa. In 1936, a biopic came out about him called Rhodes of Africa starring Walter Huston as Rhodes. Presumably, this is the movie Harry & Clara went to see.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Thursday, April 9, 1936
plesant all day but rain this evening-
Clara came 9-30 last eve and brought an Azalia tree and a Hydrangia for Easter-
brought curtains for front south room and material for kitchen curtains and Mothers chair-
Harry came 2 P.M. after lunch and brought Easter lillies and Hyacinth* and strawberries
Mother has been happy all day
*That's a whole lot of plants. How about looking at the "meaning" behind these flowers- Language of Flowers
Clara came 9-30 last eve and brought an Azalia tree and a Hydrangia for Easter-
brought curtains for front south room and material for kitchen curtains and Mothers chair-
Harry came 2 P.M. after lunch and brought Easter lillies and Hyacinth* and strawberries
Mother has been happy all day
 |
| Azaleas in bloom- summer |
*That's a whole lot of plants. How about looking at the "meaning" behind these flowers- Language of Flowers
- Azalea: Temperance
- Hyacinth: Sport, Game, Play
- Hyacinth, Blue: Constancy
- Hyacinth, White: Unobtrusive loveliness
- Hydrangea (Hortensia): A boaster, Heartlessness, You are cold
- Lily: Beauty, Elegance, Sweetness
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Wednesday, April 8, 1936
plesant today but too windy this forenoon to burn brush-
Harry grubbed out wild sprouts from the yard and killed a rooster for us-
I made oat flake cookies and a layer cake and dressed the rooster-
Harry went to Auburn this afternoon -
to come back tomorrow-
Mother has been fine today-
Expect Clara tonight for Easter vacation*-
*Clara was a school teacher. Easter Sunday fell on April 12th in 1936.
1936 Easter
Harry grubbed out wild sprouts from the yard and killed a rooster for us-
I made oat flake cookies and a layer cake and dressed the rooster-
Harry went to Auburn this afternoon -
to come back tomorrow-
Mother has been fine today-
Expect Clara tonight for Easter vacation*-
*Clara was a school teacher. Easter Sunday fell on April 12th in 1936.
1936 Easter
Monday, April 7, 2014
Tuesday, April 7, 1936
Calm and plesant this forenoon changing to north wind and snow this afternoon-
Iliff came and worked 6 hrs. burning bush and part of orchard grass-
I made apple pudding and macaroni & cheese* and roast beef for dinner with asparagas
Mother was fairly good today
*While doing a bit of internet research for this post, I found a recipe I liked, but the information on the blog was erroneous. Seriously people, just take a few seconds & look things up if you don't know. I found this article by the Smithsonian which came out 1 1/2 years before the blog post I referenced. Anyway, who knew Thomas Jefferson served mac & cheese when he was president in 1802? I think that is cool. Irene wouldn't have been serving Kraft Macaroni & Cheese on this day because it didn't come out until the following year.I opted for this recipe seen below, because it calls for making a cheese sauce & includes mustard like my mom's. (Image from Moms Who Think website.)
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat the milk (do not boil).
3. Add the butter. When butter is melted into the milk, add the flour while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture is smooth.
4. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, dry mustard, black pepper, 2 1/2 cups of the mild cheddar cheese and 2 1/2 cups of the sharp cheddar cheese. Set cheese sauce aside.
5. Bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add the macaroni, cook for the time specified on the package, making sure not to overcook it. Drain immediately and rinse under cold running water. Drain well.
6. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.
7. Pour the mixture into a 3 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mild cheddar and 1/2 cup sharp cheddar on top.
8. Bake until browned on top, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Iliff came and worked 6 hrs. burning bush and part of orchard grass-
I made apple pudding and macaroni & cheese* and roast beef for dinner with asparagas
Mother was fairly good today
 |
| Baked macaroni and cheese* |
*While doing a bit of internet research for this post, I found a recipe I liked, but the information on the blog was erroneous. Seriously people, just take a few seconds & look things up if you don't know. I found this article by the Smithsonian which came out 1 1/2 years before the blog post I referenced. Anyway, who knew Thomas Jefferson served mac & cheese when he was president in 1802? I think that is cool. Irene wouldn't have been serving Kraft Macaroni & Cheese on this day because it didn't come out until the following year.I opted for this recipe seen below, because it calls for making a cheese sauce & includes mustard like my mom's. (Image from Moms Who Think website.)
Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
4 cups whole milk
5 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups grated mild cheddar cheese
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 pound elbow macaroni
Directions:5 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups grated mild cheddar cheese
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 pound elbow macaroni
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat the milk (do not boil).
3. Add the butter. When butter is melted into the milk, add the flour while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture is smooth.
4. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, dry mustard, black pepper, 2 1/2 cups of the mild cheddar cheese and 2 1/2 cups of the sharp cheddar cheese. Set cheese sauce aside.
5. Bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add the macaroni, cook for the time specified on the package, making sure not to overcook it. Drain immediately and rinse under cold running water. Drain well.
6. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.
7. Pour the mixture into a 3 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mild cheddar and 1/2 cup sharp cheddar on top.
8. Bake until browned on top, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Monday, April 6, 1936
Monday rainy and cold and damp-
Harry fixed lock on garage door and grubbed out wild stuff from the front yard and stopped at 4-30 p.M. and took Mother and I to Ithaca with 7 doz eggs @18 [cents]*-
Mother has been fine all day
I combed her hair and washed her neck and ears etc.
*I found an interesting source to verify the cost of eggs- The Central Virginia Electric Cooperative.
Harry fixed lock on garage door and grubbed out wild stuff from the front yard and stopped at 4-30 p.M. and took Mother and I to Ithaca with 7 doz eggs @18 [cents]*-
Mother has been fine all day
I combed her hair and washed her neck and ears etc.
 |
| Notice the cost of eggs* |
*I found an interesting source to verify the cost of eggs- The Central Virginia Electric Cooperative.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Sunday, April 5, 1936
Sunday-
cold and coudy with rain this eve-
Harry Baker came this morning-
went for a ride this afternoon-
called at Searles' to see Iliff and went to Groton-
called on Bertha Suley on the way back.
Had strawberry shortcake for dinner and asparagas*-
Mother has been unhappy today
*Interesting combination. I guess Irene lives by the motto "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." by Ernestine Ulmer.
cold and coudy with rain this eve-
Harry Baker came this morning-
went for a ride this afternoon-
called at Searles' to see Iliff and went to Groton-
called on Bertha Suley on the way back.
Had strawberry shortcake for dinner and asparagas*-
Mother has been unhappy today
*Interesting combination. I guess Irene lives by the motto "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." by Ernestine Ulmer.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Saturday, April 4, 1936
Cold and plesant all day-
Sap from the broken maple limbs hung in icicles* all day-
Made molasses cookies and done usual Saturday cleaning
Mother has been fine today-
*Image from Litchfield.com
Sap from the broken maple limbs hung in icicles* all day-
Made molasses cookies and done usual Saturday cleaning
Mother has been fine today-
 |
| Nuthatch samples frozen sap in Litchfield, CT* |
*Image from Litchfield.com
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Friday, April 3, 1936
Snow squalls and cold wind all day-
Iliff came and cut plum trees and trimmed around the garden-
worked 5 hours-
Mother has been unhappy all day but has not made trouble-
I mended on Mothers sweater-
Today was my mothers birthday- born April 3- 1848*
*Here is the first bit of proof that "Mother" is in fact NOT Irene's mother, which I knew. Irene's mother was Ophelia Anne Smith (nee Gilbert). Ophelia was born, as Irene stated, on April 3, 1848, to Washington B. Gilbert (1821-1898) & Hannah E. Gilbert (nee Bullock 1819-1906). Ophelia married Irvin W. Smith in 1870. After Ophelia's death in 1894 (she is buried in McGraw, Cortland County, NY with her parents), Irvin remarried & had more children. My mother believes Clara is the daughter of one of Irene's half-sisters from her father's second wife. We believe "Mother" may be the second wife. (Image by BJH & posted on FindAGrave.)
Happy Birthday Ophelia!
Iliff came and cut plum trees and trimmed around the garden-
worked 5 hours-
Mother has been unhappy all day but has not made trouble-
I mended on Mothers sweater-
Today was my mothers birthday- born April 3- 1848*
 |
| Ophelia A. Smith's grave (image by BJH*) |
*Here is the first bit of proof that "Mother" is in fact NOT Irene's mother, which I knew. Irene's mother was Ophelia Anne Smith (nee Gilbert). Ophelia was born, as Irene stated, on April 3, 1848, to Washington B. Gilbert (1821-1898) & Hannah E. Gilbert (nee Bullock 1819-1906). Ophelia married Irvin W. Smith in 1870. After Ophelia's death in 1894 (she is buried in McGraw, Cortland County, NY with her parents), Irvin remarried & had more children. My mother believes Clara is the daughter of one of Irene's half-sisters from her father's second wife. We believe "Mother" may be the second wife. (Image by BJH & posted on FindAGrave.)
Happy Birthday Ophelia!
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Thursday, April 2, 1936
Rained
Done chores and pressed and mended Mothers wool dress-
Mr. Harvey Allbright from Lansingville called selling religious books*-
very interesting man-
Mother has been good today
Wrote a letter to Clara-
* Irene was visited by a traveling salesman! Sounds like she had a good chat with him. That must be where my dad gets it from.
Done chores and pressed and mended Mothers wool dress-
Mr. Harvey Allbright from Lansingville called selling religious books*-
very interesting man-
Mother has been good today
Wrote a letter to Clara-
* Irene was visited by a traveling salesman! Sounds like she had a good chat with him. That must be where my dad gets it from.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Wednesday, April 1, 1936
Cold but plesant but changing to rain 8-30 P.M.
Aunty and Florence Searles both Fooled me*-
I made two elderberry pies and a molasses cake-
combed Mothers hair etc-
Mother got mad at dinner time and Iliff took her in car to brick house-
Iliff and I went to Ithaca and got groceries and then got Mother-
Robert Bower called this eve to see Clara
*Darn! I wish Irene recorded what the pranks/ jokes were. For a taste of the kind of April Fools' Day joke the media was playing in 1936, check out this hoax from the Honolulu Star- Bulletin.
^Free coloring page can be found on Kids Coloring.
Aunty and Florence Searles both Fooled me*-
I made two elderberry pies and a molasses cake-
combed Mothers hair etc-
Mother got mad at dinner time and Iliff took her in car to brick house-
Iliff and I went to Ithaca and got groceries and then got Mother-
Robert Bower called this eve to see Clara
 |
| April Fools' Day is often portrayed with a jester^ |
*Darn! I wish Irene recorded what the pranks/ jokes were. For a taste of the kind of April Fools' Day joke the media was playing in 1936, check out this hoax from the Honolulu Star- Bulletin.
^Free coloring page can be found on Kids Coloring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)