Saturday, January 11, 1936

Charles took Aunty and Anna to Ellen Beckwith Lyon's funeral. Susie Harrington called this afternoon-
I made a plain cake* and cleaned the kitchen- sewed on Mothers apron this P.M.
Mild and plesant all day-
Done all Aunty's chores today as it was icy-

Plain Cake

 * I was unsure what a "plain cake" might be. Is it just a yellow cake? Is it an unfrosted cake? I googled it & low & behold, there are many "plain cake" recipes. I was right. It is exactly as it sounds: a plain cake. (Which I think is my favorite.) Here is one I found. (125g = 1 cup/ 180 degrees C = 350 degrees F)

Thursday, January 9, 1936

Strong south wind with snow turning to rain this eve- Shovelled paths and done chores for Aunty-
Mother has been good all day
Iliff called* this eve-
Ellen Lyon^ died yesterday 2 A.M.
Lena Hamilton her daughter will miss her terribly-
Mother has gone upstairs to sleep-



*I feel compelled to explain (particularly for young readers) that throughout this diary "called" refers to someone physically coming to the house "paying a call on," or visiting. Iliff was not calling his mother on the telephone.


^A quick search has left me nothing on Ellen Lyon. I was not able to find an obituary or a grave. I will keeping looking. I may have my mother look on Ancestry.com for me.