Friday, December 12, 2014

Saturday, December 12, 1936

Cloudy but plesant day
Mildred, Florence & Delbert came for me at 11 A.M.-
to go to Ithaca to Xmas shop-
Went to Victoria Hotel for dinner-
Met Howard & Ida Ammack in Hotel too
Iliff did not get home as he had Saturday work-
Telegraphed to Mildred
Had a nice afternoon-
but what a crowd-



Thursday, December 11, 2014

Friday, December 11, 1936

Rainy day-
Done all the Ironing today
Rec'd letter from Clara-
She is anxious to hear of Mother-
Mother has been good all day-
Aunty and I sorted Xmas cards* to send out this eve-


Hummel Christmas card 1936*

*< Image from http://polarbearstale.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmascard-1936.html >


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Thursday, December 10, 1936

Thawed all day-
Snow nearly gone-
I made Butterscotch pudding and oatflake cookies-
Aunty slipped on the ice and fell this morning-
was I scared
bruised her hip a little-
Mother very good all day-
Luther Bower called looking for Harry to sell his hay-
Wrote letter to Clara and Aunty wrote too-


Wednesday, December 9, 1936

Strong south wind cold-
Done the washing today-
Mother very good about it-
Rec'd letter and some postage stamps from Iliff-
Leroy Bower finished drawing the corn from the field-
Mother had nose bleed this eve-


                                                                       

Monday, December 8, 2014

Tuesday, December 8, 1936

plesant but cold
6 [degrees] above zero this morning
Made a grape pie* and macaroni and cheese for dinner-
Harry put weather strips on my bedroom door this morning-
He went home to Half Acre this afternoon-
Susie Harring called this afternoon-
She invited me too come to church-
I got warmer shirt and another skirt on Mother this morning-
She has been good today-

Grape Pie recipe by Irene Bouchard*



*Grape pie is a Central NY tradition. Check out this recipe featured in the Fall/Winter 2002 edition of Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore.




Sunday, December 7, 2014

Monday, December 7, 1936

plesant but cold
10 [degrees] above zero this morning and again this eve-
Harry and I went to Ithaca this forenoon-
He got Xmas^ present for Clara and arties and ash pan for Auntie-
He went back and changed Arties this afternoon-
Had a fine time
Mother was good all day-
*Met Edna Holmes- She lives in Cortland-



^"Xmas" is not a non-religious shorthand for Christmas. The "X" is actually an abbreviation of the Greek word for Christ. For more info check out these 2 links. The Origin of Xmas. & The "X" in "Xmas" Doesn't Take the "Christ" out of "Christmas".

*This is written up the left hand, inside margin of the diary entry.


Saturday, December 6, 2014

Sunday, December 6, 1936

South wind & cold but thaws this evening-
Baked smoked ham slices in milk for dinner & creamed onions-
Harry shelled 2 bushels of corn in the sheller*-
Claude Bergdoff called to see Harry-
I combed Mothers hair and washed her neck etc-
She has been very good today-


Ad for corn shellers*- Sears 1936

Friday, December 5, 2014

Saturday, December 5, 1936

Saturday-
plesant but cloudy & cold-
Made a rice pudding-
Harry and I went to Ithaca this afternoon-
Went to the  Temple Theater and see George O'Brian in "Daniel Boone"*.
It was fine-
Mother very good today-



*Daniel Boone (1936) with George O'Brien, Heather Angel, & John Carradine.


Thursday, December 4, 2014

Friday, December 4, 1936

Cloudy with snow covering trees and shrubs
Harry took pictures this forenoon and done all the chores-
I rec'd letter from Iliff-
Mother has been good all day-
I sent letter to Iliff-



Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Thursday, December 3, 1936

Cloudy & thawed in middle of day-
colder this eve-
Made cornstarch cup custard
cooked soup bone and a roast of beef for dinner-
Had soup for supper.
Harry shovelled paths all around-
Saved me a back ache-
Mother good all day but difficult this eve-



Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Wednesday, December 2, 1936

Snowed all day
thaws this eve
Mother rec'd letter from Clara
I made oatflake cookies and creamed onions this forenoon
Combed Mothers hair and done general work-
Shovelled walks this afternoon-
Harry came before supper to stay all night-



Monday, December 1, 2014

Tuesday, December 1, 1936

4 [degrees] below zero-
south wind
dinner and creamed celery
Sent a letter to Iliff and rec'd one from him-
Temperature rising this eve
12 [degrees] above zero at nine o'clock P.M.



Sunday, November 30, 2014

Monday, November 30, 1936

Blizzard & cold 5 [degrees]
I washed out four pair of stockings and mended them and button holed Mothers slippers-
Milk bottles frozen hard*-
We have all been tired today
Mother has been good-
but a little difficult toward Aunty about the kitchen-
this evening-
Sent letters to Chester and Hattie Morey-

Frozen milk bottles and kitten- Chicago, 1947*

*Image from the Chicago Tribune. < http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-140207-classic-cold-chicago-pictures/ >




Saturday, November 29, 2014

Sunday, November 29, 1936

Sunday-
plesant
Harry took Clara to Auburn to meet the 3-20 bus to Syracuse this afternoon-
I made banana cream pie for dinner-
Mother has been very quiet and drousy all day
Dr ordered her to sit with her feet up in a chair-
and takes four kinds of medicine-
Strange to eat supper just us 3-



Saturday, November 28, 1936

Harry took Clara, Mother & Aunty to Dr. Price and had their feet treated and to Dr. Moore and had a thorough examination-
Aunty is better but Mothers heart is very bad and her limbs are swelling-
I stayed home and done the work and had 2 o'clock dinner-
Mother nervous & excited all day-


Thursday, November 27, 2014

Friday, November 27, 1936

plesant & cold 12 [degrees] above zero this eve-
Made Duck puff with a cup of chopped duck meat*- very good
Fried Brazil nut meats in a little butter and salt very good-
and had dates to serve this evening-
Had fire in Auntys' living room-
Clara washed and hung the curtains in Auntys' north room
Harry russeled wood-
Mother good

Roasted Duck in Puff Pastry from The Toasted Sprinkle blog*


*Most of the duck puff pastry recipes I came across seemed too fussy for Irene, so I chose this one. It specifically talks about using leftovers. Rosted Duck in Puff Pastry.


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thursday, November 26, 1936

Thanksgiving day
Clara came this morning by train from N.Y. City 7-15 -
Harry met her at the depot 6 o'clock
mistake in change of timetables
Stormy day with snow squalls
Duck dinner with dressing*
wonderfull dinner that all enjoyed-
Clara gave Mother a bath

Stuffing recipes from 1936 as they appeared in the LA Times*

*Stuffing (or dressing) recipes from 1936 < image from the LA Times blog- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2008/11/thanksgiving--2.html >




Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Wednesday, November 25, 1936

plesant & thawed
I made a pumpkin pie & a shell and a layer cake with lemon filling
Harry came for dinner & Mother & I went to Ithaca with him for supplies-
I got me some stockings-
I rec'd a nice letter from Iliff today-



Monday, November 24, 2014

Tuesday, November 24, 1936

plesant day & warmer
Thawed a little today-
about 4 inches of snow this morning-
Made oatflake cookies and stewed pumpkin this forenoon
sent letter to Iliff-
Combed Mothers hair and swept & dusted upstairs this afternoon-
Mother tired but good all day-
She prowled all night last night so was very tired-
gave her a pill-


Monday, November 23, 1936

plesant day & cold
Rec'd letter from Iliff and also Clara with check for $20.00 paid to Dec- 2-
I got parsnips from gardens for dinner-
I erupted ashes in south room stove and laid kindling for fire in both stoves and swept up etc.getting ready for Thanks giving- Mother good


Letter from Clara to Irene dated Nov. 21, 1936

Pages 2 & 3 of the Nov. 21 letter to Irene

Page 4 of Clara's letter to Irene

Envelope showing Nov. 21, 1936 Newburgh, NY postmark