March 1949

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March 1, 1949 (Tues)

First day of March, but it did not come in like a lion. Yesterday was so cold and windy. We had to get up rather early 'cause Charlie had to butcher and I had to wash. Mike weighed 15 lbs this morning when I gave him his bath so he is beginning to gain weight again. He is learning to pat-a-cake now. This afternoon I did dishes, ironed, put things away and cleaned eggs. It was after 7 before Charlie got home. I didn't feel very good this evening - sorta sick to my stomach. So I just fixed some sausage sandwiches for Charlie. I did eat a few peaches but that was all. It was a little after 10 when I went to bed.

March 2, 1949 (Wed)

We didn't get up too early this morning - still tired from Monday night, I guess. This morning just fed my chickens as usual, did dishes, gave Mike a bath (still weighed 15 lbs), dusted and swept dining room and got dinner. Today is Ash Wednesday so we just had beans, cornbread, lettuce salad and jello. This afternoon dishes again, then I did my mending. I had quite a bit of it. I also cleaned eggs. Charlie fed Mike while I did dishes. Afterwards we played checkers and Charlie beat me three games. We went to bed fairly early - just a little after 9.

March 3, 1949 (Thurs)

Today is Margaret's birthday - she's 30 today. Goodness, it doesn't seem that she is that old already, but I guess she is. This morning I did dishes, gave Mike his breakfast and bath and wrote a letter to Evelyn. This afternoon we got cleaned up and went to N. Manchester - we never thought about the stores being closed on Thursday afternoons. So we went to South Whitley to the grocery. I also bought a birthday card for Margaret. We got home about 4. We had Texas Hash, peas, and rolls for supper. Didn't do much this evening except dishes. We finally went to bed about 9:30. We got a letter from Mother.

March 4, 1949 (Fri)

Oh, what a beautiful morning! It was such a nice day - so warm and sunny - it gives one Spring fever. I washed today and hung everything outside. I even washed the chenille rugs in the bedrooms - they dried so nice! This afternoon I did dishes, ironed, cleaned eggs and put clothes away. Dot called and wanted to know if I would take care of Johnny and Bobby tomorrow morning - I said I would. Charlie went to town this afternoon to put some money in the bank. Charlie's chores take him quite awhile now - he has five cows to milk now - besides the other chores to do. Charlie popped popcorn this evening while I did dishes. Then we ate popcorn and played pinochle - I won 2 games. It was about 10 when we went to bed.

March 5, 1949 (Sat)

It was another beautiful day - even though a little windy. Mike kicked his covers off the other night and I believe he caught a little cold then. It was about 10:30 when Dot brought Johnny and Bobby over. She got back about 12:30 - just as we had started eating so she ate dinner with us. This afternoon I thought I'll bake a great big angel food cake for tomorrow. So I mixed up a double batch and put in the overn. It rose so high it stuck to the top of the oven and made a mess out of the cake. So instead I baked an orange cake and a chocolate cake. Both turned out very well and so did the frostings. It was 9 before I got cakes baked, frosting made and dishes done. We just ate sandwiches and jello for supper. Charlie stayed in the house most of the afternoon so he could listen to the basketball games. We also listened to them this evening - Central and Wabash both got beat. It was about 10 when we went to bed.

March 6, 1949 (Sun)

Dot called at 7, and got us out of bed. Charlie did chores while I got things ready to take over to Dot and Bob's. I made an apple salad and gave Mike his bath - he only weighed 14 lbs 10 oz. - he was up to 15 lbs last week. It was about 10 when we left here. Mother, Dad, Margaret, Jess, Marjorie, David, Jimmy, and Betty Ann were there already. We had a delicious dinner - good old fried chicken. Just sat and talked this afternoon. Mom, Dad, etc. left about 4. Right after they left Florence and Ed Wygant came. It was about 5 when Charlie, Mike and I left. Mike's cold is a little worse, and he was very fussy today. While Charlie did chores, I just read the paper. We just ate a lunch this evening, listened to the radio and went to bed about 10.

March 7, 1949 (Mon)

A sunshiny day but a little chilly. I was rather lazy today. Spent much of the morning working a crossword puzzle. This afternoon I cleaned Saturday's, Sunday's and Monday's eggs. The hens are beginning to lay a little more now. Thank goodness. We also had sow who had 13 pigs today - just 9 of them lived. It takes Charlie about 2 hours now to do chores with the sows and pigs to take care of and 5 cows to milk. Mike didn't feel at all good today - he had a fever most of the day. He slept quite a lot and when he was awake he wanted me to hold him. He wouldn't eat today just drank water, orange juice and milk. This evening we just listened to the radio and went to bed about 9:30.

March 8, 1949 (Tues)

Charlie went butchering today - we are going to have a gilt butchered. I got my dishes done, and house straightened up and had just given Mike his breakfast and was getting ready to give him his bath when Bob brought Bobby and Johnny over. Dot and Bob are going to an all day district meeting of some kind so I took care of the boys. I didn't have too much trouble with my 3 boys today, but was still glad when Dorothy came after them at 5:00. It was about 6 when Charlie got home. It took him a long time to do chores 'cause we had one sow who had 15 pigs today. We had pork chops for supper - they tasted so good. It was 9:30 before we finished supper - so I just redded up the table, washed the milk buckets out and we went to bed. I weighed Johnny today, and he weighed 15 lbs with his clothes on. Getting to be a big boy.

March 9, 1949 (Wed)

After Charlie did chores, and after breakfast and I did the dishes, we got cleaned up. We took Mike over to Dot's and we went to N. Manchester. We took the gilt we had butchered to the locker. We also went to the grocery, drugstore and Elevator. By the time we got Mike and home again, it was about 1. We ate a lunch then. This afternoon I washed dishes, cleaned eggs etc. We just listened to the news and went to bed about 9:30.

March 10, 1949 (Thurs)

I was going to wash this morning, but it was so windy and cold that I decided not to. There was a lot of snow on the ground too. Our FM converter that we had ordered from Spiegels came today. Charlie spent all afternoon trying to connect it to our radio, but he couldn't get anything on it - we ordered an antenna too, but it didn't come today. This afternoon I cleaned the bedrooms and living room. The sweeper stopped running while I was cleaning, but Charlie jiggled it around a little and it started working again. I also cleaned eggs. I just worked on crossword puzzles this evening while Charlie listened to the radio. It was about 10 when we went to bed.

March 11, 1949 (Fri)

Today I fnally washed - it was still a chilly. Fern was down for a few minutes - she wanted the grass seeder but it wasn't here. Charlie hauled manure this morning. The antenna came today so Charlie spent all afternoon working on it. Charlie's Dad came after the sewing machine about 5 - he helped Charlie a little. I ironed, put clothes away and cleaned eggs this afternoon. We got a letter from Pauline today. Charlie didn't start chores till late so by the time he got done and we ate, it was time for bed. The radio still didn't work so Charlie is going to take it to N. Manchester in the morning.

March 12, 1949 (Sat)

A little warmer today. Charlie went to N. Manchester this morning. While he was gone, I did dishes and baked a pumpkin pie or rather had just put it in the oven till the gas ran out. I called Mr. Moser and he came right out so I got my pie baked in time for dinner. Charlie had the FM connected up wrong so it works alright now. We got a birth announcement from Marilyn and Kenny - they had a boy March 10th and they named him Richard Kenneth. He weighed 9 lbs 10 oz. This afternoon we listened to the Semi-final tourney. I did dishes and mopped and waxed the dining room and kitchen floors, did some mending and cleaned eggs. This evening we listened to the basketball game. Mike weighed 15 lbs again today - so he's gaining again now. It was 10:30 before we go to bed. I washed my hair.

March 13, 1949 (Sun)

We got up about 7. While Charlie did chores, I washed last night's dishes, peeled potatoes for dinner, gave Mike his breakfast and got cleaned up. We went to 10:15 Mass at St. Mary's. Charlie's folks were just leaving when we got there. It was high mass - Mike went to sleep during the sermon and slept during the rest of the mass. It was 12 when we got home. I had put the ham in the oven at 9:30 and it still wasn't done at 12:30. It was about one when we ate dinner. We were just sitting in the living room and I was just thinking I had better start doing dishes when Betty, Erv and Sue came. We had planned to go up there this evening, but we were very happy to see them. They have a new car - this one is a 1947 Oldsmobile - it certainly looks nice. They were going over to Betty's aunt for supper so they left here about 4:30. Betty said that Kathleen Brenizer Edwards had twin girls March 10th (same day Marilyn's baby was born). I was certainly surprised to hear that. It was 7:30 before Charlie got chores done and he went over to Bracken and got some cokes and ice cream. We had that and ham sandwiches for supper. It was about 10 when we went to bed. Betty and Erv couldn't get over how lively Mike was today - he certainly was a little show-off.

March 14, 1949 (Mon)

Mother called a little after 7 and said that Millie had a girl this morning at 12:15. She wanted a boy although Aunt Elma was hoping for a girl. I guess they are going to name the baby Sandra Kay. If Mike had been a girl, he would have been named Sandra Louise. I called Dorothy then and told her. They had gone up to see Grandpa Baker yesterday afternoon. It started about to be a nice day, but ended up rather chilly and dreary. This morning I did dishes, gave Mike his breakfast and bath, cleaned yesterday's eggs, and dusted and swept a little. We had strawberry shortcake for dinner, and it was certainly good. I didn't do a whole lot this afternoon - mostly just washed dinner dishes and worked crossword puzzles. It takes Charlie around 2 hours to do chores so by the time he finishes, we eat and I do dishes, its time for bed. We went to bed about quarter after 9.

March 15, 1949 (Tues)

What a surprise to get up this morning and see the ground covered with a snow. It snowed off and on all day. Per usual Charlie butchered and I washed. The washing seemed to go so fast this morning. By 10:00 I had my washing all done, clothes hung up, washer cleaned and put away and had given Mike his breakfast. I cleaned eggs then - yesterday's. We got a card from the Express Co. in S. Whitley that Mike's wardrobe chest (which we ordered from (Spiegels) is there so we'll have to pick it up - I'm anxious to see it. This afternoon I ironed and put clothes away. Charlie didn't come and didn't come so about 8 I popped some popcorn and ate that and read magazines. It was 8:30 when Charlie got home - he finished up the popcorn and it was 9 before he started and 11 before he finished. We went to bed soon after. The assessor, a lady from Red Cross and a magazine salesman were all here today.

March 16, 1949 (Wed)

We got up about 6:30 this morning and I cleaned yesterday's eggs before the eggman came - had 27 doz. eggs for him. Ray came down - still looking for the grass seeder. It was so cold, windy and snowy today - a nice day to sit by the fire. Charlie hauled manure till it got too cold. Mike weighed 15 lbs 2 oz.this morning - the best yet. We got a letter from Mother and a birth announcement from Millie and Jim. This afternoon I mended a couple pair of overallls of Charlie's and darned socks. I also baked some Coconut Butterscotch Bars - I was very disappointed in them, but Charlie seemed to like them very well. Didn't do anything again this evening - just went to bed about 9:30.

March 17, 1949 (Thurs)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Patrick, by the way is Charlie's choice for our baby's name - if its a boy - I'm still holding out for Dennis, but then that's a long way off yet. Everything looked so pretty outside this morning - snow and frost all over the trees. Did my usual chores this morning. Mike weighed 15 lbs 3 oz. today. We got a letter from Lucile. This afternoon we went to S. Whitley. We took Mike and I to see Dr. Huffman. Mike got his third immunization shot, and Dr. Huffman took my blood pressure and set the date for the new arrival for October 27th - however, I disagree and say it will be closer to Nov. 4th. Now we'll have to just have to wait and see. I weighed 118 and am going to try very hard not to gain more than 12 - 15 lbs. With Mike I gained 40 lbs and that was just too too much. I never did lose it all - I weighed only 106 when we were married - I'd like to get back to that after the baby comes. While I waited in the Dr's office, Charlie paid telephone, light and sent some money orders. Also he picked Mike's chest of drawers up at the Express Co. After we saw the Dr, we bought groceries and then home. Mike's chest is pretty nice - now if I only had the paint to paint it. While Charlie did chores, I put groceries away and cleaned eggs. After supper Charlie put the handles and hinges on the door on Mike's wardrobe chest. It was about 10 when we went to bed. Dale Reiff called while Charlie was doing chores and wanted to know if Charlie would help shredd corn over to Henry Biehl's tomorrow morning - I said he would. Mr. Biehl is in his eighties and his wife has been quite ill for sometime now so the neighbors thought they would help them out.

March 18, 1949 (Fri)

Charlie got up at 5:30 and did chores so that he was over to Biehl's before 8. I had just had time to do dishes, sweep the kitchen, make formula and started cleaning the dining room when Charlie came home. It was just 9 then so it certainly didn't take them very long. After he got home, he hauled manure. Mike's arm was sore today, and he was pretty fussy all day - only weighed 15 lbs. I gave the living room a very thorough cleaning today. Had just finished about 11 when Charlie's Grandfather Christman came. I already had made potato soup with wiffles. So I hurried and baked a cake and made butterschotch pudding for on it. I also made a Waldorf salad and opened some beets and peas. Grandpa stayed for dinner and I guess he enjoyed it. He didn't stay too long - left about 1:30. He had just left when Wilbur Meyers came. He had wired our house and the upstairs lights never did work. I guess there wasn't much wrong 'cause it didn't take long for him to fix them. Gosh, but I was glad I had decided to clean house today instead of washing. This evening we went over to the folks to take baths 'cause Charlie will want to hear the basketball game tomorrow night. It was about 10:30 when we got home.

March 19, 1949 (Sat)

I washed this morning, and Charlie hauled manure. It was rather sunny this morning, but still below freezing. This afternoon I ironed and Charlie listened to the basketball games. Madison beat South Bend Central and Jasper beat Auburn. Since Auburn got beat, Charlie wasn't quite as enthused about the game so we decided to go to confession tonight at St. Mary's. We took Mike over to the folks, and Harriet and Bud were there and went to Church with us. They have a radio in their car so Charlie and Bud didn't miss any of the game. We heard most of it at the folks. Jasper beat Madison 62 - 61. Ray, Fern, Stevie, Dot, Bob, Bobby and Johnny were all there when we got back from Church. We ate a lunch about 10:30, and it was 12 before we left for home. I washed out hose after we got home so it was pretty late before we got to bed.

March 20, 1949 (Sun)

It was 6 when Charlie got up, and I got up soon after. While he did chores, I shined shoes for the 3 of us, gave Mike his breakfast and bath and got cleaned up. It was about a quarter of 9 when we left here. We got to Mothers about 9:30 and she took care of Mike while we went to St. Judes 10:00 Mass - it was low mass so we got back out to Mom's and Dad's about a quarter of 11. We stayed there awhile and talked. Mother gave me material for two blouses that Aunt Dessie and Aunt Effie had sent. One will be white - the other pink. We went out to Howard's and Ahleen's to see their cocker spaniel puppies. They seemed glad to see us - their puppies are so sweet. It was about 12:30 before we got to Betty and Erv's. It was a little after 1 when we ate dinner - we had roast beef - it was all very good. This afternoon after dishes we just sat and talked and then went for a ride in their new car. We got back a little after 6 and Erv insisted he take Charlie home to do chores so we could stay this evening so he did. It was a quarter of 10 when they got back. We ate a lunch then and Betty and I did dishes. It was about a quarter after 12 when we left for home. We really had a good time - we laughed so much my jaws hurt all the way home. Mike was good too for a change. It was 1 before we got home.

March 21, 1949 (Mon)

Spring began yesterday according to the calendar, but according to the weather it was today. It was up to 66 degrees today - goodness, but it was nice. However I was so tired today that I didn't get much done. This afternoon I did bake orange cookies - they were very very good. I also cleaned eggs Charlie plowed some this afternoon - he was happy 'cause he could work in the fields. Mike was alseep so I helped Charlie do chores - I filled the mangers with hay, fed the cows, turned them in their stalls, fed the chickens corn and gave the calves their milk. Before Mike came I always helped Charlie, but haven't much since he's always been awake about that time. We just ate supper this evening, I did dishes and we went to bed soon after 9.

March 22, 1949 (Tues)

It was another Spring day - warm, but it rained most of the day. Mike weighed 15 1/2 lbs today - he eats most of the time here lately. He pat-a-cakes now, throws kisses again, still says DaDa all the time, and jabbers besides. Betty and Erv sent Sue's playpen home with us. I had Mike in it yesterday and today and he certainly likes it. Charlie plowed this morning, but got rained out. I straightened up the house this morning. This afternoon I baked cream puffs - they got just a little too brown but weren't bad. I also cleaned eggs. We went to bed about the usual time.

March 23, 1949 (Wed)

The eggman came this morning so Charlie, Mike, and I went to town. We bought groceries and paint for Mike's chest. We stopped past the folks on the way home so it was after one when we got home. We just ate a quick lunch. I did dishes then and gave Mike's chest, commode and halltree a coat of paint - an under-coat. Dorothy stopped past with Bobby and Johnny to see if I would go to Huntington tomorrow afternoon with her to see if we could find Bobby. I said I would. I ordered a coat and cap from Spiegels for Mike, also a potty chair, enamel baby tub and a bedlamp. We went to bed about 9:30 again.

I think they were looking for a coat for Bobby - - not looking for Bobby! -- Sandy Buckley

March 24, 1949 (Thurs)

We got up pretty early this morning, and I washed. I hung my clothes upstairs, but afterwards wished I'd hung them outside because it turned out to be a beautiful day. Dot came after me this afternoon about 2 so we took Mike and Johnny over to Buryel's. Grandpa Christman was there. We went to Huntington then. We stopped in to see Uncle Walt and Aunt Gert. We were in every store in Huntington, but didn't find a coat for Bobby - they wanted 9 and 10 dollars for them. I bought a long-sleeved blouse pattern. I only hope I have enough material for it now. By the time we got back to the folks and got Mike and Johnny and Dot brought me home, it was a quarter after 6. I cleaned eggs then and gave the chest, commode and halltree another coat of paint. Charlie was doing chores, when I got home and I was still painting when he finished so he helped get a lunch to eat. I was pretty tired this evening so we just ate and went to bed. Anna May (our cow) had a calf this morning - a little bull. Charlie sold 6 hogs this morning.

March 25, 1949 (Fri)

It was a very nice day - so very warm. I dampened my clothes first thing this morning. Then I did dishes and gave Mike his bath. I put dinner in the oven and did part of my ironing. This afternoon I did dishes again, finished the ironing and gave Mike's chest, commode and halltree their last coat of paint - they look very nice. I also painted the bassinet. Dot called about 6 and wanted me to go to Blanche Metzger's Stanley party tonight, but I was just too tired. I did some mending. Charlie has caught a cold and didn't feel too good so I helped him with chores. After I came in I painted the knobs on the chest, handles on the commode and hooks on the halltree blue. I also trimmed the bassinet blue. The blue certainly set them off. - the furniture is all cream. It was late once again when I finished so we just ate toasted cheese sandwiches for supper and went to bed.

March 26, 1949 (Sat)

It rained most of the day. Charlie didn't feel very good all day - he has a terrible cold. This morning I put the decals on Mike's furniture - I'm so proud of them all - they look so nice. We moved Mike's furniture into his room and I cleaned it. I also did dishes, gave Mike breakfast and bath and baked peach cobbler and Texas hash for dinner. This afternoon dishes again. Then I mopped and waxed the kitchen linoleum and cleaned our bedroom, living room and dining room. Charlie started chores and I cleaned eggs and then went out and helped him. We ate a quick supper then and went over to the folks to take baths. I also washed my hair. Afterwards we played euchre and it was about 11:30 when we got home and in bed.

March 27, 1949 (Sun)

It was very nice out early this morning, but got colder and very windy before noon. We were lazy and didn't go to church. I gave Mike his bath, baked a chocolate cake, and did dishes. We had steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry salad for dinner. Charlie helped me do dishes. Then we played 2 games of pinochle. I won both, but the latter by only 10 points. Charlie went over to Bracken and got cokes and ice cream. This evening I worked a jig-saw puzzle. It was about 9:30 when we went to bed.

March 28, 1949 (Mon)

We got up about 6. I washed last night's supper dishes, shined shoes, and got cleaned up and ready to go to Fort Wayne. I got over to Dot's about 8 and they were ready. We got to Mother's about a quarter after 9. Dot had a dentist appointment at 10:00 so I took her down there. Then I went back out to Mom's. Dot called about 11 for me to come after her so I took Bobby and went down and got Dot. We went downtown and finally after looking and looking we found a coat and hat for Bobby - they look very nice on him. Dot had another dentist appointment at 1:30 so I took her out there and Bobby and I waited on her. It was about 2:30 when we got back to Mother's. Mike and Johnny had both been good. We stopped on the way out and got a quart of ice cream so we ate ice cream at Mother's. We waited till Marjorie got home from school and Dad got home from work. It was about a quarter after 5 when we left. Then we stopped at a dime store and fruit market before we left town. The sun was just at the level where it is hardest to drive - it shone on the pavement and hood of the car and reflected back in my eyes. I wore my glasses, but had a terrific headache by the time I got home at 10 of 6. I was so tired and my head hurt, but I had to hurry to get Mike and myself ready to go to the Farm Bureau potluck. It was 7 before we got there, but we weren't the only ones who were late - Ray, Fern, Dot and Bob got there just before we did. The meeting was good and short. They had a play and movie plus a little music. However, Mike was a little pill. He wanted to holler all the time. It was just 10 when we got home. I put Mike to bed and Charlie and I drank a coke before going to bed. He finished plowing the field to the west of the house. We got to bed about 10:30. It was very nice day out.

March 29, 1949 (Tues)

Goodness, but it was warm and sunny today. The high today was 72. I washed this morning, and it was a beautiful washday. I hung every piece outdoors, and they dried soo nice. Charlie went over to the folks to sow grass seed ( he sowed ours yesterday morning) I got dinner ready for him, but he didn't get home till 2:30 and had already had dinner. This afternoon I ironed and start embroidering pillowslips for Charlie's mother's birthday (April 15th). Charlie pulled some old trees out of one corner of the garden this afternoon. I took Mike out and set him on the tractor, and he liked it. I had the dining room door open and set Mike in the playpen with his sweater and hat on in front of it so he could watch Charlie. He enjoyed it. While Charlie did chores, I finished taking my clothes down, put them away and cleaned Sunday and Monday's eggs. It was 7:30 when we ate supper. Mike went to bed about 8 (believe it or not) and I did dishes, layed down on the davenport and went sound asleep. Charlie called me about a quarter of 10. I was still half asleep when I crawled in our bed.

March 30, 1949 (Wed)

Goodness, it was certainly different from yesterday - it rained all most all afternoon and was cloudy and chilly all day. This morning I cleaned yesterday's eggs - had 25 dozen for the eggman. I baked a pumpkin pie, did dishes, dusted and swept dining room and kitchen and embroidered on the pillowslips. Mike weighed 15 lbs 10 oz. when I gave him his bath. Charlie manured and then plowed the garden this morning. This afternoon dishes again, then I darned socks, mended overalls of Charlie and sewed buttons on blouses. And then embroidered again. I got sleepy while Charlie did chores and laid down on the davenport at 7 and went sound asleep. Charlie came in a little after 8 and woke me up. We ate supper and then to bed.

March 31, 1949 (Thurs)

It was rather chilly again today for the last day of March. This morning just the usual things. This afternoon I did dishes and washed out Mike's corduroy overalls and my hose. The rest of the time I embroidered. Oh yes, cleaned eggs too. This evening just ate supper, dishes and to bed.