November 1948

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November 1, 1948 (Mon)

Kinda rainy this morning but cleared up this afternoon. I cleaned eggs up this morning. This afternoon I finished painting the room upstairs and the stairway. It looks nice - now. I have just the woodwork and floor to paint and stair steps. I had 52 dozen eggs for the egg man when he came. We got our milk check today - $44.36 - that's the last one that will be that large 'cause Charlie is only milking 2 cows now. We went to bed this evening about the usual time.

November 2, 1948 (Tues)

Election day! And its raining. This morning I did the usual things - dishes, cleaned eggs and gave Mike his bath. I also straightened the house up a little. This afternoon Charlie, Mikey, Dot, Bobby and I went to So. Whitley. Charlie voted at the church just a mile and a half from us - for Harry Truman, Democrat, of course. We got Mikey's proofs at the jewelry and they were very good, but I just ordered on 8 x 10. We took Mikey to see Dr. Huffman. Mikey has been coughing quite a bit lately and has a little cold which he can't seem to shake off. Also he hasn't been gaining weight worth a darn. So Dr. Huffman gave hm a penicillin shot and also some pills and cough medicine. He also told me to increase the sugar in his formula. I certainly hope he gets along alright. We're going to have to take very good care of our "blue baby". I also paid the electricity and telephone bills and sent out a money order to South Bend. We got home about 5:30 and left again at a quarter of 7. Mikey's proofs at the Hotel were good there too. I'm getting one 5 x 7 colored, 2 in a double frame and 3 besides. We didn't get back home till 9:30. The election returns started coming in at 6 with Truman ahead. We stayed up all night listening to the returns and to everyone's amazement Truman lead all the time. Also Democrats seemed to be winning in the Senate and House too.

I called grandpa (Charlie) and asked him about Mikey's heart condition. He said that it was not apparent right away that something was wrong with Mikey's heart. When they took Mikey in for what Grandpa thinks was his 3 month checkup, the doctor said that there was a problem with his heart. Grandpa and Grandma took him down to Indianapolis to someone that knew more and were told that if he lived till he was 4 or 5, they would be able to do surgery to correct the problem. Mike died in July of 1951 and the first surgery of that kind was done the following September. Mike was just three when he died. Part of this I knew but not when they found out something was wrong with him. Grandma never writes about it too much. &151;Aunt Sandy

November 3, 1948 (Wed)

At 5:10 I finally crawled in bed and Truman was still ahead. The Democrats have the majority in both Senate and House - Henry Shrucker, Democrat, is Indiana's new governor. At 11:12 this morning Dewey conceded the election to Pres. Truman and everyone thought the Republicans had it in the bag, but instead were left holding the bag. I still can't get over it. Truman won despite Wallace and Thurmond. We didn't get much done this morning except listen to the radio. Charlie went to town this afternoon to get some cow feed ground so I went along and got Mikey some Dextri-Maltose. Our egg check didn't come today so I couldn't buy groceries. It was raining very hard when we got home so Charlie and I played a couple games of fan-tan - he won one and I won one. He did his chores then. After supper and I got the dishes done, I put up hair up and mended a pair of Charlie's overalls. Also cleaned eggs - 69 today. It was around 9:30 when we went to bed.

November 4, 1948 (Thurs)

Still very cloudy but I washed this morning - had a big washing to do too. However, it cleared up enough that I hung my clothes outdoors. It seemed to take longer than usual to do my washing. Charlie's and Mikey's pictures came today and I was very disappointed in the tinted ones. Also got my egg check - $27.04. This afternoon I left Mike with Charlie while I went over to Bracken to buy groceries. Then I did my ironing and cleaned eggs - 61. We are getting twice as many large as mediums now and only a couple pullets. This evening we went to bed about 9:30.

November 5, 1948 (Fri)

It just poured all night long. I had to wake Mike up at 6:30 to give him his bottle. We took the large bed down in the nursery and took it upstairs and put Mike's up. After I did dishes, made formula and gave Mike his bath, I finished the ironing and put clothes away. I also baked a pineapple upside-down cake for dinner. This afternoon I cleaned the bedroms, living room and dining room. I started washing the kitchen walls and ceiling and oh brother! what a job! I didn't get it quite half done. I cleaned part of today's eggs - 70 before Charlie came in for supper. Charlie is still working on his corn crib. Charlie bought a new back door which was delivered yesterday. This evening I read Life Magazine and played with Mikey. When to bed about 9:30.

November 6, 1948 (Sat)

It rained most of the day. This morning I washed some more of the kitchen. I also washed some clothes out by hand and washed Mike's bed. I finished my letter to Betty Jane and mailed it out. We got a letter from Donna Lou. This afternoon I finished washing the kitchen (about 6:30). Oh yes, this morning when I was doing breakfast dishes, I dropped a teakettle of boiling water on my foot. I burned my left foot - it blistered too, broke the teakettle and broke the timer off the stove. I cleaned my eggs up this afternoon. Charlie is still working on his corn crib. We were both pretty tired this evening, but I managed to get my dishes done and my hair washed. Then Charlie popped some popcorn. It was about 11 when we went to bed.

November 7, 1948 (Sun)

We got up about 7. I made noodles this morning. I gave Mike his bath right after breakfast and we got ready to go to church. On the way, we stopped past Dot and Bob's, but they didn't go. We went to 10:15 church - high mass. Mikey was pretty good - he slept awhile. We stopped at Bracken on the way home and got some dog food for Butch. It was a little after 12 when we got home. I hurried and got dinner and was doing dishes when Mother, Dad, Margaret, Jess and kids came. They weren't here too long - they went over to Dot and Bob's. Charlie and I played 500 rum before he did chores and again after he did chores. I beat him 2 out of 3 games. It was around 10 when we went to bed. Mikey selpt in his bed all night for the first time.

November 8, 1948 (Mon)

It got fairly warm today. This morning I cleaned eggs, rinsed out some dirty diapers etc. We ate dinner rather early. I decided to wash this afternoon cause it calls for rain tomorrow. I had 38 dz. eggs for the egg man -26 dz. large and 12 dz. mediums. I also washed my kitchen curtains this afternoon. I did some ironing late afternoon and again after we ate supper and I did dishes. We went to bed about the usual time.

November 9, 1948 (Tues)

It didn't rain today after all, but it was cloudy. Charlie had a dentist appointment at 9 - he had 2 teeth filled. I finished my ironing this morning. This afternoon I washed the woodwork and windows and put the curtains back up. I also did a little mending. This evening I played with Mike while Charlie slept - he had a terrific headache. We went to bed about 9:30. Today Mikey was 5 mos. old - he is 25 inches long and weighs 12 lb. 14 oz. Also today is Georgia's birthday - she is 11.

November 10, 1948 (Wed)

It snowed last night - the first time this year. After I did dishes, I gave Mike his bath and defrosted my refrigerator and washed it out with soda water. I also cleaned my kitchen cupboards out. This afternoon Mikey, Dot, Bobby and I went to N. Manchester. I put the darlingst cuddly panda in layaway at Western Auto for Mike. It is black and white with a big blue ribbon and a bell in its ear. Then we looked for a tricycle for Bobby. I also took some feed to the Farm Bureau, out to Bolingers for Charlie, checkboard for lay chow and to the grocery store. I bought a teakettle at Urshels and birthday cards for Mother and Betty Jane. It was 6:00 before I got home. It was around 10 when we went to bed.

November 11, 1948 (Thurs)

I washed this morning and the weather was pretty nice - I dried my clothes outdoors. This afternoon I did my ironing, cleaned yesterday's and today's eggs, washed my refrigerator on the outside and cleaned my stove up very good. Charlie put our new back door up this afternoon. No mail today - Armistice Day. Mikey weighed 13 lbs 2 oz. this morning. Went to bed about the usual time.

November 12, 1948 (Fri)

Rainy today. This morning I cleaned the bedrooms, living room and part of dining room. We got a letter from Betty Jane and a card from Charlie's folks - they were in Indianapolis for the Farm Bureau Convention. Oh yes, Betty Jane called about noon - they are coming down Sunday. This afternoon I mopped and waxed the kitchen and dining room floors, washed my kitchen chairs and table and baked date nut bread. This evening after I got my dishes done, I washed out hose, washed and waxed the top of the cupboards and cleaned eggs. It was a little after 10 when I went to bed.

November 13, 1948 (Sat)

It was raining this morning when we got up and was chilly and windy all day. I did dishes, made Mike's formula and gave him his cereal and bath. I was shining shoes when Mother and Dad came. We went over to Dot's and brought her and Bobby back - Lavon and Elaine were there and came back with us too. A little later Ray, Raymie and Bob came over too. We had dinner - Mother and LaVon brought the dinner. This afternoon Bob, Ray and Raymie went hunting for rabbits while we played ping pong. They got five rabbits and we had a rabbit fry for supper. Afterwards we played euchre till about mednight when everyone left. It certainly felt good to crawl into bed.

November 14, 1948 (Sun)

Mikey wouldn't got to sleep last night till after everyone left and I hated to wake him this morning to take him to church. And we were tired too so we didn't go. Charlie and I played a couple games of cribbage till Betty, Erv, and Sue came. We taught them how to play till it was time for Charlie to do chores. We had rabbit pie for supper and it was very good. This evening we played carrom and had a very good time. Betty and Erv hated to leave, but finally did at 11. We went to bed soon afterwards.

November 15, 1948 (Mon)

Today is Mother's birthday. She is 53. I was going to wash this morning but instead straightened the house up a little. Betty Jane called at noon and said they were coming down this evening to get eggs which they forgot last night. I cleaned eggs this afternoon and had just finished mending Charlie's when Betty and Erv came. I wasn't even cleaned up yet. Oh yes, I also had baked an angel food cake. Betty brought pork chops for supper. Charlie had been over to his Dad's picking corn today, but came home about 5:30. After supper we kids played carrom again. Betty and Erv left about 8 - Erv had to be at work at 11. I did supper dishes then and Charlie and I played a couple more games of carrom before we and Mike went to bed.

November 16, 1948 (Tues)

It was raining this morning so I didn't wash. I took Charlie over to Bob's and stopped and talked to Dot for awhile - I left Mikey with her while I went down to Bracken. It was after 9 when I got back home. This afternoon after I cleaned eggs, I sewed on my red and white seersucker housedress which I had started when I was still home and never finished. Charlie got wet this afternoon. It was around 5 when he got home. Our lights went out this evening and we had to use kerosene lamps. It was around 9 when we went to bed.

November 17, 1948 (Wed)

I washed this morning. It was pretty chilly, but the sun shone. Charlie picked corn over to his Dad's. Soon after Charlie left, Blanche Metzger called - he was supposed to help butcher today - he thought it was tomorrow. This afternoon Dot and I went to town. First, I went to the bank. Then I bought some shorts and socks for Charlie. I also bought notebook paper, paint for our new back door and Dextri-maltose for Mike. I also got moccasins, 2 pair white anklets an a pair of seamless hose for myself. We went out and got lay chow and oyster shells and then to the grocery and locker. We left Bobby and Mike over to Charlie's folks. It was around 5:30 when we got back there. I had to wait for Charlie and follow him home. He drove his tractor and a load of corn. It was after 6 when we got home. Charlie did his chores and we ate supper. He unloaded 3 loads of corn. I did dishes and read a couple magazines. I put Mike in bed about 10 and I went to bed about 11. I guess Charlie didn't get done till almost midnight.

November 18, 1948 (Thurs)

Today is Betty Jane's birthday - she is 21. She just missed voting in this election by a couple of weeks. This morning I cleaned up yesterday and today's eggs. Charlie butchered at Metzger's today. This afternoon I did my ironing. Dot came about 4:30 and we went down to Metzgers after our meat. We each had a hog butchered today. We took them in to the locker and got there about 5:15 and no one was there. I had to call one of the Weimers and he came down and opened up so he could take the meat. We stopped back at Metzgers and got Charlie. We took Dorothy home. It was getting late by the time we got home. It was after 9 before we finished eating supper. We went to bed about a quarter of 10.

November 19, 1948 (Fri)

Charlie went over to the folks to pick corn and since his mother was in Wabash, I got dinner for him, Ray and his Dad. However just Charlie came and then he took the other 2 over their dinner. This afternoon I cleaned house and cleaned eggs. They had just finished picking corn over there when it started to rain. Charlie's Dad brought him home about 4:30. I wrote letters to Pauline and Oddra. This evening after I did dishes, Charlie popped popcorn and we played a couple games of cribbage. We went to bed around 10.

November 20, 1948 (Sat)

It rained again today and was chilly too. Mikey was fussy this morning - wouldn't eat his cereal or take his 10:00 bottle. Mike's pictures came this morning, but all I had was a $20 bill and the mailman didn't have any change so Charlie went to S. Whitley this afternoon and got them. They are very very good. We certainly have an adorable son. This afternoon I washed out diapers, cleaned eggs and started a letter to Anna May. Mikey sat in his Babie-Tenda and played for quite awhile. Charlie went to N. Manchester to have some feed ground. This evening we got Dot, Bobby, and Bob and went over to the folks to take baths. They weren't home but came a little later. Everyone thought Mike's pictures were good. It was after 12 when we got home. We got a card from Mother today.

November 21, 1948 (Sun)

Grandpa Baker had a sale yesterday of his household goods and Charlie's folks bought some furniture for their cottage so Charlie helped take it up there this morning. I didn't want to take Mike out again so he and I stayed home. However, it turned out to be a beautiful day. I didn't do much of anything - just mostly read magazines. It was 5 before Charlie came home. We just listened to the radio and played carroms this evening.

November 22, 1948 (Mon)

This morning I just cleaned eggs, straightened the house up and did the usual things. We took Mikey to the Doctor. His one tear duct in one eye isn't working properly and it matters and waters all the time. Dr. Hoffman gave us drops to put in it. We went to Columbia City then and filled out papers to take Mike to Baby Hospital in Indianapolis. We went over past the folks on the way home and Charlie brought his tractor and wagonload of corn home from there. This afternoon Charlie went down to fill silo at a neighbors. After I did dishes I baked a marble cake and apples to take to the Farm Bureau potluck. Our 8 x 10 picture of Mike came and they finished it in brown and white and he looks like a colored baby - I'm very disappointed. Charlie came home and did chores and we left about 6:30 for the meeting. Turkey supper tonight. Mikey was very good till a little after 9. I took him out and gave him his bottle then. It was around 10:30 when we got home and in bed.

November 23, 1948 (Tues)

I washed this morning, but it was raining and I had to dry everything indoors. This afternoon I cleaned eggs and ironed. Charlie butchered down to Metzgers today. It was 7 before he got home. We had a big supper and then I did dishes and it was 10 before we went to bed.

November 24, 1948 (Wed)

Charlie butchered again today. This morning I put clothes away, did a little mending and cleaned eggs. This afternoon Dot and I went to town. We bought a vase for Mother for her birthday. Then we got groceries and started home about 4:30. Suddenly something went wrong with the gearshift and I couldn't move it. We stopped at Westafers Filling Station. I called Charlie from there. We waited there till amost 5:30 and they couldn't find the trouble so we went to Carters Garage and waited there till 6 and finally Mr. Carter brought us home. Dot called soon after I got home and said the folks would take us to Ft. Wayne tomorrow. Metzgers brought Charlie home about 6:30. It was 10 before we got everything done and in bed.

November 25, 1948 (Thurs)

Happy Thanksgiving! Charlie got up at 5:30 cause he thought Ray was coming down to pick a load of corn, but he didn't. Instead he went over to Bob's. I got up at 6:30 and we were all ready to go at 8:30 - the time we had all decided on to leave. They came at 10:30. Margaret, Jess and kids were also there for dinner. Aunt Elma and Don were for just a few minutes. This afternoon we played cards and then Howard, Ahleen and kids came - also Aunt Blanche, Uncle Leon, Marjorie, Bob and Barbara came. We drew names for Christmas - I drew Dot's and Charlie - Margaret's and Mikey - Jimmy. We left about 6:00 for home. We didn't do too much this evening and went to bed about the usual time.

November 26, 1948 (Fri)

I washed this morning. I was cloudy and dreary so I dried clothes in the house. Charlie worked on his barn doors. This afternoon I ironed and cleaned eggs. This evening we played carroms and Charlie popped popcorn. We got a letter from Pauline and one from Betty Jane (they bought a carrom board). We went to bed a little after 10.

November 27, 1948 (Sat)

This morning I cleaned the bedrooms, living room and part of the dining room. This afternoon I mopped the kitchen floor and finished cleaning the dining room. Charlie opened his silo up today and cleaned out the chicken house. Blanche Metzger took him to town this afternoon so he could get the car. Repairs for it were about $47. I baked a chocolate cake, cleaned eggs, cooked potatoes for potato salad and washed out hose. Charlie plastered the holes in the closet and I cleaned it up. It was after 10 when we went to bed.

November 28, 1948 (Sun)

It was 7 before we got up. I finished making potato salad and made Mike's formula and gave him his bath. He weighed 13 lbs 6 oz. today. He has learned to blow bubbles now and he does it all the time and slobbers all over when he does it. We left for the lake about 10. We went past Dot and Bob's but no one was home. We got to the folks cottage about 11. Harriet and Bud and they had stayed all night there. The folks bought quite a bit of furniture for it and it sure looks nice. Soon after we got there Dot, Bob, Ray and Fern and the kids came. Then Metzgers and Ferns' folks. This afternoon we played euchre. Everyone except Harriet and Bud and Charlie, Mike and I left about 3:30. We drew names for Xmas before that and I drew Bob's name and Charlie - Dot's. We played some more euchre then we ate supper and we left about 6:30. This evening I just put things away and we went to bed about 10.

November 29, 1948 (Mon)

This morning I did the usual things - dishes, Mike a bath, straightened house up a little and cleaned eggs. This afternoon the eggman came - eggs have gone down terribly in price. I had 37 dozen for him. I did a little mending this afternoon and then wrote letters to Dorothy Murphy, Donna Lou, Lucile and Betty Jane. I also started working on my Christmas card list. Charlie put in a new window in the milkhouse, put a new window pane in the kitchen and repaired the kitchen roof. It was a little after 9 when we went to bed.

November 30, 1948 (Tues)

It was very chilly this morning, but turned out to be a beautiful day. I washed this morning and hung clothes outside to dry too. Charlie butchered today at Metzgers. This afternoon I ironed and cleaned eggs. Bob brought a wagon home and said he thought Ray was going to pick corn here tomorrow - so that means I'll probably have to cook a big dinner. It was after 7 before Charlie got home. So by the time he did chores, we ate and I did dishes, it was time for bed.