The blog posts below are taken from my grandmother's diaries. Althea Green Smith Crook was lovingly referred to as Nanny to her immediate family ~ thus her diaries are called Nanny's Diaries.

Nanny wrote in her diaries when she remembered to - mostly in the evening. There will be some years in which she didn't keep diaries and there will also be some days/weeks in her yearly diaries in which she skipped or forgot to write in them. For the most part, these are her words - written as she wrote them. There will be typos, forgotten punctuation, and other grammatical errors - but I am rewriting these as my Nanny originally wrote them.

As with all old handwriting, there are some entries that I can't quite make out - and these entries will be followed with a (?) to signify that this may or may not be correct or I can't figure out what she is trying to write.

Thank you Nanny for leaving us 50 years worth of memories! We miss you!

Thursday, September 4, 2025

June 22 - 25, 1994

 

 

Wednesday, June 22, 1994

 

A nice day. I’m improving more. I’m glad things are coming along, better walking etc. Betty and others went up to camp. I sat on porch today. Esther was home today.

 

 

 

Thursday, June 23, 1994

 

It has been a very nice day. Windy but a beautiful day. I sat out on porch all forenoon. Carmen came early. She worked most all forenoon. Dorothea came and worked in p.m. Got a good supper. The PA came and worked with me for a while. Also I’m very good, pulse etc.

 

 

 

Friday, June 24, 1994

 

Nurse came today. Carmen and Betty here this morning, done up the work. Esther came this morning. She was here today and got the supper. Dorothea, Betty, Betty Smith, Carmen and Joy took Betty out to a good bye supper at Blackhorse. Walt got home middle of p.m. from his brother and sisters in laws. Had a nice long talk from them. Cameron got hurt again today. I hope he will be okay.

 









 

 

Saturday, June 25, 1994

 

Today a miserable rainy day. All day. And I mean rain. Dorothea and Carmen worked all day cleaning. I got my bath today. I took a good nap today. Zak up late this p.m. Dorothea got a good supper. Well Tom and Kim done a lot of preparing for the party.

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

June 19 - 21, 1994

 

Sunday, June 19, 1994 written by Dorothea

 Cooler

 

Nice breeze today.  David did chores and in for coffee, also Walt. Brogan up, had breakfast, and biked home to get ready for Sunday School. Betty and family and Betty M up to camp today for dinner to celebrate Walter’s Father’s Day.

 


 

 

Monday, June 20, 1994

 

Nice sunny day. The nurses were here. Dorothea was here to work this forenoon for  her morning shift. Esther came and baked the rest of her cookies. Her leg is much better. I hope I keep getting stronger too. The Bettys all have gone to Norway and Dorothea too to do some shopping.

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 21, 1994

 

It was cloudy today and much cooler. I went to bed earlier today, had a good rest. Cameron was so good all the time his mother was gone. Carmen went to Norway to change some clothes at the Fashion Bug. It makes me crazy to see what I lost in this diary. I didn’t do any writing in it had during my sickness this summer. What a changed summer this is. TODAY was the last day of school for Brogan. She is now a second grader. She is a very happy girl. Very proud of her. She is smart and so is her brother.

 

 

 


 

 

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

June 13 - 18, 1994





Monday, June 13, 1994

 

(Blank)

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 14, 1994

 

(Blank)

 

 

 

Wednesday, June 15, 1994

 

(Blank)

 

 

 

Thursday, June 16, 1994 written by Dorothea

 

I ate good supper today. David, Betty Milne, Esther, Dorothea here. Had chicken and biscuits, whip cream cake. Went to bed about 9:30. Restless last night. Slept pretty good tonight. Looked at pictures on porch this p.m. with Betty C, Betty M, Dorothea and Billie. Saw a doe deer other side of cemetery this a.m. while having bath this morning. Carmen was in, Arnold painting cemetery fence. Sprucing things up for that big wedding August 21. BJ, Brogan and Cameron were performing out on lawn and in swing having good time.

 

 

 

Friday , June 17, 1994 written by Dorothea

 

Hot 95 to 100°. I had a good day today, feeling much better. Police took O.J. Simpson into custody (after pursuing him for 15 minutes over turnpike) at his home. A suspect in murder of his wife and friends. Company this p.m. – Joy, Betty C, Betty M. I went to bed at 8:30. Had been up a long time today. Carmen came and helped me get ready for bed.

 

 

 

Saturday, June 18, 1994 Written by Dorothea

 

Hot. Esther came over to visit this a.m. Sue cut Billie’s hair and sitting on porch. Supposed to have lunch, ugh, only could eat small breakfast, Cassie ate the rest. Brogan sleeping over. Betty Milne, Esther and Dorothea here for supper. Myself, Betty C, Esther, Betty M and Cameron drove up to camp for about an hour.

 

Monday, September 1, 2025

June 7 - 12, 1994

 

Tuesday, June 7, 1994

 

On the real cool side. I feel a lot better. I got bushed yesterday. Well I had a new nurse come and gave me my works this morning. Dorothea went home this morning. She took Betty Smith to town. Esther came this p.m. early. She will be here while Carmen is gone.

 



 

 

Wednesday, June 8, 1994 Betty wrote this

 

Betty Milne arrived from Scotland for three weeks

 


 

 

Thursday, June 9, 1994

 

(Blank)

 

 

 

Friday, June 10, 1994

 

A nice day except kind of windy. I rested this p.m. I watched TV in p.m.

 

Saturday, June 11, 1994

 

a mild day. I got up early. Was out on the porch this a.m., came in, had lunch. Betty and Betty came up. Brogan tried on her wedding dress. Dorothea went home this a.m. and rested and got ready to go to Jason’s graduation. Jason Paul Thompson. Carmen made rolls and baked beans for supper. They were so good. A lot of the family members were here.

 


 

 

Sunday, June 12, 1994

 

Well Joy and Kathy were here early and called this morning. I went in and had a nights sleep and it got me all balled up for most of the day. Today Betty H and Betty M put the toy box together.

 

 

Sunday, August 31, 2025

June 3 - 6, 1994

 

Friday, June 3, 1994

 

I’ve been in bed most of the day

 

 

 

Saturday, June 4, 1994

 

A nice sunny clear day. I didn’t do anything as of course usual. I have a babysitter today and it was a good one. It was Joan Gardner. She does such a good job. Well there was a fire downtown. Also Dot Smith’s funeral was today. A very nice funeral. Also there was very bad fired today. Today Betty wheeled me in the wheelchair down the road and back. It was nice. Also to see the new flag raising. They did a good job.


 

 

 

Sunday, June 5, 1994

 

I feel much better today, the resting I got helps so much. I eat a dite better now .Jeff called Dorothea this morning. He is terribly upset about his girlfriend leaving him. I feel so sorry for him. I love him and hate to see go so hard for him. I wish he could get a good job and find a good girl. BJ is going home today. She is coming back to Carmen’s to live. I hope it won’t upset Brogan’s life.

 

 

 

 

Monday, June 6, 1994 RED LETTER DAY

 

Cloudy. Well I got up and got dressed. Ate breakfast. Went out on the porch. Came in and went to bed, up at about 1:30. At about 2 PM the physical therapist came. She thought I was doing real well. Also  Esther made a very good frozen fruit salad. I did a lot for lunch as it was so good. Carmen took her dog to the vet. Got him bathed and some shots. Betty brought up the bed today and made up on the porch for Dorothea. I hope she will rest better. Well today I got a permanent. I look so much more human. Barbara McDaniels came up here and gave it to me. I love it.