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!

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

June 3 - 5, 1991 Esther Arrives

 

Monday, June 3, 1991

 

A nice and sunny day. I did a wash, done my hair, ironed. Carmen came, got the work done, got the supper, liver and onions. It was very good. I didn’t eat it. Billie loved it. I got a lot of odds and end jobs done.

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 4, 1991 RAIN, ESTHER CAME

 

Zack was here also today. Susan met Esther at the airport at about 5 PM. They went out and had supper then got home here about 9 PM. Betty S, Dorothea, Betty H and Carm was here. We was all glad to see her. All visited for a couple hours. Carmen was sick and home getting rested. Esther was tired. Zack, Betty and Carmen came and done all my housework. It looked very nice when they get done. Also Zack was here. He looked very nice. He had been over to National Guard at Norway. He has a new camera to use for the wedding. I did my washing and ironing.

 

 


 


Wednesday, June 5, 1991

 

Cold and some breaks in the clouds. This morning we got some very sad news. George had died suddenly last night. They called Walt early. We are so sorry. In hopes he would get back for a visit. Esther and I been looking at papers, pictures etc. she brought.

 

 




 

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

May 30 - June 2, 1991

 

Thursday, May 30, 1991

 

A very nice sunny day, not too hot or cold. I love this kind of weather. I did washing and ironing. Arnold and Walt hauled the docks up to camp. Carmen got to work tonight. She got the supper. Then went home, got supper for Arnold and his kids. Well Betty Smith been gone one week today. Carmen works tonight from 11 to 7.

 

 


 

Friday, May 31, 1991

 

Cloudy and raining all day. Had the house closed up all day. I done up regular work. Then I read paper, B News, Advertiser. Carmen came this p.m., cleaned up the house. Got the supper. She found two dead hens in her hen house this morning. She and Arnold gone to the antique sale tonight. Dorothea came this evening and done Billie’s paper and his toenails. Joy called also.

 

 

 

Saturday, June 1, 1991

 

Cloudy when we got up but the clouds left and the sun came out. David here this morning for coffee. Well Esther will soon be here Tuesday. I finished reading papers and got rid of them. Betty brought up the supper.

 

 

 

Sunday, June 2, 1991

 

A very nice day. I done up work, up to camp. They had a cookout. A very nice day.

 

 


 

Monday, November 4, 2024

May 26 - 29, 1991

 

Sunday, May 26, 1991

 

It started out clear and sunny. It got cloudy, not too warm. Walt here for coffee. Carmen and Bro came. I went over to Lowell and Fryeburg antiquing. Betty got the supper. Walt planting his garden today.

 

 

 

Monday, May 27, 1991 RAIN

 

Well I am still lame for all clogged up in the walking. I manage. I did the washing and regular work. Carmen came and got the supper. She has to go to work tonight 11 PM to 7 AM tomorrow.

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 28, 1991

 

Well, the holiday is over. I did regular work. I did my washing. I got the papers read. Carmen and Bro called, Betty did too.

 

 

 

Wednesday, May 29, 1991

 

Well today I found out my throat problem. It is a fixed vocal cord. It means it don’t work to free the speech as it should. I may have fixed. It may not last too long if it comes back. (Voice). Dorothea took me over and Betty Smith went. She enjoyed the ride and trip very much. Betty went out to lunch with some of her classmates, Vicki Cushman and Cale Fleck. Brogan sick with diarrhea. We drove down to Walter’s place to see where the fire was Sunday night. It is Doucette’s now.

 


 

Sunday, November 3, 2024

May 23 - 25, 1991 Betty Mary Leaves, Ebony Put Down

 

Thursday, May 23, 1991 ZACK CAME TO ARMORY, EBONY

 

BETTY MILNE left for home today. Zack returned back to the armory in Norway today for National Guard training today. He will come here tomorrow and back to Portland to work. Betty, Dorothea, Carmen, broken all took Betty to the airport for her return home to Scotland. We are glad she came, enjoyed her visit since May 1. She seemed to have a good time. I’m sorry I couldn’t talk with her. Nicholas Smith rode down with us. TODAY Ebony was laid to rest while the family was all gone. Walt had in the vet and put her to sleep. She has been a good faithful animal. They all loved her.

 


 

 

Friday, May 24, 1991

 

It turned out to be a very hot day. I did a washing. Got some more papers read. Carmen to town, was coming home to plant, but had to get an exhaust put on her car then she and Betty moved the chickens as she only got supper here done. Got my summer things out and into the house. I wrote to Es. Tom and Charlene gone away for the weekend. Kim called. Zack came home today from the armory. He goes back to Portland tomorrow. Also today a nice surprise. Vince Thomas Rager called on us, first time we have seen him for years. He looked so good. He is a nice young man now.

 

 

 

Saturday, May 25, 1991 Planted

 

Zac left early this morning to go back to Portland. He dropped in to say goodbye. Walter took him, Zack drove. Carmen here today, they get the garden harrowed and planted. Partly cloudy day. David here for breakfast or coffee. Zac drove heavy equipment on his National Guard training. Betty brought the supper tonight.

 

Saturday, November 2, 2024

May 20 - 22, 1991 Betty's Going Away Party

 

Monday, May 20, 1991

 

A very nice day. Sunny and warm. Carmen came and cleaned. I did a big wash. Betty up here also Carmen got the lunches. In p.m. Carm took Betty S and me to the specialist over to Norway. Betty for her nose, eyes and throat. Me for my throat. He couldn’t do anything, said he never seen anything before like this. So I will go to Lewiston for further examination etc. In afternoon Tom and Kim call. In evening Vicki Weymouth came up and showed some slides. Dorothea was here, Betty M, Betty H, Billie and I. Carmen worked tonight.

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 21, 1991

 

A very nice hot sunny day. I read the papers. Billie didn’t do much. I did the ironing and that was all. I been puzzling this mess in the diary. Betty M down to school with the Vickie W. Betty mowing her lawns. I went down in the cemetery while Betty mowed. Betty M down to the Vickie’s for supper and evening.

 

 

 

Wednesday, May 22, 1991

 

We all went over to Shorelands for supper. A farewell party for Betty M. Dorothea, Betty H, Betty S, Joy, Carmen, Kim, Cindy, Billie Jo, Brogan and me. Walt had supper in Portland was Zack tonight. I talked with Zack. He will be leaving for training this weekend.