January 1 - 4, 1981 A New Year

 

Thursday, January 1, 1981

 

It has been a cloudy day, mostly sunny in the a.m. It was New Year’s Day. I have washed and done some other jobs. The parade was on. Kim and I sat up last night, worked on the puzzle and watched when the new year came in. We had good candy and other treats. Today we finished the other puzzle and got ready for a new one. I hope everyone has a good year. Also wish for the world and the people to become a better and do away with so much crime etc. And it be a safer place to live. Things are bad.

 

 

 

Friday, January 2, 1981

 

Today we had a snow storm. Wind was supposed to blow. We got about 3 to 4 inches. Dorothea called. The checks came. Bill went down and cashed them. Delores went too. Billie shoveled and cleaned up the snow. He is all nervous and frustrated, the snow, the cold etc. etc. He gets so worked up. Kim stayed up last night and will again tonight.

 

 

 

Saturday, January 3, 1981 very cold $134.40 $305.30

 

A very nice sunny day. On the cold side. We didn’t get up very early. I got up about 7 AM, got the breakfast, done regular work. Kim helped. Then we dusted, swept, changed the beds. We washed windows. I cooked four pies, made rolls. Kimmy finished the puzzle then she went home. Tonight our furnace gave out, had to call the man to come fix it.

 

 

 

Sunday, January 4, 1981 25 below

 

A nice clear day, on the cold side. The wind did not blow, we’re lucky for that. It was very cold. I got up about 7:30, made my beds, got breakfast, done up regular work. Bill called at Dorothea’s, they are all right. David better. Nothing frozen. The water is heating good and no more problems with the furnace. Carmen called, Joy called. I made out the bills.

 

 

December 30 - 31, 1980 Another Year in the Books! (or Diaries)

Tuesday, December 30, 1980 Bill 72

 

I defrosted refrigerator and did my ironing. Cleaned up the house. I did an ironing. Laurie called for a little while. I have been busy all day. Tonight Betty’s folks came up for Bill’s birthday. He got $120 in money, cards, some clothing etc. We had ice cream and a most delicious cake that Kim made and coffee. Nice mild day.

 

 

 

Wednesday, December 31, 1980 LAST DAY

 

Carmen here today. We done up the work. Then I went to town and when I came home she had gone home. She had Maureen up for the night. She, Laurie and Maureen are going over to Zenya’s for the evening. Betty and Walt are going out. Zak went down to Fern’s for tonight. Kimmy is up here. Dorothea is much better. Laurie and Cindy came and got milk.

 

(Year End Summary - Nanny Style!)

 

Well this has been a winter of no snow. Altogether we only had about 10 to 12 inches but it came and then a warm rain came and it all went away. Bill up to Dorothea and David’s new home doing a lot of work all winter. He done a lot of brickwork for the stove’s etc. He done a very good job. Also many other things he did for them carpentrying etc. he worked up there most every week and with David. Walt bought a brand-new Subaru car, dark blue, very pretty. Kim and Zak to the orthodontist all year. Zak got his braces off. Betty had a bad finger infection first of this year. Bill and Billie had colds most of the winter.

 

 

 

I’m March 1 DAVID AND DOROTHEA moved into their new home on the Bridgton Highlands. The Chet and Lil Edson Farm. It was a mess and a lot to be done. But they like it. And we all do, it is a very nice pleasant place and will look like an old-fashioned mansion when Dorothea gets it all done. I worked on puzzles this winter. For Christmas they all bought me a brand-new washer and dryer. So it has been a great winter for washing yet we didn’t have any snow, I could’ve hung them out. I appreciate all of them buying me such an expensive and useful gifts. All very thoughtful.

 

Bill had a sickly winter. He was at the doctors a lot. He was losing blood, but can’t find out where or what is causing it. He got better as time went on with medication.I had my teeth out and got false ones this year. I HATE them. When you are old those things drop into your life.

 

This year Billie bought and traded many cows and steers. One we had was a beautiful Jersey cow. She was a good one.

 

BILLIE DEMING entered the US Army. I hope he will like it and maybe make a career of it.

 

 

 

Betty did her whole house over this spring, papered, painted, new bathroom upstairs, new kitchen floor etc. etc.

 

Betty and Milan both in the hospital this past year. I hope they will be okay for a long time.

 

Also this past year Carmen entered her last year of high school. Kimmy entered her first year high school.

 

 

This spring and first of the summer Pa was sick. He kept getting worse, he went to the hospital here in Bridgton. He died July 1. No funeral, his body was taken to Rhode Island and he was buried beside his wife. Betty and Walt took him with the station wagon. He was so bad and his life was not good alone and wouldn’t associate with anyone. Not even his own family.

 

Zak got a pony this summer. He likes it very much. Flicka was away all summer to be trained up to Clyde Mills at Bryant Pond. This summer Billie bought Zak a brand-new Honda trail bike. He likes it very much.

 

This passed summer Frances died. Also Freya and Lady both died. Freya’s death was very sudden. Lady was put to sleep, she suffered with cancer.

 

Betty got her HAIR CUT this past summer. She looks so nice.

 

 

David got a cow and heifer this summer. Esther up here for a visit this summer. Kim worked babysitting a lot this summer. Carmen worked all summer at the shelter.

 

We had our 50^th wedding anniversary October 18 by the kids. Very nice. A big dinner out, money etc. We had a new septic system put in. Fern had a bad spell this fall. We had a nice Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also a lot of very cold weather. The shelter had many ups and downs this past year.

 

THE END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 26 - 29, 1980 41 Years Ago!

 

Friday, December 26, 1980 Cold

 

A partly cloudy and sunny day. I was busy cleaning up from Christmas. Bill up to Dorothea’s. David called this morning. I’ve got things put away pretty much. Betty and Walt called. Dick Fleck died early yesterday morning.

 

 

 

Saturday, December 27, 1980 temp up in the 30s today

 

A much milder day. Not bad at all. I done regular work, changed beds, swept, dusted, washed windows and floors. Up to Dorothea’s a little while. Didn’t stop, she was too busy. Bill up there couple times today. Billie down to Fern’s. The man that bought Walt’s wood hauled it today. Charlene called tonight for milk. Zak up tonight and for tomorrow. Billie got pork today. I did a wash today. Billie and I played Battleship games with Zak. He beat us both. Bill and I called at Dorothea’s this PM. She is cleaning her house up.

 

 

 

Sunday, December 28, 1980 warmer

 

It has been cloudy and snow today. I didn’t do much today. I cooked a roast pork supper. Bill didn’t do much. Billie called at Fern’s, also at Dorothea’s. Betty and Walt up to Charlene and Tom’s for supper. Zak been reading comic books and playing with his car.

 

 

 

Monday, December 29, 1980 mild

 

It was some cloudy today. I did a big wash. Zak played with blocks etc. In PM he and I watched TV. He went home when Carmen came up. Dorothea sick with a cold. Bill and Billie both called up there. It has been very mild all day. A cold day coming up.

December 24 - 25, 1980

 

Wednesday, December 24, 1980

 

A busy day. I have been so busy putting on all the finishing touches. I made pies, bread, rolls, cleaned up the kitchen. Kim came up, she cleaned up my house, prepared the sandwich fillings, the dip etc. Fern came about 2:30. Monica was here. We had supper and Kim came back, made up the snacks, got everything already. Then about 8 PM we began opening our gifts. They were many and beautiful. We had a nice evening. Fern stayed here all night.

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, December 25, 1980 20 below we got up at 530

 

This is been a big day. Up early, got breakfast, down to Betty’s early. What a lot of excitement. The kids had opened their stockings and they sure got a lot. Then in the living room it was heavily loaded with gifts. Many nice and useful things then Dorothea and David came. More excitement with a great smell of roast turkey, roast pork, boiled onions, turnip etc. etc. They then began to open up their many packages. Nice jackets, shoes, socks, sweater tops, sweaters, jewelry, perfumery etc. etc. It all was interesting and we enjoyed it so much as they did. The kids got a lot. Then Fern and I sat in the living room by the nice warm or hot living room stove. The wind blowed so hard and it was a way below zero temp. We was warm enough. The temp didn’t go up above zero all day. In evening Jeff and Paula came, they had dinner and he brought nice gifts. We all was very pleased to see them. The gifts were very nice and useful. For dinner Betty had Susan and her family and Joy and her family. The kids all were very good. Looked nice all dressed up in their new Christmas clothes. Walt found Charlene’s waterpipe frozen. David had frozen pipes. Jeff’s car was without antifreeze. It was 25 below. I came home early. It was so good to get home. I began to take care of all the gifts and then started on the tree. After Billie got the chores done, we got to working together on the tree. Dorothea, Carmen, Jeff and Paula came. They had been over to Joy’s. This awful cold and windy day froze water pipes up to David’s and at Walt’s and Jeff’s. There has been a lot of damage in freezing pipes etc. because of this cold and wind.

 

 

December 21 - 23, 1980

 

Sunday, December 21, 1980 clear and cold 20 below this morning when Bill got up at 7 AM.

 

I done my hair and put a rinse on it. I done a lot of odds and end jobs. Busy all day, it was very cold. Bill and I up to Dorothea’s.

 

 

 

Monday, December 22, 1980 hair set

 

Cold again this morning. I done up my work. Got most of my wash done then over to Janet’s at 8:15, had my hair set. Went to town, also stopped to see Dorothea’s Christmas tree. Came home, finished the wash, did some ironing. Bill worked on Betty’s table and chair. In evening Joy, Dorothea, Laurie, Kathy, Cindy called and also Carmen called.

 

 

 

Tuesday, December 23, 1980

 

It clouded up this morning then later it cleared. I did wash, made dark bread, a lot of other jobs. I went down to Betty’s, she and the kids cleaned up her house today. I came home, did my ironing. Made a cake. Bill working down cellar. Dorothea called in evening. Fern, Dorothea, Betty and I went riding around to see the Christmas lights in people’s houses. Not as many as are used to be. Charlene and Tom called.