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, December 30, 2021

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 50th 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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