Nanny's Diaries

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!

Saturday, January 5, 2019

November 10 - 13, 1969

Monday, November 10, 1969 Snow Tires

I wrote to Norma, sent birthday card. I wrote to Milan and Betty, sent card. Wrote to Esther. Also sent money to bank and sent for parts to my sweeper. Rain showers. I worked at desk. Bill home to get money for tires. Got the snow treads on. Kim up today. She is a cute little kid.

Tuesday, November 11, 1969 Veterans Day, Dorothea and Jeff called in eve

Another one of those RAINY days. It has rained hard all day. I done up my work, went over to Aunt Ava’s and helped her pack some boxes for Salvation Army and Advent Church. Came home, cleaned up from dust etc. Watched TV. In evening Dorothea and Jeff came up. Was glad to see them. They called at Betty and Walt’s too. I went down with her.

Wednesday, November 12, 1969

It was kind of cloudy, the sun came out for a minute. A little blue sky. I washed. Billie home today, his car broke down. Rawleigh man came, we bought cards and Christmas wrapping paper. Billie made his cards all out. In evening I went down to Betty’s and Walt’s to stay with the kids. Fern was there. Betty and Walt went to the school in observance of education week. Was told Carmen does very good work and a all-around good pupil.

Thursday, November 13, 1969 We saw the sun today

It rained very hard all day. It was partly sunny today. I went down to Betty’s and stayed while she went to do her shopping. I did some more figuring.

Friday, January 4, 2019

November 6 - 9, 1969 Tax Time

Thursday, November 6, 1969

Not too rainy day. Betty and I went to Dorothea’s and went to Zayre’s. Betty did a lot of Christmas shopping and brought her things home she had on layaway. Came home, Betty did her grocery shopping. After supper Billie and I called at Betty and Walt’s.

Friday, November 7, 1969 PAID TAXES

Another awful rainy day. I went down to Betty’s. We looked at the gifts she got. She wrapped kids’ gifts. Billie came home early from work. He gave me money and I went down to pay the taxes. After supper Bill and I went and did the shopping. It has rained hard all day and it is supposed to all weekend. Measured the well, five feet.

Saturday, November 8, 1969 Took cushion and cover to Thurlow’s

Another cloudy rainy day, such miserable weather. I done up my work. Made rolls and a cake, to town. Took the cushion to my chair and cover off one of the couch cushions. Went down to Betty’s in p.m.

Sunday, November 9, 1969

Cloudy all day and in late p.m. it began to rain again. Bill, Billie helped Walt to get his truck out. It was stuck in the mud down in the pasture. In p.m. I kept Zak while Betty helped Walt outside. Billie down to Lawrence’s in p.m. They got the barn ready for the new metal track and the new roof. We had a good roast pork dinner. Tonight Billie had me make out an order for parts for my sweeper. About three more feet of water in the well.

Thursday, January 3, 2019

November 2 - 5, 1969

Sunday, November 2, 1969

A cloudy day. Didn’t do much. Billie worked for Lawrence. Bill watched TV. Fern and Lloyd called in evening.

Monday, November 3, 1969

A rainy day. Bill didn’t have to work. We went to town. Rode over to Camp Wildwood and over to foot of Woods Pond to see the new piece of road state is building. Came home, called on Betty, Kim and Zak. She gave us a Italian sandwich for lunch. I made a carrot cake.

Thursday, November 4, 1969

A dreary day. It rained some. I washed. Walked down to Betty’s. When I came home Kim came up for a little while. Carmen came up after school to get clothes dryer. Fern came up and had some liver for supper.

Wednesday, November 5, 1969

Another heavy rainy day. Weather bee Don Kent says it is an ocean storm coming in from the sea off the New Jersey coast. It rained very hard last night but very mild temperatures. Kim called on me today.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

October 29 - November 1, 1969

Wednesday, October 29, 1969

A very nice day. Es, Cliff, Fern, Delores and I went up to Telstar. Had a good time. Enjoyed it all very much. Then Billie and I went down to Betty and Walt’s for supper. Had a delicious ham supper.

Thursday, October 30, 1969

A nice day. I did up regular work, went down to Betty’s. She, Kim, Walter IV and I went and done her shopping. I came home, got my supper. Es and Cliff came and said goodbye. We called at Bob’s.

Friday, October 31, 1969 Esther and Cliff Left

Esther and Cliff left this morning for home. We enjoyed them being here very much. Did hate to see them go. Betty, Kim, Walter IV and I to Dorothea’s and did Christmas shopping. Betty and I went to Zayre’s and she did a lot of shopping for Christmas. Dorothea took care of kids. Came home, got supper. Carmen out trick-or-treating and a Halloween party. Her first party.

Saturday, November 1, 1969

Partly cloudy. I done up regular work. Bill and I to town to shop for groceries. Billie down to Betty’s, got a hair trim. Billie working for Lawrence. Walt worked. Esther and Cliff on way home from Brud’s home.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

October 25 - 28, 1969

Sunday, October 25, 1969

Partly cloudy. Most all day. It cleared about dark. I did up my regular work, made rolls. Bill set out the trees today and shrubbery. Billie worked for Lawrence. I went down to Betty’s. I washed her storm windows. Walt put them on. Carmen and Kim outside all day. Fern, Es and Cliff down to Betty and Walt’s for supper and evening. Snow most all melted. Tonight ends daylight saving time.

Billie Deming

Vince Rager with his Dad, Thomas

Susan and Vince

Sunday, October 26, 1969

A dreary day. Billie and I cleaned the cars up. In p.m. we went down to Fern and Lloyd’s for supper. Had a most delicious meal. Roast beef, salad, peas, mashed potatoes, good brown gravy. Hot rolls, pumpkin pie and a delicious chocolate cake. Es and Cliff went down to Dorothea and Dave’s. Billie and I called at Betty and Walt, then we came home.

Monday, October 27, 1969

I washed, done up the work, made a custard pie and apple. Got out a bunch of T-bone steaks for supper. Es, Cliff, Fern, Betty, Walt and family here for supper. It cleared today. We cooked the steaks out on the grill. They were delicious. No school today. Walt didn’t have to work. Armistice Day was observed. Es up today to visit.

Tuesday, October 28, 1969

A nice day. Esther came up. She made another one of those delicious chocolate cakes. We had a pork chop supper. We went to Norway in forenoon to do some shopping etc. Went down through to Casco, called at Frances and Herman’s.