Most weeks, I can parse out what Grandma Rose has written. After a while of doing transcription, you get a “feel” for the person’s handwriting and it gets easier when you read it week after week but there are some entries where I’m just positively stumped and I need a second set of eyes. Thank goodness for my husband Jon because on the entry for July 29th, I could not make out the word “ajuga” for the life of me. She had written a letter P which was flowing down over it and mixing with the J which made it hard to separate. Secondly, I had never HEARD of the word “ajuga” before so I wasn’t sure if that’s what I was reading or not. Jon saw the same thing though and then Google pointed us in the right direction – “ajuga” is a purple perennial plant in the mint family also called a bugleweed, which I had never seen or heard of till now. Add another one to my list from Grandma Rose’s list!
NOTE: As always, I left her spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as much as possible.
July 23, 1977 – Got up 7:30 After breakfast Len and I went to Garden and pulled grass from rows where beets didn’t come up. Mrs. Callahan took me to Tarlton to the grocery about 11:30. Len in the garage when I got back home. Sun was too hot for him. After lunch we put the screen on the frame, and Len got sick from bending over so long. Felt better toward evening.
Brenda came over in early P.M. to mow yard. Yard looks beautiful. Very proud of the job she does. Before supper, hung out line of towels and dish towels. (about) 5:00 – Dried beautifully.
July 24, 1977 – Got up 9:00 Did Sat nites dishes and talked for a while. About 11 or so went to garage to get food from the freezer. Thought I heard a car and someone talking – some came into the garage and said “Hello.” Looked up and standing there was Carol H and little Amy. What a surprise! I looked once and the started digging in the freezer again then it hit me who they were. Couldn’t believe it.
When I came in the house, I never seen Len looked so surprised and happy. Boys had stayed in Arizona. Dave, Carol & Amy had come to Col. for a wedding. They were here for lunch & supper. Had fried chicken, potatoes with corn and salad for supper.
Dave fixed up the garage window for the screen Len made. Amy very sweet. Amy went to Len right away. D&C were surprised for she usually didn’t make up with strangers so easily. Then she held out her arms to me.
July 25, 1977 – Got up 8:00 Sat on the porch and had my first cup of coffee – Raining so couldn’t put chlordane on the peonies like planned. Root maggots are ruining half the stalks.
Ran sweeper in the kitchen, living room – cleaned bed room. Took nap after watching soap opera – Rained on and off all day. Light rain.
Pulled some grass from first row of potatoes and put news papers around tomatoes. Got the first tick off me today – Yuk! We burned him in the ash tray.
We called Mom H tonight. She knew Len – Didn’t sound too bad on the phone. David had said she was comatose – we were so worried, so called for our own peace of mind.
July 26, 1977 – Woke up 8:00 Stiff as an old mule. After breakfast went to garden with Len. While he pulled grass, I dug along place by the logs to fix as place for manure that Donna gave me. Also, Rake off old dead grass from around logs so Brenda could get closer to them when she mows.
After soaps, I picked beans. Len broken them while I defrosted the frigidaire.
July 27, 1977 – Woke up 8:00 with an awful Charlie Horse in “right foot” and calf of my leg. Couldn’t put foot on floor.
Washed last night’s dishes before breakfast. Took tools out for Len to work in the garden.
Tho leg aches now and feels funny, I mixed chlordane to put on the peony roots for maggots and finished fixing the fence between the corn and potatoes. Checked potatoes. Have some big as tennis balls.
After soap operas, went to garden where Len was pulling grass. I dug the grass from around tomatoes, put down newspapers, then straw on top of them.
July 28, 1977 – Got up 8:00 Coffee on porch. Len worked in grass in garden. And more space around tomatoes. I gathered up grass I’d raked from around logs. Also some from the garden where Len pulled.
July 29, 1977 – Got up 8:00 Pulled grass from part of the ajuga bed by green house.
Cut down weeds around shed. Hoed a few beans.
Thought for today: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life, but rather by the obstacles on has overcame while trying to succeed.” – Anonymous
Ended the day with awful sick headache – Couldn’t eat much supper. Slept till 6:30 to after 9:00 P.M.