All of Ohio and Grandma Rose start to get back to normal in Weeks 5 & 6 in 1978 as warmer weather breaks through… but is it “faux spring?” We’ll have to see but for now, the warming allows her to get into the greenhouse, into the garage, visit with neighbors, and receive visitors, including a 4-year-old me! I found it heart-breaking to read that she lost a cactus from her first husband’s funeral flowers after 20 years of keeping it but I understood her sentiment of not mourning for flowers and being thankful for being alive after the blizzard when people did pass away.
NOTE: As always, I left her spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as much as possible.
_____ WEEK 5 _____
January 29, 1978 – Got up 9:20 Sure different in trailer this morning. Instead of usual 18° – it was 68°. Col – 9AM 12° 40% chance of snow flurries. High today should be in upper teens. Accumulation 1 inch or less. Sun night to be 0° to 5° above. Mon. upper teens and lower 20°. Cloudy. Windy Sun. west 10 to 20 M.P.H.
I dressed after we ate breakfast, and crawled under the trailer to try to see where the pipe had burst. I just gave my poor limp flowers a glance because the pipes are most important. The undernearth of the trailer is a disaster. Water did seem to be coming from beneath the trailer floor. With such force it had washed away the soil from the foundation. Exposing the concrete about 8-10 inches. Water frozen all along the seal beam. I spread out more plastic bags, etc over the old that I’d put there before, so I’d stay dry when I crawled over. There was nothing I could do. Just have to wait until the weather clears – Do the best we can with what water we can get.
[Continued in to new journal] Next step after coming up to warm up – checked the potatoes – most of them were frozen. May salvage a few. All the flowers are gone. The hanging vines are as strings and Olive’s pine has folded its limbs downwards in complete despair. My beautiful grape ivy, Rosie’s lipstick vine could have a dozen more. Glenn’s cactus I’ve had for 20 yrs. Rosie got in his funeral flowers – But I won’t grieve for flowers. We were lucky we got out of these few days alive. Lens feather comforter saved us I know. With 12° to 18° in the house at night, I wouldn’t want to live it over again. Tiny little slivers of ice seemed to thrust thru the skin where we’d get out of the warm bed and into 18° cold to turn on the oven in the morning.
January 30, 1978 – Got up 10:00 No cat to feed. Hope he isn’t frozen some where. Worried about our leak beneath the trailer. Will have to try to find someone to look at the situation. Brought some water from the bathroom and heated some – Got sponge baths. First bath since last Wed. night – I was beginning to get scaly. Never thot I’d wear the same clothes for three or four straight days. And sleep in more clothes than I usually wear out doors, out the coldest day. It will be a long time before I forget those miserable blood chilling days when we prayed the weather would clear before our last tank of propane ran out. We did everything possible to hold heat in. Towels and blankets over the curtains in the bedroom windows. Extra throw rugs on the floor before the open oven door
[Continued in to new journal] so our feet would keep warmer. One day sat in Lens chair in living room and wrapped up in big green wool blanket and fixed it where it was raveling at the edges. The sun felt good on my dead and for the first time since Thurs at 2:30 P.M. I had taken off my hood.
We called Stewart Dennis and he came down within a couple hours – The T had burst and he had to go to Jones’ to get a new one. He had it fixed in 2 hrs. and we had water again. While he worked under the trailer I cut off most of my frozen flowers from the hanging baskets, so they wouldn’t be mush on the floor later on, to slip on.
Filled up jugs after super – stated to bed about 11:15 – Lens rug by the bed was wet. Good Gosh – another leak; this time under the basin in bathroom.
January 31, 1978 – Got up 8:30 A.M. Still no Cat.
Len and I mopped the basin closet – water had soaked through and all the way to the bathtub. Got to bed by midnight. Thought I couldn’t get to sleep I was tired. We slept thro’ until 6:30 A.M. Len held a rag over the leak while we ran more water to fill the buckets then called Dennis again. He was busy, but will call us this eve. Rather let down now the awful cold cold without heat is over.
Rug was so gritty and dusty with so many in and out – had to run the sweeper finally. At least that doesn’t take much electric. Trying to conserve much as we can. Same with the cooking; to save
34.4 snow in Jan.
10° Low
17 High
[Continued in to new journal] gas, I use the pressure cooker, and cook enough for two or three meals, and we wash dishes once a day, to save water, until we get all the water lines fixed. Stewart Dennis called back and he will be here tomorrow evening for more work. At $10 an hour, I hope he gets every thing fixed.
Arch called this evening, wondering how we were after our ordeal. He said Lori had my shoes exchanged but then not to take any chances on the bad roads to get them here. Arch, Neale, and Robert were going to go bowling tonight. Oh, Boy to be young again. Driving to and from work on icy roads, then driving on more bad roads to go bowling. Good for them.
6° 19°
February 1, 1978 – Up at 7:45 AM Still not cat. 3° below during the night.
Mailed some letters before we had breakfast – Got some more the wash from line in garage. Cleaned up the dirty bathroom after lunch and took the vine I salvaged from the green hosue – in 3 or 4 days, I should know if it will come “out of it.” Some of the leaves are falling off now.
Kids went to school today. They had quite a “vacation.”
Cleaned out under the sink cupboard so Stewart can work inside tonight. Didn’t know I had so many spray cans of cleaner. Good thing, tho’ since water is so short right no, and it isn’t too hard to clean mirrors and mop the floors. Len and I ran sweeper and did some cleaning this afternoon after I cut his hair. Folded contour sheets and pillow cases – Have to sleep on unironed cases, due to the electric shortage.
[Continued in to new journal] Had a pleasant surprise when Steawrt’s wife came with him when he came to make repairs. We had a nice chat while the men worked. We exchanged experiences of the Big Blizzard – Showed her pictures of the flowers, and Lens embroidery work. She is very nice and it was good to have a woman to walk to.
I don’t know what we would have done without Stewart. Hope we have no more trouble, for he has to go back to his own job.
February 2, 1978 – 9:45 13° airport
Got up 9:30 so stiff I could hardly move from all the mopping and closet cleaning. Was more tired the last day or so – after with all the days of chill and anxiety. Still no cat and I fear he has frozen to death some place, and I’ll find him in the spring.
After breakfast, Len made the bed, and picked up, while I put a yeast tea ring and roll dough to rise. After lunch, he did the dishes, rolled walnuts, and made the icing while I watched my soaps. Cleaned furnace filter while Len filled the water jars and I oiled the furnace motor. While I baked rolls and ring and got supper, Len put all the soaps and cleaning things back in bathroom cupboard, and we got the rug back in the bedroom and bathroom. Finally getting things back in shape
[Continued in to new journal] after all the lines leaking. Got rest of last weeks wash off the garage lines when I got the papers.
Ye Gosh! The “Pusskit” came home this evening. Don’t know where he had been but he looks a little thinner than he did when he was here last. The birds had about all the bird seed eaten that I had put on the snow this afternoon. They sure seem to be hungry all the time.
After supper I worked a couple hours on the green wool blanket.
February 3, 1978 – Got up 9:00 A.M. Had breakfast about 9:00 No cat again today. Finally got all the buckets and jugs into the bathroom cupboard and got the bathtub empty and cleaned for the first time in over a week.
The clutter of jugs, buckets, in the bathroom, drawers out and on top of my cutting table in the sewing room so heat could get to the walls, was getting me into a state of “clutter depression.” Felt much better when I got read up a little bit, and my wash to be ironed into a plastic bag.
Lo 6° Hi 23°
17° 11:30 P.M.
February 4, 1978 – (no cat) Got up at 10:00. Had breakfast. Len helped me take every thing out of the cabinet under the kitchen sink and I cleaned good then washed all the containers. He lined up all the re-filled jugs against the back wall. Quite a back breaking job.
Made a big tuna macaroni casserole for supper yesterday so we had the rest of that for our supper. Len and I made 3 lbs of Fantasy fudge after supper. Visited with Al and Naomi for half and hour. Al went to Circleville, so he got us some groceries at Jones’ on the way back.
[Continued in to new journal] We are dead tired. He poured the choc. chips into my sugar mixture instead of a plastic container. I used twice the amt. of milk needed. Had to dip out half of it. What a mess. But i turned out real well with some “doctoring” up.
Had to relax so worked some more on my green wool blanket for a couple hours. Got letter from Bill and David.
Low 10° Hi 24°
1977 25° Lo 31° Hi
_____ WEEK 6 _____
(There are two notations on the sides here in each book. For the 1977 book, she’s written, “Darn! Darn! The clasp on my bridge is loose again. And it hasn’t been too long since I paid $10.00 to have it fixed. Got them Mon. Oct. 17th.” In the 1978 books, she’s written, “Noticed the trailer ceiling has pulled away more at the sewing room door – no wonder with all the high winds. Especially during the blizzard – Three days and nights of 50 mph or more winds. Trailer back end has also pulled away from the green house, west wall. Didn’t want to worry Len too much with it, nothing he can do this winter. Let’s just hope it stays on its foundation and not pull the 2×6’s off the trailer. Just seems the middle section of the trailer walls are opening from the ceiling.”
February 5, 1978 – 9:30 A.M. 18° Got up at 9:00 A.M. After breakfast, washed and cut my hair and took my first tub bath since 25th of January. Except for the three days of the blizzard I did get a sponge bath – Thur. Fri and Sat, 26-27-28. We didn’t even wash our faces. Who wants to wear icicles on their eyelashes?
Pretty tired today. Can’t seem to get with it for some reason. Mopped the filthy kitchen while Len took his bath. After lunch I took a much needed rest- Felt better after sleeping an hour or so. Worked on the blanket again in the evening.
Lo 14°
February 6, 1978 – Got up 9:30 Didn’t mail my letters. The snow had drifted over my path and the old back seemed to weak to shovel thru, so waited until the mail man went, then got the mail and widened the path about half a foot. Took some things to the freezer, and got some vegetables to make some more soup. Kept Len busy for awhile peeling potatoes and carrots for the soup. Put every thing in Archs slow cook pot at 11:00. Didn’t have to watch it all day.
[Continued in to new journal] Goofed around until time for lunch, then my stories – worked on the blanket while listening and watching. I’m 3/4 the way around the 108×80 blanket.
Gave Len a pedicure about 4:00 P.M. His toe nails were long, curled up and about to grow into his flesh. One big toe nail was almost an inch long, no wonder I have to darn socks. When I put in my bill for all the hair cuts and pedicures, he’ll be a poor man. Just kidding! He does feed me.
4° Lo 13° Hi
4° 11:15 P.M.
February 7, 1978 – Got up 9:00 AM Darn cat, home again. Guess he can’t make up his mind where he wants to be. 4° 10 AM airport 7° Downtown
Mailed letters to Mary, Mom H, and David – Sent in electric bill $49.19. Took three containers of soup to garage to put in freezer. Shoveled the path to the road several inches wider, so Len can get to the road with his walker.
Finally got all the button hole stitching around my big 108×80 green wool blanket I’d started during the blizzard. During the evening, I cut the sleeves of an old wool
[Continued in to new journal] sweater and hemmed the sleeves – Nice and warm to slip on before the furnace comes on.
Called Al and talked to him for a few minutes. Taking Naomi to the Dr. Isn’t feeling well.
February 8, 1978 – Got up 9:00 AM Cat came to eat this morning. I didn’t have our breakfast cooked yet so I got some old soup and corn leftovers in the reefer. Heated it and set it out on the porch, altho I doubted if he’d eat it. Looked out after breakfast and he’d eaten every bit of it.
After we ate, I rescraped the path to the road again; went to the green house and got a bucket of soil to spread on the path, so Len can get to the road without slipping and falling. Also dug his old rubbers out of a box in the garage where they’ve been for four years or more.
Called Ethel to tell her they can’t get into the driveway, but they can park over at Als, until I get Len out the
[Continued in to new journal] driveway when they come to get us to take Len to the eye doctor. Talked to Al this evening, he said Dr said Naomi blood pressure was up, worrying about her sister. That and cabin fever together.
Got birthday cards ready for Kim and Lisa and wrote letters in each. Got get well card ready for Amy Lyn.
Lo 8°
Hi 21°
12° – 12:20 P.M.
-13° 18° in 1977
February 9, 1978 – Sent Amy Lyn get well-card. Len has his eye appointment to get his glasses. 2:00 PM. Got up 8:30 AM Had breakfast and mailed birthday card to Lida with $3.00 – also get well card to Amy Lyn Hochmuth. She’s to have an ear and adenoid surgery Feb 13th.
Scattered dry soil over the walk I widened yesterday. Len got thru the walking fine shape today. Got his new lens, and made his appt to get his next eye done the 15th of March – Goes to the hospital on the 14th.
After we went to the bank, Revco and the Dr., we went to Big Bear. Got three bags of groceries. I hadn’t been to Circleville since Lens last appt with the Dr. Jan 12th. Good to get out and go some place; even if its to the grocery. Ethel said today Mary had called her –
[Continued in to new journal] and said Lou and Arch had sent her the most beautiful apples. Ethel said Lou and Arch sent Mary a beautiful azalea. Elwood answered a knock at the door and it was the florist delivery. Mary was surely surprised and happy at their thoughtfulness.
Len seems to be getting along pretty well with his new lens. A little cautious when he goes around chairs, etc, but doesn’t complain of being sea sick today. Just a little bit the first few hours. Started letter to Olive this evening.
11° at 11:20 PM.
Lo 5° Hi 24°
0° 39° last year
February 10, 1978 – 9:40 AM. 0° at airport 10° in town Got up 9:00 Didn’t do much today – after breakfast emptied trash and took bread and meat to freezer.
10:15 AM
6° airport
12° downtown
Chopped the two wooden blocks from in front of the small garage door so I could open it farther. Freezing had raised them so that I could get the door open only about a foot. was hard to squeeze thru with clothes baskets, etc. After “soaps I washed out three flannel shirts for Len. Len peeled potatoes while I worked over the button holes in the new shirt Arch and Lou gave him for Christmas.
Really had some good beef stew for supper. While Len washed dishes, I read the Herald and rested. While we watched T.V.
[Continued in to new journal] I sewed extra buttons on cuffs of Lens shirt. Naomi called this afternoon and we had a nice chat. She wanted to know how Len was getting along with his new glasses and she gets lonesome for someone to talk to. Worried about her sister who is dying of cancer and her mother isn’t well. So I well know she gets depressed with things on her mind and being cooped up so long on account of the snow.
Len still seems surprised that he can read and very happy about it.
13° 11:20 P.M.
Lo 5° Hi 24°
23° 45° (1977)
February 11, 1978 – Got up 9:30 Fed cat. 4° Got a good bath and all set to clean house after breakfast. One foot out of the tub and the phone rang about 11:00 – It was Lisa – they were coming down, and were bringing fixins for submarine sandwiches, also going to exchange my Xmas shoes at Pennys.
Len ran the sweeper real quick in the center of the living room and I gave the kitchen a quick sweep and dusted tops of things in the living room – Every thing looked presentable. We thought they’d be here about 1:00 or 1:30 at the latest. When no sign of them at 2:00 we began to worry for fear they’d slid off the road some where. Was around 2:30 when they got here. Tried to tell Lori to park at Hanes across the road but she’d already
[Continued in to new journal] hurtled the drift in front and was parked before I could quit waving my arms – Rosie called. She was thinking of coming down but since we were having company, she’d wait until next week and they’d all come down for Kim’s Birthday Sat. (18th) She leaves for Florida Mon AM Feb 20th.
Lori, Lisa, Jill brought boiled ham, cooked salami, cheese, potato salad, cherry cheese pie, and buns, and tomatoes. I opened pickles, baked beans, and pears. She brought round macaroni and meat balls for Jill. Jill had breakfast food for 4:30 dessert while we ate the cheese cake.
Love my shoes. She couldn’t get pr. like she got at Xmas so settled for a suede pair with thick soles. Lisa cut my hair while she was here. I really needed one. Cut real short.
Lo 0° Hi 26°
31° 48° 1977