May 1957

This month started off with my Mammaw not feeling at all well.

May 1

Thursday  Wednesday.  Feeling pretty punk.  Missed garden club.

May 2

Friday  Thursday.  Feeling better.  But missed garden club.

May 3

Friday.  Bought plants from Laws shop and put them out.

May 4

Saturday.  Painters finished up the bedroom.  Can’t move in till next week.

May 5

Sunday.  Sunday School and church.  Then to Letty’s for Cy and Maude’s birthday party.  We went on to Springdale and spent the night.  Picked Nora, Grandma & Maude up Mon. A.M. and came on home.

May 6

Monday.  Came home from Springdale and cleaned bedrooms.

May 7

Tuesday.   More cleaning and washing A.M.  Went to Nora’s to Group 1 meeting in afternoon.  Maude co-hostess.

May 8

Wednesday.  Ira & Minnie, Grace (Farmer), Ruby Harshbarger and I went to Hot Springs to Disciples of Christ Church State Convention.  Started out at 6:30 and arrived home around twelve midnight.  Had fine time.

May 9

Thursday.  Minnie and I defrosted home freezer A.M.  Went to chiropodist 3:30 P.M.  My! How good my feet feel.

May 10

Friday

May 11

Saturday

May 12

Sunday.  Mother’s Day.  Heard from all the children.  Grandma got her television.

May 13

Monday.  A.M. Baked cocktail puddings for Dart Leaque.  Night helped serve.  Cleared $108.00 Got permanent 8:30 A.M.

May 14

My last CWF meeting as President at church 2 P.M.  Margaret Howell gave a book review “The Promise”

Of course she never mentioned she had been President of the Christian Women's Fellowship at her church until the job was over.

May 15

Wednesday.  Washing and house cleaning.

May 16

Thursday.  More washing and house cleaning.  Oh – My aching back.  Evening – Committee Meeting at the Browns.

May 17

Friday.  House cleaning.  Played pitch at Grace’s.

May 18

Saturday.  Nearly thro cleaning.  Kenney and I took over baby bed to church nursery.  Feel a little sad.

No more grandchildren would be needing the baby bed they had kept on hand.

May 19

Sunday.  Saved specimen.  24 hrs.  Sunday S. & church.  Nora, Kenney and I had supper with Grandma and Maude.

May 20

Went to Clinic.  All had fine reports.

May 21

Tuesday.  Group meetings.  Stayed home looking for Jay and Scotty.  They came about four o’clock.

They would have come from San Francisco.

May 22

Wednesday.  Bought groceries with Nora and Maude and brought Grandma to see Jay.

May 23

Thursday.  Jay drove up on Mt. Vista to see the river and Lee Creek.  Also to Clear Creek on 71.  Went antique shopping. Came back and went thro the church.

May 24

Friday.  Went to Springdale for the week end.

May 25

Saturday.  All had lunch at Chicken House.  Sat. evening – broiled hamburgers on Jo & Joe’s patio.

A. Q. Chicken House - it's still there in Springdale.

May 26

Sunday.  Another big get together for dinner Sunday.  Everyone went to church.  Made a lot of pictures.  Family all together again.  Came home and packed for trip to California.

They traveled back with Jay and Scotty.

May 27

Monday.  Left for California six A.M.  Had breakfast in Eufala.  Drove into Amarillo 6 P.M.  Spent night there.

May 28

Tuesday.  Left Amarillo 6:10 A.M.  Breakfast in Tucumcari.  Visited with A. W. & Grace in Albuquerque.  Crossed Continental Divide.  Spent night in Gallup N. Mex.  Hotel Rancho.

Uncle Arthur and Aunt Grace - her youngest brother and wife.

May 29

Wednesday.  Drove around rim of painted dessert [sic] and thro petrified Forest.  Lunch in Holbrook.  On to Grand Canyon for night.  I had these pictures made at the Petrified Forest....

May 30.

Thursday.  From our cabin window we watched sun rise over Grand Canyon.  Bright Angel Lodge.  Crossing dessert – lunch at Kingman.  Spent night El Rancho Hotel in Barstow, Calif.

May 31

Friday.  Left Barstow for Sequoyah National Park.  Breakfast at Holiday Inn in Bakersfield.  Loyd George place.  Cold in Sequoyah.  Ate supper in our room with fire in King heater.

More about the trip to follow in June!

April 1957

April 1

Monday.  Went to Nora’s with Maude to do her washing.  Then to Maude’s for lunch.

April 2

Tuesday.  Attended Group 1 meeting at Wilma Brown’s.  Had memorial service for Mrs. Overby.  Rained all night.

April 3

Wednesday.  Grandma’s birthday.  My! What a rain.  P.M. ironed.

April 4

Thurs.  Garden Club meeting at Margaret Howell's – Minnie was co hostess.

April 5

Grace and I planned for meat and rolls for Optimist Club banquet.

April 6

Saturday.  We bought and cooked beef roasts.  Also made rolls for banquet.  Served 82 plates.  Cleared about $95.00

April 7

Sunday.  Took Maude to Ft. Smith to catch bus to Bristow.  Brought Grandma home with us.

April 8

Monday.  Visited Neva in hospital.  She is in traction – not very comfortable.

April 9

Tuesday.  CWF Meeting at Church.  Mrs. York speaker – 3 guests from Rena.  Served a tea.  Older ladies on program.  Theme:  Golden Anniversary

April 10

Wed.

April 11

Thurs.

April 12

Friday

April 13

Saturday.

April 14

Sunday.  Went to S.S. and church then to Rudy for Mrs. Carney’s birthday.  Had Grandma all week.

Now we know why the diary had only the days written in - Mammaw was taken care of Grandma Comstock that whole week while Aunt Maude was visiting her daughter.

April 15

Monday.  Nora came home from Muskogee.

April 16

Tuesday.  We took Grandma to Nora’s and went on to Springdale – Spent night at JoEllen’s.

Now Aunt Nora Rainwater gets a turn at taking care of her mother!

April 17

Wednesday.  Went to choir practice to hear cantata.  Then spent night at K.M.’s after mending all day.

April 18

Thursday.  Drove out by farm and on home.  Got word Arthur had a heart attack in Albequerque.

Mammaw's brother - Arthur Hays.  He survived - he died in May of 1961.

April 19

Friday.  Minnie and I called Grace in hospital.  Arthur very critical.

April 20

Saturday.  Made a few plans for Easter.  Becky and Ike came at noon.  Called on Grandma at Nora’s after noon.  Then to see Paul and Neva’s home.

April 21

Sunday.  Easter.  Becky and Ike attended church with us.  Ira and Minnie came for dinner.

April 22

Monday.  Kenney took Grace and me to Ft. Smith to shop for food for CMF District meeting next Thursday night.

April 23

Wednesday [she skipped a day and didn't catch her mistake until the next week]  Mr. Boatright finished the kitchen woodwork.    P.M. I went to Grace’s and made desserts for Mens’ Fellowship.  More rain.

April 24

Thursday.  Shopped all morning for groceries.  Three P.M. Grace, Emma Mae & myself went to church to cook for CMF.

April 25

Friday.  Drove up on the hill and picked up quilt Jackie Swearingen quilted for Becky.  Then shopped uptown.

April 26

General routine

April 27 

Sunday.  [actually the 28th]  Took Grandma, Maude and Nora for a drive.  Kenney drove upon Mt. Vista where we could see water, water everywhere.  River and Lee’s Creek raging.

Lee's Creek ran past Tom Comstock's homestead in Crawford County, and divided his place from Oklahoma - he was my great, great grandpa, the first of our family to move to Arkansas.  There are lots of stories about Tom - he was evidently quite a character.  One story goes like this.  In a much earlier time, the spring rains had Lee Creek raging and Tom stood on his levee, shook his fist at the heavens and ordered "God, don't you dare flood my fields".  And the flood didn't happen that year.

April 28 

Helped cook and serve Chamber of Commerce banquet at church.  160 plate guarantee.

The Banquet was on Monday the 29th.  

April 29

Tuesday    Monday.  Three men went to work re-decorating front bedroom. 

Bill, Loy and preacher called on us in evening.  Gave $100.00 for central heat and air conditioning.  Banquet.

I wonder if they could really afford that $100 gift...  I suspect it was a sacrifice. 

April 30

Tuesday.  Another bladder flare up.

Mammaw had a busy month, keeping Grandma, meals at the church, a trip to Springdale, Easter with company.  So now she's ill again.

March 1957

March 1

Friday.  Sewed on dress for Laurie Lee’s birthday.

Laurie's birthday is March 11th.  She would be two.

March 2

Saturday.  Joe’s birthday.  Finished Laurie’s and Mary Alice’s birthday dresses.  The Carneys and Comstocks came in from Florida

Joe's birthday - he was 39.  Mary Alice's birthday is March 16th - she was three that year.  Aunt Let and Uncle Cy Carney had been to Florida, but I'm not sure which Comstocks had gone with them, but probably Aunt Minnie & Uncle Ira.

March 3

Sunday.  One dozen of us had dinner together at Nora’s before Letty & Cy took off for Fayetteville.

 And I'm sure a great time was had by all!

March 4

Monday.  Went to Ft. Smith with Kenney, Maude & Nora.  Got shirt for Gary’s birthday.  K.M. had lunch with us.

March 5

Tuesday.  Gary’s birthday.  A rainy day.

Gary was seven.

March 6

Wednesday.  Wash Day.

March 7

Thursday.  Attended Garden Club at Baptist church recreation room.  Grace and I bought hens and delivered to be cooked.

March 8

Friday.  World Day of Prayer, First Presbyterian Church in Ft. Smith.  Nine from Wood Memorial. 

P.M. & Evening helped cook and serve banquet to FHA group from Alma.  Grace and I had charge of creamed chicken.  Cleared $103.00

March 9

Saturday.  General routine.  Cooking and cleaning.  Sent out church laundry.

March 10

Sunday.  A.M.  S.S. & church.  To Granma’s P.M.  Attended meeting for evangelistic calling.  Evening – Int. study course at church – Bob teaching.  Subject “He taught them Saying”

March 11

Monday.  Made preparation for Tues CWF meeting and washed.  Laurie Lee’s birthday.

March 12

Tuesday.  CWF meeting 2 P.M. at church

March 13

Wednesday.  Executive Dist. Board meeting at church.  Interesting meeting and good luncheon.

March 14

Thursday.  Washing my Martha Washington Spread (bedspread).  Also got new living room curtains.

March 15.

Friday.  Grace & I went calling – Mrs. Matlock, Kate Brown, Mrs. Laws, Edna Cox & Birdie Hays.

March 16

Saturday.

March 17

Sunday.  Dinner for Ira & Minnie.  P.M. Grandma’s and Study Course.  St. Pat’s Day.

March 18

Monday

March 19

Tuesday.  Attended Group 2 Luncheon 12:30 at Dora Stewart’s.  Measure shoe.  Then to Leola’s for Group 1 luncheon.

Nora had a narrow foot - I think she ordered her shoes.

March 20

Wednesday.  Took plants to Wilma and Bob.  Then grocery shopping with Nora and Maude.

March 21

Thursday.  Ira & Minnie better.  Cleaning woman with them today.  Baked custard for them and Cynthia & ourselves.  Hostess at Garden Club daffodil show this P.M. at our church.

March 22

Friday.  Took Becky’s quilt to Jacksie Swearingen to have quilted.  Also called on Margaret Anthony.  Maude sick with flu.

March 23

Saturday.  Ferrell Swearingen passed away.  Store and employees sent flowers to the house.

March 24

The usual Sunday routine.  Maude no better.  We went out and fixed dinner for her and Grandma.  Mr. & Mrs. Posey transferred membership to Wood Memorial.

March 25

Monday.  Put in most of the day calling about O.G. and E. demonstration.

 I think OG & E was Oklahoma Gas and Electric - probably a program on energy savings.

March 26

Tuesday night – attended demonstration at OG & E.  78 present.  Total proceeds $42.50

March 27

Wednesday.  Maude not so well.  Nora & I shopped for our groceries and hers.  Then went out and cooked lunch again.  Card from Becky – not coming to birthday party. (Grandma Comstock's birthday)  Mrs. Overby passed away.

March 28

Thursday.  Grace and I called on Dorothy, Mabel, and Della.  Also called on Emma Mae Rogers.

March 29

Friday.  Nora, Kenney, and I cleaned house for Maude.  She's not feeling so well.  JoEllen’s folk spent the night with us.  Kay won Champion in Voice at Musical Festival in Ft. Smith.

 Oh my!  I remember singing on that stage that night at the annual high school music festival.  Sandra Gaskin also was a Champion with her solo.  I was a Junior, she was a Sophomore - the winners were customarily Seniors.  Our boyfriends - Pat Singletary and Donnie drove down over the mountains to be there for us.  I still have the sheet music for the song I sang.  Not only did I get the Championship Medal and get to perform on stage that night, but both a trio and a quartet I sang in were awarded 1st place ribbons.

March 30

Saturday.  A.M.  Graydon’s folk came to spend the night and to attend Grandma’s birthday party.  

3 P.M. attended Mrs. Overby’s funeral.

March 31

Sunday.  The big day.  About 40 people at the birthday party.  14 great grandchildren present.

Grandma Comstock's annual birthday party and reunion.  Grandma would be 90 on April 3rd. I'm guessing all nine of Mammaw's grandchildren were counted in the 14.  I was the oldest of the great grandchildren.

February 1957

February 1

Friday.  Served Youth banquet.  About 35 plates.

February 2

Saturday

February 3

Sunday.  S.S. & church.  Then dinner at Grandma’s.  Nora and Ada.  Ira & Minnie.  Paul & Neva.  Kenney & I.  Letty & Cy came for supper.  Church in the evening.  Had Youth Choir.

February 4

Monday.  Put out washing.  Went to Grandma’s.  then to visit with Nora & Ada.  Registered at Market basket for car or car load of groceries.

February 5

Tuesday.  Attended Group 2 meeting at Irene Comstock’s.  Took Edith and Lola with me.

Irene Comstock was the wife of Hugh Barton Comstock who was my granddad's first cousin.

February 6

Wednesday.  A.M. Grocery time with Nora & Maude.  P.M. Drove to Springdale and spent the night at K.M’s.

February 7

Thursday.  Spent the day and night with McKims.  JoEllen and I made curtains for the nursery.

February 8

Friday.  Went to Jo and Joe’s store.  Did some trading.  Then came on home 1:30 P.M.

Wonder what they bought at L-P Gas & Equipment Co.?

February 9

Saturday.  Washed two machines of clothes.  Beautiful day.  3:40 P.M. Getting cloudy again.

February 10

Sunday.  Mattie’s birthday.  Took Granma, Maude & Nora to Paul’s P.M.  Then home with us for supper.  Kenney baby sat with Grandma while the three of us went to evening church service.

Aunt Mattie, my grandmother's sister would have been 75 that day.

February 11

Monday.  A.M. went to Clinic.  Very good reports.  P.M. Got permanent.

February 12

Tuesday.  CWF lunchen & meeting.  Then called on Mrs. Overby & Stella.  Saw Aunt Ollie – 93 yrs. Old.

Aunt Ollie was my grandmother's aunt, the wife of William Richard Hays, "Uncle Will".  Ollie (Wheeler) Hays was born 1863 in Kansas and lived to be 96.

February 13

Wednesday.  Rain.

February 14

Thursday

February 15

Friday.

February 16

Saturday.  Baked Cake.

February 17

Sunday.  Preacher sick of a virus.  Mr. Crewdson preached.  JoEllen, JoAnn and Laurie came.

February 18

Monday.  Maude & Grandma helped Kenney mind the little girls while JoEllen & I went to Ft. Smith in the rain to shop for curtains.  Worked on them till 10 P.M.

February 19

Tuesday.  JoEllen and I worked on curtains and house cleaning.  She and kids left Two P.M. and I went to Group II meeting at Etta Hayman’s.

February 20

Wednesday

February 21

Thursday.  Cleaned living room, dining room and hall.  Went to store and ordered curtains.

February 22

Friday.  Arthur’s Birthday.  Bought material and made Joe a barbecue apron for his birthday.

Uncle Arthur, my grandmother's brother was age 65.

February 23

Saturday.  Finished Joe’s apron.

February 24

Sunday.  A.M. church & Sunday School.  Drove to Springdale in rain and fog.  Found everyone gone to show.  Spent night at K.M’s.

February 25

Monday.  Work on Kay’s curtains all day and till nearly midnight.

February 26

Tuesday.  Put in the day making curtains.  Got them pressed and up about five P.M.

Thanks, Mammaw - I'm sure I was well pleased!

February 27

Wednesday.  JoEllen took us driving and to see the progress on the new parsonage.  Also to town to look about curtain material for living room.  P.M. Drove home, but stopped to see Christian Church.  Saw Mrs. Asbell.

February 28

Thursday.  Sunshine again.  So washed.

January 1957

So we begin a new year....   Much continues as usual!

1957

January 1

Tuesday.  Stayed home and took care of Grandma till Maude came from Bristow.

Aunt Maude's daughter and family lived in Bristow.

January 2

Wed.  Grocery shopped with Maude and washed two machines of clothes for her.  P.M. baked apple pudding for garden club.

January 3

Thurs. Co-hostess for Garden Club at Mrs. Cloe Moore’s.  Beulah Dollar and Mrs. Harvell also co-hostesses.

January 4

Friday.  CWF Executive board meeting at church.  2 P.M.

January 5

Saturday.  Delivered packages to Sabra Wallace.  Really gave her a thrill.

I'm sure this had something to do with someone at the church, but not sure what exactly.

January 6

Sunday.  Reg Sunday activities.

January 7

Monday

January 8

Tuesday.  CWF Meeting at church  2 P.M.

January 9

Wed.  A.M. Drove to Springdale and went directly to see Dr. Applegate.  Found I had cistitis – 12 tablets took care of that.

January 10

Thursday.  Was recuperating at JoEllen’s.

January 11

Friday.  Mostly resting.

If she was resting, she did not feel well!

January 12

Took over with the children while Jo and Joe went to Little Rock.

The date suggests they went to Little Rock for the mid-winter L-P Gas Association convention.

January 13

Sunday A.M.  Went to S. S. & church and heard their new minister – Bill Cloud.  Think they will like him.

Bill Cloud was an interesting minister with an interesting family.  Not a bad speaker.  His wife would buy a bolt of cloth and make shirts for all the boys and Bill and dresses for the little girls and herself - all out of the same fabric.  I think there were at least five children.  

January 14

Mon & Tues.  Took care of Jo & Joe’s children

January 16

Wednesday.  Visited with K.M. & LaVonne A.M.  Had Stanley call Dr. Hall -  he was ill – not available.  Drove by to see Letty and then on home.  6°  in Springdale early A.M.

January 17

Thursday.  Catching up with correspondence.  Met George Haggard at church to figure on refinishing banisters.

January 18

Friday.  Bought a new Electrolux cleaner.

I think that's the vacuum she was still using after all my children were born and I'd go by every couple of weeks and clean house for her.

January 19

Saturday.  Baked cake.  Made Jello Salad for church dinner.  Also cleaned house.

January 20

Sunday.  Spent the S.S. and church hour with Grace (Farmer) in church Kitchen – Getting ready for church luncheon.  Much fun.  About 100 present.

January 21

Monday.  Washed A.M.  Two P.M. went to Dripping Springs to Henery Spees funeral – then on to Uniontown to see Omer Mills.  He had a stroke much like Kenney.

January 22

Went with Ruth to Ft. Smith to see about tile for hall at church – and to see about getting communion redone – no go.

January 23

Wednesday.  Grace and I worked on curtains all day and till nine P.M.  Some job.

January 24

Thursday.  Minnie and I pressed and hung curtains in Fellowship hall.  Little too short.

January 25

Friday.  Mended and cleaned house A.M.   P.M. meet another tile man and got estimate of cost.

January 26

Saturday.  My Birthday.  A.M. Had my hair and eyebrows fixed up.  Baked cake & made jello for party.  Neil Reints mother’s funeral 3:30 P.M.  Gave Dan Harris order for tile.

She was seventy this day.

 January 27

Sunday.  Cold and rainy.  A.M.  S.S. & church.  Birthday dinner at Ira & Minnie’s.  What a feed – Nora and I got so many nice things.

January 28

Monday.  JoEllen and Joe came.  We had dinner with Nora, Ada, Grandma, and Maude.

This Nora was Grandma's oldest daughter - Nora Rainwater.  Ada was Ada (Burchfield) Riddle - Grandma's niece.  Ada lived in Longview, TX, but visited often - she was nearly always in Van Buren for Grandma's birthday celebration in April.

January 29

Tuesday.  Put out washing.  Not drying much.  Still very cloudy.  Had stationery with my name printed on from Becky & Ike.

January 30

Wednesday.  What a rainy time to grocery shop.

January 31

Thursday.  Bought groceries for Youth banquet.

December 1956

My grandmother had ended November with a sore throat - so she started December really sick!

December 1

Saturday.  Have a real case of flu or virus.  My!  What a sore throat!  And a degree of fever.  Stayed in bed nearly all day.

December 2

Sunday.  Had to miss S.S. and church.  Did manage to go to Woman’s Day Service and introduced speaker – Mrs. L. D. Moran from First Church, Ft. Smith.  Subject – “Women and Prayer”

December 3

Monday.  Tried to take care of my cold and do what had to be done.

December 4

Tuesday.  Feeling better.  Did some washing and went to Group 2 meeting at Edith Easleys.  Enjoyed the meeting and seeing Edith’s newly decorated home.

December 5

Wednesday.  Looked after spreading dirt at home and at the church.  Shopped for Jay & Scotty and got things for Mary Jane’s birthday.  Mr. Shaw scattered more dirt.

Granddaughter Mary Jane's birthday - December 10th - she would be five.

December 6

Thursday.  Supposed to go to Garden Club Christmas, but didn’t – too hoarse.  Got two kinds of medicine – sure it will kill or cure.  Glory be!  Got that pile of dirt moved.

December 7

Friday.  A gloomy day after a hard rain last night.  We had lunch with Nora, Maude and Grandma.  Willie Shaw finished spreading the dirt.  Had TV checked.  O.K. now.

December 8

Saturday.  Made cookies and applesauce cakes for Christmas boxes.  Night – played pitch and ate popcorn with Grace and Doc.

She always fixed boxes of Christmas goodies - cookies, candy, cakes - to send to her children who lived away.  After she died, my mother took up the task and continued to send Christmas boxes to her brothers.  I think it probably started during the war years.

  

December 9

Sunday.  A.M.  Sunday School & church.  Took Nora and went to Grandma’s afternoon.  Letty & Cy came.  Fort Chaffee Choir of 33 voices gave a concert at night.  Coffee and cake served in fellowship Hall.

December 10

Monday.  Got packages off to Jay and to Becky and Ike.  Nearly finished addressing Christmas Cards.

December 11

Tuesday.  Mailed pkg. to Pauline & Aura.  P.M.  Helped group 2 get ready for party.  Beautiful table of gifts for old peoples home.  Fine program and fine crowd.  $182.71 in Christmas stockings.  My huge stocking had $5.00 worth of dimes from CWF.

December 12

Wednesday.  Nora, Maude, Emma Mae and I packed old peoples pkgs ready to mail.  P.M. made green organdy apron.

December 13

Thursday.  Maude, Nora and I went shopping in Ft. Smith.  Make brown organdy apron.  In evening wrapped packages.

Wonder who the fancy aprons were for?

December 14

Friday.  Finished packages and cards.  Cleaned house.  Made beef strogonoff for Minnie, Bill and Wilbur’s birthday dinner.  K.M. and LaVonne came by.

December 15

Saturday.  Looked for JoEllen’s folk all morning.  Didn’t come.  P.M.  Took Nora, Maude and Grandma to see Santa Claus parade.

December 16

Sunday.  A.M. Sunday School & Church.  Afternoon – Grandma’s.  Church at night.  NBA film strip – Jim Patton and Oscar Holland baptized.

December 17

Monday.  8:30 A.M. went to get a permanent.  Shopped a little.  Had lunch and a nap.  P.M. wrapped 2 or 3 more pkgs – including one for JoEllen’s B’Day.

JoEllen - my mother - had her birthday on December 21st.

December 18

Tuesday.  This is Becky’s birthday.  A.M. put out washing & fixed spinach.  P.M. Sat with Grandma while Maude went to Group meeting.

  

December 19

Wednesday.  Usual grocery shopping.  Got half of ham to take to Springdale.  P.M. went with preacher Bob to Sparks Hospital to see Adda Hays and Marion Smith.

December 20

Thursday.  Washed – ironed.  Addressed more cards.

December 21

Friday.  General Christmas rush.  Took food to Birdie Hays home in a pouring rain – no one there.   Mr. Hays funeral  2 p.m.

Not all the Hays families that lived in and near Van Buren were our kin - I wasn't able to figure out who this was Hays was that died in Dec of 1956.

December 22

Saturday.  Baked half a ham to take to Springdale.  Also got clothes ready.  Doc and Grace came for dessert & Welk show – Then played pitch.

Getting ready to come to Springdale to spend Christmas with K. M. and JoEllen's families.

December 23

Sunday.  Left for Springdale at 9:30.  Got to JoEllen’s while they were in church.  Graydon’s folk came after noon for a visit and package exchange.  Saw JoEllen’s choir program at night.  K.M. & LaVonne sang with them.  JoEllen & Kay had solos.

Graydon's family would have come over from Tulsa to join the family.  I suspect this was our Christmas Cantata at First Christian Church in Springdale.

December 24

Monday.  Helped JoEllen get ready for Christmas.  Had tree for their family that evening.  Howard Backus family was there.

Howard & Lorraine Backus and children were friends of the McKim's - they lived on the next corner from the McKim's Pleasant Street house.

December 25

Tuesday.  First voice we heard was Joe calling “Merry Christmas”  then the children tore loose.  They had emptied their stockings.  We made hot cinnamon rolls and put turkey in the oven.  Then had breakfast at ten o’clock.  Ira and Minnie came at 12:30 – also Joe’s mother.  We had dinner at 3:30.  Then K.M’s folk came for the tree.  Graydon called in the afternoon – and we called Jay that night.  Santa was very good to us.

Mama's cinnamon rolls - oh, how I'd like to have them just one more time.  I've tried to reproduce them several times - but never do they turn out like hers did.

December 26

Wednesday.  Left for home 9 A.M.  Stopped to see Letty & Cy and found Letty in bed with heart attack.  P.M. Took Grandma with us to call on Lee and Mary Byrum.  Their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

December 27

Thursday.  K.M. & LaVonne & Kids came for two days while K.M. took in Sales meetings.  Took Grandma to Nora’s.  Attended Marion Smith funeral  4 P.M.

December 28

Friday.  Just entertained LaVonne and the children.  K.M. came in time for lunch.  They left for home 2 P.M.  Then I put out washing and aired some bedding.

December 29

Saturday.  House Cleaning day.  The usual Sat. night activities.

Probably TV and card-playing with the Farmers!

December 30

Sunday.  A.M. Sunday School & church.  Dinner with Nora and Eula.  Grandma is with us again.

December 31

Monday.  Did two washings for Minnie.  Wrote letter to Jay – long letter from him.  A good way to end the year.  There’s much to be thankful for.

November 1956

November 1

Thursday.  Worked with rummage all morning.  Went to Garden Club meeting P.M.  Won a bird feeder as a door prize.  This meeting was in the home of Miss Rebecca Bryan.  Real antiques all over the place.

November 2

Friday.  Rummage sale.  Stuff put up and $31.00 worth sold.  K. M., LaVonne and Kids came in.  Had sandwiches with us before going home.

November 3

Saturday.  Opened up for rummage sale seven A.M.  Made $92.00 +

Grace & Doc came six P.M. for Welk Show (Lawrence Welk on TN) and evening at pitch.

November 4

Sunday.  Minnie & Paul’s birthday dinner at Paul’s after S.S. & Church.  Two tables of cards P.M.  Church at night.

Minnie and Paul both had birthdays on November 4th.  She was 67; he was 50..

November 5

Monday.  Grace and I went shopping in Ft. Smith.  I drove the car there for the first time.  Sam passed away late today.

Sam was the janitor at Comstock, Inc. for Minnie and Ira for many years and was much beloved.

November 6

Tuesday.  Washed two machines of clothes.  P.M. Went with Kenney to vote.  He was election judge.  Emma May and I took leftover rummage to welfare office.  Took food to Sam’s family.

November 7

Wednesday.  Had Pauline, Nora, Maude and Grandma here for lunch.  Then grocery shopped and took them home.

November 8

Thursday

November 9

Friday

November 10

Saturday.  Met shrubbery man at church.  Doc & Grace brought chili supper.  Watched TV and played pitch.

November 11

Sunday.  Stayed home from S.S.  Saving 24 hr. specimen.  Went to church.  Kenney and I drove to Natural Dam in afternoon.  Also stopped for a visit with Fay and Ardia.  Ardie feeling much better.

Mammaw must have a doctor appointment for the final checkup following her surgery. I believe Ardie was a Hays cousin.

November 12

Monday.  Used telephone – making plans for CWF meeting.  Did a weeks wash.  Went with Bob & Mr. Duke to a dinner in Ft. Smith – “Capital for Kingdom Building”  We had our usual 3 month checkup.  Good reports.

She didn't like to use the telephone for chit-chat - only business.  She would call, say what she needed to say, tell you "Good-by" and hang up, leaving you with with your mouth open!  She nearly always hung up on me mid-word. 

November 13

Tuesday.  CWF luncheon and meeting.  Mrs. Lester Furr guest speaker.  Group 1 – hostess.

November 14

Wednesday.  Ruth and I went to nursery and planned for shrubbery.  Also decided on paint mixture.   Grocery day with Nora & Maude.

Landscaping plans must have been for the churh.

November 15

Thursday.  Made a suit of pajamas for myself.  Went to beauty shop and packed things for trip to Springdale.

November 16

Friday.  A.M.  Drove to D.M.’s in time for lunch.  They were on the way to L.R.  I picked Kenney up at school.

November 17

Saturday.  Watched after the kids and listened to the ball game.  Arkansas beat SMU 27 to 13.

November 18

Sunday.  Stayed home from church.  Fried chicken and baked cake.  K.M. & LaVonne arrived home from Little Rock, 9:30 P.M.

November 19

Monday.  Went to JoEllen’s in time for lunch.  We worked on curtains.  Spent the night there.

November 20

Tuesday.  We left for Tulsa 10 A.M.  It really rained on us on the way to Tahlequah.  Had 1 ½ hr visit with Mattie.  Arrived at Graydon & Clare’s home about 5 P.M.

November 21

Wednesday.  Helped Clare get some things ready for Thanksgiving.  Clare made three pumpkin pies.  Put turkey in the oven 10 P.M.

November 22

Thursday.  Thanksgiving.  The McKims arrived just as we got back from Thanksgiving services.  Graydon sang in Senior choir – David in Junior Choir.  What a dinner – Turkey and all the trimmings.  Both Jay & Ikey called in the P.M.

November 23

Friday.  Left Tulsa 9 A.M.  Had a pleasant drive home in time for lunch.  Went to church to work on curtains.  Becky and Ike came in 11 P.M.  Got us out of bed.

November 24

Saturday.  Just cook and eat & wash dishes.  Went to the store for Becky and Ike to Christmas shop.  After store closed Minnie & Ira came & we played six handed pitch.  Went to bed about 1 o’clock.

November 25

Sunday.  Stayed home from S.S. & church to help Becky & Ike to get started home.  They were stopping at JoEllen’s for dinner on the way home.  Minnie, Grace & I put up the valances in Fellowship Hall.  Then went to Grandma’s.  Then church at night.

November 26

Monday.  Baked apple pudding & helped make congealed salad for dinner at church Tues night – 200 plates.  Gov. Faubus speaker.

Orval Faubus was Governor of Arkansas from 1955-1967.   Mammaw always called Jello salads, "congealed" salads - I think that's why for many years I wouldn't touch them....

November 27

Tuesday.  Baked another pudding.  My job is to bake rolls tonight – about 750.  Cold today. This A.M. low.  22°

 Yes - read that again - 750 rolls!  Beyond my imagination.

November 28

Wednesday.  Grocery shopped with Nora and Maude.  Gathered up laundry at church.  Learned we cleared $143.38 on banquet.  Nearly takes care of that paint bill.

  

November 29

Thursday.  Cleaned the Kitchen.  Laundered the curtain.  At night ironed and watched TV.  Got curtains ready to go up.

November 30

Friday.  Put Kitchen curtains up before breakfast.  Afternoon and night I helped with Men’s Fellowship.  Developed a terribly sore throat.