Even though I’m not very far into this journal, as I’m transcribing it, I’ve already noted several instances of Grandma Rose saying that she’s in pain. I remember several years later when I was much older, she fell down the steps at Zion Methodist Church and I wonder if the pain in her legs/pelvic area (or her arthritis, as she calls it here), contributed to that fall. I always feel like the older generation, her generation and older specifically, had such a physically harder life than we do now and it must have just ravaged their joints and body. I did pull up her death certificate copy to see if arthritis was noted on there, and it wasn’t, not even as a contributory cause surprisingly. I just feel bad seeing her note so many occasions of being in pain.
This week was also a surprise find for me with the mention of Drummer Boy Chicken! I have fond, fond memories of going there with my dad on a few occasions to pick up dinner. The smell was DIVINE as soon as you got out of the car – it hit you. I can smell that coupon, I swear! It wasn’t fancy but it sure was good and it sticks in my mind as one of those great childhood food memories so I was delighted to see it mentioned here that we brought it along for lunch to see Grandma Rose and Leonard.
NOTE: As always, I left her spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as much as possible.
February 19, 1977 – 1:00 A.M. 28°
Beautiful sunny day. Worked in the greenhouse about an hour and a half watering the flowers. Discarding old ones.
Back bothered me quite a bit, but had to get it done. First I’ve been out there to work for over a week and everything was dry.
2:00 PM 39°
Fixed Len a pillow case to embroider. Got a pretty card-letter from Rosie. Sent Ralph a birthday card and a couple pages to Ethel. Snowed just a little today. May be 1 to 2″ by morning.
11:30 P.M. 29°
Made one coat hanger (blue)
February 20, 1977 – 11:00 A.M. 28°
Snowed some. Swept off the porch while the cat ate this breakfast. Sun trying to peek through. Winds 20 to 40 M.P.H.
Back aching like fury this morning.
Surprise!! Arch called about 11:30. He, Lisa and Jill to come down. Brought Dummer Boy chicken, potato salad, and Baked Beans and we had lunch together. Took a few pictures. Arch broke up a path for me out front. Looks good. Went home around 3:00.
Still snowing. Wind from the North, so will have to sweep the porch again. Made one more coat hanger. (yellow)
Pump went off for the first time since Carter fixed it.
February 21, 1977 – Ralph’s birth day 10:30 17° above
Got up it was about 1:00 o’clock. Back quite a bit better today. Didn’t do too much yet today.Made three hanging hand towels for the kitchen this forenoon before lunch. Bathed Len’s foot after I watched my afternoon soap opera.
Had chicken and noodles for supper – Made a pot of chicken soup to freeze.
Beautiful sunny afternoon 25° wind 16 m.p.h.
11:00 P.M. 27° South Wind 5 mph
Donna Riffel here to collect for Heart Association. Gave her $1.00 First we’d seen her all winter. She looks good – and trim.
February 22, 1977 –
Sent Pearl K birthday card. Beautiful windy sun shiny day. 11:00 A.M. 43°
Pump went off again. Drat. Hydrocel came loose – Have to be fixed.
Got a letter from mom Hochmuth – They’re okay.
4:30 P.M. 57° Winds 17 to 29 mph
Took myself an hour and a half nap (3:00 to 4:30) today to relieve my back.
Ethel called this evening. Ralph got the birthday card – They wondered if Len had hade his appointment yet.
11:00 P.M. 47° Winds 3 mph
February 23, 1977 – 10:00 AM 36°
Cloudy – looks like rain.
3:30 P.M. 60° and sunny.
4:30 P.M. 64°
Back aching also head ached but I sewed anyway. Got a cobbler apron almost done – Have to bind the arm holes yet. Ulcers acted up last night. Had to get up & take Maylox.
Had to call Carter about the pump again. Seems we will never get the darn thing fixed.
Hi 65°
February 24, 1977 –
Very windy, cloudy, rainy day. Billy Carter came to fix pump box again.
12:30 winds 29 to 38 M.P.H. 44°
1:30 35 to 52 MPH
Today, I can hardly move my legs. Not pain, just stiffness and aching down the leg – and in pelvic.
Amaryllis still showing no sign of blooming.
Low 41° High 55
February 25, 1977 –
Rain has stopped, but still very windy. Winds up to 39 M.P.H.
6:30 P.M. 53°
Back up yet today. Only way I could get around was with m grace. Arthritis (or whatever) seems to bother me in the pelvic region at times. (Bad)
Cleaned the furnace filter, filled jars and cleaned bedroom bath & sewing room.
11:30 P.M. 44° West winds 3 M.P.H.
Low 38° High 53°