I Thought Three Pies all at Once was a Little Much.

Dear Admiral & Lil Sis,

Had 6” of snow on Friday, and didn’t know if I was going to Elmer Mueller funeral, but Jacob came to get me in his 4-wheel drive pickup. It has heated seats, a camera showing the back of the pickup – you name it, it’s got it. He says he has no wife to support so he buys this. Some of the roads weren’t plowed yet, I don’t think a car would have gotten through. But everyone has a 4-wheel drive pickup. Jake brought me back home. I noticed him talking to some people – I think he was talking politics. Didn’t do anything after I got home.

Sunday

Car wouldn’t start, so called Luke who was already at church to come get me. Luke said I need a new battery. He said he’s going to get one – but when? I need the car. I got home from church, not a thing to eat in the house. I had toast. I had baked some bars that looked good – I cut out of paper – well they were too sweet for me. Jake didn’t want them – so I put them in the library for the residents. I don’t think it pays for me to bake if I’m just going to eat part of it and give the rest of away. I’m going to quit doing some of that.

When I read at night I play cassettes. Got a lot of them. They are all classical music. It’s really relaxing, no singing, just music. How come you and Will have separate checking accounts?

Monday

Got picked up for Bible study. Guess the car pool will pick me up for Thanksgiving service too. Sounds like Lukes and me are going to eat Thanksgiving at their church.

In your letter you were talking about mice knocking the lid of your peanuts. That don’t seem possible, but we also had that problem – but with coons. We kept the cat food in the barn, and the lid clamped on tight. But the coons got it off. The Leroy put two bricks on the can – knocked the can over and cat food spilled all over. Then we put the cat food can in a 55 gallon barrel. Got in the barrel. Must of climbed up the bare metal. So we kept cat food on the porch then. We had a lot of animals. One day Leroy shot five skunks in the yard in one day. They just came wandering out of their hiding places all day. Well, I got the paper and it’s dark outside.

Tuesday

Had a 10:30 appointment for my hair. At 9:30 I went out to start the car – didn't start. Then Luke called up and said he was coming to down. But in the meantime I had to call a taxi. When I was in the beauty shop Luke called and said he put a new battery in. Well then I bought groceries and I was shot. It’s 2:00 now and I’m resting so I can get up enough energy to bake a pumpkin pie. Tomorrow I’ll bake two apple pies. I thought three pies all at once was a little much. 5 o’clock - pie is in the oven. Pumpkin can called for 1 cup of sugar – I thought that sounded a lot, so I didn’t put quite a cup in. I tasted it and still too sweet. I have to look for my old recipe. I didn’t go after the mail, so I’ll just watch a little tv and go to bed.

Thursday

Got up at 7 as was going to Thanksgiving service at my church. I have to be ready at 8:30 but didn’t get picked up until 8:45. The wind was so strong I couldn’t hardly get out of the car door. Then got home about 11:30 or so. Tara came and picked me up for dinner at their church, lots of people, turkey and etc. But it didn’t seem like Thanksgiving with this crowd. Better to have Thanksgiving around a table at home. Luke and Maggie worked in the kitchen. Jon brought me home. I’m sure getting old. At church Glen Storm helped me find the hymns in the book. I’m slower at doing that, I would have found the page eventually. And then the kids always take my hand or arm when I walk. Well that’s awful nice, but makes me feel really old.

Friday

Washed my dishes. Didn’t wash breakfast or supper – I only eat a piece of toast for supper – and if I have pie left over – or a banana. I bought four bananas, pretty green, but they ripen so fast – put two in the refrigerator, they keep then. Mopped my kitchen floor and I vacuumed the bedroom. Now I’m resting and writing. Do you remember when we had gypsies? They had wagons and horses. Usually begged for food. I remember once, I came to the door and Ma told us to hide in the closet. I hid behind clothes. I suppose they wanted some chickens. Wonder where they went? Wonder if Ma was afraid of them too?

Big shopping day today. But I suppose most people will go out to the mall on Interstate 90. It’s a shame, Mitchell is spending a lot of money improving Main Street and it still don’t draw people. Walmart store ruined everything. Well, will finish vacuuming. Talk to you tonight.

Saturday

The weather report sounded like it might snow the next few days, so I thought I’d get some grapefruit, bread, and coffee. Came home and made dinner. Fish sticks and baked potato, raw cauliflower with Ranch dressing. Had a piece of pumpkin pie I brought home from Luke’s. Then I napped and watched some tv, Christmas movie. I don’t know what channel it was. I surfed the tv.

Well, I rolled back the kitchen cupboard door and it came out of the groove. My cereal is in there and my coffee. I can’t move the door. I hope I can get Luke to put it back on. I’m just going to have toast and milk in the morning. Everything happens to me over the weekend when the janitor is gone.

Sunday

Went to church, Luke’s church, had a bad night with my arthritis. Guess those pills the doctor gave me don’t work all the time, but since I’m up I had no pain at all. Had a pizza for dinner and a banana. Am listening to classical music on my cassette player while I write. I thought about Christmas cards – don't have any. We don’t have a card shop anymore. Every store has cards, but are pretty expensive. Last year Amelia came and put up my decorations. She’s so busy, she’s directing the Christmas program at church. Do you get a big tree? I had to set my temperature at 74 degrees. Sitting by windows is cooler too. I wear a sweater when I sit.

Monday

Snowing. Luke said to stay home all week because of the snow. I’m waiting for my potato to cook. Having lima beans, sweet kraut, mashed potatoes, gravy, hamburger steaks, and two brownies. Got my dishes washed, I’m really tired.

This morning I straightened out my shelves of quilt blocks to see what I really have. Going to give two towels to the Safe House and two small tubes of toothpaste. Then straightened out my spice rack and etc. In the kitchen. Now after dinner I should do some more stuff, but I’m afraid I won’t do much of anything. Last night about 6:30-7 watched a nice movie on Hallmark. They don’t have any commercials, so no time to go to the bathroom. Was two hours long – a Christmas one. Snowing hard now, all morning. I will mail this now.

Love you and Will – excuse me – it's “Admiral.” I really have never heard of an “Admiral” doing laundry.

Big Sis