Sunny, clear, and calm

June 13, 2007 (5:01am)
47º F, Sun and clear, N wind, 0 mph.

Good morning,

Another gorgeous day a-coming at Guds Nordtre! Yesterday was some hot, 86º F/30º C for an official high. Really was nice with a light breeze all day. If one had to be in the sun, it really was hot though. I couldn’t take it for very long. Was better in the shade or in the shop. I tired to stay out of the direct sun as much as possible. It was warmer here than in Kewaunee - thought things were to be a bit cooler up here? Or is that only in the winter?

I have been reading some of my Mom’s diaries off and on. Not too sure what year this one was written, but Dad is going to college at Oshkosh State Teachers College at the time. It really is interesting. Both seemed to have their world’s centered on the other, even then. They each wrote everyday to each other and Mom would get "special delivery" letters and occasionally telegrams from Dad. At the time, there were two mail deliveries each day and often there would be a letter from Dad in each delivery. He also drove to Milwaukee almost every weekend in his "Lizzy" to see her. Some of the rides were not too nice in snow storms. The trip from Oshkosh to Milwaukee now takes about 1½ or so, but some of Dad’s rides took several more hours than that. It was also interesting that during the week she would go to be between 10:00 and 11:00 P.M., but when Dad was in town it was more between 1:00 and 2:00 P.M. Not too sure what the difference was. They sure were enamored with each other! Ain’t that the was it is supposed to be?

One of the more interesting-er things in the diary is Dad applied for and got a substitute teaching job at North Milwaukee High School, teaching shop. Years later, we would live in a house across the street from the school and Bill and I were students there. We took shop in the same classroom as Dad taught in. Our instructor was one of Dad’s roommates while he was in college! Small world. When I started going to the school it was then, and for many years, part of the Milwaukee School System and renamed Custer High School. Later, a new Custer High School was built and the old school became Edison Junior High School as it remains today.

Another item is Mom mentioning over and over her working on "our picture" many hours. Finally figured out she was embroidering some kind of a picture to hang on the wall, apparently after they got married. Right now, I have no idea what that picture is. I can’t remember it at all, but probably have seen it. At one point she said she was half finished and had spent 147 hours on it to get that far! Seems like a lot of sticking and poking to me! Don’t think I would have the patience for that at all.

We did get a couple of things accomplished here yesterday. Finishing the water-works wasn’t one of them though. We did go to the friendly Ace Hardware store and exchange the kitchen faucet for one that has all of the necessary threads to attach all of the pipes. The gal at check-out got a chuckle from the incomplete one. I made sure the new one had the threads on it before taking it. While I was looking for a couple of fittings for the shower and a possible purchase of a hand shower, Margriet noticed a "utility" shower head which included the mixing valve and head riser. We bought it and it solves the problem of mounting on the shower. We now have an extra mixing valve since I apparently threw the box away and can’t return it. Might need one someday, ya never know.

I also repaired an electric frying pan that I got for a wedding present in 1964. Somehow the screws for the handles/feet have been lost. For what ever reason, the pan’s exterior had not been properly cleaned for many years and the baked on grease and crud got to me a bit before Margriet came. I spent a number of hours trying to clean it and didn’t even finish half of it. Margriet decided she would like to use it, so tried to put it back together again. Couldn’t find the screws by then of course. Finally picked up the necessary items yesterday and today she can use it if she wishes. Now she has her choice of two electric frypans to use - on big and one smaller.

We had an email from one of the members at Grace telling us that his Mom had died during the night. Millie was one of the first people we got to know at Grace (as almost every new member or visitor did) and she was one of the early members of the Tuesday Morning Bible study group. For the past several years her health was declining and finally had to stay at a nursing home. The last couple of years Alzheimer’s disease set in and she was in a world of her own. She is one of the real Saints. Now in the home of Saints. Every church has a Grandma, and Millie was Grace’s for sure.

Time to get a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris ><>