Thu 1. We have been sewing today. Almost got a dress made for Ruth. Got a letter from Gerald & Miriam—I had so hoped they could come up the Fourth. Hoped also we could rent the farm north of us. We went after a bushel of mulberries tonight. Got them washed & heated ready to can.
Mulberries are like elongated blackberries. They are fairly delicate and difficult to harvest, so they are not often sold in stores. They grow abundantly on trees and are good for foraging.
Fri 2. It has been hot today. We canned 22 qts of mulberries this morning. After cleaning up the kitchen we sewed. We are moving the chickens to the barn. They are so crowded in the small chicken house. We are sewing some rags for rugs. We are having lots of peas just now.
Sat 3. [Note at top of page: Cornish Eggs should hatch.] We got only nine chickens today. Not a very good hatch. The old hen left her brood today. Robert & Ruth bought an ice cream freezer today—2 qt size. How I wish Geralds would drive in today.
Here’s a vintage 2-quart ice cream freezer. The White Mountain company still makes hand-cranked freezers today.
Sun 4. This has been a nice Fourth! We celebrated by making ice cream. Linnie & Gerrit came down. We were so surprised. They will stay a day or so. Bob & Ruth sang for a funeral. Got four dollars. Bob sang for us. Had a chicken today—7th.
Mon 5. [Note at top of page: Cornish Eggs should hatch.] We got 14 chickens out of 15 eggs. Linnie, Ruth, Katharine & I drove to Glidden today. Katharine took some rags for her rag rug. We got 5 doz cans of asparagus. Let Aunt Linnie have 1½ dozen cans. Eighth chicken.
I found this cookbook, written to promote the use of California canned asparagus, in the University of Iowa digital library. Hmmm…what to try first…Asparagus Tips in Aspic Ring? Creamed Eggs and Asparagus Casserole? Asparagus and Cauliflower Salad?
Tue 6. We got Gerrit & Linnie off early this morning. We did the washing and as usual got pretty tired. We put all the little chickens under one hen and they are doing well.
Wed 7. Got up early and did the ironing. Afterwards we sewed & mended. Bob got a demerit on his license because he forgot to signal when he turned into a farm house. Ruth got notice of one pupil for her class on Friday. Drove down town in the evening for some coffee.
Thu 8. Katharine & I have been sewing today on her dresses. Ruth finished Bernie’s suit. One turkey hatched today. Picked some peas and beans today. We should can beans soon. It has been hot today. The corn needs rain.
Fri 9. [Note at top of page: (Turkey eggs should hatch today.)] We just have three little turks. Had hoped for seven. Bob worked on his car today. It has been a nice day but I have done very little all day. Mr. Grooters brought us some feed and had supper with us. Ruth may get a beginner’s class. Sent John Lohr the pictures we took the Fourth.
I think this picture may have been one of those they took around this time.
Sat 10. Got up early to can beans. Canned 18½ qts today. Also picked peas for today and tomorrow. We are tired tonight. Am working over a dress of Katharine to fit me. It is going to be very serviceable. Got weighed yesterday. Only weigh 153 lbs. Wish I felt better—I get so tired.
Sun 11. Ruth & Bob, Dad & I went to SS & church this AM. I taught Dad’s class & we all went to the Pres. church where Bob sang. Katharine did not go but staid at home to fry the chicken. This was the ninth chicken we have killed.
Mon 12. We did the washing today. I felt so much more like working than I did yesterday.
Tue 13. Finished the ironing & most of the mending. The high spot of the day was when Bob brought home a bathtub. Florence said we could have the place another year.
This was likely a cast iron & enamel tub, probably in a clawfoot style.
Wed 14. Have been sewing this week. Almost finished a dress made of an old one of Katharines. Bob & Ruth, Dad & I went to Glidden to the Bible class this evening. Drove Philly.
Thu 15. We got the oil check today. A little over $20. Ate our tenth chicken today. Mr. Grooters was here for supper. Dad installed the bath tub. It is so wonderful to have a bath tub. Went to town today. Katharine got two new dresses.
From the always awesome Vintage Dancer web site, here are some 1937 day dresses.
Fri 16. This has been a lovely cool day. I picked beans, baked cookies & pie, scrubbed —& went to town. Ruth got two new dresses. We cut out my lavender seersucker which Katharine gave me last summer. Bob brought me nine turkey eggs which we put under an old hen which we got from Mr. Gregg. Went out to look at some old furniture (about 3 miles). Dad has been building a shelf in the bathroom. It is going to be so nice.
Seersucker is a classic lightweight cotton fabric with alternating crinkled and smooth stripes. You can find lavender seersucker here if you’re in the mood for making a summer dress.
Sat 17. We made the curtains for the bedroom closet today. We had to move our “closet” out of the bathroom. Drove to Lohrville to see about getting some alfalfa hay.
Sun 18. Dad & I went to SS at the ME church. I taught Dad’s class. Ruth was not feeling well so they & Katharine did not go. It rained hard today which insures us a corn crop. Wrote Mrs. Beaty a letter today in answer to her inquiry about Oregon.
Mon 19. We did a big washing today. Had a nice day and got part of the ironing done.
Tue 20. [Note at top of page: Telephone peas should be ready!!!] The telephone peas amounted to very little. Must have been the wrong time of the moon. Ha-Ha. We finished the ironing & mending. Louise came and sewed for Ruth—shortened a dress & her new coat. I am making a dress. Think I will finish it tomorrow. Finished the purple dress made out of Katharine’s & fixed my suit skirt. Mrs. Ripley & Mrs. Fill called this afternoon.
Emma noted planting the telephone peas in her May 8 entry, with the comment that they should be ready on July 20. I learned that these large shelling peas grow up to 6 feet tall on a trellis.
Wed 21. It is real cool this evening. We have been sewing. It was very hot today. We had a chicken today. The eleventh!!! Katharine sewed the rick-rack on her brown dress today.
Rick rack is a zig-zag decorative fabric trim.
Thu 22. Have finished my lavender dress today. Dad is working on Katharine’s chair. Bob gave Louise Green a lesson today. She will sew for Ruth in payment. Bob is only going to work a half day for Brassfields from now on. Gerald has been having a siege with poison oak.
Fri 23. A hot day! Katharine got a check for $15 so we went to town. Got the goods for her a coat, some groceries etc. We came home & got the coat nearly made. Have just finished the dishes. Bob & Ruth have gone to choir practice & Katharine is in the hammock. Dad has been working on the chair.
Sat 24. Ruth & Bob went to Ft. Dodge this PM. They plan to go to Iowa Falls tomorrow. It has been cool today. Katharine & I went down town. She got some goods for a new dress.
Sun 25. It has been very chilly all day. Dad & I went to SS & church. I taught the class. We went over to the Pres. church. Had a chicken dinner (12th). Wrote to Jerry. Took a walk through the corn. Time to go to bed.
Mon 26. A fine washday! After the washing we canned 10 qts of apricots—finished some sewing & managed to keep busy. Mr. Grooters was here for supper. Set a hen today on 13 eggs. It is bed time. We are all ready for it.
Tue 27. We did the ironing today. Bob & Ruth had to play and sing for a funeral. They met Rev. Baker from Des Moines whom they used to know in Marshalltown. Katharine & I have been sewing. I started my black dress today. Dad has been taking the suckers off the corn & finishing Katharine’s chair. Jeff is sick. We are moving the baby chix.
Corn suckers, or tillers, are shoots that grow from the lower part of corn stalks. According to this site, here is some question about whether removing them is helpful or not.
Wed 28. Today Katharine & I have sewed on my “Christmas” dress. We got it pretty well finished. Ruth also helped with it. Sold some cottage cheese today (41¢) Three men were here to appraise the place this evening. Tough meat for dinner.
Thu 29. Katharine worked on her dress today. Got it nearly done.
Fri 30. Ruth got me a lovely pair of silk hose today to wear to Eldora. I think we will start about 8 AM tomorrow. We have baked cookies & sewed today. Ruth & Bob had to sing at a funeral today.
Sat 31. Dad, Katharine & I drove to Eldora today to see John & Alice. We left about 8 AM arriving in Eldora for dinner. Went to town in the PM where Katharine bought herself a pretty white hat. John seems much better than he was last April. Brought my dress along and almost finished it.
Tell’s oldest brother John was about 82, and his health had been declining somewhat.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for August 1937.