Wed 1. Another May 1st. It was so windy and cold that we did not put the clothes out. I had Hazel Nehring help wash. My hand is swollen some but I think it will soon be alright.
Thu 2. Daddy painted the dining room today—& part of the living room. It looks so nice. The sun is shining bright this morning. It has been so cold I guess it is a good thing my garden has not been planted.
Here’s a magazine feature from 1928 showing popular paint colors of the era. This was the end of the Art Deco period in interior style.
Fri 3. Am planning to clean house again today. Got our rooms pretty well done. Tell is painting the living room, dining room, hall, and kitchen for me.
4. Got our new rug today. Will came over & helped me put in the garden.
Sun 5. Tell took Nora to Jerrell this AM. We went for her last night. She is to read The Fool tonight at Eagle Grove. We got Will & Daisey in the evening.
Mon 6. Have sewed my living carpet over for the dining room. Ruth, Daisey & I drove to Iowa Falls today.
Tues 7. Pressed & put up my new curtains today. Went to an Alumna meeting in the evening. Set the date for banquet June 7.
Here are some 1920s-style curtains.
Wed 8. Went to the Ladies’ Aid at Bakers today—No, yesterday it was—for Nora was here when I got home. She helped me clean the upstairs this AM & I drove to Radcliffe for Mrs. Van Patter to take the Aid’s rags—then took the folk to Eldora. Will has made most of my garden.
Thu 9. WFMS at Lobers today. Peggy & I drove to Eldora today for some repairs.
Fri 10. Daddy & I went to the Sr. play tonight. Peg o’My Heart. It was very good. Comp tickets because Daddy is on the school board. We got the kitchen & bathroom painted today.
A 1912 play by J. Hartley Manners. It had a silent film adaptation in 1922, which was the film debut of Laurette Taylor (stage actress and wife of the playwright) in the starring role. Here’s a plot synopsis.
Sat 11. We had a hard rain last night. Guess it will make things grow. My two rose bushes came today—we ordered from Whitneys.
Sun 12. Mother’s Day. Last Wed Katharine sent me a lovely silk dress—Daddy some candy—Ruth a scarf and a slip—Gerald brought me a dozen carnations. I had him take half of them to Miriam. Mrs. Walker came to spend the evening. Ate dinner in Eldora. Went for a long ride.
Mon 13. Planted flower seed this morning. Gerald, Dr. Brubaker & I went to the country for leaf mold & wild flowers. Got stuck & had to be pulled out. Got ferns, hepatica, Jack in the Pulpit, trillium, Blood root and a lot of blue flowers.
Tue 14. Worked at the shop today. It was too rainy to clean the church. Daddy is not feeling well.
Wed 15. Helped Margaret Sater with her toast program today. My! but it has turned cold. We are sending out Alumna letters.
Thu 16. Gerald, Miriam & I went to Cedar Falls in the truck today. Did my washing before I went. I did not get much—a lamp shade & a pin for my hair. Miriam got a new dress.
Fri 17. It has been a lovely day. Have done a lot of things today—put out some plants in my porch boxes. Took back a hen that would not set to Mrs. Hornung. Ruth is helping serve the Jr. Sr. Banquet tonight. Heard of Mrs Port’s death. It happened yesterday.
Sat 18. It is still pretty cold. Have about finished house cleaning.
Sun 19. Most of my tomato plants froze last night. Gerald & family & Tell & I went to Vernon’s timber this PM. I found two dozen orchids. We drove to Eldora after Will & Daisey but they did not want to come. Nora went to K.C. yesterday—to F.L. Scott this week. A show is to be on near us in a tent.
Wow! Freezing temperatures in May. According to this site, it got down to 30.9 degrees.
This week’s rabbit hole: Iowa orchids! There are 32 native species. This is one of them—the Showy orchis. They don’t transplant well, as they rely on particular soils and fungi to thrive.
Mon 20. Ruth is not feeling well this AM.
Tue 21. Daddy & I went to Eldora & ordered a new suit for him today. I got four petunias for my porch box. Went with Gerald & Doc after leaf mould & ferns, etc. Had a soldier boy for supper—he is from Maple, Wis.—Name Oleson. Is going to be a preacher. Ruth went to a picnic. Mrs. Walker washed her bedding here.
Wed 22. My tulips are still out. They look beautiful. Ruth & I went to Eldora after Will & Daisey this AM. Will helped me make flower beds. I worked out all day. I took them for a little ride at night.
Thu 23. Today Daddy & John went to Cedar Falls. I am staying at the shop.
Fri 24. After we got the work done up today, I took Daisey, Mrs. Swallum, Mrs. Byam, and Mrs. Vilman fishing. We went out east of Gildermasters. At night we went to the Commencement exercises at the schoolhouse.
It turns out that fishing has long been an activity of choice for women. Here’s a really fun story from the Washington Post on images of women fishing. And here’s a scholarly history of Iowa’s waters and fishes.
Sat 25. John and Alice came out to the cemetery today. Tell, Ruth, Daisy, Will, & I went out awhile. Afterwards we (Ruth & I) took them home. While in Eldora I bought a new dress for me, and one for Ruth.
Sun 26. I found two four-leaf clovers today—one out by the pool & one by the school house north of Rough Woods where we went for a drive. Had to teach Mrs. Byam’s class.
This is a picture of a one-room schoolhouse near Rough Woods Hill, not far from Hubbard. I’m not sure if it’s the one they drove to, but it’s possible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-leaf_clover
Mon 27. Found another four-leaf clover. Worked out doors some today.
Tue 28. Tell went to Cedar Falls. I went to a County WCTU Ex meeting at Mrs. Swallums. Had a pot luck dinner.
Wed 29. Took Ruth to Iowa Falls for her lesson. Ruth Bogardus went along. Bought a silk dress for $4.98.
This amount is about $79.51 in today’s money.
Thu 30. D.Day. Took Mrs. Campbell to Eldora to decorate her graves. Brought Will, Daisey & Manora over for the day. Kept Gerald’s two kiddies—Margaret & Jerry—while they went to a show. They ate supper with us & then went to Eldora. Was up with them till eleven. We decorated Mary Margaret’s and Aunt Lou’s graves. Tell & I went to prayer meeting.
Fri 31. Tell took Daisey & Manora home but Will stayed and mowed the lawn and plowed and hoed the garden. I worked at the shop and then went to a SS Board meeting at Olmstead’s at night.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for June 1929.