DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Clara Steen Skott diary, 1948-1952

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Clara Steen Skott diary, 1948-1952

January 1

1948. Cold NE wind, snow in P.M. In our basement living quarters I saw no one but family. Baked bread, applesauce cake (mixed in new elec. mixer), ripped hems from 2 blue dresses, worked an inch of Signe’s needlepoint.

1949. Frank came home by bus from Kennewick, Wash., arriving 3 AM. I felt weak from lack of sleep. Our old Dodge wouldn’t star. John Schafer took us in to Madison but Kathryn missed 2:15 train by 3”. Went on 5 P.M.

1950. Visibility very poor. Hans’ mother and I walked halfway to church, rode with Utter’s. (I couldn’t start Frank’s old Oldsmobile.) Signe here from 2-9:50. Hans has (eyestrain) headache. 

1951. Up to 34º. Eaves dripped on s side. I woke at 4, up at 5:15 to bake date cake (candied fruit). Roasted capon. Signe here 9:30 till Frank left for Rockford about 5. I took Hans to 5:40 bus for Eau Claire. K + I played game of Lexington Rummy + I wrote ‘15 circle letter.

1952. Slept 7 1/2 hours! Kathryn in Madison until evening bus. Frank put out reel, I washed. Very cold, sunny. Cleaned apt. Frank went back to Rockford, leaving on 10:30 P.M. bus.

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1948. Cold NE wind, snow in P.M. In our basement living quarters I saw no one but family. Baked bread, applesauce cake (mixed in new elec. mixer), ripped hems from 2 blue dresses, worked an inch of Signe’s needlepoint. 1949. Frank came home by bus from Kennewick, Wash., arriving 3 AM. I felt weak from lack of sleep. Our old Dodge wouldn’t star. John Schafer took us in to Madison but Kathryn missed 2:15 train by 3”. Went on 5 P.M. 1950. Visibility very poor. Hans’ mother and I walked halfway to church, rode with Utter’s. (I couldn’t start Frank’s old Oldsmobile.) Signe here from 2-9:50. Hans has (eyestrain) headache. 1951. Up to 34º. Eaves dripped on s side. I woke at 4, up at 5:15 to bake date cake (candied fruit). Roasted capon. Signe here 9:30 till Frank left for Rockford about 5. I took Hans to 5:40 bus for Eau Claire. K + I played game of Lexington Rummy + I wrote ‘15 circle letter. 1952. Slept 7 1/2 hours! Kathryn in Madison until evening bus. Frank put out reel, I washed. Very cold, sunny. Cleaned apt. Frank went back to Rockford, leaving on 10:30 P.M. bus.