Today: 1979 July 2-15

Dad's Old Desk... The bird of paradise above my father's desk, just inside the back door, wasn't exactly like this one imagined here. But close enough. And it was a source of amusement for my old man that he had an enormous five fingered marijuana leaf hanging from the bird's beak.

In today's installment of my father's journal from 1979, there is a mention of wax papering Turnips. This IS a thing, I'm assured. But Chris, from work, I believe his last name was Washic, but I could be wrong, could also have been visiting for different reasons. I believe it was around this time that my old man took some marijuana seeds from Chris, who could not get them to grow. Dad planted them among the corn that year and by the time I noticed the plants they were towering over the corn. I know Dad gave some small seedlings to my brother-in-law Daryl. But his cats at them down to the nubs where they sat on the window-sill. For his great experiment... He claimed he was fond of the way the plants flowered, and I have to think that was no lie... he kept one massive five fingered leaf and put it in wax paper and hung it from that bird's beak above his desk. But I feel pretty sure Chris came to pick up more than turnips that day. The "furnace" refered to on July 2 refers to the brick furnaces at Clearfield Clay, the brick yard up across from the Hyde Bridge on Old Town Road. Here, old Ivy Lansberry, the only grandmother I ever knew, on my mom's side, is getting older and forgetful, even to the extent that she did not know she was having surgery for colon cancer. You can see our cars always sucked. But it was a point of pride for Dad to keep them running. He was fond of the old AMC brand of cars, sold by Butterworth's (I think) over in Philipsburg. You can see our family lived paycheck to paycheck. And father would only bank in Philipsburg because he was determined his money would never be kept in Clearfield. But in this fortnite, he can be found putting $60 in the bank and hoping his account was not overdrafted. Like father, like son, I guess. Ha. Enjoy! Monday, July 2

Daily Number: 154 P-P off this week.

Went to P-Burg on job interview.

Worked putting plaster board on living room

all day. Sore. Takes along time.

Chris called in afternoon and small talked

about International that I assisted him about.

Then he told me Perry and Stu were out

and he wanted toknow what to set (unk)

after shutting off furnace.

Some man was telling me how nice

my yard looked today.

That helps.

Tuesday, July 3

Daily Number: 978

This was a pretty nice day.

I spent the day mowing yard

and trimming it up.

Punk & Kids came down

Just before lunch and brought

a bucket of tar. Morgan came down at lunch time

and tared around my chimley

and bathroom stink pipe.

Did not do much in evening.

Went to P-Burg in the morning

and put 60 dollars in the bank

but I think Mary overdrawed it

for groceries. Hope I can cover it before

all the checks get in.

Wednesday, July 4

Daily Number: 343

Worked on Living Room

scribing front window and

putting more plaster board on.

Seems to take so long to get so little done.

Went up to Punky's in afternoon

and had a nice cook out.

It was a little chilly but I liked it.

Punky's kitchen really looks nice.

Thursday, July 5

Daily Number: 033 Worked patching holes

Where I lowered the floor last year.

Worked most of the day doing it.

Friday, July 6

Daily Lottery: 522 Got up and was washing car

when Chris come up alley on his bike.

He said he called in sick

But was going to go to work in afternoon. I showed him around. When we got in the house Mary called

that I could pick her check up

So he left and I went for the check.

Puddy and I went to P-Burg for her car

We stopped and had hot dogs at Goody's.

Sure were good.

Puddy's car still not working right.

Will take it back later.

Saturday, July 7

Daily Number: 801

Worked outside painting picnic table

and step by back door. I like both but some people don't.

Worked some of garden in the evening.

Sunday, July 8

Worked all day cultivating the garden.

Sure looks nice.

Sis, Grace, Darb and Shirley were here for dinner.

We ate outside chicken (Good)

Watched T.V.

and went to bed.

Monday, July 9

Daily Lottery: 515

This was a fairly nice day with sunshine

most of the day.

Mary and I went out on Kennedy Road

and picked 5 quarts of blue berrys.

Loaded trunk with wood we picked up

along road. Came home and then went out

on DuBeck Road and cut 2 nice loads

of fire wood.

Was home by 7 p.m.

Watched T.V. and went to bed.

Tuesday, July 10

Daily Lottery: 409

Rained most of last night.

So their was not much I felt like doing.

Punk & Kids were down in the afternoon

and Doris, Mary & I went down

to see Ivey.

She was quite good.

She is to be operated on Thursday

for colon cancer. She does not know this yet.

Came home and mowed the yard.

So day was not a total loss.

Wednesday, July 11

Daily Lottery: 412

Mary & I went out in the afternoon

and cut two loads of wood.

It was quite hot but we got some

nice oak logs. I worked mowing the yard

that I did not finish on Tuesday.

All in all this was a good day.

Thursday, July 12

Daily Lottery: 673

I called and Vic told me

he would bring my check down

in the afternoon

but they did not pay.

I done away with my Turnips

out of the garden in the morning.

Put some in wax paper and pressed them.

Some for Chris and one for me.

I worked all day weeding flower beds.

Mary's mother was operated on today

and they tooke a large section of colon

It was hooked to her stomach.

She seems to be doing quite well

for 2 hr of surgery.

Friday, July 13

Daily Lottery: 933

Went up and got my vacation pay

about 10 a.m.

Had tire fixed at McKenzie's

and went to P-Burg to the bank

about noon. I stopped at Goody's Rest

and had hot dogs on way home. Mary & I hauled 1 1/2 loads of wood

this afternoon I had to hit a rock with the saw. Shawn all ready to take a car to

State College for Art Festival

when "elewater" (sic) and starter broke down. He took Puddy's car

Under quite a protest from her. Saturday, July 14

Daily Lottery: 338

Got up and got new parts for car

Put them on and had car back on road

in 45 minutes.

Shawn came home about 2 p.m.

and I helped him wash Puddy's car

It was a mess as it rained down there

yesterday. Puddy's car was clonking pretty bad. I must take it back.

Mary's mother not very good today.

Morgan and I went out with his kids

on Rockton Road and we both

picked a couple quarts of blue berries. Sunday, July 15

I worked weeding flower beds today

and just goofing around

It was a day of off and on

possible showers

that never did rain much Spent a lot of time picking

Jap-beatles off Honeysuckle Bush.

Went to bed early

as I have to go back to work tomarrow.