Grandma & Mom ~~ Jamestown, Va ~~ Early 1970s

 

I remember Mom's outafit as being culottes under the pleats.  It was a one piece & zipped up the back.  

Grandma Letter ~~ August 2, 1996

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

I was so glad to get your letter yesterday.  I imagined something was wrong but I'm glad you & Jack are okay.

How was your birthday?  Did your Mom & Dad come over?

One of our tenants -- two apartments down the hall -- died Wednesday night.  He was sick for some time.

The band festival is here today and tomorrow.  What a mess that makes.  They come from all over the country.  The number of buses is unbelievable.  It is almost impossible to get in and out of our parking lot.  The stadium is next door.

Yes, I like our name stickers too.  The ones I have been using are some that have come to me gratiis from some organization or other.

Yes, I have two violets now.  The plant I bought got a shoot on it and I cut it off & planted it and that one is now over 12" across.  Lavender with one dark purple petal.  Don't let them in the sun!  I wish I could find a good home for my cactus.  They are so big and I have no place for them any more.  One bloomed last Xmas but the other one just keeps growing.

I never got the afghan yarn.  They put it on back-order again. 

I am doing "The Lady", like I did for your Mom, for Ruth.  She wants to give it to Beckie for Xmas.  I am almost done.

Well hon, I hope you can read this, my writing gets worse all the time.  Take care and write when you can  and give my love to Jack.

Love always,

Grandma

Remembrance Card For Mary Powers (One of Grandma's Friends) ~~ July 27, 1994

Grandma ~~ Late 1920s / Early 1930s

 

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked July 18, 1994

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Today your Mom turns 62!

Ruth's daughter went home yesterday.  Ruth is busy sorting everything out, clothes, etc.  They only had graveside services.  The crematorium is just a few blocks from here.

The old gentleman that Ruth checks on is 100 years old today.  He had a big bash at one of the hotels.  Invited 40 guests.  He lives alone.  

Your mom wants me to come down this summer.  I have an appointment with Dr. Jones - the first checkup since my eye surgery..  It's on August 1st.  I go to Dr. Shore next week.  I won't be able to come until after that.  I told her I didn't know when I could come because I had forgotten about the doctors.  I must let her know.

Are you planing any "babies" from your rose of Sharon?  The one I used to have on Ott Blvd, I saw it last week and it is in full bloom.  It is almost tree size.

Mrs. Wallace's niece has gone to the shore for a month.  They have shares in a home down there.  It is near Asbury Park, NJ.

It is sweltering up here too!

I want to get a perm in the next week or so, before I come down there.  I will be so glad to see you & Jack.  Just think, it has been a couple of years.  

Is there anything I can bring you when I come down?

Well hon, I better close now and drop your mom a line or two.  Write when you can and take care!

Love always,

Grandma

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked July 6, 1993

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Thanks for the nice card.  I know how busy you are, working on your new place.  Just don't you & Jack over-do it.  This weather is not for working outside.  I know it must be hot there beause it is in the high 90s here.

Ruth took Harold to the hospital this morning.  He needs a blood transfusion.  He is losing so much blood because of his kidneys.  He told the doctor "It won't be too much longer for me." and Dr. Shore said "You could be right."

I hope you are careful about ticks.  I worry about you a lot.  It must cooler in the woods though, than out in the sun.

Bunny, Mrs. Wallace's niece, asked me over Monday to a cook-out.  She made sliced turkey breasts on the grill.  There were just the four of us.  All her family were somewhere else.  He is a graduate of Harvard.  They have a lovely home.  They are going to the shore for a month next week.

I am feeling okay.  Just taking it easy.

They had a huge crowd down at the stadium Sunday night.  We can see it from here.  I think they had about 50,000 people there.  The stadium holds over 22,000.  People were all around the lake & on the grass in the park.

Well hon, there really isn't much news here, so let me hear from you when you have time.

Love always,

Grandma

Love to Jack!

For A Special Granddaughter On Her Birthday ~~ 1989

 

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked June 2, 1992

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Received your nice letter, and am always glad to hear from you.

Mrs. Wallace's niece came by yesterday & got her mail.  I collect it daily and we talked a bit.  She is her only close relative.  I went with her up to the hospital (just 4 blocks away).  She still hasn't had any food yet.  She is a miserable patient.  She really gives the nurses a rough time.  Her niece is going to Burmuda on Saturday.  It is their 40th wedding anniversary.  Mrs. Wallace doesn't know that yet though.  She is arranging for a nurse to be with her if she goes home while she is away.  She will be a handful because she will not take orders.

Ruth asked me to send you this article.  She thought maybe you "had a lot of spare time" & would like to try it.  Just joking, of course!

I think I told you that one of the ladies on the floor asked me to crochet her an afghan.  I only have 4 more rows to do.  Your mom wants me to make her one too.

We have cantaloupes on sale here but they look awfull.  They are asking 99 cents each.

I just cooked some squash.  It smells good.

Well hon, I better close and get going.  I should write a check for my car insurance but rebel when I look at the amount.

Take care & write soon.  

Love,

Grandma

Love to Jack!

Mom & Grandma ~~ Allentown, Pa ~~ 1960s

 

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked June 20, 1994

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Enjoyed your letter.  Thanks!  Did you get your culverts dug?  It is so hot here.  96F yesterday.  

Ruth and I went to Perkins yesterday.  We each got a salad.  They were half a cantaloupe witih chicken salad inside & all kinds of fresh fruit cut up around it.  The strawberries were enormous.  Plus a huge fresh blueberry muffin toasted.  I brought home half of the muffin and the cantaloupe.  I couldn't eat it all.  Ruth brought her cantaloupe home too.  They put it in a nice box.

I go to Dr. Jones on August 1st.  I will need new glasses.  

How about O.J. -- I couldn't go to bed Friday night until I saw what was happening.  I watched the ride on the highway.

I hope you are doing okay and not hurting yourself.  It's only been 3 months since your surgery.  

Your muffins sound good!

Well hon, not much news here so write when you can & take care of Jack.  I sent him a birthday card with a check.  

Love always,

Grandma

New York Times Newspaper Clipping/Book Ad For Charles Lindbergh Pictorial History ~~ July 21, 1929

 

Found tucked inside Grandma's 1920s prayer book.  By her own admission, she had a huge crush on him at the time! 

Hi! Happy Birthday! ~~ June 1988

 

Grandma (Me in Background) ~~ Cape Hatteras ~~ 1960s

 

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked May 22, 1996

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Thanks for the pictures & letter.  What kind of tree is that in the one picture?

I think it takes about 3 weeks for eggs to hatch.  It does for chickens so I suppose it is about the same for ducks.  There is a pair just outside my window this morning.  Just sitting there.  They mate for life just like geese do.  I hope she's not going to nest there as they cut that grass every week.  She would be better off up on the slope in the vetch.

I didn't read "The Straw Hat".  I'll look for it.  I am reading a very good one now called "Facets" by Barbara Delinsky.  I can hardly put it down, it is so good. I found it in our library.

I had to explain that cartoon I sent you to Ruth.  She finally got it!

I cleaned my oven yesterday.  It will take me a week to recuperate!  I tire very quickly.  I used another Oven Off spray that works great.  Spray it on and in just 2 hours wipe it off.  It is in a blue can.  I sat on a very low stool & then had a hard time getting back up. 

I finally got my summer tops out and now I must press them all!  

We had 96F temperatures for the last 3 days.  Now it is down to the low 70s and feels great!

Ruth is going to Oklahoma the end of July.  Ray sent her a ticket.

I watched "The Firm" the other night.  I have read all of his books except "The Pelican Brief" and I bought that for 25 cents at the library book sale.  I like his first one the best "A Time to Kill".  

Well hon, I better get this down to  the mailbox, so write when you can & take care.  Love to Jack!

Love always, 

Grandma

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked May 15, 1997

 

She wrote: 

Dear Shelby,

Thanks for the nice letter.  

Your Mom mentioned they were going to your house but didn't mention they were painting the porch.  I'm sure they were doing a good job.

I have been buying strawberries at the Giant.  California berries and they really don't have a lot of flavor.  The local ones aren't in yet.  We've had too much cold weather lately.  I wish the wind would stop blowing.  It almost picks you up.

I am getting up around the top of the tea kettle on your cross-stitch.  I started in the middle and am working my way up.  It looks like a painting.

I'm sure your Mom will like the birdbath.  She likes watching the birds at the feeder.

Blackberries are so good.  You should pick some.

I enjoyed our dinner at the "Olive Garden".  Jana treated!  There were six of us.  Getting into their van is a chore for me.  Donna always gets behind and sort of pushes me in.

Ruth will be leaving June 2nd (I think).  She will be gone for 2 weeks.

I saw "First Wives' Club" on Tuesday night.  It was good.  They showed it in the "parlor".  That's what I call our community room.

I'm looking forward to our meal on Tuesday.  I love macaroni & cheese!

Well hon, not much news here so write when you have time & take care.  Give my love to Jack.

Love always

Grandma

Grandma & Grandpa ~~ 1944

 

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked April 2, 1992

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Received your pretty card and am always glad to hear from you.  

Mr. Wallace is about the same.  He had a stroke some years ago and he just hobbles along when he walks but now he can't get out of the chair and Mrs. Wallace can't handle him if he comes home.  I imagine she is about 85 or 86 years old.  I don't know what the solution will be.

Harold had sonograms made last week of his internal organs.  He is in bad shape.  He went back Tuesday and the doctors told him if he can't get rid of the backup of water in his body he will have to go to the hospital.  The doctor wants to put him on dialysis but Harold says no.  He goes back to Dr. Shore next week.  Ruth just called and said he was up all night.  She was going to go card shopping with me this morning but he is in a bad way.  She told me last night that she gets up in the night & checks to see if he is still breathing.

I go to Dr. Shore on May 8th.

I want you to ask your Mom to let you see that sampler.  It is beautiful.  

I took my car for inspection on Tuesday.

It is very cold and windy here.  

I am reading Danielle Steele's new book "No Greater Love".  It is very good.

Well hon, not much news here so let me hear from you when you can.  Take care!

Love always,

Grandma

Love to Jack!

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked April 1, 1988

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Thanks for the nice letter.  

We went to Atlantic City yesterday &  the weather has been mild for a few days so Ruth and I only wore a jacket.  Well, I almost froze!  I was practically numb.  First we went to Caesar's and redeemed our $5 vouchers.  That was a start for gambling.  I looked like a country bumpkin because I could not believe the sights.  It was huge and all you had to do was turn around and you would be lost.  From there we walked down the boardwalk to Bally's.  You should see all the chandeliers in there.  They were about 10 feet in diameter and about 9 of them in the lobby.  Then we walked down to the Claridge & there we really had fun.  Ruth had brought along some nickles and all I had was quarters so she played the nickle slots and every few pulls on the handle she would get about 25 nickles.  We stood there about an hour & had more fun.  Didn't win anything because she kept putting them back in 5 at a time.

I played the quarters and the first 3 quarters I put in I got $20 back.  I won quite a few but you stand there and keep putting them in.  I lost about $6 but I had a good time.  We wanted to go over to the Sands, which is supposed to be really beautiful, but time wouldn't allow it because we had to eat.  We went to McDonald's.  There is an enclosed shopping center where the steel pier used to be & it is in there.  I had a filet of fish sandwich, a Caesar salad & coffee.  On the way out we got an ice cream cone.  On April 20th, they are running another trip & we pay $3 for the bus and we are given a $7.50 voucher.  Not bad.  We are going but boy, am I tired today!

Well hon, enough of this so let me hear from you & have a nice Easter.  Love to you & Jack.

Love always,

Grandma

Grandma Letter ~~ Postmarked February 10, 1993

 

She wrote:

Dear Shelby,

Such a pretty card.  Thanks for the nice letter.

I'm still eating Christmas cookies due to the fact I didn't give your Mom one container that had some good ones in it.

As far as I know the laser treatment went well.  He (Dr. Jones) said my glasses didn't need changing.

The May Fair (in May!) is around the lake, which is just down the street from us.  The Rose Garden is up the street farther.  Ott St divides them.

I went to Dr. Shore on Friday.  He says I seem to be fine.  He did a physical.  He wants to change some of my medicines.  Newer things are coming out that are just as good & not quite as expensive.  I hope so.  My medicine costs a fortune.

It is a gloomy day out today.  It hasn't snowed here except an inch or two all winter.

Today is Harold's birthday.  He is 74.  Ruth's cousin had them over for dinner last Sunday & she sent me a big piece of cake and a piece of pumpkin pie.

Well hon, I better close now.  Let me hear from you.  Take care & give my love to Jack.

Love always,

Grandma

Thrift Drug Company Photo Reprint Envelope ~~ Cedar Crest Shopping Center ~~ Allentown, Pa ~~ 1964