Author: David Haldeman

Wednesday, April 2, 1947
Mother is getting all the phone calls & it’s hard to turn down all those orders. I called Smith & Young at noon & ordered 2 doz more gardenias & then started taking orders on them again. Had planned to play ping pong with Romines but Ray called at 6 suggesting we go to Galion – had a letter from Hazel Chase inviting us. So Wally & Flo decided to go skating – leaving Sandra here with our kids & Delores.

Was pleasantly surprised at Hazel – a little voluble & quite volatile but her nature articles are grand. Look at her butterfly collection. She has a charming way if deprecating everything she does. Her bird paintings too. Very very good & her collection of birds nests charming.

Ray & I got things very well straightened out – for good – I hope. He said the Haldemans & Romines can’t live without each other so we might as well all get along & give & take. Went up to see his African specimens sent by Jack Smart. Lively oranges & brown.

Tuesday, April 1, 1947
Raining! Sorted through National Geographics for Nature articles & started taking them out. Went through the packet of nature stuff Ray had left sometime ago & it was quite interesting.

And then the paper came. And on Page 5 with 2 other long letters was “Friendly Waxwings” Frances L. Franklin. First of many, I hope.

Over to mothers for ping pong. Each had a game when who should show up but Ray. Flo at movie. Phones out of order. So we check orders & decided we had better get more flowers if possible. Wrote Chicago special delivery. Wally picked Flo up. Ray said nothing about our controversy but was very friendly. Left about 11:00.

Monday, March 31, 1947 Temp 60 – crocus bloomed
Wally called saying he would take his mother to funeral of her aunt in Mt. Gilead. But it was too late to start washing then. Really warming up thought so raked the wild garden & planted sweet peas between roses & iris on fence. Ground nice to work with. Wally home about 3:30 with Ruth & Lewis* & they went with us to Camp Young to put out stuff from flood area. The little stream up had been on a rampage. Ruth & the kids saw a black snake but didn’t know whether it was dead or alive. Hope she didn’t scare them permanently. Took them home – ate at hamburger stand. Delores over to take care of kids & we took mother with use to see “Magnificent Doll” & “Abie’s Irish Rose” – but double features are too much for me. Came out with headache. Delores said Ray had called.

Took orders for about 8 corsages today.

[*Walt’s mother Ruth Ruhlman and 2nd husband Lewis Ruhlman]

Sunday, March 30, 1947
Taught first year boys in Jr. Dept. & they are awful! Had early dinner, picked up Mary at 1- then to Romines for them. Ray took their car – chased a butterfly – winter hibernator – in woods but didn’t get it. Down 4 & then across to Skunk Cabbage Hollow. Saw doves, meadowlarks, bluebirds, red-winged blackbirds, brown creeper, chickadee, horned lark, [illegible] sparrow, tufted titmouse. Plent of use for my binoculars that haven’t come yet. Dug small skunk cabbage plants – big ones too rooty – & some march marigold & iris to take to Camp Young. Flo & Walt & kids took Mary on to Columbus – Ray & I roamed a little more & then came home long way around. I must have said something to offend him – he wouldn’t take me to their house to play ping pong but against my wishes dumped me here at home at 5:15. Wally got home at 7:15.

Bernard & Rosina Brooks up after church – brought 12 corsage orders! Conversation political for a change. Left about 12:00.

Wally rolled lawn this morning.

Saturday, March 29, 1947
Letter from Smith & Young saying they couldn’t promise roses & carnations! So called Amling at Chicago & they said OK. Sent them confirmation & check for $100 but will hold breath until I have the flowers before me.

Over home in afternoon to clean basement. Couldn’t make much headway but looks a little better.

Romines up at 1:30 – me still dirty, sweeping kitchen! Showed them how to make bows then I took my bath. Made about 70. Mary made “Fair Waffles” for the lunch. We ate 3 plates full! Home about 11:30.

Friday, March 28, 1947
Mary home enthused about Botany Spring Flora – Spend evening identifying trees from twigs. Quite interesting. Wally bowled.

Thursday, March 27, 1947
Ray called at noon saying he had seen the Cedar Waxwing very well this morning. So called daddy & he took the kids & I out. FOund them in a yard on King Ave. after only a little driving! About 20 of them. They were feeding on a barberry hedge & I couldn’t have asked for a better show. As they alighted the ‘wax wings’ & yellow tail feathers showed beautifully. Came home & wrote an article for the Star about them. Sent it as “Letter to the Editor” – Frances L. Franklin – wonder if they will use it!

Went up to Locker with daddy & and is that room cold! Got steak – strawberries – peas – hamburg.

Got order off to Smith & Young. 175 roses – 125 carnations – 6 orchids – 12 gardenias.

Wednesday, March 26, 1947
Ray called at noon to see if I’d like to go to Galion with him to see Johnny Gill & Hazel Chase his lepidopterist friends. And although the weather was snowy & drifts all over & still spitting, we went. Wally went to Romines to keep Flo company.

Stopped at Johnny’s and he’s even more of a kid than I expected. Looked like he should have a cookie in one hand & ball bat in the other rather than emitting all those scientific names. His mother was lovely & very tolerant of his hobby. He got all his Riker mounts down to show Ray – Not nearly so well put together as Ray’s collection but some very interesting specimens. Not many labels but he knew the story of each one.

He said Hazel Chase goes to bed at dark because of her eyes & he didn’t call her. I was a little disappointed but enjoyed Johnny. We were invited back & I know Ray is looking forward to going chasing with them this spring.

Snowed all the way home.

Tuesday, March 25, 1947
Snow all over the place again. Storms general & drifts high. Spent morning & afternoon on house but still didn’t feel it was very clean for class meeting*.

Only 8 of us – Brewers – Martins – Seiter’s but had loads of fun square dancing. Then auctioned off the box lunches. Netted $5 after the boys chipped in heavily for radio for veteran. Everybody seemed to have a grand time & planned another for next month at Brewers.

[*Harding High School Class of 1933]

Monday, March 24, 1947
Washed my hair & picked up around. Baked apple pie. Mother & grandma still have flu. Mary got medicine for them. Wally took Mary back to school – starting Spring quarter – at 3:30. Kathy & Florence went along. I invited Ray & Sandra up for supper but he refused.

Wall back about 6:30. Thunderstorm came up. Stopped at Alber’s for groceries then to Girl Scout Council meeting. They voted to makke Camp Young a sanctuary but it was overshadowed by Virginia Feaver’s resignation as Executive Director. She has been swell – Expecting a baby though which would rather cramp her style.

Then on to Burrough’s Club. Mary J was voted in as a member. Floy Wiedeman talked on conservation of wildflowers. Took several home & couldn’t get car started! And it new! Home about 11:00.