Author: David Haldeman

Sunday, December 12, 1954
Cleaned house & basement. Potted Dutch Iris & tulips & put in coldframe. Mother & Daddy out & brought lovely poinsettas & put up “Jingle Bells” on door. Did some Christmas decorating. About 30 here for advent sing: Jordans, Brooks, Hutchmans, Harris, Rockwells, Browns, Leonards, Milan Gorby & Alice, Jack Maxim.

Saturday, December 11, 1954
In at 9:30 & Kathy & I worked on church until 1. Then she & Clarence Greer back at 2 & finished at 5! But it was beautiful. Bokays of Ti leaves, variegated holly & ivy & ivy streams were just right with white gowns. Hauled flowers to reception & then undecorated church. Will net about $70 on it. Home at 11:00.

Friday, December 10, 1954
In at 10 & made 6 bokays & crown for New Bloomington Homecoming. Then centerpiece for Fields & took candelabra to church for tomorrow. Home to get kids – locked out so they were at Bogers. Back in & they cashed checks for $25 each from Walt. Mary & Rocky took them shopping & then all of us to movies. Home 10:30.

Thursday, December 9, 1954
Snow & cold, but finished census. 365 calls. 208 A-1’s filled. Got Mary’s draperies but did bookwork on census till 10:30 so didn’t get them made.

Wednesday, December 8, 1954
On census from 11 to 7:00. Supper at home & then on sorting census all evening. Kathy played in basketball game with 7th grade after school. Sent invitations to Advent Candle for next 2 Sunday nights.

Tuesday, December 7, 1954
Banking & then on census at 11. Completed 18 by working head off till 7. Wedding appointment Shuster at 8:00. Home & locked out so back to Marion for Mary’s key.

Monday, December 6, 1954
Cleaned kitchen & wrote letters A.M. Talk on dried arrangements to Searchlight Club for Opal Epley. Shopping with Kathy at Jay Kay in Caledonia. Got each of us dress – her shoes – me sweater. Folks & Mary & Rocky out. Put up bed frame in Kathy’s room. Daddy put up storm doors & Mother ironed.

Sunday, December 5, 1954
In at 7:30 and worked like mad to get Burgroff, Senff & Haberman weddings done by 2:30. Daddy helped & Mary from 11 to 1:30. Kike Leonard home with us & Helen & George after him about 8. Kathy to MYF*. Bed at 10:20 – Exhausted.

[*Methodist Youth Fellowship at Caledonia Memorial Methodist Church]

Saturday, December 4, 1954
In at 10 to work on weddings but spent day waiting on Christmas customers. Kathy went skating with Ann Hutchman & when I stopped to pick her up I stayed to eat! Delivered candelabra at Claridon Church for tomorrow. Worked from 8 to 11:30 on flowers here at home for tomorrow’s 3 weddings. Bath – bed.

Friday, December 3, 1954
In at 9:30 & picked Erma Hutchman up – Then to shop to load & back to Forest Lawn Parish House for Home & Garden workshop. 23 attended – sold $53 materials from shop. Gave Garden Club 10%.