Partly sunny. Cold wind. Dr. LaPoint blood work at 9:30 AM. Nothing to eat or drink for 12 hours before. Jim came out and got us and brought us home. He took us for groceries to Big M. We caught 4th mouse in trap. Merrill broke the trap setting it. Jennifer Drake and Shawn Bridge had baby girl, Hillary Anne.

A great sunny day. I sent Sue L birthday card and $10.00. Also put out food for urban missions. I washed white clothes. We got first Christmas card this year. It was from Howard and Evelyn from Florida. I talked with Jolie.

Not a bad day 14° this morning. Up to 37 this PM. Mostly sunny. Merrill went to day care. I got down part of Christmas decorations and put up some of them. I called Vi. Martha in Watertown hospital with cold chills. Vi very worried about her. Jolie, Zack, and Sasha here to borrow our car. She called in evening. She is going to take me to city tomorrow. I called Lyla to tell her. I had calls to confirm my doctor’s appointments tomorrow. I called Betty Rudes about Bill M’s address. Jim’s picture in tonights paper about neighborhood watch.

Raining about all day. Very icy north of here. Schools closed. Dr. LaPoint at 11:30 AM. Dr. Morten Richmon 1:45 PM. Everything great at Dr. LaPoint’s. (Sue’s birthday) Blood pressure 140/70. She cut medication in half. Weight 147 pounds. I don’t go back for 6 months. I wasn’t so lucky at eye doctor. Dr. Richmon. I have to have cataract off. I see Dr. Sanni February 10th. Jolie couldn’t take me today as Shawn Michael was sick and didn’t go to school. Elmer and Rosie Gleason took me. We ate dinner at Crystal. We brought Merrill home with us from day care. We shopped at Seaway Plaza. Jolie, Zack, Shawn Michael and Sasha here in evening to bring our car home.

Cloudy. A few snow flurries. I’m tired today. Merrill has slept some. I put up more Christmas decorations. Set up tree but couldn’t untangle lights. The Baptist church men brought us a most delicious dinner tonight. Tonight was their holiday dinner for senior citizens of Philadelphia. Lyla called this morning. Jim called in evening on his way home to Sackets.

Church Christmas bazaar. Sunday School putting it on. I didn’t help this year in anyway for first time. I got Christmas tree decorations on and the rest of the house decorated. We didn’t have lights for tree as Merrill snarled them so bad trying to unsnarl them. More fun. I washed clothes. Merrill cleaned floors. It feels good to get house back in order. Jolie called this AM. She had lost her purse and thought she might have left it in our car.

Not a bad day. Slippery in morning but thawed later. Wayne came after us for church. 26 out. Communion. They made over $500.00 on the bazaar for Sunday School. I bought 2 dozen home made donuts @ $3.00 a dozen. Delicious. I also got place mats to give to Ginny. $2.00. Jolie called, Zack left for training until December 17th on Fort Drum. Jolie lost her purse.

Cloudy all day. I washed all my slacks and blouses. Merrill has slept a lot today He slept in his chair all night last night.

Another cloudy day. I called telephone company. Still with AT&T. Tina and Barb T here. Merrill may go to day care on Monday’s also after the first of the years. I may also let a housekeeper come 2 hours a week. I gave Mona Graves back issues of Guidepost magazine when she brought our lunches. I wrapped gift for tomorrow. Vi called in PM. Martha just got out of hospital yesterday. She had infection. I sent 2 eye drop prescriptions to Pharmhouse.

A nice day. A little sun. Merrill went to day care. He got home early 4:00 PM. Vi and Vivian called about ride to restaurant. Rebakah’s go out to eat at noon at Norma Jean’s near Fargo’s. Exchange of $3 or $4 gift. I rode with Edna Backus. 12 Rebakah’s out. Very nice dinner and good to see everyone. Got 2 anniversary cards. Bea and Art and Doris. It is in Times that Linda Beleile has been made a Master Sergeant in the reserves.

Our 62nd anniversary. No special celebration. It’s hard to believe we have been married that long. Jolie and friend here awhile. They had taken Shawn Michael to school to Antwerp. I let Jolie borrow my first set of rings while she is getting hers fixed. Lyla was here in PM. She had been to store. Vivian called in PM. Jim has been on news today about neighborhood watch program. Jim called from Post meeting in evening.

Cloudy a little snow over night. Merrill went to day care. His bus was an hour later picking him up. Lyla took me over town for groceries and to the bank. Lyla was here for lunch. We went down to Manor and visited Diane and Marion S. Lyla interested in getting an apartment there. Joel got picked up for DWI at 1:30 this morning. Also Marijuana. He lost his driver’s license.

Very snowy and slippery. Snowed about all day. Clark T and Merrill took our garbage and recyclables this morning. Good to get rid of them It has been over a month since we took them. Got4 new bags for future use. $6.00 I got Christmas money gifts ready for tree Wish I could see to buy them gifts but they will have to buy their own. Dawn K gave me cute money gift envelopes at the bank. Merrill cleaned floors. The 10th mountain army band is over here at the school theatre tonight. Wish I could hear them. A Christmas snow. Jim called on way to cabin. Ashley with him. Sue with her car. It was snowing. Nice here.

Cold but sunny -2° We went to church. Wayne came for us. 49 out. Jim, Sue, Ashley here in PM. Jim fixed colored lights for me. He took 22 rifle and shells home with him. I didn’t feel safe with them in the house with Merrill the way he is. Heather Boschock brought us bag of fruit candy and cakes from church. Youth group packed them this year. Merrill very upset in evening. I called Jim but he wasn’t home. We talked with Joel.

Cold and sunny. Much warmer by evening. 39°. Call Dr. Powell for appointment for check up and Xrays of hip and knee. Merrill took screws out of door chain and got out doors at 1:30 AM. He went down to Boschocks and woke them up. Bob brought him home. Jolie and Shawn Michael called.

A great day. Sunny and warm. We got box of candy from Hagans. Merrill up all night again. He pulled the back door casing off and got outside at 2:30 AM. He went back to Bob and Sue’s like last night. Bob brought him home. Merrill didn’t have any pants on. Merrill slept about 1 hour. I didn’t get any sleep. I called Jim and Joel at 2:30 AM. I talked with Tina and Dr. Mike. Tina is setting it up for Merrill to go to day care on Mondays. Mike said to double Merrill’s nighttime medication. I called Lyla. Sue L called from home. She came out and took Merrill up to cabin. Vern called in evening. He wanted to come up and take me shopping tomorrow but I’m too tired. I have to go to city Friday.

Another beautiful day. Merrill went to day care. He gets excited about going after being home since last Friday. Vi called. They took Bill down to day care so Merrill could see him. They enjoyed seeing each other. Tina called. A housekeeper will be here Tuesday at 1:45 to work 2 hours. She is Kathy Hicks from Oxbow. Jim called in PM. Vivian came over. She brought us home made cheese ball. Horse radish and cinnamon, nutmeg and peanut brittle candy they made. Merrill brought me Christmas decoration for tree or wherever.

Partly cloudy. I called Lyla. She will take me to city tomorrow. Transportation called. Merrill’s bus will be an hour late tomorrow. They will start picking him up Monday for the first time. Elmer G here. Brought us some papers from meeting on taxes. I called Barb Delles for Dick D Phone number. I received application to fill out for Merrill to Samaritan Keep Nursing home. We need to have it ready in case we can’t care for him at home. We got nice Christmas card picture of Debby and Jericho taken in October. Nice. I called Ken and Esther. Ken has his hernia operation January 5th in Syracuse.

Cloudy cold wind 40°. Appointment Dr. Powell 2:15 PM. Xrays. Hip and knee just fine. Callous on side of my foot caused by hammer toes. Need to be done before left knee operation. Lyla took me over for groceries at 10 AM. We went to city. Shopped at Hills and Kmart. Ate at mall. Then to the doctor’s for Xrays and home. Lyla stayed for a while when we got home. We were both tired. Lyla shopped for Merrill Christmas gifts. I talked with Jim in morning at work.

Cloudy all day. Shawn Michaels 6th birthday. He had a birthday party in evening but we didn’t try to go. I’m tired today. Washed white clothes. Wrote Debby and sent very few Christmas cards but have read quite a few. I talked with Mary Hall. Marty had steel pins removed from his hips. They left part of one as they couldn’t get it. We wrapped Christmas gifts to each other.

Sunny but cold 20. We went to church. Wayne H came after us. Today was the Sunday School program. Very good 119 out. Merrill very upset tonight. He slept good all night but in his chair. He only stayed in bed about 20 minutes. Shawn Michael called to thank me for his card and money. Talked with Jolie. Jim called in evening. He is taking Tuesday and Wednesday off. He works Christmas day until 11 AM.

Sunny day. Cold. Merrill went to day care for first time on Monday. I talked with Vi. I called Juanita in PM. Used up my Agway card. Vern called. They will bring dessert and rolls for Christmas.

Cloudy and some snow. Jim and Joel here. They brought pills from Pharmhouse. Tina 1:45. Merrill all okay. Kathy Hicks house keeper starts work here. 145 for 2 hours. She does nice job. Sue and Heather here. Brought us Hawaiian bread. Robin’s due date. Tony Hull cleaned furnace. It quit 2 times yesterday. Could be a bad circuit breaker or bad blower motor. Tony fixed toilet seat. The youth group from church came caroling in evening. So great and a great group of kids. Sue B with them. About 25 here. Office of the Aging gave us coffee mug and tree ornaments. I got calendar from Blind Association in mail.

Sunny. Merrill went to day care. He had a busy day with all the Christmas celebrations. He couldn’t eat any supper he was so full. I washed white clothes. Go stuff ready for tomorrow. Set table. June R here in PM. Brought us gifts. Merrill 2 pair yellow gloves and cookies. Me red knit gloves and candy cupboard box of chocolates. Linda Belile here in PM. Brought delicious loaf of cran-apple brown bread. We had our gifts in evening. Merrill got PJ’s and shirt. I got a pretty blouses. Also candy, toiletries, gloves socks etc.

Christmas day. Raining. Dan and Robin have baby girl, Lydia Grace, 8 pounds 9 ounces born at 8:30 AM this morning. Vern, June, Jim, Jolie, Zack, Shawn Michael, Jill and Joel here for dinner with us at 1:30. It’s so great to be together. June brought apple and pumpkin pies and rolls. We got new mailbox and metal box to lock things in. I got diary like this one. Jolie gave me plain gold band I’ve wanted for ages. I can’t wear my wedding rings on my left hand because of enlarged knuckles form arthritis. They gave Merrill pretty plaid shirt. We got a nice picture of Shawn Michael. Lyla called in evening. She had a good Christmas. Vern put up new mailbox.

Slippery this morning. Merrill didn’t go to day care. I put dishes away and straightened up house. I washed clothes. Merrill’s driver didn’t come for him. Maybe it was too slippery. They didn’t call us. We got a Christmas card and not from Loren Strader in Canada. Vera has been gone over a year 12/9/96

Slippery in morning. Sunny and warm in PM 36°. A few snow flurries. Merrill slept a lot today. He was very upset at supper time. He was crying because his family had all gone home and he didn’t want to be alone He was afraid something would happen to me. No one has been here since Christmas day. Vivian called at supper time. She’s bringing over her extra food to morrow night. They leave for Florida Monday. Diane R called asking for prayers on the prayer chain for Alice F grandson who is very ill. I’ll call Jane.

A nice day. We went to church. Wayne and Nancy came after us. Not many out to church. Rev. Elaine goes on vacation today. Huntress’s gave us bottle of syrup. Jim, Sue, Ashley, Zack, Jolie and Shawn Michael here in PM and for supper. Jolie took me to the store. I got a baby card and sent to Dan’s. We all signed it. Merrill sure loves to have his family around him. He cried when the last of them left. We all signed a baby card for Robin, Dan and baby Lydia Grace. Joel leaves for Iowa in the morning early. Vivian T brought over her left overs.

Not a bad day. Merrill went to day care. Clark and Vivian leave for Florida for three months. Joel goes back to Iowa to day. 14 hour drive. Antique dealer Davis here trying to buy my antique square 1 drawer stand that he wants badly. I sent card, letter, and $25 to Dan and Robin and new baby Lydia Grace. Sue called in evening. Jim took Joel back to Iowa. He called Sue from Illinois while we were talking.

Very stormy. Syracuse at a stand still. Snowed all day. They didn’t bring our lunches. Housekeeper didn’t come. I called to tell office she could come tomorrow as Merrill will be home. Transportation called to ask if Merrill wanted to day care tomorrow. She said it was suppose to storm so I said no.

Cold. -18°. Bill Henderson plowed our driveway. I told him not to plow out back as we won’t be driving our car. I told him we want to pay him for plowing this year. He wouldn’t take pay last year. Merrill didn’t go to day care. I washed white clothes. Merrill cleaned floors. Jim called from city. He got home from Iowa trip at 4 AM. Good trip each way. No snowstorms. I called Jolie, Zack getting things ready for Ranger school Saturday. Watertown had it’s first “First Night Celebration” It is for the family and non alcoholic. Ends with fireworks at the Veteran’s Wall Way at midnight.