The children decided to go into the school band, Cac with the flute, Russie with the cornet. Cac had some piano lessons but showed little interest, She played the flute all through high school but Russie didn't stay with the cornet very long. We finally sold it to John D. The parents took turns driving a load of children to band practice at Lawrence. I belonged to the group who sponsored the project for uniforms, etc - became acquainted with a lot of nice people. I remember going to Bloomington for one state contest and had a flat tire just before we arrived there.

We had lots of company through the years. None of the folks had Sunday evening chores and we were always home because of milking, chickens, etc. Russell used to be aggravated when they came while he was milking or busy and then they were ready to leave by the time he finished. All of the folks like to come back home. Lowell and Nitha [Edna's sister] were out nearly every Sunday evening or oftener. Girstle's [Edna's brother] dropped in whenever they took a notion or the boys teased to come. In the summer time we made ice cream several times a week. Dad and Nora were out nearly every Sat. afternoon or Sunday after milk and eggs when he worked at Vonnegut's. Saturdays were always big days - cleaning - which wasn't easy then without modern day appliances, and baking for Sunday - no shorts cuts or prepared mixes, then - maybe company for Sat. evening supper.

Dad's birthday being on Memorial Day he was always at our house. We always went to the Beaver or Highland Cemetery as it is now called, east of Fishers and then had dinner at our house. Fried chicken (the first for the year) and strawberry shortcake were always on the menu if available. Don't think he ever missed being at our house on his birthday. I remember too, one Fourth of July when all the folks were there - Edith & A.J. [Edna's sister] - Dad and Nora - Girstles and the Wadsworths [Lowell and Nitha]. Dad loved fireworks and always brought a lot of them and all the rest had quite a lot, too. I remember what a mess the yard was that year and how hard it was to clean up all the paper from fire crackers blown to bits. Looking back, those were really good times. I'm sure we had homemade ice cream that day.

          end of part forty (next issue is the final installment)

A list of all of Edna's columns