Wednesday, August 31, 1977

Sharon fell in the mud this morning and missed the bus. John drove her to school. He and Dave spent all day drilling and blasting.

Tuesday, August 30, 1977

Loaded up clothes and went to Yellville. John's transit came in at Sears. Met Mike and Vera there and we went for coffee at the donut shop. While there, John came in, then he and Mike went to Mountain Home to look for a drill. Did the wash, then went to Harps for groceries. When I got home, John was leaving with Dave to go back to Mountain Home to pick up the drill. They spent all evening drilling. Vera came over.

Monday, August 29, 1977

I went to Harrison with John this morning. John wanted to inquire about a drill and a well. We also checked on the truck and John decided to buy it. We went home for lunch, then went back and picked up the truck. It's a 1957 Ford.

Sunday, August 28, 1977

We went to 10:30 AM Mass. On the way home, we stopped to look at an old truck which has possibilities.

Saturday, August 27, 1977

John started digging early again. Jacquie and I went to Harrison to get more school supplies and pants for her and Dennis. We had lunch at "The Calico Kitchen". Got back about 3:30. John had broken another hose, went to Harrison for a new one and was back to work digging. Barbequed chicken for dinner, then went down to the creek to wash up. Came home and watched a Colts-Cowboys football game for a while.

Friday, August 26, 1977

John started digging early this morning and I sorted and loaded the dirty clothes and went to town. Stopped at the hardware store and the drug store. Then went to Carol Lee's with Kevin and Kristin. While there, John came in, he'd broken a hose on the tractor and was on the way to get a new one. After doing the laundry, I went out to Vera's and then did my shopping. Didn't get home till four o'clock. Fixed hamburgers for dinner. Went to the creek tonight. We watched TV tonight.

Thursday, August 25, 1977

NO ENTRY

Wednesday, August 24, 1977

John went to town to get some wire to hook up the trailer.

Tuesday, August 23, 1977

John and Dave hauled up the rest of the furniture and I spent most of the day sorting and arranging things in the tent. Power Company came and finished up today and we got the refrigerator hooked up. Sure feels good.

Monday, August 22, 1977

Today was the first full day of school. I took Kevin down to the school to register him for "Head Start". Couldn't get him in, but he's on the waiting list. After that, I went to town and did the wash and shopped at Harps. Got home about 3:30 PM. John and Dave worked at excavating most of the day. This evening we hauled more stuff up from down the hill. Power Company worked today.

Sunday, August 21, 1977

Went to 10:30 AM Mass this morning. After Mass, we waited around and introduced ourselves to the priest. He is very nice. He ended up giving us a cake over at the rectory. This afternoon, we hauled mattresses and boxes of stuff up the hill. Dave wasn't here, so we had to use the van. About 5:30 PM, we went to Mike and Vera's for dinner to celebrate Tony's birthday. Had a lot of fun.

Saturday, August 20, 1977

John and Dave went to work digging this morning. I took all the kids except Dennis to Harrison to shop for school clothes and supplies. It was awful. When I got home I could hardly do anything for the rest of the day.

Friday, August 19, 1977

Woke up to the sound of rain this morning, but fortunately it didn't last long. Took the kids to school for registration. They came home on the bus about noon. Sue, Val, Jacquie, and Paul went to Harrison this afternoon. Sue and Paul wanted to put in job applications. John spent most of the day digging again. Barbequed hamburgers for dinner. John and Dave dug again until after dark. I spent most of the evening raking and picking up rocks in camp. James, Mike, Marty and Tim came over.

Thursday, August 18, 1977

John started digging early this morning and kept at it most of the day. I went in to town with Valerie and did eleven loads of washing then went grocery shopping. Got back around 2:30. The girls went down to the well and washed their hair for school tomorrow. We fixed hamburger stew for dinner. John and Dave dug a while longer, then we took the rest of the kids down to the creek to wash up. The creek was overflowing.

Wednesday, August 17, 1977

It stormed all night last night and rained on and off all day. John blazed a new road out because the red clay on the other road was not passable. He went to town for some groceries, batteries, Coleman lantern batteries, and a barrel for water. I fixed spaghetti for dinner. Dave returned from Harrison this afternoon and he and John moved some dirt tonight until it got dark.

Tuesday, August 16, 1977

John and Dave went to Harrison to repair the bucket on Dave's tractor. Shortly afterwards, Linda and her kids came over, and a little while later Vera and her kids came over. We had coffee and visited a while. Power Company came and installed the rest of the poles. They hope to be done tomorrow or Thursday. John and Dave got home about dinner time and started working right away. Early in the evening, lightning started flashing and we are now in the middle of a good storm.

Monday, August 15, 1977

Holy Day of Obligation - got up early and went to 8:30 AM Mass. John got a letter from Mike today. I went to Yellville this afternoon to wash. Met Vera and picked up Val. Got my groceries at Harps and found I didn't have my checkbook. Vera came to the rescue and wrote a check for me. She came over and picked up Val for Mass later this afternoon. They got back about 7:30 and all of us went to the creek. John and Dave spent most of the day digging with the backhoes.

Sunday, August 14, 1977

Went to 10:00 AM Mass this morning. Vera, Valerie and kids were there. They came over for a while afterwards, then John and I took a ride over to Joe and Linda's. Their place is cute and cozy. We finally moved up on the hill. John dug a nice big hole for a sewer, but while parking the trailer a part of the holding tank broke, so we can't use it. It's going to be a little rougher for a while - no water and no electricity for a while, but it shouldn't be too long. It rained slightly again today - just while we were moving.

Saturday, August 13, 1977

John, Dave and the boys went to work up the hill. They are still digging the foundation and are laying dirt on the road. Got a letter from Rosemary with exciting news - Dad and Mom, Karen and David are coming on the 26th of the month. Dick and Rosemary are still planning on the 20th. We had a good hard rain today. Linda dropped in for a few minutes. Fixed macaroni for dinner. Dave had a flat tire on his truck so he used the VW when he went to town tonight.

Friday, August 12, 1977

John went to Harrison with Dave to get diesel fuel and a part for the VW. Got the wrong part, so sent me to Harrison to exchange it after lunch. I took Darren and Sharon with me. While there, I got some boots, socks, etc. for Sharon and some other supplies. We had some rain this afternoon, not enough, but it was nice. Fixed meatballs for dinner. It rained a little more tonight. John hopes to move up the hill this weekend.

Thursday, August 11, 1977

Went to Yellville with Val and Darren and did my washing. Got groceries at Harps. When we got home, Dave and John had returned from Harrison and John's tractor had been delivered. Vera was here with the kids. She had taken Mike to the airport. He returned to California to get his furniture. It rained a little. John and Dave worked on the hill all afternoon. The culvert is about ready to drive on. Cooked "Chinese Pie" tonight. Vera took Val home with her to keep her company. It rained again tonight.

Wednesday, August 10, 1977

Today is Dennis' birthday. John and I, Darren, Robert, Sharon and Kristin took Cathy down to St. Vincent's near Morrilton, to meet her friends. It rained on the way back. Stopped in Harrison to pick up a birthday cake. Made chicken and dumplings for dinner. Paul G. and Mike B. stayed for dinner. Tonight John and I took a drive down the back roads to Mike and Vera's. Came back about 10:00 PM and sat outside for a while. Dave returned from his trip around 11:00 or so.

Tuesday, August 9, 1977

Cathy washed her hair today and spent most of the day under the dryer or sitting in the van reading a book. Dave's friend came over this afternoon and he left with her to go on a little trip. John kept working, bringing down loads of dirt for the culvert. Most of us went for a swim down at the creek. Afterwards, John and I, Cathy and Val went to Burleson's and the girls took showers. I think Cathy felt a little better. Got back around 11:30.

Monday, August 8, 1977

John and Dave went to Harrison. The rest of us went to Yellville. Left Sue, Val, and Jacquie at Marty's to fix lunch. Drove by the Ozark Motel - Mike and Vera were not there so we drove by their house. They were there. The people will be out today and Mike and Vera take possession. Went to the laundromat with Cathy, Darren, Robert, Sharon, Kevin, and Kristin and did my wash. When we got back, John and Dave were working up on the hill. After lunch, the boys went up too. Fixed macaroni for dinner. Tonight we all went down to the creek for a swim.

Sunday, August 7, 1977

Had breakfast and went to 10:00 AM Mass. Stopped and looked at a couple of trucks that John was interested in, then came home. John took the boys up the hill to set up the other tent. Later, Dave arrived and went up the hill and they worked on the foundation hole. Joe, Linda and kids came over. Linda and I walked up the hill and John brought us down with a load of dirt. Barbequed a roast for dinner. Cathy arrived with Mandy and family just in time for dinner. Took her down to the creek for a night swim.

Saturday, August 6, 1977

John, Dave and boys went up the hill and started hauling dirt for the culvert. Worked at it all day. I walked up the hill to see how it looks up there. By the time I got to the top, I met John coming down, so I hopped in the truck and came down with him. We watched for Cathy all day, but she didn't get here. Barbequed chicken for dinner. Went to the creek for a bath after dinner.

Friday, August 5, 1977

John and Dave went to Harrison to check on the tractor and pick up a few things. Val and I went to town in the van and did eight loads of wash, then went to Harps for groceries. When John and Dave got back, they started working on the culvert. I got out my camera and walked all around, taking pictures. After dinner, John and Dave worked some more on the culvert. Got a letter from Al today.

Thursday, August 4, 1977

After breakfast, John and I went to Harrison. John dropped me off at Wal-Mart and he went to check on his tractor. I got some jeans and a pair of boots. John got some more overalls. This afternoon, the girls went to Yellville in the Volkswagen. We went to the creek tonight. Dave took his tractor and started digging a hole in the creek. When we got home, Vera was here. She brought a couple of cases of beer. When Dave didn't show up, John went back to check and found that he was stuck in the creek. He came back for the truck and a chain and went and pulled him out.

Wednesday, August 3, 1977

Mike came over early this morning to show John his new chain saw, then they went up the hill to try it out. When they came down, John went to Yellville again. I took the kids and went to the post office. Got a letter from Rosemary. They'll be leaving on the 20th. After that, we went to Bruno-Pyatt School to see about registration. It will be on the 19th. Vera came over this afternoon and we walked up the hill. John showed us how he sets off the dynamite. After dinner, we went to the creek.

Tuesday, August 2, 1977

John went to Yellville to pick up a Sears order and see about a well. The kids all went up the hill to pick up rocks on the road, much against the girl's will. Got another report on the well - still unsafe. After lunch, John and Dave went up the hill and blew some more stumps. I fixed dinner, fed the kids and they still hadn't come down at 7:00 PM, so I decided to take a walk up there. They were working on the tractor. It was really nice up there - a beautiful breeze blowing through the trees.

Monday, August 1, 1977

John went to Harrison and bought a tractor. Mike and Vera came over this morning. Bill stayed here to play. Late this afternoon, I took him home and picked up Vera. We went to the laundromat and then shopping at Harps. When we got to the motel, John was there looking for me. Didn't get home till 7:00 PM, so fixed hamburgers for dinner. Marty and James took the girls to Bull Shoals to water ski. Got a letter from Cathy. She's on the way, but won't arrive till about Saturday.