Archives

I Love You California: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 29

[Published January 1 2022 103 years later. Back then it was the Spanish Flu, now it is Covid-19 Omicron] Jan 1 1919 Wed – This ought to prove an easy date to write just two 19’s. Jessie is about well now. We put out the wash I did yesterday and cleaned house sorting magazines for […]

Read More

The Tea Kettle Sings Merrily. All is Calm. All is Bright.: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 28

Nov 29 – J. did not go to work so we washed the laundry and went down to Oakland. I could not get Milos Christmas box there so we did a little shopping and came home. J. went to S. F., Found Eilene sick in bed. Got Milos sox that Mrs Johanna Wahl knit for […]

Read More

Spanish Flu which is Epidemic: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 27

Tue Oct 1 – Thinking over music of pageant. Home at Jessies. Usual Housework at Jessies in Sleepy old Berkeley. Wed 2 – Usual Wed morning meeting of the Wed Morning club. I enjoy these immensely. We are working on some lovely music. Thu – Fri – Sat – Just the same old round. No […]

Read More

Sign of a Kind Heart: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 26

Monday Aug 5 – Up early. Jessie and Sylvester get started about 8 oclock to Hayward for him to Entrain for Fort McDowell where Uncle Sam will make a soldier boy out of him. Eilene and Leo Hoffman came about 2:30. I will cut and fit her gray dress. I dislike the job exceedingly. I […]

Read More

Divorce Decree on Ground’s of Extreme Cruelty: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 25

June 1 – At Westlunds sewing June 2 – Lolita and Dewey came over to Jessie Millers. Syl, Jes, Dew, Lo. and I went as far as Oakland Lo & I called on the kiddie R’s and I accompanied Lo. as far as the mole? and returned alone to Hayward; walked out at 1-2 in […]

Read More

Happy that the World Still Contains a Little Joy: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 24

Thursday April 11 Fri 12 – Sat 13 — Helping Jessie with her washing & housework and looking over my diary. Sunday April 14 – Spent most of the day writing. Later in the afternoon Mrs. Miller & I went call on Mrs. Hausenbalg. She is an old woman of German birth and widow of […]

Read More

The Shelter of My Big Bay Tree: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 23

Fri Feb 1 1918– Usual routine Sat Feb 2 – Usual housework, sewing, etc. baking Sun Feb 3 – Eilenes birthday anniversary and they all except Milo came over to Jessies. Frank brought them their water pipe, window sash, sack potatoes and box of Newton Pippin apples. Dewey brought my hamper. Jessie put up my […]

Read More

My Soldier Boy & Divorce: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 22

Jan 1 1918 May the year be a happy one. I finished work, began on Mon. Jan 2 got letter from Jessie Sat and saying she would be over Sun. Jan 3, 4, 5 Ordinary housework. Jan 6 Jessie came over . Worked hard, washed curtains in kitchen Syl [Sylvester] came in evening. Sunday Jan […]

Read More

Amid the company of Happy Maidens: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 21

July 23 1917 Since noting the past events a number of things have happened. I finished Fannies things $6.00 also a dress for Mrs Fish $6.00 a skirt and waist for myself w white dress for E. [Eilene] and other things. On the 16th E. [Eilene] was sick and I had all the work to […]

Read More

Once Seen & Heard, Never Forgotten: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 20

Mar 17 Cut Agnes’ black satin skirt. Started “Jane Eyre”. Cleaned up the house and finished a successful day tired but satisfied. [Transcriber’s note: this was the favorite novel of my youth so I found it delightful that my great grandmother was reading it.] Sun Mar 18 Agnes had to work at the telephone exchange […]

Read More