“Had a good system for taking potatoes down cellar.“ Monday, October 9, 1944
7 Sat. Did a little bit of cleaning etc. Gave Wilma a lesson. Shirley didn’t know hers. Mom & Isabelle went up & cleaned the church after dinner then went to see Mrs. Carpenter. I picked up potatoes til they came back, then Isabelle & Wilma did. Isabelle & Wilma went to the show with Stutts tonight. Mom, Dad, Shirley & I went up to McGugans as the men had some business.
8 Sun. Thanksgiving. Windy & cool day. I read a story, and made lunch. Went to S.S. & Church. Phoned Robinsons after church, but they couldn’t come for supper, so we called Stutts. They came up. Left shortly after eight.
9 Mon. Mom did the washing. We kids were all home. Isabelle & I picked up potatoes most of the day. I did some washing & ironing in between times. Wilma helped with the work in the house. Had a good system for taking potatoes down cellar. One filling pails, one carrying, one dumping them. Heard Lux theatre tonight.
10 Tues. Mr. Stutt brought us to town. We’re back at Stuarts again. Met Alice, Mr. S. sister. She’s real nice. Did shopping at noon. I stayed at school after four to try to get some of that desperate typing done. I’m so far behand. We went to the show tonight. It was “And The Angels Sing” with Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour & Fred McMurray. Show was good.
11 Wed. Didn’t sleep so well last night. Miss Blackwell was in poor humour. We went back early at noon. I got caught up on a little more typing. Mom, Mrs. Stutt, & Mrs. McGugan were in town. Mrs. S. treated us all to maple ice-cream. I had a lot of homework tonight, so it took me a long while to do it. Doris & I had a sandwich, then talked while getting ready for bed.
12 Thurs. Beautiful day! Miss Blackwell wasn’t well, so we had an hour spare this morn, went back early at noon & did some typing. Got caught up at last. Fooled around for a little while down town after school. Did homework tonight, then Doris & I played the piano til nearly ten (3/4 hour) then made a sandwich, ate it, and went to bed.
13 Fri. Mom came in town and got us. A dance at Riverview tonight. I didn’t have to play, so was glad. There was a terrible crowd. They sold wieners & buns for lunch. I had a fair time. The dances were all too long.
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These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …
For more information on BCATP see a blog site dedicated to “Paying homage to those who stayed behind to train those who fought overseas.”
I can’t imagine that Shirley hadn’t practised for her lesson!!!
Sent from Shirley’s IPad
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