“Dad & Keith took Is. & I to Mitchells with the team where we got a taxi“ Tuesday, December 29, 1947
TODAY in “Read Through The Bible”
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A Week in Lorraine’s Diary
21 Sun. Mom went to Church with Bowditches. A beautiful day. Bill Pierce came & took Dad & girls for a ride in his car. I cleaned up. Felt rather bad this aft, as was afraid Keith wouldn’t come but he did around 6. I dressed up in my new black dress & we went down to Kerkoffs to a Carol Service. 12 there. Had a grand time. I played the piano a long while. Lovely lunch by candlelight. Boyles all came when Keith brought me home. I am so happy. Home at 1.15 but still awake at 4.
22 Mon. Dad took us to town this morn. Store open tonight. Is. worked right through. I made the bed, set my hair, washed a meal’s dishes, stockings, undressed, put on slacks, went down & closed the vault. Went home to bed before 9.30. Asleep right away.
23 Tues. Slept til ten to 8. Sure hurried. Good business. We both worked tonight, as store still open. Curled our hair n’stuff. Had a read on the way home.
24 Wed. We got off at noon & Dad brought us home. Got out at 2.15. Keith chanced a ride and arrived about 3.30 or so. Opened our gifts tonight. Received lovely things. I got a “Sweetheart” cushion-top from Keith. He stayed overnight.
25 Thurs. Up at 7.15 & there were 7 full stockings. Stutts came up for dinner at 12.30. Had a pretty good time. Played Ping Pong. Showed them all the things in my Hope Chest. Stutts left at 11. Our love was wonderful tonight. For Keith — at 2.30, we closed with a kiss (or two), one of the grandest days of our lives.
26 Fri. Had Bowditches up for dinner. Rather enjoyed it. Went through my Hope Chest again. They left around 7. Some of us played cards etc. at time. Keith may stay until Sunday. (I hope.)
27 Sat. Mr. Stutt brought us kids all to town. We were busy all day. Keith & the girls came to town this aft. Dad waited for us. Nice evening. Couldn’t eat any breakfast this morn or supper tonight. Kind of have cramps, don’t feel so hot.
28 Sun. Feel rather tough. Lay around a good part of the day. Started drifting this morn & road filled in. I took soda & felt better tonight. Played the piano a long while tonight. Dad & Keith came in and listened. I enjoyed it very much. Didn’t get to bed very early again tonight.
29 Mon. Up about 8.40. No snow plough, so don’t know when we’ll get to town. We pestered them all day. Shirley & I went outside for fresh air this morn & got ourselves in for forking back straw, which Keith pitched up, while Dad went to the School. I feel fine except my back is a little weak. Did some work & fooled away some time.
Note from Aunt Shirley Aston, Mom’s Youngest Sister: “As I have been reading I think the winter of 1947 was much like this winter (2021-2022). The difference is we have four lanes highways, better vehicles, better snow cleaning equipment. I don’t think we got a reprieve in ’47, as I remember the girls being storm stayed at the farm for most of a week, us being in for three months straight, and the men taking turns going to town with the horses. “
30 Tues. Up at 7 o’clock this morn in hopes the snow plough would arrive. It only got as far as Mitchells then broke down. After waiting all day, Dad & Keith took Is. & I to Mitchells with the team where we got a taxi, and got back to town about 4. Worked like the dickens, then both went back again at 7 and worked at it again, until 9.15. Terribly tired.
31 Wed. Worked hard all morn, then back again at 1.45 until 5.30. Still didn’t get a balance, but got the statement ready. Charlie strolled in late. Isabelle & I had supper & really put the room in order. We have nails, pictures etc., everywhere & the furniture changed around. Set our hair & went to bed at 10. Simply exhausted.
TODAY in “Read Through The Bible” with BoyleParkMedia
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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 …