Published. 1974

1974

In 1974 we moved downstairs.  Our good renters, the Huebsch's moved out so we moved down and rented out the upstairs to another good set of renters.  Too bad I can't remember their names and too bad they didn't stay long!  We bought a reconditioned Electrolux vacumm from him -- Todd or Jeff or Edd or something!  Usually your Dad can help me out in these memory lapses, but not this time.  Names and Dates remain annonymous . . .  misplaced!   

Our downstairs dining room. 

I think this is where I learned to love a formal dining room.  There is a bay window in this room, radiator covers right and left of the bay window, the massive swinging door to the kitchen which was usually propped open except for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Dad always had to work at Zenith the Friday after Thanksgiving so I learned early to roast turkey and make stuffing and pumpkin chiffon pie . . . and real whipped cream!  I loved my hardwood floors,  big, big windows and the picture rail high on the wall.  In the old days, the wire or picture hangings showed above the hanging picture or photo.  The hanger had a hook on it that sat on the picture rail.  Guess you didn't have to punch any holes in the wall that way.

The hallway to the bedrooms was off the right hand side of this picture, above.  In the hallway, there was a door that closed off the "real" stairway to the upstairs, the master bedroom doorway a bit further down the hall and to the left, the bathroom straight ahead (which sported a dead bolt lock - and a story for another day!) and the small bedroom with the bunkbeds to the right. 

This Vega was a 1972, so a little late for this entry but that's our backyard and we were still driving it.  The car is sitting in the driveway and the garage is out of sight to the right and Mr and Mrs Huss' house beyond the car.  We drove the Vega until 1976 when we bought a bright red / orange Plymouth Valorie.  oh well.  Not we.  Dad and Grampa bought a bright red/orange Plymouth Valorie.  In fact, after the fact, I had your dad go to the courthouse and put MY NAME on the title.  : ) 

Our play yard.  This is the south yard on 15th Street, running east to west.  Dad put up a fence to keep you little hooligans out of the street.  And/or the neighbor hooligans out of our yard!  (really, the Weyer children were pretty well behaved.)  This pic may have been used before in Nana's View.  It is early spring 1974 as the Redbud is blooming across the street. 

Oh yeah!  The dirt on the floor of this garage was so fine and soft and silky.  I've never seen dirt that soft and fine before.  Erica took a dirt bath in there.  It was a hot summer day and she just sat down in the coolness of the shade and dirt floor and thoroughly enjoyed herself.  Yes, that is dirt in her hair too!  She looks pretty pleased with herself!  It was a good Mama moment even tho it called for a bath, directly after. 

Erica's 1st Birthday! 

This is at the kitchen table.  The kitchen had big south windows and was bright and light.  The kitchen counters are to our left, the big metal kitchen  unit was behind Kristy on the short wall of the kitchen.  To the right of the kitchen sink was a door to the pantry.  The pantry was a cute little room with cupboards built in and shelves -- almost a butler's pantry, had the family that built this been wealthy enough for a butler. 

Someone had taken time to make cute radiator covers for some of the radiators.  I like this radiator cover above Erica's head -- seems like there should have been telephone books or something in the shelf! 

We had a big old boiler in the basement that Dad learned how to take care of and it heated the house very well. Except!  I remember one very, very cold winter where the butter froze in the west cupboards of the kitchen.  The house was old and didn't have much for insulation. 

Erica is teasing her sister! 

The girls are laughing and having a good time.  It is probably nap time -- time to get silly and keep each other awake!   This is a double bed in the "master" bedroom downstairs on the left side of the hallway and the room where Erica had her dog nightmare.  The bedspread was made and given to Lanny and I by Gramma Sychra when we got married.  I have it yet although the bedspread is very worn.  The pillow covering is in better condition.  They will attend the Hofmeister Reunion in July. 

And, oh yes.  The lovely living room!  It was a nice size room.  Dad and I stripped and sanded and then repainted the woodwork.  There were two "pillar" dividers between this room and the second living room on the left, or the north.  You can see the front door with lace curtains on it.  This carpet was big and old when we moved in.  Wish I had it now!  : )  we put down plush  brown wall-to-wall carpet, probably about 1975.  It showed every piece of lint.  The coffee table was made by your dad in Shop in high school.  I think there were pocket doors between this living room and the dining room (where the photographer is standing) but I don't think we used them at all.  Maybe once or twice at Christmas.

Some of the radiators were short.  Straight ahead in this pic, you can see a long, low radiator, under the window.  I loved the big ol' windows!  until it came time to buy drapes.  We bought the big floral drapes at Sears on sale, custom sized, and thought we paid an arm and a leg -- then I always wished I had gotten something more subdued! 

Sweet babies,

Camping, July 1974

In the Coleman Minuteman camper.

Erica, modeling her new bikini, summer of 1974. 

Way cute, Erica, sweetie pie! 

I called you Dolly, some. 

Until you turned into Queen Josephina!  lol    

The upstairs stairway and Weyer's house behind her.  There's a wading pool or inflatable boat here somewhere and I'm a gonna find it!  Erica is saying! 

This is the Sugar Daddy Day, I think. 

Silly, and kept getting sillier!  A sugar high.

Cute apple green outfits

on cute little girls <3 

Living room again.  Here are the drapes we custom ordered.  They were insulated and did help with energy bills and the room was certainly big enough to stand the big print.  I don't know this occasion.  Maybe we got new little lawn chairs?  Prior to the lawn chairs, each girl had a little blue chair with a wicker seat.  I see one living room pillar so we are actually in the north living room.  We usually used the south as that was where the TV was. 

I just remembered!  We got a new TV late 1975 and me, 6 or 7 months pregnant got elected to help carry it in.  Himself and I gotter done!  I had, after all, played volleyball that winter and was in good shape, chasing after a 3 and 4 year old. 

We had a volleyball team from work that played in a league . . . and, me, 6 or 7 mo pregnant, was told by the coach that I was the best player on the team!  lol  pretty sad team . . .

Kristy and Erica on the sidewalk under the stairs.  Just to Kristy's left, was the door we used to get in and out of the downstairs apartment.  It went in to an entry.  Basement stairs went straight down but if you turned right and went up 2 or 3 steps, you walked into the kitchen.  There was a door between this entry and the kitchen that we kept closed in the winter to help in heating the house.  In summer, we just let it hang open. 

Erica and Kristy on the front steps of 1503 Rebecca.  Lanny and I screened in the porch, to the left.  Lanny, did you build that screen door?  I love the red painted bricks with the gray siding.  It was painted like that, I think, when we moved in.  You girls didn't get to play around here, the front, too much.  Usually you were in the back or side yard.  I do remember one warm summer rain we were all sitting on these front steps and you two stripped off your clothes and ran up and back on the front sidewalk, naked as blue jays, soaking up the freedom of it all!  Hearts light and spirits soaring!  all of ours! 

We had a front door (east), a side door (south) and a back door (west).  I think this is the side door.  You are sitting on a wooden step looking pretty happy.  Me too.  These were happy days.

                                                        Love you, my babies.  All four! 
                                                        Love, your Mama and future Mama!