| I'm going to start my
entry off with congratulations to Rob
and Julie and the arrival of their daughter. I have a feeling these two are going to
be absolutely wonderful parents. I can't wait to read the birth story and Rob's thoughts and feelings on becoming
a father.
***********
On Sunday I began reading A
Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard Based On Her Diary, 1785-1812 by
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. I was immediately infatuated with this book and could barely put
it down for the next three days. I've always enjoyed non-fiction, but this book was more
than just a book about Martha Ballard and the twenty-seven years she kept a diary, it was
about American History from a woman's point of view, it was about a time period most
people believe was an ideal time in our country. I was enthralled with Martha's midwife
practice, her daily work as a mother and wife and as a woman in her community. I was able
to see how much easier life has actually gotten for us when it comes to domestic duties
and how our society is really no different than early nineteenth century New England. I
read about fornication and the delivery of illegitimate and bastard children, something
very common in that day, yet often hidden or resolved with marriage. Martha wrote about
rape, suicide, affairs, and single women bearing children without husbands. (one woman had
four children out of wedlock, refusing to name the father and a free black woman had two
children without a husband or intentions of having one) I was shocked to read about murder
and how one "decent and Christian" man slaughtered a family of nine with an axe.
There was political and religious unrest and dysfunctional families. If it had not been
for the dates on her entries, you would have thought she was talking about 1999 instead of
1799.
Martha's diaries were preserved for
generations to come, passed down to one of her daughter's who in turn passed it one to one
of her daughter's until it landed in her great-great-granddaughter's lap. In 1930
Mary Hobart gave Martha's dairy to the Maine State Library. What a treasure. I wish that I
had that kind of record of my great grandparents lives or even that of my mother's to pour
over.
And then as I finished up the book in
the car ride home today I began to think of my own journal and my own ambitions and the
legacy I want to leave to my daughter. Expect some slight changes to this journal in the
year 2000. I'm going to change the design, again. I'm going to add more to my entries, or
should I say to my side column about the days events. I'm going to start exploring more of
my ideas and dreams, more than I already have. I'm also going to move my site to its own
domain, just not right away. So, I have big plans for my online diary.
*************
Tomorrow, I need to catch up on all the
things I couldn't get done the last few days. The paint is going to be bought for
finishing the kitchen and Elizabeth's room. I have two more Christmas presents to buy. I
need to take Elizabeth by to get her picture taken with Santa Claus and by Sears. Since it
is Winter Solstice, we will be participating in some new holiday traditions and we will be
going to see the lights at Bellingraph Gardens.
I've got big decorating plans for the
house. I'm going to try and develop a budget and follow it and I'm going to start garage
sale shopping as soon as it begins to warm up. I've decided to concentrate my efforts for
now on the kitchen and Elizabeth's room. Painting will be the most significant thing I do
to Elizabeth's room. I've already sketched out the mural for the walls and picked out some
crown molding shelving to put about a foot from the ceiling. The only thing left to do
will be putting up some pictures and curtains. In the kitchen I plan to paint and hang
some pictures I bought a few months ago and then I'm going to pick out fabrics to recover
the chairs and for the valances.
************
Random Ramblings Of My Life
News Flash: Jeff made 2 A's and a B, after he
swore to me that he was failing a class (Yeah right) I might add that he was proud to get
that B even though that meant he no longer has a 4.0
Jeff bought me a breadmaker for Christmas, do to
my overly pushy attitude, my present was revealed when I insisted we buy one at Target
**I'm thinking about going back to school.**
Jeff picked out some of the music he would like
played when we renew our vows. I have no idea the name or the composer but it sounds
beautiful.
I've decided that I want to learn how to crochet.
At the age of ten my Aunt Pauline attempted to teach me but I was not willing to learn.
**A new couple moved in. Guess what? She's six
months pregnant.**
Strange things are happening with my checking
account. I have two checks that have not gone through that were written over two weeks
ago. There has been more than enough money to cover both of them.
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