Walnut Cake

On Wednesday March 29, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool-Sunny. Claude Stamper killed. Arose at 7:30 a.m. made fire got to work at 8:45. Wrote letter for Hicks. Also H.J. Altizer. Talked Mrs. Schick over phone. Republican convention held here with parade. Met. Capt. G.W.B. Hale. Feeling unwell today. Cloudy-cold. Cleaned yard and outside fence. Mary made Walnut cake. Loam coming down Thursday. On Thursday March 30, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Warm-cloudy. Arose at 7:25 Mary made fire. Mrs. Hurst phoned regarding Skin. Mary phoned Loam. I got to work at 8:45 a.m. Skin began work for Machinists' Supply Company. Loam and Austin spent day at our house. Took pictures of kids. Pretty in afternoon. Annie Beamer Epling died. Shaved at night. Aunt Annah stayed all night at Mrs. R's. Today is Rachel's birthday. Going to pick kids up from play practice. Comments maybe coming later.

Yellow Floors

On Monday, March 27, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Rain-Thunderstorm. Arose at 7:00 a.m. Rain and Lightning. Made a fire. Got to work at 8:35. Messrs. Schick and Raitt returned to office. Dark and gloomy day. Walked home at lunch with Horton. Work all up. Talked to McLuckie about Skin at 6 p.m. Stayed at home at night and addressed letters for Aunt Annah. Retired at 10:15 p.m. Didn't read much at night. On Tuesday, March 28, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cool-Windy. Beautiful afternoon weather. Arose at 7:15 a.m. Mary made fire. Got to work at 8:35 a.m. Wrote index cards and sent Lena a paper. Wrote her a letter. Rolled Norman to Mrs. Raines at 2:30. Introduced to Mrs. Jack Hughes. Mr. Schick went to Bluefield and Berwind on #3 this afternoon. Work dull. Shaved at night. Walked home with Jones Gardner at lunch. Mrs. Raines down. Shaved. Mary painted floors yellow. It's a rainy Sunday afternoon here in 2010 too. In fact, flood watches are in effect. Not a whole lot to comment on here in Bonnie's entries. The thing that really catches my eye though are these yellow floors. Wow. I bet that was pretty awesome looking. I wonder what Bonnie thought of yellow floors? I can't really tell from this entry but he did write about it and it was kind of like a little extra note on the side. Good Palm Sunday at church today. Nice crowd. I read yesterday in the Bible from Deuteronomy 7:22 where God tells the Israelites that they will not take all of the promised land at one time, but little by little and that they will have to fight for it, that it will not come easy. The visions that God gives us are kind of like that too. We are so impatient in our world. We have created a culture where we can have pretty much anything we want and get it right now and that has made us very impatient. Visions from God though take a little longer to come about, often because there is something God is teaching us in the process. And yes, sometimes we have to struggle in the process too. But God is always faithful to see us through.

100th Blog Post!

On Saturday, March 25,1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool-Lonely. Arose at 7:30. Made a fire. Got to work at 8:45 a.m. Wrote memo for Mr. Wiltsee on "Steamer Warehouses" Norfolk. Willard-Moran fight in New York. Cleaned debris from under steps. Rolled Norman to J&J for films. Stayed in at night. Jess Willard beat Frank Moran. Retired at 10 p.m. after taking a bath. On Sunday, March 26, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Raining. Arose at 8 o'clock. "Washington Post" today. Aunt Annah went Methodist Church. I shaved and read. Ate dinner with Raines family. Went up to Mama's for supper. Took key and Mary phoned for me to come home. Mama gave me 5 cents for carfare. Read last installment of "The Fall of a Nation" at night. Retired at 10:30 p.m. Today is the 100th blog post here! Yay! I am not sure why Bonnie wrote "Lonely" in with the weather description today. In act, there are several things I am not sure of today. Why did Bonnie go to work on Saturday? What are the "films" that Bonnie and Norman got at J&J? I am sure that they were not rental DVD's to watch at home. That technology had not been invented yet, not even close. I looked up the Jess Willard and Frank Moran fight and what I found says that the fight ended in a draw and that it was possibly later discovered that the fight was fixed. Possibly Bonnie heard about the winner through the "grapevine" and you know how that goes. Or was listening on the radio and just misunderstood. Maybe Bonnie will correct that in a later entry. He has done that before with election results. I think I remember hearing that it was not uncommon for Mary to have to phone and get Bonnie to come home from various places. He just enjoyed being out and enjoyed other people's company I think. That's all for tonight folks.

Bush Flora Shoes

On Wednesday, March 22, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Rain-Windy. Raine last night. Arose at &;30. Made fire. Walked up street with Elmer Brown. Letter from Blaine, answered it. Mrs. Raines ate dinner with us. Checked Leckie Spur statements. Talked to Skin. Cut Norman's hair. Electrical storm, high wind and rain. Mary took Norman to Mrs. Raines. Skin brought my socks down at night. On Thursday, March 23, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Bright sunshine. Arose at 7:30. made fire. Got to work at 8:45. Mr. Schick returned today. Left on #3 p.m. Mary went to Bush Flora & got pair of tan slippers. Walked down home with Earl Haupt in evening. Rode in car with Skin. Papa began work on Mr. Raitt's house. Shaved at night. On Friday, March 24, 1916 Bonnie wrote: (Hal Floods baby died.) Beautiful Day. Arose at 7:30. Aunt Annah made a fire. Mr. Raitt left on #15 for Welch. Messrs. Coe and Bottomley in. Am indexing and filing today. Aunt Annah and Mrs. Raines spent day with Mrs. Funk. I got candy. Trimmed Norman's hair. Got tobacco at Joe Milan's. Wrote Ben Downs. Mrs. Raines came down at night. Retired at 10:30 p.m. I guess the first thing that jumps out at me is that Bonnie cut Norman's hair and then turned around and trimmed Norman's hair. Do you reckon we made a mistake or maybe Mary didn't like something about it? It is spring times and those bad storms will pop up every now and then, but it is always good then when it is followed by a bright sunshine filled day. Bonnie mentions Bush Flora shoes which is funny because a co-worker and I were talking the other day about how they are still around at Towers Mall and about how long they have been around. Sweeney also tells me that when he used to work for the city, he got to go in their old building downtown, which he believes they still own and they still have tons of old shoes in that building! Apparently Papa is a house painter, or at least just really handy with that kind of thing. Well, I didn't get that trait now did I? Bonnie got tobacco from Joe Milan's. I do remember that Grand-daddy was a pipe smoker and cigar smoker I think. We have been very busy of late, so sorry for posting every 2-3 days, instead of every day. Caleb is on the school soccer team and they are both in a play in Fincastle and so our evening are spent running them to things and then adding in our own meetings and chores. It has been a while since I added in a safety message and since Bonnie mentioned spring storms...Don't forget that the safest place to be in a tornado is on the lowest level of your home in an interior room without windows. The largest cause of injury from a tornado is from flying glass and debris. And, Tornadoes can happen any time any place any where, so be prepared and know what to do to be safe.

House Painting

On Tuesday, March 21, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm-Sultry. Cut Norman's hair. Arose 7:30 a.m. Made a fire. Met Papa. He came with me to office and talked Mr. Raitt about house painting. I wrote order to Hurst Bros. Mr. W.P. Wiltsee in to see us. Papa back in office at 3:30 p.m. Warren Welford in. Finished Leckie Spur statements. Talked to Mrs. Spillman. Returned derby hat. Shaved at noon. Mrs. Raines down. I am guessing that Papa Elmore was maybe doing some house painting for Bonnie's boss Mr. Raitt. I also think Hurst Bros. is the grocery where Skin is now working and so Bonnie may be trying to throw a little business their way, or that was already where they got their groceries and that is how Skin got the job. I wonder what Bonnie was doing with a derby hat? Good day at church today. The crowd was still maybe a little off. Bible reading today was from Numbers 32 and 33 and in there is listed, kind of like the genealogies we talked about the other day, all the places or stages that the Israelites went through on their journey. Much the same as the people listing, something happened in each of these places. If only we could learn that we don't always have to be accomplishing the next thing, or controlling the next thing. With God, the journey is the destination.

Haircuts All Around

On Friday, March 17, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cold-Windy. Arose 6:45 a.m. Made fire. Got to work at 8:40. Staples back again. Correspondence very light. Caught cold from water in cellar. Rec'd reply from my letter to Mr. H. G. Battle Jr. Wrote up G. & Co. bill on Leckie Spur. Met Papa and Skin at noon. Ms. Spillman called on phone and came down. Mrs. Raines & Skin were down. Retired at 10:30 p.m. On Saturday, March 18, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cold-Cloudy. Arose at 7 a.m. Made fire. Norman sick. Got to work at 8:45 a.m. Mrs. Ida Mabry died at Jacksonville, Fla. I rode up town with Skin to get haircut. Skin took groceries home. Mary went with Mavis Brown to have hair cut. Harry brought Norman's milk down. Jack Allen shot and killed at Mt. Airy, N.C. On Sunday, March 19, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cold-Sunny. Arose 8 a.m. Made fire. Oysters for breakfast. Minnie Maggam called on phone. I read until 2:30 p.m. Went to Mrs. Raines, Office, and home. Ate supper at Momma's. Read Washington Post. Walked to town with Skin and he gave me 5 cents for car fare. Read Bible and American Magazine and retired at 11 p.m. On Monday, March 20, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Sunshine-cool. Rain at night. Arose at 7:30. Made a fire. Got to work at quarter of nine. Gertie Seymour called on phone for Mrs. Raines inviting us to spend day. Ate dinner at Mrs. Raines. Mr. Schick left on #3 for Algoma. Annie Raines ate at J.R.R.'s noon. Read paper and stayed in at night. Retired at 10:15 p.m. It's Saturday here in 2010 and all my family is asleep after staying up all night at a youth church lock in, so that means I can get caught up on some blogging, do my Bible reading and work on my sermon while doing laundry. I have to work for a little while later this afternoon and have a gospel concert to attend tonight in Buchanan. I thought Bonnie's entries the past few days were good. He caught a cold from being cold and wet the other day in the cellar. That was still kind of a funny story. He and Mary both went and got haircuts with friends the other day. I went and got a haircut the other day too, by my self at the new Great Clips close to our house. I am not sure who the people are that Bonnie makes mention of who died in Florida and Mt. Airy, N.C. These may have been people he knew or something he read about in the paper. Sundays are special days, thus the oysters for breakfast. I guess also because it was Sunday, Bonnie decided to read from the Bible. He says he read the Bible and American Magazine. That's a good way to start a sermon actually! I also have no idea where Algoma is that Mr. Schick is on his way to. I think Bonnie maybe still isn't feeling too well from the cold, as he retired kind of early and he repeated a line in his diary about Mr. Schick leaving on the #3. Part of my Bible reading yesterday was from Luke 3 where the genealogy of Jesus is given and when it was being read, I thought "How tedious" and just kind of blew it off. Then I listened to the devotional that Brian Hardin gave after the reading and he predicted that we may be having that attitude. He pointed out that each name represented a person with a story and was not just a place holder and all those stories weave together into God's plan. Some of the stories we read about in other places in the Bible, like the story of David, some others the stories aren't mentioned in the Bible, but there are stories there none the less. Man, how could I have missed that! I write a blog called Family, Faith and Fire Safety that is basically built on the same premise. That these family stories are interesting, even the seemingly mundane things, because they paint a picture of God's work in our lives and they tell a story. Wow. Ok. Got it. How about our own stories? What kind of picture do they paint of God's working in our lives? Something to think about.

All Wet

On Thursday, March 16, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Very Cold-Windy. Arose at 7 a.m. Thawed out water pipe in cellar. Got in coal. Got to work at 8:40. Filed. S. H. Staples in office. Talked to Howard Fisher, Clarence Wade, & Geo. Walters. Unscrewed nut on water pipe and flooded cellar. Very wet. Changed clothing and shoes. Shaved and read. Capt. Rowan pretty "tipsy". Well, what a gem today! I laughed. I am sure it was not funny when it happened, but almost a hundred years later, it is really funny and only because I have done similar things before and so I can totally relate as I am sure we all can. And then, there is the last line comment about Capt. Rowan who is one of Bonnie's bosses. Was he drunk at work? Or did Bonnie see him somewhere else? It must have been really cold for pipes to freeze in the middle of March. Personally, here in 2010, I am ready for Spring, and after today's episode I am guessing Bonnie was ready for spring too. More about Balaam today in Numbers that was again good. He stood his ground and only said what God told him to say. He blessed the Israelites which really made the Moabite king mad. And then from Luke 2, the Christmas story, which is a little odd this close to Easter and yet kind of cool at the same time.

Skin got a job!

On Wednesday, March 15, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Rain-Cloudy. Arose at 7 a.m. Made fire. Saw Skin on Hurst's grocery truck. Got to work at 8:20. Phoned to Mary. Correspondence light. Met Papa. Paid A.P. &G. $2.00 for load. Ordered $2.00 worth more coal. Took Papa home with me. Aunt Annah spending the day with Mrs. Hughes. Indexed and filed. Gave Skin brown overcoat. Ok, not sure how long this will last this week, but on a little more of a routine schedule tonight. So, Skin, Bonnie's brother got a job at Hurst's grocery. Good for him. Apparently riding on that truck was cold and he needed an overcoat. I was impressed in some earlier posts that Bonnie paid some bills for some other people. Today's Bible reading was about Balaam from the book of Numbers. It's a neat story with a talking donkey, but I often have trouble getting the point. Brian Hardin though, from Daily Audio Bible did a really good job today of providing a devotional at the end of the reading that explained it better. Sometimes we get enticed by friends, co-workers,...the world, to go against what God is telling us and simply to avoid conflict or embarrassment we are tempted to go along with them. Even when we say "No" they may want us to look at it from a different angle. Or when we really want something that goes against God's word, we will try and rationalize from lots of different angles. We must stay true to what God tells us.

Help a brother out

On Sunday, March 12, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cold-pretty. Geo. Walters girl born. Got Washington Post for "The Fall of a Nation". Arose 7 o'clock. Made fire and took Norman to Mrs. Raines. Went to Joe Milan's. Ate dinner at Mrs. Raines. Read papers p.m. Talked Edmund Grgory. Went to office. Rolled Norman thru Elmwood Park. Aunt Annah sick at night with headache. Retired at 8 p.m. On Monday, March 13, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Beautiful Morning. Mary made fire. Mr. Schick back from Philadelphia. Correspondence light. Met Dr. Abbitt from Appomattox. Read of crime committed in Craig. Wrote up extra bills and estimates. Royal Arcanum had "Ladies Night" social. Howard Fisher down home to demonstrate a vacuum cleaner. Shaved at night 8 p.m. On Tuesday, March 14, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Warm-Sultry. Arose at 6:45 a.m. Made a fire. Got work 8:35. Took collars to laundry. Talked to Mr. Willis. Mary phoned about Skin's job with Hurst. Skin phoned me. Went by Roke. Ry. & Elec. Co. to pay bill for Charlie Poindexter. Rgeistered letter at Post Office. Rolled Norman up to Mrs. Raines. Ate supper at Mrs. Raines. Paid Elec. bill for Chas. P. Ok, I am just behind and still really busy. Y'all enjoy reading about Bonnie and I will write more when I can!

The Mission is Set

On Friday, March 10, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cold-Cloudy. Arose at 7:30 a.m. Mary made fire. Norman has sore eyes from exposure. Wyndham Stokes came in office. Indexed and filed mail. Annah Lee is 2 months old today. Mrs. Raines and Harry ate dinner at our home for first time today. Mrs. D. Spangler died suddenly. Mr. Raines gave me new axe and block of pine. On Saturday, March 11, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cold-Sunny. Maggie Bonarita called at our office. Mr. E.S. Moore requested me to call at his office regarding Skin. I phoned Loam. Went to post office. Herbert Gregory's office and Bank. Got my bank book. Talked to Carter Thompson. Mr. Raines put up shelves. I shaved and cleaned house and yard. Talked to Frank Lakes. Went to Hurst's & Mrs. Raines. She got mission set. Took a bath! Again, not much time while away at class. But I sure do wonder what mission Mrs. Raines got set? Happy 2 months to Granny! You reckon Skin is close to getting a job? Or does he already have one? I can't remember. My head is too full after class this week. Good night. Graduation is tomorrow and I am looking forward to coming home. Busy week next week too.

Bandits

On Thursday, March 9, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cold-Clear. Norman 13 months old. Arose 7 o'clock. Got to work at 8:20 a.m. Beat all there. Mary went to Mrs. Raines. Mr. Schick left on #2 - 6:30 p.m. I bought steak. Papa came to office with me to see Mr. Raitt about painting. Mexican bandits under Villa murder Americans at Columbus, New Mexico. Mr. Schick left on train no. 2 for Philadelphia.

Mildred's Marriage discussion

On Wednesday, March 8, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cold-Clear. Arose 7:15 a.m. Mary made fire. I rolled Norman up to Mrs. Raines. Ate dinner and shaved at Mrs. Raines. Mr. Schick came in. Snow in p.m. I signed up telephone contract. Talked to Mrs. Wilbourn and Nell about Mildred's marriage. Came by Mrs. Raines & took Norman home on car. Cleaned shades and lights at night. Pitzer delivered coal. Again, very short tonight. 2 homework assignments to do and a test in the morning here at the National Fire Academy. To my regular family readers though, any help on who Mrs. Wilbourn, Nell, and Mildred are would be greatly appreciated. Sounds like they may be family. I did my Daily Audio Bible reading this morning and remember it being very meaningful, but I since have had so much information poured into my head that I don't remember much about it! I will need to review.

Painting

On Tuesday, March 7, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Raining. Afternoon sunshine. Mr. Schick away. Work in p.m. 3 o'clock. Mary rolled Norman to her mother's. I went to Mayhew's for bread. Went to Joe Milan's in p.m. for candy. Went to gas office and then up home for supper. Caught ball with Jake. Went to Bijou. Came home on car. Mary painted hall and kitchen. Read paper before going to bed. These posts may be rather short as I am away at a class, but I don't want to get behind on what Bonnie and Mary are doing. Sounds like they are still getting the new place in order. Bonnie doesn't say what he saw at the Bijou, but at least he got bread and candy!

Settling In

Need to catch up and even get a little ahead. On Friday, March 3, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Snowing. Skin met and gave me tax receipt. Work well up. Ordered load of wood from Adams, Payne & Gleaves. Ate lunch at Mrs. Raines and took ham, pine, and hatchet home. Mr. Chas. Sullivan was in the office. Put up shades. Very high wind and cold. Cut wood. Mr. Raitt went to Norfolk on #16. We retired at 10:30 p.m. Went to have phone removed. On Saturday, March 4, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Very Cold Wind. R.E. Tryson & S.H. Staples in office. Arose at 6:30. Got wood from stable. Took ashes from front room. Cut on water. Got to work at 8:40 a.m. Mr. Raines came down and fixed stable door, water, gate, etc. I went to Brown's for pictures & wash board. Shaved and took bath at night. Married 2 years today. On Sunday, March 5, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Chilly-Sunny. Arose at 7:30. made fire. shaved - Harry Raines came down. Put up pictures and unpacked things. Ethel Wade over. Mrs. Raines ate dinner with us. I took Norman to Mrs. Raines from 6-7 p.m. Stayed in at night and read Railroad journal. Retired at 10:30 p.m. On Monday, March 6, 1916: Cool-Cloudy. Arose 6:30 a.m. made fire. Got to work at 8:30. Mr. Raitt returned from Norfolk. Went to Roke. Ry. & Elec. Co. to have meter put in. Put name plate on door. Took cough syrup to office. Went phone office. Repaired hat rack at night. Mary scrubbed. Talked John Mason. Stopped by Mrs. Raines for eggs, socks, etc. I will be going out of town tomorrow for a class for work. I should be able to post while I am gone but it also may depend on how much time I have. That is why I went ahead and posted the entry for March 6 today. Sounds like the Elmores are still settling in to their new diggs. Ordering and picking up necessities, fixing things, unpacking, etc. Not sure why Bonnie worked on Saturday, other than maybe with those visitors in town, he needed to be in the office, or with having taken some time off to move he had some things to do. Just very interesting to see what all they did back then and realize how things have changed and how some things have not changed. From Mark 12:18-37 today: the 2 great commandments: "Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself." Combine that with Psalm 46's "Be still and know that I am God" and the Great Commission and you have some pretty basic instructions for Christian living that seem very simple but often prove to be oh, so difficult. Saw the movie, "Letters to God" last night. Really good movie about a boy with cancer who writes letters to God and how those letters change others around him. I am thinking that writing a letter to God may not be such a bad idea. I hope you will plan to see the movie opening weekend, April 9, 2010. Cancer affects so many people and yet so few churches have a cancer ministry.

Moving Day

On Thursday, March 2, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: "Moving Day" Arose at 7:00 a.m. Phoned Capt. Rowan wouldn't be in. Went to gas office. came to cottage at 9:30 to put piano in. RGL Co. man came to cottage to inspect meter connection. At 11:20 a.m. Gave Pitzer men 5 cents. Maj. Taliaferro died in New York. Talked to Mr. J. W. Waynick. Paid Pitzer $4.00 & ordered coal. Shaved in p.m. Talked to Maggie Smith. So, today was moving day for the Elmores and I bet they were exhausted. Check out the moving bill: $4.00!! Wow what a difference from today's cost. I looked up Maj. Taliaferro but didn't find much helpful. Busy evening coming up. I have to prepare for Wednesday night service at church, ferry kids to play practice and think about going out of town on Saturday. Today's New Testament portion of the Bible reading was from Mark 10:32-52 and talked more about being a servant. Also, the story of blind Bartimaeus. Lord, help us to see as well. Help us to see things from a Kingdom perspective which would makes us more of a servant. Jesus set the perfect example for us.

Cures what ails ya'

On Wednesday March 1, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Foggy-cool. German submarine program goes into effect today. Paid some bills. Preparing to move. Rec'd letter from Moving Picture Corp. Wrote Leo. Delaney. Packing up to move. Went to pay bills and to see Pitzer. Norman improved. Put $1.00 in bank for Annah Lee. Gave John Hicks a hat & a cap. Had shoes fixed. Mr. Brown disconnected gas pipes. Bought sweet spirits of nitre. Today is one of those days when I think Bonnie has left us with all sorts of gems. He starts with a line about World War I. The program I believe Bonnie is referring to, is one where German U-boats (submarines) would start attacking armed and unarmed merchant ships in the Atlantic unannounced. Some of this was already being done, but it apparently intensified in March 1916. Prior to this, U-boats were to surface before firing on an "enemy" ship. During the intensification this "cruiser" policy of surfacing before firing torpedoes was done away with. Today in 1916 was a day of errands and getting ready to move for Bonnie and Mary, Norman and Annah Lee. Bonnie is still writing to and receiving letters from movie companies. Pitzer is a long time moving company here in Roanoke, VA. I was surprised to see that they were in business in 1916. I am not sure that they still are in 2010. Mr. Brown is the landlord. I had a lot of fun looking up "sweet spirits of nitre". It appears that in 1916 this was a drug of sorts that basically cured whatever ailed ya'. I found that it was common ether and can be used for gun blackening and electroplating and metal coloring. From the pharmacology stand point it was used for fevers, horse colic, trouble with urination, bee stings, breaking up congestion, etc. The FDA has ruled that it is useless and dangerous and so it is very hard to find these days. In fact, a lot of people have never heard of it. Maybe Bonnie was anticipating being really sore and having some blisters after the move. Blisters was also another of the things mentioned that it supposedly helped cure. Maybe Caleb needs some. He has badly sprained knee and will be out of soccer for about a week to 10 days.