August 28, 1977 (Letter from Lar)

I'm sitting at home in my recliner watching Jacques Cousteau on TV.  It's been awhile since I've written, so now is a good time.  I've been busy working as much as I can.  The extra money will help when I go to Europe.

I can fly round trip to Europe for less than $300 on a military flight.  I should be leaving Oct 27th and coming back on Nov. 23rd.  The weather will probably be cold but I plan on being prepared for it.

I bought a new sleeping bag.  It's a fiber-filled bag, I got it from L. L. Bean.  I need a good parka now.

Mike, Bruce, Monty and I had a corn and venison roast at Washington Park last nite.  We stayed there til after midnight.  We wanted to do something different for a change.  We had a good time.

My writing is kind of sloppy cause I've got the pad in my lap.

It's Monday afternoon now.  I'm going to try to finish this letter now.

It is thunder storming for the past hour.  We needed the rain, things were starting to dry up a bit.

Frank is on vacation for two weeks, so I'm working by myself.  Frank will be retiring next January.  It won't be long til I take the show over.  I'll have to have some help in the summer.

Bob Nelson moved into the small apartment at the Myers old house.  He will do yardwork for his rent.  I won't have to be mowing there anymore.

Mrs. Crary plans on having a showing of Mr. Crary's photographs on Sept. 16th.  We were framing some pictures today.  There is still a lot of little things to do before the exhibition.

It has stopped raining so I'll ride my bike to the store.

March 8, 1977 (Letter from Lar)

Today was a beautiful spring day, it was sunny and 50.  I worked outside most of the day.  Frank and I repaired a fence.

I went to a wedding in Buffalo the same day cousin Larry got married.  The girl, who got married, is one of the four girls we met at Allegheny State Park when we rode our bikes there in '72.

I sent Barb a package of tea yesterday.  She wanted some herb tea from the Co-op.

Dale was working on his bike tonight.  It's supposed to be up to 60 tomorrow so he wants to ride his bike.

Mom and I watched the National  Geographic special called "The Volga".  It was very good.  I haven't been overusing my TV set.  The only junk program I watch is "Charlie's Angels" once in a while.  I enjoy watching the girls!  It is pretty funny sometimes (the plots & the acting).

I do plan on going to Europe this spring and I would like to go to Sweden.  It depends on how much time I take off.  I'll have to get busy and get a passport and the other things I need to go overseas.

II almost have my speaker cabinets finished.  I have to wait til I get back from Europe before I can afford to buy speakers for them.  I need a new receiver and turntable too, but I have to wait quite awhile before I can purchase them.

Dale has been teaching me how to tun-up my truck.  I know the basics now.

I went to the Father-Son banquet this year with Dale and Dad.  A man from the Forest Service spoke.  He is the biologist for the Allegheny National Forest which includes about one half million acres.

February 18, 1975 (Letter from Larry)

I'm not doing anything so I decided to write you a letter.

It's been warm the past couple days and most of the snow is melting away.  It felt like spring today, working outside.

I made 2 rabbit traps about a month ago.  The rabbits like to eat the roses and other vegetables.  Finally got one today.  Frank showed me how to skin it.  I had half of it for supper tonight.  I froze the other half.  It was good but leaner and tougher than domesticated meat.  You have to chew it more.  I had asked frank, if we got a rabbit,k if he would show me how to skin it.  It's something that I feel I should know how to do.

I've been learning Swedish.  If I stick to it I should be able to speak it fairly well.  It's quite easy.

I'm going to pick up an order for the Jamestown food coop either this Saturday or next.  I've save a lot of money buying from the coop.

I'll be starting to do some yard work on my own soon.  I have to prune some grapes and an apple tree.  That has to be done in winter or early spring.  I'm looking forward to planting my garden.  I sent for the seeds two weeks ago.  It will be a couple months before I do any planting.

I hope to do more yard work on my own this summer.  It's like a hobby that pays well.

I've been wanting to do some woodcarving for awhile.  But haven't been in the right mood for it.  Barb gave me some woodcarving tools for Christmas but I've used them once.

I think this  year is going to be a good year.  Mainly because last year was a bad year.  It was a time for searching and getting myself together.  I feel a lot more confident about my future.  I feel alone because there's nobody in Warren I can really relate to.  The people I've met at the food coop are basically into the same thing I am, but it's hard to really get to know them when they live in another city.  I do want to become more involved with the coop.  Then I can get to know some good people.