Hardy St. Pier
Sat., Feb. 20, 1926
Yesterday was like Christmas all over again, for we received a box of wonderful gifts from Mother--the pen with which I am writing, goodies, and a nice wooly dress for later when we drive north (it is too hot now to even think of wool); Bill has smelled grand all day from his new shaving soap.
Each day we have expected the houseboat to be moved. More than a week ago the men promised to drive the piles at the Fowler St. Pier. At that time the carpenters pulled the boards off the boat’s gangplank, placing the heavy flower boxes along only one side of the deck, which of course caused a bad list. Consequently the oil would not feed into the stove, the icebox door hung open, and the water pipe was broken.
While we were all away one day, the iceman, climbing over the makeshift gangplank, dropped the ice into the river, and has not shown up since.
At another time I was pressing Bill’s pants, when the iron suddenly got cold--an electrician had cut the wires; but before nightfall Bill had spliced them, and we were in business again.
In addition, after Bill had fixed the water pipe, a storm swung the boat back and forth so violently that the pipe was broken again. Dr. Strobel was terribly nervous during the storm, afraid the trellis and plants would be smashed; but we pulled through without too much damage.
To complicate matters, Dora and Percy Strobel, with the two boys, arrived in their Buick to spend the night. Percy had just been offered a partnership in the engineering company where he works, which of course pleases his father.
But we had no water, no food, no extra sheets, and as this was Sunday, none could be bought.
Then Mother W. had her turn at being upset, it being the worst possible time for unexpected guests. She hates housekeeping anyway, but hates worse not to be gracious, and not to have the house neat and clean, with plenty of good food. So she scrubs and polishes and cooks for dear life, hating it all the time. Therefore, we lugged in water, washed sheets, pillowcases and towels, hung them in the quick-drying sun and took our guests to a cafeteria for supper.