Friday July 1st
(9 P.M.) Showery and cloudy but a warm spell this P.M. about 3 to 4. Hoed and raked all day in garden except when raining. Back feeling pretty bad.
Went over to Henry’s for milk. Fred Farmer came with letter from Chet, who wants me to go early tomorrow mng to stay until Sunday while they go ashore.
I intended to go, but I hate to stay just now for woodchucks are thick, work in garden needs to be done and cherries are coming along fast.
Saturday July 2nd - At station
Started at 4:20 for W. Pt. Looked rainy so took storm coat but left it and sour milk at Hardy’s, as they were heavy and I was in a hurry. Chet came after me at the Point and breakfast was ready when we reached the station.
Baby was afraid at first but after breakfast he took my cane and knocked a spool around which I set up for him and he grew a little more friendly, I will be glad if he was ever just to like me for I think the world of him.
After breakfast they started but with very little sound, and reached home about 10 minutes ahead of a hard rain which lasted all day.
I washed my shirt and overalls, took a bath, shaved and had a good time generally.
Sunday July 3rd - At Station
Quite a stiff Nor West breeze all day, nearly, Chet came alone near night, so concluded to wasn’t until mng as Chet’s folks were coming to visit Station. He brought some strawberries.
Monday July 4th - At Station
Wind from S. so hard I dared not go ashore so Chet went over to meet his company and celebrate on shore. A terrible So. gale all day and into the night. Chet and his folks all went home to Colchester. He took the glass so I was alone really.
A fishing fleet of 8 boats were off Barney Point most of the day.
Tue. July 5
Chet came about 1 P.M. Had to row all the way + was pretty tired. I came ashore soon after and painted Stone’s front piazza, before I came home.
Chet brought check for $15.00 from Stone.
Stopped at Hardy’s + got 25 tomato plants that Hi left them for me Saturday. Was pretty tired when I got home.
Wed. July 6
Set out the tomato plants. Henry came over after a berry crate. 9 hour picked half a bushel or so of cherries + took them over to Henrys.
Aunt Em gave me a can of sweet milk+ a wad of butter+ Clara stuffed some doughnuts into my pocket.
Henry has a force pump but I don’t think it works very well.
Dodds Pills don’t cure my back yet It feels pretty bad to night and a pain in my right side from reaching after cherries helps to make me feel rather uncomfortable I hope I any feel better tomorrow.
My whip-poor-wills are a good deal of company for me here evenings and I am glad to have them come.
Wrote Mr. Strong asking him to send Charlie out to help me a few days.
Thu. July 7
A fine hay day. Lake nearly calm all day.
Picked just a bushel of cherries. Paris greened potatoes.
Shot at one of Henrys pet wood chucks. I hit him all right but he got into his hole in a hurry.
Pretty tired to-night but back not aching so bad as last night.
Fri July 8
Another fine calm day. Picked cherries and carried over to Chet nearly 5 qts. Haven’t done much except go to station. I found Chet well but disappointed that his folks didn’t come. Head wind all around
Stopped at Benlaw to leave spoon for Chet. Got some rhubarb. Hi + Percy + Oral came just as I almost reached shore and going home tomorrow.
Got home late but went over to Henrys. He had gone to bed and rest were soon going.
Aunt Em gave me a cherry pie.
Chet gave me nearly a whole loaf of new bread and some little Johnny Cakes. Took dinner at station. Beans and Johnny cakes fine.
Amos Beane’s wife had twin girls last night and both died.
Geo Prim’s two boys are coming down in mng to help pick cherries.
Sat. July 9
Another good hot hay day. Commenced picking cherries at 6.30 The Prim boys came a little after 9. We all picked all day + Henry came over + helped us awhile toward night.
Had within 5 qt. of 3 bu. all told. Awful tired to-night and back aches as I am afraid I shall not sleep much.
Quite warm to-night though good breeze is blowing.
Ruth + Baby + Ray came down + went over to Station.
Am glad to know they are here and safe. Henry is coming over in mng. to help finish picking cherries.
Shall feel glad and relieved when they are done.
Sun. July 10
Showery P.M. Cloudy all day.
Henry came over this mng. And we finished the cherries I canned four qts. and think I have them right. Washed dishes + swept up.
Over to Henrys this evening. Will Francis + two little girls after swill. Clara pour me a large bowl of new potatoes cabbage + boiled pork. Have eaten some of it already and it seems as if nothing ever tasted better.
Back aching pretty bad all day and to-night.
Mon. July 11
5.30 A.M. Foggy + cool So. Wind light. Everything wet outside but indications are that it will be hot + sunny before long.
9 P.M. It was hot + sunny all night until 3 or 4 this P.M. Then it was rain + lots of it with some hail + wind.
July eleventh 1904
I had dug around tomato plants, onion and beats, and put ashes on all around just before the shower. It was a good one and I filled my water barrel more than full.
Henry went to the city, but had hard work to sell the cherries. He also forgot to buy me some fruit jars for canning and shot at wood chuck in cherry trees, but gun hung fire, I guess I hit him, but he got away just the same.
Letter came from Colchester for Chet’s wife. B.S.P. from Putney for me.
July twelfth 1904
Rain and hail in P.M.
Set out about 70 cabbage plants.
July Thirteenth 1904
Hail, but a North West wind all day.
Went to west point at 2:30 P.M. Had a good time signaling to Chet by new system, with flag, and find it worked splendidly. We have to expand our code very soon. I carried over string beans, peas and turnips form my garden, cherries from my orchard and some salted cucumbers that aunt Em gave me
Wind blew so hard that Chet could not launch his boat for quite a while, while I waited Vina and Percy with a load of grub for Benlaw. I took Vina and things to island, accept Nina’s invitation to play all night on island. Chet came with sail and we rowed out and met him and exchanged mail. He left sail as wind had gone down, and took the other boat to return to Station. Asked me to go, but I wanted to get home early. Several of the girls coming to island tomorrow from train to stay several days. Hi commenced haying yesterday, Nina expects Watkins folks, Friday.
July fourteenth 1904
A good hay day Percy and I came from Benlaw early, took breakfast at Farmers. Hoed foxtail until 11 A.M. Then I had picked peas and had a nice hot dinner.
Picked about 4 qts cherries and carried nearly half of them over to aunt Em. Got little pail sour milk.
Stoned cherries and put up two qts.
My old tooth giving me the devil this evening. Letter from Watkins to meet family and things at RR lake station at 7 P.M. tomorrow.
July fifteenth 1904
Looking showery all day, and had a little rain about 3 P.M., It cleared somewhat after that.
Hoed strawberries, and raked out the squashes, cucs, and all small vegetables until 8 P.M. and then went to Benlaw, Watkins and fellow named Williams were there.
Mrs. W. not expected until next day at noon.
Had supper, stayed overnight.
July sixteenth 1904
Started early for Porter’s. Got milk, eggs, cream, salt and cherries and went back with Farnham’s team, to carry it.
Got to island about 10 A.M., had breakfast and Ed gave me a couple of Pike-lines, and some almost new lake lines and I helped him until nearly noon and I guess after and then started for home.
Had to fix the harness as lug strap was unsafe.
At Porter’s, put out the horse and paid $1.59 for things I got there, and paid 20 cents to Geo. Summer’s boy for his mother. Took supper at Handy’s. Baby quite sick, Adrian got sumac root and I took bark off, to make medicine for baby. Got home pretty tired at 9 P.M.
July seventeenth 1904
Got up very early. Hot and pleasant and pretty calm. Started graham bread about 7 A.M. Ray and Albro came about noon and I picked peas, string beans, squash and turnips and peas and went with them to West Point put team in barn and went to station.
Took dinner had good time. Baby came to me a few moments. The first time he ever did it. I was very glad to have him.
Stopped at Benlaw a short time and saw Mrs. Watkins.
Letter yesterday for Myrtle from Frontenac, New York. Sent first to Randolph and forwarded from that place is here.
Found bread ready to put in tins.
Went over to Henry’s. Man drowned yesterday or last night at half moon cove, two others with him fishing.
Bread ready to bake in oven at 9:40 now 10 P.M graham, 2 loaves. First red graham bread I ever made. Hope it will be good. Wore my new overalls and frock first time.
Bed bugs appear first-time in almost a year.
Henry paid me $9.00 for my share of the cherry picking money.
Bread baked at 10:20 in just 40 minutes and it beats the world. Hot as hell in here.
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