June 1903
Monday, June 1, 1903
Have been giving my journal a rest.
Dry and cool to-day. Light N wind.
Dryest time ever known at this season of the year. Only rain in 7 weeks to-morrow, was on last Thursday, that lasted only about 5 minutes. Potatoes, sweet corn + beans were planted ten days ago, but have not even sprouted yet. Those who had things up had them all frozen a week or two ago. So I am all right yet I guess, after all.
Violet disappeared on Mar 5th is back again. I brought her from Porter's Lower barn. She seemed nearly starved and is glad to get back home with her black kitten of whom she used to be jealous, she is now sitting on my shoulder while I write.
Finished painting Watkins’ S. Lawrence Skiff. Went to West Pt. early after mail, as boat is at Station being painted, Chet came over in the other boat with sail. Have to go Friday night, or Saturday morning, early. To stay while C + R come ashore.
Tue. June 2
Fair warm + dry. Went to city with Hardy and bought bbl flour + groceries +c. Spent $8.85. After got home, went to W. Pt. with mail. Chet came over + wants me to order bbl flour for him at $5.00 as flour is rising. Advanced $.25 on bbl in last week. Supper at Senna’s. Charlie came home with me.
Wed. June 3
8:30 a.m. Another dry warm day. Lt S. Wind.
Beans coming up. Corn + potatoes sprouting. Peas looking tip-top. Strawberry plants I set out all living + doing well.
Strawberry bed looking well. + picked a pint this morning first picking.
Terrible flood + fire in Topek. Kan. Last Sunday, 9 P.M. Sun completely obscured by smoke at 5 p.m. Moon likewise. Never saw it so smoky.
No signs of rain. Called at Raytees. They are all discouraged. Berries are all burned up and it does look like a desert. Not even weeds grow there.
Had a “bill fish” but gave it to Mr. Lacey who called a few minutes with Harry Liberty. Carried 10 pails of water to garden this evening for strawberries, tomatoes + peas. Edson says Hunt was here yesterday + told him that this place is sold to a woman in Providence, R.I. Company name Eaton, at Edson’s.
Wrote J.E. Hunt to know about place being sold.
Thurs. June 4.
Hot and Dry. N. Wind. Everything drying up. Cultivated some of my beans, also my unplanted land and dug out quack grass, and raked it over to fine it and keep out weeds. Fear my strawberries are going for it, and in morning am going to cover them with straw.
Letter from sister Mary. She has moved a week ago to #137, Johnson St. in Forest Park District. They have a 4 room cottage. A garden, fruit + hens. Uncle Em at Otis Whitney’s. Unable to be about. Out of his head at times.
Lillian Clark to be married this summer to Bert Sprague. Supper at Stones. Cream in the skim milk. Terrible tornado in Georgia. 111 killed. Big flood + high water at St. Louis, Mo.
Fri. June 5
Went to station.
Mon. June 8
Mrs. Carey came to station with Chet + Ruth. We pulled her up in the boat.
Sun. June 14
Chet came ashore at this landing, went to Colchester after his loon and gull. Ray brought him back and he + I took Watkins’ skiff to the island. Hi + Partridge had been drinking snow gin I guess. Brought oars home to row Watkins other boat over. Gave Chet 2 qts. berries. Picked 5 qts. strawberries. Sell 8 qts. Friday for $1.00 at city. Took supper at Senna’s + Joe gave me a pail of skim milk. Light local showers. The drought seems to be at an end for we have had rain several days, and everything look very much improved and refreshed.
Mon. June 15
Light local showers. Picked 16 qts. Strawberries. Making in all 40 qts. Picked from my little patch this season.
Gave Mrs. Howard 1 qt. Sold 20 qts. to Senna for $1.75. Charlie Senna came over and helped me clean out stove + took supper with me. Had soup + beans. Pig died.
Tue. June 16
Cool + cloudy. Wind N. Fresh. Carried berries over to Senna. Helped Charlie clean out his garden + he came over + helped me until 4 p.m. Prepared trenches for winter squash + planted seed, Cultivated, hoed + raked, and ended my days work by picking 2 qts. of berries and taking them over to Edie.
Mrs. Senna + Joe went to Williston tonight to attend funeral tomorrow of her brother who was fatally injured by a locomotive Sunday, and died this morning.
Senna came home drunk + wasn’t going to be let Joe have a horse, but Joe had it just the same. He was going to Williston himself, but Geenie wouldn’t let him have a horse, so he tried but without success to induce Farnham to drive him up to the Junction.
I helped Geenie feed calves and separate milk and got home about 11:30 p.m. Sowed turnip seed and transplanted tomatoes from boxes to a small bed in garden. One of the pigs I bought for Hardy to fat died yesterday from some unknown cause. Bad luck.
Wed. June 17
Went to W.P. with mail + c, + worked on my garden. Planted Squashes (Hubbard)
Thu. June 18
10 p.m. Showery. Cultivated garden and picked 5 ½ qts. Strawberries. Got card from Cap’n to have Chet meet him tomorrow at Burlington + so had to the pt. with it at once. Supper at Senna’s + Mrs.Hardy headed me off with a big piece of nice strawberry cake so am just home with a pail of skim milk from Senna’s.
50 ½ qts. Berries picked today.
Fri. June 19
Showery. Got up at 6 a.m. and planted my seed bed and set out the 2 dozen fine tomato plants as many beets + as many more onions that Hiram sent me.
Picked 15 qts berries in P.M.
Romeo Barstow bought the place here today + I have got to get out. Feeling rather blue to-night.
Sat. June 20.
House-cleaning. Barstow looked the house over.
Went to the Pt. with mail + buttermilk + talked over the situation with Chet. He wants me to come again tomorrow. Took dinner at Senna’s. sold him ten qts berries 75 cents.
Went up to see Henry Thayer. Can move into his little house any day I wish until I can do better so I feel some better than I did.
Rode part way home with Jack Senna who is working for Goodrich near Soap Factory.
Took supper with Henry.
Mrs. Senna’s brother with her to-night.
Wrote to Button.
Henry wants the harrow for $5.00.
Sun. June 21
Rain, steady rain all day long, without cessation.
Edson has been here twice to tell his troubles and make a list of Button’s available property
Charlie Senna + Hardy also called to see me. The old house never leaked so badly + I have trouble to find a place for my bed or anything else that I wish to keep dry either upstairs or down.
It makes me almost reconciled to leaving the old place that has so long been my home.
Haven’t done anything to-day only think + it hasn’t amounted to anything after all.
Mon. June 22.
Charlie + I took Watkin's boat to Station + back to boathouse. Chet went ashore with Ruel Wheelock + wife + then helped put boat into house + took Charlie + I ashore. Caught pike on the way.
Picked strawberries after return.
Tue June 23
Finished 10 qts str’berries for Mr. Senna.
Charlie couldn’t help me to-day.
Cleared (or nearly so) big chamber + Hardy carried away one load of things.
Pike for supper + Charlie to help eat it + help me to-morrow.
Edson mowed some around house.
Shingle came to-day.
Very kind letter from Cap’n to-day.
Wed June 24
Cool. Charlie helping me all day. Moving.
Cleared Chambers of all but bed + pop-corn. Cleared cellar of all but a few turnips.
Romeo here at 6 P.M. to see garden. Agreed to arbitrate. Ratyee my man + Porter is Romeo’s.
Don’t feel right about giving up garden but perhaps it is the best way after all.
Pretty lonesome to-night. The cats know that something is wrong + Violet keeps close to me every minute. Took supper at Mr. Raytee’s
Fred Guyette was buried today. Killed at Montpelier yesterday or day before by train.
Hardy let me have his team to move with.
Thur June 25
Got $12.00 for my garden. Don’t think it is enough. Moving. Hard work. Charlie helping me.
Fri June 26
Still morning. Slow work
Went to the paint early this mng. Stayed at Senna’s last night. Carried cats up to Thayer Cottage.
Sat June 27 Thayer’s Cottage
Still morning. Had to quit about 3 pm on account of my back paining me as badly that I could do no more. Jim Sumner helped me pack on two heavy loads. Edson commenced shingling the cottage. Joe Senna took the big red flat boat to fix it up + use it + return it to me when through with it next fall. He thinks of making a sail for it.
9 P.M. Staying here first night. Charlie + the cats for company. Tired almost to death. Most beautiful starlight I ever saw.
Sun June 28
Henry came over with some milk + helped set up stove. Johnnie Morrison, and Fred Farmer called. Charlie and I let out the cats. Worked all day setting things to rights. Took a bath this evening. Henry came in.
Chet called this mng on way to Colchester + again on his way back. He will carry coil of rope to light house.
Mon June 29
Baking day. 6 pies, pan of biscuits, beans, potatoes turnips + carrots, carried a few apples. Alma Senna came after potatoes while I was there. Carried turnips + carrots to Henrys + pan of swill this evening.
Patsy plowed a garden for me. + Henry gave me half a bu. potatoes to plant this evening.
Northern Lights loomed up as I came home.
Tue June 30
Showering. Planted 3 rows of potatoes + harrowed the rest of the garden with rake.
Henry came over about 9.a.m. here an hour. Gave him a piece of my apple pie.
Offered to give me half the cherries if I picked the lot. Will try it.
Mrs. Howard’s father came with her to-day.
Howard feeling better.
Commenced making pillowcase. + looked over some of my plunder.
Trial of Buskin for picking berries in Porters swamp postponed.
Expect to finish moving tomorrow.
Charlie bought a new suit to-day $1.50.
Raining at 9.p.m.
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