Monday, August 1, 1904
Hot.
Baked 2 loaves of bread and a plate of raised biscuit. O.K.
Yesterday I visited Will Coates and picked up a ten lb. lard pail full of berries. Canned them to-day. Had ¾ quart cans.
Important government mail took me to West point late in the afternoon.
Carried 8 quarts blue-berries from George Sumner to Chet.
Arrived at point at sunset. Chet came over and took me to the station. Baby sleepy, but looking good.
Family by name of Burrills from Illinois are camping at Stone’s cottage.
Two ministers and wives are at Tucker’s for a few days.
Henry brought home a separator. Used it first time.
Stepped on stone and cut my foot on South beach.
Tuesday, August 2 At Station
At station last night. Chet brought me to the neck with sail. Baby not much afraid of me this morning. Found an orange on the beach for him. He seemed to know just what it was made for.
Cass and wife have a baby, born July 26 I think.
Stopped at George Sumner’s and left-$1.00 for berries.
Back paining me considerably again.
Had a regulation after I got home as I expected Eddie Poulin from Benlaw to come for his mail and stay with me to-night.
Wednesday, August 3
Fine day. Went to West Point and island. Mrs. King at island: Letter for her. 2 for Mrs. Watkins. 1 for Eddie Poulin.
All well at station. Hi, Vina and Oral come up to Benlaw.
Sick on the way home.
Thursday, August 4
Fine day.
Sick all night and morning Pretty bad and all alone too.
Watered a dozen cabbages this morning and picked 2 quarts blue-berries and black-berries this afternoon.
Got 3 wheels and part of a baby carriage at Joe Guyette's.
Friday August 5
Quite warm, and very smoky all day.
Looks rainy and is lightning all around tonight. Picked + pulled a lot of peas, shelled + boiled them took 10 minuets + spread them out to dry.
Went to W. Pt. (West Point) Rode with Jack + Johnnie Morrison to the corner. Carried 10 qts. of Blueberries from George Sumner’s to the Pt. Had mail for Watkins, the Burrell’s+ Chet. Wind blowing hard + Chet could not come over. All well. Left things in chest. Rode from Porter’s farm to Frank Gilmore. Mr. Burrell gave me 50 cents for bringing in his letters and mailing one tomorrow.
Took supper at Fred Farmer’s.
Got somewhat acquainted with Mr. Welch the maple sugar manufacturer at Burlington.
Mrs. Burrell gave me 4 magazines, and a number of things that will be good to eat one of these days.
I have to go down in the morning and row them all over to the Rail Road. Hope it won’t rain at that time but looks now very much as if it might.
Papers from Mary.
Sat. Aug. 6
Fine hot day. But strong South wind.
Started early for the Pt. rowed the Burrell family to the rail road. Called Chet over and disposed of things they left for me about 75 cents worth I guess.
Went to island. Saw woman on Pt. signaling. Took my boat and went over to Stone’s dock. Chet came same time. Mr. Wilder + wife + child from Hinesburg. Chet sailed them to Isham’s camp on Hogback. I returned to Benlaw. Mail for Mrs. Watkins. Mr. + Mrs. King there.
Hi + Mr. Hough came to visit camp on Grand Isle, Union, Vina + Mrs. Hough at camp took dinner with them.
Letter from Martha. Coming Monday P. M. if weather permits.
Sun. Aug. 7
Fine day. Arose early + picked 5 quarts Black berries. Going to be lots of them a week later. Picked + shelled another lot of peas for drying. Mr. Sibley + Myrtle came a little past 4 p.m. I went to West Point with them, + called Chet over. I brought the horse home and put him in Henry’s barn. I also brought remainder of my sugar from Hardy’s. I now have on hand about 47 pounds of sugar. I brought the gasoline stove from the Hardy’s, that Mr. Stone gave me when I painted his cottage last spring. My garden is fast drying up, and if we don’t have rain very soon I am afraid it will ruined entirely.
Put yeast going to make bread tomorrow.
Mon. Aug. 8
Mixed bread to put it down cellar to rise while I went to the point after Mr. Sibley.
Carried 3 qts skim milk, new potatoes, beans to pickle turnips and squash cucumbers +apples.
Started in scoop for station with Chet, Ruth Mr. S + baby. Turned around + came back.
Chet + I put the dock out about 1 foot further so now he can safely run sail boat up to it. He broke the keel trying to do so Saturday taking Doctor Wilder + folks into boat.
Baby came to me to stay for the first time. He wasn’t a bit afraid and it meant a good deal to me, to hold him and carry him 5 on 10 minutes. But we had to come home as I had to give him up. Martha stayed at station while they came over. When I got home it was noon. I boiled new potatoes fried some pork and had a good hot dinner. Then I picked over a lot of berries. Canned two quarts of Black berries made 6 blueberries and 1 apple pie, got hot supper and finished up about 8:30 P.M.
Baked two loafs of fine bread. Eddie Poulin promised to come up tomorrow night, and I hope he will not disappoint me.
Tuesday Aug. 9
Started for point at 4 a.m. Porter was taking two dead hogs from his old place. Got 10 quarts of Blueberries at George Sumner’s making 28 in all to date, + have paid $2.00 Ten qts more due.
Got home about 9.20 A.M. Mailed registered letter to Larkin Soap Co from Edie Hardy.
Picked 4 qt blackberries P.M. and washed dishes + swept up.
Just ready to start for Henrys, when Eddie Poulin and Irah Watkins came to stay all night with me
Wed. Aug 10
8.20 P.M Looked like rain all day but no rain yet.
Picked nearly 4 qt blkbrr A.M. Henry came over + picked with me. I filled up his pail when he went home.
The boys went home before breakfast.
Not feeling well to-day. Nothing doing this P.M.
Carried squash to aunt Em this evening.
She gave me some milk
Garden nearly ruined by dry weather.
New preservation. Powdered Borax + Pwd Boracic Acid, equal parts.
Wrote Grinter Grocery Co. regarding freight rates on flour and sugar.
Bought Pkge Stamped Envelopes 53¢.
Thurs. Aug, 11
Made Black-berry Catsup and put up 2 ½ qts Blk-berries.
Friday Aug 12.
Went to point expecting Chet to go to the city with me. He couldn’t go, so I came home + got ready + started alone on foot. Rode a little ways with Henry, Pat, + Hiram who were going for hay on Intervale. Rode from Antoine Cross’ to city with Mr. Lewis.
Bought groceries for Chet at Thomas’.
Bought pt Brandy, + ½ lb Pd Borax + ½ lb Pwd Boracic Acid for preserving fruit, + then took Electric for Q.C. Park, and went to Hiram’s, Ernest played on mandolin + Bessie on Piano. Hi was “How came ye so”.
Sat Aug 13
After breakfast went down to lower farm with Hi looked over the vegetables 20 acres or more, + after dinner he brought me home. He gave Chet + I both a bag of new potatoes with beets onions + sweet corn.
Sun Aug. 14.
Light rain last night, like a dew. Great Growth Everything dying for rain.
Went to W. Pt. Mail for Chet + Mrs. Watkins. Met Tim Morrison + Myrth. Chet came over. Stone + his friends came + went in swimming.
I went to Island. Took dinner with Watkins. Mr. + Mrs. King there. Good folks, Black-Berry Shortcake. Started for station to see baby, but Mr. Sibley came + signaled, + so both Chet + I went for the point.
Ed Sibley very sick.
I came home with Mr. S.
Over to Henry’s. Aunt Em gave me milk + Tomatoes.
Mon. Aug 15 .
9. P.M Good hay day.
Picking black-berries at 6 A.M. and picked all day Sunday except an hour at noon. Got hot dinner. Carried 2 qts over to Clara. She will make me a shortcake. Picked in all, half a bushel I guess.
Fell down + spilled nearly a qt.
Am very tired + my back aches awfully tonight. Feel as if I was nearly scratched to death.
Will Coates wife has a boy.
Henry brought Chet’s + my plunder from the city.
Tue. Aug 16
Still hot + dry. Everything dying for want of rain. Garden nearly ruined. Went berrying again this mng, but had to give it up. Got about 7 qts + gave 3 to Clara.
Wheeled things home from Henry’s, two loads.
Went down street this evening. Can have Farnham’s team. Called at Fred Farmer’s. Back feeling very bad. Much worse than last night.
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