Wed. Febry 1, 1905
9:15 PM 16° Lt. Wind S
Went to the city with Uncle Reube and his horse and Henry. The finest sleighing I ever saw. Not a drift in sight. Snow 2 or 3 in. deep and hard and smooth as a floor. A beautiful day. Smoky and sunny like summer only the temperature was pretty cool between 10° and 15°. The most comfortable trip I ever made to city in winter. Carried rain coat to Richardson’s for re-dressing. Got meat for pies and numerous other things.
Henry wheeled my things over and I let him have a bag of salt. Treated him on my new bread and Herkimer Co. cheese.
At Cole’s this evening. No war news. Mostly relating to the execution or reprieve for Mrs. Rogers.
Bought an Ingersoll watch, $1.50.
Thu. Feby 2, 1905
8:45 PM A fine fair day but pretty cool.
Sawed and split wood in the barn. Cooked my pie meat. At Henry’s this evening. Didn’t read paper.
Aunt Em gave me some boiled cider for my mince pies.
Saw Northern Lights last night.
Color around sun this PM indicates a storm soon I think.
Fri. Feby 3, 1905
9 PM Cold-cold-cold and clear all day. Away below zero in morning, 20 ° at midday and at zero now and not a breath of air stirring. Put a shoe on Henry’s horse. Sawed a little wood and nearly froze fingers, ears and toes so came in and made mince pie filling. Have 8 qts fine.
At Cole’s this evening. He got pkg of raisins for me. Mrs. Rogers reprieved until June 2.
Very clear evening and Northern Lights show up but not brilliantly.
I hear that Mrs. Hardy was buried without either a Physician’s Certificate or Burial Permit and the Hardy and Will Coates are to be called to account.
Sat. Feb 4. 1905-
9:30 P.M. Another clear sunny cold day.
Haven’t done much, pared and stewed apples for pies.
Chopped some P.M. Mrs. Farmer passed, Told her to send Fred up for some apples but he didn’t come.
Henry Cole came to supper, Pancakes. I went home with him and read “Daily News.” Nothing in it.
New moon at 6:06 A.M
11:00 P.M Frost in cellar. Have built a smudge to smoke it out.
Thermometer at freezing 32°.
Sun. Feb 5 1905
9 P.M Still another clear cold day. Through towards night it clouded over and now the temperature is decidedly milder.
Built two or three smudges in cellar, and temperature then has rises now to a point of safety I guess.
Made 8 pies. Six apple and two mince. They are all right. Set bread to rising the mng. And it will be ready very soon to put into the oven.
Back ached all night, and all day, pretty bad.
Henry Cole came and brought my new pair of gaiters for his father, this mng.
Mon. Feb 6 1905
8.P.M Warmer, Snow last night and this mng. Not over 2 in. Stopped middle of A.M. Chet came at 10 A.M and went to station received about noon. Dinner at 1 P.M. Bought a lovely mince pie, I gave him a piece of my red “Herkimer Co. cheese” and some of my “dried peas” some Fameuse apples a few turnips and a squash, Ruth and Albro came as far as Morrissons. I sent a basket of apples by Chet to Fred Farmer and took a bag of swill along to Henry’s and went along over and called on Bert and Frank. The old cat at Henry’s is dying I guess. She liked me and I think a great deal of her. But we are all going. Chet is looking quite poorly and feeling so. I fear that unless he favors himself much more than he has done this winter his condition will soon become serious. Temperature in cellar to might 35°. Haven’t done a thing to-day. Must try to do better tomorrow.
Snowing a little now.
Tues. Feb. 7 1905
Snow last night and this mng. and fresh breeze all day. Somewhat warmer, but not thawing.
Sawed wood. Commenced work on Lilac Cream.
Catalog from Green’s Nursery Co., Harvest Seed Co., and Racine Hatcher.
Wed. Feb 8 1905
9:20 P.M A most beautiful day. Clear as a bell. Cold this mng. But growing warmer and thawing some on S side of buildings. At midday cooler again toward night. A beautiful starlight evening.
Finished sawing and splitting all wood in farm and swept floor. Went over to Henrys and got Fam. Herald. Uncle Reube gone up street since noon. The old cat is dead. Poor pussy.
At Coles this evening reading news. Luke Spear and wife there. Mercury at 35° in cellar. Built a smudge.
I don’t understand why I feel so but It seems to feel a kind of depressed sensation for two or three days past as if some bad news of some kind was in store for me. I hope it may not prove to be so.
I spoke with Howard a few minutes this mng.
Don’t feel like tackling Lilac Cream tonight.
Thurs Feb 9 1905
9 PM Quite comfortable. Cloudy mng. Clearing middle of day and snowing with S. wind this evening. S wind all day.
Mended partly an old shirt and soaking an old dirty pair of overalls in a solution of “Banner Lye” I think it is a good thing.
At Coles to supper and this evening, very little news.
Mr.Geo.Sumner called at Coles while I was there.
No callers here. Not feeling at all well tonight.
Fri Feb 10 1905
9 PM Sugar snow today. Some clouds, some sunshine. Thawing a very little most of the day. No callers.
Over to Henry’s this evening. Cascarettes. Finished mending and washing overalls “Banner Lye” is Great.
Haven’t felt at all well today. Guess Henry will come over tomorrow after a piece of mince pie.
Sat. Feb. 11 1905
Midnight. Clear and cold below zero tonight N. wind to speak of.
Stayed in house all day, straightening out kitchen + pantry.
At Coles this evening no war news nor much else.
Letter from Bert Pery. Much better than the war.
Sun. Feb. 12
Variable + unsettled. Cold.
Uncle Reube called at about 2 P.M. Read to entertain him and gave him mince pie + cheese + crust coffee. Henry Cole came in a little later and stayed to supper.
Mon. Feb. 13
Storming again or squally, though not so very cold through the day. But cold enough tonight. NW. wind quite fresh and snow drifting badly.
Henry + Uncle Reube went to the city.
Chet came. Left horse at Porters + went rest of way on foot. Stopped and ate a lunch. Had face shaved smooth. Rode over with him to carry pail of swill to Henry.
At house this evening, reading Worlds that Chet brought me.
Tues. Feb. 14
9:30 PM Unsettled. Fairly clear, but storm conditions prevail, very cold. Mended pair of drawers, and washed out 7 towels and a shirt, no collars. At Coles this evening reading a very little news.
Mailed letter to Harry Strong.
Wed. Feby. 15
8:30 PM A beautiful day. Warm and clear until 3:30 P.M. when it suddenly came up cold from N.W. air feeling damp and chill. At this time 8:30 P.M. it is nearly calm. But quite cold.
Chopped more wood A.M. and P.M. commenced one of the big old apple trees. At Henrys P.M. and evening. Two trips. For supper, Aunt Em gave me corn meal, sweet milk and 2 cookies. Got the “Heavenly Star” and would have got one-man saw but Johnny came for it. Henry killed 3 hogs, 133-135-140.
Thurs. Feb. 16. 1905
7:30 PM Comfortably fair and quite cool. Storm conditions seem to hang all around A fine day to chop and I chopped in the woods. I think I may call it finished from there. But I have some to do yet in the orchard. Not feeling first rate: taking laxatives. But they do not perform their mission very well. No one to speak to today. But then, what’s the odds? Would have called at Coles this evening but felt hardly able so I am at home making sage tea and keeping warm.
Mercury in cellar at 35°. No mail.
Fri. Feb. 17
Warmer, storm conditions prevail.
Mending old clothes. Not feeling to well and not doing much.
At Coles this evening Joe and Jimmie playing checkers.
Sat. Feb 18,
9:30 PM Windy and squally all around but not here. Snow drifted badly.
Baked 2 loaves bread. Three mince and three apple pies.
All first class.
At Henry’s this evening. He says he will call on me tomorrow. No mail. No callers.
Sun. Feb. 19 1905
9 PM Clear and cold all day bellow sunset. Full moon but thick clouds obscure it.
Clipping scraps from papers most of the day.
At Coles this evening. Joe and Jimmy, Amos and Mr. Gemlaw, there. Peter and wife and going ones away until 8 o’clock. Henry sick and went to bed after Grandma got supper for him.
Henry failed to come and I expected he would though I looked for him all day.
Mon. Feb. 20
Thawing warm and pleasant all day. Though quite fresh south breeze most of the day.
At Henry’s P.M. to look over war news.
Sewed a little and chopped two or three big apple limbs. Haven’t done much. Card from Chet. Won’t come until tomorrow.
Tue. Feb 21 1905.
9 PM Some wind, some sun, some clouds. Warmer at mid-day but quite cold mng and at sunset. Very little wind now.
Chet came at 9 A.M. 2 horses and hay-rack. We took ice at Neck, some of it pretty rough. Loaded 2 Station Boats and Alice R. and while I found them a sled, Chet went to Station and back in 35 minutes.
Left me at Gilmore’s coming back. Stopped there a few minutes and at Farmer’s an hour. Good appetite for hot hash in oven when I get home. At Cole’s this evening.
Chet brought last weeks Worlds.
Wed. Feb 22.
8:30 PM Very comfortable. Very little wind and cloudy. Thawing a little.
Visiting at Will Coates. Had a very fine dinner, a very friendly visit and a splendid time all around.
The Baby came to me at once. He is a bright little fellow and good all the time. Stopped at Uncle Willard’s and found him quite smart. Called also at Hines, and at Henry’s. Came near being roasted alive all round today, as it was as much warmer out of doors, and it seemed impossible for any of them to keep less fire than they would have had if this mercury had indicated a temperature of 20° below zero.
Thu. Feb 23
9:30 PM Clouds and sunshine. Thawing quite a little. Light wind, A.M. a little stronger towards night. Still now and Northern Lights showing up in their narrow flames. I think now that I have finished chopping, certainly until snow goes and then I will trim the cherry and a few apple trees. Chopped several big apple tree limbs. Went down to get P. Coles to draw my wood to farm. Says he will come tomorrow. Took supper at Cole’s and am just home from there now.
Peter and wife went to Ed. Liberty whose boy is very sick.
I read papers to Grandma Cole and she freed and expressed her mind to me quite freely in regard to family affairs. Every one has troubles of their own sure enough.
My right eye has been scratching again all day and is quite troublesome this evening. Mailed card to the Dr. Blosser Co. for F. Farmer. Wrote to Mr. Weed of Charlotte.
Fri. Feb 24 1905.
Comfortable. Thawing very little if any. Light northerly wind. Cloudy most of day, but a little sunshine middle of P.M.
P. Cole drew all my wood to barn.
I brought in dry wood from barn, mended frock, helped Cole and piled wood in barn ready to saw.
At Henry’s this eve. Burt and Johnnie there.
Sat. Feb 25 1905
9 PM A beautiful day. Heavy white frost this mng.
Very little wind but sun all day. Clear evening.
Baked 8 pies, and tipped half a pint of hot lard on the floor. Talked pretty loud for half a minute. Baked beans. Everything good. Am now learning the trick of making apple pies about as good as I want them.
At Cole’s this evening. Read the paper all through for them.
Sun. Feb 26
9:30 PM A very spring-like day. Squally this mng, but clearing later. Sunshine and thawing all day. Cool fresh breeze came up at 6 P.M. but didn’t last long. Clear evening. Light Westerly wind.
Everything straightened out and getting dinner at noon when Mr. Senna and Johnnie called on me. Mr. S. was entirely sober and all right. Johnnie has grown tall and weighs 100 lbs.. Never saw him looking so nicely.
The boys are all well. Charlie is now with Charles Weed of Hinesburg. Johnnie is with his uncle Peter Senna of Williston. Senna and Johnnie took dinner with me and I was very glad to see them. Senna was out after fish.
At home all day and evening. Made two loaves of brown bread. Pretty good I guess.
Writing to Dept. Agriculture for information on Nitro Culture.
Mon. 27 1905
8 PM A fine day. Cloudy mng, but sunny rest of the day, though pretty cool. Sawed wood and minded flock. Bolo called. Henry filed saw for me, while I read news. Japs and Rus’ fighting some and Russians are beaten. Expect big battle any day now.
Ed Liberty’s boy, Harry very sick, not expected to live. Burns had been sick but is better his old mother is very badly off and probably will not live long.
Jew Pedlar called but could not trade.
Letters from “our mutual friend,” Glad to have it.
11 PM Light S. Wind + not a star to be seen. Hazy + damp.
Tue. Feb. 28. 1905
Squally and sunshine occasionally. Not very cold though thawing but very little.
Chet came at 9:20 and said Baby was quite sick and Dr. had been to see him three days. Bronchial trouble of some kind or grip seems to be the trouble. Poor little fellow. I am so sorry and wish I could do something for him. I hope he will get along all right for I don’t know what we should do without him.
Carried swill over to Aunt Em. I got ice chisel to cut ice in my well. She gave me some fresh pork and about half lb. butter in tin pail. Sawed quite a lot of wood, for me. Will finish the wood business this week if I don’t have any bad luck.
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