Sun. Jan. 1 - 1905
1:30 AM Watched the Old Year out + the New Year in with Fred Farmer + wife at their home, and have just returned to my own at Henry Thayer’s red house on Colchester Pt. or Mallets Bay as you please. The New Year comes in with a very little snow on the ground, and warm enough to thaw a little at that. Quite dark + cloudy, and looking stormy I think.
10 AM Just up, thaw continues, cloudy all the morning. Snow just disappearing and ground looking nearly bare.
11 PM Thawing all day, and now dark + cloudy. Took dinner at Henry’s, came home at sunset. At home reading this evening. Port Arthur Surrendered.
Mon. Jan. 2, 1905
9 PM Storm conditions all day + now. A kind of mist or very light rain and snow most of the time.
Got Pete Cole to come + draw all my chopped wood to the barn. Took breakfast at 1 PM + while eating it Chet called. He had been to the Station alone. Confound his carelessness. His folks are well but he is nearly sick I know with bad cold. Put most of my wood in barn + cut up most of the crows nest. Worked until 5 PM (dark). Peeled potatoes for breakfast + I went over to Henry’s. All well. No War news. Cider and apples.
Thawing until about Sunset. Then wind came up from N.E. and bringing a cold wave with it. It came fresher all the while until now it is very fresh + cold. Looks as if we might have a stormy day tomorrow.
Tue. Jan. 3
Zero weather with a vengeance. Got the last of my wood into the barn, all nicely piled up. At Henry’s this evening + read of Port Arthur’s Surrender on Jan. 1. At home this evening. (Beans)
Wed. Jan. 4
0° weather still. 9 PM no wind. Lots of war news. Uncle Reube called 2 PM. At Henry’s this evening.
Thu. Jan. 5, 1905
4:30 PM Warmer. Snowing lightly all day. About 1 inch. Baked bread + raised biscuit. Sawed wood and fixed nickel clock.
Fred Farmer came for Terpin Hydrate, 2 oz. 25 cents/ pail.
9:45 PM Still snowing very lightly. At Henry’s this evening. Frank came in. Henry + I tried the wine made a year ago last fall and found it much improved.
Fri. Jan 6, 1905
5:30 PM Rain in AM + thaw all day, has left ground around here nearly as bare as Summer.
I was quite sick last night all through bad cold. Was chilly + head + back + bones ache all over.
Sawed some wood in AM.
Sat up very little this PM but went over to Henry’s at 4 o’clock for War News, of which there was really none.
Am feeling pretty bad tonight.
Sun. Jan. 8, 1905 Mistake in Reckoning
Thought today was Sat. until I went over to Henry’s at 1:30 PM + they told me it was Sunday. I can’t tell when I made the mistake.
Squally with westerly winds today.
Had bad night; quite sick and feverish, but much better today. Thought the night would never end.
Chopped about two hrs. in AM, took dinner + went after Henry’s wheelbarrow, and wheeled in quite a lot of wood.
At P. Coles this evening. He + wife at Ed Liberty’s. Grandma was there, and Pete Bessett’s wife + two children came in. Helped Henry do a few examples.
Am feeling a great deal better tonight.
Mon, Jan, 9, 1905
Clouds + sunshine + not very cold though thawing none.
Slept well last night. Arose at daylight and commenced wheeling wood. Finished sawing and wheeling all that laid in the woods all summer + fall. Makes good show in wood room.
Chet went to Station + took dinner here on his return. Brought Baby pictures from there for me and paper + strap from Colchester. He looked as if he had been sick a month folks as well as usual.
Aunt Em + Claras’ colds are better, and Uncle Reube is nearly sick. Took supper with them. Clara had the Boss Johnny cake.
Hicks Almanac came. And also Dr. Morrow’s System Renovator supposed to be six months treatment, but box contains only five months, will investigate Howard to-morrow.
Tue, Jan, 10-1905
9 PM Shining in morning, looked as if it would snow all day, but it ended about 9 a.m. Fair + fine rest of the day. Interviewed Howard but he knew nothing, and neither did Aunt Em and Clara about the Renovator box being open or sealed.
An agent for G. Engines called with N. Perault on Henry today at 11a.m. Don’t know results yet. I chopped some, and sawed some of the old cherry wood in the farm. Haven’t felt very ambitious to-day and have accomplished little.
At P. Coles this evening, Joe B. there with game of Steeple Chase. Took supper with Grandma Cole enjoyed it very much.
Wed. Jan 11, 1905
A comfortable day. The package of “Renovator” was broken by Clara, I found out. She was mad this morning. Ha! Ha! I guess she will live through it.
I chopped wood p.m + Henry + Dorothy Cole came up this evening. I was making pancakes + they helped me eat them up. There was just enough for all hands.
They were afraid to go home alone + I went with them. Commencing to snow as I came home.
Thurs. Jan 12, 1905
Stormy to-day . Rain + snow. About 3 inches I guess thawing all day.
Haven’t felt at all well. Cooked vegetables for soup, swept floor, washed dishes + set thing to rights.
Went down to Coles again this evening.
Fri. Jan 13
Beautiful day. But very cold. A crust covers the snow. Chopped while branches A.M. Ate dinner at 2. Then went over to Henrys. Carried pail of swill.
Bert came in, he is nearly sick with bad cold.
Sawed quite a lot of old cherry wood that was in the farm. Made a kettle full of soup (vegetable) cooked all day in the oven, and made pancakes to go with it for supper. Henry Cole took supper with me, and at a quarter to 8. I went home with him to keep the bears off.
I carried down two pumpkins to Mrs. Porter a few Fameuse apples to Grandma Cole, and my two gal. can for skim milk when Porter goes to the City.
A lot of young folks Mary Sumner + husband + ect. were there + so I returned home with out going inside.
Sat, Jan 14, 1905
Pleasant but very cold, Wind N. Easterly.
Chopped a couple hours in the A.M. but had to give it up. Then sawed wood in barn awhile but concluded that I had better find employment nearer a fire, so came in and shelled a lot of beans. Uncle Reube + the dog came over about 2 p.m + helped me pick them over.
Went over to Henrys to supper.
Sun, Jan 15
Colder then ever with wind southerly. Storm conditions seem to prevail to the westward and it has seemed all day a storm is imminent.
Henry Cole came up about 10 a.m. + we went fishing in Henry Thayer’s shanty, he got 2 + I got nearly froze. Wind blew like the devil. And I was nearly dead when I reached home. Henry stayed for supper with me.
6:20 p.m. have just put bread in. Two tins to bake tonight + now will sit down to read.
Mon. Jan. 16, 1905 .
8:15 PM Quite comfortable, stormy all around here all day. Chet came about 9 a.m. I went to the station but failed to bring the World’s so I have no news to read tonight but Burpee’s Farm Annual came by mail so I have that + it is always interesting.
Chet took dinner with me. The baby is getting teeth and doesn’t feel first rate all the time. Poor little fellow, I feel sorry for him. The rest are well as usual.
Went over to Henry’s + got the smoke funnel to smoke a ham and a lot of cobs. Got a piece of salt pork out of my pork barrel. Came near freezing my hands and the pork is salt enough all right.
Went down to P. Coles this evening, + read the news to them and have just got home.
My cough troubles me a great deal. Guess it is bound to hang on until warm weather.
Tue. Jan. 17, 1905
8: 20 PM Snowing a good part of the day, but not over half an inch yet. Not thawing but I think very near it. Quite comfortable, chopped some + sawed some, and smoked ham some, and some I have done nothing, for I have felt weak as a cat and nearly sick all day.
P. Cole harvesting ice, could see from my barn door.
At Henry’s this evening. Puddin + lasses.
He wants me to write to Empire Separator Co. for Catologue and prices and name of nearest agent.
Clara gave me a calender, a beauty from.
Wed. Jan. 18, 1905
8:20 p.m. Snow storm a.m. Fair p.m. and not the coldest. Finished sawing up the crowenest + wheeled it all in, smoked the ham, + brought it in the house to-night. Peddlar called to buy bottles, had nothing for him. Letter from Burt Perry. Better than he was.
Sent for price list of Empire Separator.
Feeling better than yesterday, but still weak.
Have a good lot of wood in the house, and a lot more in the barn, and still another lot in the woods cut + stacked ready for drawing.
Every evening while I write my days doings I have Baby’s pictures before me, and it seems almost if he was watching me with his bright laughing eyes. Bless his deal little heart, I love him as if he were my own.
11 PM Wind fresh + snow drifting storm conditions possible.
Thu Jan 19, 1905
9:15 PM A comfortable day, thawing a little mid-day. Chopped all I could this a.m. finishing all the white birches in the first lot nearest home.
Went after Pete Cole; took dinner with him and he drew the wood at three loads. I put it al in the barn at 4 o’clock. Went down to Cole’s again this evening to read the papers.
Laughing so much is making my right side very sore, one of the loveliest evenings ever seen, bright moonlight + not very cold. Goodspeed’s horse ran away + smashed things.
Fri Jan 20, 1905
Another good day but rather cold.
Got my wood all inside the barn, cut in 5 foot lengths and piled up. At least 200 feet of wood cut this season.
At Henry’s this evening, Pancakes, Clara’s best for supper. Bert + Johnnie came in to smoke so I did not go out of the dining room.
Another beautiful evening, Full moon no wind and very near thawing. An ideal evening for a sleigh ride.
Saturday January 21, 1905
A comfortable day, Very light snow this P.M. and evening, 1 inch now. Chopped some this A.M. Baked two loaves bread and burnt top crusts for coffee. Made doughnuts, too rich. But I guess the stuff will all be eaten.
Uncle Ruebe called P.M.
At P.Coles this evening, read paper to him, and had quite a talk on Catholicism and theology etc.
Sunday January 22, 1905
Snowing near all day. About one inch I guess, not very cold.
At home all day washed dishes, swept up and had dinner. That’s about all. No callers though I looked for Henry.
First slice of ham which I finished smoking yesterday.
Pleasant this evening again.
Writing to Bert Perry and eating popcorn.
Monday January 23, 1905
Pleasant but very cold. Chopped a little but fingers and toes got cold so worked in barn. Cutting up a lot of old poles etc. that had been laying there over a year.
Am now ready to saw up my clean cut wood whenever it seems best. Mailed letter to B.S.P.
At Henry’s this evening took supper there, and read war news.
Chet came, and went to Station. I had a good hot dinner from him when he came back. He brought last two weeks World’s so now I will a chance to read the news.
Tuesday January 24, 1905
Fair a.m. Cloudy and indication of storm p.m. Snowing lightly this evening. Quite cold morning but gradually growing somewhat warmer all day. Not much wind, no wind tonight. Washed the dishes and cleaned the sink and did other kitchen work a.m. and chopped some p.m. at home all day and evening, no callers. No mail. Have been baking some Lazy Wifes pole beans now for two days and nights, and they are the best I ever saw.
Wednesday January 25, 1905
8 PM A N.W. blizzard all day, and a very, very cold one. Shelled a few beans and sawed a little wood a.m. Went over to Henry’s with weather report after dinner, and read war news and barrowed his “Weekly Star.”
Received a letter from a friend at Putney.
At home reading tonight.
A terrible night outside; but fortunately there is little snow, as it can’t drift very badly around here.
One is glad at a time like this to be able to keep a good fire and sit near it.
Thursday January 26, 1905
.
9.30 PM A very cold day, and strong raw wind until late in the day. Cloudy and Threatening in a.m. clearing and sunny p.m. At home all day. Tried twice to saw wood but found it too cold so came to the house, and shelled and picked beans.
No callers, and I haven’t seen or a single person all day.
Friday January 27 1905
10 PM Much warmer. A little squally this p.m. Dark and cloudy tonight, sawed wood for business, did quite a little of it.
At Coles this evening to read war news.
Peter went to city and brought my can of milk and a bundle of tripe. Since I got home I warmed some potatoes and fried some tripe and had a nice hot supper.
Henry will bring the milk in the morning.
Saturday January 28, 1905
9 PM Thawing some, snow squalls a.m. but pleasant p.m.
Baked 3 loves bread, first class and 4 pies first class and a pan full of Dutch stodge also first class.
Henry Cole took supper with me + stayed 2.5 hours. I then went home with him “to keep the bears off.”
Sunday January 29, 1905
9 PM A beautiful day. Thawing a little in spots.
Uncle Ruebe called before I had got out of bed. I immediately arose and built a fire, swept floor and washed the dishes, while visiting with him.
After I got things regulated. I read until evening when I went over to Henry’s, took supper + visited. Henry + Burt went fishing + caught two perch. Frank called + went down after cider. Aunt Em gave me Dr. Miles Almanac, I borrowed a seed catalog. Johnson + Stokes, Phila, Pa.
Mon, Jan, 30-1905
A very nice day carried some tripe over to Henry. He was gone to sawmill. Dave Clark there. Chet came along + I came with him. Sawed wood until 11 + then got dinner.
Chet came back. We ate dinner, he wrote mail to be sent by me. I gave him some Fameuse apples + few turnips. Which he forgot to take so they will be here next time he comes. I rode with him to Henry’s to carry a pail + a basket of swill. Aunt Em gave me a pound of butter. I was over again this evening to see if Henry was going to city to-morrow. He expects to go Wednesday.
Tues. Jan. 31 – 1905
Rather cold except at Midday when it thawed in spots. This evening the air is cold and damp and wind light NE. Very cloudy + I think a storm is indicated for tomorrow.
Sawed and split wood, but toes and hands were cold and had to come in several times to warm them.
Mailed letter to Putney. No Callers.
A Raytees to supper. Mrs. R. quite sick from indigestion.
Raytee has sent his order for Strawberries.
Spoke to him about chopping for Henry.
Everything covered thickly with frost this morning.
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