Diary_pages_b_1895_08-09

Thurs Aug 29 Clear mostly but it sprinkled a little just at night. Dave went to get some rabbits got 3 rabbits a hawk and a prary [prairie] dog. I budded some little plum trees this forenoon and this afternoon we took care of the brush trimmed off from the orchard and gathered up the hay that was cut around the orchard and door yard.

Fri Aug 30 Uncertain weather fine in the morning but rained quite a little shower at noon and again about sundown it gave us another and is raining yet. Mother went up to Mr Kendalls and staid [stayed] most of the day to help nurse the sick there. Dave and I went to town took Daisy Livernash over and left her in town to get ready to go to school. After we got back we picked a few plums.

Sat Aug 31 Pretty fair day but it threatened rain some. Dave went to town with a few plums both of the big blue plums and the wild plums and he got a sack of feed for the chickens. This afternoon he went to help some big kids brand some calves. I mowed part of the plum patch this forenoon and this afternoon I budded some little cherry trees.

Sun Sept 1 A very fine day. Dave and Meda went a picknicking [picnicing] up near Mr Pennocks. They report a very nice time and much enjoyment. Mother and I staid [stayed] at home and tried to entertain company. We had quite a lot of it Mr Marbles folks Charleys folks and Will Golden and his youngest brother and sister.

Mon Sept 2 Quite a nice little day. Dave took Meda over to her new home and helped her to set up housekeeping and she had the Dotts family individually and collectively. I hoed on the strawberry bed for a business but done sundry other jobs among which was to help Mr Marble to gather enough apples big ones and crabs to come to $10.89 cts and I showed Mr Edwards where the ditch is seeping.

Tues Sept 3 Clear and nice only somewhat windy. Dave chored in the forenoon and hoed strawberries in the afternoon. I hoed strawberries all day only this morning Dave and I went over to Mr Jansons and got two nice little white pigs and paid four dollars for them.

Wed Sept 4 Clear and faultless. We gathered some apples for Mr Marble and finished howing the strawberries and some other little bits of chores.

Thurs Sept 5 Clear and pretty warm. We begun to work at cleaning the hen houses this morning and changed off to mending the scales and Dave went over to Mr Bees this afternoon and I let some apples go to Lill Dixon some 48 lbs which she said she would pay next time $8.75 cts and allso [also] let Mr Marble have about 265 lbs. $530.00

Fri Sept 6 Fine again to day [today]. D worked for Mr Bee part of the day. I done various cares and short jobs such as whitewashing the outer hen house regulating the seepage water so that it wont spread so much fixing the bridge down below the orchard etc.

Sat Sept 7 Delightful day. Dave and me went to town and pretty near spent the day there but got home in time for the chores all right.

Sun Sept 8 Fine. We had lots of company and enjoyed ourselves hugely.

Mon Sept 9 Very nice. We done quite a lot of jobs such as fixing the ditch where the cattle had tramped the bank down north of Mr Bees place then got the boat down then put a small load of hay into the barn loft and I wrote a letter to Mr Larimer and another to sister Sarah then picked a dollars worth for Mr Buffom and some fruit for Mrs Livernash and Mrs Goodon etc.

Tues Sept 10 Fine but pretty warm. We went over to town with some fruit after letting Mr Amos have some in the morning. Mr Evans had some big plums and Mrs Whats her name there by Charleys and some others wants some here after.

Wed Sept 11 Nice but hot. Dave mended harness and saddle and done upholstering for a business to day. I irrigated the strawberries the potatoes west of the ice house and the little plum patch and got the door yard partly done.

Thurs Sept 12th Good weather for corn and alfalfa but rather too warm for comfort. We picked the wild plums that were ripe and got some apples for somelady from town. Mr Lamaine was one of the women and I dont know who the other was.

Fri Sept 13 Clear and fine and pretty hot too. We transplanted some strawberry plants and then turned the water down and wet then and then I irrigated the front and back lawn and that kept me until dark. This afternoon Dave went over to town with some fruit and brought Meda home.

Sat Sept 14 Nice enough for anybody. Dave and I took a ride over the county to see some of our neighbors and their orchards. We visited Mr Marbles orchard and he was not at home. We found that his prospects for fruit is very fine in fact he has a great many trees loaded down with choice apples of different varieties. Then we went up to the old Blick orchard now run by Dick Drager. That orchard is very thick. The trees are well loaded with fruit and never have been injured much with the blight but how is the fruit to be gathered without getting all bruised up that would be the serious problem if I had to manage it.

Sun Sept 15 Pretty nice on an average but it gave us a little shower about 3 O clock then it cleared up nice again. Mother and I went with Lews folk up to Charlie Pennocks but the rain together with the irrigating made it pretty muddy in the orchard so that we could not get around very much to see fruit but what we did see looked very promising. Got home about sundown.

Mon Sept 16 Nice all day. I went over to Lews and helped him stack hay. I picked plums and crab apples for a couple of ladies from town this forenoon and this afternoon I tried to cut corn but could not stand it and quit without doing much.