Diary_pages_i_1894_03-04

Sat March 3 Clear and very nice. Mother and I went up to see the Curtis place for Frank so that he could help load some hay that I had sold to Frank Wilson. We think that the place will furnish something for him to do and if they get water it will pay him I think. Then we went to Charleys via Laporte found Allie tolerably cheerful. Frank hauled some hay and cleaned out the colt stable and went to town after supper to get the mail.

Sun March 4 Mostly clear but a cold wind most of the day. Franks folks went up to Mr Neeces and Curtis's. They wanted to see further about renting the Curtis place.

Mon March 5 Very nice only rather too cool for me. We finished hauling down the stack of hay from the 10 acre piece and this afternoon we went to town and got some lumber and sundry other things.

Tues 6 Cold and raw with a good deal of wind and some sunshine. Frank hauled a load of ice this forenoon. I sawed some wood and this afternoon we went to Laporte to the ditch meeting and Mother and Frank went on to John Dragers. Our assessments were 12 dollars [$12.00] cash to the share and four dollars [$4.00] in work. We elected Taft Covington Stearly Newlan and myself for trustees but I declined the honor. There was some discussion about renewing the charter but I came home before that was entirely settled.

Wed March 7 Clear and pretty cold this morning but still and has been a very nice day. Frank went up to the Curtis place rode Dexter and brought back 14 head of cattle from Charleys 2 cows 1 2 yr bull 2 2 yr olds 9 yearlings and we put 13 head up in the windy hill pasture. I varnished some furniture for Franks folks and finished sawing up the wood pile.

Thurs March 8 A nice day to day [today] only pretty cool this morning. We took the poles off from the fence our part between J K Howards place and ours and put on wire in the place of them then hauled the poles and put them near the road leading to the north gate. There was 2 good loads of then [them] and I gave them to Franks folks for wood. This afternoon I felt just used up some way so I didnt do hardly anything but Frank and Mary hauled a load of water and killed and dressed the pig.

Fri Mar 4 Clear and pretty. I varnished the chairs and Bureau for Franks folks. Frank worked at one thing and another and this afternoon he went with Mother to see Mrs Rucalle on the meat question. I went up and opened the gate so as to get some water in the cistern. Then we plowed the ditch from up yonder to the cistern.

Sat Mar 10 It started with a cold west wind and kept up a cold wind about all day. Frank went up to see Mrs Golding to see if Jonny could come and work for us this summer. She thinks he will. After he got home he helped me at cleaning the wagon so as to paint it. I cleaned out the ditch so as to fill the cistern when the water is again turned in to the Long pond ditch and this afternoon I worked at cleaning the wagon.

Sun March 11 A howl from the wind all day and it howls yet. We had lots of company to day [today]. Ett and her children and Lew and Mary and Aggie and we had a good time a visiting.

Mon March 12 A pretty nice day the warmest we have had yet this spring. Frank plowed on the piece in the N W corn [corner?]. I worked at the wagon.

Tues March 13 Clear and fine. Frank plowed this forenoon and this afternoon went to town with a plow to get a new shear for it and brought back a load of coal. I finished putting the first coat of paint on the wagon and this afternoon went over to Bees and worked awhile at cleaning out the ditch.

Wed March 14 A miserable windy day. Frank and I got a load of gravel from up on the ridge and then I sold 17 head of steers for 10.50/100 dollars [$10.50] pr [per] head $181.00. Then Frank helped Mr Puntney to start them a piece beyond Collins. Mother and I went to town to see Dr Wright but we were to [too] late so we fixed up some other business and came home and found Queeney with a fine boy calf and that finished the day out.

Thurs March 15 Clear and Still. Frank teamed around at hauling rock and brush and one thing and another. I painted the wagon over again and partly made a bread board.

Fri March 16 Pretty fair day but mostly cloudy towards night. Frank and I and Mr Bees man put the headgate in again. It had got pretty badly washed out. We got done in good time for the chores. Mr Bees man only put in the forenoon at it.

Sat March 17 Cloudy and threatning [threatening] especially towards night and got pretty cold too. Frank and I cleaned out the ditch and put in a head gate near the corner of the place and I helped Mr Cushing clean up some alfalfa seed and Frank hauled a barrell [barrel] of water after dinner. We went to town and got a little lumber and 3 sacks of bran and some other little.

Sun March 18 Cloudy and cool in the morning but cleared off a while [awhile] afternoon and looks now as though it would never storm. Frank and Mary went up to Charleys this afternoon. Mother and I staid [stayed] at home and kept Sunday. C V Howard favored us with a visit.

Mon March 19 Pretty nice all day. Johnie and I cleaned up the alfalfa seed and about 18 or twenty bushels of oats then went over by Jansons and got a couple of barrells [barrels] of water. I then went and saw Messrs Cushing Howard Marble and Bee then I turned what water that I could get around this way.

Tues March 20 A very cold and disagreeable day. It snowed pretty fast for a little while but not half long enough and the wind kept up a continual howl. We fixed Bees ditch ready to irrigate and turned the water around so as to fill the cistern as soon as we can and John finished up the wood pile and I didnt.

Wed March 21 A little snow this morning and a howling wind all day and awful cold too. Johnie done most all of the chores and went down to Lews and got three head of his cattle that we are going to feed. Bert Black came hunting their horses and found them here and it was pretty late so he is staying over night with us.