Irene Dixon Bamford

Tuesday 18 September 1917

Wednesday 19 Sept 1917 I dont write in the journal often enough to remember what occurs from day to day. I remember it looks rain and does rain towards evening with thunder and lightning. Olive Jones here making us a good bye visit, she is leaving Louise tomorrow morning and going to her sister in town. She staid to supper and went home through the rain wearing her best new shoes

Thursday 20 Sept 1917 Miss Olive Jones goes away to Kingston this morning on the boat. she has left Louise for all time at with dissatisfaction

Friday 21st Sept 1917 Expected a letter from Belle but got none. So busy I suppose she couldnt send a card.

Sunday 24th June 1917 Wind West, quite breezy but a very fine day, trrees in full leaf now and beautiful beyond description. Emma and Eva Langley went with Samy to visit Dora Halliday and family. Voltie says that he borrowed Samy to drive with the girls to Dora's. So Sam not only lent himself but his horse and buggy, and very glad of the opportunity. We did not rise very early this morn. Miss Langley staid here all night. V brought in two nearly rippened strawberries this morning. Oh I wish Grace or Belle were here or better still, both of them. I dont see them more than once a year and my dear boy Wellie never; no more not since that winter after his father died. Any my Johny. I wish John would come home a live with us altogether. He needs a home, and he has got it if he would only accept. He and Voltie need each other. Voltie too stays out nearly all day to day. Emma came home between 9 & 10 pm Had Doctor for Dora, Dr Bogart from Kingston. E & Langley and E Bates & Maurice Maloney went to Kinston when they carried the Doctor home to Kingston. Our Sunday visitors were Miss Olive Jones and Wm Niles here to supper. V milked the cows alone except three which Edith milked. Edith got a good supper and washed the dishes. All abed when Emma came.

Monday 25 June 1917 Looks like rain this morning and does rain. Well the rain is needed but I'd like to the barn going up, the work going on. Edith went to Rachels with milk says Rachel is better. Wind blowing a gale. I always think of Reggie when the wind blows our dear Reginald away from us all, so far far away on the lakes and only 16 years old. I dont know what our men folks will or can do to day. Voltie, William and Maurice. Maurice came from Hallidays.

The girls came home early in time to get supper for they could find nothing there to eat. Ate it all up for dinner. Well after supper and dishes washed, Miss Langley, Louis's nurse Olive Jones, Miss Spence, Ed Maloney and a Palmer fellow from over the way, Joe and Samy, Will Niles and two Maloneys Ed & Sheridan. V played mouth organ for them to dance, went home at midnight "The witching hour of night, when ghosts troop home to church yards"

[hearts scribbled in a line]

Thursday 28 June 1917 Another fine day breezy, Hope there may be no drought for every thing is growing so finely now. Voltie, Wm N, Maurice and Will Gillespie are working at the barn.

[various additions scribbling]

Friday 29 June 1917 A day of rain and wind commenced raining sometime in night and continued nearly all day. A dance at Arthur Hendersons. Joes takes Emma. Maurice goes over to Hallidays for Edith Bates. Samy takes Miss Langley. Voltie milks nearly all the cows alone this p.m.

December 4th Monday 1916 [written as an insert in top left corner] mended V's over alls. mended V's vest. Wrote a letter to Grace 5 braided rug 6 set up a new crochet pattern mended my petticoat

Sunday 29 A warm day. Ogle came early and drove over to Hallidays where they staid all day till 8 Oclock pm

They found Maurice M there courting. Will Niles is courting to Louise nurse Miss Olive Jones and so the courting proceeds. Will and Lena came over a little before dark. Bert went across in same skiff, going to Watertown. Law suit tomorrow with Hubert about an old automobile.

Monday 30 July 1917 A very warm or hot day but breezy, river rough. Will and Voltie working in field mowing, raking and cocking. We had a grand fight here to day between Edith and Robert. There was no broken bones nor bloody noses but a rough and tumble scrap which was fierce while it lasted. Lena came over from R's, staid till bed time. noice confusion, piano playing and dancing in evening. Samy Woodhouse here. Hubert Bamford & Bert Smiths law suit comes off to day. We looked for B and Grace & kids last night but didnt come. All dancing in evening.

Tuesday 31 July 1917 A very hot morning which promises a hotter day. V gone to factory. Will came early. Every thing at a stand still. Hubert fell down Stairs this morning. Last of this month. The summer is going; in a little while it will be gone. This is the hottest day I ever saw. E, E, Robert & Miriam all in bathing. We have been looking for Bert and Grace & family.