Irene Dixon Bamford

Friday 4 August 1916 Another hot day. Dont feel like writing in this diary nor writing letters to any one. Think often think I'll quit writing letters or keeping diary; farming is laborious business and constant labor at that, from early morn till late at night. I ought to answer Maud's letter also write to Benjamin W in acknowledgement of the book he sent me. I ought to write to Grace. Work goes slow indoors V & Wm work at hay. Emma cracking hickories in dining room Edith out at closet 15 minutes now. Miriam at river washing her clothes. Acidentaly Ive skipped a page in this diary. V out very early after the cows. Edith went over to Rachels to carry milk and kerosine oil and dried apples. drove back with cheesemaker and Maryanne McDermot. They drove in here. M. McD didn't get out the buggy. Orville here and Joe. They dance in dining room. All abed at 10 pm and neighbors gone home. I receive a letter from Grace. R came over for stuff like dried apples & Emma baked 4 apple pies. The Lard has disapeared. The girls went fishing, caught 11.

Saturday 5th August 1916 Another hot dry day. V finished cutting hay to day. He says there will be 5 days drawing of hay to finish up. Emma baked bread at 1/2 past 4 this morning. V gave us a hen for dinner that was digging potatoes Emma cleaned floors. I read some in the book Bernie sent me "The Clansman". A dance on the hill this eve. The company consisted of Joe W, Samy W., Orville McDer, Willie Watson, the cheesemaker and his brother. They had ic cream and cake. Joe or Sam brought a quantity of ice cream for me which was very good; also very kind of them to bring the ice cream.

Sunday 6 Aug 1916 Awoke this morn to find the air heavy and thick with smoke which must come from forest fires from away back for forest fires are raging and many people are burnt suffocated. Hundreds of men, women & children. It is awful & horrible, wiped out hundreds of miles of timber: String beans for dinner. Miriam and Wm singing and playing piano. It is fine. R came over this morning for milk came before breakfast. Nothing very remarkable occured to day more than usual. Orville here in Evening.

Friday 21 Oct 1916 We were preparing for a social time. Expected our neighbors, a house full of them. Emma had every thing prepared, house decorated with pine oak cedar flowers but alas for human hopes and expectations as the guests were dressing for the party a great storm of wind, rain, lighning and thunder stoped their coming and instead of a happy joyous company a disapointed lot of revelers were obliged to remain at home, but such life. Only Joe and his kid, Samy & Orville came all dressed in their best. Moved the cabinet in to the kitchen to make room for the dancers that never came. V drove over home with R this pm.

Saturday 21 Oct 1916 Wind howled & shrieked all night. This morn the ground covered with fallen leaves, brown and beautiful, blowing the hallows and huddled in heaps in the grove. Wind blowing cold from S.W. We ate breakfast in kitchen. V after going to factory, feeding hogs &c starts plowing and ditching over "There" commenced a cake today. Joe Woodman here to borrow V's gun to go hunting rabbits in rabit [sic] town which is the cedars.

Mrs Dignum visiting Rachel today Halloween

Tuesday 31st Oct 1916 A very good day. Emma went to Horns for Lizzie to make her dress carrying the cloth with her. Lizzie sent Emma to Rob Micheas to exchange thread, came home quite early snapped around went to mill & without changing her clothes; dishes washed early, house swept and plenished lamps brilliant and shining, must have anticipated something. Cheesemaker Bob Jackson here to supper. This is all Halloween, guess we are to have company. First came Miss Moore then Joe and Orville & Samy Gillmore and Miss Ducker. I retired to my bedroom with lighted oil stove, rocker and books, but such a racket and noise. I couldnt stand it all so I walked out in midst of the company and took my accustomed seat behind the stove and there I staid till every foreign footstep had died away in the distance. It was after two before they left and then V had to say, go! for I want a little rest before I put in a long days plowing. The girls cant dance, not what you can call dancing. They are as ungraceful on the floor as a lot of cows, and the young men. Oh Oh such stomping of feet and pushing and hauling the girls around. If their idea of dancing is in noise and rough motion. Why there it is. They should take lessons at a dancing school for it is ridiculous and ludicrous to see them on the floor. It rained all first of the night which will soften the ground for plowing. Edith went to the mail box for her coat that Louise had sent her, a beautiful coat

12th Sunday November 1916 A cold morning and cloudy, looks snow Emma and Edith both go to church. Voltie chores around nearly all day. Langley and Moore go to church walking by here, stop and inquire for Emma. V said they went to church, they back this way but didnt stop here. I guess Emma didn't ask them Edith walked over to Rachels with milk. R sent a peach pie. my appetite not very good. I dont eat any pie nor supper but V popps [sic] some corn.

13 Monday Nov 1916 A bad frozen snow day, dull, dark and dreary. E & E helping V work shifting lumber, driving home the calves and yearlings, putting the sheep in the old house, bringing home the colts. Bert Danus (Weirs hired man) here looking for work. Orville here twice looking for V to fix his old shoe. He didn't fix it. Orville came again at dark looking for honey. Wants to buy 2 lbs. I guess he wont get it. Orville is stopping with Samy & says all they have to eat up there is bread and butter. I write and send a lettter to Grace. Orville got the honey. Samy says he cant afford to kill their fowl for they bring a big price but they are only 11 1/2 cts per lb. Voltie went after dark with a lantern and banked R's house with straw.

Tuesday 14th Nov 1916 A bright morning sun shining clearly. Work in house goes slow. Voltie went this morning to help bury Henry H. The ground covered white with snow. Emma baked two big pie tins full of sweet apples. I knit two points on the lace. After dinner Voltie