Irene Dixon Bamford

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letters to post office so I dont write. Voltie lent Wallace Scotts Lady of the Lake. V rings the old trunk down and I search for a fortune but find none barring a bushel of old worthless old shop's papers, some fish hooks and a box of various and divers kinds of buttons. Even his Bible is gone with his mothers photo and other papers. The weather is so cold we sit up late to keep the coal burning brightly and the rooms warm. V put straw in barn 1 load and carried R a load of straw, a letter from Grace. One from Bert Smith he been buying a new horse. Maud and the babe are well. Forgot to say Ethel Woodman sent me a card. 30 deg below zero 1 egg

Wednesday 14 Jan 1914 Didnt arise very early. Wind not so fierce as yesterday but the river is entirely closed in ice from shore to shore. Geo McD drove here with fish. Denny here to meet him. Wallace Niles here. V ordered up dinner for Geo McDonald One old c pail gave out a we threw it away. Denny and another man came up from Clayton on ice boat.

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Wednesday 4th Feb 1914 Another fine day. Emma washed and put all her washing on the line, this is the second day Emma has washed. We hadnt washed in so long a time the washing had swelled to. Edith gone to school, walked there and walked home in the mud. Teacher threatened to whip her if she dont behave.

Thursday 5th Feb 1914 Another fine day. V working on shop till towards noon. Jim Morgan came. Then R came for her coffee. After she and her coffee, Geo McDonald drove in with fish for Denny. V phoned for Denny at Clayton. He not at home till 5 p.m. He is coming up early tomorrow morning. Mabel M came for eggs sold her two doz at 35 per George and Jim here for dinner. Mabel here to supper. Had bullheads for supper. I ate 2, Mab ate 3, V 3 E & E each 2's apiece. Edith gone to school. Edith and Alden Morgan had a row. Ed is very unpopular at school. I write a long letter to Belle.

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Friday 6th February 1914 A very pleasant but becoming cloudy. Wallace came early and went with Voltie to Geo Woodmans for an old barn roof. We hurried around to get dinner ready when Wall & V came but Wall wouldn't stay, going home to get ready for the horse race ball at the villiage. Rachel came over to dinner. I paid her for the doz eggs and gave her mustard, spirits, turpentine and lamp wicking. Denny and his brother came for fish. The brother go in ice awful wet and cold. Lent him dry clothes. Poor chap. Geo McDonald came with another load of bull heads. Two barrels and a box full, and drove to the foot. Den couldnt load them all in the punt. Ed gone to school. I sent a letter by her to P.O. to Belle. I was disapointed when Emma returned with the mail to find only Herald & Standard Farmers Magazine and an invitation for Voltie to the Engineers Ball Kingston city hall, no letters, no cards. But why should I be disapointed at not receiving letters from Belle nor John. Edith in row with Alden Morgan she is most always in a row with some one. A grand old snow storm.

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Friday 14 May 1915 A cool morning. The weather is much colder this month than last. Edith at home dropping potatoes and doing other chores. R came over for greens. Geo & John McDonald here for repairs on their hay press and ate dinner here. V got the orchard nearly all planted to potatoes. I sent a letter to Reginald and one to Maclean Co about Farmers Magazine. Received the Flower seeds from Lippincott. Sylve & Maggie came down in evening. Sylve wrapped in a big rain coat. Maggie is going to her Bellville [sic] home.

Saturday 15 May 1915 A clear very cool morning frost last night. V finished the early potatoe planting some of the planted potatoes are up. V is going to cultivate the potatoes. Rachel came over for milk. Emma and Edith went up to Sylves in the evening.

Monday 12 March 1917 I dont think I keep my diary in very good order for I can scarcely read some of my own writing. Therefore I believe no one else can. A bright very bright day. Snow dazzlingly white. Will N came early while we were at breakfast. The old cows didnt come last night but staid over around R's old straw stack. Edith gone over there to drive them home. W.N. gone up on Morgans point for a load of gravel. V making a pigs trough. The sows tear them in pieces. Emma is getting dinner. Edie washed my feet too. Geo McDonald phoned to inquire if he should draw Voltie a load of shingles from Allens mills Kingston. V said yes. Edith went over and drove the cows home: John and Sadie Murray here this evening till 10 pm. V and W drew hay from lower Barn. V phoned to John OB for his bobs, said yes, forgot to W.N & J.D. sawed down pine tree.

Tuesday 13 March 1917 Another brililant day. Wm went early to OB for bob sleighs then loaded log on sleigh and are gone to Clayton. V says he is better, I hope he is. I sent a letter to bell this morning by V. Edith gone to school. Emma and I are alone for a little while any way except cats and dogs. Turk and Shep keep their thundering barking gong on all the time. Emma baking johny cake for dog cake. Emma mopping. V in the evening drove to Flynns for milk. Will N put on over coat and went off somewhere for the evening. We were just going to bed. John unexpectedly came which was a great and happy surprise couldnt get sawing done in Clayton so brought the logs home again