Irene Dixon Bamford

Robert & the kittens all up in the apple tree. Rachel came over and staid till 7 pm.

Tuesday 18 August 1914 Emma washing some more things. V and J cut peas; we had peas peas for dinner. Weather rainy. John goes for the mail (drives) a letter from Grace, a card from Muriel. I send a letter to Grace also a card from Muriel.

Wednesday 19 Aug 1914 A very good day warm and pleasant. Emma cleans floors and bakes bread and cake. I make apple pies (4). I work around till I'm rather tired. V and J rending oats on old Smith place then V drives to dock for Bob and Grace and Isabel so we have a jolly house full again.

Thursday 20th Aug 1914 V and Reginald went to Cape with Bob Wells Sr in motor. He is going to Brownville to look for a house to move into. V & Reginald came back early bringing tanglefoot and rolled oats with a small glass pepper shaker as a prize. Cloudy and begins to rain in pm. Little Bob wouldn't stay but went home to Kingston with his mother. V gave Reginald 3 dollars. John and Emma milk the cows and Edith goes to water R's cows. R drove her hom [sic] by ordering her to go.

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Saturday 8 Aug 1915 A fine day after yesterdays heavy rain. Too wet to bind. V has to fix fence to keep the cows from the corn. Voltie found them there after breakfast. An awful lot of trouble to get Edith to do any work. I dont know what is the matter with her cant coax hire nor drive. I say drive; tis the only way. Emma finished papering the dining room and put on the bordering. Ruth visiting in Kingston visiting the McNelly's.

Sunday 9 August 1915 A long quiet day, weather fine. Roy came and they all went fishing caught big mess. Roy here to dinner. He went home long enough to do Niles chores then came back again; after supper V & R Jr went fishing again caught another lot of fish which they dressed for next day. R Sr & Edith went over to R's and carried her milk & fish. We were very happily surprised by the unexpected arrival of Grace, Isabel, Bert, Maud & Hubert a joyful meeting and greeting you may believe. Emma put the kettle to boil for tea. Roy staid till 1 p.m.

Wednesday 21 March 1917 Sun crosses the equater [sic] on his home ward journey to us North and Spring begins to day. Sun shining bright and clear. Edith to school. Voltie & John drawing hay from the lower barn. I send to letters one to a cement co and another to a paint company both Montreal. V and John brought or drew gravel and there are now 7 loads of gravel. There are 21 lambs now at the barn. 4 eggs. Hannah gave V 2 gallon milk. A letter from Belle, one from Isabel.

Thursday 22nd March 1917 Clear bright chilly. Froze last night. Edith gone to school. John and Voltie drawing gravel from Mabels. The fire in stove dont seem to burn very clearly. Employed the pm in sorting old papers and scraps; old letters &c. Some we saved some we burnt, read a few of those old letters, some makes me sad, those old letters of long ago. They are gone those dear friend and I'll never see them again on Earth. Oh why, why is it so! Oh where and what is the mistery [sic] the great mystery, and even the dear one that yet remains that have not traveled to their journeys end, (life journey) how seldom I seem them. I have my dear Voltie, and my dear Johny is here now; in a little while and he too will be gone. I miss Belle, Grace and my dear Wellie, dear good son whom I have not seen in three years. Will comes to see us some time. my dear brother Will. Some day the mist and clouds will have rolled away. 7 loads of gravel to day which makes 14. Wallace went away this night came to say good bye. Poor dear Jane how sorrowful for her to see him go

Saturday 21st July 1917 A very warm day. V worked at potatoes and garden.

A man in villiage phoned to Voltie wants to hire to help do the haying. If V cant get Will he can get this man Monday morning. I think Voltie had or should have clinched the bargain while he had an oppertunity to secure help. Maybe Will wont come and now he talks of phoning to Wellie for one of his boys. After drawing the evenings milk to the factory came back and goes across the river in skiff or nearly to the other shore. Sheridan came over to bring Maurice in motor. Maurice going to Hallidays to do his courting. Sheridan called here while phoned to several people. told them He and Tom were drafted which was not true. Rachel came over to stay all night. brought coffee. Her chickens most all gone, only 5 left from 90 or more. Weasel killed them, they killed most all of Will H Woodmans chickens. William H shot the weasel. V rowed back didnt go to corners to late.

Sunday 22nd July 1917 Days are passing quickly. July will be gone before we realize it has been here at all. V has lain dow [sic] to rest awhile and take a nap before he rows across for Robert. The wind is blowing some from South, a warm day. Another surprise to day when when Bert and Maud & Hubert, Isabel, Grace, Margaret and Robert came. Then came Miss Laura Babcock. Then came Ogle all here to dinner & supper except L Babcock.

Friday 3 August 1917 Another hot dry day. Working in field as usual. Same old work business as goes on from day to day nothing unusual occurs. cooking 3 square meals. mail dont bring much except farm papers but our evening company including our own are Joe & Samy Woodman, Lizzie Woodman and a Hollinbeck girl named Etta. They sing, dance, play piano, Violin, phonograph till 11 OClock pm.

A hot dry day, no rain Saturday 4 August 1917 I dont know all that transpires in dining room & kitchen but not much done by way of cooking for Sunday, baking pies and cakes. nothing only ordinary every day meals for eleven. V and Will working at haying. Samy Woodman in here evening. 12 Oclock midnight when we retired for the night.

August 5 1917 Sunday A hot dry day. Ogle came early. E & O went English church. such a dressing up among them all. I never saw Edith in pink. Miriam in white. Margaret in blue. Grace in black. Isabel in some fanciful color. Emma in a white embroidered waist and silk shirt. Lena in a beautiful flowered muslin. How did they spend the day? Did they attend our church? Exceping [sic] Emma no one went to church but spent the day boating, singing and piano playing. All here exepting R & she alone all day. Grace walked over to see her in evening.