Irene Dixon Bamford

Thursday 25 March 1909 Oh what a nasty mudy raining slopy weather, ground bare with dirty patchs of snow; brook running like a mill dam. Ray wants to go over the river but cant cross for weather and danger of getting in, so he and V are boat building in the shop. Sr mending old harness in kitchen. I should think the harness mending would sometime be done but it goes on the year around. Tis 9 am jsut through with dishes, knives, forks, pots, pans, pails & sundries. Now I have to go immediately and pick over beans for dinner, a very interesting job. So here goes I. Well beans are cooking. Wellie crossed over the ice from us a year ago to day. We watched him as long as we could him a little black dot away on the other shore. V went across with im. last night dreamed of Will and Harry Watson

Sunday 28 March 1909 A fine warm day quiet. Maud went to Rachels. Sr reads all day. V goes over to R's to see if she has any wood. I read and get the meals and wash dishes etc. Tomatoes coming up.

Monday 29 March 1909 A very fine day sowed more tomato seeds. Frank W gone to Kingston this morning crosssing to town very poor crossing with only one horse. Rachel came over this morning before breakfast brought me some magazines. Maud popping corn this am. I ought to write a lot of letters to Grace, Belle, Will & Watson and others. Sat up late reading. Maud not very well. V working in shop at day after chopping wood for R. R wants to keep bees. Dora Bates's baby sick had Dr for him.

April 1909 Sunday 5 A beautiful day no rain quiet & peaceful. Clarence Percy here. I wrote a long letter to Will but guess I wont send it now I'll wait awhile.

Monday 6 April 1909 A beautiful warm day. Clarence Percy here ice cant get aross the river. He discarded his relatives, they are so very dirty and filthy, cant visit them tho that is his purpose here on the island. He is helping V clean seed grain if V can ever get the time from working on the neighbors more old waggons, drills and tongues to make and repair than ever. He worked last night till [illegible] pm (this is Tuesday) Henry Halliday here for dinner and seed peas.

Tuesday 22nd August 1916

I have not written in this diary since 3 Aug 1916 Many an event has transpired since that time. The house has been crowded with company Miriam Bruton, Mr and Mrs Watson, Ben Watson, Belle and Henry Jr, Will Dixon, Bob Gaskin, Grace, Isabella Gaskin, Margaret, Robert Jr, Bert & Maud Smith, and Hubert, Reginald and Everett, Henry Halliday and his family, Will Niles, Gladys McDermot, Ed McD, Marion McD, Ed McD & Sylvia and the kid, the cheese maker, Joe Woodman, and Samy Woodman. Will Watson here helping Voltie and to finish up so far. Jim Morgans kids here this pm visiting and Aunt Rachel. We have had one whole month of powow. I cant describe it, I'm not going to try too. No! there is no use nor sense trying to follow in detail the events of each day. This is the annaversary of R's birth She is 80 years old to day. She was over here to day but didn't mention it.

Wednesday 23rd Aug 1916

Thursday 17 August 1917 No rain. Day after day comes and goes with no rain. Every thing drying and dying. Our guests, this morning said good bye for one day. some of them return at evening time. I'm glad Grace is coming and Robert too. Will and Voltie still continue to draw hay. had to borrow butter from Rachel to help out. There has been no rain to benefit the growth of any thing since the 11, 12th and 13th July when there was a good rainfall those 3 days. none since only an occasional wee very little shower like a dew fell. Excepting one p.m. and the same night there was a good sharp rain shower but none since. Well Bob Jr, just now phoned from Kingston. They are going to stay in Kingston and Grace sent for her and Robt's suit case to be packed and sent to Kingston. Jack and his family are not coming from New York. E & E packed their things. Will drove to dock for the groceries. Will Watson came home with them. He came down from Kingston on the boat to make us a visit. He had only returned this day from visiting his own father and ma who live in Verona. making them a weeks visit. Will Niles brought me a nice lot of cucumbers. V went to George Woodmans for binder repairs.

Friday 18 August 1917 The rain came to us to day (p.m.) in grand showers but wish there had been more but glad and thankful for the heavy showers. Will D brought a piece of cheese from factory this morning. Willie W ate supper with Joe and Sam. Received a letter from Belle, said she is coming last of this month or first of Sept.