Irene Dixon Bamford

94

Feb 7th Wednesday 1894 A very fine day but the wind blowing from South. Ash Wednesday to day, Lent begins and so does fasting for 40 days. Maud & Mart goes to school. Maude started to walk But Voltie hitched up team and caught up with her before she got too the church. Walking very bad for children. V and Wells drew four logs from Linda's this forenoon

46

Thursday the 15th of Oct 1896 The loviliest [sic] Oct day I ever saw and last evening there was was the loviliest sunset: bright crimson, purple, scarlet and gold and the reflection on the water of our little bay was enchanting lasting till daylight was gone. Voltie gone threshing for Ed Rattray. V drove to the dock with Grace, carrying Bells apples and a basket of posies and a few apples for Kelly. Jess Reid & Will Dixon started this morning for their fishing tour. Well I wish them good luck and success. Painting church and building new chimney. Maud gone school and I alone all day. every thing so quiet so peaceful when was I ever all alone before. The house is still except for the buzzing of the flies in the window. Once in a while a day like this alone is enjoyable but I think I would grow tired of the monotony of day after day: but I always was fond of soltitude if not to prolonged

home from school. V and his dad and Harry started with double team in pursuit of the runaway, tracked her as far as Ed Rattrays and there she took her way towards Clayton across the trackless ice. V & dad drove to Rob Percey's where they deposited Dr Watson, a sad but wiser man. V promising to trace the fugitive early this morning. Horse, cutter, robes, medicine box, all gone of [sic] on a tour through a blinding snow storm from the north. V got a new addition to his cold. Sr ceiling the kitchen. The storm has ended the dance at Bells this eve - good. Our dissipated youngsters will get a nights rest.

47

Monday 31st May 1915 Another bright day and warm. V by help of Emma set a net then went over on R's place building fence all day. I was so glad to receive a letter from Grace. Emma washed all the curtains except the parlor curtains. Edith is washing her feet to day, and changing her stockings. Emma received a letter from Robert Jr, wherein he tells her all about his garden, and the May fair in Watertown on the 22, also about Mr Niles the aviator flying over Woolworth tower New York who is engaged to perform at the fair by doing all kinds of tricks in his monoplane even to looping the loop. V set two more nets this evening.

Tuesday 1st June 1915 A fine warm day. Edith at school. O why should I keep a diary or try to do any thing. I washed breakfsast dishes, jars pot, pans, kettles, cooked beans and rhubarb. V still building fence over on R's. Jim Morgan here to borrow little garden seed drill. Evening Roy Rattray here awhile. Ed came for Emma to stay with Sylve while Ed & Roy go to foot to Rubes for apples; they got none.

54

A very fine day only the wind blows quite hard. Maggie Joslin came here from church and staid to supper and now E & E & Roy R have gone down the road a piece with Maggie and Voltie has gone to shut the boat house door for it looks like rain. Sharp vivid lightning for 3 hours after dark but not much rain for us only little.

Monday 13 June 1915 A bright sunny morning & breezy. V pulled the nets out the river not many fish only rotten ones. I send a letter to Grace which I have written this morning. V sowing corn with drill; also beans, sent Edith to Rachels for her vacuum washer and carried a basket of strawberries and fish for her. Emma washed 4 quilts rinsed them in the river and hung them on the line. Voltie back not entirely well yet but he works all the time. Ed McDermot and Roy Rattray helped V pull the skiff into the boat house, a very brilliant sun dog on the north side of the sun just over Sylves windmill. Sylve & Ed here this evening.