Sat. June 1: Pleasant. Edna and James came today. Ola got back from the party about three this morning. I baked a double batch of cookies this morning so as to have some for Ralph he is so fond of them besides two pies. I took a little nap this afternoon. I didn’t feel very good. James came over a cross and brought some leeks we ate some. Papa and I worked a little in the garden for the first this year.
[Young people’s partying went late then just as it does now.]
Sun. June 2: Cold and rainy. I wrote three letters today to Susie Burt, Leena Hartwell and to Walter. Will and James went over in the wood to find the cave. They took a torch, when they came back Will set it in a hollow tree back of the barn. It set the tree afire and burned real fast. The tree will probly fall by morning.
[Woops.]
Mon. June 3: Pleasant and showers. We didn’t wash today since Edna is home. Her and Mama went down to Aunt Sate to spend the day. Papa went to Walton from the creamery. Will and James rode down with him to go fishing. They got 2 fish and brought back two turtle shells. Ola and I was here alone and this afternoon we worked in the flower garden we set out 70 pansy plants and about 40 pinks. Ola and I drove up to John Strong’s this evening to see Ida it was her eighteenth birthday.
[Grandma always loved flowers and was so proud of her flower gardens.]
Tue. June 4: Pleasant. Edna and James decided to stay till Wednesday. Ola’s soap came yesterday and her and I went to the creamery and from there to Walton. I got me a new hat payed 2.50 for it and send out an order to Sears Roebuck for 5.00. We got back at 2:30 brought back some ice and made some ice cream made some more flower beds this evening. The boys sawed down the tree that was afire and James sowed some peas while was away today.
Wed. June.5: Rainy. I took Edna and Ralph over to the station today. James went on the flier this morning down to his folks will meet Edna in Unadilla. It began to rain as soon as I left the depot and rained nearly all the way home. I got back about two o’clock. Set out some geranium and aster plants ripped up my green waist. Wrote a letter to Walter this evening. Mama and Rosa Groat drove up to Mrs. Waters this afternoon to git some eggs for setting.
[The eggs would be cared for until they hatched and then the chickens raised for layers or for meat.]
Thurs. June 6: Rainy. Mama and Ola washed today. I rubbed a little but had to give it up on account of my lame back. I washed the cans and made a freezer of ice cream. There was enough ice left from Tuesday. Papa went to Walton.
[Washing was done by rubbing the clothes against a corrugated washboard, very labor-intensive. They were able to keep the leftover ice cold so they could have more ice cream, which then of course had to be eaten up right away, as there was no refrigeration.]
Fri. June 7: Pleasant but cold. Mama and Ola went to deliver the soap. They didn’t get back till after we had begun milking. Frank Colter came today to look at Topsy and bought her. He was here to dinner with Papa and I as we was the only ones here. I strung string for the vines around the stoop this afternoon and got the ground ready for cucumbers and set out some plants after milking. My back is awful lame tonight I don’t know what I will do if it don’t git better. Ola and Will went to a party at Will Main’s.
[Time to deliver the soap their neighbors had ordered from the catalog.]
Sat. June 8: Pleasant. Papa went to Mt. Upton with Ed Klugh to get another horse. Didn’t git back till after nine. They drove to Unadilla hired another horse and drove to Mt. Upton. Ola and Will was both sleepy today. Ola slept this afternoon.
[Mt. Upton was about 23 miles away.]
Sun. June 9: Fine. Today was childern day at the church. We didn’t any of us go. Ola feet is so sore she can’t hardly wear any shoes. I took a nap this afternoon. Wrote to Walter and Edna this evening. Didn’t get to bed till after ten. Ola is sick tonight with cramps in her stomach she went to bed before we got up from milking. Papa brought back a basket of strawberries from Unadilla so we had a short cake for dinner. Lester Lee was over to see Will today.
Mon. June 10: Fine. We did a big washing today and washed all of Edith’s cloth and spread the white ones on the grass. Ola didn’t help she doesn’t feel very good yet today. I was up with her some last night getting her medicine. Mama churned this afternoon. Will caught a little gray rabbit this afternoon we put it in a bird cage and after chores we girls took it back where he found it. Papa and Mama went up to the Waters to exchange some eggs tonight. Ola and I rode horseback up to where the old house is to get some pieplant.
[They must have saved Edith’s (Winnie’s) baby clothes for sentimental reasons. Apparently they had built a new house at some point and the old one still stood. Pieplant was rhubarb.]
Tue. June 11: Cloudy and warm. Mae Bauck came over today. This afternoon we girls went outdoors we drove Carrie up above the road where there would be better grass. Then we went down in the swamp found birds nest that had been stealing our chickens in a rotten tree. Ola came up to the house and got an ax and we chopped it down found six small birds. When Mae went home Ola and I went through the wood with her to show her the way took Ned and Max rode back. Papa went to Walton today. Papa and Mama are down to Nichol tonight.
[Carrie would have been a horse.]
Wed. Jun. 12: Ola went to Walton this morning got back about 10:30. Got my express package from Sears Roebuck and we put the tires on this afternoon. Charley Signor and wife was here to dinner. Ida Hewitt just called me up and wanted us girls to come up she said she was in trouble and wanted to see us awful bad. So think Ola and I will go up tomorrow and stay to dinner.
[What she had ordered from Sears must have been new tires for their bicycle.]
Thurs. June 13: Pleasant. Ola and I was up to John Strongs today had a good time. Walter give me another supprise tonight he came over after chores. Will rode Max over to Clifford Riders tonight. Got to bed about two o’clock.
Fri. June 14: Pleasant with shower in afternoon. Walter stayed over last night till about ten when I took him over to his folks’ and took him on to the station at three. Ola walked over to Cora Strongs and back just before I did. I drove Ned for the first time since he run away with me. A hard shower came up before I got home. We girls are going fishing tomorrow if it don’t rain.
Sat. June 15: Fine. Papa and Mama went over to Mr. Eveland’s and we girls went on our fishing trip we had planned so long. There was four, Cora, Ida, Ola and I. We didn’t catch any fish we caught 5 frogs and roasted their legs for dinner, we went down to Mrs. DuMond to borrow a quarter. Found her alone and took her back to eat dinner with us and she took a can of Salmon. We had (bread boiled eggs coffee, Cora) (custard pie, pickles Ola and I), (pineapple cake Ida) we walked down to Bartles to have our pictures taken got home 4:45.
Sun. June 16: Fine. We took our dinner up under a tree above the house and took both hammocks up. Ola and I went for a ride this afternoon, drove Kit, we drove around Friar Hollow road and stopped a few minutes at Ida Strongs.
Mon. June. 17: Fine. I swept upstairs this morning while I was waiting for the wash water to heat. Ola and I did the washing after she returned from the creamery. Mama doesn’t feel good for the last few days. Ola and Mama went this afternoon to get up a soap order. I took a nap after dinner got up about two did some ironing and baked a cake.
Tues. June 18: Very warm. I am down to Walton with Papa today to have the impression taken for my teeth and calcalated to stay with Aunt Sate. Tonight after I got here found she had a letter from Aunt Jen saying Grandma was worse and she wanted me to stay a few day while she went down to see her. So think I will stay another night. Ola heard this morning that our pictures was done so she is going over tonight.
[Grandma, in Walton to have her new false teeth fitted (people didn’t have regular dentistry, so when teeth got bad they were removed and false teeth fitted, probably only some teeth at this point), ended up staying at her aunt’s to keep house when her aunt went to be with her sick grandmother.]
Wed. June 19: Warm with showers. Aunt Sate went to Wells Bridge this morning. I did her churning and week’s ironing this forenoon. Uncle Geo. peeled potatoes so I could finish the ironing before dinner. Everett and I went down street and I got my teeth. They seem to fit good. We all went to prayer meeting this evening.
[So Grandma did Aunt Sate’s housework while Aunt Sate was away nursing her sick mother. And her uncle pitched in too so they could get the work done. And Grandma got her new teeth. And while she was in town, they went to prayer meeting.]
Thurs. June 20: Pleasant. Haven’t done much today only git the meals. I was down street this afternoon and saw Mrs. DuMond got back about 3 o’clock. We had strawberry short cake for supper. It took so long for the crust to bake it wasn’t very good. I heard tonight that one of our horses was struck with lighten but Ola just called up on the phone and say it isn’t so.
Fri. June 21: Very warm. I scrubbed and mopped the kitchen and back porch baked a pie and a cake this forenoon for Aunt Sate. I came home on the milk train walked nearly to Jay Darlings where I met Will coming down after me. We drove on down to Armstrong after the mail. I got a letter from Walter and answered it tonight.
Sat. June 22: Warm. We got the work done early and sewed this forenoon. Papa went to Walton. Will went this evening to a show at Walton. My throat is awful sore tonight and one place where my teeth rubs in my mouth so I have took them out tonight.
[I’m sure fitting dentures was an inexact science in those days.]
Sun. June 23: Pleasant. I went to church today with Ola. There was four taken in membership of the church. Today there was Mabel and Myrtle McClenon, Ida Eaton and Ida Hewett. We ate our dinner under a tree again. Today we put the hammock up below the house. Papa went over to Orin Smith’s tonight.
[My family has a long history of eating outdoors.]
Mon. June 24: Very warm. Ola has been about sick all day. Mama and I did quite a washing this forenoon and after dinner Ola and I washed the carriage. I layed down and took a long nap in afternoon. Papa and Mama went over to Strongs tonight. Mrs. Sillaman is over there they went over to see her. Will hasn’t been home since Saturday afternoon only a few minutes last night. I think he will be home tonight. Pa has been down to Jay Darling.
[I remember hearing that Will was kind of a wild one, and he seemed to have a way of being away when needed at home.]
Tue. June 25: Very warm. We ironed this forenoon. I went out a little while before dinner to practice on the bicycle I have got so now I can ride as good as Ola. Ola went to the office tonight brought me a postal from Mrs. DuMond. Mama and I doctored the calves for lice after chores. I worked in the garden till eight o’clock tonight I feel awful tired and have got my lame back again. Walter expected me to write tonight but I was so tired I couldn’t . Ola and I expect to go to Franklin tomorrow.
Wed. June 26: Thunder showers in afternoon. Ola and I went to Franklin today started at 8:30 we went down to the graguating exersizes. Those that graguated Allen Backus, Harold Conlen, William Rose, Isabelle Penfield. It was very good.
[She meant graduation, no doubt from high school, which would have been the Delaware Literary Institute, the same school my mother went to.]
Thurs. June 27: Fair and cold. Papa went to Walton today. I did some sewing and practice on the bicycle the most today I have at all. Ola and I have decided to go to Norwich the fourth I will write to Walter in the morning. Will and Papa have gone over to Don Freer’s tonight.
[Going to visit Grandpa at Norwich.]
Fri. June 28: Fine. I put some sweet corn in the garden this morning. Will left home this morning. Papa drove down to Jay Darling after him, didn’t find him came back and went to Walton. He brought me a letter from Walter saying he had quit his job. Edith has been dead five years today.
[More problems with brother Will. And I wonder why Grandpa quit his job?]
Sat. June 29: Rainy in afternoon. Walter came over about three o’clock today.
Sun. June 30: Rainy.
