ELSIE HINDE INGRAM’S DIARY

INTRODUCTION

In 2001, the diaries of Elsie Hinde Ingram came into my hands, via her niece, my cousin Olive Chamness Stakland. Elsie had given them to Olive in about 1989, when she felt no longer able to write the entries due to arthritic hands or failing vision or both. When Olive learned some years later of my interest in family history, she turned the diaries over to me, to let me make of them what I could. Ultimately the diaries will go to the Saskatchewan Archives Board, with the approval of David Ingram, Elsie’s son.

In November of 2003, my sister Mary Crane and I began the fascinating task of transcribing the diaries. We found it would take the two of us, one deciphering Elsie’s words and the other typing.

Elsie Hinde seems to have begun keeping a five year diary in January 1935. No earlier diaries had then[1] been found, although the suspicion exists that she had kept a diary for some time before that date, because the entries seem to be skilled and practiced, and there is no hesitancy in using the standard diary syntax. As the transcriber of her diaries I can work only with what has come to my hands: diaries dating from January 1935 to December 1988. Herein will be the full text of her diaries from January 1935 to December 1939, selective transcription of full entries for the next five year diary, selective transcription of partial entries for the diaries which follow. Elsie’s diaries are all but one (the exception is one single-year journal) in the five year format with only a tiny space allocated to each date. Her script is small and elegant; she compacts much information into few lines, using initials and abbreviations – except for the names of animals! - which have been spelled out when it was possible to interpret them. Spelling of names has been corrected where this is known; other errors have been left intact to maintain the writer’s “voice.”

In 2007, David Horn found at Valley Springs Ranch a journal Elsie had kept of the year she spent in Iowa with her sister Winnie Chamness and her family. This journal, written by a girl of nineteen, is vastly different in tone and content from the later five year diaries, containing much more of Elsie’s feelings and opinions. The full content of this journal appears as an appendix to the later transcriptions.

Elsie’s 1935 – 1988 diary is of events rather than opinions; of activities rather than exploration of her mental landscape. The events and activities reflect a time in the history of Canada and the Saskatchewan prairies which was as challenging to survival as was the earlier pioneering period. The depression and later World War II took their toll on the people who lived through those times.

Elsie was thirty-two in January 1935. She had been living on the family property since shortly after the Hindes came to Canada in April 1912, when she was nine years old. She had attended Thistle Dale School from the time the school district was formed in 1915, and remained at the family home after leaving school with the exception of two periods in the twenties, first when she spent time in Iowan and later when she attended nursing school, and then, contracting tuberculosis, spent a year in tuberculosis sanitaria at Fort San and Saskatoon. Following her recovery she did not again live away from Valley Springs Ranch, but remained there as an integral part of the Ranch operations. In due course she married, and continued with her husband and son at the Ranch until they retired to live in Borden.

The content of her diaries is presented on a month by month basis, rather than as five years’ worth of a given day as it appears in the diaries. Footnotes have been added, to aid the largely urban descendants of the Hinde line to grasp the issues and events in the lives of Elsie and her family.

These were her family in 1935: Her mother and father, Joseph and Martha Hinde who were seventy-three and sixty-seven. Joseph was retired from the most strenuous aspects of the work of the Ranch, but continued with the less-demanding ones, like sawing wood for heating and cooking, road-mending, and milking the cows. Martha continued with her homemaker role, cooking, cleaning and sewing. Joseph and Martha were the senior members and leaders of the Quaker Meeting, Joseph being clerk of the Meeting.

Elsie’s brother Harry was the closest sibling to her in age. The two of them had formed an inseparable partnership in the family dynamic, such that the youngest of the family, Daisie, felt excluded from their bond, even though she was the pet of the family. In 1935 Joseph and Martha, Harry and Elsie, lived in the “Big House” – the two-storey frame building that had been moved years earlier from Joseph’s homestead quarter on the dry plateau on the top of the river bank, down into the valley to a site of year-round spring water – Valley Springs Ranch. By the time this occurred in 1926, it had long been clear that the land the Hinde family had proved up was mostly unsuited for growing crops, and had been turned over to the raising of cattle.

Elsie’s brother Joseph Edward (Bob) was married in January 1934 to Susanna Rempel, and was now father of a daughter, Mary, three months old. Bob, Susie and Mary lived in a small cottage on the other side of the garden from the Big House. Roberta was born to them at the end of 1935.

Whenever circumstances required it and finances allowed, men were hired to help with the work of the Ranch. George Rempel, Susie’s brother, was one such, often working the winter months for the Hinde family. During the Depression, many men were prepared to work for little more than their board and room. They came from farms and from the city, with the romance of being a cowboy at least part of the time being a big attraction.

Elsie’s oldest brother Len and oldest sister Edith were both married. Len and his wife Ruth, and Edith and her husband Edward all lived in Saskatoon. Her youngest sister Daisie was also living in Saskatoon and working at the sanitarium.

Elsie’s older sister Winifred had been married for some years and was living in the United States with her family.

Martha Hinde had been a Wake. Her brother Hugh and his family had also emigrated to Canada in the early part of the twentieth century, and had homesteaded close to the Hinde land. The Wakes and the Hindes were two of the five Quaker families who came to the Borden area in the same decades. The others were the Nathan Saunders family, the David Crabb family and the William McCheane family. While unrelated by blood when they came to Canada, they were all related by marriage two generations later.

This shows the warp upon which the weft of Elsie’s diary is woven.

Several years after transcription of this diary began, an earlier diary was found, and lent to us by David Horn. This diary is transcribed in full as Appendix III

Except where otherwise indicated, footnotes are provided by Mary Hinde Crane and Roberta Hinde Rivett.

Reference is made in footnotes to several books, as follows:

Hinde, Joseph Edward (Bob) As I Remember It, to be privately published.

Hinde, Henry Wake (Harry) History of the Big Pasture in Hinde Family Stories, To be privately published.

Hinde, Susanna Rempel Stories of my Life Privately published, 2004

Borden History Book Committee Our Treasured Heritage: Borden and District, 1980

McCheane, Mary Saunders Journal 1903 – 1915 Privately published 2003 and available on the Internet at rachel@chamness.org.

A word on the footnotes: my sister and I undertook this project for our grandchildren, whose lives have been lived in cities. The footnotes are intended for them, to help them to understand the context and the content of the diary entries.

Some of the footnotes offer web sites which provide detailed information on an activity noted in the diary.

Roberta Hinde Rivett April 2008

1935

JANUARY

1st

Mother and I went up to Wake’s in afternoon, with Abe, [2] who had brought George[3] back. Harry came for us. Pretty stormy. Clarence Elliott[4] died.

2nd

George hauled straw from red granary[5], boys banked up bunkhouse.[6] Bob mended sleighs.

3rd

Harry and I did milking. Harry to Langham[7] for coal oil and coal. George and Bob hauled straw from Carl’s.[8] Heavy trails.[9] Abe down for George’s cow.

4th

Abe stayed and played checkers with Father.

5th

Harry was kicked by Linnet[10] while we were dressing his leg. Bob and George hauled two loads from Carl’s. George Piprell[11] brought Peggy ^[12]down. Abe left.

6th

Harry laid up with bad leg, so George helped me with Linnet. Anker[13] came from Langham.

7th

Harry up and helped with chores[14] and hung bunkhouse door. [15] George - one load hay and one straw. Bob got basket willows.[16] Anker got hurt with Linnet and left for Langham.

8th

George and Bob cleaned out chicken pen.[17] Rosabelle calved. Bob carded wool[18] in afternoon.

9th

Bob and George hauled straw from Carl’s and Harry did chores. Still dressing Linnet’s leg.

10th

Bob and George for straw. Harry chored and did some mending around barn.

Peggy and I over to see Sadie[19] and stayed overnight.

11th

Harry chored and brought Jimmie in. We came home. Pa took sick during night.

12th

Bob and George - one load wood, one of oat straw. Harry chored and mended back door. Was sick and went to bed early. Pa in bed all day.

13th

Harry and Pa and I sick in bed. I got up near suppertime. Peggy helped Mother.

14th

Pa and I up. Harry still in bed. Bob did up washstand for Sadie. George did chores.

15th

George Piprell came for Peggy. Bob and George hauled two loads straw and did chores. I helped milk in morning. Harry and I did some black and whites.[20]

16th

Bob and George two loads straw. Harry chored. Linnet’s leg a little better. Cousma Woikin[21] over for some meat. Had Meeting[22] in morning.

17th

Bob and George two loads of wood. Harry chored, cleaned wheat for porridge.[23]

18th

Bob and George two loads of wood. Harry chored. I helped milk. Right along getting quite a few eggs.[24]

19th

Bob and George two loads hay from flats.[25] George one load straw from red granary. Harry did chores. Gret’s calf was frozen. Dunny calved white-faced heifer, Grandora.

20th

Had Meeting at home. Very cold, fifty below.[26]

21st

Forty degrees below. All the boys chored and killed lump-jawed steer for chickens.[27] Cleaned out calf pen.[28] Linnet’s leg near better. Harry fixed the leaky water trough.[29]

22nd

Forty-five degrees below. George cleaned out calf pen. He fixed water holes and braced up shelter.[30]

23rd

George still cleaning out pens. Harry chored and fixed water trough. Bertha calved, white-faced steer.[31]

24th

George chored. Nice and mild. Harry took Father and Mother to catch train for Saskatoon.[32]

25th

I made cheese.[33] Harry went for mail and put horses Bird and Bunty into Oscar’s. George cleaning barn.

26th

Bob did Pasture[34] books and sent them to auditor.[35] George cleaned barn and chicken houses. Harry went to Langham for separator. Susie and I made cheese.

27th

Eric and Herdis down. Lovely day. Harry went back with Herdis[36] as it was very dark.

28th

Bob and Susie papering kitchen.[37] Harry went to Langham and took separator bowl and wrote George Williams[38] re: cattle. George went for Oscar’s[39] separator. Mild and melting.

29th

Still mild. Bob still papering. Harry chored, and fixed barn door. I did washing. George got one load straw from Carl’s.

30th

Stone hauling[40] started. Bob and Harry fixed up stone box,[41] hauled two loads from

Twenty-six[42] to Bridge,[43] and two from beach, first in.[44] George got mail and brought Meg and Salley, and also horses from Dunc’s.[45]

31st

Still mild. Bob and Harry two loads from Twenty-six and four from beach. George and I did all the chores and George hauled a load of hay.

FEBRUARY 1935

1st

Bob and Harry hauled rock. George did chores and hauled a load of straw from Carl’s.

2nd

Still very mild. Bob and Harry still stone-hauling, very tired and wet. George did chores and hauled one load of hay. It keeps us all busy.

3rd

Very mild. All rested most of day. Bob in bed. Did chores.

4th

Bob and Harry hauling stones. George chored, met Father and Mother at Langham, took Smoky and Floss.[46]

5th

Boys hauled rock, we did chores. I found Katrina’s calf in trees by the river. George and I brought him home. Spotty white face.

6th

Boys hauled rock. George chored and hauled. Meeting at home.

7th

Boys up four thirty AM and finished up rock hauling by three o’clock. Both tired out. Harry to bed. George chored and hauled load hay.

8th

George for straw to Carl’s; Harry cleaned out both chicken houses. Bob to town – Borden[47] – I went with him to Hynd’s and stayed with Sadie. Saw George Hynd[48] and had a nice time.

9th

George chored. One load hay and cleaned out calf pen. Peter and his mother down.[49] Harry cleaned straw out of barn loft. Bob cleaned ice house[50] out. Killed calf and Cousma had half. Cousma to dinner.

10th

Meeting at home. K. Rempel and Peter here. Left in afternoon.[51] I went a long walk on skis. Eric down to dinner and supper.

11th

Second day. Bob and Harry took George Williams’[52] cattle to Borden to ship to Winnipeg. George did the chores.

12th

Third day. Bob and Harry two loads of ice.[53] George one load hay, Bob and Susie went with Harry and me to a UFC[54] meeting at Thistle Dale School. I went with Peggy and her father for a visit.

13th

Fourth day. George one load of straw from Carl’s. Bob and Harry filled ice well. To George Walker’s[55] at night. Peggy and I to Lilah Pope’s[56] for afternoon and evening.

14th

Fifth day. Peggy and I to hockey game, Borden versus Halcyonia. Halcyonia won. Had an interesting time but got very cold. Over to D. Williams in evening.

15th

Sixth day. Peggy and I to C. Orchards’ for dinner and Kathie’s for tea. Had very nice time. Mother phoned to say Peter Rempel had been killed in the windmill. [57]

16th

Seventh day. Peggy and I to Mrs. Goodman’s[58] for dinner. Met Bob on road. Billie[59] and Joshua up for supper. I came down with them and slept with Herdis.

17th

First day. I stayed at Wakes’ for Meeting and dinner and supper, and then Joshua and Billie and Herdis brought me home and stayed evening. Bob up to Great Deer.[60]

18th

Second day. Mother and I washed in morning then Harry and I rode over to Hynds’ and I went with Sadie to UFC meeting at Baxters’.[61] Harry and Bob to Pasture meeting. Bob to Great Deer.

19th

Third day. Peter’s funeral is to be today. Harry went up with Billie and Eric. Arthur Hynd came up and helped us with chores and hauled a load of hay. Forty-two eggs.[62]

20th

Fourth day. Nice day. Harry hauled one load straw. We turned linoleum round.[63] Fifty-six eggs.

21st

Fifth day. Harry hauled one load of straw from Carl’s. Bob and Susie and Alex and Olga and baby home.[64] Here for supper and slept here.

22nd

Sixth day. Harry went to Wakes’ to have 31 bushels of oats chopped[65] and brought mail. Mother and I to Langham to vote on poultry marketing plan.[66] Bob hauled one load of straw. Nice day.

23rd

Seventh day. Bob hauled one load of straw in afternoon. Harry chored and unloaded chop and got one load oats from Twenty-six. Boys lanced Smoky’s back[67] again. Olga and Alex to Great Deer.

24th

First day. Bob and Harry chored most of day. Heatherbelle sick – impaction.[68] Had Meeting at home. I was sick and in bed most of day. George came back to supper; away nine days.[69]

25th

Second day. I felt a bit better. Bob and George two loads straw and one load hay. Harry chored. Dosed Smoky’s back and Heatherbelle with melted lard[70] and did some mending up around the yard. Thirty below in the morning.

26th

Third day. Not quite so cold. Bob and George two loads straw. Harry did chores and went to Langham. I wrote to Edith, Len and Daisie.

27th

Fourth day. Bob and George two loads of straw. Harry took cattle out. Got mail.[71] I gave Portia and Snowdrop bran mashes,[72] both down. I washed woolens. Colder tonight.

28th

Fifth day. Bob and George two loads straw from Joshua Wake. Harry did chores and brought Bunty[73] in. She is very thin. Mother and Pa and I all doing rugs.[74]

29th[75]

Sixth day. Mild, inclined to snow. Bob and George for two loads straw. Harry chored. Started lining socks. Henry Badman[76] brought socks for lining. Mopsy calved black calf – Melissa. Snowdrop died. Bob finished fixing cutter.[77]

MARCH 1935

1st

Seventh day. Bob and George one load of poles[78] from flats. Harry chored, and he and I halter-broke colt, and George helped give her subjection[79] in afternoon. She fought pretty good. Bob and Pa did porch. Portia died.

2nd

First day. Meeting at home, Bob not over. Mild but strong wind from northeast. George got bad cold.

3rd

Second day. Still very windy, snowed a little. Josephine calved. Lost calf. Giving molasses to cattle, also a little oats.[80] Boys did walls of porch. Mother cleaned out back of pantry.

4th

Third day. We did big wash. Very windy and cold. Some snow. Harry to Langham. George and Bob did chores. Madame Queen still halter-pulling.[81]

5th

Fourth day. Had Meeting at home. Still rough weather. Calf born outside, a solid white face cow, probably Edith’s. Harry and Pa doing porch. George one load hay and chores. Bob fixed oat boxes for calves, and stack-yard gate.

6th

Fifth day. Forty degrees below in night. Bright and still. Boys doped Josie and Mary and Maggie who had a turnip in her throat. Bob and Harry did porch roof. Joshua down to Bob’s for supper. I did ironing.[82]

7th

Sixth day. Bob and George two loads of straw from Wakes. Harry and Pa doing porch. We cleaned bedrooms. Still cold and windy.

8th

Seventh day. Finished lining porch and built cupboard. Cleaned house. Bob and Harry and George and I to meeting at Thistle Dale. Ralph Mackay and Dorothy Robinson took the meeting.[83]

9th

First day. I stayed at Hynds’ yesterday and went with Sadie and H. Ellis up to Meeting at Saloways’. Arthur brought us all down home for supper. Ralph Mackay and Dorothy Robinson stayed all night.

10th

Second day. Woke with headache. Bob and Susie took folks to train. We kept Mary.[84] Harry and George for straw. I have sore throat. Harry up to Halcyonia, skating at night.

11th

Third day. Bob and George for straw. Very late as they broke a pole.[85] Took lunch. Pa and Mother to Langham, got kerosene.[86] Harry and I did colt; she’s getting better.

12th

Fourth day. Bob and George for straw. Melting a bit. Had Meeting at home. Susie over. Harry and I did Madame Queen, much better. I made an apron. Mother and Father did rugs.

13th

Fifth day. Harry to Langham in cutter for gas.[87] Bob and George for straw. Arthur Hynd brought engine back. Harry for oats. I did small wash. Churned and baked. Melting outside.

14th

Sixth day. Bob chopped oats all day. George hauled a load of oats. Harry and George built pen for cattle down below. Anker and Len came for supper. I had headache. Made cookies and did cleaning.

15th

Seventh day. Lou Cook[88] down for eggs. Bob chopped oats. Harry hitched colt with Mike and went for mail. Henry and Mary came down in evening. We did cleaning. Harry and Len took Anker to Langham.

16th

First day. Meeting at home. Henry and Mary here.[89] Lovely day. Auntie[90] and Billie and Herdis here in afternoon and to supper. Harry in bed most of day, bad cold.

17th

Second day. Harry in bed until noon. Bob and George for straw, two loads. Bob finished the chopping. Cattle got into granary in bluff.[91] Myrtle sick. Ivy calved. Len and I sorted potatoes.[92]

18th

Third day. Hazel had heifer calf. Bob and George hauled 91 bushels of wheat to Langham. Sixty three cents.[93] Harry fixed drain and well,[94] and got a load of feed from Henry’s for colt. Len sorted potatoes, I did big wash.

19th

Fourth day. Very windy and cold. Harry and Len to Langham but missed truck man and came back.[95]

Bob up to Assmans’.[96] Brought colt home in afternoon. We had Meeting at home. Harry and I gave Madame Queen a scaring lesson.

20th

Fifth day. Cold and clear. Gave Ash Cook’s[97] colt a lesson. George went for straw. Bob took Higgins and Benito to Langham (Earliana and Julie’s calves.) Harry has a bad back. I did ironing, Mother made bran loaf and cookies.

21st

Sixth day. Bright, but cold wind. George and Harry for logs,[98] one load. Bob and I took Arthur Hynd’s wagon back with Mike and Tess. Gave Conrad’s[99] colt lesson. We stayed at Hynds’ for dinner. Mother and I cleaned bedrooms.

22nd

Seventh day. Harry and George for a load of logs. Bob for straw. Father painted drill wheels. We did cleaning. We saw a gopher yesterday and crows[100] today. A lovely mild day. I gave colt confidence lessons.

23rd

First day. Meeting at home. Lovely spring day. Horses stayed out last night and not home tonight. After much difficulty we failed to get Myrtle up, but George got her up later. Harry’s back bad. Seventy-seven eggs.

24th

Second day. Bob and George for straw, two loads. All the horses away all night. Rachel had a bull calf. Harry’s back much worse, in bed all day. I did some dyeing.[101] Snow going rapidly.

25th

Third day. Strong north wind and cold. Harry still in bed. Bob and George for poles on flats, two loads. I gave May a short lesson. Sewed saddle pad and fur robe. I did some mats. We still have colds, did not get mail.

26th

Fourth day. Bought an unbreakable lamp glass. Strong cold north wind. Bob to Langham. Trail is about gone.[102] Harry in bed, George chored and cleaned pens. Started milking Hazel.[103] Harry and I cut out and part sewed a pair of gloves.[104] Had Meeting at home.

27th

Fifth day. Floss came home, with foal. George for hay in morning, and Bob and he for wood in afternoon. Harry up and helped with chores. Harry making quirt.[105] Father mending fur robe. Mother had sick headache. “Tim Buck.” [106]

28th

Sixth day. Cold and bright. Myrtle had big calf tonight. Bob and George two loads of wood. Harry got mail and clippers from Wakes. He and I hitched May, went fine. George’s cow calved. I cleaned bedrooms and we varnished kitchen floor. H. Tallis[107] down for ten dozen eggs at eight cents a dozen.

29th

Seventh day. Cloudy. Northwest wind and some snow. Bob and George for straw in afternoon, and Bob for one load wood. Harry chored, clipped Kingfish’s hooves.[108] We did cleaning and churned. Had letters from Mary McCheane and Daisie yesterday.

30th

First day. Mild but snowed most of day. Had Meeting at home. Bob and Susie to dinner. Harry to Wakes for supper. Benjamina had calf. Wrote to J. Blake.[109]

31st

Second day. All the dates for last month are one day out, owing to the fact that I filled in February 29th.

APRIL 1935

1st

Second day. Bright and milder. Bob and George for wood in the afternoon. Harry for sheaves. Bob and Harry took the colt and Mike for straw and went to meeting at the school. I did big wash. Mother baked.

2nd

Third day. Wrote to J. Blake and to Daisie. Sent seed order.[110] Milder. Used separator seems fine. George went on Smoky to Borden to see doctor about his finger. Sadie and Art Hynd came last night for two roosters and stayed very late. Harry finished training Ash Cook’s colt and he came for him. Bob hauled sheaves. Harry to Langham.

3rd

Fourth day. Bright and getting warmer. Father up for wheat. Harry two loads oat sheaves and put in loft. I ironed and brought Robin in and rode him up to Ezma’s.[111] Stayed overnight.

4th

Fifth day. Warmer. Snow melting. To UFC talk with Ezma. Rode to Larsons’[112] with Sadie, had good meeting. Supper at Hynds’ and home late. Saw Tommy and three year old Smoky.

5th

Sixth day. Myrtle got up alone. Bob and Harry for hay – last on flats, in afternoon. Straw from Carl’s in morning. I went for mail on Robin. Mother and Pa varnished parlour floor while I was away. Connie calved, also Popsie. Rachel stuck in drift.

6th

Seventh day. Boys for wood. Bob to Langham and to George Hynd’s at night. Brought Smoky back. George phoned from Borden. Getting better. Sent for bees.[113]

7th

First day. Cold and cloudy and windy. Meeting at home. I started the incubator.[114] There was a Group Meeting[115] at Saloways’ but was unable to go. Wrote to George Williams.

8th

Second day. Wet snow all day and blowing. Bob and Harry did chores. Bob mended harness.[116] Harry and Pa and I sorted potatoes. Peter McKenzie down for 150 eggs for hatching.[117] Two dollars and fifty cents for me. George phoned. Went home today.

9th

Third day. Snowed in morning. Cleared in afternoon. Boys chored and mended harness and saddles. I got Susie to cut out suit for Roger[118] and I made it up. Quite cute! Mother sewed and Pa did fur rug. Eric down in morning and for supper. Set incubator.

10th

Fourth day. Warm and snow melting. Bonnie calved. Harry and Bob two loads wood and did chores. We cleaned bedrooms and most of the house and churned. Had Meeting at home. Letter from Daisie yesterday.

11th

Fifth day. Water running downhill filled tank. Harry caught the morning train to Saskatoon to hear Tim Buck speak. Father took him and also Rosabelle, Floss and Spot’s calves. Bob hauled load of straw. We did washing. Myrtle weaker.

12th

Sixth day. Warm and bright. Bob shot Myrtle. Father painted wagon wheels. Bob did chores, oiled harness and cleaned barn. Went for Harry with democrat.[119] Boys home very late.

13th

Seventh day. Very windy. Turned to howling blizzard. Bob got engine to go, and put on drill wheels. Harry not well. We did some cleaning, and baked. Boys started to Langham but turned back. Harry went for mail and brought colt home.

14th

First day. Cold and bright. Northwest wind. Meeting at home. Eric came, took Kelly and Glen. Harry went to meet George, who came back. Sadie rode down on “Billie”[120], stayed all night. Harry helped Eric home with ponies.

15th

Second day. Mild and windy. Harry and George for straw, Bob did chopping and painted drill. I did washing. Harry cleaned chicken pen upstairs.

16th

Third day. Overcast. Rain and snow in morning. Harry took Bob to Langham to catch train. George cleared some manure from around house and barn[121] and went for mail. Harry cleaned up house yard. We canned meat,[122] ten and a half quarts. Ironed.

17th

Fourth day. Warm and bright. Harry and George brought granary up from down in bluff. George cleaned chicken house out. Harry went for Bob and took potatoes, ten pounds.[123] Herdis down. Mother made soap[124] and started cleaning cellar. Found red heifer with calf.

18th

Fifth day. Warm and bright. I woke with headache, got up late. Mother started cleaning cellar. Bob papering.[125] Harry got load of wood from river. George cut wood. Mother and I up to Wakes’ to supper.

19th

Sixth day. Very warm. Tested eggs. Forty-eight out.[126] Boys moved granary into place. Bob mended machinery.[127] Harry got load of oats. Mother finished cleaning cellar. Pa painted wagon. I papered one ottoman. George got mail. Len came late.

20th

Seventh day. Very warm. Pa went on painting. Harry and George put horses up on Thirty-six.[128] Len and Bob cleaned manure from around house. Boys brought horses home. Harry and George for one load wood. Put sawdust on the ice.[129] Mother and I cleaned, baked and chored.

21st

First day. Bob and Susie to Great Deer. Meeting at home. Bert[130] down in afternoon. George up to Wakes’ for ointment. Warm and mushy. I cleaned out pool [131] a bit.

22nd

Second day. Mr. Marriott[132] phoned. Warm and raining. I did big wash. Harry took cows and found Three Spot. Len and George cleaned manure from house yard. Len took car tires off.[133] Harry and George fenced on tennis court quarter.[134] Bob and Susie home in afternoon. Brought Eaton’s parcel.[135]

23rd

Third day. Blankets[136] and bees came. Len is back. Len for mail with democrat. Boys working with engine. Bob went for saw and incubator. Took Sally to Badman’s. Mrs. Badman paid five dollars for colt training. We churned twice and baked. Made single feather bed. [137]

24th

Fourth day. Lovely warm day. Bob fixing engine. Up to McCheanes’.[138] Harry and Len cultivating garden down below.[139] George fencing and riding. Pa and I did mother’s room ceiling. Had Meeting at home. Len for cows. George brought Ada home, with calf.

25th

Fifth day. Did ironing. Mother did her room. I went to Sadie’s for dinner and to Women’s Meeting with Ezma in car, to Mrs. Raynor’s.[140] Had good meeting. Bob plowing. Boys fencing.

26th

Sixth day. Bob plowing. Harry and George fencing. Pa and Mother went to clean Meeting House. Anker here for dinner. Len planted garden. I went for cows on Smoky.

27th

Seventh day. Cold and blustery. Rain. I had sick headache until dinnertime. Bob plowed. Len harrowed and disked. Harry and George fenced. We cleaned some. Mother baked. Mister Marriott, the potato inspector, came.

28th

First day. Mother, Father, Bob, Harry and I went to Meeting at the Meeting House. I stayed at Wakes’ for dinner and supper. Billie and Herdis brought me home in car.

29th

Second day. Strong wind, not very warm. Pa to town. Bob plowing, Len hauled wheat and cleaned it. Harry and George took wagon and ponies and supplies up to Ranch.[141] We got them off. I found Minnie down.

30th

Third day. Windy and dusty, turned to rain. Bob plowed. Len and I up to Thirty-Six, shot Minnie. Fed Flora and Popsy and Prunie who had calved. I went for mail. Started wash. Len mended Susie’s for..?. Letter from Daisie. Fed Prunie again.

MAY 1935

1st

Fourth day. Six inches snow. Snowing fast, and windy. Bob and Len brought Prunie’s calf home. Boys home for dinner. I did washing. Started papering bathroom. George cleaned out shelter. Len mended gate on barn.

2nd

Fifth day. Bob plowed[142] in morning. All cut wood in afternoon. Harry and George to Hepburn ferry to meet cattle. Moved brooder house. Len cleaned wheat.[143] Mother and Pa went on with bathroom. Len fixed brooder house up.

3rd

Sixth day. Len put chicks out and reset incubator. Bob up to Ranch on Floss. Len to mail and Hynds’ and brought wheat home and cleaned it. We put chickens in brooder house and did some more at bathroom. I fed bees.[144] Lydia Tomes[145] arrived.

4th

Seventh day. Len harrowed. Bob up to Ranch on Robin. We cleaned, ironed, churned, baked and finished bathroom. I went round cattle on Lasca.[146] Put colts in and brought cows home. Bob saw Lydia.

5th

First day. Mother and Father and Bob and Susie to Meeting in wagon. George came home. Eric down. I rode up with him to Wakes. Found Fox cut and found Bluebell in Mike’s.[147] Saw cousin Lydia and stayed supper at Wakes’.

6th

Second day. King’s Jubilee.[148] Bob sick. Len harrowed up on Pa’s. George packed chuck wagon[149] and went up to Ranch. Harry and he fixed the fence phone.[150] Bathed Fox’s leg. Very bad cut.

7th

Third day. Bob seeded and Len hauled rocks on Thirty-six. I did washing. Mother baked. I went for mail. Found Doris calved. Len hauled oats up and pickled wheat.[151]

8th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Drizzling all morning. Bob seeded in AM. Cleaned oats in PM. Len sacked potatoes. I went up to Wallaces on Lasca. Took Floss for Sadie.

9th

Fifth day. Bob seeded wheat. Len took potatoes to town. We started pantry. I went up to Mary’s and Wakes’ and got groceries.[152] Took little Mary. Wrote to Edith and Daisie.

10th

Sixth day. Put louse powder on calves. Bob seeded oats. Len to mail. Made place to feed calves in corral. Raked alfalfa.[153] I brought Doris home. Kalsomined pantry ceiling. Started papering. Fox a little better.

11th

Seventh day. Bob disked. Len hauled oats and cleaned oat bin. I went on with pantry and we did some cleaning. Mother baked buns.

12th

First day. Mother, Pa and I to Meeting in wagon. Bob and Susie up to Ranch. Tom[154] stayed home. Quiet day and a lovely one. Bob and Susie broke down sick.

13th

Second day. Bob harrowed. Len hauled and cleaned oats and hauled rack in morning. Pacha[155] took Ash Cook’s buggy back and brought home remains of democrat. I did some ironing and gardening.

14th

Third day. Len put seeds in irrigation garden. I planted warba potatoes.[156] Planted centre plot, and Mother planted cucumbers. I got mail and located bulls. Bob harrowed and seeded wheat. Pa mended gates.

15th

Fourth day. Harry took Lasca. George and Harry and I took our cattle up to Ranch. Very windy and cold. Daisie’s Ashford calved. Brought her home. I came home and got cows. Bob up on Floss. Mother did some painting.

16th

Fifth day. We did gardening. Helped Len plant potatoes in bottom garden. Dug front centre patch and back yard, and seeded them. Eric to Ranch.

17th

Sixth day. All cut up potatoes. Bob and I seeded them in morning. Two rows Irish cobbler. Very windy and dusty. Finished. Later Len up to Wallace’s on Floss. Pantry almost finished.

18th

Seventh day. Bob disked. Tried to take Len over to Langham in boat but it leaked too badly. We did cleaning, put things back in pantry. Harry, George and Eric down for supper.[157]

19th

First day. Raining, Meeting at home. Bob in bed, thinks he has broken some ribs when Kingfish kicked him.[158] Boys all took baths. [159]

20th

Second day. Harry, George and Eric to Radisson and Borden. Bob drilled oats. I did two weeks’ wash. Mother not well. Abe[160] came for Mopsy, Melissa and Benny. Took Len’s and my potatoes. He brought groceries.

21st

Third day. Mother and I took load of provisions up to Ranch and cleaned and kalsomined shack. Eric and Tommy came. Borrowed Ash Cook’s buggy.

22nd

Fourth day. Took extra cattle up to Thirty-six and on for mail and plaster from Wakes’. Bob mowed a little hay and drilled in afternoon. I ironed a little in morning. Eric down with Cherry and Jappy. Stayed night.

23rd

Fifth day. Cleaned house and did some ironing. Auntie and Lydia and Peter[161] down for afternoon and supper. Harry and George down for supper. Eric started for Saskatoon. Bob plowed on Twenty-six.

24th

Sixth day. Joe and Agnes here, and the children.[162] George to Borden and Saskatoon. Harry to Langham via boat.[163] I went to look for black calves, and to

mail. Bob plowed. I brought Bunty back. Mother gopher-poisoned[164] on Thirty-six. Pa brought in hay.

25th

Seventh day. Churned and cleaned. Pa harrowed east garden[165] and Bob the one down below, and plowed on Twenty-six. George came back in afternoon.

26th

First day. Father, Mother, Bob and I to Meeting in wagon. I stayed Wakes for dinner and to Sissie’s[166] to supper and to Group Meeting in Borden. Raining when we came out. Harry and Eric home from Saskatoon.

27th

Second day. Fed bees, using eleven pounds sugar. Billie brought me home this morning. Dull all day. Harry and Eric took sixteen of our cattle up and ten of Wakes’ and six of Armand’s[167] to Ranch. Bob drilled oats - 81 acres, and I painted bedroom floor, packed eggs. Mother baked.

28th

Third day. Did washing and rode up to Ranch on Robin. Took supplies and got boys’ supper. Bob plowing on Twenty-six. Quite warm and bright.

29th

Fourth day. Bob plowed on Twenty-six. Rinsed and put wash out. Mother sick in bed. Meeting at home. Washed incubator and put it away.[168] Went for mail and brought Tommy, a steer, home from Wakes’. Letter from Daisie and Edith.

30th

Fifth day. Had Mary over. Susie washed. Bob plowed. Cleaned cellar-way and cellar a bit. Early dinner and rode on Lasca to Hynds’ and went with Sadie to Boyles’ [169]and Sutherlands’[170] to Annie’s for UFC meeting.

31st

Sixth day. Bob plowed. I did ironing. Pa and Ma up to old place,[171] fixed fence and poisoned gophers. Susie poisoned on bottom land. I had Mary and made cake. Heard that Daisie was not coming.

JUNE 1935

1st

Seventh day. Harry did some work for Wakes on cattle. Bob drilled oats. Made and bottled forty-one bottles of pop.[172] Harry home at noon. George home. Eric came and helped me cap pop. Note from Daisie - home later. Did some painting in my room. Harry hauled oats.

2nd

First day. Raining. Meeting at home. Eric and Philip[173] for dinner. Herdis down after dinner. George to Borden. Cleared up but windy. Lasca… (no further entry)

3rd

Second day. Bob plowed. Harry, George and Eric, and Pa cut wood. Mended fishnet[174] and hung barn door. I did the wash. Wrote Mrs. Fisher.[175] Cold and mostly cloudy.

4th

Third day. Raining hard at night. Did the washing and went for mail. Harry, Eric and George planted potatoes, and fenced irrigation garden. Harry and Eric took colts to Ranch. Brought J. Lacy’s[176] mare down. Bob plowed.

5th

4th day. Bob plowed. Harry hunted strays.[177] Found Sammy and Jennifer. Mother had headache. George and Eric started wash. We settled with both.[178] Father, Susie and I to Monthly Meeting.

6th

Fifth day. I helped Harry take nine of ours, one of Henry Badman’s and a cow of F. Saunders[179] up to Ranch. Father and Mother took supplies up. Mother stayed at Lou Cook’s as it rained a bit. Bob seeded.

7th

Sixth day. Bob drilled. Susie poisoned gophers. We had Mary. Cleaned and baked. Harry up at Ranch. I went to Saskatoon with Joshua and Billie. Supper at Edith’s.

8th

Seventh day. Went shopping with Daisie. Down to see Ruth and Roger. Got Ed’s car out. A. Doyle[180] drove Billie, Harry Edith and Daisie and I home in Ed’s car.

9th

First day. All went to Meeting except Bob and I. Edith and Ed came back. Charlie[181] up at Wakes’. Up to school house for Group meeting in afternoon. Art and Ed stayed over. Wakes down in evening.

10th

Second day. I did wash. All left at noon. Bob harrowed. Harry to Langham. Made bridle in afternoon.

11th

Third day. Father took cream.[182] Edith and Daisie up to Wakes’ for dinner. Harry and I up to Ranch. Rounded up small pasture and inoculated[183] twenty-five head. Took them up to middle pasture.

12th

Fourth day. Father took Harry, Edith, Daisie and I to Kay Dixon’s[184] with the rack[185] on the wagon and we spent the day on the river logging[186] up past the bridge. Home about 8:30. Tommy Scott[187] came.

13th

Fifth day. Harry and Charlie M. fixed pump and drain. Bob and Charlie built bench in workshop. Rained hard all day. I had sick headache. Edith did some cooking. Daisie’s birthday.

14th

Sixth day. Daisie and I up to Hynds’ to dinner. Effie’s[188] for tea. Rode Reddy and Lasca. Bob peeled logs[189] and finished building bench. Tommy and Harry chored around. Harold Cruise[190] came.

15th

Seventh day. Daisie stayed in bed. We cleaned. Edith and I started stone steps up drive. Bob and Pa came and helped. Dull and wet. Harry, Tom and Harold Cruise fenced irrigation garden and cleaned barn.

16th

First day. Raining hard and very windy. Called general meeting off. Meeting at home. Bob and Susie to dinner. Ed arrived with Mary and Ruth.[191] Had Meeting down here in evening.

17th

Second day. Daisie and Mary slept in. Edith and Ed left. We took Mary short ride in morning. Harry and Tom started irrigation running and cleaned up yard. Harold to Borden.

18th

Third day. Boys left for Ranch to start roundup. Daisie and I took Major to Henry’s. Billie came down and took Mary and Daisie to Group meeting in Borden. I made cake and nut loaf.

19th

Fourth day. Billie stayed overnight. Susie, Daisie and he and I started for Saskatoon early. Did a little shopping. Went out to University. Spent the day there.[192] I stayed at Edith’s all night.

20th

Fifth day. Daisie and I stayed in bed until noon. Down to Len’s in afternoon. Stayed supper.

21st

Sixth day. Bob in town, also Joshua, Lydia and Peter up to see Doctor Boughton[193] in morning. Did some shopping. Had our palms read.[194] Came home with Joshua at night.

22nd

Seventh day. Bob and I up to Ranch. Inoculated calves. I drove up with Dick and Owen, and came back on Robin.

23rd

First day. Mother and Father and Bob to Meeting. Tom and Harold down and over river in morning. Henry and Mary and Laura down.[195] Mary stayed.

24th

Second day. I did two weeks’ wash. Len, Billie and Ruth down. Mary and I down boating and got very wet. Made ice cream[196] and baked. Bob summer-fallowing. Harry and Tom at Ranch.

25th

Third day. Pa took cream and brought mail. We dried wash. Eric came in evening. Mother out gardening, planted tomatoes from Wakes.

26th

Fourth day. Bob plowed in afternoon. Out in afternoon with Pa and Mother and Susie. Kept Mary. Eric helped. Rained a little.

27th

Fifth day. Earliana kicked me. Severe pain in chest. To bed and felt pretty sick. Bob plowed. I missed Women’s Meeting at Alec Sutherland’s.[197]

28th

Sixth day. Varnished kitchen floor. Hot. Lay on the lawn all morning with Mary.[198] Eric dug garden.[199] In bed all PM. Had dinner outside. Bob plowed. Susie and Bob

to Meeting at Badman’s. George Elliott over.[200]

29th

Seventh day. Eric dug garden. Bob plowing. Mother cleaned kitchen. Pa cultivated garden. Eric and I milked at night. Harry and Tom home at night. George came and gave us the once over.[201]

30th

First day. Father and Mother and Bob to Meeting. Ed and Daisie and Charlie and Alma up. Edith to Sharing Meeting[202] in afternoon. Eddie[203] and Sissie to supper. Ed, Daisie and Eric and I went riding.

JULY 1935

1st

Second day. Still feeling rotten. Harry and Tom here. Harry practiced Lasca round yard. She fell with me. Father and Mother and Bob and Susie went to Yearly Meeting. Alma[204] and I had Mary. Boys to Ranch.

2nd

Third day. Alma to see Herdis. Pa took cream. I felt a bit better. Bob plowing. Harry and Tom back at night. Brought ponies.

3rd

Fourth day. Mother and I both woke with bad headache. Alma made cake. Harry and I practiced with the ponies. Tom cut hay. Brought load home.

4th

Fifth day. Day of UFC picnic. Good day, not very big crowd. Harry dislocated elbow.[205] Billie took him and me to Borden hospital, stayed all night. Tom stayed home.

5th

Sixth day. Showery. To Newbolds’[206] for dinner. Harry to Saskatoon with doctor.[207] Came home at night. Joshua came for me. Called at Saunders’, supper at Wakes. Meeting at Badman’s. Home late.

6th

Seventh day. We did cleaning. Tom harrowing, and plowed. Bob and Susie up to Great Deer in evening. Terrific storm. Lightning and rain. Harry in bed mostly.

7th

1st day. Fed Cherry[208] oats after starving her twenty hours. Father and Mother and Alma and I to Meeting in wagon. George came early, brought new horse. The two Tommies here for dinner and supper. Herdis down. Eric here for the night.

8th

Second day. Very hot. Got Father and Harry off to town. Eric to Saskatoon, George to Ranch in afternoon. Took Bunny. I started the wash. Tom hauled rocks[209] and harrowed on Twenty-six.

9th

Third day. Sunny but cooler. I continued wash in spasms between getting boys off to Long Lake.[210] They left right after dinner. Billy Newsham[211] to dinner. A man from nursery, ordered about twenty-one dollars’ worth and paid eight dollars.

10th

Fourth day. Dressed Cherry’s back and fed her. Pretty hot. Finished, dried and folded wash. Had Meeting at home. Bessie[212] down in afternoon. Pa and Mother for cream cans at night.

11th

Fifth day. Fed Cherry one gallon oats. Wilfred Brunst[213] brought mare down, stayed to dinner. Tommy home to late dinner. Harry and Bob to supper.

12th

Sixth day. Dressed and fed Cherry. Tommy here one month. Pa gardening. Took cream in afternoon. Tommy mowing. Bob mending mowers and cut a little hay. I cleaned out my bedroom. Bob and I looked at bee hive – one comb only.[214] Eric home at night.

13th

Seventh day. Dressed and fed Cherry. Did cleaning. Harry to town, home very late. Anker came with him. Eric up to Ranch, brought six horses from Hepburn Ferry.[215]

14th

First day. Fed and dressed Cherry. Pa and Mother and Susie to Meeting. Anker and Eric here – to river in afternoon.[216] Made ice cream.

15th

Second day. Fed and dressed Cherry. Started wash and went to Ranch in afternoon, Alma and Laura too. Had supper with Harry, home late. Picked a few strawberries. Eric took Cherry home.

16th

Third day. Put up nine quarts.[217] Bob to Saskatoon with truck man, got new glasses, twenty-three dollars.[218] Tommy put up four loads of hay with Pa’s help. Harry got through on fence phone.

17th

Fourth day. Up to Hynds’, home late. Mother, Susie, Alma and I all went strawberry picking, got some good ones. The men all hay making. Put up seven quarts strawberry and rhubarb. Cleaned chicken stove.[219]

18th

Fifth day. Susie and Alma and I went picking strawberries. Got about three pounds each. Took lunch and got home about three o’clock. Bob and Tom have put up seventeen loads of hay with Pa’s help.

19th

Sixth day. Pa took cream and got mail. Boys still haying. Harry up at Ranch. Bob and I to Ranch meeting at Popes’ with Joshua in car. Home 12 o’clock.

20th

Seventh day. Felt rotten all day. Did some cleaning. Harry home for dinner, to town at 7:30. Boys haying, about twenty loads up.

21st

First day. To Meeting on hay rack. I walked over to Hynds’. Sadie brought me home in evening. Had nice time, Group meetings in Halcyonia and Borden. Found hen with nine chicks.[220]

22nd

Second day. I did washing. Made ice cream and pop. Boys haying – Harry able to drive team. Very hot.

23rd

Third day. Jake and Eva down.[221] Pa took cream and eggs and one dozen broilers.[222] Mother did some baking. I ironed. Boys haying. Very extremely hot!! Harry up to Laurie’s[223] for the night and I up to Blanche Brunst’s.[224]

24th

Fourth day. Harry didn’t call early so I stayed breakfast and went to Ranch and then on to McCheanes’. Very hot. Both home at night. Harry brought gooseberries from Siemens’.[225]

25th

Fifth day. Made bread and butter and Mother put up gooseberries. I went to Women’s UFC at Wallace’s. Stayed at Sadie’s for supper. Boy’s hay-making. Forty-four loads put up.

26th

Sixth day. A bit cooler. Put up thirteen quarts gooseberries. Made cake. Picked peas and beans. Boys still haying.

27th

Seventh day. Harry paid for overalls for Bob. Canned seventeen quarts peas and beans. Did cleaning. Went to town with Billie and Susie and Harry and Sadie. Went to Group meeting in Hall. Edith and Ed and Daisie and Mary P. and Allie[226] came for the night.

28th

First day. Harold Edney[227] came. Father and Mother to Meeting. Saskatoon folks to Halcyonia and back here to dinner. To Borden in afternoon, I went along, and to Group meeting at night. Billie brought me home.

29th

Second day. All the boys haymaking. Mother and I felt rotten so didn’t do much. Mother in bed. Harry up to Ranch in evening, took Di and Tex.

30th

Third day. Cherry and Lenore both calved around noon. I did washing. Mother baked. Boys mowing and raking. Harry got Assmans’ bull and they took it home. Bob put screen in my bedroom window.

31st

Fourth day. Alma and I went looking for raspberries.[228] Pa and Mother went to Monthly Meeting. I put up fruit, eight quarts. Harold overturned load on hill. Bob mowing. Harold was hurt so sewed harness in afternoon.[229]

AUGUST 1935

1st

Fifth day. Boys inoculated calves.[230] Rained all day. Harry and Tom fixing irrigation ditch[231] and ice house roof.[232] I did the ironing and we cleaned my bedroom thoroughly, and Mother did her room.

2nd

Sixth day. Billie brought Lydia and Peter down. The weather clearing. Pa took cream and eggs to Bob McGregor’s[233] folks. Harry and Tom to Ranch at night, took extra horses. Bob working on bull wheel.[234]

3rd

Seventh day. Did seventh day cleaning, made cake. Bob and Susie took car up to J. Derksen’s.[235] I took patching outfit up to Wakes’ for them. Lydia and Peter and Alma and Harold and I down to river in evening.

4th

First day. Pa and Mother and Lydia and Peter to Meeting in democrat. Alma and I on horseback. Henry Friesen[236] down to Meeting. Alma and I to Wakes’ for dinner. Herdis and Clive[237] and Billie down. Made ice cream. Arthur and Sadie Hynd down.

5th

Second day. Harold plowed in morning and raked in afternoon. Bob mending binder wheel. We made twenty pounds butter; bread and buns.

6th

Third day. Harold raking hay and home by noon. Bob mending binder. I did washing. Mother sick in bed most of day. Alma washed racks[238] and made cake.

7th

Fourth day. Mother and I picked two bushels[239] of peas. Had Meeting at home. Boys all haying. Made stack [240] 58 feet long. We washed blankets. Lasca down with mare.

8th

Fifth day. Harry and I up to Ranch, got Peters’[241] horses. Harry came home to hay, and I waited and went with them to gate, came home and milked. Pa and Mother to Wakes to see Friend[242] from States.

9th

Sixth day. Boys all haying on slough.[243] Pa painting workshop roof. Put up nine quarts of dried apples. Did the ironing.

10th

Seventh day. Did the cleaning. Harry to town with Carl, home late. Bob working on binder. Harold and Tom hauling hay. I made bean pickle.

11th

First day. I was sick in bed all morning. Alma over. Father and Mother and Bob to Meeting. Harry, Tom and Harold over to Langham. Abe Rempel and his mother and Laura down.

12th

Second day. Did the washing. Bob cut the wheat on Pa’s. The other boys haying. Pa painting workshop roof.

13th

Third day. Did the ironing and went for mail. Bob cut oats. Boys haying on slough. Mother baked, put up seven quarts rhubarb.

14th

Fourth day. Wakes came in evening. Meeting at home. Bob cutting, Tom stooking, Harold raking. Pa painting, Harry to town with Smoky and Alkali in wagon. Ed and Edith and Daisie and Edith Burke and Annie J.[244] here for supper and campfire.

15th

Fifth day. Bob on binder. The other boys haying on slough. Very windy. I cleaned my bedroom, bathroom and stairs, and we wrote some letters.

16th

Sixth day. Mother took sick. Harry up to Ranch with wagon. Bob and the boys haying in the morning, fixing binder in afternoon. Cut some. Harold raking. Tom came and helped us berry-picking. Abe took Jill.

17th

Seventh day. Bob cutting, boys haying in afternoon, stooking in morning We canned meat, baked, made up butter and did cleaning. Mother up in afternoon. Bob and Susie up to Great Deer. Heard from George and Eric.

18th

First day. Raining. Meeting at home. Made ice cream. Wrote two letters. Bob and Susie home at night.

19th

Second day. Boys moved A-house. Harry up to Ranch. Tommy stooked. Put up meat from Rempels – 29 pounds.[245] Cooked cranberries.[246] Harry and I gave Linnet subjection. George and Eric came with seven horses. Harold plowed.

20th

Third day. Harry and I got bull out of John’s pasture. Saw Hatton Eastes.[247] Harold stooked. Tom mowed. Bob on binder. Big hail storm, just missed house. Taught Linnet.

21st

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Harry and Tom for mowing. Bob on binder. Harold stooking. Harry and I hitched Linnet to wagon and took Elaine to Oscar’s.

22nd

Fifth day. Bob for cultivator. Plowed in morning. Harry and Tom raking, Bob fixing buggy. We all went bathing for the first time this season. Had ice cream. Herdis down.

23rd

Sixth day. I wrote to George Willamson. Pa took cream. Boys all haying. Peggy and Auntie Sue[248] down for cranberries. Pa and Alma and I went with Peggy and got about sixty pounds. Had letter from Winnie.

24th

Seventh day. Phoned Edith re: Winnie. Edith and Ed and Len and Ruth up. Bob and Susie and Mother to town in Bennet buggy.[249] Harry up to Ranch. Harold plowing. Tom stooked and picked choke cherries with Eric.

25th

First day. Ed and Edith and Pa and Bob and Harry and I to meeting. Twenty-six there. Joe and Agnes. Very blustery and cloudy. Billie and Charlie down after supper. George and Lucie[250] down. Lucie to town with Ed and Edith in car. Eric to Saskatoon with them.

26th

Second day. Harold plowing. Tom and Harry haying. Bob making wagon box. We preserving cranberries, chokecherries, crabapples and carrot jam, and pickling. Abe Newbold took Cherry - $30.00 – and Flora Dora’s calf – $8.00.

27th

Third day. Pa and Harry took cream with Linnet and Robin. Harold plowing. Bob at workshop. Other boys haying and digging ditch. I did washing. Bessie down. Kids all went picking cranberries. Bessie overnight.

28th

Fourth day. Harold plowing. Bob took honey from bees and took it to Borden with Linnet and Smoky. Harry and Tom haying. Bessie home in morning. I went to bed till dinner. Did ironing. Made pickles and jelly. Mother made robe.

29th

Fifth day. Harry and Tom to Ranch. I went with Tom on rack. Rode lower pasture that evening, stayed till morning. Bob and Harold making wagon box. Harold stooked in afternoon.

30th

Sixth day. Letter from Daisie. Coming home. I cleaned shelves and cupboards. Harold for mail, and took Bob’s dinner to Twenty-six. Bob cutting. Harold stooked. Harry and I took three yearling heifers out of Cooks’ pasture – inoculated. Harry helped me part way home with Marion’s[251] Delilah.

31st

Seventh day. Bob cutting. Harold stooking. We cleaned and cooked. Art Doyle and Daisie up late at night. Harry and Tom home at night, very tired. Alma and I slept in workshop.

SEPTEMBER 1935

1st

First day. Edith and Len came. Art took folks to Meeting. I got dinner. I went with them to Group meeting at school in afternoon. Lucie Edmundson came home with us and Charlie and Art and Daisie for a ride. Edith and I a short way.

2nd

Second day. Labour Day. Very windy and cold. To Ranch in Art’s car. Had dinner of borscht, then rode in middle pasture. Took 80 head out. Went to see the Glory Hole.[252] Took pictures. Home in cars. Folks left for City, Mother with them.

3rd

Third day. Made jelly and catsup[253] and baked cake. Boys worked on wagon box and went haying in afternoon. Bright and windy. Tom and Harry still away.

4th

Fourth day. Bob mended washer and I washed. In afternoon he was working on box. Harold hauled oat and wheat sheaves, both went stacking in afternoon. Brought load of hay home. I went to bed with headache.[254]

5th

Fifth day. Bob and Harold stacking on Thirty-six. Took dinners. I baked and made cookies. Marjorie ironed. Made marrow jam.[255] Pa took cream this morning. Marge[256] went for a ride on Bunny.

6th

Sixth day. I went on Bunny and caught mailman and on to Wakes and saw Ruth. Harold and Bob stacking wheat. Harry and Tom still away. Put up six and a half quarts rhubarb and pineapple. Made butter.

7th

Seventh day. Did cleaning, made nut loaf. Marge gave me shampoo. Bob and Harold stacking on flats. Pa picked beans. Harry and Tom home late on horseback. Rained a little in afternoon.

8th

First day. Father and Bob and Susie and Marjorie to Meeting. Bob and Susie to dinner. Tom home. Boys brought sturgeon home.[257] Billie brought Auntie and Lydia and Ruth and Roger down for a short visit. Mother still away.

9th

Second day. Marjorie and I did washing and baked bread. Bob and Harold were stacking wheat. Harry and Tom went up to Ranch and brought back a big load of hay, and mower and rake, had runaway – Alkali and Smoky.

10th

Third day. Harold and Bob stacking. Tom and Harry cleaned well out and barn and mended rake. Harry to bed with headache. Afterwards took rake to Hynds'. Tom helped stacking. We ironed and did some cooking.

11th

Fourth day. Boys all went stacking till about six and it rained just before they finished. I did some mending and sewing on yellow dress.

12th

Fifth day. Boys all took lunch and went in Bennet buggy to pick rocks on beach.[258] We baked and cleaned and sewed. We went for cows on Robin and Bunny.

13th

Sixth day. Harry to Ranch on Tex. Bob cut oats on Twenty-six. Harold and Tom dug potatoes – eight rows with a heavy crop. We cleaned bedrooms and went for mail. No word from Winnie or Mother.

14th

Seventh day. Bob and Susie went to Hepburn[259] in the Bennet buggy with Mike and Queen. Tom and Harry stooked, brought one load home and dug potatoes in morning – forty-two bushels. Harry home for milking. Couldn’t cross river. Very windy.

15th

First day. Sent crate of eggs to Uncle Joe. Father and Marjorie and Harry to Meeting in democrat. Mother came back with Edith and Ed. Ed took us up to Wakes for a short visit in morning. Harold to Saskatoon with Ed.

16th

Second day. Tom and Harry digging potatoes. I did the washing. Marjorie did some ironing. Harry to Langham in afternoon – home late with Harold.

17th

Third day. Harry to town on Lasca to see doctor about his eye. On to Radisson. Got home all right. I went for mail and to Wakes’. Marge and I to Hynds’ for supper and groceries. Bob and Susie back six o’clock.

18th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Tom to Wakes’ for eleven o’clock dinner to start threshing. Bob and Harold hauling oat sheaves to red granary from Twenty-six. I met Harry at Wallaces’. Stayed supper.

19th

Fifth day. Sick in bed all day – stomach flu. Father sick too. Mother sick after dinner. Harry and Bob and Harold stacking. I got up and helped get supper.

20th

Sixth day. Mother in bed till dinnertime. Harry up to Ranch. Bob and Harold hauling sheaves and stacking. Mother and Marge and I up for mail and to Wakes’ in Bennet buggy.

21st

Seventh day. Boys took lunch and went stone piling on the beach. We did cleaning. Marge gave me oil shampoo. George came for supper.

22nd

First day. I had headache, the rest went to Meeting. Harold to Langham. George to Borden. Had boat ride in morning. Tommy home and back to Mike’s at night.

23rd

Second day. Did the washing. Put up pears, seven quarts. Made cookies. Harry and Harold fenced far stack.[260] Gave Linnet lesson in morning – very good. Harry rode her. Bob and Susie to town, took cream and eggs.

24th

Third day. Threshers moved onto Twenty-six and threshed a little. Here for dinner. Rain stopped them. We made rhubarb conserve, cranberry jelly and catsup. Pears three quarts. Made pop, 34 bottles; ginger cookies and did ironing.

25th

Fourth day. Boys all cut wood in afternoon. Bob and Harold dug rock. Harry and Tom fixed King’s[261] stall and water trough. Showery all day. I finished my coat and went for mail. Put up eight quarts of damsons and baked bread.

26th

Fifth day. I went to UFC meeting at Mrs. Wainwright’s[262] with John McCheane. Stayed at Sadie’s all night. Eric came down. Tom packed wagon with supplies and went up to Ranch.

27th

Sixth day. Harold went plowing. Gummie sick. Harold and I doped[263] him. Boys to Ranch. Pa and Mother and Marge up in buggy. I took mail up and helped boys round up north pasture. Used Reddy.[264]

28th

Seventh day. Rounded up north and middle pasture. Put stock in roundup pasture. George stayed overnight, Great Deer cattle out. Billie brought Lydia and Peter[265] and Charlie up.

29th

First day. Home in morning on Lasca. All the boys home for dinner. Ed and Edith came, and Daisie. They left early and left Edith. Took thirteen chickens for Ruth.

30th

Second day. All up to Ranch and cleaned out Stella’s[266] and Langham cattle. Inspector came. Edith and I left in PM and went to Wallaces’. Home late. Edith talked to new tenant.

OCTOBER 1935

1st

Third day. Up to sale alone on Floss in afternoon. Boys both there. Helped them take eight cows to Saloways’ and all stayed for the night. Eric and Tommy fencing.

2nd

Fourth day. Delivered two cows to John Orchard’s[267] and took four to Ranch. Cut out cattle all day. George Walker and Ben Saloway took theirs. Brought three strays from Orchards’. We cut out Larsons’.[268]

3rd

Fifth day. Rounded up cattle, Arnold Larson took his. Mrs. Larson and Gertrude and Mrs. Forsey[269] visited me at the shack. (Took Carl’s too.) Cut out ours, Wakes’ and Armand’s. Tommy and I brought ours home.

4th

Sixth day. Sick headache, stayed in bed. Tommy up to Ranch. Harold and I put our cattle west. Fixed up oat granary and went for mail. Found a stray. Langham folks came for cattle.

5th

Seventh day. Up to Ranch and got dinner. Went looking for roan mares in north pasture. Didn’t locate them. They took nineteen horses to Langham. Derksen[270] took two colts.

6th

First day. I did some cooking, and went to see Peggy on Reddy. Stayed overnight. Joshua and Billie were up. Joe and Agnes up, and all the children. Marjorie stayed.

7th

Second day. Fosters’ and Gersters’ and Browns’ and Brunsts’[271] cattle all out – 109 cattle. Bob and I took Wilfred’s. Cut out Blaine Lake cattle.

8th

Third day. Rained most of night. Too wet to work, turned to snow. Had dinner. Inspector came. Got some Langham cattle retested.[272] Still some short. Bob, Tommy and I home. Harold took supplies up.

9th

Fourth day. Tommy up to Ranch. Bob and I took E. F. heifer up. Bob and Eric got Assman’s bull from Eastes.’ Stayed dinner. Cut out Blaine Lake bunch, twelve of ours and Radisson cattle.

10th

Fifth day. Harry and Eric off to Radisson with cattle.[273] Inspector came, still two short. Checked north Radisson bunch. Good heifer of Harold Foster’s and Z steer.[274] Checked Saunders’ and put in east roundup pasture. I baked and brought twelve of ours home.

11th

Sixth day. Took cattle up to Twenty-Six and went for mail. Finished wash and cleaned porch. Marge cleaned parlour and finished washing kitchen ceiling. Harold went plowing. Harry phoned from G. Walker’s.

12th

Seventh day. Bob and Tom to Radisson. Pa and Harold hauled oat sheaves from below in afternoon. Harold plowed in morning. We ironed and cleaned and churned and baked. Harry and Eric home late and Bob later.

13th

First day. All to Meeting but Mother. Harold and Eric to Langham, brought three girls in morning. The boys and I took them back to the river in moonlight. Harry and Eric took them over.

14th

Second day. Washing day. Joshua took up Marge to Wakes’ to help Auntie. Queen sick. Harold plowing. George down for the night. Bob working in workshop.

15th

Third day. Got cattle in. Abe[275] took thirteen calves. Bob went along to Saskatoon. Mother and I cleaned bedrooms. Went for mail and to Henry’s to clean. Harold plowed.

16th

Fourth day. Harold plowed. Got cattle in and Abe took eight calves. Bob went to town again. Meeting at home. Started papering the kitchen.

17th

Fifth day. Joshua and Billy came to thresh. Started right after dinner.

18th

Sixth day. Threshing in morning down below. Very windy, just finished by night and moved up to Thirty-six. We papered another wall of the kitchen. Harry and Tommy and Eric home in morning.

19th

Seventh day. Threshed on Thirty-six. Bob and Harry to town with four cows – Sukie, Julie, Popsie and Daisie’s Ashford. Mother and I to Hynds’ in afternoon. I was in bed all morning.

20th

First day. Father and Mother and Bob to Meeting. Brought Marge down. Harry and Eric and Harold drove cattle to Twenty-Seven. Bert down. Eric and Tom to Langham. Harry and Bert and Marge and Harold and I for row on river.

21st

Second day. Harold and I drove cattle west. Brought stray cows back. Did washing. Harold mended stackyard fence. Bob to town, brought lumber out. Harry and Tom and Eric to Ranch.

22nd

Third day. Bob and Harold digging Bob’s cellar.[276] Tom home at noon. Harold disked in afternoon. I went for mail. We heeled in nursery stock. Pa painted wagon box.

23rd

Fourth day. Heard that Winnie is in Saskatoon. Mother and I cleaned out drawers and boxes in my bedroom. Did ironing. Cleaned cupboards in kitchen. Harold plowed. Tom and Bob digging cellar. Harry and Eric home at night.

24th

Fifth day. Cleaning house. Merlin and Winnie arrived about 5:30.[277] Great excitement. Harry and Harold to Great Deer for sheaves. Tom and Bob digging cellar. Thanksgiving Day.[278]

25th

Sixth day. Harry and Harold home for late dinner. Tom and Bob and Merlin working on Bob’s cellar and lining it with stone. I made cookies. Harry and young Harold and I took cattle over to Twenty-seven.

26th

Seventh day. Lovely day. Three of the boys away piling rocks on beach. Bob and Merlin working on cellar. Did some baking.

27th

First day. All to Meeting except myself. Edith and Ed and Daisie and Art came up. Rather cold and windy. Had a short ride in afternoon down to river. Home at night.

28th

Second day. Stormy and snowing. Boys cleaned barns and mended things up. Bob and Merlin laying floor over at Bob’s for kitchen. I did some washing.

29th

Third day. Very stormy and blizzardy. Quite a lot of snow. Boys chored. Tom and Harold cleaning out barn. I was sick most of day.

30th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Harold to Hynds’ and on to Ceepee[279] and Langham. Tom cleaning barn and banking up house and chicken house. I went for mail. My Eaton’s order came.

31st

Sixth day. Merlin and I did a large wash. Tom hauled load of straw down below. Bob and Harry one load of stakes and sharpened them. Eric down. Borrowed Smoky. Got Monica in. Susie sick.

NOVEMBER 1935

1st

Sixth day. Boys killed Monica’s calf. Tommy went for mail. Harold Edney over river with Pete Epp.[280] Cold and windy.

2nd

Seventh day. I did ironing. Felt rotten. Winnie did cleaning. Harry and Bob to Ranch meeting at Wakes’. Called at Armand’s, home late. Pa and Merlin made small pig pen in big calf pen.[281]

3rd

First day. I was sick in bed with flu. Brighter and cold. Meeting at home. Folks went for walk in afternoon. I got up in evening.

4th

Second day. Boys mending stackyard down below. Brought two pigs from Armand’s. Hauled straw. Eric brought our horses from Ranch, and Smoky home. He and Carl Jones[282] stayed all night.

5th

Third day. Boys mending corral and hauled one load straw. Bob not well. We started sewing quilt on frame. Baked and churned. Eric and Carl took horses to Saskatoon. Harry up to Ranch on Smoky.

6th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Nice day. Mother and Winnie and the children and I up to Wakes’. Took cream and got mail. Merlin and Harold culled hens.[283] Tom hauling in morning. Harry home at night.

7th

Fifth day. Sewed on quilt. Boys fixing up feed troughs, etc., and hauled straw. Finished quilt. Very nice.

8th

Sixth day. Boys put fence around house yard. Put straw in cellarway.[284] Harold and I started cleaning henhouse. Baked cookies and made butter.

9th

Seventh day. Boys mending fences and hauled hay and straw. Snowed a little almost every day this week. Now quite deep. Harry took Wakes’ bull home. We cleaned through house and baked bread and buns and cake.

10th

First day. Meeting at home. Bob and Susie to dinner. Read and wrote letters. Robin and Floss came in on spec.

11th

Second day. Did wash with Merlin’s help. Mary and John and Bessie down for visit . Boys hauled two loads of hay and straw. Nice in morning but turned to blizzard in afternoon. Harry kept Robin in.

12th

Third day. Boys hauling hay and straw. Merlin and Harry and Harold went to Langham, first time this year. Tommy’s last day.

13th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Harry took Tommy home, bought fourteen hundredweight coal. Chicken house and granary burned down and all the hens. Managed to save barn. Wakes and Duncan and H. Badman down to help.[285]

14th

Fifth day. Bob and Susie to Borden in cutter. Home late, we had Mary. Harry and Merlin did chores and hauled straw. We all felt tired and took it easy.

15th

Sixth day. Harry to Carl’s sale, and it was called off. Heard George Rempel is back with eight horses. Bob and Susie broke cutter. Mending sleighs and did chores. Arthur Hynd down for dinner. Killed a bug.[286]

16th

Seventh day. Did cleaning. Boys saved some flax out of fire. Bob to Cousmo’s to inoculate some cattle. Abe and his mother down. Nice mild day; brought mail.

17th

First day. Meeting at home. I in bed with sick headache till noon. Harold and Tom for dinner. Abe and his mother left after dinner.

18th

Second day. Ben Saloway and Auntie Sue and Peggy down to dinner, left early. Boys cleaning up around. Hauled straw and did some fencing. Fixed bull stalls. We baked and churned and I washed woolens.

19th

Third day. Did the washing in good time. Boys fenced stackyard and across bog, and killed a steer and Miss Orchard’s calf.

20th

Fourth day. I went to Wakes and for mail on Smoky. Tommy and Jimmy Scott over to help butcher roan heifer. Harry took it and them back home and stayed the night. Meeting at home. Boys hauled load straw and did chores. Nice and mild.

21st

Fifth day. Finished ironing. Made cookies. Had school in afternoon.[287] Bob and I rode over to Hynds in evening, home late. Lovely night.

22nd

Sixth day. School in afternoon. Boys cleaned away logs from round granary. Hauled load of feed. Girls skiing. Lovely and mild. Baked. Bob mending cutter.

23rd

Seventh day. School in afternoon. Cleaning, and baked buns and made puddings. I went for mail in morning. Letters from Edith and Auntie Mary.[288] Boys hauled hay and straw. Bob cut wood. Harry to Langham at night.

24th

First day. Meeting at home. Hannah Mary and Laurie down for late dinner. The children and I went a long walk over river. Harold Edney over.

25th

Second day. Winnie and the girls and I up to Saloway’s in cutter with Robin and Smoky. Stayed overnight. Read letter from Aunt Betty.[289]

26th

Third day. Down to Crabbs’ for supper. Girls skated on Bessie’s rink and skates. Saw Smoky and Gypsy; brought mail home. Boys busy cutting wood and hauling feed. Letter from Len.

27th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Harry took wheat to Langham, 39 bushels. Merlin and Harold one load straw from Thirty-six. Bob and Merlin one load hay, one load oat hay.

28th

Fifth day. George Hynd’s for dinner. On Smoky to Eastes’ for UFC meeting with Sadie. Stayed overnight. Bob and Merlin started on his kitchen.

29th

Sixth day. Home and brought mail. Letter for Winnie. Bob working on his kitchen. Merlin and Harry two loads straw for Sangmires’.[290] Harry away on Smoky in evening. Bob woke me at three o’clock.

30th

Seventh day. Olive and I slept over at cottage with Mary. Took Susie first thing in morning.[291] Home late. Called at Hynds’. The children and I went to clear rink in afternoon. Busy day. Katrina calved, very small heifer.

DECEMBER 1935

1st

First day. Meeting at home. I to bed and slept all morning. Merlin and Winnie and children for long walk. Had ice cream.

2nd

Second day. Bob took 36 bushels of wheat to Langham. Ordered lumber. Took all day. Boys hauled sheaves.

3rd

Third day. Started wash. Joshua and Auntie down to supper. Bob to town, Borden, for Susie.[292] Away all day.

4th

Fourth day. Finished wash. Meeting at home. Boys hauling wood.

5th

Fifth day. Ironing and getting ready to go to Saskatoon. Boys hauling wood. Bob building kitchen.

6th

Sixth day. Arthur Hynd took Sadie and I and Merlin to catch train at Langham. Dinner at Edith and Ed’s. Afternoon, shopping. Skated in evening. Daisie out in evening.

7th

Seventh day. Spent afternoon in shopping with Daisie - each bought a hat. Sadie and Eric to see “In Old Kentucky.” Will Rogers’ last picture. Edith Burbage[293] came in evening, and Charlie.

8th

First day. Meeting at Uncle’s. Sadie to Third Avenue, Saskatoon, and I up to Len’s in afternoon. Edith and the bunch came after to supper, Herdis too. All to hear F. W.[294] Took Daisie home. I stayed overnight.

9th

Second day. Finished up our shopping. Ruth and Edith and Ed came to the train with us. Saw Anker, also Mrs. Wainwright.[295] Harry met us, had a fast ride home.

10th

Third day. Bob called me early. Came over to cottage. Cleaned up and made bed. Baby came before doctor by twenty minutes. Lucie and doctor came, put in stitches etc. Boys hauling wood.

11th

Fourth day. Bob working on kitchen. Boys hauling wood. I was busy all day. Mother did some washing. Baby’s name Roberta Edith.[296]

12th

Fifth day. Poor night, up late. Bob worked on addition. Harry and Harold hauling wood. Winnie and Merlin and the three girls to Borden to visit Sissie.

13th

Sixth day. Good night, in my own bed. Sore throat. Susie and baby fine. Winnie and Merlin back in afternoon. Mother finished wash. Harry and Harold two good loads of wood. Bob working on house.

14th

Seventh day. Colds all round. Busy all day. Boys hauling wood. Bob still building. Merlin hauled three loads of feed. I made cake.

15th

First day. Meeting at home. Susie’s mother and Henry down to dinner. Nice day. Baby getting on fine.

16th

Second day. Boys hauling wood. Bob to Langham for lumber. Took wheat. Home late.

17th

Third day. Boys hauling wood. Bob building. Harry up to check on Smoky. Brought mail back.

18th

Fourth day. Harry and Merlin two loads of green wood. Bob building on kitchen.

19th

Fifth day. Merlin and Harry two loads wood from thirty-five. Bob and Harold to Langham in cutter. Sent my insurance. Put on roof in afternoon. Baby Roberta’s fine.

20th

Sixth day. Susie up and dressed.[297] Merlin and Harry still hauling wood and feed. Harry cleaned out well in afternoon and went to Halcyonia in evening to concert.[298]

21st

Seventh day. Merlin and Harry getting wood. Harold took team back. Harry took dinner. Bob put windows in and fixed roof. Harry to Langham in evening.

22nd

First day. Billie down to Meeting. Brought chocolates and teddy bear. Winnie’s birthday. Susie over. I stayed with children.

23rd

Second day. Harry to Thistle Dale concert. Did double wash. Winnie and I together got through nicely. Mother baked. Bob and Harold killed and I plucked three roosters. Harry home with engine from Great Deer at night. Bob building.

24th

Third day. Bob sick in bed. Harry and Merlin did chores and hauled hay and straw. Harold waited on Susie. Very cold. We cleaned house and did some cooking.

25th

Fourth day. Harold brought mail on Dick. Nice and mild. All very busy. Harry over to Langham after early dinner to meet Edith and Edward, who phoned in morning. Arrived here about five o’clock. Bad trip. Hannah Mary and Bessie and Kennie[299] down.

26th

Fifth day. Nice day. Edith and Edward to Langham after three o’clock with Bob. Had a nice visit with them but too short. Ed showed girls how to paint. Sent boxes to Len and Ruth and Daisie.

27th

Sixth day. Harry and Merlin two loads of straw from John Wake’s. Children and I got willows out of bluff. Harold Edney over. Bob did chores, chased cattle out of lower stackyard.

28th

Seventh day. Dumb Dora had a heifer calf. Harry and Merlin hauling hay from flats. Bob fixing engine. I cleaned through house. Olive and I went skiing before breakfast. Winnie finished her pajamas. Mother finished Martha’s waist.[300]

29th

First day. Nice and mild. Meeting at home. Bessie and Kennie down in afternoon.

30th

Second day. Five below and blowing. Children out skiing. Harry and Merlin for straw to John Wake’s. Bob fixing engine. I was not feeling well. Winnie sickish.

31st

Third day. Boys braced shelter. Cleaned barns. Bess and Ken went home. Harry and I to Hynds’ in evening. Got mail. Letters from Len, Daisie, Auntie Amy and Hannah Blake. [301]

1936

JANUARY

1st

Fourth day. New Year’s Day. Harry and Merlin for straw. Girls and I went skiing in morning. Bob and Father putting down floor in his kitchen. Baby not gaining weight much.

2nd

Fifth day. Lovely day, zero. Harry and Merlin for two loads straw to Joshua Wake’s. Bob fixing engine, school in afternoon. We washed clothes.

3rd

Sixth day. Merlin and Harry for one load dry wood. All sawed wood in afternoon. Pretty cold, minus 25 degrees and windy mixed. I did the ironing. Could not go to UFC meeting at Gersters’. Harry to Thistle Dale at night to UFC meeting.

4th

Seventh day. Not so cold, about twelve degrees. Bob to Langham with wheat. Wind up at night and snowing. Pa and Merlin and I all have sore throats and colds. Winnie in bed, sick headache.

5th

First day. Meeting at home. I went over to Susie’s while she and Bob came to Meeting. Olive and I stayed to dinner over there. Thirty-seven below by nine o’clock in the evening. Merlin in bed till dinnertime.

6th

Second day Fifty degrees below by our thermometer. Harold and I breaking Kitty to drink from pail. Bob putting down floor and putting up stone in cellar. Harry and Merlin hauling hay and cleaning shelter.

7th

Third day. Harry hauling hay. Bob and he cleaned horse barn. Merlin in bed most of day. I cleaned rack. Mother baked. Children had school.

8th

Fourth day. Fourteen degrees. Nice and bright. I did the washing alone. Harry and Merlin for straw. Home late. Bob laying his floor. Letter from George Smith.[302] Meeting at home in evening. Buyer came.

9th

Fifth day. Fourteen below, nice and bright. I did ironing. Boys all sawed wood. Swept bedrooms and mended stockings. Mary McCheane phoned and invited Harold and Olive up for a few days.

10th

Sixth day. Boys wood-cutting in afternoon. To Pasture meeting in morning at school house. Olive and Harold to McCheanes’, I up to Wakes to see Auntie. George Rempel down. Baked bread. Cold wind, two degrees below.

11th

Seventh day. Temperature twenty-five degrees below zero. Cleaned and churned and mended. Merlin one load hay. Harry sick headache. Lots of snow in afternoon and milder. Very windy. Had a family bath.

12th

First day. Meeting at home. George over. Thirty-five degrees below zero. Merlin went up for Olive and Harold after a light lunch at two o’clock. George left for home. Harry wore his new wool underwear.

13th

Second day. Still cold and snowing. Boys hauled hay and did chores. We sewed and I did some rug. School in morning. I made date loaf. Boys put Doris in.

14th

Third day. Harry and Merlin for straw. Heavy trails. Harry stayed for UFC meeting, only for there. I did the washing. Nice day and mild. Boys brought mail.

15th

Fourth day. Cold day. Harry and Merlin for straw, Joshua through here on way to Langham. I did ironing. Susie over in evening. Bob put in floor and fixed pump at his place. I did rug and puzzle.

16th

Fifth day. Forty-two below by our thermometer, thirty-one by Wakes’. Hauled hay. Meeting first thing in morning. Made nut loaf. Bob took wheat to Langham. Winnie sewed.

17th

Sixth day. Forty-eight below for us. Parcel from Daisie up at Wakes for us. Harry and Merlin for one load dry wood, one hay and sheaves. Rosabelle down by house. Boys dragged her to horse barn. Made candy.

18th

Seventh day. Harry and Merlin for straw, took lunch. Couldn’t get parcel, brought mail. Letter from Daisie. Did cleaning. Made cake and butter. Susie over and gave presents in evening.

19th

First day. Meeting at home. Harry and Olive and I up to Wakes’ for parcel, then to Hynds’ for parcel. Forty below when we came home. Had an exciting time opening parcel.

20th

Second day. Cold. Susie washed. Harry had a time thawing pump. Hauled hay, two loads. Olive and I did puzzle at night. Harry brought horses in and we separated them. Kept Spee.

21st

Third day. Harry and Merlin for straw. About twenty-four degrees below, but still. Bob did chores. Kingfish got out and had to be brought back. Boys brought mail. Got $2.30 second[303] pay from Pool.

22nd

Fourth day. A little milder, but snowing and blowing from south. Harry to Langham with wheat. Blanche had calf down at shelter. Winnie did the ironing. We finished

puzzles, my rug.

23rd

Fifth day. Harry and Merlin for load of straw. About twenty-four below. Bob chored and made gate to pen for Blanche. Got phone call from Langham at night. Harry went for Doctor Bildfell[304] here, and on to Meister’s.[305]

24th

Sixth day. Harry at Borden, slept at hotel. Took Meister’s team from their place last night. Merlin hauled half load straw down below, and one load of hay from flats. Harry home and brought mail.

25th

Seventh day. Laurie brought Bessie down early. Harry took us to train at Langham.[306] Found Ed at shop.[307] He brought us in car to the house. Bessie, Allie and Delia and Jack McC and others here. I went to party with Daisie and Margaret W.[308]

26th

First day. Stayed at San all night. I walked down to Edith’s. Daisie down in afternoon. Several here for Meeting. Yesterday I went with Eva to see Jimmie. He looks great. Bessie up to see Herdis.

27th

Second day. Bessie and I up to University on streetcar. Met Allie and registered for short course. On to poultry building and heard Professor Baker and Mr. Ray talk on poultry. About twelve in class. Did a little shopping before coming home.

28th

Third day. The King’s funeral ceremony came over radio.[309] Every store closed, no classes. Edith did washing yesterday, ironing today. Went to Len and Ruth’s. Ruth still not well.

29th

Fourth day. Bessie and I to classes at University – getting more interesting. Walked home through town. Bought some cold tablets, and bananas for lunch. Charlie for supper.

30th

Fifth day. Up to class and walked home through town. Got a record from Joe’s, “I Hear You Calling Me” to replace the one I broke of Ed’s. Bessie out to show with Herdis. Listened to radio.

31st

Sixth day. Up to class. Home in car, tried on skates at Uncle’s. Anker and Eric up to sleep on chesterfield and board here. Went up to see Daisie. She is still not well. I have a cold. It’s very cold.

FEBRUARY 1936

1st

Seventh day. Classes until noon. Came home and took it easy. Bessie and Edith shopping, got dress and stockings for Bessie, very nice. Very cold, very sunny. Up to Professor Baker’s for social evening.

2nd

First day. Had a great time at Professor Baker’s. Stayed at home. Daisie, Jack McC. Delia, Margaret, Ruth and Florence up for quiet time. Ed took Daisie home. Herdis over.

3rd

Second day. Very cold. Up to classes. Judged hens in afternoon – very interesting. My cold still bad. Spent quiet evening.

4th

Third day. Up to University all day. Still too cold to skate. Group Meeting at night. Bessie and I went to bed. Daisie down, and Bob and Ruth and Delia.

5th

Fourth day. Up to classes at University. Rode home in car. Still very cold and misty. Fifty degrees below at University. Having a great time judging hens for laying, etc. Bessie out, late.

6th

Fifth day. To University for classes, rode home in streetcar. Had Etta and Ted and Marnie and Elsie down for social evening, played games, lunch, and finally did exercises.

7th

Sixth day. To the University all day, and home to turkey supper. Len and Ruth and Roger, A. Lund,[310] Helen, Anker and Eric all present, and had a lot of fun till late. Daisie’s half day.

8th

Seventh day. Up to University for morning classes, home to dinner. To Skating Carnival with F. Baker then to café for lunch and on to show. Home about eight. Varsity crowd there, and Daisie.

9th

First day. Meeting at home. Delia and Jack and Charlie and Margaret, Daisie down. Daisie and I had a good talk. Ed went to Third Avenue and took Daisie home afterwards.

10th

Second day. Up to University and each had to kill and pluck two hens. Professor Rae wax-plucked[311] four roosters and showed us how to pack poultry for market.

11th

Third day. Up to class at the University. Still very cold. Had a good day. Frances missed yesterday as she fell sick. We pullorum-tested [312] some hens. Edith washed clothes.

12th

Fourth day. Up to class at University. No warmer at present. Daisie down for half day. Edith and I to see “Stormy.” Ed took us in car. Bessie went with Henry H.

13th

Fifth day. Up to class. Last day for me, over to Doctor Fulton’s central heating plant. Very interesting. Henry Hepner over in the evening.

14th

Sixth day. Bessie to University in morning. I phoned home. I walked to City Hospital, A. came along. Took Bessie to T. J. Smith [313] in afternoon. Up to see Daisie for an hour. Caught evening train. Bob met us at Langham. Fifty degrees below.

15th

Seventh day. Very cold out. Thermometer out of sight. Bob and Harry to Carl’s for straw. We did seventh day work. Princess and Bell Lupine and Heatherbell and Triangle all have calves.

16th

First day. Meeting at home. Bob’s feet very sore and swelled. Bathed them most of day. Bessie and I over for supper and evening. Triangle lost calf and adopted Rosabelle’s.

17th

Second day. Boys for sheaves and hay. Milder – sixteen degrees below and very windy. We did washing. Bessie entertaining children. Bob’s feet swelled and sore. Staying home and bathing them in hot water.

18th

Third day. Harry to Langham with wheat. Brought three bags flour and Jim Smith to work here. I did ironing with Winnie’s help. Lasca and Fox home and Floss also. I fed them. Over to Susie’s to sleep. Hazel had heifer calf.

19th

Fourth day. Harry and Jim for two loads of straw from Carl’s. Harold and I and Merlin took good load of manure from horse barn, and brought oats back. Brought Arel up. Meeting at home. Bob still off duty.

20th

Fifth day. Harry and Jim hauling rock. Bob hauling hay with the little team. Merlin and I bathed Princess’s bag, worked matter out.[314] Fair and cold. Much more bearable weather.

21st.

Sixth day. Harry and Jim hauling rock. Bob hauled load of hay from Henry’s and one load straw from below. Jim and Harry walked to Langham to mail letters. Arel had heifer calf. Dressed Princess’s bag.

22nd

Seventh day. Harry and Jim for straw to Wallace’s. Bob for two loads of wood. Much warmer. Above zero. Kingfish went up to Eastes’. Bob went for him. Boys brought mail, a long letter from Edith.

23rd

First day. I stayed in bed with sick headache. Meeting at home. Joshua down for Winnie and Merlin and children – brought them back at night. Mary was over for a while. Weather a little milder.

24th

Second day. Harry and Jim down with rock. Bob and Merlin did chores and hauled two loads, hay and straw. I did washing. Put white things and towels out – nice day. Children out.

25th

Third day. Harry and Jim rock-hauling. Bob and Merlin and Pa and Harold cut two loads of dry wood with engine. Hauled straw. Merlin walked for mail, to Wakes for dinner. Nice day.

26th

Fourth day. Harry and Jim for two loads straw from Peterson’s.[315] Bob to Langham, sent for sink. Took wheat with Alk and Smoky. Very bad trails, snowing. George Rempel phoned. I did ironing. Pretty cold.

27th

Fifth day. Harry and Jim hauling hay from red granary, and Jim, one load hay and sheaves in afternoon. Harry opened trail over river for straw. We mended and started two new rugs, and split wood.

28th

Sixth day. Harry and Jim – two loads straw – Peterson’s. Bob to Langham with twenty-six bushels wheat – Smoky and Alk. Boys brought mail. Harold brought Tootsie up. Line-back cow died. Much milder.

29th

Seventh day. Harry and Jim two loads straw. Bob and Merlin cleaned horse barn and cut some wood. We did cleaning, Olive and I out skiing in afternoon. Sadie down, we went to meet her, the girls and I. Harry took Jim home.

.

MARCH 1936

1st

First day. Meeting at home. Sadie and I over to get dinner for Susie and clean up. Susie rested. Mary now well. Eric came for Sadie in afternoon. Harold Edney over. Tommy came to help a few days, brought young Belle up.

2nd

Second day. Very mild, snow fast melting, not everywhere. Boys all sawing wood. Belle died. We did washing, dried clothes outside. Mary better but not well.

3rd

Third day. Harry and Tom one load straw. Bob and Merlin one load of hay. Cut wood over at Bob’s. Bert down for farewell visit. Harold and the girls and I skinned Belle. Harold for mail on Smoky.

4th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Harry and Tom for two loads straw over river. Bob fixing trail and cleaning horse barn. I sewed my sweater together. Very windy and rather cold.

5th

Fifth day. Pretty cold. Harry and Tom over river for straw. Merlin and Harold over to Langham. Olive and I baking cookies. Winnie getting ready to pack. Tootsie had heifer calf, Marina.

6th

Sixth day. Bob and Harry and Merlin and Harold all worked on taking car over to Langham. Tom cleaned barn and split wood. Very mild and wet. Horses came in.

7th

Seventh day. I did cleaning. Billie and Auntie down in PM and for supper. Bob and Harold to Borden to V. Cowley’s[316] sale. Harry and Tom five loads hay from Badman’s. Bob bought mower, $11.50.

8th

First day. Meeting at home. Bob and Susie to Great Deer in sleigh. Winnie and Merlin and children to John McCheane’s for dinner. Olive and I on skis to Badman’s, had tea. Tommy home – back for chores.

9th

Second day. Harry and Tom over river for straw. Mother and I baking cookies and nut bread. Bob and Susie home by milking time. Bob killed Marion’s calf.

10th

Third day. Helped folks pack and Bob and Mother and I took all to Langham after early dinner. Got them off to Saskatoon.[317] Phoned Edith. Lovely day. Harry and Tom hauled hay, two loads, from Badman’s. We were at Scott’s for supper.

11th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Harry and Tom brought back load from Henry’s. Cleaned up hay and oat sheaves down at red granary. Harry and Bob hauled two loads of ice. Mother and I cleaned my bedroom. Melted a bit, but cooler.

12th

Fifth day. Seventeen degrees above, windy. Boys hauled three loads of ice and packed one layer. Bob and Susie went to Langham, took meat for Edith. We did some cleaning and sewing.

13th

Sixth day. Harry and Tom hauled eight loads of rock to bridge. Bob and Pa packed ice. I went for mail on Smoky. Letter for Winnie for Saskatoon. Boys home very late. Fairly mild.

14th

Seventh day. Tom cleaned barns. Bob to Langham with thirty-five bushels of wheat. Harry cleaned kitchen pipes and mended peak of roof. We did cleaning. Put Robin in at night. Took Tom home, brought Harold Edney over.

15th

First day. Meeting at home. Harry and I rode up river on Smoky and Robin. Met Sadie on Jappy and went down to see new bridge. Saw Eddy and Philip and Effie.

Went to Hynd’s for supper. Cold west wind.

16th

Second day. Bob took over two pigs and two calves, Misty’s calf, Slipper, and Mamie’s calf, to Langham. Abe Rempel down. Sent Harry’s boots to Philip McCheane.[318] I did large wash – dried some outside. Harold cleaned barns and Harry fixed barn and seed wheat.

17th

Third day. Bob and Harry fixing shelter in morning. Cleaning wheat in afternoon. Harold cleaning barns. I rode Smoky to John McCheane’s, Sadie rode Jappy. Had good meeting. Arnold Larsen gave good report. Mother cooked.

18th

Fourth day. Bob to Saskatoon with C. Epp[319] in truck, back late by train. Harry and Harold hauled hay from flats, two loads. Water running downhill. Bees out. We ironed, baked and churned.

19th

Fifth day. Bob and Pa hauled wheat and cleaned it. Harry and Harold hauled three loads hay from flats. Abe and Lizzie Siemens[320] down. I sorted some potatoes and piled wood. Baked cookies and did mending and cleaning.

20th

Sixth day. Harry and Harold up to Ranch for birch. Bob cleaning wheat and oats. Pa stacked wood. Mother and I for mail and to Wakes in cutter. Cold northwest wind. Abe and Lizzie left. I put up thirteen cans of meat.[321]

21st

Seventh day. Cooler and windy. Harry and Harold hauled hay and straw, last load from flats. Bob worked on the birch (?) and on his house. We cleaned. Mother made buns. Harry to Langham on Smoky at night.

22nd

First day. Meeting at home. Harry away on Smoky. Eric down in afternoon. Cold wind from northeast. Mother over to Bob’s for supper. Pa and I both wrote to Daisie.

23rd

Second day. I did the washing, Mother baked. Harry and Bob to Langham for new binder, $35.00 from Elliott’s. Harold cleaned barns out. Arthur Hynd down for fanning mill. Cold wind.

24th

Third day. Dried clothes outside. Boys got both binders home and cleaned barns. Blossom missing. We did some rug-making. Didn’t get mail. Cold wind, about 22 degrees above.

25th

Fourth day. About zero in morning. I stayed in bed until noon with bad headache. Meeting at home. Harry and Harold got two loads stakes – about 98 stakes. Bob split wood. Blossom home with calf.

26th

Fifth day. Harry and Harold cleaned barns and killed red steer Jack. George Parkinson[322] brought Peggy down in afternoon – brought mail. I did ironing. Didn’t melt much. Bob stabbed his leg.

27th

Sixth day. Netted Gem[323] very sick. Boys cut up beef and took it over to Langham. We baked and churned. Harold for mail on Smoky. At night, cold north wind.

28th

Seventh day. Cold and very windy. Bob took Harry to Langham to catch morning train. We did cleaning and made nut loaf. Harold split wood and cleaned barn.

29th

First day. Cold and windy. Meeting at home. Harold over river. Bob and Susie to dinner. Blanche Brunst and Wilfred for supper. Home later. Netted Gem standing up.

30th

Second day. Harold hauled some straw and hay. Bob split wood and went for Harry at night. Phone call from Edith. Harold and Olive back with Harry. Cold and windy.

31st

Third day. Boys splitting wood, and hauled a load of poplar poles. Cold and windy. Bob to Hynd’s for UFC talk. We played games, mostly Flinch,[324] until late.

APRIL 1936

1st

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Harry and Harold for stakes. Pa split wood and cleaned barns in afternoon. Peggy and I to Wakes’ for supper, had a nice time. Not quite such a cold wind.

2nd

Fifth day. Bright, but cold wind. Harry and Harold one load of stakes. George down for Peggy. Edith Scott and Hilda Bergman over for afternoon tea. Borrowed hats.[325] Harry took them back in cutter.

3rd

Sixth day. Harry went for mail and got his books. Pa and Bob split wood and boys got one load stakes in afternoon. Cold and windy. Mother and I did some washing. Finished my knitted bloomers. Henry Badman down.

4th

Seventh day. Olive and I did cleaning. Boys split wood and sharpened stakes. Harold hauled oats and straw and hay. Mother baked and made bran loaf. Harry and Harold to Langham at night.

5th

First day. Meeting at home. Harry away on Smoky. Olive and I for walk. Windy and snowing a little. Thirty-six above. Eric called in evening. Paul Mereau[326]

here to see Harold.

6th

Second day. Mother in bed all day with bad cold. I did big two weeks’ wash. Harold and Harry for straw to A. Williams’. Bob and Pa fixing gate. Cold and windy.

7th

Third day. Olive over to Susie’s. Warm, water running. Filled tank. Spee got his leg stuck in King’s stall. Fox was in. Netted Gem very sick again. Harry and Harold for straw. Bob working on his house. Got all the clothes dry.

8th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Warm but cloudy. Harry and Harold up to Wilfred Brunst’s for loads of prairie wool. Bob worked on his house. We started road over bog.

9th

Fifth day. Harry and Harold cleaned barns and got load of stakes. Bob worked on his house and made some rope.[327] I did ironing. Mother and I both feeling punk. Warm and wet. George Rempel came. Harold’s friend came and stayed the night.

10th

Sixth day. Harry and Harold sharpened stakes all day. Bob and Harold took the two boys over to Langham - last trip this year. Ice is going fast. George left in morning. Bob up to Wakes’ to fix[328] calves. We canned three quarts of meat and made beef sausage.

11th

Seventh day. Bob worked on his house. The other boys cleaned up around and mended fences and moved A-house[329] up onto hill. We cleaned and baked. I felt punk.

12th

First day. Meeting at home. I looked after the children for Bob and Susie. Made ice cream. We all went to see Big Ravine[330] in afternoon. Lovely warm day.

13th

Second day. We cleaned out cupboards in porch. Cold north wind. Boys cleaned up yard and corral. Bob worked on his house and the brooder house.

14th

Third day. Bob up to Armand’s and went on with brooder house. Raining and snowing. We did a big wash. Harry and Harold and Harold Edney did the potatoes and started training Jassy. Harold Chamness went for mail.

15th

Fourth day. Tied Tommy up and Jerry. Meeting at home. Taught Jerry “Get-up”. Bob fixing brooder house on hill. I did some ironing and baking.

16th

Fifth day. Bob finished brooder house. Harold and Harold helped Harry train colts Jerry and Tommy, “Whoa.” Henry Rempel very sick. Father and Mother went up and cleaned Meeting House.[331]

17th

Sixth day. Bob and Susie to town. We had both children all day. Harry hitched Jerry up and Ernie[332] rode him. We helped give Tommy scary lesson.[333] Bob brought 100 chix [334] home.

18th

Seventh day. Boys mending and oiling harness. Bob to meeting at Thistledale - Medical Scheme.[335] Harry brought Pansy home on stoneboat[336] and rode Tommy. He bucked some.

19th

First day. Father and Mother and Bob and Harry and Olive to Meeting in Bennet buggy. To river in afternoon. Ice going down and rising cold wind.

20th

Second day. Freezing. Bob to Radisson for flour. Got eight bags. Harold started disking. I taught Gay “Come here.” Harry fixed little saddle.

21st

Third day. Harry took Susie to CeePee – to see Henry.[337] Hitched up Tommy and taught King. Olive and I over at Bob’s looking after the children. Susie phoned. Henry died.

22nd

Fourth day. Bob to town to get Susie. Took wheat. Celia calved. We stayed over at the cottage. Mother cleaned cellar shelves. Harold on land. Harry mended up around.

23rd

Fifth day. Bob and Harry fencing. Harold harrowing. Pansy calved. I did big wash and pink blankets and woolens.

24th

Sixth day. Harold for mail. Eaton’s order came, also large parcel from England. Bob and Susie and Harry to Great Deer to Henry’s funeral. Pa to meet Edith and Winnie and Daisie and Martha. They walked.

25th

Seventh day. Lovely warm day. Girls and Harry and Harold Chamness out riding in morning. Harold Edney plowing below. Bob putting back door on. Mother made cake and we cleaned some in afternoon. Winnie on Smoky.

26th

First day. All to Meeting but Harold Edney, five of us on horseback. Joshua and Billie took Winnie and Harry to bridge and came on here. They got car and went to Borden. Daisie had bad headache.

27th

Second day. Winnie and Daisie stayed in bed till late. Cold and snowing. Bob plowed. Harry and Harold got ready and left for Ranch late in afternoon. All the folks left soon after dinner. Squeak had calf.

28th

Third day. Winnie got cows in. Windy, hard frost. Bob cleaned barn and plowed. I rode Robin for mail. Got C. O. D. seeds and syringe. Harry and Harold still away. Pa put three rows potatoes in. We finished ironing.

29th

Fourth day. Woke with sick headache. Bob plowed. Raked and cleaned up around. Mother baked and churned. Took mares oats. Boys still away.

30th

Fifth day. Windy and cold enough. I went on Reddie to UFC meeting at Harris’s[338]– a long ride. Had a good meeting. Bob plowed, used Jerry. Father and Mother gardened. Put in peas.

MAY 1936

1st

Sixth day. Father sick. John Wake down. Mother and I to town in Bennet buggy. Bob put in four acres of wheat. Hot and windy.

2nd

Seventh day. Bob went on drilling. Pa painted boat. We did cleaning. Harry and Harold back in evening. I went up to see mares and cattle. Very windy at night.

3rd

First day. Bob and Susie and children up to Great Deer. Father and Mother to Meeting in democrat. Mike and Annie Strelioff down in afternoon. Nice bright day.

4th

Second day. Harry took ponies and Harold took wagon up to Ranch. I went to Wakes for vaccine. Met them on road. Called on Oscar’s. Started wash. Bob and Pa cleaned oats and Bob seeded in morning. Very windy but warm.

5th

Third day. Bob up to Ranch on Dick. Windy again. I took syringe up to meet Harold and on for mail. Card from Olive. Up to fight fire on Wakes’ and Duncan’s. Did washing. Heard Olga has twins - girls.[339]

6th

Fourth day. Out raking and burning rubbish all morning. Did ironing in afternoon. Raining, windy and cold. John Wake down. Bob plowed on Thirty-six. John stayed.

7th

Fifth day. Finished ironing. Lovely warm day. Built rock wall on front garden. Worked most of day on it. Bob seeded sixteen acres of wheat. I saw mares all right.

8th

Sixth day. Warm but windy. Father and Susie to town in Bennet buggy. Sent Harold’s Eaton’s order. Note from Edith. Bob seeded wheat. No word from Harry. We had Roberta. Mary Rempel came back with Susie.

9th

Seventh day. Bob seeding. Put in some oats. I saw Floss with mare foal. We did cleaning.

10th

First day. Pa and I to Meeting with Robin and Jerry. Edith and Ed came, brought Ivan Wallace to see Muskoday.[340] Here to dinner. Art and Daisie came in afternoon. Joshua down to supper. Harry and Harold home.

11th

Second day. Drizzly. Harry and Pa planted fruit trees.[341] Harold for oats on Twenty-six. Bob seeding down below. Mother in bed.

12th

Third day. Lasca had buckskin foal. Harry and Harold and I gathered our cattle up and Wakes’ and Armond’s and took them up to Ranch. George Rempel got his stray and stayed dinner with us. I helped boys brand and earmark calves.[342]

13th

Fourth day. Last evening boys rode to Larsen’s. I stayed off at Saloways and slept with Peggy. Met the boys at Esau Saunders’.[343] Had dinner there. Brought 180 head to Ranch. Big day. Tired out.[344]

14th

Fifth day. Carl Larson[345] came. We branded and inoculated cattle. Pa and Ma came up. We had dinner. I helped boys drive cattle to middle pasture and came home.

15th

Sixth day. Pa took load of rubbish up to old place. Got mail. Bob plowing on Thirty-six. I took oats up. Mosquitoes very bad. Very hot. Cloudy at night. Churned, sowed cucumbers.

16th

Seventh day. Doctor Bildfel came – ten dollars paid.[346] Bob drilling. We did cleaning. Mother baked cake and cookies. Pa dug center patch and other bits and sowed some Swedes.[347] I brought Benjamin and Delilah home.

17th

First day. Mother in bed with bad headache. Bob and Susie to Meeting. I kept children. Harry and Harold home in afternoon. Got Spee out of Oscar’s. Cloudy.

18th

Second day. Lovely day. Bob plowed both gardens and then went on Robin to Ranch. Harold up on wagon, took Gay. Harry on Dick. We put garden in. Mother planted centre patch.

19th

Third day. Bob harrowed. Pa took cream and waited for mail. I did two weeks’ wash. Pa put in east garden. Mother planted out some tomato plants.[348]

20th

Fourth day. Got Reddy from Thirty-six and went to Hynds’ for dinner and on to Baxter’s with Sadie for UFC meeting. Supper at Hynds’. Bob harrowing. Father worked in gardens.

21st

Fifth day. Very windy and cloudy. Father finished seeding east garden. I did ironing. Bob harrowing. We put flower borders in.

22nd

Sixth day. Father and Mother took cream and on up to Tallises. Called at Crabbs’ and Muskoday. Got columbines and sweet Williams. I did milking alone. Bob harrowing. We planted the perennials.

23rd

Seventh day. Bob seeded oats. Put in glads. Harry and Harold and George down at night. Harold over dinner. Harry and George and I went to Wakes’ for campfire, big crowd. Home late.

24th

First day. Father, Mother and Bob and I to Meeting. Ed and Edith and Herdis came. Went up to McCheanes’ in afternoon. Sadie down. I stayed home. Eric here. Lovely sunny day.

25th

Second day. Ed did a drawing in pastel. Sadie home on Jappy. Edith and Herdis and Harry out on river. Got fishnet out. Harold took team to Radisson. Harry came with us in car. Supper at Sissie’s, she went with us to Radisson.

26th

Third day. Bob plowing. We did washing. Very hot. Ed and Edith and Herdis and Eric left early for Saskatoon. Didn’t feel so good. I took Floss and Lasca and eleven cattle up onto South West Thirty-six. Bob helped Henry Badman pull cow out of slough.

27th

Fourth day. Monthly Meeting. Mother and Father went. I went later on Reddy. Changed at Wakes’. On with Joshua to Homemaker’s Convention at Radisson, Sadie, Mrs. Baxter too. Supper at hotel. Had a nice time. Extremely hot.

28th

Fifth day. Still very hot. Bob up to Ranch with buggy. Took supplies. We cleaned up cellar and Pa harrowed front garden and put in some seeds. The iris is blooming.

29th

Sixth day. Father took cream and brought mail. Bob plowed. Still extremely hot. Heard from Harry. Got Harold Foster’s cattle. I made forty-two bottles of pop. Billie Mekin down.[349] Bob up to Wakes’ to get colt.

30th

Seventh day. Still hot and close. Bob harrowing. I ironed. Harry came home at noon on Fox with his leg broken.[350] Harold on Smoky. We all went out mowing in afternoon. Harry to Borden with Cooks’.

31st

First day. Pa and Mother and Susie to Meeting. Windy and a little cooler. Bob and Susie and Harold and I to river in afternoon. Philip down. Harold back to Ranch in evening. Made ice cream.

JUNE 1936

1st

Second day. Mother in bed most of day. Harry hopping around.[351] Bob plowed on Twenty-six. Decidedly chilly, temperature 50 and wind. Pa cultivated garden. Susie washed.

2nd

Third day. We did the wash. Pa took team and got mail. Bob plowed in morning. Eric came, took team after dinner. Bob up to Ranch, home at night.

3rd

Fourth day. Bob to Borden in Joshua Wake’s car. Took tractor wheels[352] off with help. I did most of ironing. Eric plowed. Found white-faced mooly (?) cow dead. Pa put sticks to peas,[353] transplanted tomatoes.[354]

4th

Fifth day. Eric plowed. I cleaned out brooder house and transplanted iris from pool.

5th

Sixth day. Bob to town. Brought mail and cream can back by late after dinner, from Ranch. We cleaned bedrooms and down to bottom of stairs. Eric still plowing.

6th

Seventh day. We did cleaning. Harold and Bob home at night. Bessie came and stayed supper. Left her saddle. Eric plowed. Cool day.

7th

First day. Meeting down here. Lydia and Hannah Mary down, and Mary and Philip and Joshua and Billie. Read Epistles in afternoon. Cool and windy and cloudy. Harold over to Langham.

8th

Second day. Edith, Harold and I took our cattle up to Ranch. Bob and Eric up in wagon. Took tools, plow, etc. up to north spring.[355] Vaccinated calves. We went up to see spring. Boys started hauling rocks, five loads.

9th

Third day. Harry and Edith and I up to Hepburn Ferry with buggy and team to meet cattle from Waldheim. Harry and Bob wasted afternoon. Eric went on hauling rock and sand. We came home.

10th

Fourth day. Bob and Eric and Harold working on new trough, north spring. Edith and Harry and I stayed home and rested, did some cleaning up.

11th

Fifth day. We stayed home until four o’clock, then Edith and I rode and took Jappy up to Ranch. Boys out of supplies. Bob home at night. Took Mike and Di. Day fairly hot.

12th

Sixth day. Harold and Edith and Eric and I up at 3:30 AM and went over north pasture to look for bull calf. Back by 8:00. We ate and rested, and Bob came at noon. He had come up phone line. Joshua up. Harry to town and came up. We rounded up 200 head.

13th

Seventh day. Drizzling until about nine. Cold wind. We cut out 120 head to go north. Bob and Eric and Harry and I took them and turned the rest south. Harry and Edith home early. All to campfire except Harold and I.

14th

First day. Mother and I stayed home from Meeting. Ed came, brought Charlie. Harold to Langham in afternoon. Cloudy by noon, but very little rain. Harry back to Saskatoon with Ed and Edith.

15th

Second day. Bob and Harold up to Ranch. Eric too, and on to Saskatoon via Hepburn. I did two weeks’ wash. Dull and raining a little. Fence phone working again. Bob answered census.

16th

Third day. Rained all night and all day. First good rain this year. Bob and Harold down by noon. We papered kitchen and washed ceiling. Roof leaked.[356] Harold helped. Got mares in at night.

17th

Fourth day. Meeting at home. Finished wash and put it out. Did some woolens. I went for mail and got cows. Found Queen with horse colt. Bob home at night. He and Harry got 50 head Alf Elliott’s cows.

18th

Fifth day. Lovely day till noon. Quite stormy in afternoon. Rained quite a bit.

Fred and Aline Saunders came for King,[357] stayed dinner. Bob took more of Wakes’ cattle up to Ranch. I started painting windows.

19th

Sixth day. Pa took cream with Major and Jerry – two cans. Brought mail. Paid Auntie three dollars on stove and six for eggs. We finished ironing and painting the two small kitchen windows. Nice cool day.

20th

Seventh day. Got house all cleaned through. O. McKeracher[358] and boys came. Looked at Robin. Brought some strawberries. Bob and Harold home at night. They got trough filling with water.

21st

First day. All back. Susie to Meeting. Joe and Agnes and children came. Had picnic dinner. Mary and John McCheane and Joshua and Helen P.[359] down. We went for bathe in river. Lovely day.

22nd

Second day. Started wash. Eric back early in afternoon from Saskatoon. He mended saddle and went up to Ranch in afternoon rather late. Harold put out gopher poison. Bob seeded some oats.

23rd

Third day. Finished wash. Bob seeding in morning. Harold over to Sports at Langham. Went swimming in evening.

24th

Fourth day. Harry came home with Billie. Brought Frank[360] too. Ed up to Ranch in Bennet buggy. I rode on Reddy. Harold and Eric up to Petrofka for fifteen head of horses.

25th

Fifth day. Started roundup again, Harry, Bob, Harold, Eric and I . Harry rode Bunny, took 94 head north. Past new trough – working well. Got new bunch, about 200, into roundup.

26th

Sixth day. Got up cattle. Heavy rain and hail. Cut a bunch south. We took a bunch north. Harry went to picnic at Charlie Orchard’s. Meeting in car. Rounded up about the last 22 head.

27th

Seventh day. Mary sick. Bob and I home. Checked over Elliott’s cattle in Stella’s pasture. Boys checked bunch, took 35 north to spring. Looked for roan for Harry Thiessen. Susie home from Borden at night.

28th

First day. No Meeting. Harry Thiessen came over river, brought saddle. All went up to Ranch at night. Bob and I rode, boys in buggy.

29th

Second day. Rounded up breeding pasture and inoculated all the calves. A few owners turned up. Bob home at night.

30th

Third day. Raining. We cleaned out breeding pasture. Rounded up everything into corral. Cut out ones to go north and turned the rest south. Harry Thiessen was sick.

JULY 1936

1st

Fourth day. Harry Thiessen still sick with pain in appendix. We took cattle north. Boys brought 70 horses to corral. Harry rode roan home. Eric and I got bull out of Henry’s and home to supper.

2nd

Fifth day. Harry Thiessen home. Swam the roan over. Harry and Harold took bulls up to Ranch behind wagon. Eric phoned.

3rd

Sixth day I did the washing. Eric plowing. Bob haying and choring around. RCMP came for bicycle.

4th

Seventh day. Did the cleaning. Fixed upstairs and tent.[361] George[362] came with twelve horses. Hurt his shoulder. Harry and Harold home at night. All went swimming at night. Eric plowing.

5th

First day. Edmund and Hannah Hatcher [363] to dinner, and Mary and John McCheane. I rode over to Hynds’ in evening. Home late with Eric. Nice hot day.[364] Harold to Langham.

6th

Second day. Bob plowing. George and Eric down to Ranger Lake. Did some baking and cleaning. Harry and Frank to town. Doctor took off splint.

7th

Third day. Harold up to Ranch to look after bulls and fence. Violent windstorm and rain. Harry worked on Bessie’s saddle.

8th

Fourth day. Yearly Meeting. Edmund and Hannah Hatcher down. I stayed with children. Had dinner outdoors. Went swimming afterwards.

9th

Fifth day. Harold came home at night. Harry mending Bessie’s saddle. Bob putting attic barn floor in. Mended my bed. Harry and Frank up to Ranch with salt blocks.[365]

10th

Sixth day. Cleaned house. Did the ironing. Picked saskatoons. Reddy hurt my nose going through bluff.

11th

Seventh day. George and Eric back. Harold up to Ranch early, brought cows back. Putting up saskatoons. Harold up on Twenty-six plowing. Bob fixing loft. Harry and Frank up to Ranch at night on Tex and Di. Weavers[366] here. Eric to Hynds’. Bob mended fish net.

12th

First day. All to Meeting. Edmund and Hannah Hatcher down. Abe and Johnny Thiessen[367] down, also Katie and her brother went bathing in afternoon. Hot day. Rain in morning.

13th

Second day. Cleaned up, and Joshua took Hannah and Edmund Hatcher and Mother and I up to Saloways to supper. Had lovely time. Frank came home with team. Harry up to Wakes. Put fish net in river.

14th

Third day. Didn’t feel so good so took it easy. Harold plowing, Bob mowing. Harry still at Ranch. Very hot.

15th

4th day. Meeting at home. Still very hot. I did the wash and we all took Hannah down to river and had a good swim. Harold disking. George Walker down. Bob mowing and raking. Harry home.

16th

Fifth day. Edmund and Hannah Hatcher to Borden with Eddie. Harry and Frank to Borden for Anker. Harold and I went swimming at noon. Windy and good rain in evening. I went to meet Sadie.

17th

Sixth day. Edmund and Hannah Hatcher back and to Susie’s to dinner. Did cleaning. Went swimming in evening. Boys haymaking. Put up fruit. Bob and Susie up to Great Deer.

18^th

Seventh day. I went up to Wakes and got Billie to come down for folks. David and Lydia[368] down to dinner. Hannah and Edmund Hatcher home with them. Harold over to Langham. I to Wakes in evening.

19th

First day. Went picking saskatoons. Joshua down to fix phone. Stayed dinner and went swimming. Still very hot. Harold disking. Harry and Frank up to Ranch next morning with wagon.

20th

Second day. Washed, baked, churned and put up 18 quarts of berries. Boys haying. Got some nice fish.

21st

Third day. Up at 3:30. Harry and Sadie and Frank and I up to Ranch. Took Elliotts’ cattle into middle pasture, and some strays. North, saw Glory Hole and new trough. George at shack came home with us.

22nd

Fourth day. David down and took Father and Mother to Meeting. Did some ironing. Sadie and I started up to Ranch, I on Tex. Met Harry and Frank, came back. Boys haying – six loads, below.

23rd

Fifth day.