Elizabeth Oliver “Olive” Burgess (1896-1980)
1920
Transcribed by Rural Diary Archive Volunteers

1920 {written in pencil}
{Front cover - Sketch of winding road bordered by trees through a valley, ending at a Roman
colosseum. Clouds in the background}
The Stadium
{Inside front cover - blank}

Diary 1920
Sat. May 1 A very cold wind. Bright mostly. Papa & I were in Port Elgin. The boys were drawing
wood to the church & they put the gates up around the house one on the east & one on the west.
The one on the South & East were put up before. Rowand fell into the creek & got his arm & leg wet.
Noble is away to Burgoyne. Mrs. Archibald Wilkie died last Tuesday. Noble was at Geddes's
Sun. 2 A very cold wind. Bright. Mamma, Rowand & I were at church in the morning I was at S.S.
There were 87 present at S.S. Uncle Alfred was here. Rowand was at Geddes's for dinner. There
was a total eclipse of the moon tonight. Papa & Mamma were not very well.
Mon. 3 A cold wind. Bright partly. The boys were fencing at the other place. Papa was not well.
Mamma was not very well this morning.
Tue. 4 Bright. Wind cold. Noble was ploughing the buckwheat ground & he was cultivating the front
field. R was working at fences. Papa and Mamma were in P.E. today. He has been away all winter.
Sugar is $20.00 per cwt, dutch set onions 30c per lb. & Rice is 20 cnts. Isabel was here.

1920 May
Wed. May 6 Bright + warmer than usual. The nicest day there has been for a long time. Papa &
Rowand were working at fences & Rowand & Noble were working on the land. They got the first
seeds in to-day. We sowed some of the flower seeds too Mail-man did not come around to-day as
train got off the tracks near Paisley.

Thu. 7 6 Bright & warm. The boys were working on the land & Papa & Rowand were working at the
fence too. Uncle Alfred, Edgar, & Alex Geddes were here. We cleaned the spare room yesterday
and the boy's room to-day.
Fri. 7 Bright & warm. The boys were working on the land & Papa & Rowand were working at the
fence. One of the steers that we sold to Joe Lyness is sick to-day.
Sat. 8 A cold wind. Looked like rain sometimes. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rowand was at the
dentist & he was working on fences. Noble was working on the land. We have about 11 ac. sown
now. Rowand was at Chas. McLean's on the wheel. Alex & Rt. {Robert?} Geddes were here for 1/2
ton of hay.
Sun.9 Cold. A little shower of rain. I was at S.S., P.M & I were at church in the morning & Rd.
{Rowand} was there at night. Uncle Alfred was here.
Mon. 10. Cold. A tiny little rain.

May
Papa & the boys were working at the fence the land & carpenter work. Mrs. John Cobean has got
the caste off her broken leg that she has had on for 10 weeks. Beauty had a calf this morning. John
Schwass's 3 youngest girls have the mumps.
Tue. 11 A cold wind in the afternoon. Bright by partly. Noble & Rd. were working on the land &
Rowand took a cattle beast to Port Elgin of Uncle Alfred's & was at the dentist's. Noble was at
Lyness's & Alec Geddes was here. We used the first of our rhubarb yesterday.
Wed. 12 Cold. Rowand took the 2 steers to P.E. along with other people's. Jos. Lyness took bought
them. They weighed 2020 together apiece. We got between 14 & 15 cents a lb for them. The boys
were working on the land. Uncle Alfred was here. We got a different violin from Eaton's to-day.
Thur. 13 A very cold wind. The boys were working on the land. Uncle Alfred was here. An Armenian
peddlar stayed here all night. Bright to-day.
Fri. 14 Very cold. Ice outside this morning. Rowand was working on the land & Noble & Papa were
working on the fence. Papa & I were at the Preparatory service. Al Alice & Mrs Wark joined the
church by proffessions of Faith & Miss Menzes by Certificate. Lewis Cobean's baby, Sandy
McConnel's & Harold Smith’s were baptised. {Illegible}, Rowand has a cold just now.

1920 May
Mc {space left blank} the new minister at Paisley preached
Sat. 15 Not so cold to-day as lately. Ice outside to-day. Papa & I were in P.E. Noble finished sowing.
Rowand was at Southampton to get his watch that was being repaired. Rd. was doing odd jobs. Rd.
did not get his watch. Mamma has not been well lately.
Sun. 16 Warmer. Bright. I was at S.S. Papa & Mamma went to church in the morning. The
Sacrament was held to-day. Uncle Alfred was here & the boys were at his place. I? {illegible} outside
this morning.
Mon. 17 Dull. Fairly warm. Papa & Rowand were working at the front fence. They got it finished
except that they will have to get more wire for a bit of it where they put up a different kind. The boys
were drawing out manure & Noble was disking the mangle ground & garden. A few drops of rain today. Thunder to-night. Rd. has a cold just now. The boys have had pretty sore lips lately. Papa has
not been very well yesterday & to-day.
Tue. 18 A little shower last night. Dull a good bit. Cooler for a while. Papa & Rowand were in P.E.
this afternoon. Noble was working the garden & mangle ground. In the morning the boys drew out
manure part of the time. They are playing ball at Uncle Alfred's to-night. Uncle Alfred is here.

May
Thur Wed 19 Warm. Rained a little in the afternoon. N was working the mangle ground & he & Papa
sowed them. We planted some onions & did some other gardening. Rowand was in P.E. Cool wind.
U
Thur. 20 Warm. Noble was ploughing the buckwheat ground & Rowand was working at fences. In
the afternoon Arthur helped them to take 9 of our young cattle to the other farm. A thunder storm
with some rain. 2 complete rainbows, one a beautifully colored one. Uncle Alfred was here. Dr.
Philps was here to see Chloe. We sowed carrots, beets, radishes & lettuce seed. Cows were outside
to-day.
Fri. 21 Warm. Turned cooler. Noble was ploughing & harrowing. Rowand & Papa were staking a
fence for a lane between Uncle Alfred's farm & ours from the bridge to the bush. Rd. got some red
raspberry, black currants & gooseberry bushes from Geddes's. We planted some of them got a
waggon-load of bush soil & some evergreens to plant. The boys put 2 cows & 2 heifers out to stay.

Sat. 22 Pretty warm. P & Mamma were in P.E. Noble finished ploughing & they drew out manure.
Rowand was doing odd jobs too. Uncle Alfred's got some hay from us. B. {Bessie} Geddes has been
here a few minutes. Fred was outside to-day. A White frost this morning. Rowand has had a sore leg
lately.

May
Sun. May 23 Warm. A few short heavy showers. Uncle Alfred was here. The boys were at his place.
Oliver Geddes was here for dinner & tea. We were all at church except Noble. Rd. & Oliver were
there at night. I was at S.S. To-day is called Empire Sunday.
Mon 24 Misty at first. Warm. Rowand was working at the fence of the future lane across the creek.
Papa was helping him. Noble was working the land & we put in 3 rows of potatoes, some of them
early ones. Edgar was here. Rd. was fishing & Noble was away playing ball. I was at U.A’s. Isabel
was here. We worked in the flower-garden.
Tue 25 Warm. Papa & I were in P.E. after dinner. The boys were drawing out manure cutting
potatoes &e. Rowand was at the store. I was at a Missionary address and at the church buy Miss
Mitchel. Uncle Alf Arthur is here. Papa is not very well just now. We started putting cows outside all
night to separate 2 times per day. {In margin} We put in some flower seeds.
Wed. 26 Warm. Cool wind for a while. Mamma & I were at the store. Uncle Alfred was here & I was
at their place. We were working in the garden. We put in some mangles & carrots for seed.
Thur 27 A nice day. Our boys & Arthur & Edgar went to our other place to plant potatoes yesterday.
They hired A. Kerr's Planter. Rowand went to Christie's for all night & Edgar wheeled home. Arthur &
Noble stayed on the farm. They came home to-night. They planted

May
half an acre for each family. Mamma's Uncle Wm. Rowand is not well just now. Elmer Rowand died
lately. We were working in the garden. We planted sweet corn, beans, pumpkins & squash & citrons
& potato onions. Mc Laren's man put up a new eve-trough on the South side of our shed & a pipe
connecting the South side of the front of the house with the cistern. Uncle Alfred & Papa helped him.
Turned cold.
Fri. 28 A cold wind. The boys were drawing out manure. Rowand was at Uncle Alfred's. He has had
a cold for a while. Papa has a cough. Blossoms, some at least are out.

St. 29 Warm this morning. Not so warm this afternoon. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Noble was
disking. Rowand was working at the fence. Alice was here for a few minutes. A white frost this
morning. Rowand was sick this afternoon.
Sun. 30 Warm. I was at S.S. Papa, Mamma & I were at Dunblane church. Rowand is not well. Edgar
was here.
Mon. 31 Very warm. A few drops of rain. Noble

1920 May & June
was disking. Papa & Rowand were shelling corn. Papa & Mamma were at Uncle Walter
Gowanlock's. Uncle Gilbert & Aunt Jeannie started away to Western Canada to-day. Uncle Walter &
Aunt Mary are to start to morrow too. Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham, Mr. & Mrs. Adam Esplen & Mr & Mrs
Alec Lamont are to start away to-day by boat.
Tue, June 1 Very warm. Windy part of the time. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. {Port Elgin}. Noble was
sowing & planting flax-seed, beans & potatoes. Noble is not well. Rowand is getting better. Rowand
was shelling corn &c. Cooler to-night.
Wed. 2 Cool. Dull. Mist once & drizzle. Rowand & Papa were working at the fence & were at Jas.
Ferguson's at a tractor demonstration. Noble is away to Burgoyne. Uncle Alfred was here. Our
watermelons & cucumbers were sown to-day.
Thur. 3 Cold wind bright. The boys were helping Uncle Alfred to saw wood & were working at our
fence. Neither of them are well. Papa was not well to-night. Agnes was here. Georgina is in Port
Elgin with She has the mumps.

June 1920
Friday 4 Warmer than yesterday. Cloudy part of the time. Rowand was working at fencing &
cultivating. Noble worked part of the morning. He was not well. Rowand was pretty well except that
his lip was sore. Uncle Alfred was here.
Saturday 5 Dull partly. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. & the boys were fencing. Edgar was here.
Richard died lately Webb died lately.

Sunday 6 Bright. Cool wind. We were all at church except Noble. Service and S.S. were in the
afternoon on account of Mr. Strachan preaching the pulpit vacant in Port Elgin where Mr. Mann has
just left in Southampton where Mr. Soules has just left.
Monday 7 Pretty warm for a while. Thunder lightning & some rain to-night. Rowand was cultivating
the Summer-fallow. Noble was at the other place putting our cattle out of Karcher's. He & Papa were
putting up fences. Noble was at Burgoyne at the ball playing. Uncle Alfred was here.
Tuesday 8 Cool tho wind though warm. Papa & Rowand were in P.E. part of the day. Noble is 30
years

June 1920
old to-day. We gave him some money. Noble was at Southampton, A nice rain last night.
Wed. 9 Pretty hot at times. Papa & Rowand were in P.E. & at the other farm. Noble was sowing the
turnips & rolling some ground. Aunt Lizzie & Oliver were here. Rowand finished getting his teeth
fixed yesterday. Rowand was consulting Dr. Well about his leg that has been sore some time. Dr.
thinks it is rheumatism. The boys were fencing yest to-day & Rowand was yesterday. Noble was
carpentering yesterday.
Thur. 10 Very hot. Thunder & lightning to-night. An arora last night. The boys were fencing & working
on the ground. Papa was helping Rowand. He has lumbago.
Fri 11 A thunder storm last night. Rain through not as much as the last time. Warm to-day. The boys
were sharpening tools & Noble was working on the land & Rowand & Papa were doing carpenter
work. Edgar & Uncle Alfred were here. Mr. & Mrs. John Burgess from Bala & Mrs Carr were here. I
was at Uncle Alfred's.
Sat. 12 Very hot. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Noble got a load of gravel from Geo. Esplen's.
Rowand finished the thing like a stoneboat that

June
they have been making for logs. They skidded nearly all the logs they intended to do & brought
home a few poles. Thundering to-night Noble was working on the land Rowand was at a meeting in
P.E. of the Junior Farmer's Club. Mrs. Ed. Cook was buried to-day. Alice has the mumps just now. A
few sprinkles of rain. The boys put one of the calves in the orchard.

Sun. 13 A nice day. Not too cold or hot, Papa & Mamma & I were at church in the morning. Uncle
Alfred & Edgar were here. I was at S.S. We got rides in the morning with John Burgess. Mrs. & Mrs.
Burgess & Mrs. Carr intend to leave for Bala to-morrow. Misty this morning.
Monday 14 Rather hot. Misty this morning Rowand & Papa were clearing the horse stable to be
ready for cementing. Noble was drawing gravel from George Esplen's. Papa was not very well.
Uncle Alfred was here. I am 24 years old to-day. The boys gave me a gold brooch with a blue stone
in it. Papa & Mamma gave me $2.00 & some grey cloth for a dress. Agnes gave me a framed picture
of a girl's head. Coral McIver spoke to me on the

June
telephone to give me birthday wishes. Papa took a picture off Uncle Alfred’s bridge of the cows &
me.
Tuesday 15 Hot. Showers in the afternoon. Rain at night. Thunder & lightning. Noble was drawing
gravel. Rowand was working at the stable & helping Uncle Alfred to start making a ladder for us.
Papa is not well to-day yet He & Uncle Alfred were at Rt. Crawford's for tea. P
Wednesday 16 Cool. The boys got a load of stone from McCannel's & Noble was drawing out
manure to the buckwheat ground. Rowand was at P.E. & Southampton.
Thursday 17 Cold wind. Noble was cultivating the buckwheat ground & Rowand was at the other
place. In the afternoon Rowand was cultivating & Noble was fishing at snake creek but he did not get
any fish. Papa, Mamma & I were picking potato bugs. Papa & Mamma were at Geddes's. A thunder
storm to-night with some rain.
Fri 18 Bright. Cold wind. The boys were working at the stable. Papa was at Uncle Alfred's. Papa & I
went into Bruce a little further than Underwood & back again in an auto in the afternoon.
Sat. 19 Bright. Not hot. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Noble sowed the buckwheat & worked on the
ground for it. Rowand was working at the at the stable & was scuffling. Noble is away to Burgoyne
to-night.

June
Oliver called here on the way to church.

Sunday 20 We were all at church in the morning except Noble. Raining to-night.
Monday 21 Rained quite a lot last night & the most of to-day. The boys were doing odd jobs. Noble
was at Uncle Alfred's.
Tuesday 22 Rained last night some & this morning some. Bright this afternoon. Edgar & Uncle Alfred
were here. The boys were working at odd jobs. Noble was at Burgoyne. The cistern at the house got
not very far from full about 8 in. from the top. The water leaks out after it gets up a certain distance.
Cool to-day. Mamma was sick yesterday. She was very dizzy when she got out of bed in the
morning. Uncle Alfred finished our ladder Monday.
Wednesday 23 Bright. Cool wind. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. part of the day. Rowand was in with
Edgar in the waggon after dinner. The boys were doing odd jobs. We picked some wild strawberries
to-day for using for the first time. Wild & Garden ones are a good crop. Wild ones are big. We have
no garden ones, except a few. Noble was away for a drive. Edgar was here.
Thursday 24 Beautiful day. Rowand got 2 pigs from Peirson's 2 months old for $7 a piece. Noble
was at the farm in & in P.E. with part of mower. Edgar

June
Was here. Papa picked wild strawberries. Uncle Andrew hurt his muscles in his sides to-day. was
here. The boys were cutting hay around the house & Noble was wee cutting the thistles. He got
some furniture varnish from a peddlar to-day.
Fri. 25 Papa & the boys were cutting thistles & raking hay. Noble took the mower that we got at
Gammie's sale to P.E. & traded it for a new “Ideal Giant {illegible}" mower. We got $10 for the old
one the price of the new one was $92.75. It is a 5 ft. one. The boys were at Burgoyne Garden Party.
Over $2.00 taken at the gate.
Sat.26 Hot this afternoon. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Noble & Rd. were at the other place cutting,
raking & coiling part of alfalfa. Noble took the new mower there from P.E. yesterday. Noble was at
Burgoyne to-night. We bought 10 boxes of strawberries/5c per box. Rowand called at Burgoyne.
Sun.27 Rather hot. Cool breeze. Papa, Mamma & I were at church in the forenoon. I was at S.S.
Oliver Geddes was here for dinner. Uncle Alfred was here. Mr. Strachan wanted the service special
as it was 1 yr. since the Memorial Tablet was put in the church. No service at night.

Mon. 28 Very hot. Thundering a little in afternoon. Thunder & lightning & a little shower in the
evening. Some rain through night. Papa was cutting thistles.
the night. Rowand went over to the other place Noble was scuffling & then he went too.
Tuesday 29 Showery. The boys came home. Papa & I were in P.E. in the afternoon. Uncle Andrew
& Aunt Minnie & Uncle Alfred were here in the evening. The boys were cleaning fall wheat for sale.
Wednesday 30 Noble took 30 bushels of Wheat to P.E. for $1.95 & the certificate. Rowand finished
pigpen & wheeled to Southampton. Noble was cutting thistles. They went to the other place in the
evening. Fine & warm. We sold the red & white heifers of $13.90 per cwt. to M. Chappelle. Papa was
cutting thistles. We were picking wild strawberries.
Thursday July 1 Fine & warm. A celebration at P. Elgin & Owen Sound to-day. The three of us were
at Uncle Alfred's in the evening. Papa was cutting thistles. We were picking wild strawberries.
Friday July 2 Hot. Rain last night with thunder & lightning. The boys came home. They were cleaning
grain & weeding. Papa was cutting thistles. Pat Cumming from B.C. was here.
Saturday 3 A mist last night. Got quite cool to-day. The boys were at the other place. The alfalfa is
all cut. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Mamma's Uncle William Rowand's funeral was to-

July
day in Brant. He died suddenly on Thursday. One of Wm. Karcher's children is dead. Third form
scholars at High School finished examinations a week ago Friday. Thunder & a rainbow this
morning.
Sunday July 4 Cold. We were all at church in the morning except Noble. He & Rd. were there in the
evening. Mr. Budge was preaching at night. I was at S.S. Uncle Alfred was here. Mr. & Mrs. John
Burgess, Mr. & Mrs. Graham (Tom Burgess in Southampton's daughter from same family) & Mr.
Edge & all from Durham were here.
Monday July 5 Warm. Papa was cutting thistles & we were weeding mangles. The boys went to the
other place. Sam Schwas & family are visiting around just now.
Tue. July 6 Dull. Mist & a little rain. Some showers last night. Rowand came home to-day. He, Papa
& I were weeding a little. We preserved 2 qrts of wild strawberries. this year. Uncle Alfred was here.
Cool.

Thur. 8 Warm partly. Papa & Uncle Alfred were in P.E. in the morning. Uncle Alfred was here for
dinner. We were weeding & scuffling. Rowand is away to the other place.

July
George Esplen died lately of appendicitis. A few drops of rain to-day. Thunder to-day.
Fri. 9 Dull, then cleared up. Noble drove home & wheeled back to the other place. They had no hay
drawn in when he was here. They have the alfalfa and part of clover cut. They took the heifers to
Turner's Station to-day. The white one weighed 1010 lbs & the red one 1050 lbs. Our garden is poor
in parts. We have a calceolaria & acatia in flower. Agnes was here. She is taking music lessons this
summer. Uncle Alfred was here he & Papa were at George Esplen's funeral. Neil D. McDonald's son
died of appendicitis. Our crops are looking better than they were.
Saturday 10 Rather hot. Bright. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. The boys have 4 loads of alfalfa in to
the barn on the other place & brought 1 load home. There are 9 acres of alfalfa, 9 acres of clover & 9
acres of timothy on other place. The boys were coiling to-day.
Sun.11 Hot. Papa & Mamma were not at church as they were not well. The boys were there in the
evening too. I was at S.S. Mr. Budge of Hamilton was preaching. Uncle Alfred, Arthur, Edgar &
Oliver Geddes were here. Mr. Strachan is away on at least part of his holiday.

1920 July
Mon. July 12 Some rain last night & this morning. Thunder. Bright & hot this afternoon. The boys
were doing odd jobs & Noble was in P.E. He got a barrel of salt costing $3.25. Rowand was helping
Uncle Alfred to put roofing on their barn after dinner. Noble was at Uncle Alfred's & Edgar & Alice
were here. Alice was here. Our hen-house got sprayed again to-day. I got a new Testament from B.
Geddes (for my birthday.) to-day.
Tuesday 13 Wed 14 Mist & drizzling this morning. Bright this afternoon. Cool since the mist. Windy.
A shower at other place last night. A few drops here with lightning. Mamma finished singling turnips.
Papa was cutting thistles. The boys came home. They cut part of clover here & weeded a little corn.
A little shower last night & lightning. A shower at other place last night. They got 5 loads of hay in
yesterday.

Tue. 13 Very hot. We finished singling turnips A cool wind this afternoon & Papa was cutting thistles.
Kitty had 4 kittens a while ago. Arthur sprayed their & our potatoes, at other place. I have not kept a
record of our kittens.
Thur. 15 Cool, bright & windy. Noble finished cutting the clover here & went to other place. Rowand
went in morning. Papa was cutting thistles & we were

July
weeding things & picking wild strawberries. We got enough for tea & 3/4 of a qt. preserved. Isabel
was here. We have been making a pair of overalls for me out of shirting at 45c per yd. We have not
finished them yet. The boys were at Christie's on Friday. There have been a lot of appendicitis cases
for a piece around lately. Looked like rain. Said to be coldest days in July for a long time.
Friday 16 Cool & bright. The boys came home this afternoon & brought a load of alfalfa. The have all
the alfalfa & clover in on other place now, 4 Loads of clover & 10 1/2 of alfalfa in all. The boys were
raking & coiling tonight here. Uncle Alfred, Alice & Edgar were here & Florence & Robbie Geddes
were here. We got the potatoes & beans finished weeding & Papa finished the thistles in the field he
was at. I helped Mamma with weeding the garden. An aurora last night. Looked like rain. Cool wind.
Rowand was not feeling very well. Robbie got word to-day that he had passed the Entrance
examination to High School. Rd. got his leg jagged with pitch fork.
Sat. 17 Rather hot. Bright. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rd. was at Lockerby for chop. The boys
finished coiling hay. Noble sprayed the potatoes.

1920 July
Sunday 18 About 1 in. of rainfall here last night & this morning. Thunder. Bright in the afternoon.
Some of the rain fell pretty heavily. Papa, Mamma & I were at church in the morning. The boys were
there at night. Mr Padden from Milverton preached. Edg The boys were at Uncle Alfred's. Uncle
Alfred was here. Cool.
Monday 19 Warm. Dull this morning, drizzled a little bit. Bright in afternoon. Edgar was here. Noble
is away to Burgoyne. Rowand was sick last night & this morning he did not eat any breakfast. Some
better now. Wm. English is at Christie's just now. Noble cut part of timothy & he & Rowand did odd
jobs. Rowand was cutting some weeds & cutting a little hay with the scythe. He was not able to work
much. Papa was cutting weeds.

Tuesday 20 Rather hot. Bright. Noble was spraying the potatoes on other place & he raked all &
coiled part of timothy here. Papa, Mamma & I were weeding. Rowand had the pain again last night &
to-day again. Papa was coiling hay.
Wed. 21 Dull. Cool & part of the time misty this morning. Bright & warm this afternoon.

July
Papa & the boys were working at the hay. Mamma & I were weeding. There was a humming bird
around the house yesterday & to-day. We have a few garden flowers in bloom. We sowed beets 3
different times, just a few of first ones came up, dutch set, & potato & onions & carrots & radishes
look well. Beans look as if they are doing well. Corn is scarce. We have not eaten any lettuce yet.
Mangles & beets for seed are growing well. We have a calceolaria, a Pansy germanium & {acatos?}
flower in the house in flower. Mrs. John Goar of Port Elgin (John Goar's mother), John Lamont of
Red Deer & Albert M. Fluke of Pontiac Mich. all died lately. Albert Fluke was drowned. We have
some house flowers in bloom outside.
Thur. 22 Rather hot. Bright. Papa & the boys were working at the hay & Papa was weeding besides
doing his own work very nearly every day. Mamma & I were weeding. I was at Uncle Alfred's &
Edgar & Uncle Alfred were here. Rowand has threatened with the pain this evening. Alice brought us
some raspberries to-day to us. Word was in the papers to-night that Helen & Laurier Christie had
passed the Lower School Examinations. P Lightning last night or night before.

July
Friday 23 Saturday 24 Rained some a good bit of the day. Thundery. Noble was doing odd jobs.
They took all of the load of hay. Rowand was not well enough to work very much. He did not eat any
dinner. Noble was at Uncle Alfred's & Uncle Alfred & Edgar were here. Noble was at Burgoyne.
Rowand was helping to grind a knife. Lightning last night or night before.
Sat. 24 Rained a little in the morning. Bright afterwards. Cool. Papa & I were in P.E. The boys were
raking hay & they brought in one load of hay, The last of the clover here. Mamma & Rowand
sprayed the potatoes. & the boys were grinding the mower & cement from Brigden's. Rowand feels
better than yesterday. Rowand was turning hay out. Yesterday Mamma gathered some caraway
seed.

Sun. 25 Cool & bright. Papa, Mamma & I were at church & I was at S.S. Uncle Alfred & Arthur were
here. O. {Oliver} Geddes was here. Papa was not well to-day. The boys were at Uncle Alfred's.
Mon. 26 Bright & cool. The boys were working at the hay & weeding. We picked some wild
strawberries to-day. Mr. Sayles sold "The Port Elgin Times" editorship to Mr. Wesly this summer.
Mrs Walter Rowand's father, Peter McIntosh was

July
killed last week by falling off a load of hay. The black calf & red calf were outside to-night for the first
night for pasturing. Arthur was here to-night.
Tuesday 27 Bright, warmer. I was picking berries. Noble took the waggon & rake to the other place
this afternoon. They raked the 2nd rakings & took them in {illegible} on one field. Rowand was
scuffling the corn & fixing a fence. Papa was working at the fence & weeding & Mamma was
weeding. Edgar was here. Hay done here except timothy seed. Uncle Alfred's are taking off hay for
E. Ferguson on shares & put in grain on shares this year. broke a blue and white bowl to-day that we
have had some for some time.
Wednesday 28 Rained a little in the forenoon. Cleared up at noon. Thundered some after dinner &
before. Papa & Rowand were doing odd jobs. In the afternoon Rowand & I went to the Rowand
picnic {in margin: about 90 at picnic} at Nelson's Grove at P.E. Elgin. Uncle Alfred & Edgar were
here. A few drops of rain after dinner. Rowand was at Uncle Alfred's. Mamma was weeding corn. I
got 3 quarts of preserved raspberries yesterday to preserve. Papa & Rowand were fixing fence. A
few drops of rain in afternoon.
Thur. 29 Rather hot this afternoon. A very high wind. A bi Showery this morning. Bright {added in at
bottom: Papa & Mamma finished weeding the corn practically.}

July
part of afternoon. A big branch blew off one of our little apple trees to-day. Rowand, Arthur & Edgar
went over to the other place to-day to work on the hay. Arthur & Edgar came home to-night. I was
picking berries. Agnes & Isabel were here. Rowand was at Uncle Alfred's. Florence & Robert
Geddes & Wm. English were here to-day. Sarah Kennedy, daughter of the late Wm. Kennedy died
lately. Papa & Mamma were weeding & Papa was working at a fence. The co Thundering. We tried
new potatoes to-day.

Fri. 30 Bright in the forenoon. Thunder & rain in afternoon. Not much rain though heavy. rather hot.
The boys came home to-night. There are 51 loads of hay in all of this first crops cuttings. 14 1/2
loads of timothy off q ac. {quarter acre} and a gully on the other place. Noble has not been well.
Mamma was not well yesterday. I was picking berries. 74 degrees In shade at noon at Uncle
Alfred's. We had some apple-sauce yesterday. 17 load hay here & 34 other place.
Sat. 31 A cold wind. Bright. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. The boys put the red calf & black calves
into orchard. Rowand was patching wood-shed roof & doing other things. He is away to Burgoyne tonight. Edgar was here. Nights are always

July & August
cool this Summer. We had 9 ac. of alfalfa, 15 loads off it, 9 ac of clover, 14 loads off it a little over 9
ac. of timothy, 14 loads off it on other place. 9 ac. of timothy 11 loads off it 7 ac. of clover 9 loads off
it on this place. Arthur was here.
Sun. Aug. 1 Dull & Quite cold. A little shower. Papa & Mamma & I were at church & I was at S.S.
Uncle Alfred & O. {Oliver} Geddes were here. Our boys were at Uncle Alfred's.
Mon. 2 A rain last night. Bright partly. Noble was working at the Summer-fallow & scuffling Rowand
was doing various things & after dinner he stooked the Fall wheat at the other place. Cairnses cut it.
Papa was helping Rowand, picking wild gooseberries & c. Mamma & I were picking raspberries.
Noble was at Uncle Alfred's.
T Thursday 3 Bright. Warmer than Monday. A little frost last night. Papa & Rowand were in P.E. &
Papa was weeding. Noble was scuffling & he & Rowand were at the bush getting logs for the bridge
& the stable. Mamma & I were picking berries. Rowand is at Uncle Alfred's. O. Geddes & Uncle
Alfred were here. Papa was not very well last night or to-day.
Wed. 4 Rather hot. Bright. The boys were working at the bridge. Papa, Mamma & I were

August
weeding mangles & picking wild gooseberries. Uncle Alfred was here. July was said to be the
coldest month July month for 33 years. The most rainfall for July for 22 years. Rowand was weeding.

Thur. 5 Pretty hot. The boys were preparing to cement the stable. Papa was helping the boys

weeding and helping us to wash the buggy. We were weeding. Arthur, Edgar Georgina & Helen
Cameron were here. Noble is better to-day than he has been for a week.
Fri. 6 Hot. The boys were working at the stable. Edgar was helping them. Uncle Alfred was helping
some. Papa was weeding the rest of the mangles. He & Noble were at the other place. Georgina
passed the Middle School Exams with Honors. Mary Alice passed ul {unless?} in History.
Thundering to-day.
Sat. 7 Very hot. A thunder storm this morning with some rain. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Arthur &
Edgar were helping our boys with the cementing. Noble is away to P.E. to-night. We have used
some potatoes, they are very poor.
Sun. 8 Very hot. Thunder storm with a little rain. We were all at church in the morning but Noble. I
was

August
at S.S. O. Geddes was here for dinner & supper & Uncle Alfred was here to-day.
Mon. 9 Some sprinkles of rain. Not so very hot. Arthur, Edgar & our boys were cementing. I was
picking berries. We used first green peas to-day. Uncle Alfred was here. The boys are at the river tonight. Mrs. Reed died this morning. Papa & the boys were doing other things.
Tue.10 Dull in the morning. Bright after dinner. Warm. Papa was in P.E with Arthur in the morning.
Noble was in with waggon. The boys & I were at S.S. picnic at Peirson's. Noble We were all at U.A's
{Alfred’s} to say good-bye to Arthur but were not there long. Papa was weeding & doing other things.
Hugh McGillivray died lately. Mrs. Neil Bell died lately. Joe Lyness has been pretty sick with
appendicitis. Mrs. John W. Leeds died lately. Rowand was doing various things.
Wed. 11 Hot. Dull partly. The boys were weeding & doing the cementing where the forms were. After
dinner they were at the other place. They got 2 loads of F. {Fall?} wheat taken in. Part of the
afternoon Rowand was at Christie's at some stock judging. We were reading. Uncle Alfred was here.
He & Papa were at Mrs. Reid's funeral. Georgina passed the Matriculation Examination. I was at the
Bible Society meeting.
August

Thur. 12 Hot. Dull partly. A heavy mist this morning. The boys finished taking in the wheat & brought
home a load of alfalfa. Rowand was home at noon & weeded a little. We were weeding. I was at
Geddes’s. Garnet Mitchel died lately. There were 4 loads of wheat.
Fri. 13 Very hot. Dull partly. Thundering. The boys & Papa were weeding & the boys were cutting &
stooking the timothy hay for seed. Noble was at the river Uncle Alfred & Edgar were here. Mr. Jos
Lyness died about 9: 30 A.M. from appendicitis.
Sat. 14 Some rain & thunder throught the night. Hot to-day with some sprinkles of rain. Papa & I
were in Port Elqin. Mary Jane Esplen died this morning of heart failure. She was Henry Esplen’s
daughter. The boys were helping to churn & doing odd jobs. Noble was at Burgoyne.
Sun. 15 Sun hot & wind cool. Papa, Rowand & I were at church in the morning I was at S.S. A Lord's
Day Alliance man was speaking. There was not {under “was not” : (in afternoon)} service at night or
at Dunblane. Uncle Alfred {under “Uncle Alfred” : (in afternoon)}was here. Noble and Rowand were
at Jos. Lyness’s funeral. Donnie & Loy Christie were here for tea.

August
Mon. Aug. 16 Hot. Dull partly. The boys cut & stooked the barley & were doing odd jobs & weeding.
Uncle Alfred was here. He & Papa were at Mary Jane Esplen's funeral. Edgar was here. Mamma & I
were picking berries. Alice was here.
Tue. 17 Hot. Rowand went to the other place. Noble took 2 pigs about 10 months old to town. They
weighed 410 lbs. to-gether & we got $18.75 per cwt. for them. Noble & I were picking berries &
Noble was helping Uncle Alfred after dinner. We got about 27 qts. of raspberries preserves this year.
Papa was not well to-day.
Wed. 18 Hot. Noble went to the other place. He & Rowand came home to-night. Uncle Alfred was
here. I was at Uncle Alfred's. Papa was weeding. Papa & I were away for a drive through by Mc
Taggart's around the block. Mamma was not well to-day.
Thur.19 Very hot. Papa & Noble were weeding & Noble was cutting again. Rowand & Papa were
doing carpenter work. Rowand & I were at other place getting apples & coiling hay. Edgar was here.
Rowand was stooking. Mrs. Chas. Bailey & Isabel Burgess were here.
Fri. 20 Very hot. Windy. The boys were working at the grain. Uncle Harold came to Uncle Alfred's

August

last night from St. Catharines. He was here to-day. We put our black heifer into the beef-ring y this
week.
Sat. 21 Very hot at first. Turned cool in the afternoon. A little thunder & rain. Mist in the evening.
Papa & Mamma were in P.E. The boys were working at the grain part of the day. Rowand was
working at pictures. Uncle Alfred was here. Windy. Some rain last night. Uncle Harold was helping
the boys.
Sun. 22 A cold wind. Bright. We were all at church in the morning except Mamma. She was not well.
The boys were at S church at night & I was at S.S. It was the Anniversary service. Rev. J. C
{Tolmie?} was preaching. Uncle Alfred & Uncle Harold were here. The boys were at Uncle Alfred's. I
go there nearly every Sunday to get to S.S.
Mon. 23 Bright & cool. Noble was in P.E. He & Rowand were swe stooking, bringing in the rest of the
barley (3 loads in all) bringing in the timothy hay seed & doing odd jobs. The boys are away to other
place to-night. Uncle Harold was here. Uncle Abram came here to-day. He has been down from the
West a week or two. Grass hoppers are bad around here this year. A white frost last night. Papa was
helping the boys.

August
T Tue.24 Cool. Rather dull. Uncle Abram went away to-day. The boys came home. Uncle Harold
was here. The boys brought in 1 load of grain here. Noble was at Burgoyne.
Wed.25 Hotter to-day. A cool breeze. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Uncle Harold was here Rowand
was helping Edgar in the morning. We got our field across the creek cut. Oliver, Alice & Robbie
Geddes were here. Uncle Alfred was here. Mamma is getting better.
Thur. 26 Hot. Dull. Mamma was at Geddes's & Uncle Harold was here. Noble finished cutting the
grain & Rowand & Papa were stooking. Something is broken about the binder so that it took him a
long time to get it moved this morning. Papa & Mamma sprayed the potatoes. We canned some
beans to-day. Aunt Lizzie gave me a white primrose plant to-day for a birthday present.
Fri. 27 Pretty hot. Dull partly. The boys were stooking & drawing in grain. Papa was helping them.
We pulled the duchess & part of the astrachan apples. 1/2 barrell of duchess. Uncle Harold is here
to stay all night. Thundering this morning. Edgar was here.
Sat. 28 Hot. A couple of sprinkles. Thunder & lightning. Papa & I were in P.E. Uncle Harold & the
boys were

August
drawing in grain. 6 loads of grain in. 5 loads of barley & oats off about 3 1/2 acres. I saw my first
skunk to-day.
Sun. 29 Hot. Mamma & Noble & I were at church in the morning. Mr. {blank space} from {blank
space} was preaching. I was at S. S. Uncles Alfred & Harold were here for tea. Edgar was here &
Noble was at Uncle Alfred's.
Mon. 30 - Hot & very windy. The boys & Papa were drawing in grain. Uncle Alfred & Harold were
here. Uncle Alfred took Uncle Harold to P.E. {Port Elgin} today to go on the train to Montreal & the
boat from there to the old country. O. {Oliver} Geddes was here. Thundering.
Tue. 31 A rain last night. Cool & a high wind. Papa was working at the grain. The boys were working
the Summer-fallow, raking, bringing home a load from the field & doing other things. Alice was here.
Wed. Sept. 1 Cool & bright. Said to be frost last night, don't know whether there was any here or not.
Papa & Mamma were in P.E. after dinner. Noble was helping Edgar. Rowand was at other place &
was cutting clover here for seed. He & Noble brought in some grain. Papa helped Rd. to unload 1
load. Georgina was here & Noble was at the field accross the creek, 10 loads of oats off {blank
space} acres
September
in the field SW of front lane. Papa was sharpening mower knife.
Thurs 2 Bright & cool. Rowand was helping Edgar & Noble was ploughing the Summer fallow &
doing odd jobs. Papa was helping off with 1 load, Noble & Rowand brought in some S. wheat. Papa
was stooking on Tuesday, 60 some stooks. He may have done other work besides his own.
Friday 3 Bright & warmer than yesterday. Noble was helping Edgar. Uncle Abram was here & Aunt
Lizzie & Florence were here. Papa & Rowand took off a load. {written in margin - Papa may have
done other work to-day besides his own}. Rowand & Uncle Abram brought in a load. Rowand
brought in the rest of the S. wheat. Less than 3 loads of S. wheat off {blank space} acres. Rowand
was raking the clover for seed & he & Papa coiled it. We made cucumber pickles to-day & apple-jelly
yesterday. Rundel liniment agent was here yesterday. Frost the last three nights. Papa generally
helps to take off the loads.

Sat. 4 Warm part of the time. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. The boys finished drawing in the grain
except some of the rakings. Ice some places on Thursday morning. 38 loads of grain alltogether. 8
loads of peas & oat grain off almost 5 1/2 ac.
Sun. 5 A few drops of rain We were all at church in the morning except Noble, he & Rowand were
there at night. A Dominion
September
Alliance man was speaking. I was at S.S. Uncle Alfred was here. Papa was not very well to-day.
Oliver Geddes was here. Cool to-day.
Mon. 6 Dull & windy. Noble finished ploughing the Summer fallow. Rowand & Papa were working at
the horse stables. Edgar was here. Noble is away to Burgoyne. Rowand was doing odd jobs.
Margaret McVinnie daughter of John McVinnie died on Aug. 26 from appendicitis. A little rain last
night. Papa was turning over some rakings.
Tue. 7 Dull. A cool wind. Rain some on Mon. night. The boys were taking manure to the Summerfallow. Uncle Alfred was here & Rowand is at Uncle Alfred's. Robert & Florence Geddes started to
High School to-day at P.E. Samuel F. Barwash died lately. Mo
Wed. 8 Warm. The boys were drawing out manure & brought in the barley rakings & the clover 1
load. Noble is away to Southampton & Rowand to the Burgoyne meeting. Mamma & I were at Uncle
Alfred's for plums. Mrs. John Schwass & Dorothy were here. Papa was turning out the hay. Mamma
was not well yesterday or to-day. I have generally been putting down when our boys & Uncle Alfred's
boys are only a few minutes to visit one another. R
September
Thur. 9 Warm & like rain. Noble took threshing wood to other place & brought home wheat from
Cairns to sow. He brought home some of our blue & yellow plums. Rowand & Noble were getting
threshing wood for here & doing other things. I had my supper at Uncle Alfred's. A few drops of rain
to-night. Papa was helping the boys.
Fri. 10 Warm. Noble was at Geddes's threshing after dinner. Rowand was working the Summer
fallow. Papa was cutting weeds. I was helping Aunt Lizzie. Mamma preserved 15 quarts of yellow
plums yesterday. Uncle Alfred was here. Noble was treating the wheat & doing other things.

Sat. 11 Warm, windy & dull a good bit. A little rain. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. They were at Uncle
Alfred's to-night. Mrs. Wm. Sharpe, her daughter Mrs. Smith & her son Calvin are at Uncle Alfred's.
Rowand was at Geddes's threshing & Noble sowed the wheat. Uncle Alfred was here. 4 Acres of
Fall wheat we have. Thunder & lightning.
Sun. 12 Dull & hot. We were all at church in the morning & the boys were there at night. Mr. {blank
space} from {blank space} was preaching. I was at S.S. Rowand was at Geddes's for dinner. Uncle
Alfred, Isabel, Earl Jacklin, Mrs. Sharpe,

September
Mrs. Smith, Calvin Smith & Miss Higgadore were here. A thunder storm last night with a very high
wind. Cool at night.
Mon.13 Bright, sun hot but air fresh. Rowand was at Geddes’s & John Schwass’s at the threshing.
Noble took the pig belonging to the set that the other 2 belonged to, to P.E. It weighed 190 lbs. &
brought $17.75 per cwt. Flour costs $7.75 per cwt. We had cucumbers of our own this year. We had
some good radishes this year. Noble was running the water furrows in the wheat & he & Papa were
grinding the binder knife. A rain last night. Aunt Lizzie & Bessie were here. Bessie got home on
Saturday. A barn in Amabel was burnt yesterday having been struck with lightning. Mrs. Alex
Campbell, Saugeen died on Sat. night. Pig was about 11 months old.
Tue.14 Bright. Yesterday & to-day were lovely days. Noble was at the threshing & cut some of our
flax. Rowand worked at the flax & they were working at the binder & Papa & Rowand were working
at a reach for the waggon & grinding. Agnes was here and Papa was at Uncle Alfred’s.
Wed.15 Hot & windy. Like rain. Papa & Mamma were in P.E after din & I was at Southampton

September
with Agnes. Noble went to other place. He, Papa & Rowand were fixing the waggon. Rowand was
working at the flax & taking water out of the cistern. Agnes was here. Agnes & I called at Jos.
Chappell’s.
Sept. 16 Thur Very windy, a cold wind tonight. A thunderstorm last night with a high wind and some
rain. Rowand plastered the cistern worked at the stable &c. He & I were at other place for plums & to
help Noble to put on a load of hay. Frank Stanley’s barn was burnt last night. Uncle Abram went to
Toronto last week & is around here again now. Uncle Alfred was here.

Sept. 17 Fri A cool wind. Bright. Rowand was at Uncle Alfred’s threshing at Ferguson's place. Noble
came home. He got threshing wood ready for other place & he & Papa were tying & stooking at the
flax. Mamma & I were at Geddes’s.
Sept. 18 Sat. Warm then turned cool. Wind quite cold to-night. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Noble
was at the threshing & was stooking flax & buckwheat Rowand was at working at the flax &
buckwheat.
Sept. 19 Sun. Cold & bright. A hard frost. Ice. We were all at church in the morning & I was

September
at S.S. Mr Taylor of Moorefield preached. Uncle Alfred was here. The boys were at church at night.
Mon. 20 Some drops of rain. Very dull & cold. The boys finished the buckwheat put up the fence
around the garden & worked at another & I was at Uncle Alfred's. Uncle Alfred was here. I was at
Uncle Sandy's to say good-bye to Bessie who was to go to Toronto to-day. Uncle Abram was here
for dinner & supper.
Tue 21. Warm & bright. The boys took a load of threshing wood to other place & brought home a
load of hay. The boys were cutting corn & plastering the cistern. We picked some of our crab apples.
Papa helped the boys take off the load. I was at Ed. Schwass's. The hay is the 2nd. crop of alfalfa
that was cut before & 1 load out last week.
Wed. 22 Very hot & bright. The boys were at other place with wood & getting hay & brought in the
flax ^ {Above it reads: here} 1 load & out corn. Papa was working in the mow, The boys are away to
Burgoyne & Alec was here. Papa has been feeling better than he was a week ago. Uncle Gilbert &
Aunt Jeannie Christie came home from the West the night before last. Rowand hurt his knee & arm
by falling off the wheel to-day. Mr. Peirson had an operation lately for cancer of the hip. Hazel

September
Moore was married lately to Bert Byers.
Thur. 23 Very hot, some wind. Papa & I were in P.E. part of the day. The boys brought a load of hay
from other place. They were working at the corn, fixing the pump at the barn & the cistern pipe at the
house. Papa was helping them. I was at Uncle Alfred's. Mamma was not very well to-day. I was at

Mrs. John Forrester's & Uncle J. Gowanlock's. The cat had 5 kittens on Monday. Mamma preserved
blue plums yesterday & made plum & crab apple (minced) jelly to-day.
Fri. 24 Very hot. The boys finished the corn & were fish-ing at the river. The {they} got 4 bass, the
biggest one weighing 2lbs. -1oz. We started picking winter beans to-day. Uncle Alfred & Edgar were
here. Duncan Campbell had {scratched out} a piece raised to his barn to-day.
Sat. 25 Very hot. Noble was at Geddes' silo filling. He was doing other things & Rowand was taking
wood to the church. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. We made govenor sauce yesterday. Our balsams
were frozen last Saturday night. Our asters have been flowering for a while. Mamma & Noble were
not very well to-day. Noble is away to Burgoyne. Wm. Burgess' son Tom was in the office to-day.
Mist at first to-day.

September
Sun. 26 Very hot. Thunder & lightning in the evening. Uncle Alfred was here. The boys were at P.E.
church at night. No service was held at Burgoyne or Dunblane as Mr. Strachan was not able to be
back to preach.
Mon. 27 Showers to-day. A little rain last night. Thunder & lightning. Cooler to-day. The boys took
the last wood to the church & brought home threshing wood. Noble went to Geddes's & at Burgoyne
& Edgar was here. Papa & the boys were working at the stable. Our water-melons & cucumbers
were frozen We a week ago Saturday. We dried corn & preserved some peaches, peaches $1.10
per basket. Noble has a sore shoulders to-day.
Tue. 28 Bright partly. Windy. A little shower. Papa & Mamma were at Christie's & our other place.
The boys took Northgrave's wood to P.E. & took a cooking stove to other place from P.E. We got it
second hand for $12. Rowand stayed over to cut seed alfalfa clover.
Wed. 29 Cold wind. Showery. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rowand came home. Edgar was here.
Noble was working around the barn. A rainbow this evening. Uncle Alfred was here. Hail to-day.
Thur. 30 Cold. Showery. Very dull. Papa & Rowand were
working at the horse stable. Noble was cultivating & doing other things & was at Mrs. Geo Esplen's
sale. He got some little things. Uncle Alfred was here.

Fri. Oct. 1 Cold. Rained all day. Rained last night. Snow mixed with the rain. Papa & the boys were
working at the horse stable. They put the horses into it. This is the first night for the cows to stay in
all night. Rowand was at Uncle Alfred's & Edgar was here. We harvested 11 qts. of crab preserves.
Sat. 2 Rained last night & rained some this morning. Bright this afternoon. Not as cold as yesterday.
Snow 2 in. deep at Bruce Twp. yesterday. Noble was at Dick's threshing & was doing odd jobs.
Rowand was at the office. Papa was at home as he was not well last night or to-day. Uncle Alfred
was here. Branches broken off trees at Owen Sound so heavy with fruit & snow. Noble is at
Burgoyne. Our cistern was runng {running} over to-day. Mamma has had a sore back lately.
Sun. 3 Rained last night & a little to-day. Rather cold. I was at S.S. & Mamma & I were

October
at church. Mr. Strachan was preaching. Uncle Alfred was here & Noble was at Uncle Alfred’s. Our
well has water in it just now. There was no service to-night. Rowand fell into the creek to-night day.
Mon. 4 Bright partly. Noble started to plough. Rowand was working at the stable & Uncle Alfred was
here & Rowand is away to Geddes' & to concert in P.E. Cool & windy.
Tue. 5 Dull partly. Rather cold. Rowand went to other place & Noble ploughed & helped Mamma to
bring home the rest of the beans. Isabel & Agnes were here & Noble was at the beef ring meeting at
Uncle Alfred's.
Wed. 6 Bright. A beautiful day. Uncle Alfred's & Noble & I went to our other place to digging
potatoes. Noble stayed over to-night. Rowand came home. We packed our Winter eggs last week. A
white frost last night. We started to dry crabs ap {apples?} last week. Warm. Noble was at Christie's
to-night.
Thur. 7 Bright & nice. Rowand was at Jas. Ferguson's threshing. I went over to other place with
Isabel & Agnes. We took up the rest of the potatoes except what will harrow up. Noble came home
to-night. Warm.
Fr. 8 Bright & warm. Rowand was at the threshing & he & I took up the potatoes here about 3 1/2
{illegible} sacks & 1/2 sack of early ones. Noble was at other place harrowing

October

the potatoes ground. There were about 50 1/2 bags from there. Noble, Rowand & Papa got some
sticks from the bush & the boys brought in loads of buckwheat. Papa is able to do more now than at
the beginning of the week.
Saturday 9 Bright & pretty warm. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rowand helped Noble to unload a
load of buckwheat & to take in another load & then he went to Sam Shaw Smith's threshing. Noble
took in the rest of the buckwheat & put up 2 props at the driving shed on other place. He brought
home the rest of the potatoes. Agnes was here for a few minutes. Mrs. Kate Jos. Collard & Finlay
McLennan died lately.
Sunday 10 A beautiful day warm & bright. Mamma & I were at church in the morning & I was at S.S.
Uncle Alfred & O. Geddes were here.
Monday Oct. 11 Warm, rained a lot. Papa & I were in P.E. in the afternoon. Papa, Mamma, Rowand
& I were shelling some beans. The boys were doing other things & the Noble was at Uncle Alfred's
and away buying pigs, Noble was in Southampton. He bought 8 from Gottlieb DamHausen. Rowand
has a cold just now. Mamma planted a yellow rose & s {blank space} bush. Thundering to-day.

October
Tue. Oct. 12 Pretty warm, bright. Noble was ploughing. Rowand & Papa were doing carpenter work
& Rowand was helping Mamma & me to pick some snow apples. Papa was at Uncle Alfred's.
Wed. 13 Warm & bright. Noble was ploughing. Rowand was doing carpenter work & was at other
place. Papa & Uncle Alfred were in P.E. in the morning. Papa Mamma & I were picking apples. We
have 3 llbs barrels at any rate of pulled snows from here & about 17 pails of Alexanders. Noble is
away to Burgoyne. Lightning to-night.
Thur. 14 Warm & bright. Noble was ploughing here & coiling part of seed clover at other place.
Rowand cut the seed clover here & ploughed some. Thundering. Our campanula has been in flower
for a good while. We bought a {blank space} cook stove a few weeks ago from John George for $72
belonged to ?. Windy. Papa was working outside.
Fri. 15 Hot. Windy. Noble was ploughing. Rowand went to other place. We planted crocuses to-day.
I was at Uncle Alfred's. Alice & Georgina came home on Wed. night. Alice was here yesterday. Mrs.
Bently daughter of the late Wm. Jones died lately. We finished threshing the white beans to-day.

Sat. 16 Cooler. Dull. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rowand came home from other place. Noble was
ploughing. Rowand was at Christie's last night.

October
John Hills got an automobile this Summer.
Sun. 17 Dull & cool. We were at church in the morning except Noble. I was at S.S. Uncle Alfred was
here & O. Geddes was here for dinner. Noble was at Uncle Alfred's. Misty at first.
Mon. 18 Dull & warm. This is Thanksgiving Day. Noble was at Geddes's for oats & brought in 1 load
of mangles & he was ploughing. Rowand was taking up mangles. I helped him a little. Papa took a
bad cold last night. Mamma has a little. Uncle Alfred & Georgina were here. Aunt Lizzie went to
Toronto on Saturday for the holiday.
Tue. 19 Hot. Bright partly. Rowand was work-ing at the mangles & ploughing. Noble was working at
the mangles & took apples to {Weishuhons?} for making into apple-butter. Rowand has a cold.
Wed. 20 A sprinkle of rain. Bright after dinner. Hot. Papa & I were in P.E. part of the day. About 7
loads of mangles. Mamma & I picked some apples. The boys finished the mangles & ploughed &
went to the mill for the apple-butter. Uncle Alfred was here. We had 23 or 24 qts. of apple-butter.
Thur. 21 Warm & bright partly. The boys brought home 2 loads of clove seed clover from other
place.

October
They were doing other things. Thos. {Thomas} Taylor died at Southampton lately. Some drops of
rain this morning.
Fri. 22 Cool part of the day. A lovely afternoon. Papa's cold is getting better. The boys were at the
threshing at the other place. The threshing was from about 8 O'clock to 3 O'clock. Uncle Alfred was
here. Thos. B. McBride died on the 21st very suddenly.
Sat. 23 Warm part of the day. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. The boys were working with the seed
clover. They got it all in 2 3/4 loads. Edgar was here.
Sun. 24 Thunder & lightning with some rain. Cool in the afternoon. P. M. {Papa, Mamma} & I were at
church in the morning & I was at S.S. Uncle Alfred was here.

Mon. 25 Cool wind. Bright partly. Rowand did odd jobs & picked 1 {bbl?} of snows at other place.
Papa helped him with odd jobs & Mamma & I helped Isabel & Agnes to peel apples after dinner.
Tue. 26 Rained quite a bit, thunder & lightning. Noble was ploughing part of the day. Rowand was
doing carpenter work & cleaned & sprayed the hen-house. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. after dinner.
Uncle Alfred was here. We started to dry apples to-night. Rained last night.
Wed. 27 Rained last night & to-day. Thunder & lightning to-day. The boys were at a cattle sale &
cattle judging in P.E. Noble {added in at bottom: Rowand was working in the forenoon}.

October
finished ploughing the back field. We did about 3 pailes {pails} of Bailey Reds & 6 pails of Tolmon
Sweets apples beside fallen ones here. Uncle Abram went to Toronto on Oct.16 & came back to
Christie's on the 20th. Rowand saw some wild geese flying South on Sunday. Windy to-day.
Thur. 28 Rained some this morning. Cleared up to-night. Cold. Rowand was doing carpenter work &
Rd. Noble was doing odd jobs. They each took a waggon's team to other place in the afternoon.
Mamma was at Geddes's.
Fri. 29 Cold & Dull. A little sleet fell last night & to-day. Rowand came home. He took grain to P.E.
from other place. Uncle Alfred was here. Rowand did not get the chop home.
Sat. 30 Windy & bright. Cold in morning & warmer at night. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Noble
came home. Rowand finished the stair from the horse stable to the barn & was doing other things.
We had a fire in the hall for the 1st time this Fall last night.
Sun. 31 Bright & windy. Raining in the after-noon. Papa & Mamma were at church it was
Communion service. Uncle Alfred was here, he gave me a book
called "St. John's Gospel of Christ" by "George Mattheson D.D." To-day is the last day of of the S.S.
The boys were at Uncle Alfred's.
Mon. Nov. 1 Rained this morning & a little shower in the afternoon. Cold. Papa & Mamma were in
P.E. after dinner. Windy.
Nov. 2 Warm & turned cold. Rained a lot last night & to-day. Cold & windy this afternoon. Rain very
heavy sometimes. Uncle Alfred was here. Uncle Abram came here yesterday & went home to-day
Uncle Andrew's after dinner. Noble was at Gotlieb Danhausen's & at Southampton & He went to

other place after dinner yesterday. We made some governor sauce last week & chili-sauce to-day.
Rowand was picking russets, 7 pails & he was doing other things yesterday. Papa was helping him
to put a floor in a cow stall to-day. Thundering. Rowand was doing other things to-day.
Wed. 3 Cold. A few showers. Rowand was at P.E. for chop, flour &c & he was doing odd jobs. Uncle
Alfred was here. We got some bulbs hyacinths, tulips, snowdrops & daffodil narcissus & crocuses
from Wm. Rennie Co.
Thur. 4 Very windy at noon & to-night. A cold wind. A shower today. Rowand went to other

November
place. We bought 3 cattle from J. Coulter last week. R for $90 per per head 10c per lb about. Bright
after rain. Papa has not been very well lately.
Fri. 5 Dull a good bit. Noble came & ploughed here half of afternoon. Rowand came home to-night.
Sat. 6 Bright & warm this morning. Dull & cold this afternoon. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Noble
was ploughing & Rowand was picking apples at other place. Walkerton Flour is $6.75 per cwt.
Mamma planted the bulbs except 2 yesterday outside. John McVinnie died lately. Shipers of
potatoes are paying$1.25 per bag for potatoes at Port Elgin.
Sun. 7 Rained quite a bit, felt chilly. Papa & Mamma were at church in the morning. Uncle Alfred
was here & our boys were at his place.
Mon. 8 Bright Mostly. The boys each ploughed part of the day. Noble was at Southampton & at Dan
Haussen's & got the 8 pigs at $6 per piece each. Rowand & Papa were fixing a stall for them. Uncle
Alfred was here. Papa & Mamma & Rowand are away to Dunblane church to a concert. There were
2 special services there yesterday. Noble was at Uncle Alfred's. Not very cold.
Tue. 9 Rained some last night & part of this morning.

November
Stopped & then rained some in showers. Very windy. Noble was ploughing & Rowand was doing
odd jobs.
Wed. 10 Ice in the back kitchen this morning. Showers of snow. Cold. Noble was ploughing &
Rowand took a load of wood to P.E. & was doing different things. Uncle Alfred was here.

Thur. 11 Cold. Warmer to-night. Snowed some. Rowand went to other place. Noble ploughed & was
at the store. We made hard soap to-day with Caustic Soda.
Fri. 12 About 1ft. of snow fell last night. Stormy & calm alternately to-day. Cold. Noble took the team
& 2 sleighs to other place after dinner. Papa was helping him to get ready the sleigh. We had about
1/2 bu. of Dutch Set & 1 bu. at the least of potato onions off our garden this year.
Sat. 13 Dull & kind of cold. Noble came home with the sleigh. He & Rowand went for cattle (that we
got from J. Coulter yesterday) but had to go to-day to get them. Papa & Edgar were in P.E. this
afternoon. Papa's birthday is to-day. Mamma & I gave him some money. Uncle Alfred was here.
Noble has a sore feet cut with his boots with walking over to where the cattle are. Papa was not very
well this morning.

November
He had 1 pr. {pair} of socks & no insoles on. Rowand got a blister on his foot. Papa & Edgar had the
buggy to P.E.
Sun. 13 14 Dull & cold. Mamma & I were at church in the morning. Uncle Alfred was here. Rowand
came home on horse back & went back with the cutter. Papa was not very well.
Mon. 15 Snowed some. Not cold. Noble took up some turnips & brought home some corn from the
field. Papa & I were at Uncle Alfred's. Miss McKellar Missionary spoke at Burgoyne church to-night.
Rowand has a sore foot. He brought some apples home.
Tue. 16 A hard frost last night. Bright some. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rowand brought rest of
apples that are picked & he & Noble took up some more turnips. Edgar was visiting the boys & Uncle
Alfred was here & Noble was at Uncle Alfred's. Turnips were frozen some. Rather cold. Do not get
done all Noble's work.
Wed. 17 Dull & Bright too. Thawing. Wind North East or N. West. Noble took wood to Rt.
Stevenson's P.E. Mamma was not well. We started house cleaning. Cars are running some yet.
Thur. 18 Thawing, cold wind. Bright partly Frost last night. Noble took wood to P.E. too Emmanuel
Bock & he was drawing & piling the pig pen rails.

November

My white primrose is flowered. Uncle Walter, Aunt Mary & Douglas & his wife came home from the
West lately. Mr. John Lamont of St. Catherine's formerly of Arran died.
Fri. 19 Thawing, rained some. Bright partly. Noble ploughed some. Darkie has not been working
much for a long time on account of a sore shoulder. Edgar was visiting Noble. Uncle Alfred & Mr.
Strachan were here. Neil McGillivray was selling sugar at $14.00 per cwt. this week. Bran is $2.50 or
$3.00. Noble was visiting Edgar.
Sat. 20 Very Dull. Some sleet to-night. Not very cold. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rowand came
home before dinner. He & Noble have got about more than half of the turnips up. Rowand took the
Fall wheat from other place to Turners' station yesterday, 25 bu. & 5 lbs. bringing $45.65.
Sun. 21 Dull. Raining & freezing as it fell. Very slippery walking. Rowand & I were at church. He
went to other place in afternoon. He & Noble were at Uncle Alfred's. Grass all icy.
Mon. 22 Dull. Rained & thawed. Still some ice. Rowand came before dinner. Noble was working
around the stable. Edgar was up & he & our boys were hunting sparrows

November
at both places. Our boys are away to Uncle Alfred's to-night hunting sparrows. Uncle Alfred was
here. We started to-day to separate once a day.
Tue. 23 Very dull. Raining a little. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. The boys brought home the rest of
the turnips & Mamma took 2 pails of carrots up. Mild.
Wed. 24 Milder. Drizzling & a few flakes of snow. Noble was at S. Smith's threshing. Rowand was at
other place & he & Mamma & Papa put cotton on hen-house window. I was at Schwass's for chicken
& cream money. Cairnses intend to attend to our cattle this week.
Thur. 25 Drizzling this morning. Cleared up this afternoon. Been calm for a while. Mild. Rowand was
ploughing. Noble was at Smith's threshing & propping up gangway & c. Papa helps with the chores
at noon as well as milking all the time. Tom is kind of sick. Agnes was here. A little windy in the
evening, a little snow last night.
Fri. 26 A little snow last night. Dull. Rowand was in P.E. & he & Noble were at other place for hay.
We are selling 8 tones + 1200 lbs of timothy pressed to R.D.

November

Northgrave for $15 per ton less $5 {illegible} for delivering at Turner's station. Noble was ploughing.
Uncle Alfred was here. Nellie Gertrude eldest daughter of Rev J.A. & Mrs. McLachlan of Chesley
died Nov. 19th.
Saturday 27 Drizzling, snowing a little. Bright part of the afternoon. The boys were at Uncle Alfred's
threshing. I was there for dinner. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Caroline Schwass was here
yesterday for a little bit to sell Xmas seels. We did not get our baldwin apples or the russets at other
place pulled. A great many people have not finished their Fall work.
Sun. 28 A nice day. Bright. Papa Rowand & I were at church in morning. The boys were at Uncle
Alfred's & Uncle Alfred was here. Wm. Geddes died to-night.
Mon. 29 Bright & nice. Atkinsons started to thresh just before dinner here. Agnes helped us at dinner
time. Uncle Alfred was here. Mamma has not been well for a few days. Frost last night. The boys
were at Uncle Alfred's threshing in the morning. Frost came last night. The boys were at Uncle
Alfred’s {illegible} in the morning. Not cold Sun. or Mon.
Tue. 30 Bright partly. Finished threshing between 3 & 4 O'clock. Uncle Alfred was here. Noble was
at Ed. Schwass's threshing the rest of day. Frost last night. Jas. Gowanlock was here last night to
see Mr. Atkinson. $3.50 an hour for threshing. We are near the last Atkinsons have to thresh.
Wed. Dec. 1 Dull mostly. A little drizzle in the morning
December
& raining this evening. Not cold. Papa & Mamma were in P.E Noble was at Schwass's threshing till 3
o'clock. Rowand & Noble both ploughed some & were getting some grain ready for chop. Rowand is
hard up with the cold.
Thur. 2 Very bright, cold wind. Rowand went to Lockerby for chop & Noble went to other place.
Uncle Alfred was here. 7c per cwt for chopping at Lockerby. Rowand was at Geddes's for some of
our chickens.
Fri. 3 Very dull at first. Bright then dull. A hard frost last night. Warm to-day. Rather windy. Rowand
went to other place & he & Noble got the alfalfa for seed into the barn. Rowand came home. We got
the rest of the carrot up & home about 20 {illegible} this year.
Sat. 4 Rained a lot. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Alec Geddes was here. Rowand did some odd
jobs. Rowand has a bad cold. A little rain got into our cellar first time since spring.

Sun.5 Rained & snowed a little. Froze some. None of us were at church. Uncle Alfred was here.
Some wind.
Mon. 6 Dull, cleared up at night. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. after dinner. Edgar helped Rowand to
put up some storm windows & c. Wood, dry, that we sold to Bock's 14 in. at $4 per cord, bold wind,
not a very cold day.

1920 December
Dec. 7 Dull. Middling cold. Frost last night. Rowand was at other place, he put some implements &
corn inside here. Uncle Alfred was here. Papa was not well the last few days. Loyd Ferguson had an
operation on Monday for appendicitis. I was at Uncle Alfred's. Papa got 2 books from the boys for his
birthday, "Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchinson" by his widow Lucy, & "The Life of Wm. Carey"
by George Smith.
Wed. 8 Hard frost last night. Dull then bright. Cold wind, Rowand took chop to P.E. after dinner.
Thur. 9 Dull in the morning, bright after dinner. A hard frost last night. Uncle Alfred was here.
Rowand took a load of wood to Bock's & got his grist home. Noble was home for dinner. He was
doing odd jobs, too. Colder Wed & to-day than lately.
Fri. 10 Dull. Snowed & drizzled a little. Warmer. Noble was home. He & Rowand were doing odd
jobs & were working in the bush. Oliver Geddes is here.
Sat. 11 Dull mostly. Papa & Mamma were in P.E. Rowand was cleaning pens, at the store & Edgar
helped him to fix the pump. Uncle Alfred & Jessie were here. Jessie got home last night. Noble was
in P.E. with grist from other place.
Sun. 12 A beautiful day bright & warm. Frost last night. Papa & I were at church. Uncle Alfred was
here. Mamma & I were at his place. Mamma has a bad cold.
Mon. 13 Windy. Has been calm for some time lately. A few showers. No frost last night. Uncle Alfred
was here. Rowand was at other place & brought from the field part of seed red clover. We got the
upstairs about finished cleaning to-day & did some downstairs, we cleaned one pantry a while ago.
Warm to-day. Bright partly. Mamma was feeling hard up last night & to-day.
Tue. 14 Very Windy & showery. Shower of snow or hail once. Rained & blew some through the
night. Rowand was cleaning some of the flax & taking some posts out of the fence between the

house fence & the barn & maybe doing other things. Uncle Alfred was here. This year we had about
20 pails of carrots, 1/2 bu. of Dutch set & 1 bu. at least of potato onions, enough beets for ourselves,
some corn, radishes, lots of cucumbers, too late water melons (did not taste bad) & no citrons & lots
of tomatoes, some lettuce.
Wed. 15 Blowing & snowing. Rowand was cleaning some of the floor & doing various other things.
Uncle Alfred was here. Uncle Wattie & Aunt Mary are living in the house J. Lyness used to live in
owned by Wes. {Reany?} now.

December
Mamma has been hard up with cold. Papa was feeling better yesterday than for a good while, not so
well to-day. Last Sunday & the Sunday before a collection was taken at Burgoyne church for China
Famine. Not much frost.
Dec. 16 Not cold. Blowing & snowing some. Papa & Rowand were Uncle Alfred were in P.E. Noble
came home & Rowand went over & took 3 calves. Uncle Sandy & Aunt Lizzie were here & J.H.
Schwass & Edgar were at the stable. Our boys were at Uncle Alfred's. We lost about 1 load of red
clover this year. Boys were doing odd jobs.
Fri. Dec. 17 Snowed & stormed some. Noble was at Peirson's & Kaufman's & was doing various
jobs. We got 20 lbs. of honey from Kaufman's at 20c {cents} per lb. We are about done housecleaning.
Sat. Dec. 18 Snowing & blowing partly & bright partly. Papa & I were in P.E. Noble brought the
alfalfa for seed from other place. {Blank space} Alice & Agnes called. Pantry window froze last night.
Not very cold to-day.
Sun. 19 Snowed a lot last night & some to-day. Not very cold. I was at church in the morning. Jessie
was here. Uncle Alfred's mare "Dora" died yesterday. She was one of the team that Arthur used to
work.
Mon. 20 Snowed a good bit. A kind of cold wind part of the time. Rowand was home for dinner.

December
He & Noble were doing some odd jobs. Edgar was here though not in the house. Noble is away to
Geddes's to-night. Rowand was at Christie’s to-night.

Tue. 21 A hard frost last night. Bright partly. Stormy in evening. Rowand came & Noble went back to
other place. Rowand & I went to Xmas Entertainment at Burgoyne church. The boys were working at
the bush. Uncle Alfred was here. Before noon there was a rainbow a halo (colored some of the time)
& a bright streak around the sun. Noble was at John Schwass's.
Wed. 22 Stormy. Rained quite a lot. Rowand cleaned the hen house & c.
Thur. 23 Stormy. Cold wind. John Schwass, Rowand & Edgar killed 2 pigs for us. Uncle Alfred got
1/2 pig. The pig & 1/2 weighed {blank space}
Fri. 24 Cold wind. Stormy sometimes. Rowand & Papa were in P.E. Noble came home. Cairns's to
feed our cattle.
Sat. 25 Bright & frosty. Papa Mamma & I were at Uncle Andrew's for supper. Uncle Alfred was here.
I got a pair of mitts from Papa & Rowand, a vest from Mamma & a handkerchief & handkerchief case
from Mary Alice. Uncle Abram came back from Toronto last Saturday. Papa got where he was for a
few days

December
a fountain pen & pencil. Rowand got a purse some shaving cream & a pair of cufflinks. Mamma got
a pr. {pair} of felt boots & a handkerchief & Noble got a knife, some pocket pincers & a {illegible} for
holding papers. About 8° this morning.
Sun. 26 Kind of stormy. I was at church in the morning. Uncle Alfred was here. Rowand went to
other place in the morning. Noble was at Uncle Alfred's
Mon. 27 Snowed a little & then cleared up a good bit. Rowand was home for dinner. Noble was at
the bush in the morning. He was at the store in the afternoon. Uncle Alfred was here. I was at Uncle
Alfred's. Nomination day.
Tue. 28 Snowed a good bit. Drizzled a lot last night. Not Cold. Rowand was home. Thomson's clover
thresher came to-day. Uncle Alfred was here. O. {Oliver} Geddes was here working in the afternoon.
Bessie Geddes came home from Toronto on Mon. night to stay. She has been working there since
the beginning of Jan.
Wed. 29 Stormy. Got through threshing and had an early dinner. Noble was doing odd jobs. Uncle
Alfred was here. Noble was at Burgoyne. Edgar was here but not in the house. Hard frost last night.

Thur. 30 Snowed some. Not cold. Noble went to other place & Rowand brought a load of hay home.
Papa & Uncle Abram were in P.E. in afternoon. Uncle Abram was at Uncle Alfred's. Georgina, B.
{Bessie} & J. R. Geddes were here. Jas. Clark's daughter in the West died lately. Thawing to-night.
Fri. 31 Some frost last night. Very bright part of the day. Papa & Uncle Alfred were in P.E. {Port
Elgin} Rd. {Rowand} is at Uncle Alfred's. He got a load of hay from other place. Neil Steadman died
this morning. Arthur came home last night from Manitoba. B Geddes sent me a gold bar pin last
night. Rowand is 22 to-day. He got a young pig + 1 heifer (Spottie's last years calf) + $1.00.
{Inside back cover - blank}
For more information on Elizabeth Oliver “Olive” Burgess, check out the “Meet the Diarists”
section under “Discover” on our website: ruraldiaries.uoguelph.ca