noon we read did chores and listened to Enah play the piano. Dick got up and had a bath before dinner, got Dad. to shave him and went down town about the middle of the afternoon as he says he is going to church to-night. Frank spent most of the afternoon skating on the ditch out here from the lane fence up to the oak trees and down in Bannister's gully. Very cold and strong west wind, a little snow otherwise not a bad day.

Monday February 9th

It froze about the hardest yet last night and has been pretty cold and breezy all day, but was bright and sunshiny part of the time, and snowing a little part of the time. We didn't do anything but chores and Dad. cut wood. Mrs McBride was here washing all day and as it was too cold and draughty for Tiddums in the kitchen Frank had to stay home to look after him in the dining room.

Dad. and Enah. were contemplating a trip down town this afternoon to sign the deeds to the lots but Mr. Hawey who is buying them and a Mr. Ross brought them over this afternoon and saved them the trouble. The option is up on them to-morrow so they wanted to get things settled. He paid Dad. a check for the six hundred. Jonas was over here most of the afternoon selling seeds. Dad. gave him an order for some of L.P. Gunson's seed oats and we are going to make out and order for him to-night of garden seeds from Simmers Nobody was down town to-day, so we haven't got the mail.

Tuesday February 10th

Dad saw a load of ice going into Mrs Battersby's this morning and just remembered that we had not returned John Quanbury's little ice tongs, and as we thought he might be needing them I took them down but he said he never used them as they were too small so told me to take them home again which I did. I stayed there quite awhile watching & helping him. Bob. Leitch was hauling the ice, it is a lot bigger and better looking than ours but John says it doesn't keep at all well in Mrs. Battersby's ice house. It is cement and built right in the side hill. The let the ice slide down the hill and drop about eight feet to the bottom of the ice house and it breaks up badly. Dad. cut wood while I was away and when I got back helped me clean out the chicken house.

This afternoon I cut a piece off the stack and Dad carried over a lot of straw to the chicken house. Jonas came over this morning and we gave him the Simmer's order although we are sure he is not an authorized agent, but as we don't have to pay for the stuff till we get it I suppose it will be alright. Dad. told him he was crazy to waste his time selling seeds instead of cutting his hedge down for wood over at {Nyers?} but Jonas said he had to get a little money some way as he only had fifty cents. Frank said he was working down cutting ice this afternoon. It has been much milder though still freezing to-day cloudy and just breeze enough this afternoon to turn the windmill, snowing a little to-night.