Thursday January 8th

I spent about two hours & a half in bed last night and consequently didn’t feel much like working to-day, so didn't do anything but the chores, it was a little too cold anyway to do Carpenter work in the chicken pen. It has been a beautiful sunny day but the wind was quite strong and sharp. I went over to the school house before we had breakfast and Willem Ryerse came back with me to look at the bull calf as he thought of buying him but he thinks he is too small for service now so I think he won’t take him. We were pretty late getting through breakfast and then we sat around the kitchen most of the fore noon while Marj. told me the story she read last night. This after noon I washed the dishes while she read a little more of Rob. Roy to me and to-night we went to bed right after tea, but by the time we got the kids settled it wasn't very early. Marj. got Gay a pair of stiff soled shoes yesterday & hopes she will soon walk alone with them.

Friday January 9th

It was a cold night and has been sharp to-day but {a?} little wind and sunny so that it is ideal winter weather. I did chores most of the forenoon and this after noon walked down town to see Jim Bannister's cutter. I met John Patterson on the road with it and as he was driving out here partly to show me the cutter and partly to exercise his horse, he turned around and drove me into town. It is a shabby looking affair but seems perfectly sound and has new shoes on it which Jim says are worth four dollars so I don't think I lost anything by paying him ten dollars for it.

I saw Dad. & Frank down town. Frank was all furred up in coon-skin ready to start for Selkirk with his theatrical troupe. I got my hair cut and walked back home getting here about seven. It was a beautiful night. Moonlight & snappy. I had tea which was all ready and did chores afterwards. Marj. has not felt well all day. The {Shaff?} boys brought down four loads (5 yards) of gravel for me to-day which I home to make a cow stable floor of when the frost goes out. Marj. says Gay is developing a temper like a yellow jacket with a sore corn. She let her feed herself pudding to-day and the performance was so comical Marj. couldnt refrain from laughing whereat, Miss Gay flew into a passion screamed & screeched and made a scene like a regular picture show lady.