FEBRUARY 1901
Fri. Feb. 1st. Bright in morn and a very white frost and freeze but wind from SE and cloudy all eve and warmer. Pa threshed stalks in Luckett field most of day and Willie and Jim cut bushes and briars and cleaned up ground there all day. I weatherboarded all around hen shed and put up 2 bbls for nests on W side of it today. Wiley went for Dr. Catchings after dinner and he came out to see Rena late in eve. She is still in bed and Nellie still there. I walked to Wiley's for Nellie late in eve. Misses Kate and Maud Henderson came with sewing.
Sat. 2nd. Dark cloudy and a damp wind from SE all day and rained in showers at 5 to 9 in eve. Pa threshed stalks in Luckett field in morn and Willie and Jim cleaned up ground there too all morn and I put up 2 hens' nests (in bbls) on E end of hen shed and cleaned away all of old hen house by 11 1/2 and I cut up wood till 12. I gathered some moss to patch horse collars and cut up some wood in eve. West and Tigner brought a young grey squirrel to Minnie at 11 1/4 in morn and Willie fixed a box to put it in, in eve. Mrs. Hughes still here and Nellie still at Wiley's.
Sun. 3rd. We had a heavy rain from NW at 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 in morn with a pretty hard wind and bright balance of day and pleasant from NW. Willie and I walked to Wiley's in morn and Willie and Wiley walked over Wiley's field and Bernice and I walked to creek and back by 11. I walked to Wiley's again at 2 and Gussie and Helen came there at 1 1/2 and Clara and Effie there too in eve. Rena seems better but still in bed and Mrs. Hughes still here.
Mon. 4th. Cloudy some and a chilly wind from E of N all day but sun shined most of day and pleasant in sunshine in eve. Willie and I fixed up an A plow and gears early in morn and Jim left here at 10 1/4 in morn and listed ground in Luckett field balance of day with Dan and mare mule (our first plowing) and Willie went with Jim and he and Pa cleaned up ground in Luckett field balance of day. I walked to Wiley's at 10 1/2 to 11 and brought home 5 pieces of meat that Wiley smoked for us and I patched horse collars by 1 3/4 and I cut some meat sticks and put on old meat scaffold in eve. Mrs. Hughes walked to Seymour's at 11 3/4 in morn. Nellie still at Wiley's.
Tue. 5th. Cloudy and chilly from NE all day but sun shined some through the day. Jim plowed Dan and mule all day listing ground in Luckett field and Willie cleaned up ground there in morn and he plowed Joe there in eve. Pa cleaned up ground there today. I drove (or led) Joe to cart to Cohen's in morn and got a bbl of flour on credit and some other things which I paid for and I paid $10 for Wiley on sewing machine and got $30 from Charlie for Wiley to buy a pony for Doug. I sawed low limbs off chestnut tree and cut down the bitter pecan tree NW of barn in eve.
Wed. 6th. Dark cloudy and chilly from NE and rained slowly at 11 3/4 to 1 1/2 and quit and cloudy all eve but brighter in eve. Willie plowed Joe and Jim plowed Dan and mule all day on branch in Luckett field breaking ground and Pa cleaned up ground there. I washed and strung and hung out our meat on scaffold early in morn and smoked it till the rain at 11 3/4 and took it in then. I cut and packed pecan wood from NW of barn to smoke meat balance of morn and I made a lowells back band for Joe at 12 3/4 to 2 and a lowells bridle by 4 1/2 in eve. I walked to Wiley's after supper. Nellie still there and Rena sits up some during the day.
Thu. 7th. Dark cloudy and a damp breeze from SE most of morn and blew up from NW at 11 1/4 and we had a hard rain and quit at 1 1/2. Willie and Jim plowed in Luckett field and Pa cleaned up ground there till rain in morn and all got wet coming home and they didn't work in eve. I put out meat to smoke early in morn and took it in at 11. I cut and split and packed last of pecan tree NW of barn (to smoke meat) by 11 and fixed water gap and went on to Wiley's in eve. Rena is up and seems better today.
Fri. 8th. Foggy and ground very wet and dropped and misted rain from SE most of morn and cloudy all day and no sun and blew up from W of N at 3 in eve and we had a hard shower with some little thunder at 3 1/2 to 4 1/2. Willie and Jim cleared land just N of Luckett field till 3 in eve and rain ran them home then. I hauled 4 cart loads of wood from near Luckett field in morn and 1 just after dinner, with Joe, and rain stopped me. Rena seems a good deal better but Nellie still there. I set 2 hens in morn early (our first).
Sat. 9th. Cloudy and very cool from N all day and ground dried a little but no sun. Willie and Jim cleared land at upper side of Luckett field all morn and Willie some in eve. Pa walked to Clara's and back in eve. I repaired wire fence on S side of cow pen most of morn. I put in 6 new locust posts and rails at bottom and I repaired some of yard fence N of big gate toward cow pen in eve. Nellie and baby here late in eve and I walked back to Wiley's with them at dusk. Rena not so well today. I hung out and smoked our meat all day.
Sun. 10th. Bright and nearly cold enough for frost early in morn but cloudy in eve and warmer and dropped rain some at 1 1/2 to 3. I walked to Wiley's in morn and on to Lewis' - he and Cousin Mary are both sick with colds and I came back to Wiley's and home by 12. Dan here most of day and Buddy and Gordon and Tigner here most of eve. Wiley drove Bonnie to his Pa's in morn and brought his Ma back to stay a week with Rena (late in eve) and Nellie came home at night. I have been troubled with my back for more than a week and it seems worse today.
Mon. 11th. Dark cloudy all day and no sun and dropped and sprinkled rain most of day and rained pretty hard at 11 to 11 1/2 in morn and again after dark and quite cool from NE. Willie and Jim plowed most of morn in Luckett field and got nearly wet and they cleared ground most of eve. I patched up fence from spring gate to big gate toward cow pen and cut up some wood in morn and I covered an old horse collar with new lowells at 11 1/2 in morn to 3 in eve and cut up wood and milked late in eve. Wiley rode to town in eve to see Dr. Catchings about Rena but didn't see him. My back is still worse today than on yesterday.
Tue. 12th. Dark cloudy and a very cool breeze from NE all day and no sun and sprinkled and dropped rain all day and part of night. Pa in house today and Willie and Jim cleared near Luckett field in morn and got nearly wet and they didn't work in eve. I drove down locusts (short) stakes from yard to cow pen and put in some poles and hearts of picket timber at bottom of wire fence in morn and I smoked our meat till 11 and took it in out of rain. I made 2 lowells back bands at 11 1/2 to 2 1/4 in eve and walked to Wiley's and back in rain at 2 1/2 to 3 1/4. Wiley went to town in morn and got some powders for Rena from Dr. Catchings. Rena is in bed today but better in eve. My back was better in eve and at night.
Wed. 13th. Cloudy some all day, but bright, and sun shined some, and no rain and a cold breeze from E of N. Willie and Jim cleaned off new ground toward Luckett field all day and Pa threshed stalks part of day. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and hung out our meat and smoked it all day and I moved out yard fence N of barn and Pa's room and finished it to bars by 3 1/2 in eve. Wiley rode to town at 5 to 8 in eve to get Dr. Catchings to come out on tomorrow. She is no better. Gussie came to Wiley's at 1 and brought Mattie Deloach and carried Mrs. Deloach home with him in eve.
Thu. 14th. Bright, but some clouds, and a frost and a slight freeze in morn, but sun shined most of day and pleasant after 10 in morn in sunshine. Willie and Jim plowed today and Jim broke main bolt in his plow beam in morn and he plowed with the old A plow in eve and Willie cleaned off ground in eve. I set locust stakes to rebuild yard fence from bars to east line in morn and rode Joe to Cohen's at 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 and got 2 plow bolts for Willie and I smoked meat all day. Aunt Margaret washed in morn. Drs. Catchings and Woods came to Wiley's at 11 in morn and treated Rena and she seems better today. Nellie still at Wiley's.
Fri. 15th. Dark cloudy, and sprinkled rain at 7 1/4 in morn but cleared up from NW at 9 and bright and pleasant in sunshine balance of day. Pa cleaned up ground in field today and Willie and Jim listed ground all day in Cherry cut and in Gate cut. Mattie Deloach and Bernice here most of day and Gussie came for Mattie in eve and she went home with him. I removed yard fence from bars to E line and finished it in morn and I patched up garden in eve and I smoked our meat all day. Rena seems better today.
Sat. 16th. Bright, nearly clear, and a little frost in morn but pleasant in sunshine after 10 in morn. Willie and Jim listed ground in Persimmon cut and Pine corner all morn and Pa cleared off ground in morn and walked to Clara's and back in eve. Minnie and Dean scoured today and I drove down short stakes around N and W and S sides of garden and put in rails and lathing most of morn and smoked our meat all day. I rode Joe to Cohen's in eve and got 1 pk of boat corn (yellow) and 5 lbs sugar and 1/2 bu Irish potatoes for Wiley and 2 qts. onion sets and 2 papers radish seeds which I paid for and I got 1 bu Irish potatoes and 1 lb tobacco on credit. Nellie still at Rena's.
Sun. 17th. Bright, nearly clear, and quite cool early in morn, but wind from SW and pleasant after 10 in morn. I walked to Lewis' at 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 in morn and carried some papers and Cousin Mary is still in bed and most of others have bad colds and I came by Wiley's and Bernice and I walked to creek. I got home at 11 1/2 and fixed some dinner for Pa and myself and went to Wiley's again in eve. Willie and Minnie at Wiley's all day and Dixie and Buddy and Tigner D there in eve. Rena seems a little better today but too weak to sit up much.
Mon. 18th. It sprinkled rain at 5 to 7 in morn and misted till 9 and bright and warm from SW balance of day. Willie and Jim broke ground in Luckett field all day. I fixed up steps to outside door of kitchen and to Pa's gallery early in morn and patched garden pickets all around by 11 1/4 and shucked some corn and cut up some wood by 1 (Willie and Jim came to dinner at 1 1/4). I hunted our big bobtail white sow and one of Wiley's barrows around Sims' quarters most of eve but didn't find them. I walked to Wiley's and back after supper and Rena still in bed and Nellie still there.
Tue. 19th. Cloudy till 9 1/2 in morn and bright and nearly clear balance of day and a a very cool wind from N all day but pleasant in sunshine and dry. Willie and Jim broke ground in Luckett field today and Willie broke the standard or upright of old A plow late in eve. Wiley drove Jim (mule) to Dixie's buggy and carried Rena to Drs. Catchings and Woods in morn and they returned late in eve. I set out some fig trees in orchard till 10 in morn (13 in all) and I found our big bobtail white sow and Wiley's barrow near Sims' quarters at 10 1/4 and tolled them home and put them in calf pasture and went around fence and nailed up both of gates and I came by Wiley's and brought Bernice home with me and kept her till late in eve. I nubbed some seed corn and drove down stakes around the 13 fig trees (set out in morn) and cut up some wood in eve.
Wed. 20th. Bright, and a cold N wind all day, but not quite cold enough to freeze early in morn, but sun shined most of day and pleasant in sunshine in eve. Jim broke ground all day in Luckett field and Willie too in eve. Willie drove Joe to Cohen's in morn and got an A plow on credit ($4). I worked on orchard wire fence on W side of it most of morn putting in some new locust posts (or stakes) and I put away our meat in shucks in a barrel in eve and started on a cage for Minnie's squirrel but didn't finish it. Rena and Cousin Mary both seem better today. I had a dull headache most of day but it left me late in eve.
Thu. 21st. Bright, nearly clear, and a pretty hard freeze and white frost in morn, but wind from S and warmer in eve. Wiley rode to town early in morn and saw Dr. Catchings and got some medicine for Rena and she was easier in eve. Willie and I walked to Wiley's early in morn and I went there again at 1 in eve and brought Bernice back with me and carried her home late in eve. Willie and Jim broke ground most of day in Luckett field. I drove down long locust stakes around orchard wire fence on NW side and nailed wire to them and finished at 11 in morn and I worked on squirrel cage for Minnie and finished it at 4 in eve and we put the squirrel in it. Pa cleaned up ground in SW corner most of today and yesterday.
Fri. 22nd. Dark cloudy all day and chilly and dropped rain some in morn and began to rain in slow showers at 2 in eve and got harder late in eve and a cold wind from NE and snowed some in night. Willie and Jim broke ground in Luckett field till 4 in eve and came home then nearly wet. I carried a litle chicken to Wiley's for Rena early in morn and set out 6 apple trees near barn and cut up some wood and I set out 5 apple trees and 4 fig trees beyond cotton by 3 in eve and milked and fed in a cold rain late in eve.
Sat. 23rd. Clear and everything nearly covered with snow and ground too early in morn and a cold breeze from N all day but sun shined bright all day and melted away nearly all of snow before night. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and again at 4 1/2 in eve and Rena doing pretty well today. Willie and Jim and I packed up some green wood from hollow in orchard and cut it up at 9 1/2 to 11 1/4. We didn't work today on account of cold and wet. Mrs. James and Annabel and Miss Maggie C came at dusk and here all night.
Sun. 24th. Bright, nearly clear, and a hard freeze in morn (I think the coldest weather of this winter) but calm and sun shined all day and warmer in eve and all of snow but a very little melted off. I walked to Wiley's in morn and again in eve and Bernice and I walked to creek in eve. Pa walked to Clara's in morn and returned late in eve. Minnie and Mrs. James and Miss Maggie walked to Wiley's and back in morn and to Lewis' and back in eve. Wiley rode to town in eve to see Dr. Catchings about Rena. They think that the tumor or abcess in her side broke last night or this morn.
Mon. 25th. Cloudy and cold but no freezing and dropped rain most of morn and rained slowly after 12 and all eve and quit at dusk. Willie and Jim broke ground in Luckett field all morn and went rabbit hunting in eve. Mrs. James and Annabel and Miss Maggie left for home at 9 1/2 in morn. I walked to Wiley's and back early in morn and cut up wood and shucked corn and shelled some to plant by 11 3/4 and milked and fed in a slow rain in eve. Nellie here awhile in eve and Rena seems better today.
Tue. 26th. Clear, and a slight freeze and frost in morn, but calm and warmer in eve. Willie and Jim repaired wire fence on N side of Elmwood pasture all day. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and Rena miscarried while I was there (a little boy) and I buried it here in orchard at 8 1/2 to 9 in morn and Wiley went for Dr. Catchings and he came out to Wiley's and Rena seemed better in eve. I rode Joe to town at 9 1/4 to 2 in eve and Charlie Coon paid me $4.60 owing Willie and me on partition on Stewart place lands. I bought some things from Metzger and Cohen. I walked to Wiley's at 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 in eve and baby came came back with me and I cut up wood and fed and milked late in eve.
Wed. 27th. Bright and cool and dry from W and sun shined most of day. Willie and Jim broke ground in Luckett field all day and Pa cleaned up ground in field most of day. I set out some fig trees in morn (I walked to Wiley's and back first) and I cut down bush on old roadside of H ridge from around plum trees at 9 to 11 in morn and at 1 1/2 to 3 in eve and finished them. I shucked and shelled corn (seed ones) and cut up stove wood at 11 to 12. Ida and little Mittie and baby here today and they and Minnie at Wiley's most of eve.
Thu. 28th. Bright and cool early in morn and wind from SW and some clouds in eve and warmer and thundered in W late in eve and till 10 at night and a cloud came up then from N of W and we had a hard rain then with some wind and thundered and lasted till late in night. Jim broke ground today in Luckett field and Willie too in eve. Willie plowed Donegal road in morn with Goulden. Wiley rode Joe to town at 5 1/4 to 8 in morn and got some medicine for Rena. She suffered all night but got easy at 8 in morn and seemed good deal better in eve. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and again at night. Dean washed here in morn and I got wood and water for her. I cut down bushes on SW corner of Gate cut at 9 to 11 1/4 in morn and at 1 1/2 to 4 in eve.