Diary_pages_1889_12

Fri DECEMBER 20. Rather more chilly to day. We worked at the cow barn part of the time. Mr Buffom [Buffum] was out to day and we measured the hay. Mr Buffom [Buffum] took the East end of the North alfalfa stacks and the South End of the Prairy [Prairie] hay stack and we will take the East End of the South alfalfa stacks. Dave went to town brought out a letter from aunt Rhoda containing considerable news but nothing extra special.

Sat DECEMBER 21. Another day hustled into hence and a pretty cold one too especially the wind. We look for Lew to night but he has not got home yet 6 O clock. Dave went to town and sent off the butter and brought home Meda. I seemed to be pretty shivery to day but put in part of it at joiner work on the cow barn by levelling a place and laying down sleepers for the floor part way across.

Sun DECEMBER 22. Rather better to day. Clear mostly and quite mild. Lew got home to night with a load of coal. He done about as well as could be expected considering the scarcity of money brought back about 75 dols [dollars]. Dave and Meda went over to Mr Haags to see Mags boy found it trying its lungs on account of a pain under his apron. I looked around a little this morning but kept Sunday the rest of the day.

Mon DECEMBER 23. Quite nice and real warm some of the time. Dave Lew and I worked at the cow stable got the sheeting all on and five courses of shingles so it begins to look a little roofy.

Tues DECEMBER 24. As pretty as a peach only the wind breezed up a little once or twice. Lew helped at the cow barn in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to town with Meda and he wanted to get him an overcoat. Dave and I worked at the cow barn all day got the North side shingled and the south about half done.

Wed DECEMBER 25. Christmas and a quite a nice day. We had lots of company Charleys folks Reas's folks Johns folks and Dick and Fred Drager and Mr Mattis was here too. Meda went home with Reas's folks. We had our usual Christmas games and mixed in with what fun we could scare up. Otherwise we pitched quoits two setts [sets] of us and all beat too.

Thurs DECEMBER 26. A lovely day still and warm like July. We finished putting on the roof in the forenoon and in the afternoon the boys shucked corn and I worked at the stable got the staging down and one door hung.

Fri DECEMBER 27. Fine again to day. The boys shucked. I worked at the cow barn.

Sat DECEMBER 28. Rather too windy for comfort but the boys finished shucking the corn in the forenoon and battened cracks in the cow barn in the afternoon. I worked at the cowbarn got the north side about done have some batting to put on yet and doors to hang over the places that we will use to feed in.

Sun DECEMBER 29. Quite a cold wind to day but mostly clear. Lew and Mother went up to the hill ranch found things fairly prosperous got back about sundown. The rest of us hugged the fire tolerably well. I went to Mr Howards and Cushions and looked at the cow stable running gears to get some ideas from them.