The following is the diary of my great aunt, Julia D. Greene, formerly of Lansing, who lived with us in the farmhouse on Ford Rd. for fifteen years, approximately from 1899 to 1914. [Transcription by Mary Lillian Lathers, AKA Lillian, b. 1901, d. 1978]
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Mon. Jul. 1, 1901, 100 Ther.
Was dressed before 6 o'clock. Have picked up dirty clothes, but did not get them washed. Have done some chores. Wiped dishes 3 times today, mended black silk mitts & taken some other stitches for self, tended baby, & did a good deal on letter to Lottie Leonard. Wrote some in diary. Robert has churned & Julia taken care of the butter, did baking and general work. I had a letter yesterday from J.R. Esselstyn that Mrs. Jennie Lathers brought me at church, she had gotten it day before.
Played few tunes after others had gone to bed.
Charlie Houck has been cutting some of Johnnie's red clover across the way.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Tues. Jul 2, 1901, 98 Ther
Quite windy during night. Julia said my awning whipped badly, but I was too sound asleep to hear. Julia has done quite a bit of washing. Emily has taken some steps to helping her. I brought in many of the things. She baked currant & raspberry pie for dinner, & done considerable sweeping.
I spent much time in copying and finishing up letter to Lottie Leonard & Robert mailed it when he drove west to take home a laborer and look for more weeders for the sugar beets.
I sewed a little on baby's stockings & tended her quite a bit, she is not sleeping as much as she used to.
Everett Cavanagh & one of his mates was here this p.m. with a note from his mother inviting us there to spend the 4th, but Julia could not see it clear to go. Everett & the others used up a few firecrackers while they stayed.
Towards night had quite a shower, had had faint or distant thunder for some time. We sat on the porch this p.m. & most of eve. Have read some, wiped dinner dishes.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Wed. Jul. 3, 1901, 94 Ther.
Somewhat cooler since last night's rain. Have cut out and put new sleeves into a short dress for the baby. Put my white quilt on bed instead of comforter. Had the baby on floor in my room, also held her quite a while, as Julia was busy with baking & cleaning floor in kitchen & woodshed. I ran the sweeper over my room yesterday. Bought a bunch of firecrackers for Cyrus & Henry from Mr. Parr [traveling grocery] when he came today after dinner. I dug up a good many plantain weeds below east steps with my trowel. The have annoyed me for some time. Ollie came this p.m. with some clothes she had been washing for Julia, as J. was asleep & I did not want to wake her, had Ollie come to my room and sit. Julia came in when she dressed, and sat a while. I have crocheted 3 silk rings towards pocket. Have sat on porch & read & cared for baby some, & played few tunes after others had gone to bed. Robert & children went to Inkster with the weeders. I loaned Robert $7.00 more to pay for help [The "loans" would be a credit on board & room.]
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Thurs. July 4, 1901, 93, rain later
Up in good season. Have done some chores & tended baby. Had Star Spangled Banner & some other national music before setting out on the day's work this morning. R. has churned and the children have had their firecrackers. About 11:30 Rev. Hobart, wife & child drove up & were here to dinner. I picked over currants, which Julia mixed with black raspberries for dinner. We were going to Johnnie's this p.m. by invitation, & Ollie came over about 2 to make ice cream for our supper, & so invited the Hobarts to come along with us & they were pleased to do so. I took good bath before dressing this p.m. and as there were many last things to attend to I was last to start out. Storm came up, so I went back & took down part of the flags, arranged windows, & got rubbers & umbrella, then ran part way. Rained very hard and long, was too dark to do much. Had supper a little early, Hobarts went off right away, and Robert got the horse & took us back in two loads. Carried ice cream to Miss Montgomery. Stuart and his brothers were at Johnnie's.
Nankin, Fri., Jul. 5, 1901
Rained hard during night & good deal during morning. So wet Robert didn't go to city. Cleared table, swept kitchen, & did other chores. Not feeling very well, some pain in bowels and looseness. Probably result of 4th of July. Have done little mending for self, covered 3 brass rings with black silk crochet, read little in papers, tended baby, & written some. After supper picked over more than 2 quarts of currants for Julia to make jelly tomorrow. Sprinkled & folded 4 pieces to iron for myself. Julia has dressed & cooked a hen for dinner, & done some baking of gems, biscuits, etc. She & Cyrus picked the currants. He picked about a quart of gooseberries. Emily has tended baby considerably. Adelbert Lathers, brother of Austin, was here to dinner. Robert & men have hoed on sugar beets. I have lain down twice, used the melodeon some this eve, sat on porch afterward & watched the three young men play ball. Julia wrote little this eve - I guess to her mother.
Nankin, Wea. cooler for rain. Sat. Jul. 6, 1901
Was dressed before 5, but Robert & Cyrus started for city before I was down. Said goodbye to them from the window. They took 20 lb of butter, 58 doz. eggs, & 7 live chickens.
Gov. Pingrie's funeral is to take place this p.m. perhaps they will attend that. Julia has done quite a bit of washing, but I did not have anything in. She has baked bread, gems, gingerbread, johnnycake for the chickens & 6 glasses currant jelly & cooked 1st new potatoes. Emily dug them. I tended & sang to the baby 1/2 hour or more before breakfast. Have done the usual chores, picked over beans that J. cooked for dinner, ironed my clothes washed last Tuesday, aired & put away comforter from my bed. Wiped dishes & tea dishes & when I lay down twice took the couch below so as to mind baby & let Julia work. There have been 5 boys from Wayne part of day weeding in the sugar beets. Austin took them to car this p.m., he was going to A.A. to see his mother. Clarence S. & John Boltz will get the horse tonight. I have pulled lots of weeds in back yard. Fine breeze most of day. 9:30 or later when Robert & Cyrus got home.
Nankin, Very cool breeze. Sun. Jul. 7, 1901
Was dressed in good season, wiped the breakfast dishes, swept the kitchen & looked over SS lesson while lying down for my health. Cyrus brought me warm water for my bath. Really quite cool this a.m., so I had to put on more & thicker clothes, & then was quite cool in church, so many windows open. I walked alone to church, as Emily & Cyrus had gone on ahead and Julia wasn't ready, & I did not want to be late. Robert stayed with the baby.
Rev. Wetmore preached (after making some 4th of Jul. remarks) from Gen. 1,1, on the creation. Thin attendance. SS. att. 31, coll. .48
Jennie was not out, (not too well). I halted there on my way home to see about her, & see what mail there was.
Have wiped dinner dishes & lain down part of p.m. Robt. & Emily drove to Inkster this p.m. to get Mrs. Southwell at car. Robt. & Julia went to e. service, Mrs. S. & I stayed with children. I have played some & read a little.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Mon. Jul 8, 1901
Got up about as usual. Mrs. S. was here to take hold of housework & baby, so Julia has spent some time with Robert & children & little time at night from the men in picking red raspberries, they got 19 qts in all. Family had some for supper. Robt. has churned, Mrs. S. took care of butter. Emily carried buttermilk over to Ollie, and at night she wheeled the baby over there, but not to stay.
There were 6 boys from Wayne to weed in sugar beets, but 3 only worked till noon & the others quit early, so Robert did not have to take them to car, as he had so little time. His man has been cutting hay at Jennie's. She was here this eve., I gave her the firecrackers I had bought for Henry last week. I have the a.m. done some regulating & changing in my closet. Put away my oil stove, concluded not to use it. Sewed some for Julia, finishing up the neck of a dress for baby, cut out 2 sweeping caps for myself, crocheted some, and lay down a while. Played, & tended baby a little. Adelbert Lathers was here to dinner, & helped in the beets. Cool comfortable day to work. Robt. went to school meeting this eve.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Tues. Jul. 9, 1901
Was not up before 6, but was not long dressing. Julia has washed, but had not a full washing, so I offered to put in my spread. I had not much else in. She has also canned 9 qt red raspberries. Robt's mother had a peck of those picked yesterday. Men have cut wheat at Johnny's yesterday and today & are now cutting Miss Montgomery's. Robert & Clarence are now at work at Jennie's hay, have just driven in with a load, 3 men & Emily on top. Cyrus has been here all day. I started to sew for Julia this morning, but gave up, as she was too busy to be consulted & worked on my own, some repairs on undershirts, sewed 14 buttons on my best shoes to enlarge ankles. Lay down a while, have written & read letter. This evening Julia, Emily, baby and I called at Miss Montgomery's for a few minutes. She has a sister visiting her, Mrs. Harper, very pleasant appearing lady. Men have drawn two loads of hay since supper, & put into barn.
Nankin, Hard wind part of day. Wed. Jul. 10, 1901, Ther. 98
Waked from unpleasant dreams, but had to get up soon. Have done usual chores. Sprinkled & ironed several pieces for myself, mended stockings, & sewed some.
Not feeling well, & have lain down some. Everett C. & little Holmes boy came 8 or 9 o'clock, notified Julia that their respective parents were coming to spend the day.
Mr. C.E. Holmes, Supt. of Lansing city schools, now in Detroit attending NEA convention will come this evening. Was so late getting here that he had to walk from Inkster, though Will C. & children went for him & waited for 2 cars. The little boys went fishing this p.m. The 3 mothers, Will & some of the men spent some of the p.m. in the field & garden picking raspberries. Exceedingly hot & not much breeze.
Julia cooked a hen (not very tender) & baked pies & made ice cream which was served on the porch after supper. Clarence & Austin cut the wheat east of the house this evening, because of the heat. Had thunder shower at bed time. I took good bath while it was going on & saw lightning some time after I had gone to bed.
Cooler by morning.
Fair, Jul. 11, 1901
Was wakened early by wind blowing work & papers about the room. I got up, closed the windows, & went back to bed.
Robert set out at 4 this a.m. with berries, & 10 hens which Will C. helped him catch. Emily C. washed breakfast dishes, I wiped them. Will & Emily slept in the children's bed in the north chamber & were much later than the others getting up, consequently Mrs. S. got churning all out.
The men have been haying, cut 3 acres on Robert's land, 6 tons, he said. Have worked some for Jennie. The company this a.m. worked some at sugar beets & berries & Robt. took them, 3 Cavanaghs & 3 Holmes, to the car at 2 o'clock. Soon after Julia & I went with Ollie & Fannie to Miss. Meeting at Mrs. Coon's, 4 miles drive or more, a short way beyond Mrs. Parr. There were 5 or 6 there when I got there, tying a worsted comforter, 13 came in all. I tied a few knots, had a pleasant social time & a nice tea. Voted to send money on hand, $4.00, to Puerto Rico. One new member, Ida P. Got home in good season, pleasant riding.
Nankin, A good breeze, Wea. fair, Fri., Jul. 12, 1901, 90 Ther.
Got up at 5 to lower my awning. It was 6 when I got up for day. Aside from actual chores, have ironed shirtwaist for myself, mended rubber, soled shoe, made some little repairs & stitched & made buttonholes in waist, lined crown of Cyrus's hat. Lay down for an hour and read a little. Got out some mosquito netting I had shirred from a cover to the baby's cab. Julia has done some ironing, & is out picking berries, has had 2 Hauk children & some others here picking berries today. This evening she & Robert drove to Inkster with 24 qts of red berries, sold them for 10 & 12 cts a quart. Brought me 2 Republicans. Ollie was in a while this p.m.
Men have stacked their bundles of wheat & cut 12 acres of hay. I have tended bay & given her music. Wiped tea dishes for Julia.
Nankin, Wea. fair. Sat. Jul. 13
Was dressed at 6. Slept well. After breakfast & morning chores were done, I mended a shirt for Austin & later in day, one for Robert. Lay down a while this a.m., then moved most of things in my room & have given it a thorough sweeping and dusting. Changed bed. Mrs. S. did quite a washing this a.m. to lighten the job for next week, said she would wash if Julia would do the housework. J. has baked bread, ginger cookies, & an apple pie. We did not can berries as no one came to pick them. Men have been at work at hay. Henry & cousin have worked here today. Played considerable towards night for baby. Had her in my room a while this p.m. Wiped tea dishes. Got so heated and tired from my work this a.m. that I lay down in p.m. have read a little.
A good breeze today.
Had a good bath at bed time.
Nankin, Wea fair, Sun., Jul 14, 1901
Was dressed & read a little before going down to breakfast. Did usual morning chores, & lay down a while before dressing for church. Looked over SS lesson some. Julia & children got off early, Robert was a little late dressing, but said if I would wait a bit he would hitch up the horse, so in waiting for him I was late for church. Overtook his mother just out of their lane & took her in. I sat with her at church, she had no hymnbook, so did not sing. Rev. Wetmore spoke on different ways of repeating the Lord's Prayer. His texts, Gen. 1, 11-12 & Matt. 6, 30. Attendance as usual, mostly women and girls.
In SS Rev. W. taught Mrs. Jennie's class, att. 26, coll. 35.
About 3:30 or 4:00, Robt., Julia, Cyrus & baby drove to Wayne to see Emily before she should go north, but found no one at home. E. & the Holmes's had gone to Detroit, all going to take the car tonight for their summer destination. Got back in time for Julia to go to meeting. Emily had already gone with Fanny.
Nankin, Wea Stormy, Mon. Jul. 15, 1901, 98 Ther
Was disturbed this a.m. by Emily making a good deal of noise, claiming to quiet the baby, but her voice was worse than the baby, & made me so nervous I was nearly sick all day. Have not been able to accomplish much, wiped breakfast dishes, crocheted a little. Tended baby some, lay down 2 or 3 times & have read some.
Between 12 & 1 we had a lively thunderstorm & rain came in at bay window. Julia & Emily picked 12 qts of red raspberries, & had 2 pickers who picked 9. They put up 8 cans & Robert took some to Inkster. Robert churned, & Julia carried buttermilk to Johnnie's. Ollie came back with her bringing fruit, sugar, etc. & made sherbet in the freezer. Our folks all had some but me, I did not dare take it, though it looked so tempting. Ollie & Fannie had prepared for the threshers today, but some broken machinery hindered. I have used melodeon some, Austin carried the freezer to Ollie's after supper, Robert went to school meeting this eve.
Nankin, Wea fair, Tues Jul. 16, 190, 95 Temp.
Was dressed before 6, had Johnny cake for breakfast. I wiped dishes, washed 1 hdkf, & have ironed 4 pieces washed last week. Julia washed today & Mrs. S. helped some. I have tended baby and played for her some, she has been more troublesome than usual. Have pulled many weeds by our back walk, & round the well. Helped bring in clothes when shower threatened. Julia was out picking berries at the time. Jennie was here, & wanted 2 quts. Emily carried them to her, returned in an hour or so riding Jennie's horse with part of bag of potatoes. Robert & men helped thresh at Johnnie's & cultivated corn at home. Clarence S. cut grass in front this noon. Will C. sent card saying Dell & Celia Longstreet were coming to Inkster this eve at 7:30 to be met. I have sewed some for Julia, & crocheted several rings. About 9 when Robert & company arrived, bringing mail.
Nankin, Wea Fair., Fri, Jul, 19, 1901, 94 Ther.
Robert got an early start to the city with his butter - over 45 doz eggs & 21 spring chickens, got 16 ¢ a lb live wt. Juilia & I were so much asleep we did not hear him depart. When he returned between 7 & 8, he brought Julia a Bissel carpet sweeper. She was greatly surprised and pleased. He also brought 2 bushels of potatoes, one old, one new. The others have worked at hay and cutting corn. Julia kept Cyrus in this p.m. for some good reason & he has brought me a drink of water, & afterward a drink of lemonade, visited a while. I wiped breakfast dishes & did some other chores. Tended baby some, but have spent most of day in my room putting new yoke in dress for baby & repairing other things. Julia washed bay windows & some others, baked ginger cookies, etc. I have lain down a little. Played some, saw the new moon tonight. Hot day, but good breeze most of the time.
Nankin, Wea. Fair Sat. Jul. 20, 1901, 93 Temp.
Good night to sleep. I found it hard work to get up, rather cooler, so after I had been busy a while put on pair of drawers, had been without all week. Mrs. S. has done some washing & housework. Julia has baked bread, cake, etc. & washed some windows & tried the new sweeper with the children to help. Churning has been done, mopping, Julia scrubbed the porch, I pared a mess boiled potatoes, have pulled lot of mayweed in back yard. Have cut out & nearly made a light blue dress for baby. Have been in my room most of day. Cyrus brought me two papers Jennie had brought from the P.O.
Austin got hurt in getting over fence this morning, has not worked this p.m. The others worked in hay & have just gone home, 7:17. Emily & Cyrus came, each riding a horse from Jennie's field.
Nankin, Wea. fair, Sun. Jul. 21, 1901, 98 Ther.
Folks a little slow getting up this a.m., to Mrs. Southwell's disgust. I was on time, slept quite well. Lay down few minutes before dressing for church. Have looked at S.S. lesson some. Robert had to go & see about the loose cattle that were out, so worship was delayed, & in the meantime I played some tunes. Robert went for Rev. Wetmore & met Will Cavanagh. Will took children and me to church & went back for Julia. Singing went better than sometimes. Rev. Wetmore's text - Gen. 3, 17. I invited Emily to sit & look on with me during scripture reading. With Will C. the other side of her, she was more quiet than usual. Julia played for S.S. as Alice L., not feeling well, had gone home. Att. 28, coll. .33. Robt. made ice cream for supper. He was to lead Y.P. meeting. Julia & Emily drove part way to Inkster with Will C., upon return stopped at church. I played some tunes for baby's edification this eve., had talk with Cyrus about Noah and the ark. He was contrary about going to bed & screamed for 1/2 hour or so.
Mon. Jul. 22, 1901, 90 Ther, good breeze
Cyrus lost his ride to Inkster because of being bad last night. Julia has washed and there has been churning done, apple dumplings baked, apples stewed, & Julia is doing some ironing. Lay down 1/2 hour this a.m. but aside from other chores put most of time on baby's blue dress & finished it, this p.m. she has it on. Had visit from Cyrus this p.m. in my room, then went down to porch. Have crocheted some on my silk rings. Two of Wm. L.'s children, Junia & Mark were here for an hour or so. Cyrus & Emily gathered some apples for Mark. I have tended baby some & played for her.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Tues. Jul 23, 1901, 98 Ther.
Was up in good season. After worship I walked over to Johnnie's with their mail. Sat a few minutes to rest. Cyrus later brought me to my room letters from C. F. Hammond & Abbie Everett & one paper. I have worked considerable on my silk rings & read some. Had a Mr. Sage here to dinner, a dealer in secondhand pianos, bicycles, etc. He wanted to pay for a bicycle he had sold to Clarence Southwell some time ago. I loaned Robert $5.00 to help pay him. Jennie was up a while this p.m., wanted a little borax, gave her some of mine. Julia has done her ironing, & the men have cultivated corn, loaded & driven in a load of wheat from the field.
Robert drove to Inkster this a.m. with a load of wood. Cyrus went with him. Robert had the horses shod.
Baby took quite a fancy to Mr. Sage & reached out her hand & went to him. He played some tunes for her. I have not been well today, had diarrhea, stayed in my room mostly. Cyrus visited me again.
Nankin, Wea. Warm, Wed. Jul. 24, 1901, 98 Ther.
Was wakened about 3 o'clock by wind & signs of storm, got up & closed my window & door. Had several light thunder showers before 6 o'clock, not much water fell. Cool & comfortable this morning, not so hot in p.m. as we have had. I lay down short time & read paper, then spent most of morning writing letter to R. Esselstyn, asking for dismissal from Lansing church & about other business matters. I wiped dinner dishes and this p.m. have worked on silk rings, filling in & joining them together.
Julia has baked brown & white bread, apple pies, etc., Mrs. S. has done general housework. Julia & Emily have made ice cream down in the basement which we are to eat by and by on the porch. Will Cavanagh was here a few minutes this p.m. in the interest of his chicken business. I was upstairs, did not speak with him. Did not tend baby much today, expect to do so before long. Cyrus was sent to invite the 4 at Johnnie's for ice cream. Baby waked & wouldn't go to sleep again without her music, so I played several tunes while they were here. Beautiful moonlight night, but hot.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Thur. Jul. 25, 1901, 97 Ther.
Had showers in the night again, but not much water fell, we did not get up very early. Julia has baked bread & pies, been up to Jennie's & brought home peas that she picked. Emily picked black raspberries, enough for one pie. Will Cavanagh got here in time for dinner with Robert's horse that he drove away yesterday, left it in Inkster overnight. He had been in Detroit & Wayne selling some of his chickens, He & Robert have been taking down wire fencing & fixing yard under fruit trees as a park for his pullets. This eve. Julia & I drove with him to Inkster, she got mail, & mailed my letter to J.R.E. written yesterday a.m. & did her errands. I called on Dr. Bennet & got medicine & some bromide pills. A beautiful moonlight eve. & pleasant to ride. I have done my ironing & worked on the silk rings, got one pocket put together & finished. Have made blank books for children from my Rep. wrappers with pencil attached. Cyrus went to Johnnie's & had hair cut after dinner. Julia has cut him a waist this p.m. Men have worked at melons.
Nankin, Wea. Cloudy, Fri Jul. 26, 1901
Hard thunder shower last night, good deal of wind & ground too wet for men to work in fields, so they are repairing fence etc. I got up & closed N.E. window & this a.m. Julia had Mrs. Southwell wash my windows, they had not been done since spring. I gave room sweeping, & swept hall. Much cooler this a.m., I had to close windows & put on thicker clothes. Began taking medicine I got from Dr. B. Did not feel very strong or well this p.m., so lay on couch in parlor while we had a visit from Grandma Lathers. She wanted to see the baby very much, & gave her a present of $1.00. I got to sleep while lying down & did not do any sewing. Have finished my ring pocket, written some, read, tended baby considerably. Out folks have churned & worked in melons.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Sat. Jul. 27, 1901, 95 Ther
Another hard thunder shower in the night, but I left my window closed, so did not have to get up for it. Sat down soon after worship, & sewed on a blue waist from Cyrus. In between that & my own work & the baby & lying down 15 min., took the a.m. & part of the p.m. Had 10 buttonholes. Have done little mending for myslef & little for Julia. She has baked bread & pies, stewed apples & carrots, roasted beef, mopped kitchen floor. I got Robert to close attic door & J. got him to put screen on 2 doors, outside cellar door, & sitting room. R. & Austin have been setting posts for a yard for sheep & chickens. Have had a good deal of trouble chasing stray hogs. Cyrus has taken 1/2 peck of apples in his wheelbarrow to Grandma Lathers. Mrs. S. has done some washing, & about 5 o'clock washed my head for me. Emily has picked 3 pints of blackberries & gathered some apples. Has been very hot, have played some & tended baby. Had letter from Lottie Leonard.
E. Nankin, Wea Fair a.m., p.m. thunder showers, Sun. Jul. 28, 98 Ther.
Pretty hot night, not conducive to sleep. Very hot in dining room this morning. I played some tunes for baby before lying down. Julia & 2 children walked to church. Robt. & I rode a little later. I allowed extra time to get ready, but we were a little late. No one waited for me.
I took one of the Lansing hymnals for Wm. Lathers to examine during week. Mr. Wetmore preached a harvest sermon. Text Ex. 23, 16 & made some remarks about keeping Sabbath. Sabbath school att. 31, coll .30.
Session meeting announced for after S.S. to see any candidates for examination to join church, but none came. Mr. W. spoke to me about my letter from Lansing church. Very hot this p.m. while I was lying down in my room, later I was sitting on porch reading to children & heavy thunderstorm came up, we had to go in. Austin was to lead meeting this eve. Julia & Robert were late getting started. Very bad walking, few out. I got fresh water from well & retired early.
Nankin, Wea Some rain, Mon. Jul 29, 1901
Quite dark & threatening this morning & has sprinkled a little. Robt. Has churned & Julia cared for the butter & stewed sauce & green beans & sugar beets for dinner. Emily carried some mail to Grandma Lathers & brought back few little pears. She has picked a few blackberries & gathered some apples. Baby has had a couple of tumbles & been rather fretful. I tended her a little after dinner to give others a chance to work. Mrs. Southwell has tended her too, & done general work. I spent most of a.m. in my room. Spent an hour or two in repairs on Julia's suit, begun Saturday. Have done a good deal of ripping of fine stitching on my white waist. It was so narrow across the front I couldn't keep it buttoned. Ripped two tucks & seam to give more room. Have sewed little & tended baby. Julia & Robert & baby drove to Perrinsville to see if he could find a good cow to buy, were gone all evening. I was only one up when they came home. Beautiful evening.
Nankin, Wea Fair, Tues. Jul. 30, 1901
Have picked up dirty clothes (not as many as I might) and carried down, as Julia is washing. I have spent my spare time working on white waist & gotten it together again & sewed a little besides. Have done some writing & little reading & lain down some as my medicine has been a little hard on me. Have rubbed up my gold studs with little emery dust. There is to be a lawn social at church this eve. & Julia has spent a good deal of time down cellar making ice cream. Mrs. Stewart sent two boys over to help freeze it, they brought a 2 qt. Pail of cream. Emily got some cream at Grandma's & Ollie & Lizzie brought cream this p.m. & stayed a while & helped freeze it. They froze 3 gallons. Has grown much colder since morning so we have been willing to sit in the house & have on thicker clothes. I did not need my white waist to wear to the social. Robert took the ice cream & the children in the one horse wagon & returned for Julia, who had to see the baby quieted before she could come. 50 or 60 attended. $8.65 taken in. I stayed inside most of the time, as it was chilly out, and quite noisy. I had a dish of ice cream.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Wed, Jul. 31, 1901
Yesterday received church letter of dismissal from Lansing. Mr. Esselstyn wrote me a nice letter, and mentioned with some feeling my having been a member 44 yrs. Robert has driven to Inkster with load of wood, & when he went to the woods to load it up, Julia & children rode along. She wanted to see the back side of the farm, invited me to go, but I did not feel able.
A stereoscope agent called on Mrs. Southwell while they were gone. She agreed to take one, I loaned her $2.00 to help pay for it. Emily has picked 5 qt. Blackberries today & gathered some apples, wants to get a ½ bu. Of nice ones to send to city to sell. She brought a few to my room this p.m. & stayed a while, I gave her the account book I made for her some days ago. Have spent some hours today repairing and enlarging her buff gingham dress. Did not finish it, as the iron was hot & I stopped to iron some clothes.
Have tended baby several times today & played for her. Mrs. S. & Julia have done their ironing & Robert & his men have helped his father about the oats. A beautiful day & evening. Julia has baked bread, pies, etc.