The Journals of
Annabelle Johnson
1888-1963

Ina gave this book to Judy Miller this book during a visit to 9 Meadow Lane, Saxonville,  October and November 1944.
 

January 1, 1945 - New years night.  has been storming most of the day.  Snow and raining hard this evening.  Had one caller - Percy MacKay over for a quilting pattern for Gwen.  Three trucks went up and down, and a team of horses and sleds went out.  No word from Homer.   He went to Truro yesterday afternoon.  Alfred and I were alone and did the chores.

January 2, 1945 - Tuesday.  A windy  wash day.  Done the ironing and baked bread.   The storm last night put the telephone out of order.  Two young fellows came in wanting to telephone.  They did not get work in the woods.  Said their homes were in PEI.  Martin called up when he got home and told me that Homer was in the village and that he was going in to Truro this afternoon.  Joan wasn't very well.

January 3, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine mild day.  The hens were out on the ground this afternoon.   Homer came home about noon.  Joan is pretty good.  She is at her Father's for a few days.  There was a load of deal went down past today.  First load they had taken out.  The mill started sawing on Monday.   Homer was talking to David in Truro on Sunday night.  He expected to go away Monday, January 1st.

January 4, 1945 - Thursday.  A mild day.  Homer was cutting logs, and Alfred was sawing up wood.  I finished a night dress for myself.  Lois macKay came home yesterday.  Her mother is not well.   Got a letter from Cecil from Holland, dated December 20th.  Sent letters to Byron and Cecil this morning.  Sent 10 dozen eggs and one and a half cans of cream this a.m.

January 5, 1945 - Friday.  Rained most of the day.  Homer and Alfred doing odd jobs about the place.   Baked some cookies and gingerbread.  Also did some mending and knitting.

January 6, 1945 - Saturday.  Cold wind today.  Homer working in the woods.  Alfred out in the forenoon.  Cleaned up the house.  Baked biscuit, 3 pies and gingersnaps.  Homer went down to Middle Stewiacke.  Gordon met him part way.  Had a letter from Byron.

January 7, 1945 - Sunday.  12 below zero this morning.  Nice and fine.  Alfred and I alone.  Went for a walk out Jack's road.   Mrs Joe Chaplin of Dean died yesterday.

January 8, 1945 - Monday.  Snowed in the night.  Turned soft.  Coldre tonight.  Alfred and Homer sledded one load of wood and two of logs.  Leonard Johnson walked up this afternoon.  Pretty hard walking.  Two trucks up and down this p.m.  Water across the road.  Homer came home last evening.  Joan is still at her Mother's.

January 9, 1945 - Tuesday.  A nasty day.  Some soft snow and sleet.  Done the washing but did not put them out.  Dried dark ones in the house.  Homer hauled logs in the forenoon, and tried to turn the water off the road.  Had a letter from Julia to-night.

January 10, 1945 - Wednesday.  Snow squalls.  Put the clothes out.  Drying some.  Homer cutting logs and Alfred cut up some wood.   Baked bread and done some mending.   Mac Graham here collecting for paper.   Martin was here this evening.  He had been to Truro and had a tooth pulled.  Wrote to Cecil and Byron.  Mrs Myra Blaikie passed away in the hospital yesterday.

January 11, 1945 - Thursday.  Cold morning.  12 below zero..  A fine day.  Alfred took the cream down this morning.  Homer got two loads of logs home.  I got the ironing done and walked down for the mail.  No letters today.  Decided to have the Annual Church Meeting on Sunday - if fine.

January 12, 1945 - Friday.  Cold morning.  20 below zero.  Mild tonight.  Alfred and I down to Allen Deyarmond's to Ladies Aid.  A good many there.  Got 108 pounds of beef from Grant at 17 cents per pound.  Paid him $10.00.

January 13, 1945 - Saturday.  A soft day.  Did not rain much.  I was working on the church books most of my spare time.  The mail was late and three of the boys from the camp brought the mail to us.  Got a letter from Ina, Cecil nd David.  Homer went to Middle Stewiacke this morning.

January 14, 1945 - Sunday.  Storming some tonight.  Mac, Emma and Alice here to dinner, and audited the church book.   Had our Annual Church Meeting.  $5.14  of a balance.

January 15, 1945 - Monday.  Snowed quite a lot last evening.  Turned to rain by morning.  Homer came home about dinner time.  He was at Gordon's all night.  The snow is slush now.  No tracks on the road.   Mrs Carrie Cox's funeral this afternoon.  She was paralyzed a week ago.

January 16, 1945 - Tuesday.  Not very fine.  Washed, and the clothes partly dried.  Homer was working in the woods,  Alfred cut up a quarter of beef.

January 17, 1945 - Wednesday.  A wet day.  A fall of hail last night and turned to rain.  Done the ironing, baked bread and two batches of cookies.  Wrote letters to Byron and Cecil, and fixed reports to send to Mr Parker tomorrow.  Cut out a two-piece dress for Elsie.

January 18, 1945 - Thursday.  A little colder.  Homer away all day putting brush along the road where the ice was getting bad.  Alfred and I were doing a few things about the place.  Several cars and trucks back and forth to the woods.  The hill is pretty slippy.  Had a roast chicken today.  Sent the M&M fund today,  $29.50.  Also sent seventeen and a half dozen of eggs, and one and a half cans of cream to Brookfield Creamery.

January 19, 1945 - Friday.  Some fine today.  Homer working on the road.  Was at Grant's to dinner.  I made steamed pudding, chicken pie and soup.  Cleaned up the house.  Talking to Lois MacKay.  Her mother is about the same.  Sent her some soup and a bit of chicken.   Sent away 12 dozen eggs.

January 20, 1945 - Saturday.  A cold wind.  I was sewing most of the day at a dress for Elsie.  The woman and little girl from the camp was in a few minutes.   She came in on a truck for the mail.   Her name is Mrs Harry Smith.  The little girl's is Linda.

January 21, 1945 - Sunday.  Cold morning.  Was a fine day.  We did the chores and read.   No one called.  Quite a few went by, back and forth.

January 22, 1945 - Monday.  Snowing most of the day.  Alfred and I washed 19 bags.  Frank MacKay called and told us that Ruby MacCallum had passed away at 5 a.m., and that the funeral was on Wednesday p.m. at 2:30.  Gordon was talking to Homer in Truro.  He will not be home for a few days.

January 23, 1945 - Tuesday.  A stormy day.  Snowed and turned to rain.  I was sewing today.   Had a letter from David and one from Ina.   David arrived safe and is well and was not any seasick.

January 24, 1945 - Wednesday.  Finer today.  Done the washing and they dried very good.   Gwen, Laura and Dorothy Ellen MacKay were over this afternoon, and stayed to supper.  Homer came home this evening.  Homer and Joan have a baby girl born this morning.  Weight 8 pounds, 13 ounces.  Both doing well.

January 25, 1945 - Thursday.  A nice fine day.  Alfred and Homer were yarding and sledding logs.  Hauled 4 loads.   Had a letter from Amanda.  She wrote they had sold their place in Musquodoboit.  Also made the button holes in Elsie's dress.  Baked bread and rolls.

January 26, 1945 - Friday.  4 below zero this morning.  Fine.  Was cold and windy all day.  Alfred and Homer in the woods.  Alfred did not go back after dinner.   I baked pies in the forenoon. Was mending and doing some sewing in the afternoon.  Homer down to a card party at Bill Graham's tomight.

January 27, 1945 - Saturday.  Nice mild day.  Some snow falling.  Homer and I went to the village in the afternoon.   Made calls at Gordon's, Earl Archibald's, and Mr Parker's.  Had letters from Mrs Webster and Ina.  Mr Parker is improving. 

January 28, 1945 - Sunday.  Nice day.   Homer and Ester went to Truro to see Joan and baby.  They are doing well.  Alfred and I were down and we had a worship service in the church.

January 29, 1945 - Monday.  A mild day.  Washed and got the clothes dried.  Homer hauled logs this morning.  Percy and Geordie out looking over the lines this afternoon.

January 30, 1945 - Tuesday.  Some more snow last night.  The trucks had it hard getting up through the clearing.  Seven trucks on the road today.  One had the snow plow.   I done the ironing, and I was pasting some clippings into my scrapbook in the afternoon.  Alfred and Homer cutting logs.  Had a letter from Cecil,  and 5 birthday cards.

January 31, 1945 - Wednesday.  A cold wind blowing.  Alfred and Homer were hauling logs today, and I was working at my scrapbook and reading some.  Made a pie.  Laura MacKay and Willa Graham called in the evening.  Getting Willa's half-yearly returns signed.  Wrote three letters - to Mary Ingraham, David and Cecil.

February 1, 1945 - Thursday.  Snowing.  Homer was in the woods.  Alfred did not get down in time to catch the cream truck.    He filed the saw.  I was working at my scrapbook.  Had three letters from Cecil and a birthday card from Bertha.

February 2, 1945 - Friday.  Snowed most of the day.  Sun was out a while.  Long enough for the woodchuck to see his shadow.   Homer was fixing up tires.  I baked bread and snugged up the house.  Washed the kitchen floor.    Mona called that Joan was able to come home tomorrow.

February 3, 1945 - Saturday.  Quite a lot of snow.  The snow plow did not get up till 12 noon.  Homer and I went to truro and brought Joan and Nancy Carol home from the hospital.  Got along good.  Had two letters from David and two from Cecil tonight.  Both well.

February 4, 1945 - Sunday.  Cloudy.  No church today.  Got the meals and Martin was in to supper.   He had been out to the camp.  Canadian Lumber Company's truck took tractor down this p.m.

February 5, 1945 - Monday.  Cloudy.  Clothes did not dry much.  Homer got a load of logs home this forenoon.  They were both to the woods in afternoon.

February 6, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine day.  Got the ironing done and some mending.  Mrs Smith and her daughter were in on their way back to the camp.

February 7, 1945 - Wednesday.  A very nice day.  Baked some fruit cakes this afternoon.  Leonard Johnson was here for supper.   Willie MacKay, Della Ellis, and Mac Graham called in the afternoon.    The bulldozer and the big snow plow went up today.  Have a great road for trucking now.

February 8, 1945 - Thursday.  Not so fine.  Looks like a storm.  Baked bread and gingersnaps.  Mrs Smith brought the mail up and sat and talked for an hour.  Had a letter from David.  Homer down to Mart's in the evening.

February 9, 1945 - Friday.  A snow storm.  Baked some pies and done some sewing.  Two trucks got stuck down in the lane at Mart's.  The tractor came out with the snow plow and he plowed a road up to the house.  Got a box ready to mail to David.

February 10, 1945 - Saturday.  Still blowing some.  The tractor and plow went down this morning.   Something broke in the mill and some fellows went out.  Cleaned up the house and baked a pan of biscuits.

February 11, 1945 - Sunday.  Stormy day.  Snowed first then turned to rain.   Settled the snow and cleaned the bushes off.   Walter was in a few minutes this forenoon.

February 12, 1945 - Monday.  Nice fine day.  The clothes dried up grand.  Washed the floors and that took most all the afternoon.  Alfred and Homer out to the woods cutting logs.  The roads are good for trucking today.  Some trucks hauling wood.

February 13, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine day.  Baked bread and done the ironing.  Also done a little mending.   Mrs Smith and Linda in for an hour this afternoon.   Got some Valentines from the Millers and Elsie. The men were sledding logs.

February 14, 1945 - Wednesday.  A nice fine day.  Homer went to Truro.  Took David and Elsie in, and down to Stewiacke.  Alfred and I went out to the camps in the afternoon.  Mitten picked us up on the way out,  and we walked in.  Had a good trip and a nice afternoon.

February 15, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine day.  Homer was in the woods.  Alfred took the cream and eggs down this morning.  Cut some wood after dinner.  I baked date squares and cookies.  Seemed to have a lot of calls on the telephone today.  Got 7 letters.  5 from overseas, and 2 from USA.

February 16, 1945 - Friday.  A raw day and snowing towards night.  The World's Day of Prayer.  Had our meeting at Mrs W.O. Graham's.  I went down on a truck and came back with Roy.  They were in for a call.

February 17, 1945 - Saturday.  A fine day.  Baked biscuit and doughnuts.  Cleaned up the house.  Mrs Smith came in a while in the afternoon.  Martin's folk in to town today.

February 18, 1945 - Sunday.  A nice fine day.  Gordon, Ester and children here today.  Gordon, Homer, Alfred and I were down to church. 23 persons present.  The young folk went out to the mill.

February 19, 1945 - Monday.  A fine day.  Done a big washing and got them all dreid good.  Baked brown bread and rolls.

February 20, 1945 - Tuesday.  A nice day.  Done the ironing and some mending.   Homer came home about the middle of the forenoon with a small cut on his leg.   It got pretty stiff and sore in the afternoon.  Roy and Vada over this evening.  Cold morning.  14 below zero.

February 21, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine day.  Homer's leg is feeling better.  I was sewing most of my spare time.

February 22, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine this morning.  Stormed before night.   We all went to the village in the afternoon.  Alfred walked over to Springside to visit Mr Parker.  He is improving.  We called on our way home.  Was in to see Ester a minute. Raining and freezing by the time we got home.  The roads are grand.

February 23, 1945 - Friday.  A big rain.  Rained some of the day.  Baked bread and did some sewing.  Also made 4 pies.

February 24, 1945 - Saturday.  Some snow squalls.  Froze some last night.  The roads ar slippy.  One truck went up and down this afternoon.  Cleaned up the house.  Baked some scones and a custard.  Homer and Alfred hauled two loads of wood from the mill this afternoon.

February 25, 1945 - Sunday.  Sort of a chilly day.  No church.  Just done chores.  Got the meals and done some reading.

February 26, 1945 - Monday.  A dull day.  Not much of a wash day.  A card party at Arthur Deyarmond's this evening.  Homer and I were down.  A big crowd.  Made $8.59.  Eleven tables.

February 27, 1945 - Tuesday.  A wet day.  Got the ironing done.  Mr Fraser, the minister in Upper Stewiacke, brought word to us that Cecil was reported killed in action on February 19th.  We got in touch with Audrey, and he would get the word to his father.

February 28, 1945 - Wednesday.  A windy day.  Pretty cold.  Did not do much. Gerald Cox, from Dean, brought the fertilizer this afternoon.  The word came this morning that Lawrence MacKay was reported missing on February 18th.

March 1, 1945 - Fine day.  made molasses cookies.    In the afternoon, Alfred and I drove down to David's and was at Min's for supper.    David and Elsie were away in the afternoon, so we went there in the evening.  Got tipped out of the sleigh coming home.  Cut Alfred's face a little. [I'm] not hurt at all.

March 2, 1945 - Friday.  A nice day.  Mild.  Thawed a lot. Baked bread and in the afternoon I went down to Helen Graham's and we met there and packed six boxes for overseas.  David and Eddie Crockett, Walter and Clarence Graham, Ivan Hamilton, and Lester Deyarmond..   Priscilla's 13th birthday.

March 3, 1945 - Saturday.  Cloudy.  Rained toward night and blew hard.  Baked 4 pies and some biscuits.   Homer and Alfred hauled logs out to the mill for a load of wood.

March 4, 1945 - Sunday.  A windy day.  Thawed a lot.  Homer and Joan went to  Middle Stewiacke.  Alfred and I down to church in the afternoon.

March 5, 1945 - Monday.  Fine wash day.  Homer was getting wood at the mill.   I washed the kitchen and pantry floors.   Mac and his mother, Alice and Margaret and Helen were up this evening.

March 6, 1945 - Tuesday.  Not so fine.  Rained before night.  Homer out to the mill cutting wood.  Brenton hauled us another load today.  The $100.00 bond Cecil bought overseas came today.

March 7, 1945 - Wednesday.  Cleared this morning and cold wind today.  I went down to the village with Homer and was at Gordon's on a visit with them.  Homer, David and Elsie were to truro.  Roads are icy.   Gordon was till 4 o'clock getting home with the mail.  Could not make the hills.  Jim came up with us for a few days.

March 8, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine.  Homer hauling wood.  Was working at Red Cross pyjamas.  Allen here today collecting for the Red Cross drive.  Had word that Mary Ingraham has passed away.  Mr and Mrs Morris Blaikie have a daughter.  Both well.

March 9, 1945 - Friday.  Fine.  Homer was helping fix the road this morning.  Got a load of wood in the afternoon.   We all went to Aid at  Grant's. A large Aid today.  Mary was out from Truro.  Mrs George MacKay in a few minutes this afternoon.

March 10, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine.  Homer was hauling wood.  Baked bread and rolls and did the Saturday work.   Homer and Joan  down to Pembroke and got a bull calf from Norman MacKay.   Mr and Mrs Muir Patterson's baby died very suddenly last night.

March 11, 1945 - Sunday.  A quiet day.  No company or church.

March 12, 1945 - Monday.  Fine.  Quite a cold wind.  A good wash day.  Homer was in the woods.   He cut his leg a little this afternoon.  Mrs Kennedy had a letter from Ina.  Mary Ingraham had a heart attack on the Tuesday, and died Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

March 13, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine day.  Done the ironing and in the afternoon was out to the woods.   Went out in Bev's car.  Bev was here a while.  Had letters from David,  Mr W. A. Ross, and Althea Johnson.   Homer down to the village this morning.  Jim went home with him.

March 14, 1945 - Wednesday.  A lovely fine day.  The men were splitting wood.   We all went and made a call over to Willie's in the afternoon.  Emma is some better.   The cook from the woods camp and Joey were in here this evening.  I bound a mat this evening.  Baked biscuit and 3 pies.  The black mooley freshened this afternoon.

March 15, 1945 - Thursday.  A nice fine day.  We went over to Musquodoboit this morning.  Found the folks pretty good.   Roads pretty soft and slippy.   Amanda had 2 cards and 2 letters from David [Hutchinson].

He is well and getting some mail.  I had letters from David C. and Ina.

March 16, 1945 - Friday.  A fine day.  Thawing a lot.  Done some cleaning up and baked cookies and gingerbreads.   Got the hen house cleaned out.   A card party at Murray Gaham's this evening.  Homer went down.

March 17, 1945 - Saturday.  A nice day.  Baked bread and rolls.    Miss Dorothy Reid here today.  Came up with Homer last night from the card party.  So we did a lot of talking.

March 18, 1945 - Sunday.  Wet in morning.  A fine afternoon.  Was down to church.   Homer and Joan took Miss Reid down in the evening.

March 19, 1945 - Monday.  A nice day.  Done the washing,  and in the afternoon, Homer and I went to the village.  Called at Grant's.  Min went with us and we went to the village, and then to Eastville to Mrs Cox and Mrs Archibalds birthday party.  Had a nice time.  Called at the Manse on our way home.  Had a letter from Cecil with souvenir wooden shoes.

March 20, 1945 - Tuesday.  Warm. Rained in the afternoon.  Got the ironong done and some mending.  Splitting wood.  Three truck loads of lumber went down tonight and they brought the bulldozer up this afternoon.  The roads are closed tonight for trucks.  Thawing fast these days.

March 21, 1945 - Wednesday.  Cloudy day.  Did not thaw as much today as yesterday.   Homer took David and Elsie to Truro.  The roads are getting bad.  Was mending and fixing up things.

March 22, 1945 -  Thursday.  Windy and cold.  Homer took us down to the village after dinner.  We were at W.D. Kennedy's to supper.  Gordon came down for us in the evening.

March 23, 1945 - Friday.  Some squalls of rain.  Alfred went with Gordon on the mail.  I was knitting on Priscilla's sweater.  Ester and Gordon went to a card party at the school house.  We kept house.   Sawing wood around the south side of the river.

March 24, 1945 - Saturday.  A nasty squally day.  Ester went to Truro this morning on the Taxi.  Priscilla and I kept house and looked after the boys.   Alfred was over to Blaikie's a while.   Ester did not get home till almost eleven.  Did not leave Truro till 9 p.m.

March 25, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine.  Went to church in Upper Stewiacke.   Gordon brought us home in the afternoon.  Had quite a crowd here to supper.

March 26, 1945 - Monday.  Not very fine.  Some rain in afternoon.  Washed and the clothes dried pretty good.  Washed the kitchen floor and pantry.  Baked bread.   Jack and Ernie went away this morning.  Was frozen quite hard this morning.

March 27, 1945 - Tuesday.  Pretty fine.  Got the ironing done and mended and put the clothes away.  Had a letter from Eddie.  He wrote next day after he got my letter telling him Cecil was killed in action.  Poor fellow.  He got a bad shock, and feels bad so far from home.

March 28, 1945 - Wednesday.  Cloudy.  Rained a little.  Baked doughnuts and ginger cookies.  Homer finished splitting the slab wood this morning.   Got a box ready to send to David this evening.

March 29, 1945 - Thursday.  A fine day.  I put a small quilt in.  Alfred not very well all day.  About  eight o'clock this evening he took a chill and got bad fast after that.  Suffered terrible for a while.  Got Doctor Carmon.  He got here about 2:30 a.m.    He found he had pleursey.  Gave him something to ease him, and strapped him up.   We called 4 Doctors in Truro, but could not get one to come. 

March 30, 1945 - Friday.  Showers.  Alfred slept till almost 10 o'clock.  Got a few sups of water, went to sleep and did not wake till around noon.  Feels pretty good.  Vomitted some.  I did not get much done but look after Alfred.  Was tired and sleepy.  Did not get much sleep last night.    Just an hour this morning.

March 31, 1945 - Saturday.  Nice and warm.  Snow disappearing fast.  A lot of mud.  Trucks got stuck out beyond the house.  The tractor hauled the truck to Mart's tonight.  Mart called a few minutes this afternoon.

April 1, 1945 - Sunday.  Some showers.  Homer and Joan went to church.  Alfred and I stayed with Nancy.    A thunder shower last night.

April 2, 1945 - Monday. A nice fine warm day.  Washed a big washing and got some ironing done.  I washed the separator room floor.  Homer took the car down to Arthur Deyarmond's this afternoon.  Had bad roads to Mart's.  Alfred feeling better today.

April 3, 1945 - Tuesday.  A nasty stormy day.  Homer had a bad day to start with the mail.   He did not get much wet.  The rain froze as it fell, and the trees are loaded with ice tonight.  Had 4 air-mail letters from David.  He expected to be on a leave to Scotland for Easter.  Hoping to meet Eddie there.   He had got word that Cecil was buried February 20 th  in Germany.   Alfred up a little today.

April 4, 1945 - Wednesday.  Sun shining.  Took most of the day to thaw the ice from the trees.  The Canadian Lumber Company moved out of the woods today.  Hauled three loads down with the tractors.  Planted tomatoes and petunias seed this morning.  Was quilting some.

April 5, 1945 - Thursday.  Another stormy day for the new mail driver.  Pretty bad about supper time.  I finished the crib quilt tonight.  Will put it into the Red Cross parcel.

April 6, 1945 - Friday.  A cold windy day.  Homer out to the woods this morning.  Cleaned the school house in the afternoon.  Bound the crib quilt and baked bread and rolls.  Card party at David's.  Homer did not go tonught.

April 7, 1945 - Saturday.  A cold wind blowing.  Baked a cake and steamed puddings.  Cleaned up the house.  Alfred fed the hens at dinner time.

April 8, 1945 - Sunday.  Warmer today.  I gathered some pussy-willows this morning.  No church.  Done some reading.

April 9, 1945 - Monday.  A lovely fine day.  Washed a big washing, a blanket and quilt, and they all dried and got most of them ironed.  Homer dragged the road some this afternoon.

April 10, 1945 -  Tuesday.  Another nice day.  Finished the ironing.  Washed some curtains and got the spare room upstairs cleaned.  Elvin and Glennie here selling seeds and stayed to supper.  Homer brought the car home today.  It has been at Arthur's this past week.

April 11, 1945 - Wednesday.  A nice warm day.  Homer finished the wood pile today.  Joan and I were cleaning house.  Have two bedrooms done upstairs.   Mrs Bella Hamilton passed away last night.  She h+as been ailing all winter.

April 12, 1945 - Thursday.  A nice fine day.  I went down with Homer to the store.  Ordered some paper for my bedroom.  Alfred, Homer and I went to Mrs Hamilton's funeral.   A large funeral.  Called to see Min.   A letter came from Captain Fairweather, Cecil's captain in the N.N.S.H.  He said he was a good soldier, friend and man.   The Buffallo his platoon was riding on hit a German teller mine  and it blew up.  He was killed instantly by the explosion. 

April 13, 1945 - Friday.  Another fine day.  Got Joan's bedroom cleaned today.  A good day's work.  The men were doing chores around.  Finished the wood and sharpened some posts.    I wrote 5 letters and made copies of the letter from Cecil's captain, Jack Fairweather.

April 14, 1945 - Saturday.  A warm day.  Finished cleaning upstairs.  Baked some and done the Saturday cleaning.   Henry Graham came up with Homer for a visit.  Alfred was digging some in the garden.

April 15, 1945 - Sunday - A cold wind blowing.  Homer, Henry and I went down to church.  Henry went down to Cyrus' after church.

April 16, 1945 - Monday.  A cold morning.  Ground frozen some.  Homer, Joan, Nancy and I went to Truro.    I put Cecil's bonds and certificates in the Royal Bank for safe-keeping.  Paid $1.00 for a year.  We were at Mr Boutlier's to supper.

April 17, 1945 - Tuesday.  A cold rainy day.  Alfred and I washed but did not put them out.  Baked cookies and made some custards.

April 18, 1945 - Wednesday.  A wet day.  Cleared some by night.  Put the clothes out after supper.  Baked bread, rolls and peanut-butter cookies.  Getting ready for Aid.  A truck up and got a load of lumber today.

April 19, 1945 - Thursday.  A fine day.  Some colder in the afternoon.  Min came up with Homer in the mail.  Quite a lot here to Aid.  Got 6 letters today.  Two from David.  He had got back from his leave,  and had been with Eddie for a week.

April 20, 1945 - Friday.  A grand wash day for blankets and quilts.  They blew nice.  That is what we got done today.  Some washing and all the weeks ironing.   Homer was fencing and Alfred was tinkering at the harrow.

April 21, 1945 - Saturday.  Some rain today.  I went down to David's with Homer in the mail.  David went to Brookfield for his truck.  Mr Adam Davidson, and Mrs Charlie Chute  died this morning.  They were brother and sister.

April 22, 1945 - Sunday.  Cold and snowing tonight.  Communion Service at Springside.  Homer, Alfred and I were down.    The Miller family up today.

April 23, 1945 - Monday.  A cold snowy day.  Alfred and I were scraping Murenco (sic) off the ceiling in the bedroom.  A hard job.  Got a pretty good job at it.  A double funeral at Middle Stewiacke - Mr Davidson and Mrs Chute  - tomorrow.

April 24, 1945 - Tuesday.  Snowy and dirty.  Homer had bad roads with the mail.   Took paper off the bedroom and got a coat of paint on the ceiling.  Baked cream puffs and fruit cake.  George Graham here collecting telephone bills.

April 25, 1945 - Wednesday.  Not very fine.  The clothes dried some.  Got some ironed.  Alfred and I got some paper on the bedroom.  Homer was working on the car.  The mud did not dry up much today.  Baked bread.

April 26, 1945 - Thursday.  Still cloudy.  We finished papering the bedroom and varnished the floor.   Edgar Flemming and Jack Taylor, Brookfield was here to dinner.  Had a letter from David written April 9th.

April 27, 1945 - Friday.  Finer today , but rain in the evening. Washed and ironed the curtains and put things back in the bedroom.  Homer was working on a scoot.   There was a truck up for a load of lumber this afternoon.   Had to put chains on to get up the hill above the watering place.  Got a box packed ready to send to David.

April 28, 1945 - Saturday.  A wet day.  Straightened up the house and done some baking.  An unoffical report came in tonight that Germany had surrendered to the Allies.  Later , President  Trueman denird that report.

April 29, 1945 - Sunday.  Another cold dirty day.   We were down to church.    Called at Willie's on our way home.

April 30, 1945 - Monday.  A pretty good wash day.  Cleaned the old house in the afternoon.  Joan did most of the ironing.  Wrote letters to David,  Eddie,  and Byron and Ina, also Jack and Christena.

May 1, 1945 - Tuesday.  Cold and windy.  I went down to the village with the mail.  Was at Cyrus' for dinner,  and called at Bill's and Ervin's.  Made arrangements to have the South Branch Play at Springside Hall on Monday, May 7.

May 2, 1945 - Wednesday.  Cold and windy.  The ground was frozen this morning.  Homer was picking stones today.  Alfred put some new shelves into the cupboard,  and I got it cleaned.   Mr D.F. Creelman was here selling bonds today.  Got $100.00 for David,  and one for myself.

May 3, 1945 - Thursday.  Another cold morning.  Cleaned most of the room.  Washed and ironed the curtains.  The Watkins man was here today.

May 4, 1945 - Friday.  Still cold and windy.  Rained towards night.  Finished up the room.  Homer and Alfred were spreading manure.  A dance at the school house.  Homer and Joan were down.

May 5, 1945 - Saturday.  A wet day.   Alfred went down to see Min with the mail,  and she came back for his birthday.  He got 3 cards, $1.00, and 3 plugs of tobacco.  I baked a cake, made doughnuts, cookies, bread and rolls.

May 6, 1945 - Sunday.  Cleared nice today,  and quite warm.  Grant came up for dinner.  Took a snap of Alfred and Min.

May 7, 1945 - Monday.  A nice misty day.  We washed but did not get the clothes dried.   The War News  today announced the war in Europe is over.  A service in Springside for Thanksgiving.    The Burnside Aid sponsored the South Branch Play -"Beads on a String" - in the Springside Hall today.  A big crowd out.  We made $30.40.  Served lunch after the play.

May 8, 1945 - Tuesday.  Finer.  Got the clothes dried and ironed.  Mr Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain,  spoke on the radio and declared the war over.  The unconditional surrender of Germany.  The King also spoke to the Empire.    Mrs William Brown passed away very suddenly last night.   Homer took me up to Eastville to Mac  Graham's.  They have a new baby.

May 9, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine day.  This was Mrs Brown's funeral,  and an auction at Mr Sam Cox's.  I got the work done.  Was pretty tired by night.  The baby is good.

May 10, 1945 - Thursday.  A nice fine day.  Trying to do the work.  Margaret Dickie and Mrs Seeds came after dinner. Done some washing.  Washed the floors and made some cookies.   A great help to me - the baby is good and Reta doing well.

May 11, 1945 - Friday.  A disagreable day.  Got the meals and baked two pies.

May 12, 1945 - Saturday.  A cold windy day.  Done a few chores around and dressed the baby.  Mac brought me over to Pembroke.  Mr and Mrs Boutlier came up today in the mail.   Got some mayflowers.  Homer and Mr Boutlier were fishing.  Got 11 trout (small).

May 13, 1945 - Sunday.  A fine day.  We all went to Sunday School and church.  A Thanksgiving Service for Victory in Europe.  Mother's Day.   Nancy Carol was christened today.

May 14, 1945 - Monday.  Another dirty day.  Washed but the clothes did not dry.  Homer and Mr Boutlier went to the lake after dinner.  Got 5 trout.  I cleaned up the entry in the afternoon.  Wrote a bunch of letters tonight.

May 15, 1945 - Tuesday.  Still drizzly and wet.  I went down to the village with Homer.  Got a paper fixed up at Roy Blaikie's, about Cecil's monies.  David got a copy of his will.  All Real and Personal property willed to me, his aunt.   We were down to David's in the evening.  Called at Willie's.  A heavy rain in the night.  Mr  and Mrs Boutlier went home today.

May 16, 1945 - Wednesday.  Cleared off some about noon, and the clothes dried.  Homer, Alfred and I went down and helped to clean the church.  Went to Springside to lantern slides in the evening.

May 17, 1945 - Thursday.  Finer till after supper then rained again.  Cleaned the pantry.  Joan baked cookies and I made doughnuts.  Word came to Musquodoboit this morning that David Hutchinson was safe in England.

May 18, 1945 - Friday.  A wet day.  Homer and I went to Truro and it rained hard before dinner. Not so bad after dinner.  We done some errands and got our chickens.  Paid $14.00 for them.  Got 2 rolls of wire fencing.  Paid $11.00 for it.   Ordered flowers for Cecil's memorial  service - $7.50.

May 19, 1945 - Saturday.  Still dirty and wet.  Baked rolls and made pies.  Cooked some rhubarb.  Done a little mending.  Had a letter from Amanda.  Mildred has a son, born May 13.  Louis Alexander.

May 20, 1945 - Sunday.  A cold wet day,  and snowed fast in the forenoon.  No church and Sunday School.   Mr and Mrs George Deyarmond, Mary Dean, and Mac here this evening.

May 21, 1945 - Monday.  A fine day and good wind blowing.  Got a big washing dried and some ironing done.   Homer was cutting posts for the garden fence.

May 22, 1945 - May 24, 1945 - no entries

May 25, 1945 - Friday.  Fine.  The men are farming.  Put the chickens out into the old house and cleaned up the kitchen a bit.

May 26, 1945 - Saturday.  A fine day.  Alfred harrowed this morning.  Planted some garden seeds this afternoon.  Homer took 2 head of cattle to Berry Hill tonight.  Martin went with him.  Ernie here tonight.  Baked bread, rolls and pies.

May 27, 1945 - Sunday.  A nice fine day.  Had a memorial service for Cecil today.  Sgt. Larisey, who was wounded on the Buffallo that Cecil was on when killed, was at the service.

May 28, 1945 - Monday.  Cloudy.  Some light showers.  Done the washing at noon.  Homer took me down to Cyrus' and we packed a dress for Mary Baxter of Scotland for her marriage to Eddie Crockett.  Helped Margaret paper for Elsie. Was up to see Min for a short time.

May 29, 1945 - Tuesday.  Some sunshine.  Got the rest of the clothes dried up and ironed.   Homer to a meeting tonight.  Making plans for rural electriction (sic).

May 30, 1945 - Wednesday.  Still wet and cold.  Baked bread and cookies. Down to the village to a play in the evening.   Called at Gordon's.  Gordon and Ester were away.  Called on Reta Fulton, RN, home from overseas.  She has been in Africa, Italy and Holland.

May 31, 1945 - A wet day.  Not feeling very well.  Have a cold.   Got the kitchen ceiling washed and some of the walls.

June 1, 1945 - Friday.  A cold disagreable day.  Cleaned the separator room and finished the kitchen.  Baked biscuit and made scallop for supper.

June 2, 1945 - Saturday.  Dirty and showers.  Miss Reid came up with Homer at noon.  Baked a pie, doughnuts and a bran loaf.

June 3, 1945 - Sunday.  Cloudy.  Went to Sunday School and church.   Homer, Joan, and Miss D. Reid went to Springside to an evening meeting.

June 4, 1945 - Cleared pretty good today.  Washed a big washing and Joan got most of them ironed.  Put the chickens out into the chicken house, and cleaned up the dishes.

June 5, 1945 - Tuesday.  Cloudy and cold.  Leonard called a while this forenoon.  He walked up.  Alfred harrowed all the forenoon.  Homer got some sowing done in the afternoon.  Baked bread and done some mending.

June 6, 1945 - Wednesday.  A wet day.  Rained all day.  Homer, Joan and Nancy were down to Brookfield and Middle Stewiacke today.  I done some mending and other chores.

June 7, 1945 - Thursday.  Still wet and cold.  I went down to David's and we worked at cleaning the kitchen.  Finished it and papered some after supper.  Got along good.  Elsie and David away after supper.

June 8, 1945 - Friday.  Fine this morning.  David went to Truro.  We finished the room and got some other things done.  Alice and her two nephews over a little while.  Min and Lena was down a while too.  Edgar Flemming brought Cecil's insurance money to me today. - $131.95.

June 9, 1945 - Saturday.  A fine day.  Elsie and I washed and put 2 jars of meat away.  Came home in the mail.  Joan went over to visit Vada.  We were over a few minutes in the evening.  Finished sowing oats and put in a few rows of garden.   R.E. Dickie and son here on a business call.

June 10, 1945 - Sunday.  A nice fine day.  We were down to Sunday School and church.  Mr Parker's text was "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church."  Twenty years since church union.

June 11, 1945 - Monday.  Fair, and a good breeze for clothes till about 2 p.m., then it began torain.  Got the washing dried and ironed.   Homer, Alfred and I went to Springside and voted.  I called at Mr parker's.  Planted the cucumbers and squash.  A wet evening.   Homer looked for the cows till after dark and did not get them.

June 12, 1945 - Tuesday.  Cleared in afternoon.  Got the cows early , at mosie's.  Alfred and I killed and dressed 10 fowls.  Took us most of the day.  Baked bread and rolls.   Homer out to Jack's old place helping Percy fix up his pasture fence. The Liberal Party was returned in the Government.  Hon. MacKenzie King as Prime Minister.  Was talking with Ivan this p.m.

June 13, 1945 - Wednesday.  A nice day.  Was down to mart's in the morning.  Went to Aid at Cyrus' in the afternoon.  Martin took us down and Homer came for us.   Homer and Joan went to a serenade for Guy Graham and his bride.

June 14, 1945 - Thursday.  A fine day.  I was down and made some rhubarb relish for Elsie.  We got the potatoes planted in the afternoon.  Put some rhubarb up and baked ginger cookies.

June 15, 1945 - Friday.  A hot day.  Joan, Homer and I went to Truro. Left Nancy with Mrs Boutlier.  Homer and I went to Debert. Visited Ivan Hamilton and J. E. Larisey in Debert Military Hospital.  I bought a bond, and a couch and chair, and also a new hat.

June 16, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine.  I went to the village with Homer, and was in to Ester's a few minutes.  Baked biscuit and done some cleaning around the house.

June 17, 1945 - Sunday.  A dull day.  Showers about noon.  Was to Sunday School and church.   Grant, Min, Mary and Eleanor here to supper.  Some rain in the evening.

June 18, 1945 - Monday.  Not a very fine day.  But the washing dried and got some ironing done.  Was cleaning some at the old house.  A reception at Arthur Deyarmond's this evening for Guy Graham and his bride.  Homer went down.  Joan is miserable with the cold.

June 19, 1945 - Tuesday.  A warm day.  Done some scrubbing and finished the old house.  Got the kitchen floor ready to paint and got the first coat on.  Homer down to a school trustee meeting this evening.  Baked bread.  Alfred set out the tomato plants this morning.

June 20, 1945 - A warm morning.  Rained in the afternoon.  Rained hard in the evening.  Made rhubarb relish and done some sewing.  Willie came over and was here to dinner.  Got the second coat of  paint on this evening.

June 21, 1945 - Thursday.  Cloudy day.  Cold wind blowing this afternoon.   David brought the chair and couch up early this morning and had breakfast.   Got the room fixed up and the kitchen floor waxed.  Homer painted the kitchen chairs this evening.   Roy and Willie here a while, getting tomato plants.

June 22, 1945 - Friday.  Not very fine.  We were down to the school house this morning for the closing of the school.  Had ice cream.  A dance in the school house in the evening.  Homer and Joan went down a while.  Homer and Alfred putting posts in for a garden fence.

June 23, 1945 - Saturday.  A heavy shower in the afternoon, and a wet evening.   Baked a cake, brown bread and rolls.  We all went to Musquodoboit in the evening to a party for the boys from overseas.  David Hutchinson, Jamie Hennigar, and John Frederics.  2a.m. when we got home.  George Graham here to dinner.

June 24, 1945 - Sunday.  A cold wet day.  Went to Sunday School and church.

June 25, 1945 - Monday.  Finer.  Done the washing and got them all dried.  Picked a cup of wild strawberries this afternoon.  Rawleigh man here this afternoon, and Roy was over and helped Homer fix the telephone wires and cut down a tree. Homer working on the road in p.m.  School meeting this evening.

June 26, 1945 - Tuesday.  Raining.  Homer on the roads after he came home with the mail.

June 27, 1945 - Wednesday.  Dull.  Some rain.  The men were working at the fence.  Have it nearly finished.  Was down to M.D. Graham's to a meeting about the bathroom for the Manse.   Going to have the work done soon.   Homer to a school trustee meeting at Bert Hamilton's.

June 28, 1945 - Thursday.  A wet day.   I went down to Gordon's with the mail.  Mrs Miller was to Truro with David Miller today.

June 29, 1945 - Friday.  Still wet.  Talking and fooling with the boys.   Was up to see the strawberry patch.  Looks like there is going to be a lot of berries.   Gordon and Ester went to a dance at Eastville.

June 30, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine.  I came home with Homer in the mail.   Bertha and Shirley came up with us to Murray's.  Picked 2 cups of wild strawberries in the afternoon.  Virginia here for a week-end visit.

July 1, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine.  Was at church and Sunday School. D.F. Creelman gave a report of the conference at Sackville this afternoon.

July 2, 1945 - Monday.  A fine day.  Quite warm.  Homer went through the potatoes and turnips with the cultivator this morning.  Washed a big washing and got most of it ironed.  Baked brown and white bread and a raisin loaf.   Ollie arrived home on Saturday evening. Bill and Helen called this evening.

July 3, 1945 - Tuesday. Fine.  Washed bedclothes this morning.  Bertha and Shirley Graham came up with the mail.  We picked enough strawberries for supper.  Alfred and I down to call on Ollie this evening.

July 4, 1945 - Wednesday.  Fine and warm.  Aid at George macKay's.  A big crowd there.  Virginia went home this morning.  Bertha went to Aid, then going to Murray's in the evening.

July 5, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine and warm.  I went to the village with Homer this morning.  Alfred finished shingling the chicken house, and cleaned and white-washed it.  Baked a gingerbread for the Union Aid at Springside.

July 6, 1945 - Friday.  Fine.  Rain in evening.  Homer and Joan went to Middle Stewiacke today.  Alfred was hoeing turnips.  I cleaned up the house.   Put the pulletrs down in the chicken house.  Miss Horne came up with Homer and Joan.

July 7, 1945 - Saturday.   Done some cooking.  Martin and Ollie called in the evening.  Alfred, Homer and I were up to Bradford's to see Ivan in the evening.

July 8, 1945 - Sunday. Fine.  Went to Springside church in the morning and Burnside in the afternoon.   Down to Murray Graham's in the evening to a sing.

July 9, 1945 - Monday.  Fine.  Done a big washing and got most of it ironed.  Sewed a quilt into the frame this afternoon.

July 10, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine.  Got the quilt in and quilted some.  Miss Horne went home with the mail.   We were down to Gordon's  and got 12 boxes of berries in the evening.  The boys are sick - vomiting.

July 11, 1945 - Wednesday.  A shower in the night.  Went down to Gordon's on a truck this morning.  The boys, Priscilla and Ester not feeling well.  Better in the afternoon.  Gordon and Duncan went to a dance in Middle Stewiacke.

July 12, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine.  Everyone feeling better.  Worked around and got some berries picked.   Duncan and Edmund went home this p.m.  Carl and Carrie Tree called in the evening.  Homer down to Debert with harold.  Sgt. Larisey is being discharged from hospital.

July 13, 1945 - Friday.  A fine day.  Gordon, Ester, Priscilla and Jim went to New Glasgow this morning.  I kept the babies.  Done a little washing.   Homer and Joan were to Truro,  and I came home with them.   Jim came up with us on a little visit.  I was sick in the night - vomiting.

July 14, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine . I did not do much.  Feeling better.

July 15, 1945 - Sunday.  Cloudy.  Went to Sunday School and took a drive to Eastville.  Called at Mac Graham's and was at Andrew's to supper.

July 16, 1945 - Monday.  A high wind and shower in the afternoon.  Done the washing and picked some gooseberries.  Joan got the ironing done.  Alfred, Hazel, Betty Lee and Dickie got home last night.

July 17, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine.  Was picking gooseberries in the morning.  Cleaned them and put 5 quarts away.   Homer done some cultivating.  Mowed in the afternoon.  Went to Springside in the evening to a Farmer's Meeting.  Mr DeWolfe of Truro, spoke on education.

July 18, 1945 - Wednesday.  Fine.  Baked bread and done some quilting.  Mowed some more and raked up what was cut.  Mart's put in hay.  Roy and Willie over and got some greens.

July 19, 1945 - Thursday.  Pretty hot.  Mail was late.  An explosion of ammunition at the Naval Depot in Halifax last evening and through the night.  Thousands of people were evacuated from Dartmouth and Halifax.  Put in 4 loads of hay.  Roy was here today.

July 20, 1945 - Friday.  Not a very  good hay day.  A thunder storm passed around.  Rained hard down on the river country.  Alfred and Hazel,  Min and Eleanor here to dinner.  Got one load of hay in.   The danger is over at the ammunition dump in Halifax. Very hot day.

July 21, 1945 - Saturday.  A wet day.  Baked bread and 2 pies.  Gordon, Ester and family here to supper.  Was quilting some.

July 22, 1945 - Sunday.  A fine cool day.  Was at Sunday School and church.  Mr Fraser preached today.   David and Elsie here to supper.

July 23, 1945 - Monday.  Washed this morning.  A pretty hot day.  Got 5 loads of hay in.  Willie, Emma. Lois, Vada and Dorothy were here in the afternoon. Picked some greens.  Baked brown bread.

July 24, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine hay day.  Homer with the mail this forenoon.  Baked cookies and quilted.  A dance in the school house tonight.

July 25, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine day.  Baked biscuits and quilted some.  Alfred, Hazel and children here a few minutes for some gooseberries.  Two fellows from Stewiacke here to supper. Something broke about the truck.  They went back to Stewiacke without the load of wood.  George Hamilton was found dead in his car near Springside on Monday the 23rd, from a heart attack.

July 26, 1945 - Fine.  Was quilting and picked some currants.  Had a letter from Julia today.  She said that Lillian (Mrs Byron D. Johnson) had passed away on July 13.  She was quite an old woman.  I was down and helped Elsie this forenoon.  Alfred G. and family went away today.

July 27, 1945 - Fine.  Baked bread and rolls.  Cleaned up the house some.  Have company.  Mr and Mrs Kenneth Boutlier, and Donald.  Betty has a pretty sore foot.

July 28, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine.  Finished haying today.  Had 26 load of good hay.   Was out to Jim Tom's  for a walk in the evening.  Betty's foot is some better.  Kennie caught 27 trout this afternoon.

July 29, 1945 - Sunday.  Some rain.  Went to Sunday School and church.  Quite a lot out to church.

July 30, 1945 - August 1, 1945 - no entries.

August 2, 1945 - Thursday.  A fine day.  I went down to the village with the mail.  Called on Mrs Kennedy.  She plans to go to 9 Meadow Lane this month.   Joan and Nancy went over to Willie's this afternoon with Homer.  Melvin Prest died at the V.G. Hospital  last night or this morning.

August 3, 1945 - Friday.  A fine day.  We washed feathers for pillows today.  I went out and picked a quart of blueberries.

August 4, 1945 - no entry

August 5, 1945 - Sunday.  Some thunder showers.   Homer and Joan went to Middle Stewiacke.   We did not go to Sunday School as it looked so stormy.  Did not rain much here.

August 6, 1945 - Monday.  A fine day.  Washed and ironed today.  Homer haying over at Roy's.

August 7, 1945 - Tuesday.  Not a very good hay day.  Alfred was down to see Den this morning.  He is not well.  The men were over to Roy's in the afternoon, haying.  Baked peanut butter cookies, biscuit and custards.

August 8, 1945 - Wednesday.  Rained this forenoon.  Cleared off towards night.  Homer and Alfred went out for a load of ashes.   The road was so soft they did not get a load.  Ted, Hilda, Patsy, Bobby and Min here to supper. Baked bread and molasses cookies.

August 9, 1945 - Thursday.  A fine day.  Homer down to the bridge in the afternoon.  Alfred and I got a few blueberries after supper.

August 10, 1945 - Friday.  A fine day.  Aid at Mart's.  We were all down.  Homer and Alfred hauling ashes from the mill.  I coloured 4 bags to make a quilt.

August 11, 1945 - Saturday.  Made a mistake.  Wrote on August 18.  Guess I do need glasses.

August 12, 1945 - August 15, 1945 - no entries

August 16, 1945 - Had a three day visit from Anna Hutchinson.

August 17, 1945 - Friday.  Homer and Joan went down this evening to see Max Boutlier.  He got home from overseas.

August 18, 1945 - Saturday.  Pretty hot.  Baked a stirred loaf and a blueberry pie.  Was out to the woods and got a few raspberries.   Think I must have lost my glasses out there.  Homer was out for three loads of ashes.

August 19, 1945 - Sunday.  A hot day.  Went to Sunday School and church, then drove down to Bev's.  Had a picnic supper with the family from Grant's.

August 20, 1945 - Monday.  A fine day.  Washed and ironed.  Baked bread and canned 6 quarts of beans and picked 3 or 4 pails of peas. Homer was working at Jack's Brook Bridge.  Guess I can't see, as I made a mistake of a week.

August 21, 1945 - Tuesday.  A hot day.  We washed a big washing and got it ironed.   Filled the pillows with the feathers we washed. My glasses came in the mail.  Homer and I and Mrs W.D. Kennedy were to Truro yesterday and I had my eyes tested.   Priscilla went down this morning to visit Betty.  This is Betty's birthday.   Homer went to work at the school house.  They are raising it up and getting ready to put cement under it. 

August 22, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine day.  Homer came home at noon and Alfred and I went down with him to the school house.  Walked over to Grant's.  Called in at Cy's a little while.   Went down to Bev's in the evening.  Had ice cream and cake.  A family gathering - and a  few others.

August 23, 1945 - Thursday.  A fine day.  Alfred and I went down to Murray's and I went picking raspberries while Homer was away with the mail. Got enough for 3 quarts.  Done some mending in the afternoon.

August 24, 1945 - Friday.  Not so hot.  Cut out and sewed up stars for a quilt.  Baked bread and rolls and molasses biscuit.  Homer working at the school house.  Homer and Joan went to a dance at the Pembroke school house.

August 25, 1945 - Saturday.  Raining today.  I was working at a quilt and doing other chores around.  Priscilla came up with the mail - was visiting Betty.

August 26, 1945 - Sunday.  Damp day.  Was to Sunday School and church.  The Miller family here today.  Had fowl for dinner.

August 27, 1945 - Monday.  Dark.  The clothes dried enough to iron.  Rained again last night.  Homer at the school house.  Alfred pulling weeds.

August 28, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine.  I went to the village this morning.  Called to see Flossie and Edith Boomer at Glenn Blaikie's.  They are going back to Red Deer on Thursday.  Mixing cement at the school house this afternoon.   Baked bread, biscuit, cake and brownies.  Had two letters from David.  Priscilla went home again this morning.

August 29, 1945 - Wednesday.  A hot day.  We all went to Truro to the Exhibition.  A big crowd on the grounds.  Joan and Nancy stayed in Middle Stewiacke for a few days.

August 30, 1945 - Thursday.  A very hot day.  Baked cookies.  Made some pickles.  Homer down to the school house working.  Finished the cement.  Had a heavy electric storm in the afternoon and evening.

August 31, 1945 - Friday.  Finer and some cooler.  I baked a cake and cookies.  Packed 2 boxes for to semd to David for his birthday.   George Graham here to dinner.  Gwen called in the afternoon.  Homer was down and got a new plow at Roy Patterson's.

September 1, 1945 - Saturday.  A high wind blowing.  Went down to David's with the mail.  Picked some blackberries.  Baked bread, made mustard pickles and 2 jars of apple and blackberry.  Homer to school house in afternoon.

September 2, 1945 - Sunday.  Cloudy and windy.  Was at church and Sunday School.  Not many there.   Called at Willie's.   Mr and Mrs J.W's 49th Wedding Anniversary.   Mart and Christy here to supper.

September 3, 1945 - Monday.  Washed a big washing and got some of it ironed.  Homer was working at the school house.

September 4, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine.  I went down to David's with the mail, then worked helping clean the school house in the afternoon.  They got everything all straightened up.  Seems to be a good job.  Elmer and Martin here this afternoon cutting the oats.

September 5, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine day.  Elmer and Martin finished binding the oats.  Made 2 apple pies, baked bread, and rolls.   Max, Iris and Virginia Boutlier were here visiting Joan.  Had a salmon loaf and vegetables for dinner.

September 6, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine.  Alfred and I went down to Gordon's in the mail.  Alfred was pretty tired after cutting grain yesterday.  Ester, Jim and I down to Pearson's in the afternoon.  The men had a frolic in the evening putting the wood in at the Upper Stewiacke church.

September 7, 1945 - Friday.  Hot day.  Alfred was painting at Gordon's kitchen.  Got all over it with a second coat.  Gordon was getting his oats on the interval cut.   The binder broke and Herman went to Truro for a part.   We were up and called at Mr Arthur Kennedy's in the evening.

September 8, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine.  Very hot.  Hottest day in 17 years.  Cooled some towards night.  Alfred and I came home with the mail.

September 9, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine.  Was at church in Springside.  "Flower Service", and to Sunday School and church in Burnside in the afternoon.

September 10, 1945 - Monday.  Not very fine in morning.  Broke away abd a good afternoon for putting in oats.  Roy was over and helped get 4 or 5 loads in.  Washed and ironed.  Made bread-and-butter pickles, and sweet-

September 11, 1945 - Tuesday.  Not very fine.  The men finished carting the oats.  Put 7 quarts of beets up today.  Homer and Joan went to the village in the evening.  Took the car down for Gordon, and brought Johnnie Graham's little car back.

September 12, 1945 - Wednesday.  Some rain last night.  Baked biscuit and 7 loaves of bread.  Homer tinkering at the little car.  Alfred was making posts.  I mended up some socks.  Leon and Lynn's second birthday.   A son born to Mr and Mrs Geordie Dean today.

September 13, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine day.  Went to the village with Homer to see Mrs Kennedy and in the afternoon I was down a while and talked to Christy and Mrs Seldon Johnson.  Her son is home from overseas.  Mart had the bulldozer cleaning out the brook today.

September 14, 1945 - Fine.  Made jelly this morning and coloured bags for quilts in the afternoon.  A dance at the school house, and I went down and stayed with Dora for Mary and Arthur to go.  We got along all right.   She had one of her bad spells last night.

September 15, 1945 - Saturday.  A fine day.  Arthur brought me home this morning.  Baked bread and a pie.

September 16, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine.  Went to Sunday School and church in Burnside.  Rev. E.J.O.Fraser spoke and in the evening we went to Springside to hear him. 

September 17, 1945 - Monday.  Fine.  Washed  and ironed most of the clothes.  Homer was cutting some logs.  I sewed up some bags for a quilt for the Ladies Aid to quilt.  Picked the tomatoes as there was some frost this morning.

September 18, 1945 - September 26, 1945 - no entries

September 27, 1945 - Thursday.  A fine day.  Rika sent for Doctor  Cameron and myself early this morning.  A baby boy born at 8:15 a.m. and another at 10:45  . No.1 weighed 8 puonds, 7 ounces.  No.2 weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces.

September 28, 1945 - October 3, 1945 - no entries

October 4, 1945 - Thursday.  Chilly.  Mr Luther Fulton and Neil went out to where the gun was set   Ant there was a bear shot dead.  Weighed the babies this morning.  Ross weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces.  Ronal weighd 6 pounds, 4 ounces. Went to preaching at Springside in the evening.  Had callers in the evening.  A cold night.   David and Audrey here on the way to Truro.  David is leaving for USA tomorrow.

October 5, 1945 - Friday.  Not so cold.  Finer.  Got a washing done and some crab apples cooked.   Bev, Luther and Eldon took the bear to Truro  this  morning.  The babies were good.  Two funerals today in Truro - Eric Groves, and Freeman MacKay.

October 6, 1945 - Saturday.  Wet day.  Bev took me up home in the evening.

October 7, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine. i kept nancy and the rest went to Communion at Springside.   Went down to Bev's after supper.

October 8, 1945 - Monday.  A wet day, with high winds.  Bev and Fred Rutherford hunting.

October 9, 1945 - Tuesday.  A nice fine day.  Done the washing and it dried.  Mr and Mrs Parker called in the afternoon.  Rika got up and had her supper with the family.  Bev was hunting.

October 10, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine day.  Kea went to school.  Done the work and got the meals.  Baked 3 pies.  A shower for Lillian Graham this evening.

October 11, 1945 - no entry

October 12, 1945 - Friday.  Fine.  We done the work.  Ester and Gordon up in the evening.  Bev was plowing with the tractor.  Was to D.F. Creelman's in the evening.

October 13, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine morning.  Rained by noon.  Washed but did not put them out.  Was busy around today.   Bev, Kea, Neil and Woodie brought me home.  Quite a heavy thunder storm in the evening.  Rained hard for a while.

October 14, 1945 - Sunday.  Was to church and Sunday School.

October 15, 1945 - Monday.  Showers.  Homer and Joan went to Truro.  Alfred and I kept Nancy.  Canned some tomatoes and apples.

October 16, 1945 - Tuesday.  Washed but it rained in the afternoon so did not get the clothes dried. Alfred over to Geordie's threshing all day.  Homer went after dinner.  Was getting clothing ready to send to the National Clothing Collection for the peoples of Europe.

October 17, 1945 - Wednesday.  Pretty fine.  Got the clothes dried.  I was down and helped Christy get dinner for the threshing men.  Baked 5 pies after I came home.  Thresher moved here tonight.   Olin Brown here this evening.

October 18, 1945 - Thursday.  A nice day.  Finished threshing about 11 a.m.  Homer was late getting home.  had 2 flat tires. David Hutchinson came up with him and he went for a little hunt.

October 19, 1945 - Friday.  A lovely day.  Baked white and brown bread.  Done some cleaning and made yellow sauce.  Alfred harvested the beans.  Homer was not feeling very well.  Has a thresher cold.  David out for a hunt.

October 20, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine.  Homer did not get home till 3 o'clock.  Had trouble with a wheel on the car.  Perley came up with him and stayed to supper.  Homer and Joan took him down.

October 21, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine.  A grand day.  Was at Sunday School and church.   David Hutchinson, Alfred and I went down to Grant's to supper.

October 22, 1945 - Monday.  A fine day.  Got most of the washing done and went down on the cream truck to David's to help get supper for the thresher.  David H. went too.  Called at Grant's a few minutes in the evening.  Perley goes back tomorrow.

October 23, 1945 - Tuesday,  Not very fine.  Cleaned up the rooms upstairs in the morning.  Went down to Springside to Election after dinner.  Joan, Homer and Nancy took David H. over to Musquodoboit  in the afternoon.

October 24, 1945 - Wednesday.  A wet day.  The news said this morning that the Liberal Government have all the seats in the House but two that went to the CCF.  Done some mending.

October 25, 1945 - Thursday.  Cloudy.  Was working around at mending and sewing.  Baked bread and rolls.   Had a letter from Ina telling us that David was in hospital in Waltham with Scarlet Fever, and they had been quarantined for a week.

October 26, 1945 - Friday.  A rainy day.  Wet all day.  Was sewing some.  David Hutchinson called and told us that Alec had got home, and that Eddie did not come.  He went into the hospital a week before they left England.  Baked 2 pies.

October 27, 1945 - no entry

October 28, 1945 - Sunday.  A fine day, but cold.  Went down to Gordon's this morning.   Homer and Joan went to Middle Stewiacke.

October 29, 1945 - Monday.  A good wash day.  I was sewing.  Done up a parcel and sent it to the National Clothing Collection Centre, Moncton.

October 30, 1945 - Tuesday.  A fine day.  Pretty cold.  Went down with Homer, and called on Min, Alice, and at David's a while.  Lois, Emma and Gladys called in the afternoon.

October 31, 1945 - Wednesday.  A fine day.  Homer and Joan went away early to halifax for the day, with the Boutliers.  Nancy stayed with us.  Gordon came up in the evening for me.   Priscilla and Betty were with him.   They had 2 blow-outs, and when they got the tire fixed , the car would not start, so he took the DeCoto (sic) down.  Got home about 11:30.  Baked bread.

November 1, 1945 - Thursday.  A nice day.  Priscilla and Ester went to Truro on the Taxi.  I had an interesting day with Leon and Lynn.  Gordon came up for his car, and I came home with him.  Finished carting turnips this afternoon.  Got first pullet eggs - 2.

November 2, 1945 - Friday.  A fine day.  Cleaned up the house some.  Homer and I went to Musquodoboit to the chicken supper.  Amanda and Alec came back with us on a visit.   Washed 2 quilts and the slip cover on the couch and some other things.

November 3, 1945 - Saturday.  Cloudy.  Baked brown bread and pies.  Was very busy talking.  We went down to David's in the evening.

November 4, 1945 - Sunday.  A wet day.  David and Elsie here to dinner.  We went to Church and called at Mart's.

November 5, 1945 - Monday.  Another wet and windy day.  Still some talking to do.  Homer took Amanda and Alec to Musquodoboit this afternoon.  Amanda got 2 chickens and 2 bags of carrots.  Gave them some other garden things.  Sent 28 roosters in to the Creamery this morning.

November 6, 1945 - Tuesday.  A high wind blowing.  Clearing in afternoon.  Homer went down to get the heifers from Berry Hill.  Brought one home.  Alfred was collecting for the Bible Society in the forenoon.

November 7, 1945 - Wednesday.  Finer today.  Got a big washing done and ironed.  Alfred finished digging the parsnips.  Homer was plowing for the first.  D.F. Creelman here canvassing for the 9th Victory Loan.   Sold the bull to him for $75.00.  Homer and Alfred went down to Gordon's for the other heifer this evening.

November 8, 1945 - no entry.

November 9, 1945 - Friday.  Chicken supper at Springside.

November 10, 1945 - no entry.

November 11, 1945 -  Went to Springside to Remembrance Day Service.  Unveiled the Honor Roll, and I assisted.  Stood for Cecil.

November 12, 1945 - no entry.

November 13, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine.  Cleaned the spare bedroom, and Joan cleaned her bedroom.  lois called in the evening, and asked me to go and spent the night with them.  Willie suffering a lot, and Emma very nervous. 

November 14, 1945 - Wednesday.  J.W. MacKay passed away about 7:45 a.m.  Went very easy.  I was there all night.  Allen and Lena came, and Alfred and I came home about 11 a.m.  Homer and Joan went to Truro.  David got home with them tomight.  Cleaned the upstairs hall.

November 15, 1945 - Thursday.  An awful stormy day.  Wind, rain and snow. I went over to J.W. MacKay's with Homer and Roy brought me home.   A bad day for a funeral.  A large funeral and the flowers were lovely.

November 16, 1945 - Friday.  Cold and windy.  The ground white with snow.  Baked bread and rolls and got the hall downstairs cleaned.

November 17, 1945 - Saturday.  Fine.  Baked gingerbread and pies.  Miss Dorothy Reid came up with Homer with the mail.  David was overto D.F. Creelman's this morning.

November 18, 1945 - Sunday.  Rain today and in the evening.  We went to church.  David took Miss Reid to the village in the evening.

November 19, 1945 - Monday.  Cloudy.  Did the washing but did not put the clothes out till dark.  Alfred was cleaning the chicken houses.  The boys were plowing time about.  I cut out and made myself a night dress.

November 20, 1945 - Tuesday.  Cloudy.  Rain in the afternoon.  Alfred went down to Gordon's to help Ester paint her kitchen. Joan went to the village with the mail.  David was plowing.   Homer took me over to see Emma.  Lois here a few minutes.  Lelia and children came home yesterday. Seymour and Mildred arrived home this afternoon about 4 p.m.

November 21, 1945 - Wednesday.  Dark day.  David went to halifax this morning.  Canadian Lumber Company moved into the woods back of here today.  I went to the village with Mitten on the truck.  Went to a meeting in the Upper Stewiacke church in the evening.  Mr Aikens spoke on "The Crusade for Christ". Ester was to Young Ladies Club at Mrs Stewart Hickman's.

November 22, 1945 - Thursday.  Another cloudy dark day.  I went down to the village with Gordon, done a little shopping.   Went down to W.D. Kennedy's and spent the day.  Mrs Alfred Teas was there.  Did a lot of talking.

November 23, 1945 - Friday.  Not any finer.  Made some rolls and got the meals.  Ester and Alfred were painting.

November 24, 1945 - Saturday.  Not very fine.  Baked a gingerbread and a pie. Gordon, Ester and Priscilla were down to the village in the evening.

November 25, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine.  Was at church in the morning.  Called to see Mrs Peppard and the folk at Grant Cox's.  Alfred and I up to see Mr and Mrs D. Kennedy in the evening.

November 26, 1945 - Monday.  A nice day.  Homer, Joan, Ester and Priscilla went to Truro.  Priscilla got teeth filled, and Joan had hers out.  Baked rolls and kept house.  Alfred was painting.

November 27, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine.  Ester washed, baked bread and worked away at the painting.

November 28, 1945 - Wednesday.  Fine, but colder.  Alfred was finishing up some odd jobs of painting.  Gordon cut the big branch from the Elm tree this afternoon.   Ester painted the red strips on the kitchen.   Papered till 10 o'clock tonight to finish.  Got the ironing done.

November 29, 1945 - Thursday.  Chilly.  Came home with Homer in the mail.  Roy and Vada called in the evening.  Lloyd Anthony hauled three loads of logs this afternoon.  Seymour and Mildred left to go back home this morning.

November 30, 1945 - Friday.  Snowing this evening and blowing.    Cleaned my bedroom.  Baked brown and white bread.

December 1, 1945 - Saturday.  Not storming.  Homer had quite a lot of shovelling to do as the snow filled in some places.   Lloyd Anthony's truck was hauling logs, so the roads are opened up.  David came home tonight.  Brought Gordon's car up.    Gordon got one of his young cattle home that was out.

December 2, 1945 - Sunday.   A nice day.  David went back today.  Has to report at No 6 depot in the morning.    Was ar church in the afternoon.  I called at Bill's.

December 3, 1945 - Monday.  Not very fine.  Did the washing but it did not dry very good.  Brought it in.  Cleaned some of the kitchen.

December 4, 1945 - Tuesday.  Some rain today.  Finished cleaning the kitchen.  Baked molasses cookies.

December 5, 1945 - Wednesday.  Finer.  Baked bread and rolls.  Washed and ironed the kitchen curtains.  Got the rest of the clothes ironed and put away.   Homer and Joan down to Springside to a Bazar in the evening.

December 6, 1945 -  Thursday.  A fine day.  The Ladies Aid met here this afternoon.  Had quite a good Aid.   Lois MacKay started to the States to have her papers renewed.  Had letters from David and Ina.

December 7, 1945 - Friday.  Wind and rain today and tonight.  Baked a fruit cake.  Was sewing and knitting.  Homer was tinkering at the car.

December 8, 1945 - Saturday.  Warm and foggy.  Lots of mud.  Cleaned the pantry.  Alfred down visiting Min this forenoon.  Eric Purchase was here for a few minutes.  Snow disappeared last night.

December 9, 1945 - Sunday.  A nice day.  We went to church.  David and Alec came out with Max and he brought them up. Clarence got home.  Eddie did not come on that boat.

December 10, 1945 - Monday.Pretty good in the morning.  David and I went to Truro with Elwood this morning.  Alec went on the cream truck.  Got David's bonds fixed up, and went to Dartmouth on the 5 o'clock train.  Raining when we got to Halifax.   Was at Amanda's before 7:30.  The M.......... will arrive tonight, and Eddie's name is on the list.    The boys are going to meet him.

December 11, 1945 - Tuesday.  Still storming.  The boys, David, Alec and Grahame, got back about 5 a.m., and Eddie was with them.  Four and a half years overseas. He is very tired today.  All glad to see him home.  Amanda and I went this afternoon to visit with Amy, Mrs Will Collins.  Pretty cold getting home.

December 12, 1945 - Wednesday.  Cold and windy.  Lexie did my front hair this morning.  Amanda and I over to Halifax in the afternoon. to the Americain Consul,  and to Eaton's.  Went to Camp Hill to visit Ivan in the evening.

December 13, 1945 - Thursday.  Still cold and windy.  Eddie, David and I came to Truro in the afternoon.  Mac met us and we came to Cy's.  Had a birthday party for Eddie.  This is his 24th birthday.  Had a nice evening.

December 14, 1945 - Friday.  Not so cold.  Butchered the pigs this afternoon.

December 15, 1945 - Saturday.  A fine day.  Cut the forward quarters of the pork up, and Homer and Joan went to Middle Stewiacke and brought the sleigh home.  Good roads now.

December 16, 1945 - Sunday.  Fine.   Was to church.  Eddie came up from church, and Audrey and his boy Stanley were here to supper.  David went back with them.

December 17, 1945 - Monday.  A fine day.  Got the washing done. Eddie and Homer down to Mart's in the evening.  Last evening there was a fellow came in from the camp and said a horse had tramped a man bad.  Doctor Cameron came and went out to the camp.  The man was dead.  The Doctor thought perhaps his heart was bad, and he had fallen and the horse stepped on him when he fell under his feet.

December 18, 1945 - Tuesday.  Fine but cold.  16 below zero this morning.  Christmas Concert and Pie Social at the school house.

December 19, 1945 - Wednesday.  Pretty cold.  Homer and David went to the village in the morning.   Alfred and I done some more work at the meat and made pothead.

December 20, 1945 - Thursday.  A snowy day.  Homer went with the mail.  Had it pretty hard from Crockett's.   Canned meat and baked 4 pies.  Received a lot of cards.

December 21, 1945 - December 22, 1945 - no entries

December 23, 1945 - Sunday.  Was down to church.

December 24, 1945 - Monday.  Storming some.  Homer and I went to the village in the morning. Was at Gordon's to dinner.  Called at Bev's in the afternoon.  The roads were filled in by George MacKay's, so David came down and hauled us home from there.

December 25, 1945 -  Tuesday.  Fine.  Homer and David were plowing the roads in the morning.   Had roast pork, apple sauce, turnips, peas, carrots, and plum pudding.  We had a nice lot of presents - Nancy's photo, 2 towels, $15.00, handkerchiefs.  Ernie Crockett was the only company we had.   This is the first Christmas David has been home for 4 years.   Alfred and I went down to Grant's after dinner.  Stayed all night.  Called at David's a few minutes.

December 26, 1945 - Wednesday.  A big rain today.  Alfred and I came home in the morning.  It was not storming much then.  Homer went with the mail.  I was sewing a quilt together.  Joan heard today that her mother has been hurt in an auto accident on Monday.  She is in the hospital in Halifax.  Not serious.

December 27, 1945 - Thursday.  Fine.  Did not freeze much.  Washed and the clothes dried.  Put a quilt in.  Did not quilt any till evening.  In the afternoon, Ester, Gordon and family came up.  The car stopped on the hill  in Mart's field.  Soon got it fixed.  Alfred and I have been married 40 years today.  After supper Homer brought out a pair of blankets and gave them to us.  They are from Homer and Joan, Ester and Gordon, and David.  A letter from Byron and Ina with $40.00 in it.

December 28, 1945 - Friday.  Fine day. Was quilting.  Joan went down to Mrs Allen Deyarmond's to the Baby Band Meeting,  and at Murray's for supper.   Homer went down for them in the evening.  The men butchered the beef this afternoon.  Norman Hamilton's funeral was this afternoon at 2:30.  He has been sick 2 years.

December 29, 1945 - Saturday.  Cloudy.  No storm till evening.  Baked brown bread and 4 pies.  Was busy quilting all day.

December 30, 1945 - Sunday.  A snowy day.  No church.  Martin and Ernie here this evening.

December 31, 1945 - Monday.  Snow and rain.  Homer took the car down to Herman Deyarmond's this morning.  David hauled him part of the way to Crockett's old place. Washed but did not put the clothes out.   Quilting in the afternoon.   Mac was here for a qurter of beef.   Eddie came up with him and the boys were having fun tonight.  Mr and Mrs Smith were in a few minutes this afternoon.   The end of another year with its joys and sorrows.

Notes at the end of 1945:

March 29, 1945 - paid Doctor Cameron - $25.00

Letters written to Cecil, January 23, January 31, February 2, February 9, February 21

Sent Box  to David -  February 10, March 29, April 28, May 1

Background Note - Judy Miller