Changes - Beaus and Stoves

Friday, June 20, 1919: Hauled two loads of alfalfa this afternoon. I went up to Aunt Annie’s to pick strawberries. We picked quite a lot. But there was so many rotten ones. It’s a shame. I got quite a few. We picked them off tonight. Saturday, we hauled three loads of alfalfa in the forenoon. This evening Dad, Ruby & I autoed to Galena. Came home rather early for fear of rain. Mother had company - Agnes, Milton & Blanche.

Sunday there were no services at Union. We all went up to Aunt Annie’s to dinner. This afternoon Ben came along so Ruby came on home with him. He had horse & buggy as usual. They drove up as far as Singer Cemetery. Ben was here for supper. I guess its his last visit.  Hauled in three more loads of hay on Monday. Have some out yet. And its coming to a storm. Wish it wouldn’t rain on it. Tuesday had an awful electrical storm during the night. The folks hauled in one load of hay towards evening.

Wednesday,  Aunt Tillie came down in the afternoon. We picked a few strawberries yet for supper. Ma & Ruby washed an awful big washing and hauled another load alfalfa. Finished. Found the little calf dead this evening. It was weak and it got in the creek and couldn’t get out. Dad skinned it. Thursday, June 26,1919, we got up early this morn. Dad, Ma & I went to Galena early. Took in the calf hide and had a little other important business. An Odd Fellows Steam Boat excursion today. Would like to have gone very badly. And really would have if I had known something before. A beautiful day, but warm. We bought and brought home a new Perfection oil stove. Equipped with back and oven for thirty one dollars. Brought it home in the Ford. Dad, Ma, & I had to ride in the front seat. Aunt Annie rode down with us. Dad stood on running board. Ruby & Tillie picked some gooseberries this after. We took Aunt Annie home this eve.

Was Life Really So Much Different?

Saturday, June 13, 1925: We picked and put up two quarts of strawberries. Also put up a quart we picked yesterday. Thought something to going to town tonight but a little afraid of the weather so didn’t go. Friday, we ironed, baked and picked some strawberries. Had a storm and wonderful rain this afternoon and evening. We certainly needed it badly.*

Thursday, we washed. I put up the trellis for the sugar peas and hoed corn and etz. The Ford salesman came again this forenoon. Wanted to take our car to get an estimate on it, but didn’t we let him. Mr. & Mrs. Stauss came down on Wednesday morning. We canned four pints asparagus. Tuesday we picked strawberries and planted some potatoes. Dad, Ma & I went up to Aunt Annie’s in the evening.

Monday afternoon Dad, Ma, Aunt Lizzie and Annie Poundstone went to town and called to see Eliza Bastian, Hathaways, Winnie Bartell and Hattie Scott. Aunt Lizzie called to see Miss Doxey. Aunt Lizzie also bought a new hat. That evening Ruby & Len took them back to Scales Mound. Annie was down East to see Ida Barnum and stopped off on her way home. She had been gone since March. Last Sunday John Tresidder came up in the morning at six oclock and scared us (wasn’t up yet) to tell us Aunt Lizzie called them up that she and Annie Poundstone wanted us to come up to get them that afternoon. So Dad, Ma & I went up. It came to look like a storm and we had to hurry home but it cleared away again. Tresidders came up that evening to see them.

* In so many ways, but on a much smaller level, I feel a parallel between Lillian's and my life. As her family is busy picking strawberries this week, so are we, as she is putting up asparagas, every little home farmstand has asparagus in this part of Michigan. When we go back to Illinois we plan a visit with multiple friends and family - a lunch here, a dinner there, a quick "call" inbetween, ending with an overnight stay with one of our daughters. The next day we may even add a stop or two on the way home. Was life really so much different back then or was it just in the way we did the same things?