I realize that I am not on the exact track of posting as I am suppose to be as far as this study is going but this is a research project and as I discover new information I am trying to relay it on to you.
Many of the diaries are behind because I keep finding more relevant information. The whole purpose of this years study is understanding how our ancestors lived. We have been getting close with Leona and Edith but there has still been missing important information on what they cooked and how long it took them to do the things they did.
We have learned that they work very hard but it seems to be a much more meaningful work. It is not just me but some of you that have emailed and written that you can feel their work was hard but felt it was the way to run a household. Some of you are surprised at how active they are with visiting one another.
I will catch up later on in the year on Gladys and Albert's journal of the things they purchased and Theodore's diary, I have not forgotten and will get to it later on.
I am feeling very comfortable with the 1930's and feel that we are getting information that can bring some kind of peace and normalcy to us in such a unraveled time. We need to pay attention.
Our meals are changing as we are eating less variety and I am cooking food that does not require a lot of ingredients. This is chicken that I had canned, I sauteed some celery, onions and added broth. I spooned that over a bowl of rice. A simple salad with lettuce and tomato with a dollop of mayonnaise. In the past I remembered that our salads were often very simple with just lettuce and tomato.
We are slowly starting to harvest a little of this and that in the garden, enough to make a meal.
The garden is becoming as I imagined, the food forest.
This meal came from our garden. Carrots, potatoes, squash and green beans. We have gotten way off track with too many variations of food and I realize now even if I was not growing this in our yard that this is what I should be purchasing. I could purchase these same vegetables from the local produce market because this is what is in season right now. We need to support our local farmers.
The bean wall is full now and we are harvesting green beans. Beans are very easy to grow, if you do not have a trellis you can put long poles together for runner or pole beans or you can plant bush beans and you can also plant bush beans in containers. You just need more containers so you can grow enough to harvest enough to eat.
It is a lovely time in the backyard and now the front yard as many plants are spreading to the front for lack of space in the back. This is in our wildlife area we leave for the birds and chipmunks and squirrels.
Now I am going to share this diary of Sarah so I can share with you some more missing pieces. Sarah addresses her husband as father in her diary. In the past if the married couple had children they often addressed each other as mother or father. Today I will post one month and as I find the time to type I will post another post and so on. I feel that those of you that are following the diaries will really enjoy this one.
Friday Jan 1, 1932
A new year with its joys and its sorrows, its opportunities and its disappointments is ushered in today.. Had the usual morning tasks to see to. Father and I made the popcorn into balls and I prepared the dressing and got the chickens in the oven. Dressed and with father, Joseph, Julie, Frances, Edward and Samuel attended the reunion at Springboro at the Grange Hall. Had a fine time. All except six were present. Home for evening tasks, Father and I dressed a turkey.
Saturday Jan 2
Cold and cloudy. Got the usual morning tasks out of the way and then got off to town with Joseph and the dressed turkey. Stopped at Butlers and got a stock gobbler. Home about 12 o'clock. Father had found the stove pipe in the attic rusted away and having gotten a joint of pipe from Joseph, we worked at the range for some time. Baked bread and Kuche this P.M. and did my special cleaning for Sunday. Earnest called, towards evening, since supper I filled out Sunday School Diplomas until after 11:00.
Sunday Jan 3
Dull then a.m. bright this afternoon. Hurried through the early morning tasks and baked 3 pies, water preparation and went with the rest to the church. Stayed in the basement and filled out diplomas all during the church service. Attended S.S. Home for noon day meal. Henry, Jennie and the kiddies here for dinner and the afternoon. Usual evening tasks and supper. Earnest here later this evening.
Monday Jan 4
Dull, cloudy and threatening by noon, after a fine bright morning. Usual morning tasks and did the weeks washing for Fredrick and us. Dinner. Earl out of clothes. After dinner work collected news items. Evening tasks, took in the clothes but few of them dry. Set up the clothes rack and filled it. Prepared supper. After supper work did some little telephoning yet and some copying. Sleepy and tired.
Tuesday Jan 5
Dull and cloudy early this a.m. sprinkling rain later and raining all the afternoon. Usual early morning tasks, then settled down to copy the news items. Ruth and Samuel here all this a.m. Ruth pressed Josephs pants and vest. Busy with the items until 10, and carried them over to the mail box. Got busy in the kitchen and prepared dinner. This P.M. I made preparation and did the ironing the regular except a fine white shirt and a pair of pants, 2 white table cloths and 2 pair of linen curtains. Supper and usual evening tasks.
Wednesday Jan 6
Dull and cloudy and considerably colder. Hurried through the morning tasks and got busy with the ironing again. Pressed Josephs Sunday coat, a pair of pants for Earnest and a white shirt for father. Violet Gray made one short visit. I baked bread and Kuche today. Dinner. This P.M. I scrubbed the front porch and pavement. and the wash porch and pavement. Usual evening tasks, got a letter from Aunt Myrtle. Supper. Attended meeting at church this evening. Late.
Thursday Jan 7
Fine, bright, winter day. we were all glad to see the bright sunshine once more. Have the usual morning tasks to see to. Wrote two letters, one to "Ohio Farmer", and the other to the Farmers Guide in regard to their advertising L.M. Wallis. Did a bit of telephoning in region L. D. A. society. Prepared and served dinner. Dressed and attended the meeting at Mrs. Rhodes Home for evening tasks. 9 P.M.
Friday Jan 8
A most beautiful day bright and cold. The nearest a real winter day we have had. Had the regular daily routine of household duties. Dismantled the Christmas tree, stored the decorations and the few remaining presents and burned the tree. Gave the parlor, hallway and stairway a thorough going over and full well pleased with the usual. Also gave our bedroom a special clean up for Sunday. Evening tasks, Supper. Have been mending all the evening. 10:30
Saturday Jan 9
Cloudy and cold. A few snowflakes fell. Had the usual early morning tasks to perform. Set sponge for bread and mixed the pumpkin for pies. Baked 6 pumpkin pies and 2 peach pies, a kuche and a batch of bread. Mopped the living room and kitchen, Dressed a chicken about noon and put it on to boil. Had the usual evening tasks and made a kettle of noodles for supper. Earnest V and Howard here for supper.
Sunday Jan 10
Clear, cold, bright and beautiful, and ideal winter day. Had the usual morning tasks to see to. Dressed and attended church services and Sunday School. Home for the noon day meal. Read for a time then Joseph took father and I over to call on Mr. Flagal who had a stroke of paralysis several weeks ago and is improving quite slowly. Home for evening tasks, Supper. Nearing 10:00.
Monday Jan 11
Cloudy all this a.m. but quite bright this P.M. Had the usual morning tasks and got an order out to David C Cook Publishing Co. for S.S. Supplies. Did quite a bit of business telephoning and then was late getting at the washing. Finished a little before 12 and had dinner. Spent the afternoon after hanging out the clothes and emptying the washer, getting news items. Evening task. Supper Copied news items this evening.
Tuesday Jan 12
Cloudy this am. raining all the afternoon and stiff breeze this evening though quite a bit warmer. Have the usual early morning tasks to perform. Then finish copying the news items and wrote a letter to Mrs. Miller in regard to the Glasford note. Carried the mail to the box. Prepared and served dinner. Did the work ironing this P.M. finishing a little after two. Stripped tobacco the remainder of the afternoon. Evening tasks, Supper. Wrote a long letter to Aunt Myrtle 10:40
Wednesday Jan 13
Fine, bright, beautiful day and warm as Spring. Hurried through the usual early morning tasks and father, Joseph and I motored to Henry where we got busy with the butchering business. BY three o'clock the dinner was over, the meat cut up, the sausage made and stuffed tender loin and back scraps in the cans, lard rendered and in the cans. We came home through Franklin where I did a little trading. Usual evening tasks at home 9:30.
Thursday Jan 14
A little sunshine this a.m. changing to clouds and later to rain. Had quite heavy rainfall this evening. Usual daily routine of household tasks to see to. Made a couple of crocks of pigs foot souse. Opened 4 cans of pickles and finished them up ready for the table. Baked bread and kuche. Norma, Robert and Samuel here this P.M for a visit and later Henry and his family. Stanley was here told us Dan Singer was quite ill. Joseph called just after dinner father and I , Julie, Frances and Samuel went up just after milking. Dan is threatened with appendicitis.
Friday Jan 15
Heavy rainfall during the night and still raining this a.m. Kept it up until about 9 o'clock. This a.m. usual early morning tasks to see to. Scrubbed the wash porch and pavement and later did the front porch and pavement. Gave our bedroom an especially clean up and then we had dinner. This P.M., I baked a white cake, gave the bedrooms upstairs and extra cleanup all the hallway and stair way. Mopped the floors in the living room. Saw to the usual evening tasks and supper. Iced my cake since supper and helped father get some chickens pen up for butchering.
Saturday Jan 16
Dull and cloudy this a.m. sprinkling rain this P.M. and showering this evening. Had the usual early morning tasks to see to, got the eggs and bill ready for town after breakfast work. Then father and I dressed three chickens which were caught last evening. Prepared early dinner, after dinner work I hurriedly dressed after mopping the linoleum and attended the funeral of Albert Stultz at the M.E. Church at Franklin. Home for evening tasks.
Sunday Jan 17
Rain, rain, rain the whole day through and heavy at that. Don't know if I ever saw so much water fall in one day. Arose about 5:20 as usual and attended to the breakfast work then divided my time to dinner preparations. We entertained to dinner. Mr. and Mrs.Howard cooper and family, Mr. and Mrs Edward Taylor, Mr. and Mrs Henry Green and Esther, Mr and Mrs. Ralph Bowles, and daughters, Mr and Mrs Harry Egelston and family, Sarah Norman and Edwin Hall. The dinner was quite a success in every way. After dinner work and visiting the remainder of the afternoon. Usual evening tasks. Earnest called and said they would not be here until Monday evening.
Monday Jan 18
A beautiful day, bright, clear and cold. Got the breakfast and early morning tasks out of the way and planned to get at the washing quite early but then that and the other hindered until it was 10 o'clock or later before I got started. Had a big washing which took me until after 12 o'clock, Dinner. This P.M. I hung the line full and also the rack and still had some in the basket. Collected items of news until P.M. Usual evening tasks. Supper, Earnest and family here.
Tuesday Jan 19
Still clear and cold about as fine winter as ever have had. Got through with the preparations and breakfast and then settled down to copy the news items as I did not even get a start last evening. Had copied only a short time when Oscar and Henry arrived and as the men had both gone butchering I went out and lent a hand helping to load the calf. Finished my news and took it to the mail box. Saw to the morning work, ate dinner, made preparations and ironed all this P.M. Usual evening tasks and supper.
Wednesday Jan 20
Warmer and cloudy all the day Had the usual morning tasks to see to. Helped father get ready for town, got the hog and calf, chicken settled up with Fredrick and baked bread and kuche. Had dinner ready when the men returned and after dinner I fixed up the check book and they left for Lebanon to pay the tax. Finished the ironing this P.M. and got things put away. Usual evening tasks and supper. The men went to Germantown when they got back from Lebanon and sold their trash tobacco. Today turkey hen from L.M Waters to replace the one that died about a year ago.
Thursday Jan 21
Cloudy all this a.m. and raining all the afternoon and evening. Had the usual early morning tasks and just after breakfast settled down to finish mending father's jacket which took me some time. Carried some of the things up stairs and set the upstairs runners in order. Prepared and served dinner which was late and the Raleigh man called just at dinner was ready. This P.M. father and I were busy all afternoon cleaning up the chicken house and breeding room. This evening supper and dishes, sleepy and tired.
Friday Jan 22
Cloudy but no rain. Had the usual morning tasks to see to. Put quite a number of new hen nests in the breeding room. Mrs. Green and Ralph made a visit. Prepared and served dinner. Gave our bedroom a special clean up while the dinner was cooking. This P.M. I cleaned out the parlor stove and started a fire. Worked in there for a time. Went with Joseph to make a call on Dan Singer and found him quite a bit worse today. Home for evening tasks and supper. Sleepy
Saturday Jan 23
Cold and cloudy again today. Had the usual early morning tasks to see to and helped Fredrick off to town. Baked pies, bread and Kuche. Dinner this P.M. I made some cream tapioca, dressed and cut up a chicken, started a fire in the parlor, preparation of cleaning up the room, gave the living room and kitchen an special clean up. Usual evening tasks to see to. Earnest Betty and Howard here for supper and the evening, mending. A bath.
Sunday Jan 24
Cold and cloudy this a.m. clearing in P.M. Had the usual necessary morning task to see to. Made preparation and attended church and S.S. services. Called at Dan Singers on the way home and found Dan no better. Dinner. This P.M. I spent at home by the fire reading almost the entire afternoon. Julie, Frances here for a visit. Usual evening tasks, Supper. Tried on my new kid gloves and found them a neat fit. Expecting Earnest any time now.
Monday Jan 25
Clear and cold a most beautiful day. Had the usual morning tasks to see to. Then made preparation and got at the washing. Finished by about 11:15 and hung a part of the clothes out. As my hands got so cold I came in to work until they would warm up. Dinner. Hung out the rest of the clothes. Helped father get off to Nellie Glasford. Mr. Constine called to report that the insurance on the church has expired. Spent all my spare time getting new items. Evening tasks, supper, worked at the news job.
Tuesday Jan 26
Rained almost continuously all the day through. Colder this evening and quite a stiff breeze stirring. Saw to the early morning tasks and then settled down and copied my news items. Sent them to town with Joseph as he left for Germantown. Cleaned up some meat and put it on to cook. Before we got to dinner, Henry, Jennie, Ruth and Ralph arrived so I got busy and got a real dinner, which made it quite late. Henry's left just after dinner and by the time I did the after dinner washed and swept it was time for the evening tasks, supper. Sleepy.
Wednesday Jan 27
Cold and cloudy all the day. Had the regular daily routine of household tasks to see to. Baked bread and Kuche. Wrote a letter to Mrs. Miller and got it off in the mail. Prepared and served dinner. Melted some chocolate and dropped it in bits ready for serving. Dampened down the clothes and did the weeks ironing. Usual evening tasks, Supper and after supper work. Wrote 3 letters and a postal. 10:20
Thursday Jan 28
Some clouds and some sunshine. Had the usual early morning tasks to see to. Wrote a couple of dinner invitations just after beakfast. and sent them on with the school kiddies. Also the letters written last evening. Store some cans in the attic and evening preparing to do some mending. when Mr. Taylor and father came in and visited for a time. Prepared and served dinner. Put a fire on the parlor, Made a couple of bed sheets for little Bennies bed. Mrs. Taylor visited with me for a while. Made quite a lot of hens nests and cleaned up the old ones. Usual evening tasks. Mending this evening.
Friday Jan 29
Dull, cloudy and threatening all this a.m. about 1 o'clock it began sprinkling but by the time an hour had passed it was raining in earnest and kept it up the remainder of the afternoon and evening as well. Father was gone today, I helped Mr. Taylor and I put in a full day. Worked with hen's nest for quite awhile this a.m. started a fire in the parlor and gave the room a thorough clean up. Also the hall way and stairway and our bedroom. Scrubbed the W. Porch and pavement and used the rest of any spare time mending.
Saturday Jan 30
Clear and severely cold the coldest weather we have had this winter. Had the usual morning tasks to see to, got my eggs ready for town and then got busy with pies, baked 7 pumpkin pies, 2 peach pies and one cream apple. Baked bread and Kuche but was late with it an I had to await Fredericks return from town to get the yeast. Gave the living room and kitchen a special clean up and mopping for Sunday. Earnest here for supper and this evening. Mending, a bath, Henry and Oscar made us a call this evening in route to Fredrick's.
Sunday Jan 31
A fine bright day but still very cold. Thermometer 15 degrees above 0 this a.m. and a cold raw wind stirring. Had the usual morning tasks, Attended church service and S.S. called at Dan's on the way home and found him improving. Dinner. This P.M. father and I visited with Mrs. Nellie Glenford and also Mrs. Howard Mcclure . Home for the usual evening tasks. Supper. Earnest, Betty and Howard here for the evening. Used my spare time this P.M in reading.
