Comments On Article: Diary Of Sarah, May 1 - 7, 1932

If you would like to share your comments for article Diary of Sarah, May 1 - 7, 1932, this is where to do it! 

Click the Reply To This Topic button below to post yours.

Well, I am enjoying Sarah's journal but it does make me tired and feel slovenly and lazy to see all the work that she does seemingly with no resentment as to the amount.  I do wonder how early in the morning her morning chores began?

Yes, I was actually wondering the same thing - how early she begins!  I despise cooking, not baking so much, but I think in most regards I was definitely born in the wrong era, but happy for this era in the cooking area.  I'm thinking they sleep well.

I may have missed this - does Sarah's diary mention drawing water from a well or cistern?  I always assumed she had at least a hand pump in her kitchen, and that was why she did the family laundry instead of just her and "father's" laundry.  My husband's grandmother, born in 1870-something, for a long, long time had a handpump in the kitchen on their farm in the backwoods of nowhere.  It was the only running water in the house.  My grandfather's farm had a hand pump at the kitchen sink, but it was replaced by a faucet when the well got an electric pump back before I was born.  It was also the only water in the house. Baths were taken in a tin tub with water heated on the stove.

I would hate to think of doing laundry for more than one family while drawing water by hand.

I assume her back is better since she isn't mentioning it.  I also assume the chickens are laying well, since she has the eggs to make an angel food cake.  

Whatever her situation, though, Sarah is all go, go, go.  

Sarah is definitely an inspiration for working hard. Hauling water would be very hard work for sure. My grandmother was a young teenager in the 1930's and she told me about taking a bath in a tin tub in front of the fire when she was younger.

I'm interested in Sarah's speech at the ladies' meeting.

Sarah would have had no distractions like the TV or computer in those days. Often if they had a radio it was only turned on in the evening. 

She would have sat to sew, knit,quilt maybe but she could have enjoyed that and as relaxation. 

Today when you are over 60 and still enjoy working hard most days others will tell you you need to slow down or rest. 

Haha..I tell them " you're a long time dead. Better ramp it up "

Sarah is inspiring. 

For those who think they don't work hard you should write down what you do each day. You would be amazed 

I recently was reading a historical book and found that most people woke up around 5 am and went to bed anywhere from 8-9. Hope that helps!

Our grandparents who lived well into their 90's said if you sit or plop you go downhill fast. Always has stuck with my husband and I.

I have a question on what she means when she says this in the diary for Wednesday, May 4.   

 Set 4 hens in B.R. & 1 in lower shed.  

I was assuming it meant dressing them or either putting them in a special spot to hang for smoking the meat? The other thought I had was maybe they were designated to be broody hens? It's probably none of the above. 

Andrea B

I have an American friend who tells me she sets her hens and she's telling me they are clucky and she has eggs under them.

If you have a rooster your eggs will always be fertile.

thank you Karen. I had assumed that meant they go broody so thabk you for letting me know. I love in the USA like your friend. Where are you from?

I live in New Zealand Andrea B