Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman - Wednesday, October 9, 1929

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 (1929)

A little cool today, but not at all unseasonable. Dan cleaned out the stock tank this morning. I helped him tip it on end so he could scrape it well. It had to be moved to a little different position so it was good chance to give it a thorough scrubbing. The new mill pumped it full again without any expenditure of either muscle or gasoline.

Mr. and Mrs. Cope drove out for a little call just before we went over to Nancy's. The child had such a nice dinner prepared for her families and presided with very pretty dignity at her own table. Mary and I helped clear up afterwards and got in our share of visiting. The men of course, did the usual wandering around inspecting things generally.

Before we came home we drove over to see the fine new chicken house Mary is building. (Bob is doing the carpenter work, but it is Mary's project.) It is going to be very complete and if Mary's birds don't pay for it, it certainly won't be her fault, for they will be exceptionally well housed and she always gives them every care and attention.

Dave and Nancy have been over here all evening and we have been listening to the radio; haven't had much pleasure from it for some time for we've been using the batteries in the pump engine.

Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman - Friday, October 4, 1929

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 (1929)

The weather behaved properly, the helpers arrived in good season, and before noon the mill was in place. It was rather interesting to watch it raised. Mother and I went out and viewed the proceedings. I held one of the guy ropes, but didn't actually do any work. I scribbled around more or less earlier, preparing food, as I supposed of course the three extra helpers would be here for dinner but they finished about eleven and went off to a sale so there were only the four of us to eat, after all.

After dinner Dan and the man mixed and poured the concrete around the anchor posts and filled in the holes so our mill is in running order, I'm glad to say. Dan says it took quite a bit longer to set it up than he had expected but they made a good job of it.

It is quite cloudy this evening and has turned somewhat colder.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3

We drove in this morning with cream and eggs, did our marketing, and brought out a couple of sacks of cement to use in concreting the anchor posts of the mill. They thought they would be able to raise it after dinner, but the wind came up and they decided to wait until tomorrow. They want to have it well anchored so the winds won't topple it.

One of the neighbors phoned this morning offering me a stray dog that had come to them. Mother and I stopped for him on our way home from town. He is a nice little pup- collie, I'd say, and promises to be quite intelligent. I hope he doesn't run away.

Mother and I had planned on going to a show this afternoon, but Dan thought they might need me here on a guy rope when the tower was raised so we decided we would wait until another day. They did not use me but I found enough to keep me busy. For one thing, I stocked up with cobs, just in case we get a rain. Some extra men will be here in the morning, weather permitting, and I hope the mill will be upright on its four legs this time tomorrow.

Will got back from his trip last night and he and Jean drove out for a little visit this evening.

Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman - Sunday, September 29, 1929

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 (1929)

Will left this morning for a brief trip to the western part of the state. I asked Jean to come out for dinner with us, but she decided she preferred staying at home and resting. I had an easy time o£ it myself as the remains of yesterday's luncheon were ample for our dinner today.

Dan worked on the shed all forenoon and I helped him get up some of the roof rafters. It has been a beautiful fall day and it was nice to be out in the sunshine.

Some friends called in the afternoon and we visited with them until chore time. Just as we started milking the man came to arrange about setting up the windmill. He will come to work on it Tuesday, so I hope our hand pumping days are about over. The engine has continued on its good behavior however. '"Twas ever thus!" Probably if the windmill hadn't been ordered, the engine would have been on a strike most of the time. Inanimate things are about as "contrary" as animate.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Some of my spring chicks have been showing signs of cold lately, so I decided I'd better clean and spray all the houses today. The washing had to be done first but as soon as that was on the line, I armed myself with broom, pitchfork and spray gun, and set out to wage war on the roup germs. Tonight I feel quite as if I'd been in some kind of a fight! I shut the east coop off and am using it as headquarters for all sneezers, and have instructed Dan if he hears any bird coughing or sniffling, he is to capture it and shut it up, so I hope to cut short any serious outbreak.

Dan went out to dig potatoes this afternoon. He did his corn picking before dinner. About 4:30 a brisk shower came up and it rained until we were through milking. Mother and I are due in town for a party tomorrow - hope it doesn't get too sloppy.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1

A glorious day. Everything looked so pretty in the sunshine for the grass is greener now than it has been all summer and the trees are all bright yellows and reds. Last year at this time, mother and I were in Denver making trips to the mountains and reveling in scenery and gorgeous coloring. She would like me to go with her again this year, but I tell her I can't indulge in such dissipations every year, much as I would enjoy it.

Our windmill expert didn't show up this morning - got here about the middle of the afternoon and when mother and I got back from town, he and Dan were busy putting the tower together.

I got the ironing out of the way this forenoon and found time for a little mending too. I wish all this month would be as beautiful as the beginning. Already we're beginning to hear prophecies of "the worst winter in years." But I suppose there is no use crossing the bridge until we come to it. If one had heaps of feed for the stock it wouldn't be so bad, but when haystacks are few and there is a shortage of everything else, one hopes for an open winter.

Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman - Tuesday, September 27, 1929

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (1929)

Rain again. I'm not sure whether we will have our luncheon tomorrow or not, but am hoping the ladies can get here. Jean and Will drove out tonight to see how the roads were. Jean has to bring the "picnickers" out tomorrow as none of the others drives and naturally she is not keen about coming if the road is bad. I dressed a couple of fries for tomorrow and got the house in order so am ready for guests if the guests can come.

Dan picked corn in the forenoon and carpentered in the afternoon. He has the side studding ready to raise. He is using considerable old lumber which takes longer to work in, but he has to utilize what was in the old shelter as we can't put too much expense on the building. It is going to make a fine roomy addition to the barn. At least the animals will have good quarters this winter whether they have enough to eat or not.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

It sprinkled off and on until nine o'clock this morning, then decided to clear up partially, so our guests got here without much trouble. I furnished the hot dish for lunch as I wanted to serve fried chicken and the other ladies supplied the balance of the menu -coffee cake that tasted like more, a salad as tempting to look at as it was good to eat and peach ice cream that made one wish for a greater capacity or else that she had eaten less of the substantials. One of our crowd couldn't come, much to our regret. The others made up a game of bridge after lunch while I cleared things up. We don't have prizes - just play for the interest of the game and we always have a good time. These picnic lunches are really a very nice way to do, for the hostess has an easy time of it and it is not very strenuous for anyone.

There was so much food left that I told Nancy she and Dave would have to come to dinner tomorrow to help us dispose of it. We had some of the ice cream for supper then Dan repacked it and I think it will keep over for tomorrow.

Dan, not being invited to the lunch, had his dinner early and spent the afternoon working on the shed. We gave him some of the ice cream, however, when dessert time arrived for the rest of us.

The windmill was delivered this evening -hope we'll have it in working order this time next week.

Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman - Tuesday, September 24, 1929

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 (1929)

There was such a collection facing us in the attic this morning that we scarcely knew where to begin. I established mother on the stairs and put her to sorting magazines while I looked over the books and decided which ones I wanted to keep. The give-away pile loomed up pretty well when I was through - about forty volumes in all. After the books and magazines were in order we went through some boxes finding several garments which might be made useful for some one. I still have two trunks to investigate, but I can find my way around the attic now and it is at least respectable. We thought we would take the books in to the library after dinner, but it started to rain, so we concluded home looked better than a damp drive.

Dan and I went up for the mail and delivered a big bunch of magazines to our young neighbor who has been ill. When we got home mother and I indulged in a little nap while Dan worked on the new shed.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Still rainy -I hope it clears up by the last of the week for the picnic luncheon ladies are to come out here Saturday.

I baked a pumpkin pie this morning and did the ironing. Dan had to pick a load of corn in spite of the dampness. We are glad of the moisture because the soil can always use it, but can't help wishing it had come in the growing season.

Dan is getting the plates on the shed. Of course, he can't work at the building steadily as there are so many other things to be done, so it goes rather slowly.

At last our windmill is ordered —expect it will be here by the last of the week. Dan will have to have help to set it up as I fear he and I aren't equal to it alone. We've tackled quite a few husky jobs, but that is too big a one to venture on.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

We thought perhaps it wasn't going to rain much today so all went to town this morning. We had hardly gotten there when the clouds settled down in earnest and dropped their contents in a deluge. We got a little damp around the edges in dashing from store to store but managed to get all our errands done. We made a brief call on Jean, then went back down town for lunch. After we came home it brightened up for a time but is drizzling again tonight.

I busied myself on odd jobs this afternoon and got a number of little things done.

Dave and Nancy were over this evening. Merely living is a glorious experience to them at present. Of course this extremely exalted state can't last indefinitely. It is blissful while it does but unfortunately they will have to come down to earth in time. However, I believe their love will wear well. It is sure to if they will but realize that a happy married life comes from mutual effort—it needs give and take on both sides and forbearance always to make it a success.

Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman - Monday, September 23, 1929

Sorry for jumping around, but I found entries as far back as 1929. I will try and go in order now...

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (1929)

Quite breezy today too, but cooler than yesterday. After the washing was on the line I cleaned out the brooder house, but didn't get the straw in until after dinner. I find I can carry twice as much straw and do it much more easily if I put it in sacks. Then too, it does not blow as it does when I use the bushel measure for transportation. I think that is quite a "discovery" -wonder if Good Housekeeping magazine would pay me a dollar for that idea. Perhaps, though, that is the way most people carry their straw and I was being stupid not to think of it sooner. I always feel virtuous when I have the coops all clean, mash hoppers full and all shipshape. Tomorrow.. I think we will tackle the attic.

Dan went to town this afternoon for lumber for the shed hauled it out on Will's trailer. That is so much easier than going in the wagon. Life really is simpler in many ways than it used to be. When I recall our homesteading days when most of the town trips were made in the wagon -thirty miles each way- it seems as if things are much easier nowadays. But we are spoiled too, for now even a five mile wagon trip seems very tedious.

Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman - December 1936

(Editor's Note: Here starts the diary of a woman living on a farm in Beadle County- She will give readers a peek at the daily routine, the joys and sorrows, the work and play of an average Central South Dakota farm family. Other farmers will recognize in it the story of their own lives. It will help give city dwellers a better understanding of the problems of their brothers and sisters on farms.)

DECEMBER 1

Monday: Fourteen, degrees below zero this morning! Rather hard on little toes and fingers that had to walk to school. Our youngsters were ready and waiting when the bus that carries them to high school came along.

I washed this morning and hung everything out. All but the heaviest pieces dried. I think if it continues cold I'll begin hanging things upstairs to dry and on the porch. Lucky is the woman, who has a light, warm basement on wash day in the wintertime.

Canned sausage this afternoon. Instead of cold packing as one does with most meat, I packed this in pound coffee tins and cooked in a slow oven. When done the lard nearly covered it, so I put on the covers tightly and put away. It will taste mighty good with pancakes in the spring when all our other meat is gone.

We caught all the chickens that were roosting other places than the henhouse tonight and shut them in. The four of us got at it and it wasn't so cold a job as we thought. I held the flashlight, Dad caught them and tbe children carried them in. Jerry insisted he had school work a mile high to do and Jane had a headache but I noticed that both the work and headache disappeared like magic after we got in. There was time and energy for a rousing game of monopoly. Be true to me now, memory o' mine, was I ever like that?

DECEMBER 8

Tuesday: I'm horribly late but nevertheless I baked eight fruit cakes today, about a pound in each cake. We are invited out for Christmas dinner so surely these will be all right for New Year's. Ironed, baked bread and scrubbed the porch floor. Should be doing some mending tonight, but I just didn't feel "patchy".

Bought a book Saturday for a Christmas gift and since I've wanted this particular book for so long myself, I'll have to read it before I wrap it and give away. It's "'R You Listenin' " by Tony Wons. Our entire neighborhood used to listen to his broadcasts a year or two ago. Some mighty good advice and I have his philosophy of life. If our club women ask for suggestions on a study book again I think I'll suggest him.

Jerry wants a watch for Christmas! I wonder if we can manage it. Of course he's sixteen, a man of the world now! Done with childish gifts. His father suggested we get him a shaving outfit of his own and did that please him. He's bean waiting years for the first sign of a whisker and at last the day has come. Jane insisted it was only "fuzz" and then the battle was on.


RH Note: This series: Diary Of A Central South Dakota Farm Woman, continues for I year or so. I thought I would start posting the installments and see how it goes. If people like to read this column (from 1936 - 1937), and I don't get sued, then I will try to post them all. It is a bit of work to edit out all of the "copyos" so I'll get to it as often as I can, if there is interest.

RH