May 24, 1894 thru May 25, 1894

If you follow Bert's diary regularly, you can skip this paragraph. I will not be transcribing each entry since most of Bert's diary is pretty clear. You can read the original more easily by clicking on the image above to view a larger version. I will be including this paragraph, or something similar in each entry so that new readers will know they can click the image to enlarge it for easier reading. Also, there will be some links to the right of the page with relevant information that may be of interest. My notes will include the basics of what Bert talks about each day, along with my own personal thoughts, research, information gleaned from past or future entries, etc. If you have information or suggestions that may help my research, please e-mail me ..... especially with input on Bert's coded entries?

Thursday, May 24, 1894 --- Another rainy day! Bert does the chores, and then makes 10 potato crates. Ten potato crates does not sound like very many, but remember there were no power tools, and they may have actually made their own boards from logs cut on the land? Bert then helped "set three hens". Setting hens was a process of finding "broody" hens ( hens interested in sitting on eggs to hatch them), and then placing fertilized eggs under them and waiting around 21 days! "Broody" hens will tend to remain on the nest instead of leaving after laying eggs. They also make a clucking noise instead of cackling?

Sometimes a hen will stop laying and instead will focus on the incubation of eggs, a state that is commonly known as going broody. A broody chicken will sit fast on the nest, and protest or peck in defense if disturbed or removed, and will rarely leave the nest to eat, drink, or dust bathe.

I love Bert's addition of sketches sometimes!

Bert then writes ----

"Rain, rain, rain, rain" and
"My head has hurt to beat Eli"

Friday, May 25, 1894 --- Another rainy day! Bert spends the morning digging out stones from the fields. He sits around the house and watches it rain till the middle of the afternoon, and then goes out to draw the stones he dug out.

"bought two tie pins at ten cents apiece"

I wonder if a peddler came by or if he went to Naples or Ingleside? My guess is that a peddler was in the area, since he does not mention any trip.