Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Wednesday, September 30, 1936

cloudy & windy with rain this eve-
Made custard and a plain cake & macaroni & cheese and gathered swiss chard for dinner-
Harry & Iliff came this eve and I went over home for evening and picked up things I wanted-
Mother has been good-



Monday, September 29, 2014

Tuesday, September 29, 1936

cloudy and cool-
Made apple pudding for dinner
Done out a small wash for myself-
Harry came and brought two milk cans of water and two qts of milk-
He stayed to dinner with us and went on to Iliffs-
Mother put on her rubbers and coat to go but sit on the porch instead while I picked up horse chestnuts*-
Gave her a tablet-


Illustration Aesculus hippocastanum0 clean
Horse chestnut Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885


*I am not sure why Irene was collecting horse chestnuts as they are poisonous to most mammals (except deer). Maybe she had them confused with the buckeye? Maybe she was trying to keep the other animals from eating them? Horse chestnut extract is used to treat issues like veracious veins, but it must be prepared properly. You can't just chow down on some roasted horse chestnuts. <Above image in public domain- Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany>

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Monday, September 28, 1936

plesant and cool
Made Butterscotch pudding for dinner-
and combed Mothers hair-
Mother has been very good today after her all night prowl-
Iliff came this forenoon and stayed to dinner with us.
Delivered a message of good will from Mildred-
Had a wonderfull visit-
I had a bad headache all day-



Saturday, September 27, 2014

Sunday, September 27, 1936

plesant and cool
Sunday and lonesome-
Mother stayed in her room nearly all day-
I took my bath after dinner-
George, Bertha, & Christine* came for a little while-
George looks rather bad weighs only 163 lbs about 40 lbs under his usual weight-
Iliff did not come this eve-



*Irene's relatives George & Bertha Smith came with their teenage daughter Christine. Their elder son Chester (Chet) was already married & living away from home.


Friday, September 26, 2014

Saturday, September 26, 1936

plesant and cool
Made a minute tapioca custard and done Saturday cleaning and washed kitchen windows
Mary Delano came with milk this eve-
Mother has been very good all day-



Thursday, September 25, 2014

Friday, September 25, 1936

plesant and cool
Sent birthday card to Florence Searles today-
Made oatflake cookies and put away jelly-
Canned two more qts of pickle pears.
Chas took the eggs to market today-
Harry called this P.M. on his way to Half Acre-
Mother was prowling all night so was quiet today-
Harry Teeter, Harold & wife called on Aunty today-


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Thursday, September 24, 1936

rainy day and how welcome but fair this eve again-
Did not rain enough to help the wells any
I make a little chilli sauce and a batch of crab apple jelly today-
Mother has been good today
a little restless to find her rubber coat-
Sent letters to Clara and Christine-


Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Wednesday, September 23, 1936

plesant all day very warm-
Leroy Bower finished cutting the field of corn today-
no frost yet-
very hard to pump a pail of water from the well-
Canned 7 qts of tomatoes this morning-
Mended my dress this afternoon-
Water shortage in Trumansburg and Dryden is serious-


Monday, September 22, 2014

Tuesday, September 22, 1936

plesant
Leroy Bower started cutting the corn today-
Can hardly get enough water to use from the well*-
Canned more pickled pears and made rice pudding-
Harry and Iliff came over  and got me to go home for supper
Had a wonderfull time-



*1936 was the last year of the severe weather the rocked the nation & caused The Dust Bowl in the Mid-west. New York had it's hottest July on record, & was experiencing drought as well. Luckily, Irene's crops did not fail, but the dry well was a serious concern.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Monday, September 21, 1936

plesant all day
Cool morning and evening but warm during the day-
Canned 3 pts of pickled pears* and picked a dish pan of tomatoes-
Harry called this evening on his way over to Iliffs'
Sent a letter to Hannah-
The well pumps like going dry-

Spiced Pickled Pears*


*I found a great spiced pickled pear recipe on the blog Headspace. Check it out HERE. <image from Headspace: A Cooking & Canning Blog- October 9, 2011>


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Sunday, September 20, 1936

Sunday plesant & cool
Made a cake* this morning and took the canned corn down cellar-
Combed Mothers hair and washed her neck & ears and I took a bath this afternoon
Charles reports a baby girl born today about noon-
named Gertrude Carrol-
the mother Florence got along fine-
Just 15 months to the day of Charles Jr's birth June 20, 1935-



*I am embracing my inner Irene. Tonight I am baking cheddar herb biscuits, cranberry orange scones, & brownies for my best friend's baby shower tomorrow.


Friday, September 19, 2014

Saturday, September 19, 1936

plesant all day, cool-
I canned 6 qts and 4 pts of corn to day-
Aunty helped me cut it off the cob.
Charles brought the drop leaf cherry table for living room tonight
His boy Junior has a breaking out around his mouth and nose called "Infantago"*-
began like a cold sore and spread-
He feels fine but it looks bad
Mother pretty good today-



*I believe Irene is referring to infantigo, or impetigo, is a very common skin infection cause by strep, or staph bacterias. It is most common among children & is very contagious.


Thursday, September 18, 2014

Friday, September 18, 1936

plesant all day cool-
Harry came this morning to spend the day-
worked all day pulling weeds in the garden-
Aunty helped cut the corn for me to can-
Canned 12 pts-
Iliff can store furniture & farm tools in Bob Bailors farm house if he goes to Buffalo
Mother has been better today
Recd card from Clara today.
Harry drove to Auburn this eve-


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Thursday, September 17, 1936

plesant & cooler
I canned 2 heads of pickled cauliflower making 3 pts and picked and canned 7 pts of tomatoes today-
Harry came and we went over to Iliff's for supper
Had a wonderfull time-
Iliff had roasted beef and had made chocolate cookies & we had creamed potatoes & sweet corn on the cob & peaches & cream
*Iliff had telephone call from Curtis Kendricks Buffalo


*This line is written vertically up the outer, left-hand side of the diary entry.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Wednesday, September 16, 1936

plesant day but thunder showers about 5 P.M. continuing through evening
I finished the ironing this forenoon and got dinner
Combed Mothers hair but she has been very difficult all day
We went over to the Misses Bristol this afternoon-
Miss Kate is very likable and interesting-
Miss Alice is too much "school marm" to suit me*



*Too funny. I love you, Irene!


Monday, September 15, 2014

Tuesday, September 15, 1936

rainy this A.M-
plesant this afternoon
I made cornstarch pudding and iron all forenoon and went to town with Iliff after dinner-
Got me a pair of Selby Styleze shoes* $6.22 and a batch of groceries & fruit & vegetables-
Mother a little off balance today-
Not bad-

Essay contest for Selby Shoes c. 1936*

*The Styl-eez, & other Selby shoes were marketed as a way to "keep your feet young." They must have thought themselves quite comfortable for 1936. The Styl-eez is the one on the right in the above image.


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Monday, September 14, 1936

plesant this morning but showers this afternoon
Done the washing and it dried before the rain-
stewed prunes and made macaroni & cheese for dinner-
Aunty made a custard-
I canned seven pts of tomatoes this afternoon-
Leroy came this evening-
He went to Burial of Prof. Geo. D. Bailey at Etna Sunday P.M.



Saturday, September 13, 2014

Sunday, September 13, 1936

Sunday & plesant-
Ellen Galagar Townsend called this forenoon to buy a stove-
Clayton Townsend has hardening of the arteries of the brain and is loosing his mind-
I combed Mothers hair etc-
and took my bath after dinner-
I was so lonesome I went out and pulled weeds in the garden
Iliff did not come this eve either-



Friday, September 12, 2014

Saturday, September 12, 1936

rainy by spells all day but not hard-
Made lemon pie for dinner & a molasses cake and finished canning the pears-
Combed Mothers hair etc
rec'd letter & check for $10.00 from Clara paying  fron Aug 26 to Sept. 9.
Leroy Bower brought us tea & coffee tonight.


Notice in the newspaper regarding Mildred's variety shower

"Mrs. Donald Sharpsteen gave a variety shower Saturday afternoon for her sister, Mrs. Mildred Dolton, at the home of Mrs. Dolton's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Searles. There were over 20 persons present. Mrs. Dolton was the recipient of many gifts. Ice cream and cake were served."

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Friday, September 11, 1936

plesant all day
canned two quarts Bartlett pears* made an apple pudding and cooked carrotts for dinner and made biscuits-
carried two pails of wheat from granery to chicken roost for Aunty-
Mother hid herself in brick house for about two hours this afternoon came out for dinner
Harry called this afternoon-

Bartlett (Williams) pears*


*Horticultural Society of London. (1822.) "Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London, Volume II, 3rd Edition". Printed by W. Nicol: London, color plate following page 250. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Thursday, September 10, 1936

plesant all day
Harry, Iliff, and I spent the day at Syracuse State Fair.
Harry & Iliff made a wonderfull lunch and orangeade and I had such a very happy day
Aunty says Mother has been so very good all day-
Rec'd such a fine letter from Hannah-


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Wednesday, September 9, 1936

plesant all day
Mother rec'd letter from Clara telling us of her safe arrival
I picked and canned two cans of plums and made oatflake cookies^-
Iliff, Florence & Delbert called this morning-
There is to be a variety shower* for Mildred Saturday afternoon at Florences
I eec'd invitation from Frances today
Harry called this eve on his way to Iliffs


Invitation to Mildred's variety shower

Envelop for the invitation above showing postmark


*A "variety shower" appears to be very similar to our current bridal shower, but it is done after the bride returns from the honeymoon. Games, gifts, & food were common themes, as they are now.

^It must be cooler, Irene is back to making oatflake cookies!  




Monday, September 8, 2014

Tuesday, September 8, 1936

plesant all day Hot
Made tapioca custard for dinner
Cleaned out Aunty's stove under the oven and over the top-
and canned 14 pints of tomatoes-
Mr. Henry of the Kalamazoo Stove Co* brought the brass collars for the stove pipe-
Rec'd a card from Clara written while eating lunch in coffee shop in Binghamton-

Kalamazoo Stove Co. Inspecting Gas Burner, 1936*


*The Kalamazoo Stove Company was in existence from 1902-1952. In 1937, the pinnacle of the company's 50 years, they manufactured 100,000 stoves, and had about 27,000 employees. (Image information- Kalamazoo Stove Company, inspecting a gas burner, 1936.  #10 of 10- some are missing.  Photographed by Mamie L. Austin. Source:  Kalamazoo Public Library Photograph P-140)



Sunday, September 7, 2014

Monday, September 7, 1936

Labor day-
cloudy, plesant
Clara left us for Newburg, N.Y. 11-30 today-
Mother has been pretty good about it-
She would not let Harry take us for a ride this afternoon-
Harry & I went to look for Elderberries this afternoon-
None
then he went on home-
Aunty called on Susie Harring this afternoon-



Saturday, September 6, 2014

Sunday, September 6, 1936

Sunday, plesant
Harry came and went to Iliffs for dinner and Iliff & Mildred came with Iliff and got me and we went to Auburn to spend the afternoonmand evening-
Called on the the Ockendens and see through the creamery and then went to the Park-
Had a wonderfull time 10-30 when we came in-



Friday, September 5, 2014

Saturday, September 5, 1936

plesant & cool
I made butterscotch pudding and swept & dusted the two south living rooms and rubbed with cedar oil the furniture in Auntys north living room and washed the windows inside in the south room
Clara took Mother for a ride-
Took my bath at bed time.


The wedding announcement of Searles/Slocum*

*I am asuming this Mary L. Searles is a cousin to Irene's daughter-in-law (my grandmother) Mildred Searles Dolton.




Thursday, September 4, 2014

Friday, September 4, 1936

plesant & cool-
Clara & Aunty went to Ithaca
Aunty went to Ella Millers-
Clara got her a new hat-
Mother nervous this early morning but calmed down by noon-
Harry took Mother and I for a ride to Ithaca this afternoon-
Had a very plesant day-
Rec'd a letter from Iliff.


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Thursday, September 3, 1936

misty morning but cleared away before noon-
beautiful afternoon-
Made macaroni & cheese for dinner-
and finished ironing
Harry came after dinner and took Clara to Ithaca was back for supper and Harry stays all night-
I put down the carpet in Aunty's north living room this afternoon-


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Wednesday, September 2, 1936

cloudy, & rainy all day-
I made tapioca custard for dinner-
I ironed all afternoon-
Clara & Mother sit up stairs and sewed nearly all day-
Mother has been very quiet all day-
I mended my dress this eve-



Monday, September 1, 2014

Tuesday, September 1, 1936

plesant and cool
Made bread today had fresh biscuits for supper-
gave Aunty 3 cups of light bread dough to make bread cake*-
It all came out fine-
I ironed some of the flat pieces an hour and a quarter-
Clara & Mother went for a ride this eve-
Clara has had indegestion all day-
Mother got nervous this P.M.


Bread Cake from Quinn's Baking Diary blog*


*I had never heard of this before. Apparently, it is simply bread & cake baked together in a loaf pan. I wasn't able to find a lot of recipes online, but I did discover this one from Quinn's Baking Diary, though she made hers in a fluted pan. <Image from Quinn's Baking Diary blog>