Wednesday, October 14, 1936

plesant  and a little warmer-
I am still sick and nauseated yet today-
Sent letter to Iliff also one to Bertha & family-
Raked over the lawn  on south side and carried leaves & horse chestnuts to burnpile in orchard-
this afternoon-
Ed Emmons and Lena Hamilton called this afternoon-

Tuesday, October 13, 1936

snow squalls & cold
cloudy & dull all day-
Harry raked some horse chestnuts untill it got wet and bad-
I made chocolate pie for dinner
Harry got a can of water of Mrs. Evans and I got 2 lbs butter.
Lizzie Hughes came for afternoon-
I have been nauseated and sick yet today.
I rec'd nice letter from Iliff and the pictures from Heads'
Answered letter to Iliff this eve-

Sunday, October 11, 1936

Sunday plesant day
Harry cleaned up horse chestnuts this forenoon-
I cooked chicken for dinner & made biscuits-
Clara called on Leroy Bower this forenoon and they went to Elmira to see Mr. Davis about the hay this afternoon-
Mr. & Mrs. Clayton Bower called
Harry, Mother, Aunty & I went to Auburn & Half Acre for a ride-
Leroy Bower took supper & spent evening with us-

Ludlowville, NY to Elmira, NY

Thursday, October 8, 1936

plesant and cool
Finished the ironing
combed Mothers hair and washed her neck and ears
Harry came and brought 7 pigeons and pumpkins and 3 pts milk and cans of water and concord grapes-
We went to Ludlowville for tea and coffee and to Ben Worsells for Catauba grapes*-
We raked up the horse chestnuts-

Catawba grapes <image Cornell>*

*Catawba grapes are an American hybrid popular for making sparkling and desserts wine in Central NY. Read more on the blog New York Cork Report. Or check out this article from Cornell. <Image from Cornell University: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/reisch/grapegenetics/Varietyphotos/catawba.JPG>

 

Tuesday, October 6, 1936

plesant but windy-
Done the washing and cleaned out under oven of the Kalamazoo range and picked up horse chestnuts this afternoon-
Rec'd a card from Alice-
Combed Mothers hair an
put on clean cap and sweater and apron-
Sadie Freese and sister Frane* from Maryland called-


*Not sure how accurate these names are as Irene's handwriting is a bit difficult to decipher here.

Thursday, October 1, 1936

Cloudy & cool-
picked tomatoes & gathered carrots and done general work-
Picked up more horse chestnuts this afternoon-
Iliff and Harry came for me and took me to Half Acre
Had a wonderfull time together-
Back at 8 c'clock-
Rec'd letter and check for $20.00 from Clara paid to Oct 7-

Envelope postmarked Newburgh, NY Sep 29 9:30 PM 1936

First page of Clara's letter to Irene

Pages 2 & 3 of Clara's letter to Irene

Last page of Clara's letter to Irene

Additional note that accompanied the $20 check

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-

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>