Tag Archives: spring

May 2nd, 1949

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70 years ago, The Guardian of the Gulf newspaper published the following edition of Ellen’s Diary. Note the references to mixed farming, a practice that began to dwindle in the following decades thanks in part to farm consolidation, expansion, and specialization.

“Winter came back to Alderlea and the surrounding countryside over the week-end, hiding frostily Spring’s lovely promise- the faint green of meadows and in the prevailing coldness, silencing bird-song. A bit desolate we found it, though recalling, even as the glass dropped to freezing, giving James some concern about our “seeds”, that each day in turn brings the seedtime nearer. By lantern-light, James comes in now from a last round at the barns to offer, “This is another cold one!” to Mr. C. from the house on the hill commencing to make plans for the mill-sawing, “once this cold snap is over.” “You know,” James hangs up jacket and cap to say, “after the mild weather we’ve had it’s pretty trying for the young stock to get used to this. You’d be surprised how the difference in temperature affects them- especially the little pigs. They just won’t settle down comfortably. We hope it soon turns warmer. What did the weatherman say of it, Ellen?” But that is a difficult question to answer, since in the insistence of our duties this evening the radio has been forgotten.

James himself has been much too busy today to listen to forecasts, but has had to satisfy himself by taking stock of the rippling waves on the pond, no mean token of things to come. He has been the foreman of a small crew of helpers today, sometimes revealed to him only, we suspect, in the whisk of a skirt disappearing around a corner. It is better, if one has engaging interests of her own, or is inclined to indolence, not to show herself about the yard, when James single-handed runs the place. 

He would be sure to find a chore to fit her, perhaps to “fetch over that pail” or these days to “drive those confounded turkeys away from here- can’t you see that they’re keeping the cattle” or it may be “the horses from drinking?” At tubs in the barnyard the stock now drink, the water pumped to mirroring levels by the engine, which during the Winter had proved its worth to the farmers in pumping refreshment to various piggeries. In fair weather the horses and cattle drank down at the stream, a practice cut short of late, because neither one of their keepers could suffer “that field” which lies between buildings and stream to be marred by the traffic of hooves.

But grand-daughter continued to be his faithful and interested helper in her waking hours, and in the younger farmer’s absence in the city, the two kept all in good order…”

Ellen’s Diary, May 2nd, 1949

April 25, 1947

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“The brilliant sunlight lifted the last of the snow from the hillsides today and set streamlets to trickling happily down towards the mill pond. The day set nice winds to visiting quietly in our remnant of orchard trees and whispering in the spruces beside. They brought me, about my choring, subtle reminders that presently tightly curled buds will unfold and grass will green. Jamie has already found blades of grass in some sheltered spot but as he told us by ‘phone “jes’ bare nibbles of it” for the rabbits there…

As in former Springs, April brings “gull time” to the folks at Alderlea, and to the two in the house on the hill. In numbers they flock inland from the reaches of the river and from dawn until evening calls them to return there, we are aware of their presence. Like great flocks of white geese, they come down to rest on the hillside briefly, and noisily. But very beautiful they are as they swoop and soar above the stream while the sun shines goldenly on them and yet their screaming is so plaintive and continued that both Jeanie and I are relieved when at last in warmer Spring days they desert the neighbourhood, leaving it to the crows’ and other more musical calls. I thought that this morning’s light wind in the trees made a gentle apology for the dreariness of yesterday’s cloudiness and perhaps the coldness that has come tonight. But as James remarked when he came indoors after assuring himself that everything was ship-shape at the stables “It’s better to have this frost now than when we get into the cropping!” And in between April’s dark days and cold ones, one catches fleeting but heartening promises of delightful days to come.”

Ellen’s Diary, April 25th, 1947.