February 5, 1914

Dear diary,

This has been a dry, cold week. This morning, while eating bowls of steaming, hot porridge, Papa announced it was time to start harvesting ice for the summer. Roy immediately offered to help. Papa said that would be great and there would be no need for the rest of us go go along to help like we usually do.

Now I sit next to the window all warm and toasty writing in you while I watch them hitch up the work sled to our horses. I know I should feel grateful for being inside instead of out in the bitter cold. And yes, Roy will be far more help than the rest of us put together would ever be except , I want to be where Roy is at. And if that means standing in the frigid cold next to an ice-covered river so be it. Besides he warms my heart so I probably would never notice the cold.

 I wonder if sawing ice into 100-pound chunks feels anything like sawing down big trees. I’ll have to ask Roy when he gets back. He’s been complaining he’s growing soft without his hard logging work. Well those muscles will surely get a workout today lifting those heavy blocks onto the work sled.

In the meantime, I think I will mix up a batch of Roy’s favorite oatmeal cookies. You can be sure come late this afternoon when I catch sight of them turning into our yard, I will be the first one at the icehouse ready to help them cover the ice with sawdust. We do that to keep it from melting too fast when it warms up.  Somehow chores are more fun when I do them with Roy.  Maybe I can even accidently fall into his arms. Ohhh, wouldn’t that be fun.

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February 10, 1915

Dear diary,

Here I sit beside the stove trying to keep warm. The weather is still so cold. It is keeping everyone at home trying to take care of their stock. Feed is getting scarce around here too. Fortunately, we don’t have much stock to worry about.

Papa and Roy are out cutting more trees for firewood as we are going through it plenty fast. I am sure right now Papa is appreciating the assistance a real logger offers compared to my help. Still I wish I were at the other end of Roy’s crosscut saw. I’m not sure I’d be much help though, for I’d always be stopping to gaze into his dreamy blue eyes. Am I ever lovesick or what?

• 

Saturday night we hitched up the sleigh and went to the dance in Donald. Hazel went along, that girl surely does love to sing and dance. Okay, I did plenty of dancing too or maybe it would be better to call it swaying. It feels so nice to be in a special someone’s arms, wish that feeling could last forever.

Another dance is scheduled this coming Saturday for Valentine’s day. We might go if the weather permits.

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February 14, 1915

Dear diary,

It’s a good thing we have a rope strung from the barn to the house. Roy and I just came in from doing chores out there a bit ago. Even though Roy was right ahead of me, all I could see was whiteness. When I reached the porch I all but fell over him, not that I minded his warm arms setting me straight again. We surely looked like Eskimos all covered in snow. Took some stomping and shaking to get it all off of us.

Now we are huddled next to the stove with the rest of the family trying to stay warm. The blizzard came roaring in yesterday afternoon just as it was beginning to fall dark. I am sure glad we decided against going to the dance in Donald. I hope everyone going made it there safe. Maybe they aren’t getting as much snow as we are here. I sure didn’t get much sleep last night. Every time the house shuddered from the wind I thought it was going to take the roof and me along with it.

Despite the weather Roy presented me with the loveliest Valentine card and box of chocolates this morning. And at the rate we are eating them this afternoon they will soon all be gone.

Mama just popped us some popcorn which I am now washing down with hot chocolate. Outside of taking turns doing barn chores we have done nothing but eat all day.

Roy still hasn’t heard anything back on that possible logging job. He says if it falls through he will have to return to Washington. No decent jobs of any sort have turned up here.

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February 15, 1915

Dear diary,

I awoke this morning to blessed silence. I guess the storm blew itself out around 5 this morning when I was fast asleep. It is still cold but the sun is out so hopefully, this afternoon we will get a chance to go for a sleigh ride, we’ve been cooped up inside together for too long.

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February 25, 1915

Dear diary,

 I feel so blue. Roy got word today that the logging company will not be hiring any new men soon. His only choice now is to go back to his old job in Washington. He looks to leave the first part of March which is much too soon, only about a week. How will I endure him leaving yet again? I must make the best of the time we have left and think of the future when we can be together forever. If only my family would give up this place and move back to Washington. I already miss him and he hasn’t even left yet. My heart is breaking, how can I go another year before I see him again.