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| Ina's "panorama" -- 1934 |
In real time, it has turned cold in this
region – got down to 10 (officially 15) in the valley overnight and is approaching 30 as I post this. It’s supposed to snow this evening and then turn to rain over the
weekend, but right now the sun is shining. Well, we’ll see what happens.
Managing in the cold was difficult
in Ina’s day. Remember – they had no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no
central heating, no insulation in the walls. Here’s what she wrote in February,
1936. (Never mind that it isn’t a December entry. They would have managed just
the same no matter the date.)
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| Right side of panorama, 2015 |
Well,
I wish you were here right now. The hill east [June's field] is a marvelous pink and the
shadows fall blue to its top. We have about three feet of snow and it is cold.
It began piling up week before last and we have had sub-zero weather off and on
ever since. Week ago Friday at 9:30 p.m. it was 12 degrees below. That is the
coldest we have noted. The last few days are colder – yesterday a.m. it was 8
degrees below, this a.m. 6 degrees below and the highest today we noted was 4
degrees above. Dad keeps a lantern in the cellar “of a nite” and nothing has
frozen. At Musser’s it registered 19 degrees below. Reports from Saskatchewan
are as low as 55 degrees below, Montana 40 degrees below. I dread to think of
Pearl [her daughter, living the farm life in northern Alberta]. They were on a
little trip to Stettler in January and got onto ice and nearly had an upset and
then couldn’t get the car out of ditch and started, so Al had to go for help
half a mile and Pearl and Fred in the car 31 degrees below. They go to
get Christmas trees, etc., in such weather with a sleigh sometimes.
We
are feeding the little birds on the front porch. They are so cute. Two native pheasants come every day or so and
feed in the service bushes on the buds. A band of 11 chinks are wintering here,
too. It is so beautiful! A picture wherever you look!
The
front door is corked up. We have been using the dining room evenings this cold
weather. It is so much warmer [when we close the living room off], but I’m
going back there as soon as possible. I make a little fire in the bedroom every
evening now and then the bed is warm. I also hang up some things by the stove
and so keep comfortable. You have it fine with the register in your room. Ina Dobson to her son Vance, February 1936
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