IMH 75:2 201

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

1881

Monday, May 2nd

It rained nearly all the time in varying quantity from
shower to drizzle from early morn dewy eve. Father put the
harrow together-wrong which was perhaps owing to the pres­
ence of John Kivett and Bill Hand who were here this morning.
I know not on what business. They left about 9 o'clock, Father
going with them on the assessment errand. Alvin and I put the
harrow together as we thought it should be; and spent a good
part of the time to scraping off the whitewash in the fireplace
room, a very hard, tedious; strength requiring task. Aleck
Benge made another call after both sweet and sour milk; this
afternoon

Teaching notes: Whitewash was made from slaked lime (calcium hydroxide,
Ca(OH)2) and chalk (calcium carbonate, (CaCO3), sometimes known as "whiting".
It was a common "paint" in rural areas often used in the cooking areas or in the
dairy sections of barns.