Wea. [Weather] MON. [Monday] OCT. 26, 1903 [October 26, 1903] Ther. [Thermometer]
  Sunny most of the time but
with the sky half filled with
masses of dark clouds driving before
the piercingly chilly & violent N.W. [northwest]
wind. Altogether a cheerless day.
  Spent A.M. working on the
flower beds at apple cellar.
P.M. in Ritchie house with
Robert & Gilbert opening bricked up
fire place etc. Benson hauling
loam. Forbush & Howard began
corn barn. Long & his men absent.
Wea. [Weather] Tuesday 27 [October 27, 1903] Ther. [Thermometer]
  Cloudless but bitterly cold all
day with violent N.W. [northwest] wind.
Ground frozen hard this morning.
  Spent A.M. working alone near
Pulpit Rock cutting out a new
wood road to Birch Field.
Worked at Ritchie place in P.M.
with Forbush & Howard. We took
out most of partitions in old
barn there to get lumber for corn barn.
Long & Bensen working to-day.
Saw [4] Pine Grosbeaks in Birch Field.
Wea. [Weather] WED. [Wednesday] OCT.  28, 1903 [October  28, 1903] Ther. [Thermometer]
Clear with strong N.W. [northwest] wind. warmer or at
least less chilly but yet cold. Ground
frozen this morning.
Spent A.M. at Ritchie place. Forbush
& Howard put up frame of corn barn.
Long & Manson working on small jobs all
day. Bensen missing.
Took 12.44 train from W. Bedford [West Bedford] to
Boston. Went first to market bought
grapes, limes & plums for C. [Caroline] Next called at
office. Called at St. Margaret's at 3 & stayed
an hour with C. [Caroline] She was in a chair & had
taken three steps to-day. Returned to W. Bedford [West Bedford]
by 4.47 train with Purdie who spent night.
Wea. [Weather] Thursday 29 [October 28, 1903] Ther. [Thermometer]
Brilliantly clear. Early morn. [morning] still & cold.
Rest of day warm with light S.W. [southwest] wind.
  Purdie & I went to Birch Field after
breakfast. Found 3 Pine Grosbeaks there
feeding on pine buds & cedar berries.
Later saw flock of 7 flying over
berry pasture. Heard them calling many
times through day.
  Spent P.M. at Ritchie place. Bensen
worked all day but Long & men absent.
Manson, Howard & Forbush working on corn
barn. Flock of fully 300 Blackbirds passed
at 4 p.m. flying N.W. [northwest] Think they were Quiscali [Quiscalus].