Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1916 [December 5, 1916] Wea [Weather]
Mixed.

Partly sunny but mostly cloudy
with occasional light showers of
fine rain.
  In Garden: an usual dearth of
birds only a few House Sparrows
being seen and a Junco & a Crow
heard; also a White-bellied Nuthatch [White-breasted Nuthatch] in lindens.

  At 10 A.M. C. [Caroline Brewster] & E.R.S. [Elizabeth R. Simmons] motored with 
me to Lowell Street Schoolhouse where
we cast our votes at annual city 
election - in which very little interest has
been taken this year.
  Devoted the remainder of the day
to recasting my will, a doleful
occupation which gave me little
satisfaction although it has become
imperatively necessary the present will
having been drawn almost twenty years ago -
since when conditions have undergone
many changes that affect bequests.
  Harry Bartlett called at 8 P.M.
staying until 9.30. We read a little after
he had gone.

Cambridge & Concord.
Ther [Thermometer] Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1916 [December 6, 1916] Wea [Weather] Fine
42 [degrees] Barred Owl.

  Clear & cool but not frosty. Raging N.W. [northwest]
wind driving cloud masses across sky.

  Leaving Cambridge at 10.04 A.M. Gilbert [Robert Alexander Gilbert] & 
I motored to Concord via Arlington, Lexington
Bedford & Carlisle Bridge, reaching Farm at 11.04.
Five Crows the only birds seen along the way.
  We were chilled through by the keen & 
tempestuous wind, although warmly clad & 
despite a temperature 10 [degrees] above freezing.
  Found Monson working on wall at Ritchie
place which he had almost finished along the
Monument Street side. Lunched in the 
old farm house by a blazing fire.
  After that went with George to the Birch Id. [Birch Island]
wood lot & authorized him to cut, this winter,
all the oaks (now dead) on the right (south)
side of the cut path. Saw 5 Chickadees [in a flock],
2 Goldcrests [Golden-crowned Kinglet], 1 Redpoll, a Partridge & a Barred 
Owl & heard a Downy W. [Downy Woodpecker]. The Owl started almost
over me from a tall pitch pine on knoll at N. E. [northeast]
corner of Birch Field & flew heavily off through trees
until lost to sight its legs and feet showing for
the first few rods after it left its perch, but it
finally drew them up among its feathers.
  Motored to Concord & left Gilbert there taking 3.44
train back to Cambridge.