The date is September 17, 986. You are a serf living on the feudal estate of Lord Spaulding somewhere in Western Europe . For this blog assignment, you must create a diary entry (or series of entries) in which you describe what your daily is like.
Be as creative as possible, and choose things to write about that will accurately describe what a real day (or days) would have been like for you as a peasant or a serf. Be sure to start your diary entry with the date mentioned above, and when writing, consider the time of year and what you might be doing during that particular season (end of summer or early fall).
Your diary must detail at least four aspects of your life for you to receive full credit on this blog entry. Bear in mind that four aspects of your life does not mean just four sentences. Each aspect of your life will most likely require several sentences for you to fully develop and explain it.
This blog entry is due by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, November 8th.
JULIAHNA RAMIREZ 5TH HR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986
Today is collection day for crops. Lord Spaulding demanded 5 bushels of wheat. Unforunately, I only had 4 bushels. Those darn hooligan children are always stealing MY wheat. Out of all the other farmers on the feudal estate, they choose to antagonize me! Ugh. So I had to give Lord Spaulding everything I grew leaving absolutely no food for my family..whatever am I going to do?
September 30, 986
After days of eating stale bread, we finally get a good meal. My cocky neighbor, Lance, found a piece of meat and decided to hang it up outside his door for everyone to see. Well when no one was looking, I snuck over there and swiped the meat. And boy, I must say that was some delicious meat! My family was very pleased for the first time in a long while. And that was enough to fill me with joy.
October 24, 986
The weather has gotten so cold! The dew from the misty mornings has our floors damp and raunchy. Winter is a terrible time for sleeping, seeming how we must sleep on the floor. It's even worse now because we had to bring our cow Betty into the house so she can stay warm. But anyways, I think I might be coming down with something. I don't think it's normal to..awe snickerdoodle!! Betty just pooped on the floor! Ugh, I must clean it before it stinks up the house. I'll try to write soon!
May 29, 987
Sorry it's taken me so long to write again. I lost my journal under all the hay on the floor. I finally found it during spring cleaning! Well tomorrow is shower day!! I am sooo excited! The smell of my own stench makes me want to purge..And I swear, no exaggeration, every time I walk past plants, they wilt! I gross myself out. Bleh. Looking forward to tomorrow.
JOSH LEACH 5HR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17,986
Today, my sons and I worked the fields. It is hard work, but harvest is approaching. Though, we won’t keep but a few bushels of wheat due to our greedy lord. Lord James takes so much from us and gives nothing back. Everyone in the manor is poor, while James relaxes in his large house.
After working the fields, we ate our dinner. Tonight’s dinner consisted of spoiled vegetables, but I ate it happily. I got myself some meat from a merchant walking near my house. I don’t know what he was doing. There are very few merchants left these days, so I really can’t imagine his purpose for being here. Anyhow, tomorrow’s dinner will be great for my bored tongue.
I am afraid that I may not live much longer. I have shown signs of the fever. Many of my friends have already of the same thing. Just yesterday, John the blacksmith fell dead without a single warning. This is a time where one doesn’t hold onto life but let’s go for the hope of an eternal life in heaven. I don’t hate my life, but a relief from this world’s pain is something to look forward to.
If I do not die in my sleep, I will awake, work, eat, and return to sleep. This is all that my life holds. I wish for something of interest to come to me soon.
SOPHIA HARGIS 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986
My family and I got up before the rising sun and even the crowning rooster this morning to pray before we started to work. Once I saw the littlest amount of light I start towards the cattle and the chickens. I collect eggs and milk my cow every morning before father takes her out to help the harvest. Lately she has been getting bigger; I think a calf will be on its way. My old girl always does give my father a hard time with his harvest. Always does she wonder off or she gets into trouble by eating some of our crops. We usually still have enough to pay our tribute to Lord Spaulding, and sometimes we even have enough for a small feast in my house. Mother says we need to not eat so much and to dry it out and save it for a rainy day or something. Mother is also busy all day with sewing and house chores. She also has me the eldest, Bo and Alec my twin brothers, who are now old enough to help father harvest and also can go get a real job like becoming a blacksmith. I think that’s what Bo will be he is really good at fixing tools. Then after them is Rose, Lily and John who can just barely help momma clean the house and tend the garden. Momma was pretty into flowers when Rose and Lily came. All eight of us and Grandmother Jane live in a house with dirt floors and a fire in the middle for when it gets cold out. It’s getting close to the time last year when we lost Granddad to a heat stroke he was close to 35 anyway so he would of died with or without that hot day. In the heat of the day we are still working very hard trying to keep my girl moving she gets tired quickly and breathe heavy. But father is hard working and won’t let her give up that quickly. We ate no morning food but now my stomach yells at me to feed it. I dare not take any of the fresh harvest I just go find some milk and drink a little bit eat a small piece of stale bread. This should hold me till late tonight or to tomorrow. It is now evening and it has cooled down greatly. It almost chills me to go out and collect some more of my cow’s milk but I do it anyways. The sun is finally at rest and we can pray to our god once again on a good day of harvest. After this praying we can at last lay down and sleep and never has the earth cease to amaze me on how it feels after a long day.
5th HOUR
ReplyDeleteJAY BLAKE
SEPTEMBER 17, 986
TODAY WAS A HARD DAY LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY. I WOKE UP AND GOT READY AND ATE BEAKFAST. THEN WENT TO WORK I WORKED ON THE FARM TODAY. I PICKED CROPS ALL DAY LONG. I HAD TO GIVE IT TO MY LORD CAUSE HE NEEDED MORE FOOD FOR HIS FEAST HE WAS GONNA HAVE WHEN THE KING CAME.
SEPTEMBER 18, 986
TODAY THE LORD WAS THREATEND TO BE ATTACT AND DESTOYED SO I HAD TO GIVE UP SOME OF MY MONEY FOR HIM SO THEY WOULDNT ATTACK ARE LAND. SO THE MONEY I HAVE BEEN SAVING IS ALMOST GONE.
SEPTEMBER 19, 986
TODAY I WORKED ON THE LAND ALL DAY AGAIN PLOWING ONE OF THE FEILDS SO I CAN START PLANTING MORE CROPS FOR THE WINTER. SO I CAN SUPPORT MY FAMILY AND HELP OUT MY LORD OF HE NEEDS FOOD OR MONEY.
SEPTEMBER 20, 986
TODAY I TAUGHT MY SON HOW TO START FAMRNING AND WORKING ON THE LAND AND BECOMING A MAN AND HOW TO RUN THNGS. I TAUGHT HIM HOW TO PLOW AND PLANT CROPS, HOW TO FIGHT IF EVER NEEDED TO AND I STARTED TO TEACH HIM HOW READ AND WRITE.HE GETTING BETTER AT IT LL BUT ITS GONNA TAKE TIME.
GRAYSON WINGFIELD 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986
Well today was a good day. I got to take my yearly bath! I was starting to smell a little bit, but that bath took care of it. Of course I got the cleanest water then my son, then my wife. This bath came just in time; my oldest son is getting married! Most people bathe in the summer and marry in the summer but we didn’t have the money yet until just now.
September 19, 986
Today was not a good day. My oldest son was married yesterday, so we got to eat a great meal, today, our meal was not good at all: old bread and vegetables. I hate it. I wish that I were King Spaulding instead of a peasant.
September 20, 986
It rained all day today, so it was somewhat difficult working my blacksmith hut today. Water kept leaking in through the roof and tampering with the fire. It kept cooling the tools I was making and made them look terrible. I barely got any work done today, so I am going to have to stay late into the night to work tomorrow.
September 21, 986
My neighbor has a cough, he must be getting sick. I need to keep my son away from him to keep him healthy. Speaking of my son, last night after work when I had lain down to go to bed, my son came into our hut covered in mud. It scared me to death! I thought he was some evil demon.
JOSHUA KUROSZ 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSept. 17, 986
Every day from morning to noon I farm. Every day all I see is fields of vegetables, peppers and peas. If I don't make my harvest by the end of the month I will be in trouble with my lord,Lord Spaulding. Seven bushels of each are required to fulfill my lord's wishes. I believe I will make it, but with only barely enough to feed my family of five, me, my wife Adela, and my 3 sons Bronson,Edgar,and Landon.
I am a serf.
Oct.2,986
I am so very happy today! My expectations have been shattered. I have paid my debts to my lord with enough left over until the end of winter! Our bellies will be full as we rejoice in the name of the lord. This must be one of his many kind deeds to us in this time of great hardships. Maybe he will also bless me with a better home for mine is as terrible as my job. It is just a tiny, one room house with dirt floors, a fire in the middle, and a flimsy table to the side.
November 25, 986
Winter, the harshest time of year for us. We prepare by gathering many logs as fuel for the fire, keep the few chickens we have inside, keep the food stored, and getting out the blankets we made out of the many wool from the sherd of sheep we used to own. They died last winter. It is already very cold outside, feeling a lot like winter already. At least it is not snowing, yet. I am already thinking of planting more peppers and peas, what fun.
March 15, 987
It is finally spring time and I can plant and farm once again. I would be happier, but my 2nd son Edgar has fallen ill during the winter, bless his soul. He doesn't seem to have long to live, but we are doing the best we can to care for him. He is only 14 years old, such a young age. Bronson is 16 and Landon is 10, while I am 34. I feel so old. It seems all you can look forward to is death nowadays.
CORY POTTER 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSept. 17, 986
My mom made this book for me yesterday and I thought I could use it as a journal. So, to start I have 3 brothers, a sister, and my mom and dad. I think I am around 14 years old and I am the oldest child. We live in a small shack with a dirt floor and a little bit of hay in the corner where we all sleep together. We have a tiny table and a small stool for papa. Day to day I fear about dieing even though it would be a lot better than the life I have to live. Today we harvested our wheat, we had a great year and we got 14 bushels. So we had to give 8 bushels to our nobles leaving us with 6 which is a great amount. Mom is going to make some bread tomorrow. It's been a really long time since we have had fresh bread. We normally eat stale bread, a few veggies, and on a very rare occasion meat. We have to grow everything we want because te constant warfare doesn't allow us to trade with others. I'll write again tommorow.
AUSTIN EAKINS
ReplyDeletetuesday , August 27
Today i hargested the wheat. It toke me almost the whole day. I paid my harvesting due to my lord. Elizabth, my wife, spent her day cooking and cleaning. She also milked the two cows and made butter and cheese. We ate our usula for sppper, carrots and beans. My oldest brother became ill today while working in the fields. His wife and three children finished his work. Before we went to bed, i wnet outside, and i saw a stray dog. It was a black dog, very skinney. He looked mean, but wasn't. He took a great liking to our two boys, Matt and Mark I know we might not be able to keep the dog very long, but i will try. I'm very tired. I think I'll say my prayers and go to bed.
Wednesday, August 28th
I woke up early just as the sun was coming up. I saw the dog chasing a squirrel. He caught it and ate it. This made me think that maybe the dog can take care of himself. Elizabeth had oats almost ready for breakfast. The boys were already seated at the tabel. Matt, the older one, had a bad toothache. Elizabeth gave him warm salt water. I harvested the graden and worked more in the fields. I plowed anmd weeded. Luke, my brother, is no better, His wife found a knot on his neck. We had no food to eat tonight. Elizabeth had saved a few oats , but we didn't eat. We were both very tired, so we said our prayers and went to bed.
Thusday, August 29th
My body is so sore, but i must get up and do the daily routine. Elizabeth had awakened early and milked the two cows so we had milk and butter for breakfast. We were very hungry. Elizabeth planned to go a neighbor's house to trade some of the butter for vegatables. Matt's tooth was better. I didn't see the dog this morning, but he was wandering around the house this afternoon. Elizabeht got carots and corn for supper. Then, she worked on the quilt she had started. Luke has become even worse. THere has been a sicknes spreading around, and i'm really worried about him. We ate our carrrots and corn , said our prayers, and wet to bed.
Friday, August 30th
Today i must work on the lord's farm to help pay the rent. Elizabeth is gradening. Hopefully, we will have something to bargain with at the market on Sunday. Our food supply is low. I got word this afternoon that mjy brother, Luke had died. If i finish in time, i will try to get over to his house tonight. Luke's wife and threed childeren will have to work really hard to keep up with everthing. This is a very sad day for me and my family. For supper we had the rest of teh cornh and carrots. The dog is still here. We let him sleep inside tonight. I fell hepless insede. I'm worried about my family. We held hands, said our prayers, and went to bed.
LEJLA OMEROVIC 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986:
My family is having dinner right now. My family consists of myself, Lejla, my mother Claire, my father Jim, my 2 sisters, Claudia and Julia, and my 3 brothers, Tim, Robert, and Nick. My mother has prepared some potatoes and a couple vegetables. We also have some bread, stale bread. It’s pretty good for what we have, unlike our neighbors. Our neighbors got meat tonight. They even hung it outside their door for all of us to see. I’m pretty sure I can smell the delicious meat, and it’s making me even hungrier than I am.
After Dinner:
We’re getting ready to go to bed, it’s a cold night so we add some more hay in and get a bigger fire going. We bring our cattle in since they might be cold too outside, and it protects our animals better if they are inside with us rather than outside. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day because we’re harvesting our wheat, then we have to give it to our lord. Our lord is Lord Spaulding, he’s a decent lord. Lord’s don’t really care about us peasants because we aren’t important. They just care that they get a certain amount of bushels of our wheat. Well, I’m off to bed….
September 18, 986:
Today I went with my father to help him out a little bit with harvesting the wheat. My family has given Lord Spaulding 6 bushels of wheat and we kept 3 bushels. We pay our rent to Lord Spaulding by giving him our bushels that we have every year. I’m most likely not going to write soon because we’re preparing for winter now and we’re very busy. We have to prepare more hay, get some food, get logs for the fires, and even get the animals ready.
May 27, 987:
This winter we had was harsh. It snowed like crazy and there were extreme temperatures. I wish sometimes that we could be richer and that we weren’t a peasant family. I barley have good clothes for the winter and I freeze while I’m sleeping. Luckily, I have 5 other siblings I huddle together with at night and we are somewhat warmer. One of our cows died over the winter and it was devastating to my parents because that’s one less cow that produces milk for us. Some good news I have is that tomorrow is going to be a great day because we get to take our yearly bath. I’m going to smell good and so is the rest of my family!
May 28, 987:
Wow, I feel great! My family took our yearly bath today and now we all feel so clean and replenished. My father is the luckiest out of all of us, he got to take the bath first! By the time it got to me the water was cold and dirty, but I still took a bath in it. Our family is happier today because we’re all so clean and we smell good! We all use the same water though because it takes forever to get the water to where we bathe, and you have to carry all that water. In our family, we have 8 people, so if we all used different water we would have to carry all that water 8 times. Why would you do that when you can use the same water?
RYAN BETTLACH 5TH HR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17 986
I just got married last full moon cycle to my beautiful wife Lauren and she is already pregnant. In a couple of nights I must give the cruel Lord Prezzavento over 30 bushels of wheat and which i only have 30 bushels what shall I do to feed my wife Lauren. I fear that she will leave me for a carpenter or a blacksmith.
January 987
I have almost survived the winter and my dear wife has not left me yet and I don't think she will. We had a war last the last full moon and that is where I got food for my family. We had destroyed and had taken over what was ruled by Lord Bookstaver and now is our land me and my wife moved from our location in hopes of better soil.
May 4 987
Today is my birthday and I also get to take my yearly bath. What is good about this is that my wife is allowing me to take a longer than normal bath and that makes me sorta happy. All I hope is that no one disturb's me while I am taking my bath.
June 997
This past several moon phases I feel more tired than usual and today my son who is 11 years of age has taken my job today. I think I have been working my self to hard seeing as I am trying to get plenty of food for the winter months. I fear only one thing and that I will not see my son become a man.(on this month my father dies of a cold at the age of 23)
ALEX HANFT 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986
Dear Diary,
This morning I woke up from my very uncomfortable bed which is the dirt floor of our hut. As soon as as i woke myself I was forced to go to labor by Lord Spaulding. Todays daily work was to gather the crops for harvest time, which is very soon. I feel very gross and smell really terrible. The reason for this is that I have not had a shower in a year. Right before sundown I have to work very hard. The reason for this is because I work from sun up to sun down each and every day. The last thing I do for the day is eat my dinner. The family dinner usually consists of a loaf of bread in which we all have to share. Due to the lack of food, I feel sick and weak every single day. At sundown I cuddle up with my family on the dirt floor and fall asleep until the sun rised on the next day.
TERRI COULTER 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSEPTEMBER 17, 986
The weather is starting to change. The day is less warm and easier to work in. Eric is in the field at the moment harvesting to crops. The cotton has been growing well with the rain we have been recieving. Last years drought was dreadful and we had a terrible outcome.
OCTOBER 26, 986
There is a gathering in the fields today. Our good friend Marissa is turning another year older today. At least we hope this is the day, no harm in assuming and having a little fun to celebrate. If only we had a nice piece of meat. Vegetables grows sour on ones appetite after so long of eating them. The bread is a little stale now to. It has been a while since i had made another batch. Next week I will have to make another one. It would be so much easier if hunting was permitted.
DECEMBER 13, 986
It's colder now. The first so has fallen. Last week Eric had bought a stack of hay for the ground. The difference is remarkable.
FEBRUARY 28, 987
The noble Amber Cheerios had decided to sell our neighbors land. They said that the reason was because they were behind on their payments. Eric and I belive it is because the Noble has chosen someone to be their knight. If this is so then I believe our land will be next. If our land is taken away I do not know what we will do.
May 3, 987
Our daughter is getting married in just over a month! I cannot wait until the day the walks down that ilse. At the end of the month we are to take our baths. This would be perfect but there happens to be a crack in our basket we use for taking them.
June 6, 987
Tomorrow is the big day. Skylar is getting married tomorrow. Tonight we must set out the flowers. Her husband will be a fine man for her. I know she will be in good hands. It is hard to imagine she has grown this much.
CLAIRE KINKEAD FIFTH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986:
Today was the end of a very long fall harvest and an even longer summer season. In June, only a few weeks after we’d planted the crops, our feudal estate had experienced a draught, and our crops, for the most part, had been destroyed. We attempted to save what was left, and managed to save only a small portion. In August, despite the lateness in the season, we planted what was left of the seeds in an attempt to bring in a larger crop. For the month after, up until the beginning of the week when we had begun harvesting, we had tended carefully to the youthful crops. However, our hopes were in vain. The new crops did not contribute to our final harvest in the least. Due to our annual contribution to the estate, in spite of our lack of harvest, we gave our designated amount. We are left with only a bare minimum. I can only assume our winter will be harsher than normal.
April 3, 987:
Just as I had assumed, our winter was hard and long. Typically, each winter, we would trade grain for vegetables with the Millers, then some milk for more vegetables with the Smiths. This winter, however, we did not have enough grain to trade with the Millers or the Smiths. Our milking cow died this year, and her calf is only a few months old, having been born in February. We had to work with only what little grain we had. My aunt died this month, as well, near the same time as my uncle. Although we hardly had enough to sustain ourselves, my family and I took in their two children. We are all hoping for a better harvest next year to better equip us for winter and the additional people in our household.
May 24, 987:
Today was our first day of planting. Our cow would now be five months old, but we recently were forced to give her to our lord. This year, like all other years before, we are planting grain, but this year I have planted a small garden behind the house. I hope to not have the same thing happen this year that happened last. Hopefully, the small garden in the yard will grow us some of our own vegetables. We have not made the decision whether or not to trade them with our neighbors, but we still have quite a few months. I can suppose, though, that we will because we are lacking a cow for milk.
September 17, 987
Today marks the end of summer. It was hot the majority of the time, and it rained just as much. Although it was better than the draught last year, this year it seemed to almost flood, like a swamp. Nonetheless, we had quite the productive harvest. When we made our contribution, we had quite a lot left over, a solid amount to help us through the winter. My vegetable garden, as well, went over quite well. We have made a deal with the Carpenters this year. We will exchange vegetables and grain for milk from their cow. Although I do not foresee any complications for the coming winter, it would be a lie for me to say that I do not expect something to happen.
KIRBY GARRETT 5TH HR
ReplyDeleteSerf Diary
Sept. 17, 986
Hi my name is Joshua and I’m just about to hit 36 years of age. I’ve been setting up for the winter lately. Its gets very, very cold up around where we live. We’ve been setting up hay under the door just to keep the heat in and the cold out. We sleep huddled together. Although it is uncomfortable, it keeps us warm. We are one of the few blessed families to at least have one bed in our household. I don’t know if it’s true but, there’s been talk lately of an outside threat on our land. Let’s just hope these are just rumors.
May 25, 987
I have just recently attended my brother’s wedding. It was a beautiful sigh and all of the flowers and the beautiful smell. Except for one smell I could not put my finger on. Maybe it was the trash??? We’ve been building hundreds of swords these past few months. Lord Voldemort has been calling for more than usual. There is still talk of a possible attack on the village. There are several soldiers patrolling the lately. A little more than usual.
Oct. 26, 987
We just recently gave our annual pay of our goods to the village. He called for a few even more than usual. Usually that isn’t a good sign. We have been hearing of several outside attacks by barbaric warriors called Vikings. On a better note, we got meat!!! I was strolling around and just happened to have a friend who had attained meat. He decided to split the winnings with me.
July 15, 988
We were attacked. The rumors were true. The Vikings had blindsided us and slaughtered almost all of the peasant and serfs for their goods. My family is now in hiding in the outskirts of the village with no food and no water. I don’t know how long we will last……. Although we were able to get into the river to gather some water to take our yearly bath.
August 28, 988
Hi my name is Joseph, Joshua’s son. We just buried our father. Just before a nearby village took back our land, our father was captured and tortured as he was trying to provide for our family. We held a funeral at which we had prayed for my father to be received into heaven. Although many serfs didn't live past the age of 40, we were hoping he would be special. I hope I can be the man of the house as my father was. If I was half the man he was…….. I’d be a heck of a guy.
TAYLOR GRAY 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteDear Diary,
It's fall, so that means that harvest day is almost here! My wheat is ready to be cut. I think I have enough wheat for my family and Lord Cazer. Food is getting harder to get since most of my harvest goes to Lord Cazer. My family is already suffering because of our small, drafty shack. It must be tough on the children. There is four year old Caden, six year old Bailey, and twelve year old Nick. The house is just a terrible muddy mess after it poured down with rain last night. I need to get something to put down so we don't get so muddy when we go to sleep at night. It's just so cold in the house that we huddle together at night just to stay warm. The bad thing is that Caden has come down with a cold. We are doing everything we can to make him healthy again. It doesn't help that I can only give him a few vegetables and a little bit of bread that I make from the wheat we grow. I think that I need to try to keep him as clean as possible. Also, the leaky roofs and the drafty walls aren't helping with his cold. The coldness is just making his cold worse. I already lost my three year old daughter, Katy, last year because of her getting sick. Bad hygiene, a bad diet, and bad living conditions made her sick and pass away. I hope this doesn't happen with Caden. Death is around every corner in a peasant life. That's all for today.
THERESA PISCIOTTA, 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986-
My life on the manor is going to be coming to a close soon, I can feel it. I’m now 38 years of age, and I just don’t know how much longer I can push on, the enemies keep burning down our village, taking away everything from us. The idea of living doesn’t sound good to me anymore.
More than anything, the lack of food is the worst part of living here, I’m so hungry and the only things I’ve eaten all week are a couple pieces of bread and a few vegetables. Maybe in the upcoming months we can have some meat, but that’s just wishful thinking. The lack of food is making me so weak, that working is hard to do.
Our home is terrible as well. Between the dirt floor and not having a chimney, it’s horrid. While we sleep, that is if we sleep at all, we have to huddle together just to get through the long cold nights. Winter is approaching, and none of us are dressed properly. I don’t think many people will make it through this winter, including myself.
I’m getting sick of growing all this food, and getting to keep hardly any of it. I don’t see why the lord can’t get out here and do it himself. While my family and the rest of us serfs are starving to death, he sits in his castle, wealthy as could be, practically stealing food from us. Yes, it’s true he is protecting us, but his protection is pointless. None of us have the will to survive anyways. If it wasn’t for the church, and the lingering fear of going to Hell, I’m sure hardly any of would be here anyways.
That’s enough for one night, so until a later time, goodnight.
THERESA PISCIOTTA, 5th hour
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986-
My life on the manor is going to be coming to a close soon, I can feel it. I’m now 37 years of age, and I just don’t know how much longer I can push on. The enemies keep burning down our village, and taking everything away from us. The idea of living doesn’t sound good to me anymore.
More than anything, the lack of food is the worst part of living here. I’m so hungry and the only things I’ve eaten all week are a couple pieces of bread and a few vegetables. Maybe in the upcoming months we can have some meat, but that’s just wishful thinking. The lack of food is making me so weak, that working is becoming a struggle.
Our home is terrible as well. Between the dirt floor and not having a chimney, it’s horrid. While we sleep, that is if we sleep at all, we have to huddle together just to get through the long cold nights. Winter is approaching, and none of us are dressed properly. I don’t think many people will make it through this winter, including myself.
I’m getting sick of growing all this food, and getting to keep hardly any of it. I don’t see why the lord can’t get out here and do it himself. While my family and the rest of us serfs are starving to death, he sits in his castle, wealthy as could be, practically stealing food from us. Yes, it’s true he is protecting us, but his protection is pointless. None of us have the will to survive anyways. If it wasn’t for the church and the lingering fear of going to Hell, I’m sure hardly any of would be here anyways.
That’s enough for one night, so until a later time, goodnight.
SAMANTHA HOLLAND 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteDear Diary,
September 17, 986
Today my family and I woke up this morning to start a full day of harvesting. Although we harvest the crops, all of it goes to our noble. After a long day of harvesting, we ate dinner consisting of bread and corn. That was a usual dinner for my family. Meat was a very rare thing to receive.
Dear Diary,
November 27, 986
This time of the year is when we start prepping for the winter. We put a bit more straw on the roof to prevent rain and snow from entering the house. Tonight, we have to sleep on the dirt floor huddled together for warmth because it quite chilly outside.
Dear Diary,
May 17, 987
Today is the yearly bath for my family and me. I am the third person to be able to take a bath. A close family friend is getting married next month so it is good that we are taking out baths now.
REX RIEGER 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 986
My name is Don Victor Corleone this is my diary. I am a serf living on the estate of Lord Spaulding. I just took my bath for the year. I have a wife named Dolly Parton and a boy named Bruce Wayne Bale and a girl named Nicole Kidman.
October 3, 986
I tried hunting secretely for food for my family, we are having a hard time eating enough food to stay healthy. As i saw a deer crossing by,I began to pull back on my bow then i heard a person coming, I immediately dropped to the ground hidding in the darkness because, if i was caught i would be punished or even killed. The person walking was the noble who controlled the land, as he walked by me my heart started pounding i thought for sure i was caught. His feet were inches away from me as i could hear him breathing but luckly the noble saw the deer running off and followed them. I was blessed by god that i escaped.
October 15, 986
I managed to get some meat by trading crops. My family was so excited for it was their first time eating meat, we did not have a lot but we enjoyed every bite of it. I felt like a king tonight even though i sleeped on a dirt floor huddled with the family to stay warm.
November 5, 986
The days are getting colder and colder, I lose feeling in my feet from being so cold. We tried making a fire but it did not help very much , I think it is because the cold winter wind rushes through the open door almost as if the wind is attacking us while we are defenseless.
December 24, 986
On Sunday we will go into town for mass. Father Al Capone is hard to understand but there is a sense of peace in the paintings and looking at the stained glass windows. Going to heaven is the only thing to look forward to for me.
ASHLEIGH ADAMS 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteSeptember 19, 986
Today I started writing in this journal mother made for me. I'm surprised I have time to write in this with helping in the farm and cleaning. I'm excited because I get to bathe tonight for the entire year! Scrub a dubdub!
September 20, 986
We had to give up most of the corn we cropped today. Father said we almost had to give all of it and more because we were close to not being able to pay the right amount for our taxes for our lord. Hearing this jut makes me want to work harder for our lord to be happy. These are tring times but we have to make the best!
September 20, 986
Today I stayed in our shack(house) to clean while my 3 brothers went to help mother and father on the farm. All the hay needed to be put in certain piles for our beds. I also had to re-nail a board that was starting to sift over. I'm so hungry, and not feeling very well. Oh heavenly father be on my side tonight. Amen.
BRITTANY DRUMM 5TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteMarch 2, 987
Today was one of the hardest days I/ve had. My mother is sick. Therefore, I am expected to wake up 3 hours early to feed the chickens. After that I warked in the field. We grow wheat. For the past week I have accomplished double the work for the same amount of bushels. I must split this with my mother so she does not starve.
March 3, 987
Today we got our annual bath! It takes us much longer than everyone else because I have to help my mother for she is much too weak to do anything herself. I do feel much better now though.
May 4, 987
Mother passed today. When I turned to her side of the bed she was not breathing. She was 24 years old. Much older than expected. Her spot has been replaced by my little sister who has just turned 7 and is a legal worker now. She is expected to accomplish the same tasks as me.
May 5, 987
I have come down with the same sickness as mother. I am growing weaker and weaker. I continue to do my work but soon it will be up to my sister to take care of the family.