May 13—­Have had changeable weather; rather too dry and a few cold nights.  The standing bush keeps frost off the braird, which could not look better.  Busy preparing logs for building barns; we are all working together.  Three will be needed.  Except for the ground logs we are using cedar, which is light to handle and easy to hew.  Mrs Bambray sent a bundle of apple-trees and another of berry bushes.  All planted and look as if they have rooted.

June 3—­Gordon along with Sloot came this evening to help in raising the barns.  Planted corn today; an entirely new crop to us.  The heads will be food for our table and the stalks the oxen are fond of.  The winter-wheat is in the shot-blade.  Went back to the swamp and found what had been plowed in fine shape.  Seeded down with oats.  I hope for a good return.

June 14—­Barns are finished.  Much easier to build than were our shanties.  Using block and tackle in hoisting was a great help.  Wheat is beginning to color.  Robbie saw a deer browsing in the oats, got his gun, and shot it.  Deer flesh is dry any time but at this season is poor eating.  Potatoes and corn have got their first hoeing.

June 27—­A dry hot spell.  Scotland gets too much rain; Canada too little.  Wheat is ripening too fast.  It will be fit to cut on Monday.

July 8—­Wheat is safe; drying winds and a hot sun made it quickly fit to lead.  In Scotland it might have been out three weeks before fit to stack.  Fine quality and abundant yield.  Will not need to buy more flour.

July 12—­Have had a plentiful rain that has saved the crops, for oats are filling.  I answered my sister’s letter at once, with directions how to come.  Have spent any time I could spare in trying to find a lot for them.  Gordon walked in this morning with a letter mailed from Greenock, stating they were to take ship that week.  As they may be here next week must decide quickly on a home for them.

July 15—­Allan and myself have been on the trudge for three days, looking for a lot.  Finally decided on one with a clearance of nearly ten acres and a shanty with an outbuilding.  It is far north on Yonge-street, but all nearer Toronto were held at prices they could not afford.  The owner leaves on account of sickness and sold the lot with its betterments and growing crop for $600.

July 22—­Left home on Monday to wait in Toronto for arrival of my brother-in-law and family.  They came on the 19th, sound and hearty.  As I had directed them, they took a ship for New York and thence by the Hudson and Erie canal to Oswego, where they got the steamer for Toronto.  Thus they avoided the hardships of the St Lawrence route and saved a fortnight in time.  Looking at the map, I can see New York is Toronto’s nearest ocean port.  The teams got started early in the afternoon, but the road was rough and the horses had to walk all the way.  It was growing dark when we reached the shanty, from whose one window gleamed a light, and at the door were Ailie, Alice, and Robbie, who had spent two days cleaning and making the place as decent as possible.  A table of boards, with benches at its side, was spread with supper.  A joyous hour was cut short by the teamsters crying out horses were fed and they were ready to return.  They dropped us at the end of our lane.