Monday, December 14th, 1863

To day the boys, Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I are all at work in the Mill forebay stopping the hole in it. I let in the water and ground 8 bushels of corn, but found we had not stopped the leak in it, and again let off the water, and we then commenced putting a new bottom or floor over the old one. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and remained all night. Weather cloudy and cold with strong indications of rain.

Sunday, December 13th, 1863

To day Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went out hog hunting but without any success. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], the children and I all went over to Mr. Leaverton's and spent the day. A hole broke in the flooring of the forebay and let off the whole head of water. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

Saturday, December 12th, 1863

To day the boys are at work on the stables. John is at work hauling wood. Capt. Peacock and I had a settlement for the rent of my house in Liberty which he is occupying. I paid him the freight bill on my furniture from Liberty to Hall's bluff which was brought up on the steamer Alamo which he was commander of her. The freight bill was 183$ but I deducted 50$ from it for lost articles. He then paid me $167 balance on rent & I receipted him in full for the current years rent of said house which expires on the 31st inst. He & Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] then left for Mr. Beavers'. I ground 20 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode my horse Hawk down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Sam* had no success in hunting hogs. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's Mother.

Friday, December 11th, 1863

To day the boys finished putting up 3 stalls in the stable and got them partially covered in. John is at work hauling wood. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] is at work mending a fiddle for Martin. I ground 10 bushels of corn. Capt. Peacock arrived from Parker's bluff on his way to the City of Houston. He remained all night with me. Weather cloudy & rather cool.

Thursday, December 10th, 1863

To day the boys raised one portion of the stables. John is still at work hauling in the timber for the stables. Sam [ Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out hog hunting but without any success. I ground 3 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold with a frost at night.

Wednesday, December 9th, 1863

To day the boys commenced working on the stables. John is still hauling in the stable timber. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 4 bushels of wheat and I ground 5 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and cold with a frost at night.

Tuesday, December 8th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work hauling timber for the stables. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 10 bushels of wheat and I ground 16½ bushels of corn. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost at night.