housekeeper, of Kuttenberg
“I keep this house standing. If not for me sweeping the mud and buying the flour, my husband's family would starve in their own dirt.”
Things Christina had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of Saint Urban, at Vespers
If Ursel spends one more hour staring at our lodger John instead of washing the pots, I will scream. She needs a husband to put some sense in her head, though God help the poor man who takes her.
Nota scribaeShe wiped flour from her hands onto the ledger while saying this.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Fritz took Nickel's copper engraving plate over two groschen he claims he is owed for hauling charcoal. It is barefaced theft. Nickel is too proud to let me beat his brother with a broom handle, but my patience is worn thin.
A debt is a debt, woman. He can have it back when he pays up.
You eat twice your share of the bread I buy, you lazy whoreson.
the Tuesday after Saint Benedict, at Terce
Now Elsbeth has hidden Nickel's heavy stamping die in her chest, all to press a wax seal for some useless petition about the muddy field old Otto left them. They fight over dirt while I keep the hearth burning.
It is our land too, no matter what Nickel says.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted by a shouting match from the yard.
the Friday before Saint Matthias, at Prime
The war has driven up the cost of every bloody grain of wheat. I bargain fierce with the market men, but the groschen do not stretch like they used to. At least the coals are banked and the roof still holds.
We merchants suffer too, Christina. The roads are not safe for the carts.
Candlemas, at Sext
That fat baker's wife Apollonia dumped hot lye right by my best boots. I will not speak a word to her, nor give her another penny. I am forcing this whole household to buy bread from the next parish over.
It was an accident, you mad shrew. My lye, my street.
The new bread is stale and tastes like ash. Give it up, Christina.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I am just paying my rent, Christina. I swear I have not encouraged her.
I was only making sure his mail shirt was properly oiled.