Mary takes afternoon nap, Sam returns home

Spring has come to Belfair in 1948. Mary is planting flowers and weeding her garden, and the lawn is getting mowed regularly. Sam finally returns at the end of the week from his trip. The Crosswhites took their boat out and ran aground on the beach. Boating season is starting too.

Friday, April 23, 1948

Tried to sleep late but couldn’t so got up. Cleaned apartment and cabin then took Mrs. Thompson to Quimbys and Sundstroms with a potted pink hydrangea from the Belfair O.E.S. Social Club. They were pleased. The wind is quite cold, but the sun is out and it’s nice and clear. I feel tired today and not inclined to do much. In the afternoon laid down and rested for about an hour and half. Then to store and got the dishes Emmett brought for the Masonic Temple. Home and made dinner and washed dishes for the temple. They are nice. Very windy out. The Crosswhites’ boat ran aground on the beach. They had a great time getting it off. The camellias are about gone but magnolias are coming on slowly. Rock lilies are beautiful!

Saturday, April 24, 1948

Rained extremely hard all day but I washed anyway. To Belfair to get mail and to gas up car. Then over to call on the Skenes for over an hour. We had a nice visit. Changed all vases in the house and cleaned up piles of magazines, etc. Put out a duck to thaw for Sunday dinner. Then got some things out so I can work on my scrapbooks tomorrow. Listened to the radio and was already in bed when Lovey called. Guess she talked about a dollar’s worth again. These phone calls surely mount up even though they are very pleasant. Wrote a letter to Marie Rosenthal Tripp. She says the lilacs are in bloom there.

Sunday, April 25, 1948

A very windy day. Clear and cold. Today I cleaned all the closets, drawers and did a lot of odd jobs. Then I cleaned my last year’s chapter dress and my flowered white dress. It looks pretty good too. Pasted in my scrapbook for my Conductresses Year. Got a good start too. Aunt Vina and Uncle Henry were here for about five minutes on their way to Union to dinner. Had a duck roasted for dinner and it was delicious. The wind has gone down a little and if the weather gets warm maybe we can get the grass cut. This evening I pasted in my scrapbook until 9 p.m. and got a lot done. Tomorrow eve I hope to finish most of it. To bed early.

Monday, April 26, 1948

Today I ironed, mended and put all clothes away. Then Bud Bickle came down and mowed the rest of the lawn. Looks good now. To Walkers with my lace chapter dress and she will take the hem up 1 inch. Then to Union and called on Helen Anderson. We had a nice visit. Talked over many things. Then home and to pressing two formals and have one to mend, then all the clothes are cleaned again. There is no wind now and it is very quiet out and very lovely. Rec’d a letter from Betty Curl Dickson. She is in Stockton, California. Says she feels much better. I’m so glad. Saw Grandma White today and she is well and looks good too. Tomorrow, I hope to weed some in the garden. It surely needs it, full of grass.

Tuesday, April 27, 1948

This was a wonderful sunny day and I worked outside quite a long time. Have the garden by the cabin finished and the one between front porch and path by holly tree cleaned up. Looks very good. To Belfair and saw a couple of people I knew. Then to Mrs. Walkers and tried on my lace dress. She shortened it about 1 inch, and it makes a world of difference. There was a black fish in the canal and several people thought they saw a whale. Guess they never saw a black fish before. Squires is supposed to come down tomorrow to work in the garden. Should be about done if he does. Have my white Jersey Chapter dress already to wear again. It looks very clean. I wonder if it shrunk any? To bed early. Have clothes all ready for tomorrow. Mary Ruth came just as I was going to bed. Said Jack was ill so would not go to Wenatchee Wednesday. We had quite a visit. She had on a gray suit, and it looked nice.

Wednesday, April 28, 1948

Arose early and had Squires down here to work before 9. It is trying to rain but the sun is coming out so I think we can get our garden cleaned up. To Wychoff’s and had my hair done. Then took Squires home on my way to Bremerton. He did get quite a lot of the garden cleaned up. Visited Alma Nelson for a couple of hours and we had a good time as always. Out to Mayme Gould’s and went over our work for chapter. We have the candidates lined up. Enjoyed a lovely dinner there and hated to leave. Then to Cleora’s where I left my car and went to Poulsbo Installation with them, Marie Higgins and Lorena Bryan. Cleora did not feel well so had to leave the room. A very nice installation and Bernice was installing matron. She was splendid. A nice lunch and lots of fun. Saw Marvin’s, Lovey, the two Eunices and many others. Home late.

Thursday, April 29, 1948

Sam was here when I came home last night but already in bed. So today had plenty to tell me about his trip. The sun is coming out, so I hope to work in the garden today. The new Dodge looks nice. I will drive it today when I get my dress at Walkers. Worked in the garden and got some Shasta daisies planted up along the road. Skenes came over and we had a nice visit. Sam made lunch while we looked at the flowers. Then later I went down to Walkers and got my lace dress which she had shortened. Rained out so I’m sure my flowers will grow that I transplanted. Have all my clothes already for tomorrow. So, it will be quicker to get ready. Housens came down to get a paper signed. May was full of talk as usual.

Clydene Hostetler is a longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary filmmaker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.” She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 13 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].