Sam mars dinner by drinking too much; Mary upset

Mary is getting back into her routine after their big trip to Alaska and Canada. We can tell that Mary and Sam are doing pretty good financially. She has help with the garden and the trips they take. I chuckled when this week she asks herself, “Where is our summer?” We were just asking that same question to each other a couple of weeks ago. Now we are putting on the air conditioner. Got to have the temperature just right.

Friday, Aug. 6, 1948

A dark gloomy morning. I was afraid it would rain. At 10 I was all thru with my work when comes Edith Skene. She had a flat tire here, so Sam fixed it, stayed till 12 and had tea. At 1 came Mrs. Foster and Mrs. Al Orr who stayed until 3:30. Talked Alaska and served tea again. Then I got everything ready for dinner for Lovey, Duffields and their daughter. At 6:30 Clara and Dick came home from Seattle. The Duffields and Lovey came at 7:05 so I fried the steak and we ate. It was a lovely dinner but was marred by the fact Sam drank too much and acted silly all evening to my great disgust. I’m afraid it will be a long time before I feel like giving a dinner again. To bed late but could not sleep, too tired and upset.

Saturday, Aug. 7, 1948

The sun came out bright and early. Now at 10:05 the bay is like a mirror. The dog returned after two days absence. Sam and Dick put up two hammocks and fixed step. At 11, Dick, Jack, Sam and I went to Minter Creek Auction. We saw nothing we wanted but ate some good fried turkey and wild blackberry pie. Then home and rested in the hammock. Went swimming and got dinner over early so we had a nice evening. The men put the boat out. Sam mowed the lawn and did some watering. Weather has turned warm. Saw Aunt Vina at Minter Creek. Asked us to lunch Wednesday. The Engstroms came our at 9:30 and we talked Alaska Highway until nearly 12. Showed them all out pictures and maps, etc. They will be gone 1 ½ months. To bed late after doing the dishes. Cool out.

Sunday, Aug. 8, 1948

Arose early and started washing. Sam and Dick got the big and small boat out. Got their stuff all packed. Then Rhodes came so they left at 11:05 a.m. for Sekiu. John, Annie and Jack were down when they left. In the afternoon Henry Hamburg and wife and a friend came in. I had not seen them for 41 years. They were about 30 minutes. Clara went up to Annie’s and came home at 4. We ate early outside so we could swim. The water was cool, so we did not stay in long. Went for a boat ride and Ralph and two friends were here when we got in. Studied my ritual for about an hour. Took clothes in as they did not dry outside. Very windy out tonight and cold. Where is our summer?

Monday, Aug. 9, 1948

Today got up early and ironed all hand work before breakfast. To Wychoff’s and got my hair done, then took Squires home. To Belfair and did some shopping. Very cool out today. In the afternoon I mended clothes and watered some odd spots that needed it. Saw Mrs. Walker and she will fix chapter dress. She was to stop for flowers on her way home from town but never showed up. They are moving to Port Orchard Aug. 21. I hate to see them go. The Walkers did not come by, so we rode over to Skene’s. Saw the garage was empty so knew they were gone. Home again and went to bed early. Tired. Cold out again.

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1948

Today I slept late and then got Squires down to try to finish garden. At 11 I took him back as I went to town. Got my watch fixed in Charleston and it surely seems good to wear it. Met Cleora and we picked up Gladys Eiler and drove to Port Gamble. We arrived early so had plenty of time to visit. There were 20 at Line Officers. The tables had a pale blue hydrangea and maroon butterfly bush for decorations. A lovely lunch was served, and we had a pleasant meeting. Everyone was very happy to be together again. They got a great kick out of the gavel I brought along. Dick made it out of the limbs I brought from Yukon T. Followed Cleora home and saw the new room. It is a beauty and one that will get so much good from. Oh, how lovely her flowers are. Home and got dinner. Cool out. Walkers came in to see the flowers on the way to Port Orchard to see a house.

Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1948

Today we got up early and at 10 I went to the store. Evelyn Hyde combed out my hair and then we picked up Cleora and drove to Aunt Vina’s. We saw her lovely flower garden and oh how bright and cheerful it was! Her vegetable garden is just as wonderful. The annual phlox are about the best yet. Vera came over about 1 and we sat down to a lovely dinner. Sponge cake with whipped cream and wild berries. Delicious! Later we went to see some flower gardens and the girls were told to pick all the sweet peas they wished as stems were too short to sell. We had a lovely day and arrived home at 4:30. After dinner went to store to get mole poison and then to see Marie Higgins, but they had moved into town. So, I called on Laura White and she gave me roses. Her begonias are beautiful beyond words. Home and put out mole bait. Edith Skene called up. Wants to go to Nellie Peterson’s as she is having Weaver’s Guild Thursday.

Thursday, Aug. 12, 1948

This morning I cut some grass along the fence, made macaroni salad and then the Bert Shorts called up. Wanted to come down to see the flowers. So about 10:30 they came with a lovely bouquet of glads. We looked at all the flowers. Edith Skene came at 12 and soon Shorts left. We went to Mrs. Nellie Peterson’s to a weaving meeting. Met a lot of nice folks and especially an Austrian woman from Manchester who made Tonisha lace, very clever. Back at home and put on the roast. To Belfair and got Evelyn Hyde and we went swimming. She combed out my hair. Then after dinner Clara and I called on Skene’s. We saw their flowers which as the years go by, I can see getting less and less as they cannot take care of them all. Clara seemed very bored and wanted to go after they had built a nice beach fire. She wanted to play cards at Annie’s. We left. Home early and to bed.

■ 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 14 years. She can be emailed at [email protected]