Mary and Sam shifting from summer to fall

Fall is sneaking up on Mary. She still makes the effort to sit in the sun when it is out. She even has a hammock. Can you picture Mary in her hammock in the sun doing her nails?

Friday, Oct. 8, 1948

A very warm sunny day and I cleaned good. Squires finished all the transplanting we can do until we have a good frost and can move dahlias and roses. Sam got up late and went to Seattle for repairs on a machine. I finished marking the balance of the dahlias. Also laid out in the sun in the hammock and studied in my ritual. To Bremerton to pick up Lovey, then to Marie's. We followed Lou's car to the reception for Ervin, Jesse Duffield's son. Everyone we knew was there. We all had a pleasant time talking and we all enjoyed the wonderful cake Florence Tillet made. They received many gifts. It was an evening when all the men talked hunting, so many are going east of the mountains. Home at 11. Cold out.

Saturday, Oct. 9, 1948

Today we washed clothes and Sam mowed the lawn. A warm day but more wind than yesterday. Robertson finished the kitchen, so we ate dinner outside early when it was sunny. Got my Kroft lily bulbs today at the beauty shop. Also delivered gift for Duffield's son. We had a nice visit. The newlyweds are somewhere on the canal. To reception for Dolores Moore at Retsil. All the conductresses from the Seattle group were there and several from Tacoma and Hoquiam. Marvins, Lovey, Mayme H. Cleora, Florence L. Alma and Gertrude were there besides many others I knew. It was a grand evening full of addenda and song. Dolores wore a lovely blue satin gown and gave us a grand message to take home. The entire Grand Family was there and many past Grand Officers. The work was beautifully done, and Port Orchard can well look back on a successful evening. To bed at 1:15. The marshal was outstanding.

Sunday, Oct. 10, 1948

A very wet day but I got up at 8:30 and put the red table and chairs in the cabin so we could eat. Cleaned house and got my scrapbook up to date. Took down clothes and got ready for ironing. Sam did not go hunting on account of the rain. In the afternoon Sam and I drove up thru Oak Patch and back, met Paul Sharp but saw nothing. So very wet out. The deer are not moving. Sam has all the knobs up on the doors in bedroom. It looks very good. Will be lovely when I get it all done. We sat and listened to radio in the evening. To bed early. We were both tired. Still pouring down rain.

Monday, Oct. 11, 1948

Today was a warm lovely day and a nice sunset. Ironed all the clothes and put away. Took cabin bedroom chair up to Housen's and weaving hook and visited awhile. Saw Skene's who came down. We had tea and a very good visit. Picked some dahlias for Edith. She brought some lily bulbs. Sam got one pheasant, so we ate it and oh was it tender. Corn from the ranch. To Officers Club. The Herman Leas were hostesses. Doris Tegstrom showed us colored movies of the Alcan trip. It was so very interesting. Everyone enjoyed it. Then the meeting and refreshments. We stayed late. To bed at one. Very cold out.

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1948

Today arose early and got work done up. Sam went out and got a Chinese pheasant. Then the Robert Marvins came for lunch. We had a geoduck chowder and they seemed to enjoy it. We picked flowers in the garden and then went up to Temple. The pedestals look so nice. The baskets Robertson painted are lovely. After some discussion on how to fix East and secretaries dish, went home. Roy Mitchell met us at the temple. Sam and I went to the ranch. He and dog got one bird up, a hen. After dinner Robertson painted again. To temple in Belfair where they had a practice for initiation. Rudy and I were candidates. Home early and to bed. Cold and clear out.

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1948

Arose late. A sunny day. Sam went to Seattle and Bill Cady was down for rifle shells. The gang were to drive a thicket. Got through with my work early and cleaned cabin windows. Then took Papa up to Belfair at 1:30 so he could go to town with Emmett. He came home at 4 and had gotten all his stuff. Saw Mrs. Crosswhite about making pies for October 30. Saw Squires. He will plant all the azaleas Friday. Saw Ruth Small. She may go to Chapter with me Thursday. Studied in my ritual out in the sun and fixed my nails. Finished cabin. It looks good. Mae Housen, Lee and Christy were here and dug out half the strawberries. Tomorrow they may dig the rest. Through early tonight so I can study a bit and go to bed early. A big moon coming up. It's going to be cold!

Thursday, Oct. 14, 1948

Today it started to drizzle at noon so may rain by night. Changed beds and put clothes up in attic. Sam moved his clothes up in apartment closet, so washroom is clear again. Also, Sam waxed Papa's floors, so they look very nice. Last night Sam brought home a tablespoon, sugar shell, butter knife and salad server in my set. They are so lovely! I was so happy! Betty Fischler called up. She can't go tonight. Too bad. We plan to leave for Port Angeles at 2 p.m. on Saturday. To the beauty shop and got my hair done. It looks very nice. Then got an early dinner and got ready for Chapter. A very lovely sunset. It promises to be a cold night. Picked up Wilma Rasmussen and Lovey. We arrived at the Masonic Temple at 6:38 but already several were in the Chapter Room. Those who did not want to sit in balcony again. We started at 8 sharp and everything went very well. The addendum by the marshal and star points was especially good. The flowers were blue green hydrangeas and fall daisies. Downstairs marigolds, asters and dahlias. The refreshments were open-face sandwiches. Our Esther Doris Tegstrom was on the floor for the last time before going to Alaska to live. We gave her a lapel pin from the officers. We certainly hate to lose her. She drives up the Alcan Highway Tuesday. Florence Waggoner, Worthy Grand Matron came to preparation room and spoke to all the officers at 7:45. It was a nice way too get us to relax. Floss Bush did the same years ago. Florence Tillett made us corsages to wear. The star points had wrist corsages, very lovely. The Bill Seegars were down from Bellingham. It was good to see them. They are fine. A good crowd was in from Belfair, in fact we had a big crowd in the balcony. Home at 1. A big eve. Very cold out again.

■ 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].