Mary continues with planting, planning and socializing

I like to compare our weather at the time Mary is writing her diary. Sounds pretty much the same. In fact, it was the weather several years ago that got me into reading Mary’s diary. We were having snow in March and people were saying Belfair had never had snow this late. Mary’s diary showed they had, and on the exact same days.

Friday, Nov. 5, 1948

Today I got up early and left for Bremerton. Met Maimie by the street corner. Roy Mitchell brought her to the dock. We met Bertha Attridge on the dock, so we all went up town together. We had a nice house and there was fine music and Floss Bush and Ruth Thorsen gave an inspiring talk. Saw all the girls I knew. Then home on 3:30 ferry and up to Mayme Hanberg’s where we got some addresses on cards for Christmas party. Had a nice visit. Over to Philathea to the dinner. It was very good, but the bazaar was a failure, not enough stuff. We saw quite a few we knew but were the only ones from Olympic Eagles, very fine services. Not many there, however. Took Maimie up to the store and then home. Got my stuff at the store so I’m all ready to work tomorrow. To bed early. Cold out.

Saturday, Nov. 6, 1948

Today I prepared everything I could for Sunday dinner. The duck, the salad and hard sauce all ready. Got my hair combed out at 3 p.m. and then ate dinner early. We had venison, oh it was good. Met Alma Bard, the Woolridges and Blanche Hackett at Belfair and got Cleora L at Marie’s. We caught the 5:45 boat to Seattle. Attended reception for Ross Stokle at Chapter. There were 44 worthy patrons and 35 worthy matrons and oh so many past grand officers. A wonderful evening and we caught last boat home. In bed at 3:15. A long day! The best addendum was the officers of 1943 with masks on the back of heads and aprons tied in back. We surely laughed a lot over that. A rainbow girl sang very beautiful also. There were a good many from Bremerton, so we saw a lot we knew. A grand evening and one will long remember.

Sunday, Nov. 7, 1948

Arose late and dusted good. Sam got flowers from Squires for me, so I had a nice arrangement on the table. Had the dinner ready about 4:45 as the duck did not cook as fast as I figured. Cleora and Ralph came just before 4. We had a lovely dinner and how Ralph did enjoy the duck. Everything turned out very nice. After dinner we talked until late and had ice cream and cookies before they left. They are very pleasant company, and we had a lot of laughs. My tooth ached all evening, so I was all tired out. Very cold out. Will freeze tonight for sure. A wonderful sunset.

Monday, Nov. 8, 1948

There was a hard frost last evening, so we looked at geraniums, but OK as Sam put socks on them. Today Squires dug all geraniums and glads, and we stored them in back room of the tavern. Sam washed clothes and I cleaned house and put everything to rights. To Bremerton and Dr. Swanson tried to put a “cure” in my tooth. Says nerve must be dying as not a thing shows up in the X-ray. A wonderful sunset but it certainly will freeze hard tonight. To Officers Club in the evening. Went in Mayme Homberg’s car with Mary Gartrell and Lovey. It was at Ethel Andrews and Bob was cohostess. Very nice too, salad, ritz and cheese. We discussed the Christmas party, so it is all pretty well organized. Instead of exchanging 50-cent gifts we shall bring gifts for a needy family. I think it much better that way. To bed late. My tooth ached half the night.

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1948

Today Squires came down and planted about half of the bulbs, about 400 narcissus Cleora gave me and 500 cottage tulips and 500 crocus I bought. To Line Officers. Ruth Small and Alice Pope rode in with me. Wilma was ill and Alma met us there. There was a very good turnout, but Delores Moore was not there, so we had no instruction which was disappointing to those who drove so far. The lunch was shrimp salad and carrot pudding. Very good too. I wore my new gray dress and it looked very nice. Home and delivered petitions to Helen Sisson Lloyd. Then saw Edith Skene and told her I’d take her to Shelton tomorrow. Then did some paperwork and to handkerchief shower on Alice Rice. It was fun after we did something besides sit. Played cards and ate cake. Home very late. Sam here, says his coat is being made.

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1948

Arose early and did all hand ironing before 10:30. Sam made breakfast as he is still on a diet. Bud Bickle came down and dug up most of the garden today. Sam went to Oregon to hunt ducks and Squires rode down with him to get his Peace roses. I took Edith Skene to Shelton and she got some medicine for her cold. Then we drove to Bremerton and while she took Judy to the vet, I called Eddie Stevens. He seemed in good spirits and we had a grand visit. Took Edith home and we had apple pie and tea that Graham made especially for us. Very good. Home and cleaned up my desk. Very cold out. Nichol was over. Says someone is stealing Christmas trees back on his road. Lovey called. She said Betty would do the cards for me Friday.

Thursday, Nov. 11, 1948

Arose late and ate the rest of the venison for breakfast. Bud Bickle came down and finished the garden, raked the leaves and cedar up. Then we moved all the plants from behind the rail fence. Next year I need not worry about that part. To the beauty shop and had my hair done. Looks very nice. Home and ate lunch of smelt that some one kindly left for me. They were delicious. Emmett came down to get Bud to fix his fence as the colt got out all the time and went home to Roussel’s. So, Bud will come down tomorrow with Squires. We may be able to finish. Getchman was here with an insurance policy. Squires’ boy was here on his bicycle with a plant holder Sam sent up. Took Ruth Small and Wilma K. to Chapter. It was a wonderful evening and we enjoyed it. However, I made two bad errors in my work, why I don’t know. To bed late, very tired. Alma Nelson gave me a lovely corsage, Florence T. a mum spray for my hair.

■ 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].