Mary's planning parties for the holidays

Friday, Nov. 12, 1948

Today Bud and Squires came down and planted all day of the big stuff. Moved the roses and planted quite a lot in our new garden. Then Skenes came over and I fried smelt for lunch. In the afternoon everything was ready for the folks. About 6, Louie, Grace and the children came. We cooked dinner and then went over to the house. Mary Ruth and Jack came down with a lovely cake, so we all had cake and coffee. Then later in came Vera and Cole and we had quite a house full. They brought over some smoked salmon. The weatherman says rain but it is nice and mild out. We sat around talking until late, to bed at 11. Very dark out but there is a moon.

Saturday, Nov. 13, 1948

Arose late and made hot cakes for breakfast. Then cleaned house and got things straightened up. We went up to Belfair and did our shopping and then up to the cemetery where we planted spring bulbs. Cleaned it up a bit so it looks very nice. Home and sat around and got warm. Very mild out and not raining so we are glad. We all ate hamburgers at the Malt Shop. Then the folks went to Bremerton to see the Grays. I called on Evelyn Hyde and she is moving. She combed out my hair. It looks so lovely. Home and put mothballs in all the clothes bags. Put stuff in the attic. Henry came down, so we sat and talked. Decided to get together next week one day so Henry could get home to Bellingham on Sunday. To bed late.

Sunday, Nov. 14, 1948

Arose late. We had a nice breakfast together. Henry came early and the boys went with Emmett to the cemetery to get the fence line up. Then we found Papa’s will and put it with the other papers. Henry will stop and see Lewis and pick out a stone which Louie and Grace will see on their way home. Very windy out. The bay is very rough. Raining too. The children are playing “Bingo.” Then we ate lunch, and I made sandwiches for the folks to eat on their way home. They left at 1:30, thought they could be home by dark. I cleaned house and cabin good and upstairs so all is fresh again. Then to Blanch Hackett’s and brought her down for the night. We ate dinner of elk steak by candlelight and what fun. Ruby Earl and Earls folks came just as we were thru, and so, we went over to the house. After they left, we called on Skenes and we found Edith much better. To bed late.

Monday, Nov. 15, 1948

We arose late and ran over to Skene’s to get Blanche’s purse. Everyone was fine. Then a leisurely breakfast and cleaned up. Went to get my hair combed out for tonight and stopped at 10-cent store for some things. Took Blanche home and talked to Alma Bard a few minutes. Then called on Alice Pope. We plan to leave at 6:30 tonight. In the afternoon wrote a lot of letters so now that is done. To Philathea at 6:30 and got good seats too. It was a lovely evening, and the officers did such lovely work. The prize-winning mums of Mrs. Roy Ball were in the Chapter Room with other mums and oh were they lovely! So big! Grace Hagens’ thought for the day: “Whenever you see a church go in to visit. So, when you’re carried in the Lord won’t say ‘Who is it?’ ” Alice Pope, Alma Bard, Ruth Small and Blanch Hackett went in with me. They served me homemade cake.

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1948

Arose late as I was tired. Sam got breakfast while I made the beds. Then to Alma Nelson’s and we talked decorations for the Christmas party. Decided on an old-fashioned room idea. It should be good as we have everything here to use. Then to Social Club which had a good turnout and a nice lunch. They made about $45 on the quilt they raffled off. There were some mothers there, so I contacted them about the Christmas party. Then we were invited to attend a meeting of West Bremerton Garden Club and a Seattle woman did some lovely arrangements with cones and greens. There were some clever ideas there. Back to Alma Nelson’s and did some telephoning. Got quite a few signed up on the party. Home and took letter to Pete Bennetson to write to Denmark about Papa’s death. Ate and cleaned up my desk. A big moon out. Sam went to Seattle.

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1948

Today arose late. Went to Small’s and called a lot of the girls and so the Christmas party is doing OK. Sam brought Squires down and he planted a lot of flowers and bulbs. Found a good place for the rhododendrons. Then Mary Ruth and the children came down, so Sam made lunch while I dug out a lot of flowers for her. We had a nice visit. After she left, I dug out all but two of the plants I wanted to move. Planted about half of it. Getting cold out and most likely will freeze tonight. Called Lovey, she said Betty had all the cards made. My, I’m surely glad. Now we can get them addressed early. Laurice called up and said Henry and Louie were on their way to Belfair so we can go to the lawyer at 9 a.m. Thursday. We ate elk steak for dinner and it was delicious. To bed early.

Thursday, Nov. 18, 1948

Arose early and got the breakfast then Louie, Henry and I drove to Shelton. We went to Bayley’s office and were all thru with our business at 10 to 10. Home and talked awhile and they left to see Robert Beard about going to Shelton Dec. 4. Then Squires was thru about 12:45 so I took him home and got my hair combed at Gorst Beauty Shop. Also called a lot of the members on the Christmas party. Home and Squires planted and put fertilizer on the roses. Wrote four letters to members about Christmas party. Wrote out all the Thanksgiving cards, too. We ate baked squash from Skenes. Very good. Boris Karry called up. Said to tell Skenes about his wife’s death. So, Sam will deliver the message. Raining hard out again. Took Alice Pope to Reliance with me. We picked up Lovey on the way in and she had the cards all ready for me. It surely was nice of Betty to do it. Reliance had a wonderful meeting. The Worthy Matron Dorothy Perry wore her great-grandmother’s wedding dress as all the officers wore clothes of long ago. The room was decorated with pampas grass and red hearts made of chrysanthemums. Very lovely. The program was very good, and the fashion show stairs was very clever. Even the men took part. The lunch was good, and the tables had cornucopias with fruit coming out of them. We had a grand time. Home early. Sam said he had a nice visit at Skene’s. Oh, so wet out. Maimee took half of the cards home.

■ 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]