Mary and Sam have a busy time up north

You get the idea that Mary is getting tired of the rain and cold? I know I am! March is always the time we are all getting fed up with winter in the Northwest.

Saturday, March 19, 1949

Today it is raining again and very windy out. We ate about 9:30 a.m. and then drove up to Sedro-Woolley to see Henry and Laurice. Henry was still in bed but soon got up and was "raring" to eat. Sat there and talked until nearly 2 when we went back to Conway. They have refinished an old house and it looks very nice. They had a new phonograph and davenport set of which they were very proud. The two boys are so tall. Jimmy is almost as tall as Laurice. When we arrived here, Almeda had taken Patsy to get her music lesson so Sam and Gene went to Anacortes. The men came home about 5 and we ate about 6. We had crab and it was delicious with salad. The men both went to sleep on the couch, snoring like everything, so Almeda and I went to bed early. Very wet out and quite miserable. The baby is very good and the girls surely are good about taking care of him.

Sunday, March 20, 1949

Today we arose fairly early and ate because we had to leave quite early. Gene brought over an old history of Skagit Co. printed in 1903. It was very good, and I wish I could have read more of it. We left at 11:30 and we missed our boat at 2 so we had to wait until 3. We picked Mama up at 4:15 and went home. Sam picked up some oysters and so I fried them for dinner. They were very good. Palmer Johnson came over and sat with us while we ate. It is pouring down rain and has been all day, that is what slowed us down on the highway. Mama is looking at my last snapshot album. It's a good one too. To bed early as we were all tired from so much sitting all day.

Monday, March 21, 1949

Arose early. Sam caught the 7:30 ferry to join Henry in Sedro-Woolley but forgot his glasses. I washed all clothes that had to be ironed and dusted the house. Then about 11 I started for Holly with Mama. We stopped at Belfair on our way for the mail. Arrived there before 12 over a very poor road. Rained most of the day so it was very miserable driving. The folks are well, and Grandma had a good day. She had plenty of visitors and enjoyed all the gifts. Aunt Katie baked 8 cakes, made piles of chicken sandwiches and oh how lovely it all was. Saw Mrs. Rasor. She is well too. Aunt Vina rode home with me and Ruby and Henry came too. Henry picked oysters, they saw flowers and went home. Lovey called up so I took oysters and went in there and we had dinner together. We had a good time, and I heard a lot about Chapter Installation. Home and sprinkled my clothes to iron tomorrow. Clear and cold out. Seems strange without a dog. The Wychoffs are home again.

Tuesday, March 22, 1949

Today I sent letters to all the presiding Worthy Matrons to get the new addresses of newly elected associate conductresses. To store and post office. Rudy was there. He told me that Carl Robertson died at 10 a.m., Monday. I was shocked for I never expected that. Home and finished all the ironing and put out 8 "Do Not Pick Flowers" signs up through the woods. Ordered flowers for our last initiation on Thursday. Then I called on Betty Fischler and she was making a cherry pie. She typed out 18 slips of the songs for addenda. We had a nice visit. Eddie was mowing the lawn. Then home and saw Squires about pruning my rose bushes in April. Will do. Took in all my cleaning and most of it was dry. A very warm day out and oh such a grand sunset. Wrote names on all the Installation presents.

Wednesday, March 23, 1949

Today I had my hair done at 11. It surely looks nice. Met Maimee Gould at 1:20 and we bought a gift for Cleora and Jesse. Did not take us long. Then at 3, I attended Carl Robertson's funeral. There were not too many there from Belfair. Carl looked very nice, so natural. Later I met Maimee Gould and we had tea. We chatted about many things concerning our work. Home and got Blanche Hackett to come for strawberries and tea. She gave me an old lamp, 2 back combs and a cast iron muffin pan that was once in the Hackett family. We picked up a tablecloth May Hobsen had sewed up so I could present it at Social Club. It surely was a beauty. To Social Club and saw quite a few there. Sat there and did fancy work on a pillow case until time to go home. I did not eat. Home and had a bath. To bed early.

Thursday, March 24, 1949

Today I arose fairly early. It was clean and sunny out but quite cold and windy. I cleaned house good and got the mail. Went up to Robertson's but only Manny was there packing some things to take to Westport. The folks went East on the noon train. Sam called up. Said he would go to dinner at Shrine Club at Bremerton, so will be home late. The lawn is full of crocus and very lovely to see. Picked up Lovey at 7 and to Chapter. The room was beautiful with yellow daffodils and forsythia. The initiation went off very well and the Star Points were wonderful. Mrs. Byran gave a talk on our heritage as Eastern Stars which I enjoyed very much. Helen Anderson and Bea Grant of Elinor Chapter were there for the first time. I was so glad to see them. We practiced the addenda for Cleora after the meeting so it was late when we came downstairs. Lovey wants all her decorations gold for Installation. It should be beautiful. Sam was up when I returned. To bed late.

Friday, March 25, 1949

Arose late and so tired. Many phone calls so was not done with my work till noon. Alma Nelson called. We may meet at her place Sunday. Cleora called and wants us to go to dinner Tuesday and there is a reception at Pricilla's so I hung 2 bedspreads and 5 sheets out on the line. Cleaned my lace Chapter dress so it's ready for Installation. Very windy and cold out but the sun is shining. Sam came home from the store with the mail so we cooked two of the steaks we had in the ice box for the last two weeks. Then he went to Masonic Lodge with Eddie Fischler, and I took Helen Mitchell and Elaner Orcutt to the card party at Philathea's. We had a very good time and laughed so much at the antics of one man (Mr. Card) we almost cried. A lovely lunch was served and we went home about 10:30. We saw Florence Tillett and Eunice De Long from our Chapter there. Home and to bed. Raining.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now resides on a classic wooden boat on the Columbia River. She has been researching Mary Theler's life for the past 17 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].