MARY'S MEMOIRS

Sounds like it was a bit on the cold side. Blackberries and raspberries are in season. Mary attends several chapter meetings. She mentions that a new pup is there.

Sunday, June 26, 1949

Today we all slept late. Sam was out late, and Blanche and I were tired. Then we picked raspberries and a few flowers. I cleaned the house and put away my clothes. A dark day and not too warm. The new pup is here, and the cat has her scared to death already. Eddie and Hal Fischler were down and Sam showed Hal around the place. Blanche and I sat out in the white chairs on the lawn near the crab apple tree and read the paper. The pup is sleeping by Blanche's feet. Jack Morgan and Mike were here. Sam is one of the appraisers of his dad's estate. We ate at 6:30 and had raspberries again. They are delicious. Lovey called up and so did Maimee Gould. Everyone still weary from Grand Chapter. To bed early. Weary.

Monday, June 27, 1949

Very cold and dark all day. We arose early and got all our work done before Blanche and I went to Bremerton. Sam did a small washing so that is all finished for this week. Blanche had her hair done and mine, just recombed. We had tea at Charleston, and we bought a shower curtain and cheese for our sandwiches. Home and made open-face sandwiches of rye with a slice of olive. Sam and Emmett went to get one of the trucks he bought but got there too late to drive it out. We ate early and up to the Masonic Temple to see them, Belfair U.D. Constituted. There were 64 of the 71 members present and about 250 visitors. Everyone was there and it was a very lovely meeting. The decorations were lovely and looked as if someone had done a lot of work. The refreshments were open-face sandwiches and cookies, and everyone had as much as they could eat. Home at 12:45. Very tired. A long time to just sit! But I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Topsy Travis and Bonnie DeLeo were here for yellow flowers, but I had only a few.

Tuesday, June 28, 1949

Today Squires worked 3 hours and then it poured down rain, but we did get a little done. Then I ironed and put away all the clothes. Saw Helen Davis and she will clean for me Thursday. The electricity went off, so Blanche and I called on Helen Mitchell who sprained her ankle from falling out of a cherry tree. We also saw Dahle about some blackberries for Thursday. Sam and Emmett got the three trucks home, and they are so thrilled over them. Rained off and on all day. Fixed up my scrapbook and cleaned up my desk. In the evening went to bed early as we were all so tired. Sam went up to the Masonic Temple and worked with the cleanup committee until 10 p.m. Very cold out. Lovey called up and said she was too tired to go to Poulsbo Wednesday.

Wednesday, June 29, 1949

Today we slept late, and Sam did not get up until 10:30. As soon as I could I went out in the garden, and I weeded for 2 hours and really got a lot done. Then Blanche and I went to Bremerton. She to the doctor and I to take my watch in. We had a wonderful dinner at Alma Nelson's. Homemade ice-cream and oh it was it good! She instructed us on how to visit a Shrine. Then the three of us drove to Poulsbo to a Chapter meeting. We had a wonderful evening, and their initiatory work was lovely. Their little Marshall gave a report on Grand Chapter that was one of the finest I ever heard. Refreshments later was lots of fun. To bed late.

Thursday, June 30, 1949

Very tired today but could not sleep. At 10 I got Helen and Beverly, and they waxed all the floors in the cabin, house and apartment. Oh, was I glad as it was more than I could do. I cleaned the rest of the garden, and it looks O.K. Blanche and I picked all the raspberries and put then in cartons for the locker. Also 6 boxes of wild blackberries and quite a lot of rhubarb. Over to Dahle and got 13 boxes more wild blackberries which I shall jam tomorrow. We ran out of oil so had to turn the stove off. In the evening I drove into Port Orchard. Met Lovey and Mayme Hanberg at the Temple. We had a very nice evening and they had a splendid initiation and addenda on Grand Chapter. The decorations were firecrackers made out of red paper which caused a lot of fun as they are so upset over their sales in Kitsap County. We certainly had a lot of laughs during the evening.

Friday, July 1, 1949

Today no oil came until nearly 11 o'clock. So, we ate in the washroom. Blanche washed all the jars so it was a lot of help. We made 15 pints of wild blackberry jam and 1 for a taster. Watered the lawn good and the garden. Baked beans are in the oven for Saturday. Very warm out at time. Got my scrapbook and diary up to date. Saw Mary Ruth, Jack, Mrs., Morgan, Mrs. Stillwell and 4 Morgan children. Just heard the fire siren. I wonder whose house it is? Found out it is a brush fire below Cady's. Took Mae Housen to dinner out to the Blue Bird Inn after my hair was done. We had a nice time too. To Philathea with Mae and Lovey and it was a nice evening. They honored their Grand Ada who was home after a year of visiting. All the decorations were blue in honor of "Ada's" stations. Quite a few from Belfair. We could drive over the bridge, so it was easy. To bed late.

Saturday, July 2, 1949

A warm day and we got up fairly early. Blanch and I went over to Minter Creek to the Auction and there we met Vina, Henry, Cecil, Fritz, their wives and Earl and Ruby. We had a good lunch of turkey and fun bidding on stuff. I bought a lawn edger and a sickle. Home and ate some blackberry pie I made this a.m. Sam mowed all the lawn. Looks good but was pretty high to cut so there is lots of grass around. Wrote in scrapbook and lay in the sun. Very nice. We ate at Ruby's and Earl's in the evening and had a very nice time. They have such a cool kitchen. Sam was up so late the last two nights he got very sleepy and as Earl built a fire in the fireplace, it was warm in the house, and he got sleepier. We stayed until about 9:30. The moon was up bright as could be and very cool out. Ruby showed me the bed spread she bought Van. It surely is a beauty. To bed fairly early.

■ 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].