MARY'S MEMOIRS

Mary and Sam went on a duck hunting trip. They came home and left for east of the mountains to go deer hunting. They took their dog, Queenie. I think she had a good time. Sam got a couple of birds but no deer yet.

Sunday, Oct. 23, 1949

Went out on the dike on Lake Klamath and Sam shot a goose which fell in the lake. Another man sent his dog after it and claimed the goose. Then another hunter shot a goose and it fell way out on the lake and the same game hog claimed that. So, we told the young man about a boat and helped him get it into the lake. He got his goose and another wounded one which he gave to us. The other folks could not say a word. Sam put out the decoys and killed a speck and one white goose, and I was sorry as they are so lovely. Back to the ditch to clean our birds and then to Klamath Falls where we ate at the Town Club. Very good. A very hot day, but not good for hunting as not many birds flew over. Home early and read. We are weary as it was a long day. But oh! It was so warm. We drove down where all the trailers are parked by Stronghold. Now we wished we had camped out.

Monday, Oct. 24, 1949

Today we got up at 4:15 a.m. and went out to the dike. I slept in the car while Sam went out on the dike. At 7:30 I had such cold feet. I got up and took the dog and went out where Sam was. He had shot 2 ducks but couldn't get either as they were too far out in the water. We left at 9 and drove to Tule Lake where Sam shipped the birds. Then we went to Klamath Falls and ate a grand breakfast at the Town Club. Back to our motel and got our stuff packed. We were away at 12:30. We gathered pine cones near Bend and some juniper branches just beyond. It was another very hot day and what a wonderful ride we had. The sky was clear and blue as could be. There was no breeze. We ate dinner at Mars and found a motel at Biggs Junction on the hill above the highway. Good cherry pie with our dinner, homemade. All the pine trees have a new growth of cones, and they look beautiful. I hope to get some branches to take home. We drove about 235 miles today. Saw lots of threshing going on in the hay fields along the way in Oregon.

Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1949

Today we awoke early and left for Goldendale at 8:30 a.m. where we ate breakfast. Then on through the most wonderful country. I cut some pine cones and sprays of pine to send to Blanche Hackett. The hills were full of color. Yellows I've never seen before and reds of all descriptions. We just jogged along. Ate our lunch along the Yakima River where I picked yellow poplar leaaves, also red dogwood. The dog had a great time running up and down the river. Then over Naches Pass to Tacoma. It was a wonderful warm day and such a grand ride. Neither of us seemed to want to go home. We ate at Pearl's Cafe at Purdy and then home. Put away my leaves in water and put soiled clothes away. Called Lovey and Alma Nelson. They are fine. Very f

oggy on the side of the mountains and cold. We saw Emmett and Bill Cady at Belfair on our way home. Cleaned up desk. Wrote in scrapbook. Read my letter from Blanche and Mother. Sam went up to Belfair.

Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1949

Today there was a drizzling rain when I got up. Squires came anyway and planted some of the roses. Sam washed clothes. I went to Belfair and mailed a parcel of juniper, pine boughs, cones, holly, fir and cedar to Blanche with a short note. Then in the afternoon fixed all the vases with the red leaves, juniper, etc. I brought home. Cleaned house good and it smells so woodsy from the greens. Cleaned my desk and set 4 mouse traps in the attic. Made a nice cherry pie and had a duck with dumplings. All very good and Sam ate with Pink in Port Orchard. Never bothered to call up. So, it was a good meal wasted! To Belfair O.E.S. Social Club where we discussed plans for the bazaar. A nice lunch was served, and I was home early. Got some cards from Glenda Short. They will make nice gifts. Raining still. Sam was snoring when I got home.

Thursday, Oct. 27, 1949

Sam got Squires and before I took him home at 1:30 the heather bed by the cabin was nearly completed. Then Queenie goes and digs in it. To Gorst and had my hair done, got my hunting license and my mail. Then home. Ruth Small, Del Ru Thompson, Mae Brown and Alice Pope are working on the quilt today. Put away all the washing and did the mending. Very wet out so I'll wear my flannel jersey tonight. Have my clothes all hanging ready. Carm Shackelford called up. Said Bill Borch had passed away in his chair and wanted Sam to come down. So, he went down and stayed until they took Bill to Tacoma. They said he went just like Papa did. Thank goodness there was no drawn-out suffering. Sam went to Bremerton to a dinner with Eddie Fischler. Shrine are putting it on. At Chapter we had balloting and short business meeting. Then we went to the refreshment room where Childress showed their pictures of the Canal Zone. They were very good, and we sure enjoyed it all. There was a good crowd out and we had a wonderful time. Took Alma Sundstrom home. To bed late. To be exact 1 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 28, 1949

We got up early and caught the 8:30 a.m. ferry. Ate breakfast at North Bend and it was still raining. When we got over the mountains it started to clear up, and when we got to Wenatchee it was clear as can be. Stopped at Michael's but no one home. Left a note. Then on to Louise's. We got there about dusk and to the ranch about 6. We had a wonderful dinner, roast chicken, dressing, gravy, potatoes, cottage cheese and pear salad, and apple pudding. Delicious and very fattening. The dog is asleep in the car and happy. Sam fed him so I guess he is all right. The trip over was very lovely. Everything is so colorful, and I hope to take some pictures on our way tomorrow. We ate our lunch where the Entiat ferry crosses. Queenie bounced around and had a good time. Sam and the men are playing cards in the basement. We have cots on the porch. They should be OK unless it turns cold.

Saturday, Oct. 29, 1949

We got up at 5 o'clock and ate a good breakfast. Then into our cars and up to the bottom of the hill. We rode up that winding road in a jeep and up to within a mile of where we hunted. We sat on a cliff where we could see for miles. Oh, it was cold! I nearly froze so tomorrow I'll put on more clothes. Saw 5 goats up on top of the mountain then 2 deer came down. Then 5 deer came another way. So then for a long time there saw quite a few hunters come by. We hiked over by the creek after we ate our lunch and found 2 horseshoes and 2 wagon wheels. Picked some fir cones. On down we saw 2 men on horseback shoot at a deer. Shot 5 more times, ran all over, chased out a couple of more deer and never got one. Down to the car. Saw 2 more deer by the gravel pit. Up to Palmer Mountain and where a road branched and we did not know which way to go. Went to the left and ran right into Alma Nelson's camp. Was she happy to see us. We had quite a nice visit and stayed until Al and his nephew returned. Then home and cleaned up. No one got a deer here, but all are happy and tired. Very cold up where Alma was but not so bad down here. Six more people are here, including Rolling Bay postmaster and his wife. Very warm out today and oh so lovely up in the hills! I took a picture of a doe.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now lives 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]