MARY'S MEMOIRS

The weather finally starts to get worse. That's November in the Pacific Northwest for you. Mary attends a bazaar, has a group of ladies over to the house for dinner and attends a couple of meetings.

Sunday, Nov. 6, 1949

Today I cleaned upstairs good, the cabin and the house. Have everything out for Tuesday so there won't be so much to do then. Made apple sauce and colored it red. It's very good. Then John Stuyts comes down for a while. Talked about this and that. Later came Helen Anderson and Elinor Orcutt who tried on Blanche's blue linen dress. They were here about 40 minutes. Then I went to see Bill Bosch's daughters, but no one was home. So stopped at Betty Fischler's. Then saw Mr. Wychoff. He looks good too. Had a nice visit and then home. To Belfair and did some of my shopping. Ordered cookies from Mrs. Crosswhite for the Bazaar. Now all the house is ready. Everything looks good. Put out all my clothes for Monday. Very foggy out.

Monday, Nov. 7, 1949

Today Betty Fischler and I caught the 9:30 boat and ate breakfast there. Uptown to Magnis and found out the shoulder pads were OK in my white dress. To Fredericks and bought books for the children and a lovely new evening dress, lavender skirt of satin and black velvet top. It surely is good looking. Betty saw it first and thought it so nice. Bought a tweed skirt too. Got a new tan hat with a high feather. Oh, it's cute! Wore it when I met Betty for lunch and was she surprised! We saw Mrs. Synvestuedt. Then bought silver pumps at Nordstrom so I'm ready for the Matrons Ball. Home on 4:40 boat and got the ham at the store. Now it's baking so everything is ready! Boiled potatoes and eggs, and green beans with bacon, so all is ready. Trying to rain out. Hope it holds off until after Saturday.

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1949

This a.m. made potato salad and dusted house. Emmett was down and cut the ham. To Line Officers at Belfair and it was a fine meeting. The best instruction for a long time. Florence was in fine fettle. Tried to get her to come down home with us but she couldn't. Eleven girls came home with me. We just chattered like a group of magpies and was it fun. Served baked ham, potato salad, green beans, rolls, coffee, apple sauce and cookies. Everyone had such fun. Maimee and Eunice helped me serve. Then Alma Nelson called up so persuaded her to join us. All went to Elinor Chapter at Union to see the initiatory work out of an 80-year-old ritual. Elinor Orcutt, Helen Mitchell and Frances Huson were candidates and looked so lovely in some of Mrs. Olympic Hein's clothing. She was there too, so happy! A large number from Belfair, Philathea, were there. Alma and Maimee got the giggles, and we had a terrible time. Home late. Talked to Helen Anderson. They danced afterward but we left early.

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1949

Awoke fairly early so thought I might as well get up. Put away clothes, cleaned up dishes, etc. from party and dusted. Everything in order again. Wrote in scrapbook too. Trying to clear up but can't make it. To Bremerton and saw George Beck and his wife at the hospital. George seemed fine and we had a pleasant visit. Then out to Cleora's but she was away so out to Eunice Duffield's where I saw their new fireplace. Stayed for dinner and oh what gingerbread she makes. Then to Alma Nelson's and we went to Rainbow at Manette. I saw Mrs. Wiggins there and she will work on the board next year. Talked to Shirley Hooper too. It was a pleasant evening, and we were through early. Rained hard all evening. Sat and talked to Alma for a while. Then home and read for a while. To bed fairly early.

Thursday, Nov. 10, 1949

Today slept late. Then Squires came down and planted 8 more roses. To Gorst and had my hair done. Rained hard all day, really miserable all day. Wrote my scrapbook up and put all Christmas gifts in attic. Rec'd gift from mother. To Chapter early with Lovey and went through part of our work that was difficult. The initiation committee went off very well and Maimee did very well. I guess she was glad when it was all over. The refreshment chairman came and did not remain so there were only 3 girls on the committee to wait on 97 people. So, Harry Stuyts and I poured coffee. Can't see why people promise to do things and then just don't show up. Lovey was very upset. She was upset all evening before she knew about this and had quite a hard time. Home very late and to bed. Rained so hard it's a wonder we had anyone out. The Fred Souers were there from Union.

Friday, Nov. 11, 1949

Arose fairly early so cleaned house and cabin. Ironed clothes and did all my mending. Saw a wonderful flock of geese. Very wet and miserable all day. To Belfair with Edgar Morrisons and put all our decorations in the temple. I hope we have enough. Called Cleora and Lulu Capp from the store. We went up to the temple at 7:30 and Mr. Thompson went along with me. Stretched the netting all along one side and tucked cattails, red leaves and pampas grass and corn stalks in it. We placed the corn stalks in bundles at different spots and wagon wheels in the corners. Put a nest of eggs behind one wheel. 3 ducks in front of another. 3 flying ducks above the cattails and 5 ears Indian corn over our serving window. A huge yellow pumpkin on the piano and greens and 2 on each window ledge. It really looked good when it was all done. The booths will add to it. If only we could get a break in the weather.

Saturday, Nov. 12, 1949

Today was a busy one. Met Helen Mitchell at the Temple at 10 a.m. and hung some of my ducks up by the cattails in the corner. Then home and got lunch on the table. Skenes came over with Lulu Rockhill and a friend, so we had a fine time. Graham wore his "kilts" in honor of my birthday. We ate ham and woe is me, I forgot to put on the potato salad. Then as soon as they left I made my spaghetti dish then to Crosswhites to get my cookies. To The Bazaar at 5:45 and took my hot dish of spaghetti. Quite a few people came out, but it rained so hard we did not have the crowd like last year. Edna Case and I worked on the Fishpond and we had a lot of fun. The bean bag did a good business after the bags arrived. Rudy surely had fun! The Emil Walkers were out and that was all I saw in from Bremerton. Ate twice and oh! What wonderful apple pie I had. The beef was won by Earl Brown of the Olympic Chapter and wool blanket by a lady from Sunset. Home late and to bed. Gave 1 goose, 2 ducks to Bill Cady, same to Emmett. 2 ducks to Glenn one to another man.

■ 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].