MARY'S MEMOIRS

They were having very similar weather as what we are having. The power would be off for a while and then eventually come back on. Thank God they had their wood stove. Feeding the birds, Chinese pheasants and keeping Queenie inside was part of their curriculum. Let's hope next week is better.

Sunday, Jan. 8, 1950

Today was cold and all day it tried to snow. We had Blanche's Vermont maple syrup on hotcakes, and it was delicious! In the morning I cleaned house good so now everything is back to right again. About 1, I drove to Freelins with syrup from Blanche but saw gas was low in car so bought 5 gallons at Bard's. So, Alma and I had a nice visit. Then called on Freelins and spent a pleasant hour there. Their house is heated by fireplace and oh so cold. Home and cleaned up my desk. Made special baked cheese potatoes with venison steak. Very good. Took me most of the evening to finish my letters. Wrote to Louie, Henry, Kurths, Robichau, Clara, Blanche, Earline

Baker, Aunt Vina and Mable C. Clark. Read the papers and went to bed fairly early. We have to keep Queenie in on account of all the dogs. Alma Nelson called. She is fine. Took 3 snow pictures.

Monday, Jan. 9, 1950

Arose early to find quite a wind blowing. Very icy outside. Studied in my ritual awhile. Did my housework and up to Belfair. Went to post office and got some money orders. Sent colored pictures to Blanche. Then drove to Alma Nelson's where we talked "White Shrine" for a while, then came Mrs. Kaufman so we sewed on garments as soon as lunch (she bought) (delicious salad and hot dish) was eaten. We sewed snaps most of the day, also saw Mr. Jordan at the Temple and he gave Alma December date she wanted. After dinner I took Alma to her practice (got chains put on at Spud's) and got Lovey and Maimee G. and out to Duffield's to Officers Club. Chains made driving OK. Only a few were there but we had a good time. Maimee Gould and I have an idea for Lovey's addenda. We talked about our March line officers luncheon and Eunice DeLong and Herman went over their lines. Duffield's and Chapions served lovely dessert also Chapins and I talked about dance plans. Home at 11:35 and found it almost impossible to see but car handled perfectly. Save for 2 cars above the cleaners I had the road to myself all the way to the Rasor Log Road. Three cars in a huddle just at curve beyond Duffield's. No damage. Just slid across road.

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1950

Last night the Chinook wind started to blow and most of the trees were free of snow this morning, so it saved the breaking of hundreds of branches. Very sloppy out but not raining yet. No electricity. However, telephones are in order. My camellias were safe as Sam pulled the canvas over the tent cover. There was a good wind all day and rained part of the time. The oil man, Gud Thompson, came and got stuck in our driveway up by the highway. We rode up to Belfair to tell Piper's helper to bring another chain. Saw Fischlers and told them we would come down later. So made dinner on the oil stove, ate by candlelight and then just as I finished, on came the lights. We called on Fischlers and they and Rundells was getting ready for an oyster dinner. We stayed until they sat down to eat and then went home as Sam has some income tax to get ready for tomorrow. The highway is frozen over now and very slick. Very few cars out. To bed early. Studied ritual.

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 1950

Last night I slept so good I didn't awake until 9 so we ate late. Sam went to Seattle and mailed letters. Freezing out but the sun is shining and quite windy. Nichols brought down my mail as I gave him some maple syrup. Pasted all pictures in album. Then I checked all the Christmas cards and addresses. Just finished now at 8:30 p.m. But very glad it's completed at last. About 2:30, Eunice De Long came out and we went over all the initiatory work twice. She is giving the secretarial work much better. I walked up to the road with her where her son picked her up. Lovey called up and was in a talking mood. Must have talked at least an hour. So, I was late with my dinner. Nichols came over as I was eating. Told him about the tree. Fed the birds today. Very cold out and ice all over the highways. To bed early.

Thursday, Jan. 12, 1950

Last night seemed I woke up several times. Guess I was thinking about tonight. Still freezing out although the sun is very bright and pretty. Very windy. There are white caps. Nichols brought over the mail. The Chinese pheasants are here again so Sam fed them under the trees. Sam took me into the beauty shop at 2 and at 4 came for me. Then took me to Duffield's. Ate dinner then and went to Chapter with then getting Lovey on the way. It was bitterly cold, and we did not expect many out. But what a crowd we had! There were 7 from Belfair alone. I was so happy to see them all. Hazel Mosher and Edith Michael were there too. Alma Nelson gave me a lovely corsage. Oh, I was thrilled! The initiation went off very well and we are all glad its behind us. Now we know what to expect. The finest compliment of the evening was from Tony Schmichrock who said he could "hear every word." Herman and I spoke in the East. The tables downstairs were covered with red and white checked table clothes. An old lamp of Florence Lindberg's at one end and a spinning wheel of Lovely's at the other. Maimee and I helped pour coffee and tea. Sam and I ate noodles and then home. Very cold.

Friday, Jan. 13, 1950

Today I woke up early. There was a terrible wind blowing and snowing. A regular blizzard. I started the washing and got about half done when out went the lights. Sam said he had a pain in his side where his appendix was, so he swallowed 3 tablespoons of olive oil and took an enema. I fed dog and cat and ate breakfast. Nichols came with our mail just as I was eating at 11:45. Then Sam got up and I built the fire in the wood stove so now it's warm in here. I finished all clothes and put to soak in bluing water until such time as the electricity comes on. At 2 o'clock it is still blowing a hurricane. A dust of snow flies off the bulkhead. We had no lights all day, so Sam got some white gas from the store. Tom Kalacheck left it by the road, and we had gas lights. So, I wrote a lot of Christmas letters and went to bed late. Very cold out. 12 degrees. The old wood stove really felt good.

Saturday, Jan. 14, 1950

Today was very cold all day but it was sunny. It was beautiful. The mountains were lovely in the morning sun. We ate breakfast late and then as soon as I got my work done, we drove up to the store. Got a few money orders, groceries and saw many we knew. Then down to Eddie and Betty Fischler's where we visited for a couple of hours. We had a good time. The baby is surely cute. There seems to be more snow there than we have. No wind there. Home and started the wood stove again and soon the house was warm again. Sam went up to Belfair and we ate as soon as he came home. More chicken and dumplings like we had last night. Then on came the lights at 4:40 so Sam started up the furnace again. I worked in my O.E.S. notebook. Finished some letters and then read. Very quiet out. Hardly any cars on the highway. We are glad the dance was postponed till the 28th.

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].