MARY'S MEMOIRS

Wet, cold and snowy. Mary and Sam had to drive with chains. Sam has too much alcohol while hanging out in Belfair. Mary hates that!

Sunday, Jan. 15, 1950

Today it warmed up some so the water runs in the cabin bath and on our back porch. Last night we hung up the clothes so today I ironed all the handkerchiefs, made applesauce and dusted the house. The snow is still coming down. Sam went to Belfair, so our road is clear. Nichols poison oak is bad again so I called Newkirk for him saying he could not work again. We drove down to Cadys and oh it was lovely out although it was snowing. Had a nice visit and went home about 4:30 and got a wood fire going. The snow is so deep it is almost over the top of my boots, so I did not walk out to the point. We had an

early dinner and I made Sam's special cheese potatoes. In the evening I cleaned up all the piles of magazines, clipped out some things I wanted. Not so cold out. Clear.

Monday, Jan. 16, 1950

Today it was a little warmer. 20 degrees at 10 o'clock. Sam took Queenie to the vet to get her stitches out. I cleaned the house, then put away all washing, ironed and mended so that is done again. Called up Rosa Mann. She is OK. Alma Nelson called up. She is busy sewing, and I shall try to get in to help her tomorrow. Snow started to fall about 2 o'clock. Philathea called off their initiation tonight. I'm glad as I did not want to go. Sam came home so we ate at 5. Then we took the coal and meat to Rosa Mann. Was she glad! Hardly knew what to say. Then we drove over to Skenes and visited there an hour. They were eating rice and curry. So we talked about this and that. We broke a road into their place as they hadn't been out since the snow. Home and did my dishes and then tried on my white dress. Queenie is in the house and does she love it. Very cold out. They say about 2 more days of this. Hope it is over soon.

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1950

This morning I tried to get started to Bremerton early but Sam, who hates to get up always has some last-minute things to do. As a result, I never got there until 12. She made waffles and then we went to work. Took all afternoon to sew the braid on the sleeves by hand but when it was finished it did look nice. At 20 to 5 I started for home and my chains began to wear off on the pavement as there was not enough snow. Got to the store and picked up Sam who, whenever he hangs around Belfair all day, had too much to drink. All his dieting is for naught when he does that, but you can't tell him that. He knows better. Home and got dinner. Then mangled a few clothes. I washed yesterday and studied my ritual. Very cold out. Down to 20 degrees with a cold wind blowing.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 1950

Today I slept late, and Eddie called up and asked Sam if he wanted to go to town with him. So, we both went. Alma Nelson called up and said no "Ceremonial Monday." Ruth Young called it off so I told her I was coming in to sew anyway. We walked up to the highway and Met Fischler about 11:40 and arrived at Alma's just after 12. We sat and talked about this and that and ate lunch. Then sewed until dinner time. Went downtown too about 4:30. Sam and Eddie went to a Shrine dinner, then to a Masonic meeting. So, Alma and I sewed about 2 hours after dinner. We really got a lot done. Fischlers came about 10, so we went home. It is snowing hard again so heaven knows what the morning will bring. No official visit at Reliance Thursday. The Worthy Grand Matron called it off and all the decorations were made and dinner and all planned. They are quite provoked. I called Lovey, Maimee G., Bertha Ames and Nadine Clark. To bed late.

Thursday, Jan. 19, 1950

Well, today it rained all day, but it froze last night and every tree was covered with ice like we had never seen before. Sam caught a ride up to Belfair and Bill Cady came down with him, also Emmett, Tex, Dahle Roessel and Doug White. Bill got stuck about 14 times before he got to the garage. The snow piled up in big clumps before the car so that the men had to dig about half the road out. So, I made coffee, and they had a great time kidding Tex about Mavis Bickle licking him! We had a lot of good laughs. We ate tongue for dinner, and it was delicious. Mended all the wool socks and worked on my yearbook. Wrote several letters. One to Blanche. Raining out still. It is getting much warmer. Queenie still enjoys the snow so much. She eats it, rolls in it and has a great time in general.

Friday, Jan. 20, 1950

Today it became very warm as fog seemed to hang above the snow, the air was that warm. We cleaned out our locker today and put all fruit in one and meat in the other. It took us 2½ hours to get up to Belfair. Got our work done. Then as soon as I got home, I cleaned the refrigerator and Sam put frozen food in the top. So now everything is all clean again. Including the lockers. Received letters from Mother and Laurice who said everyone is well. John is home again. Johnny Pope is engaged to be married to a girl up the old highway. Wrote a few letters and went to bed early. Sam went to Masonic Lodge with Eddie Fischler. Very nasty out.

Saturday, Jan. 21, 1950

Rained hard most of the day. Sam washed after I got the woolen things out of the way. Then he went up to Belfair to kill time. I cleaned the cabin, upstairs and house good. Changed all the beds and everything is nice and clean. Just threw out the red chrysanthemums today. Mary Ruth, Jack and the two boys came down. They gave me a picture of the boys. It's very good too. We had a nice visit. They went to Morgan's from here. A big hawk caught a bird right off our lawn as we sat here by the window. Received a Christmas gift from Bette LeMier, two lovely towels. Wrote her a letter. We rode over to see the Don Bancrofts and their newly adopted son who is just 8 weeks old. We had such a nice evening. Met her sister and family from Olalla. Saw the new house and it surely is coming along fine. Home and ate noodles on our way. Very wet out.

■ 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].