Mary's Memoirs

Rained a lot! Even had puddles in Mary and Sam's yard. Loved that their dog Queenie was in the box with the cat. Sam waxed all the floors while Mary dusted and cleaned house. Mostly just more meetings and Mary and Sam attending them.

Sunday, March 12, 1950

Arose early and made waffles. Sam did not sleep well because he ate 2½ hot dogs last night. Pressed, ironed and put away all the clothes. So now I'm through for this week. Boiled the 5 hens for salad and 9 eggs. Just as I was through ironing, Louise and Ed Smith came. They stayed an hour. Then just as Sam and I were getting so much done outside, the Michaels came. They stayed over an hour. Sam had dragged the road about 6 times before that so now it's pretty good. I raked around the house so it's very clean. Marie Tracy was out, saw Sam and was satisfied this was the place to come March 17 and left. I roasted a hen for dinner, and it was so good. The first I've had since I left the ranch. Sam enjoyed it too. Worked on my desk. Quite a day. Not too warm out but little wind.

Monday, March 13, 1950

Today I was so sleepy when the alarm rang out. I could have cheerfully thrown it out in the bay. To Gorst by 9 a.m. and at 1:30 I was home with a new permanent. Looks very good. Then prepared celery and chicken for our salad Tuesday. At 3 I went out and Sam and I raked about 30 minutes when Michaels came for oysters. I made coffee and we ate cake and whip cream with it. Sam opened the oysters, so they had 5 jars home and a pail of chicken broth for soup. Sam dragged our road 5 times more today. It looks grand. To Officers Club for the last time with Eunice and Jessee Duffield at Jessie Nelson's who entertained with Ethel Stars. We played bingo with prizes till 9:30 then a delicious lunch was served after which we presented Lovey with her gift for the year, a pair of Chinese figurines. I really think she was surprised at what was in the box, yet she did not say much. Home late and to bed, 11:30. Very cold out. Queenie was in her box with the cat. Nichols had to shoot his dog. Got hit by a car.

Tuesday, March 14, 1950

Arose at 8:30 and got my breakfast. Flew around, made bed and to Lovey's daughter's house. We had to wash all her dishes, clean silver service and so much before we could set tables. The fireplace was smoking so I opened the draft. She had her purse stolen so was very upset. Left it and stuff (figurines too at back door when she went home for key she forgot). Then she worked so hard she got a nosebleed. However, the lunch was a big success and our tables with the yellow daffodils, favors and golden napkins were lovely. Pink saxifrages on card tables. It cost us $3.60 a piece for our share. Mamie Hanberg's homemade rolls went over big. Eunice de Long's golden dessert a dream. Then as we were doing dishes the table Eunice was working on collapsed. Broke a bunch of glasses, dented my kettle. Was I glad to get away from there! However, I stayed till I washed most of the dishes. Lata York, the Finches and Mildred Bush followed me to Belfair. We got Alice Pope and to our place so I could get rid of my pans. Later changed dress. To Quilcene Chapter. We ate at café then to Worthy Patrons house where we relaxed. There were 21 members at the meeting. There was a lovely initiation and then election of officers. Mrs. Balch is assoc. patron. They served homemade pie with ice cream. I had wild blackberry. We were asked as first-time visitors to say a few words. We arrived home at 1:30. Saw 5 deer.

Wednesday, March 15, 1950

Awoke at 9 and went back to sleep but phone rang. Alma Nelson says Doris Sehome can't sing. She has choir practice Thursday evening so guess I'll let it go. Windy and trying to rain out. Today Sam waxed all the floors, and it surely looks good. Now all I need to do is dust good and we are all ready for Friday night. Cleaned up and went to Bremerton. Shopped for paper plates, napkins, etc. Then to Alma Nelson's and over to Helen Festina's. We worked on finance report. Will have to get seat, books to do it right. Home to Alma's and talked awhile. She gave me two lovely trout. To Belfair chapter with Sam and Eddie Fischler. There was a record crowd out. Lovey, Eunice de Long, Mamie Hanberg, Duffield's, and many from Reliance and some from Shelton. They had a clever addendum for Bob Marvin, and everyone enjoyed it. The Bob Nelsons L.U.D. were initiated in a very nice ceremony. A wonderful evening. We had such a good time. Tables were beautiful and chapter room was decorated with daffodils.

Thursday, March 16, 1950

Very wet out. Tried to sleep late but phone rang outside, then someone knocked at the back door, so I got up. Big puddles of water all over the yard. Sam got breakfast and then went for salad makings. Then to Tacoma to get my gas gauge repaired. I cleaned cabin good, then upstairs and finally house. It is 4 and I am finished. All the dessert is ready and so tomorrow I can fix the flowers and trays so it will be easy. Rained very hard all day. So wet! To Reliance with Alice Pope and Mildred Bush. There was a large crowd out as it was Gladys Walkins last evening. Maimee Gould was there, and Lovey came in late. The flowers were daffodils at the foot of the trellis and forsythia as a background. It was lovely. All committee chairmen were honored and then officers put on a clever addendum for Gladys. Florence Waggoner was there but looked very weary. We enjoyed Gladys's "farewell" speech and I'm sure it was given all of us a mark to shoot at. Home late and to bed. Raining very hard out.

Friday, March 17, 1950

It blew very hard this a.m. so I arose, built fire and went back to bed. After breakfast Sam helped put chairs in the house and he emptied garbage. I dusted, fixed vases of flowers and now everything is ready. At 7:30, Ruby and Howard Gray came and Howard wanted to go to Belfair Lodge too. So as soon as Guy Anderson came the three men went and came home just in time for dessert. All the officers were here except Agnes Berg, who was ill with flu. We decided on the first Friday for officer's club so everyone was happy. I think they are satisfied over the march too. We decided to let two girls report April 1 on florist corsages. Then we still have plenty of time for ordering them. The lunch tasted good. Hazel Magnusson and Maimee Gould helped me put it on trays. Green fruit Jell-O and Ritz crackers. Sam and I did the dishes afterwards. To bed late. Very tired.

Saturday, March 18, 1950

Today it simply poured down all day yet cleaned house and put everything away. To Mae Housen's and called several people. So now am all ready to get programs ready for installation. Sam went up to Belfair and fixed a slot machine or pinball machine. Then he washed clothes late. I cleaned up some of the things on my desk so am pretty happy. The Sundstroms came down and stayed until 10 o'clock. We had a nice visit. Then we went to the dance in Victor. A benefit for the baseball team in Allyn. They had a Chinese raffle on a davenport set made by Mrs. Vasbinder and it brought $36.65. We had lunch. Homemade and my chocolate cake was delicious. Saw Roy Roessel and a few others we knew. Not at all many of the old Victor crowd. Good music. To bed at 1:45.

■ 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]