Mary's Memoirs

Windy, rainy and cold. Just like it is now. Not much is going on this week. Meetings and company stopping by the house.

Sunday, April 24, 1950

Ironed before breakfast then ate and dashed to get hair combed out. Wilma gave me a gallon of milk to take home. At home I finished all mending and cleaning and put everything away. Squires came down and sprayed for worms and helped Sam put up the vines on new grape arbor. Florine and Marie Tracy came just as I was ready to vacuum. So we went over ideas for music and then in came Beth Le Mier and her mother. They looked at the gifts and then we all looked at the garden. I took Florine and Marie up to Sam's doghouse. "Ahh, that was a fine place" they said. To White Shrine at 6:30 and we practiced marching in and out. The meeting was not too long so we had plenty of time to talk upstairs.

Monday, April 25, 1950

Today Sam went to Seattle and our men came down and are digging on the ditch for our pipeline. Cleaned house and just as I was ready to go to Gorst the Census taker came. Took about 5 minutes and off I went. Gassed the car up for tonight. Have my scrapbook up to date. It looks much better. Very windy out and cold again. Worked on my meeting for Thursday. Picked up Ruth Small and Alice Pope. It was a lovely installation and Agnes was beautiful in a lavender gown. She carried a white stock and tulip bouquet tied with lavender ribbon. The officers looked lovely with identical corsages and white gowns. Minnie Hilty sang "The Way You look Tonight." The downstairs was lively with spring flowers. We sat across from the Duffields and had such a good time. Lots of fun. To bed late.

Tuesday, April 26, 1950

This was a cold windy day and so cold. To Gorst and had my hair done and it looks very nice. Home and cooked ham dinner. Trying to rain. Squires transplanted most of the valerians and rock plants. Emmett came down in his new Chevy truck. A yellow pickup. To Belfair early and picked up Alice Pope. We arrived early enough to get into the back row where the good seats are. There was a good crowd out and so many we knew. Many from Belfair and Olympia. The installation was splendid, and Bertha was lovely in a green print. Her son and daughter are members of Rainbow. Home fairly early.

Wednesday, April 27, 1950

Today I slept until about 10:30 so we had a late breakfast. So Sam was really hungry. He ate bacon, eggs, potatoes and toast. To Gorst at 12 and had my hair recombed. It looks very nice. Home and cleaned house and got my beds made. Just at 4 in comes Grace, Louie and Jean so I called the store to have Sam bring some meat, but he never stopped at the store. So, I had to send him back. He was going to a Shrine at 6:10 for dinner. So just us four ate and I cleaned up and dressed so I could visit with them awhile. They left about 6. Sam left a few minutes later. To the Temple and put my things on the desk. There were several things to attend to, so it was well that I went in early. Gave my written notes to all the officers. There were about 100 people out, which was a good attendance. Everything went off very well and all the officers did beautifully. The music was especially lovely. We have a splendid choir and organist. So another first meeting is over and out we went. There were sandwiches, coffee and tea downstairs, and I think we all enjoyed it. Grace Anderson wants me to come out to their place May 12 to decide how Social Club will make money this year without raffles. To bed at 12:20. Queenie is whining at the door. She wants to come in.

Thursday, April 28, 1950

Today I was quite weary, but I worked all day. Did all the Saturday cleaning and that was a load off my mind. Sam went to Navy Yard with the PUD man on some pipe bids. Then when he returned he and Norman Rasmussen drove to Hermiston, Oregon, with the store truck to move Norm's stuff to Shelton as he had a job at the Navy Yard again. They left after 2 after he and Emmett and Norm had coffee and sandwiches here. The men cleaned up around the grape arbor and buried all the pipe. Tom K. came down and put up most of the pump house. We can paint it green and pull the vines of the honeysuckle over it and it won't be noticed. I got the mail and my C.O.D. The dishes are so nice. I'm going to send the coffee pot and 4 tiny cups to Doris Kurth to use in her den. Eddie Fischler's were down, and they are both well. After dinner I went up to Alice's lockers and washed 60 chickens while the others cut them up. It took us about 2 hours and oh we had fun! Alice served cake, ice cream and coffee. Home early and to bed.

Friday, April 29, 1950

Slept late and ate a leisurely breakfast. Then straightened up the house. Went up to Belfair about noon and called on Ruth Smalls. My seeds from Blusharts came in the mail. Very warm out. I'm out on the bulkhead and it's wonderful. I walked up to the road and Eddie Fischler's picked me up about 6. We went to the temple and had a most delicious chicken dinner. Marie and Floyd Bare came home with us and we saw the flowers. Had a wonderful visit. Just talked and talked and talked.

Saturday, April 30, 1950

A bright sunny morning and the phone awakened me. Answered it but only got a buzz. The cousins from Tacoma came. Just as I was finishing my breakfast out came Sam's cousin from Tacoma. They stayed for coffee. I gave them oysters and some plants. Then I went up to Belfair and called up several folks whom I found at home. Back home and planted all the perennials Ruth Small gave me and a few other things. A big wind came up and it got very cold. To bed at 10:15. It is starting to rain so that will be good for my plants. Was glad I had fresh flowers in the vases.

■ 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].