Mary's Memoirs

Must be hot because the water supply from the well ran low. Two more deaths this week. Girl Scouts came out for the day and enjoyed the canal. Mary went swimming several times. End of the raspberry season and the beginning of the wild blackberry season. Baking was done.

Monday, July 10, 1950

This was a cold windy day and I got up early and ironed. Then at 9 a.m. ran up to Mae Housen's where I called on the phone for about 45 minutes. To Belfair, got my money orders and home. They had breakfast ready. It was 10:30 so we all ate. They left about 11:15 to go to Seattle. Sam took them to the boat. So, I finished my ironing, cleaned house good so everything is back to normal. Weeded in the garden and now it is all ready for Sam to hoe and rake. Looks very good. But oh, am I weary. Ran over to Henry Dahle's and ordered wild blackberries for Alma Nelson for Thursday. We plan to go to Ilwaco on July 20. Sam is working on the table and has it about done. Looks very good too. Will try to go to bed early as I will leave Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Surely wish I could get the flower beds done this week.

Tuesday, July 11, 1950

The mock orange trees are still lovely but are falling. This is the latest we have ever had them. Today arose early and was at Gorst at 10 a.m. The girls from Belfair met me there at 12 and I picked up Cordelia Morrison at the Y and drove to Effie Lands. There was a good crowd out and we had such a good time. Gudrun Nelson, who is to be our instructor, was there with us. The lunch was nice with split wieners with cheese in them and potato salad. Raspberries over ice cream for dessert. They talked about an addendum for Dolores's reception. All our group was there save Florence. Then to town. Called on Lorena Bryan. Took suit to dressmaker and fall program to Mayme Hanberg. Had dinner there and took her to meeting with Philathea line officers. There were 7 from Philathea and 6 from Olympia there. We discussed all phases of the official visit, and everyone was so eager to do their part. I am sure it will be a big success with such enthusiasm. Herman, Harold and Don Geochem are getting parts of our favors cut out so it will start rolling. Home late after a jolly evening. Sam has the new picnic table all made. Looks very good.

Wednesday, July 12, 1950

We were up late. Sam was in Seattle and bought a duster for the roses and fertilizer for the hose. Alma Nelson called and said Al's mother died and is to be buried Friday at 3 o'clock. We talked about several things. I'm so sorry to hear this. His brother was buried just 3 weeks ago. Hoed out in the rose garden. It is about completed but is so warm. I can't keep at it. Sam went to empty the garbage can and get a big truck to deliver new water pump and take steel to be cut to clamp on our cement tank where it cracked last winter. Then I finished the garden out by the grape arbor. Save for tying up a few tall plants, it is all clean and surely looks good. I have a good start on the garden by the house so if I can stay with it tomorrow it should be half done. Bill and Evelyn Hyde were down and went swimming and then we ate shortcake out of raspberries. Very good. Sam has nearly all the lawn mowed. It surely looks good. To bed early. Very tired. Ruby and some members of Port Orchard chapter stopped by on way home from picnic.

Thursday, July 13, 1950

Today I worked in my garden all day. And now tonight it is just about clean. It was a good thing for Mama, John, Aunt Polly, Vina and Henry came about 8 o'clock. They stayed just long enough to see the flowers. Never saw Sam as he was up to Tom K's making a door for the water shed. The Girl Scouts came down and spent the day. I went in swimming twice and it was nice and warm. Very nice out today, only it was very windy. Betty Fischler called up and we had a nice visit. We ate lima beans and ham tonight. It was delicious. Weeded in my garden until late then to bed. Very weary. Weeding is certainly tiring when you try to do too much. We ran ourselves out of water we sprinkled so much.

Friday, July 14, 1950

Very cool today and Sam sprinkled the roses with dust for bugs. I went to town. Called on Bob McKay and then out to Goetz. Got my pictures at the photographers. Then gave all our fall dates to Harry Jordan. So now we are all set. Over to June Casebeer's and had coffee. Saw Joline Burray and she will make bean pot tops for me. To Maimee Gould's and we talked to Norma White who was there. To Al Nelson's Mother's funeral and took Maimee back to town. We talked about many things. Home and ate dinner. To Mae Housen's where we made a few calls. Ada Moore died Sunday. I did not know she was ill. Called Mary Hackett. She says Blanche has an apartment in Manette. I'm glad.

Saturday, July 15, 1950

Today we picked all the raspberries and put seven 1½ pint containers in the locker. Sam hauled the steel home for the water tank. Al Orie helped him. He was gone 5 hours on this so did not get much done. Changed beds and cleaned the house. Put in fresh flowers and it looks very good. The roses are lovely now and the blue delphinium in my rust basket is beautiful! Finished the garden and oh what a job! But now it can rain if it wants. It is near weedless as I can get it. Made a wild blackberry pie and a turnover. Very good too. Went to see Blanch Hackett in the evening and we certainly had a nice visit. She looks very thin but says she is better than she has been for a long time. The apartment she has is very nice and I think she will enjoy it there. Home late and so much traffic.

Sunday, July 16, 1950

Today was warm and bright and we arose late. I cleaned house good, and Sam went to Shrine picnic at State Park at about one o'clock. We watered for about 2 hours. Put out mole bombs in the rose garden. About 2 o'clock, Monny and Bette LeMier came with some fine clams. We had a nice visit. They are still at West Port. Then I pressed a few clothes and hung them away. Now my clothes are all ready to wear. Must clean drawers next. I have everything put away and what a relief! Sam came home about 6 and said the Herman Laes may stop by. They did and had coffee with us. We had a nice visit and decided not to send Christmas cards to members. Sam washed clothes and I did the dishes. Then we ran out of water. Endora Gorst called up and said Ella McCallum passed away. Our fourth death since April. So tomorrow I must deliver the fern. To bed early.

■ 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]