Mary has a busy week with chapters, scrapbook

I think Mary Theler was a social butterfly. What do you think? She loves being around people and visiting. I am giving Sam kudos for washing the clothes. He does it quite often. Driving into Gorst almost every day to get her hair combed is a bit eccentric, don't you think? Definitely shows signs of a privileged life. Good thing Sam was a good provider. Have you guessed Mary's favorite adjective?

Saturday, April 23, 1949

Today I arose early and went after all the bread so was home by 11. Cleaned the house and Sam washed clothes. Blanche baked 2 pots of beans. To Bremerton early and Lovey and I went over the march before the rest of the officers came. Then we practiced our incoming and outgoing march until nearly 3 p.m. It was quite hard to do so we did not do a thing on our ritualistic work, which I think was more important. Then home, ate and to the bazaar. Blanche and I wore our old-fashioned clothes and oh, it was fun! There was a good crowd and quite a few Bremerton people were out. I worked in the kitchen and had a lot of fun as I met different people at the food counter. Everyone was so happy, and things went so well. Home early and then to Union dance. Saw Anderson's Vernie and a few I knew. Mary Ruth, Jack, Walt Eddy's, Alfred Orrs and Cundiff's were there too. To bed late.

Sunday, April 24, 1949

Slept late and then had French toast out of homemade bread from bazaar. Then we got our decorations out of the temple and went to Popes with the key. The bazaar netted $600.02 and oh were we happy! The girls (Helen M was there) were so happy and so was I. Picked up tree at Rasmussen's and planted it. Then Mary and Louie Pfundt came. We saw the flowers (she gave me some dahlias) and then Emmett came down for bed for apartment. Art Crown is staying a couple of days. Then Sam and Louie went to Rudy's to see the dock and Mary and I got lunch. We ate as soon as they came home. Sat around and talked for a good while. Very windy out all day. Blanche rode to Seattle with the kids (Joe and Mary.) To bed early. Called Betty Fischler on phone. She is fine.

Monday, April 25, 1949

Today was a busy one and I ironed all the clothes, mended and put them away. Took me until 2:15. Sam ran the vacuum over the rugs in the house and in the apartment and oh how nice it looked! Then he mowed the lawn, so everything looks pretty good. Blanche came home in the morning as she was too tired to stay another day. In the afternoon I cleaned some clothes in cleaner and washed my costume for Saturday. Then I'll put it all away in a box. Will be fun to wear another time. At 7 I picked up Evelyn Edmiston at her place and went to Bremerton where we saw some colored movies of the Olympics taken by Crislers who live there each summer. It was very lovely and I'm so glad we went to see it. Saw quite a few folks I knew. A very pleasant evening. To bed early. A big day.

Tuesday, April 26, 1949

Arose late and went into to get my hair combed at 11 a.m. Cleaned house before I left. Blanche cleaned the ice box and it surely looked good. I was so glad it was done. Sam went to Seattle and returned with 5 sacks of fertilizer. He was up when I came home from Priscilla's. I put weed-o-cide on a part of the place by the garage and cabin until I ran out of material to spray with. Sorted all the magazines and got my scrapbook up to date. It's starting to look very good too. To Priscilla's installation at 6 p.m. taking Alice Pope, Ruth Small, Helen Mitchell and Blanche. We arrived early and got a good seat, but I nearly froze as there was a draft next to the wall. The Chapter room was decorated with dogwood and was really lovely. Downstairs the decorations were silver horseshoes and white pear blossoms. Upstairs bells hung in the east in 5 colors as part of a very clever addendum by the officers. Daisy wore pink and was very lovely. Home at 12:20.

Wednesday, April 27, 1949

It rained last night so everything was wet this morning. Sam went to Olympia and Blanche and I went to Gorst to get our hair done. Oh, does it look nice! Then did some shopping at Belfair and stopped to see Squires who will come down Friday to spray trees. Very dark out today. I put away my gay nineties outfit in the attic for future use. It's all labeled so I can see it. We met at Belfair at 6:15 and rode with Alma Bard to Poulsbo. Blanche, Ruth Small and I went. We arrived early and found a good seat. We saw so many we knew there and had a most wonderful time. The installation was very lovely, and the officers looked so nice. Everyone seemed so happy! There were lovely decorations and splendid refreshments. We saw Mable Johnston from Valley City Chapter who was in our conductresses class last year and was promoted when the associate matron moved out of the state. Home late and to bed.

Thursday, April 28, 1949

Arose late and found it raining and blowing. So, after my work was done, I worked on my scrapbook and now it is complete and up to date, and it is lovely. Then in to get my hair combed and get some chives and a "May" basket which turned out to be a dozen eggs. Was I happy! Home and Blanche and I went for a short ride and then planted the chives, then worked on a scrapbook. To chapter at 6:15 and took Lovey and Betty down early. Later I had to run back after her gavel. It was a nice meeting and a fine program. Mrs. Hein represented our older Mothers and Marie Higgins our Younger Mothers. The march went very well and with a couple more practices it should be OK. Everyone went upstairs as we got out early. Had a good time. The Chapter Room was decorated with dogwood and was very striking. Home fairly early and to bed. Several asked me about the school fracas but I try to keep out of it.

Friday, April 29, 1949

Today Sam got up early and brought Squires down. He sprayed roses, trees for caterpillars and planted my dahlias. Then Sam washed the clothes. Before that we drove down to Fischler's and got a lawn chopper and visited awhile. Betty will type the folders for line officers for me. Blanche and I drove to Tahuya and dug out some wild lady slippers. We stopped at Freelin's on our way with a dress Blanche had worn at the bazaar. We said 'hello' to Mary Ruth on our way home. Then I cleaned house and planted the lady slippers and the chives. Very windy out and cold. This evening I took Lovey to the DeMolay Installation. It was very nice, and they had prepared a splendid program. The boy who sang "The Lord's Prayer" had a marvelous voice. Home late and to bed. She will call me when she finds out about the funeral.

■ 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].