Mending

Oh I wish I could come visit..mending or not, these kids are driving me bonkers...and I can put a new zipper and buttons into most anything...lol. Know that I'm with you in spirit...I have some jeans that need work and will probably be dealt with this weekend.

Larisa

Oh Larisa, my mending is MUCH easier than zippers & buttons. It's mostly going around towels & washcloths with the serger. It won't take much time. Then we would have time to go to Hancock's that is only 10 miles away, then the park, or my back patio, and do some hand sewing while we watch the dogs play, and have some sewing talk! It does sound nice and soothing! I'm about ready to go to K-mart and buy a tent and check into the nearest State Park to hide for a few days! At least it would be with no interruptions and the time would be my own. Barbara

Or you could come over here and bring yours, then we could each visit while we sew. Years ago, a neighbor sewed and we'd get together aat one of our homes to sew/visit. Those were great times.

Emily

Hummm, Emily, we are only 1,000 miles apart. Maybe I could be there for supper! Ha Ha That would be even better than running off to a state park so I won't have sewing interruptions! Oh, a local thrift store has 4 Singer Treadles that I wouldn't have room for but I envy who ever buys them! Barbara in SC

It happened again! Another interruption so that I didn't get to work on the mending! I have a blind aunt who lives in a retirement home and I most dearly love. This morning I went by to get her to go to Hardee's for breakfast. She usually just gets a soft drink and an apple pie. And she asked if I would mind taking her talking wrist watch to the store and get a battery for it. I would do anything for her! The store watch battery lady had problems getting the battery in the watch, and then the watch would not work and she worked with it about 20 minutes before I brought it back home.

The phone rang and another friend came over to visit awhile, and all my "extra" time was gone. So maybe I can work on the mending in the morning after I take the watch back to my aunt.. Barbara in SC

Ah, it happens from time to time. For me, today's accident actually let me get to some of my mending...before the next accident. See, my back went out again, fortunately NOT while I was in the shower, and I was able to catch myself before my face hit the bathroom floor. So...There was no way that I would be able to work on the garage walls, which meant that I could sit with my back supported nicely and work on mending. First up was re-tacking the butt in a pair of my daughter's jeans (we just call them butt-tucks around here). Well, that ended up being the last for today because I managed to shove the hande sewing needle directly into the pad of my thumb....fairly deep, I might add. The children freaked....one ran for towels and one ran for a pain sponge.....pain sponge sent back so that child went to hunt up bandaids...argh...they try to be so helpful, but sometimes it's overkill...lol. So....only 1 piece of mended clothing done today. Tomorrow I'm supposed to work for a couple hours at a local fair, promoting my Mothers Of PreSchoolers group, then back home for lunch, and maybe back again to help close up. The remaining mending involves the machine, so I might be able to get to it tomorrow night. I was also able to cut 2 of the 3 pieces I need for my jacket lining....had to get more fabric for the lining sleeves and picked up some FQs to make eye masks out of - good way to use up my batting scraps and elastic scraps.

Time to head off...children are off their rockers tonight.

Larisa

But, but, but.......... You have at least one aunt whom you dearly love and who lives close enough for you to visit. You have at least one friend who likes to come visit you. Rejoice. Be thankful. The raggedy towels will wait. You can keep on using the same two over and over, or you can use them raggedy and see them grow smaller by the day.

First things first.

BTW, I am improving, and today I was able to redo a shoulder seam in a tee shirt, stitch up a rip in a nightgown, and put the lace edging on a pair of new pillowcases. I had to rest half way, but at least I accomplished that much. Hooray.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

A treadle is on my list to get as soon as I can. I could have the 1898 portable Singer put in a treadle cabinet, but I really want to keep it in it's beautiful case, because one of the 2 DGDs might just get the parents to agree to allow them to have a sewing machine.

Emily

Have you been ill, Olwyn Mary? I had some problems for a few days and apparently missed many posts on here. I do hope all is okay now.

This mending thread reminds me I have some to do myself, including 2 patio dresses than need to be altered; taken in on each side. They are going to be messy, because the fabric ravels so much; I have put them off for sometime, but I do need to be able to wear them and they are so comfortable.

-- Emily

Yes, I had another bout of the wretched pneumonia. One day I got chilly around my ankles (at 75F!!) but didn't think I needed to go upstairs and get some socks. Well, it started as a little cold, proceeded to bronchitis, and, inexorably, on to pneumonia. It seems that since I had that really bad bout of it after Katrina, it left me vulnerable.

To make matters worse, I was just about better - well, a great deal improved - two Sundays ago, so we went to church. The a/c was icy. Temps in the nineties outside, and the church cooled down to seventy. I think for the benefit of the choir and clergy. Because I know it can sometimes get drafty in there, I had taken a big shawl for around my shoulders. Then, dh went out to the car and got the one I keep in there, and I wrapped that round my knees. I really should have got up and left, either that or gone and hung out in the kitchen until the coffee hour, but you don't walk out of church during the service, do you? On the Monday morning, I was right back where I had been, back on all the meds etc.

Oh well, I'll know for next time. Maybe I'll just take a huge blanket. I refuse to dress in winter clothes for church when it is so hot outside - that would just make things worse I think.

It is frustrating, however, looking at all the things I am so keen to get busy on, and being unable to do so.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Oh Mary, I get cold in the house when the a/c drops the nighttime temps below 78, so I know what you mean. The last few days when our SC temps have been 82 - 85 I have had the windows open because the humidity was low. I have tennitus, ringing in the ears, and often I just get up during the church service---when the organ is playing songs that have all the high notes, just when there is organ music---- and I wait outside the auditorium until the preaching starts. A few years ago we toured West Point and they were tuning up the organ. I had to walk out. My ears are just THAT sensitive. Glad you are starting to feel some better. Barbara

Yes, I dearly love both of my remaining aunts. They both have done so much for me, all of my life. The one who is blind has 2 sons who live about an hour away and they see her on the week end. Her sister takes her to doctor appointments (I fill in) and I take her out shopping with me. My dachshund, Reeses, is one of the dogs who visits the residents at two of the retirement homes in town. He loves the attention. And yes, my dear friend is one who I can visit at any time (we each have keys) , and who can just walk into my house without calling first, and we can each ask any favor that we need from the other. I always make time for precious family and friends. Barbara

Oh goodness. If I had the room I would offer to get one of the treadles for you and keep it until you get back to SC. I still don't have all of my sons things out of the house Barbara

It all helps. My list grows as the time in which to do it shrinks. Need to do several things today, but not this morning. This morning I swim FIRST! Time to kick the pain into touch and do stuff!

Olwyn Mary, I am so sorry to hear that. Pneumonia is a nasty thing, Now that you are better, I hope you will remain well. It's been my experience as we get older, sometimes, we just have to do things for the comfort of ourselves, regardless of what we would like.

One DS, who lives in Greta, told me recently, that she expects a hurricane this year because, when it snows in winter, there will be one the next year. I only pray that it doesn't happen this year.

Emily

That's okay, really! It would mean DS would have to drive the truck up there, I wouldn't be able to come with him and that would bother DGD.

She was upset in May because we didn't go straight from FL to see her first. And she was in school during the days; but like I was with my DGM, she is very jealous of the time she has with us and doesn't want to share.

Emily

No, no. No hurricanes this year. Why? Well, we decided the heck with it. We did have to evacuate after Katrina, but then we obediently left town last year for Gustav and it was worse where we went than it was at home. So, we spent the bucks and have bought a generator. We will be going out today to buy a small, one-room, window air conditioner - Home Depot has them on sale this week - and those two items, along with my usual hurricane preps, will keep us going through anything smaller than a major, major direct hit.

Tell your ds we have them covered!

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

I should have added, now that we are all prepared, of course nothing will hit us, just to show I "wasted" my money on generator, air conditioner etc.

Call it "Umbrella power".

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

OM - sorry to hear about you being ill again. In our area, it seems that pneumonia is *THE* illness to have this summer....the pediatrician's office has seen more children with pneumonia since the beginning of May then they have seen in the last few years. And lucky me, both my children got it!!! Of course, they couldn't have had it at the same time because that would have been too easy....son then me with bronchitis then hubbys surgery, THEN daughter got it....sheesh. Fortunately (or not) it doesn't seem to be getting the adults around here as much.

Hope you are back to your normal perky self soon.

Larisa, of the back twinges and a desk too cluttered to get to the machine mending