Goodbye Old Friend

When I was a little girl Grandma Doris made almost all of my clothes. She was a self taught seamstress. She sewed on a Pfaff sewing machine that was purchased in Germany when my dad, who was in the USAF, was stationed there. When Dawn and I were little girls we wore dresses to school. Everyone did. We weren't allowed to wear pants to school until I was in the 10th grade. If it was cold we could wear pants under our dresses. Thankfully, the winters in San Antonio were fairly mild, especially by Nebraska (where we now reside)  standards.

Mama always had her machine serviced at Grome's  Sewing Machine Co. in San Antonio.

When I was a girl I did not fully appreciate my mother's talent. There were times when I longed for store bought clothes. Now, as a mom and grandmother, I truly admire what she was able to teach herself. She never graduated from high school. It wasn't even until she was in her 40s that she got her GED. Yet, she was able to teach herself how to sew and use a complicated machine. For its time (late 1950s), her machine was pretty fancy. It had the ability to embroider designs. She figured out how to use it on her own. I stand amazed at the clothes she made for Dawn and me. Looking back, I wish I would have appreciated her more.

Mama made sure that I learned how to sew. It started with Homemaking classes in Junior high school. That's where I learned the fundamentals. From there I went on to make many of my own clothes, including my own wedding dress, as well as clothes for my own daughters. Somewhere along the way I stopped. Perhaps because I couldn't find time but more likely because my skills couldn't keep up with the newer patterns.  I had a very basic machine. That machine hasn't worked for years. So when I decided to start sewing again I got out mama's machine; the machine she used to teach me. The last thing I sewed on this machine was a lap quilt for Aunt Gail when she was going through treatment for breast cancer.

The old Pfaff stop working in the middle of this quilt. I had to finish it on Natalie's machine. Sadly, when I took the old girl to the shop I was told that her parts were no longer being made. They put her back together and I brought her home and set her on a shelf in my secret room where I can look at her and remember...

New Year's Resolution

The thought of a new year reminds me of one my favorite quotes from Ann of Green Gables, 

“Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it...well with no mistakes in it yet."

― Angelica M. Stacy

I love the idea of the new year being fresh with no mistakes in it ... yet. And, I love the idea of making it my own. This year, especially, the new year brings a freshness that I have not know in long time. I have retired from my job at LPS and am reentering the world of being a stay at home mom/grandmother. I was a stay at home mom for 18 years before becoming a special education para. I only ever worked part time yet the job afforded us the opportunity to send our girls to college without incurring any lasting debt. Since our youngest daughter graduated from the University of Nebraska a few weeks ago I decided to retire.

I am going to post a list, in no particular order, of New Year's/retirement resolutions that I hope to accomplish this year. 

1. I am looking forward to rekindling my love of sewing, especially quilting. I want to explore the idea of sewing clothes for my grandchildren. I used to sew many clothes for my daughters when they were little but I am out of practice and I fear technology has far surpassed what I used to do with my old Pfaff sewing machine. 
2. I am going to participate in SSMT. My first verse is Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."
3. I am going to keep up with this blog. After all, I started it to leave a legacy of sorts for my daughters so if I want that to happen I need to get after it.
4. I am going to read more. I have a long list of books I want to read.
5. I am going to spend time each morning studying the Word. I just started a study on the book of Ephesians.
6. I want to be more intentional about the time I spend with my grandchildren; perhaps even do a few sewing projects with them. 
7. I am going to make a menu every week and stick to it. We had gotten into the habit of eating out too much. Now that I am at home I plan to cook and bake more.
8. I received a fitbit for Christmas. I plan to do my best to walk 10,000 steps every day. 
9. I am going to be a better listener. I am learning that I don't need to always  have a response at the ready. Sometimes all that is needed a willingness to listen.
10. I am going to declutter the basement. I have a tendency to hang onto things. My mother never kept anything. I think that is why her home was neat. I am very sentimental. I am going to be brutal about getting rid of stuff. If I can preserve a memory with a photograph then I will. (Time will tell if I will really be able to do this.)
11. I am going to organize our family photos, a very daunting task. I have tried and failed before; out of sight, out of mind has become my motto. That is sad for one as sentimental as I.
12. I am going to grow a vegetable and flower garden this year.
13. I am going to travel with Mark. We will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary this year. We are going to plan an anniversary trip; perhaps to Yellowstone National Park.
14. I am going to learn more about how to use my camera and take more photos.
15. I am going to plan a vacation for our family.

There you have it. I don't usually make resolutions but I think that 2015 is a good place to start. Check back here to see how I am doing. I wish you all a very blessed new year filled with love, happiness, laughter, and all the things that make your heart flutter.