Milestones

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Today was my husband's birthday.  I could have spent it alone, missing him and feeling sorry for myself, but I asked my sister to spend the morning going to garage sales with me instead. It got me out of the house with someone I love to spend time with, and who understands why this day might be hard for me.  I enjoy garage sales, and actually picked up some nice items for mostly pocket change.

I love jigsaw puzzles, and found 3 nice ones for $1 each (500+ pieces each.)

 Two nice, sharp knives for 50c each, and three craft organizers for $1 each.

A quilt pattern and a purse pattern for 50c each, and a framed piece of Scherenschnitte for $2.

A half-finished cross-stitch stocking for $1 (Carol, this is for you.)  The background is stained, but miraculously, the stocking itself seems to be fine.

A brand new 3' x 5' Arkansas flag for $1, and a behind-the-door door-to-door salesman dissuader for $3.  Know how hard it is to find a wood one these days at a garage sale?

 
Plus a 70" x 86" quilt top, finished with border (although not well done,) plus leftover fabric and the pattern for $1.  And when I got home there was a new seam ripper and a new package of class 15 plastic bobbins in the bottom of the box!  I may try to fix some of the more glaring errors in the quilt top; the blocks seem to be good, but the joining of the blocks was a little slapdash in places--probably why it was never finished.

I also got this lovely pair of earrings for 50c. Oh, and a bottle of some cologne with only about an inch left in the bottle, but it smells good, and they gave it to me for free. All in all, a successful hunt. $16.50 total. My sister did well, too.

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Monday I was having some trouble with my car, and barely made it to the local tire shop. I thought it just needed fluids.  It turns out my local squirrel youngsters have been teething on the wiring under the hood. It cost just under $100 to repair, and I then swapped the car for my pickup, which is normally parked right next to the car.  I wasn't having any problems with it, but I figured it was better to have it checked out anyway for my peace of mind. Luckily the little varmints had not done any damage to the truck. The guys at the tire shop and I are on a first-name basis now. And I am parking my car in the garage.

My riding lawn mower is also in the shop right now.  When the crew noticed it making strange noises, we jacked it up and I realized that we have used it all season without doing any maintenance on it.  I just hadn't thought about it.  Luckily a small-engine repair guy lives about 1/4 mile from me down a dirt road.  We made quite a weird parade getting it there--me in the pickup in front, with my flashers on; then one of the crew on the mower (with the deck raised, of course!) then another crew member in his pickup with his flashers on.  We probably were making 5 miles an hour, but we got there without impeding traffic too much.  It's been there for a week now, and the grass hasn't stopped growing, so I hope it's fixed soon.  I told the guy to do whatever it needed to get it back in good shape.  I hope I can get him to deliver it on a trailer, or the parade will have to perform again, as I have no trailer to bring it home.  I'd rather not do that just after it's been cleaned and serviced. A trailer is the next thing on my To Buy list.

My work crew is down to 3 now, and they are only working on Saturdays.  One is on the high school football team, and has after-school practice, and one works for his dad during the week at their tire shop (not the same one I used. Their shop is in another town.) The third is the brother of the first, so he works when his brother does.

This next week will bring a dentist appointment, a day road trip with my sister, and the County Fair.

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I'm back...

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It's been 7 long months since I have posted.  It has been difficult to move on, but I am finally feeling like I can spend time on my blog again.

I did manage to liquidate my husband's business, and to landscape the house as much as I am going to this year, with the help of my work crew.  When my husband died there were 5 employees; that increased to six for awhile, but through attrition is now down to 3. By winter it will be two--the minimum I will need to help me keep things going next spring.  Over the next few weeks I will try to post photos of the landscaping and of other things that have kept us busy.

But for now, just to get back into the swing of things, I'm posting photos of my sewing machine collection.  I joined a couple of groups online who love vintage machines the way I do, and I have picked up some interesting models.  They are all functional, although they may not get regular use. I am slowly learning about the maintenance and restoration of these old workhorses; I now feel that I am rescuing them from a horrible fate, like getting a pet at a shelter. 

So here are photos of the ones I have now:

Singer 115 Treadle, with worn "Tiffany" decals.

The serial number is G3695527, which was issued on June 10, 1914.

This is NOT necessarily when it was manufactured, just when the serial number was issued.

It works well, but I'm not an accomplished "treadler."

 Singer 221-1 Featherweight, #AH056884, Apr. 22, 1947.

Singer 15-91, #AH022248, Apr. 4, 1947.

Singer 15-98K handcrank, #EG177462 with Centennial badge,

Nov. 2, 1950.

 

 Singer 201-2, #AL061649, Sept. 3, 1952.

  

Singer 301, mocha color. 1952-56 period.

I can't get to the serial number right now--it's underneath the machine.

The machine fits in a special cradle in the cabinet. This is one of my favorite machines--it makes a very satisfying mechanical sound as it sews.

 Singer 221K Featherweight, #ES243315, Jan. 10, 1961.

Singer 503A "Rocketeer," NC478885, 1961. Space-age styling!

 Singer 223, a Japanese-made machine from the 60's. JA-8.

 Singer 239 Fashion Mate from the 60's, straight stitch only.

Singer 237 Fashion Mate, but this one has a zigzag stitch. 60's.

These 2 models are the only ones in the Fashion Mate series that still have all metal gears.

 This "Universal Deluxe Precision Sewing Machine" is a clone of a Singer 15, made in Japan after the Singer patent expired, from Singer plans. I love the color of this one. 1960's.

 Sears Kenmore 158.12111, probably circa 1968-70. All metal, free-arm.

 White 764, known as the "Fair Lady" because it was introduced at the 1964 New York World's Fair. I love the gold and bronze color, and the built-in handle.

Well, unless I have one hidden somewhere I've forgotten, that's the vintage collection. So far.  They're like potato chips.  I find most of them at thrift stores, yard sales, auctions, or flea markets. Some were given to me, some called my name as I passed by. I clean them up and bring them back to life.

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I do have some modern machines, although more and more I find myself using the vintage ones.

 A Husqvarna Viking Rose, the only machine I have with embroidery capabilities--but only a 4" x 4" field. Sews nicely, too.

 My newest is a Baby Lock Quest Plus.  I cannot recommend this one; although it sews well, it has certain--peculiarities, shall we say--that make me regret my purchase. I bought it new about 3 years ago. They no longer make it. Hmmph.

 

and of course a serger--a Baby Lock Imagine with Jet Air threading. The only way to go.

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That's enough for now. I'll try to post a little more regularly from now on.