...saying goodbye to an old friend

I bought the old dear in 1977. She had already given someone else a few years of hard work, but I didn't care. We became great friends. I wonder how many hours we have spent together over the years, creating one-of-a-kind gifts and salvaging favorite jeans? Last night, I sat down to finish up a very small project that required a few straight stitches and two small button holes. She didn't complain at first, but balked when I asked to her start the first button hole. I pulled and twisted the knob and muttered under my breath, but no go. So I took her apart as much as I could and peered inside. I cleaned and oiled and said sweet things, then put her back together. Still, the answer was no. So, practicing on a scrap, I figured out how to make a button hole using the zig zag stitch. Not pretty, but functional. Then all that was left was the finishing seam. Less than a foot of straight stitching. But, the needle would only go up and down in one spot--no forward motion at all. That final seam was created by pulling the fabric from the back--again, not pretty, but it worked.

So now what? I haven't been without a machine since I learned to sew. Generous friends and family members have offered me loaners, but I need my own machine.

Until I find a replacement, I am a sometimes insomniac teacher who cycles, reads, and...misses her old friend.

...a news flash

Eight spandex junkies

gather at local bike shop

to pedal nowhere.

...a new year

We will open the book.
Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce


Happy New Year, everyone! May 2011 be a year of opportunities claimed with open arms.

...reasons not to ride

1. It's really cold out.
2. White stuff is falling from the sky.
3. Sewing projects are begging to be finished before Thanksgiving.
4. It's really cold out. (Did I mention that?)

All good reasons not to ride.

I'm very glad I rode anyway. Even though my toes were ice cubes by the time we returned. Even though I had to stop and put my headband on over the balaklava. Even though my eyes were streaming at times. Even though Kathie decided not to go. Even though my water was icy cold going down.

Glad I didn't listen to reason.

...blogging

...my first set of wheels

First day of school for my older siblings, but sadly, I was left behind. This was 1962 in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Those are beautiful bicycles they got to ride! I joined the ranks the next year, pedaling the two miles to school. My brothers hated mom's rule that they had to stay behind me. I was a slow poke...

...sewing

It's gray and cold outside.

My best friend is out of town.

Fabric is waiting.

Christmas is coming.





Guess what I'll be doing today?

*** Afternoon update...the gray burned off, the sun came out, Kathie called to ask, "Want to ride?" You bet I do! (There's still 48 days 'til Christmas...plenty of time to get the sewing finished!)