Things that trigger memories part 1.

I took an old sewing machine into be oiled, cleaned and checked out. As I was getting ready to leave the shop, special memories came flooding back. To most people it is just a heavy piece of metal. To me it is a classic Singer 401. In its day and still today it is one of the best sewing machines Singer made.

When I was growing up, my parents worked hard for everything they had. They tried to buy the best that they could afford of whatever they bought and they took good care of them to see that they lasted.

My mother had a Singer 401. She loved and took great pride in that sewing machine and took special care of it. She sewed lots of pretty dresses for two little girls.

The thing that makes it really special is that for all of the love and care she gave that sewing machine, she allowed two little girls to sit for hours and sew doll clothes and blankets on it. I have wonderful memories of making all kinds of things on that machine.

I was in a thrift store a few years ago and came across an immaculate Singer 401 in a wooden cabinet. I scarfed it up. I couldn’t wait to call my Mother and tell her about my wonderful find. She still has hers that she used for years and that I sewed on as a child.

Then I moved and my sewing things were put on hold for awhile until recently when I was able to set up a sewing room. I am so excited to get that sewing machine up and running again and to be able to sew wonderful things again. I can’t wait to get it back from the shop and renew those wonderful memories of sewing.

Even though that sewing machine was my Mothers pride and joy. Two little girls were made to feel that they were equally important and were given cherished memories that even to this day come flooding back whenever they see and sew on a Singer 401.

thankful for helping hands

As one gets older and less able to do the things that used to come easy, you learn to appreciate the helping hands of others.

Last weekend we were on the receiving end of many pairs of helping hands.

We have many trees around our home and earlier had two fall in a storm, one on the house one day and another through a section of fence the following day. The one that fell on the house did minor damage but blocked the driveway. Within a short period of time with the helping hands of friends and family the tree on the driveway was cut and removed.
The other tree was cut and removed by the helping hands of a group of leaders and young men from church. What a wonderful blessing.

Needless to say, we were a little nervous of other old trees possibly doing the same thing so we decided to try to do some preventive measures. So last weekend we rented a lift or cherry picker to get up in the trees to cut overhanging limbs and top trees that could hit the house if they were to fall in a storm.

So family members young and old were enlisted in the project. Again, younger, stronger, and frankly braver helping hands came to our aid.

Before the day was out, the job was done. How very grateful we are for those willing helping hands who did so much in our behalf.

all because two people fell in love

So what does happen because 2 people fell in love?
In my case, it went this way.
2 people fell in love.
from that love came 8 wonderful kids who grew up to be some pretty great people.
one of those 8 was a nanny to 3 families giving me 8 special kids who call me Granni.
7 of those 8 wonderful people fell in love, married and gave me 2 sons-in-law and 5 daughters-in-law.
those 14 people gave me 18 grandchildren.
so, all because these two people fell in love, there are now 43 people in our family.
Life is good.

thanks thanks thanks

My blog consultant and helper came to my rescue and gave me a new look to my blog. It is me. Plain and simple. Thanks so much daughter.

Also I now have a digital camera and hopefully will learn to use it soon and can actually document some of my country adventures.

still another tail to tell

Soooo, obviously possums travel with company. One medium possum has been evicted from the premises.

Next night, water dispenser again scattered here and yon. How rude.
Hmmm could it be. Yes, it seems we have more than one culprit.

So out goes the trusty trap and walla, we now have a rather biiiig possum on the front porch.

Have you ever seen one of these things up close other than bumps or smears on the road? They are really uggggllllyyyy. At least it wasn't a skunk.

By the way, who says animals don't have a sense of humor or a vengeful streak. Fluffy the cat comes prancing up on the porch this morning and walks around the cage as if to flaunt the fact that she is free and said possum who has been bullying and making messes on her turf is now in a small cage awaiting his fate. I kept waiting for her to stick her tongue out at him but i guess she is too much of a lady.

Now where is my very brave and helpful dispencer of the critters?
Yep, gone fishing and said possum is left to wait out his sentence of expulsion.

Still no sympathy on my part.

Living in the country can be entertaining.

Hummm

from the looks of things, I guess I need to get my blog decorator to come and redo my blog. I love talented family. If you don't have talent, mooch off of those who do. Works for me.

newest critter episode

Ok, first it was horses running down my driveway, then it was raccoons on the back porch, then it was skunks under the house, what next?
So you think possums are really stupid timid little creatures that go around becoming road kill right?
Well the ones we get are nasty little buggers that come out after dark and eat the cats food if you make the mistake of leaving it out. They turn over the water dispenser and scatter the parts here and yon. They dig holes all over the yard and flower beds.
To top it off, one had the nerve to climb up on the porch and when I went to see what was scaring my cats it beared its teeth and hissed at me.
That did it. I went for my gun. Yeah my great big powerful b b gun. By the time I found the gun and got it cocked and ready to give that hissy little bugger a good what for, it took off. Good thing too, I might have acctually hit it.
Sooo I called in the reenforcements. I borrowed a trap from my very sweet and accommidating son-in-law and my very helpful husband set it out.
Of course the first thing we caught was one of my cats. Sigh. I figure since they are supposed to be smarter than possums it would only happen once and then they would learn to leave it alone.
So sure enough the next morning we have one very unhappy possum. Like I really cared it was unhappy. Did it care that it made me unhappy digging all over the place and moving in on my cats turf?
Sooo, sweet hubby hauls it off to the wild woods far far away. His reward, a Hardee's biscuit for his hard work and heroic efforts.
Peace is restored until the next critter comes along. So until next time.....