I am a retired 44-year veteran of the Real Estate Assessment field. As with real estate assessing and how it applies to real estate taxes, one can make many acquaintances, but not many real friends. It was a great career choice.
It has been nearly 10 years since I reclaimed my home and my real passions within my home. I enjoy it more each day and tip my hat to those who I left behind.
Each day I try to stretch myself with the use of my computer as it relates to this site and using it to print out labels for quilts for trying to incorporate photos into my sewing. Life is so full and I know that I have room for more.
Not too much time for thoughts. The sound of pitter patter made me dash to check the down spouts on the house. The thawing of the snow went so smoothly there has yet to be a threat of water seepage into the northeast corner of the basement. Forecasts did say that this rain shower could become more than what I was caught in as I checked all corners. Better to be safe than sorry.
I believe the biggest puzzle in retail is trying to figure out sizing that manufacturers use. Is it a consistent size 14 for women across the board? I think not. Well, it has been a while since I was a size 14, but I am just saying. Up until the time I graduated from high school it was the paper patterns that were purchased for $.50 and then the yardage was picked out according to the amount as stated on the back of each pattern. As the process continued in the farm kitchen of my folks in Renville County, the garment was sewn step by step with fitting done periodically to make sure the bust darts were in the correct spots or the sleeves would allow for smooth movement once it was a finished product.
In today’s retail the garment may have originated in Vietnam, China or New Zealand. You might just as well forget about shopping according to the stated size and try it on right on the spot. As of late I had purchased items of clothing in three different shops. Having a recovering surgical arm that couldn’t even poke itself through a sleeve hole let alone handle the closures I chose what I felt would be a good fit and relied on having to try it on once I got home and had Dennis to help. Stores generally do not have co-ed fitting rooms and husbands do have a bit of shyness, sauntering into a dressing room with their wives.
All three items have been returned to the shops from where they were purchased. I am not willing to settle for ill-fitting clothing that is shapeless or mismatched size of sleeves — compared to length, compared to clothing — that gaps at less than complementary places. You gals know what I am referring to. I have some very reliable items in my closet that I am willing to enjoy for one more season until something trips my trigger and I can put it on and not have to worry about it creeping out of place or sagging where it should not. The darts that are sewn into blouses or tops today are depicting a bust line much like the 1960s model Twiggy would have. Gravity does naughty things to the rest of us as we enjoy our birthdays.
Home sewing is no longer economical. The printed patterns are now selling for as high as $12.99 – $15.99 each, and within each packet are multiple sizes printed on the the tissue paper and you choose the size that you want to cut out. We are spoiled with knits that wash and wear or fabrics that have a bit of stretch within the weave. Either of those two items are difficult for the home sewer. In the 60s the ironing board was a fixture as common as the coffee pot. Today, it’s wash and wear fabrics, and it’s a huge savings of time. Plus, I do like that aspect of the 21st century garments.
It’s no wonder when I hear some gals talk about shopping all day and maybe, just maybe, finding an item of clothing to take home. My urge to add to my wardrobe has subsided. As soon as this spring decides to show up, I will be out in the yards wearing my same old grubs, sporting dirty finger nails to boot. I won’t think twice of running to the grocery store in those self same grubs. Small farm town living — ya gotta love it.
The ‘Lost Afghan Project’ Now In The Works
In the past I had put a post out about a long lost, partially completed afghan project in my attic that I was determined to finish. On a recent road trip date with hubby Dennis I found yarn and now it is “project on.”
Crocheting afghans always brings to mind my grandmother Laura Wendlandt. If family members brought her yarn she would work up the projects. Her favorite crochet project involved making “Africans.” No one ever had the heart to correct her that they were indeed “afghans.”
Just a memory that gets sweeter in time.
Today I felt as if I were living in a snow globe. Multiple times the sun would peek out and in a heartbeat the snow flurries were so dense the view across the street disappeared.
With all the tweaking that went on yesterday in the home it is officially the start of spring house cleaning. What better way to work the right shoulder that is now finished with physical therapy. The rest is up to me to strengthen the muscles that were impacted and running the vacuum seemed to be a good fit. After hitting all the upholstered furniture today and the heating vents and cold air returns the day can be deemed a success with a notice given to the rest of the dust bunnies that are still hiding.
Spring fix ups – ya gotta love them. An entire day doing things that had been looked at for so long they had become usual and customary. When the windows are too grimy with a film to see out of them clearly due to winter snows and winds the eye begins to travel to the far corners within the home. How long had this tangle of computer cords been there? Maybe the load could be lightened on the desk with a bit of rethinking. A little tweak here and a little tweak there with a full afternoon of extra hands that came with a lot of skill and the home feels like it has been tricked out. In fact it feels like new digs. The late spring that brought cold weather today happened for a reason. Life is sweet on Stauffer.
Dennis needed some parts for his garage and I rode along for a road date. When we left St. James it was quiet with the sun peeking out. It was a totally different ride on the way home. The wind gusts according to the local radio station we were listing to clocked the winds as high as 35 miles per hour. Even the Ford pickup felt the impact. With temps of 37 degrees this is really making the remaining snow shrink.
Mohair Yarn Put Out for the Birds
Let’s go top notch and allow the birds to feather their nest with a little mohair yarn – from France, no less. We have Thrush birds that each year build nests under our awning on the west side of our home. This Lilac bush is directly under the awning and the birds will have a hay day finding these bits and pieces of yarn as it has been tucked into the branches.
While I was in the walk up attic yesterday, putting some items into storage, I also went through some storage containers. I not only found the started ripple afghan in my sewing basket that I posted about yesterday, I also revisited my yarn stashes. I knew I would never use this vintage mohair yarn that came from Esther Schafer, my children’s grandmother. It may have been a hand me down given to her. Of all of Esther’s crocheting, I never knew her to use mohair yarn. It would not have had the high utility as the durable yarns used for her projects that family and friends enjoyed. If she had plans that never came into fruition while she was with us, it became my inheritance when she passed in 1973. Now it is for sure vintage and being put to use.
I have always been careful in storing extra yarn as it was a commodity that was hard to come by when there were usual, unusual, and customary expenses during the time our family was young and we were farming. There is something within us that appreciates and still treasures those items that were indeed a luxury in times when resources were limited. It’s a good memory that serves me well to this day.
With winter being extended I had caught up on projects that I had lined up for the cold weather as well as recovery from surgery. A trip to the walk up attic was needed to store some extra items that we decided did not need to be under foot. It was meant to be. Just a glance at the sewing basket my Mom had given me decades ago jolted my memory. Ah-ha! There was my busy work as I would wait to be outside in the gardens. I am sure that project had been waiting to be re-discovered for a minimum of twenty years.
Busy work to finish out the last of winter.
The project found its way next to my favorite spot in the living room and it came with challenges. I have no idea if I will able to find the coordinating colors to match what has been started as the stash of balls in the sewing basket is far from what will be needed. This may need several road trips with hubby Dennis at the wheel. What size of crochet hook had I used? I did pick at it and I know that over the years my hands have changed with arthritis and I will need to find the correct tension of the yarn as it flows through my fingers after the correct hook is found.
The best part is that the vibrant colors do wonders for these late winter days that can be less than sunny. I know that finishing this will give me a lot of satisfaction. Unfinished projects don’t play out well, especially if they are found in the future by family that has no idea what my intentions were. Finding a home for it after it is finished will be the least of my challenges.
Hubby Dennis loved the raw asparagus with the fat free Blue Cheese Dressing.