I declared the sunroom closet organized enough to suit me, for now anyway! Seems like all I've done all of January is work on that mess! It wouldn't please most of my readers and friends, but I've called it DONE! No, I'm not showing any more pictures since I've put the vacuum cleaner, a couple of boxes of quilt magazines still to be gone through, my traveling Viking machine in its carrying case, the two small Christmas tree boxes, and a few other things back onto the floor space. But at least I can now see almost all of what's in there, and get to it! I'm ready to move on to something else, and/or another part of the house after a break from the like!
I went back to the doctor Wednesday morning for two more spinal steroid injections, and then rested that afternoon. Thursday morning I woke up feeling great and decided to vacuum and dust the entire house, and do a few more little things in the sunroom; I was dog tired by the time I finished, but it felt so good having the house looking like someone could actually live here!
I had received a notice a few days ago that it was time to renew my driver's license, and because this old lady is 80 years old, they had a list of documents I had to bring to the office; I could not renew by mail or online. That made me a little nervous, so I started digging through to find everything this morning. I got to the office about 2:15 PM, took a number, filled out the paperwork handed to me, and sat down to wait.....and wait......and wait! My number was finally called about 4:15, and it took only five minutes for the clerk to complete the procedure and hand me my renewal papers, certifying me licensed to drive through 2025 ----- if I'm still alive then, but she never even asked to see any of the documents I had been instructed by mail to bring! Drats! But it was a relief to get that over! I rarely drive outside the town where I live, and if so, usually no more than 20 miles. If I need to go to Fort Worth, a friend or my son takes me. But if I had to, at least I'd be licensed to do so!
Let's go back to the closet for a few minutes. I fearlessly got rid of so many things from the past; some donated, some given away to friends or family, and lots simply trashed! On the top shelf of the closet was a beautiful teapot that came from my mother's. I was having a difficult time parting with it, especially when I read a note that my sister had written and placed inside the teapot. She said Mother was using that teapot in 1928, the year my sister was born.
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| Isn't it lovely? |
Mother died in 1966; the teapot was in my sister's home until 2006 when she died; then it had been on that top closet shelf at my home until this week. I made a tough decision to trash it, and here's the reason why!
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The spout is broken and has been ever since I've had it, perhaps even as long as my sister had it!
So it's going away in the trash this week! And I'm a little tearful!
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Also in that closet for the same amount of time, and also same time at my sister's, has been my mother's sewing machine. I tried in 2006 to thread it, but couldn't figure it out at that time, and just stored it in that big closet all these years. I had to get it out of there! The cabinet is very stable, but also the wood top is disfigured by time. I have searched the internet and have found only one other machine by the same name, Lenco Deluxe, and it is a much newer one than Mother's. Of course, after all those years, the electric wiring is not safe to even plug in. My DIL doesn't want me to get rid of it, and said it might be worth checking into more, but I really doubt it. I think it was made in Japan, perhaps sometimes in the 1940's or 50's. Mother used to make my clothes on it. I have a friend who buys really antique machines and works on repairing them for a hobby. I may give it to him since his parents knew Mother. Haven't decided yet just what I'll do with it, but it can't stay here! I have enough machines! Do you have any info on Lenco machines? Any other ideas what to do with it?
What to do with it ---- that is the question! What would you do?
Just one more thing to show from the closet:
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| My Keepsakes from Childhood and High School |
Those four boxes are full of high school newsletters and annuals, and a variety of other things! One says it has my childhood stamp collection, (remember my daddy was a postman), my scrapbook, and even my "paperdolls"! Remember those,anybody? I have not yet opened any of those four boxes, but I will probably start going through them some next week. I'm pretty sure I'll scrap most of it, but I may want to keep some of our class reunion programs, etc., and of course, my school annuals. My kids will not at all be interested in all that "stuff", or better named, "junk"! But I'll have fun going through it slowly for as long as it takes, and I'll keep very little of it probably. However, like the teapot and machine, some of it may bring a tear to my eyes as I put it through the shredder.
I'm enjoying watching the ice skating on TV tonight! I used to tell my friends if I ever came back to life after death, I was coming back as a long legged ice skater! They just laughed! Of course, I could barely roller skate when I was a kid, but I always wanted to learn to ice skate, but never had the opportunity, and my short legs would never have been able to do it, and they surely couldn't do it now! I do still love to watch it and listen to the music, so I'm out of here so I can do just that!
Happy quilting!
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"Love"
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That teapot looks like one I've seen before, perhaps in one of my grandmothers' china cabinets. I do have a teapot my paternal grandmother gave to my mom many years ago, it was one she had obviously used a lot as there are tea stains in the bottom of the pot, though no cracks or breaks anywhere, thankfully. It is wonderful when our children cherish some of the same things we do, my daughter loves and now has a set of dishes that belonged to her great-great grandmother. When she was growing up we used them for special holiday dinners. That sewing machine looks like a Singer machine branded with the name of the company that sold them. Singer did that a lot from what I've heard. Your machine probably does have some value, especially if the wiring is repaired/replaced.
ReplyDeleteHard to let go of things with sentimental value.
ReplyDeleteI have my Mom's old machine that I learned on, and both of us made most of my clothes on it. But the wiring is bad and hubby doesn't want me to use it. I asked at the local Bernina store about repairing it and they told me to use it at as a doorstop because they can't get all the parts for them anymore. But you'd think they could still fix the wiring!
Your machine does resemble a featherweight. Interesting.
I am enjoying the ice skating, too, BTW. :)
Closet is done, that must feel so good! It is hard to part with items that have lots of memories attached but they do no good boxed up in a closet either. Let go of what you can and treasure the things that give you joy. Sounds like you are ready to tackle the next project!
ReplyDeleteI understand the dilemma of what to keep and what to let go. Sometimes knowing the person you inherited something from treasured it makes that decision even harder. I would keep asking around about the machine. I know the shop here has some connections to folks who work with older machines like yours, so I would imagine there is someone near you, too. If you want it worked on, don't give up. But if you don't want it, let that be your decision, too. I think after all that work, you deserve a break to do some quilting, though. Tackle another closet or room some other day. Go play!!! The messes will be there later.
ReplyDeleteGive the machine to your friend. He will value it and get it ready for someone to sew on.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's not easy to send away objects that have memories attached. Those declutter shows on telly always say to only keep things that really speak to you. I had no idea you were just a whipper-snapper! You won't be an old lady for another 10-15 years yet. Glad the injection gave you some vim and ain't that the way when you deal with bureaucracy.
ReplyDeleteI have some of my Mom's paper dolls - and they would be from the 1920s! I hope someone will want them. I just had a thought about putting some of them in a picture frame. My sister is working on getting rid of things - she is almost 80 with no children to take her things, but several nieces. I sure don't want to part with some of my treasures and hopefully my grandchildren will want some of them. The sewing machine sounds like it could be used if someone would fix it. There are a lot of people who collect old sewing machines. Maybe you could sell it with an ad in the local paper. I love old things myself, but we downsized and I don't have room for getting things from estate sales, which I love to go to. Good luck and enjoy some sewing this month!
ReplyDelete