~Gramma's Sewing~

I have been wanting to make some things for our new baby

that is due in April. I specially want to make some quilts. I

was thinking.. yes, I do that :-) once in a while :-) about

when I really remember first taking a needle, thread and some

material and made something out of it.. My earliest recall of

really noticing someone else..was watching my mother. She

would bring her machine out to the dining room table and get

her patterns, material.. I watched her cut and pin.. Then was

the sound of the machine.. I watched her take those pieces

of material and make some of the MOST beautiful things..My

CLOTHES for one.. She really loved to sew.. And so did my

Gramma.. Well with 7 kids, living back in the 1900's.. she had

to watch every penny.. So she made the clothes for my aunts

and uncles..and my mother..

On some week ends my parents would deliver cars to a dealer

in another town.. Well the cars were Nash Ramblers.. My parents

friends Harold and Carol Jewell..drove the cars to Milwaukee. I

got to go to my grandparents Fridays right after school. My mom

would drop off my clothes etc before they left and I walked home

with my grandparents next door neighbors daughter..and a class

mate of mine..Sherry.. She was a good friend..and we spent a lot

of time playing or walking down town.. But most of the time I spent

being with my Grandparents.. I would walk down the path to their

house, I could see Gramma in the window.. I would wave frantically,

smile..and start to run towards the house..by the time I got there

she was standing on the porch holding the door and her arms open

to give me a big hug and a kiss..the kind only gramma's can give..

I would rush inside to find Grandpa, sitting in his chair..looking like

he wasn't really waiting for me.. but he was.. I knew it.. and I would

rush up to him.. throw my arms around his neck and plant a kiss on

his dear face.. he would smile and kiss me back..and off I would go

to see what they had for dinner, was always something that was my

favorite..like green split pea soup.. Gramma made THE BEST :-)

When I was up and moving one Saturday I was kinda bored, no one

was around to play with and I didn't have anything to do.. I whined

to Gramma.."I need somethin to do Gramma, Im Bored" She quietly

went into her bedroom and came out with a basket, inside it was

some pieces of material..thread, scissors, everything I would need

to make something.. I had dolls etc there to play with, so she went

and got one of the dolls..took its clothes off and handed her back

to me and said.."well go make your baby some clothes, she needs

some new ones".. I looked back and forth from the doll to the basket

then up at gramma.. she said, "come on.. lets find a spot so you

can Set up your sewing shop".. I smiled and followed her to the front

porch where she set up a box to put my stuff on and a little small

wooded footstool type bench for me to sit on.. "There, now..start to

make some clothes" and she went back inside..

I bet I sat there all day till Gramma called me in to supper, playing

and making clothes for that doll..I had a great time.. After supper

Grampa and Gramma and I sat out on the porch again..they sat

on the swing that was down on one end of their huge porch.. I got

my newly dressed doll and took her over for Gramma to see and

tell me what she thought.. She held that doll out..turned it around,

I could see her looking at everything..specially the stitches that

held it together.. I was nervous.."Lois", she said.."this is a very

good job, Its very good!" she handed the baby to Grampa.. he

held it up and looked at it.. "well Lois, you can sew just like your

momma and gramma, very good". I was so pleased with myself.
"We will make sure Mom sees it when she comes tomorrow..

I know she will be glad to see how good a job you did".. Well..

now.. I was proud as a peacock..but I remember that dress I

made that day.. it was pathetic..but for a little girls first one..I

did good..It goes back to the same thing I use now.. I TRY.. I

had never sewn before.. but I TRIED it.. and I am happy I did,

my sewing is something that I KNOW no matter what.. I AM

very good at.. now.. I just have to get started on that quilt for

baby.....

My mom when she picked me up that Sunday, of course I made

sure she saw my TRY at sewing.. She was impressed..and said,

"well now we will have to see how good you can make a dress

for YOU". She taught me well..so did my home economics teacher,

Miss Senicle.. I had that lady for 6 years in school from 7th to 12th.
I can tell you some stories about HER let me tell you .. She taught

my mom..and my sister.. THAT was NOT a good thing..but that's

the joys of a small town.. She did say that she thought I was one

her best students though.. I learned well..there isnt too much I cant

make..give me a photo and dimensions.. I can make it..

What im going to make right now is some dinner.. well its made,

I just have to go out and eat it.. I made goulash..and it smells so

good.. It is awful outside to day and boy, my stumps are achey..

it is almost a white out at times from the wind..and its 13 below

zero.. All my blinds are closed and I can still feel a draft when I

hear the wind gusts outside.. I sure am glad Im inside.. I feel for

those that arent.. I hope my birds and squirrels and bunnies are

warm..Penny said she saw some kittie foot prints outside.. I

hope theres not a stray kittie out in this.. I would sure let him in

if he was out there.. I feel so badly for animals that are lost or

their master has passed on..I wish I could take them all..

Time for food and to get out of this chair for today I hope you

had a good warm week end."Nitey Nite"

Y'all have a good one now, Y'hear? love ya, and thanks :-)

ALways, Lois ****

God Bless you, is my prayer today,

I'm so honored to call you "friend";

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until I write again.....