My Day, My Way
From time to time, I have a back that gives me pause. Not surprising. I was a farm girl that any farmer would have loved to have had at his beck and call. 40 Lb. hay bales on the hay rack behind the baler: I was there. Stacking hay bales in the hay barn right to the rafters: I was there. McCormick milk machine pails filled from the Holstein cows: I was there. Helping to load feeder pigs into a trailer: I was there. The list could go on and on. Dad had me at his beck and call right along with my sister and two brothers. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Dad and Mom taught us kids how to work and make light of it. If we made a game out of it, the time went quickly and the weight of it didn’t take its toll . . . for some time to come.
The aches that may come periodically now that I am in my 70s do not bring sad memories. The wonderful life I had as a child brought me into my adult years knowing the value of putting in a good day’s work. I now enjoy a good day under my belt, but with much less intensity. I still enjoy everything and anything I always did, but perhaps with a different twist on things to achieve the end result.
Today was a great example of enjoying my sewing studio acknowledging that my back needed some TLC. I would like to make myself a new quilt. What! Me getting a new quilt to use! I don’t put in a full day of cutting pieces. Bending over the rotary cutter can be a back braking task. This whole process will take a fair amount of time . . . which I happen to have. No matter how anyone tries to retain good posture while sewing, it doesn’t last as that perfect seam allowance gets my nose right up close and personal. I spent the greater portion of the morning getting my sewing machines ready to stitch. Yes, that’s right, plural sewing machines.
Mom’s sewing machine (circa 1965) has been serviced and was loaded with the correct thread for my project. The Sears sewing machine model that I have had since 1968 was also ready to go with the right thread and needle. Last but not least was the Bernina to get suited up. I am working towards a finished 8″ block that is comprised of five different pieces. I believe I need 100 of these finished blocks when I am finished. Each of the three machines will stitch a portion of the 8″ block. Doing a series of ten on each machine means I will not be hovering at any one machine for long. Getting up, moving, getting my butt on a different chair and then heading to the ironing board after 10 of the completed blocks have been put together will not bind the back, shoulders and hands from extended repetition in one place. It may sound like a lot of foolishness, but it’s my foolishness to take care of that which I know can cause a lot of discomfort. I have nothing more to do than to take care of my health while enjoying life.
When I redid the sewing studio last fall it fell into place that I could navigate the two church tables, my sewing machine table and the ironing board from all sides. No sitting in a corner being boxed in. It’s doing exercise laps while ending up with a sewing project well under way. Fun creative times at Stauffer Avenue.