aftermath and object #2

Now that the shock has worn off and the dread is settling in people are questioning the ‘lost’ nearly 15+ million votes for Harris, the number of voters and the number of votes not adding up. It doesn’t make sense. Democrats and disaffected republicans voted down ticket but not for president? Other people are reporting that they have checked their ballot status to make sure their vote was counted and their names are not on the lists, either mail in or in person. I checked mine and my name showed up. People are also making some decisions for the next two months, big dollar items they were planning to purchase next year they are going to purchase now before the tariff price increases take effect or are put off altogether. They’re expecting fresh produce to become very expensive and some are making plans to start gardens. People are trying to think what they can stock up on now, even clothing. Plans to buy a new car are changing to fixing the cars they have. Hopes to buy a house in the next year or two are vanishing. Others are researching other countries to move to.

I did not sleep well Wednesday night ( or Thursday night for that matter), probably only got a couple of hours total, and then I had to go to SHARE Thursday morning and work with people 98% of whom probably voted for Trump. It's a good thing we were busy because I just couldn't bring myself to hang around with any of them like I do when it's slow knowing that for all their christian values, they still voted for that skunk and have wrought disaster on us all. And I think, hope, they will be truly shocked at the result of their vote and how fast it comes and I will give them no quarter. They got what they voted for. Well we have about 2 months of relative peace and then we must be ready to resist and protect the marginalized.

Alright, enough of that.

My life in 100 objects #2. My sewing machine. 

My mother had a small sewing room that she shared with the chest freezer. When my sister and I were young she made our Easter dresses. I’m sure she sewed other things for us but that’s what I remember specifically and she made things for herself. I remember one evening gown in particular. I taught myself how to sew one summer when I was 9 making clothes for my Barbie doll. By the time I was in junior high and was required to take sewing and home economics in the ninth grade there was little the sewing teacher could teach me and after I did whatever work on my garment, which I think was a skirt with a placket, I helped the other girls thread their machines and their skirts. I loved going to fabric stores with my mother, picking out patterns and especially looking at all the bolts of fabric even though the sizing the manufacturers put in the material at the time made my eyes burn. I had my own sewing machine and dress makers dummy in high school and the first two years of college and made many of my own clothes. I made my prom dress from a swirly purple, blue, and orange voile and my wedding dress when I got married the first time and the robe he wore instead of a suit as the hippies we were. I didn’t sew much during that marriage, couldn’t afford even the material and pattern, and really never sewed for myself again. The next time I set up my sewing machine it was to make my kids’ Halloween costumes. You can see those here.  After that I was far too busy with raising kids and the etched glass studio making a living. I didn’t set up my sewing machine again until I had three granddaughters who wanted to learn how to sew and so for about three or four years of granny camp I taught them to sew and we made shorts, tops, dresses, a quilt until they lost interest. I started sewing for myself again several years ago but just simple gathered skirts that I prefer in the summer to shorts. And yes, I did finally finish remaking my blue skirt this week.