whoops...

I didn't get a post in for the month of February so blew that new year's resolution. Last weekend I had a great time when I went out dancing last weekend with my high school class mates. I also cleaned the National Arlington sewing machine head. This weekend I'm spending home doing some chores. I hope to put away the contents of three boxes of antiques. These are the kitchenalia items that I used to have hanging on my kitchen walls and on top of my many cupboards in the old house. In this home, not sure what I will do as surely, not enough room for everything.

When I took pictures of the Arlington, I was surprised when I saw this gorgeous picture of Phoebe looking out the window.

My washer is on the fritz. I knew it hadn't been cleaning clothes as well as I think it should so I'd spent a lot of time lately babying it along by turning the knob to run through the wash cycle twice and the rinse cycle twice, and restarting the final spin. The dryer won't dry in the first run, so we end up running it through again and then it seems to 'cook' your clothes. These are the washer and dryer Phil bought brand new nearly 20 years ago. We are adamant about cleaning the filters, and even wash the dryer filter because we use fabric softener. We can't see wasting anymore energy on the old machines, the parts to repair them are outrageous, and yet, can't see going without and using public laundry. So, we did our homework and shopped around and put a washer and dryer on layaway. This is big! Huge!! I've never had a brand new washer and dryer. I also searched around for local sales of newer models folks were selling, but what I found were the trouble models that did poorly in the Consumer's Reports ratings. We are getting a front-load washer, the basic GE model. They don't have a fancy name, but these are the ones that are recommended by Consumer's Reports and are supposed to meet all of our needs. I want something that cleans and cleans well. We don't have to go for the greatest and best features and buttons, but we want to get the best for our money and we want capacity. We did consider the high efficiency top loaders, but when we found out you still have to pack your clothes around the center nubby agitator or it will get off balanced, and therefore, you can't put as much in it as they claim. We decided to spend the same amount of money on a front-loader.

We also decided to paint the walls of this tiny laundry room. So, I don't know yet if I will like it as I usually paint in some kind of green, but I choose a bright sunny yellow with a bit of orange in it. I figure a laundry room has to be bright and sunny. The floor has a couple tears in it, so decided to get some of those stick on vinyl tiles for something different and minimal in cost. Here's what I came up with. I figure if the yellow is too much, I can always repaint it a lighter color It is called Sunset Glow...and glow it does! Certainly lends it itself to more enjoyment of doing the dratted chore of laundry. Another thing we did was remove the door to the laundry room. Wow, it opened up that room completely! We never close it because that is where the cat boxes reside.

It's December, the saga of the Stormy Kromer, and other ramblings...

There is snow on the ground...unfortunately it is slowly trying to melt with last night's 1/3 inch rain. I do love the snow and like the fresh fallen beauty of it much better than the wet dirty ugliness it shows when trying to melt.

As usual, life is chaos and craziness. We have decided to fore-go the holiday decorations and though it seems a bit bleak, there just doesn't seem to be enough reason or energy to put into the typical Christmastime traditions.

This month Phil and I will share our 13th wedding anniversary. It seems that every winter I've heard about this 'Stormy Kromer'. Do you know what that is? It is a hat that men seem to desire if they have to perform any outside chores in cold windy areas. It's legendary, or so I've been told -- it has ear flaps and a bill but stays where it is supposed to. Apparently Phil was 'lacking' in man tools because he didn't have a Stormy Kromer. He finally broke me down and declared "This year, I'm getting a Stormy Kromer". So, he goes about ordering one and I say to him "don't you think we should measure your head". The response I received was "My head has been the same size 7-1/4 per the US Government." Did I mention he served with the US Navy?

The hat arrives...it is a beautiful blue just like the one in this picture below. He rips the tags off and puts it on his head (directions say don't untie the flaps, you just slide it down where you need it). The gorgeous Michigan weather is in his favor and he can't wait to get out there and blow snow. Out the door he goes...

I don't remember the first time he mentioned it, but I do recall the words that "I think my Stormy Kromer is too small". Too small I wonder? Of course I told him "you should have measured your head..." I admit, this conversation has come around a few times over the last few days, but the man sized Stormy Kromer is simply too small. I suggest he return it for a new one as he's only had it for a week. He said he can't as he's already disposed of the tags, receipt, blah blah blah..."

So, this morning the conversation comes around again. "Can you adjust my Stormy Kromer" he asks? My response is "I don't know, suppose I can try. You know you should have measured your head". He responds, "But I ordered it size 7-3/8" a full 1/8 of an inch larger for 'old age'. It should fit, I mean your head doesn't grow." I said yes Phil, your head doesn't grow. You were born a little baby with this big head because your head doesn't grow." Then he says, the US Government says I have a 7-1/4" head and the US Government is not wrong." Oh I couldn't help myself when I bust out laughing and said "Everyone knows the government is messed up (okay, maybe I didn't say the word messed but you know what I mean)! That is why the US is in such financial turmoil, and why Christmas at the Mikula household will be spent on replacing the transmission on my 2000 Olds Intrique. Yes, I will try to modify the Stormy Kromer...if that doesn't work then I'll shave his head. =)

http://www.stormykromer.com/view.php?id=History

Aside from life, stressing about our car, work, the economy, and the saga of the Stormy Kromer I have been focusing on my vintage sewing machines. The majority of my time this year has been on creating my Treadleroom out of the former store room, and cleaning sewing machines. I love to clean the machines and don't even mind getting dirty doing it. The process is very satisfying and I learn so much about how the different machines work. I think every collector goes through a phase and thins out the herd and I am no different. For me it is focusing on our New Home Sewing Machine Company research that I am researching along with my friend Tina. This means I am focusing on my very favorite New Home treadle machines. I've also decided to keep my other favorites which include my Davis Vertical Feed, a Standard, White VS I, and keeping just a few Singers (two 99s, my good featherweight, and my 201). I've recently sold a featherweight, 301, traded a Singer 28. Today, I'm selling a Singer 66.

Yesterday my friend Peggy came over and we visited a few little shops nearby and then proceeded to clean a very dirty Singer 66. This machine is definitely well loved and has the scars on the decals and cabinet to prove it, but the new owner will nevertheless be very happy with her performance and quality of stitch. The cabinet which was a dried out mess of scratches, is now a proud deep beautiful cleaned wood cabinet. I should have taken before pictures, but after feeling no attachment to this machine, didn't think it necessary. We started with Murphy's Oil Soap on the cabinet, then wiped on/wiped off a coat of Linseed Oil, and then Howard's Feed and Wax. The end result is amazing.

Today a young lady is coming by to purchase the Singer 66 treadle. Her family is building a home and they are trying to 'go green' so she wants a treadle. More and more people are going green and suddenly our treadles are more important to the world. Or should I say, the world is finally catching on. There is something so soothing when you hear the quiet sounds of a treadle sewing machine at work. I have webshots that show some of my favorite machines here http://community.webshots.com/user/abycats . It is also a fact that most cats can't help but be intrigued by the sounds of a treadle. Even my little Chloe' who is still fitting herself into our family seems to drop some of her defensiveness.

Once in a while some profound idea of something you need and want to do enters your mind and you can't forget it. This idea joined me yesterday when Peggy and I were returning from a visit at a local antique store. I can't share it with you yet as it will be something I think I have been driven all my life to do (evident by the box in my closet)...but, I am finally listening to the universe on this thing I need to do. I just need to figure out how to start. If Peggy reads this I'm certain she will call me wondering what the heck it is as even she doesn't know. I'm thinking this will be next year's big 'accomplishment' for me. More later, I promise.

So, moving on and with a little more space in my heart, I am planning out the rest of my day and as usual the list is longer than the hours. I need to do some chores, move a few things around in my treadle room (Peggy took a few machines off the shelves I was holding for a couple friends), move the mangle ironer, and finish up some sewing projects. I realize after writing this that I didn't mention the mangle ironer. It is awesome!! it is another tool from the past. I really need to take a better picture of it. If you want to learn about it, here is the best link I've found:
http://www.jitterbuzz.com/indirn.html#ironman

Well, off to finish up my afternoon. Hopefully I'll be a bit more diligent about updating my blog. I wish everyone a very merry Christmas!

I can't believe it's April already!!!

Sigh...here I am starting out talking about time again. It is officially Spring, and I note that since I've last posted much has happened. I was rear-ended in a car accident, Easter passed, I celebrated another birthday, and I can hardly believe we've had Miss Chloé for almost two months already! She is settling in and finding her place with the rest of the gang! Here's a picture of her hanging out with Phil in the radio room. She was even caught sitting next to Phoebe on top of a cabinet! This is progress! Of course, Phoebe is leader of the pack and is also one of the sweetest kitties anyone could ever meet! Here's a picture of her in the radio room! See, she is one adorable girl! She also championed in her younger days, and had two or three litters before she was retired and we brought her home! What a blessing she is to us!
I have also been consumed with responsibilities at work and commitments with swaps with my favorite quilt group. My interest is shifting a bit more to my antique sewing machines and I realize I haven't shared them with you yet. In December, Phil sent me a copy of an ad on Craig's List with a woman looking for someone to take her mother's old machines. There were six of them, I took them and informed my dear friend Carol that as I do not have room for them all that she had to come get at least a couple of them. She was happy to take three of them in and sent her sister and my friend Suzy to pick them up. You think that would have been a good dose for a while, but then I got together with some fellow treadleon ladies and needless to say I came home with a Singer 66 and a small electric Singer 99. I have had this passion for old treadle sewing machines since I was a little girl. When I was 10 years old, I inherited one from my paternal grandmother when she passed. My oldest machine is a Wheeler & Wilson 9 from the late 1800's, my most cool looking is the Wilcox & Gibbs, and the nicest decals and cabinet can be found on my badged National Young & Chaffee Winner...my New Home Treadle has advertisements stamped in the drawers and a velvet top. My goal this spring is to clean out the store room so I can get some of my machines organized and we can remove some of the extra stuff we are hanging onto. Additionally, I would like to find a couple different and smaller end tables as I gave my coffee table to my mom, and she now wants the end tables and is doing what mother's do best to make sure I know it...every few weeks I get asked when she can have them. The coffee table and end tables were given to me by my sister and brother-in-law and are made of a very nice wood with heavy glass tops. Mind you, my mom wasn't even sure she wanted the coffee table or end tables, but now, she is making darn sure that I don't forget. So, the mission is to find suitable end tables for our living room at a price that will fit into my budget. Phil won't let me use sewing machines for fear they will get damaged if something accidentally spilled on them...

I have been dancing every month since we started our monthly get together! I usually can't walk afterwards, but the fun and exercise are well worth it! I've promised to dance till I drop this month!

That's about enough for now...I am so far behind in visiting my friends blogs and would also like to remind all of you of the Pay It Forward!

Hopefully I'll be able to check in again soon! Oh, and one more picture was found of me in my early 20's. This is me with my mom's cat Lucky.

Reflecting on 2007 and welcoming in 2008

Happy New Year! I hope you have a very happy, healthy, and fulfilling year!

Life has a way of handing us opportunities to reflect on the path we've walked. For me the last week of December seems a natural time for visiting the past. As I find myself entering 2008, of course I'm thinking about time, again. Maybe it's all the stuff that wasn't accomplished this year that I felt should have been or maybe it's all the stuff that was accomplished. Maybe it's reflecting on the opportunities for fun I've missed or the opportunities I've taken. It can be seeing someone else making a choice that makes you think about something. For instance, last Friday evening was a gathering with class mates. We went out for light dinner and then dancing. When I arrived for drinks, one of my buddies offered his chair and mentioned it was near the food. I politely thanked him and declined...actually, all I drank there was water with lemon. Later, I'm certain he doesn't even realize I noticed what he did, but he demonstrated what we all need to do. He picked up a nacho, took a moment as he looked at it, and thought about it before he ate it. Wow! In the short time he demonstrated that little action, he showed that he was thinking about what he was putting into his mouth and body, he took his time, didn't deny himself, and he had only one. I don't think he reads my little blog, but if he does, he reiterated home another little lesson for life, to stop and think about what you feed yourself and moderation!

I chose losing weight as my main goal last year which probably is the goal most selected by people in the U.S. But, for me, it was a first in over 20 years. To know me, you would know I am a very obese person. So in January 2007 when I joined Weight Watcher's at Work, I had realistic goals that I really didn't think I would stick to. Some of my coworkers are my strongest supportive health friends and yes, believing that ice cream should be a daily staple, I contemplated this opportunity. I sent an e-mail off to some of my closest co-workers and friends -- lets face it, they really are the people we spend the most chunks of time with. I had asked them that if I decided to participate in WW and decided to have a bit of ice cream with lunch would they give me the 'hairy eyeball' or trust that I figured it into my points. The best message I could have received came to me from my friend Dirrindia -- her response was, "you only have to answer to yourself, don't worry about what anyone else thinks". This brought the realization that learning to eat healthy isn't a diet that you do for a while and then forget, but it is a life style change. I'll repeat, it is a life style change. As my weigh-ins typically take place on Mondays, it was this Monday that I finally moved into another set of numbers and reached 30.1 pounds! To me that doesn't seem like much for 12 months of healthy eating (okay 99% of the time), but with thyroid issues, my physician assures me that losing any weight will be a job well done, three times as slow, and highly recommended WW. So, here I am 2008, and I'm 30 pounds lighter and 1-1/4 of them this week after Christmas! Realistically, I have so much more to lose! But, I will continue on with my healthy eating habits, stretching, bike riding, and occasional Yoga classes. I also learned that I am not an 'emotional' eater, but more or less just made the wrong choices and have learned more about moderation.

I had told my friends that I would never be inclined to post a picture of myself on my blog because I can't stand the way I look in pictures (never could -- teeth, weight, curl of my lip). Well, I decided that maybe I would change this opinion I've carried for at least 35 years...partly because someone sent me a half-decent and very recent picture that I was in (minus a blemish or two) and partly because I have been placing some focus on taking care of myself, not just with diet and the exercise, but with enjoying activities that I have put off for too long. I did start tubing again the last several years and although the Rogue River is a far cry from rafting down the rapids of the Upper Gulley, Lower Gulley, Cheat, or the New rivers in West Virginia, I will appreciate what the Rogue has to offer. I would love to learn how to Kayak...maybe this year yet if I can find someone to teach me.

As I mentioned activities from last Friday evening, the ride into town was treacherous with a winter storm warning (my knuckle's were white) and the ride home was mild. I didn't dance as much as I would have liked or did last time. There were so many people just standing around on the dance floor and the place was probably a bit over-crowded...okay, it was my hips and elbows, I don't know how many people I bumped into. I'm sending a big thank you to Tami, Wendy, Lisa & Chris, Andy, Becky, and Al, whether you happen to read this or not! Again another fun memory was made!

Saturday was our 12th wedding anniversary. We spent the evening home with a quiet dinner. Happy Anniversary Phil!

Sunday it was during errands and chores that I realized I kept thinking I was 42 (no I'm really 43)! I think I did that when I turned 40 too, I kept thinking I was 41. Ah well, I never claimed to enjoy numbers. So, here I am -- me, my computer, a few of my cats, pondering what the next 12 months will bring. Whatever it is, I hope it includes more weight loss, tubing, dancing, fun, laughter, and just some simple joys.

Another sign I'm receiving, big, strong, and in my face is little Jazmine trying to get my attention. Figure I've pondered enough for now, so, off I go. I mean, how could anyone deny that little face?

Have a blessed New Year!