What a summer! I looked to the right...
There's a new/old sewing machine in the house. I'd been on the lookout to find this particular model for quite awhile. She's a 1953 model 301a Singer, and she will sew lightweight leather and heavy-ish fabrics with no upsets. I found her on Craigslist in a town nearly an hour away, but it was worth the drive, a good find. The cabinet is handmade and very solid if not all that pretty. The first drawer held several treasures...
Any guesses what this might be? I had no idea how to use it at first.
It's a...
You just pull the ring shaped handles up and out to the sides and load a stocking or sock using the spring to hold it, then place the whole thing under the sewing machine needle and sew up any holes. How it works is you just move it back and forth until the hole is filled with stitches. I thought it was totally cool after I found out how to use it.
Our second-year hydrangeas are growing beautifully. Coffee grounds are helping to keep the blooms blue.
With a combination of 1/4 cup dish liquid and 16 ozs. water in a spray bottle.
Our Lavender Orpingtons are fully grown and producing chicks. I've even sold some at a good profit.
This is Stubby; I thinks she's going to be a hen.
Our Buff Brahma hen is setting and very moody. I'll just back out quietly...shh.
I found this American Elderberry growing along the fence line and hope to transplant it to a more convenient spot in the fall.
We had a birthday celebration on the Star of Knoxville Riverboat last month.
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We lunched and enjoyed the ride up a stretch of the Tennessee River.
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| The little needle book from the fifties was also in a drawer of the machine cabinet. |
loved the bluebird and blooms! but LOVE that old singer! wow! totally envious and i don't even sew! but i'd love to have an old machine like that to do mending stuff. my mom had a cabinet (but the machine had been taken out). she had a 'newer' free-standing singer that was ancient, too, that sat on the cabinet. loved it!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find one of the machines, Theresa, I know you'd love it.
DeleteI love your flowers. They are so colorful and beautiful. Your sewing machine is awesome! I love the bluebird photo, too. The riverboat trip sounds like it was wonderful. I'm so glad you had a good time on the trip.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are well and enjoying the summer.
Thank you, Brenda. Have a great 4th of July!
DeleteHappy Birthday! What a wonderful way to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteYour sewing machine was such a find. You are the perfect new owner since I know you will treasure and care for it as it's original owner did.
Thank you for the birthday wishes, Kay. I love that machine, and I'm keeping it in my kitchen for now just so I can look at it often.
DeleteEnjoy reading and seeing all the lovely photos on your posting today. The river boat trip sounded fantastic. Your antique sewing machine looks awesome. Great find. I wonder where June went too, I wish you a super great time the rest for your Summer. Hugs Judy
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy, I'm glad you liked the post.
DeleteWhat a lovely post...I always love seeing what others are busy wiith! I just adore your new (old) sewing machine and we were given a needlebook just like the one you pictured here! Thank you for sharing! Blessings, Kelly-Anne
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly-Anne! Isn't the needlebook a treasure. Have a great week.
DeleteYour hydrangea is beautiful and I am starting to feel like I am the only one on the planet who doesn't have an elderberry bush ;) This is something I am going to have to remedy as there is so much goodies one can do with them. Your boat ride looked so enjoyable! Thanks for sharing your goings-ons... Your piece of country is very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find an elderberry bush, JES. They grow wild here in Tennessee.
DeleteWild! How wonderful! I will keep a searchin! I also wanted to thank you for linking up with us and leaving such kind comments. You are a treasure :)
DeleteThose chickens and that little chick are absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nana. The chick follows me around when I let her out. :)
DeleteA lot has happened ! Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHello sweet lady! It's so nice to visit you and see what you've been up to :) Your blossoms are simply lovely and I laughed at the dead bug - it just tickled my funny bone.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your sewing machine and the stocking darner is so neat! I would actually have fun mending socks with something like that. . .at least for the first day or two :)
Sounds like you are having a lovely summer and I hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July! Take care. Hugs!
Thank you, Stephanie, I hope you have a great 4th of July, too.
DeleteWell-I love your posts-they always make me want to move to Tenn. I have never seen a bluebird here, can't grow hydrangeas where I live and they are my favorite flower-I admire them at my son and DIL's. And then there are those absolutely beautiful Lavender Orphingtons-what a beautiful combination with the red topknot. I won't even comment on the Singer-it is just all too much to take in:) Have a festive 4th and Happy B'Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elaine, and have a Happy 4th of July!
DeleteHappy belated birthday! That must've been a great celebration. It's beautiful ... as is the Tennessee River.
ReplyDeleteThe Orpingtons are just beautiful but it looks like Buff is getting the job done. :-)
Thank you for a beautiful post ... your photos make me heartsick for a trip to Tennessee. Happy Independence Day!
Thank you, LesleyAnn, we did have fun on the riverboat.
DeleteYou're right the Buff Orp is setting eggs while the Lavenders are happy-go-lucky and carefree. Sounds like you need to visit the Smokies soon. :)
What a great find! Love the darner. My Grandma taught me how to darn socks by hand....
ReplyDeleteNancy, I just learned how to darn socks by hand, but this could be a lot faster. ;)
DeleteToni, love everything in this post!! I don't even feel comfortable with chickens, and yet yours are just beautiful!!! And that rosebush is unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find that sewing machine is, too! I enjoyed your post! Have a great 4th!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Deb.
DeleteWhat an amazing find! I know you'll be enjoying your new old sewing machine and having fun with all its features. Your garden and hens are as wonderful as always. Looks like the summer there is going to be a great season and I'm glad for that. :-)
ReplyDeleteHere is not-so-great but you know what kind of weather we usually have...
Hugs
Thank you, Alhana, I'm going to sew on the machine this week.
DeleteHope you have some cool weather soon.
You are such a great writer, Toni! I love to visit you and see all kinds of country living! I think we must live life a lot alike :) I got a great sale buy on plant acidifier a long time ago and am just running out...now I'll use the coffee grounds. Thanks for the reminder. The sewing machine is a gem. How wonderful to find a drawerful of goodies and a good history lesson for your grandkids! Are you able to make socks? That is so neat! See you later, chickadee!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jacqueline. The coffee grounds should be put on heavy like a layer of mulch to do much good. I can knit socks which takes forever, but that's the only way I can produce them.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to stop by and thank you for visiting my blog. I like this posting very much. The photos are beautiful. I hope you are having a very happy summer.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic sewing machine! And your flowers and hens are gorgeous too. Thanks for sharing at Simple Live Thursday! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Kara!
DeleteWhat a lovely post and your Orphingtons are beautiful! I didn't know they came in anything but Buff. Thanks for stopping by the Ten Acre Homestead. Have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteHi there, thanks for stopping by, TAH. I didn't know anything about the Lavenders until last year and completely fell for 'em when I first saw them.
DeleteLove your Orpingtons they are so pretty! I have one bloom on my hydrangea this year.
ReplyDeleteI am growing an elderberry this year but need a Wyldwood to compliment my Bob Gordon. Fortunately, the man down the way is growing a field with both so maybe I'll get the pollination benefit. Your blue birds are pretty!
ReplyDeleteI am blessed every time I see a comment from you :) I hope your summer is going well and that you are enjoying more time out of doors. Isn't this cooler weather glorious? Thanks for the instructions on how to make the coffee grounds thicker! Blessings, dear friend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment so I could come visit your blog. My husband would absolutely love that sewing machine! He is actually the sewer in the family and is starting to learn upholstery sewing was well. He is always on the hunt at yard sales for a machine like the one you got for a great deal. We got an antique corn planter last weekend for a great deal and I plan on using next planting season. Oh, and I loved the stocking darner. We have a darning egg that my hubby uses, but that little gadget you have looks super nifty. Have a fantastic summer!
ReplyDeleteThose Orpingtons are beautiful! I have an old Singer similar to that, but haven't used it in a long time. Right now it's a decoration. In years past, I sewed our daughter's straps back on her Mary Janes, sewed up every seam on the canvas tent to reinforce it, and used it for all kinds of stuff! Have never seen a stocking darner thingey. What a find! And yeah, those old workhorse Singers would be good for upholstery too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having a great summer. I love the photos of the bluebirds and flowers. Your sewing machine is neat, too.
ReplyDeletePassei para uma visita.
ReplyDeleteAmei suas fotos. É uma preciosidade a máquina de costura.
✿⊱•° Boa semana!
Beijinhos.
¸.✿⊱╮✿╮
Just saying hello from Australia. I love your chooks! Your photos are quite stunning. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy mom's sewing machine was circa 1951 or '52 and I seem to remember something like that in her sewing cabinet--what a great find! Especially now that I know what it is. I'll have to ask her about it. (And if an earlier version of my trying to write this comment shows up, my apologies, I'm not seeing the first one.)
ReplyDelete