Sunday, September 28, 2014

Treadle Sewing Machine and Tennessee Sorghum

One of the last blooms of the summer on my pink hydrangea.  I'd been putting coffee grounds on my hydrangeas so the blooms would be blue or purple, but I've stopped doing that since I noticed the one I put the most on didn't bloom at all this season.  Oops, live and learn they say.  Better pink than none then.

 In my last post I mentioned I'd been looking for a treadle sewing machine, and find her I did at an antique store near us.


 They are getting hard to find so I was glad to get one in pretty good condition.

She's a very basic 1926 Model 66, but I'm a basic sort of seamstress so I think we'll get along well.   

In this photo she is still very dirty and without a few necessary parts like a belt and spool pin, but she's clean now and new parts have been installed.  I really wanted to have a machine that doesn't require electricity.  This one fits the bill beautifully.  I'm still learning to treadle efficiently, but I'm really enjoying the learning.

Have you ever seen one of these? They smelled like a perfume when we first found them then slightly of an orange scent after a day or two. I'd read about them in books, but I had no idea what they were until we were out driving one day and found them in the roadway.  They are the fruit of a small tree that was popular with Native Americans and also early settlers, the Osage Orange.  Native Americans used the wood of the tree for their bows because it would bend just right.  Early settlers planted them profusely as hedges for cattle as they have long thorns that discouraged wayward cattle from leaving their homesteads.

This is our turnip greens bed and much fuller and nearly large enough to pick now.  Love them greens.  One of our favorite meals consists of turnip greens and country ham on biscuits.  Can't wait.

Yesterday Goodman and I took a 2-hour road trip to Muddy Pond, Tenn.   I wanted to get a jar of fresh sorghum, and a family there makes it the old-fashioned way which is fun to watch.  I took pictures with my cell phone, but they are not good.  I'm posting this youtube video from Tennessee Crossroads so you can get a good tour of our destination.
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28 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlSeptember 28, 2014 at 5:16 PM

    enjoyed that video and that family tradition! neat!

    i knew they were called osage oranges, but here in texas, folks usually call those trees bois d'arcs (or bodarks).

    congrats on the treadle singer! she's a beauty! she's older than the one my mother used, i think. :)

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 28, 2014 at 5:25 PM

      Thank you, Theresa! I'm glad you liked the video. Nifty French sounding name for the osage oranges in Texas, but then Texas always does everything grander than most places. :)

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  2. ElaineSeptember 28, 2014 at 5:17 PM

    If this comment ends up as a duplicate-erase one:) Jealous of your 2 electricity free machines! Both are on my wish list. I have a featherweight that needs a bobbin case to trade:) Thanks for your comments on my blog-been outta town and just catching up. I get no computer work done while gone to Seattle. My laptop is down as well-those are all my excuses:) have a blessed week-Love that treadle!

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 28, 2014 at 5:25 PM

      Thank you Elaine! I wouldn't think you'd get any work done while visiting those cutie pie grandgirls. I hope you had a great time. If I had a featherweight I'd trade you, but they are way out there in price around here unless you happen on one that the owner has no clue what it is. I'm still hoping....

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  3. Our photosSeptember 28, 2014 at 5:48 PM

    Very nice ! I have never seen such a fruit.

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 28, 2014 at 6:24 PM

      Thank you! People don't eat them, but I hear squirrels love them.

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  4. kathyinozarksSeptember 28, 2014 at 8:18 PM

    awesome-I love sorghum have not seen it made though, we can get local here too-love that

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 29, 2014 at 8:40 AM

      Thanks for stopping by, Kathy. I think the folks in the video had been part of a group of Mennonites that broke up several years ago. It was neat to watch the sorghum making in progress.

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  5. QuiltedtimeSeptember 29, 2014 at 12:19 AM

    I absolutely can't believe the luck you have in finding those antique sewing machines. It's astounding! Of course, you know what you are looking at when you find it. I wouldn't have a clue.

    Your greens are making me green with envy.

    Have a great week,

    K.

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 29, 2014 at 8:42 AM

      Hi Kay! We did a lot of looking before finding this cabinet. It has some stains, but the wood is in great shape. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Cranberry MorningSeptember 29, 2014 at 8:48 AM

    Glad you found that great old Singer treadle machine! Love the poster!

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 29, 2014 at 10:59 AM

      Thank you! I love that poster, too. Thanks for stopping by. :)

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  7. StephanieSeptember 29, 2014 at 9:05 AM

    This was so interesting, my friend! I loved the video and now I want to take a trip to Muddy Pond :) I have never had sorghum syrup. . .I don't think I have even heard of it before now.

    Thanks, Toni :) Your post was a delight! Hugs to you!

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM

      Hi Stephanie! I just love the old-time ways of doing things so this little outing was pure joy. Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  8. AlhanaSeptember 30, 2014 at 3:19 AM

    Does coffee ground change the colour of the flower? I didn't know that! I'm afraid I'm too much of a city girl. Your pink hydrangea is beautiful enough to make you forget about purple ones. ;-)
    First time seeing that fruit too. Is it edible or just used as insect repellant? So curious!

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 30, 2014 at 8:09 AM

      Coffee grounds will change the color of hydrangea flowers, but without a way to test it, it is difficult to know exactly how much to use - a guessing game for me. This year I had pink, purple and blue flowers on different hydrangea plants but all the same type of hydrangea plant. The Osage Orange fruit is like glue on the inside with seeds. People don't eat them, but squirrels do if they can't find anything else. They are not palatable to most animals. When these short trunk trees were used as hedges/fences sometimes a cow would try to eat the fruit and choke to death so when barbed wire became available it was used for fencing instead of the trees. Thanks for stopping by. :)

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  9. CallySeptember 30, 2014 at 3:34 PM

    I found the You tube so interesting. I had no idea what sorghum was. We don't have that here "across the pond"
    Your treadle machine is a great find. I have one but it has not been used since the 1970's. I shall not part with it.
    Hugs

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    1. magnoliasnteaSeptember 30, 2014 at 7:33 PM

      Cally, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The treadle machines are beautiful and nostalgic aren't they; I'm glad you're holding on to yours as you never know when it might come in handy.

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  10. JESOctober 1, 2014 at 6:23 AM

    Your hydrangea is beautiful! And... I have never heard of sorghum syrup! I am going to have to show my hubby this video (he will enjoy the old fashioned ways of this family also) as the local farmers will sometimes ask him to bale it once it has been shredded up... Never thought to drink it :) Thanks for sharing that!

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  11. magnoliasnteaOctober 1, 2014 at 11:12 AM

    Thank you, JES. Sorghum is a cousin to molasses and sweet as can be. I use it in cooking and on biscuits, yum. Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. AnonymousOctober 6, 2014 at 6:03 PM

    Your treadle machine is beautiful! That would be so fun to learn!

    :)Vicki

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  13. Brenda Kay LedfordOctober 7, 2014 at 2:13 PM

    Loved your posting about the treadle Singer sewing machine. My mama used to have one like this. I also like the sorghum posting. Granddaddy used to raise cane and make sorghum. It was so good on hot, buttered biscuits. I also love turnip greens.

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  14. Bethany CarsonOctober 7, 2014 at 11:20 PM

    Very pretty hydrangea--reminds me of one between our house and our neighbor's when I was a child in Portland, OR. Also, your new sewing machine is a beauty! What a find!

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  15. Hootin AnniOctober 10, 2014 at 8:22 AM

    I remember seeing an osage orange for the first time....I thought it was deformed somehow. lol

    and treadles....I learned to sew on them!!
    yours is in super condition by the looks of your photos!!

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  16. JacquelineOctober 14, 2014 at 6:26 PM

    My goodness you eat well! The turnip greens and country ham on biscuits sounds amazing! We have osage orange balls here, too and drivers like to run over them if they are in the road. I made a centerpiece of them on year, but little bugs crawled and flew out :-/ Your little doilies are so pretty in the next post! I can't sit still long enough to do that kind of work! I esp like the gold one on the Black singer finish. You are so crafty!
    “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to Him and are safe!” Proverbs 18:10
    Grace, peace, and joy to you this week~!

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  17. LacyOctober 14, 2014 at 6:27 PM

    Love your machines!
    My grandmother-in-law has one. It was great to try.

    I've only heard those things called hedge balls. Guess I learn something new everyday. :)

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  18. LacyOctober 14, 2014 at 6:29 PM

    Oh and they are supposed to keep spiders at bay, but I don't think it worked for my friend. We nearly had a spider stomp that year. :)

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  19. Amy BurzeseOctober 22, 2014 at 7:46 PM

    Nice machine. I hope you enjoy using it. Around here those are called hedge apples or horse apples. I like photographing them. Turnip greens, collards, and kale are the best fall food!

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Thank you for your comments!