Buying a Sewing Machine...Go Vintage or Antique!

Sure, I'd like to have one of those super spendy modern machines...I want one that has an embroidery module, because that's about the only thing that I don't have in my machines.  Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of money to spend.  Not all at one time, anyway!  So that's just not going to happen.  Maybe someday...if I win the lotto.  So...what's a girl (or guy) to do?  Look to the vintage/antiques.  I can get a machine that is 100 times better than any of the less expensive models on the market today.

Let's examine why.  The average life span of a new, lower end machine (think big box store machines) these days seems to be about 5 years or less. These machines are going to cost you anywhere from $89 to $500.  True, they have extra stitches, pretty ones.  How often are you going to use them?  If you're quilting, you need the straight stitch, and maybe you'll use a decorative stitch to quilt with.  You'll sometimes use a zigzag, or a blanket stitch for applique.

The average life span of a Singer 403, made in the 50's,  has not yet been determined!  If you discount all of the  perfectly good machines from the 60's and before that have gone to landfills because they just weren't wanted anymore, even tho they still worked, you have very few of these oldies that went because they were worn out or broken!

People, I have a machine that is about 132 years old, and that baby sews like a dream!  My current favorite is a 100 year old treadle machine that will sew anything I throw at it!  Multiple layers of fabric where seams meet are nothing to it.  Doesn't even hesitate or moan a bit, just zips right through!  Treadles, tho, are a novelty for many and some don't even want to think about making them their "main machine", so we'll examine some e-machines. (electric machines)

I decided to write this blog article because last evening, I decided to make a "truck quilt" for the spousal unit.  He asked for one, and if I can avoid denying him anything, I will do just that...and he wants a quilt to put in his pickup truck.  I got out some precuts that I've had for awhile, and decided that since I haven't used it in awhile, I would stitch this one on my 1957 Kenmore model 84.  This baby has a 1.2 amp motor.  It's going to go forever.  Well, ok.  Not forever, but it's going to sew for a longggggggg time!  All metal machine, it's heavy.  It's in a "desk cabinet".  Very cool cabinet, when I lift the top of the cabinet to slide it behind the desk, it lifts the machine into position.  I paid $15 for the machine, and found the cabinet in another thrift store for $20.  I forked out a few more bucks for the decorative cams that the machine uses.  ($2 at an antique store)  So now I have a powerful machine, in a very nice cabinet, that does 18 different decorative stitches.  For $37.00, I have a machine that is going to outlast me.  This is the Kenmore 84 in the original cabinet that I brought it home in.  I switched it to the desk cabinet and took this cabinet to the St. Vinnie's store.

I have a 1950's Singer 403 that I paid $29.00 for in the cabinet.  None of the attachments that I have would fit it, as it's a "slank shank" machine, meaning that the needle/presser foot is at a slant to allow better viewing of the stitching as it occurs.  Since this girl didn't have any extras, I felt the need to buy some.  So I found presser feet at the local Goodwill for six dollars.  My friend Cathy had a set of the decorative stitch cams and more presser feet (I got another slant shank machine, a 500A for Christmas that I needed the extra feet for!).  I only have to give $25 to Cathy for all of what she sent, and it was a LOT, half for each machine, so another $12.50 invested in this machine.  Forty seven dollars and fifty cents later, I have a complete machine setup that once again will last longer than I do, and it will do 21 decorative stitches with the cams I have. This is the Singer 403.  Photo was taken right after I got it home, and it's not been cleaned yet.

My point is this.  Do you want a machine for it's "status value" or for it's REAL value?  These vintage machines are workhorses that in no way deserve to be put out to pasture.  They are heavy, all metal machines.  They, with a bit of care, will last you more than your lifetime, and will sew a "prettier" straighter stitch than any modern machine.  They will zig zag, they will applique, they will free motion quilt AND free motion embroider.  They will serve you well, and be more faithful to you than their previous owners were to them.  

What to look for when you look for a vintage machine:

Ignore the dirt and grungy stuff on the machine body.  That will clean off.  Instead ask to plug the machine in and run it.  If that's not possible, at least look to see that the cords and foot feed  (or knee feed) are there.  If you don't want to mess with rewiring, check the cords and wires to make sure they are intact and solid.  You don't want to see any cracks or bare spots in the insulation.  Turn the handwheel and make sure that the needle goes up and down.  Look to see if the bobbin case is there.  (that bobbin case can be spendy, if it's missing)  Take thread and scrap fabric with you, thread the machine and even if you have to do it by turning the handwheel, make sure it stitches.  (If the timing is off, it won't make stitches, and while you CAN time a machine yourself, it can be difficult.  You don't want to have to pay to have it done, and besides, when the timing is off, it's usually a sign of abuse of some kind).  For pricing?  I've been lucky with mine, as you can see above, but if you are patient and watch for it, you can get some real bargains!

Where to look?

Ebay, Craigs List, local papers, thrift stores, yard/garage sales, antique stores, let your friends and neighbors know that you're looking.   Keep in mind that Ebay is going to have shipping attached, and these babies are HEAVY.

If you're looking for an update on "The Guy" saga, he seems to have disappeared...most likely will be back with a story of how he almost died.   (DO NOT read that as a wish that he did!! In my perfect world, illness or injury doesn't exist, not even for my enemies!)  I do know that a machine that he promised would be delivered on Feb. 12th didn't show up.  Nor has the money that the lady paid for it.  I don't believe that any of the others have gotten their machines either, but I don't know for sure.

Next time, I'll talk about what to look for in an antique or vintage straight stitch machine.

Well now...Let's see...

We've been called ignorant and stupid, we've been called heartless, we've been accused of a lack of understanding, and of being ungrateful.  Did you know we're poor examples of Christianity?   Now I honestly don't have a dog in this fight, (read as, he doesn't have one of my machines), but I feel included, by virtue of the fact that I support the folks that are upset that they haven't gotten their machines back yet.

Blind faith.  That's what the guy's supporters have....it must be because they don't READ what he writes, and if they do they don't SEE the truth behind it.  Let me try again to open some eyes, because I KNOW some of you read this blog.  Much of this will be redundant, if not all of it, but I'm hoping that repetition will be effective.  It works when teaching first graders.

• He says he's never been called a liar before in his life.   Not true.  I know of a few women that have called him a liar, and at least one that calls him a slimy slug that she wants nothing to do with, and won't even ask him a vintage machine question because every time she contacted him in the past he flirted with her and she thinks he's creepy.  He's lied several times about fixing the machines he has that belong to others, and he's lied about sending them out to their rightful owners.
• He implies that he can't afford medical bills or meds.  If that's true, then he and his wife (who has my extreme sympathy) might want to sell off some of the over 8 million in assets that he told me they have. (he told me that when he was going to marry his mistress and didn't want to just up and leave in the name of true love until he knew the mistress was going to have money to support him with....unless, of course he was lying about that)
• He claims to have a deadly illness.  We already know what I think of this, but I'll say it again.  I do not believe that he is ill.  I believe he had some kind of condition that caused the ugly sores on his head as shown in the photo on his PDA, but I in no way believe that it's autoimmune, but maybe that's because he's lied in the past.
• He can no longer work and needs SSDI.  We might need to examine this one a bit...well...no we don't.  He claims he's working several hours per day on the machines that he was supposed to have done months (or more than a year) ago.  Uhm.  If you can work hours per day on machines, then get a job.  At least that's what SSDI will say, and I'll be sure to point them to the PDA should they approve the disability.
• He claims that his vision is shot.  Says that with glasses, his vision is ONLY 10/10.  He really shoulda googled that before he posted it.  10/10 is the same as 20/20.  For those of you that support him, what those numbers mean is that what the average person can see at 10 or 20 feet, the person being examined can also see at 10 or 20 feet.  Wish my vision was that good.  Poor research on your part guy!!  Oh!  Add to that please, that he doesn't seem to have trouble seeing a computer screen and reading it.  

If that's not enough to make you question your blind faith in the guy, then I don't know what would be.  Know though, that we are NOT ignorant or stupid, we READ his posts, and SEE him for what he IS, not what you WANT him to be.  We're NOT heartless, we honestly care about those that are truly sick, homeless, and I've yet to kick a dog when he's down.  Christian?  Keep in mind ladies, that Satan can quote the scriptures, it doesn't make him righteous.  True Christians do not follow false prophets, and that's pretty close to what you're doing.  He's the Jim Jones of the board, and you are ready and willing to drink his Koolaid.  (Thanks to my friend for the Koolaid analogy, she knows who she is)  Don't do it ladies...it's poison.

Oh!  I nearly forgot!  He claims to have gotten death threats, death wishes, and wishes for untold misery for the rest of his life!  Really?  Seriously?  You folks that I'm writing this for...you BELIEVE that?  Stop and think about who the ladies are that sent their machines to him.  You honestly think those ladies would do something like that?  Let me share with you that I've heard that song before.  He claims the ex of his mistress did the same thing...threatened him.   The ex of his mistress says he didn't.  I choose to believe the ex of his mistress. I've never caught HIM in a lie...

Oh my...

The Guy had a temper tantrum on the board last night, threatening to overcharge the people who expect him to return their machines. Then he posted again that he's "just tired".  All I have to say to that is, "You made your bed, lie in it."
Now...if he *really is* sick, I feel for him.  No fun, no fun at all, but you see, I don't believe that he's really sick.  C'mon...think about it.  So few folks have this disease here in the States, it's incredibly deadly and yet his doctors wait months to suggest he join a study, and then wait months to enroll him in said study?  Someone who could die from a simple infection, which he reports that he often has?  The doctors are going to wait months to get him to a place where they can examine him?  Not only that, but he'll be an inpatient the whole time?  Really?  Seriously?  He should do his homework better.

There is one woman on the board that is all fired up to defend him.  Pretty sure she's been here to read, but she won't post here.  Instead she posts on the board to "Bring it on" (where have we heard that before?) and it'd better not be on the open board but in a PM instead.  I thought about it.  I really did, and I have to admit that I love the occasional spar with a mental midget, but it's going to be a public, not a private debate should we choose to butt heads.  It can be on the board, which she doesn't want, and truthfully, neither do I...too many people there don't really care one way or the other, and it's not fair to them.... or it can be here.... but it's not going to be in private.

Back to the Fun Stuff!

We have a new "lady" in the house!!  She followed me home, and I had to let her in, it was snowing and cold, I was afraid she'd get all rusty! ;)

When William and I went to Eugene, Oregon about a week and a half ago, we went to one antique shop that had this pretty machine and cabinet.  Priced WAY out of my range.  I left it sitting in the store, and thought about it quite a bit on the way home.  Thought about it all evening and the next day.  Announced to William the next day that I was going to sell some of my collection so I could go back and get this machine.  It was just something I felt I had to do, and even though I felt it was overpriced, I HAD to have it.  As the week wore on, I was moving about and trying to decide which of the machines I already have would be offered on Craig's List, my ever-loving spousal unit would counter with "But you LIKE that one"...."We worked hard on that one"...."it's kind of a cute machine"....and a "Don't even CONSIDER that one!"  LOL...he won't admit it, he likes these ladies as much as I do!

Tuesday, we were off to Eugene again, and the bonus was that one of the ladies from the Quilting Board was going to meet us for lunch!  Margie is just the sweetest, cutest woman!!  We had a great time!

 That's Margie on the left, yours truly on the right.  We had lunch at "Dicky Jo's Burgers" in Eugene...it was GREAT food, and wonderful company!

"It" or as I more commonly refer to them, "She" is a 1912 Singer model 115-1 with "Gold Wing" decals.  Her "skirt" is a very desirable "Drawing Room" cabinet, an early model with the spring elevator lift. (Later models of this cabinet didn't have the lift)  She's in wonderful shape as is the cabinet.  One of the guys on Needlebar said it was a "top of the line machine in a top of the line cabinet".  I think this is the first time I've ever had anything that was considered "top of the line" with the exception of my spousal unit, and I don't own him...he graciously puts up with me!! :)  In doing some research today, I learned that this combination originally sold for somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 in 1912.  That, according to the inflation calculator, translates to about $4500 in today's dollars.  Someone with some money first owned this machine...and it shows in that there is very little wear on it or the cabinet.

I took photos before I wiped her down so you get to see the dust from the store...but here she is...meet "Margie"!  (Named for the lovely lady we had lunch with,  and coincidentally, my Aunt Marg, who I was named after. (Long story...another day)

Isn't she pretty?  I've already made a table runner with her...she sews SUPER stitches!  I'm pretty pleased with this machine, and I'm thrilled with the cabinet!  To see how the cabinet works, mosey over to YouTube and watch this video, courtesy of the "Treadle Lady"...it's a cute video, and it shows you just how really cool this set up is! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi8a_OHUv1M&lr=1&feature=mhum 

I KNEW IT!!

Get this.
The Guy gets bashed on his PDA for keeping machines that don't belong to him, after he took the money for them.  He whines and gets the posts removed, and says he just doesn't understand why people don't understand that he's sick and just can't do what he promised.  (Paraphrased because I don't recall his exact words.)
He disappeared for a few days, and I told someone that he would be back, that he would claim to have been working on machines, and that he would have a "set-back" in his "illness" because of it.  He didn't disappoint!  He posted this evening, claiming that he has been working on machines, that they've nicked his fingers and caused infections, and that his wife is angry because of it all.

There's a bright side to his post tho.  He says he NEVER wants to work on another machine!  That means that he won't be bilking folks out of their money in the future!  I know it really doesn't help those that are having problems now, and for that I'm sorry...I truly am.  I'm guessing that he WILL send the machines out, providing he can remember who they belong to... and be expecting those ladies that have waited for over a year to be grateful to him for putting his life on the line in order to "stop the bitching" (and no, that's not the way *I* think of it, but I'm pretty positive that it's the way *HE* does! LOL)

Time now, to sit back and watch the show...I'm pretty sure the guy, who by the way, out does every drama queen I've ever met in my life, will make it a good one!

Bring it on...

I've heard from several of the ladies that were open and honest on the guy's thread about being cheated out of their money and their machines...they've been getting hateful PMs from the guy's supporters.

Now how is it, when I offered in an earlier post to publish any defense that anyone wanted to offer for him, (I don't censor out ANYTHING other than porn!) not one of those same folks offered to defend the guy here on my blog?  NOT ONE!  Yet they'll take the time to send a hateful PM defending the poor guy on the grounds that his daughter left home (gimme a break, she's an adult, it was time!),  he's got a disabled son...yes...yes he does....that evidently can deal with funerals and 100 mile yard sales,  and let's not forget how incredibly sick he is!

Bring it to me people!  I have an answer for everything that you have defend him with!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  I don't for a minute believe that he's as sick as he claims to be.  NOT FOR ONE MINUTE!  He can get on the computer and chat with his friends via email and PM, he can post on two quilting boards, he can go to family reunions and funerals, he can go to yard sales, antique and thrift stores, etc., but he can't go to the Post Office to mail a check to refund money that was paid to him for a machine he was selling?  He can't go to the Post Office to mail a machine to it's rightful owner who has told him, "I don't care anymore, please just send my machine back!"

Do you folks that defend him have ANY IDEA how many times he's used the excuse that the address  was wrong and the box was sent back?   I've heard of him giving that excuse at least THREE times!

So...down to brass tacks.  If he can go to family reunions, he can work on machines that he is OBLIGATED to work on.  If he can go to funerals, he can take the time to send back machines that DO NOT BELONG TO HIM.  And while we're at it, someone who claims to have everything he has, and spends everything that he says he spends DOES NOT NEED assistance to pay his medical bills, pay for meds, and he DOES NOT NEED SSDI!   He's yet another deadbeat who is looking to work the system so he doesn't have to work.

Before you jump me about all of this tho, do me the favor of arguing with fact and not emotion.  I will say it one more time.  I will post your defense of "the guy" ,  there are, after all two sides to every story.  I will answer you with fact, and if need be, with quotes.  If I have no answer to something you have to say, then I will admit it.

The one thing I will NOT do is to abandon these ladies that he's lied to and cheated out of their machines.  The only thing they are guilty of is wanting what they paid him for, and in lieu of that, just to get their machines back...for crying out loud, neither the guy or his wife work, how tough can it be?

The Poor Guy....

He managed to whine and get the negative posts removed from his PDA. I'm sure he felt the need to, dissatisfied customers are really bad for business, and when you're still trying to drum up business from unsuspecting people who don't realize that they may never see their machine again, well..you just can't have people posting on a public board that you cash checks, and don't return items to their rightful owners.

Now, in defense of the moderator that removed the posts, it IS his "personal thread" and as such he should be able to say what's posted there.  Can't hold any resentment there.  The mods have a LOT to deal with on this board...and I have respect for all but one of them.  That one that I have little respect for is one of his groupies, and I honestly thought she'd not get sucked into his line of BS...but hey.  To each their own, right?

I confess, and I know Karma will bite me in the butt for it, but I confess to having been amused by those posts!  NOT at the anguish of those that haven't gotten their machines back...THAT isn't funny in the least!  What I was amused at was that they dared to "Cross the King"!!   I can nearly hear him shouting and pitching a fit about those posts....much like I could nearly hear him verbally pitching a fit about me arguing with him on the vintage machine thread. LOL!   He as much as said in one of his posts shortly after our argument that he really wanted to hit someone...I'm pretty sure that "someone" was me...and all I could think was, "Bring it on..."   Tells me that he's an "emotional" debater...and they lose to those that argue using logic and fact... everytime.

Fact is, The Guy has machines that don't belong to him, under the pretense that he was going to fix and return them to their owners for a fee that he was paid up front.  At least one of those machines he's had for over 14 months.  Another one he's had for over 9 months. Nice machines, I might add.  He already cashed the checks on both accounts.... or his wife did.   See...he has folks make checks out to his wife, because "she handles all the finances".  Something fishy about that in itself.  Makes me wonder why he can't have money come in with his name on it.  Either my husband or I can deposit/cash the other's checks....we do it all the time.  What's he got hanging over his head that he have people write a check directly to him?  Hmmmm.... Time to check public records....could get interesting!  If I find anything, I'll let you all know! :)

Just Breathe Charlee...

I am nearly chewing my fingers off at the knuckles trying NOT to post to "The Guy's" PDA on the board!! Seriously Ladies??? Seriously?? You continue to defend someone who just posts that his vision is nearly gone, but who can evidently read the negative posts against him and whine how it hurts to see them in his PDA?? Ok...sorry. Y'all need help. He claims that he's never in his life been called a liar. SO not true...I'm pretty sure that he lied to his wife when he went to Colorado to meet with his mistress...and I KNOW his mistress called him a liar. I've called him a liar. It's so freakin' sad to see how desperately he's scrambling to hold onto the love and affection of the ladies on the board. It's sad to see the ladies on the board sucking up to him without really reading his posts and doing the math. Two plus two equals four, no matter what you add to the equation! Ah well...have said it before...will say it again. Can't save the world. And can't save ladies who don't want to be saved. ~heavy sigh~

SERIOUSLY???

Another one about "The Guy", because I see what he's doing and how he's manipulating the women on the message board. I really don't know why I post these, it does no good...those that read my last tirade about him either agree with me wholeheartedly, or claim to at least "semi-agree" while posting support for him. Heh! I guess if you don't send him your machines, you got nothing to worry about. One person that sent him her grandmother's machine, hasn't seen her machine in over NINE MONTHS! I know that the machine is a very nice one, and I have to wonder if she will ever see it again. She's upset, and wants her machine...I don't blame her. Another person posted today that all she wants is for him to communicate, something he's not very good at when he's avoiding an issue, like when he decided to dump the lady that thought he loved her because he told her he did...I regress, my apologies. Anyway, the person that posted today has been without her machine for FOURTEEN MONTHS! Over a YEAR! He claims that he mailed it but it was returned to him with address issues. Really? How many months ago was that and why hasn't it been shipped again with address corrections? Some of the people that trusted him are starting to post on his personal thread. Those that don't know him are defending him..."He's been so sick, cut him some slack". BULL! He called it a business. Now...I have a business job. I've had businesses in the past. One of the first things you learn is that if you can't be at work, you find someone to work for you. If you can't communicate you find someone to communicate for you. If you have items that belong to your customers, you use one of those people that you have working/communicating for you to get those items back to the customers WITH A FULL REFUND! He's felt well enough to be online, then he's felt well enough to send messages to the people that he's cheated out of their machines. If that sounds a bit strong to you, consider it. A full year and two months he's had at least one of those machines. Sounds to me like he doesn't intend to send it back unless he's forced to. That's how I'd feel if it was my machine anyway. I've gotten a few comments from those that agree with me. I know that some that don't agree with me have read these posts too, without comment. Seriously. If you've got proof that "The Guy" is an upstanding human being that would no more use/abuse online friendships, I'd love to see it. And yes. Even though I moderate the comments on my blog to prevent porn sites from being posted, I will post your points of view. I don't censor things that I don't agree with, but I may answer them. ;) Onward and upward!! I think I'm going to "thin the herd" of machines a bit. I don't have as many as some folks do, but I really do have too many to use...as much as I love them, I think it's time for some of them to go. It would make room for machines that are on my wish list, and also make some space in our apartment. I'll really have to think on it, but right now, I think the machines that are "on the block" would be: 1. 1912 Singer 9W treadle 2. 1934 White Number 8 3. 1924 Singer 99 in a bendwood case with kneebar. 4. 1951 Centennial Singer 201-2 That's the list for now...altho it should be longer, I don't think I'm ready to part with any of the others yet...and these four should open up a lot of space. I just need to gather the will to get it done...it's one of those things that no, I really don't want to sell them, but yes, I need to sell them. I need to be more selective in the future about what I buy. I want to rescue every last one of them. I'm pretty sure that it could be grounds for divorce if I did. ;) Oh! And just for the record? I actually DID use one of my machines the other day...I sewed a pair of pajama pants for myself! They're really comfy! :)

It Was A Lovely Holiday!

We had a really nice Christmas and New Years! Meet "Buzz", my Christmas gift from my wonderful Spousal Unit! Buzz is a 1963 (or so, no real records for these machines) Singer 500A, also known as a "Rocketeer". I absolutely LOVE this machine...William couldn't have gotten me a better gift. To go with it, he bought me a full set of the decorative stitch cams. I had found the machine on Craig's List and showed it to him, but he seemed to blow it off as just another old machine. I was so disappointed a few days later when I was once again browsing Craig's list and the machine was gone! I resigned myself to not having a Rocketeer in my collection yet, and didn't give it much more thought. After all, it's the season to do for others, right? So I went about my way planning to get Christmas gifts for this wonderful man I married. I got him a toolbox for his pickup, and some other things that he "needed" for the truck and for shooting his black powder rifle that he got for his birthday. I was tickled pink knowing that he was going to like his gifts...there was no doubt in my mind. Christmas morning, he handed me a box to open. I opened it, and there was a foot pedal for a sewing machine. He asked if it was the one I'd been looking for since I'd been thinking of finding a black one for my Singer 201-2, that currently has a white colored pedal. I looked at the plug on it, and told him that no, it wouldn't fit, but maybe we could rewire it. He suggested instead that it might fit the machine that was out in our storage shed! He immediately got marching orders to BRING IT IN!! :) He went and retrieved Buzz from the storage unit. I was SO excited!! It's a wonderful machine, sews like a dream.

Regarding my previous post about "the guy" on "that board" ("Frustration Reigns"). He's still tugging at the heart strings of the lovely, generous, big hearted ladies on the board. Today, he posted that he doesn't feel comfortable on the thread he started about vintage machines anymore...why? Because others have answers to questions too? Because he looks like a toddler having a tantrum when he's challenged? Heh! I'm at the point that I feel like I've tried. I've tried to warn the ladies there that he'll take them for a ride if given a chance. He's not beyond taking advantage of their generosity and big, warm hearts. Some of the ladies took what I had to say and have backed away from him. It seems that it's pushed some of them closer....one even suggesting that they take up a collection on the board to help him with his medical bills...GIVE ME A BREAK!! He just spent $300 on a GUITAR before Christmas! He doesn't need money...he needs to be neutered! At any rate...I feel my job is done. Can't save the world and all that. There are those out there that want to believe the best of everyone, and take everyone at their word, no matter what. I honestly wish those kind hearts all of the best this world has to offer, and I sincerely hope that they don't end up heartbroken as one woman did. Actually...more than one woman was hurt. Instead of praying for his health, I pray for his victims.

Back to machines!! :) The other "Pre-Christmas" gift I got was a Singer 403! It's the pre-cursor to the Rocketeer. Very nice machine, my friend Suzy found it for me and picked it up for less than $30! This one too, sews like a dream, and I'm so excited to have it! The cabinet on this one needs to be stripped and refinished, but all in all it's not too bad, and the machine itself is wonderful! It takes the same decorative cams as the Rocketeer, so the two machines will share those. Now I just have to get some other projects finished so that I can SEW SOMETHING! :) Speaking of getting things done...I'd best get at it...I really need to get this sewing/computer room so that I can walk through it! :) Talk to you later!

Frustration Reigns...

I frequent a message board. There is a person on the board that I watch like a hawk. This person is someone that I don't believe can be trusted as far as he can be thrown. I'll call him "the guy". I worry about the ladies on the board falling for the same ploy as another friend did. Let me give you some background: One day a little over a year ago, I get a message from this guy telling me that he's madly in love and has never been happier. Now, I know that he's married, and so was she, but ok, you can't help who you fall in love with, or when. You CAN control how you handle it, but hey! I'm not perfect, who am I to judge, right? Besides...the excitement of new love is contagious! You WANT to be happy for those folks that are lucky enough to find it... So I chat in PMs with the happy couple. He's traveled to visit her while her soon to be ex was out of town. They made plans. They seemed so happy. She came to Oregon on vacation, and I was tickled pink to get to meet her, and even posted pics of the two of us together on the message board. "He" posted on that post, calling her his "hot bride to be". (Some of you KNOW which message board I'm talking about...go look for topics I've started...you'll find it, it's still there.) Before you get all moralistic on me, you should know that I'm a sucker for romance, and I think it's incredibly romantic to find one another and work to bring that romance to fruition. I know that these things inevitably end up with someone being hurt, but believe that those "someones" will be hurt one way or another. I actually believed that these two were going to have a "happy ever after", that the respective spouses would go their own ways and end up with happiness too. So....in my excitement, I call the spousal unit into the room and tell him about it. I let him read the private messages that have been exchanged. Then I hear him say, "He's after money. She's going to be really hurt." I was flabbergasted! He was out of his mind! This was LOVE!! And with that, I bet him $5 that it would work out the way it was looking like it would from the messages! Spousal unit tells me to READ the messages where the guy states that the woman should take her soon to be ex for everything he's got. The guy said it more than once. I should not have risked the $5...and the "I told you so" that accompanied it. The woman's husband, in a desperate effort to keep her, made some trouble for the guy. The guy, afraid that his wife would find out what was going on, shut everything down. He sent a message to her, and told me, that he would be in touch when she was divorced and the path was clear. In the meantime, the guy was going to do his best to wrest part of the millions that his wife supposedly holds in assets away from her. The guy claims everything is in her name and he had to be careful. Not so sure I believe that, but if it's true, the guy's wife is one smart cookie not to trust him with any money. She obviously can't trust him with her heart, she shouldn't trust him with anything else either. Long story shorter, the woman ended up without a lot. She got her fair share, but half of not much is less than what the guy expected her to come out of her divorce with. When I pressed the guy, asking him if he was keeping both his wife and the woman on the line to see who had more money, he ADMITTED IT!! He asked me why the hell he should give up everything! "Uh....because I thought you were in love?" At that point, I handed over the $5 to the spousal unit, and I listened to the "I told you so" that was accompanied by a wink, a grin, and a return of my money. My disappointment was palpable. A great love story shot down in flames by the guy, who turned out to be a money grubbing toad. Not the end of the story tho. I continue to watch this guy, who flirted with other women on the message board at the same time he was "seeing" the woman. I know this from the women he flirted with. He quite proudly told me that one of them, whom he had openly on the board made plans to visit with, had a rather vulgar email address. So I watch. I see women going nuts over him. I see him promoting his business by flirting with them. I wonder if he's already got another victim on the hook or if the guy's wife has a tight enough grip on what he's doing that he hasn't had a chance. I wish I could put a stop to his taking advantage of these women. I can't. I've had to face the fact that I can't save the world from this guy, who is now playing on the sympathetic natures of the women on the message board by claiming to be seriously ill. Some kind of autoimmune thing. Tells all that if he gets a cold he could die...and then talks about how he went to a 100 mile yard sale, bought this and that, talked to lots of folks..... Wait! How many of us, no matter our level of intelligence, knowing that a simple cold could KILL us, would expose ourselves to hundreds of strangers and handle items that have been who knows where and contaminated by who knows what? It gets better. Can't afford the meds required, so apply for assistance. Whine because it's denied. Supposedly has a home, plus a vacation home, several cars, buys one thing after another, and he can't afford meds? What must the people on the message board, who honestly can NOT afford their meds, have nothing because of having to buy meds, sometimes have to make a choice between groceries and meds, what must they feel when they read about his whining about not getting free meds, but on the same day talks about going to the vacation home...or talks about blowing over $300 on a toy... You get my drift. I'm frustrated with the people on the message board that don't READ ALL of his posts, and don't reason out the ones that they do read. These folks are so soft hearted, and so trusting that they don't see what he's doing. All they see is someone that complains incessantly about how miserable he is....and being the kind hearted souls they are, they want to help someone that needs help. So they send him things. They pray for him. They send him business. They can't see beyond the fact that he's a male in a predominately female message board, and therefore someone to dote on. It just makes me sad.

Hazel's All Gussied Up!

I am SO pleased!! Miz Hazel the Machine has been all gussied up and I'm pleased as punch with the way she and her "skirt" look! It's been a LOT of work taking most of my free time for an entire week, and some of William's free time as well! My poor spousal unit never wanted to get involved with my machines, and yet he always comes through for me! While I still have some cleaning to do on the machine herself, the base is finished, and while it's NOT perfect, I'm still pretty proud of the job we did, considering our lack of experience, tools, and proper workspace. Before I show you how she looks now....here are some pics of the process.... This was the metal that is around the drawer frame...I thought it was brass at first.

And the same metal after some scrubbing....

Check out these rags....this isn't all of them....

She's so pretty now!

Of course...this means that I have to go camping, fishing, and keep my mouth shut about his hunting trips...somehow, I don't think I'll have a problem with that!!! :)

PROGRESS!!

YAY!! We're making progress on the Davis cabinet!! I expect Miz Hazel the Machine to be up and sewing by the end of the week!!

William put the treadle base back together after we painted the rough and/or rusty spots!

Tonight, I tackled the coffin top and drawers...(I *REALLY* need to buy some gloves!! I don't think I'll ever get my hands clean again!) The top is looking good, as are the drawers.

The drawer pulls surprized me the most. What I thought was dull brass turned out to be silver!! I'm not sure of the metal, maybe nickle?

Tomorrow, I tackle the remainder of the cabinet...and then I'll start with shellac. I think it's going to be so pretty!!



Goodnite....thought I'd share Friday's sunset with you!

The Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine

The Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine....oh my. This is a unique machine in that it does not have feed dogs! The fabric is propelled via the needle and the presser foot as seen in this video:


http://youtu.be/1rxpWrP5Wrc


I have watched my sewing machine friends talk about their DVF machines and always felt a little spark of envy. I had only ever seen ONE of these machines in the wild, and it was in terrible condition, with a price tag of over $100! I left it where it sat...somewhat reluctantly, but I seldom pay very much for my sewing machines. There are too many folks that just want to get rid of old machines for me to pay that much for one in terrible shape! I continued to haunt the antique stores and local Craig's List hoping to find any of the several machines that I would like to be a caretaker for. (Can't feel like I "own" it...they have too much personality! It would be like owning a child!) Then, one day last week, it was there!!! A Davis Vertical Feed!!!!!!!!! An EARLY Davis Vertical Feed!! With a coffin top cabinet!!!! I called and asked for more photos of the machine and cabinet, knowing already from the small photos on Craigslist that I was going to have to refinish the cabinet. These are what the gentleman sent to me:

I was in love. Especially when the gentleman told me that it had belonged to his mother in law's mother, and his mother in law was 82 years old. I wrote an email to him and explained that I didn't have the asking price, and the machine and cabinet were going to take some work and money to refurbish....and made an offer of what I thought I could do for a top dollar. He called me a few days later and told me that he had talked to his sig. other and her mother and they had decided that they would rather I had the machine, since I love them so much, than to sell it to someone else who might not appreciate it like I would!! I was FLOORED and totally honored. I made arrangements to pick up the machine from the mom the next day. When that garage door opened and I saw the machine, I was totally enamoured! Mind you, the cabinet, as you can see, is rather crusty, the machine is missing some of the decals and has some cleaning to be done, but it just oozed charm. After a little chat with "Mom" (names withheld for their privacy) I learned that she had sat near her mother as her mother sewed her clothes. Clothes that she said she hated, because they were always too big, so that she'd be able to grow into them. It made me smile. My mom used to do the same thing for me when I was little. "Mom's" mother did it because she was a child of the Great Depression. My mother did it because we didn't have much in the way of money and she had to dress 5 kids! "Mom" told me her mother's name was "Hazel", and then ammended it to add that her name was actually "Bertha Hazel", but she didn't like the name "Bertha" so always went by "Hazel". This machine's name, therefore, is Hazel. :) (And yes, I always name my machines...just like a lot of guys name their cars or motorcycles!)

I came home, and armed with "Mom's" age of 82, looked up the family on the 1930 census to find out when Hazel was born. (The woman, not the machine) I found that she was born in 1896, and because of that could not have been the original owner of this machine. SOMEONE had owned it before Hazel did! I wish I knew who, for sure...I'll bet it was a relative tho. This particular machine was made in Watertown, NY and the Davis Sewing Machine Company moved it's operation to Dayton, Ohio sometime between 1888 and 1890. The machine had to have been made sometime AFTER the last patent date on the shuttle slide which is May 12, 1885, and 1890 when the factory started work in Dayton, Ohio. Hazel the Woman would have been 2 or 3 years old when Hazel the Machine was brand new. History lesson over. ;)

I brought Hazel the Machine into the house and set it down in the dining room. As I looked her over, the task seemed daunting. I've never tackled this much restoration before. The cabinet, as you've seen, was missing much of the finish. The coffin top also needs to be worked on, and has a small hole in the back of it that I'm not even going to TRY to fix. God Bless my husband tho, he immediately sat down and started trying to figure out how to take things apart. He got the wooden top of the cabinet off. He played with the base, trying to figure out how to remove the wood pitman that operates the treadle action between the base and the machine. We gave up on that, for fear of breaking the wood. That's another indication that the machine is pre-1900...most of the big companies, and Davis was a big company, stopped using wood for the pitman arm before 1900.

Thanks to my friend, Skip, I've stripped what's left of the finish from the top of the cabinet. I used denatured alcohol, and it worked like a charm. Skip has also told me how to re-apply shellac so that it'll have a nice finish. This cabinet will always have it's flaws. There's a black water ring on it, and other flaws that give it character. I don't think I'll stain it, I don't think the original was stained. This is what it looks like now. I'm trying to avoid stripping any more of it than I have to, and so will leave the drawers as they are and just apply another coat of shellac to them to "freshen" them up.

The base for the treadle is another issue. Oh my!!! Look at the first photos. Do you see any decals on that black base? I didn't either, until I started cleaning. Once I did a little bit of a wipe down, I noticed them! Many of the decals are damaged or gone, but it still has quite a few of them left!! I'm tickled pink! After a few hours with a spray bottle, and after going through 3 large terry cloth rags, I broke down and put it into the bathtub, washed it down, and sprayed it off with hot water and the shower head. I'll be touching up missing paint and then using car wax to spiff it up. This is a "before" photo. They had used some kind of glue to glue the machine to the treadle! That's what the white stuff is....

This is after it's bath. William painted the foot pedal and bar, and as soon as I get done polishing the rest, he'll put it back together for me.

This is the "coffin top" to the cabinet. The hooks that hold it to the cabinet are broken, I'm not sure where I might be able to find them, but I will be looking! I haven't started on cleaning this up yet...

And of course, this is "Hazel the Machine". She's waiting patiently to get back into her cabinet...and I hope she's VERY patient, cuz this is gonna take some time!!! ;) Please ignore the messy looking table...I tend to pile things on it, and I just pushed them back to make room for the machine.

Well My Friends, there you have it. The Saga of Hazel, The Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine to date. I promise to post more as the process advances. I'm loving the process, and feeling a sense of accomplishment, even tho it's far from done, and most likely won't look perfect....I'm learning, and Hazel is helping me! I like to think that Hazel the Woman is watching and proud to know that her much loved old machine is once again much loved and being cared for!

Busy Week!

I've been a "fishing widow" for the past 3 days, and while I sometimes enjoy the solitude, I miss the spousal unit terribly and am anxious for him to get home tonight! In order to encourage the boss to go with him, I volunteered to work on our normal days off, so instead will be taking off tomorrow and Friday. Can we say, "YARD SALE!!" LOL I don't usually get to go to them, since I work weekends. I'm a bit excited! Maybe I'll find a new machine to bring home with me! :)

Worked on genealogy a bit this week, trying to find the parents of my Martha Ward. She was born in 1840, in Texas, orphaned by or before 1850, where she appears on the census for Walker County, TX living with Wm. and Mary Cummings and their 2 small children, as a 10 year old. There's no relationship information on the 1850, so we can't tell if Mary was a sister, or if they were guardians for her... I did find an 1846 tax roll for Walker County, and it listed a Jacob Ward...maybe her daddy? Will be digging deeper if I can!

Have not sewed at all this week. Maybe tomorrow afternoon/evening or on Friday afternoon/evening. Have some projects that I need to get finished up..they've been around too long!

On the political front: A question for you all. Do you think Obama stands a chance of reelection? The more I read/listen, the less chance I think he has! To be honest, I do think some of the problems are a result of prior administrations. "SOME" being the operative word. I think SOME of them are the fault of good old American greed.

When will Americans learn? Yes. Chinese made is cheaper, Philipine labor is cheaper, but if you don't support the American Worker, the American Worker can not support you! How hard is that to figure out for all of the big companies that farm out jobs (outsource) to other countries???? Put Americans out of work, and they won't need tech support for your product, because they don't have a job and can no longer afford it. DUH!

Nuff said for today.

YAY!! It's My Friday!!

I'm tickled pink! Today is my Friday...we take off from work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and I'm so ready for it today!

Tomorrow, I have to go to the doctor. I've been having some pain in my left arm, and it's becoming a problem. I have trouble dressing, I can't reach into the backseat of the car, and so on. The pain can be dibilitating! I'm not looking forward to what she'll tell me....I've put on some weight in the past year, I haven't yet quit smoking, and I stopped taking the statens that are supposed to lower my cholesterol. Not to mention the cost of fixing whatever is wrong. Oh well...que sera! What will be, will be! We'll work through it, no matter! :)

Let's talk about happy stuff! Like Obama's popularity ratings!! ~grin~ How is it that the "popular" man that won the presidency is no longer so much loved? Joe Biden said it himself before he was the vice presidential canidate. "The Oval Office is no place for on the job training!" (and yes, he said it about Barry!)


Happier yet? SEWING MACHINES!! I so love those silly things! This is my newest aquisition, a 1953 Singer Model 20 toy. William bought it for my birthday, which isn't until November, but he is silly and can't wait! Now if I can keep him from buying anything in November when my birthday actually is here, it'll be a miracle, but I'm going to try! This machine is only missing one little thing...the "C" clamp that holds the machine to the table, because it's so light that it will push over when you try to turn the handcrank.

These were another find!! These are attachments for a Wheeler & Wilson Model 8 or 9 sewing machine!! Keep in mind, that as tattered as the manual for them looks, it's over 100 years old! I expect to be a bit tattered by the time I'm that age too! ;)

Isn't this pretty? I found this, and four doilies for a total of $5 at a thrift store! They all need some degree of minor repair, but as a crocheter that has won more than one blue ribbon at fairs and shows, I'm pretty sure I can handle that!

Ok....I'm off to browse my favorite site, and maybe chat a bit with friends on Facebook! Happy evening to you all, and may your tomorrow, and ALL of your tomorrows be happy, healthy, and positively wonderful!!

Ok...so I'm not so good at the blogging thing!

But I DO love my sewing machines! These old girls are something else, I can't imagine ONE modern machine that exists today, sewing like these machines do at 50, 60, 100, and over 100 years old! Wonderful old machines, that actually do what I need them to do....SEW! No computer chips to get corrupted! Yippee!! NOT to say that I don't absolutely LOVE the Janome that William bought for me a couple of years ago, I do! But as old as these machines are, they're going to outlive that machine! This first pic is of a 1934 White Number 8, an electric Vibrating Shuttle machine that White made to compete with Singer's model 27. Evidently there wasn't much competition, because these machines were only made for a year or so, from what I understand. I named her "Fannie", after a woman that worked for William at the Town Pump in Montana. William was quite amused by that, and told me that it worked perfectly, because when I was showing interested guests my machines, I could show them "My White Fannie"!!! He kinda forgot the comma when he said it! LOL


This one is Annie. She's a Singer model 15-91 from 1946. I paid a customer $20.00 for her, she came with the matching stool, full of threads and goodies! Her attachments are mostly "blackside". I named her Annie, because of two things: Her "Queen Anne" cabinet and stool, and I happened to be reading a book that my sweet sis in law had given me about Anne Boelyn. I used this machine to stitch a Hawaiian shirt for William, including the buttonholes! She did a wonderful job....

My 1916 Singer Redeye that I bought in a little shop on the coast for $15.00. Pretty little thing, came with an aftermarket motor that immediately got removed when I got it home. She also had most of the attachments made for this model. This is one of Singer's "oddball" domestic machines, in that the attachments are all "back clamps"....the early model 66 machines are the only ones that have this style of attachments. They can be hard to find, and expensive when you do. She's waiting patiently for a treadle cabinet.


I've named this beautiful machine "Eleanor" after the woman that first purchased her in 1915 in England. I bought her from a couple in Sisters, Oregon, his grandmother was Eleanor Pike. Eleanor passed the machine down to her daughter, Bessie Pike Smith, who passed the machine down to David Smith, who sold the machine to me with the understanding that if anyone in the family EVER decided that they want the machine, I will sell it back. (My offer, not their demand). Eleanor (the machine) is a Singer Model 28K handcrank. The "K" after the model number simply means that the machine was made in Kilbowie, Clydebank, Scotland. I've used this machine to piece some simple quilt blocks, she's absolutely wonderful!! I'm in love with both the motions of operating a handcrank, and with the sound of a vibrating shuttle. I did pay a bit more for this one, but having the history of the machine back to her first owner, along with nearly perfect decals and case made her worth it to me!

Enough with the sewing machines for now...let's talk politics!! Who do you like for 2012, and why?
Honestly, I'm liking Herman Cain... Barry Obama fell so far short of my hopes for him. I didn't vote for him, can't stand his wife, feel sorry for his children, and he's demonstrated that Jimmy Carter is NOT the worst president in history. People made such a big deal of Sarah Palin and how "stupid" she was...but they chose to ignore that Barry thought we had 57 states???
Anyway...I'm interested in what you think!!

Obcessive Compulsive...

I've determined that I'm a bit OCD. I'm not the type that has to wash my hands everytime I touch something. I'm definately no "Monk".
I've been watching my behavior over the past several years tho, and I do think I tend to obcess over the things that interest me.
For example. I used to crochet lace doilies. I bought every pattern book I could get my hands on. Produced doilies one right after another. Had every color of thread. Even bought yarn and crocheted a few afghans, but liked doilies better.
Got into romance novels. Would spend hours reading, and go through 7 or 8 books a week. The lady that owned the used book store became one of my best friends!
More recently, I became interested in scrapbooking. Oh my! How I loved it...would spend hours or sometimes days rearranging a layout until I was pleased with it. That lasted five or six years, and then we bought the camper. And along with the camper, we bought a dutch oven. Then two. Then three. I now have six of them...along with other cast iron...muffin pans...waffle irons...skillets...and trivets! Oh my...the trivets! My kitchen walls are lined with them...and I'm still trying to collect the JZH alphabet series of trivets! I find one now and again....but am not collecting the cast iron like I was...and in fact am selling some of it, everything that I don't actually use.
I decided to lose weight, and successfully shed 105 lbs. I did it by being obcessive about it. I learned everything I could about weight loss, and spent hours on www.caloriecount.about.com . I counted every calorie that went into my mouth...obcessively.
My current love? Sewing, quilting, and sewing machines! This one started when William bought me a Janome for my last birthday. Oh how I LOVE that machine! Then...I saw a 1912 Singer treadle machine in a local antique store. I fell in love! I'd always liked the look of the antique treadle machines, and I pestered William until he bought it for me.
A couple of months later, we were wandering in a thrift store, and there she was! A 1957 Kenmore in a cabinet! And oh my! They only wanted $15 for her! A friend of mine had cams so that the decorative stitch feature would work, she stitches beautifully!
Two weeks ago, we were wandering in a furniture store...they sell higher end used furniture. There we found her...a Wheeler & Wilson #8 treadle machine, made in about 1880. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL machine and cabinet! William bought her for me....had to...the price was absolutely right!
Again today...wandering once more in a thrift store, I happened along a sewing machine cabinet, $35 price tag. Butt ugly pressed wood cabinet, did not expect it to hold anything of real interest, but I opened the lid anyway. Inside was a wonderful 1951 Centenial badged Singer model 201!! I checked it out, no power cord....and there was that butt ugly cabinet! I went and got Willaim...he had stayed in the car...and had him come look at it. Told him that we should maybe make an offer on it..say $15. He did, and they said "Yes"!!! It's an electric machine, with what's known as a "potted motor"...(means the motor is intregal, and the machine is gear driven) Without the power cord, all we can do is make sure it will form a stitch using the handwheel. It does...very nicely! Now as long as the motor runs, we'll be doing good! Well...that and getting rid of that butt ugly cabinet! ;)

Just in case you think I'm slipping by not offering an opinion? I still don't have much respect for the Obama regime... I think he's going to make things pretty tough on all of us for the next two years, until we can get him voted out of office. I didn't like my other choices for the presidency either, I don't like Hillary just because I don't like the woman, and while John McCain was an alright kind of guy, Sarah Palin pretty much turned my stomach.
If only the government would consult me directly about these things...I'm pretty sure I could get this country straightened out!! ~wink and a grin~

Long Time..No Opinions???

Ah! So it's been awhile....not that I don't have opinions...I still do, I just am not very good about getting here to write about them!

I guess most of my opinions right now concern our government. I'm seriously concerned! Mr. Obama...promised change. Those of you that voted for him...how's that change working for ya? It's not done much for me except to make me poorer than I was before he was elected. Trust me, I wasn't rich then!

I've lost considerable respect for Mr. Obama. Never had any for his wife. Have always felt sympathy for their children. Don't have any feelings one way or the other for their dog.

Hopefully 2012 will be a good election year, with voters casting their votes for *real* change instead of someone's race. I honestly think that if we had "blind" polls, with only the candidate's policies and beliefs, without anyone being able to see WHO, WHAT, or anything else about the candidate, we'd have a much better government right now.

Ebay...Sheese!

How hard can it be? You take a few pictures, you post them on a website with the lowest price you're willing to accept for the item, you choose a few variables, you click "upload" and you're off and running as an ebay seller. Someone bids, wins, pays you, you package, ship, and wait for feedback.
Easy as pie! Right?

Wrong! In my opinion, while it's not hard, physical labor, selling on ebay is HARD! Or, maybe that's just the case for a worry wart like me.

The pictures are easy. Time consuming sometimes, but easy. Take the item outside, take a picture. No brainer. Upload said photos to computer, only to find out that some are not as clear as they should be. Take the item back outside and try again. Ok....that works.

Pull up "Auctiva". Start a new listing. Import the photo(s). Remember what you paid for the item, mentally add ebay fees and Paypal fees. Figure out the shipping weight. Decide between parcel post and priority. Choose between flat rate or not. USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Write a glowing description, being chipper and cheery, and/or try to inject a bit of humor.

Have you decided on your return rules? Shipping rules? Do you want a fancy background to showcase the item? Don't forget to add the fees for that to the minimum price! How long is the auction to run? 3 days? 5 days? 10 days? (10 days is more money...add that to the cost)

Upload it to Ebay. Sit back and wait. Is anyone going to even see it? Are they EVER going to bid? Get used to tapping your fingers on the desk.

Wait! Someone bid. Get out calculator and figure out again what it's going to cost you. Did you remember to include the cost of gas to get to the post office? Forget about your time. All of the sudden, it's cost you $1.63 to send off this lovely item to it's new owner. Yes. That's right. You've lost money on this auction. Not only that, but then you have to wait to see if you get good feedback or not....

Is it worth it? I dunno. I just can't decide. I've made some fairly good money on a few things, but have lost money on others....

Guess as long as I don't end up having to declare bankruptcy because of my ebay sales, I'll call it "entertainment"...

Mr. President

I can't stand it anymore.

I didn't vote for him. Had absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin or his gender. Had everything to do with his platform and promises. One man does not change the country. One man who has, as his primary "feature" dark skin, was elected to the presidency of the United States. Regardless, he WAS elected, and in my book, that makes him nothing less than "Mr. President" with full honors. I will support him in his endeavors to make this country a better place to live.

I'm sorry if what I have to say is offensive to some. It's not intended to be, but I fully believe that President Obama was elected because of the color of his skin. (That, and the Republicans couldn't come up with a better canidate)
I can't believe we elected a man, who had as his main topic of his campaign and acceptance speech, "I'm black". Have we forgotten that the man is half WHITE? When has THAT come up as a positive in his bid for election and subsequent press coverage?
Point I am trying to make is this. It shouldn't matter that Barack Obama is black. It shouldn't matter that he's half white. This country elected a man, and unless that man was elected because he was black, it simply shouldn't be an issue. Who CARES what color his skin is? I don't. I care about what he's going to be able to do to save this country from itself. I think that as long as there's the distraction of his skin color, there is not going to be anyone watching what's actually happening in Washington. I think that he's got a wife that is not going to be anymore happy in the White House than she has been all of her life. What idiot let her start a speech at the Democratic Convention with, "For the first time in my life, I am proud of my country!"

Lest you think that I'm against the man for the color of his skin, or because he's not female, please note that I'd be in seventh heaven if Condoleezza Rice would run for the presidency! I really wish she would have....she'd have kicked both Obama's and Clinton's butts in a fair election! ;)

It worries me. It really does. I'll sit back and watch. We'll see if Obama and his followers can put their prejudice behind them. Tell me that they're not prejudiced. His whole acceptance speech was based on the "First BLACK President", and look how far blacks have come. I've heard nothing about how the white side of him made it to the presidency. I've heard nothing about the HALF black man that was elected.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this. Cut the "Black" President thing. Whodahell cares? I don't. And if one is truly not prejudiced, they don't either. All we care about is someone who can run the country effectively. Someone who can do a good job. I honestly believe that as President, Obama MIGHT be able to do just that, but he's going to have to set the color of his skin aside and get busy. There's more to running the country than being black. I've never done it myself, but I'm pretty sure that's the case.

So...all of that aside, I have this to say to Barack Obama.

Dear Mr. President,

Please know that you have my full support, even though you did not have my vote. Please know that my prayers are with you as you start this journey of Presidency, and that my prayers are also with your children, as they give up their father for the next four years.
I will not always agree with your ideas or your actions. I don't believe that bringing the troops home at this time is a good idea. I believe that if we do that, then all of the men and women that have died in the war on terrorism will have died for nothing, and that thought is too much to bear. We need to finish what we've started.
I believe that my right to bear arms needs to be protected. I don't, however, see a need to own an AK47 or any other kind of assult weapon. Gangs need to be treated like the terrorists that they are. Don't consider them to be terrorists? Wanna walk down the street in LA at night? Alone, without the Secret Service? That's what most Americans have to do to go anywhere at night, even if it's just to get to their car.

Please Mr. President. Put the color of your skin behind you and take the Presidency of the United States as simply a man, not as a "black man". Remove the label that someone's slapped on your back. It's unbecoming for a non-racist President.
Sincerely,
Charlee Turner

I've Been Tagged..

My friend, Julie, tagged me. I'm supposed to share, with the world, 7 strange things about myself. Lordy-be! Everything about me is strange, but I'll give it a shot....

Here are the rules:* If you are tagged, you must firstly post the rules:* Write 7 strange characteristics about yourself. They interest us all!* Tag 5 other people at the end of your Post.* Visit everyone that you have tagged and leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they have been tagged.

So....without further ado:

1. I'm painfully shy. I don't do well with strangers in real life, but I love to meet and play with new people on the internet.
2. I hold a grudge. Not just for short times....I'm still holding a grudge for my kindergarten teacher, who I thought hated me. The kids that teased me in Jr. High and High School? I still sometimes plot ways to get back at them, even knowing I'll never see them again.
3. I both love and hate to cook. William actually does most of the cooking.... but I do love to bake and I do love cooking in those dutch ovens.
4. I tend to be obcessive. Right now my obcession is dutch ovens and cast iron cookware. For the past 6 or 7 years it was scrapbooking, altho I still love that!
5. I'm not terribly close to my siblings, probably closest to my brother Corky. I see my sister when she comes to Oregon, and talk to her every couple of weeks. The other sister I haven't talked to since she pissed me off when our mother was dying. The other brother, I love, we just don't talk much.
6. I'm a genealogy buff. I'm fasinated with my ancestors and the lives that they led.
7. I hate camping and being outside. Nature, in all it's glory, is infested with bugs, either too hot or too cold, and has things that will eat you and not feel guilty about it. I go camping every chance I get cuz it's a way to get away...there's usually no cell phone service!

There ya go Miz Julie....as soon as I tag five others, I'll have fullfilled my obligation! ~grin~ I hope I still have friends when they see how weird I am! In turn, I'm going to tag:

1. Peggy (http://www.thewanderlustgirl.blogspot.com/)
2. Latte_Grande, Christi (http://www.createdbycoffee.blogspot.com/ )
3. Laura Jean ( http://laurajeanmiller.blogspot.com/ )
4. Joanne ( http://lifeinatwocowtown.blogspot.com/ )
5. Gina ( http://gab423.blogspot.com/ )

I promise to post again...maybe even tonight...

Are You Tired of Pots Yet?

**ETA** I found out, thanks to Fant, Roger, and DC that these two pots are made by Lodge. Still dunno how old they are, but they tell me that "we" know that they're Lodge because of the "L" shape of the bail handle thingies! ;)

Well...here are the two little pots that I bought the other day. There are no markings, and really didn't excite me at first, but they're good, sound little pots, and I'm happy to have rescued them from that shed where there were most certainly doomed!

The bottom of the "10". The marks are from setting on a rack of some kind and not in the metal itself. The markings are:

10

C0

D

The lid...the "10" is the only mark of any kind. There are no markings or anything substantial inside either of the pots.

Side view of the 10. Doesn't really look any different than the 8, shown below.

The "8". Just above the 8 is a lightly engraved "7".

The bottom of the 8...again the marks are from a rack of some kind. Under the "8" is "C0"

Side view of the 8. Both pots are poorly seasoned....I don't think there's rust on them. Could be wrong, of course, it could be that they oiled rusty pots. We'll find out when I clean them. I don't think either pot has ever been used....

Explaining the Previous Posts of Photos!

You've read my previous post about my new obsession, Dutch oven cooking. A few days ago, a friend told us about a camp oven that was for sale on Craig's list. I went looking...the pot was listed....with a photo showing the original sticker in the bottom of the inside of the pot. I was pretty jazzed when I called the guy and he told me that he did have 3 pots. He was going to leave to go fishing though, and told me to call him the next morning, (yesterday) at about 7. I waited until about 7:20....and called. Answering machine! I left my polite message. I hung up and gritted my teeth, trying to be patient and not imagine the worst.
I called at 8. Answering machine. Didn't leave a message.
I called at 9. Answering machine. Didn't leave a message.
Called at 10. Answering machine. Didn't leave a message...but my panic was starting to mount. What if he'd sold the pots? He'd said they were going to be first come, first serve. For the price he was asking, it was entirely possible. What if he recognised my number and didn't want to deal with a weepy woman sobbing out an "Ok...well thank you then...."
I didn't call again. I remained hopeful, but that was starting to wane...and then it happened. At 12:30, he called. He was back from fishing...had caught a fish...had a couple of bites...yes, he still had all the pots. I put William on the phone to get directions. WHEW! We made arrangements for an hour off work and left to go get MY pots!

It was quite a ways out in the boonies, but we finally pulled into his yard. We did the introductions and hand shaking, and all the while I wanted to scream at him, "You've made me wait long enough, dammit! Where are the pots?"

He stepped away, into an open, lean-to type shed, and started handing out pots. There were four with legs. There was one without. There was a skillet that was Wagner Ware, aluminum maybe? Silver colored exterior, black inside, not heavy at all. I bought the four pots with legs. He threw in a Wagner griddle.

I came home in seventh heaven. Now I have new friends from all over helping me to decide what to do with these pots. I kind of want to keep them, but I want pots I can cook in, and taking the sticker out of the one pot will take away some of the value. I hate to ruin the pot for a true collector, so I won't be using that one.

The other pots that I will clean and season. I'm not at all sure about the two little pots. Have no idea of how old they are or who made them. I'm betting that I have new friends that will help me to find out! :) My most sincere thanks to them!

Oh! And the reason that I posted the previous two posts with just pictures of the pots? Some of the folks trying to help me identify and value these pots couldn't see the photos that I posted in the forums...so I gave them a link to my blog! Thanks so much everyone! :)

Wagner Pot #2

This is the second Wagner, obviously used!

Same message as before...I'll be back later to fill you in!