Did you ever have a plan, idea or project that you put off until the time was right? I had LOTS of them. Retiring and moving to Mexico was going to give me the opportunity to raise from the dead all the things I loved to do but didn’t have time for in the crazy work-life I lived in Austin, Texas. One of them was sewing.
I am not particularly good at sewing. I haven’t owned or touched a machine in years. But I grew up in an era where ‘Home Ec’ was a requirement in high school, for girls that is. Along with typing, it was the most practical course I ever took.
Pretty Baby, a tap routine.
My mom sewed because I danced. Three year-old’s dance classes had recitals and recitals required costumes. Moms made them, at least mine did. There were sequins, satin, fringe and marabou feather trim. She spent hours at the sewing machine.
Little Red Monkey costume edged in marabou that itched like hell.
Notice the Shirley Temple curls. My mother tried so hard.
There was also the requisite apron I made in Girl Scouts. Not until high school did I start making simple shorts and dresses, mostly to save money. I learned on my mother’s Singer and later bought a Kenmore that I used to make clothes for my kids. By the time sewing began its comeback in the new millennium, I was up-to-my-eyeballs in family and job. Sewing was added to the back burner for “someday when I retire”.
Girl Scout Brownie Salute
While prepping for the move to Bacalar Mexico, I bought a great little portable machine to enhance my retirement life. It has lots of bells and whistles and is light as a feather. I took it out of the box for the first time this week. Time to take this baby for a spin! It’s been in storage along with the rest of my life for three years. What is on YOUR back burner? DOS TORTAS
My new Brother portable.
the adventures of dos tortas 
Great post, Alex, loved the pix!
Cheers!
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Thanks Bruce. There are no dates on any of my childhood pictures. With computers, that’s no longer a problem, I just have no actual pictures! Lol
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quote is great and absolutely spot on. hugs, G
On Sun, Apr 24, 2016 at 7:00 AM, the adventures of dos tortas wrote:
> afish25 posted: “Did you ever have a plan, idea or project that you put > off until the time was right? I had LOTS of them. Retiring and moving to > Mexico was going to give me the opportunity to raise from the dead all the > things I loved to do but didn’t have time for in the” >
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Thanks Garth.
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Loved this post and the Hugh Laurie quote! I agree with you on typing and home ec being some of the most valuable classes I took growing up. My first decent job as a college graduate was, in part, based on my ability to type at a reasonable pace. As for sewing, my mother made all my Halloween costumes and many of my dresses growing up. I have mostly sewn for the home: pillows, valances, that sort of thing, rather than clothing, but what a practical and money-saving skill it has been over the years.
In retirement, what I am getting back to is reading fiction. I adored reading as a child, but during most of my adult life read almost exclusively non-fiction. Somehow I just lost the passion for reading fiction that I’d held so dear as a child. In retirement, I’ve found it again, and I am loving it. I only wish I could live long enough to read all the books I’d like to — but that is not going to happen!
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I am definitely reading more myself. I think I’m in the middle of about four books, lol. Glad you stopped by Emilie. Hope you are feeling well.
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I love this post Alex! OMG I had those sequined marabou trimmed tap dance outfits too that my mom sewed! You look adorable. I bought a sewing machine and beginning sewing manual at a yard sale in preparation for my move here. Just what every girl needs in her new apartment. It’s missing the power cord, which I have not looked into ordering and it has lived in my Harry Potter under the stairs closet for 2 years. Sewing may not be the project I resurrect, but I love the quote you posted and feel inspired to do… something!
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Marabou!?! I had to look up how to spell it! Every little girl was tortured with that stuff. It was sharp and pokey. Somewhere I have 15mm film of me dancing at three. At least we both still love to dance!
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