The Stitch

This weekend was divine. The sun shone, the temperatures were warm and I bought an 1800s treadle sewing machine that has more features and gadgets than my modern machine. Does it get any better than this?

It's an old Singer, in need of only a belt and a good cleaning/oiling. Once I install the new belt, I imagine that I'll start getting a decent workout on it, and may even end up ditching my modern one. Well, I won't ditch it completely, but it may collect a little dust.

As we (Brian, the neighbors and I) stood in the yard and admired it, we came to realize that if the world suffered a major catastrophe that knocked out all electricity, our little dead-end, gravel-road neighborhood would be primed for survival.

Brian and I grow vegetables and put up canned fruits and vegetables (Thanks, Dad!). One neighbor is a machinist and builds airplanes and big-ass potato launchers in his basement. Another neighbor owns a fleet of heavy equipment machinery and gasoline tanks and the other neighbor has guns and knows how to hunt and gather.

And now we have a treadle sewing machine. So, if the power outtage lasts longer than the food, we'll at least have pretty clothes to wear while we shoot woodchucks.

Sweet.