Heated Discussion ......

With my sewing machine.   Yes, the discussion was with my "not so great", well, cheap sewing machine which I battled with for years, well, about eight years.  That really is not long when I realize how long I had had my first and second machines before getting this one.  However, this machine was purchased after others quit and were old, and my thinking was.....I am working so much and must prioritize my off time, so I really don't need to spend too much on a machine.  Well, that "too busy" thinking got me into trouble, and for eight years.

Each time I wanted to sew, I had to work on the machine, it's bobbin issues, and it's timing issues.  I had to limit myself to what I sewed because it just was not up to the task.  No more coats, but also quilts with bats were hard for it also. Even making some thin quilted seat cushions for my vintage wicker lawn chairs which I use for "glamping"  was a major problem.  I fussed much, but got it done....after all, "glamping" is this retired person's priority now also.

However, after retiring, another priority was to sew again.  I wanted to make some quilted bags, some table runners, and of course, some quilts.  I wanted to learn more and do more.  I wanted to not have to spend half of the time I had allotted to sewing in a fight with my machine to make it work.

Friends showed me their machines and shared knowledge of other machines in case I was going to purchase a new one.  Well, why would I do that I told myself.  I have a machine and need to save my funds for some trips I wanted to go on this year and maybe in the next few years.  After all, you can't do everything financially, but must prioritize that area of your life also.  You can see that I have issues with OCD, right.

Anyway, this Monday was the last draw for my machine.  I had a really neat apron cut out and ready to sew.  I had plans for some new potholders which I was going to do simple quilting on, and I also have a crazy quilt that I have worked on, only to finish a small amount due to my machine giving me so much grief when I last worked on it.  My day or days were planned.  I thought that I had things cleared up for a while at least with my machine.  But I was wrong.  Okay, I can be wrong some times....really lots of times.   Thinking about the machine I chose some eight years ago.

So I had my day ready, my plans set, and my machine out and supplies all around.  I was excited.  I sewed some on the apron, only to start getting frustrated with machine troubles.  Finally after working on this simple one hour project for about two hours, and I must say, not acting like the "fine Christian woman that I am", and saying that I was glad my husband was in the study with ear buds in, studying something on YouTube,  well, with all that said....I had had it with my machine.  

A strange thing came over my mind I could say, or I lost it, but really none of that happened.  I felt quite sane and quite free to unplug my machine, take the nice spoon of thread from its location on the machine, pick up my machine, walk out the front door, and head to the pond.   Yes, the pond, and smiling and then laughing out loud about the whole thing.  You may think that any sane person would have stopped after a good laugh  Not me and I am sane, maybe more sane now.  I took that machine to the edge of my pond and gave it a great and strong yoga arm toss into the pond.  I was thinking that it would smash through the thin ice and sink to the bottom, never to have to be looked at again.    Another choice I was wrong about.  The ice was thicker then I thought and that machine took a great thud, and pieces broke off, and then it skid.  Yes, it skid like a great bowling ball, accept it was my awful sewing machine.  There it sat, in the middle of the pond, on top of the ice.  

I still had some great laughs and laughed and laughed and laughed which felt refreshing.  When telling my son this story, he said, "Oh Mom, I have not heard you laugh like that for a long time, so it is all good".  Anyway, I marched into the house, relieved and ready for the rest of the day....not sewing, of course.  

My husband asked me what I was up to.  I was laughing and laughing.  Then I told him what he had missed.  He just looked at me and said, "Well, this is a strange behavior for someone who plans and organizes and prioritizes things.  Did you do all that before throwing your machine in the pond?"  The answer is no.  I just got rid of a problem of eight years that was never getting better and that I needed to get rid of to be free of the anger and poor attitude and actions due to it's malfunctioning.  

But there the machine sat on the pond and my husband was concerned that people would think strange things about us.  He let it there for a day or so and then when it did not warm up enough for it to sink through the ice, he took his heavy fishing pool and fished for it and hooked it, dragging it to the shore and putting it in the trash.  He did tell me that he thought he would put it back on my sewing table with a sign...."I'm back", but he did not do that.  It also would have been funny.  However, I already have a great quilting machine already sitting on my sewing table.  I just have to learn how to use it.  But I am believing great things and know it will work for me for many years.    

And, no the old machine is not back as the garbage man came today.  I still laugh when I think or talk about it....so readers, thank you for allowing me to laugh yet one more time.   Now I must get off and go read and learn how to thread my machine and also the bobbin.  I am excited about it.  And my granddaughter, who wants to learn to quilt. .......well, she can come and do so with me now that I have a machine that will do the job.