When we decided to get back to basic living and move to our homestead, it came with an agreement that we would work toward becoming self-sufficient and self-reliant. We knew this was a big order, and we were willing to take baby steps and be happy for the progress we made, even if it was slower than we wished.
We knew and had practiced some of the skills required before we got here. We had been growing gardens and canning for over 20 years. And, although I had become a little lazy at it, I had been cooking from scratch for at least that long. Bernie knew how to work on vehicles, do home repairs, and work with wood.
Within short order, Bernie learned to saw lumber, build shelters, keep firewood stocked, and fix things he never even considered working on in the past. I learned to make butter, yogurt, cheese, soap, lip balm, perfumes, etc. We got a flock of chickens and I learned how to raise them and doctor them. I’ve always enjoyed being somewhat crafty, and I began to make the vast majority of gifts by hand.
In short, we try to identify those things that we enjoy or that make our lives more comfortable – and then we learn how to do or make those things on our own. We may not always chose to do them that way, but at least we know how to do them, should we ever be in a situation where that knowledge is needed. A good example of what I’m talking about is making butter. We don’t eat a lot of butter, and I don’t always churn it myself. But I have a churner, and I know how to make butter.
I’ve told you all of that to tell you this: Everyone has his/her limitations. Just because you may want to do something, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be good at it. No one knows this better than me.
I have several limitations, but I am going to acknowledge one of them right here and now. I. Can. Not. Sew. I really can’t. I hate it. But it’s the truth.
On September 2nd of this year, Bernie’s youngest daughter, Kimberly, blessed us with a grandson. Baby Jacob is a precious little thing, and in the joy of his arrival, I decided I would sew him a blanket, and a diaper bag for Kimberly. Somehow, in all the excitement, I forgot one minor detail. I can not sew.
I bought the patterns, material, thread, and everything needed for the blanket and diaper bag. I looked at the patterns and thought “How hard can this be? This blanket looks so simple. I’ll start with it.” And within the first two minutes I had messed it up. I tore out all the stitching and started again. Two minutes later, I messed it up. I tore out all the stitching and start over. Two minutes later….. well, you get the idea.
I did finally finish the blanket. And I gave it to the pups. Even they do not like it. I did an absolutely horrible job on that simple, little blanket. So I went on-line and I ordered one. I also ordered a diaper bag. I worked around that little problem.
I know if things got so bad that we could not afford to buy clothing, I could sew something we could wear. It may have one sleeve longer than the other, one leg shorter than the other, buttons that don’t match up with button holes, or zippers that don’t zip – but we would have clothing and there would likely be a lot more on our minds at that point than worrying about how we look in our ridiculous clothing.
I guess the point of this whole post is not everyone can do everything – but that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t try. And that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful at following your dreams.
Follow your dreams. Acknowledge your limitations. And learn to work around them.
And, for heaven’s sake, don’t sign up to sew a baby blanket if you can’t sew.
Tags: limitations
Amen, sister! I cannot sew either and have no desire to. I can mend and I can sew on buttons and that is the extent to my sewing capabilities. I actually took a beginner sewing class about 15 years ago and the instructor had me in tears! You and Bernie are doing a great job at homesteading and if Neal and I can ever accomplish half of what you have, we will be thrilled with ourselves.
I got a big kick out of your statement that even the dogs didn’t like the baby blanket! What about the cats? From my experience, cats will lie on anything soft and fluffy, no matter how it looks.
Your post contained a very important message and I appreciate you reminding me that we aren’t expected to do it all. Thanks, Penny!
Lilla – funny you should mention the cats…. each time I got up to take a break and came back, Elvis was laying on that blanket. But….. I don’t take that to be a testament of my sewing abilities. These cats will lay on a sheet of paper on the table. On the upside – if my ego ever needs a boost, I’ll just sew something for the cats
But I actually got tickled at how much the dogs hate the new blanket – I layed it on their doggie bed and they jumped up like I had poured acid on it! I am serious! I laughed out loud!
Okay, Now wait a minute. You made all those great saddles for your hens….you had to sew those, didnt you? And we know just how “spoiled” your flock is….snort.
You guys have accomplished SO much there on your homestead, well, heck, sewing didnt even really cross my mind. Till you mentioned it anyway.
I can’t sew either but I’ve ALWAYS blamed it on my machine! I took a quilting class years ago and I still have the remains around here somewhere! I can never seem to finish a sewing project. I dream of sewing beautifully but when I sit down and get started something ALWAYS goes wrong.(with my machine) lol. Frugalmom is right, you did make those saddles….I was thinking about you the other day and was going to ask you to make me some for my hens! Maybe we can cut out a pattern for them when you get home and I will attempt it…..we’ll see. Oh, I’ve been out doing some gardening this morning and was going to ask you if your wisteria came up?? I have some white that I’m training (into a tree) if you want it I’ll dig it up now for you. Let me know.
Love ya!
Well, ok I can sew chicken saddles and things like that, but ANYONE can sew those! If it’s even slightly more involved than running a stitch around some material, well, then it’s WAY more challenging than I can handle!
I have all the material to start a quilt – but I haven’t because I just know I’ll mess it up right out of the chute! The t-shirt quilt I made Bernie was very simple and really was nothing more than stitching pieces together. But I may try my rooster quilt after the holidays…..
Julie – Your girls are pretty big, aren’t they? Let me know about how much they weigh (the ones you want saddles for). I’ll cut out a pattern for you and bring it when I come down. Oh, and my wisteria came up. And then the deer ate it. I’ve still got some seeds and now that we have the fence up, we rarely get deer in the yard, so maybe they’ll be ok if I plant them again. Bernie worries that wisteria will take over the entire property, and he’s probably right. I’m not good at trying to keep it under control. We have a purple and a white at our house in town, and I wasn’t very good at pruning on it – until Bernie would start hinting that it was taking over the yard again
And yeah, what about those cute little nest box curtains…that required some level of sewing expertise!
But yes, you are right, I think – it is good to know your limitations. Yours clearly are few…look at that incredible list you cited as accomplishments. WOW!
I know what happened, you tried to use a “store bought” pattern. Totally messed up your Chi. Trying making your own pattern out of cardboard and I’ll bet it turns out!
Since we are confessing:
I love to cook and am prideful about my skills in the kitchen, but I cannot make meatloaf. (hanging head in shame). My sons thought this was hysterical as they were growing up, unless I forced them to eat it. I used every recipe, every “cooking tip” and it would always be a disaster. No two meatloafs (disasters) were ever the same, my most famous was burnt to a crisp and soggy in the middle. “The meat sponge” was a close 2nd!
Going to the farm this weekend. Will email pictures soon.
I LOVE this post……… oh how I wish I had someone to live the way you do with…. or even live it on me own LOL……
I think I can turn me hand to most things, except Gas and Electrical things lol…… if you read me Twaddle post of me plumbing in me washingmachine you will see Im a total dinlo at things that involve electric lol
I can sew in a fashion LOL I can knit up a storm and use to have me own little designer knitwear thingie going once upon a time……I also use to paint farmyard animals on terricotta pots and flog those…..
I have just acquired a 109 year old treadle sewing machine which I wanna get up and running…….. and I could grow if I had the space (use to own a plant nursery lol)….
Aint dont much of any of that for years though, its been hard enough raising 4 sons completely on me own(no family or father around) and working and keeping the house together as best I can……
Probably getting to old now to follow me dream of being self suffiencent
I will live it through you two lol
x
Farmgirl_DK – well, yes, I can sew curtains. I sewed most of the curtains for our home in town – but they were easy swag types and I didn’t use a pattern. Those curtains on the nest boxes though? They were some old curtains I had that I just cut to fit
Katey – yes! That’s what I mean. I can’t sew anything that requires a pattern! I am pattern-following-impaired! That’s too funny about your meat loaf. But, I must say, it’s quite an accomplishment to be able to make one burnt on the outside, but nice and juicy in the middle! Seriously.
Marmy – I bet your treadle sewing machine is gorgeous! That was quite a find. I actually had two treadles, and I gave one away. My parents acquired that one in Germany and I’m not sure of the age, but it was quite old. The one I kept is from the 1940s and it has a beautiful cabinet built all around it. But it’s strictly for looks – heaven knows I can’t sew anything on it!
Bless you for all that you can do. So what if you are not able to sew. I can’t either. When I was junior high, I had to take a Home Economics class for half of the year (I really wanted to take shop but had to take the home ec class to), anyways, shop class was fun, working with wood and the machines were awesome, then it came time for sewing classes and man oh man I hated it, we had to do a fashion show at the end of the semester, OMG, I was so embarrased, but it was so funny. Now I love to cook it is just the sewing that gets me. luckily I can sew a button, mend small things but forget making clothes. My Momma used to sew our clothes and she did a really good job, but she didn’t pass her genes of sewing to her 3 daughters. LOL
Take care, hope the chickens are doing well and My Boy DUKE, love him
Penny I love the sewing machine you gave me, and one day maybe Tex will fix it for me so i can learn to use it. You are way to funny, I love the thing you say in you blog. and look foreward to the next.
I often think I can do things that I really can’t. I love to knit. I didn’t say I was good at it. Yes, my first sweater didn’t fit. That doesn’t matter. I still knit. I stick with afgans, scarves, things that don’t have to have sleeves. LOL. You make beautiful chickens, houses, yards….. see where I’m going? Oh, and you can grow meal worms. I can’t. Bees neither. Okay, now I am depressed. Lets talk about goats….
Kelly
Well the important thing is that you tried, and in a pinch you could sew something usable. I can sew, but there are plenty of things I know nothing about. This week, though, I have learned a lot!
It all started when I poured diesel fuel into a gasoline powered riding mower. Bad idea all the way around. But in the last two days, I have learned how to drain a gas tank, buy and replace a fuel filter, test the fuel pump to make sure it was still pumping, and identify that the carburetor needed cleaning. But, I can’t get the dang thing off, so I learned to call the engine repair guys, get the mower onto the trailer with hubby’s help, and drive the thing to the repair place.
I hope I never HAVE to use these skills again, but at least I have a clue where to start. That would be… don’t put diesel in a gas engine!! LOL
I loved this post. You reminded us all of a very important factoid…. we can’t do it all, much as we might want. Although sewing is one thing I enjoy. Regretfully my sewing machine is buried in a closet. I’ve been wanting to dig it out and start sewing again, but once I dig it out, I’m really not sure where the heck I’m going to put it. We live in a VERRRRRY small house.
This post conveyed an important message for us all, and yet you tickled our funny bones too. Thanks Penny!!
(And I am very impressed at all the things you and Bernie DO do!)
I agree with all, Penny. I think we all need to realise we have limits and accept them. I would love to do so much, but don’t have an artistic bone in my body. I can sew fairly straight seams but so far that’s about all. Did make a comforter for my mother last year, but that was all straight seams. You and Bernie have such a neat homestead-you’ve got that talent and you are such a good ‘chicken mom’, too! Thanks for your great blog, Penny.