- Date: April 6, 1987
- Location: Cairns, Australia
- Subject: Sewing Machine
Dear WaterFairy:
Yesterday, I finished Melinda’s book, “Crazy mixed Up Files….” It was such a fun adventure to read about, but I do not think I would like to sleep in that big, old creepy bed in the museum. Mom took me over to Onaway, so I could give the book back to Melinda. Mom and Melinda’s mom had a cup of coffee, so Melinda and I got to do some crafts in her bunkroom. We started making friendship bracelets using embroidery threads. I am using pink and blue and yellow. Melinda is using dark blue and light purple. I am not finished with mine yet.
Today, Mom pulled out the old singer sewing machine, which was buried under all the sails in the sail locker, so we had to take ALL the sail bags out of the locker, there were 7 in all. Most of the sails were too heavy for me to lift, so Capt and Mom did most of lifting.
The machine is very old. It is black with some white and gold lettering and decorations. It looks like an antique to me and I don’t know if it will still work. It had a ratty old electric cord which was wrapped in cloth, not plastic, and was dusty. It looked like the electricity would jump right through the cord and electrocute the person sewing. Capt said it is not practical to have a sewing machine that needs electricity to run, on a boat-well his boat anyway! So he rummaged through his “parts department”, the locker behind the port settee(couch) and found a handle and other bits and bobs, which he used to attach the handle to the wheel of the sewing machine. Now, if we want to sew, we can just turn the handle on the wheel and the machine works! It is easier to have one person turn the wheel and another person doing the sewing, but one person could manage alone if need be.
Capt said we might as well try the “old girl” out, so we set up shop in the saloon (livingroom) and Capt brought the mainsail cover down for a bit of repair. There were some places that the hem stitching was worn out, so Mom and I resewed all of that. We also reinforced the clasps and ties. I got to turn the wheel and tried my hand at sewing. It was fun. Mom said we will have to get some good leather needles, which are extra strong and can sew through many layers without breaking.
There are some other things around Sacha-B that need some sewing-so we didn’t put the machine back in the sail locker, but under the galley table. Mom said we will get all the sewing done this week. Sounds like a lot of work to me.
We tried a new sandwich for lunch today, and it was good. First, we toasted the bread using the grate to put over the gas flame of the stove Then put butter on the toast and smashed some canned asparagus on the toast, put a bit of shredded cheddar cheese and popped it all under the broiler to melt the cheese. It is a bit like the avocado toast, only with asparagus. Salt and pepper of course. I had a dill pickle and potato chips with my sandwich.
We went over to Mollemok after dinner. Toni and Mom both like to bake and I think they might be having a little contest to see who can bake the best treats. Tonight, Toni made a 7 layer cookie bar with coconut, chocolate chips, walnuts, graham crackers, butter, brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk. So far, this is my favorite. Very sweet and gooey.
Toni and I played a little cribbage while the others talked and planned for our trip. I won 2 games but lost three. Mollemok plans to sail to P.N.G. about a week or ten days after us and we will sail together up to the northern part of the islands. So now we have Gangemi and Mollemok to travel with when we are overseas.
Too tired to read, so see you soon!
