Boxing Day sales

 Can't remember the last boxing day sales I went to, if ever.  However, I was thinking of venturing out to buy a new sewing machine.

My trusty machine that I have had for about eight or nine years, suddenly started breaking needles. One broke and I put a new one in as these things happen, five minutes of sewing and the second one broke. Very unusual. I investigated and it appeared that the needle was coming down on the metal plate instead of going through the gap. 

I have several pieces of material belonging to Uniforms for Kids that I want to sew before returning after the holidays as well as another 20 hats cut out. I can't afford to be without my sewing machine.

About two years ago, I bought a second basic machine slo I swopped them over and kept sewing. Pondering of the problem, I figured that I would need to take first machine, the Singer, took a specialist, probably costing a couple of hundred dollars and I know the best person, used by other members of U4Ks is booked up until February. 

Warren offered to look at the machine, this was a few days before Christmas.

Thought process was buy another basic machine. Boxing day sales were advertising $50 off for the same model Singer that I had. 

Boxing day came and I am discussing with Warren what to do. It was cheaper to replace the Singer but did I really need a second machine. Second machine is a Brother with a drop in bobbin and it does not have a free arm. Free arm sewing is much easier when sewing small items like kids clothes.

Warren reminded that he said he would look at it. I know he did but hadn't held out much hope as it was to do with the insides of the machine.

He got it out and took the side panel off and discovered that a holding nut had come loose and shifted the needle across. He was able to adjust and tighten and once he put a needle back in and check it, it is sewing like a dream, completely missing the metal plate.

He can now add Sewing machine mechanic to his resume and I saved $135 and a machine going to land fill.

Gladdies in the garden

 Warren bought some bulbs several years ago and plonked them in the front garden bed.

We don't do anything with them but some come up each year.

They are a very dark red, I think most nurseries would class them as black.

They flower for about a week, depending on wind rain and or heat.

Chinese dinner tonight.

 Last visit to Cosco I bought a pack of frozen Chinese sausages.  They looked just lje we used to have in restaurant's in China. Funny thing was they were made in Canada.

But I digress,  our last trip to Cosco was six months ago so it was definitely time to use them.

Instructions suggested steaming them for at least twenty minutes. I put them in the steamer and went tidying in my sewing room, remembering the steamer an hour later. They were fine and the steamer hadn't run out of water so all good.

It was an easy meal, I like them. Some frozen chopped veggies and a cup of rice in the microwave,  sausages sliced on the slant and dinner was ready.

Not a meal that I would usually have these days, due to my diabetes but the sausage was only 16gms of carbs and 1.8 gms of sat fats. Brown rice was 17gms of carbs and 1 gm if sat fats. My upper limit is 45 grams of carbs per meal and no more than 15 grams of sat fats per day so well within my quota.  

Crochet bag

 Warren got on a roll and unravelled several balls off the massive ball.

I started crocheting and made a bagI lined it with fabric and added a purchased strap.

 This is two strands from the massive ball plus a multi coloured pink ball.  Putting the straps on was a little tricky and it may not be as secure as it could be but I took it to class and ended up with sone free wool or yarn to bring home. One of the girls has bought along fout large balls of pink to give away. I said I would like one as I am making some toys and pink is not a colour that I have in my stash. She insisted in giving me all of it so I have made a small lap blanket and have half a ball of the pink left over which is all that I needed.

This bag will be used for next year's Share the Dignity bags, I usually donate three, one in each category,  so women's, mum and bub and teenage girl. Actually did four this year as I had enough stuff to fill four bags.

When I need  toothpaste for home, I buy four tubes, one for home and then others got into the bags. I buy stuff during the year so it's ready for packing in early December without too much drama or hassle.