I have a pair of flannel pants that I purchased decades ago. Although they fit when purchased, for a while they were too small, but not now. After wearing them for the last few months, at home, I noticed a seam in the crotch was tearing. If left to its own devices, that pair of pants would soon be “worn out”. They are comfortable and warm for everyday wear, and so meritted attention.
Using a small scrap of material, I mended them. The scrap was so small that it would usually have been thrown out. It was also the wrong colour. The mending job using that scrap was crude and functional, and fortunately placed where normally it would not be seen.
To do the mending the “new” Bernette sewing machine was used. This sewing machine sits out on a desk in the bedroom. It takes up a considerable amount of space, but this is deemed acceptable, as it is always available for quick mending jobs. Mending jobs tend to be postponed indefinitely when the equipment has to be brought up from the basement, a surface cleared to accommodate it, and then it must be setup. And the process must be reversed. This would be a significant barrier to mending at our house.
I have an Elna Lotus sewing machine, purchased around 1969. It is a lovely little machine, but it is a little bit lightweight for heavy duty jobs. The new Bernette sewing machine is heavy duty and a mechanical machine, no computer functions, exactly what I was looking for. I have had computer functions up to my eyeballs, I certainly do not want or need them in a domestic sewing machine. For sewing I want to rely on skill and experience, not computers.
When the Elna was purchased I was studying courture clothing construction at university, very exacting. The sewing machine was used for hours every day, for a few years. I knew every in and out of that machine, and could tackle setting it up without even thinking about it.
Not so with the new Bernette! I do not sew often now, or with this machine, and it operates very differently than the Elna. I keep the user’s manual handy, because I have to review the how to use it every single time I sit before it with a project. It is not difficult to use, it is just unfamiliar.
Right: the repair job from the outside of the pants. The bobbin thread was red, and the stitching would have been almost invisible but for the wrong tension bringing the white spool thread to the right side of the garment. Lazy me, I’ve left it as it is, having corrected the tension for the second course of stitching. I don’t really care if this particular mending job is perfect, just so long as it is functional. I’d be surprised in anyone but you or me will ever see this again!
The garden continues to generate projects. Today Attila is dehydrating the very last of the celery. Today I am using what may be the last of the broccoli for Cream Of Broccoli Soup Base. There are still a few meals of garden fresh beets in our near future. This morning I enjoyed the last few ground cherries of the season. The strawberries are over for this year, soon they will be covered with straw for the winter. What a boon it is that Attila loves to garden!
During the gardening season we enjoy a great variety of produce. During the winter months the variety is more restricted, relying on what garden produce has been preserved, and what local offerings there are at the grocery store. Our most often purchased produce is Ontario apples, Ontario greenhouse cucumbers, Ontario greenhouse lettuce, Ontario cooking onions, and Canadian potatoes. We rarely treat ourselves to imported fruit, usually oranges, grapes, advocados, or bananas.
The last purchase of advocados was very disappointing, they were all bad, and looked as if they had been frozen at one point. They had to be thrown out. Purchased at NoFrills, we decided not to return them, as we have had very disappointing customer service at that particular store, and life is just too short to battle over a small amount of spoiled produce. I have much more important battles to attend to!
I recently read a book that I wish I had not chosen! I was looking for something cheerful, and the title, Emporer of Gladness, seemed promising. It was written by Ocean Vuong. I should have looked at the reviews, rather than impetuously choosing by title. It was very well written, and interesting, but not my cup of tea. Assumptions, harumphh!
Recently someone recommended the books of a science fiction author, Becky Chambers. One of her books was on sale at Kobo, so I thought I would give it a try, To Be Taught, If Fortunate. I really enjoyed the book. It is well written, thoughtful, and plausible. I will be keeping an eye open for another of her books on sale!
Worldly
Weather
3°C
Date: 3:00 PM EST Friday 13 November 2026
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 100.9 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 3.3°C
Dew point: -3.6°C
Humidity: 61%
Quote
“Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.”
John Kenneth Galbraith
1908 – 2006
My favourite economist, so self aware!!!