# 25 A Home for the Mittens

The mittens. What was I thinking? Goal # 44 states, Recruit nine friends to each make six mittens to donate (60 total). Last January, with my faithful cohorts congregating at my house, we began cutting and sewing this labor intensive project which included an inner fleece lining followed by felted wool (old sweaters) for the outer cover. After such an energetic start, the process stalled as I escaped the Wisconsin winter; however, when I returned, the thought of finishing this task seemed overwhelming even after our successful beginning. Fortunately several motivated and talented seamstresses pushed me to complete this goal so another gathering occurred; and with some home sewing and concerted efforts by all, we are done! I am delighted that these gifted women would take time out of their busy lives and devote several nights for a truly important cause. Thank you, friends, for your kind and gracious help. I could not and I mean, could not, have done it without you.

After all my complaining about sewing stupidity, malfunctioning machines, and fumbling fingers, I am pleased that the mittens will now be delivered to the YWCA so the women and children living there will have warm hands next winter.

Lessons learned: Select top-notch friends, maintain a working machine, and never attempt this again. Maybe instead of the last declaration, I can revise it to never attempt making sixty mittens. Actually sixty-two were made with one left handed pair--my goof (a long story that will remain unpublished due to graphic language content). So with all that said and done, I say, "Three cheers for stitched mittens, warm hands, and fabulous friends"!

# 24 A Sad Sewing Situation

Woe is me and my little sewing machine. It sputtered, coughed, and collapsed with only eight mittens to go. How could it fail me now? I was so close to finishing this goal that has haunted me for the past few months and now-- kaput. The mitten in progress that led to the poor machine's demise was thick, bulky, and not particularly attractive. While I was struggling with it thinking that maybe I should surrender this one to the reject pile, the overworked contraption rebelled and left me devoid of its services.

With the mittens and five aprons to finish, I am at a standstill on both of these crafting goals. Hmmmm, time to call on my friends again or else plan a visit to the sisters with healthy machines. Dog gone it! And I was so close.

I suppose an expert will have to be consulted before I can continue since my mechanical abilities are on par with my sorely lacking sewing skills. Sixty ways to repair or swear at a machine? I think I mastered the latter.

Hold the post! As I was writing this, my brilliant husband wandered into the sewing chamber and with a few clicks of his fingers and pushing the right buttons the machine has been restored to life. Trust me, a miracle has occurred since we share the same level of aptitude with anything that has a plug attached. Now maybe I could interest him in another miracle--sewing a pair of mittens.

# 23 Reflection Time

The big day is approaching and how am I feeling at 59 years 11 months and 355 days? There has been no time to "feel" anything because I have been slightly preoccupied with my "60" list (a definite understatement).

Nearing the half year mark towards accomplishing this list of mine has produced some exhilarating and dare I say, profound results. I have lost ten pounds, expanded my vocabulary, improved my piano playing, and discovered--what? My purpose in life? I'm not sure I can be that philosophical. I know that a few of my goals were going to make me cringe--making the mittens, the quilt, and the scarf; and a few that would make me smile--working with friends, volunteering, and finding new restaurants, but the continuing reward has been a sense of fulfillment every day. My theme song for the year will not be, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"; sorry Mick and Keith. Perhaps something a bit more inspirational such as Rocky's theme song? Imagine listening to that as I sweat and swear at the sewing machine. It could be just what I need to finish the-- still in progress-- mittens.

It seems like every day I am striving and reaching for a higher potential of living, doing, and being. Are we shortchanging ourselves by not pushing and challenging our minds and bodies to go to that next level just because we are (fill in the blank)_______ years old? Life in my 59 years 11 months and 355 days tells me that no matter what age, we need to get up, get busy, and get going. Turning back the clock of time won't happen, but running ahead of it (literally and figuratively) seems to be working for me.

#22 Pottery sans Patrick

I didn't think it was possible, but I threw clay at the wheel six times and ended up with six--I guess they could be labeled--art pieces. Christine, Kelly, and I ventured to the Higher Fire studio after the owner, Linda, assured me I could do this six times in two hours. I doubted her, but voila! after a productive and fast two hours, the mission was successfully accomplished. I now have a greater appreciation for: pottery thrown art pieces, the virtue of patience, and Demi Moore attempting this with Patrick Swayze groping her (remember Ghost?). In a matter of seconds an exquisite vase could resemble Salvadore Dali's work, only in 3D. Luckily, it only happened once to me (the vase unfolding, not the groping). I have to say, as much as I enjoyed doing it, I can't see a future in throwing on the wheel. It takes an incredible amount of patience and significant art skill to produce an object that I would either give as a gift or set on a shelf at home. Fortunately the goal is completed, the experience is dutifully noted, and now I will move on. Check # 24 off the list.

There will be no rest for me as my pottery pieces dry. I have thirty pairs of unfinished mittens (sixty total) calling me. My fellow cohorts! I need your help--again. Refer to goal # 44, Recruit 9 friends to make 6 mittens to donate --60 total. Sewing mittens with or without my friends---Egads! What was I thinking? Herding kittens at midnight would have been easier. I will get this done, I will get this done, I will get this done...

# 21 Flying Postcards

Actually they weren't flying, but goal # 15, Buy 60 postcards, kept me searching for these 4x6 pictures when we traveled from the west to the east coast. In the beginning, I found it to be a challenge to find just the right card every time, however, by the time I had purchased about 30 of these colorful rectangles, the thrill was gone. All I could think about was find the darn things for a good price and buy them. Poor attitude, but how many cards did people want to receive as I was running out of family and friends who have been the recipients of these little treasures? When we arrived in NY, I decided to push myself and find the cheapest cards around. On my very first attempt, there on the street were 30 cards for a dollar. Yes, you read that right, 30 of the ugliest postcards ever, for only a buck. How lucky was that find. Unfortunately, I am embarrassed to send them out because aesthetically, they simply were not; and that's all I can say about that.

The last completed goal was # 12 Fly 6000 miles. This was not difficult to do unless you count the invasive body searches and my knees becoming too friendly with my chin. It must mean two things-- I am looking more suspicious and the seats have shrunk because flying used to be so much fun. A trip to Costa Rica and to New York completed the miles for this rather undemanding mission.

Every day is devoted to goal mastery and quite frankly, I am feeling a slight bit of pressure. The weather is finally warmer, therefore, I want to be outside gardening ( should have included 60 hours of that) and there hasn't been enough time in the day to do it all. Okay, no more whining because with the help of a few of my favorites: the massages, followed by wine tasting, and restaurant hopping; I will finish--just don't look too closely at my neglected flowers (and out of control weeds) this summer.

# 20 Quilting and Writing

It is on record that the quilt is done--Halleujah! Sister Susan was the inspiration and driving force behind this goal # 48--Make a quilt with sixty squares. A few weeks ago she visited with the sole purpose of goading me to begin because I do believe she was afraid I would wait until Dec. 31st and panic that I hadn't begun cutting the squares. Trying not to compare it to any of her masterpieces; I am happy to say that it is functional, very bright, and finished. What more can I ask for? Lesson learned on this one is that a sewing master I am not and never will be. I never obtained that look of awe as we wandered around the quilting store nor did I rush to work on it every waking moment that true quilters tend to do. No, she gently pushed me to get the majority of it done while she was here and when we recently spoke on the phone, she expressed dismay that I had not finished the hand sewing. Groan! What a tedious job, but I perservered and it will now keep someone warm next winter--just don't look too closely at the stitches.

The other accomplished goal was letter writing to 60 people which has become one of my favorite activities. The return responses have been numerous and many have appreciated my use of their mailboxes as something other than a receptacle of bills and advertisements. Corresponding with author Jane Hamilton, Gov. Scott Walker ( he thanked me for writing--a civil exchange even though we have opposing views), the Dyson vacuum company, and numerous family and friends has motivated me to continue commenting on local, national, and global injustices or writing positive feedback for a job well done. Try it. The price of a stamp and stationery is miniscule for the return satisfaction of expressing your opinion.

Now back to the other 45 goals that are waiting to be tackled. Thanks, Susan, for the nudge to finish the quilt--maybe when I turn 70 I will attempt another one, but don't get too excited because I'm not ready to thread another needle, cut another square, nor buy quilting material for quite a long time--well, for at least another ten years. In the meantime, I owe you a long letter of gratitude and thanks!