I Am A Seamstress - Rediscovering the Sewing Machine

I grew up in the 50’s, when a little girl spent time learning all the homemaker skills.  I could prepare a pork roast, I could crochet an edging on a handkerchief, I could sew drapes, I could plant vegetables and deadhead roses.  

When I was in the 5^th grade, my mother took me to a Cuyahoga Falls, to the Singer Sewing Machine store where I took sewing lessons and made my first dirndl skirt.  In 1960 I purchased my first Singer Sewing Machine and it served me well.  In addition to my own clothes, I also made outfits for my little boys every Easter, 

Easter 1970 - Michael and Joey in matching handmade sport coats!

curtains for every window in my house and Halloween costumes!  But the years passed and my Singer Sewing machine gathered dust in the storeroom.

Then, about 3 months ago, my brother, Fred, was trying to sell his mother-in-law's sewing machine, a Husqvarna Viking Freesia 425.  So even though I don’t sew anymore, I decided to donate my old Singer to the Salvation Army and buy this more modern machine.  I put the Husqvarna in the storeroom and forgot about it.

Enter my son Marc, in September...  "Mom, is it possible for you to make a Green Goblin costume for Gino for Halloween.  He wants to be the Green Goblin and we can't find a costume online or in the Halloween stores.  Here is a picture of what he should look like."  Of course, my answer as the mother who can do anything, is... “of course, let me work on it.”

A week and four trips to Joann's later, here is the plan.  Charlotte is getting a green long sleeve shirt and green leggings and the mask.  I am making the gloves, boot covers, the tunic and the hat.  

I set up the new Husquvarna in the office.  I find a 45 minute video on YouTube that introduces me, step by step, to my new machine.  Simple patterns for the items were easily found online.  And within about 4 days, to quote Gino, “I DID IT!”

Gino trying on his finished costume.

A week later, enter Marc..."Mom, the Green Goblin needs a messenger bag to wear across his body."  I suggested he use a small cross-body plain purse I have and Marc responded in no uncertain terms!  “NO.  That's a PURSE...he needs a plain messenger bag.”

Another trip to Joann's to buy heavy brown fleece and we have a messenger bag.  Mima fullfils her promise, Gino is happy, and Marc has nothing more to say.

 

Gino on Halloween - front view

Back View - note cross-body Messenger Bag!

But Mima is experiencing an itch.  That was kind of fun.  I wonder what else I could make?  The internet is full of ideas. What about Jessie?  I have never had a little girl to sew for.  I spend a few? hours on Pinterest.  Do you know how many free patterns for little girl's clothing are "out there?"  I download a few.

I make another trip to Joann's and I discover the remnant bin!  AND they are 50% off.  AND there is a lovely pattern of little snowmen and Christmas is coming.

The dress is darling...but it needs some matching bloomers.  And then what about a matching headband.

Another trip to Joann's and some elastic is purchased and the items are made.

 

Jessie's Pinafore Dress/Top can also be worn over a onsie and with leggings!

I save all my remnants neatly folded on my closet shelf.  It is growing and waiting for the next project. (Will this end up taking over my yarn stash?)

Returning to the craft of sewing reminds me of just how wonderful it is to enter the world of creativity.  Whether it is knitting a sweater, painting a picture, planting a garden, baking a cake, or even writing a blog post…when my hands pick up something that is seemingly ordinary and I begin to make something new with it, I enter a different world. I am in the flow.  

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi defines “flow” as a state of heightened focus and blissful immersion.  There is a focus that causes time to disappear.  I forget myself, my anxieties, my "shoulds" and "oughts" and I just FLOW as if I am a part of something larger. And when I exit “the FLOW” I am left with this wonderful clarity and sense of being refreshed!  It is a gift I give myself.

At the moment I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude to the women in my life who shared their skills with me.  First of all, to my mother as my role model, who let me cook alongside her, let me participate every Christmas when she painted a large holiday mural on our living-room window, and who sewed all my dancing costumes.  

Patricia about 8 years old - Tap Dancing Costume

Then to my Grandmother, Frances who taught me to crochet and to love to get my hands into the dirt of the garden.  To my friends, "The Achrems" - Janette and Resi, who taught me how to knit when I was a young woman expecting my first child.  All of these dear women shared their skills, their crafts, and their love with me.  And it is the gift that keeps on giving!  I look to Jessie Patricia and hope that in the future, I can pass along some of this along to her.

But right now, I have a slight problem... I am experiencing a little itch! I think I have fallen down a rabbit hole!  On to Pinterest!

I Am An Aging Woman - Appreciating My Body

How did we do life before we had smartphones?  I could write numerous posts about how this little instrument has changed the way I navigate through life…some good and some not so good.  But for today, I am just going to focus on one aspect of it…the sending and receiving of short videos to and from my grandchildren.  

Since I have not yet learned how to bilocate, there are times when I am not able to be present for one of their activities, like yesterday’s “away” football game for Gabe’s team.  Jay and I attend all of his home games and Murphy’s Law…the one we miss is the one where he catches a pass and runs 40 yards before being tackled!  But, not to fear, on the bus on his way back to the school, Gabe sent me a text with a little video attached showing me in real time the execution of this wonderful moment!

As for Gino and Jessie…they are 2 ½ and 1 years old.  Everyday brings a new accomplishment and I get to see it on a video text…first steps, dirty chocolate hands and cheeks, a new monster mask, singing a new song, playing at the playground.  

Sometimes, like this morning, I received a “Good Morning, Mima” video from the 2 of them both chattering to me.  So I decided to reciprocate and I took a selfie video of me talking to them, thanking them for the morning message and asking about their day.  Charlotte said they loved it so I played it back to me to see what they saw.

Here comes the “not so good” part of this little instrument.  Have you ever looked at yourself on an up-close-and-personal selfie video!  Do I really look like that!  It is not complimentary.  So aged, so weathered, so worn. That is not how I look in my mind.  It was sobering.

Later in the morning I dragged my aged, weathered and worn body to the clubhouse for the weekly yoga class.  As I sat on my mat and stretched over my outstretched leg, I looked at it.  

The skin is dry despite the lotion I lather on.  There are little age spots I keep saying are freckles. I found myself massaging my leg and I became overwhelmed with a feeling of great tenderness.  I realized that this leg is 75 years old.  It is still serving me well.  I am able to take short hikes with my friend, Cindy.  I am able to stoop to weed my garden.  I am able to push the double stroller with two toddlers.  I looked at my arms and hands, both reflecting the passage of time, and think of how I am able to knit, cook meals, change diapers, even hoist up my “big boy” Gino, caress Jay’s cheek. 

I felt a tremendous sense of gratitude for this body of mine, this aged, weathered and worn body of mine.  It is not giving up yet.  The privilege of growing older is the best thing that has happened to me.  Rather than delete my selfies, I will rejoice in the fact that I am still here, that today is one more opportunity to begin again…to tell those in my life that I love them...to drink another glass of wine...  to listen to a happy song...to laugh with my husband...to try to have a positive impact.  But I think I will still refrain from selfies!  I am not blind!  But, I am grateful!

(Note: This is the first time I have embedded videos in a post, so I apologize in advance if they don't work!)

I Am A Grandmother - Celebrating Jessie Patricia

I like to think that our children were chosen for us.  I know this flies in the face of reason and science, but each child that has entered our family, from my three sons, to my three grandsons, and now to my little grand-daughter has been a unique spirit that has filled a unique spot in the family unit.  Each brought its own energy, gifts, needs, lessons and I can’t imagine life without any of them.  And I, as a mother and a grandmother, have had the privilege of being intimately involved in each new life.

I was the mother of three sons.  And each of my sons, fathered a son.   I always told anyone who asked that I loved raising boys.   Each boy was unique but they all shared the energy, openness, curiosity and dare-devilishness of the Y gene.  I loved the sweaty, puppy-dog smell of their little heads at the end of a day of play.  I loved sitting in the stands at various football, basketball and little league games.  I even loved trying to wash the grass stains out of the knees of blue jeans. 

I would take a little boy over a little girl any day!  

And then there was Jessie Patricia!  

Today we celebrate Jessie’s first birthday.

For one year this little child has filled a void in our family that we didn’t even know existed.  She has her own unique personality that radiates from her smile…and she is always smiling, turning her light on you whenever you catch her eye!  

I have also been an advocate that children should not be treated by gender when they are little.  A child is a “child” and can play with trucks or dolls equally without any recriminations.   

While I still believe that, I am also now aware that for better or worse, little Jessie seems to call forth a different, softer response from each of us.  First of all, she is different from Gino…she is a GIRL. She feels different when you hold her.  While she is just as strong and beautifully developed, she feels softer.  

And I laugh as I watch the men in the family with her…her dad, uncles, cousins…all “take it down a notch” and their voices reach a higher register as they speak to her.  She calls forth a gentler response from each of them. 

I have no doubt that Jessie will be her own person.  She is already Miss Independent…quietly moving forth in the world…walking around the furniture,

climbing, climbing on everything, 

even into her little red car when she wants a ride,

loving the playground

feeding herself when she is hungry or grabbing her water glass when she is thirsty. 

  

She makes her wishes known…not with words yet but with an outward thrust of her arm and a loud “Ahnnnnnn!”  

Her favorite person is her brother Gino, who makes her laugh. 

She performs with all her little games…Pattycake, So Big, Giddy-Up Horsey, Peek-a-boo and laughs with glee when you react.

She is the delight of her mom and dad,

Like any grandparent, I have hopes and dreams for all of my grandchildren.  More than anything I want each of them to be happy…to be happy with who they are and the life they have chosen to live.  To have good health and to be surrounded by people who appreciate who they are.  To have the strength and self-confidence to follow their dreams.  Yet when I look at Jessie Patricia, I find I also have other hopes for her.  

I hope she can grow up in a world that will present opportunities to her, that will not be influenced by sexism but encourage her to spread her wings and reach for her goals.  

And additionally, I hope I can teach her to knit!!

Happy birthday, Jessie Patricia Altieri!  We all love you so much!

I Am A Naturalist - Experiencing Nature at PVS

Most of my family and friends know that Jay and I live in Palos Verdes Shores, a community of residents, 55 years or older, who live in manufactured homes on the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  

Nestled between the town of San Pedro and the Trump Golf course, our little piece of paradise provides us with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island, 

the Port of Los Angeles, tanker ships, fishing boats, and an occasional whale or dolphin. We enjoy daily ocean breezes, mornings with marine layers, 

hummingbirds visiting our deck feeders, monarch butterflies visiting our milkweed plants, 

the evening serenades of local coyotes and once in a while an uninvited raccoon trying to get into the trash bins.  

While we have the moving parking lot of the 405 freeway just a few miles away, it is easy to forget the hustle of the city and submerge ourselves into the natural world that surrounds us.  Separating us from the Trump Golf course is the Ocean Trails section of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, areas of the peninsula that are protected by the Land Conservancy from development and provides hiking trails while preserving the natural setting.  After our wonderful rains, the Preserve was lush and green and later, filled with golden flowers of the wild mustard plants.  

But like all living things (ourselves included!), these plants age, and dry, and wither away…creating a disaster like a brush fire just waiting to happen.

But the city of Palos Verdes is on the ball and as well as employing various persons to comb the hillsides with weed-whackers, each year they also bring in goats to eat the invasive plants.  The Conservancy says goat grazing is considered environmentally friendly and economically efficient.

So, today Jay and I decide to take a walk over to the trail head and looked down on the busy baa-ing goats.  On our way we passed this sign that reminded us that there are other living creatures that also share our surroundings!

Except for the goats and one other man ahead of us on the trail, we felt like we were alone in this magical place.  

To the left were the rooftops of our community homes, and before us was hillside filled with goats.  

Some were chomping away, some were fighting over who was going to stand on top of the big rocks, 

and some were just resting while they digested!  

Later we walked over to the tall trees adjacent to our golf course to check out the red-tailed hawk nest and see if we could get a glimpse of mama hawk and her one little “hawklet!” 

Jay and I look at each other and say…”We live in paradise! 

Being surrounded by the beauty and the peacefulness of nature is restorative.  It gives us a chance to remove ourselves from the "noise" and be reminded of the essence of life.  All we have to do is turn on the television or pick up the newspaper and we realize that we don’t recognize our world anymore.  The “new normal” is frightening to us.  We feel assaulted by dissent, anger, disrespect, chest-thumping.  We don’t know what to believe or who to trust. We don’t understand our modern world and the urge is strong to assume the fetal position, to withdraw and hide.  But what we find ourselves doing instead is reaching for those behaviors that are constant and remind us of who we are at our core.  

We are currently taking an Omnilore course that is studying the ancient philosophies of China and we are reminded of mindfulness and all the wonderful tools that help us practice warm-heartedness, presence and goodness and that contribute positively to our well-being and our surroundings.  Being aware of nature that surrounds us contributes to that little bit of serenity.  

As Confucius say..."Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."  I think I'll go take a walk!

I Am A Niece - Remembering Aunt Mary

In an Italian Family, there are very vague boundary lines drawn around those who are considered family. La Famiglia is the number one priority.  It is the touch stone of your heart and your identity.  It is the basis of most decisions you will make.  It is the gravitational pull of your strongest loyalties.  When all else fails and disappoints, you still have “family.”  Family encompasses those with whom you share blood, “il sangue” but it extends beyond that.  It embraces ALL the cousins (i cugini). It doesn’t matter is you are third-cousin twice removed on the chart, you are Family.  It extends to spouses and best friends; marry someone of Italian descent and you marry the family.  It embraces anyone who has stood next to you at important moments of your life…best-man and maid-of-honor, godfather and godmother (i compari) and the children and parents and siblings of those people. When you are considered best-friend, you have entered the family.  You can walk into anyone’s home without knocking because you are family.  There is always a place for you at the table. There is always time for you to share a cup of coffee or a good cry.

Much of this flies in the face of our modern world.  People look askance when a relative helps themselves to a soda in your refrigerator without asking first.  They don’t understand when you pass up a chance to see a “once in a lifetime concert” because you have a birthday party for an uncle to attend.  They don’t understand when you throw a big, fancy celebration that is NOT advertised as “Adult-only party, please no children” but has little munchkins running between the adults, grabbing cookies and sliding on the dance floor.  They don’t understand the concept of La Famiglia. And, it falls to the elders in the family to ingrain this concept in the younger family members.

This week, I lost the last member of my parents’ generation in my family.  Mary Louise Steinert, my father’s younger sister, my Aunt Mary, died at the age of 95.  

 

Bing, Mary Louise, Archie (my dad)

She spent her entire life in the Rinaldi Homestead…the two-story house in Kent, Ohio where my grandparents lived, where my father was born, 

where she brought her beloved husband (John) and where they raised their 5 children.   

Uncle John, Aunt Mary, Grandma Rinaldi, John, Veronica, Laura, Mary Jo and Joey

Even with the various “remodels,” I, the niece who moved all the way to California 62 years ago, knew that house like the back of my hand.  Distance and time made no difference.  

I found ways to visit Aunt Mary through those 62 years, the last visit in May for her 95^th birthday celebration.  Each time I was with her, I was a little child again.  I always felt her love, her acceptance of me and her pride in me.  She made me feel like a million dollars, like I was her most favorite person in the whole wide world!

 

With Aunt Mary at her 90th Birthday!

If I close my eyes, I can see her beautiful handwriting addressing my birthday and Christmas cards.  I received one every single year of my life. Even this last birthday, just 24 days before she died…when she was weakened, I receive this Facebook post from her!

She has impacted my life because she was a prime example of a woman who lived her life in a state of love and hope.  Despite various tragedies, being left a widow way too early in her life, she always approached life with the belief that there was much to be grateful for and tomorrow would be better.  She knew how to find laughter and silliness in even dire circumstances and she passed that on to us.  She knew how to be present in the moment, whether it was at a Kent State basketball game, a dinner in Laura and Walt’s garage, around a table playing cards with others, making just one more afghan for one more person, rolling out homemade gnocchi, opening her arms to comfort a crying child.  

Because she was such a huge presence, her death will leave a huge void.  The house at #627 will feel empty now that she is not inhabiting it.  Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends and compari will miss her.  But, at the same time her legacy will continue to brighten the world because she has imparted who she is to all of us.  She always gave her ALL.  We can all close our eyes and hear her laughter.  We all have our own “Aunt Mary” stories. And because of her, we will all hold “La Famiglia” just a little closer.

I love you, Aunt Mary.   Thank you for helping me become who I am.   See you later, Kiddo!!