Monday, July 24, 2017

Buttonholers And Birthday Plans


A few days ago I got out my handy Greist buttonholer attachment to make the buttonholes on a dress for Maggie, only to find that the gear which makes the buttonholer move was not working. It was making its regular little reassuring click noises but when it clicked, nothing was happening. I looked at it and messed with it to no avail and that evening, I gave it to Mr. Moon because it seems like it's a simple little machine and I felt certain that he could figure out why it wasn't working and fix it for me.
He took it apart and studied it and did this and did that and he could not figure out how to fix it either.
Ah-lah, I thought. And today I made buttonholes by hand which, let me just say, I know how to do in theory but they are not nearly as neat and tidy as the buttonholes made by the Greist buttonholer attachment.
So I got on eBay and looked up Greist Buttonholer and sure enough, there were a bunch for sale. I found one which is exactly the same model (by all visual accounts, at least) as the one I have now and I bought it. $16.95, free shipping, and I just got notified that it's already shipped and they upgraded me to Priority Rush and how exciting is that?
Ah, the internet is a beautiful thing sometimes.
And so very soon I will be back in the buttonhole business.

That was just about the most productive thing I've done all day to be honest. I had to wait for the Century Link guy to show up and figure out why my internet is so slow these days and of course, I was given the time frame of between 8 and 12 and he got here at 12. I can't complain. The guy is so nice and I recognized him from another time when I was having problems. He did what he could and promised to try and fix it at the "port" which is the place down by the post office where there's a bunch of stuff in a fence which I gather is where the magic really happens.

I did some weeding and gave the weeds to the baby chicks and their mama and finished the little Maggie dress except for some embroidery I'm going to do on the pocket. I also decided that I'd like to go to Apalachicola for my birthday which takes the pressure off of everyone and Mr. Moon got us a room at the Gibson Inn where we have not stayed for quite some time. We have had many, many honeymoons there in the last thirty-something years and it cheers me immensely to know that we are still capable and, indeed, excited, to have another.
That alone is something to celebrate on my sixty-third birthday.
Or any birthday, for that matter if you want to know the truth.

I am a lucky, lucky lady.

Love...Ms. Moon

P.S. Isn't "buttonholer" a strange and almost pornographic word? I think so.





21 comments:

  1. My hubby and I have been going to Branson for my birthday for many years. I say it's to make it easy on everyone, but deep down I think it's my gift to myself. We get the same cabin in the woods, overlooking Table Rock Lake. We swim, lay (lie) in the sun on the dock, maybe take a pontoon boat ride, cook a breakfast or two on a Coleman stove and dinner on the grill, and then sit in the moonlight and drink Bloody Mary's or Margaritas. One month from today we'll be there!

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    1. I think that we need to give these sorts of gifts to ourselves. I love yours!

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  2. It does sound weird, yes - and oddly, to buttonhole someome means to keep them talking (or keep them listening, maybe) when they want to get away. Yoou never hear that phrase anymore.

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    1. I have heard that expression, or mostly read it. It makes good sense, doesn't it?

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  3. In 1982, my husband and I took our honeymoon at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, near Port Saint Joe and not too far from Apalachicola. We had the best fried oysters ever in Apalachicola - perfect for a honeymoon! One of my favorite places in all the world. I can understand why you are happy to be headed there again. Happy Birthday.

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    1. You would NOT believe how much Apalachicola has changed. However, you can still get the best fried oysters there ever.

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  4. Wishing you many happy returns of the day, and a great time on your trip!

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  5. I hope you enjoy every minute of your birthday! And many happy returns of the day!

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    1. Well, as many returns as I am still coherent. And I'm sure I will enjoy my birthday if I just let myself.

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  6. I am laughing about buttonholer. It is a very disturbing word.

    Yay for your trip to Apalachicola, and I'm glad you're getting the Internet sorted. (As the Brits say!)

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    1. I'm not sure it's quite sorted yet but hopefully, it will be soon. It is better.

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  7. How nice. Maybe next birthday that comes up we'll do something like that. Matagorda on the coast is only an hour away. I could spend a weekend at the beach no problem. of course the next birthday coming up is his in December so might have to wait til next April.

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    1. Do it, Ellen! Even in the winter the coast can be beautiful. Maybe especially in the winter. But April would be lovely too.

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  8. I never could make a neat looking buttonhole with my machines until I discovered bound buttonholes... https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/11/how-to-sew-bound-buttonholes/

    Have a glorious Birthday! Sending you a little something, be on the lookout.
    love,
    yo

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    1. Oh, Lord, Yo! It is so much easier to use the Greist attachment on my ancient Singer. Trust me. And it is a neat and tidy buttonhole.

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  9. What do you mean "buttonhole by hand"? Good woman, I call that dedication if nothing else. I remember my sister attempting to teach me the thing whereby you machine stitch up and down these two lines and sort of across at the bottom and top. I have a thing for snaps ever since.

    What a lovely treat you have waiting for your birthday!

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    1. It's just like the blanket stitch, only much tinier and closer together. Snaps are wonderful.

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  10. I love your birthday plan. A honeymoon for the Moon honeys! Ok that was corny, but i love the idea of you two in a romantic place together for the weekend. We should definitely take a few pages out of your book of bliss. Enjoy. Love.

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    1. Well, we ARE corny so there you go. And the older we get, the cornier we are. What's up with that?

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  11. Buttonholers And Birthday Plans. A few days ago I got out my handy Greist buttonholer attachment to make the buttonholes on a dress for ...
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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.