My sewing machine broke again, and this time it isn’t just in need of a new needle. The bobbin won’t turn. My sister gave me her old machine to see if it would work, but I can’t get it to run either. The local JoAnn Fabrics charges at least $60 just to look at a machine to repair. What I’d like to do is come up with some money to buy a new simple Singer. Hard to find money, I will have to keep squeezing turnips.

I’ve been clearing closets by donating clothes, throwing away clothes that are not even worth the fabric, chopping up old T-shirts into cleaning rags, and cutting up other clothes to use the fabric. I like that last part, it’s fun. I’ve made laundry bags, for one thing. My best ones were from two old cotton/seersucker tablecloths. Then some others were from very old satiny pajamas.

I wanted to make a loose pullover top from some very old fabrics that date from when I was a kid. I have a few pieces that my mother had in a blue suitcase. I know my older sisters would recognize them.

Speaking of sisters, now 3 of my 4 sisters live in the area. My oldest sister moved back here from Las Vegas and now lives in a downtown building with a great view of the baseball stadium. She can probably watch games from there. She and her husband are planning to go to Europe again next year, then move somewhere else, possibly, so her time here is limited. They are both retired. Some people planned carefully and have great pensions, but others (like me) will never be able to retire and will be cleaning houses when they’re old, possibly living in a trailer parked illegally in the woods. Yep. Who cares! Just so I survive!

I’m invited to a Harry Potter event at the museum this weekend, which should be amusing. Maybe my sis and I should wear something special and witchy, maybe paint stripes in our hair or something.