Sewing Machine

I had a craving for a Seed Lover’s Supreme Pizza. I placed an order with the Stone Wall Kitchen and Pizzeria on the other side of town. Unfortunately their delivery van was in the repair shop, I would have to pick it up in person. No problem, I called an Uber. The pizza was ready when I arrived. I got in the Uber, and the driver put on two more layers of masks. I asked why, the driver said she couldn’t stand the smell of roasted seeds and garlic. She clearly didn’t have a very sophisticated palette. Halfway home to the Woodpile, I yelled to the driver to stop. I had spied a perfectly good one hundred year old Sterling sewing machine in “mint” condition along the side of the road for free.  The driver begrudgingly stuffed it into the trunk as best as she could. We managed to get it back to the Woodpile in one piece. Although, it cost me $100 tip for the ride.

I didn’t realize how big it was until it was unloaded. It was nearly as tall as the Woodpile. My cousin Vinnie the P. dropped by, he loves mechanical contraptions. He climbed up and started giving it a thorough inspection. I overheard him muttering to himself, “non-electric model, cam shaft pedal powered, cast metal parts, needs a bit of lubrication … we can get this working again.” Vinnie yelled down, you need to find the thread and bobbins, they are probably in one of the drawers.

I cautiously climbed up. Quite a view from up here!

Then I realized I had cross over to the other side. This iron rod isn’t very wide, hope I don’t fall off.

Okay, I got to the top, now how do I open the drawers?

With super-critter strength I pried open the bottom drawer with my front paws.

Vinnie, sorry, it isn’t in this one. Vinnie yelled back, try the top drawer.

Easier said then done!

I found them what next?

I started by installing the bobbin.

Next was to get the thread installed.

Hmmm, how do get the needle to go up and down? Do I have to turn this wheel?

Maybe I have pull down on the belt?

Vinnie explained this machine was pedal powered. You rock it back and forth. This is what the life of a gerbil must be like.

Pedal isn’t moving, what seems to be the trouble? Very funny, who stuck the acorns under here!

It was a lot of work to run the pedal. We took turns.

We had it running at top speed when all of sudden we heard a loud Kaboom!

I see the problem now. The belt has broken

Its only a hundred years old, I wonder if it still under warranty?

It gave Vinnie an excuse to use his hand tools.

 

 

While we were repairing the machine, my wife dropped by and 

asked the million dollar question What do you plan on sewing with it?”

The dumb look on my face said it all. Vinnie and myself had gotten so caught up in repairing it, we hadn’t thought of the obvious. Having completely deflated Vinnie and my egos, she sent me back to the burrow for some cloth and her scissors. When I returned, me and Vinnie ran the foot petal while she made masks for the local animal hospital.

PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE

 A spokes'munk from CCDC (Critter Center for Disease Control) demonstrates proper paw washing.