The Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July!

One of the fondest memories I have of the Fourth was in 1976. In honor of the Bicentennial, our 4-H Club entered a float into the annual Spooner Fourth of July Parade. My mother sewed Prairie Dresses and Bonnets for my twin sister and me. She even sewed a set for two of our dolls. We rode in the float on some bales of hay and represented the prairie settlers that went out West to farm the land.

I admire my mother in that she sewed and did home "crafts". I admire anyone who takes the time to develop a skill like sewing, crocheting, knitting, etc. It was this use of "home" skills that helped families in the early days of this country. They are skills that aren't generally seen in most households now that we have commercial companies that will make quilts, clothing and other necessities for us and often times at a fraction of the cost of doing it ourselves. Because of my mother and other women I know who are like her, I own a sewing machine. I love that I have one ready in case I decide to sew a pillow or hem a tablecloth. I know I want to carve out some time to do more sewing and to develop more skills in that area. And to use those skills to help me have the freedom to create what I want and not necessarily use only what's available.

Happy Birthday, America!