Handi Work

 During the days of my youth I was a member of 4-H Club.  Its symbol was a four leaf clover with each frond holding an H.  Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.  The motto was recited at the beginning of each meeting:  

As a true 4-H member, I pledge...
My head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
My health to better living
for my club, my community,
my country and my world.

In our current world we could surely use a few more loyal 4-H's.  

Me, Connie, Linda, Baby Sis, Beverly. 
Practicing the Carrot Ring prep at Tessy's. 

But I digress.  During my years in 4-H, which started when I was ten, our leader helped to instilled the values of sewing, cooking, and interaction with others.  Her name was Tessy Slate.  She had two daughters, Beverly and Connie.  Let me point out that girls were, also, encouraged to raise farm animals.  I do not remember that any of the girls in my group did much in that direction.  There may have been a calf or two.  Maybe hatched some chicks and raised them.  

What I remember most were prepping for county fair and district meets where we displayed our learned skills.  As my Mom was a perfectionist and would have me redo any poor quality sewing, I always placed first in sewing competitions.  My BFF, Reba Jane, decades later said her mom always thought my mom did my sewing.  I assured Reba Jane that all Mom ever did was make me rip out and redo any stitch that was not perfect.  

Never did quite as well in cooking.  My one entrance in cooking competition was a sort of carrot, English pea mold served on a milk glass plate.  It was not very flavorful or attractive in my opinion.  However, the competitions instilled in me an ability to speak publicly without fear.  Leadership skills were another outgrowth of participation in the club, county socials, and competitions.

The milk glass plate is in my cupboard.  I have backed away from the perfectionist approach to sewing and find it much more enjoyable.  Well, so long as the sewing equipment and I get along.  One of the main pieces of equipments are my hands.  The last few years my hands have, at times, decided shaking would be fun.  My head finds this malfunction a bit of a challenge.   While my heart still has the desire to sew especially in service to others my health hinders me at times.  I find other ways to be of service to others, a hug, a kind word, or a silly joke.

Last Thursday my hands were calm.  I had two new articles of clothing that needing hemming.  What pleasure I found doing the simple task of the blind lock hem stitch.  That stitch that Mom taught me some 66 years ago.  The same stitches that I remember having to rip out as the hem in the brown skirt was bunching between the stitches.  After a few tries those stitches were hidden and all laid flat.  I modeled the skirt and won first place at the county competition.  

Thanks, Momma for teaching, encouraging in your way, and driving to the competitions.  Thanks, Tessy for opening your home and heart to serve a bunch of country kids.  Thanks, 4-H organization for instilling such positive values in youth.

The work continues:

New Braunfels River Roundup, June 2023.

Y'all all be good 4-H'ers in our world.

Janice