Thursday, December 13, 2018

Steps and so forth



Steps—There are twenty odd steps between my bedroom door and the coffee pot in the kitchen.  Even if I make a trip into the big world, I don’t get around much in a day. But I decided not to be so hard on myself.  If I want to bring back a sandwich and a cup of coffee, it’s two round trips, once for the sandwich and another for the coffee. I tried balancing the sandwich plate on top of the cup of coffee, and it can be done, but is just over difficult.

Throat plates—A throat plate is part of a sewing machine. If it must be removed, generally two screws are removed and the plate lifts out. Way last summer, before I broke a bunch of bones, Jan and Tom came by and Tom tended to some repairs needed on the new loom. Toward the end Tom needed a trip to the hardware store, and Jan, of shear boredom, tore down my sewing machine for a good cleaning.

My sister can dis and reassemble a sewing machine blindfolded, in the dark. But at the end she made an error. My brother did this; Laura does it; most adults do it. Jan did it. She snugged down the throat plate screws. My machine is a nice old Brother, and its only fault is a good ability to get a screwdriver to the throat plate screws.

I called my sister, and found her down in Amish country, in a quilt fabric shop, weighing augmenting her stash. I bet the shop keeper tipped the scale. I went back to weaving until Laura came in from school, and removed the screws. I screwed them back in.

Handicap placards—The placard that hangs from my rear view mirror, and entitles me to park in designated places up by the door of a shop, expires after the last day of this month. I’ve had a placard so long that mine has slipped over to five year expiration. I called the office; the receptionist will get the paperwork together for me to pick up.

Tomato—Ruth and I try to get out to lunch, though this summer has been difficult. We have been several times to a restaurant in Cleveland called Tomato\Tomado. A casual little place; order at the counter for delivery to your table.  It’s a lunch crowd place, heavy on fruits and vegetables.

Last spring Ruth said she’s been told of another ”tomato restaurant” in the Hudson area, and I should keep an eye out. One day, by the library, I saw a tomato go by. I went around the block to be sure, and found The Tomato Grill.  Then I broke my leg and butt, and had my arm fixed. We didn’t make it to The Tomato Grill until yesterday.

Ruth was perfect, of course, but I was underdressed in jeans. She had crab cakes and I had squash soup and grilled tomato salad. The food was first rate, and so was the service. We probably won’t go back.






32 comments:

  1. You won't go back because...? I have a little sewing machine that I haven't used in years. I think I only had it maintained once, and at the most I took out parts and blew the dust away. I'm very bad with machines. -Jenn

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    1. All the waitstaff wore black and carried pepper grinders to dispense twists. Portions too large for lunch, and too expensive. I need to go eat the rest of the salad.

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  2. When it comes to disassembling and re-assembling my machine, I have found YouTube videos very helpful. I can pause, rewind, slow-mo to put whatever I have messed up. The bobbins are the worst.

    Glad to hear that you are out and about.

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  3. I remember the throat plate on sewing machines from when my mom sewed a lot. I too am curious why you might not go back to that restaurant unless it was a bit over priced even though the food was good? Good that you'll be getting another handicap placard; a necessity with all your different health "issues" especially in the midst of winter.

    betty

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  4. You had me walking around counting steps here. From bedroom doorway to the kitchen sink where I make coffee is 6 steps, if I count from the bedside it is 14, or 11 if I get out of bed on the other side. From the kitchen sink to my table is 7 steps and from bedside straight to table is 16 steps, or 13 if I get out of bed on the other side. No wonder I'm putting on the pounds.
    Why would you not go back to a restaurant where the food and service are both very good? Is it out of the way? Too pricey?

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  5. Hari Om
    The Hutch may only have three rooms and spit, but they are large and I can get a kilometer out of 10 trips around the 'perimiter loop'. I need to use that more... Good food, good service. One visit only? YAM xx

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  6. Like everyone else I am puzzled that you won't be going back to a venue with good food and service.
    And will have to count my steps for a bit. I do know I need to walk more. Preferably without going base over apex.

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  7. Because the little place is good and casual that's where you will stick to. The sewing machine oil and screwdrivers were in much demand for other jobs in my family. My mother kept them where everybody knew where to find them.

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    1. I'm just not that hoity toity. Ruth and I go early, 11-30ish, and the restaurant filled rapidly with well to do old lady hair and perfume.

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  8. I'm always underdressed in jeans. And was told I couldn't eat in a restaurant in Vegas because I was wearing a cap. Really?

    So why won't you be returning to the restaurant? Too many tomatoes?

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  9. I like the sound of the grilled tomato salad. In fact, I like the sound of anything at all as long as someone else has made it and and put it on the table.
    And as for jeans? I consider my black jeans to be my fancy dressed-up ones.

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    1. Ditto. I save one pair of jeans for good. Dark blue, well pressed. But, it may be my sneakers...

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  10. You've got me counting my steps . . . phew! I never realized I had so many. From cellar to attic there are 73.

    I think I'll go and lie down ;-)

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  11. Why won't you go back?
    Love your blog

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  12. I guess you didn't love the place. That's okay.

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  13. Ok, now I'll have to count my steps from the bed to the coffeepot. It's the first essential journey of every day! :D

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  14. There are many steps in this old house I live in. And then more to go feed chickens, look for eggs, check out the garden. Walking is something we take for granted until we can't do it at which point nothing in the world seems as important.

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  15. Can you use a small bag or basket and carry the sandwich and plate in that and the coffee in your other hand? Or do you need one hand free? I use a bag when I have too many things to carry upstairs. I'm just mailing my handicap placard request today.

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    1. I still need my left hand for the cane. If I could balance a plate in the crook of my arm, like that waitkid yesterday, I'd have the problem solved.

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  16. I assume the good food and excellent service had small portions (not necessarily a bad thing) and big prices. either that or they sneered at your jeans. my sewing machine is in need of repair. the motor runs but it does not engage the arm with the needle. it's an hour's drive in either direction to get to a place to get it fixed. I've not counted any steps and I shake my head at those younger people with their fitbits always checking to see how many steps they have walked so far in a day because some piece of technology is ordering them around.

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  17. We have two floors but moved the coffee maker up to the second floor quite some time ago. It's about two steps from the computer to the coffee. I already have a bar fridge up here, which I use for pop, so the cream is handy too.

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  18. "Throat plates" -- sounds like it should be part of a knight's suit of armour or something. Or maybe a hockey goalie's gear. I think theirs are called "throat guards."

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  19. I know what you mean about carrying a cup and a plate Joanne. I have a shake and such a thing is difficult for me too, but I just assue that two journeys is good for my walking.

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  20. OKOK, why won't you go back if the food and service were so good?
    The throat plates on three machines here all just slide or pop in. Not a screw in sight. I'd send you my middle aged brother if I could afford the shipping.

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  21. My mother just donated her sewing machine, old patterns and other bits to a charity shop. When we were kids, she made a majority of our clothes. I can still recall a particularly 'groovy' pair of bell-bottoms made from a Coca-Cola print fabric she'd sewn for my sister.

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  22. I have three sewing machines; my really good one and my mom's two really old ones. Can your sister come to my house to play?

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  23. Tomato restaurants? That's a new one on me. Does that mean you get tomatoes with everything, instead of fries with everything?

    Very fortunate having a sewing machine wizard close to hand!

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  24. Hey I wore my new black jeans to church today and that is as dressed up as I get. Like you I like relaxed places.

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  25. No repeats for the restaurant? I’d go back.

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