Terrace Talk

Notes for August

Keeping On Keeping On

So many articles bombard us with advice for long life, but most can be summed up as, “Move it or Lose It.” The Terrace planners try hard to keep us moving, so here’s a reminder of our choices.

Three times a week, the more able-bodied can enjoy an exercise class with instructors Patricia Kerr and Bradford Bailey. Twice a week, a new chair yoga instructor, Jaimee Ratliff, leads the group through stretching and low-impact movements. Once a week, a lively group goes through line-dancing maneuvers and ballroom steps, led by Gary Casten.

Most recently, a walking group has started up, too.

If you prefer working out alone, try the machines and free weights in the activity room. Targeted rehab is provided by Physical Therapist Elizabeth Morris if you have a doctor’s order.

Exercise is good for our brains, too. A recent study at the University of Georgia shows that physical activity may slow mental decline. (Futurity Magazine, June 27, 2025)

-Karen Waitz

I Remember Group

Grandma’s Singer Sewing Machine 1934-52

By Tom Deimler

I am not sure when I first noticed the old Singer sewing machine in the upstairs hallway. Well, the hallway was more than just that; it was very wide and large enough to be a separate room.

At the end was a beautiful chest of drawers with an old, ornate clock, of which I was in awe! In the corner was a large cedar closet. I will forever remember the fragrance. This is where we all kept our “Sunday” suits and dress-up clothing. I truly doubt that folks today have a cedar closet or have even heard of them.

It seemed to me that Grandma spent numerous hours working on the sewing machine. She looked like she was enjoying herself, as there was a slight smile to her otherwise serious face. With much rhythm, she softly pushed the pedal below. Up and down went her foot, creating a near-musical sound that was comforting.

I was at least ten years old before I realized the importance of what she was doing. Much of her clothing and that of Grandfather Deimler was a product of her endeavors and the rapid movement of the spindle.

As I now put my mind to it, I am remembering what we called the “rag bag.” In it was a great variety of pieces of cloth or, in some cases, worn-out clothing. No particle of fabric ever got thrown away, but instead was put into the rag bag. When it was stuffed, Grandma carried the bag upstairs to the sewing machine where she pieced by piece sewed the rags end to end, until what to me looked like long enough strands to go from one end of the room to the other. Next, she began to braid the long lines of cloth, much like some of the hair braids we see today.. If she ran out of fabric, she waited for the next full rag bag. The final step and gorgeous result became a braided rug. Some were oval-shaped and some were round. She carefully laid the braids on the open floor until she had the design of her choice. The next part was tedious to say the least, as she knelt on the floor hand-stitching the braids together. A new rug was then placed at a special spot in our farmhouse

Another cloth supply came from Mom and Dad’s purchase of a significant number of bags of ground grain mash, which was processed in a stone mill using wheat and corn grains. One of the feed companies had the mash sold in large bags with mostly roses, but also other designs on the bag fabric. To this day, I am not certain if my parents wanted that brand of feed for the poultry and farm animals or whether they just wanted the colorful bags it came in.

Perhaps you know what is coming in the next part of my story. Yes, the empty bags were laundered, and you guessed it, passed on to Grandma and that Singer sewing machine. I always thought that everyone slept on bed sheets that had roses on them, because sure enough, that is what we all went to sleep upon.

Other useful items made from those old feed bags were tea towels used by my sister Peggy to dry dishes. Washcloths, too, were sewn from the bags. Farmers need lots of towels in the workshop, so again the sewing machine came to the rescue.

Grandma’s job continued as there was never any downtime. Other things she sewed included patching my torn blue jeans, shortening trousers that were too long, covering a hole in a shirt, and a great deal more.

God bless Grandma and that Singer sewing machine!

-Tom Deimler