Darn it!

The other day I set about preparing my tea for the afternoon. Aside from the usual debate over which fruit to enjoy and fussing over a selection of sweets, I was faced with the challenge of what task I would undertake.

I have organized a book club and Tess of d’Urbervilles was sitting on the coffee table. I know I had best get reading sooner rather than later. There was also packing that needed to be done but why bother when I was just moving down the hall? And then there was a pile of mending that needed to be done. Rather than move work, I thought I might as well finish it and be done with it.

My great grandmother’s wicker sewing basket was in need of some TLC. Long ago turned into a jaunty picnic basket, the satin lining had come loose from years of use. I set about fishing a needle throw the wicker so you wouldn’t see the thread on the outside. That, of course, would never do.

I also had a zipper to fix and the hem on a pair of track pants needed repair. I am not great at sewing, but can mend and repair with the best of them.

The last thing needing my attention, were socks. Now normally, I wouldn’t bother with such a thing as darning, but the socks in question are Burberry. And while I was at it, I did a couple other pairs as well.

I remember, from when I was but a wee chap, my dad sitting in his chair in our family room doing this very thing. At the time I thought it foolish and a waste of time given the very reasonable price of socks. I now know that good socks are NOT cheap and darning is a relaxing, almost meditative, practice.

Wondering if people bother with such menial tasks in this day and age, I packed away my basket (the picnic one) and put my needle and thread back in their proper place. I then returned to the couch and my tea; admiring my toes as they wiggled about in their toasty Burberry home. Ahhhhhhhh.