And Poof Another Ball of Yarn is Gone

 Yesterday was mainly sunny with a high of 16C. This morning it is clear and 6C. Today is supposed to be sunny and windy with a high of 10C. We could have frost tonight.

Lifestyle

I decided to tackle the pantry yesterday. It was time to declutter and purge it. I started at the bottom and moved upwards. I got rid of some outdated food that got hidden in the back -- 2 cans and a bunch of gravy and dried soup mixes. As I went up the shelves I took the time to organize it all and wash the shelves well. I can say I have enough Ikea zippered bags for a long time. I may send daughter an unopened box of which I have 3 in that size. 

I have too much pasta but I do eat it in the winter when it is colder. Canned goods are less than I've had in a long time. I can buy them as I need them so am not worried. In all I have more than enough for someone who lives a 3 minute drive from the grocery store. 

I had just finished up when son arrived to take me for a drive to New Minas. He had to get the water samples to the pool place as the pool is getting closed on Monday and the hot tub needed to be tested for chemical balance. After that was done and the chemicals put into the car, we headed into the business part of the area. It was slow going with traffic backed up for a good couple of miles each way. No accident, just Friday noon's traffic jam. We went to the burrito place and had a delicious small burrito for lunch. 

We had a wonderful talk about ethnic food. This month we are supposed to go to a Thai place to eat. We talked about Japanese food particularly about sushi coming on a conveyor belt in some restaurants in Japan. They had experienced it when they went to Japan and I saw it on a video. 

Late in the afternoon, something caught my eye in a backyard. I thought a deer was standing by the neighbour's pool. It is a full size decoy. Not sure why he has it up unless it is supposed to keep the deer out of his yard. I do know the deer come in where you can see a fire pit behind a tree. 

I had a good chuckle and wait and see if it works. I just looked and it's gone. They must have put it away.

Sewing

I did sew yesterday afternoon. I got the binding onto the arm holes of the vest. I did top stitch them and the neckline binding down. Next up I sewed the side seams, finished them and top stitched them in place. I am ready to do the bottom facing. Lily chose to model it as she is wearing a skirt from the same fabric.

It fits her beautifully both in the front and back. 

And a full length picture as she is quite proud of it and is hoping I finish it today. 

The front points will take some time to bind as they need to be folded very carefully to get nice sharp points. 

Knitting

I knit 8 rows last night and finished the ball of yarn. 

I will measure it tonight before I start knitting. 

Thoughts

    I was relieved to hear that the hurricane downgraded to a tropical storm. It seems as if it hit hard in some areas and has done a lot of damage. I do hope that it doesn't do as much damage as it moves northwards. 

    Alberta is under a snow warning. It is supposed to start snowing today affecting many who will be travelling for Thanksgiving weekend. Daughter-in-law is in Alberta and will be flying home tomorrow morning. Here is hoping the planes will be flying on schedule tomorrow morning. 

Today

I would like to wash the kitchen walls this morning. I need to get the pepper plants put into recycling and their pots put into the shed. This afternoon I want to sew on the doll's vest and tonight I will knit on the afghan. 

Until the next time................................................................

Success With The Doll's Vest

 Yesterday was sunny for most of the day. The clouds did roll in late in the afternoon. The high got to 20C. This morning it is damp outside and 10C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a chance of showers this afternoon. The high is  supposed to get to 17C.

Lifestyle

I sat for a bit after breakfast and enjoyed the sunshine pouring in the windows. Then I got up and started to clean the upper cabinets. Each cabinet had some area that needed organizing and wiping. The biggest job was the baking cabinet. All the cupboard doors were wiped down. Once that was done, I scrubbed the counters and called it done. I just have the pantry to do and the walls to wash. 

I put on a load of laundry and folded the load I had done the day before. I put the clean sheets back on the bed later in the afternoon. 

Son was over to see me for a few minutes. He has to go grocery shopping as the stores are closed on Monday. We are not having Thanksgiving this weekend but may have it later on. Daughter-in-law will be exhausted as she has a long flight home plus time change on Sunday. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday. I cut out another doll's vest and sewed it up. I kept the first one so I knew which way to press the seams before top stitching. It was an easy sew until I got to the neck. 

I looked at the pictures, thought for a minute and sewed the little seam It worked though it is not 100% perfect. It will do. I carefully trimmed the seam at the neckline, turned the little facing down and hand stitched it in place. 

At this point I stopped as I had accomplished my goal and it was getting dark outside. 

Knitting

I knit 8 rows last night and the afghan is now 23" long. 

Thoughts

    It was a surprise to see a hurricane forming in the Gulf. Mother Nature let us off in September only to surprise us in October. In our province we wonder if it will hit land or veer off into the ocean. 

    I ate well yesterday. My portion control was great (small) and I felt full. The only thing I need to remember to do is add salt to the rice. I didn't as I usually have my rice with my meat. I am still figuring out what to eat but I do know that what I ate yesterday was a good start. 

Today

I am going to tackle the pantry and may even get some kitchen walls washed. I would like to sew on the doll's vest this afternoon and knit tonight. 

Until the next time........................................................................

A Day Of Food Prep

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 15C. This morning it is clear and 9C. Today is supposed to be mix of sun and clouds with winds. The high is to get to 19C.

Lifestyle

I went grocery shopping locally. It wasn't overly busy in the store and I see some of the prices have dropped a bit. I picked up what was on my list plus a couple of other things I needed. I was in and out without having to deal with crowds. 

Once home, I spent the time putting away the groceries and then I started prepping the food I bought. I put a whole chicken on to roast and when it was cooked, I took the meat off the bones. I have dark meat, light meat, and the bones for broth. 

I also prepped chicken breasts and put them into the freezer. I then cut up 2 chicken breasts and marinated them. Onions and pepper were chopped and put into containers. I even cut up a cucumber and some onion slices and put them into vinegar. 

The last job was to fry onions, grated carrots, and ground beef/pork for another meal I want to make. 

I have enough food prepped for 6 meals. I will keep adding cucumbers to the vinegar as I do like them like that. 

It was mid afternoon when I got everything done and the kitchen cleaned up. I was tired so sat down to rest. I was also happy that I can make some quick meals over the next week. 

Son picked me up at 5 pm and we went out for dinner at a restaurant close to where we live. I had salmon glazed with honey and soya sauce on a bed of rice with peppers in it. It was delicious. The portion size was perfect and the only thing I wished for was a vegetable. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I spent the day in the kitchen. 

Knitting

I knit 7 rows last night. The afghan is growing and the ball of yarn is shrinking. 

Thoughts

    I was surprised at how long it took to prep the food I bought. I will be doing shopping again next week and will be spending another day prepping food. My goal is to have meals ready to cook quickly and to eliminate food waste. 

    It is Canadian Thanksgiving this Monday. I am not sure if we will celebrate it as daughter-in-law gets home late Sunday  night. We might wait until friends come and celebrate then. Thanksgiving is a low key holiday in Canada and people will have their dinner on the Sunday or Monday. They will even put it off to another weekend. The stores are all closed on Monday which is normal in our province. 

Today

I have to do another load of laundry and fold the one in the dryer. I hope to sew this afternoon and knit tonight. It is a day at home for me. 

Until the next time...................................................................

I Had Sewing Issues

Yesterday was sunny and quite windy. The high got to 12C. This morning it is clear and 6C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

I spent the morning in the kitchen. My first job was to clean the fridge. I had to toss a few items that had gone bad and then I gave it a good cleaning and polished the outside. I then moved on to the microwave and cleaned it thoroughly. Next was the stove. The glass top got cleaned thoroughly and I pulled it out and cleaned the sides. I also polished it. Last I polished the dishwasher which I had cleaned earlier. I stood back and looked at the shining appliances and enjoyed them. I then scrubbed the counter tops. My last job of the morning was to vacuum the floor and mop it. It wasn't as dirty as I had thought. I did thank Rosie for keeping it clean. It was a productive morning. 

While I was working in the kitchen, I looked in the top cupboards. All the doors need cleaning but only two need cleaning on the inside. The rest are clean. I took that as a win and will get that done as soon as I can get to it; maybe tomorrow. Once that is done, I can wash the walls.

Sewing

I decided to start sewing the vest for the Gotz dolls. I am using the left over fabric from the apron and placemats and there is lots of it. I cut out the pattern which consists of smallish pieces. 

I sewed the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle. It is always fun to sew this designer's patterns. When I got to the neckline, I stalled. I could not figure out how to do it. I struggled and I finally got it to where I was happy. I trimmed the seam allowance and lo and behold I had cut the facing at the fold line. I took the facing strip off and stitched where the sewing line was. 

I stopped for the day as the room was getting dark even with the lights on. Sewing dark fabric is hard with the lighting I have. 

I have thought on it overnight and I will cut out the pattern and sew it again. It isn't a hard pattern to sew. And I did figure out the neckline issue. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got 6 rows done. No picture of my progress but the ball of yarn is getting smaller each night. It covers my thighs and will certainly keep me warm this winter. 

Thoughts

    It was nice to be back in my old routine yesterday. It was nice to have the morning to work on the kitchen and I was surprised at how fast the time flew by. I was relaxed and happy even if the chores were not my favourite ones. 

    The wind blew all day long. It brought in some lovely fall weather. It will soon be time to turn on the heat though it may not be this week. I almost did it yesterday but I didn't. 

Today

I have to grocery shop this morning and do food prep for the next couple of days. Once done, I will start on the doll's vest again. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. I am hoping for another quiet day. 

Until the next time...................................................................

The Tote Is Finished

 Yesterday was a wet day with passing showers going through. The high got to 18C. This morning it is partly cloudy and 7C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to physio and it was a brutal session. I can do things I couldn't do but my SI joint was not seated and some muscles were tight enough to play drums on. The therapist started with pressure to release the tightness in the muscles. When she started to work on the SI joint we did well. When she lifted my leg to put my heel toward my butt, my muscles started to cramp. We had to stop several times and I finally had to stand and do them holding on to the bed. It worked. I did the gym exercises and had the current and heat therapy. I felt better. 

I headed down to the community hall to pick up the containers we put everything into. I thought the ladies would be gone but they weren't. I helped them finish up and load the car. My SI joint didn't like it but it didn't rebel to bad as I caught it early and put heat on it at home. I also did my exercises which was helped a lot. 

Mid morning, I realized my body was exhausted from physio. I didn't want to do a thing but forced myself to get up and move. I spent most of the day doing that. I knew sitting on the couch wasn't the answer nor was having a nap. I knew I had to move around. 

Sewing

I made myself go down to sew on the bag. The getting up and moving around while sewing is good for me. 

I started off changing the thread to white and sewing the little strap for the lobster clasp. I had cut it back to 5.5". I threaded the clasp on and sewed the ends together so it wouldn't move about. 

Next I put the lining into the bag. I shoved it up under the turned down piece of the outer bag and clipped it in place. I then played with the lining and decided to trim 1/4" off the top of the lining. When I was happy with the fit, I clipped the lining into place and attached the claps. I sewed around the bag and when I picked up to admire it, the claps fell into my lap. I had to pick back an opening and sew it in. 

The last thing I wanted to do was add a bottom piece to the bag. I watched this video by Tamara's Joy. I measured the bottom of the bag (5" x 14"). I wasn't going out to Dollarama to see if I could find a cutting board like she showed so I dug deep into my interfacing and stabilizer drawer and found a heavy stabilizer like shown in the video. I cut two layers of it and a layer of fusible fleece. I got it all to stick together but I would recommend you stitch it together a good 1/4 to 3/8" from the edge. After a couple of mistakes, I made the cover and yes it is two fabrics sewn together. I followed the instructions to make the tube, stuffed in the bottom piece I had made and sewed it shut. Then I had a moment of panic. Would it fit? It did after I worked the corners into the corners of the bag. 

Here is the bag which is a prototype. 

I really quite like the bag a lot. The pocket on the front is neat and I would make the next one more contrasting. The inside is a story of mistakes but it works and looks fine. 

Did I learn anything? I did. I need to make sure I measure the pieces carefully before I cut. I learned that I can take a mistake and make it into a designer feature when I think about it. I love the handles having webbing inside them. I had stopped using webbing when I couldn't get the colours I needed for my bags. This is a game changer for me. I also like the bottom insert and need to figure out what I can get to make them. The stabilizer I used is very expensive and I need something cheaper. 

Will I make this bag again? Absolutely yes. I plan on making one for the field trial auction next September and fill it with items that people can use there. It will be a breeder's emergency bag. I may make a couple more for me to use as some of my reusable grocery bags need to be retired after 15 years of regular use. 

And before I left the sewing room, I cleaned it up. All the thread put away and the cutting table cleaned off. I can now think about the next project. 

Knitting

I picked up the afghan and knit another 6 rows on it last night. It is slowly growing and it keeps my hands busy in the evenings. 

Thoughts

    I am hoping that this week will be quieter than the past few weeks. I am looking forward to doing things around the house once again. I am also looking forward to my old routine which I do enjoy. Though I keep busy, I find what I do enjoyable and relaxing. 

    I am deciding on the next project to make. I am leaning towards doll clothes as I would like to make something small. What I have chosen should be small enough to use left over fabric from the apron and placemats I made. I looked at my scrap bin and need to figure out what I am going to do with it. 

Today

My goal today is to clean appliances. Mainly the fridge and microwave though I will make sure the stove and dishwasher are clean. I want to print out and start cutting out the doll clothes I plan to make. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. An at home day for me. 

Until the next time..............................................................

Ready For Physio

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 18C. This morning it is raining lightly and 11C. Today is supposed to be wet with a high of 18C.

Lifestyle

I started yesterday morning doing the balance sheet. Somehow between me and the website I had paid my bills twice the day before. After a phone call and some thinking I have decided to make one other call and then have a credit on two other bills. I did do the balance sheet and put everything away. 

The next job was to fry the chicken I had marinated so I can have dinner for two nights. Once it was done, I did the dishes and tidied up the kitchen. My last job of the morning was to fold laundry and put it away. By that time it was noon. 

After lunch I loaded the car with sandwich making stuff and headed to family's. When I arrived there were 2 cars parked in their driveway and a tow truck on the side of the road. I was parking at the lower level and was out of the way. I talked to son and the cars belonged to a lady and her sister. She had a flat tire which was letting out air faster than son could put it in with his compressor. The tow truck driver changed her tire as there were no shops open yesterday. 

I went inside and started prepping the fillings. Son arrived talking on his phone. He said there were no lights in one area of the basement and he found the breaker that had tripped. We talked for a bit as I kept doing the fillings. I worked without a break and was done in 90 minutes. At that point I had a short break, loaded the car, and headed to the hall to put it into the fridge for this morning. I then headed for home. I was tired and sore. As I sat down with a drink, I had a movement in my SI joint and the pain was almost gone. Every muscle was tired and complaining. I sat on heat and moved around at regular intervals. 

I was in bed early last night as I was exhausted. The pain is wearing me down and when it goes away, my body goes into recovery mode. I will know more this morning when I have physio.

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I was too tired. I did look at the bag for a couple of minutes in the morning and am wanting to finish it so I can see how it looks. 

Knitting

I did knit 8 rows last night. The afghan is about 18" long. It is now long enough to keep my thighs warm. 

Thoughts

    After 5 days of being on the go for sandwiches, I am hoping we don't have to do it again this week. I need some time at home doing what I need to do. I have kept up with the basics but really want to get more fall cleaning done. Especially the windows while it is still warm enough to do them. 

    It is nice to have a bit of rain again today. The new seeding is doing well and having rain and cooler weather is perfect for it. I am hoping that the lawn looks a lot better next summer. The big bare area really bothered me this summer but there was nothing I could do about it. 

Today

I am out for physio this morning and then will be going to the hall to pick up the containers I put the sandwich fillings into. Once home, I will sit on heat for a bit and do a couple of things in the kitchen. This afternoon I would like to finish the bag and I want to knit tonight. 

Until the next time.......................................................................

The Outer Bag Completed

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 18C. This morning it is clear and 5C. The fog rolled in at 7:30 am is quite thick.  Today is supposed to be sunny this morning with it becoming cloudy this afternoon. The high is to get to 17C.

Lifestyle

I was out to make sandwiches and there were only 3 of us there to make them. One person didn't show. I made sandwiches when I could and cut and arranged them on trays. The other ladies had to make most of the sandwiches. When we were almost done, I turned quickly and I had huge pain in my bad side. It was a muscle rebelling on me. We finished up and I headed home. 

I sat on heat for 40 minutes to help ease the muscle pain but knew my SI joint had tightened up once again. It was going to be a fun session shopping which I got done mid morning. Once home, I cooked eggs for sandwiches. While they were cooking I got chicken cut into chunks and marinated. 

I was out to family's to take bread out of the freezer and visit with son. His back has improved greatly. It is just tired and in recovery mode. He had been shopping as he was going to make salsa. 

I did my exercises on the couch and it did help my SI joint feel better. No crack though which can happen. Later on, I laid on the bed to do other exercises and when I was moving to lie down, I had a deep movement in my right side. No pain after that happened. I did the exercise and when I got up I was fine. My body was tired from all the pain I had been having. 

Sewing

I did sew for a couple of hours. I made the tube for the 2nd handle and got it sewn on. I attached the top part to the bottom and topped stitched it in place. Before I knew it, I had the sides sewn up and the bag corners boxed. 

I am pretty happy with it as it is a prototype. My next job is to pin the lining it but I ran out of time. 

I did cut the fabric and pressed it ready to make a key holder. Instead of it being 1" wide, mine is 3/4" wide to accommodate what I could find. 

I now need to change the thread on the machine to white to finish the bag. My final part will be to make an insert to fit into the bottom of the bag so it won't sag. 

Knitting

I knit 8 rows and started on the 9th row last night. The big ball of yarn is slowly getting smaller and the afghan is getting longer. 

 

Thoughts

    I read that we made it through September without a hurricane warning. I guess that doesn't happen very often with the last time being just over 30 years ago. Also Oct 2 was one of the warmest days on record. The coldest was -1.7C. And the most rain that fell on that day was 44.6 mm which is 1.75 inches. 

    I am hoping that this week will be quieter. I would love to have nothing on the agenda except for things I want to do rather than making sandwiches. We all need a break from it as it has consumed our lives for the past 5 weeks. 

Today

I want to do the balance sheet first thing, then I have to do a few small chores which need to be done. After lunch I have to go over to family's and prep the sandwich fillings and get everything over to the hall for Monday. I have to make dinner for the next two days and I do hope to knit on the afghan tonight. If I get to sew it will be a bonus. 

Until the next time....................................................................