Progress in Sewing and Knitting

 Yesterday had more sun than clouds. The high got to 6C. This morning it is cloudy and wet (no snow yet) and 2C. Today is supposed to be wet (maybe snow) with a high of 3C.

Lifestyle

I had a day I didn't expect. Daughter was in distress with her mediator and I was doing research and supporting her. The mediator does not mince words which is unacceptable. She seems to be pressuring daughter to cave as he is not cooperating at all. Daughter finally took the bull by the horns and let the mediator know exactly what she thought of her actions. 

Between doing all of the above, I did get a load of laundry washed and dried and a few things done in the kitchen. I also made a delicious dinner for myself which I enjoyed. 

My evening ended with finding the amazon parcel on the door step empty. It hadn't been sealed and what ever was ordered was missing. Pictures taken and daughter-in-law told. She got her money back. 

In the end, I woke up around midnight with an anxiety attack. Just what I didn't need. I was up to the bathroom and to sit and breathe quietly until it passed. It wasn't what I needed. I have set aside a few stresses for now and hope that I don't have another one any time soon. I do know it isn't what has been happening in daughter's life but it is the stress of trying to figure out what I can and cannot eat. I am pressuring myself to do this properly so my kidney function doesn't drop any more. 

Sewing

I worked on the doll's jeans yesterday. I did get the side seams sewn and topped stitched. I also got the waistband on and sewn down as instructed. I am ready to insert the elastic to tighten up the back of the jeans. 

I am not happy with these jeans but it could be that I am struggling with a new pattern. I know it isn't the fabric as it is a perfect weight. I may try these jeans again later on as I need to think about how to do them in a way that my brain likes.

Knitting

I knit 10 rounds on the socks. It went fairly quickly which was nice. 

I have 36 more rounds to do on the foot plus the toe and it will be done. 

I also knit 4 rows on the afghan. The ball of yarn is almost done. 

I have 4.5 ball of yarn left and it will be done. A lot more knitting but I am still enjoying making it. 

Thoughts

    The snow has started to fall. The roads are bare but roofs, cars, and decks have a light coating of snow on them. They predict it the storm will be gone by noon and then rain. 

    I just learned that I may be drinking too much water and not having quite enough salt. I am still learning how much of each I need. I do know I did feel better yesterday though I had cramps in my fingers last night. I wasn't tired yesterday afternoon which was a bonus. I am monitoring what I eat at each meal. 

Today

I am going to do a few chores like fold laundry. I need to prep for soup and dinner. I hope to sew this afternoon and will knit tonight. I am trying to stay home today due to the weather. 

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

Another Painful Day

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy with a few small drizzles popping in for a visit. The high got to 6C. This morning it is clearing off and 2C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 7C. We are to have snow mixed with rain tonight. 

Lifestyle

I was out to make sandwiches. Another lady and I set up tables before starting to make sandwiches. I didn't make any this time; I only cut. After making sandwiches, we set  the tables and put out the chairs for the Celebration of Life. I left for home near 10 am. 

Once home, I sat on heat to help my SI joint and muscles relax. I was sore when I went to make sandwiches and figured out it was the weather causing the pain. Once I had a drink, I set about cleaning up the kitchen. I scrubbed, did some dishes, emptied the dishwasher and got the kitchen back in order. 

My next job was to tidy up the dining table and clean it. It was a mess with lots of clutter. It is now all organized and clean. I can do a few things now that I have these areas cleaned up. 

I had a nap yesterday afternoon as I was tired. It wasn't a long one but it did the job. It got me through the meeting I went to last night. 

The drive to the meeting was in the dark both ways. I don't like driving in the dark but I was okay both ways. The meeting was interesting. A few members were upset as this is the third meeting where social media has been talked about at length. Unfortunately the presenter is not hearing what the members are saying. The guild cannot afford what she is presenting and when I asked that question I hear 4 loud no. The president is trying to accommodate all members. Unfortunately, I have more experience with social media than this person does and I have found loopholes in what she is presenting. It will get sorted out as members will voice their opinion on it. 

Sewing and Knitting

None done yesterday but I did dream about the Christmas tree skirt. I need to finish the doll's jeans before I can start it. 

Thoughts

    I am not that sore this morning even though the barometric pressure is dropping. I wonder how the day will progress and how many times I will have to do the exercises. I did them twice yesterday with no relief which means the pain was weather related. 

    I watched the weather and a mix of storms from the north and south west will give us some snow tonight and tomorrow. The worst of the storm will hit New Brunswick. We can see small amounts of snow in November though there was well over a foot fall in late November 2011 and we have had a few decent snowfalls since then. Most years it is gone in a few days. 

    I ate very low sodium foods yesterday and found them extremely bland. Is it because it was day 2 and I am craving salt for flavour. I persisted even if I hated it. I am working on using herbs, garlic, and onion in my foods. 

    I talked to several people at the guild meeting last night. There are some lovely people and I do enjoy visiting with them even though I may only see a few of them once or twice between meetings. Their creativity is amazing and they love to share their projects and ideas. 

Today

I have a list of things to do this morning. This afternoon I want to sew on the doll's jeans and I will knit tonight. I do need to made myself dinner so will be prepping for that. A quiet day for me. 

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

Another Busy Day

 Yesterday was more cloudy than sunny but the sun did shine some during the day. The high got to 7C. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. Today is supposed to have showers this morning and the cloudy. The high is to get to 7C.

Lifestyle

I went to New Minas and handed in the paw stocking at the quilt shop. Everyone loved it and one person asked for the pattern. We learn so much from each other. I looked at the stocking 3 of the staff made and they are gorgeous. I will do pictures when they are all completed. They have moved from calling it a contest to a challenge and the staff are enjoying putting them on. 

I left and then went to get prepaid boxes from the post office and headed home. I did notice that the leaves are almost off all the trees. The leaves that are left are brown or dull yellow. The splendour of fall is over with and we are now settling down for a new view to look at while driving. 

Once home, I had lunch and went to pick up son. He had the car so he could find a place to fix his truck. He did some phone calls and found one place. I ordered the tow truck through my CAA membership. It arrived later than anticipated as it came from the Halifax area. The driver was a hoot and the truck was loaded and gone. 

We had our monthly meeting at the hall. Only 5 people showed up but it was a lively meeting. Lots of laughs and chuckles. 

I did do a bunch of cleaning out in the pantry and fridge. I read labels for sodium and what ever chemicals that are hard on my kidneys. What saddened me is not being allowed to have canned tomatoes at this time. I had my heart set on making a spaghetti sauce. I also did the fridge and got some items out of it but still have a couple of jars to get rid of. I did get a few items of food that I can have. Right now it is limiting but I am coping. Next week I will figure out some more foods to buy. 

Sewing

None done yesterday. I do need to finish the doll's jeans. I need to watch the video on the tree skirt I want to make. I would love to start it later next week. 

Knitting

While waiting for the tow truck, I sat and knit on the socks. I got 10 rounds done on the foot. 

I also knit on the afghan last night and got 4 rows done on it. The ball of yarn is getting smaller and I do hope I will be starting a new ball in a night or two. 

Thoughts

    I did incredibly well with food yesterday. I had less salt than I usually do and I had been working on keeping it below the daily limit. I grabbed seasonings and used them instead of the salt. It wasn't bad but it will take some getting use to. Salt does add a nicer flavour to your food. Processed foods are definitely out and I need to figure out some foods for dinner when I am tired or busy. Also eating a lot of chicken is going to be a challenge. 

    My SI joint is a bit tight this morning and that could be from sitting a lot yesterday. I did do my exercises and will need to do them a couple of times today. I don't want the pain to cause stress on my body. 

    Our temperatures have gone back to more normal for this time of the year. It is not time for the winter coat but a lighter one may not be enough at times. I alternate between wearing a lighter jacket and a heavier fleece. 

Today

I am out this morning to make sandwiches and will help set up the hall for the celebration of life. Once home, I have some housework to do. I may sew this afternoon and tonight I am out to the quilter's guild meeting. A late night for me. 

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

Mixed Results From My Blood Tests

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 9C. This morning it is cloudy and 3C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 7C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I fought with my blood pressure machine and phone as they wouldn't sync after the 2nd reading. Of course my blood pressure was up as I was trying to get this done before I headed out for physio. I finally gave up. 

Physio was a bit of a torture session. I started off in the gym which was fine. Then the therapist did her evaluation and I was out of alignment and the SI joint was tight. She pushed, and she pulled, and she made me hurt. When I bent over to see how much the session worked I had a loud crack. That was good. I went back and finished my gym exercises and then had the current and heat. I will say I did feel better. 

Once home, I sat for a cup of coffee and then started to take out the recycling. I had the garage door open and in walked son. He had no brakes on his truck and needed to get to the doctor's. I grabbed my purse and went with him as I had to see the doctor also. 

I had a mixed result visit with the doctor. Everything was good until we got to uric acid. I had had a bout of gout last spring. Then we got to my kidney function and it had dropped from 48% to 44%. That was a huge scare for me. The gout had caused some damage to the kidneys. So it was time for me to clean up my act and take care of myself. 

Once home, I had lunch and then spent a bit of time thinking. In the end, I did my research and my diet is changing. I will be spending the next couple of days removing foods I can't have and getting foods I can have. I will say that I am going to hate poultry by the time I have blood work done in late January. 

I went out for my last hamburger last night. I had a smash burger at one of the fast food places. I am so glad I chose it as it was like eating a regular hamburger with a fancy name. It cured me from wanting another hamburger for a while. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday. I put the pockets on the back of the doll's jeans and sewed the yokes on. I fought getting those two little seams serged and admitted defeat. 

I pinned the fronts and backs together at the side seams and called it an afternoon. I was starting to feel tired from all the excitement I had. 

Knitting

I did knit last night. I finished the gusset on the sock and am ready to knit the foot. 

I also knit 3 rows on the afghan. It is growing slowly and keeping me warm. 

Thoughts

    I am going to be busy learning what I need to buy for my eating regime. I have been looking for ways to add flavour to what I eat as I need to cut back a bit more on salt. I don't want to go on any more medication but will if I have to. I am glad that my doctor likes to let me try and adjust my eating habits before he prescribes medication or removes the water pill from my blood pressure medication. 

    I decided to fix the syncing error between the blood pressure machine and my phone. When I did it, two reading are still missing. I then took my blood pressure to see if everything would sync. My blood pressure was perfect and it synced to my phone. I just need to monitor the machine and if it doesn't work, I can add it manually. 

Today

I am off to New Minas as I want to hand in my Christmas stocking and pick up mailing boxes. Once home, I need to prep for dinner. If enough time, I will sew on the doll's jeans. I have a meeting tonight but hope to knit when I get home. 

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

Exhausted

 Yesterday was a mix of sun, clouds, rain, and wind. The high got to 15C and then it dropped all day. By 5 pm it was 9C. This morning it is cloudy and 6C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with drizzle and a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

I was exhausted yesterday but I had to push through. I was out to get groceries at 9 am and the store was quiet. I got everything I needed and left. Once home, I put away the groceries and laid down on the bed to rest. I did not sleep as text messages came in. 

I was to the hall just before 12:30 to help decorate for Christmas. I didn't want to do it but I did it. The plan was -- if 2 of us, just the tree and a couple of items, if 3 or more the time limit was 90 minutes. Four of us decorated the hall simply in 90 minutes. Not decorations hanging from the ceiling. When the time was up, we cleaned up and the other two ladies headed home.

Daughter-in-law and I had to change the message on the announcement board so down we went. It was cool and windy. She hands me the letters she doesn't need and keeps those she needs. Between us, we get the new announcement up. As we were doing the last of it, the skies opened up and we were caught in a heavy shower. We laughed about it and then headed back to the hall, cleaned up the remaining letters and went home. 

Once home I sat on the couch and with in a short period of time, I fell asleep and slept for 20 minutes. I was still tired when I woke up and after an early dinner I was in bed early and slept well. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday. That was asking for a disaster. 

Thoughts

    I am doing the household inventory for daughter via photos as the mediator asked her to do it. She is in the house and her ex cannot help due to a protection order. While she is chasing paper work, I can do the inventory. At the moment, I am done as the areas left are full of stuff that will take too long to photograph. She now needs to have someone help do it but I say he needs to pay for that as most of it is his stuff he has stored downstairs over the years.

    Marianne, I am glad you like the red ribbon on the stocking over the other one. I do to. The more I look at it, the more I like it. I am glad you love the mug rug. It really finishes the placemat. I will be excited to use it this year. I can have it out until sometime in January as it is more winter themed. 

    The first part of this week is busy with appointments and meetings and then it will be quiet after that. I need to remember to pace myself so I don't get exhausted. I know Wednesday will be the hardest as I have to help make sandwiches and then have an evening meeting which I will be late getting home. That could leave me tired on Thursday.  

Today

I am out to physio this morning and then will be home to do some house work until I go to the doctor's at 11 am. Once home, I hope to sew on the doll's jeans this afternoon. Tonight I want to knit on the afghan and socks. 

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

A Crazy Day

 Yesterday was dull, dark, grey and wet. The high got to 11C during the day. This morning the sun is trying to shine and it is 14C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with the temperature dropping to 9C this afternoon.

Lifestyle

I spent the morning at the community hall where we had a food drive for the local food bank. For our first one, I think we did well. Three of us looked after it though daughter-in-law did the set up herself. I got home at 1 pm. 

I had little energy due to the darkness all day. It was hard to do things when all your body wanted to do was hibernate. I did decide to do a bit of research and what I found out made me furious. So furious that I had a hard time sleeping. Nothing to do with me but what happened to daughter. Mother Bear was in protection mode. She is safe but it was paper work that got me thinking. It is time for rebuttal. 

Sewing

I did sew some yesterday. I got the two pieces of the fly onto the doll's jeans. I used some velcro for the closure. When done, I left the sewing room as it was too dark to do finicky fine work. No pictures. 

Knitting

I didn't knit last night. I wasn't in the mood to knit.

Thoughts

    We got a lot of rain from the last storm. In the afternoon and evening it rained hard. It seems to have rained during the night also as the deck was very wet this morning. 

     I am tired today as I only got 4.5 hours of sleep. I will have a nap this afternoon unless I need to go out to help at the hall. I do feel better as I spent quite a bit of time writing my feelings down. Something I learned many years ago. I have a slow fuse and writing it helps me think and calm down without letting my temper get the best of me. 

Today

I am going to go shopping for groceries this morning and then will find out what I need to do and in what order for the rest of the day. It is a wait and see day for me.

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

Mug Rug Made

 Yesterday was wet, warm, and muggy. The high got to 19C. This morning it is cloudy and 13C. Today is supposed to be very wet with a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

I sat yesterday and enjoyed my 2nd cup of coffee and did some inventory for daughter. It was nice not to have to get up and rush out of the house. 

Once I had done everything I could do on the inventory, I took the vacuum cleaner and headed down to the sewing room. It was time to clean up. It was vacuum some, clean up some, vacuum some more, and clean up some more. Around and around I went until I got it done. Once more, I can work in there and feel creative. And the job didn't take nearly as long as I had expected it to. 

I did a few things upstairs but my biggest job was late in the afternoon when I went to get the mail. I haven't been for ages and the mail box was full. I did get it all sorted and what I was expecting (oh yes, bills) is ready to be dealt with tomorrow morning. 

Sewing

With the sewing room cleaned up, I decided to make a mug rug in the afternoon. I had pulled up the instructions and was ready to stitch it on the embroidery machine. I had to take out tubs of embroidery thread to find the right shade of blue but it is all put away. 

These are easy to make as the file is beautifully digitized. The only thing I had to do was change the thread from red to blue for the cross hatching on the center fabric. It goes with the placemat I made. 

I changed the ribbon on the paw stocking to a wider red one. I am still not sure if I like it or the tiny ribbon better. I have until Tuesday to decide. 

I left the sewing room tidy as I was upset with how messy I had let it become. 

Knitting

I knit 9 rows on the socks last night and am just under half done the gusset. I have 17 stitches on each gusset and will decrease down to 9 stitches. 

I also knit 4 rows on the afghan. The ball of yarn is getting smaller. I also sweat while knitting on it as the house was warm and with it covering my body I was hot. I was glad to set it aside. 

Thoughts

    The storm showed up on our weather radar mid morning and it is going to last until tomorrow night or Monday morning. It rained yesterday but not hard and we did have periods of time when it didn't rain. Today it is supposed to rain almost all day. 

    I was surprised when I went outside at how warm and muggy it was. The temperature was 18C but it felt a lot warmer than that due the warm wet air. I was out there with no coat on. 

    The price of gas has dropped 12 cents since Thursday. I am going to fill up the tank when it isn't raining. Hopefully later today. Hopefully the price of gas will stay down and here is hoping diesel prices drop also. 

Today

I am out to the community hall until noon as we are having a food drive. Once done, I will be home for the rest of the day. I do have to make dinner as I have been eating sandwiches and need to stop that. I would like to sew on the doll's jeans this afternoon also. I will knit tonight. If there is a break in the rain, I will gas up the car. 

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