A Busy Day

 Yesterday was another cloudy day with a burst of sunshine late in the afternoon. The high got to 4C. This morning it is partly cloudy and -2C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun, clouds, showers, and flurries with a high of 4C. 

Lifestyle

I spent some time in the morning doing more vacuuming with the Dyson. I am amazed how much it picks up off floors that look clean. I also mopped a few floors I had vacuumed and there was little dirt on the pad I used. This is a keeper of a vacuum for me. 

Once done, I was out the door to the quilt shop near me. I bought a meter of green fabric on the right for the next hot pads (and maybe mug rugs). I have .5 meter of the sunflower fabric.

I was also able to get the velcro I wanted and I got a spool of green thread. I looked at purple fabrics and have an idea of what I will buy once I have the bag designed. 

I picked up groceries and was home by 12:30 pm. I also ran across to the neighbour's house to pick up the horse blanket so I can start working on it this afternoon.

After I ate lunch, I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up 90 minutes later and knew I would not be sleeping well last night. 

At 5 pm I was out to pick up grandson from school and off to his house to have dinner. Son and daughter-in-law were using their pizza oven for the first time (gifted in 2022). Though they have a few things to learn, they did an awesome job of baking the pizza. They were delicious. Once done dinner I did some cleaning up in the kitchen leaving only a few pans to wash. We sat and talked on the couch and I was home by 7:30 pm. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday as I was too tired and too busy. 

Thoughts

    Grandson told me that there was snow on the ground from Halifax to about 20 km from home. It then turned to rain. I guess it was a slow drive due to the road conditions being nasty. At the moment, the weather station says snow on Thursday. 

    It was day 3 of no sugar or chocolate for me. I had a tiny spoonful of sorbet last night and it was way too sweet. I am getting over not having sweet foods. My joints are also responding as they are not feeling as sore. I am feeling better in 3 days so will continue having no added sugar and chocolate with only a treat at Christmas. 

Today

I am off to a local craft bazaar this morning. When home I need to do some housework. This afternoon I am going to lay out the horse blanket and start pinning the rips back into place. I may do some tidying up in the family room as I have a mess. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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

Sewing Prototypes Craft Items

 Yesterday was cloudy with a burst of sun in the afternoon before it rained. The high got to 5C. This morning it is cloudy and 3C. Today is suppose to be cloudy with showers with a high of 6C. We could have flurries overnight. 

Lifestyle

I started to vacuum with my new vacuum cleaner and had to charge the battery for 4 hours. When I used it while dinner was cooking, I was amazed at how clean it got the floors. The green light on the head shows every speck of dust and cat hair. The cat litter glows. I got the spared bedroom, most of the hall, a bit in my bedroom and part of the bathroom done. It was a bit hodge podge but I was seeing how it worked in different areas. I am impressed at how well it cleans and how light it is to use. I can now clean up the packaging and dispose of it. 

My hip area wasn't as sore yesterday but it did have another pop last night. I am doing more stretching to help get things flexible and less tight. It is working for me as I feel fairly good all day. 

Sewing

I had a sewing marathon yesterday. I started to make a Crayon Art Folio. I need to buy some velcro as I have none in the house. 

The pockets (3) holds crayons, note pad, and stickers. I have to buy the note pads and find the stickers. I made these years ago for a craft bazaar and they sold out very quickly. I have never seen them sold here so decided to make 3. 

I also decided to make a prototype of a notebook cover. I used the same bee fabric and a bit of lace. I read Pin Cut Sew Studio's blog post and watched her video on how to make one. I measured, cut, pinned and started to sew. I second guessed myself all the way. I cut the fabric again and ended up making it too small. 

I had lined the outer fabric with fusible fleece and the lining with interfacing. I am rethinking this project.

The idea is cute so I will try again using her video on covering a moleskin journal. As I watched the video, I realize that I only need to use interfacing not fusible fleece. I will make one journal for sale and add the 2nd one as a refill. I will then cover some moleskin journals. 

Knitting

None last night as I was too tired from all the sewing I did. 

Thoughts

    I thoroughly enjoyed a long day of sewing prototypes for sale. I know the art folio is going to be fine and I will sew 3 for now. If I have time and can find crayons on sale, I will do more. The journal covers are a work in progress. If I can figure out the dimensions for the fabric I will be set. The larger journals need to be made so I can see if I like the version I chose. Once done, I will figure out how to batch sew them.

    I am pleased with the new vacuum and am now researching the robot cleaners. I am buying one for daughter for Christmas and will have it shipped to her. If she likes it, I will get one of that brand. It is the highest rated brand at this time. 

    I got out a toy to get Elliott to play. He does about 2-3 minutes of play and then walks away. He has never played a lot and I am not sure why. His favourite exercise is to chase kibble. I will keep at it so he does get exercise. He is over 14 years old so I can't expect him to play hard for long periods of time. 

    We had another good rain last night and everything is wet. I am not complaining as everything runs into the ditch. There are people who need it for their wells as they have been buying water again this year. We need the water table to raise for them. 

    I got a request from a friend to fix her horse blanket. I will grabbed it and start working on it between other projects. I know I what I want to do and will consult with daughter who repairs her horse blankets all the time. 

Today

I have to continue vacuuming the house and clean the bathroom. I do have to grocery shop. If time, I will be playing in the basement whether it be cleaning or sewing. It should be cleaning. I hope to knit tonight. 

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

A Day In The City

 Yesterday was a mix of sun, clouds, and rain. The high got to 7C. This morning it is cloudy and 1C. Today is suppose to be mainly sunny with a high of 6C. 

Lifestyle

It was a long day in the city and a fun one. After getting what we needed for the next dinner at the community hall, we wandered the Halifax Mall for a couple of hours. We did the two main floors of stores and had lunch on the first floor. We didn't do the other part of the first floor. We had to go to another area to shop some more. 

In the other area, we did up Walmart. Then it was on to Costco. We stopped (for some unknown reason) and I spotted slippers. I felt them and called daughter-in-law over. With the recommendation from a shopper, we each got a pair for Christmas. These slippers are similar to Ugg slippers and are carried in Costco every winter. 

I bought a Dyson vacuum cleaner. The one I had settled on had too small a bin so I got the one I had a larger bin. We did wander around and while I waited for daughter-in-law to pick up something a gentleman and his wife told me that the vacuum was a great buy and to also get a robot cleaner. They have both and love them. So I save my pennies for a robot cleaner. 

Our last stop of the day was at the Lindt chocolate shop. We signed up for card and to get 10% off until the end of 2024. We also got a free chocolate. I bought chocolates for the candy holders I will be making for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners. This store really tested me as I had a free chocolate in my pocket and was craving something sweet due to the smells. I didn't eat the chocolate and got over the craving after a strict talk to myself. I have a lot of chocolate stored in the garage for Christmas but I won't touch it. 

We got home and I was really tired and sore. We had walked 4km which was all cement. I applied heat to my sore hip and started stretching it out. I did a lot in bed and got a pop (not a crack) in the hip area and the pain was almost gone. Hurrah for what ever happened in that area. 

I unpacked the vacuum cleaner and used it. The green light on the one head shows all the dust, cat hair, and other tiny debris on the floor. I was embarrassed at how dirty the clean floor was. I'm on a mission now to start vacuuming the house every other day. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday but I did two things. I put away some craft supplies I bought. I need to find a box to store some ornaments in on the shelf. The paper is for reindeer candy holders. 

The second thing I did was to make a list of crafting items I want to make in the next year. Some are gifts for family, some are for the craft bazaar. It is now ready for me to work on. I only have one pattern to buy. I did have it but it got lost when my old computer died. 

Knitting

I worked on the socks and am ready to start the first decreasing row for the gusset. 

I am still working on the first ball of grey yarn and wonder if I will have enough to finish the socks or if I will have to start another ball. We wait and see what happens. 

Thoughts

    I did really well walking so much yesterday. I have a feeling that my soreness is still tight muscles pulling joints inwards. Though I have improved a lot, this last part is really testing my patience as I want it to be better now and not later. I keep pushing myself to do more stretching in hopes it will help. 

    My craving for chocolate and sugar was really bad when we stepped into the Lindt store. I knew I couldn't eat any of it as I need to eliminate it from my diet. It was hard and I know I have a few more days of craving. It will get easier with time.

Today

My plan is to put the central vacuum hose away and clean the spare bedroom using the new vacuum cleaner. I need to do laundry and get groceries. If I have time, I will start sewing doll clothes. I want to knit tonight. 

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

Working On The Memory Book

 Yesterday started off damp and ended up being brighter with a high of 6C. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 7C.

Lifestyle

I started my morning out by going to vote. There was a Facebook post that said we were to vote at a different location so I went to that station. Not so as I live in a small area that was to go to the other given location. Off I went. Once there, you had to register and then take that form to another table so you could vote. Very different than in previous years. It was a slower process but it went quickly enough as I was the only person there to vote. I voted and left. 

Once home, I set up one Purolator box and started to fill it. I need to get bubble wrap before I can do the second box and I need to get a few more gifts. I did fairly good as I am packing gifts, china, and other items for daughters. She can't open the boxes until Dec. 25. It is nice to have a good start on this project as I want both boxes gone by Dec. 10th; earlier if possible. 

I played with the Bluetti power source yesterday. I plugged in a light (led bulb) and ran it for 5-6 hours before I drained the unit down to 45%. The light used 39% of the power in the unit which is good to know. I will probably use another light source of which I have used in the past. I will probably save the power source for other uses like charging my phone, iPad, and to use my cPap with. The big thing here is that we usually aren't without power as we are on the hospital grid. If we are going to be without power for a longer time, I have the gas generator to hook up to the house. 

Crafting

With the craft table cleaned off, I decided to tackle the memory book. I got three pages done. Making memory books will not be high on my to do list. I will probably make one more and then stop. Guaranteed it won't be as big or complex as the one I am making now. 

The pages were enjoyable to make but I need more paper. I am going through the stash in a hurry. I will have to get some  on Saturday. 

I spent a lot of time thinking about the pages I did. The first page was already planned so I just went for it. A good way to start the project. I didn't even photograph it. It is Snoopy dancing on Schoder's piano. 

The second page was  a bit harder to decide what I wanted on it. I finally got it to what I wanted. I used left over paper from another page for the background. I still have to colour the bells and may add a red ribbon to them. 

The third page was a fun as I played with ink and a stencil. It evolved when I found the paper to glue the counted cross stitch tree on to. 

The last page was equally as fun though I was disappointed the envelope is a bit crooked. It moved after I spent a lot of time making sure it was straight. I used two pieces of smaller paper for this page. 

I still have some research to do for the center page and a couple of other pages. But, I have laid out the items I am going to use for the next few pages which is about the nativity. I do have the background paper for it -- a dark blue night sky. 

I still have one more signature to do when this one is done. I keep chanting "This will be done for Christmas". 

I grabbed a small notebook and played with an idea of how to make a removable cover for it. I think I have a plan for it and will play with it next. If it works, I will do the second one. 

Knitting

I knit on the second sock last night and am 4 rows from starting the heel flap. 

At the rate I am going, it will be done next week. 

Thoughts

    I realized how much the clutter in the family room is bothering me when I worked on the memory book. I am really thinking about what crafts I will do and what will leave for good. I know that if I wish to make things for gifts, I can buy what I need and use it up. I know that I want my inventory to be very low. 

    I looked in a bag of card stock and found the items to make 3 wall hangings using the Cricut. They will be made in January, stored, and gifted next year. I couldn't find them due to the mess I had. It has me spurred on to getting things into order. It has also reminded me to start crafting more each month to get items made. 

    I did well yesterday and ate no foods with refined sugar or chocolate in them. It will take a few days to see progress and I know I will have cravings. I keep thinking of the positive side of it. 

Today

I am going into the city to shop with daughter-in-law. If I can, I would like to get the vacuum cleaner. I am not sure how long we will be gone but it sounds like we are making a day of it. If I am not too tired, I will knit tonight. My only other chore to do is put recycling out for pick up tomorrow. 

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

Large Hot Pad Finished

 Yesterday morning was damp and cool but the afternoon was warmer with it being cloudy and 7C. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. Today is suppose to be damp with a high of 7C. 

Lifestyle

I started to clean the dining room and got some done. I made a hasty decision to head out to New Minas for boxes to ship parcels to daughter. I got them. Then on to look at vacuum cleaners and the one I wanted was sold out. Last stop was to pick up some craft items to make between now and the end of the year. 

The trip to New Minas was slow as there is road work being done. One stop was a 15 minute wait and the other one was about 5 minutes or less. I took the back route to avoid the road work and had a 1 minute stop going that way. Once back on the highway, it was a good trip home. 

When home, I was tired and quite sore. I rested some before putting the dining area back together. I found out later that the air pressure had dropped low causing my knees to ache. The pressure is back to normal now and I am having less pain in my joints. I also think sugar and chocolate are causing joint inflammation. I am going off them as of today. I know this happened before and I felt better when I eliminated them from my diet. I have been sneaking these foods into my diet. 

Sewing

I made the binding and put it onto the x-large hot pad. Two strips of fabric 2.25" x wof was more than enough. I spent the rest of the afternoon hand sewing the binding down. 

I am very happy with the end result and hope these will sell at the craft bazaar. This one has been rolled up and put into a bin to keep clean. 

I know I will be making 7 more of these to sell as they are quick and easy. I can cross hatch or straight line quilt these. Thanks to Pin Cut Sew I have found a project I enjoy making. 

My next project is to make a cover for a notebook. I want to see if they will be easy to make. I have watched several videos on how to make them and will combine the ideas. I also have 2 smaller notebooks that I may make simple covers for and see how they sell. This is a learning curve for me. 

Knitting

I cast on and knit on the 2nd sock last night. It is moving a long quite quickly. 

I will probably be done them by late next week. 

Thoughts

    I have almost everything I need for gifts to send to BC. I will finish up this week and get the boxes shipped next week. I will do an Amazon order which will be delivered to their house. I need to wrap gifts which takes time. 

    I have to set aside my sewing or just sew for 30 minutes and focus on paper crafts. I need to work on the memory book and get it done. I have my workspace clean which means I don't have an excuse not to do it. I need to look at it, print off some things I downloaded and get busy. 

    As I work on items for the craft bazaar I am trying to figure out how to have a cohesive look to my table while using fabrics I have in the stash. I have a print table cloth which I may buy a darker table cloth. I am thinking of using white and clear containers to put my inventory into. The only deviation at this moment are the cookie boxes I bought to put 4 tree ornaments into. I need to find some way to elevate items on my table and to have the containers on an angle. 

Today

I have to vote today and then make a decision on what else I will do. I will probably do a bit of house work and then do some crafting in the basement. Tonight I will knit. 

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

A Day of Decluttering and Sewing

 Yesterday was damp, brighter and cooler with a high of 5C. This morning it is cloudy, raining, and 3C. Today is suppose to be wet with a high of 7C. 

Lifestyle

I decided not to get a parcel ready until later in the week. Both daughter and I are waiting to see if there will be any action taken on the postal strike. 

Instead, I went to the basement and started to declutter and purge the crafting materials in the storage room. I had a great time going through everything tossing some items, donating others, and giving the rest until the end of 2025 when I will donate what is left. Everything is organized and I got a few more empty tubs. No pictures taken as I forgot in my enthusiasm of getting the job done. It did take me until noon to get the job done. 

Sewing

I spent time in the sewing room yesterday. I had to launder two pieces of fabric. One was dirty due to dust and the other needed to be shrunk. When done, I got busy and had fun. 

The dirty piece is a lovely fat quarter of fairy frost. White with silver threads in it. I cut it into bias strips for piping. Daughter will use it on a fancy shirt. 

The second piece was black cotton. I pressed it good and then proceeded to make an X-large hot pad. The top is from a fat quarter daughter sent me. I used two layers of batting left over from the Scandinavian Winter quilt. It is now ready to bind in black cotton which is on the back.

When done, I will roll it up, tie it with a ribbon. I want to make more of these to sell at the craft bazaar next year. The next one will be using a sunflower print fabric. I have enough for two or I can make one and then 2 square hot pads. I will decide later on. 

I played with the cotton fabrics in the stash. I sorted the Christmas fabrics into colour piles and I have lots left to sew. Less than last year. Though I am planning on sewing for enjoyment this year, I know I will get a lot of it sewn. I love Christmas fabrics. What isn't Christmas fabric is minimal and I can sew it up easily. The pile of fabric for piping is decreasing at a slower rate than I had hoped it would. I may have to make some decisions on it. 

Knitting

The first sock is completed. I am pleased with it as it is the first heavier sock I have knitted for daughter-in-law. 

I will get the second sock set up tonight so I can work on it. I hope it will go as fast as this one did. 

Thoughts

    The postal strike is affecting many businesses in Canada and there is a cry out for the government to legislate the workers back to work. I am going to make a decision on what to ship by another company this week and then ship what is left later on. I am trying not to let the strike affect me but I know that many small businesses in our area have been scrambling to get items shipped to their customers. 

    The prediction of snow disappeared during the night. It is too warm for snow and will be too warm for most of the week. The flurries have changed to rain. We may get a few flurries but no heavy snow falls yet. Our snow doesn't come until late January/early February. Just wait and see that I am proved wrong. 

    I am pleased with how much crafting materials I let go of. I focused on what I want to make vs what I thought I would make. I am trying to build inventory for the craft bazaar and have space for most items now. I still need to do a bit more work in the storage room. I need to take items to the thrift store and get some ready for the quilter's group. I have another mornings work in that room before I am done. 

    I am going to take down the tabs on the sewing room closet and put up one on the "office space". I have part of it cleaned and part has been started. I know this will be 2 tabs only. I am enjoying the closet being clean and purged. It is fun to look for items to sew in there. 

Today

My plan is to do some cleaning in the dining room and lay out the gifts to start wrapping. I may go to New Minas this afternoon to get a few things. If I don't, I will sew. Tonight I will knit on the 2nd sock. The weather is dictating what I will do. 

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

A Busy Day Outside the Sewing Room

Yesterday was grey and wet with a high of 7C. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 4C. Today is suppose to be cloudy with showers and a high of 5C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning began with me folding laundry while the first load of blankets from the living room were in the washer. Once done, I started cleaning the living room. It was a deep clean where I used a tool to take off more cat hair from the couches, removed the cushions, and cleaned underneath them. It was past due. Then I moved all the furniture, swept the floors, scrubbed the floors, and put all the furniture back. I ended up getting the blankets done and put back on the furniture. I was tired but happy with how clean it looks. 

I did two little things in the living room. One was to put out new battery operated candles in the window for Christmas. They will be on every evening starting Dec. 1. The other was to put my Scandinavian Winter quilt on the couch to admire. 

I can look at the other half when sitting at the dining room table. 

Once done, I rested as I was a bit sore and knew I would be on my feet for 3-4 hours helping at the community hall. It was nice to sit in a clean area. 

I spent 4 hours at the hall helping. I am glad I went early as they were short of volunteers. I ran the bar alone, helped put food on plates (running to the bar to serve when necessary), and wanted to help with cleaning up but the bar kept me busier than anticipated. Daughter-in-law was suppose to help me (it was me helping her) in the bar but she was so busy in the kitchen that I didn't see much of her until 7 pm. Unfortunately it was not one of the best organized dinners but with a few doing the majority of the work, the jobs got done. In reality, daughter-in-law would have a great catering business if she chose to do that. She is a super cook, a great organizer, and knows her stuff. 

Once home, I sat and relaxed until bed time. I did no sewing or knitting yesterday. 

Thoughts

    Our weather has been crazy. It poured rain most of yesterday. The wind has been from the north and it has been warm. The wind has shifted to the west and it is going to be cooler. No idea where the storm we had came from. There is more rain in the forecast and they say the wind will be from the north once again. 

    I did not have to do any decluttering in the living room. I have kept it pretty well decluttered over time. I have been trying to keep my knitting organized. I will need to take yarn and needles back to the sewing room where I store them. It is an easy space to clean up which I really like. 

    My next step in cleaning is the dining room. I need to spend a day wrapping presents to send to daughter. I have a lot of it in the dining room and some in the family room. Once that is dealt with, cleaning the dining room will be easy. I did declutter it earlier this fall. 

Today

I am going to do some resting but will start wrapping presents to send to daughter. I need to get the box gone this week as it will go by truck across Canada. If I have time, I want to do some tidying up in the family room so I can start working on some Christmas items. I hope to knit tonight. I could finish a sock. 

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

A Doll's Skirt Sewn

 Yesterday was a dull, dark and wet day. The high got to 8C. This morning it is windy, wet, and 7C. Today is suppose to be wet and windy with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

My first job of the day was to do the balance sheet. A few stupid (on my part) issues which took time to sort out. Bills were paid and I was done at 11 am. 

I got out the generator to play with it and to drain the charged down. I tried the kettle but it overloaded the machine. I need to buy a travel kettle which takes less power. I can look for one next month. 

I finished cleaning the bedroom yesterday. I moved furniture, vacuumed and gave the floor a deep cleaning. Everything is in its place. 

As I put the furniture back, I thought about colours once again. It was a surprise when Marianne suggested coral, burgundy, and forest green. I had thought about these colours for this room with the green being more of a sage green. 

It looks pretty bland in there at the moment but I certainly was happy to sleep in there last night. 

Sewing

I did some sewing yesterday. I made a skirt to go with the sweater I knit. It was an easy sewing project and I really enjoyed it. 

I still need to put the snaps on the back but I had run out of time. I got a picture of Lea with Nellie who is wearing the short sleeved version of the sweater. 

I still have the matching top to make for the skirt but I am not sure when I will make it. I need to make a couple of items for Christmas before any doll sewing should happen. 

Knitting

I worked on the socks last night and am ready to knit the foot. It has been a fairly easy knit as I am using larger needles. I also have another pair of socks to measure them against while figuring out how many rows I need to knit each part of the sock. 

These socks will be done well before Christmas and I am going to knit myself a vest using the yarn I got for Christmas last year. 

Thoughts

    With rain coming in all of yesterday, it was very dark outside. So dark that I had all the lights on in the house so I could work on projects. It will be the same today. It was very depressing having it dark and gloomy outside. We have had very little sunshine in the past while and I am craving a good dose of it for one day. 

    Now the master bedroom is done, I am really letting my thoughts go wild with ideas for the room. I have to hang to pictures first. I know I can add some artificial flowers to a vase on the dresser. I need a blanket to drape on the bed or hang over the chair. The quilt is a William Morris print and in a minimalist look it should be the only print used. The accent colours may need to be in a solid colour. I need to remember that I can't over do the bedroom due to my sleep disorder.

    I am getting ready to clean the house so I can decorate for Christmas. I will only do it in the mornings and then focus on the basement in the afternoons making what I need for Christmas. I have a plan in place that I hope will work and not let me get stressed. 

Today

I need to fold laundry and wash the blankets in the living room. I also need to start cleaning up that space so it is clean. I have neglected it for long enough. This afternoon I would like to work on the memory book for a bit. I have to leave to help at the community hall before 5 pm. I won't be home until late so no knitting tonight. 

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

Cleaning the Master Bedroom

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds though mostly cloudy. The high got to 8C. This morning it is wet and 8C. Today is suppose to be wet with a high of 8C. 

Lifestyle

I decided to tape and paint the trim around the window. This is the job I really don't like as I think I do a terrible job. I found out I was overworking the paint wanting it to be perfect. When I left it alone, it was fine. 

I left the room for two hours and rested for two hours as my hip was sore from balancing on the top rung of the ladder. I went back and stripped the tape off the walls and was pleased with the results. The paint was dry so I hung the curtains. 

I then started scrubbing the floor under the window. I scrubbed with a cleaner and then rinsed it with Bona floor cleaner. I then set up the furniture in that part of the room. 

The curtains match well and the furniture pops against the light walls. The room looks huge and bare which means I need to start thinking about decorating it after Christmas. 

I shut the curtains so the house would be dark last night. 

I think it is very monochromatic at the moment and I know that navy and white will be fine in there. The more I looked at it, the more it needs a pop of colour. 

I had to keep moving or I'd fall asleep on the couch. I spent some time cleaning the kitchen. It was nice to have a clean kitchen with no painting supplies on the counter next to the sink. 

Sewing

None done yesterday as I was too tired to make decisions on what to toss and what to keep. 

I have to buy fabric this week to make a friend a new bag for traveling. She wants the same as I made her a couple of years ago only with pockets on the inside. It will be her Christmas present this year. 

Knitting

I did a few rows on the heel flap and then stopped when I had to make dinner. I didn't pick it up in the evening as I wasn't able to focus on anything. 

Thoughts

    My exhaustion has been from not sleeping well and pushing myself to get the master bedroom painted. I was tired but not falling asleep when I went to bed. My mind was actively thinking about how to get the room done. I was also sore from osteopathy, physio, and climbing up and down the ladder. I have realized that I can paint but I need to take days off to rest my body and mind. 

    The little accent colour in my room is almost eluding me so why I will be looking at artificial flowers for inspiration. Once I decide, I will have to figure out how to add it to the room. I also have a couple of pictures to hang up which I love. One is a counted cross stitch picture I did years ago and the other is a picture I had redone many years ago. My uncle gave it to my parents as a wedding gift in 1945. I may also get a black headboard. I still need to think a lot about what else I will do in this space. It has to be minimal so I can sleep relax and fall asleep easily at night. 

    With Black Friday sales in full swing, the Dyson vacuum cleaner I want is on sale. I will probably get it this coming week when I go looking for the fabric for the bag I am going to make. 

Today

    I have to do the balance sheet today. When done, I will continue cleaning in the bedroom. I would like to sew this afternoon and tidy up the binders. Tonight I want to knit. I am trying to balance work and fun so I won't be so tired tonight that I have issues falling asleep. 

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

A Trip To The City

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy with about 15 minutes of sunshine. The high got to 8C. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday's physio session went well. I am aligned and have shown good progress. My area of difficulty is turning my hip outwards which was worked on. I said ouch a few times. When I did the exercise in the gym, I noticed that I am stronger and could push myself more. I ended the session with the TENS machine and heat.

Once done physio, daughter-in-law and I went to the city to shop for the dinner at the community hall this Saturday. We did 3 stores for it and then treated ourselves to lunch of hotdogs at Costco (yummy) and then over to Canadian Tire to look at the Christmas items. We were home by 1 pm and unloaded items at the hall before I came home. 

I unloaded my few items and put the garbage out before settling down with heat on my hip. I had a short nap which is not the right thing to do. I am not sleeping well at night. 

Daughter-in-law was over to help me set up an order for Chef's Plate. The meals will be delivered on Dec. 3. We are trying it out as we got a good deal on it. I may keep ordering it if I can find coupons as it will give me what I need for cooking and I can eat a variety of foods. Daughter-in-law and I will be sharing the recipes for future use. 

Sewing

None done yesterday. I did think about the binders I have and will be getting rid of most of them. I also decided that my next step will be to tidy up the area I am sorting in. It is getting too messy and it is becoming hard to keep track of what is keep, donate, and trash. 

Knitting

I did knit on the socks last night and have 3 rows done on the heel flap. 

I am using the purple socks for length in all parts of the sock. Once this one is done, I will have a pattern for future socks using the rest of the yarn I bought. 

Thoughts

    I was pleased that I can go from physio to walking 2 km on cement floors on the same day. There is improvement all around with strength being one. My gait is much better which helps and I know not to stand around a lot which compresses everything and causes discomfort. 

    The Christmas decorations at Canadian Tire were really nice. We wandered and admired the different displays. The big hype about the Grinch was disappointing as there were very few items for sale. We also looked at the artificial trees and one caught my eye. It was 7 ft tall, looked real and had 3500 lights on it. Cost was almost $600.00. There was a smaller tree I also liked but it didn't have a lot of lights on it. It was fun to look at them but I am not buying one. 

    We looked at a Dyson vacuum at Costco. I can order it online and have it delivered unless I can get to the store before the sale is over. The one we looked at is probably the one I should get as it is rated for the size of house I have. 

Today

I need to pay some bills and then paint the window in my room. I want to do some tidying up in the family room. If I have time, I need to pack a box to ship to daughter. Tonight I will knit on the socks. My goal is not to nap today. 

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

Bedroom Walls Done And I Am Tired

 Yesterday was damp and warm with a high of 9C. This morning it is cloudy and 7C. Today is suppose to be damp and cloudy with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

I finished painting my bedroom walls. It was a big room to do and I can say I was happy when it was done. I cleaned up and put everything away but the supplies to paint the window tomorrow. 

I had lunch and fell asleep on the couch. I woke to the phone ringing. I think I had slept for almost an hour at that point. Once I woke up, I headed to the basement. It was time to do something where I could sit and stand but not over do it. 

I decided to clean up the small table in the sewing room. I had thought I would use a table to do course work like Design or Pattern Academy. I did when I first took the courses but that area had become a dumping ground. I started off taking binders into the family room to go through. Design and Pattern Academy binders were emptied as I now refer to them on the computer. I did keep the binder on Couture sewing as I do refer to it. Other books and binders were sorted out and I have a pile to deal with. Most will go to the thrift store. They are empty. I have kept a couple of things I do use on a regular basis. 

Next up I tackled the containers on the table. I have them pared down to two. One hold pens and pads while the other holds items I use for quilting (glue and starch pen). Everything that I don't use is going to be donated. Lastly I went through everything on the peg board and got rid of things I don't use, put like items together and did a general tidy up. I wiped the table (dirty) and called it done. 

I hope to use the table some for planning projects (binder?) and I am going to work at keeping it neat and tidy. 

I was out to have dinner with family last night. I picked grandson up from school and we had a lovely chat on our way home. He is applying to universities as he graduates in June. Dinner was lovely (Mediterranean pasta) and we had some great conversations in the evening. 

Sewing

No sewing just the cleaning of the table. 

Knitting

I knit 21 rows on the socks last night. They are coming along great. Only 15 rows left and I can knit the heel flap. 

Daughter-in-law is excited they are being knit as she chose the yarn when we were in Copenhagen. 

Thoughts

    I am tired from pushing myself to finish the bedroom yesterday and will be tired until it is done on Saturday. My core muscles are sore from being on the ladder but I'm not complaining about that. I need to keep getting them stronger. My hip muscles are sore from me pushing myself on the ladder and floor. I am sure that they will settle down once I have a good rest. I am stronger than I was a year ago and want to keep being strong. 

    I did think briefly about how much I want to keep in the house. I am going to focus on it but not force myself to let go of items I want to keep. I am working on a balance of having enough but not too much. At times it is hard to find that balance and to live with the mess as I sort through things and make decisions. 

    My generator arrived on Monday. On top was a parcel which was a gift from the company. It was a light weight hoodie. The size was 3XL. I took it last night for son to wear. He tried to put it on and it was too small. It was just too small for daughter-in-law and it fits me. We wonder what chart the company used to size the hoodie. It gave us a good chuckle. I will wear it in the spring and early fall when I work outside. 

    I am surprised at how warm it is outside and it will continue for the next 5-7 days. It is confusing as the wind is from the north. That usually means cold. The wind is cold but not the air. I am sure this has happened before but I hadn't paid attention to it. 

Today

I am rushing as I need to eat and get ready to go to physio at 8 am. When done, daughter-in-law and I are going to the city to get a few things for a dinner at the community hall on Saturday. Once home, I will probably rest a bit and then find something to do downstairs. I need to take out garbage today so need to get the garbage out of the basement. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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

A Wall Was Painted

 Yesterday was warm and windy with a high of 5.5C. This morning it is wet and 5C. Today is suppose to be damp and windy with a high of 8C.

Lifestyle

I was starting to get ready to paint when I got a phone call from the person who mows the lawns. He was wondering if my lawn had been mowed since Halloween. He was at my place waiting to know. It hadn't been so I had to wait for him to unload is equipment and start so I could pay him. I am also on his list to have him plow the driveway when I can't. 

I started painting late and was rushing. When I went to get up I slipped and landed back on the floor. I only fell about 8" but it made me stop, think, and slow down. I wasn't hurt physically. I did get the wall painted before lunch (about 2 hours). 

I was sore when I started and sore when I finished. My slip was caused by rushing when sore. It is all soft tissue soreness which means I need to get this room done and then rest. One more coat of paint on the wall and then around the windows. Once cleaned up, I will be putting the paint away until after Christmas. I think I have earned a rest. I am close to having half of the upstairs painted. 

After lunch I was out to pay my water bill and pick up some groceries. The wind was cold to the bone. When out of the wind, the temperature was fine. Once home, I put away the groceries and went out and covered the rose bush with burlap. That rose bush has new leaves growing on it due to the warm weather we have been having. I didn't trim it back and will do that in the spring. 

I rested for a good hour and then got the spare bedroom ready for me to sleep in. I had a decent sleep under a feather quilt. Haven't slept under one since 2010 and it was warm and cozy. I may put the other queen size one I have on my bed. 

Sewing

None done yesterday as I was too busy. 

Knitting

I unknit the sock I started as I wasn't happy how it looked. I decided to use smaller needles. I started over again with a different look. White cuffs, grey sock, and white toes. I got 21 rounds knit on the first sock. 

I like the tension better using smaller needles. I love the yarn as it is soft to work with. 

Thoughts

    I am ready for a rest from painting. I have pushed myself a lot lately to get my bedroom done and will push until it is completed. One of the reasons I have been pushing is how bright and light the house feels and the other reason is to get someone in to do some work in the spring. After Christmas I will start again with paint 2 days, rest a day and then paint 2 days. I really need the rest day. Right now rest days have been osteopathy and this week physio. 

    My IBS has flared up again. Part is pushing myself to get things done and, I think, part is from having too much dairy. I am going to eliminate dairy for a while and see if it is the culprit. I have upped the amount of dairy for more protein as I am rushed for time to prepare food. I need to make time to eat properly. 

    I set aside sorting through the family room for this week. I will begin sorting through my stuff next week and work on the memory book. Some of the clutter is causing me some anxiety while other clutter isn't. The clutter that isn't causing anxiety is what I have worked through and am letting go of. I need to move it into the mechanical room to get rid of a bit later on. The stuff that is causing me anxiety needs to be sorted through and purged. I have a pretty good idea of what is going, what I will stall on, and what is staying. I need to focus on doing crafts I truly love to make. 

    I stopped watching some videos on minimalism as they were starting to annoy me with their do this, do that approach. I am down to watching two only. One talks about what she does and leaves you to decide if it is right for you. The other one is more about the journey and how they are trying to find what is right for them. She also talks about books and gives her opinion on them. She will agree with some points and disagree with others. Both approach the feeling of calmness in your life but in two different ways. I do enjoy them. I am realizing that I will know when my house has just the right amount in it. The sewing room closet told me that. 

Today

I am going to paint the wall in my bedroom and clean up the painting supplies leaving only the trim paint and brush out. I hope to clean up the desk area in the sewing room this afternoon and knit on the socks tonight. It is a stay at home day as it is wet out there. 

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

Cutting Out Doll Clothes

 Yesterday was a cloudy warm day with a high of 7C. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 6C. Today is suppose to be cloudy and damp with a high of 8C. 

Lifestyle

I had a busy morning yesterday. I washed the last wall, trim, and heater in my bedroom. I also swept some of the floor. It is ready to paint. 

Once that was done, I hauled out the central vacuum hose and started to vacuum rooms. As I finished each room, I mopped the floors. The spare bedroom, hall, bathroom and kitchen were done. I also cleaned the kitchen counters. The dining room was tidied up, table wiped clean, and the floor vacuumed. At that point, I had to stop. I was too sore to do any more. 

The bed linens were laundered and the bed remade in the late afternoon. At that point, I stood and admired all I had done upstairs in a three hours. 

I figure I was sore as I had spent two days painting. I also had osteopathy and am trying to stand evenly on both feet for longer periods of time. The combination of it all made me sore and tired. Tylenol was my best friend last night. 

Sewing

I spent time in the sewing room cutting out doll patterns. The blue outfit was cut out first and bagged. This goes with the white sweater I knit. 

Next up was to cut out the Barbie outfit. The top is a lovely cotton that will be nice to sew. 

The capris (known as pedal pushers back in the 1960's) was cut from a piece of dark chambray. I may end up having to starch the fabric lightly as I sew as it has a lot of drape to it. 

I followed through with my plan and put the left over fabrics into the bin for the quilter's group. Total cut and donated yesterday was 1.3 meters. 

The last job in the sewing room was to wash the closet floor and put the bins back in. I am pleased with the end result. Two of the tubs on the floor is fabric and the third one holds the doll quilts I made. 

I think I can handle what is in the closet if I follow the rules I have set to use it up and donate what I don't use or what is left over.  

Knitting

I dug out the buttons and sewed them onto the sweater. 

I set up the socks but am not happy with the results. I will take it apart and do them on smaller needles. 

I am figuring out how to knit socks with this brand of yarn. It is lovely to work with -- very soft on the hands. 

Thoughts

    I am happy with the sewing room closet. I feel like it is within my clutter threshold. I look in there and feel happy with what I have and the plan on how it will be used. I feel like I have found a balance of what I need to sew doll clothes in that space. 

    As I cleaned upstairs, I allowed myself to think about how much is too much. I wondered if I am letting go of too much. There is a balance and I am struggling to find mine. Getting rid of too much makes some of my spaces feel cold and sterile and some spaces feel so cluttered that I feel anxiety when I enter them. I am working on this bit by bit eliminating items that I have stored and will never use and keeping those items I love and use all the time. It will come as I work through my thoughts and this house. It does keep me busy both mentally and physically. 

    I have to start packing a box to ship to daughter. It will have to go by a private courier service as it seems as if the postal strike will be ongoing for a while. A bit of a nuisance but something everyone is having to adjust to.

Today

I hope to paint the last bedroom wall this morning. It means I will be sleeping in the spare bedroom for a few nights. This afternoon I need to be out and if I have time, I will start cleaning the desk area in the sewing room. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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