Yesterday was cloudy with a high of 9C. This morning it is partly cloudy and -2C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

I worked a bit on the family tree yesterday morning as I found more information to add. I limited my time so I could clean the kitchen. 

The kitchen got a good cleaning as I was noticing some dirty spots. I pulled out the stove and cleaned the sides of it and the cupboards and vacuumed the floor space. I try to do that every 2 - 3 months. I pulled the filter out of the dishwasher and cleaned it. It needed doing. Once I put it back in, I ran the dishwasher with a cleaning agent in it. The last big cleaning job was to wash the cupboard under the sink. It needed doing. I then cleaned counters so they were real clean. The final job was to clean the outside of the appliances. 

I did make a new lunch for me and I enjoyed it. I also cooked a rice bowl for dinner. It is one that I like and have made it two or three times now. 

I was tired yesterday as I knew I didn't sleep well the night before and I really pushed myself in the kitchen. I slept after lunch as I couldn't keep my eyes open. I know part is not getting enough deep sleep at night. I seem to crash at noon. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I was too tired to tackle projects as they required an alert mind. 

Knitting

I did knit last night (and unknit) and got the heel flap completed and the heel turned on the first sock. 

I did get 12 rows knit on the second sock's heel flap. 

They are coming along nicely and should be done before the end of the month. 

Thoughts

    I need to try and get a better sleep at night. I know some of my poor sleep habits are from worrying about the world situation at this time. I am trying to relax but it is hard. 

    I was a bit more sore than I liked yesterday and I did some stretching exercises in bed last night. I had 4 to 6 good cracks and I feel better. More than one joint was not seat properly and the pain has subsided once again. 

    The boys across the street had out a tennis net that went across the street. They were playing and having a lot of fun. Everyone went in for dinner and when I looked outside, one of the boys from down the road was sitting at the edge of my lawn waiting for the other boys to come out. He finally went home as the other boys stayed inside. 

Today

I am going to do some cleaning this morning and try to sew this afternoon. I am going out tonight to watch the play grandson's school is putting on so won't be knitting tonight. I would like to get outside and plant the garlic cloves in the vegetable boxes if it is warm enough. 

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

A Day In The City

 Yesterday was a lovely sunny day with a high of 8C. This morning it is clear and -3C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

I was out early to make sandwiches and it was a bit of a gong show. Trying to make and keep separate sandwiches for two lunches was confusing for a lot of the volunteers. We did get it done. Three of us had to sweep the hall, put out chairs and tables, and get it ready for one of the lunches. I had set up once and the others never. A few things were missed and daughter-in-law fixed it for us. I know for the next time. 

My plans for the day changed as I went to the city with daughter-in-law to help her shop and to be prepared to drive home from physical therapy. We started off in downtown Halifax to pick up a gift. Then it was off to the Halifax Mall. Don't ask me how we got there but we avoided all the construction. 

We had lunch at the mall and then went upstairs to the Lindt store. Daughter-in-law got some chocolates for Easter. I got grandson some chocolate for Easter also. When I went to pay, I was told to pick a bag of chocolates from a given stand for my birthday present. I picked out one I liked but will be giving it away. 

Next up we went to the largest Walmart in the area. We were there to pick up snacks for the cast of the play that grandson is in. We got that job done with me helping put items in the cart. It was then time to go to physio. 

Daughter-in-law has improved a lot with her knee. Her back is sore from how she walks with a cane and had some needling done on her piriformis muscle. The therapist did a lot of massage on it afterwards and then did some work on her knee. She drove home but I know she was tired. Hopefully she got some time to rest as she needed it. 

I got home at 3:30 pm and I was tired. I put a lot of emphasis on walking with a long stride and getting my right knee to go back properly. My muscles started out rebelling but I ignored them. They stopped after a while but were really tired from working the way they should. I will keep working on that constantly. I need to make the muscles learn that I can walk correctly and they don't need to go back to the old pattern of protecting the hip. 

Knitting

Though I was tired, I did knit last night. I got the legs done and the first row of the heel flap knit. 

I am looking forward to seeing how the heel flap turns out as I would like to see them black. I do have enough black yarn to make sure it happens. 

Thoughts

    Though it wasn't overly warm, we were able to discard our winter coats while shopping. It was nice to be able to wear only hoodies and not over heat in the stores. It was a bit chilly outside but the sun made it feel warmer than it was. 

    We saw purple and white crocuses blooming in Halifax. It was nice to see colour as the leaves are not out on the trees. I also saw daffodils under the trees at the end of the road I live on. I was thrilled about that. Daughter-in-law's rose bush had leaf buds on it and mine will also. We are taking the burlap covers off them next week. Spring is coming though it has been slow. 

Today

I am going to do some cleaning in the kitchen this morning. I also need to fold laundry. This afternoon I want to sew on the rabbit and see if I can get her body done. If warm enough I will go out and plant garlic in the vegetable boxes later this afternoon. Tonight I want to knit on the socks. 

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

Another Bag Made

 Yesterday started out cloudy and we had sun in the late afternoon. The high got to 4C. This morning it is mainly clear and -2C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 6C. 

Lifestyle

I was slow yesterday as I had slept in until 7 am. I did get a load of laundry on before I headed out to grocery shop. I thought I had to shovel snow off the driveway but it was gone by 9:30 am. By late afternoon a lot of the snow had melted and the lawns are about 50% bare now. 

I wandered the store looking at grocery prices. Have they gone up? A couple of items have. What surprised me more was they are changing the store around once again. Canned goods, frozen foods are all in different spots in their areas. It was hunting time looking for what I wanted so maybe I noticed prices of foods I don't buy as I was looking for what I needed. I left with one treat -- a small box of Starbucks coffee pods. They were on sale which was a bonus. I did buy 4 packages of meat which was expensive. 

I did get a few things to try out for lunches. It is the hardest meal for me to create. I don't eat a lot at lunch and I will have glucose lows due to it. I am going to try something new which may help. Who knows. 

Sewing

I decided to make a larger Komebukuro bag. This time I cut the squares 8" and the pieces the ribbon goes through 2.5 x 12". I had to find fabric for the base square as a fat quarter only yields 4 squares and one ribbon guide. It was fun to make and I did enjoy myself. My only problem was remembering how to make the ribbon guides. I had to read about it.

I need to look for ribbon for this bag. I may have some in the stash. The two look quite cute together.

I may make one more using 7" squares.

Knitting

I knit 10 more rounds on both the socks. I am 10 rounds from starting the heel flap.

I had to unknit one sock back 3 rows as I had dropped a stitch and then a few more. It was a stupid thing for me to do but it happens once in a while.

Thoughts

    The days are supposed to be warmer but not double digit until next week. Spring is certainly coming slowly to our neck of the woods. I am sure it is coming slowly in other areas also. I will be happy when I can turn off the heat and open the windows to enjoy the warm fresh air. 

    I have been worrying about a recession coming. They come about for several reasons and each one of them can be scary. Are we ready to weather a recession? And can we change our habits if we have one? It is something I think about every day. Though I can't control a recession happening, I can control how I prepare to get through one. 

Today

I am out shortly to make sandwiches at the community hall. We have 2 funeral luncheons to prepare for today. Once home, I have to fold laundry and do a bit of a tidy up. I also want to sew this afternoon and knit tonight. It will be a quiet day once I get home. 

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

Making A Komebukuro Bag On A Snowy Day

 Yesterday was snowy with a high of 1C. This morning it is cloudy and -2C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 1C. 

Lifestyle

I was picked up by daughter-in-law and we were off to make sandwiches at the community hall. It was snowing hard. When we came out, I had to clean the snow off the car. It was soupy wet and my feet got soaking wet. This is how it looked at 9 am.

Once home, I had another cup of coffee, sat and watched the snow fall, and felt depressed. Why are we having snow in April. I got off the couch and went out to shovel snow. There was a good 2" of snow on the driveway. It took me about 25 minutes to do the shovelling. And it snowed all the time I was out there. 

Sewing

I made the Komebukuro gift bag yesterday using this pattern. The directions are good which is nice. I pressed the seams open as I went along and spent some time making the corners of the bag neat and tidy. I really do like it and have the fabric out to make one more.

The fabric came from the stash and is around 15 years old. Almost vintage my daughter said. I used 2 fat quarters for the bag and lining and the scraps are for the quilting group.

When I make the next one, I will sew all 5 squares and then press. Then I will sew 2 side seams and press. I made this one seam by seam reading the instructions every carefully. I even read them incorrectly and had to redo part of the bag.

Knitting

I knit on the socks last night and have 50 rounds done on each one. I love watching the big stripes form and love it when I start knitting the green.

Thoughts

    It snowed all day and it was still snowing at 4 am when I got up to the bathroom. We have about 6" of sloppy snow on the ground this morning. It was depressing as we were hoping the storm would be short lived and not as bad as it was. I will be out shovelling the driveway this morning. 

    I had sugar withdrawal yesterday and wanted to eat anything and everything. I refrained from having squares when making sandwiches. I ate protein instead and did eat between meals. I would prefer that to eating sweets. 

    I have been quite restless lately. Somewhat stressed as I have been worrying about the world economy, our federal election, and all things related to it. The only up side is the price of gas has dropped almost 20 cents a litre. I am working on several things to help me relax more during these turbulent times. 

Today

I am behind schedule this morning as I slept in which was what I needed. I am going to shovel snow off the driveway and then I need to grocery shop. This afternoon I want to make another bag and I want to knit tonight. 

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

Doll's Quilt Is Completed

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 6C. This morning it is snowing and 1C. Today is supposed to be snowy with a high of 2C. 

Lifestyle

I got busy early by taking the recycling to the garage and sorting it into the proper bins. Once that was done, I was downstairs to start working on the craft materials. What a job. 

I took out all the boxes I had stashed in the maintenance room and went through them. I sorted, bagged, and put most of it back into the boxes in a more organized way. I have a small pile to take to the thrift store when I go shopping. 

When I got the boxes done, I went through all the "stuff" on the shelving unit in the maintenance room. I put a bunch of empty containers together as I may need them. I sorted through everything but the inventory and either kept it, donated it, or tossed it. It was noon when I got done and I am pleased with what I got done. I put the boxes along a wall in the family room as I still have a bit of cleaning to do in the maintenance room. 

I was out to get a gift bag, tissue paper, and a card in the afternoon. I went to the Dollarama and spent $4.00. I did talk to a lady ahead of me as I put her cart away for her. She just moved into the apartment building in the 55+ community behind me. We chatted as we walked to our cars. 

Sewing

I spent time in the sewing room making a pillow and pillow case to go with the doll's quilt. The pillow is made from a piece of light fabric from the stash and the pillow case matches the quilt. 

It is folded up and put into the tub with the other quilts I have made. Four done and 9 to go. 

The rest of the fabric is on the to-do list to be sewn this month. 

Knitting

I now have 31 rows knit on each of the socks. These are knitting up fast as I want to see the stripes evolve. 

I laid them on top of each other and the stripes are perfect so far. 

The name of the socks has changed from spooky socks to witches brew. 

Thoughts

    I have been off sugar and chocolate for 48 hours and I have less pain in my joints. The soreness has all but gone and I only have pain in my two usual spots. The storm we are having now did bother me but not like it was. I now know I can't have sugar and chocolate. 

    I ate fairly well yesterday. I will be grocery shopping on Thursday and will be adding a few things to the cart that I need. I am eliminating a few things from the list as I don't need them. I am making changes to my eating habits once again. 

    I have been researching how to keep the deer from the garden this year. I am going to plant garlic and onions in all the beds as soon as I can. I am also going to hang strips of fabric dipped in fish oil also. Those strips I can spray with fish oil as needed. I want a garden again this year and hope that I can succeed at keeping the deer away. If not, this will be my last year of gardening. 

    I am not happy that we are having snow until tomorrow morning. Is this the last snow storm for this winter? Hopefully yes. Winter has drug on for too long. My neighbour and I talked too soon about it being spring when we had a few nice days in March. Mother Nature let us know our prediction was wrong. 

Today

I am out this morning to make sandwiches at the community hall. Once home, I want to do a bit of housework upstairs as I need to dust and tidy up a couple of areas. This afternoon I want to sew and I will knit this evening. I am hoping that I don't have to shovel snow this afternoon. 

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

The Table Runner Is Finished

 Yesterday was wet and dull with a high of 7C. This morning it is partly cloudy and 1C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 6C. We are to have snow tonight. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I was quite busy. My first job was to get the box from daughter downstairs and everything sorted and put away -- keep and donate. I have the box stuffing to take down and put into the box as I am filling it to return to her. 

I put the sheets from my bed in the washer and dryer so I could make the bed later in the afternoon. While I waited to put them into the dryer, I did the balance sheet. It is done for the week with only one issue that I had to hunt for and fix. All is put away for next week. 

Before lunch I was able to go downstairs with the vacuum cleaner and vacuum the sewing room floor. I had swept it thinking it was pretty clean. No so. I was amazed at how much fluff the Dyson picked up. I didn't realize how much fluff, etc. gets left behind when you sweep and I swept the floor twice. Once the vacuuming was done, I mopped the floor with the swiffer. It wasn't that dirty after vacuuming up all the "crud" off the floor. 

I looked into the freezers and decided to eat up the frozen meals I have in them. I had 3 left to eat and they are going to be gone this week. I will have to cook meals after that. I am ready for that knowing that I will make 2 servings; one for that night and one for the next night. 

I also had a think about what I am eating and I decided that I need to cut out sweets from my diet and not snack between meals. I know some of my tiredness is from pain but I am sure that some of it is from poor eating habits. I was very mindful yesterday and felt much better eating only my meals and no snacks. We wait and see how this goes. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon sewing the binding down on the table runner. I am still annoyed at myself for having mistakes in it but I decided to finish it off and live with it. 

I really like the binding cut on the bias and will be looking at doing that with stripe fabric in the future. I am not a huge fan of charm packs and if I decide to make this again I will buy my fabrics and cut my own squares. 

I put it on the tv stand and it will go there at Christmas time. 

With that project done, I am now ready to make the pillow and pillow case for the doll's quilt and get it put away. I will enjoy sewing in a tidy sewing room as I can feel my creativity flowing when I am in the room. 

Knitting

I set up sock #2 and knit on it. I have both socks as the same place at this time. 

I am looking forward to seeing how the stripe evolves on these socks. The markers are colour coordinated so I know which is sock 1 and which is sock 2. 

Thoughts

    It rained until 5pm or a bit later. There was a lot of rain fall as the puddles were big and the water was running into the ditch from the road. As it wasn't very warm, the house felt cold and damp all day. I did turn up the heat some as I was cold. I also used the heating pads to keep my sore spots warm as they hate being cold. 

    I am going back to eating like I did when I was loosing weight. I am starting out with no snacking between meals and bringing in portion control. I am also eliminating sugar and chocolate from my diet. I do need to loose some weight but the main objective is to see if I am less tired and sore. I know sugar and chocolate cause my joints to be sore. I am wondering if I get tired when I push my blood sugar up and then have a crash. 

    I am now at the stage where I have to start cleaning the family and maintenance room. I did look at it a bit but need to sit and think about it so I can come up with a plan. I did sort the yarn a bit and put some into bags if there was a lot of it. I have a small bag of yarn that needs to be added to the big bag. I need to find a place to store it for the next month. I also need to start sorting items that will either go to the thrift store or be sold at the garage sale. I may start with that and add to it as I clean the family room. 

Today

I need to do a bit of tidying up upstairs and then start sorting the craft materials. After lunch I want to sew the pillow and pillow case for the doll's quilt. If I have time, I will go back to sorting craft materials. Tonight I will knit on the socks. It is basically a stay at home day for me. 

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

I Made Mistakes Laying Out The Table Runner

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy with a high of 4C. This morning it is raining and 1C. Today is supposed to be wet with a high of 8C. 

Lifestyle

I had a great time helping make sandwiches at family's house. I had no given chore so did dishes, put plastic wrap over trays of sandwiches, and enjoyed myself. 

Once the kitchen was cleaned, daughter-in-law and I headed to New Minas for a bit of shopping. I got a new iron, picked up my stuff at the quilt shop, and we got groceries. We were amazed at how many sales were at Walmart. Things we needed were on sale which was nice. Once we were done, it was time go home. Both of us were tired and sore. 

I had lunch and fell asleep on the couch. I am wondering if my thyroid medication needs to be increased as I had slept in yesterday morning. I will know in May as I have blood work to be done before I see the doctor. 

Sewing

I got the iron I wanted as it has the anti calc feature that I liked on my old iron. It was on sale and under what I had expected to pay for a new iron. 

I have used it and like it. 

I picked up the table runner at the quilt shop and love the quilting design the staff chose. It is swirls and holly with a few berries. 

But, I made a mistake when putting the last row of blocks together. I turned 3 of them so they are not in the right direction. Was I having low blood sugar or was I just not paying attention to what I was doing. 

It took me along time to see it. Actually I didn't even see it when I took the picture. I saw it when I was putting the binding on. I could have cried but it is done and I can't do anything about it. I see another mistake also. Three rows up block 2. I will still use it and laugh about it. If I decide to make this again, I will not do it at a retreat but at home. I focus better on these kinds of projects at home. 

Daughter sent me a box of items and in was one piece of fabric I photographed yesterday works well with a quilt I want to make for daughter. 

I need to choose the three fabrics I need for the pattern. I am looking forward to making this quilt as it isn't complicated. 

The cutting table got cleaned up and scrubbed. My pile of projects are at one end of the table and are stressing me out. I need to get busy and sew them. At least they are on the table and not put away for me to have to hunt for them. 

Knitting

I set up the Spooky socks last night and knit 25 rounds. These ones are going to be fun to knit. 

I am ready to cast on sock #2 so both socks look the same. 

Thoughts

    I had a moment to look at the fabrics for the next purple bag. I only need to buy fabric for the lining. I am so glad I took the time to measure the fabric I had. The lining will either be in the piping fabric or a print that is part of the fabric line. 

    I have decided that I will not be using charm packs again for quilting. Though I won the one I used in the table runner it is the only one I will let in the house. It took me forever to find a pattern to use for it. I am not happy with the fact it had 3 of each print vs 2 most charm packs have. That made laying out the pattern harder as I kept getting likes with likes. (The sewing of the blocks wrong is totally my fault.) I like to have fabric I cut for a project as I have more control over how I do it. The charm pack is used up and gone from the stash. 

    I have been out so much in the past week that I have been lax about doing things in the house. I need to focus on housework and sewing once again. I am twice this week but only for an hour and I will be home most of the day once I get home. 

Today

I need to do laundry, clean up the dining room table and do the balance sheet. This afternoon I want to vacuum and mop the sewing room floor and start hand stitching the binding down on the table runner. I need to make dinner and will knit tonight. I am home today which is nice. 

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

A Day Out And About

 Yesterday started out nice and warm with a high of 11C at 4 pm. Then it started to cool off with the wind turning to the north. This morning it is cloudy and 1C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 6C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I was to help daughter-in-law get items from the community hall and take them to her place. Another lady picked them up so I went to the optometrist and picked out a pair of glasses. I will get them in 2 weeks. I am going to see how much a pair of sunglasses are so I can wear them outside when doing yard work. 

I visited with my friend until noon to find out her plans. One of her brother's passed and when she would be leaving for the celebration of life. It isn't until after family members arrive home from overseas. 

After lunch I went back over to family's to help them with cleaning and emptying the hot tub. It was interesting to see how dirty it was. When the jets were turned on, it foamed up like a washing machine that has to much detergent in it. Slowly a chemical cleaned out the jets and pipes. Our work began so it wouldn't stick to the sides of the tub while it drained. Once it was down low, we wiped it with a cleaner and son sprayed everything to get rid of the dirty/greasy bits (they are bright blue). When that was done, the tub is filled with clean water and chemicals put in. It is a hurry up and wait situation that takes a good 3 hours to do. 

I helped daughter-in-law clean up her kitchen for this morning's sandwich making session. It is clean and ready for production. 

I did stop and pick up the mail yesterday. There was a parcel in it from daughter. I have 2 spools of cording for piping, some lace and fabric. Some of the fabric is going to the quilting group and I am not sure about the lace. 

One piece of fabric will be used in a quilt for daughter. It seems to be perfect for it. 

This is my idea board for the quilt. I sure hope this piece works with it as I will only have to buy one fabric for it.

One piece of lace spoke to me loud and clear. I am going to use it on a bag to make it fancy. 

I need to buy the purple and the print for the piping and lining. I have the green fabric. I want to hand sew the lace down so it won't move. 

Today

I am out shortly to help make sandwiches. I am going to New Minas for pick up the table runner which has been quilted. I also want to get a new iron and a few groceries. Once home, I hope to finish cleaning the sewing room so I can start sewing. With ideas rolling in my head I am ready to get at it. 

A Lot More Done In The Sewing Room

 Yesterday started off cloudy and just after noon it started to snow. The snow turned to freezing rain and then rain. The high got to 4C at midnight. This morning it is cloudy and 9C. Today is supposed to be mainly cloudy with a high of 13C. 

Lifestyle

It was a home day for me yesterday. I moved slowly cleaning up the kitchen. It wasn't dirty but it needed to be tidied up. I also folded clothes and put them away. 

I was sore from the storm coming in. When my knees throb and are stiff I know the storm will be coming shortly. It arrived in full force and we had enough snow to cover the ground to make it white. It looked nice but then it turned to freezing rain which was ugly. It rained during the night when the temperature rose to well above freezing. Most of the snow and all of the ice are gone this morning. 

Around 4 pm, the municipality had trucks out salting the roads. When I looked out, my driveway and small sidewalk were coated in ice. 

I made dinner last night. I baked a chicken breast after coating it in a mixture of mayo and dijon mustard and rolling it in bread crumbs. I made a mushroom and shallot gravy to go over the meat and mashed potatoes and added some vegetables. It was good. I will make it again. 

Sewing

I spent a good hour in the sewing room cleaning. I got the little stand I keep my pressing items on cleaned off, wiped down, and organized. No picture as I was on a roll. Next up I went through the fabrics and put some pieces on the floor to think about. Most of the cottons I have left are Christmas prints or pieces for piping for daughter. The pile is decreasing which is nice. No pictures again. I was on a roll as I wanted to get most of the room cleaned and I was so sore from the storm coming in. 

My last project of the day was to sort through all the yarn I have. I grabbed a bag and started the process. I got rid of 40% of the yarn. Most are part balls that someone will want for a scrappy project. There are some balls of yarn that I need to take out and put into bags and sell separately at a cheap rate as there are enough to make a project. They are not what I want and have been avoiding them for years. 

I have 7 containers of yarn left. They are sorted by yarn thickness. All but one container are almost empty. What is left I will knit over the course of a couple of years. The only yarn I will buy is for socks as I do knit a lot of them. 

I did take the garbage out to put into the garbage can and the recycling bags. That job is done for now. 

I have decided on buying a Tefal iron. It is an Ultra Glide one. I have seen it used on a YouTube video and I like how it works for that person. It is also on sale so I will be going to get it in the next couple of days. 

The table runner with the black backing and binding is at the long arm quilter. I should have it back in a couple of weeks and will post a picture of it when it is done. 

Knitting

I did not find the second ball of yarn for my socks so I will be parking them on spare needles. I got the yarn out to wind for socks for daughter-in-law. That could happen today if I get the cutting table cleaned. I need to sit and knit in the evenings. 

Thoughts

    The sewing room wasn't as messy as I had thought it was. It is dirty from all the cutting and sewing I do. I have the cutting table to clean off and the floors to do and I will be done. Then I can start sewing once again. Next up is the crafting stuff that I need to purge once again. I will be doing a bit each day until it is done. 

    As I cleaned up the sewing room, I thought about how I can use up the fabrics I have. With most of it being Christmas prints, I am going to have to get creative. Though I love Christmas fabric, I will be happy to see them sewn up and gone. Most of the fabrics are old -- 7 to 15 years to be exact with a few pieces bought a year ago. I may make some bags that can be folded up small and sell them as gift bags. They will use up a lot of my fabric. 

    The second area I thought about was groceries. I need to figure out how to spend less on them. Some of the items I buy can be eliminated or reduced to become a treat. Some things I have cut way back on but I need to think about other changes I need to make. This is still a work in progress as it will take me a couple of visits to grocery stores to get it figured out. It is a case of wants vs needs. 

    I have been running the robot vacuum every day. She does the bathroom every day and the whole house every other day. I think this is overkill so am going to have her clean the whole house twice a week. We will see how that goes and then decide once again. 

Today

I have to help daughter-in-law this morning and then I am free for the day. I am going to the optometrist to look at frames and lenses so I can order what I need. I do hope that I can clean off the cutting table so I can wind yarn and then start knitting at night. It is a semi busy day for me.     

Cleaning The Sewing Room Begun

 Yesterday was sunny and windy with a high of 2C. This morning it is cloudy and -2C. Today is supposed to be our crappy day with snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain. The high is get to 1C. 

Lifestyle

Daughter-in-law arrived yesterday morning and is walking with the cane. I was so excited for her as this is progress. She can hobble some without the cane. Progress is being made due to her determination to get better. 

She took me to my eye appointment as I thought I had to have my eyes dilated. Due to the fact I take the time to keep my eyes open wide, the pictures are text book shots. No dilating for me. My prescription has changed quite a bit due to cataracts starting to form. I am now to wear sunglasses when I am outside to help slow down the progress. I will go back tomorrow to talk about options. 

Once home, I got busy. I cleaned the kitchen so it is clean and organized. It needed to be done and I pushed through it pain and all. It felt good both physically and mentally. Once it was done, I did the balance sheet for March. I had a bit of a struggle as I forgot to put one expense in. Once I got that figured out, all was good. Bills were paid and I put it away until Sunday. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday but I started to clean the sewing room. As I had to set up my sewing machines, I decided to start cleaning that area of the room. I wiped down the tables the embroidery machine sits on and got it organized. I pulled out the table and swept the floors and wiped the baseboards. I set up the machine. 

Next up I wiped the cube until the dolls are on. It was dusty and I had a few things to put away. 

The main sewing table was cleaned next. A bit more work as I sew there most of the time. I tidied up everything, wiped down the surfaces, and set up the Juki. I was happy to get that space cleaned up as it was starting to make me feel stressed out. 

Once that area was cleaned up, I started to put away items from the sewing retreat. Thread, scissors, kits, etc. were dealt with. Instead of putting them on a flat surface, I put them away. With that job done, I tackled the pressing center. 

I had bought a new ironing board cover and got it on. I need a new iron as mine decided to leak. I will get it next week. I wiped down the wall behind the ironing board and cleaned the baseboards. Then I decided to wipe the floor. It was disgusting due to me starching fabric and then fibres sticking to the starch. 

I was done for the day as I had been down on the floor a few times cleaning and getting cords into the right places. I did snap a few pictures of my mess as I didn't deal with any of it.

The old ironing board cover is on the floor where I tossed it.  

The plastics and paper I put in another spot. I will empty the trash can when I take the ironing board cover out. 

The cutting table is 100% better than it was when I went downstairs but it still needs work done to it. 

And I also need to deal with the chair. 

I am allowing myself until Sunday to get the room cleaned so am not being harsh on myself about the mess. I will work my way around the room and clean it up. I think I did well for one afternoon of cleaning. 

Knitting

I didn't knit last night. I couldn't wind yarn for the next pair of socks. The cutting table is too messy. 

Thoughts

    Having being told I have the very beginning signs of cataracts has me thinking. I do have to take care of my eyes by wearing sunglasses when outside. It has me thinking about sewing and knitting. I will continue to do both for as long as I can knowing that I should use up my stash of fabrics and yarn before buying more. 

    I have started to think about my needs and wants as I feel we are going to see a global recession happen. I am slowly working through my thoughts on this. What will I give up and what can I continue to buy. How can I support a few local businesses so they can survive. I am working through this quietly on my own. In my mind first and then on paper.

    I have decided to clean up the family room next as I need to sort through my craft supplies once again. I need to do only those crafts I really enjoy and let everything else go. It is time to let go of those items I rarely look at so I can enjoy doing the crafts I enjoy. I also need to sort through what I have let go of and divide it into two lots -- garage sale and thrift store. 

Today

 I am home today so will be doing a load of laundry and doing some cleaning upstairs. This afternoon I want to clean more of the sewing room. If I can, I would like to wind yarn and start another pair of socks tonight. I do need to cook something for dinner tonight.

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

Day Two of Appointments Done

 Yesterday had rain in the morning and wind in the afternoon. The high was 13C at 9 am with the temperature dropping slowly all day. This morning it is windy, clear, and -3C (windchill -9C). Today is supposed to be sunny and 2C.

Lifestyle

I headed out to New Minas for my Covid vaccine. It was raining lightly at home and was like that until I was half way to my destination. I literally drove into heavy rain like you would when entering a car wash. I had to slow down and drive carefully due to the amount of water on the road. I did hydroplane once. When I got to New Minas, it was raining but the storm had passed. It was on its way to Windsor. 

I only had to wait for 5 minutes to get my vaccine. It was in the walk-in clinic attached to the drug store. I waited 5 minutes after getting the needle and then left. I was fine. 

My next stop was at Canadian Tire. It is a neat store that has car/truck parts, hunting supplies, and home goods. I walked to the back corner of the store to get an ironing board cover. I did wander a bit looking at irons as I need one. I also went looking to see if they had rechargeable light bulbs but they don't. It is a neat store to go into for items. I will be looking again as the summer items are going out on display. 

My last stop was for groceries at Walmart. I had my list and got a few other things I needed. My goal was to check the optometry department. The used to have buy 2 pairs of frames for about $100.00. That seems to be a thing of the past. 

I came home very tired. I was sore and starting to feel cranky. I put away everything and rested for the afternoon. My left hip was sore and I had pain. At midnight, I stretched it and had a loud crack. It is feeling better today but I am still stiff and a bit sore. It could be the snow storm we are to get tomorrow causing me to be sore. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday. I did look for the ball of yarn but can't find it. I am going to put the sock onto a spare needle and start another pair. 

Thoughts

    My body is tired from all the pain I have been having. I have tried to be careful but think I am going to get busy and do some things to see if that will help it. I need to push myself once again and try to get areas more limber. 

    Our weather is being real crappy. We are to have snow/ice pellets tomorrow with warmer weather after that. Nights will still be cool. Spring is dragging its feet and everything looks depressing outside. Brown and dirty looking. It seems like spring is slow arriving in other parts of Canada also. 

Today

I am out for my eye exam today. I hope to be able to do a few things this morning while I wait for my eyes to recover from being dilated. I am thinking about housework and laundry. Once I am able to do other things, I will add them to the list. It is a wait and see day at what I can do. 

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

A Day of Rest

 Yesterday was cloudy but warmer with a high of 16C. This morning it is raining and 8C. Today we are under a rainfall warning until this afternoon and then it is to be cloudy and windy. The high is supposed to be 11C. 

Lifestyle

I was at physical therapy at 8 am yesterday and it was a session. My left SI joint was stiff and the therapist worked on that. I had pain in areas I didn't know could be painful. Next she worked on the adductor and she finally got it to stop being sore. She said if it didn't relax she was going to have to dry needle it. The last thing she showed me was an exercise to relax the piriformis muscle. Once she was done her work, I did my usual gym exercises and then had heat and the TENS machine. 

When I got home, I sat for a bit with heat on my hip and realized how tired I was. Part was from physio as it was a big session. Most was from getting the retreat. It is over and the adrenaline rush was gone leaving me with no energy. 

I did a few little things in the kitchen and looked for a ball of yarn that is missing. I cooked dinner and rested. Yes, that included a long nap after lunch. 

Sewing

I did work on my to do list and got it updated. I want to do some cleaning in the sewing room first and then will start with the doll's pillow and pillow case. I can put that away with the quilt knowing the project is complete. 

I am going to go through the doll's fabric and pull some blue fabrics out. I want to cut them into 2.5 x 5.5" rectangles and then sew them together to make the front and back of a bag. I hope I can find some neat fabric to make piping for it. I will try to do a tutorial page for it as it is a new idea for me. 

Knitting

I cannot find the 2nd ball of yarn for my socks. I will continue looking for it but will start another pair of socks while I look. If I can't find it, I will unknit my sock and make something for the dolls. At the moment I am annoyed with myself for not knowing where the yarn is. 

Thoughts

    I am improving with my walking. The reason my muscles get sore is that they want to go back to where I was months ago. They are sore as they have to work differently to what they are use to. Getting them to work normally is hard for them. I will continue to work on getting them to work normally even if it causes me pain and discomfort. 

    I am hoping that I can do minimal buying in April. I need to work on using what I have in my stashes. I need to think before I buy and be more organized in what I am going to make. I had my buying fun in March for the retreat and now need to return to using what I have in my stashes. 

Today

I have to go and get my Covid vaccine this morning and my one purchase, besides some groceries, is to get an ironing board cover. Once home, I need to do a few things and hope I can start cleaning the sewing room. It depends on how I react to the Covid vaccine. I would like to knit tonight if I am not too tired. 

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

The Retreat Is Done

 Yesterday was a lovely sunny day with a high of 4C. This morning it is cloudy and 0C. There is a layer of snow and ice on the deck at 6 am. Today is supposed to be damp with a high of 10C. We are under a rainfall warning from tonight until tomorrow night. 

Lifestyle

I arrived at the retreat a bit earlier yesterday morning. It was about half full which was nice. It allowed me to set up my Diamond sewing machine without a lot of people walking back and forth to the cutting and pressing stations which were behind me. 

My first project of the day was to make piping. I cut the bias strips, sewed them together, pressed, and then made daughter just over 3 meters of piping. No picture but I will get one for the record. The gentleman who was there was waiting for his lesson on how to make piping. I spent the next while helping him as he doesn't have the proper foot but we used his zipper foot with great success. His wife was thrilled that someone had spent time teaching him a new skill. He then worked on his quilt which the lady beside him had taught him a new skill. She walked him through each step. He was so excited to leave with 2 new skills under his belt. 

We had a good discussion about how to use sewing machine feet to our advantage. Not what a sales person wants to hear but they do agree that we need to figure out how to use them. I know my open toed quarter inch foot will sew at 1/4", 1/8" and 1/16th foot. My zipper foot not only put in zippers but can be used to narrow top stitching. I do agree that having a foot to help with stitch in the ditch is nice. People were amazed that I had to learn how to use presser feet to our advantage when teaching sewing on old machines that we could no longer get parts for. 

My main job of the day was to do embroidery on the shirt daughter sent me. I got all the flowers done but need a new embroidery foot for my machine. The old one broke as I was finishing the last stitches. 

I did finish the doll's quilt. I hand stitched the binding down while baby sitting my embroidery. I am happy with it but wish I had used a different fabric for the plain blue. There is too much blue. The dolls won't complain. 

I left the retreat at about 2:30 pm as I was done all my projects. I admired the coats and am hoping to start collecting fabrics for it as it will probably be offered in the fall. 

I will have to say that I enjoyed meeting people and having fun. I was tired mentally at the end of each day as I am not use to having people around me for hours and no where to go to have some down time. I will do it again in the fall if the dates work. 

Once home, I went and returned items to my friend and visited for a bit. Then it was off to family's for my birthday dinner. We had Moroccan stew, rice, and carrot cake. It was delicious. I was home early so I could decompress before going to bed. I truly needed that but appreciated having dinner and a visit with family. 

Today

I am out for physio early this morning and then home to have some very quiet time. I want to tidy up the sewing room before I set up my machines. I need to work on my to do list and do my balance sheet for March. I also need to tidy up my kitchen when cooking dinner. It is going to be a quiet day for me doing things I need to do. 

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