A Day Of Resting

 Yesterday was wet and cloudy with a high of 6C at 11 pm. This morning it is cloudy and 8C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with showers and a high of 12C. 

Lifestyle

Though yesterday was to be a rest day, I did a few things. I got laundry done along with making myself something for a couple of dinners. I also got the recycling and compost out to the road for pick up this morning. 

I tried to go back to sleep yesterday morning but to no avail. I was still having the IBS attack. I sat and did some more work on the family tree until it was over. My discovery was to find out I have ancestors that came from France. Not what I was told. What I discovered was even more interesting. They were founding settlers of Lunenburg and were tenant farmers. From there they went to Tatamagouche where they were tenant farmers. It wasn't until land became available in River John that one of sons owned land. At that time they had been in Nova Scotia for 34 years. 

I did a lot of resting but couldn't nap. I was between a rock and hard place. Tired but wanting to do a few things. My medications are kicking in which didn't help. I got through the day and am feeling better today. 

Today

I am going to begin cleaning the house as I have let it go once again. I will do as much as I can. I would like to sew this afternoon and try to knit tonight. It is going to be a day of getting back into routines. 

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

A Need To Recuperate From An IBS Attack

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 1C. This morning it is showering (which turned to snow) and 1C. Today is suppose to be mainly cloudy with a high of 7C. 

Lifestyle

I was out first thing to make sandwiches at the community hall. I do enjoy helping out. Yesterday my job was to cut the sandwiches and arrange them on the platters. I did enjoy fussing to make the trays look nice. 

I also went to New Minas to shop. My first stop was the quilting shop. Day one of their sale and it was busy. I did look around, paid for the retreat and left. I would have had to wait about an hour to have fabrics cut. Not my idea of fun. 

My next two stops were to get some groceries and cleaning supplies. I got what I needed and headed home. It was time to rest as I wasn't feeling that great. I had an IBS attack coming on. 

I was out for dinner and had a delicious fish chowder. There was birthday cake also. When I came home, I felt horrible knowing that something I had eaten earlier and stress was irritating my IBS. I was up most of the night with it and am heading to bed shortly to see if I can sleep for an hour. 

Thoughts

    This latest IBS attack has me realizing that I need to go back to eating a bland diet for a few days to settle my system. It means eating rice and chicken with not seasonings but salt and pepper. It isn't the most appealing diet but it works.

    I have been stressing out about the tariff wars but I need to look at some positive things that are coming out from this. One is how Canada is standing together and working on some of our own issues. Will we depend on products from the US? Yes. Just as the US will depend on products from Canada. 

Today

I am heading back to bed for an hour or two and will see what unfolds when I wake up. It could be a rest day or it could be a productive day. I have a few things I need to do with recuperating high on the list. 

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

A Doll's Outfit Started

 Yesterday was sunny and windy with a high of -8C (windchill -15C). This morning it is clear and 12C (windchill -16C). Today is supposed to be get cloudy with a high of 0C. This little cold snap ends tonight. 

Lifestyle

I was out to the doctor's office to get my tetanus shot. The nurse gave it to me and did it hurt. She made me sit while she rubbed the injection spot and it really helped. My arm is quite sore today but not unbearable. That job is done for 10 years. 

Next up was a visit to the dietician. It was a great visit in which we talked about my trip to Sweden, my eating habits, and my activity level. I have to loose 10 lbs slowly over the next 6 months but can't start until my body has the full effect of the Synthroid. I am ready to loose the weight and get active again. I was discharged from the program as I am doing well but can go back again if I need assistance from the program. 

My level of exhaustion hit when I got home from the dietician as I had been busy and on the move for a few hours. I rested and revived for some unknown reason. I did go out in the late afternoon to get a friend flowers and a birthday card. By the time I got home from a short visit with her, I could barely put one foot in front of the other one. The tiredness hit with a vengeance. Part and parcel of this disease. 

Sewing

I pushed myself down to the sewing room and spent some time getting the doll's dress cut out. The skirt is scaring me a bit as I have to pleat it. I will be putting marks on it and getting it done slowly but surely. 

It is ready to start sewing. My brain was foggy when I got to this point. I had to hyper focus on the job. But, I did enjoy the process and am feeling like sewing again. 

Knitting

None done as I was falling asleep on the couch last night. 

Thoughts

    I am sad to think that there is a tariff war between the US, Canada, Mexico, and China. There are so many people in the world who are going to be affected by this with an increase in their cost of living. Are we going to be having a recession or will it become a depression? How long will it take for the world to recover? So many questions as we navigate this. 

    I was told that I am to rest and not worry about doing a lot of extra things until I feel the full effect of the new dose of Synthroid. I did notice this morning that I am feeling somewhat more alert than I have been which is a good sign. I just need to stop pushing myself trying to get things done. One of my downfalls. 

    It will be nice to have some warmer weather again. It wasn't the temperature that was bad, it was the cold north wind. It went straight through you. People were complaining about that while I was waiting for my appointment at the hospital. 

Today

I need to get moving as I have to be at the community hall by 8 am. I am helping out with sandwiches this morning. When done, I may head out to get a few groceries. I need make a few meals and am short some items for making them. I don't know if I will sew, but if I rest in the afternoon, I will try to knit. I know I will be tired tonight. 

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

Trying To Get Motivated

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds and it got colder by the hour. By 3 pm it was -6C (windchill -14C) and there were snow flurries. This morning it is mainly cloudy and -12C (windchill -19C). Today is supposed to be mainly sunny with a high of -7C (windchill -13C). 

Lifestyle

I decided to start cleaning the living room. When I started to remove cat hair, Elliott was up on the couch wanting to be brushed. I spent quite a bit of time (like nearly a half hour) brushing him. I removed a lot of hair and dander from him. That job done and him a happy boy, I took the quilt and blanket off the couch and shook them outside. The wind was blowing so the birds got no fur for their nests. The quilt and blanket were put in the dryer with steam to freshen them up. 

Once I had done that job, I vacuumed and mopped part of the living room floor. I vacuumed as much as I could before charging the battery. That part of the living room now looks good. I am ready to do the other part. 

I am still working an hour each day on the family tree. I work on branches that need doing finding information, dates, pictures, etc. I am finding the stories, obituaries, pictures, and other information interesting. I am very careful and make sure the information is correct. 

Sewing

I was down to the sewing room and tried to get myself motivated to sew. I played with the sleeves on the shirt and have the printouts on where I like them. They are ready to embroider. 

I took out a tub of doll fabric looking for inspiration. Nothing. Then I looked in the main stash and found this piece. 

I laundered it along with the pieces for the doll's quilt. I looked at all the doll patterns and was totally uninspired. I then looked at my large stash of pdf files on the tetra drive. Nothing. Lastly I looked at patterns I hadn't downloaded from PixieFaire and found one I wanted to make. 

I chose this dress when the topic was about Barbie. It was close to a dress that Barbie wore in the 1950's - 1960's. The skirt was gathered not pleated. I will pleat the skirt as I like it.

By the time I got this little project figured out, I was exhausted. The brain fog was back and all I wanted to do was sleep. At least I lasted for a good portion of the afternoon. 

Knitting

None done and I'm frustrated at being so tired at night. 

Thoughts

    I was able to check the results of my blood work online and my thyroid numbers had almost doubled in 9 months. The higher the number, the lower your thyroid works. I was outside the normal range. What I thought was going to be a fast turn around isn't going to happen. I have to get my Synthroid level up to a point where I can feel normal all day. At the moment, I still get tired and have brain fog. I can't do a lot when it hits which is annoying.

    The wind came in from the north and brought the cold weather. We are to have it today and tomorrow it will start to warm up. Friday it cools off again and I am hoping it won't get as cold as it is today. We are done with the cold weather and would love to have it warm like it was. I am ready to open windows and enjoy the fresh air. 

    I need to do a brain dump for this week's meals. I also need to figure out what I would like to accomplish this week. I do know that I will probably try to do more than my body will let me but I need a plan to work from each day. I hope to do that this morning. 

Today

I am out this morning to get a tetanus shot and to see the dietician. Once home, I want to do the brain dump for meals and cleaning the house. I hope to print out the pattern and lay it out on the fabric this afternoon. I hope to knit tonight as it is only a few rows of ribbing. I will push myself to do it. 

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

A Fast Trip To The City

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 6C. This morning it is cloudy and 0C. Today is supposed to be mainly cloudy with some flurries. The temperature is to drop to -6C this afternoon. We are to have cold weather for the next couple of days.

Lifestyle

I started the day off doing the balance sheet and got it to balance. Having a cold, low thyroid, bad weather had me staying at home a lot and I certainly did not spend a lot of money. I finished up paying bills. 

Once done the balance sheet, I folded laundry and sat quietly for a bit as I was tired. My body was rebelling from over doing it on Friday. I noticed that my brain fog is slowly lifting and I am not having to focus as hard as I was to do things. 

After lunch, I made dinner and cleaned up the kitchen. I did not have beans needed for the dinner and they are ones I am not supposed to eat (soya) so I substituted snap peas and green onions. It is have a spicy mayo on the top which I will add sriracha sauce to regular mayo. 

I decided to do a bit more searching on the family tree and I found some great information. One of my relations was a crew member on the Blue Nose and sailed into Glouchester MA in 1938. Another family member was the master of a small ship that landed in the same place in 1934. I found pictures of another family member taken in 1943 in Ontario. Those were exciting bits of information to add to the family tree. 

My roadblock is a person who is supposed to a daughter of my great-great grandfather. When I did my research on her it states her mother is the same person my great-great grandfather married but it states the father has a different first name. I may have to go to Newfoundland to get this all sorted out. 

While researching, daughter-in-law phoned and asked if she could use the car and if I wanted to come along with her. Grandson forgot his futsal shoes at home and needed them for practice at 6 pm. Son had taken grandson in for practice and she was stranded at home. So we were off to the city. I got to go on the new highway from Sackville to Cole Harbour. It is beautiful and full of traffic circles. We got the shoes to their destination and were off to have dinner. 

The first restaurant had a waiting line out the door onto the sidewalk. It was off to our second choice. We were seated in less than 10 minutes in the bar. We had a delightful dinner and a great talk. When done, it was time to go home. When we arrived home, son and grandson were there. Inside we went to find out what happened. After jerking our ropes, we found out futsal was cancelled due to a basketball game. We had a great laugh at how we had rushed in for no reason at all. The great thing is grandson is now on the university soccer teams chat line so he knows if that practice is cancelled in the future. 

I got home after 7:30 pm. I watched TV to relax and went to bed. I was tired but happy. Would I do a fast trip to the city again? Absolutely yes. 

While at the first restaurant, I looked quickly at a bush I had to walk by. I stopped to take a picture as the leaves are starting to show. 

I don't think this is normal for March 1. I hope they don't freeze and die due to the cold weather we are to get starting today.

Today

I need to do some housework and start prepping projects for this month's sewing. I hope I have enough energy to knit tonight. I am going to try and pace myself so I am not too tired.

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

A Bag Is Finished

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 6C. This morning it is cloudy and -6C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 5C.

Lifestyle

I was out the door and at the arena at 8 am to walk. We did 6 laps and I was tired when done. Once home, I sat and rested. I realized that the tiredness was due to the low thyroid and knew it was going to pass with the new medication. 

My plan was to go to the quilt store in the afternoon but I decided to go in the morning. It was a nice drive though the roads were wet from all the snow and rain we had had the night before. It was good to get outside and do something. 

I noticed that the brain fog I was having started to lift in the late afternoon. The spurts of energy were longer and the fits of tiredness were a bit shorter. I was what I call entering the world of the living. The medication was starting to work its magic. I did have a nap after lunch but it wasn't as long or as deep as it had been. 

With the weather being warmer the snow is melting. I have grass showing up in the front. With all the ice we had, I thought it would have been damaged but it is looking healthy. 

Sewing

The trip to the quilt store was successful. I bought daughter this piece of fabric for a shirt and the plain piece is for piping. 

I also bought 3 pieces of fabric for a doll's quilt I want to sew at the end of the month. I fell in love with the pieces I bought to go with the two plain ones. 

I also sewed for almost 2 hours yesterday afternoon and finished the bag I was working on. It went together well and I am pleased with how it looks. 

I am going to put it into the craft bazaar to see if I can sell it. If not, I will give it to someone. 

I have started to update my to do list for March. I need to finish some items from February and prep for the retreat at the end of the month. I also want to sew a few things for the craft bazaar. 

Knitting

I didn't knit last night as I was tired and ready for bed early. Hopefully I can start knitting again at nights. It is time to finish the vest and start knitting socks. 

Thoughts

    l didn't realize how much my low thyroid had been affecting me. One day of the new dosage has been feeling better and wanting to do things. I know it will take a while to get the benefit of the new dosage. Knowing I want to do more is a great feeling. 

    I saw a cardinal yesterday. The first one I have seen for a long time. I love those birds and know that they do bring messages from loved ones. It was amazing that it coincided with me starting my new medication. 

    The days are getting longer. It is hard to believe that it is light shortly after I get up in the morning and isn't dark until 6:30 pm. I do like spring though fall is still my favourite season. I am looking forward to getting outside and doing things without having to wear a coat all the time. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet and pay bills this morning. I want to do some housework and fold laundry. This afternoon I want to do a few things in the sewing room and I hope to knit tonight. 

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

My Thyroid Is Low

 Yesterday was sunny, then cloudy, and then snowy. The high got to 5C. The highest temperature of 8C was at 1 am this morning. Right now it is cloudy and 6C. Today is going to be cloudy with a high of 6C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I was to the doctor's office to get the results of my blood tests. I was tired when I got there and just wanted to nap. I sat for 15 minutes waiting for him to come in. We went through what I needed -- prescriptions, blood test results, and to see if I had a chest infection. 

My blood test results showed that I did not have a chest infection. My white blood cells were normal. We both cheered over that. Everything else was normal until we got to my thyroid. It was low and I needed a stronger dose of Synthroid. It figures out why I have been exhausted, cold, foggy brained, and anything else that goes with low thyroid. Even my A1C is 5.7% which is great. 

Next he checked my lungs and heart and all is good. We talked about me walking at the arena, my lingering cough, and getting my tetanus shot on March 3. I have to get blood work done just before my next appointment to see if my Synthroid is at the right dosage. 

Once done at the doctor's office, I headed to the pharmacy so I could pick up my new prescription after lunch. I was exhausted at that point but forced myself to go in and do it and to go back in the afternoon and pick it up. 

Once home, I went down to see my friend to let her know about my blood results and to see how she is doing. She had blood taken this week and I needed to know if she had drank gallons of water before going. We had a great visit and I was home by noon. 

After getting my prescription, I spent the afternoon on the couch. I was exhausted. It was the worst day I've had since the catching the cold. I forced myself not to nap as I wanted to sleep last night. I had an okay night though I was awake for a while during the night. 

I was shocked to see how heavy the snow came down mid afternoon. It snowed for several hours and then the snow turned to rain and it rained most of the night. The inch of snow that had fallen is gone and everything is wet. 

Thoughts

    I am grateful for a good doctor. He is great with numbers and saw that my thyroid was off when he was checking my results. I was surprised as I have been on the same dose for 4-5 years now. He is the doctor who got my thyroid stable after years of at least 2 to 3 dose changes a year. He said this is why you are tired and feel like you have an infection. 

    Once the new dosage kicks in, I will be back to trying to loose weight and getting more active. I have things I want to do once I am able to do a full day's work. Until then, I will work on cleaning the upstairs in preparation for painting the rest of the house. 

    I am a bit sore today as the barometric pressure has dropped to below 100 kPa. I will remain sore until it starts to go back up. The joys of arthritis. 

Today

I am going to walk this morning doing as many laps as I can. Once home, I will fold laundry and rest. If I have the energy, I will do some housework that needs doing. I am suppose to go to the quilt shop this afternoon. Once home, I will try to sew and then knit tonight. It depends on my level of energy but I am going to push myself to do it. 

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

I Sewed and Knit

 Yesterday was foggy or cloudy with a high of 4C. There was a rain shower in the evening. This morning it is clear and -4C (windchill -7C). Today is supposed to be cloudy with snow this afternoon. The high is to get to 5C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to walk at the arena early. We actually had to wait for the doors to be unlocked. There were about 8 of us waiting to go in. I did 6 or 7 laps and daughter-in-law did 10 laps. I worked on my pace as I take a shorter step with my left leg. I have to watch that I am taking a big stride and work through the pain in my hip flexor. 

Once home, I took a look at the ice on the driveway. I stomped some of the lacy edges but didn't do any shovelling. It is slowly melting away. I went inside and had some fluids. Once I had done that it was time to get to work. I vacuumed the kitchen, dining area, hall, and spare bedroom. I mopped the floors also. It was nice to get them done but I was tired from walking and working. 

I spent some time working on the family tree. I have been watching Genealogy Roadshow and learned a few tricks I wanted to use. I went to my great uncle who left his wife and went to the US where he remained for the rest of his life. I looked at all the information I could and found that there was an obituary there for my grandfather. I read it with great interest and learned that my father (who has the same name as my great uncle) was a pall bearer at his father's funeral. I did not know that. I took a snap of the obituary and added it to my grandfather's information. 

Next, I looked at the information of the lady my great uncle lived with and eventually married. I found her in the 1950's US census living in California. She was living with their daughter. It stated she was separated from my great uncle. I also looked at the daughter. She stated that she had never married even though she used her husband's surname (wedding information has been recorded). I also realized that she had a child who had her husband's surname. I learned a lot from that census entry to keep me busy searching and documenting for an hour. 

I had a fair amount of pain yesterday. It is getting better but has moved to my hip flexor and knee. It could be the storm coming in or it could be my usual area acting up. Who knows. The periformis are getting better which is nice. 

Sewing

I was down to the sewing room to sew for 2 hours yesterday. I worked on the bag I had started and got all the cross hatching done. I then sewed up the bag and boxed the bottom. I am really happy with it. 

It is smaller than my regular sized bags but it will be a nice bag for someone to take shopping for a few small items. At this point, I am ready to add the handles and the button loop. 

I also played with the pattern for the doll's jacket. I taped the pieces together and laid them out. The pattern is out exactly the same amount as the fabric pieces were. 

Now to figure out if I add to the from piece or take away from the back. I am thinking it will be adding to the front piece. I am going to fool around with the front pieces a bit more as I may have to add to the side front princess seam. I wait and see what happens next. I will print the pattern pieces again. 

Knitting

I forced myself to pick up the arm stitches on the vest. It took me the better part of an hour to get 118 stitches on the needle as I had to work carefully. I did it. 

I can now do the ribbing on it. 

Thoughts

    I am improving with my aches and pains. I need to start doing yoga again to help stretch all my muscles. I know it will help me out a lot. I also need to loose 10 lbs to get some of the extra weight off my joints. All this starts on Sunday. I see the dietician on Tuesday so will get some direction from her. I know I am eating healthy but need to cut back on portion size as I am no longer shovelling snow, ice or slush. 

    I am enjoying working on the family tree. Though my tree is extensive, I am now at the point of finding little things about family members. I am at the point where I have to prove certain things are correct as I have put information in that is wrong and had to take it out again. That takes time and energy. I have learned a lot from watching Genealogy Roadshow on what to look for when I am doing my research. 

    Though I had a nap yesterday, I did push myself to go sew and then knit last night. I need to get back to doing things and try to eliminate the napping. 

Today

I see the doctor this morning which means the morning will be done by the time I leave the clinic. I want to work on the bag this afternoon with hopes of having it almost done. I want to knit tonight. What else I get done remains to be seen. 

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

Broke My Fabric Fast

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 10C. This morning it is cloudy and 1C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun, clouds, and showers with a high of 6C. 

Lifestyle

I started the day out with cooking and I made Ginger Sesame Pork Bowls for dinner for last night and tomorrow night. I am working at getting the spice amounts right. Just about there with that. It wasn't a hard meal to make which was nice. 

Once done cooking and cleaning up, I headed out to get some meat that I needed. I still have to make Teriyaki Beef Bowls and a lasagna using fresh sheets of lasagna. I will be making that later on as I have frozen the meat and the sheets of lasagna. 

I got 2 loads of laundry done while I was cooking and I made my bed later in the day. I will have to say it hurt lifting the mattress to tuck in the sheet and blanket. My sore muscles let me know they weren't pleased with that move. 

The sun was really warm and I had the curtains all open using solar power to heat the house. The heat pump didn't run until last night which was nice. The heat and warmth of the sun melted all the ice and snow off the back deck which was a surprise. I thought I'd have some left on it but it is completely bare. The ice and snow along the edge of the driveway melted good and the middle of the driveway was dry. The sidewalk was the same. 

The rain they predicted moved to the north and went along the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy. Another big storm moved along the south side of the province but didn't hit land until it got to Cape Breton Island. 

Sewing

After a short nap, I headed down to the sewing room. I interfaced the bag and lining and put fusible fleece onto the outer bag. I drew the lines so I could cross hatch the outside of the bag. 

When I put the matching thread onto a bobbin, I realized I didn't have enough thread to cross hatch. I did a few rows and then decided to get more thread. Out the door I went to Avonport. 

I got the thread and wandered the store. I looked at the fabrics as I haven't been in there for a good 6 weeks. I enjoyed looking and found this linen look fabric. I bought 2 half meter pieces for doll clothes. I have an idea in my mind for it. 

I continued to snoop shop and found nothing I liked for the backing and binding for a table runner I want to make next month. I did find this fabric I thought daughter would like. 

I will go back on Friday to get what she wants of the big print and will buy a fat quarter of either the grey or the gold to make piping for that shirt. 

I enjoyed my outing. The drive was wonderful; the roads were bare and it was sunny. I enjoyed looking at the fabrics in the shop. It was an enjoyable trip and got me out of the house. 

Knitting

I did not knit last night. Not sure why but I just wasn't interested. 

Thoughts

    I need to stop napping as I had a poor night's sleep last night. I was awake a lot during the night and slept lightly most of the night. I didn't walk as much as I normally do and I had more pain than I really wanted. The flare up is going away slowly which is good but it still gives me pain and discomfort. 

    Our weather is going to be cold again this weekend. There is snow forecasted for Saturday which means I could be out shovelling the driveway during the day. These cold periods should be of short duration with hopes that it warms up as we get closer to spring. The worry is how much snow and ice has to melt. 

    I am glad that I went out for a drive even if I did break my fabric fast. It was nice to be out of the house and not having to shovel ice and snow. I will be venturing out more on nice days as I have things to get that I have put off buying as I didn't want to drive in the nasty weather. I am grateful that I can grocery shop 3 minutes from my house and that daughter-in-law took me shopping when she had to get items in other communities. 

Today

I am walking today at the arena. I am sore but I am hoping that I can do more than 5 laps. Once home, I want to do a bit of housework and then sew this afternoon. I would like to knit tonight if I am not too tired. I may have to force myself to pick up the vest and work on it. 

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

I Have A Sidewalk!

Yesterday was sunny with a high of 1C. This morning it is cloudy and 2C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 9C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning my neighbour and his youngest son were over and shovelled the driveway. I gave the boy 4 bottles of Gatorade for doing his share of shovelling before school. He was excited as he has enough drinks for his last 4 games. When they left, I salted the sidewalk so the thick ice could melt. 

After a fast breakfast, I was at the arena to walk at 8:05 am. We did 5 laps (1 km) and called it done. Once home, I took a bit of time and started to shovel the sidewalk. It was brutal as I was lifting 12 x 18" chunks of ice that were almost 2" thick. I got quite a bit of ice off that little sidewalk. 

After I had a cup of coffee, I went out and put more salt down on the ice. I was ready for work in the afternoon. 

I spent a lot of time cleaning the house. I laundered the blankets on the couches and then I vacuumed the couches. I got a lot of hair off them. So much so that I had to empty the machine. I also vacuumed the dining room and mopped the rest of the floor, did the small area at the front closet which also go mopped. I then vacuumed the hall and the spare bedroom. 

I realized when I was done the vacuuming that I am having a flare up. I took Tylenol in the morning and I was still very sore. I knew then that nothing was going to work so I rested until after lunch. Resting meant folding laundry. 

Mid afternoon daughter-in-law and I finished cleaning the ice off the sidewalk. A big job of me chipping at the ice and her scraping it up and then us reversing the job. 

We went to the big patches of ice on the driveway and chipped at them. Once done, I salted everything that was wet and we called it a day. It was time for me to sit on heat and rest. 

I did not sew or knit last yesterday as I had no time in the afternoon to sew and was tired last night. With the ice removal completed, I can now start sewing and knitting on a regular basis. 

Thoughts

    February was a brutal month for us. We seem to spend all our time shovelling snow and doing ice removal. We are now to have 3 days of rain which is worrisome. Tonight we could have freezing rain which is not wanted. I will be out salting the driveway late this afternoon. 

    My cold is getting better. My head and chest are clearing up. The cough will linger which is normal for this cold. I didn't have an allergy attack yesterday doing the couches which surprised me as I removed a lot of hair from it. Having clean blankets is also helping too. I am done with the cold and want to be back to normal asap. 

    I am really looking forward to getting back to sewing and knitting. I have missed doing it. Hopefully I can do some of both each day now that I am feeling better and the weather is improving a bit. 

Today

I have two loads of laundry to do. The first load is on and almost ready for the dryer. I have to make two dinners and then vacuum and mop the kitchen and hall floors. Then it is out to get a few groceries and salt. If I have time, I would like to sew on the purse. Maybe I will be able to knit tonight. I do have to salt the driveway tonight just in case we get freezing rain. 

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

And It Snowed

Yesterday was cloudy and ended up snowy. The high got to 1C. This morning it is cloudy and -6C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 2C. 

Lifestyle

My first job of the morning was to do the balance sheet. I started off good and then had to redo it as I had several stupid mistakes. I did much better when I did it the second time. I have spent very little money this month due to having a cold. 

Next up, I cleaned the dining room. I really worked hard on it. The floor was heavily coated with cat hair and fluff. I had an allergy attack. I pushed through and got it cleaned except for one small area that I will do today. The floor was vacuumed and mopped. It is actually shiny. 

I did go grocery shopping and got what I needed. There was safety salt so I bought 2 bags. Stores are now stocked so I will get more to start stock piling for next winter. My last stop was to the bank. 

After lunch I had a nap as I was tired. My cold is almost gone and I think my body is shutting down due to allergies. I really need to get the house cleaned up. With Elliott shedding his winter coat and the heat pump needing the filters cleaned, I am reacting to the dust floating around in the air. I feel much better when I am outside. 

I was out for dinner to celebrate grandson's birthday. We had Moroccan stew which is a sweet and savoury stew with carrots. We had bread with it. I really enjoyed it as it isn't as spicy as I had thought it would be. I was home early as it had snowed almost an inch and the roads were not looking pretty. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday as I rested. I did think about what I want to make for the craft bazaar and looked at ideas. 

Thoughts

    I put salt on the front sidewalk and did shovel some slush off it. Before I went to family's for dinner I put more on. I will put more on this morning in hopes that I can remove the ice today and tomorrow. 

    I hadn't thought about having allergy attacks until I had a good one yesterday. I am now going to have to spend a lot of time cleaning everything in this house to get the cat hair and fluff down to a minimum. I have to start doing a daily to do list so I can get the jobs done. 

    The snow that was forecasted for yesterday lasted a lot longer than anticipated. It really came down hard for a couple of hours. The temperature was warmer than we've had it and we have warm temperatures and rain coming in this week. It is going to be a mess outside. 

    I was talking to a couple at the grocery store. He kindly put the salt into my car. He and I enjoy shovelling snow and he does his neighbour's driveway for her. He was telling me that a couple of people in the area he lives in (behind me) had heart attacks while shovelling. Both are recovering he said. 

Today

I have to shovel the driveway and salt the sidewalk this morning. If I don't go to walk, I will finish cleaning the dining room, vacuum the floor and launder the living room blankets. If I walk I will try to do some of the list. In the afternoon, I will have to chip away at the ice on the sidewalk. I also have to make something for dinner. At the moment, it looks like I won't be sewing today and will probably not knit tonight. It depends on how tired I am. I am looking forward to having the snow and ice off the driveway and sidewalk so I can sew and knit. I am missing it a lot. 

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

Push Day In The Kitchen

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of -5C (windchill -10C). This morning it is cloudy and -10C (windchill -16C). Today is suppose to have flurries with a high of 0C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday was push day. I got a load of laundry on first thing and then started to clean the kitchen. I cleaned the surfaces and then decided to clean out the baking supply cupboard. I descaled the Kurig. I took out garbage and recycling. I pushed myself to pull out the stove and wipe the sides of it and vacuum behind it. I vacuumed the floors and then mopped them. I stood back and admired how clean and minimal it looked. I was really pleased with how much I got done. And, yes, I was tired. 

After lunch, I had a short nap. I really needed it. Later in the afternoon, I opened the front door to let in fresh air and I scraped another tiny layer of ice off the sidewalk. It is a solid 2" slab of ice and is barely melting in the sunshine. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday. I started off with making a doll's jacket out of faux suede. The shoulder princess seams were a delight to sew together and I enjoyed the process of doing them. When I went to pin the shoulder seams together, the front shoulder seam was 1/4" shorter than the back one. I was shocked. I put the paper pattern together and it was the same. Unfortunately, it went into the trash as I could not fix it. I tried to no avail. 

I decided not to let that send me upstairs and sulk. I took out fabric that has languished in the stash for a while. I started to sew pieces together and am making a bag. 

I am at the point where I need to interface the pieces and add fusible fleece to the outer bag fabric. There are some scraps of fabric left which will go to the quilter's group. I am excited to see how this bag turns out. I need a successful sew at the moment. 

Knitting 

None done last night. I was tired. I did look at it briefly so I am at the point where I am ready to start again. 

Thoughts

    I am glad I pushed myself yesterday and got the kitchen cleaned up. It was something I needed to do. I did feel my energy levels go up and down which I expected from being sick. I need to keep pushing to do things each day rather than sit on the couch.

    We are supposed to have 5 warmer days in a row. I am looking forward to that so I can chip away at the ice on the short sidewalk. I plan on having the front door open so I can air out the house while I am working out there. We will need many days of warmer weather for the ice and snow to disappear as there is so much of it. Hopefully it will be warm but not too warm as it could cause flooding. 

    I need to do another brain dump for meal planning. I have finished up the meals I have made and need to get my ideas of what I want to eat on paper so I can get groceries and then make them. The last meals I made were good so I am wanting to make more. I am sick of soup at the moment so need to figure out a few lunches. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet, tidy up the dining room, fold laundry, and get a few groceries. I want to work on the bag this afternoon with hopes of knitting tonight. If it is warm enough, I would like to scrape another layer of ice off the sidewalk. 

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

Another Day of Being Out and About

 Yesterday was a a mix of sun and cloud with a high of -1C (windchill -6C). This morning it is cloudy and -8C (windchill -13C). Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of -4C (windchill -10C). 

Lifestyle

My plans changed in a minute. I went with daughter-in-law to New Minas. She had to return an item to Home Depot. While there, we looked at dishwashers. She found 2 she liked so she can now research them. 

Our next stop was Walmart where we did some grocery shopping. We enjoyed being in the store as we looked around some. I got a few things I needed and she got items for grandson's birthday party last evening. We were home just before noon. 

We did scrape snow off the driveway before we left. It took us less than 10 minutes. We looked for salt; none in New Minas. I did take some household coarse salt and sprinkled it on the sidewalk. A quarter of a cup has very little melting power on a thick slab of clear ice. I was able to go out later and scrape a thin layer of ice off the top. 

I didn't sew yesterday afternoon. I rested once again wondering why my energy levels are so low. I hope to get an answer next week when I see the doctor. I may just have to push myself to do things in the afternoon. 

One thing I did do was to look and see what is being offered for classes (sewing, quilting). I found a 3 day retreat where you bring your projects and sew what you want, meet people, and have a bit of fun. I am thinking of doing it. It is at the end of March when the weather is much nicer than it is now. 

Today

My plan today is to clean the kitchen and do a bit of laundry this morning. I want to sew this afternoon so may have to force myself to do it. I may even try to knit tonight. I think I push myself to get sewing and knitting again. 

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

Another Day of Chipping At Ice

 Yesterday was a mix of clouds and sun with a high of 0C (windchill -2C) This morning it is cloudy and -3C (windchill -8C). Today is suppose to be a mix of sun, clouds, wind, and flurries with a high of -2C (windchill -11C). 

Lifestyle

I was out early for blood collection. I got to register quickly but had to wait for 4 others ahead of me. I gave 4 vials of blood and a urine sample. I was home by 8 am. 

I had breakfast and then rested as I had had a poor night's sleep plus I also feel tired after giving blood. It has always been like that. I dozed off and on and woke to hear a noise in my driveway. I looked out and daughter-in-law had started to chip ice off it. I was out the door in 5 minutes to help her. She would chip and I would scrape and then we would change jobs. By the time we were finished, we had a big hunk of what was left gone. We enjoyed listening to the chunks of ice make a musical sound as it slid down the icy lawn into the ditch. The driveway is as good as we could get it at that time. 

I rested in the afternoon as I had little to no energy. I keep wondering why as I feel great outside. I have a feeling my house if stale and needs me to open the windows. It could be too warm and I could be over dressing. I know some of it is the cold I am getting over. 

I was back outside at 4:30 pm to scrape some more ice as it had melted some with the warmer temperature and sunshine. I am now at the point where I am going to leave it alone for a few days. If I work on anything, it will be the short sidewalk. It is solid ice. I will start at the stairs and try to move a bit each day. I have a 50 lb bag of safety salt arriving on Monday. That is when I will get serious about the sidewalk. In the mean time, I will see if I can chip away at it a bit each afternoon. 

Thoughts

    I have not knit or sewn for a while. Part has been ice removal. I do get tired from that. Part has been the cold. I need to get back at it again as I can see the end of the tunnel with ice removal and this cold. 

    I have not gained or lost weight in the past while. I am hoping that the results of my blood work is good. I do want to loose weight and will do it. I know I have a lot more muscle development which will make it harder to loose weight. But I will pick away at it. 

    We talked to a couple who walk our street daily. They are like us, so done with winter and are ready for spring to arrive. It has been a difficult winter here (and most of Canada) and people are tired of chipping so much ice in the past week. I don't mind shovelling snow but I don't like chipping ice. 

Today

I am going to turn the heat down and start cleaning upstairs this morning. It is time to start cleaning again. I have a week before I have another appointment so I can do some each day. I would like to sew this afternoon and try to knit tonight.

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

Shovelling Ice Again

 Yesterday was sunny and warmer with a high of -4C (windchill -9C). This morning it is clear and -7C (windchill -13C). Today is suppose to be sunny with a high of 0C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning, I did a load of laundry before going to physiotherapy. I was happy to get that done. Physio was great. I did the exercises in the gym area before seeing the therapist. She did her alignment test on me and all is great. Then it was time to do some manual work on me. It was more to see if I was still flexible and I am back in the normal range. 

We talked about my fall and she feels when I landed on the basement floor, I put something back into place that was slightly out. We talked about me not having a flare up shovelling snow and ice and she is excited about what I am now doing. I am in good shape and will see her in 6 weeks. From there it will be longer between visits unless I have a flare up or my SI joints decide to act up. 

On my way home I got more cough medicine as I really felt my cold was going to my chest. I also looked for salt -- none to be found in the store. So I came home a bit unhappy but determined to scrape ice off the driveway. I worked on it for a good 30 minutes before having lunch. I was making progress as the ice was melting in the sun. 

After lunch I had a short nap. I literally fell asleep sitting up. Once I woke up, I felt much better. My cold seemed to be much better than it was in the morning. I actually felt like myself again. I got up and made my dinner for last night and tonight. 

I was back out to chip away at the ice. It was coming up in big chunks with water running underneath. I now have about 75% of the driveway clear of ice. It was a big task but I got lots of ice moved. It would have been worse to deal with if I hadn't had help on Monday. My neighbour came over to inspect my work and to tease me about salt. We are both going to start stock piling 10 bags for next winter. Like many others, we got caught having to a bag of salt each during the storm. 

I went to visit my friend after I had shovelled ice and we had a great visit. She has been home for a week now due to the storms and has spent most of it quilting. She has been fighting a bit of a cold also. We took her dog for a short walk on my way home. It was cooling off and the water had turned to ice. We were both being careful. 

I slept poorly last night. Most of it was from something I ate and it flared up my IBS. I have an idea what it is and will be eliminating it from my diet. Part is the stress of having a driveway of ice and not being able to clear it right away. I will be fine as I am settling down and feeling much better. Tired but fine. 

Today

I am out soon for blood collection. Once that is done, I will come home and eat breakfast and decide what I will do. If I need to nap, I will. I do want to remove more ice from the driveway this afternoon. I know I won't be sewing or knitting today as I will be outside this afternoon and resting this evening. 

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

A Day Out Shopping

 Yesterday was another cold windy day. The temperature hovered around -9C (windchill -17C). The coldest it got was at 9 am; -12C (windchill -23C). This morning it is cloudy and -10C (windchill -16C). Today is going to be cloudy with flurries with a high of -1C (windchill -7C). 

Lifestyle

I vacuumed the living room and most of the dining room before having to charge the battery on the Dyson. I did mop the living room and some of the dining room. It was nice to get that done. 

Daughter-in-law arrived to take the car for osteopathy as her car needed to be charged. She had gone to New Minas to pick it up. She said the drive was horrible -- windy with white outs. She sat, rested, and relaxed for a bit before we took off for her appointment. I decided to go with her and do a bit of grocery shopping afterwards. 

The drive to osteopathy was windy but the roads were bare and mainly dry. There was very little blowing snow also. We were both happy that the roads heading to Halifax were in such great condition. 

After osteopathy, we headed into Bedford to get groceries. We did Walmart only. I did look and found no salt in the store. We had lunch and headed home. 

Once home, I put away the groceries and looked at the driveway. The ice is still super glued to the ground. No chipping ice was happening. I was also super tired as I am still fighting this cold. I feel it wanting to go into my chest. All I wanted to do was rest. I didn't nap but I sure wanted to. I did cough a lot yesterday. It is a bark that I didn't want to hear. 

I looked at the knitting briefly in the late afternoon but I had no energy to work on it. 

Thoughts

    This cold is driving me crazy. My head is clear but my chest is a bit sore from coughing. I just wish it would go away and let me get on with life. I am done with being sick. 

    With the weather getting warmer (near freezing), I will have to go out and start chipping away at the ice on the driveway. This morning I looked and the pathway seems a bit wider than what we made it. I am hoping that I can do some each day until I have it cleared off. The snow we were to have on Saturday is not happening so I can take my time with this job. 

    I have been emailing the company I bought the plate I wanted from. They have told me I will be notified when another plate comes in to stock. I am very annoyed that they are not reshipping the plate back to me but will sell it to someone else when it returns. I call this poor customer service. Once I get the plate, I will give them a poor review and will not recommend them to any one. It has been a circus with them not shipping it after I bought it, then shipping it with the wrong address which I let them know twice, and then putting me on a waiting list. They do know I am very unhappy with them but I want this plate so my daughter has a serving for 4 in this pattern. 

Today

I am going to do a load of laundry before I go to physio. Once done, I will be checking to see if there is salt in town. If there is I will be buying several bags. I have to make dinner and I will probably rest today as I am fighting this cold. If I have the energy I will do a bit of chipping of ice if I think I can move any of it from the path edges. I also have to drink lots of water today as I give blood tomorrow. 

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

A Horrible Ice Storm Hit Us Hard

 Yesterday was cold, windy, and snowy. The temperature dropped all day to -6C (windchill -16C) at 5 pm. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and -11C (windchill -20C). Today is going to be windy, snowy, and cold. The high is to get to -8C (windchill -22C).

Lifestyle

As I was getting dressed (early) my neighbour texted me for my salt so he could salt the driveway. I rushed and gave him the one bag I had. He poured it down the driveway so we could scrape a trail from the garage to the street later on. It was at that point I wished I had gone out at 6:30 am to shovel slush. The weather had turned colder and the slush froze solid very quickly. Our neighbour said his driveway was freezing quickly as he was shovelling it. By the time he got to the top, it was frozen. 

While I waited for family to come over, I ate breakfast and then folded laundry. It was put away. When they arrived, I got dressed and went out. (Okay, I had been out earlier to see if the Dutch hoe would move the ice and it did.) Family started from the street with the ice tool and I started from the garage with the Dutch hoe. We slugged away getting ice chipped off the driveway. Our friend came over to help with his metal shovel. We worked away realizing that we could only do a pathway down the driveway where it had been salted earlier. We had to give up when we couldn't get the ice off easily. We tried really hard but to no avail. 

Once we were done, I rested. I was tired from all the work I did. I am sure everyone else was tired also as they worked really hard also. I did recover but I had aching muscles from using the Dutch hoe. I did sit quietly and watched the snow fall silently saying nasty words under my breath. By the time I went to bed, I was a bundle of nerves from the wind blowing so hard. We had gusts up to 75 km/hr and it was noisy out there. I did sleep better than I had thought but I am tired this morning from all the activity I had done in the morning and having my nerves rattled with the wind. 

Elliott spent the day under a blanket sleeping only to emerge to eat. Last night he wanted to have the blanket tucked in around him and he slept peacefully by my side. He was cozy warm. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday. I got the base sewn into the body of the rabbit. It was a difficult job as the legs were an annoyance. But I got it done. I didn't take a picture of it as I needed to work on the shirt. 

It was time to work on the sleeves of the shirt. I spent well over an hour printing the designs and trying ideas. Daughter finally decided on these for the sleeves. 

This sleeve is the first I have ever done with lettering and I am a bit worried about it. I also have to do 2 hoopings for this sleeve which is a bit nerve wracking. 

The other sleeve has 3 sprays of flowers on it. It is also a double hooping. I am a bit worried about it but think I will have it under control when I print the small flower once again so I know where the center of it is. 

Once I have the designs done correctly, I will lay the sleeves side by side and tweak the placement. Then I can start embroidering them. 

Knitting

None done last night. I may pick it up this afternoon if I am too tired to sew. I was tired last night and I may be procrastinating on picking up the stitches. 

Thoughts

    I was so grateful that family and friends helped me get a pathway down the driveway. It was hard work. I didn't want to give up but knew we had done all we could. We laughed as the Spousal Unit would have worked at it for hours to get the driveway cleared. I also learned that I will have 5-6 bags of salt in the garage during the winter. One never knows when a storm like this will hit us again. This is the 2nd time since we moved here that we have had this type of freezing rain. 

    I watched some video clips on the snowfall in Ontario and Quebec. It is unreal how much snow has fallen and how high the piles of snow are and how people are struggling to deal with it. And to top it off having a plane overturn at the airport in Toronto must have been the worst thing to hear about. 

    I am very disappointed that a plate I bought daughter was not delivered as the company put the wrong address on it and ignored my email about that. The parcel is now being returned to them and they have refunded me my money. I can order it again they said and I will. But this time I will nag them from the time I order it until it is delivered. One thing I have learned is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 

Today

I am going to do a bit of housework this morning and make two meals so I have something to eat for the next 2 days. If I have the energy I may sew, if not I will knit. I will probably be in bed early as I am tired as I didn't sleep that well last night. 

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

More Done On Luna Lapin

 Yesterday the weather was a combination of sunshine, clouds, snow, and freezing rain. The temperature got up to -4C (windchill -7C). This morning the wind is blowing and it is 2C (was up to 7C at 4 am). Today is suppose to have wind and flurries with the temperature dropping to -2C during the day and -11C tonight. The windchill could be as cold as -18C.

Lifestyle

I had energy yesterday and put it to good use. I did 3 loads of laundry and put clean sheets on the bed. I scrubbed the bathroom and mopped the floor. It was nice to get that done. 

I also did the balance sheet. It didn't take long to do and I am happy with how I have stayed home so far this month. Basically I have only bought food and over the counter meds for my cold. Between the weather and this cold, I have had no interest in shopping. 

 I made a pot of chowder. This recipe is similar to the one I make. I put in Italian seasoning and don't put in anything spicy. I also cleaned up the kitchen and took out the recycling. I stopped at that point knowing I had done enough for the morning. I wasn't tired but knew I needed to rest.

The snow started to fall around 2 pm and it was pretty heavy at times. I went out at 4:30 pm and shovelled the driveway. There was a good inch of snow on it. Two children (ages 6 and 7) came to help and mom came over to supervise them. They scraped the snow off the driveway and I busted up the ice along the edge of the driveway. The boy decided he could bust the ice off one spot and he got most of it off. I was pleased with how the driveway looked and called it done. 

The snow started again after I got inside and then came the freezing rain. The temperature rose during the night and it must have rained quite a bit. I am itching to go out and shovel but have promised family I will stay inside until they come over this morning. The roads were plowed at 9 pm so I know they are safe to be on. I think I heard the salt truck during the night. 

Sewing

I sewed yesterday and enjoyed myself. I worked on the Luna Lapin rabbit's body. I was very careful while sewing making sure I did a good job. The legs were hard to sew in as the fabric wanted to pleat over on the back. I finally got it done. 

The video on how to do the body is on the tv. The next step was to sew a 2" seam so the bottom of the body was joined. Easy. Then it was time to put the bum in. That seemed to take forever. I pinned each section carefully making sure there were no pleats and then hand basted it in place. That was another slow job. 

The legs are now put through the opening and the base is ready to sew together. 

I stopped at this point as I knew I had to go and shovel snow. 

Knitting

None done last night as I was tired from being so busy. The tiredness hit me like a ton of bricks at 8 pm. 

Thoughts

    I was really impressed with how much energy I had yesterday. I am also surprised at how strong I have gotten shovelling snow and ice. The cold didn't weaken me too much as I rested and did what I had to do. I have to say that I enjoy being outside in the fresh air shovelling snow. The only time I don't want to go out is when the wind is cold and nasty. 

    My hip is not bothering me as much. I am not sure if resting longer periods and working hard outside has strengthened it or if it has decided to give up being sore. The only aches I have are when a weather system comes in. I am not taking Tylenol very often now. I know both legs are stronger than they have been as I am able to walk more during the day. 

    I have slept better the past two nights. I am not waking up to blow my nose or cough. I have felt more rested and my mental attitude is good. I want to do things once again. 

    I am hoping that this is the last bad storm we will get this winter. Two freezing rain storms a few days apart was quite the surprise. The temperatures seem to be creeping back to normal this week. Everyone is done with these storms and are waiting for spring to arrive. 

Today

 I am going to fold laundry this morning and wait until someone comes to shovel the driveway. I promised family that I wouldn't shovel until they arrived. I am going out to help as I want the fresh air and exercise. I hope to sew this afternoon and maybe knit tonight. What gets done depends on snow removal. 

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