Another Day of Cleaning and Purging

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with one good shower in the afternoon. The high got to 23C. This morning it is clear and 11C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a late afternoon shower. The high is to get to 22C. 

Lifestyle

I did a 3 day brain dump focusing on the storage/maintenance room. I then had to go over to family's to help daughter-in-law in the in-law suite. There was stuff to pack which will be picked up later next week, food to get rid of, and the rooms cleaned and floors mopped. I stayed until almost noon and most of the suite was done. Having helped is therapy for me to calm down and relax. 

Once home, I spent the afternoon sorting and shredding paper. I now have 2.5 bags filled with shredded paper and half a bag with non shredded paper. I will fill the last part bag of shredded paper with what is left on the table. There was all the paper work from the sale of 6 pieces of land which was about 1 bag full. There were old income tax papers from as far back as 2006. I knew we had to keep some of it for quite a few years but that is now past. I am not sure why we had to keep the sale of properties past 7 years. It seemed as if we thought paper work had to be kept forever. I did find some interesting paper work -- the cost of our move to Nova Scotia and the receipt for my embroidery machine. I spent 4 hours shredding paper which is a boring job. 

I did not sew yesterday but I did knit on the socks. I am about half done the foot. 

Thoughts

    I was very surprised when I came upstairs at 5 pm and saw we had had a good shower. There were puddles which was exciting to see. These showers seem to come up from nowhere, give us a small amount of moisture and then the clouds disappear. 

    I am really focusing on the storage/maintenance room. I want it done so I can start to sort what I am going to sell at the garage sale and what I will take to the thrift store. I will take what is going to the thrift store this coming week. I would like a lot of it done by tomorrow afternoon. I am tired of moving stuff around and want to deal with it right now. 

    I am going to see how far I have gotten in the storage room at 3 pm and if all is going well I will start to sew the binding on the quilt. If not, I will push on purging and sorting. I really want to take that space back to minimal. I am getting there but there is still a lot to deal with. 

Today

My list of things to do is written out. I will be spending the day shredding paper, going through boxes and tubs so I can organize and get items put back that I will sell in the spring. I need to do a load of laundry this morning. If time, I will sew on the quilt and I will knit tonight. 

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

A Day In The City

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 23C. This morning it is cloudy (and it rained a tiny bit) and 12C. The fog is rolling in quickly.  Today we are supposed to have showers and a high of 21C. 

Lifestyle

I was exhausted yesterday as I had slept poorly on Thursday night. Part was an IBS attack from eating 1/4 cup ice cream. The other was from worrying about a lot of things that have been happening for the last 4-5 weeks. I pushed through the day which was a positive thing for me.

I was out the door by 9 am to go to the city with daughter-in-law. Our first stop was at an appliance store to look for a new fridge. I looked at every fridge there was only to find out that I have a counter depth fridge. That limited my choices. I found one I like and will be figuring out if it will fit my space nicely. A regular depth fridge will hang out into the floor space too far. The joys of fridge buying. 

Our next stop was Costco. We went for the hotdogs and bought some clothes. I got a black zip up jacket that is light weight. Daughter-in-law beat me to the blue one. I got one Christmas present. We had our lunch which was a treat. 

Our next stops were to Winners (Marshalls in the US) to look for suitcases. One carry on was bought. I need a large one. Then it was on to the mall. We looked at suitcases there and I may go back to get one I liked. Daughter-in-law got the sandals she wanted, her birthday Lindt chocolates, and a few other items. Then it was on to Walmart for groceries and then we headed home. 

Once home, I rested and tried not to fall asleep. I got up to do little things to stay awake. I put away a few things, tidied up, and made dinner. I really struggled and was in bed by 8:30 pm. I was ready for a long night's sleep. 

Sewing

None done

Knitting

None done

Thoughts

    The worrying for the past 4-5 weeks took its toll on me. I knew I would hit the wall and be exhausted. I felt it coming on slowly and surely. It is over with today and I can relax and be calm. 

    The air quality warning is over for us. Areas are still affected by the wildfire smoke. Some areas of Nova Scotia have had the ban into wooded areas lifted as they got lots of rain. We didn't as our rain fall wasn't enough and today's showers seem to be even more minimal. 

    I need to do a brain dump and figure out what I want to do for the next couple of months. I want to start walking now that it is cooler and I should do yoga. I need to get a book out and start it today. 

Today

I need to get a few groceries, do laundry, and shred paper. I want that job done. If I have time, I will start to sew the binding onto the quilt. I want to knit tonight. I will work on my brain dump today as I need to get my ideas down on paper. 

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

The Quilt Is Ready To Bind

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 23C. This morning it is hazy (smoke) and 10C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 25C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to New Minas to pick up my quilt top and to get some groceries. I got the quilt top but no groceries as it was busy. I did go to Canadian Tire and get 2 charging cords for my iPhone. It wasn't very busy in that store. 

Traffic was heavy both to and from New Minas and in the town. Everyone is getting ready for school to start on Tuesday and for the long weekend. It isn't my favourite town to start with and I like it a lot less when it is busy. 

I was out to dinner at my friend's and it was a delicious meal and a nice evening. Her daughter-in-law and mine were also there. I got home just before 8 pm. 

Sewing

I focused on sewing yesterday afternoon. I cut out the paper pattern for a wrap dress, blouse, and bloomers for the rabbit.

I sorted the pieces out and laid them on the right fabric. The pin tuck top, bloomers, and the dress pocket are going to be on the striped fabric. I need to cut a piece on the bias for the front neck edge of the dress from the stripe. 

The dress is going to be from the print fabric. 

Once this outfit is made, I will have sewn up most of the fabric I bought this year. I have the fabrics for the purple bag and a piece of William Morris fabric left to sew. 

The "Morris" quilt is beautiful. The quilting is very subtle and blends in well. 

I was told it was admired by a lot of people as it is very different from the usual Irish Chain quilt. There is enough backing from the quilt to use for the runners. There may be enough batting also. Now to finish this project for my bedroom. 

I also did some slow hand sewing yesterday. I worked on the purple bag once again. It was just what I needed to do. I am about 1/3 done.

It takes a long time to sew each of the sections down but I am enjoying the process. 

Knitting

I did knit a few rows on the foot of the sock. No picture as it still looks like the previous picture I took. 

Thoughts

    I realized yesterday that I may not be able to take part in a craft bazaar in November. When I talked to daughter-in-law, who looks after the hall bookings, I found out I will not be taking part in any craft bazaar this year. I am not sure what I am going to do with the items I made but I do know I will be getting rid of a lot of my craft inventory. When I finish cleaning the storage/maintenance room, I will deal with it. 

    The lawn is starting to show signs of revival. I can see it starting to green up. We are to have showers tomorrow so I am hoping there will be enough to help it revive more and to let the fertilizer work. I will know mid September if I will need areas seeded or if all will be okay. 

    The plants on the deck are showing signs of maturing. They have had a hard summer with the heat but they have produced well. I need to pick the tomatoes and jalapeño pepper in the next week, pull the plants and put the tubs into the shed. I know I will be doing this again next year. 

    The fire down the valley is now over 8000 hectares. It is still out of control. We need a good rain to help the fire fighters get it under control and out. This fire was caused by a lightening strike and is in a hard to get at area. It is fuelled by a forest. The windy days we had didn't help at all. 

Today

I am off to the city today to look at and buy a new fridge. I am sure we will do some snoop shopping before we come home. I am not sure if I will have time to sew but if I do I would like to pin the pattern pieces onto the fabric and start cutting them out. If not, I may sit and shred more paper. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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

    

Another Day of Being Busy

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 24C. This morning it is clear and 14C. Today is supposed to be like yesterday with a high of 24C. 

Lifestyle

I made my list and started to work on it. I went into the spare room and decided job #1 was to work on the excess paper I keep when I do my weekly balance sheet. I got it out, sorted it, and tossed what I could into recycle and shredded the rest. I put all my paper work into the corner of the closet and am pleased with it. I looked at the closet shelf, closed the door and left the room. I need a garbage bag for that area. 

I worked on several jobs at one time after that. I cleared off the table putting items away and into the trash. As I worked, I took trash out to the garbage can and sorted recycling into its proper containers. I also took the trash out from the sewing room. I put the backing for the runners into the washer and got it ready for me to use. I sorted through a bouquet of flowers and put what was dead into the compost bin and I still have a nice arrangement left. I put away the laundry I had folded the day before. My last job was to haul the garbage down to the curb for pick up this morning. Other than clean the spare room, I finished my list. 

I checked the little wall hanging I had worked on and the glue set. I hung it up and am pleased with it. 

It is exactly what I had wanted and now I need to find something to hang below it. It may be two smaller canvases with fabric stretched over them or it may be two framed pictures. I will be looking for ideas. 

I decided to do some more research on one of my great uncles. He is the one I know the least about. My dad and aunt talked about the others frequently and him only once or twice. This great uncle married a woman 15 years his senior and had one son. When his wife passed away, he married a second time and had a daughter. I dug into the census records to get his story. 

His son from the first marriage was born in New Brunswick, moved to the US and married a lady who moved there 3 years later. In the first US census I found them in, they were lodgers. He was a carpenter and she was a sales person at a candy shop. In the next census, he was living alone in a lodging house and was listed as divorced. I knew she had remarried and found that information online. When her husband passed away, she remarried her first husband (paper work found) and in the next census they owned a house and he was still working as a carpenter and she was staying at home. The story I was told by family was they divorced so she could marry this elderly man, get his estate when he died and then remarry her first husband. 

His daughter from the second marriage was born in Nova Scotia. She was a bit harder to trace until I found out she went by a nickname. Then it was easy. I found her in two census. She was living in an asylum in a small community on the east coast of Nova Scotia. I then did a search for her death certificate. She died of epilepsy and it stated she couldn't work as she was insane. The asylum didn't know her parents' names which was sad. She is buried in Halifax. She leaves me with questions. Did she sign herself into the asylum, or did a doctor put her there? It wasn't her parents as her father died a few years after her birth and I can't find her mother at all. Thought not 100% satisfied I have put it away as I have done the best I could in my research. 

Sewing

None done as I had to wait for the backing fabric to be laundered. 

Knitting

I did knit on the socks last night. The gusset is done which makes me happy. Seeing the decreases in the black yarn is hard. 

Thoughts

    It is hard to believe we are almost in September. The temperatures have moderated with mornings being cool. But, that doesn't mean we won't have it hot as it does happen in September. It will soon be time to harvest the vegetables on the deck and get the tubs put away. The hot weather was hard on them but they did produce. 

    I have to tackle the spare room as I have been putting it off. The blankets are the reason that I haven't done it. I will be working on that as some need to be tossed, some given to the SPCA, and others kept. I also need to sort out the Christmas blankets in the closet which could be more than I need. 

    I am working towards getting back to a more calmer pace in my life. Though there are still things I need to do, I hope to do them at a more relaxed pace. I will continue working on them so they are no longer bothering me. I am finding making a list each day helps me a lot. 

    I am quietly making decisions on what I will do and what I won't do. I am working on decorating my bedroom and hope to have that done by the end of September. I am looking forward to having that room completed.

Today

I am heading out this morning to get my quilt top and a few groceries. Once home, I hope to do a few small things upstairs. I would like to cut out the paper pattern for a dress for the rabbit this afternoon. I am going out for dinner so don't know if I will be knitting tonight or not. 

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

A Busy Day Getting Things Done

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 27C. This morning it is somewhat cloudy and 12C. Today is supposed to be mainly cloudy with a chance of a shower this afternoon. The high is to be 24C. 

Lifestyle

I got up and moved. yesterday even though I was tired. I put my to-do list out on the table and worked through it. 

A part bag of paper in the basement was dumped into the recycling bin and the bag is now ready for shredded paper. That job was small but it got me going. 

I folded laundry but didn't get it put away. Folded is better than unfolded so I took that as a win. 

I made the phone call about the stove and have warranty request claim. I have another phone number to call to set up a date for someone to come and look at the stove. That is today's job. 

I went out and got the mail and put gas in the car. I was looking for my property tax which is due Sept. 2. Nothing so I came home and started the search on it. That was fun. I got up all the information I needed about the house. It was built in 2012-2013 so is 12 years old. From there I made a phone all to the assessment people and then went out to the municipality office to get a copy of my property tax bill. 

I was home for lunch and a small rest. I then was out to pick up flowers for daughter-in-law. I had ordered them for our son on Saturday. The bouquet was beautiful -- Gerber daisies, glads, carnations, and some filler. Yellow, green, and purple. 

I had another rest once I got home and then had to get ready for dinner out with daughter-in-law. We went to Bedford to an Italian restaurant. The meal was delicious -- we had pasta. Mine was stuffed with chicken in a mushroom sauce. Hers was stuffed with crab in a lemon sauce. 

Sewing

Not on the agenda yesterday. The quilt shop phoned to say my quilt is done and ready for me to pick up. 

Knitting

None done as we got home just after 8 pm. 

Thoughts

    The farmer's almanac states we are to have a mild and snowy winter. I will need to buy a new snow shovel for this winter. Hopefully the snow won't come until late January/February which is our normal months for snow. 

    I did a bit of research on the housing market in Nova Scotia as I wanted to know if my assessment was close to the average price of homes in the province. It is. It is hard to figure out if our area is a sellers market or a more neutral market. Lower price properties are selling quicker than higher priced properties. There are no bidding wars or one day on the market sales. I will continue to monitor the market as I want to know what my house is worth when I have to sell it. 

    I found a map showing how much rain fell in the province. We had about 8 mm of rain fall where Halifax had almost 60 mm. Where the fire is had way less rain than we did. 

Today

I am going to be working through the list I made for today. My big job is to start cleaning the spare bedroom and tidy up the dining room table. I hope to do a bit of sewing this afternoon and knit tonight. It is a day at home getting more things done. 

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

Plans Change Which is Good

 Yesterday was warm, cloudy, and wet. The high got to 24C (humidex 29C). This morning it is mainly cloudy (smoky?) and 18C. Today is supposed to be mainly sunny with a high of 25C (humidex 29C). We are to have smoky conditions today. 

Lifestyle

My plans went south yesterday. In a good way.

I did go to physio and found out that my SI joints were tight and tipped backwards. The therapist worked on the sacrum to release it and then worked on the SI joints. There was a lot of cracking and I continued to crack doing some stretching exercises. I was sore and tired from what I thought would be an easy session. I go back in 6 weeks. 

I went right over to see daughter-in-law and we talked about the trip we may take to Uruguay. We looked at AirBNB and made lots of notes. She got notification that her car was ready to be picked up so off we went. 

Our next trip was to find out what was wrong with the windshield washer. The shop who replaced the windshield didn't put the hose back on and it was a quick fix. Then it was off to New Minas to get the MVI completed on the car. 

I got the information on how to get my stove fixed. I will be doing that today. Next up was to look at runners and sandals. I got 2 pairs of runners at 50% off and daughter-in-law got a pair of nice sandals. 

Once home, I sat down and fell asleep. I was tired from the physio session (usual) and from going strong afterwards. I usually rest with heat for an hours but that didn't happen. Not complaining as I did enjoy my day. 

I had dinner with daughter-in-law. It was left over Chinese food and I enjoyed it. I left a bit later than anticipated. Once home I settled down for the evening. It was raining and had been for a couple of hours. The lights flickered on and off and they finally went off just after 8 pm. The cause of the power outage was "fire". I found out later it was caused by a power line arching and catching on fire in the community across the lake from us. The power came back on at 11 pm. 

Sewing

None done as I was in and out all day. 

Knitting

I did knit on the socks last night and did 8 rounds. I am half done decreasing the gusset. 

They are coming along and I am pleased with them. The black yarn is hard to see the decreases so I count after each row to make sure I have done the decreases on both sides. 

Thoughts

    It was so nice to have the rain yesterday. Hopefully we will get more next week as we still need a lot more moisture. 

    The fire south of us has spread some and structures have been lost to it. We feel for the people who had to evacuate with what they could bring knowing they will now go home to nothing but what they took with them. The smoke from the fire is moving our way and we are under an air quality warning. I could smell it when I stepped outside this morning. 

    I am still watching the news on the economic/political situation. It is full of uncertainty as things can change on a daily basis. Costs to consumers have gone up for everyone no matter where you live. This seems to be the new reality as we move forward. 

Today

I have to get a few things done even though I am tired. I am trying to work through yesterday's to do list though I don't think I will get it all done. Tonight I am taking daughter-in-law out to celebrate her birthday. Sewing and knitting will be on hold for today. 

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

Working Through The To-Do List

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 28C. This morning it is cloudy and 19C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with rain this afternoon. The high is supposed to get to 25C. 

Lifestyle

I spent several hours working on the family tree doing occupations of family members. I worked on my father's paternal line. It was very interesting. His paternal grandfather was a Cooper and fisherman. He worked with wood. His father was a fisherman and a labourer (worked for the railway). His brothers were mainly carpenters. Now I understand why my dad was a carpenter and why my son has enjoyed working with wood. The availability of getting the information ended last night thought I can get information from the Canadian Census free through the government website. 

When I finished that, I took the sign downstairs to glue it together. I really struggled with it. I am not sure if it stuck using crafting glue or if I will have to look for my glue gun and use it. 

I set up the paper shredder and spent some time in the latter part of the afternoon shredding paper. I got one bag filled. 

I sorted through the paper bag putting paper I didn't need to shred into another bag and what needed to be shredded onto the pile. There is still a pile in the storage/maintenance room to go through and when it is shredded, I will be done. Once done I will vacuum the floor. All the bags will go out the first Wednesday of September for pick up. It will be nice to have it done and gone. 

Sewing

I made the bow for the doll's dress. I hand stitched a big snap onto the back of the dress and then hand sewed the bow on. The dress is officially done. 

I am sure the doll and the rabbit are having a discussion about me shredding paper. 

My next job is to launder the backing for the runners and then start quilting them. I want them finished as I will have to bind them and the quilt in September. A lot of hand sewing coming up. 

Knitting

I finished knitting the heel flap on sock #1 and turned the heel. I picked up the stitches and started to knit the gusset. I have 2 rounds done on it. 

Knitting black yarn is hard on the eyes. I did struggle some but keeping track of the rows while knitting did help. I was very careful when picking up the gusset stitches. No big problems but it was slow going. 

Thoughts

    Shredding paper is a boring job. To entertain myself, I looked at all the paper work before shredding it. It allowed the paper shredder to have breaks as I did the job. I will be setting the shredder up near the printer and will shred paper on a regular basis when this mammoth job is done. 

    The next storm is on its way and is supposed to arrive after lunch. The wind will be about the same as the last few days (annoying) and we could have some thunderstorms. According to one weather reporter, our area will get less than other areas of the province. 

    Since getting rid of the vegetable boxes, I haven't seen any sign of the deer in the yard. I will start to spray the front plants with deer deterrent after this storm goes through so they won't touch them. Having the plants on the deck has been great and I can't wait to pick the peppers so I can count how many were on the four plants. 

Today

I am out in an hour for physio and am hoping there is a lot of improvement since I was there 9 weeks ago. I want to do some cleaning upstairs, shred some more paper and start thinking about my next sewing projects. I hope to knit tonight. 

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

A Day of Enjoying Life

 Yesterday was another sunny warm day with a high of 28C. This morning it is clear and 14C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 26C.

Lifestyle

I spent part of the morning cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming and mopping the floor. I also vacuumed the living area and part of the dining area. A load of laundry was washed and dried and is ready for folding. 

I had to go out and do something for son as it is daughter-in-law's birthday on Tuesday. I went to her house afterwards and we visited for a bit. My neighbour wanted to know what it was I had to do and I didn't say as it is a surprise. We sat in the shade for about 20 minutes and I went home. 

I had a bit of fun fixing a welcome sign for the wall beside the front closet. It meant looking at Pinterest and taking a leap of faith. Though only a bow, there were no really good instructions or measurement. My first attempt was too big. But I basically knew what to do. I did a second attempt and was pleased. A flower from an old arrangement that is going to the dump was used. It is perfect. 

It isn't perfect and the loops need to be opened a bit more. I can do that after I glue it all onto the board and hang it up. I did enjoy working on this project. 

My shredder arrived and is waiting for me to use it. I will get the shredder oil or lubricant papers for it when I go to pick up my quilt. 

Sewing

I worked on the dress yesterday and have the dress part done. It fits one of the thinner dolls the best. 

I have the bow cut out and ready to sew today. 

I will add it and a snap to the dress and it will be done. I may make a wrap dress for Anika the rabbit using up the rest of the fabric. 

Knitting

I finished knitting the leg on the 2nd sock last night and started to knit the heel flap on sock #1. 

There was about 24" of the yarn I knit the legs left. It was very close to say the least. 

I should have enough of the black yarn left to do the heel flap and foot on another pair of socks for daughter-in-law. 

Thoughts

    Though yesterday was warm, it didn't feel like the day before. I was able to do things all day long without feeling like a headache was coming on. We wait and see what the next storm brings us; hopefully some much needed rain. 

    I was starving yesterday (day 2 of this). I am not sure if it was nerves or if I was hungry. I wanted to eat at least 1 hour before meal time and was still hungry after eating. I didn't cave in as I really want to loose some weight over the next 3-4 months. I do have energy and haven't had a sugar low since Wednesday. I will keep focusing on eating healthy. 

    It is hard to believe next Monday is Labour Day. I am sure stores will be a hive of activity as people get their children ready for school. Some of the children on our street will be going to middle school and others will be going to high school. They certainly have grown up since 2017 when we moved here. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet first thing and then set up the shredder and use it some. Laundry needs to be folded. I hope to finish the doll's dress this afternoon and get one of the runners ready to quilt. I will be knitting tonight. I also should finish the little wall hanging and get it put up. 

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

A Weird Weather Day

 Yesterday was cloudy and windy with a high of 22C. This morning it is clear and 11C. Today is supposed to be mainly sunny and windy with a high of 26C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday's weather was eery. The sky wasn't really grey but kind of yellowish. The wind came in from the NE and the barometric pressure was dropping. The air felt funny. It left me feeling like I could have a massive headache at any time but it never developed. Hurricane Erin was giving us the outer edges of her storm. 

I did clean up the kitchen and folded the laundry but I didn't do much else until after lunch. I did sit with my eyes closed and rested hoping the feeling of the headache would leave. It wouldn't. It hung like a weight around my head. 

I did go shopping after lunch. The store was busy and full of people who didn't know what they wanted or needed or so it seemed. People were probably shopping so they could leave for their summer places last night. The last weekend before Labour Day weekend. 

Once home I noticed that my fridge was sitting just in the danger zone. I monitored it and it is still there this morning. I have let the appliance repair man know and have moved some food to the small fridge. I will be moving more shortly. I will probably have to get a new fridge. 

I sat on the couch and rested my eyes some more. As the barometric pressure levelled off, I started to feel better. The wind was still blowing from the NE at the same speed but the air felt less electrifying. 

Sewing

I did not sew yesterday. I couldn't think about doing anything like that without making a massive mess out of it. It is waiting patiently for me. 

Knitting

As my head cleared I was able to pick up the sock and knit on it. I had mistakes to fix along the way but I got 50 rounds knit. 

Knitting 2 socks from 1 ball of yarn has been interesting. I haven't had any issues with it. If I was to start knitting socks from a full ball, I would start sock #1 from the outside of the skein and sock #2 from the inside. I do know this will not work for striping yarn as you are not knitting the same way through the yarn. They are coming from opposite ends of the ball. 

Thoughts

    I looked out at the evergreen tree in a neighbour's yard. It is full of cones. I wonder if we will be having a hard winter.

My daughter said their trees are the same this year. 

    The rain from the next disturbance doesn't look promising. Showers at the best, nothing at the worst. I saw a map that said we need nearly 20" of rain to fall to get over the drought conditions we are experiencing. It would be nice if we could get it this fall and winter as we usually get 55" of rain in a year. So far, not this year. 

Today

I am hoping to get some things done this morning. I want to sew this afternoon and knit tonight. I am hoping for a more productive day than I had yesterday. 

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

A Doll's Dress Started

 Yesterday was another sunny and warm day with a high of 24C. This morning it is cloudy and 11C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with wind. The high is to get to 22C. 

Lifestyle

I started out the morning putting away the items I had bought (perishables were dealt with as soon as I got home). I then cleaned up the table and scrubbed it. It was dusty. From there I went and cleaned the bathroom. Once it was cleaned, I got Rosie the Robot to clean the floor. 

I went downstairs to work on sorting paper work. After an hour of doing it, I decided to order a shredder. It will be here tomorrow. I will set it up so I can run some paper through it when I go downstairs. Hopefully it most of it will be done so I can put it out in two weeks for pick up. After that, I can keep up on shredding paper as needed. 

The roofer came after 4 pm and fixed the roof. He had to replace 2 shingles, glue down one that was starting to flap, and fill a couple of nail holes in shingles covering the soffit. It was pricy but he was on a very steep roof and did a thorough check for me. I waited a long time but am grateful that he kept me informed of what was happening and that he finally made it. One important job completed.

The fire fighters at the big fire down the valley have one on the fire and one on Hurricane Erin. The Canadian Lifesaving Surf Championships have moved their competition to Bayswater Beach in Nova Scotia. For us on the Bay of Fundy side of the province, we will get some wind and nothing else. 

I have been eating properly now for 5 days and have lost 2.2 lbs. I know the IBS attack and the side effects of the shingles vaccine I had contributed to some of the weight loss but I have been measuring and tracking everything I eat. I am hoping it will continue to come off as I am over the trigger foods. 

Sewing

I did go and sew yesterday. I cut out the doll's dress except for the bow. I got the bodice sewn and had hemmed the top skirt and was working on the bottom skirt when I had to leave for the roofer. 

The back is shaped in a V and crosses over. The bow is sewn to the side that crosses over. 

There is enough fabric to make another one of these dresses which I might do. Two dolls can have them in their wardrobes. 

I did look at the batting I have and may have enough if I piece it together. I will be doing it once the dress is done. 

Knitting

I finished knitting the leg of the first sock. I figured out how to set the ball of yarn so I can knit the leg of the 2nd sock while the first one is attached. I have 2 rounds knit on it.

Daughter-in-law said I knit her a pair of socks from this yarn and was surprised at how much was left. I am hoping there is enough to knit the heel flaps but know I may have to knit them in black along with the foot. 

Thoughts

    I am glad that the roof is now repaired. My next job is to get the heat pumps cleaned. I am slowly doing the necessary maintenance on the house.

    They are saying the next disturbance behind Erin may bring us some much needed rain. There is no guarantee at the moment but we are hoping. 

    My knees hurt yesterday afternoon and it was from the barometric pressure dropping. They could hurt today as the pressure is still dropping. At least I know the reason. Otherwise I feel good and have very little pain in my SI joints. 

Today

I need to get a few groceries this morning and fold laundry. I need to do some cleaning in the kitchen. This afternoon I want to sew on the doll's dress and then knit tonight. 

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

A Horrible Day

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 22C. This morning it is clear and 10C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 24C. 

Lifestyle

I was up and ready to go for 9 am to shop with daughter-in-law. I put my bag of donations into the car and off we went. We got them to Value Village and went to Walmart to shop. 

I got what I needed in Walmart plus a few items of clothing that were on clearance. I was not feeling all that well. I was really sore and achy. I blamed it on Hurricane Erin coming north. I pushed on. 

We went to another store to look for summer clothing on clearance. I got some more tops. I pushed through that store hobbling along. Daughter-in-law decided we would come home as I was struggling. 

Once home, we sat for a while with my friend as she was there to monitor her family's house being packed into the moving van. It is a story I won't talk about as it makes me angry. We visited with our neighbours and had some good laughs. They are like family to me. 

I staggered home with a sugar low and ate. I was exhausted and went to bed and slept soundly for almost 90 minutes. I woke up feeling better -- no fever, sore joints or muscles. Just tired. 

I did look up to see why I felt so horrible after the shingles vaccine. I found out it is an aggressive vaccine that starts to work immediately. It will give you all the symptoms I had and will knock you on your butt. 

I went to bed early and slept until almost 5 am. Up to the bathroom and then slept until 6:30 am. 

All I can say is -- yesterday was a horrible day. Here is hoping today will be more productive and that I feel much better. 

Today

I have the roofer coming in this morning and I hope to put a few things into the shed. I want to clean the bathroom and fold laundry. I hope to sew this afternoon and knit tonight. I am not pushing myself but I need to get a few things done today. 

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

New Projects Started

 Yesterday was another cooler sunny day. The high got to 22C. This morning it is a mix of clouds and blue sky and 10C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 22C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning, I got the items for the thrift store out of the basement and bagged to go today. It was great to have that job done and off my plate. My next job was to go and pay my water bill which I did. Then it was off to get my shingles vaccine. 

I was a bit early to get my vaccine but did get in early. The nurse had to mix the dry vaccine with a saline solution before administering it. I got it and left. During the night, I woke to my arm very sore and I couldn't get comfortable with it. I was awake for almost an hour with the pain. When I woke early this morning it wasn't as sore. I will admit I am tired this morning from the lack of sleep. 

Once home, I didn't do a lot of work. It was more puttering with me giving up in the late afternoon and resting quietly on the couch. I knew most of it was from the vaccine which does happen to me. 

Sewing

I did take the vacuum cleaner down to the sewing room and vacuumed the floor. It was a mess of threads and fibre fluff. I went over the floor twice to get it all off. I did do a bit of tidying up but not a lot. 

I laid out the fabric for the next doll's outfit. No picture of it but here is the pattern I am going to use. 

I am thinking of the blue dress with the floral for the outer dress and the bias stripe for the under skirt and bow. The pattern is printed and I am ready to start it. 

Knitting

While I was resting in the afternoon, I cast on the next pair of socks. The leg and heel flap will be the pretty yarn and the foot and toe the black yarn. I am using up part balls of yarn this time along with a new ball I bought well over a year ago. 

I was able to get 31 rounds knit by 8:30 pm. 

Thoughts

    I was aware my arm would hurt after the vaccine but I didn't realize it would keep me awake for an hour last night. I do remember my arm hurting the last time which is a sign the vaccine is doing its job. Maybe the worst of the pain happened during the day. I really can't remember. 

    I ate very carefully yesterday and it did help my IBS attack calm down. No dairy and only some salsa in the morning. The rest was bland foods which is boring but necessary. I really don't need another attack like that. 

    It has been 3 years since we had to put the Spousal Unit into the hospital due his Alzheimer's progressing at a rapid rate. I still think back the day we did it and I still have some feelings of guilt that I could no longer look after him at home. I have come to terms that I wasn't a failure and that his disease has progressed to the point he needed professional care. I still feel guilty at times which I am told is normal. 

    The roofer is hoping he can come later this afternoon to fix the roof. If he doesn't show by dinner time, he hopes to come on the weekend. It is a small job and he tries to fit it in where he can. I will be glad when it is done and off the house to-do list. 

Today

I am off to the city with daughter-in-law to do some shopping. Once home, I am going to rest, maybe cut out the pattern for the doll's dress and knit tonight. If necessary, I may have a nap after lunch. 

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

The Garage Is Clean

 Yesterday was sunny and cooler with a high of 21C. This morning it is clear, cool, and 8C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 22C. 

Lifestyle

I changed my plans yesterday. I went out to the garage to decide on how to clean it and ended up cleaning it. What started with "I'll clean the very dirty window" ended up doing the whole space. 

The garage is usually cleaned twice a year but I always seem to forget the window. Hence why I started there. Once it was done, I swept, moved stuff around, swept some more, washed surfaces, put items away, and took the bottles to the depot. 

I did it in two sessions. One in the morning and then in the afternoon. I had to stop in the afternoon for a rest as my back was sore. I took the 2 boxes of blinds to the basement which was awkward. It caused my back to start to hurt. By 3:30 pm I was finished the job. 

I parked my car inside last night, the first time in a month. I didn't complain as I knew I was helping friends who needed to get things out of their house while they were trying to sell it. The man and his boys are moving today and their house will be packed today and tomorrow. She and the dogs leave in just over a week. 

I had a terrible IBS attack at midnight and I know exactly what caused it. I had rich ice cream last night and it was the high cream content that set it off. I have been monitoring this. The other food that gives me IBS is tomatoes and I have cut back on how many I eat. Will eliminating these foods stop the attacks? No. There may be other foods that trigger these attacks and I haven't figured them out.

Sewing

I did not look in the sewing room yesterday. I was okay with that as the cooler weather allowed me to clean the garage in one day. Cleaning the sewing room is still waiting for me. 

Knitting

I wove all the loose ends of yarn into the socks last night. It took a long time as my right hand started to cramp. The job got done and I am happy to have those socks completed. 

I now need to wind more yarn so I can start the next pair. 

Thoughts

    The wildfire down the valley has grown a lot and was at over 3000 hectares last night. No structures had been lost at that time. Many people have been evacuated. As of last night, there were 5 wildfires burning in the province. There is no rain in sight which is scary. 

    I had very little pain while cleaning the garage. Just moving the two boxes of blinds downstairs. I see the physiotherapist on Monday so will know if all is aligned and if one SI joint is still a bit tight. I am hoping to go to osteopathy in October to make sure my hip hasn't tipped forward. 

Today

I have to be out to get the 2nd dose of shingles vaccine this morning. I am not sure what I will get done today as I am tired from the IBS attack and have to wait and see how I react to the shot. I may sit and work on hand sewing the lace down on the purple fabric. I should try to wind yarn for the next pair of socks. I also want to knit a hat to go with the sweater I made. We wait and see what gets done. 

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

Projects Completed Ready To Finish

 Yesterday was warm and mainly sunny. The high got to 29C. This morning we woke to clear skies even though it rained last night. The temperature was 13C. Today looks like it is going to be sunny with a high of 20C. 

Lifestyle

When I looked out the door yesterday morning I saw fog. That fog was smoke from the fire down the valley. I had to close up the house as it was making the house smoky and smelly. It did disperse later on which was nice. 

I did the balance sheet first thing and got everything done and put away. I have a few little things to do when I sorted the mail and will get them done in the next couple of weeks. 

I started to clean the living room. I dusted the window ledges first and then the end table. I moved on from there to vacuuming the sofa I sit on. It needed doing. I pushed it out so I could vacuum the floor. It was very dusty. I vacuumed it and dusted around the spindles of the railing (which is the wall). I got that done and was going to start on another part when I had to stop. 

The company that is going to do the painting came around to give a quote. She looked at what I wanted done and we talked a bit about paint and paint colour. She took pictures of the area to be painted and the paint chip/colour code I have. She gave me a quote that is reasonable and will be starting in early November. 

Daughter-in-law showed up with leftover spaghetti and sauce for my lunch. She took home the tomatoes and one jalapeño pepper. She is making Pico de Gallo for herself to enjoy. 

Our friends came over and emptied their belongings from the garage. I now have to clean and organize it so I can park the car in it. 

I sat in the family room and sorted through more receipts. I am almost done. What is left in the box is very old receipts that need to be shredded. I do have to go through them and put what I can into recycling. That job is almost done and will go to be shredded on my next trip to New Minas. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon finishing runner #3. I finally decided to make it 9 rows long and I know it will hang over the end of the treadle sewing machine. I wanted all the runners to start and end with the 9 patches in the corners. I also cut and sewed the binding for the last 2 runners I made. I did the binding for the first runner earlier. 

I have 10" of the blue fabric and 34" of the white fabric left. I will not be doing anything with it until after I quilt the runners. I will put it away for the time being. 

I need to buy baby blue thread. I may have to buy batting also. I need to look in the box of batting pieces first. Then I will have to go shopping for what I need. 

Knitting

I finished the toe on sock #1 in the morning before cleaning that part of the living room. Last night I knit the toe on sock #2 and got it finished. 

My next job is to weave all the loose ends into the socks. A lot of work but I will do it while watching TV. I also have to wind yarn for the next socks I want to make. 

Thoughts

    The fire down the valley continues to get larger. I read yesterday mid morning it was up to 1100 hectares. They had a good down rain which will help the fire fighters. The wind needs to die down to prevent more spreading. 

    All the weather people are monitoring Hurricane Erin. At the moment it seems as if she might miss us but who knows as it is too early to predict her path. It is hurricane season for another 6 weeks in the Maritimes. 

    I am continuing to work on cleaning the storage/maintenance room. With the paper work almost done, I will be moving on to getting some items to the thrift shop. There is still a lot to do but I am slowly plugging away at it. 

Today

I need to do some housework and take bottles to the return depot. I want to tackle more paper work and tidy up the sewing room. I am not sure if I will get any sewing done but I may dig out the pattern and fabric for a doll's outfit. I may even get a skein of yarn wound into two balls. Tonight I will weave the yarn in on the socks. 

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

Another Runner Almost Finished

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 27C (no humidex). This morning it is clear with some light fog. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 27C (humidex 31C). 

Lifestyle

I made this version of chicken chow mein yesterday morning. It was fairly easy to make but did take some time getting everything prepped before cooking it. I made my own Mu Shoo spice blend by mixing .5 tbsp of ginger and .5 tbsp of garlic powder. I haven't eaten it but the taste test was good. The next time I would prep more vegetables (2 carrots and 3 mini bok choy) and add a bit more water to the sauce. I cooked half of the noodles and it made 3 meals. I found that Chef's Plate had more rice/noodles than you needed and was told this is the same for Hello Fresh. 

I did some cleaning in the kitchen and got all the dishes I used washed. I have noticed that the house is dusty again due to the dry weather. My car (as has everyone else's) has a layer of dust on it. I will be back to cleaning the house once again to get rid of the dust. 

I was over to my friend's new apartment to pick her up to take her to dinner at family's. Her apartment is lovely and bright. She has got some boxes unpacked but not a lot as they moved the last of her belongings in yesterday morning. She was exhausted so I am glad that I was driving her to and from dinner. 

Sewing

I sewed on the last runner yesterday afternoon. I am almost done it and am deciding if I want to add one or two more rows to it. 

I will cut the binding first and then decide. I still have some of the fabric left and have a couple of projects in mind of which I will have to make one of them. 

Knitting

The first thing I did yesterday afternoon was try the sweater I made quite a while ago onto the doll. 

I had knit this one on larger needles and the tension was correct and the fit is perfect. The bonus -- the dark colour matches the print in the outfit Kit is wearing. 

I also knit on the socks last night and have the toe done on sock one. It is ready to have the toe closed. 

I probably should have put the black stripe closer to the foot but I like it where it is. 

Thoughts

    There are 11 wildfires burning in our province. Most are caused by lightening strikes. The one down the valley has grown from just over 400 hectares to just over 800 hectares. The county has declared a state of emergency at this time. The Maritimes are tinder dry and the provinces are fighting wildfires. The only thing that is good is the cool mornings we are having and the huge amount of dew that is on everything. Also there is virtually no wind at night which is another good thing. 

    Looking at my friend's apartment has made me realize how much stuff I will have to do when I decide to move out of this house. It isn't just about decluttering it is about how will I do some of the things I want to do in a smaller place. I keep thinking about this as I continue to declutter and purge in this house. 

Today

I am going to do the balance sheet first and then some cleaning in the living room. This afternoon I want to finish the last runner, cut the binding, and decide on what I want to do with the remaining fabric. I have to wind yarn for the next pair of socks I want to make. I hope to finish the socks I am working on tonight. 

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