Figuring Out What I Did Wrong -Shirt Too Small

 Yesterday started out partly cloudy and ended up sunny. The high got to 9C. This morning it is cloudy and -1C (windchill -3C). Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 4C. 

Lifestyle

I did my exercises first thing in the morning and then headed out to the garage to do more cleaning. I did the back wall and it took longer than anticipated. I broke down boxes and put them into recycling. I moved everything off the work bench and moved it out to sweep behind it. I sorted items into bins as I moved along the cupboards. I tossed items into garbage and recycling. I then gave everything a good cleaning and put tubs away neatly. The peg board has nothing on it as we display items for sale on that wall. I swept more of the floor. 

I am now ready to do the wall with the window. 

I put the bags of pop cans and the old paint into the car. I got rid of the pop cans first and then the paint. I also stopped to pick up something healthy for lunch. It was noon when I got home. 

I had laundered the sheets and made the bed later in the afternoon. Once that was done, I had to bring up the box to ship to daughter today. I got it and a birthday present ready to go. I was sore from cleaning the garage and knew my SI joint was tight. I decided to put the two items into the car so I wouldn't have to struggle with it in the morning when I would be sorer. As I stepped off the last step into the entry way, I had 3 loud cracks. One was my left knee (that hurt) and two were in my SI joint area. Instant relief. I am a bit sore this morning but osteopathy will help that. 

Sewing

I worked on the doll's shirt yesterday. I got the collar on, side seams sewn up and the first cuff on. I tried it on the doll and it is tight. This doll is not chunky. 

The sleeve is almost too short and the cuff won't close on her wrist. 

I sat and pondered on it and then decided to try on the red vest I had knit to see how it looked as a 3 piece outfit. 

I am wondering if I had print the pattern to the fit the page. I have now printed one page at 100% to check the difference. The sad part - I don't have enough fabric to make another one and will have to hunt in the stash for fabric. I have set this aside for now but am going to make it again. 

Knitting

I knit on the scarf last night and got more done. 

It helps me pass the time in the evening. 

Thoughts

    I am pushing myself to get the garage cleaned up. I have to do some housework upstairs and more to do downstairs. Once the weather warms up again, I need to be outside raking the lawn to plant grass seed. I know my SI joint will tighten up and I will have to do exercises to help release it. I am hoping that keeping active will help strengthen everything so my SI joint becomes stable. 

    My mental health has also improved. I think part of it has been busy in the garage. I work with the door open so it is bright and airy in there. I am also making a list of items I need - a broom, more shop towels, and a few items so I can do some repairs. I am also trying to do things in the house and know that being busy and accomplishing tasks helps me a lot. I also know that stress and pain make me feel tired and mentally drained. I am working on that every day so I can, hopefully, be more calm and happier. 

    The daffodils in the yard across the street have started to bloom. Soon I will be able to admire them in full bloom which always makes me happy. 

Today

I am out for osteopathy this morning. Once done I am going to get a few groceries, a broom for the garage, and some more cleaner. Once home, I hope to find fabric for the doll's shirt and see what I need to do to remake it. Tonight I will knit on the scarf. 

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

Cleaning the Garage Has Begun

 Yesterday was warm and cloudy except for one burst of sunshine. The high got to 19C. This morning it is clearing off and 3C. Rain fell during the night. Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

I did the balance sheet yesterday morning. There were no problems and I have not spent a lot of money to date. It is another low spend month without even trying. 

I put on a load of laundry and put the dried laundry on the couch so I would see it and fold it. I was getting it all put away if it killed me. I got both loads folded and put away before lunch. 

I decided to start cleaning the garage. What needed to be done was what I needed to do by myself. I chose the wall that is attached to the house. I moved stuff out from the wall and started to sort through the items. I put things into recycling, the garbage can, and the compost bin. I swept down the walls and wiped everything down until I ran out of cleaner. I hung up items that could be hung up. I swept the floor area and the mat and put everything back in its place. That area looks great until I looked at how some things were still dirty. 

After lunch I went shopping. I got some cleaning items I wanted and a container of cleaner that people recommend. At this point I am able to have a new container of cleaner as I am out in the garage and running low in the house. When home, I started cleaning the containers and a piece of furniture. I was amazed at how much dirt that cleaner removed. 

I took my friend for dinner at family's and we had Moroccan stew and carrot cake. It was delicious. Moroccan stew is my favourite way to have stew. I love its sweetness from the dates and orange juice and the spices that are used. The carrot cake was delicious and moist. We had a great visit afterwards about Ramen soup and then food in Montevideo. We also was watching soccer out the of corner of our eye and saw one great play which had us excited. We got home late last night as time flew by. 

Thoughts

    I did not sew or knit yesterday. I chose to work on the garage and do the things I can do on my own. I will be getting daughter-in-law to help me a bit later on. 

    When I was out to shop, I drove down to the bank to see if the forsythia was in bloom. It wasn't so I can't prune the rose bush yet. I did see a yard beside the bank had many purple and white crocuses blooming in the grass. On our way to family's I showed my friend the daffodils blooming and we also spotted another three daffodils blooming at the end of the next driveway. Daughter-in-law's daffodils are almost ready to bloom as are the ones across the street from my house. 

    I did do my exercise for my SI joint. I had one crack in my knee. My SI joint is a bit stiff this morning so I will be doing the exercise twice. I go to osteopathy tomorrow for a treatment. 

Today

I have to do the minutes for the financial committee meeting and get some items into the car for tomorrow. I have more laundry to do (sheets) and will continue to clean the garage. The next area has been picked and it needs lots of attention. I hope to sew this afternoon and will knit tonight. 

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

Progress On The Doll's Shirt

 Yesterday was warm and sunny with a high of 15C. This morning it is cloudy and 4C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with showers and a high of 18C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to the community hall to make sandwiches. We had several really good laughs while making them. We were done and leaving for home in just over an hour. 

Once home, I did my exercise and had one small crack. It was then up and cleaning windows. I started in my bedroom and was ready for the worst. They weren't as bad as I had thought they would be. I did scrub the frames good and then washed the glass. That took quite a while as I am hoping I don't have to do this job until fall. I will do the glass on a regular basis. The next room was the bathroom and it was surprisingly not that bad. I made sure it was done well so I don't have to do the frames until fall. Once they were done, I stopped as the windows were getting too warm to work on. I did not want streaky windows. 

I went back out to the shed to look for a rack for the bbq. I am amazed at how well I got that shed cleaned last fall. And how well I stored items. I did find the rack after moving a few items. It was on top of a tub and I couldn't see it until I moved the tub. I took the rack over the family's as the bbq was being picked up there. 

Daughter-in-law was cleaning up the garage. She had strips of pool covering out and was rolling them up to put into bags for recycling. I stayed and helped her and we got 5 bags of strips to go. I came home after that job was done. 

Sewing

I worked on the doll's shirt yesterday and put in the sleeve plackets. I cut new plackets longer and then had to cut them wider and at the longer length. They are finicky to put in and by the time I had them in I was tired of working on them. 

It is one boring looking shirt which is to be worn with a skirt and a jacket or vest. 

This shirt reflects the type of shirts worn by ladies for horse backing riding and baking around 1917. I still have a bicycle skirt and jacket to make which I found a picture. Thimbles and Acorns has it in a doll size version. These two pieces will be made in May and June and will finish the Edwardian Wardrobe. 

Knitting

I knit on the scarf last night and it is coming along nicely. It is a beginner's project and the instructions are not for beginners. I do like the pattern as it is easy for a beginner as you only knit and purl. It is the first and last stitch that has no instructions on what to do. I realized last night I do have the instructions in another pattern.

Thoughts

    I am going to spend one afternoon in the shed going through everything and deciding on what I will I will sell in the garage sale or online. I don't need some of the items I have stored in there. Other items I will keep as I do use them. I want to be able keep it tidy without having to do a major amount of work moving stuff around. 

    I also need to spend a morning or afternoon in the garage cleaning it up. It may take more than one session as I have to move a lot of stuff around in preparation for the garage sale. It is one job that I am not looking forward to but know I will enjoy it once I start. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet first thing, fold the laundry I ignored yesterday, and do some cleaning upstairs. I am going to target one small area in the garage which doesn't require me to do a lot of moving stuff. This afternoon I will sew on the doll's shirt. Tonight I am out for dinner at family's and I hope to knit a bit tonight. 

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

First Daffodils In Bloom

 Yesterday started out cloudy and then cleared off and was sunny. The high got to 13C. This morning it is clear, frosty, and 0C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 15C.

Lifestyle

I started the morning cleaning the bathroom. Not too dirty but I did a good job. Next was the kitchen and I was surprised that most of it was clean but some areas were dirty. I did a good job cleaning it up. 

I marinated chicken for dinner. I rubbed it in mustard and added some spices. It was spicier than I thought it would be though it was tasty. I am looking at some new spices and haven't bought any as they come in larger sized containers. 

I walked out to the shed after lunch and was amazed at how clean it was. I still need to go through it to make sure I get everything I don't need into the garage sale. I walked around the shed picking up the neighbour's shingles. I threw a hub cap out of the yard but need to put it up on the road. I didn't throw it far enough. The Spousal Unit's rose is showing some growth but I can't prune it yet. Soon though. 

I was out mid afternoon for a meeting and got home later in the afternoon. I have minutes to type up today. On my way to the meeting I saw the first daffodils in bloom. 

This spot is protected by trees and many more daffodils will bloom on the hillside. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I didn't have enough time. 

My snaps arrived. The company sent them by mail directly to me. When I had put the tracking number into Canada Post it didn't track the parcel. I can now finish up some doll clothes that are waiting for snaps. 

I did watch a video yesterday where the lady made placemats. She does not line them but serges all the seams. Where she joins the ruffle she puts a cotton lace over the seam. We can buy that lace but it's very expensive. She put a lovely trim on the top and they were beautiful. Fabric and trim was from a thrift store and she did buy the lace. 

Knitting

I cast on and knit quite a few rows on the scarf. I used up the yarn I had left over from the hat. 

I have to bring up another ball of yarn and am deciding if I will make it using only 1 more ball or if I will use 2 balls. 

Thoughts

    It was so nice to have the sun yesterday and walking around the yard was wonderful. I looked at the pots of dirt for the few vegetables I will plant and am looking forward to getting them out next month. 

    I did my exercise yesterday morning and I had 2 cracks in the first 3 minutes (SI joint and knee). I did a second 3 minutes and had one more crack in the SI joint. It is still tightening up and the muscles are still a bit sore. Not sure why this is happening but am going to invest in some expensive insoles for my shoes. I am not sure why I stopped buying them as I use to get a pair every time I bought new runners. 

Today

I am out shortly to make sandwiches. Once home, I have a load of laundry to fold and put away. I also want to wash a few windows. I hope to sew this afternoon and will knit tonight. 

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

Socks Are Done

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy with some showers later in the day. The high got to 11C. This morning it is cloudy and 6C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with some showers and a high of 15C. 

Lifestyle

The company that does the health care of my lawn was here early yesterday morning. They were applying lime to reduce the ph of the soil. I have to rake spots in the lawn and throw grass seed on it. It is still too early to plant as the soil is cold. I can rake and plant later. 

I made cookies after I had my lawn discussion. I was well organized and barely had time to do anything but make cookies. Daughter-in-law was over shortly after she called me for her cookies. She loves them. I cleaned up the kitchen and froze the cookies for Saturday. 

Once done, I did the exercise and got a crack at almost the 3 minute mark. I sat on heat after that. I was waiting for the person who bought the lamps to come. After she left, I had lunch. 

Sewing

I started a shirt for the Edwardian outfit.  I had cut it out before we left for Montevideo and it was ready for me to sew. I got the front facings on and then the back yoke done. I was being very careful as this fabric frays. I then tackled the collar and it is ready to put on. 

I stopped at this point as I have to do the sleeves next. I am going to cut new lap bands a bit longer than the ones I had cut. I also have to serge the side seams of the shirt and the sleeves. I knew I needed to start fresh another day. 

Crafting

I decided to cut out more reindeer and attach the antlers I had sorted out. What amazed me was how nice the craft paper cut. I actually got 20 reindeer done. 

I went to get the cutting mat from one of the trolleys I have to hold my Cricut materials. One of the bins had slid down on top of the mats. I wheeled it out to work on while the Cricut cut. I ended up having to get a wrench to tighten the bolts. I moved the rolls of vinyl to the bottom bin as they are heavy and the cutting mats to the middle bin. The one thing I don't like about the Ikea trolleys is that the bins do slide down easily if not tighten up. I really think you have to watch them as they will loosen up over time. 

Knitting

I wasn't going to knit but forced myself to. I finished knitting sock #2 and then did the toe on sock #1. All yarn ends were woven in. 

I am happy to have these socks done and ready to wear next winter. I will be casting on a scarf next. 

Thoughts

    Our weather is going to be nice for the next few days. Warmer nights and 20C on Sunday. Everyone is waiting for the leaves to come out on the trees. 

    I am working on keeping the family room tidy. I am still forcing myself to do it rather than leave my mess behind. I am slowly getting there. It feels so nice to go down and see the room tidy rather than having a mess to deal with. 

    My back is slowly having less pain. I am doing the one exercise daily and am trying to move more. I really do not want the SI joint to lock up again. 

Today

I have to clean the bathroom and give the kitchen a quick clean. I am out for a meeting this afternoon so won't be sewing today. I will knit tonight. 

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

Pain Problem Solved

 Yesterday was cloudy and damp with a mist falling most of the day. The high got to 9C. This morning it is cloudy and 6C. Today is supposed to have some rain with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

I was out the door for an 8 am physio appointment. I got there a bit early so did the gym exercises first. They were hard as I was sore. When done the therapist did an evaluation and I was stiff and tight. My SI joint was locked tight which was giving me all the pain I was having. She worked on me for about 20 minutes and left me doing one exercise. I had 3 cracks while holding the position for 3 minutes. I had the TENS machine and heat for 15 minutes. 

Once home, I sat on heat for the SI joint and then got up to move while waiting for daughter-in-law to pick me up. We were off to New Minas to shop. Our first stop was the thrift store where she unloaded some stuff. Then we went to Home Depot. I got light bulbs, filler for small holes in the walls, sanding block and 2 tomato plants. 

I need to get some soil so I can plant them into bigger pots. 

Our next stop was Dollarama. I was looking for small bins to hold thread. I couldn't find the ones I wanted but found some that should do the job. We wandered over to Home Sense and looked around. We got our osteopathy therapist's baby clothes for her first birthday.

Walmart was our last stop before lunch and we got groceries there. We then went to Wolfville for lunch. Wolfville is a university town which has lots of historical attractions. It was first settled by the Acadians and then became a seaport where apples were exported to England for many years. 

We had lunch and then daughter-in-law went for her appointment. Once done we headed home. I put away all my groceries but still have a few things to put away this morning. I sat on the couch as I was sore from walking and physio and fell asleep. I slept for an hour. 

While dinner was heating up, I did the exercise to make sure my SI joint was locking up again. No cracking which told me it was fine. The long length makes sure everything is stretched so the SI joint can seat itself correctly. 

Sewing

I did none yesterday. 

Knitting

I knit on sock #2 and got a lot done on it. 

At the rate I am moving, they should be done either tonight or tomorrow night. 

Thoughts

    I was sore yesterday after physio which I was told I would be. It was more muscle soreness which I had expected. My gait was much better than I had thought it would be though I was slow when walking. I noticed the improvement when I took the recycling to the curb late in the afternoon. No soreness when walking down the driveway. I did it twice as I had a lot of recycling to go. Going down hill/stairs is hard for me as it stretches the area around the SI joint which gives me pain. It is good for me to do it as it allows the SI joint to unlock. 

    I looked across the street to see how the daffodils were doing. They are up and some buds are visible. It will be nice to see them in bloom as there are lots of them at the front of the house. They always mean spring is here. Next I will be watching for the magnolias to bloom. 

Today

I have to make cookies this morning. I also have to get the lamps that sold upstairs for pick up. I would like to start sewing on a shirt for the Edwardian outfit and knit on the socks tonight. I also need to do my exercises. 

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

I Did It Again -- Back Pain

 Yesterday started out cloudy and ended up sunny. The high got to 15C. This morning it is raining and 8C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with showers. The high is to get to 10C.

Lifestyle

I started the morning out taking some western pieces downstairs and arranging them on a small cube. The nesting cows were a present and the other ones were ones the Spousal Unit and I bought on a holiday. The picture is of our children when they came home from college (circa 1997). 

I have since moved the nesting cows to another spot and rearrange the items left. I still need to try another fabric on the top to see if it will work. 

Next I did some cleaning in the storage room. I focused on the shelving unit in there. I cleaned off the top and put those items in the pile for the garage sale. I then put empty boxes and small tubs on the shelf. While doing that I really over extended my reach and my back rebelled. 

My next job was to sort through two tubs of doll clothes. I made outfits as I went. The modern clothes went in one tub and the historical clothes in another. I had very few orphans. I went in and cleaned the spots on the cube where they went and put everything away. I was really sore at this point. 

I walked out on the deck yesterday to enjoy the sunshine. I always do some stretching while out there. I had a small crack in my back and a bit of relief. My next relief came when I woke up in bed, rolled over. As I rolled over, I had cracking and as I rolled my hip and back, I had many, many cracks. The pain was gone. This morning I have a bit of pain in my back and a sore glute. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday but had to stop and walk around so I didn't stiffen up. I hand sewed the binding on the pad I had made the day before. 

I then took the last of the print and made another pad. This time I put the fusible fleece on the backing and then used something similar to Wonder Under to fuse the top fabric to the fleece. I bound it and hand sewed the binding down on it. 

I have a tiny bit of the blue fabric left for something I will work on in May. The print was used up except for a small scrap. I did clean up the cutting table and put everything away from this project. 

My next project is the shirt for the Edwardian wardrobe. 

Knitting

I knit on sock #1 and it is ready for me to do the kitchener stitch to close the toe up. It was an easy knit last night. 

I should be done these socks by the weekend. 

Thoughts

    I was really upset when I realized I had over extended my reach and flared up my back and hip/thigh. I forced myself to relax to see if it would stop but to no avail. I walked to see if that would help but to no avail. When it cracked on the deck I knew I would have to have to stretch a lot to get what ever was tight to release. I also knew it would happen when it was ready. I didn't expect it to happen during the night. I thought it would happen at physio this morning. 

    Daughter-in-law put three items for sale yesterday. Two sold and one will probably have to have the price reduced. She does an excellent job of selling items on line. I have to have one item ready for pick up tomorrow morning.

Today

I am out to physio in an hour and then home for a bit. I am heading to New Minas with daughter-in-law to do some shopping and then to her appointment after lunch. Once home I would like to set up the next sewing project. Tonight I will knit on sock #2. 

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

A Day of Being Busy

 Yesterday was a wet day with a high of 7C at 5 pm and 10C at midnight. This morning it is cloudy and 10C. Today will be a mix of sun, clouds, and showers. The high will be 11C. 

Lifestyle

I was busy yesterday morning doing a few small chores before my friend arrived with coffee. She is moving to Ontario at the end of July and wanted me to see pictures of her condo and help with furniture layout. She is going to be living in a 500 sq. ft. space that is spotlessly clean and freshly painted. She has done a great job of figuring out her furniture arrangement so she can sew in the living room. She is moving to be closer to her sisters and their children. I will certainly miss her when she moves but in the meantime we will be visiting lots. 

Daughter-in-law arrived just after lunch with some fabric tubs for me. They do not fit in the yarn cube -- too big. Can't put Ikea tubs into a Home Depot cube. I will sell the cube and get an Ikea one on legs. 

While here, she took pictures of the corner desk in the sewing room and will put it on Facebook to sell. She also looked at the old gramophone and if they don't take it, she will put it up for sale. We also talked about the yard sale (I have us registered to be put on the map) and she will be bringing her stuff to sell soon to put in the shed. We are making our plans for that as the garage needs to be cleaned and I need to sort items for sale in the shed. My wagon is going to be busy moving stuff around. 

Sewing

I got the placemats done. It took me about 20 minutes to finish up the 2nd one as I sew very slowly when doing stitch in the ditch. They do add some colour in the dining room.

I am ready to hand sew the binding down on a 12" square. I am not sure I like it but I will use it on the table. I think I should have made the blue part smaller. 

I have one piece of the print left and I am going to sandwich, quilt and put blue binding around it. It will also be on the table. I will have a bit of the blue fabric left for another project. 

Knitting

I finished the gusset on sock #2 with no issues. The mistakes I thought I had made were only caused by me being very tired. 

I picked up sock #1 and knit half of the foot on it. 

Thoughts

    Spring seems to have arrived in the past couple of days. The nights have been above freezing which is our first sign. I am sure the trees will have leaves and the spring flowers will be blooming soon. 

    I had a good day mentally yesterday. I was busy all day. I had company and I moved a lot more than normal. I also had very little pain. I know that I need to be out more and amongst people in an environment that I enjoy. I am thinking on that and wonder what I could do to have a day out a few times a week. 

Today

I am going to do a bit of housework upstairs and then work downstairs getting more areas cleaned up. I want to hand sew the binding down on the square and maybe start the last one. Tonight I will knit on the socks. I want to be busy today. 

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

New Placemats Almost Done

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 10C. This morning it is cloudy and 3C. Today is supposed to be rainy with a high of 8C. 

Lifestyle

I started the morning out doing the balance sheet. I had to get myself oriented as the print out had amounts added between the last two amounts I had entered last week. All was good until it didn't balance. I hunted and looked and found out I had made a mistake when doing my subtraction. I did my little bit of statistics and put everything away for another week. 

Next up I folded the laundry. It was 2 loads and it took a bit longer than usual. All was put away and I declared that job done. I then put Rosie to work vacuuming and mopping and I escaped to the basement. I took down a couple of western items to put on top of the cube. 

I didn't take pictures of the items on the cube. I had put a piece of fabric on it and it was too dark. I need something lighter. It is just one dark piece of monotony. I did grab the blanket and pillow case off the chair in the sewing room and laundered it. It was full of Elliott's fur. It is now folded and put away to sell or give away at the yard sale. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon sewing the placemats. I have one done and the second one needs me to stitch in the ditch. 

I used the Inside Out Placemat pattern that I had bought a few years ago. 

I am struggling if I like the pattern or not. It was easy to make and I like how it allows you to showcase a lovely print. I think what I am struggling with is no binding around the outside edge. I did top stitch it almost 3/8" from the edge to get that look. 

I have cut out a 6.5" square of the pink fabric and will add navy blue borders to it so it is about 12" square. It will be used on the dining table. I still have navy fabric left along with the other pink fabric I used in the quilt. I am thinking of making a table runner for the little buffet out of it. I want to use up as much of the fabric as possible. I am not buying any more fabric for this project. 

I have some fabric in the stash that I will buy fabric to go with it and make a set of placemats and what ever else I can to use up that fabric. It will be a present for her. 

Knitting

I knit on the gusset of the 2nd sock last night and am about half done it. 

These socks are not being cooperative. I am struggling with the pattern when knitting the gusset. I am doing it correctly but my brain doesn't think so. It is probably because I am knitting them for the 2nd time.  

Thoughts

    I did look at what to clean next in the sewing room. I am thinking the doll's clothing to see what I need to make for outfits. I know that some of the Gotz doll outfits will be simple patterns and I may go that route with the 18" American Girl dolls. I will need to make a list of what is needed and start using scraps for those items. These will be on the list when I finish the Edwardian wardrobe. 

    I have had a bit of pain with the weather systems going through but nothing like I had. That was one of the worst flare ups I have experienced. I am still recovering from it as it left me exhausted. I am making myself move more as I want to sit and rest. That does not help the joints and muscles. 

    My front lawn looks sad. I think it needs to be reseeded. I am going to have to do that this week as the nights are going to be warmer now. I will do where the vegetable boxes were and  a few spots that are dead as can be. I hope we don't have a bad drought again this summer. 

Today

I have a few small things to do this morning before my friend comes over to visit. This afternoon I will finish the place mat and work on the square. When that is done, I will put the fabric away and work on it only when I have time. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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

Family Room Cleaned, Placemats Started

Yesterday was either cloudy or rainy. The high got to 8C. This morning it is clear and 1C. Today could be sunny and windy with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

With the rain coming in, I was a bit sore yesterday. It wasn't too bad so I kept going all day. My first job was to finish cleaning the family room. I did a lot of sorting and moving items in that area. I cleaned the baseboards, vacuumed the floor and mopped it. It was done and I was happy. 

The cube hold items for the printer and paper shredder. It was full of cubes that were empty. I have it down to 2 cubes at the bottom. The other ones are now in the sewing room with yarn in them. I have to find a picture to put on top of the cube. 

Sewing

With the cape done, I put away the left over fabric for other small projects. I got out the fabrics for 2 place mats and started to cut them out. I was short the dark blue fabric so went to the quilt shop and bought a meter of it plus a new rotary blade for my cutter. I didn't snoop shop as I wanted to get home and work on the placemats. 

Once home, I starched the fabric and it is ready to press and cut today. I then did a bit more cutting of fabric, pressed the trim piece, and sewed it onto the border pieces. I laid out the first place mat to see what it will look like. 

I now need to cut fusible fleece and the backing plus one border strip and I can finish these up. They are not done in the traditional sense as the edge pieces are sewn onto the back of the placemat and folded towards the front and then stitched down. 

There was no video on Making Space To Make this week. It is her scheduled week off. With the family room cleaned, I will putter in the sewing room doing small things that need to be done. 

This month, Sewing With Cinnamon is about harmony. We are to make a 2-3 piece capsule focusing on what we have learned so far. I am going to use pieces from the Edwardian wardrobe as I have lots of pieces to choose from. 

Knitting

The four black tubs I took out of the cube in the family room are now housing some of my yarn in the sewing room. I have to buy 5 more at Ikea. The lime green ones are being folded up and will be sold at the garage sale. 

I knit on the sock last night and finished the gusset on sock #1. I did have some moments when knitting last night as I thought I had screwed up the pattern. I didn't. I was just over tired from lack of sleep. 

Now to do sock #2's gusset. 

Thoughts

    Though I was sore yesterday, it wasn't like before. Just mild soreness that was annoying. I kept moving around resting while I waited for the floor to dry. I wasn't going to let it stop me from working. 

    There are two scams going on in our area right now. One is a text message about working remotely which means the scammers want to have access to your computer and data. They targeted me twice yesterday. I deleted them and reported it. The other is scammers phoning as police officers. They targeted daughter-in-law. She called our local police and found out more about it. After months of nothing, the scammers are targeting us once again. 

    Our community yard sale is on May 16. I will have to sign us up and then spend a day cleaning the garage. I have a lot of stuff to move around in preparation for it. I will have to park my car outside while I get things organized. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet, fold laundry, and do a quick tidy upstairs. I want to spend time sewing the place mats and I may even cut out some reindeer and work on them. I want to knit tonight. 

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

No Pain Means Lots Got Done

Yesterday started out sunny and then became a mix of sun and clouds. The high got to 17C. This morning it is cloudy and 7C. Today is supposed to have showers with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to get groceries. I was going to go to New Minas and then decided to shop locally. I was glad I did as the local grocery store wasn't busy and I was able to shop without crowds. Once home, I got the groceries put away. 

My next job was to sit and work on my knee. I did about 10 minutes and it is really helping. The outside part of my knee cap hurts which I will enquire about at physio. I had very little pain in my hip, back and knees all day. I think I had inflammation which caused everything to be so sore. I have a bit of pain this morning due to the rain coming but it is not affecting my walking, etc. 

Once the knee was dealt with, I was downstairs to do more cleaning in the family room. I worked on the area where I sit and do hand sewing. I moved furniture, cleaned, wiped, dusted, vacuumed and mopped everything in that area. I took out the recycling and have more to go out today. I am pleased with how it looks. 

While cleaning the coffee table I found a lot of Command picture hangers in one of the drawers. I had forgot I had bought them a couple of years ago. They will come in handy when I hang more pictures. 

The box on one chair has to be mailed to daughter. I am done putting items into it and just need to add a layer of batting to the top. 

I have one more part to do in this room. I did do a tiny bit on it. I now need to pull it apart and do the deep cleaning. It will be nice to have this area cleaned up. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon finishing up the cape for the rabbit. After giving it a good press, I hand sewed the turning hole closed and then did the arm and ear openings. I added a hook and eye at the neck. 

I did clean up after myself as I am working on good habits to keep the family room clean. 

I have the fabric out on the table to start making placemats using up the left over fabric from the quilt. I will probably have to buy fabric for it as I think I am short of the darker blue. I am looking forward to making them. 

Knitting

I knit on the socks last night and got the gusset stitches picked up on both socks. Sock #1 has 15 rounds done on the gusset. I am about half done the gusset. 

Thoughts

    I am certain my shoes are not the main problem for my soreness. I wear expensive running shoes and alternate between 2 pairs. I will be buying new shoes in the fall as I only wear them for a year and then replace them. For the pain to disappear overnight means I had inflammation due to stress and weather. What was surprising was how long it lasted. I've never had this happen for so long.

    I was thrilled at how much I did in the family room yesterday. With little to no pain, I was able to do things quicker and easier. The space left will take me less than an hour to do. Once done, I will move on to cleaning the rest of the basement. I do want it clean and tidy. 

    I think the robins are back. I am sure I saw one on a neighbour's lawn.  

Today

I have to do my stretching exercises and work on my knee. Once that is done, I will be downstairs to finish cleaning the family room. This afternoon I want to start cutting out the placemats and see if I need to go and buy more of the dark blue fabric. I do have to make dinner tonight so I have a couple of meals in the fridge. I will knit on the socks tonight. 

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

A Busy Day Volunteering

Yesterday was sunny and 11C. This morning it is clear and 2C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 16C. 

Lifestyle

I was out the door before 8 am to the community hall to make sandwiches. Daughter-in-law finished mixing the fillings while I made the cucumber sandwiches. I got them made, cut, and on the tray before anyone else arrived. Once they arrived, we made 17 more trays of sandwiches. We cleaned up and headed home.

At home, I sat on heat as my hip and knees were sore. I am not sure why they were aching but they ached. I keep thinking they are worn out but other times I wonder if my muscles are acting up. I did do the rubbing around and behind my right knee. It seems to be helping it bend much better. 

I was back at the hall at 1 pm to help serve at the celebration of life. Daughter-in-law and I served coffee and then did the clean up. The people were wonderful bringing most of the dirty dishes to the kitchen. We were done by 4:15 pm and I was home by 4:30 pm. I did another session on my knee and ate dinner. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday. 

Thoughts

    It seems like spring has arrived. Though the temperature did not drop below 0C last night, there is frost on the roofs and cars. We will have frost for a while but it disappears quickly. Frosts can occur until mid to late May. 

    I have had a bad spell with my knees and hips. I am sure that part is stress and part is the weather. I also wonder if my muscles are acting up though most of the pain is in the joints. I had thought maybe the pain was from sleeping poorly but it isn't that. I am getting enough restorative sleep. I am puzzled as to why this has gone on for so long. This morning I do feel less pain but who knows if it will get sorer as the day goes on. 

Today

I need to grocery shop and once home I want to do a few things in the basement. I also want to sew and knit today. I also need to make sure I do the massage on my knee twice so it does not stiffen up. 

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

Tidying Up The Thread Before Sewing

 Yesterday was sunny with a north wind. The high got to 5C. This morning it is clear and -4C (windchill -7C). Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 11C. 

Lifestyle

I got the sheets into the washer and did a bit of tidying up. I then did my exercises. I can feel the difference when doing them even if I missed 2 days. When done, I sat on the couch and massaged my knee. I used my knuckles to rub outwards from the knee cap and went around it several times. I also rubbed behind my knee at the joint. I was trying to break up scar tissue. I sat with heat on my knee afterwards as it was a bit sore. 

I got the sheets into the dryer and while they dried, I did a bit of research on my family tree. I am doing a bit on my mother's maternal line. I do know some about them but when I went back a bit further than before I found out they lived in Switzerland before moving to France. 

After I put out the bag of garbage for pick up late in the afternoon, I sat and did my knee again. I am going to have to do it once or twice a day for several months if I want to get the scar tissue broke up and my knee bending like normal. 

Sewing

My first job when I went into the sewing room was to sort through the threads in the tall set of drawers. I did the Glide thread first and made sure all the loose ends were caught in the base. I have thread that still has the plastic wrap on it. I am buying no more of it for a while as I have a good variety of colours. 

The next drawer was the thread I use more often for sewing. It was a bigger mess so I made sure all the ends were secure. I have a small tub that has the silk and cotton threads in it. The rest are rolling around in the drawer. I need a few tubs to contain them. I have lots of black, white, navy, grey, and cream thread in big spools. They are my go to when I sew. I have enough spools of coloured thread that I can match to fabric in the stash. I will buy the small ones when I need to match thread. 

I worked on the cape and got the seams on the plaid part ripped apart and sewn with the right seam width. I struggled with the hood but got it on. I then put the plaid and the lining pieces together and sewed them shut leaving a turning hole at the center back. Once I turned it, I rolled the edges and pinned them in place. It is ready for me to hand baste and then press. 

It will be reversible which is nice. 

I have to hand sew the opening at the back along with the arm and ear openings. A hook and eye needs to be added to the front. 

Knitting

I knit last night and got the heel flap done and the heel turned on sock #1. I then worked on heel flap #2 and got a lot done on it. 

I haven't knit socks in this manner for a long time and am enjoying watching the pair grow at the same time. 

Thoughts

    I was surprised at how cool it was outside yesterday. The wind was from the north and went through you. Hopefully it will be nicer as they are forecasting warmer temperatures. I need to plant grass seed where the vegetable boxes were. 

    I am thinking about what I will plant in tubs on the deck this summer. I have a pot I could plant a bit of lettuce in for salads. I would like to do tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers again. I do enjoy having the fresh vegetables during the summer. I will do some flowers at the shed but probably none on the deck. I will decide when the time comes. 

    I looked up to find out when the town's garage sale is going to be. Nothing yet so I will have to keep looking. I will be spending a morning in the garage cleaning it up before the sale. I know I will have a lot of work to do in there after ignoring it all winter. I also have items to bring down from the shed for the sale. Family has their items to bring. 

Today

I am out shortly to make a double batch of sandwiches at the community hall. We also have to set up the hall for a celebration of life. I will have a bit of time at home before I go to help serve tea and coffee. I don't think I will have time to sew this afternoon but will knit tonight. 

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

A Day of Being Busy

 Yesterday's weather was a mix of sun and clouds with a bit of snow blown in for good measure. The high got to 6C. This morning it is clear and -1C (windchill -3C). Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 5C. 

Lifestyle

I had to make a double batch of cookies yesterday. I started out early so I could get them done in good time. The first batch went into the compost bin. I forgot to put the leavening agents into it. The second batch was made and done by 11 am. I was out the door to get flour and margarine so I could make the last batch of cookies. I had them done by 1:30 pm. I made about 6.5 dozen cookies. 

Daughter-in-law called shortly after I had cleaned up and asked if I would like to go to the city. I said sure and off we went. We went to Bayer's Lake which is just outside Halifax. Our first stop was the Asian store to find bone broth for son. I do like looking at all the different Asian foods in that store. Once done, we headed to Costco. 

At Costco we got all the items to make sandwiches tomorrow. We have to make them for 2 funerals. Costco was busy as usual. I buy a few items there but not a lot Most is too much for one person. I did get myself stuffed peppers for dinner and ground pepper as I was almost out of it. We got into the line up and was out of there in fairly good time. 

We got home about 5 pm and I was tired. I cooked the peppers and had a late dinner. 

Sewing

None again yesterday. I didn't even look in the sewing room. 

Knitting

I did knit last night. I finished the leg on sock #2. I started the heel flap on sock #1 and as I was finishing row 12 I saw I had a dropped stitch in the heel flap. I unknit to the dropped stitch row, picked it up and knit until I had 20 rows done. 

Thoughts

    We were supposed to get up to 2" of snow last night and we got a skiff. Not enough to make anything white. It was nice the storm missed us. Hopefully this was the last snow for us this spring. 

    I walked a bit of my property yesterday and picked up a downspout that had blown off. I am hoping I can get out and pick up stuff off the lawn. I want to see if I have to reseed my lawn this spring. It isn't look very good at the moment. Did last summer's drought do more damage than I had thought. 

    I looked across at the house that has a lot of daffodils planted in the front. The leaves are up so we can expect to see blooms in the next few weeks. I will have to check the plants at family's and see if they are coming up and will be blooming soon. 

Today

I am planning on being at home all day today. I have to do some laundry, some house work, and my exercises. I want to sew this afternoon, take a small walk in the yard, and knit tonight. 

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