A Day Dealing With My Car

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy with a high of 12C. This morning it is cloudy and 4C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with showers this afternoon and rain tonight. The high is supposed to be 13C.

Lifestyle

I wrote up the minutes yesterday morning and am ready to read them for the final time today. They took quite a while as they were some complicated parts to word correctly. 

Once done the minutes, I decided to get groceries. When I turned on the car, I got this message - check Hybrid system. 

I talked to my daughter-in-law to let her know and was going to call for a tow truck when she said she would look at it. She got the same message and the same google searches as I did. She called the dealership as they do all the work on our cars. It had to be brought in as it needs something replaced. 

I called the tow truck and got an ETA of 1:30 pm. Daughter-in-law took me out to get groceries. She dropped me off at home and came back at 1:00 pm to help with the car. The tow truck did not arrive until 3 pm. Grrrrr but I kept my cool and remained calm. The car was pushed out of the garage and loaded onto the truck. It is now at the dealership in New Minas. 

I will have to say my afternoon was shot except for a lovely visit with daughter-in-law. I did cast off the scarf while we visited and wove in the ends last night. 

Daughter-in-law and I did take the salt used on the driveway up to the shed and we hauled the sand down to the end of the driveway. I will spread it out today as I have some areas that could use it. I can finish cleaning the garage. 

Thoughts

    I certainly wasn't happy about the car. I know family will take me to wherever I need to go. I just don't have the luxury of jumping in the car and going somewhere on a whim. I will survive this. 

    Tylenol Arthritis is helping. My muscles are not sore like they were which was most of the pain I had. My SI joint hasn't acted up at all. I have had very little joint pain with the storm coming in. I am only taking two doses a day vs three that I can take. I am not allowed to take Advil, etc. as my kidney function is slightly below normal. My doctor is very strict about that. 

    Though we complain about the spring being long and cold, we are having normal temperatures for this time of the year. The trees are not in leaf yet which is late for us. I do know other places are experiencing colder spring also. 

    We got a third emergency alert yesterday stating that the person at large was caught along with a firearm. We can now rest easy and move about freely once again. Though the incident was a 90 minute drive from us, the person could have gotten to our community through hitchhiking or auto theft. 

Today

I have to make cookies this morning for sandwiches tomorrow. I will putter at house cleaning while they bake. I want to sew the doll's blankets this afternoon. I have to figure out and start a new knitting project tonight. If I have any extra time, I will take a few more tools to the shed in preparation to clean the garage. 

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

Doll's Shirt Completed

 The past two days have been sunny and warm with highs of 15C. This morning it is cloudy and 4C (frost last 2 mornings). Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

I did not blog yesterday. I had blood work on Monday which went better than I had expected. The technician was amazing and did it so quick. I got breakfast and came home. 

The rest of the day was spent helping make an agenda for the community hall meeting that night. I had a short break and was off to help with the food prep for a lunch on Tuesday. I also helped put up tables and set them for said luncheon. That night I was at the meeting and got home at 8:30 pm. No sewing or knitting happened on Monday. 

Yesterday was one of stress. Daughter is upset with her situation and I was trying to help her via text messages. I couldn't rake the lawn and plant grass seed as the company was scheduled to aerate the lawn. That was done at noon. 

I did do some cleaning and finally got the laundry put away. I decided to try out the new brushes I bought for cleaning the windows. I did one of the living room windows and am impressed with how well they work. I still have a bit more to do on it but am happy with what I did. 

I brought the tomato plants in the other day and am turning them twice a day. They are growing fast now that they are in the house with lots of light. 

Sewing

I spent quite a long time in the sewing room yesterday afternoon working on the doll's shirt. I finished it. I do not like the button on the shirt so will be looking for a flat tiny button for it. 

It fits the doll well which I really like. 

I added the red knit vest and do think it is a cute outfit. 

I can now make 2 doll's blankets which are on the list for this month. I have May's list made but need to look at it to see if I want to make any changes to it. 

Knitting

I knit on the scarf last night and it is now 64" long. 

I am going to cast it off tonight and weave in the ends. I'm calling it done. 

Thoughts

    We have had 2 emergency alerts in 5 hours. A dangerous person is on foot in a community just over an hour's drive from here. He is still at large with the police looking for him. The first alert came at about 2 am and scared the heck out of me. The 2nd one came as I was drinking coffee but I was better prepared for it. 

    I have started to take Tylenol twice a day to see if it will help my sore muscles. It has so far. I will stop for a day or two to see if it the Tylenol or if the nice weather has been kinder to my muscles. My joints haven't been sore but that could change as a storm is coming in starting tomorrow. 

    I am feeling a bit scatter brained at the moment. I have started jobs and stopped them. I know they need to be done but other things have cropped up and I don't finish them when I have the time. I know I am stressed and need to work on bringing calmness back to my life. When that happens, I do much better at getting jobs done in an orderly fashion. 

Today

I have to get some groceries this morning, write up the minutes, and try to focus on one unfinished job. This afternoon I will sew and, if the weather is nice, I will prune the rose bush. Tonight I will cast off the scarf, weave in the ends, and start a new project. 

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

Enjoying The Outdoors

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 15C. This morning it is clear, frosty, and 0C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 15C.

Lifestyle

I spent a good portion of the morning on the balance sheet. I wasn't balancing and when I worked backwards, I figured out it was an error when I moved money around. I finished up the balance sheet, paid a bill and happily put it away. I was done with the stress from a stupid mistake. 

Right after lunch I was out the door to the shed. I checked the rose bush and it is has woken up and showing some growth. I will be able to prune it shortly. 

I spent some time in the shed and put all the vegetable and flower pots but two outside. I put the solar lights out and then started to figure out what I could sell at the garage sale. I have a small pile of items to go. I also cleaned an area for the salt to be stored. I have a few tubs to get rid of and one or two to clean and use. 

Back inside the house, I transplanted the tomatoes into bigger pots. They will come inside today as they needed some time to absorb the water I gave them. They were quite root bound in the small pots so I am glad I did the job. The next time I repot them will be when they go outside on the deck. 

The solar lights were really nice to look at last night. One did not work so I need to look at it today. I do enjoy the solar lights and am always sad to put them away. 

Sewing

I did spend some time sewing on the doll's shirt. I got the cuffs on and hand sewn down. I also got the collar hand basted on. 

My hands were tired from all the pinching I had to do while fiddling with the small pieces. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got 48 rows done. The scarf is about 54" long. 

I do like the scarf a lot. The basket weave pattern gives it a lot of texture. 

Today

I am rushing at the moment as I have to get ready to go for blood work at 7:20 am. Once home I want to do a few things in the house and a bit outside. I may get to sew a bit. I have to be at the community hall at 4 pm to set up for the luncheon tomorrow and then have a meeting after that. I may get to knit some tonight after the meeting. 

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

A Day Out of The House

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a cold north wind. The high got to 9C. This morning it is clear and 5C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a north wind and 12C. 

Lifestyle

As I waited for daughter-in-law to pick me up I started to fold laundry. I got some done as she arrived early. I got into the car and we were off to the city. We chatted and laughed and before we knew it, we were turning off into Lower Sackville. Our first stop was at Giant Tiger (a Canadian store opened in eastern Canada). Daughter-in-law picked up 2 flats of canned ham for sandwiches we make at the community hall. I picked up a flat (24 cans) of turkey for me. They were on sale for 57% off. We also bought ourselves new purses. 

It was back in the car and off to Halifax. More chatting and laughing. Our next stop was the big Walmart store. It was grocery shopping time. The big sale item was canned tuna which daughter-in-law bought 3 flats for the community hall. They were on sale for $.98/can which was another good savings. We got most everything there and headed out once again. 

Our next stop was just down the road to a wholesale place. We buy a lot of the food we need for catering dinners there. This time we needed a lot of beef roasts for 2 dinners. Both of us were standing on the upright cooler arranging the roasts and pulling out the ones we wanted. One thing we can be proud of is that meat display was way neater than it was when we got there. By the time we got finished buying for 2 dinners, the cart was full. We checked out and decided to head home. 

We stopped on our way home to grab a bit of lunch at Tim Hortons. It was busy there as it as almost noon. We were doing take out as we were going to eat on our way home. When daughter-in-law started the car, it said the small battery was dead (she has an electric car). She boosted it and made a mental note to tell the dealer. This happened when she last visited me. There are still issues with the system in the car so she takes it in for another session of work. It is still under warranty. 

We stopped at the community hall on our way home to unload as many of the items as we could. It starts out putting things away and ends up with us bagging cardboard as no one does it except us. We unloaded all the meat and a few other things at her house as she will smoke/cook the roasts tomorrow for a catered luncheon on Tuesday. She took me home after that. 

Mid afternoon, son and daughter-in-law arrived at the house to put the new lock on my front door. It was a bit of job but son got it done. We are all finger coded in and they have access into my house when necessary or if they come to visit me. No more texting "I'm coming, open the door". 

I got weighed this morning and am down about 3 pounds. I am happy with that and will continue working on loosing more. I know that weighing less will help my joints. I also feel better eating more healthy foods even if it costs more to have them. 

My muscles have decided to cooperate and not be too sore. I walked quite well yesterday which was a bonus. This morning they are not too sore so I am hoping I will have some less painful days this week. 

Sewing

I did get a chance to sew for about an hour yesterday afternoon. I put in the 2nd sleeve and sewed up one side seam and pressed it open. 

It is a pretty boring shirt but very basic for the doll's Edwardian wardrobe. It is a very finicky shirt to make as you add tiny sleeve laps and a 2 piece collar to it. My hands ache as I have to pinch the pieces in place due to how tiny they are.

Knitting

I kept my hands busy last night knitting on the scarf. I did 54 rows and have 330 rows done. 

I will finish up the ball of yarn I am on and cast off the scarf. It will be plenty long for someone to wrap around their neck.

I am really proud of myself as I have not bought any yarn and have knit/donated 3.35 lbs so far this year. 

Thoughts

    The wind was cold yesterday. It went right through you when you were outside. It is still from the north this morning but it is supposed to calm down which will be nice. It has been a cold late spring this year. I think it's the latest we've had since moving here. A year ago the tulips and magnolias were starting to bloom. This year, the daffodils are just starting to bloom and the trees do not have their leaves out.

    I really enjoyed my day out with daughter-in-law. We had some really good discussions and some good laughs. I needed the day away from the house and am ready for the quietness once again. I come home ready to be alone and quiet. 

    I am so proud of how much yarn I have knit/donated to date. I still have 14 lbs of yarn left to go which I will not get knit up this year. I am hoping to get a lot more knit with hopes of having 10 lbs knit by the end of the year. I think it is a realistic goal. 

    I am plugging away at the fabric stash. I sewed 3.9 meters so far this month. I may get another .5 meters sewn if I have time after the doll's shirt is made. I still have a lot of fabric in the stash and keep reminding myself it is less than I have ever had for many years. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet this morning. I have to finish folding laundry and take out some recycling from the lock. My goal is to get into the shed and get some items out for the garage sale. I also want to put the tomato plants into larger containers as they can't go outside for quite a while. I want to work on the doll's shirt in the afternoon and knit tonight. 

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

Half The Kitchen Is Cleaned

 Yesterday's weather was cloudy, sunny, windy, and there was even a snow squall. The high got to 7C. This morning it is cloudy and 3C (up from 1C at midnight). Today is supposed to be showery this morning with sun and clouds later on. The high is supposed to get to 6C. 

Lifestyle

After doing my stretching, I worked on cleaning the lower cabinets. They are all done. I did get rid of a few things most of which came out of the drawer that holds the storage containers. I spent time cleaning the outside of the fridge and the pantry door. The pantry door had some dust on the bottom but otherwise it wasn't too bad. 

I had to go and measure the corner desk in the sewing room. Someone asked about it. I also took everything out of it and cleaned it well. It is now ready for the person to look at if they come this weekend. 

I was quite sore yesterday. It was weather related. My SI joint is a bit sore this morning so I will be doing the big stretch to see if it is out or if it and a couple of muscles are just sore from the weather. 

Sewing

I worked on the doll's shirt yesterday. I got the tiny sleeve placket in the 2nd sleeve and one sleeve sewn in. I had to leave the sewing room very quickly as I was having an anxiety attack. I did not take any pictures of my progress. 

Knitting

I knit on the scarf last night and it is about 39" long. On Thursday night I had 240 rows knit and I am now at 276 rows. 

I will knit it until I use up the ball of yarn I attached last night. 

Thoughts

    The anxiety attack I had was caused by the thought of the old desk in the sewing room could be sold sooner than I expected. I felt guilty and anxious when someone expressed an interest in it. It has been in our homes for about 35 years and the Spousal Unit loved it. I left the sewing room and did some mindless things until I calmed down. I had a little talk with myself and am ready to let it go. 

    I am happy the bottom kitchen cupboards are done. I did a lot of stretching while doing them as they require me to be on the floor. As I did them I thought about what I need to replace. My flatware needs to be replaced as it is about 30 years old and showing some wear. I need to replace the bbq tools as they are rusting from old age. I am slowly replacing all the plastic storage containers with glass ones. I also need some kitchen tools to replace the old ones that are wearing out. 

    The top cupboards are next and I am working on a plan for them. I do know 2 casseroles will go into the yard sale. I have not used them for a few years as I reach for two others. I will decide on what else I need as I clean each cupboard. 

Today

I am heading into the city with daughter-in-law. When home I would like to put the other sleeve into the doll's shirt. I will knit tonight. 

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

Progress In All Areas of Life

 Yesterday started out cloudy, then was sunny, and then cloudy in the late afternoon. There was no rain and the high got to 6C at 7 pm. This morning it is cloudy, damp, and 2C (1C at 11 pm). Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 7C. 

Lifestyle

I was somewhat sore yesterday and really had to keep stretching all day. Exercise was done in the morning and afternoon with other stretching done as I did my daily thing. 

After putting a load of laundry on, I tackled the kitchen once again. I pulled out the stove and cleaned it. It wasn't that dirty but it needed doing. I even scrubbed the inside of the oven door. I wiped down the cabinet sides, vacuumed the floor, and mopped it. I put the stove back in and shone it up. I also cleaned the microwave and the cupboard above it. I got one more cupboard completely done and the lazy Susan is ready to have the doors washed. 

While doing the bit of cupboard cleaning, I made a pot of cheddar and broccoli soup. As it has milk in it, I had to watch it carefully. It was delicious when I had a bowl for lunch. After lunch I washed the dishes and put 2 containers of soup in the fridge. 

Sewing

I started to sew on the doll's shirt. I worked slowly and steadily on it and got quite a bit done. When I stopped, I sewed the buttons onto the red knit vest. 

One thing I did differently on the shirt was to do the burrito method when sewing the yoke. I love how it makes the front should seam so nice and flat. I did have to google on how to do it as I haven't done this technique in years. 

I downloaded the Edwardian bicycle hat and the booklet on focal point for free. I missed out on the proportion booklet as I didn't think they were going to do them. I now need to decide what pattern I want for free. I haven't downloaded any patterns this year as I haven't had a need for them. I do this month as I want to make something for the Gotz dolls. 

Knitting

I knit on the scarf until I ran out of yarn. I stopped for the night. I didn't measure it but I have closet o 300 rows knit. 

I just looked back and it has taken me 7 evenings to knit this much. I may get it almost done by the end of the month. 

Thoughts

    I was sore yesterday due to a weather system going through. This morning only my piriformis is sore. I am sure that is because it is protecting my SI joint. It is a real balance act knowing how much stretching to do. Yesterday was where I stretched while cleaning the kitchen. Today it may be doing a bunch of exercises or a lot of walking. 

    I ate well again yesterday and didn't snack. I really wanted to snack last night but knew I couldn't. I know the reason - not knitting for a while. I am still doing portion control and am keeping trigger foods out of the house. I think I am loosing weight and will know when I step on the scale Sunday. Losing the weight will help my joints a lot.

    The robins are back and busy as can be. There have been some sightings of hummingbirds in our province but I won't see any for a while. I do hear chickadees and saw a grosbeak in my tree. Other birds will arrive once it is a bit warmer. 

Today

I am going to continue cleaning the kitchen this morning and fold the laundry I did yesterday. This afternoon I want to sew on the doll's shirt. Tonight I will knit. I also want to throw in some exercises this morning for good measure. 

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

Second Attempt At the Doll's Shirt

 Yesterday was basically sunny with a high of 8C. This morning it is cloudy and 3C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with rain later this afternoon. The high is supposed to be 7C. 

Lifestyle

I did my exercises first thing with one small crack. When I did them later on, there was another small crack. My SI joint was a bit tight and my muscles were sore from osteopathy but I dealt with it. I now need to add about 4 exercises to help keep the SI joint from "freezing". 

I took the chicken I had bought and stripped the meat off the bones. I cooked the carcass to make broth for soup. I have a tubs of white and dark meat and 3 tubs of broth. My next batch of soup will be cheddar broccoli soup. With the weather being cool (normal) I am wanting soup for lunch.

I started to clean the kitchen cupboards. I thought I would get them done in one morning. It did not happen. They were dirtier than I had thought. I started on the bottom cupboards and cleaned them carefully after removing the handles. I did the inside and outside at least twice to make sure all dirt and grease was removed. The drawers were emptied and cleaned really well. I got about half of the bottom cupboards and under the top cupboards above them done before noon. 

My other job of the day was to take out the garbage to the curb for pick up this morning. There was a lot to go as I had old brooms, a big halloween skeleton and a bag of garbage from the house and garage. It was nice to walk outside in the sunshine while doing the job. 

Sewing

I cut out the doll's shirt again in the right size pattern. I had enough of the original fabric for the shirt. 

I have the front band pinned onto the front of the shirt. I went to sew it and realized I needed another spool of thread. I headed up to the quilt shop and got it, buttons for the vest, and a couple of other things I needed. I am now ready to sew the shirt. 

I have been worried about not getting April's to do list done. Besides the shirt, I have 2 doll blankets and piping to make. The blankets will get done but I am not sure about the piping. It could get done but I am not worried about it as it will not be sent until later this summer. 

Knitting

I sat and knit on the scarf last night. I now have 230 rows done and almost 30" long. I will do one more ball of yarn before I cast it off. The pattern does not say how long to make it. 

At the rate I am knitting, I will not get this done before the end of the month. At the moment, it is basically half done. 

Thoughts

    I am trying to figure out why my SI joint is tight and I think it may be from all the muscles being very tight. I started to massage the ones I can reach and they were sore. I now need to do the yoga exercises that stretch them so they don't become tight. I'm trying to figure all this out with hopes of having the muscles relax.

    I ate carefully again yesterday and will continue on trying to loose weight. I haven't weighed myself but will on Sunday. My focus on portion control and no snacking is challenging but I am being successful. Last night I wanted a snack but I didn't give in. 

    As I cleaned the cupboards I wondered what they are made from. The boxes look like they have some wood grain finish applied to particle board. The doors are wood and they are in need of a refresh. I was told to get a stain and refresh them that way. It would be a warm weather job so I can open up the house to get rid of the smell. 

Today

I am going to make a pot of cheddar broccoli soup and continue on cleaning cupboards. This afternoon I will sew on the doll's shirt and tonight I will knit. I do have to make dinner which is planned. 

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

Making Progress Can Be Slow

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 5C. This morning it is clear and -5C (windmill -8C). Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 7C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I was out for osteopathy. My SI joint was sticking out a bit and that was worked on. All of my muscles were worked on as they were tight. They are compensating for the SI joint being out causing them to become tight and hurt. I was sore when the session was done but I felt much better. I was told to take it easy for a day or two -- no ladders. 

Once done, I went and got a new broom for the garage. The old ones will go out with the trash tonight. I also went and did some grocery shopping. The grocery store is bigger than ours and I had problems finding things. I actually had to go shopping at home to get some items I couldn't find. 

Once home, I rested on heat though I did get up and move around. I did make dinner which I enjoyed. I also made sure I got up during the evening and moved. I noticed that I was walking much better as things were more aligned. 

Sewing

I spent some time figuring out what I had done wrong with the shirt pattern. I printed one page of pattern pieces off and it told me the story. I had printed the original pattern with the fit the page checked off. It is way smaller than when I printed it off using 100%. I may have enough fabric to do the shirt again. If not, I have another piece I will use. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and have knit around 150 rows in total. 

I have a lot more to knit on this scarf before it is done. At the moment I have almost used 100 grams of yarn. 

Thoughts

    Though I have improved a lot since starting physio and osteopathy almost 2.5 years ago, I am still having issues with tight muscles. I could spend hours doing exercises each day. I have to choose the ones that do the most good for the SI joint. If it is in place, the muscles relax and I do better. I do find the pain exhausting and I don't want to do anything but rest. I keep pushing myself to stretch the muscles even on days when the pain is bad. I feel like I am not making much progress at this time even though I work hard at doing what I am told to do.

    I have been working on loosing weight again. Pain makes me want to eat comfort food so I have eliminated them from the house. I have stopped eating between meals. I am back to portion control. I am back to cooking meals. I would like to loose 20 lbs as I know it will help my joints. I know the dietician would not approve of what I am doing as she thinks my goal weight is too low. I disagree as I know that weight is the best for my joints. 

    I can't do any more cleaning in the garage until I do some sorting in the shed. I need to get items out for the garage sale and flower/vegetable pots outside before I can take items up to store in it. 

Today

I am going to clean the kitchen and wash the floors. It is due to be done. I have to do some cooking so I have meals ready to eat this week. This afternoon I will cut out a new shirt for the doll and tonight I will knit. Exercises and movement will be done during the day. 

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

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.........................................................