Progress On The Doll's Vest

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds. It was hot and somewhat humid. The high got to 30C (humidex 35C). This morning it is partly cloudy and 12C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 15C. We are under a frost warning for tonight. 

Lifestyle

I was out the door early for physio. My evaluation showed that I am aligned and my SI joint was in place and moving well. In the first 30 seconds of treatment we had a nice crack. Not my SI joint though. Somewhere around my hip so we think it was that joint. My muscles are still stiff though not as bad as usual. I am working on that at home. 

After physio, I went and got some groceries. Once home, I turned on the a/c as the house was getting warm. I also put the blinds down half way. I did sit for a bit wishing I could put heat on my muscles but it was too hot for that. Instead I got up and cleaned up the couch where I sit. It was getting messy. Once done that I had lunch. 

I prepped for a meeting mid afternoon. It was late as one person had to get her car fixed out of town. I was ready and then had to wait. After the meeting, I returned the rental as I don't need it today or tomorrow. I pick up my car (supposedly) late Friday afternoon. 

I hauled the garbage out in the evening. I put it into the wagon as one bag is quite heavy. It was very warm and humid which I don't like. Everyone was moving at a slower pace due to the humidity. On the upside, all the garbage left over from the yard sale is out ready to be picked up today. 

Sewing

I did not sew yesterday as I prepped for a meeting and then waited as it was delayed. I wish I had gone downstairs to sew on snaps. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's vest last night. I started the second front at row 69 and finished at row 100. 

If all goes well tonight, I should have the second front finished and maybe the back started. 

Thoughts

    I am slowly accepting the fact that my friend is going to move. I am excited for her as she starts her journey as a home owner back in the area where she grew up. I will miss her. I know I have a lovely group of people here on my blog plus others on a forum I belong to. I will manage and move forward in my life. 

    I was not surprised to see the frost warning for tonight and tomorrow night. I have not planted anything outside as I thought it was going to happen. We have a good chance of frost as the wind is from the north right now. I will plant outside shortly and get some blankets ready for those cool nights. 

Today

I am going to do some cleaning this morning. I am also going to hang and measure a curtain for the bathroom window so I can cut and hem it. I want to sew on more snaps this afternoon and knit tonight. 

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

It's Like Starting Over Again

 Yesterday was quite warm and sunny with a high of 22C (humidex 25C). This morning it is a mix of sun and clouds and 11C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 30C (humidex 35C). 

Lifestyle

I was busy before my friend picked me up to go into Halifax. I got the recycling out into the proper containers, a visit with daughter-in-law, and the dishwasher emptied. I also emptied the dehumidifier as it was full. I have to watch it carefully as we are moving into our hot and humid weather. 

The trip to Halifax was uneventful. We made it to Fabricville without any issues. I haven't been there for 5 years. The last time I went, they weren't open. I had thought the store had closed but it was moving from their huge store to a smaller location in the same strip mall. This store is also houses the Maritime's supervisors office. 

We explored the store and I bought buttons, a couple of closures, and a curtain. I helped my friend find some fabrics for puppets a group are making for the Christmas parade. We walked most of the store. I found standing around and waiting hard on my knees so I went to the car to wait. I was there about 15 minutes before my friend came out. She had found the bargain fabrics and bought 3 pieces of sparkly fabric from those bins. 

Leaving Halifax was easy. Two turns and we were are on the highway. We stopped at Lower Sackville to have lunch in a restaurant I like. It was my friend's first visit there. From there, we headed home on the old highway. She had never driven that route either. 

Once home, I sat down and didn't move. Depression hit me hard. My friend will be moving in a month and I will have no one to visit, bounce ideas off, and have our treats. I felt lost and had to work through this. I know that her move has been weighing on my mind for quite a while now. It is like starting over again.

As I worked through my thoughts, I tried to think about the future and what I want to do to keep busy. A few ideas are perking in my head. I still have quilts to make. I can sew for the dolls. I can knit up my yarn. All great plans to keep me busy. 

What I won't have is the mental stimulation of visiting with someone. Many of the seniors in my area are busy with activities I am not interested in. Others don't accept me as I "come from afar". I can go to one quilt shop once a month to quilt but I am not sure about that. I do not like crowds of people and I am not sure if they want me to join them making quilts for a charity. I could ask for fabrics to make the quilt tops at home and bring them in when they are completed. I could also go up on one Tuesday a month to sew in their classroom. 

I spent the rest of the day thinking and only looked out the window when I heard a noise. It had rained and a father and son were playing street hockey. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday. 

Today

I am out shortly for physio and then will get some groceries. Once home, I need to do some cleaning. I have a meeting at 2:30 pm. I may get a few snaps sewn on and I hope to knit tonight. I will be turning on the a/c today as it is going to be hot and humid. 

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

Sewing On Snaps

 Yesterday was a mix of sun, clouds, and wind with a high of 19C. This morning it is partly cloudy and it is 10C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun, clouds, and showers. The high today is supposed to get to 24C (humidex 27C).

Lifestyle

I had a busy morning. My first job was to fold and put away the laundry from the day before. I prepped chicken for dinner. Then it was a quick tidy up in the kitchen. Sugar ants are out and I am fighting with a few each day. I have to keep the kitchen spotless. They get into everyone's house and are annoying. 

I went to the grocery store to see what plants they had in their plant center. There were a lot of plants and few customers were there. I wandered around and picked up this selection of plants. 

I still need more plants but will go to Walmart for the rest. 

Once home, I put the plants in the garage to keep cool as we are going to be hot today and tomorrow. Then I went out and put up the table on the deck, got the bbq and set it up on the table. I put 2 tubs on the deck for the tomatoes and put fertilizer in them. The pots got watered and I can plant tomatoes later this week. 

I did look around the yard and will have to pull weeds later this week. There are a few around the house and quite a few in the hedge. I will get it done over time. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon sewing on snaps. I find it a tedious job that leaves me tense. I want them to look perfect but they never are. The red/white striped blouse had 6 snaps sewn on it. The tiny ones on the cuffs were not fun. I was on the floor looking for one half as it popped out of my fingers. The stomacher requires 6 tiny snaps and after I got 4 on, my hands started to cramp up from squeezing snaps in place. 

I still have to finish the stomacher and put 4 snaps on the doll's blouse I finished. Once done, I will be caught up on snap sewing. 

Knitting

I knit on the sweater and got the first front done. 

The second front is ready to join the yarn and knit. 

Thoughts

    We are to have it warm today and hot tomorrow. Then it is supposed to cool off and be back to normal temperatures. The humidity has been low for here. I have to figure out how to cover the tomatoes for cool nights and have a shade over them on hot days. I have some ideas which I will figure out if they work. 

    I really enjoyed my visit to the garden center. It does not have a huge selection of vegetables. It has mainly herbs and flowers which is most popular here. There are other garden centres that carry more vegetables but not as many as what is sold in BC. The other garden centres also sell flowers in 6 packs where the one I was at yesterday doesn't have many of those. Mainly single pots.

    The lawn was fertilized yesterday. I am hoping that it will help the bare spots fill in. They are getting smaller. I hope that the grass seed sprouts where the garden boxes were. If not I will seed them again in the fall. 

Today

I am off to the city with my friend. We are going to fabric stores as she needs fabric for puppets. I will buy buttons and snaps. I will treat us to lunch. Once home, I would like to sew more snaps on the doll's clothes so that job is done. Tonight I will knit on the vest. 

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

Doll''s Blouse Completed

 Yesterday was sunny and hot with a high of 24C. This morning it is clear and 8C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 20C. 

Lifestyle

I did get a few things done yesterday morning. I put a load of laundry on and it is in the dryer waiting for me to fold it. I cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen. I sat down for a break and was so tired that I didn't move until noon. 

After lunch I laid down and slept for an hour. Though I heard the machines working across the street as the people readied their driveway for paving, I did sleep lightly and felt refreshed when I got up. 

Sewing

I spent time in the sewing room after my nap. I wanted to quit on the doll's blouse but I broke it down into small steps and finished it. It wasn't hard to sew and I did end up enjoying my time working on it. 

The pattern fits well which I do like. Pattern drafting for these dolls is hard so I admire those who make patterns that are well drafted. 

There is a lot of top stitching on this blouse so I really got good at doing it. I did a lot of basting and some hand sewing. One thing I like is that every seam is finished. 

I made this blouse to go with the overalls designed by the same person. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's vest last night. I finished up the body part and am now knitting one of the fronts. 

I have to read every row carefully as there is at least one surprise every few rows. Though I have to look up some of her knitting terms, it is a well written pattern and quite unique. 

Thoughts

    I was out in the garage to look at what is left from the yard sale. It isn't a lot compared to what we started out with and then dug out on the day of the sale. I did put away some things that needed dealing with and I will do a quick clean up once the boxes are gone. 

    I am doing some research on how much protein I need daily with my kidney function. I have decided to be more strict with what I am eating and have decided to cut back a bit on my portions. They were probably a bit on the large size. I know I have to monitor carbs as I do get low glucose readings if I don't have some at each meal. My stress levels are down so I am ready to tackle my eating habits. 

    I need to look at getting my vegetable pots onto the deck. The tomatoes need to go out soon and I know I will have to bring them in some nights as we can get frost until June 5. I want to start cucumbers and buy a few pepper plants. 

Today

I am going to set up my bbq on the deck as I want to use it this summer. I may go looking for some flowers and pepper plants this morning. This afternoon I want to sew snaps onto a few doll's clothes so they are completely done. I will knit tonight. 

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

Yard Sale Success

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 25C. This morning it is cloudy and trying to rain. It is 14C. Today could be a mix of everything with a high of 25C. 

Lifestyle

I did not post yesterday as my day started at 7 am. It was out before that to open the garage door and help daughter-in-law unload the last of her stuff. I ran back in and ate a quick breakfast. Then out again to finish setting up for the yard sale. We had to set up tables outside and get everything we needed to sell on them. 

We were not finished setting up when the first people arrived at about 7:10 am. We rushed around and served people and put out items at the same time. It was busy for the first 40 minutes and then we had a lull. Then came the next wave and we noticed my neighbour setting up for his yard sale. It was busy until 1:30 pm. We took a minute to look at what was left. I can tell you we sold about 75% of what we had put out. I had 6 boxes and 2 tubs that we filled with leftover items that will go to a non-profit society for their yard sale at the end of May. Daughter-in-law kept a few items as did I. We counted our money and we made over $400.00. 

Two compliments we got:

    I have the cleanest garage ever seen. Thank you to that person as I have worked hard to keep it clean.

    We have the best stuff for a yard sale. We had people come that had been to our yard sale 2 years ago. They buy stuff for their grandchildren and spent a lot of time looking and buying.

The guy who does the lawns showed up and the lawns got mowed while we had the yard sale. We had people on our street come and buy and visit with each other. We had people saying if you don't buy that I will. And we had on lady FaceTime her husband to come and buy some items he had wanted. In all there were lots of chatter and laughs. 

I was out to family's for smash burgers. Son did all the cooking and they were delicious. There was a lot of banter going on how he slaved in the kitchen all day. I was home early as I was exhausted and sore. 

Sewing

None done due to the yard sale.

Knitting

I did knit the last two nights. What I thought was going to be painful increase was actually easy. I have done over 60 rows now. The makers are for the increase for the sleeves. 

Thoughts

    Grandson has talked to his mom (daughter-in-law) and told her a few things. He is working in a restaurant and is with his girlfriend's family. They will make sure he is safe. He is figuring out things on his own. He is in an area where more English is spoken than Spanish but he will have to become for proficient in Spanish if he wishes to go to university. I do hope he talks to his mom on a regular basis.

    I did not sleep well last night (again) as I was sore. More muscle soreness than joint soreness. I find that when the muscles around my knees get tired, I stiffen them and make them sore. I am working on walking with less stiff when they get tired. Walking on cement yesterday is hard on my joints. I did sit when I could be we kept moving around tidying up the tables so they were neat. 

    The other day we saw a yellow finch in the tree in my front yard. The first one I have ever seen in my yard. There is one in my tree again this morning. There are no bird feeders or houses across the street any more so they are looking for new places to eat and nest. My place is too open for them so I hope they nest two houses down where there are several birdhouses up high on a pole. 

Today

 I am tired today and will do what I can and I may have a nap. I would love to sew on the doll's blouse as it is so close to being done. I want to knit tonight. This is recovery day from two poor sleeps and several busy days. 

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

Setting Up For Garage Sale

 Yesterday was sunny with a cool wind. The high got to 19C. This morning it is partly cloudy and 10C. Today is supposed to have periods of rain with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

I was out the door for a hair cut after dealing with a ton of texts. I had my hair cut and was off to pay the water bill. Once home, I had a bit of a rest before deciding on what to do. 

Daughter-in-law was over to pick up the Dyson. I had it ready for her. She borrows it to clean the rug of cat hair. I send the charger and a few tools for her to use. 

I got the minutes for the community hall organized and into a binder. It wasn't a hard job but it needed to be done. We have to have hard copies of each meeting which I hand over to the president when I am done the job. 

Family was over in the afternoon and we put up two tables in the garage and started to put items on them. We have a lot of stuff for the yard sale tomorrow. More than I thought. It is all organized and ready for pricing. Tomorrow we will set up two more tables outside and have everything spread out for people to see. When the yard sale is done, we will pack up what is left and give it to a non profit society to sell at their annual yard sale. 

I was tired yesterday and wanted to nap but knew I couldn't. I wanted to snack and knew I couldn't. I pushed myself hard all day to stay away and on track. I did prep chicken and made myself dinner for last night and tonight. It was delicious. 

No sewing or knitting yesterday. I was in bed in good time and slept for almost 7 hours before waking up to go to the bathroom. I slept another 2 hours after that. I feel much better today.

Today

I have to go get my prescriptions filled this morning and then will spend the day pricing items. If I have time I hope to do a few little things and will knit tonight. 

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

Almost Done The Doll's Blouse

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 14C. It did rain last night. This morning it is cloudy and 8C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun, clouds, and showers with a high of 19C. 

Lifestyle

I was at it fairly early moving boxes of items from the basement to the garage for the yard sale on Saturday. Once it was all up, I brought everything from the shed down and have it all in the garage. I remembered a TV and brought it up. I just have a step stool to bring up and I think I am done. 

Daughter-in-law brought over a car load of stuff and we put it into the garage. She has another part load to bring over and then we can start to price everything and set it up on tables. 

After a rest, I went and picked up the mail. I got my paper so I could do the census online. It was done in about 3 minutes. I was happy to have that done. 

I did some work on my family tree. My focus was on my maternal grandmother's side of the family. Her father's side was from England. It was her 2nd great grandfather who married a lady of French descent. It also where her family married people from Scotland. And she married into a Scottish family. 

Sewing

I worked on the blouse yesterday. It is ready for the front piece to be put on and then the neck band/tie. It is almost done. 

Though it has a lot of pieces and takes time to sew as they are small, it has gone together really well. 

Knitting

I knit again last night and have 49 rows knit. I am ready to start increasing for the collar and something to do with the waist. I have a bit of research to do as the purl increase is vague. 

I do know that I will have to pin the bottom of the vest down and steam it. It loves to curl up for some unknown reason. It could be not enough rows of seed stitch at the bottom to weigh it down. 

Thoughts

    I was sore yesterday and part was bringing up all the stuff upstairs for the yard sale and part was stress. I really had to work at relaxing and letting go of things that started to bother me again. I had a hard time going to sleep but finally did. I know I will be tired today from this. 

    I am going to have to transplant my tomatoes again. They are getting really big and I am thinking of putting them into the final pots. They can go outside during the day and come inside at nights. 

    I called about my car and I will be able to pick it up next Friday at the end of the day (4 pm). The new batteries won't be in until Tuesday. I am really missing my car mainly because it is higher to get in and out of than the car I am renting. 

Today

I have a hair cut this morning and will pay my water bill. I am not sure if we are setting up for the yard sale today. If not, I will do some housework and will either go out for a drive or sew this afternoon. I plan on knitting tonight. 

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

News On My Car $$

Yesterday was cloudy with rain. The high got to 9C. This morning it is sunny and 4C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 14C.

Lifestyle

I started the morning off by opening the blinds and curtains and turning on all the lights. It helped me a lot mentally. I worked on the balance sheet and got it done. Only one stupid mistake on my part but I fixed it quickly without any issues. 

I put on a load of laundry and folded the laundry from the day before and got it put away. I also got yesterday's laundry dealt with. I did a bit of tidying in the kitchen and cleaned the bathroom. I took out garbage and recycling to their bins in the garage. I even got three items up from the basement for the garage sale. By then it was lunch time. 

I got a call late in the afternoon saying that the main battery in my car needs replacing. It is expensive and I am asking questions as to why it happened. I will be asking questions about this when I call to say go ahead and fix it. 

Sewing

I puttered in the sewing room yesterday and I got the back yoke attached to the back body. I then worked on the sleeves and had many questions about them. I did as the instructions said and they are inserted and look perfect. So easy to do. 

And the back. 

I am down to gathering the neck, adding the tie and the front facings. Then it will be to hem it and add snaps. 

This pattern has been a delight to sew. 

I will get back to the bicycle skirt when I can get to the store to buy buttons for it. 

Knitting

I knit more on the vest last night and it is coming along nicely. I have figured out a way to keep track of how many rows I have knit for each repeat. I have 30 rows knit and have about 19 rows left to finish the bottom part of the vest. 

I am using Paton's sock yarn for this project and it isn't the soft yarn I am use to knitting. I am using up what I have in the stash for these projects. I have 4 balls of Patons sock yarn left in the stash. 

I watched Knitty Knatty's last video yesterday while hand sewing the bands on the sleeves of the doll's blouse. It was for noise but I did end up watching it. She was going through all her yarn and sorting it so she could have it in less bins. She did accomplish that. She is finishing up her last works in progress and then can start new projects. She has a lot of yarn to knit over the next couple of years. She has let go of some yarn. My stash looks like a drop in the bucket compared to hers. On the other hand, she knits a lot more than I do. 

I am doing well on knitting down the stash. Of the 21 balls of yarn I have removed from the stash, 8 have been put into the donate pile and 12 have been knit with the 13th being the vest I am knitting. 

Thoughts

    My stress level is going down and I am starting to sleep better. I am also wanting to do more during the day. I was surprised that I my stress level didn't go up when I got the call about the car. I had hoped for the best but expected the worst. 

    Today we start to get things into the garage for the garage/yard sale this Saturday. We are registered and on the map. I am hoping it will be a good sale as the weather is supposed to be sunny and warm. I will try to get most of my stuff into the garage by tomorrow afternoon. 

Today

I have to start putting items into the garage this morning. It is top priority. This afternoon I would like to sew if I have time and I know I will knit tonight. I am prepared to be sore by dinner time. 

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

Starting A New Doll's Blouse

 Yesterday was cloudy and dark with rain. The high got to 15C. This morning it is raining and 7C. Today is supposed to be rainy with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I made the fish cakes. They turned out okay but I probably won't make them again for a while. I did put 5 bags of mashed potatoes into the freezer for a friend. I don't eat a lot of potatoes and when I do they are usually baked or roasted. I did clean up the kitchen afterwards. 

Laundry was done but it isn't folded. I wandered around wanting to get stuff out to the garage but couldn't as I wasn't willing to park the car outside. I need to park the car outside as I know the insurance will pay if the rats do chew on the wiring. No one on our side of the street has had rat problems so I need to park this silliness. 

Sewing

I cut out a blouse for the Gotz dolls and started to sew it. The pieces are small and it is like putting together a puzzle. The instructions are clear and I worked through the steps. Do what was required and pin the pattern piece back on. I now have the front of the blouse done and will start on the back. 

This blouse is to go with a pair of overalls I made years ago. It is also goes with a skirt and vest pattern that I don't have but plan on buying. 

Knitting

I knit a bit before dinner and then again after dinner. I got quite a bit done on the vest. 

The cables are interesting as you only hold the stitches to the front when you make them. 

Thoughts

    Though the wet days are making me feel like I want to sleep, I am not complaining. We need it to get the water table high and wells full. After last summer's drought, everyone is hoping we have a wetter spring this year. The prediction is for another hot summer. At the moment, it is wet as I am emptying the dehumidifier every few days. 

    We have quite the chat exchange here about everything so you have to monitor what you hear and what you want to ignore. Everyone talks about the deer which have moved into our area. We exchange ideas of which none work. The rat issue is being discussed and most people do keep their yards clear so they won't move in. From what I see and hear, it is only one house that has attracted the rats. The problem is that people want someone else to report it to the municipality. Eyes on me as I reported the chickens in my yard. I'm not doing it as I haven't seen any rats since moving here and my yard is pretty much a place they won't come to. I will if I see them but not until then. I said it is those who are affected that should report it. 

    I forced myself to do things yesterday though I wanted to sit and do nothing. I have to do that or I will hibernate. It was good to get up and activate my body and brain. It also helps reduce the stress I have had. 

    My stress levels are going down. I can feel it overall. I have parked the stress that grandson caused and am feeling disappointed with his actions. Daughter is in a better place in their mediation as what she sent in was well presented. The person she hired to help her is great. I know she feels overwhelmed but is trying to do a bit each day and is happier to know she can do it on her iPad rather than her computer. 

Today

I am going to turn on all the lights and brighten up the house and then do some cleaning. I have laundry to fold and I am going to try to get a few items out into the garage. I want to sew this afternoon and knit tonight. 

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

A Day Of Rest

 Yesterday was wet with a high of 18C. This morning it is cloudy and 10C. The fog is rolling in as I type. Today could be wet with a high of 16C. 

Lifestyle

I admitted to myself that I was tired and was not going to push myself to do a lot of things. I did go out and get groceries first thing. It was nice not to drive in a park without a lot of cherry pickers around as the store is getting a new roof. It was needed as it leaked every time it rained hard. The store wasn't busy so I got what I needed in good time and came home. 

I will have to say I sat and rested for quite a while and then went and had a good nap. I woke up groggy but I did feel better. 

I picked up my friend and we went to family's for dinner. We had a lovely chicken curry for dinner and a Black Forest cake for dessert compliments of daughter in BC. We sat afterwards and watched some videos on airport lounges and had some good laughs. We were home in good time.

Sewing

I napped instead of sewing. I am not panicking about not sewing.

Knitting

I did cast on the stitches to knit a vest for the dolls. 

I got the first 5 rows done with no issues. When I started to knit the 6th row, I had issues. I read the instructions for the row and it does not follow the same format that I am use to. After knitting the row and unknitting it severals times, I figured out what she meant. 

I am now ready to work on the design with is a combination of cables and knit/purl areas. 

The colour of the yarn is called muslin and will be the starting point for an outfit I plan on making for the dolls. 

Thoughts

    I did think about the rat problem on our street. I know we have rats and they have been here for years. I can't control that. How others live and allow the rats to live and populate on their property is also something I can't control. What I can control is making sure my property is clear of debris and my garbage is in secure containers and/or places. I can advise people to make calls if they are impacted and have proof of the rat problem. After that, I move on from the problem and monitor my property. I did look around and saw no signs of rats here.

    Though I had a nap yesterday, I slept fairly well last night. I made sure I watched my favourite videos last night to help me relax. I knit even if I had issues with the last row. I didn't dwell on it at all. I know I need another good sleep tonight but I am feeling a lot better today. 

Today

I have to do something with the mashed potatoes I brought home from the dinner. I also need to do laundry and start bringing up items for the garage sale on Saturday. I really want to sew this afternoon and knit tonight. 

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

A Busy Day

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 15C. This morning it is cloudy with showers and 10C. Today is supposed to have showers in the morning and rain in the afternoon. The high is supposed to get to 16C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I think I texted more than I worked. My neighbour texted to ask if her son could do any jobs for me. We chatted and I said yes he could do the weed eating in the ditch. He came over so we could talk and he could look at my weed eater. He would come over as soon as he had mowed 2 other lawns. 

I then started cleaning the fridge. It wasn't really dirty but needed to be wiped down on the inside and refreshed. It took me a bit of time as I was going to do it properly. When done, I washed the window in the back door and part of the kitchen window. 

The young man came back after lunch to do the weed eating. I was out to check on him a couple of times and replaced the batteries in the weed eater. I also spent time seeding the lawn and where the vegetable boxes were. I also cleaned away the old growth around the lilies and found that one of the hosta plants is up and going to be big this year. 

My friend and I worked a bar last night. We had so much fun with the people and got lots of compliments. It was an enjoyable evening. Daughter-in-law took over around 8:30 pm and we left the tips we made for her. She was doing the late shift and wouldn't make as many tips. She had also done all the prep work for the dinner and was serving and cleaning up. She deserved the tips we got. 

Sewing

I was down into the sewing room pulling projects I want to make. I have 2 quilts, a tree skirt, and placemats in tubs that will be done this year. I also have to design and make a quilt for an auction in October. 

Knitting

A pattern was chosen and the yarn was brought up so I can start knitting a vest for the dolls. 

Thoughts

    I had a great talk with my neighbour yesterday afternoon. She lives across the street from me. She let me know that the neighbour across the road from us is moving to the United Arab Emirates as soon as they sell their house. That is a huge move and we wish them well. 

    She also told me the rat problem is worse in our area. I have always known there has been rats but there are traps out for them. The number has increased as one household has garbage everywhere. A great haven for rats to get food and nest. One person has had the wiring chewed in their car twice and those people have trapped at least 6 rats and seen many more. Another person went to get something out their car and it was missing. They found it made into a nest in the engine of their car. I had parked the rental outside and it is now in the garage. I will be looking for rats around my property though my garbage is kept in containers in the garage. This did keep me awake during the night. 

    My muscles are sore today from doing things outside and standing in one spot for too long. This is called muscle soreness. My joints and usual pains are not bothering me at all. Hurrah for that. 

Today

I have to get groceries this morning. I would like to cut out the doll's blouse and maybe start sewing it. I am out for dinner tonight and may not knit tonight. 

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

Finding Joyful Things

 Yesterday was a sunny warm day with a high of 13C. This morning it is clear and 5C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 15C.

Lifestyle

I was out to make sandwiches in the morning. I was the one who cut them and put them on the trays. While waiting I do other things that need to be done. One of the ladies disappeared and we found her having low blood sugar. We helped her and then made sure she was good enough to drive home alone. 

Once home, I had a cup of coffee and did some small chores around the house. I did some genealogy as I want to find more information on some people on the tree. It is something I enjoy doing. Before noon, daughter-in-law called and after I had lunch I was off to buy groceries for the dinner at the hall tonight. I delivered them to the hall. 

I had a quiet afternoon as I knew I was going to be helping set up the hall at 4 pm. I was to pick up son so he could do the chairs. When we got there, the job except for chairs was done. I took one of the volunteers to get her car. I decided to get dinner at one of the fast food places. I drove in and parked beside family. We had one good laugh, ordered our food and went our merry way.

The things of joy I saw yesterday were numerous.

    Mother's Day flowers from family.

   Lots of daffodils blooming.

    Tulips in bloom 

    Magnolia trees in bloom

    Leaves coming out on the trees

Spring was very late this year but it is now here and everything is waking up rapidly. I will be looking for pepper plants and some flowers to brighten up the yard. I have to plant more grass seed. The grass seed can be done now but plants can't go out until the beginning of June due to the late frosts we can get. 

My sleep patterns are improving some as I am less stressed and anxious. Daughter is in a better place mentally as she had a session about what to submit for mediation. The person she hired to help is a genius and puts everything into clear and concise language. Knowing this, my stress level has gone down a lot. 

Sewing

I was down to the sewing room and looked at the top I want to cut out and sew. I am ready to work on it when I have time. 

Knitting

I am still trying to figure out what I want to knit. I need to look at my patterns and make a decision. 

Thoughts

    I decided to get a subscription to Ancestry as it was on sale. I enjoy genealogy and it allows me to escape from the world. I relax and before I know it, an hour has passed. I do make lots of notes on people when I look at death, birth, and marriage certificates, census records, and items found at Find A Grave. 

    I have enjoyed not sewing or knitting for 2 days but need to start knitting at night. I find it keeps my hands and mind busy in the evenings. Sewing will begin once I have the time to spend in the sewing room. That could be tomorrow. 

Today

I am going to continue cleaning the kitchen this morning. I want to get it finished. I may sew this afternoon. I have to be out to work the bar for a couple of hours at the hall and will be home around 8 pm. I probably won't knit tonight but hope to be ready to knit again next week. 

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

Working On Self Care

 Yesterday it rained most of the day. The high got to 12C. This morning it is mainly clear and 5C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with some showers. The high is to get to 12C. 

Lifestyle

I worked on cleaning more cabinets and a couple I didn't touch as they were clean and organized. The ones I did clean needed doing as I use them all the time, especially the one that holds my baking supplies. I have 2 cupboard doors left to wipe down and I am done the cupboards. The only things left are to clean the inside of the fridge and scrub the window.  

I was out most of the day visiting my friend. She is moving and has wanted me to see what she has left and to help her with some things. I got us muffins and coffee and spent 4 hours with her. She is doing really well with her packing and I helped her sort some paper work. We had lots of laughs and talked about things about stress, anxiety, etc. which we both have. I told her I was going to really miss her when she moves and will miss our visits. 

I did not sew or knit. I gave myself permission to do nothing. I did miss knitting but am not sure what I will knit next. 

I did some more reading on my circle of control and that led me thinking about the anxiety I can have. I have had anxiety for many years and am finally admitting what causes it. 

    I over explain myself as I feel I need to justify everything even when no on has asked. 

    Replaying conversations in my head - over analyzing what I had said and thinking I said the wrong thing. I also will over analyze what others said about me which I need to ignore.

    Struggling to relax and always feeling like I need to be productive. 

    Procrastination on some important things which causes stress in my life. 

    Playing out "what if" in my mind as I think of the worst case scenario. 

    Feeling exhausted as my nervous system is tired. 

I did feel guilty not doing a lot yesterday but I refused to let it bother me. I just reminded myself I deserved a day of doing nothing. I wasn't really anxious about taking the day off.

I had to stop myself from over thinking last night. I read where some people are concerned about poor sales at their spring craft bazaars. They understand people are tighten their belts due to the cost of living soaring. I started to worry about the craft bazaar I want to sell at this November. I reminded myself that the success of the craft bazaar is outside of my circle of control. I reminded myself this wasn't income for me to survive. I made myself park my thoughts and relax. Telling myself that what is left will be donated or taken to the thrift store helped a lot. It was part of my plan in the first place. 

Marianne, I think lemon pudding with gingersnaps would be divine. We do not make the desserts for banquets, we order pies which are easier for us to put out on a dessert table. 

Today

I have to go out and make sandwiches this morning. I am not sure how the rest of my day will look. I may have to help daughter-in-law prep for the dinner tomorrow night or I may have to help serve at the celebration of life after lunch. I am going with the flow though I do have to be home to get flowers from daughter for Mother's Day. 

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

Working Towards Calmness

Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 22C. This morning it is wet, windy, and 13C. Today is supposed to be wet, windy, and 14C. 

Lifestyle

I had a busy day yesterday. I started the morning out cleaning the pantry. I only had 2 items to throw out due to their expired date. I emptied out each shelf, washed it down good and put things back neatly. 

I did each shelf until I was all the way down to the floor. The floor got washed as it was dirty. 

Daughter-in-law brought over 2 glass jars and I put sugar and rice in them. I called this job done. 

After a short break, I folded laundry and got it all put away. I also tended to Rosie. She has been busy so I emptied her dust bin and put in a new one. I also filled her water tank. 

Daughter-in-law let me know that a person had called about having a celebration of life at the community hall Friday afternoon. They had never called back and she found out yesterday they wanted the hall for 2 to 3 hours on Friday. I had to spend my afternoon making cookies for the luncheon we serve. I was okay with that. I wanted to try putting parchment paper on the cookie sheets so the cookies wouldn't stick. Worked perfectly. 

After making cookies, I did my stretches and then got a call that I could get the rental car right away. I was thrilled and by 4 pm I was driving home in a Nissan Versa. Once home, I put out the garbage and made dinner. 

Sewing

None done as I had to make cookies. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's hat last night and finished it. It is bigger than the first one I made. 

I put the hat on the doll and I like it much better on her. 

The smaller on will go into the Gotz doll's clothing bin as it will fit them due to a smaller head size. 

I had very little yarn left. I call this ball of yarn done. 

Thoughts

    I worked on my circle of control yesterday and found myself relaxing as the day went on. I did a lot of self talking when things came up and tried to remain neutral when dealing with stressful topics. I worked on being patient and not getting upset over things. I could feel a change in my body as the day went on. Getting the rental car was wonderful. The biggest bonus -- I slept all night with less awake time during the night. 

    We found out that grandson is now in Spain with his girlfriend and her father. He is supposed to be getting a job in a pizza place. When his girlfriend was asked some questions, she didn't answer so we know nothing more. All I can say is that this move was part of his plan. We know he is safe, he has done the paper work (what ever that is) and will be able to get diabetic supplies cheaply. I did not get stressed over it though I am disappointed he hasn't told his parents anything. It is his choice. 

    I saw a blue jay yesterday. The first one in a long time. I think they are building a nest in the same location as last year. I wonder if the cardinals will nest in that location again this year. If so, we will see them fighting with each other after the eggs hatch. 

Today

I am going to clean more cupboards this morning and make cookies this afternoon. I may get the doll's top cut out and will need to figure out the next knitting project. A bit of a relaxing day for me as the next two days are busy ones. 

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

A Great Check-Up

 Yesterday was sunny and hot (for us). The high got to 24C. This morning it is a mix of sun and clouds and 11C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 20C. 

Lifestyle

I had more conversations about the car rental at 8 am and I get a rental on Friday. They will pick me up to get it. It will be nice to know I have a car so I can do things on my own. 

I did my big stretch before going to see the doctor. I am trying not to take Tylenol so am back to stretching again. I do have a bit more pain but it is bearable. The stress I am having is causing me to have the muscle pain according to my doctor.

My visit to the doctor's was great. The blood tests showed my thyroid meds are correct, my liver is in the normal range, my A1C is 5.7%, my kidneys are at 48% and stable, and my hemoglobin is in the normal range. He looked at my blood pressure readings and is okay with them. We talked about my stress levels and I am to work on my circle of control. He asked if I wanted medication to sleep and I said no and he said good. He asked if I had gotten my covid vaccine and I said yes. My time at the doctors was about 30 minutes. 

I went with daughter-in-law to New Minas. She had to get hot tub chemicals and a couple of things at the hardware store. We had a great time talking and getting the items. We were home by 11 am. I had a drink and then started to clean the upper kitchen cabinets. I got two done and am ready to do the pantry so that side of the kitchen will be done. 

My two tomato plants are growing rapidly. They are healthy and are ready for a bit of fertilizer. 

Sewing

I did work on the doll's bicycle skirt. I am following the instructions to the letter. I serged the hems, finished the crotch seams, sewed on the pockets, and sewed the leg together on the left side. 

I marked the button holes on the right side. Once again, this skirt has stalled. I don't have buttons for it. 

On a positive note, the front flap is correctly done. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's hat last night but had to stop. The house was too warm and my hands were sweating. I am ready to do the decrease rows for the brim. 

Thoughts

    I am relieved that my blood work was fine. I was a bit worried as I wasn't as strict with my eating habits this time. I have beat the odds as I haven't had any issues with my blood sugar for 3 years. I am going back to a more strict way of eating as soon as I can get around on my own. 

    I am working on my circle of control. I have to let go of what others are doing even if I know it is wrong. I have to remember that others learn through their mistakes just like I had to. I have to bring back the calmness I enjoy in my life. I need to remember that I need to be more patient and relax rather than let things upset me and go into overdrive with worry. I need to stop being over sensitive about everything that is happening which I cannot control. It is going to be hard but I'm hoping I can do it. 

    I am very grateful that my daughter-in-law takes me where I need to go. She is a gem to do that for me. I am trying to keep my trips to a minimum as I do know how busy she is. 

Today

My goal today is to clean the pantry. I also need to fold 2 loads of laundry. I am parking the doll's skirt and will start on the doll's top. I hope to finish knitting the doll's hat tonight. I want to walk around a bit outside today and enjoy the lovely weather. I want to work on a few things that I can control and try to have a calmer day. 

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