Almost Half Done The Quilting

 Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 15C. This morning it is cloudy, damp, and 12C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with possible showers. The high is to get to 17C.

Lifestyle

I was out the door to make sandwiches yesterday morning. Just as we ended my glute had a terrible cramp in it and it almost put me on the floor. It came out of nowhere. I hobbled to the car when everything was done and headed home. 

At home, my neighbour brought me her horse's fly sheet to repair. We talked for a bit. When she left I hobbled to the couch and sat with heat on my sore spots. I was not a happy lady with the pain. 

I realized at about 7:30 pm I was exhausted. My emotions were all over the board; sad, angry, frustrated to name a few. By 8 pm I was in bed and fast asleep. I woke at 1:30 and then not again until almost 6 am. I do feel better this morning though I have a bit of soreness in my SI joint. 

Sewing

I spent over an hour sewing in the morning and got quite a bit done. After lunch, I drew some more lines and continued on. By 3:30 pm I was almost half done the quilting. 

I drew 5 more lines and have the bottom off white part of the border done and am ready to start on the gold part. 

I was down on the sewing floor to find a spool of thread. While down there, I hand swept all the loose threads into a pile and put it into the trash. I also picked up all the loose pins that had fallen out of the table runner. When at the cutting table I swept the floor and put it all into the trash. The trash was all put into one bag and taken out to the trash can in the garage. I did feel better doing that job.

Knitting

I knit another 8 rows on the afghan last night. It is growing slowly and the ball is getting smaller quite quickly now. 

I am waiting to see if the ball ends up being dark or light. That will help me choose the next ball of yarn. All of the wound yarn is sitting on the couch waiting for me to choose them for the afghan. 

Thoughts

    I didn't realize how exhausted I had gotten until last night. I know that I have been stressed out with the table runner. I have been pushing hard on other things. Combined it hasn't allowed me to sleep well at night. Add in pain and I had a vicious cycle happening. I have to start thinking about how I am going to deal with everything and still stay relaxed and calm so I sleep well. I do hope the pain subsides so I can do things I need to do.

    Yesterday a basking shark was spotted in the Bedford Basin in Halifax. The videos show it to be massive and it was swimming around at the yacht club. It was also spotted in the main part of the basin. They are said to be harmless but the size of it makes it look the opposite. 

Today

I am going to spend the morning doing a few things that need to be done and get a few groceries. I will work on the table runner this afternoon. I have a meeting to attend tonight and once home, I will knit on the afghan. 

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

Quilting Has Begun

 Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day with a high of 16C. This morning it is mostly cloudy and 5C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 16C. Tonight we will have rain. 

Lifestyle

It was out the door to make sandwiches. Four of us got them done in an hour. Once home I had my second cup of coffee and sat on the heating pad to help my SI joint relax. 

I was out the door around 11 am to go to the quilt shop closest to me. It was quite the drive. I went out Exit 5 onto the highway and it was busy, busy. Exit 5a ramp was full to the highway. I peeked down and saw the road Exit 5a goes into was backed up. I was happy I wasn't going down into that traffic jam. The highway was busy though as many people from the Halifax area were going to the wineries. It was a perfect day for that. 

On the way home, I noticed that Exit 5a was busy where I normally go when coming home from shopping in New Minas. I went by and the exit that was full on the way out was still full with cars backed up onto the highway. I heard it was taking people 45 to 60 minutes to get to the fair grounds. One good reason not to attend. 

I had to go out to the grocery store for daughter-in-law and I was worried about their parking lot. Usually people park in there and walk to the fair grounds. I actually was surprised that I got a parking spot close to the store. I got what I needed and headed to the hall. I visited with daughter-in-law for a few minutes and came home. She was bar tending and it was slow. I sold a water and a pop while I was there. 

Sewing

I spent a lot of time working on the table runner. Before going to the quilt shop I sewed the last border together and got it on the table runner. 

I decided that I was going to do diagonal stitching and needed thread to match the pumpkins and leaves. The reason for me going to the quilt shop was to get the thread. 

After lunch I sandwiched the table runner and got busy quilting it. What a lot of thread changes at the beginning. I got into a groove and got 9 rows done. 

The lines are hard to see and I have a few lines drawn which are the three you can see in the light blue/grey pumpkin. I have figured out I can do three rows of quilting at a time. Start at the bottom and work my way up which means less thread changes. Still a lot of work. My goal is to try and do 10 rows today. 

While at the quilt shop, I looked at the Christmas fabric. I found this fabric for the placemat challenge in December. 

The placemat I found is not a pattern, only how to make the flying geese. I will make the flying geese with the red and light fabric (flying cardinals). The print is for the center part of the placemat. I have figured out what I need to do but it won't happen until after I get the table runner done and the sewing room cleaned up. It is a mess. 

Knitting

I did knit on the afghan last night and got 6 or 8 rows knit. It is slowly growing and showing me how it will look done. The ball of yarn is getting smaller which is exciting. 

Thoughts

    My house cleaning is on hold until after I get the table runner done. It isn't bad but it isn't how I like to keep it. Once done, I will start doing house work and fall cleaning in the mornings. Until then, I am trying to keep areas clean when I am in that room. 

    I picked the peppers yesterday afternoon and enjoyed the sunshine. I got a medium sized zip bag filled for son. We were under a frost warning. It is cool and we got our first frost. The cool nights will help the leaves turn red which will be stunning to look at when out and about. 

    I realized yesterday that I have been stressed out. The table runner has consumed my life. It was a lot of work to get the top done. l know it has affected my IBS which had been pretty good all summer. I have decided that between now and the end of the year I will not be taking part in the contests. I will do the placemat challenge and a table runner class. The rest of it will be sewing with no deadlines attached. 

Today

I am out to make sandwiches this morning. Once home, I want to quilt on the table runner for most of the day so I can get it done. I have to stop early as I need to make dinner for two nights. I would love to knit tonight. 

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

Almost Done

 Yesterday was sunny and warm. The high got to 20C. This morning it is clear and 10C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 16C. There could be a risk of frost tonight. 

Lifestyle

I spent a lot of time sewing yesterday but I did go get groceries just before noon. I went my usual way and realized it was a mistake. The exhibition started yesterday and people were parking on the road and going into the grocery store parking lot to park. People were walking everywhere and it was slow going. I realized this too late as this weekend and the next on are not weekends to be shopping in town. 

The grocery store was busy but I got everything I needed and came home another way. I put it all into the fridge as most was to go to family's for sandwiches. 

And stupidly enough, I went the same route to pick up dinner. It wasn't as crazy as it would have been an hour later when people would go for the evening. The restaurant where I picked up dinner was nearly empty though it was only 4:30 pm. I am sure it would be busy with take out orders. 

Daughter-in-law and I finished making the fillings for the sandwiches and took them to the hall. We got it all put away and then we did the cookie trays. It was back to their place to watch some videos on houses in Uruguay and Argentina. These were the luxury homes where we said we might be able to afford a banana off one of the banana trees. What was surprising was how big the rooms were with some having dining room tables to seat 10 and outdoor bbq areas to seat 15 to 20 people. The kitchens were smaller in size relative to the size of the houses. It was interesting to look at the videos. 

Sewing

I worked on the table runner in the morning and afternoon. By lunch time, I had the border on the other end. I was pleased with how well it went together. 

After lunch I thought I would get two remaining yellow leaves cut out and one sewn. I was surprised that I got both the leaves sewn and attached to the table runner. 

I made great progress on it yesterday and am ready to get the thread for quilting it. This afternoon I hope to do that. 

Knitting

None done last night as I got home after 8 pm. 

Thoughts

    The exhibition held here each fall is a very long running fair. It started in 1765. It is the oldest continuously running fair in North America which goes back to 1815. I don't go now but when I did, I enjoyed watching the oxen pulls and the tractor pulls. My favourite is the oxen pulls. The owners are fabulous as they know when to stop their animals so they don't get hurt. One of the owners told us that a team can pull a specific weight one time and not the next. He said that the handler has to know when to stop the pull. 

    I am on call for the bar tonight. It is a small family reunion and daughter-in-law thinks she can do it on her own. I also put the catering for dinners into my calendar. I am not able to do one as I am out of town that day. I will help with the other 3. 

Today

I am out shortly to make sandwiches. Once home, I will finish the table runner and then head out to get the thread for it. I want to look at fabric for a class I am taking in November. This afternoon, I want to sandwich the table runner and then start quilting it. Tonight I will knit unless I need to help with the bar. 

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

A Fun Afternoon Out

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 20C. This morning it is raining and 14C. Today is supposed to be raining until noon and then cloudy with showers. The high is supposed to get to 19C. 

Lifestyle 

I spent a bit of time reading and fixing up my copy of the quilter's guild's bylaws before going out to get my hair cut. I had a nice visit with my hair dresser as we talked about gardening and decluttering. Her mom is my age or a bit older and she is decluttering her house. 

Once home, I finished looking at the bylaws and then emptied the dishwasher and folded laundry. By then I noticed my SI joint was very painful. I laid on the couch and did the 3 minute stretch for the joint and a 90 second stretch for the piriformis. Then it was on the bed to do another stretch and the two types of windshield wiper stretches. I got a good crack just as I was almost done the last windshield wiper stretch. My SI joint was really tight.  

After lunch I picked up the other lady who was helping with the bylaws and we were off to meet the third person. We met at a small coffee place which not only sells coffee but roasts their own blend of beans. We went through the bylaws with a fine tooth comb, read another set of bylaws to help us with our thoughts, and finally went through some notes that needed to be dealt with. It was then time to come home. I got home around 3:30 pm. I was tired as I was still dealing with the SI joint being tender from its workout. 

Sewing

I was downstairs to the sewing room and cut the top border fabrics. It is ready for me to sew. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got 6 rows knit. The afghan is growing in length. 

I am glad that I ripped it apart and started it again on smaller sized needles. 

Thoughts

    It is the start of crazy for me. We have to make sandwiches for 4 celebrations of life; 2 this weekend and 2 next weekend. We also have to man a bar this weekend and next weekend. Top it off with having to go to the city to get more supplies. I know we will be tired by next Sunday afternoon.

    Yesterday morning I saw a deer in the yard 4 houses down. It was a doe and she was grazing quietly on the grass. I am sure she went up to the next street to have a feast on some lush hostas. The deer are still around but in smaller numbers. They haven't been in my yard. I am wondering if I am exempt due to being closer to housing development. 

Today

I am going to work on the table runner this morning before I go to get groceries. I will do more on it this afternoon. I have to pick up dinner for tonight as I am at family's to help finish up prepping for sandwiches. I am sure we will be at the hall doing sweet trays as we are going to take the fillings to the hall tonight. I may or may not get to knit tonight. 

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

Progress On The Table Runner

 Yesterday was another sunny warm day with a high of 22C (humidex 24C). This morning it is partly cloudy and 13C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with showers and the high is supposed to get to 20C. 

Lifestyle

I got outside and swept the deck down. Then I washed the table and put it away on its side against the house. I also picked some of the ripened jalapeño peppers. I will pick the rest next week and put those tubs into the shed. 

I got the sheets laundered and the bed made in the afternoon. I did a few small chores and then went down a rabbit hole for a while. It was time to do some research on Canadian history. 

How Canada grew from the 4 original provinces to what it is today is interesting. Some provinces joined with defined boundaries. Two provinces were created after Canada bought the land from the Hudson Bay Company. This area became two provinces as they were heavily populated farming areas and could support themselves as provinces. Canada also bought the land which is Yukon and the North West Territories. These areas are not provinces as they cannot support themselves due to climate.  

I did learn a lot. Some of it was review as we did learn some of it in high school and university. Some of the information was new as they didn't teach it to us. Digging into our history is interesting. My last trip down a rabbit hole was when I read about the Confederation of Canada when in PEI last summer. We learned all about it in school but the tidbit that is skimmed over is that the paperwork was signed in PEI but that province did not join Canada until 6 years later. A whole other story. 

Last night I was at the hall to help out with the "Jam" session. This happens once a week where people come out to either listen or play music or sing for a few hours. They sing mainly country and western or old tunes. Two or three people volunteer to make coffee and sell some snacks to the people. They also do some work that needs to be done. Last night we put silicone covers on the feet of the chairs. I was there for 2.5 hours with daughter-in-law and another person and will go a couple of times a month. 

Sewing

I fixed the one block that was wrong in the green leaf. I then cut out the pieces for the next yellow leaf block. I cut and sewed that yellow leaf together trying to figure out which way the seams needed to be pressed. I had to walk away from it for a few minutes as I was not getting it. The break worked wonders. 

The other short side was put together. I am making sure that I have the leaves turned the proper way before I join it to the main part. 

The downside of having the leaves all attached is that I have to rip open half a seam when I attach a leaf. If I don't have them attached, I spend too much time running to the computer to look at the layout. It is a pain either way but I find having them attached is easier on my brain. 

The next step is to add the border piece to the top of the runner so it is finished. Then two yellow leaves and the border on the bottom. Then it can be sandwiched and quilted. 

I sat for a bit looking at the table runner and asked myself why I chose a pattern with so many small pieces in it. My study in using soft colours has worked. I didn't realize I had add a challenge of doing an intricate piecing project. At the moment I have 10 days to finish it in. I am hoping to have it done before that. 

Knitting

I did none last night as I got home after 8 pm and was sore. 

Thoughts

    I have not done a lot of fall cleaning in the kitchen as I have been trying to get other things done. I still have a few things to do outside and then I can focus on fall cleaning. The remainder of this month is busy with other things and I need to find a balance of home and volunteer work. 

    As I write this, the fog has rolled in fast and thick. I can just see across the road but not any further than that. If it keeps coming in, I may not be able to see much of anything. This is fall in our area. 

Today

I have a hair cut this morning. Once home, I need to fold laundry and do a bit of cleaning up. I am out for a meeting at 1 pm and I hope that I can sew the binding onto the top of the table runner. I hope to knit tonight.

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

Progress On the Table Runner

 Yesterday was sunny and warm. The high got to 20C. This morning it is mainly clear and 8C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 22C.

Lifestyle

I decided it was time to clean the deck. I started out emptying the pots of tomatoes and found that the wasps were enjoying the fruits. They were quite upset that I was taking away their food source so we had a talk with the spray can. They left and I finished the job. I also emptied the two containers of cucumber plants. I picked 6 cucumbers from those plants. One container's dirt was emptied into the compost bag as it was a mass of roots. The 5 containers were then put into the shed for the winter. 

I went around to the garage and got my wagon and loaded the big bag of compost into it. I struggled it down the deck stairs as it was quite heavy. I then emptied the 3 flower pots of their flowers and put away all the solar lights. I also put away my little bbq as I won't be using it. I hauled the wagon back to the garage. I was done, tired, and a bit sore. I still have to sweep the deck, clean the table and put it on its side against the house for winter. 

Just as I was finishing up, the fellow arrived to seed the lawn. He wrangled the big machine around the yard and down into the ditch. The machine slits the ground and puts seed into the slits. He also threw some seed on the worst part of the lawn so it will come in thicker. I sat and watched him for a few minutes and then rested on the couch. It took me some time to recover from the cleaning I did. 

Though I was stiff and sore, by the time I went to bed, I was fine. No tight SI joint or sore muscles rebelling from having to work. I am happy about that as I have to weed, once again, behind the shed. It is a mess around the rose bush. 

Sewing

I worked on the table runner yesterday. All the yellow and off-white squares are cut out for the half triangles. I cut out all the remaining pieces for one leaf block. I sewed, trimmed, squared and got the first yellow leaf block done. I carefully picked back part of the seam holding the green and red leaves together and attached the yellow leaf. 

Next up, I cut the strips for the border along one side. I carefully sewed the border strip onto the leaves and attached it to the main part of the table runner. 

 

It looks wonky as two leaves are not sewn together properly. I did sew them together to start with so I knew what they would look like and so the seams nested when sewn together. 

I also need to check the right top green leaf as I have a half triangle sewn in wrong. It is an easy fix. The next leaf will go onto the other end so I can finish it. We are getting there slowly but surely. 

Knitting

None done last night. 

Thoughts

    I just started sewing pillow cases for the quilter's guild. They supply the fabric and we do the sewing. It is for a good cause and it involves children. The other sewing I do is for one or two field dog clubs. The club the apron went to is the first time I have sewn for and donated to them. The other club I have sewn and donated to twice. I won't be doing anything for them this year as daughter won't be attending it. 

    I am trying to figure out if we had a shower go through last night. Everything is soaking wet and we don't get dew that heavy. The sky is pink this morning as we have rain coming tomorrow night. Perfect for the newly seeded lawn. 

    Daughter-in-law was over last night and brought my order of C-light drink that she ordered from Argentina. I also got 3 packages of cookies. We had a good visit and a couple of good laughs. 

Today

I want to sweep the deck and put away the table after the deck dries off. I need to fold laundry and do more laundry. I want to sew on the table runner today. I am out at the community hall tonight to help with at music night (called jam sessions). It is just selling water, pop, and snack food. It will be an easy day today for me. 

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

Pillow Cases Finished

 Yesterday was mainly sunny and humid. The high got to 21C (humidex 26C). This morning it is clear and 8C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 20C. 

Lifestyle

It was cooking day for me. I made a batch of meat sauce which turned out really tasty. I am trying to use up what meat I have in the freezer so I can get stock up again in December. I got 5 dishes of sauce for meals and put 3 into the freezer. 

While the sauce was cooking, I tidied up the kitchen. I did a good cleaning of the counter tops and they were dusty. With construction across the road we have dust floating in and around all the time. I also made sure that what I had fall cleaned was still staying clean. I want to get back to fall cleaning soon. 

I went out to get a couple of items from the grocery store. It was then that I felt the humidity. The grocery store wasn't very busy and I got done in good time. 

Dinner was easy last night. I had gnocchi with the meat sauce and a salad. I do enjoy meals that I make and am going to be doing more. It is time to start thinking about soup even though it is going to be warm for the next few days. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon sewing the pillow cases. I almost have a system going for them. I am not a fan of the trim as I can't get them to match at the side seam. I am thinking I may have to baste them down before sewing the cuff. They seem to shift a bit on me. 

I did stitch the trim piece down as these pillow cases will be washed a lot. The last pillow case I made, I was a bit worried as I couldn't find the rust thread. I had some on a bobbin so I used it for the top and didn't change the bobbin thread. 

I now need to put them into a zip bag and return them on October 13. 

It will be back to the table runner and the yellow leaves. It was good to have a break from it as I am now ready to work on small pieces of fabric. 

Knitting

I knit 6 rows last night and the afghan is growing slowly. I enjoy watching the yarn go from dark to light and back again. 

Thoughts

    I went down a rabbit hole researching recipes I can make that are flavourful and nutritious. I do have a list of soups I can make as I do eat a lot of soup for lunch. I have a few ideas in place for dinner. Most recipes are large and if I can't freeze them I have to eliminate them. I hate eating the same food for 5 days in a row. 

    I saw two mature deer with two babies the other day. There are a few of them still around but most seem to have moved on to a quieter area. I did notice less damage of plants in the area this year and they certainly did not come into my yard at all. The biggest reason is all the development going on around us. 

Today

I am going to start putting everything away outside. The lawn is going to be seeded today which will be nice. I want to work on the table runner this afternoon and knit tonight. 

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

Making Pillow Cases For Charity

 Yesterday started out sunny and then was cloudy in the late afternoon with rain last night. The high got to 22C (humidex 25C). This morning it is cloudy and 18C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 23C (humidex 28C). 

Lifestyle

When I went to do the balance sheet, I discovered I was locked out of my bank account. I tried twice and it was locked. I then spent some time cleaning the kitchen to see if it was a glitch in the system. Kitchen was nice and clean and I was still locked out of my account using the web but not on the app. 

I placed the call to find out what was wrong and the lovely lady asked me to try another web browser. I had to go into the vault to get my password and when I clicked on it, the web page opened and all was good. The lady was just as surprised as I was. We chatted for a few minutes as it was slow at the call center. 

I did the balance sheet with one stupid mistake on my part. Found it, fixed it, and finished the balance sheet with no other issues. I then spent some time printing out the osteopathy receipts to make sure they are all in the medical fine for when I file my taxes. It was 11:30 am and all the paperwork was in its right spot. At that point, I put the laundry into the dryer and called it a morning. 

I did not get the plants pulled out yesterday as it got too warm and humid. There was a storm coming in and it was definitely tropical. I did water the plants as I have cucumbers and jalapeño peppers to pick. My last job of the day was to take out the garbage. 

Sewing

I decided to sew pillow cases yesterday. I didn't have the lady's pattern but know there are many out on the internet. I turned to one of my favourite channels -- The Fat Quarter Shop -- to see how she made them. I watched the video and then did the steps as I watched it the 2nd time. One pillow case got done. 

I wondered about the cuff being cut like it is but I saw on Pin Cut Sew that is how she does hers. This pillow case looks short but it is folded in half. 

I did start the 2nd pillow case and have it ready to sew the French seams. I did stitch down the little accent piece as I heard the lady say she likes that as these pillow cases go to hospitals. 

I need to take it apart and turn it so the print is the other way (heads to the left), then finish it and the 3rd one today. It is a nice break from the table runner and all its tiny pieces. 

Knitting

I did knit 4 rows on the afghan last night. My shoulder has been sore so I am knitting slower than I usually do. 

Thoughts

    I wasn't as sore yesterday but my SI joint did rebel some. I wondered if it was the way I sit on the couch. I forced myself to sit back into the couch and straighter. It did help a lot as my SI joint didn't rebel as much. I did do my rotation stretches and had a small crack (release) when I went to bed. I slept all night and have very little pain this morning. 

    It rained hard last night. I read it was over an inch that fell in about 4 to 5 hours. We knew it was coming and there was a rain warning for the west half of the province. It has brought in some warm weather with it which can happen. One good thing is that the nights will be cool until Wednesday night when the next small system will move through. 

    Daughter spent the weekend showing dogs in Saskatchewan. The youngest one (under a year old) won 4th in his age group. That is quite an accomplishment for her as she is training this dog with the help of a friend. She is learning as he is learning. 

    The apron and placemats were auctioned off and they raised $175.00 for the club. I am truly shocked they got that much for them. But am grateful that I was able to donate something for the auction so the club has money to do the things they need to do. 

Today

I have a list of items to do -- fold laundry, do laundry, get a few groceries I need, and clean some more cupboards. I also have to make dinner for the next couple of nights. This afternoon I would like to finish sewing the pillow cases. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. 

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

A Very Busy Day

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 21C. This morning it is mainly clear and 7C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with rain tonight. The high is supposed to get to 21C. 

Lifestyle

Daughter-in-law picked me up and we were at the hall by 8 am to make sandwiches. I made the cucumber sandwiches before I started cutting and putting the sandwiches on trays. I kept moving around as I was sorer than I thought I would be. The job was done by 9 am. 

Daughter-in-law and I headed to the city. Our first stop was in Bedford as she had to pick up her glasses at Walmart. We got groceries for her and the sandwiches while there. We were walking up to get cat litter and I found my book. 

I was really excited as it is something I have been hunting for. Crazily enough, I missed it when I shopped at the store on Friday. 

We did snoop in the clearance section. I bought a 2 lb weight to hold my smaller rulers in place when cutting quilting strips. I also bought a pizza cutter. 

Our next stop was the Wholesale Store. It is where you buy big batches of food. We buy certain items there for making sandwiches and for catering dinners. 

It was then off to Costco. By this time we had been in 3 communities. Costco was super busy and very frustrating. We had 2 buggies as we were buying in bulk. I went off to get lunch (hotdogs and pop) and daughter-in-law discovered that she had items on her receipt that were someone else's. She had to get a refund on them. How did that happen? The lady who will put your small orders on your card so you only have to pay at the till started ours and said it was too large. She forgot to cancel our order and went to the next person. We will never use that service as it was the last straw of our trip. But really, it wasn't. 

Our next and last stop was the Asian store. We went in our usual way only to find that the next exit was being paved and we couldn't get through. We had to turn around and go down further to get in. It was so busy with people not knowing what to do that she parked the car in an empty spot and walked down to the store. She got what she needed and we left the city. 

We got home in good time and I hobbled into the house. I was extremely sore and it was limiting my mobility. I put heat on my SI joint, I rolled it, I walked about, and nothing was working. My SI joint was tight and the muscles were letting me know that they were protecting it. It was an afternoon of pain and discomfort. When I went to bed, I gave it one good stretch and there was a loud crack and the pain was almost gone. I stretched it a couple more times. No more cracks. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I was in pain. 

Knitting

I did knit 4 rows on the afghan last night. 

It is coming along slowly but surely. I do have all winter to knit on it. 

Thoughts

    I had an extremely busy week. Some of my tiredness was from that. Some was from the pain I had with my SI joint rebelling. This week I will be out doing things but I am going to pace myself a bit better. 

    Falling coming and it has been wonderful having cool mornings and warmer afternoons. I want to do a bit of work outside as I start to prep the yard for winter. We are lucky enough that this weather could last until mid October or even later. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet, tidy up inside, do laundry and clean up the plants on the deck. I am going to sew the pillow cases today and get them off the list. I hope to knit tonight. It is a day at home for me after a busy week. 

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

Progress On The Table Runner

 Yesterday was sunny and windy with a high of 17C. This morning it is clear and 9C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 21C. 

Lifestyle

I went into Bedford to shop. My first stop was Walmart where I got groceries and a few other sewing items. I then went to Michaels to try to get a swivel lobster clip. I got a couple of item but not what I really wanted. They will get used. The last stop was Dollarama. There I got dog treats and something for lunch. Then it was time to head for home. 

The trip home was windy. It pushed the car all over the road. But, I still was able to look at the scenery. The maple leaves are turning red and some of the other leaves are turning yellow. I always wonder if we will have a spectacular show of colours every year. I love looking at the trees when they are red, yellow, and orange. 

I was over to family's for dinner. It was a curry which we all really like. Then it was time to make the fillings for the sandwiches. I was doing most of the work as I need to do it on my own while daughter is away. While doing it, I started to hurt as I was wearing a pair of slippers. I laid down on the couch and did my stretch and I could feel the SI joint releasing nicely. I did the piriformis stretch and the SI joint cracked. I was up and back to work when that happened. Once done the fillings, I came home. 

Sewing

I finished the green leaves and am happy they are done. I now have the table runner on the floor so I can see it better. 

I am going to cut all the pieces for the yellow leaves next so I don't have to cut them while I sew. It is then the border strips between the leaves and the top will be done. 

I bought a bundles and a fat quarter of fabric from Walmart. My challenge is to make a placemat from it. I may have to buy the tan colour piece for the backing. We wait and see as I would love to use it all in the placemat before buying any more. 

I have also laid out the fabric for a first aid bag. The challenge is to use fabrics I have in the scrap bin. I did buy a zipper for it. 

Knitting

None done last night as it was late when I got home. 

Thoughts

    It was 25 years ago yesterday that I watched in horror that happened at the Twin Towers. I spent a few minutes remembering those people who lost their lives and of those who are still affected today. I also thought of Gander Newfoundland who looked after 6800 airline passengers that were directed to land there. It is hard to believe that 10,000 people took in, fed, and helped those passengers while they were there and to do it on a moment's notice. 

Today

I am off shortly to make sandwiches and then to shop with daughter-in-law for supplies for sandwiches. If I have time this afternoon I would like to cut out the pieces for the yellow leaves. I hope to knit tonight. 

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

Planning Sewing Projects

 Yesterday started out wet, by noon the sun was shining. The high got to 25C (humidex 30C). This morning it is clear and 13C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 20C.

Lifestyle

It was a slow day for me. I was tired. I did what I needed to do, had a nap, and got through the day. 

Sewing

As I was tired, I did not attempt to sew. I did cut a few squares and then cut them into triangles. I am ready to start making the 3rd green leaf block. 

I spent some time looking at fabric in the sewing room. I got out the Christmas fabric and have to say it is a tiny amount. I was rummaging to see if I had enough for a Christmas placemat. Nope. I will have to buy some. 

The next thing I looked at was the fabric daughter sent me for making items for auctions. I am going to snitch a tiny bit to make a breeder's emergency bag after I finish the table runner. I have a few ideas running in my head. 

Once upstairs, I figured out how much fabric I need for the bag I want to make. The videos I watch give wonderful instructions but never give the amount you need to buy if you are making the item. It doesn't take long to figure it out but I usually make one mistake. I try to get more but sometimes I short myself. 

Yesterday blogger had a glitch and wouldn't let me post pictures. Here they are a day late. 

As I said yesterday, I may have to unstitch some on the blocks where they join to add the border, it won't be that much of an issue. 

I am really liking the softness of the colours and am looking forward to seeing how it will look when it is done. Once the leaves are made, the rest will be easy. Or I hope it will be. 

Knitting

None done yesterday. 

Thoughts

    Though I was tired yesterday, I wasn't exhausted like I was the other time I had a bad night's sleep. I was able to putter around and do things and think and calculate. I did sleep better last night which is good. 

    I have a list of a few things I want to sew over the next few months (end of the year). Some are for the breeder's bag, some for challenges for the guild, and some have techniques I want to learn. I will buy some fabric and use some from the stash or the scrap bucket. Some are easy projects and others are more complicated and need designing. 

    After a lot of rain, it is nice to see the sun again. We will be having a lot of sun this coming week which is wonderful. The bonus is the cooler nights so the windows can be open to air out the house. 

Today

I am off to Bedford to shop. I have a couple of stores to go to. Once home, I would like to sew for an hour or 2. I am out to family's for dinner and then daughter-in-law and I will be making the fillings for sandwiches that will be made tomorrow. No knitting tonight. 

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

An Evening Out

Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 16C. This morning it is windy and raining. It is 14C. Today is supposed to be wet and windy with a high of 20C. 

Lifestyle

I started out the morning fall cleaning the kitchen. My usual spot to start is under the kitchen sink. I pulled everything out and am embarrassed to say I have move cleaners than I need. I did put almost empty bottles into fuller bottles but I still have too many cleaners. I need to work through them all and then only have what I need. 

With that sorted out, I kept out two cleaners and started to clean the bottom cupboards. The insides were cleaned with a cleaner I am trying to use up. The outsides were cleaned with a degreaser. The first cupboard was easy. Clean and put everything back in as I do use those items. The lazy Susan cupboard was decluttered. The top shelf had nothing to go as it has my pots and pans on it. The bottom has plastic containers I use when I make meals. I went through them all and tossed a lot of them out (recycle). What I kept will be tossed eventually but I need to find glass replacements. 

The bank of small drawers was next. I started from the bottom and worked up. I don't need to buy plastic wrap, tin foil, etc. for a while. I do use them all the time but have a good stock on hand. I did the tea towel drawer. Ditto for it. Cooking utensils had one item tossed and I need to replace one item. The top drawer has my measuring spoons, small knives, and scale. All kept. 

I did wash down and shine the dishwasher and then cleaned and did the front of the stove. I was done at that point as my body was rebelling. When I go back to cleaning, I will pull out the stove and clean the sides which I do frequently. 

I was out last night to a quilter's guild meeting. It was one long meeting but the group is very nice. I am helping with their constitution next week. I am also going to make pillow cases which goes to a charity. In the process of cleaning up and setting a date for the constitution, I lost the instructions for the pillow case and my name card holder. They were left behind on a table as someone separated them thinking the pillow case kits were hers. I will get it sorted out next month. I was exhausted when I got home but couldn't settle down to sleep. Hence, I am tired today. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon working on the green leaves. Cutting the squares bigger made trimming them easier. I got 2 leaf blocks made and sewn onto the red ones. 

I have no pictures today as blogger won't upload them for some unknown reason. 

I sewed the green blocks to the red as each green one is pressed to nest into the red one. I can undo them when I go to sew the outer band onto the table runner. 

The quilters guild is very busy. They have challenges and classes once a month. This month is a witch which I won't attend as I don't decorate for Halloween. I am hoping that the lady who showed the spicy swirling bargello table runner will do the it as a class and I will definitely take it. The challenge for December is to make a placemat to bring for the pot luck luncheon. I will do that. One lady asked me if I would partner with her to do a bag class. I have some plans in place for that. 

Thoughts

    I woke at about 4:30 am to the wind blowing in my bedroom window. I got up and closed all the windows as I knew the rain would be arriving in the next hour. I also realized that I will be putting on the extra blanket soon as we are going to have some cooler nights. Fall is definitely here and I want to be warm while having the windows open at night. 

    It was nice to get out and be with a group of ladies. I do know a few and met a few more. I will try to be active in the group and support them. There are quite a few quilter's groups in the area and this one is trying their best to have classes, challenges, and other fun things to do. They do pay people to come in and do classes and if they ask me, I know I will do it free of charge. 

Today

It is rest day for me as I slept poorly last night. I will do what I can but I won't do complicated projects like the table runner. I don't know if I will knit tonight or if I will be awake enough to do that. It is a wait and see day for me. 

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

Learning While I Sew

 Yesterday was a mix of sun, clouds, and rain. The high got to 18C. This morning it is partly cloudy and 8C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 16C. 

Lifestyle

It was osteopathy first thing. The drive down was nice with nothing spectacular happening. I had a treatment that was different from the others. She focused on my right shoulder, ribcage, and hip/thigh as I was standing straight and was fully balanced. I just had a bunch of tight muscles that needed to be dealt with. 

When I left osteopathy, it was raining a bit. I went to get some groceries and when I parked you could see two police cars at the front of the store. A little boy made perfect siren noises which had several of us chuckling. As we walked inside, the police were escorting a man in handcuffs out to the car. The rest of my shopping was boring after that. I got what I needed and left for home. 

Once home I put away the groceries and had lunch. I promptly fell asleep on the couch for about 45 minutes. Though I was sore, my muscles had relaxed and it left me tired. It does happen occasionally after osteopathy. 

Sewing

I cut out the rest of the solid red squares and started to sew the blocks. I am going to say I was a bit frustrated with the half squares as they seemed to be a tiny bit wonky. I pushed through ripping seams apart to make sure everything was done well. I got the 4 leaf blocks done.  

When done, I went to look at how to make 8 half triangles at a time and found more information on half triangles. The pattern has you cut 1 7/8" squares and make 1.5" half-triangle squares. The information I found suggested you cut the squares to 2.5" and trim a bit more off them for more accurate squares. I didn't look at how to do 8 at a time as I want to try cutting larger squares to make the half triangles. 

I found another tote pattern like the one I wrote about yesterday. This one is lined which I like better. It has the front pocket of which you can do one on each side. She uses webbing for the straps but you can use fabric or you can cover the webbing with fabric. She also has separate videos on how to do a zipper inside, snap closure, and zipper at the top. Both of the bags are perfect and which one you make depends on if you want lined or unlined. If I make bags for donations I like them lined. 

Knitting

I knit 4 rows on the afghan last night. Not a lot but I got some done. 

I keep saying to myself that each 4 rows knit is another inch done. 

Thoughts

    The jalapeño peppers are starting to turn red. There are 6 that are red and I will take them to family on Friday. They have done well considering the cold spring and wet weather we have had. 

    I will have to spend a bit of time outside pulling weeds and put the flower pots back into the shed. I would like to empty all the pots this year and start next year with fresh soil. 

Today

I am going to start fall cleaning the kitchen starting in the cupboards. I want to cut out the pieces for the green leaves for the table runner. Tonight I am out to see if I want to join a quilting guild. 

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

A Maple Leaf Block Laid Out

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy with some wind. The high got to 17C. This morning it is minaly clear and 14C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with some showers. The high is to get to 18C. 

Lifestyle

I got the bathroom done. I scrubbed the shower and used a bleach product on the shower curtain and base of the shower to make sure no pink mould would grow. Then I tackled the toilet. When they were cleaned, I started to wipe down the walls. I used a mop as I can't get to a lot of the areas using a ladder. The walls weren't that dirty, mainly dusty. I did the floor last doing part on my hands and knees and part with the mop. It is now officially cleaned and I am happy to have that room done. 

I did get side tracked a bit. I want two cleaners and the toilet bowl cleaner in the bathroom. I had watched a video on shopping at Dollarama and the person said that the difference between a cleaner and a disinfectant is one has a DIN number (EPA in the US). I wanted one of each in the bathroom. I do have one of each in the bathroom now. I also know that finding the DIN number on the bottle is difficult to find as it is in such small printing. I am going to confess that I have a lot of cleaners under the kitchen sink once again. I have pledged to use them up and stream line them once again. 

My shoulder has been hurting since taking the afghan apart and winding the yarn into balls. I wondered if I had irritated it and some muscles were sore. I rotated it last night and it cracked really good. Pain is virtually gone. I am monitoring it to make sure I don't over do it when knitting. 

Sewing

The first job of the afternoon was to starch the remaining fabric so I can cut leaves and border pieces. My iron gummed up with the starch left on the ironing board. I had to clean it so it wouldn't mark the fabric. 

I started to make the leaves for the corner blocks of the table runner. I cut small squares and made half triangles. I sewed, trimmed, and pressed these little pieces to make sure they were perfect. I realized when I was almost done that I could make them 8 at a time using a 5.25" square of fabric. I also did the stem square. I did finish cutting out the pieces for one square and called it a day. 

I do have the half triangle squares and the stems for the other 3 blocks done in the red. I want to cut out the solid blocks and sew them all at once. The worst is done for this colour. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and did my shoulder hurt a lot. It was after I had done 8 rows that I stretched and rotated it. 

I do like the feel of the afghan using these needles. Dense enough to keep me warm but loose enough to feel soft. 

With 300 stitches and 10 balls of yarn to knit, I will be busy for a while. 

Thoughts

    I watched a video by Pin Cut Sew yesterday and she was making her version of the Trader Joe bag. I am thinking I will make a couple of these this winter and call. them "Breeder Survival Bags" and donate them to field trials. I can add some dog treats, poop bags, a few snacks and a bottle of wine. The pocket can be the focal point of the bag. 

    Daughter let me know last night that she had to go to emergency as she was in a lot of pain. She has a rotor cuff injury and is wearing a brace to help keep it still. I am sure the cause is from the dogs pulling on their leashes. She will get over it and people are going to help her at the next field trial. They will take the dogs out and bring them back in during the competition. On the up side of the weekend, Ruger now gets a name change as he has enough points to achieve his FTCH (field trial champion). The hard work she had done has paid off. 

Today

I am out for osteopathy this morning. I need to get a few groceries afterwards. Once home, I want to work on the maple leaf squares with hopes of having all 4 sewn together. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. The beginning of a busy week for me. 

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

Starting the Afghan Again

 Yesterday was wet, windy and the high got to 14C. This morning it is cloudy and 11C. Today is supposed be cloudy with showers and a high of 17C.

Lifestyle

I started the morning out doing the balance sheet. No problems or issues with it and I was done in about 40 minutes. I put it away and then folded laundry. Not a hard job to do and I was glad to have it done. 

As I was sitting watching it rain and thinking of the heavy rainfall in Cape Breton, a car backed into the driveway. I put the laundry into the bedroom and headed out to talk to the people. They had come to buy the antique desk.

I thought the man was buying the desk but it was his son. The young man loves antiques and when he saw it on Facebook Marketplace, he wanted it to do his writing at. His dad called him an "old soul". At that moment, I knew the desk was going to a good home as it would be loved and used. We had used it over the years and loved it. 

Mid afternoon I went to Dartmouth with family. Daughter-in-law and I went to Costco and Walmart so she could get a few things. I got coffee, slippers, and Halloween candy. After that was done, we headed to have dinner. We went to The Naan Factory for Indian food. We had rice, 3 curries, and naan. It was delicious. Two of the curries were mild and the third one had a bite to it. All had chicken in them. The naan were the best I have eaten. 

After dinner, we walked down the strip mall to an Asian food store. It was different to the other asian food stores we go to. More spices than you could ever imagine. Daughter-in-law found a date paste she uses when cooking Thai food. We wandered the whole store looking at everything. From there we headed for home. October is going to be Thai food and after that they will look for other ethnic restaurants. It is going to be our once a month out for dinner. 

Sewing

I did not sew yesterday. I need to starch fabric and let it dry while I cut out and sew the 4 red maple leaf blocks. 

Knitting

I ripped out the 6 rows I had knit on the afghan, changed the needle size and cast on 300 stitches in the afternoon. I knit 6 rows last night and am ready to start on the pattern. I do like the feel of the knitting on the larger needles. 

Thoughts

    It rained a lot yesterday. The storm swirled back on to us which they forecasted. Most of the time, the rain came down heavy but it did ease at times. The wind blew a lot and was still blowing good at 10 pm. By then the rain had stopped. Everything is soaking wet which is great. 

    Daughter let me know that her dog, Ruger, won the field trial again yesterday. I will find out more today. 

Today

I am back to cleaning the bathroom this morning and hope to starch the rest of the table runner fabric. I want to cut and start sewing the red maple leaves. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. Today is a quiet day for me as most stores are closed on Labour Day Monday. 

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