Halloween Wall Hanging Completed

 Yesterday was cloudy with flurries. The high got to -2C (windchill -6C) at midnight. This morning it is cloudy and -3C (windchill -6). Today is suppose to be cloudy with flurries and a high of -2C (windchill -10C).

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I pushed myself by cleaning the living room. It is done and I am happy. I also vacuumed the dining room, hall, spare bedroom, and kitchen. I also mopped the stairs and front entry way. I have to say I was tired when I got done. 

I also laundered the bed sheets and made the bed. My bedroom is ready to be cleaned on Friday. I am hoping it will be easy to clean as I have it pretty empty at the moment. 

I was out to get groceries yesterday afternoon. It is so quick to get to the store now that I can go through the area behind me. Two turns and I am on the street to the grocery store. I got what I needed (not wanted) and was home in good time. 

Sewing

I finished sorting through the books and then did the patterns. I have one fabric container for patterns that I make and hope to make, another fabric container with a pattern system I want to try to try once again, and one empty container. I also sorted through the doll patterns and tossed the pdf patterns I won't make again (they are on the tetra drive) and let go of a few patterns I was gifted 7-8 years ago but won't make. That container is now 70% full vs being crammed full. 

I also finished the Halloween wall hanging. It took some time as the rings like to slide around when putting them on. I took my time and didn't panic when I had to adjust the rings a couple of times. I wasn't in a hurry. 

It and another small wall hanging was delivered when I went grocery shopping. I am happy it is done and I hope she enjoys it when she decorates Halloween. The other wall hanging is tulips which she can hang up in late February when we are all craving spring. 

Knitting

I knit 12 rows last night. The front of the vest is slowly growing in length. 

I can knit and watch tv as I have the pattern memorized. It is such a nice pattern to knit and the yarn is soft. 

Thoughts

    We have a skiff of snow on the ground. I am not whining after watching short videos on the storms in the US. I am shocked at how much snow has fallen in such a short time. I keep everyone in my thoughts at this time. 

    My knees hurt like crazy yesterday. Both of them throbbed and I wondered about the weather. The barometric pressure dropped below 100 kPa and the storm over New Brunswick dropped down over us. They are better today as the barometric pressure went up some but they will hurt if it drops again today. 

    Today's decluttering in the sewing room is scissors and rotary cutters. No purging here as I have 2 rotary cutters, 1 pair of paper scissors, 1 pair of fabric scissors and a 4 pairs of other scissors plus a pair of snips still in the package. It isn't a lot as I take one pair of scissors to the area I hand sew in and return them back to the sewing machine when I am done. What I need to do is empty the drawers under the cutting table and tidy them up. I am sure I have some items in them that are trash. 

Today

I am hoping to go up to the quilt shop and look at fabric for daughter. Once home, I want to clean the drawers under the cutting table and decide on what I want to make next. I have to empty recycling containers and get it down to the curb this afternoon for pick up tomorrow. Tonight I will knit on the vest. 

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

Sunflower Project Completed

 Yesterday was a mix of sun, clouds and wind with a high of -5C (windchill -9C). This morning it is partly cloudy and -5C (windchill -9C). Today is suppose to be mainly cloudy with flurries and a high of -2C (windchill -9C). 

Lifestyle

Yesterday I thought I would go up to New Minas to look for a few items and some fabric daughter wanted pictures of. I left only to realize the quilt shop wasn't open on Monday. I went into our community to look for the plastic rings for the Halloween wall hanging and a tub for the knitting needles. I got the tub but not the rings. As I was getting into my car from the 4th store, my friend texted to say she had found hers. I got 10 from her. 

We had a good visit talking about several things and then I was home to make dinner. In all it was a backwards day for me. 

I ate well yesterday with portion control. No snacks or sweets. It went well and I was satisfied. I will continue to eat on my plan so I can get rid of the weight. I know some of my soreness is from the extra weight I am carrying. 

Sewing

I sewed in the morning and finished the 2 pot holders. I am pleased with the collection. 

I plan on selling it as a collection but will price each piece individually so people can buy what they want. It is all on the cutting table waiting for me to put away into a tub. I have to put ribbon on the mug rugs and see how I will package the potholders. 

Knitting

I knit the first pattern and have a cable completed. 

Only 9 more repeats to under the arm. I hope to knit 2 repeats most nights. 

Thoughts

    I walked 1.2 km yesterday looking for the rings for the wall hanging. I was a bit sore from it but I did it. I need to walk more so am looking forward to walking on the indoor track at the arena. I have my stride back and am not hurting like I was. 

    I am getting back into alignment as I had only 1 pop last night. Better than a crack. My torso muscles are not hurting which is great. I am hoping that everything stays in place so I can do more each day. I lost a lot of strength while recovering from the SI joints being out. 

    I was thrilled that my friend found the rings so I can complete the wall hanging. She has a jar full of them and uses them on occasion for her projects. 

    I didn't look at decluttering the sewing room yesterday. I have to find a box for the books and go through the patterns. Yesterday was archives which are items you put into a memory box or binders or file boxes. Most of my archives are on display as I have the space to do that. I archive most of my work on my blog and my tetra drive. 

Today

I am going to finish my list of chores from yesterday. I want to finish the wall hanging and work on the books and patterns. Tonight I will knit on the vest. It is a stay at home day for me. 

Mug Rugs And Pot Holders

 Yesterday was sunny and windy. The high got to -8C (windchill -16C. This morning it is cloudy and -8C (windchill -18C). Today is suppose to be mainly cloudy with flurries and a high of -4C (windchill -11C). 

Lifestyle

I put on layers of clothes and went out and shovelled snow off the driveway and walkway. You could only stop for a few seconds to catch your breath the wind was so cold. I did get the job done and some salt put out. I did not sweat or get overly warm due to the cold wind. 

Once inside, I sat on the stairs and rolled my butt to make sure my piriformis muscle did not tighten up. Once done that, I had a short rest with fluids and then folded laundry and put it away. By then I had rested enough that I did some cleaning in the kitchen and made myself a pot of chicken soup for lunch. 

I also did some vacuuming but didn't push it as I had shovelled snow. It was good to be active as I haven't done a lot of physical work since putting out my SI joints. The time has come for me to get back to doing more each day. 

I also got weighted and I am back to eating very carefully. The scales, measuring cups, and spoons are coming back out as I need to get 20 lbs off. The extra weight is not good for my hip and knees. I will be working hard on portion control and moving more. 

Sewing

As I had the two mug rugs stitch out, I decided to clean the book case. I am getting rid of a lot of books as I don't look at them. I can find what I want on the internet. There were some papers that need to go to recycling and what I kept can stay on one shelf along with the knitting needles. I still have a tub to look at and a bunch of patterns. I am making headway slowly but surely. Now to find a box. 

The mug rugs were completed and they are cute. 

I looked at the remaining fabric and decided to make potholders. I got 2 of them cut out. I found this pattern so I could add loops to them. This will be my go to pattern for potholders. 

This one is ready for me to hand sew the opening together and then do some quilting on it. I will give it a good press when done. I also love the loop to hang it up. It did confuse me some but when I tried it, it works great. 

The second potholder is ready to sew the layers together. There is very little fabric left; scraps that I can't make anything with so I put them into the donation bag. I got quite a few items from 1.5 meters of fabric, .5 meters of insulbrite, and left over batting. 

I did clean up after my sewing time leaving only the finished projects on the cutting table. Once done, they will be put into a tub for the craft bazaar. 

Knitting

I did knit again last night and got the ribbing done on the vest front. I am ready to change needle size and start the cables up the front. 

I did look at my knitting needles and need to buy a tub for them. The container I have them in is disintegrating as it was cheap. I will get tub from the dollar store this week as I have a good idea of what I want. I let go of 2 knitting books. Both are stories that I started to read for ideas and stopped. It was so hard to find the ideas I was looking for that I started looking on the internet. I did keep two small books on knitting and a few patterns I have collected. I want to find yarn to knit a blanket which I got the pattern for 9-10 years ago. 

Thoughts

    I did not think the cold weather forecasted for the NE US would hit us but it crept in. The wind has been very cold and the flurries have been more like light snow. I think it snowed early this morning but none stayed on the driveway. I am sure it is long gone to someone else's yard. We are to have it start to warm up today which will be nice. 

    My hip and back are not very sore after shovelling yesterday. I was surprised as I did not stop to rest very often. I just kept moving to keep warm. I must have gotten everything back into place as the muscles were sore from the workout and stopped when I rested them. I am grateful that I can do more for myself each day. I am looking forward to getting back to painting next week. 

    My mood has been more positive lately. I think it has improved as I am having less pain. The pain I now have is very tolerable. I am pushing myself some to do more things each day and the activities are keeping me busy and happier. I am hoping that this will continue for the rest of the winter so I don't hibernate, eat wrong, and feel horrible about life. 

Today

I need to launder the bed sheets and finish cleaning the living room. I need to plan lunch and dinner as I have leek and potato soup to eat. This afternoon, I want to finish the potholders, sort patterns and start to plan the next project. Tonight I will knit. A day at home as I need nothing. 

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

Almost Done The Hot Pads

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of -4C (windchill -9C). This morning it is snowing and -11C (windchill -19C). Today is suppose to be mainly cloudy with flurries with a high of -8C (windchill -19C).

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I got a load of laundry on and started to clean the living room. I did get the floors vacuumed and mopped but didn't finish up as I went to the quilt store near here with my friend. 

We had a great trip to the quilt store. There is more snow up there than here -- they have about an inch on the ground. I snooped around the store for an hour and bought some interfacing and some temporary basting spray. I needed both. 

I made a delicious pot of chicken rice soup for lunch. I added Italian spice and summer savoury which gave it good flavour. I am starting to use more spices/herbs to give my food flavour. I am making another small pot today as it is cold outside. 

We had flurries in the evening and I was surprised to see snow this morning. Not a lot but enough I have to shovel the driveway this morning. 

Sewing

I did not sort my books yesterday as I am not sure which ones I want to let go of. I should let most go as I do not look at them. I had let go of a lot 3 years ago and it is time to review them once again. That and patterns, which is today's challenge. 

I cut out and finished a square hot pad. This one is 10" square. 

I have half of the binding sewn down on the large hot pad. 

The two hot pads used 3 strips of binding with about 9" left over. I have enough fabric to make 2 mug rugs and will see what I have left to make into something else. If not enough, the left over fabric will be put into the donation bag for charity quilts. 

I am working hard at cleaning up the sewing room at the end of each day. I did not put away my hand sewing as I will finish it today. But it is neat and tidy on the coffee table. 

Knitting

Though I was tired last night, I did knit 5 rows on the ribbing for the vest. Eight more rows and I will start the cables. 

Thoughts

    I enjoyed my outing yesterday. The owner of the shop told me that the price of interfacing will be going up as one company has declared bankruptcy. She heard it from a sales person but not from the supplier of the interfacing. I did some research and what she was told is partly true. I did buy 4 meters which I know I will use up quickly. 

    My hip still has one sore spot which could be the periformis acting up. I am much better than I was and am hoping that I can start painting after I see the osteopathy therapist. I am starting to do more each day and most nights I have popping of the SI joint as it is still seating itself. 

    I ate very carefully yesterday and stayed within my points. I was hungry and wanted to snack last night but refrained. I need to get the excess weight off for my hip. I have set a goal of 15 -20 lbs. I will evaluate when I get to 15 lbs. 

Today

My big job is to shovel snow this morning. I will see what energy I have left after the job is done. I will do a few things in the kitchen as I need to make soup and prep for dinner. This afternoon I want to finish the large hot pad and cut out the pieces for the 2 mug rugs. I will look at the books and find a box for the ones I will let go of. Tonight I hope to knit. A stay at home day for me. 

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

A Hot Pad Quilted

 Yesterday was cool and windy and we had lots of flurries. The high got to -1C. This morning it is clear (stars are shining) and -6C. Today is suppose a mix of sun and clouds with a high of -3C. 

Lifestyle

I spent half of the morning cleaning part of the living room. I moved furniture, vacuumed, and mopped the floor. It is nice to half part of the area cleaned. I also did the spare bedroom as it needed doing. Elliott's litter box is in there and I have to keep it clean every other day. 

After lunch, daughter-in-law and I headed out to Bedford to pick up posters for an event next Saturday. We went to Peavy Mart and snooped at the left over Christmas decorations and then got smoking pellets. We also went to Giant Tiger which is in the same mall. There we snooped around and bought a few things. 

We went up to the other shopping area and got the posters and then to Walmart. I got a few things I needed and while there, we ordered batteries off Amazon as I couldn't find the ones I wanted. The clear plastic rings I want for the wall hanging were nowhere to be found. I am in think mode about what to do. 

We got home just after 4 pm and I was tired. My knee was sore with the weather and cold wind. I had a wonderful time which was more important than the cold. 

Sewing

As I knew I was going out in the afternoon, I spent 40 minutes in the sewing room. I have no subscriptions to get rid of and I had decluttered my in box in November. I did do more unsubscribing of emails last night. On my last attempt, only 50% unsubscribed. Hopefully this time I will have better luck. 

I spent my time quilting the large hot pad. I was done and tidied up at noon. 

It is thick having 2 layers of batting/insulbrite in it. But I love how cheery it looks. I am ready to make a square one and then bind both of them at the same time. 

I have decided to resubscribe to Sewing With Cinnamon for 3 months as she has changed her format. I want to see what it is like before I commit to a full year. If I don't like it, I will cancel. 

Knitting

I cast on the front of the vest and knit 10 rows of ribbing. 

I may get this vest finished by Valentine's Day if I am lucky.

Thoughts

    I am starting back to loosing the weight I gained and will be focusing on it for the next several months. I need to find a balance between eating too little and too much. I have made a few changes to my diet which has included more fresh fruit. I am going to order Chef's Plate again as I do like the meals. Daughter-in-law and I have committed to walking on the indoor track 3 times a week. The track opens at 9 am so we now need to choose the days and times we will walk. 

    Daughter-in-law asked me if I wanted to travel this year. I am not sure where I would like to go and am thinking on it. I know she will come with me as I am will not travel alone. I would like to do it as I am mobile and enjoy seeing new countries. 

    I had quite a bit of cracking in my back last night. I wonder if it is realigning after having my SI joint out. On the up side, only the muscles in my back are sore. The rest have stopped hurting which is nice. Though I am sore, I am not as stiff as I was. I am doing moves I couldn't do a couple of days ago. 

Today

My plan is to clean more of the living room and do a couple of loads of laundry. If I don't go out this afternoon, I will cut out and start the next hot pad which will be square. My declutter project in the sewing room is books. I need to go through them and make a pile to take to the used book store. Tonight I will knit on the vest. 

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

A Great Day Cleaning and Sewing

Yesterday was cloudy but it didn't rain much. The temperature dropped all day and it went from 5C at 6 am to 1C at 5 pm. This morning it is snowing very very lightly and -2C. Today we are to have flurries with a high of -1C (windchill -7C). 

Lifestyle

I did the balance sheet yesterday and finished 2024. I did go over budget but not as much as I had thought. It was about 50% less than I had thought. I paid the bills and am ready to have a spend less 2025. I did well with it in 2024 so I am ready to try again. 

Once done the balance sheet, I decided to clean the floor at the front closet, down the stairs and the front door area. I struggled with it as I was very sore but I got it done. It was dirty as we take our shoes off in that area. I had thought doing this area on my hands and knees would stretch the soreness out of my back but it didn't. 

I did a couple of things in the garage yesterday but need to back out the car so I can find a missing item that rolled off the work bench. I will do it next week when there is one sunny day. I may spend a bit of time out there organizing some of my stuff. I do need to do that. 

I rolled over in bed and my right SI joint cracked into place. I slept well as the pain disappeared. I am a bit sore this morning but not like I've been. I am looking forward to osteopathy next week. Hopefully she can work on what is out of place. 

Sewing

My first job of the afternoon was to clean up the serger area. By the time I was finished, I had done the whole sewing cabinet area. I wiped both machines, the cabinet, and organized items. Only what I want close at hand is on the cabinet and everything else is put away. 

Next up was to find what is called squatters in the challenge. I found two. One was a small level. I don't know why it was in the sewing room so I put it out into the garage. The other was a kitchen towel that needed a button sewn on since November. I put the button on and put it upstairs in the kitchen tea towel drawer. 

I worked on the wall hanging and it is done to attaching the blocks together. I will have to get some when I go shopping. 

As this project is deemed done for now. I cut out the next large hot pad I want to make. This one is sunny and cheerful. 

I put a layer of Insulbrite under the batting which has increased the cost by just under $4.00. I am going to stick to two layers of batting. This is ready to start quilting with green thread. I have another fat quarter of this print to make a square hot pad and, hopefully, 2 mug rugs. 

I will still focus on buying less fabric again this year. I did well last year. Most of what I bought I used but I do have some pieces that ended up in the stash. I have some gift certificates for one quilt shop and I will use one towards having my next quilt long armed and the other will be spent very carefully on a project or two for me. 

Knitting

I did not knit last night as I was exhausted from the pain I have been having. 

Thoughts

    We are heading into cooler weather again. There are to be flurries which I am hoping won't turn into heavy snow falls. The temperatures are going to be in the more normal range. 

    I sat in my sewing room looking at the clean spaces. I need to keep them clean by picking up after myself at the end of each sewing session. I have been making a point of it and it is nice to come back the next day to tidy spaces. My goal is to come back to a tidy room. 

    As I sat and looked at the clean spaces, I looked at the capacity of the room. As it is large, it can hold a lot of stuff. I was doing a great job of it but it was making me stressed out. Though I love my large space, I also love it having less in it. One reason I am decluttering harder this year. The other reason is having less means I have less to worry about when I no longer can live here. In the mean time I can keep this room tidy and with in my clutter threshold. 

Today

I am hoping to start cleaning the living room this morning. This afternoon I will sew as I have met today's declutter challenge of subscriptions. I may not sew either as I may go with daughter-in-law to get something printed. If we are close to a store where I can get the rings I will do that. I am not sure about tonight but if I am home, I will cast on the front of the sweater. 

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

Progress On The Halloween Wall Hanging

 Yesterday started off sunny and ended up pouring rain for about 2 - 3 hours. The high got to 5C during the day and 7C during the night. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. Today is supposed to be wet with the temperature dropping to 4C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I cleaned the dining room. It went fairly quickly starting with cleaning off the table, wiping it down good, and putting on the usual placemats. Next came moving all the chairs, cleaning their feet from fluff and moving the table. I vacuumed, and mopped until the floor was done. I even moved the server and did the floor under there. 

I was not too surprised at how much fluff, cat hair, and dust was on the floor (the vacuum cleaner light does not lie). It happens. What surprised me was how easy it was to clean up the space. It is decluttered, everything has its own place, and there is no extras in the room. A couple of hours and it is deep cleaned. 

After a couple of months of watching very few decluttering videos (like 4), I watched one which helped me think through several road blocks. It is the Minimalist Mom. This one was about 6 techniques to controlling your stuff. I don't always agree with her but I do listen to what she has to say. I wrote notes to help keep me on track for 2025. 

At the end of the video I realized that I need to buy carefully so what comes into the house has a job to do to help me live here independently. I also realized that I need to have a few things in each room to have it warm and cozy. I am realizing that I don't have the time to do everything I want to do and need to let go of the projects that I am the least interested in. I don't need to stock pile anything -- food, fabric, etc. Keeping extra stuff becomes a burden and clutter. 

It was a great video and it made me really think about how I want to move forward in 2025. 

I was out to family's for dinner. I had a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup and it was the best I have tasted. Instead of rice, daughter-in-law use orzo. I am going to use it rather than rice or noodles when I make mine. We also had meat, cheese, and crackers. Dessert was carrot cake that grandson made. We watched a soccer game and I enjoyed that. It was a lovely evening out.

Sewing

My main job of the day was to get the garbage out of the sewing room. I had a bit floating around and I put it into the garbage can. All was emptied plus some from the family room. Later on I found more in the family room. It was in a box under a table and I missed it on the first round. I know I will find a bit more when I continue to clean up the room. 

My second job was to clean the space where I have the embroidery machine. I put away the thread from the project and then started cleaning. It was mainly dusty. I organized a small tub that I have beside the machine. 

I also wiped down the table, pulled it out from the wall, wiped the baseboards and dry mopped the floor. It is ready to have the floor wet mopped. 

I spent the rest of my time sewing the binding onto the two wall hanging squares and hand sewing the binding down by hand. 

I found 3 spider buttons that I need to sew onto the squares. I have had them for years and don't know where I bought them. 

Once the buttons are sewn on I am ready to assemble. Not sure how I am going to do it but I may need to get the plastic rings for it. 

I also cut out the pattern for the rabbit's head and ears. I need to finish the video on how to do this part and start on it. 

Knitting

None done last night. 

Thoughts

    I had a wonderful evening with family. It did me good to go out and be with them after being home for a week on my own. I was sad to hug our friend as they are leaving tomorrow for Florida where they will stay until spring. 

    Once again, I am starting to get into the rhythm of cleaning the sewing room and am also looking at the family room. I still have a bit of cleaning left in there and will do some each time we get to the category (tools). I realize that both rooms were messy and that my initial decluttering and purging were helpful for me to start once again sorting through my stuff. 

    I have started to realize I have the upstairs decluttered to the point where I am happy with what I have. I need to maintain it on a daily basis. I need to have the one in/one out policy when I buy something. What I need to do is get the house painted and make it warm and cozy to live in. 

Today

I need to do the balance sheet this morning and then clean the landing if I have time. Today's job in the sewing room is to find items that don't belong in there. I will also start cleaning my main sewing machine table today (20 minutes). I want to press the ghosts and attach them to the bottom block. Once that is done, I will start cutting out the next large hot pad to work on. Tonight I would like to cast on the stitches for the vest front and start the ribbing. 

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