One Cuff Is On The Jacket

 Yesterday as rainy, snowy, and sunny. The temperature dropped to 0C (windchill -5C) at noon. This morning it is partly cloudy and -8C (windchill -15C) Today is supposed to clear off and be sunny with a high of -3C.

Lifestyle

I was out in the morning to help set up the community hall for dinner tonight. Four of us got it done in just over an hour. That included putting up the tables, setting them, and getting some food jobs done. 

Once home, I had a very short break and headed out to get some groceries. The store was busier than I like but I got everything I needed without too many problems. Once home, everything put away and I had a rest. With so much stress, my back is really bothering me when I pack the groceries into the car and house. I did so some stretching which helped for a while. 

We do know where grandson is and know he will be okay. Daughter-in-law was able to track his movements on his phone. That was a huge relief for us and I could feel my stress level go down. I did text him. He is reading the texts but is not replying to me. He is limiting his communication with everyone which is hard on all of us. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday afternoon. I got one cuff on one sleeve. The instructions leave a lot to be desired and you have to guess at what they mean. It took me several attempts and I am still not sure if the cuff is on right. 

I have thought on it and will go back in and do a couple of hand stitches to make the back part look better. 

I watched the next video on Making Space to Make. This one was directed to those who sew in a space that is used for another function. She gave some good suggestions though they did not apply to my situation. I have decided to look at my sewing table this week as it needs to be cleaned up and wiped down. 

Knitting

I downloaded the latest version of the yarn stash spreadsheet. From there I did fix up a few things on the old one and then copied it all on to the new one. I then transferred the yarn I have knit to the Out tab. I had to do a bit of work figuring out how much I had used of one ball of yarn and then put the remaining back into the stash. I was surprised at how much yarn I knit in the first three months of the year. 

I have knit or donated 16 skeins of yarn which is 1224 grams. Half of that yarn is being donated which is 633 grams. I am happy with what I did knit. And I am happy that it didn't take me that long to calculate. 

I set up the hat using a different yarn. I got the cuff knit and am starting to do the transition row. I am much happier with this yearn than I was with the other yarn. 

I still have to go in a fix up my goals for knitting down the yarn stash. I have finished projects that were to be done in April and need to put them in March. It will take me a couple of minutes to fix it up. 

Thoughts

    I am working on accepting the fact that grandson has not and is not coming home. My next step is to make sure I support family and take care of myself mentally and physically. I am working towards doing some things for me. One is going to be doing the yoga exercises on a daily basis. There are a couple of other things I am mulling around in my head that are easy to include in my day. I may cut back on how much I sew but I do know I will knit at night as it is relaxing. 

    Our deer are back. We saw 5 at noon on Thursday and I am sure they are visiting everyone's yards to "prune" the bushes and trees. They should be having their babies soon as we didn't see any with the 5 we saw. I am sure they will be inspecting the bush by my front steps but it will be slim pickings as they pruned it while we were in Montevideo. 

Today

I am going to do my yoga exercises this morning and then do some cleaning in the kitchen. I have to be at the hall this afternoon and will get home later in the evening. I may knit a bit before I go to bed. 

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

Why Oh Why?

 Yesterday was a mix of snow and rain in the morning and rain in the afternoon. The high got to 7C. This morning it is raining and 6C. Today is supposed to be wet and cooling off to 4C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning was tough. I got the news that grandson was on his flight from Korea to Toronto to Halifax. As he boarded the plane, he told his parents he wasn't coming home and that he had a plan. He has cut off communication and we don't know where he is. The only given we have is that his luggage will be unloaded in Halifax. I will try to reach out to him sometime today. 

With that stress under my belt, I headed downstairs and scrubbed the living daylights out of the 4 family room windows. They are sparkling clean with no mould to be seen. 

I spent the afternoon in Halifax with daughter-in-law. We had to get the groceries for the dinner at the hall on Saturday. We talked all the way in. We thought we would need an hour in one store as it is usually busy but we were in and out in about 20 minutes. It was quiet in there. 

We did walk the Halifax mall. We did a couple of stores and left. We stopped in Sackville to get a few more things for the dinner and headed to Upper Sackville for daughter-in-law's osteopathy appointment. There was still fresh snow on the ground there. 

I bought dinner for family and we headed home to eat. 

Knitting

I cast on the next project which is a hat. I got 2 rounds done. 

I do not like the yarn as it is 50% cotton and 50% polyester. All the yarn is going into the yard sale as I know I will not knit it. There are several balls another in another colour that will also go into the yard sale. 

I watched Knitty Natty's video on her stash update. She has updated her template and showed how she is tracking the yarn she is knitting. I have downloaded the new template and will use it. I have a bit of back tracking to do on the old template and then will copy all the information into the new template. I will need a bit of time to do that. 

Thoughts

    My stress level is very high at the moment. I have not had any anxiety or panic attacks. I am close to having them but keep doing self talking. I am worried about my son and daughter-in-law as this has been very hard on them. Add in daughter's issues and I know I need to keep strong to support them. 

    Our weather has gone from snow to rain. I am hoping that the rain means our weather will be warmer and the spring flowers will start to peek through the ground. I am so looking forward to seeing colour once again. 

Today

I am off to the hall to help set up for the community dinner tomorrow night. When that is done I need to go grocery shopping. I may get to sew a bit this afternoon and I will knit tonight. 

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

Three Procrastination Jobs Completed

 Yesterday it snowed for 2 hours and then was sunny and windy. The high got to 4C. This morning it is cloudy and 1C. Today is supposed to be a mix of snow and rain with a high of 7C. 

Lifestyle

I looked out the window to see why there were flashing lights and fog. The flashing lights were on a truck putting out signs and the fog was snow falling. It snowed for 2 hours. The signs were put out as a company was pruning/removing a tree from a yard a few houses down from me. 

I was out the door to make sandwiches. I started out making sandwiches, then cut sandwiches, and then made sandwiches. I don't mind any of the jobs I do. We did laugh and have fun. I teased people about eating my cookies which they love. 

Once home, I had a drink and then went through my list of things I needed to do. It was my "procrastination" list. My first procrastination job was to hang pictures in my bedroom. I needed a laser level but I wasn't buying one. With a pencil and a small level, I worked on getting the first picture up. I read the instructions on how to do the Command claw hangers and, after reading it twice and watching a video I got the first picture hung. 

It looks lonely on that wall but I am thinking of hanging some plates to fill the space. This picture is as old as I am. My mom's youngest sister embroidered it as a baby gift for me. It is on a flour sack and I have cherished for many years. 

The second picture was easier to hang. I used the Command velcro strips on it. I did remove the wire hanger before attaching the strips. 

This picture I cross-stitched olmost 30 years ago. It was one of two pictures I did before having to put it away due to being a busy mom. 

With that job done, I then started on procrastination job number 2. I grabbed a cloth and some bleach cleaner and headed downstairs. I sprayed bleach on the windows where there was black mould. I wiped the bottom of the windows and sprayed them again. I left them and will clean it all today. I did check late in the afternoon and the mould was gone. 

My last job of the morning was to mop the entry way. It was a job I needed to do and got it done quickly. It took me longer to get the cleaning items out than it took to mop the floor. I had made a decision I wasn't going to procrastinate and do it a week or two later. 

Sewing

I worked on the doll's jacket yesterday afternoon. I was able to get it done to the cuffs and snaps. I did put it on the doll and found it fits nicely and looks good. 

I do know that an Acadian lady who lived in the early 1700's would have only worn this outfit for church or a holiday event (if they had them). 

I am thinking of making a 2nd stomacher in the jacket fabric and adding the tab to it for the scarf. I have a scarf that goes with the hat I put on the doll. 

The designer of the pattern has made some changes to the pattern which I think is mainly in the pleats at the back. 

Knitting

I did finish the socks last night and they will be put into a bag and sent to daughter. 

Then it was on to procrastination job #3. I had knit myself some socks to wear on the plane to Montevideo. I wore them over another pair of socks but they were too big to wear in my boots or shoes. I took them apart very carefully and will knit myself a pair that will fit me. 

Though this yarn is not to be knit until May, I will be knitting them in April after I make a hat. I may even knit a doll's sweater in April as I have one project on the list. 

Thoughts

    I was in a bit of a bad mood yesterday. It has been creeping back in again and I had to stop it. I did some thinking and self talk and realized I am missing the Spousal Unit a lot as my birthday gets closer. I will get over this now that I know why I am feeling like I am. 

    I was a bit stressed last night as daughter got me caught up on her situation. It hasn't been pleasant for her and she needs to take some action. I can only suggest and not be the interfering parent. 

    It has started to snow while I type this and it is depressing to think we are having snow fall near the end of March most years. I am sad to think that there will be no daffodils blooming in the yard across the street for Easter. I bet they are barely up. I am thinking of buying tulips or daffodils for Easter as I love them. 

Today

I have to grocery shop this morning and then I will clean the basement windows. I would like to finish the doll's jacket and maybe even start on the skirt. I also need to get out the needles and yarn so I can start knitting another hat tonight. I also need to cook myself dinner as I am out of meals. 

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

Two Procrastination Projects Completed

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 1C. This morning it is partly cloudy and -1C (windchill -5C). Today we could have snow and sunshine with a high of 5C. 

Lifestyle

I had a relatively busy morning. I cleaned the bathroom which included dusting the light fixtures. They had fluff on them and I had done them not that long ago. The room was done which made me feel much better. 

I got chicken soup out of the freezer to thaw and did a bit of tidying up. Then it was downstairs to deal with my procrastination projects. I changed the buttons on a knitted scarf and put it into a donation box. Then it was to fix the blinds in the family room. Two of the blinds needed rings replaced so they could opened without huge puffs in them. The sun disintegrates the plastic rings over time. I sat and hand sewed them on and then put them back up. Some tweaking and they are now opened and looking nice. 

The room was really bright with sunshine flooding in. The window on the side of the room gets a lot of sunshine in it. 

Two projects were done and the items needed to do them are no longer on the cutting table. 

My last job of the morning was to take out the recycling from the kitchen and put it into their right bins. It was lunch time. 

Sewing

I worked on the doll's dress yesterday. I got the sleeves in which wasn't as hard as I had thought. I did baste them in place so I would have to deal with pins. I sewed under the arms and then did the pleating on the side seams. That was harder to do but I figured out how to do it so the pleats were even. 

I looked at the back pleats and wasn't sure if I had done them right. I hadn't. I had to redo the center pleat after reading the instructions two more time. It looks much better. I then pinned and basted the lining in place. It is now ready to sew. 

And the front side of the jacket. 

There isn't a lot left to do on the jacket once the lining is attached. Hem and add the cuffs to the sleeves. The petticoat looks easy enough to make if I read the instructions carefully. 

Knitting

I picked up the socks after I ate and knit until bedtime. The sock is ready for me to decrease the toes and it will be done. 

I love the pattern on the socks. It is very easy to knit and has lots of texture. 

There is more yarn left than I had expected so I am assuming there was more than 100 grams in the ball. I may knit a doll's sweater if there is enough left over. 

Thoughts

    The sun was gorgeous yesterday. Though not overly warm, it did melt most of the snow. It really did lift my spirits. Having the whole house bright and light was just what I needed. 

    I was less sore yesterday. I was up and down the ladder several times and was fine. No pain going up and down the stairs. My back twinged a bit and I had two good cracks in it when I stretched in bed last night. 

    I was so thrilled to get the two procrastination projects done. One has been on the cutting table for over a year. The other has been on the cutting table for several months but had been on my mind for almost 2 years. The next project is to hang the pictures in my bedroom. 

Today

I am out shortly to make sandwiches at the hall. Once home, I want to hang the pictures in my bedroom. Once that is done, I will do some cleaning. I want to sew this afternoon and will finish the socks tonight. 

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

More Progress On The Doll's Dress

 Yesterday was cold and windy with a high of -2C (windchill -7C). This morning it is cloudy and -4C (windchill  -9C). Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 2C. 

Lifestyle

I started the morning off making cookies. That takes a long time so while I waited for them to cook, I cleaned up my baking dishing and wiped down counters. I still had extra time so I did a bit of research on Acadians in our area. 

The search was interesting and I learned a lot about their community, churches, expulsion, and clothing. There are areas that people agree to disagree. There are people who are trying to make sure there is a greater awareness of the Acadian people in our area. What the explosion did was to almost wipe out the history of the Acadians in our area. 

After I finished baking the cookies and doing the research, I headed out to shovel the front landing and little sidewalk. It was an easy shovel but I got really cold. The NE wind went right through me. When I went outside later in the afternoon, the wind was still cold and raw. 

My muscles and joints hurt most of the day but I made myself get up and move. I was stiff and knew I wasn't properly aligned. I stretched in bed and had a series of cracks. I did feel better after that and hope I am going to have less pain today. 

Sewing

I did sew for a while yesterday but found the light wasn't as good as I like it to be. I sewed the shoulder seams on the jacket lining and then cut a bias strip to cover the raw edge with. I really like that method of finishing seams. 

That piece was set aside and I cut out the sleeves. They are lined so I had 4 little darts to make and then sew them together at the bottom. When that was done, I serged the side seams and tucked the serger thread tails back into the serged part. I cut out the remaining pieces and looked at the whole thing. 

The sleeves are to be set in next. There is still a lot to be done on the jacket. 

I put the stomacher into the jacket to see what it looks like. 

It looks quite white against the fabric. I do not have linen in a colour that is closer to the cream colour in the print. I haven't decided if I will make a stomacher out of the dress fabric. 

My last job of the day was to empty the box of recycling and trash into the bins in the garage. That made me feel good when I took the empty box back downstairs so I can refill it again. 

Knitting

I did pick up the stitches for the gusset in the morning and got it knit last night. 

Three more evenings and it will be done. I need to start looking at what yarn I want to knit a hat. I have the pattern chosen. I also need to ravel a pair of socks to reknit. They are huge on me. 

Thoughts

    It snowed again last night and the municipality has salted the roads already this morning. I have to shovel the front landing and sidewalk and will do it later this morning. I have some drifting in there from the wind. 

    Yesterday afternoon I sat and thought about why I am so tired of winter. It really isn't winter, I am just blaming it for how I feel. I have felt mentally off for a while and some of it is isolation which is self inflicted. When I get out, I feel better. Some is boredom from doing the same things over and over. And some is from not eating properly. Lastly, some has been from the pain I've had from the weather systems going through. I am working through this and trying to make some changes in what I do daily. 

Today

I am going to clean the bathroom first thing and then I am going to do a bit of meal planning. I will sew this afternoon for a bit and I may cut out more reindeer to work on. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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

The Start Of A 1750's Doll's Dress

 Yesterday was mainly sunny until around 4 pm when it clouded up and snowed. The high got to 3C. This morning it is cloudy and -2C (windchill -6C). Today is supposed to be cloudy with lots of snow flurries. The high is to get to -1C (wind chill down to -8C).

Lifestyle

My first job of the morning was to do the balance sheet. It didn't take me long to do and I made no mistakes. I have done well with another low spend month. I have settled into the "if I don't need it, I don't buy it". 

Next up was to do the entry way. I cleaned the inside of the front door and it wasn't too dirty. It is only used once or twice a day. I then did the door into the garage. The inside was dirty but then I go out that door up to 4 times a day. It took a couple of tries to get it clean. I then did the side facing into the garage. It was filthy. It took 4 tries to get it clean. There is one spot I couldn't do as I was getting cold. Next up I did the stairs and then the tiles at the entry way. They weren't too dirty as I had done it not that long ago. 

My other job was to fold and put away two loads of laundry. I got it done before noon. 

My friend and I were out for dinner at family's. We had a delicious leek and potato soup with buns. We got to experience their new sound system on their TV. We also got to look at how they are going to finish their basement. I was a lovely and exciting evening for both of us. 

Sewing

I took the box of batting out into the family room and sorted it out. There was a lot of small bits that I don't use. The pieces I can use were folded up and put back into the box. Most of those pieces can be used for small projects like doll's quilts. 

I also moved the box my sewing machine came in and swept behind it. I have that corner cleaned up. I also tidied up the table and peg board and it looks much better. I have a bit of paper work to do one afternoon. 

I pressed and then cut out some of the pieces for the doll's dress. I am making a short length jacket that was popular in the mid 1700's. This jacket requires a lot of marking due to the pleats that are made in the back and along the sides. 

I got the pleats done in the back and the yoke sewn on. 

I then added the jacket fronts. 

Next up I cut out the lining pieces. They are ready for me to sew today.

Knitting

None done as I was out until 8 pm. 

Thoughts

    I am still reading about the life of the Acadian people prior to their deportation. There is a lot of information that contradicts each other. I finally found a document that explains that each region had their own take on fashion which one person called costume. What surprised me was that fabric, lace, and stockings were available to people prior to 1755. Not every Acadian lady wove cloth or knit stockings using materials they grew on their farms. It is interesting to find information especially in our area of Nova Scotia. There was even a church here which was dismantled or destroyed when the English built Fort Edward on that site. 

    We had about 2" of snow fall last night. It barely stuck to the driveway and all I have to do is shovel the front landing and sidewalk. I am sure it is wet snow as the snowflakes were huge last night. 

    I did not hurt much yesterday. I do have some sore muscles and I am thinking about doing some yoga to help. I did one exercise while washing the entry floor on my hands and knees and realized I am stiffer than I thought I was. 

Today

This morning I have to make cookies for Wednesday. Once done, I will clean up the kitchen making sure all surfaces are wiped down well. I would like to start cleaning the desk in the sewing room and then sew on the doll's dress. I want to knit on the socks tonight. 

Pattern Prepped For Next Project

 Yesterday was cloudy and rainy with a bit of snow thrown in for good measure. The high got to 4C. This morning it is clear and -4C (windchill -7C). Today is supposed to be a mix of sunshine, clouds, and flurries with snow coming in tonight. The high is supposed to get to 3C. 

Lifestyle

I was sore yesterday. My right knee was swollen with fluid. It made both the knee and hip areas hurt a lot. I hobbled around all day with the pain. 

I was out to get groceries yesterday morning while a load of laundry was on. I thought the store was going to be busy but most of the people were paying and leaving. It was nice to go shop in an almost empty store. I was able to get what I needed and be home in good time. 

After a short rest due to pain, I decided to start cleaning the living room area. I moved furniture and vacuumed under it all. I mopped, dusted, and tidied up a lot. In 90 minutes I had the room cleaned. I did have to take several breaks as I was very sore. I realized as I started cleaning that it was going to go fast as the room is minimal in furnishings and easy to maintain. 

Early afternoon family arrived with a new lock for the door going into the garage. What should have been easy wasn't. In the end, son had to chisel where the dead bolt is in the door and hole in the door frame. This is where the stupidness of the house is. In the end, I have a new lock that I can lock and unlock using my phone, my finger, and numbers. I want to replace the door knob next which I should be able to do on my own. 

Daughter-in-law and I did a dry fit of the blind in my bedroom and it fits nicely. It will be done another day as we weren't asking son to do that after doing the lock. 

Sewing

The two drawers on the cutting table were emptied and only what was needed in them was put back in. One drawer holds zip ties and boning that I use when making historical doll clothes and the other one holds my cutting and marking tools and tape measures.

The sewing room was also vacuumed. I did move the cutting table so I could do under it. The whole floor was covered in fluff and threads. I didn't mop the floor as I want to get another part of the room cleaned up before doing that. 

I only got the doll's dress pattern cut out and taped together before family arrived. I am now able to press the fabric and start cutting out the dress. 

As I cut out the pattern I did not cut out any of the pieces that ruffles. This is a dress a rural lady would have worn and she didn't have the time to do fancy work on her dress. The embroidery on the stomacher is probably more than she could have fit into her busy days. 

Knitting

I got the heel flap done and turned the heel on the sock. I stopped at that point as I now need to pick up the stitches along the heel flap for the gusset. I had done enough for one night. 

Thoughts

    I thought and looked where to hang the big picture above my bed. I am going to find the center between the plugs and see if I like that. If I like it, I will put in the hanger. When I did some looking, the plugs are not the same distance from the ends of the wall. I am sure the one is in further due to the closet doors. Once the big picture is up, I can figure out where I want the other pictures in the room. 

    My plans to get the bathroom finished flew out the door this month. I have looked at curtains to cut up for the window and found one that may do. I haven't been to look at the towel bar, etc as I haven't had time. I am stuck thinking about pictures. I need to go browse one day and get what I need. 

    The weather forecast is for snow to start at 8 pm tonight and it is supposed to snow until sometime tomorrow. Then it will be "flurries" until Tuesday morning. I guess I will have a date with the snow shovel on Monday 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet first thing and then get laundry done and folded. I want to clean the stairs and front entry. I am hoping that I can get the doll's dress cut out and a bit done on it before I go out for dinner at family's tonight. I may get some knitting done tonight. 

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