Joy Overalls Completed

Yesterday the heat was piercing. The high got to 30C with a humidex of 35C. In the afternoon, the clouds started to build up and we had a good, but dry, thunderstorm. This morning it was 18C at 6 a.m. and our heat warning is gone. The high today is 27C with chances of thunderstorms. 

Lifestyle

With the heat and having to stay indoors came irritation.We were both cranky and on edge. When the thunderstorm came and the temperature dropped, we both felt better. 
The Spousal Unit swept the garage floor while I did the upstairs floors. We kind of laughed over that. We then went to the downstairs bathroom and made a list of what needs to be done to finish it up. A trip to Home Depot for items and then to order a few items online. The jobs can be done on hot days in August. 
Last night while watering the garden, the neighbor's cat was out there with the Spousal Unit. He followed him to the front of the house and laid on the sidewalk. He was there for over an hour relaxing. I took the picture through the screen on the living room window. 

We call him Elliott 2 as he looks a lot like Elliott. A bit smaller with less white on his face and body. 
We have been 15 days with no new cases of the virus. Today is mandatory mask day which is one step to prepare for the 2nd wave. 

Sewing

I had a good time sewing yesterday. I finished Anna's overalls and am pleased with the results. One thing I have to say about Joy Doll patterns -- read the instructions. They are clear and concise and leave no room for error. 

The fit is really good and the other girls want a pair each. 

Next up is a blouse by the same designer. Lots of pieces but a cute pattern. 

Knitting

The sweater is blocked. I had to apply a bit of steam to the ribbing as it wanted to curl up after I removed the pins. I can now sew it together. 
No other knitting was done. 

Today

The goal this morning is to finish cleaning the garage while it is cool outside. This afternoon I hope to clean the sewing room. Tonight I would like to sew the sweater together. A busy day of cleaning. 
Until the next time................................

Jigsaw Puzzle Solved - The Top of the Overalls are Done

Yesterday was another hot one. It got to 30C with a humidex of 36C. The humidity went down which is nice. This morning it was 16C at 6 a.m. and it is suppose to get to 30C again. They say the humidex will get to 38C and there are showers in the forecast. Oh lovely. 

Lifestyle

It was another day inside with the heat. The Spousal Unit lasted a short time outside to pick a few grape tomatoes and water the garden. 
I did some laundry and made us a nice supper. Not a lot of housework is happening at the moment. 
We are at 2 weeks with no new cases of the virus. They announced a new death from several weeks ago. Mandatory masks starts tomorrow so hopefully it will help keep the cases to 0 or a few when the second wave starts. 

Sewing

I worked on the bodice (top) part of the overalls for Anna. I read the instructions twice before I did any sewing. 

Sewing that part was easy as I left the pattern pieces on until I was ready to stitch the seam. At this point I have sewn 14 pieces of fabric together and top stitched the seams on the top section. Adding the facing to the bottom part was a bit hard but I used lots of pins. I then added the straps to the outer part and sewed it all to the facing. That part was easy. Anna was thrilled to try it on. 

I pressed the basted part, stitched it down and added the waistband outer and lining pieces. Now I am ready to do the pants part of the pattern. It may be finished today. 
I have made my list for August. I do have a couple of commitments so must spend some time in the sewing room. My July's sewing was tiny for me. I will have only sewn .9 meter this month. I accounted for that when I set my goals this year. I don't sew a lot in the summer due to the heat. I spend more time thinking and dreaming. This year it has been our guest room but in reality, I need to think about the basement and getting it decorated. 

Knitting

I got the pieces pinned onto the board and all sprayed. It will be ready to sew together later today. I did knit a few rows on the slow sweater. It is coming along nicely now. 

Today

With it being hot today, I am going to sweep the floors, sew, and knit. The a/c is already on upstairs and will be on in the basement shortly. Hopefully, this is the last day of the heat and we can get over being tired from the constant heat and humidity. 
Until the next time...............................

Just Like A Jig Saw Puzzle

Yesterday was hot. 32C with a humidex of 40C. This morning it is 19C and humid. The sun is shining so we look forward to another hot day. 

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit was out to trim tomato plants in the morning while it was "cool". He found it exhausting as he did when watering last night. We have a few more days of this heat before it cools down a bit. 
Our grape tomatoes are ripening quickly now. We had some for dinner on July 25. Last night there was enough for a cucumber and tomato salad. They are really tasty and we are enjoying them. Soon we will be providing people with grape tomatoes as we have plenty plants that have plenty of tomatoes on them. 
I ate well again yesterday and have lost 2.6 lbs this past week. My blood pressure is elevated but the aches and pains are less. Hopefully it means my kidney function has improved. 
We are at day 13 with no cases of the virus in the province. 

Sewing

I cut out all those pieces yesterday and started prepping the pieces for sewing. The first part was pressing hems and sewing the shoulder straps. 

Pattern pieces remain with the fabric so I don't get confused. 
I laid out the bodice part of the overalls. The instructions say to leave the pattern pieces on until you sew. 

It reminds me of a jigsaw puzzle. I am going to make a blouse by the same designer that can be worn with the overalls and a skirt. It has a crazy number of pieces to sew up. 

Knitting

By last night I was exhausted from the heat. I read instead and finished a book and downloaded the next in the series. 

Today

I hope to sew some of the doll's overalls, do a bit of housework and rest. The heat is taking its toll on both of us once again. 
Until the next time...........................

Anna's Overalls Begun

Yesterday was cool with a high of 24C and the humidex made it feel like 31C. This morning it is 23C at 8 a.m. and the humidex is 30C. We are under a heat warning with high temperatures and humidity. This is the third heat warning this summer. 

Lifestyle

It was a fairly quiet day for us. We did wander around the yard and put together a plan for the rest of this year and next year. The only item to be fixed is the ramp on the shed. The boards are starting to show signs of deterioration.  We hope to do it in the dark composite like the front landing. The rest of the plan is finishing up the landscaping, getting the hedge done, decorating with flowers, making a wreath and buying a sign. We are almost done the outside to the maintenance stage. 
I ate much better yesterday with very little processed food, not much refined sugar, and little dairy. I felt much better. I still have some aches and pains but less than I did. 
We are still at 0 cases of the virus in the province. 

Sewing

I was up to the quilt shop yesterday to get a piece of green fabric for grandson's pillow cases. I also picked this fabric up in the dark pink for daughter. It is gorgeous. 

I also bought a light for my sewing machine. I will show it once I put it on. It needs to be charged first. 
I have been admiring Princess Beatrice's wedding dress and found this that I thought was cute. 

It was lovely that she chose to wear one of the Queen's dresses from the 1960's. It was fitting for a wedding during these times. 
I was down to the sewing room and put 17 pieces for overalls for Anna's wardrobe onto the fabric. It was a lot of work. 

I am ready to cut it out. and have to cut one pattern piece again for the shoulder straps. This pattern goes together like a puzzle. You take the pieces off the fabric as you sew them and lay them out carefully. There is number matching going on along with notches. The rest of the fabric is for a coat for Kit's wardrobe. It will be a lot easier to make. 

Knitting

Nothing happened. 

Today

I have been out to grocery shop at 7 a.m. and all is put away. I am going to cut out the overalls and I do hope to block the sweater. I'm doing very little outside due to the heat and humidity. 

A Quiet and Almost Boring Day

Yesterday was cooler but more humid. The high got to 24C with a humidex of 29C. It cooled off during the night to 18C but the temperature has gone up to 19C. It is cloudy and it could rain today. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was spent doing the budget and paying bills. It wasn't the most exciting day and it can be boring. Nothing went wrong and I got caught up to date in a little over 4 hours. All I got from it was tired eyes and brain. 
I've been taking my blood pressure twice a day (3 times each sitting) and it is crazy. One thing for sure - I will probably need an increase in medication as the daily average states I have Hypertension Stage 1. 
I've been eating carefully but had ice cream cake two nights in a row. Last night it upset my stomach and I'm sure it is a combination of dairy, chocolate, and sugar. Back to normal once again today. 
There were no cases of the virus reported yesterday and there are no active cases in the province. It is exciting but it doesn't mean there are no cases here. 

Sewing

I had hoped to work on the bodice sloper for the Gotz dolls but my eyes and head were tired. I rested instead. 

Knitting

I finished the sweater pieces and need to block them. Then sew them together. Now it is back to the slow knit sweater. 

Today

I have a trip to the quilt shop for a piece of fabric for grandson's pillow case and a light for the sewing machine. Then I hope to spend some time in the sewing room. 
Until the next time.............................

Hot and Humid

Yesterday was a hot one with a high of 30C. With the humidity it felt more like 32C but really it felt hotter than that. We had a nice rain after lunch that drove the humidity up. This morning, the temperature was 20C. It looks like it could be sunny. It is going to be hot (28C) and humid. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was the Spousal Unit's birthday dinner. Daughter-in-law arrived at 8:30 to prep the vegetables while I got the prime rib roast slathered with a dry rub. It had to sit at room temperature for 4 hours. 
Once that was done, I cleaned the house. We set up the BBQ in preparation for the roast. After lunch, we put it on the rotisserie and started it for the low and slow cooking. It is an afternoon of babysitting it. Daughter-In-law and I sat outside part of the afternoon and then inside to cool off. Vegetables were put on and we ate the wonderful meal. 
My blood pressure is all over the place. The first reading is usually high and then it drops. I am doing 3 per sitting (twice a day) to get an average. I have been eating properly and drinking a fair amount of water. I've lost 2.4 lbs since Wednesday. Most of that is retained fluid. 
Yesterday was day 10 of no new cases of the virus. It has become an interesting topic as people want the borders opened to visit with families (no self isolation) vs keeping it shut. Then there is the mandatory mask topic. People are becoming complacent. 

Knitting

I knit on the second sleeve and am ready to start shaping the top of the sleeve. Hopefully I can do more today on it. 

Today

I have budget paper work to do and then hope to work on the sloper for the Gotz dolls. I need to get Take 5.4 ready to cut out and sew. Hopefully knitting tonight. 
Until the next time....................................

Blood Pressure Fun

Yesterday was warm with a high of 26C. The humidex was 32C which means it was muggy outside. This morning it was 16C and a lot of dew. We could get showers and thunderstorms today. 

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit mowed the lawn while I folded 2 loads of laundry. We both went out and tied up tomato plants so they don't lay on the lawn. While tying up the plants we picked another 5 grape tomatoes. The garden is doing amazingly well. 
We were out last night to family to deliver some potato salad for daughter-in-law. We had some good laughs and came home in good moods. 
My blood pressure machine arrived via grandson yesterday morning. The most stressful part was getting it to sync with the phone app. That reading was high. The next two were lower and this morning the readings were in the normal range. I am thinking the readings will be higher when I take it again at 9:30 a.m.

I ate properly yesterday and lost another pound. I'm thinking some of it was more excess fluid. I will continue to behave myself 80% of the time. 
There were no new cases of the virus reported yesterday. There is still one active case. One case is still under investigation and they still don't know where the person got the virus from. It was said we are at low risk, not zero risk of the virus and still must be diligent. 
The province announced that masks must be worn inside in preparation for the second wave. 

We have been wearing masks in all these places and will continue to do so. They are hot in the summer but safety for ourselves and others is important. 

Sewing and Knitting

I did none yesterday. It was an off day for me to knit. Sewing will begin on Monday. 

Today

The day will be spent on dinner tonight. We are having prime rib roast (on the BBQ) and roast vegetables. This is an all day meal with housework thrown in for a good measure. We are celebrating the Spousal Unit's 75th birthday. 
Until the next time.................................

A Surprise From The Garden

Yesterday was wet in the morning and humid and warm in the afternoon. The high got to 24C and this morning, it was 19C. During the night I woke to thunder rumbling and rain falling. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday we were busy. We left home at 8:15 a.m. to pick up the prime rib for the Spousal Unit's birthday dinner on Saturday. We had a good trip up and back.
At home, the Spousal Unit mowed quite a bit of the lawn while I did laundry and made a potato salad for dinner tonight. Grandson came for a visit and we talked about his day. 
Last night, the Spousal Unit came in with a surprise. 

The earliest we have had ripe grape tomatoes since moving here. We are super excited as it means more will ripen over the next short while and we can eat fresh off the vine tomatoes. 
Elliott was out on the deck last night to chew on his grass. Such an exhausting time meant he had to sleep on the couch most of the evening. 

I worked on sticking to my new eating plan and reduced the amount of salt and processed food I ate. It is working as I lost almost 1.5 lbs of fluid in 24 hours. It is motivating me to continue to work hard on getting my blood pressure down and a bunch of weight off. The goal is to try and remain on the same dosage of blood pressured medication or be off it. 

Sewing

I didn't do anything in the sewing room and may not get in to sew until Sunday afternoon. My next project is overalls for Anna. 

Knitting

I am about half done the second sleeve of the test pattern. I did quite a bit yesterday and ended up with cramps in my right hand. 

Today

It is housework day and a bit of time will be spent working on ideas for menu planning. I hope to knit some tonight. 
Until the next time..........................

Not What I Expected

Our heat wave is over for now. It has cooled down and we had rain during the night. It is going to be warm again with lots of humidity. 

Lifestyle

We have been busy busy. We have got most of the garage cleaned up. There is about 3 hours of organizing left and it will be done. Tuesday we spent most of the morning organizing and have done several 30 minute sessions since then. Twice a day even. It will be nice when it is finished and I can move on to other things. 
I had a telephone appointment with the doctor on Monday. It was full of surprises and not what I expected. My thyroid has remained the same which is nice to know. My A1C was 5.8% and in the good range. That was a surprise. My hemoglobin was good which it always is. My kidney function is 46 and poor. Cause -- blood pressure. It is also the reason why I am tired, have aches and pains, etc. I ordered a blood pressure monitor and will call the doctor once I have taken readings for 2 weeks. I also have done a big adjustment to my diet in hopes of helping lower my blood pressure. I am sure I will have a medication change. 
The Spousal Unit had his telephone appointment with the hematologist on Tuesday. His blood work is perfect and he is now to have his blood work done once a year vs every 3 months. After 4.5 years of excellent results, we hope he has many more years of the same. The hematologist was super excited as were we. 
We were to the used book store yesterday and everyone inside was wearing a mask. It isn't mandatory but the store is small and people can't social distance all that well. We felt safe in there. We drove by the quilt shop but didn't stop. It was busy and I don't need to get a piece of fabric for grandson's pillow case right now. 
Elliott has been out on the deck to eat his grass. He is still a bit uneasy with it as there are strange noises out there. 

When I moved, he ran inside and went to the chair for a nap. So stressful doing the outside thing after dinner. 

After treat time, he went into his scratching post and spent some time in it. He rarely does this so it was a big surprise when he did it. 

Yesterday was Day 7 of no new cases of the virus. Only one case remains active. A good feeling. 

Sewing

Grandson got his first lesson on Tuesday. He pinned the pieces together so he can sew next Tuesday. 

I haven't sewn since I finished Anna's dress. I have rested most afternoons due to being so tired. 

Knitting

The first sleeve is almost done on the test pattern. I hope to have this sweater done by late next week. Then it will be back to the other sweater and try to finish it. 

Today

We are out to pick up meat for the Spousal Unit's birthday dinner and I will do a few things after we get home. I hope to knit on the sweater. Not sure what else will happen. 
Until the next time.......................................

A Wonderful Sunday

Yesterday was a warm day with a high of 28C. Just after 5 p.m., we heard thunder and it kept getting closer and closer. It was a good thunderstorm. It started to rain and the skies opened up and it poured. It stopped and then started again. It was over in the early evening. This morning it was 19C at 6 a.m. and it is to be a hot day with lots of humidity. 

Lifestyle

We headed out in good time yesterday morning and got the Spousal Unit a garden hose. We then headed to the meat market to order prime rib for his birthday. We enjoyed our Sunday drive. 
We sat out on the deck for a bit yesterday after I organized it for us. 

When the umbrella is up, both of us will be in the shade. The other end of the deck looks empty and we are still thinking about how to set it up. 

We can pull the table out to eat on the deck but need an umbrella for it. We can put 5 chairs out and get a propane fire pit and enjoy it on cool evenings. We are in discussion mode and wait and see. 
Elliot was big and brave and got outside the door yesterday afternoon. 

The thunder rumbled and he stayed out chewing on his grass. A car went by and he scurried inside. 
We had another day of no reported cases of the virus. There are two active cases and both are recovering at home. 

Sewing

I spent an hour in the sewing room and finished the masks. They are ready to ship today. 

It is nice to have them done. 

Knitting

I worked on sleeve #1 and am about half done. 

Today

It is back out to work in the garage this morning, get grandson's pillow case ready to sew and knit this evening. 
Until the next time....................................

Cleaning The Garage And Not Sewing

Yesterday was warm and humid. The high got to 24C but with the humidex, it felt like 28C. This morning it was 14C and we are to be warmer today. We are under a heat warning once again. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was the start of cleaning the garage. Two different cleaning styles clashed and we had to compromise and move on. The outside wall is cleaned. Walls were swept, door and window scrubbed, heater wiped down, and lots of stuff moved and/or bagged for garbage. We have an organized area of calm. Or as we laughingly said "We cleaned the garage as we hear someone is coming to make something". 

The garage is a one car version and even when tidy, I can't park the car in it. It is a work shop area for the Spousal Unit. 

Tomorrow is the house side of the garage. It is more interesting than this side. The back area is the most interesting and will take the most time to organize and clean. 
The Spousal Unit's surgery has started to look much better. The eye area was the worst and has improved a lot. The others are improving and healing well. I am less worried about it now. 
We had no new cases of the virus reported yesterday. We are lucky as people have worked hard to stay safe. Will we see a second wave? Yes and preparations are being made for it. Right now it is the mandatory wearing of non medical masks at more locations. 

Sewing

I was in the sewing room for 5 minutes yesterday afternoon. I was looking at fabric. I found this and thought of Kit and her 1940's wardrobe. 

There is a half a meter for a school dress. But not before I finish Anna's wardrobe. 

Knitting

The body of the test sweater is knit and I have started on the first sleeve. I am moving ahead which is good as I stalled for a few days. Hopefully it will be done by next weekend. 

Today

Today we are going for a drive and will buy a new hose for the back tap. This afternoon I need to finish the two masks and get them ready to ship tomorrow. 
Until the next time................................

The Deck Is Done

Thursday and yesterday were cool days with a high of 20C. The sun did shine in the late afternoon both days. This morning it was 15C at 6 a.m. and it's the start of the warmer weather. 

Lifestyle

We have both been tired from the Spousal Unit's surgery. Yesterday was better than Thursday when we both did very little. I did a clean of the whole house and washed most of the floors. It was nice to have that done. The Spousal Unit puttered outside most of the day doing things here and there. 

The garden is coming along rapidly. We have peas and beans.

The roses are blooming at the back of the shed. 

The deck was done last night at 8 pm and we got it loaded. Family was here and we had a great time. Our neighbor did a fabulous job. The picture was taken 4 hours before completion. I'll get pictures as soon as it nice. It rained just as we finished up and put the tools away. 

I have some staining to do when it cools off again. The deck gets a lot of sun on it and the staining may have to be done when it cools off or in the evenings. 

There have been no new cases of the virus for the past two days. The province is preparing for the second wave with more mask requirements. They have also allowed visiting in long term care homes but many restrictions are in place. 

Sewing

I haven't done any sewing. By afternoon, I'm quite tired and just want to sleep. I will have to push and get some things done. 

Knitting

I have the fronts completed and am working on the back of the test sweater. It is coming along quickly now. 

Today

I plan on cleaning the garage. It is quite the job so will be several days at it. The Spousal Unit will have quite a bit of sorting to do and quite a few things to put away. I will knit and I may try to finish the masks. 

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

Surgery Went Well

Yesterday was cool with a high of 17C. It was sort of misty all day. This morning it was 13C and misty. It is to be warmer today. 

Lifestyle

We headed into the city 90 minutes prior to the Spousal Unit's appointment. The traffic was light and we made good time. My concern about driving in the city was not necessary as it was easy to get to the hospital. The trip out was almost as easy. I did get lost at Sackville by taking the wrong exit. Five minute reroute and we were back on track. 
The Spousal Unit's surgery went well. He had cancer cells removed from 3 areas on one side of his face. His eye is purple today from surgery on that area. Around his ear was the biggest area and seems to be okay. His nose looks okay. He has to go back for the other side of his face and more around his nose. 
We were both tired when we got home. We rested the rest of the day. 
Our neighbor was over and got more railing on the deck last night. About 3 hours more and it will be done. He also helped us get the recycling ready to go out this morning. With us both being tired, it was wonderful to have the help. 
There was one new case of the virus reported yesterday. It is being investigated as they are unsure of where the person got it from. A bit scary. 

Sewing and Knitting

None done yesterday. 

Today

We are both still tired and will rest again. I'm not sure if I took my meds this morning (I don't think I did) so I will be running on low all day. I did get groceries at 7 a.m. and was out of the store in record time. I was gone 45 minutes. If I feel okay, I will knit but no sewing today. It is recovery day for both of us. 
Until the next time.................................

A Fun Day With Grandson

Yesterday was the first cool day in a while. It was quite refreshing. The high got too 20C. This morning it is 15C and is suppose to get to 17C. 

Lifestyle

Grandson was over and we had a fun day with him. He did walk the neighbor's dog, ride bike and play with the neighbors. But he had fun with  us. He and I were out to the fabric shop and he played crib with the Spousal Unit. Once grandson caught on to the game, he became a wicked player. Had us both laughing like crazy. And, he won both games. 
Our neighbor was over to put up another panel of railing before it rained. The panel is up and it didn't rain. It is coming along and we are loving it. 
Yesterday was day 6 of no new cases of the virus. Our new normal is working or so it seems. I am sure we will see a second wave this fall. 

Sewing

Grandson and I spent about 45 minutes getting his fabric for two pillow cases. Being first in the store (and a bit early), we were able to wander around and I left him to his devices. He chose well. 

I chose two fat quarters and a piece of elastic for masks. 
The staff at the quilting shop were all wearing masks this time. They decided on this when the Atlantic bubble started. They are being super careful as they have been busy with their customers from the other provinces. All customers must wear a mask when entering; a rule that has been in place since reopening in early June. 
Once home I laundered all the fabric ready for next week. My fabric was sewn and I got two masks done. 

These have 1/8" elastic for the ears and the next two will have 1/4" elastic. All 4 are the same. Cost for material for 4 masks was $7.00. The next two masks are about 1/4 done and will take me about 90 minutes to finish. 

Knitting

I have the test sweater divided and working on the right front. It is a well written pattern.

Today

We are off to Halifax as the Spousal Unit has minor surgery this morning. Home and resting as I will be exhausted (as will he). I'm sure we won't get much done today around the house or yard. 
Until the next time...................................

Anna's Dress Done

Yesterday was another hot one with a high of 29-30C and a humidex of 36C. About 6 p.m. we had a good (warm) rain go through and we may have had another rain during the night. The temperature at 6 a.m. this morning was 19C and it is suppose to be cooler today. 

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit used the weed eater and did part of the ditch. He quit when he got warm, came in, cooled off and then went out to prune tomatoes. He spent the afternoon inside resting. 
I started cleaning the living room area of the house. I spent my time cleaning windows, screens, and the track. A big dirty job that I am happy to have done. I can now start cleaning the room. 
The neighbor has started the railing on the other side of the deck. The rain forced him home for an hour. He returned to do more on it. 
My weight has stalled. Insulin resistance has kicked in and I need to tweak what I am eating. Less carbs and a bit more walking may help get past this stage. 
We are at day 5 with no new cases of the virus. People are getting use to the new normal of social distancing, wearing masks, and following the restrictions. 

Sewing

I spent a couple of hours in the sewing room finishing up Anna's dress. I quite like it. The pin tucking adds texture to the bodice. 

A lesson learned -- watch where you place your prints. Though the front looks nice with matching pink panels, the back has 2 green panels sewing together at the back center seam. 

I will have to remember that when I make this dress again for the other dolls. 
I hope to make a sun hat out of the remaining fabrics. It may be patch work. Then back to the bodice sloper. 

Knitting

I am one row from making a decision on the test pattern. Do I knit the cropped or the longer sweater. I will decide today as I am wanting to make an outfit similar to this one for one of the dolls. 

From Pinterest

If the polka dot fabric I have matches the yarn, I will do the cropped sweater. This sweater will have a sailor collar on it and the doll will wear white sandals. The picture is just a starting point. 

Today

Our grandson is here for the day. He and I are heading to the quilt shop to get fabric for a pillow case and 2 masks. He and the Spousal Unit will play some crib this afternoon. As we can't go to museums this summer, we are now focusing on things we can do here. 
Until the next time..............................

Continuing Hot

Yesterday was a hot humid day. With a high of 29C and a humidex of 37C, it was a day of sauna like conditions. This morning, it was 19C with a humidex in the mid 20C. Another warm day with a high of 30C. 

Lifestyle

I spent the morning cleaning the bathroom and kitchen. I even washed those floors. It was good to have them done again. 
The railing went on to one side of the stairs. 

Our neighbor went home shortly after noon due to the heat. We do not want him to get heat exhaustion and are willing to wait for the deck to be done. 
The Spousal Unit and I hit the heat exhaustion wall yesterday. He slept and I puttered. It was really hard to do things but I forged ahead. 
Day 4 of no new cases was yesterday's news. It is day 10 of the Atlantic bubble. 

Sewing

I went down to the sewing room and serger 144" of raw edges on the skirt for Anna. I even had to change one of the cones of thread. I cut 3/4" off the skirt and serger the hem edge and ran three rows of gathering threads to attach the skirt to the bodice. I am ready to attach the skirt to the bodice. 

Knitting

I have the test pattern cast on and am knitting away on it. I am almost ready to knit the 2 rows of contrast color. It is a fun knit that will keep me busy for nearly a week. 

Today

The goal is to clean up some of the living room, sew, knit, and keep cool. 
Until the next time............................

More Work, Less Play

Yesterday was a warm, humid day. The high got to 26C with a humidex of 34C. It started to rain about 4:30 pm and it was a warm rain. This morning it is 22C with a humidex of 30C. We did have rain during the night and this morning. It is going to be humid day with showers. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was clean our bedroom. All the bedding was done, the floor swept and scrubbed on my hands and knees so the baseboard could be wiped. Furniture cleaned and window tracks scrubbed. It was a big job that took a lot of hours to do. But, it is done and there is no dusty smell in there. 
The deck stairs are done and our neighbor literally jumped up and down on them with no give. Job well done.  

The railing has been started on the stairs. 

We will be putting railing on soon. 
I have been quietly been working on my lifestyle. I have had a lot of pain some days when I shouldn't have had it. Other days I know why I am in pain. I decided to cut back on sugar and gluten. It has helped some with the pain. 
During this time, I worked on my why, what, and how to have a healthy lifestyle (aka loose weight). I've had my why for a long time but the lack of discussion on the what and how left me frustrated with WW. I needed to work through that by myself with a lot of reading and thinking. I have a decent plan in place. 

I also had to realize a few other things also. I am addicted to food, especially sugar and gluten. I am also insulin resistant. And finally, I can come up with a thousand and one excuses not to do what I really should be doing. I have a notebook, a pen, some post-it notes and I worked on a plan. It will evolve as time goes on. I'm back to loosing weight and am happy with my progress. 
There were no new cases of the virus yesterday. 

Sewing

Rather than sew, I sat outside visiting with neighbors. It was a great afternoon of talking about a lot of things. 

Knitting

I didn't start last night as I was tired. 

Today

Some housework, sewing and knitting. Not committing as I'm not sure what is happening outside today. 
Until the next time..............................

Progress, Progress, Progress

Yesterday was a hot one. We saw it hit 30C and with the humidex, 37C. It was super foggy in the morning though but once it lifted, the temperature went up quickly. Today is cloudy and 18C at 6 a.m. There is a possibility we could have showers today. 

Lifestyle

I rested yesterday morning and then folded 2 huge loads of laundry. It was about all I could do as I was tired. The decking is on the deck and was finished up after 9:30 p.m. Our neighbor is doing a fabulous job. 

The picture frames are lovely. 

The steps are probably next. 

The scrap wood from the deck is gone and we are happy that it didn't have to go to the dump. It went down the street to someone's fire pit. We have a bit of stuff to go to the dump once we finish cleaning up. 
There were no new cases of the virus yesterday. Two of the 5 cases are resolved. 

Sewing

I worked on Anna's dress yesterday. I used a basic dress pattern a friend gave me. It fits the dolls well. 

The pin tucking is hard to see. I used two threads that matched the fabric well and they blend into the fabric. 

The skirt is cut out ready to be sewn. First I need to serge the seams. After that, I can proceed to finishing the dress. 

I may move the fabrics around a bit though the stripe does stay in the center. I'm thinking the ones beside the stripe will go between the other two to break them up. I am actually excited to finish this dress up as I love it as part of Anna's wardrobe. When done, I will work on the bodice sloper again. 
I have two masks to make for friends in Alberta. I have to get the fabric for them on Tuesday. Grandson is going to buy the fabric to sew a pillow case for himself. 

Knitting

On hold but a test pattern is out and I will start it tonight. One of the dolls will quite like it in their wardrobe. 

Today

I will turn on the a/c, do some housework, sew, and knit. I'm not sure what is happening with the deck but if it is hot we don't expect our neighbor to work on it. We are making sure everyone is staying safe in the heat. 
Until the next time..............................

Learning To Use The Pin Tuck Foot

The weather continued to cool off and the coolest morning was 11.4C -- yesterday to be exact. It was nice to cool off. Last night it rained 3" between 9:30 p.m. and midnight. There was more rain after midnight and during the night, we awoke to a good thunder storm. We even saw lightening. Today is to be warmer so here's to sauna conditions. 

Lifestyle

On Tuesday morning, grandson and I weeded some more on the hedge. I got the weeds out of 5 bushes and then trimmed them on the street side. It is coming along slowly. I will keep working on it as I have time and the mornings are cool. 
Yesterday I went to Bedford to shop. Only did one store and it was quiet in there. Not a lot of people are wearing masks which bothers me. I wore mine and did a lot of social distancing. I was home in good time and got things put away before lunch. 
The deck is coming along nicely. Our friend got 4 boards on last night before it rained. It takes time to fasten 20' boards down. 

There was one more case of the virus yesterday bringing the province's total to 5 active cases. The last person is an essential service person. Though the number of cases is low here, we continue to be diligent when out and about. Masks and hand sanitizer are important items in our lives. So is disinfectant spray. 

Sewing

Yesterday was trying out the pin tuck foot on the sewing machine. Time was spent watching a video on how to use the foot and then using it. I was impressed with it. The 9 groove foot is perfect for doll clothes. In the end, I got a bodice done for Anna's dress. Now to sew it up. Pictures today. 
The sloper is sitting waiting for me to cut out the next take. As Anna's dress and the sloper use the same colored thread, I will work on both at the same time. 
I looked for a tub for Kit's clothes and didn't find the size I wanted. I can get them at Bayer's Lake so may stop on our way home from the Spousal Unit's appointment and pick them up. We will see how he feels. 

Knitting

I've set my knitting aside to read a book. It is break time for me and once the book is done, I will knit again. 

Today

Housework, sewing, and reading. I may slip in a nap if I have time.
Until the next time...................................

Progress Being Made

The weather has cooled off. Cooler than what we've had for I don't know how long. A bit of rain that doesn't do much but it's a bit of moisture. Today is suppose to be cool and damp. 

Lifestyle

We have been sort of busy with housework and the deck. I've been slowly getting the upstairs cleaned and kept cleaned. I've started in the living area and am cleaning the couch. There is a lot of Elliott's hair everywhere. 
The deck is starting to get the boards on it. Doing the prep work takes time. The top step is done with a picture frame border and looks great. 

It is truly a work of art in our eyes. 
I brushed Elliott yesterday and got a lot of hair out of him. He loves to be brushed and lays nicely to have it done. He is a huge shedder so I hope to do him daily for the next while. 
We have had no new cases of the virus for 3 days now. The Atlantic Bubble has been going on for 3 days and many thousands of people have been moving between the provinces. And one out of country person who has the virus. Not sure how this is working as the story is emerging only that 3 people from PEI have contacted the virus through this one person.  

Sewing

I had to stop with the sloper as I wasn't happy with where I was going. I put the whole works into the trash and started again. I began with a basic bodice and worked from there using industrial paper toweling and a couple of classes I took. I am ready to make a muslin to see if I have it right. I've done two muslins already and here is where I am at. 

I have to add a bit to the shoulder and down the front and back at the arm. Not too bad. 

A bit of trimming at the front so it sits away from the arm joint. 5B is where I got with the 2nd try. 

I added a tiny bit to under the arm. The back had to have quite a bit added to it as I cut it too narrow. I have that added on now  so we can see how it fits on the next muslin. 

Knitting

I finished up the last test pattern and got pictures done. 

And both of the last two sweaters which were by the same designer. 

Today

We both have blood tests this morning so most of the morning will be for that. Our appointments are 2 hours apart. This afternoon, I'd like to work on the basic bodice sloper and get it right so I can move forward again on the surplice top. Tonight, I will read a book. I'm taking a break from knitting.
Until the next time.................................