Doll's Dress Bodice Completed

 Yesterday was a dull dismal day with rain and fog. The high got to 5C. This morning it was 0C (wind chill of -3) and snow was falling. It has since quit and we may see some sunshine later today. The high is to get to 1C. 

Lifestyle

With it being dull and grey yesterday, we both wanted to hibernate. Not unusual for us as it has happened in other places we have lived. We pushed forward. 

In my not wanting to do the finances, I worked on the puzzle for a bit and got about 10 pieces put in. A second go later in the day saw another 10 pieces go in between us. 

The finances or budge it almost done. I have to enter in the bills I paid and car info. It wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be but I really wanted to avoid it. When done, I was happy to see a half hour will have it completed. 

I did 3 loads of laundry yesterday and am caught up. It needs folding which is on the agenda for today. I have one load of fabric to do today. 

There were 59 new cases and 2 deaths over 3 days. There were 58 recoveries. There are now 5 reported cases of the new variant in Canada and I wonder about many things as we head into the Christmas season. Will we have the new variant in Nova Scotia by then and be under tighter restrictions? Who knows. 

Sewing

I spent some time in the sewing room yesterday finishing up the bodice of the dress. The bodice is labor intensive but it fits well. 

I can now start the skirt. The only labor intensive part is the V at the center front. I should have the skirt ready to attach to the bodice today. 

A designer sent me her pattern for the lobster tail bustle. I have to buy 1/4" boning for it from the US as I can't get it here. 

As soon as the dress is done, I will be focusing on the last 2 Christmas gifts. I would love to have them done by mid month or earlier. I am working on a plan to get them done. 

Knitting

I had the toe of the 2nd sock over half done when I found a mistake. I unknit all the rows, fixed the mistake and got 9 rows completed. Hopefully they will be done tonight. Then on to the next pair of socks. 

Today

The laundry needs to be folded, some housework done, sewing, and knitting. It is a stay at home day today as I need to get caught up and do some planning. 

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

A Wonderful Morning Shopping

 The weather has been cool and dismal. If it hasn't rained, it's snowed. This morning it is -1C and there is a bit of snow on the deck. We are to have rain or freezing rain today with a high of 4C. 

Lifestyle

On Saturday, we did a repeat of Friday by going back to Coldbrook for books, the quilt shop, and a big hunt for matches. No matches to be found but when I did a search online, I found some in Sackville.

We headed out yesterday morning to Sackville with a list and did our shopping. We got the matches, two Christmas presents, light bulbs, and oil for the garage door. We both enjoyed the time in the store. It wasn't busy and we felt safe. I went into another store for pipe cleaners and got a book to use for grocery lists and a sketch pad to practice free motion quilting designs in. We were home by 11:30 am and feeling mentally much better. 

We are both worried about the new variant being discovered in Canada. We are now planning to be more careful when out and about. I am wearing a 3 layer mask as I go out more than the Spousal Unit. He wears a medical mask and goes out when it is quieter in the stores.  The variant isn't here but we know it will arrive sometime. At this time, I still haven't been able to book my booster shot.

Sewing

I spent almost 2 hours in the sewing room and have the bodice of the dress ready to hand sew the lining to the sleeve seams. I am pleased with the results. 

Once done, I will be ready to tackle the skirt. I am going to take my time with the V part at the center front of the skirt. 

There is a chemise to test but I don't have time to make it. I have the pattern downloaded to make later. I need to find lace for it. I want her lobster tail bustle to make for the new dress pattern she hopes to post in December. 

I got the fabrics for the Kitchen Aid mixer cover. I also bought thread to match one piece and think the thread I have will match the other piece. A lot of cross hatch quilting is going to happen once the pieces are laundered and cut out. 

My replacement doll is on the way. She is in transit and I may get her by Dec. 3. I would love the above dress done before that so she can put it on when she arrives. 

Knitting

The first toe has been knit to where I need to decrease every row for 2 rows. Then I will do the other sock to that point and Kirchner stitch them at the same time. Then it will be time to cast on the last pair for this year. 

Today

It is a stay at home day with laundry, budget, sewing and knitting to be done. The weather is dictating this as it is raining (freezing rain) at the moment.

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

Fabric For A Quilt

 Yesterday was damp, cloudy and warm. The high got to 7.6C and we only had showers during the day. This morning it is 6C and the sun is trying to shine. We are to have rain and/or flurries today and the temperature is to drop to 3C. 

Lifestyle

We headed out to do a few things yesterday. We got apples, and took the parcel to the post office. Next was to renew the sticker on the license plate. We decided to get light bulbs and maybe shop a bit. We went to one store that wasn't busy and got the light bulbs and headed home. It was busy due to Black Friday sales. 

The weather has left me feeling tired and feeling a bit depressed. I had a nap after lunch which wasn't necessary but I had no energy. I did work on the puzzle for 15 minutes in the evening and got 8 - 10 pieces in. I also did some cleaning in the kitchen which made me feel a bit better. 

I had problems sleeping last night. I stressed out and had a small anxiety attack with the announcement of the latest variant of the covid virus. Part was the unknown of the variant and if our vaccines will keep us safe and part was being tired of staying safe all the time. The planning is taking its toll on me and I need a break from it. I am working on that break. 

There were 28 new cases of the virus report yesterday. 81.2% of Nova Scotians are double vaccinated. There are no  appointments for booster shots in our area for Dec. 15 or later so I am still waiting to book mine. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday but daughter showed me fabrics at the quilt shop she was in. I bought 9 fat quarters and a half meter of her choice for her quilt. 

The above are the main part of the quilt. Below is the binding.

The pattern is Tifton Tiles. It will be perfect for her to snuggle underneath when it is done.

I won't be starting this quilt until 2022 which will give me time to think about how to make it a bit big bigger. 

Knitting

I knit on the sock last night and have 39 of the 61 rounds done. It is coming along quickly as I do knit when I'm tired or not feeling like doing much of anything else. 

Today

It is to the quilt shop this morning and, hopefully some sewing this afternoon. Knitting tonight. I'm hoping I will have a good night's sleep as I am tired. I'm trying not to nap this afternoon to see if it will help me out. 

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

I'm Getting There On All Fronts

 Though yesterday was dull and grey, we only had a couple of small showers. The temperature climbed slowly all day and was 6C in the evening. This morning, it is cloudy and 5C. We could see some showers today and rain tonight. The high is to be 7C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday, the Spousal Unit was out before breakfast to shovel part of the driveway. He finished it and the deck after breakfast. All that is left this morning is small piles of snow from plowing and shoveling and in some sheltered areas. 

I spent the morning cleaning both the bathrooms and part of the kitchen. The basement is now clean. I need to start again upstairs. I'm sure that it will go faster than before as I've been working to keep it cleaner on a daily basis.

There were 22 new cases of the virus, 1 death, and 24 recoveries reported yesterday. Things are stabilizing number wise here. I am still waiting to get my booster shot. No dates have come up after Dec. 15 for me. 

Sewing

I cut out and sewed the collar pieces for the dress yesterday. I'm a tiny bit off on the placing of the small butterflies but it will work. 

 

The lining for the bodice is now cut out and I can finish the bodice. This pattern is more complicated and is taking me longer than I had hoped it would. But, I'm enjoying the process. 

Knitting

I finally photographed the test sweater. The first picture shows how dark it has been here as you can't see the pattern. And, usin dark colored yarn doesn't help. 

The sweater fits well and I love the hat. It has a jaunty look to it. Here is a lightened picture so you can see the pattern on the sweater. 

This sweater goes to the little girl I've been giving items to for her dolls. 

I've been knitting on the socks and the second sock is coming along. If all goes well, I could have them done by the end of the month. I will miss knitting this lovely yarn as it is so soft to work with. 

Today

We are heading out to do some shopping, mail the doll so she is on her way back to Ontario, and stop at the quilt shop to see if I can find fabric for a Christmas gift. I'd like to do some sewing on the bodice and knit on the socks. 

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

A Snowy Day

 Yesterday was a very snowy day. It snowed until at least 7:30 p.m. and there was at least 3-4" of snow fall. The high got to 1.2C. Today we are to see rain showers and a high of 7C.

A correction on rain fall accumulation. We had about 66mm of rain which is about 2.5". In one spot on Cape Breton, there was 234mm which is 9.25". Add the snow and all I can say is wow!!

Lifestyle

I spent time cleaning the storage room. It wasn't a hard job but I did move everything and reorganize it. The floor was swept. The shelving unit I stored extra food onto was cleaned up and some expired food was tossed. I will not be stocking up this winter. We can get everything we need easily now. 

I have 2.5 boxes to go to the thrift shop and I would like to get them gone shortly. I did remove some fabric from one box to use for sandwiches to practice free motion quilting on. Cheaper than having to buy fat quarters from the quilt shop. 

I went grocery shopping after lunch and it wasn't as busy as I had thought it would be. The roads were in good condition though I'm sure they would be plowed and salted as it was snowing heavily. Our street was plowed around 5 p.m. with the big loader which has two huge blades on it. About 15 minutes later it was salted. 

We worked on the puzzle some yesterday and it is coming along. I was able to fix a border mistake after 4 tries. Once it was fixed, I got more pieces in. The Spousal Unit did a few pieces also. I'm sure this puzzle will be done by the end of next week. 

Elliott was a happy cat yesterday until I petted him while he was in a deep sleep. He was up in a flash ready to fight or flee. I had to cuddle him and calm him down. 

A typical day for Elliott. 

There were 20 new cases of the virus. The number of cases related to the gathering last month are decreasing. The cases in the central zone are holding about the same but there are more cases in children. It will be wonderful when children can get the vaccine. 

I did get an appointment for the Spousal Unit to get his booster shot. I will be trying to get myself one next. His was the last appointment at our preferred location. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I was tired. I do need to work on the dress so I can start on other Christmas gifts. The pattern has been published but I still want to make this dress. 

The fabric I reclaimed from the thrift shop boxes is Christmas fabric and will be perfect for free motion quilting practice on. I bought it really cheap after Christmas and it doesn't go with anything else I have. I will have to buy some batting if I don't have enough on hand. Hopefully some end pieces from the quilt shop. 

Knitting

I have about 20 rounds knit on the foot of the second sock. 

Today

Laundry, 2 bathrooms to clean, some sewing, and knitting. We are staying home today. 

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

Plodding Along

 Yesterday was another dreary day. The temperature dropped all day and it seemed to be lightly raining each time we looked outside. The high was 11C (midnight) and the low was -1.1C. There was 11.7 mm of rain. There was about 34mm of rain fall which was nothing compared to one area where 101.1mm of rain in 2 days. This morning it is -1.1C with a wind chill of -5C. It has snowed but not a lot.

Lifestyle

I was downstairs early and spent the morning cleaning up. In the family room, I swept, dusted, and moved furniture around. We now have the puzzle table under the pot lights. It is better but not the best. We will try 100 watt LED light bulbs. The room looks much better now with everything cleaned up. I also swept the sewing room floor which needed to be done. Next up down there is the storage room which I did start but I need time to focus on it. 

We worked on the puzzle and got a few more pieces in. Every time I look at it, I seem to get 4-5 pieces put in. The Spousal Unit seems to get about that many pieces in also. 

There were 29 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. The active number cases in the province is 184 which is down from yesterday. There is a live briefing today which I will watch. 

Sewing

I finished the second sleeve in the dress. Those sleeves are a lot of work. 

I am now ready to start the collar so I can finish the bodice. 

With Elliott being ill, I did not get this dress done as a test pattern. The final pattern has been published. It was one of those things that happens. I will finish it for the doll that is suppose to be coming. No word yet about her being shipped.

Knitting

The first sock's foot is completed to the toe. I have started the second sock's foot and hope to have these socks done by the end of the month. I am so pleased with them as the color is perfect for a male and the yarn has been a dream to knit. 

Today

I wait and see how I feel today as I'm short on sleep once again. I need to get groceries and my prescription. I may go down and clean the storage room as it really needs attending to. I will knit. Sew; maybe not. 

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

A Wet And Windy Day

 Yesterday was a wet day. The rain started late morning and there were period of heavy rain and high winds. There was 2+" of rain fall until midnight. The high got to 13C and this morning it was 7C. It is still raining and the temperature is suppose to drop and we may see snow flurries later this afternoon. 

Lifestyle

I did the budget yesterday for October and had absolutely no issues with it. I had thought there would be as we were both tired from a late night on Sunday. 

We both worked on the puzzle yesterday. A big piece was put in and at that point the lightening was so poor we quit. I am on a mission to improve the lightening in both the sewing room and the puzzle area of the basement.

There were 60 new cases and 1 death reported for the 3 days over the weekend. There were 88 recoveries and the number of active cases is 193. 

Sewing

I did over an hour of sewing yesterday and got one sleeve ready to serge the side seams. Putting the puff part on the sleeve was a lot of work. 

I drew a lot of lines where I was to sew and gathered up the pieces. I was ready to holler out a lot of words by the time I got the sleeve cap gathered in pink thread. By then the sewing area was too dark to sew in and I had hit my limit for the day. 

I have decided not to a series of tutorials on the quilt I am going to make for daughter. I will go through each step as I do it which will include the tools I use, how I chose the fabric, fabric care, etc. If people wish to follow along, it will help them make a similar sized quilt. This will be done starting in January.

My doll arrived yesterday and I was excited. That excitement turned to disappointment when I opened the box. Instead of the doll I ordered (#26) I got #81.

I called customer services at Chapters and it is all straightened out. I need to return this doll with a shipping label they sent me and they are in the process of shipping the correct doll. I expect that I won't see the parcel until sometime in December.

Knitting

I knit some rounds on the sock. I have a mistake to correct what will require me to sit quietly, drop a stitch and make it right. A crochet hook will be used to pick up the stitches.

Today

I want to work on the budget some more and pay bills. I hope to move the puzzle table under some pot lights so we can see better. The second sleeve will be worked on and I will knit tonight. It looks like another day at home with the weather we are having.

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

I'm Thinking

 Yesterday was another nice day in which we saw the temperature rise from -4C in the morning to 10C this morning. The day's high was 9C just before midnight. This morning we have had rain and are expecting lots more during the day. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was a day off doing things in the house. I actually spent the morning planning a quilt. The afternoon was spent helping grandson with his science fair write up. We took him home and had a lovely supper with the family. 

Sewing

Yesterday morning was spent planning a quilt for daughter. I have done a lot of writing and will do tutorials on the steps I've done. Right now, it is in the planning stages.

I spent some time looking at how others have written about their experiences making a quilt as a beginner. How I plan for a quilt is somewhat different as I've taken what I've learned from a lot of sites, tried ideas, kept some and tossed others to get what I want. From the quilt that grew from a puppy size to a large lap quilt, I have ideas I wish to share with others. 

Knitting

 I worked on the socks last night and got 8 rows done on the foot of the first sock. It is easy knitting now as I don't have to worry about the padded part or decreasing for the gusset. Knit 36 stitches and rib 36 stitches. 

Today

I need to work on the budget this morning and sew on the doll's dress this afternoon. Knitting tonight. With the rain storm, it is a stay at home day.

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

The Dress Has Been Started

 Yesterday was both cloudy and sunny. When the sun shone, it was beautiful. The high got to 4.5C which was cool. This morning it was -4C. It is suppose to get to 8C and a storm is coming this way. Rain starting tomorrow. 

Lifestyle

With the storm coming it, my back ached yesterday. I did get the floors vacuumed and washed but it was a painful job. I had to rest which makes the job seemingly go on forever. I did get it done and will start vacuuming the basement on Monday. 

I did a bit on the puzzle yesterday. It is slow going but we will get it done. There are 4 more puzzles to be done this winter. 

Elliott is back to normal now though he does his main sleep in the living room and not our bedroom. 

Sewing

I spent a big part of the afternoon in the sewing room sewing the test pattern I will probably not have finished by the time it is published. 

All of the main color is cut out and part of the contrast. I worked mainly on the skirt though I did the bodice to see how it will look together. 

I dug deep into the trim container and found the daisy trim. Enough to put a row down the front of the bodice rather than buttons. The collar is planned out of the butterfly fabric. There should be a small butterfly showing on each upper collar piece. The butterflies will almost disappear on the upper sleeves as they will be gathered on top of the main sleeve. I'm okay with that. 

There is enough of the butterfly fabric left to make another dress for the dolls. I'd love to make it into another historical outfit. 

Knitting

The gusset on the 2nd sock is done. Though I'm happy it is done, it wasn't has hard as the first one. I did have to unknit a couple of times as I wasn't paying attention on the heel padding that I extended into the foot. 

Here is a peek at my book. I keep track of the rows knit and do go back and look at what I've done when knitting a pattern another time. I do put down a note if the decrease is an even or an odd row for the gusset on socks. And you can see that I write other notes on the page such as the vet clinic's address.

I had issues with the gusset on the first sock so I did a 2nd page for it. It was a simple way to keep track of the decrease then plain knit rows. 

Today

A day off from housework for me. I will do some of the budget, a bit on the puzzle, sew and knit. We have to go out for a bit this morning also. I need to buy apples. 

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

Fabric Chosen

Yesterday was a wet day here. It didn't rain incessantly but it rained. The high got to 14.5C which was nice. This morning it was 2C. They are calling for a chance of snow with a high of 3C. 

Lifestyle

Though my back was sore for a weather system coming it, I slugged at cleaning the bathroom. It was nice to get the room spotlessly clean once again. The hardest job is cleaning the jetted tub as I have to crawl into it as it is near impossible to reach into. 

Two loads of laundry were done and are ready to fold. I am keeping up on the housework now that Elliott is back to normal. 

I did about an hour on the puzzle yesterday. Between us we got about a dozen pieces put in. I am having problems finding the border pieces so I started putting together inside pieces. The Spousal Unit did the same. 

There were 27 new cases and 1 death reported yesterday. It is upsetting that our new case numbers are high due to the spread from the gathering at the end of October. 

Sewing

I did go down to the sewing room yesterday to find fabric for a pattern I want to sew. 

I dug in the doll's stash and found one piece I really like. It means buying fabric. I am hoping to save it for another doll's dress too. I was thinking Jo's (Little Women) dress.

I'd love to do the dress in the teal and use the plaid for the contrasting fabric. It means buying .5 meter of the teal. So I dug deeper into the stash and found this combination. 

I would do the dress in the plaid and the contrast in the butterflies. After looking at what others have done I have decided on this fabric combination. I hope to start today. 

My sewing mojo has been slow as I've been micro monitoring Elliott. Yesterday was the first day I felt like leaving him alone upstairs on his own. He did come down to visit us so all is well with him. I can now start to sew once again. 

Knitting

I have half of the gusset knit on the 2nd sock and it has been easier than the first one. 

Today

I would love to clean the kitchen, cut out the doll's dress, and knit. But that could change if we decide to go for a drive if the sun continues to shine. There is rain in the forecast for 3 days starting Monday. 

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

Sock #1 Gusset Done

Yesterday the weather was different. Though it did rain a bit, the temperature went up all day and we ended up with a high of 14.8C. This morning it was 13C and the temperature will drop and it will rain until sometime this afternoon. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning was busy cleaning the bedrooms and the hall. It is nice to have the floors washed and most of the dust gone. 

After lunch, I took the last box to daughter to the post office. I'm happy they are all gone from the house. Now to focus on gifts for family here. 

There were 22 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. With 22 recoveries also reported, the active caseload remains at 236. 

Sewing

I was in the sewing room for 5 minutes sewing a button onto grandson's school blazer. I took it over to him on the way home from the post office as he needed it for today.  

Knitting

With the day being busy and when I needed to rest, I knit on grandson's socks. 

I had to set up a page to keep track of the decrease rows as I got messed up at one point. The number with -1 means I have decreased for the gusset on that row and that is the number of gusset stitches on each side. I needed 8 stitches on each side and quit when I got that number. 

I am now ready to start the gusset on the 2nd sock. I'm moving along nicely with these socks. 

Today

The bathroom is the target area today along with laundry. I hope to work in the sewing room and do some knitting. It is too wet and dark to go anywhere today. 

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

Moving Back To Normal

 We have had it cool but sunny the past couple of days. The high has been about 4C. This morning we woke to 0C and snow which had been in the forecast. The snow will disappear as we are to get rain a bit later this morning. The high today is suppose to get to 11C. 

Lifestyle

Life has been evolving around Elliott. Yesterday he was peeing on the floors and a very unhappy cat. We are not sure why but it assumed it was stress after talking to the vet. It could have been his dish didn't have enough food in it, to the wind blowing against the house or a noise he heard during the night. He fought a bit having his meds which upped the stress level. Once over whatever was bothering him, he had quite a good sleep.

He is much better today and we have been talked to, swatted at, and bit by him. 

I washed floors yesterday and got the living and dining areas scrubbed clean. Next up is bedrooms and finally kitchen and bathroom. A lot of work cleaning up after a sick cat. But I will get it done. 

There were 20 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. During the briefing, we were told that we could expect to be in Wave 4 until sometime in January. This is disheartening and is due to the gathering held at the end of October in Amherst. The organizer did not (and did not want to) follow the restrictions for group gatherings and it is causing a rise in case numbers, deaths, and hospitalizations. Fines have been levied late which is another area of concern. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as we went for a drive. There are things being planned though and I've researched patterns to make a cover for a Kitchen Aide mixer. My choice is this one as I need to make the extra large size. It was fun doing the research and now I need to get the fabric. 

I ordered my last doll and she is on her way. She just left Montreal this morning. 

She has the Addy face mold and will be dressed mainly in historical clothing. She has been on my list for a year now and I am happy to be getting her. I have no desire to have any more dolls as there are none who are tugging at my heart strings. I have enough dolls to model the clothes I make.

Knitting

I got the heel turned on both socks and am ready to pick up the stitches for the gusset. With Elliott feeling under the weather, I've done more knitting while monitoring him. 

Today

I have floors to wash, a parcel to mail, some sewing to do, and knit on the socks. I do not need to monitor Elliott at this time as he is doing well. I can now do things I set aside during his illness. We are moving back to normal.

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

Doll Pajamas Completed

 Yesterday was windy and wet. The high got to 10.9C and we had about 1/2" of rain. Today it is windy and we could have showers or snow. We are not complaining as the west coast is having their weather issues that are worse than ours. 

Lifestyle

With the weather a disaster in BC, roads have been washed out or covered with debris from slides. One community has been evacuated and many others are partly evacuated. I have seen messages from all but two people we know and hope to see messages from them soon. Our daughter is safe but worried about groceries getting into the interior.

I was busy yesterday morning with housework and laundry. It was good to be back at it again. I also did an hour on the puzzle and have more of the border done. What a big job for a 550 piece puzzle. 

Elliott is back to normal and has been enjoying us spoiling him. He is a bit of a princess right now. 

He slept for an hour under the towel.

There were 99 new cases of the virus and 3 deaths over the weekend (3 days). It is scary how quickly the virus can spread when restrictions are not followed. 

Sewing

I got to sew yesterday and finished up the doll's pajamas. 

They are quite cute though the top is a bit hard to get on the doll. I will be making them again in another piece of flannel once I get two other items sewn. I also have to sew a button on grandson's blazer. 

Knitting

I finished the first heel flap and am ready to start the 2nd one. 

I had issues remembering to count the rows and ended up putting in markers every 10th row. I even struggled with that at times. What kept me on track is odd rows were knit. 

My issue was reading the news and not paying attention to what I was doing. 

Today

I have a lot of laundry to fold and put away, floors to vaccum and wash (only doing 2 today), mail to go, and whatever else that pops up. I may get to sew but I will knit tonight. 

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

We Are All Feeling More Rested

 Though there has been sunshine and wind, we have had a couple of days of sunshine. Both days had a high of 10C. Today we are to have rain and 9C. 

Lifestyle

I have been exhausted. With Elliott now feeling almost back to normal, I have gotten 2 good nights of sleep. I am feeling rested. The Spousal Unit was also exhausted and is starting to feel better. 

Elliott has spent his days recovering also. He has gotten better at not pacing the house and is sleeping longer. He does have us laugh especially the night he laid on a tea towel for a nap. He barely fits it but he loves it.

I did head to Dartmouth with daughter-in-law to get meat yesterday and had a rest in the early afternoon. After that I worked on the puzzle with the Spousal Unit. I'm trying to get the outline done for him. It is harder than you think. 

I've been trying to get a menu plan done for us but with Elliott being ill, that went out the window. I will have to start work on that again. I am wanting to make soups and meals like we use to have growing up. 

The housework has stopped and I hope to get back at it. The plan I have is working for me and I need to continue on. The goal is to be able to clean up the house in the mornings with a quick tidy up after dinner.

Sewing

Yesterday was day 7 with no sewing. I am going to sew today. Even if it is just for an hour. I want to finish up the doll's pajamas. 

Grandson has asked for pockets in his pajama pants so I will be adding them to his pants. The goal is to start them next week. 

I still have to sew Beth's dress this month and I do hope to get it done. Maybe this week if all goes well. 

Knitting

I have the 2nd sock leg knit and I've started on the heel flap. I got 4 rows done before I quit for the night. It is nice to start the heel flap on socks and I don't know why I enjoy getting to that stage. 

Today

I have to get meat divided up and put away, laundry done, a bit of housework, sew and knit. I may even work on the puzzle for an hour. We aren't going anywhere as it is going to be a wet day. 

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

On The Road To A Full Recovery

 Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 10.5. This morning it is raining and windy with a high of 15C. The high is to get to 14C. 

Lifestyle

Daughter-in-law and I headed in  yesterday morning to pick up Elliott from the vet. He was in good spirits when we got home and urinated in his box. That decreased in the afternoon so we were back to the vet. He doesn't have a blockage but needed another medication to help heal his bladder. This morning we have a cat who his happier than he has been for a long time. His litter box has been used, he had his meds, and he demanded his wet food for breakfast. 

Elliott had a tensor bandage on his leg where he had a catheter for calming meds. I took it off and he spent some time playing with it. He realized it was stretchy and tried to stretch it and see it fly through the air like he use to with elastics. He got the technique right but the bandage went nowhere. 

We were both tired and had a very quiet and short evening. We've been through a lot with Elliott and need to relax and recharge. 

There were 70 new cases of the virus reported for Thursday and Friday. We have 277 active cases in the province which remains the same as Wednesday as there were 69 recoveries in that time period. 

Sewing and Knitting

I did nothing on either one as I was too tired to think and act. 

Today

I have to grocery shop, do a bit of housework, and try to sew and knit. It will be a very quiet day in our house if Elliott stays well. 

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

Elliott Is Coming Home

 Yesterday was a mixture of sun and clouds with a high of 7.5C. This morning it is clear and -3C. We are to have sunshine and a high of 9C. It is hard to believe this time last year we were having 20+C temperatures and breaking records.

Lifestyle

We were both exhausted yesterday. It was hard slugging getting anything done. I finally got it together enough to vacuum the stairs and front landing and then scrubbed it on my hands and knees. I am happy that job is done. My final burst of energy was used to clean the kitchen up before heading out for dinner at family's. 

Dinner was a lovely meal of leek and potato soup with the buns I had made on Wednesday. We laughed and enjoyed our evening with family. We were home just before 7:30 pm.

Elliott had a rough day at the vet clinic yesterday. There were a lot of cats come in and it was noisy and busy. That stressed him out and one vet was at her wits end with him. Another vet came on for the night shift and gave him a bit of sedation to calm him while she handled him. He relaxed with it and was happier. He peed and is ready to come home this morning. He will be much happier with us and the quietness of the house will keep him calm. 

Sewing

I thought about it but didn't have the energy to do anything with it. 

Knitting

I got the 2nd sock started and have 34 rows knit on it. I am happy with the progress I made.

I did knit more rows after the picture. 

Today

I am off to get Elliott from the vet in Dartmouth. Once home, I will decide what I am going to do. It all depends on Elliott. 

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

Elliott Is Under 24 Hour Care

 Our weather has been nice and not so nice. Sunny, warm, and 16C on Tuesday, cold, wet, and 8C yesterday. Today is to be sunny and cool with a high of 8C today.

Lifestyle

I delivered Elliott to the vet at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. He had another blockage and had a catheter put in for the day. We picked him up at 5 p.m. While he was at the vet, I took the Spousal Unit to the dermatologist in Dartmouth for his yearly check up. All is well for him and he goes again next year. 

Elliott was more alert when we brought him home and we thought all was well. He was straining to pee yesterday morning so once again he was delivered to the vet. Yesterday afternoon we transferred him to a 24 hour emergency vet clinic in Dartmouth. He needs to have the catheter in for the better part of 3 days. 

The trip to the vet clinic was a nightmare. It was raining and during rush hour traffic. I was doing fine until I turned left one stop early. I was on the road to cross the bridge into Halifax. Only 1 way to go - forward and during rush hour traffic it was a nightmare. I was in the right lane to head around the basin and not into downtown Halifax. We crept our way around to Bedford in heavy traffic. Once there, I got onto the road to Dartmouth once again. Less traffic, thank goodness. Google Maps gave me a new way to the vet clinic and we got there safely. By the time we got there, Elliott was talking to us so we were happy to have him checked out and taken care of. We headed home and had a cup of tea to relax before heading to bed. I have to say it was quite the trip. I will be picking him up Friday. 

In the midst of all this, I realized we caught the plane 4 years ago yesterday to move to Nova Scotia. It seems like a long time ago. Part of the reason is the pandemic and staying close at home to be safe. 

While Elliott has been at the vet, I have been cleaning the house. I will do some more today with hopes of finishing it tomorrow morning. The goal is to have it quiet for him for a couple of days after he arrives home. 

There were 56 new cases reported on Tuesday and 30 more yesterday. There is an outbreak in a long term care facility and community spread. The cause is from the faith based gathering. We are being extra careful right now by monitoring the exposure list before we head out to shop. 

Sewing

I did no sewing yesterday and will not be testing the latest Keepers pattern. No time but I will sew it next week on my time. I have an idea which fabrics I will use. 

I did take a picture of the pajama top on the doll. I hope to finish the bottoms this weekend. 

I will be making more of this pattern for the little girl's dolls. 

Knitting

While waiting for a call from the vet, I untangled the hank of yarn. I ended up having 2 balls of yarn as I cut it. What a job. I also spent time knitting on the first sock and have 88 rows knit for the leg. No picture of it.

I wound the larger ball of yarn into a cake. I got the cast on done last night but was so tired I couldn't get it into the round. My brain had shut down for the night. I will watch the video on how to do it and try again. 

Today

Housework, laundry, and out to family's for dinner. I am sure I will need another early night to get caught up on my sleep as I am sleeping poorly. 

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

Elliott Is Not Well

We have had some nice weather. The high on Sunday was 12.7C and Monday it was 13.9C. Both days were sunny which was nice. This morning it was 0C. Today we are to have sunshine and 14C.

Lifestyle

I have been busy monitoring Elliott with his bladder blockage. He was doing okay with no pain until this morning. He is stressed once again. He will be at the vets at 8 a.m. for more treatment. We feel sorry for him as he is, once again, in pain. 

On Sunday, I crashed with exhaustion. I hid in the sewing room for 4 hours as I couldn't face the world. I didn't sleep well due to worrying about Elliott. Sunday night I slept poorly again as I was over tired. I did sleep well last night only to be up early this morning dealing with Elliott's issues.

Yesterday I didn't hide in the sewing room. I cleaned the guest room and did laundry. I was finished mid afternoon and happy with the results. Washing floors on your hands and knees can be meditative.  

I did knit yesterday and have 40 rows done on grandson's socks. 

The 4th stitch marker has gone in since the picture was taken. The yarn is a dream to knit with. Between the wool and the silk, it is soft and a delight to handle. 

I still have to deal with the second hank of yarn. It was a mess when I opened it and I am having to wind it by hand. Four hours and half done. Once it is into a ball, I will wind it into a cake and start knitting the 2nd sock. I want to work the heels on both socks at the same time. I find that this works the best for me as I am concentrating on one element at a time. 

Today

I will have Elliott at the vets by 8 a.m. and then I have to have the Spousal Unit to the dermatologist by 1 p.m. I will be exhausted from all this and may not get anything else done today other than clean up after Elliott. 

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

Poor Elliott, Once Again

 Yesterday was another cool day with lots of sunshine and a high of 9.5C. This morning it was -1C and clear. It is suppose to be sunny with a high of 12C today. Hard to believe it was 20C on this day last year. 

Lifestyle

Elliott was distressed yesterday morning trying to urinate on anything and everything. He cried on his last attempt which gave him a trip to the vet. He had a blockage which they removed. He is back on medication and very annoyed with us. 

We found out that he should have been on the food for his urinary track and has only had some in the past 4 years. I'm upset that this happened by a vet who specializes in cats. Here, we kept his diet the same except for when he had bladder infections. Now he is back on the food and is not eating the dried food. He will be starved into eating it. 

The vet also found he is very stressed. He has nothing to be stressed about as he is an only cat who had the run of the house. We figure it has been brought on by pain from the small crystals in his urine. The poor guy has had a bad spell for a while now. 

He did eat his treats last night and had a fight with the towel on the floor. He had his medication today and is resting now. 

While Elliott was at the vet, I cleaned the kitchen. It is spotless including the inside of the fridge. The floor got vacuumed just before lunch and is ready to scrub. 

Sewing

I didn't get to sew yesterday as Elliott had to be monitored all afternoon. 

The next pattern from Keepers Dolly Duds is out. It is Beth's dress from Little Women. The deadline is Friday but I know I won't get it done by then. 

Knitting

The test pattern is done except for buttons. I need to steam it to relax the cables, sew on the buttons, and photograph it. 

I didn't knit last night as I need to wind the sock yarn for grandson's yarn. Hopefully today so I can get them cast on and some rows knit. 

Today

More laundry needs to be done, the kitchen floor washed, a bit of cleaning in the living room and some sewing on the doll's pajamas. Hopefully I can start on socks tonight. 

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