End Of The Year Thoughts

 2021 is coming to an end and I sat thinking about the year. The first thought that came to me was that I never thought I'd be making lots of masks again in December.

Covid is raging around us. I got use to navigating stores with the Delta variant. Since Omicron, I have felt paralyzed with fear and anxiety. Staying at home seems to be the only option at the moment. It certainly is taking its toll on us mentally. 

I had gotten my IBS under control and it is somewhat out of control once again. I have had quite a few stress and anxiety attacks since the beginning of December. 

But all wasn't doom and gloom. We spent a lot of time outside in our yard, enjoyed the deck, and visited people within our small social bubble. 

I did a lot of sewing and knitting this year. Staying closer to home allowed me to spend many afternoons in the sewing room or on the couch. It was good to have something to distract me. 

Sewing

I ran the gamete on sewing. I did some embroidery on and off during the year. Not a lot but I enjoyed what I did. I made piping for daughter. It was my go to when I wanted something easy to make when between projects. 

I continued to test patterns once a month and still haven't been rotated out. Though the dolls still bring me joy, they haven't been the main focus this year. I hope to do more for them in 2022. 

I bought a new sewing machine in March and I love this machine. I wanted to learn how to do free motion quilting but I had a couple of mental blocks and need to start again in 2022. 

I learned how to sew knit fabric with my new machine. Sewing knits was beyond difficult on the Diamond due to the feed dogs and plate. The new machine has interchangeable feed dogs and plates. I did doll clothes and, when done, I was thrilled with what I had accomplished. 

Christmas sewing took over the fall sewing time. I made a wide variety of items which included pot holders, hot pads, quilts, mixer cover, reusable grocery bags, and pyjama pants. The lesson learned - start sewing Christmas items in January. 

Knitting

I started 2021 testing patterns. I tried to meet the one test per month but it was hard. In the end, very few designers were putting patterns out for testing. I knit 2 outfits and 2 simple sweaters for the Gotz dolls and turned my attention to Christmas knitting. 

I knit a total of 4 pairs of socks for Christmas gifts. I also knit a hat and 2 head bands. The mitts I started have been frogged and I'm not sure what I will knit next. 

The Sewing Room

I didn't get the sewing room cleaned as I had expected. The desk area is done and I started on the closet. Masks have taken over my sewing time. We all need 3 layer masks. They are more important than cleaning the sewing room.

I have signed up for a decluttering of the sewing room challenge and want to go through everything in the sewing room. Though only 21 days long, I will be doing this for a lot longer. I need to sew/embroider some each day. 

Goals

I've set my goal to sew what I have but I know I will need to buy fabric and notions to finish some projects. I am starting Christmas sewing in January and will have a tub to put the items into. I have some knitting projects to make and am hoping they will keep me busy most evenings.

My planner has ideas in it and I'm excited to get started. I have some small projects planned to work on while cleaning and will start the larger projects when I can. We have about 3 months of winter in which I can sew and knit before we see warmer weather. 

Please keep safe and healthy and wishing you the best in 2022.

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

Cleaning Started

 Yesterday we enjoyed the sunshine which lasted until noon. It turned cloudy after that and started to snow about 5:30 pm and has snowed most of the night. We had about 2.6 cm of snow up until midnight. The high yesterday was 2.6C. It was -1C this morning and the high today is to be 1C. We could see some snow flurries during the day. 

Lifestyle

While the turkey stock was thawing and heating up, I got 3 lower cupboards scrubbed clean including the doors. The lazy Susan is empty except for the Kitchen Aid attachments and the new had blender I got for Christmas. All the cleaning supplies now fit under the sink with room to spare. 

I got the turkey soup into bags and frozen. There is enough for 2 pots of soup for January. The kitchen was tidied up from that job by noon which was wonderful. 

There were 561 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. The number of cases seems to have peaked and hopefully the spread is slowing down. The number of people in the hospital is 15 with 4 in ICU. It is still too early to see the impact of the virus. 

Sewing

I have been playing with ideas for 2022 for quite a while now and, yesterday, I made a list of ideas for some Christmas gifts. It is a mess but it's a list of ideas. I have also put down other ideas I want to sew making it messier. They are all ideas at the moment as I've taken a challenge and started to declutter and clean the sewing room. 

For this challenge, you are to declutter then organize. As I have less than most people in the challenge, I am decluttering and cleaning an area at a time. I got out my notebook for items to buy and ideas of what I may want to make when I start sorting fabric.

The first picture I took as I walked into the room was the desk area. It was a mess as I've tossed patterns, fabric, paper, and whatever onto the surface and ignored it this month (and maybe last month too).

A closer look at the area that needs to be decluttered, organize, and cleaned. 

Everything came off the table and it was wiped down. I put some items away where they belong (buttons) and others are waiting for a home. Excess paper was put into the bag for recycling. Scraps of fabric were tossed into the garbage can. 

Next up was to clean the bins and the peg board. It was organized and 1 pen was tossed. Pattern pieces I need were folded and put back up on the peg board. When done, I stood back and admired how nice it looks. 

I still need to go to Ikea and get a cube, legs, and inserts so I can have the table clear of clutter. I also want another peg board to hang more items up onto. I also need to put the sewing machine box under the stairs.

What was left from the table was patterns I have tested. I put them onto the cutting table as I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do with them. I needed to think about it for the rest of the day.

All but three will be tossed. I can print them again if I want to make another outfit. The three I will keep will go back into the pattern filing system as they are patterns I will make again. 

Knitting

I did a bit of knitting on the thumb. Not a lot as I kept having to take it apart until I was happy with the results. 

Today

The goal today is to clean more in the kitchen. Three cupboards would be idea. I also want to polish the dishwasher as I did scrub it clean yesterday. In the sewing room, I want to start cleaning the closet after I wipe down the old desk. I have a box ready to put items into for the girl in BC. I hope to finish knitting the thumb on the mitt tonight. The Spousal Unit will be busy shoveling snow. 

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

A Dull Grey Day

 Yesterday was dull and dismal. No sunshine; just grey skies all day. The high got to 0.5C. This morning it is -6C and we are to have periods of snow all day. High is to be 1C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I put the turkey carcass on to boil for soup. The house smelled amazing and I can pick the meat off today. The pot is outside in the freezing cold. 

We went over to see family for a few minutes and they are sick. Not sure if it is a cold or covid. We stayed a few minutes and left. We do not want to be sick with either one. We are hoping it is only a cold. 

I slept in the afternoon due to the greyness. I need to stop that so I am back to using my therapy light. I do not sleep as well at night when I nap in the afternoon. I am going to have to push myself to do things until I break the cycle. 

We did not take down the lights as it was cold with a cold draft coming from the north. The lights are on the north side of the house. 

There were 581 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. Our numbers are slowly going down but so is the number of tests being done. This is due to prioritizing PCR tests. Other provinces are doing the same. 

Sewing

I made 3 masks yesterday morning for daughter-in-law. I was done at noon and was pleased to have that off the list. She now has 3 layer masks to wear when out and at work. They were delivered hence why we were at their place. 

I dug into the thrift shop boxes and dug out 2 pieces of fabric to go across Canada. I have also added a container of pins and a tape measure. I will be looking into the stash to find other pieces for her to have. I have a prepaid box I may end up sending to her rather than to daughter.

Knitting

I finished the hand portion of the mitt yesterday and I love it. I picked up the stitches for the thumb and had 2 holes show up. I started again knitting into the back of the stitches and there are no holes to be seen. I'm ready to knit the thumb. 

Today

This morning I plan on cleaning under the sink and a small cupboard beside it. Then it will be soup making in hopes it will be done and cleaned up by noon. In the afternoon, I want to clean off the desk/table in the sewing room. I am starting to declutter and clean a bit at a time on a daily basis. Tonight I plan on knitting the thumb on the glove. I am hoping not to nap today. 

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

Thinking of Bag Making

 Yesterday's high got to 1.8C and it didn't feel that bad as there was less wind. This morning it was 1C and the high is to be 1C with sunshine. 

Lifestyle

After tidying up the house and putting Christmas presents away, we crashed on the couch and napped until noon. We both had slept poorly from too many sweet treats. By the evening we were a pair of bears snarling at each other. We did get over it and slept well with me logging in 7 hours of sleeping without waking up. 

We worked on the puzzle yesterday afternoon and I have half of the edge done. One more afternoon and I will have it together. 

There were 1147 new cases of the virus reported for Dec. 25 and 26th. The number of new cases is decreasing slowly and we hope it will continue to do so. 

Sewing

I did go down to the sewing room yesterday and put together a bag of thread for a girl who lives near our daughter. She got a sewing machine for Christmas. 

Next will be fabric she can practice sewing on. 

Daughter sent me a pattern for a bag and a book on different types of bags. One caught my attention and I will be making it. 

I will be making the bottom part using a dog fabric and the top will be a textured plain fabric as will the handles and tab. I will add a button to the tab. I'm looking forward to making this bag. I can't get the top fabric until the quilt shop opens on Jan. 4.

Knitting

I knit some on the mitten and am ready to start decreasing. I am pleased with them and they will be nice over light gloves. An added layer of protection. 

No plans on what to knit next. 

Today

The turkey carcass is going on to become stock and soup this morning. I am going to make several masks while the stock is simmering. This afternoon we may take down the lights but aren't certain. We wait to see if the wind is blowing or not. If blowing, I will start cleaning the sewing room closet. It needs to be cleaned out. I hope to finish the first mitt tonight. 

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

A Wonderful Christmas

 Our weather has been cool with lows of -7C the last few days. The highs have been hovering around 0C. The wind has been brutal until yesterday afternoon when it died down. Today is to have a high of 0C. 

Lifestyle

We had a fabulous Christmas with our son, daughter-in-law, grandson and friends. We had great food, great discussions, and great laughs. We were tired when we came home but happy. 

We got lots of lovely gifts and were happy what we gave was well received. It was the hardest year yet to buy gifts due to changing environment in the pandemic. 

Like other countries, we have high numbers of cases with 611 reported on Dec. 24. That was down from the day before and nearly 9000 swabs were processed. We hope we have peaked but won't hold our breath. 

Sewing

I made daughter-in-law a three layered mask on Christmas eve afternoon, took it over, brought it home to adjust it and returned it at dinner time. I am going to make her 3 more right away and then a couple more later on. 

I am going to spend a bit of time working on my list for 2022. I want to make more gifts this year. I have to think my plans through for ideas by googling and using Pinterest. I have some ideas in my head already. A few a month and I could be done by the end of November. 

Knitting

The socks were put on immediately and both pairs are a bit long. They are worn at home only and could shrink in the laundry. They are warm and the extra padding under the heel was loved. 

I did knit several rounds on the mitt yesterday. Most of the time we were to busy doing other things like cooking. 

I will be plotting out when I want to knit socks over the course of the year. I have at least 6 pairs to knit and maybe more. I have lots of other items to knit also so will be busy most nights making something. 

Today

We are tired and will be moving slowly. I want to get things cleaned up and put away. Once that is done, I will have a nap and take it easy. Dinner will be light as we are still full from all of the great food we ate yesterday. 

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

Merry Christmas

The Spousal Unit, Elliott, and I hope you have a great day and that Santa was good to you.

 

Energy Levels Are Low

 It is cold outside this morning at -11C. The snow is just about all gone and we will probably have a green Christmas. 

We have slowed down for 5 days now and we are doing okay. We haven't set foot inside a store since Tuesday when we got Elliott's cat food at the vets. 

I have stressed about the Omicron variant until I had a really good IBS attack yesterday afternoon. Part of the stress has been worrying about staying safe and the other part is trying to come up with a plan if we get covid. 

With 689 new cases and an estimated active case count of 3844, I knew I would have both stress and anxiety. It is leaving me tired once again as we, once again, stop doing things we don't need to do. We had just started to enjoy doing a few things together and had made plans to do a few more things in January. Now everything is on hold. And for who knows how long.

The house is clean and I baked buns yesterday. The deviled eggs have been cooked and the yokes ready to be done today. I have lemon tarts to make also. 

I have 2/3rds of the gifts wrapped. I love Christmas but this year it has been hard to get excited. I think once we get going, the excitement will come. 

I frogged the mitten and have it done to the gusset again. I am happier with it. I used larger needles also.

With the sun shining, I will pick myself up, get what needs to be done, done and enjoy our Christmas Eve dinner of homemade mac and cheese at family's tonight. 

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

More Restrictions

 Yesterday was a nice day with some sunshine, clouds, and a high of 4C. This morning it was -6C and it is to warm up and rain this afternoon. 

Lifestyle

It was the Winter Solstice yesterday and we had 8:45 hours of sunlight. It isn't as bad here as we are further south but we use to look forward to this day when we lived in northern BC. There is just under 7 hours of daylight in Dawson Creek today. 

We headed out yesterday morning to get Elliott his cat food. The vet has a restriction of 3 people in the clinic at one time. I got in, got the canned food and was out in less than 5 minutes as there was no one in the front of the clinic. It took longer to drive to the vet than that as we had to go the long way around. 

At home, I did some cleaning, vacuumed the floors and washed them. They were grungy once again. I did right down to the basement and got it done by noon. I then gathered all the Christmas gifts and got them down onto the cutting table. They are now ready to wrap. I also have a list of items to bake and household chores to do.

We watched the briefing yesterday and there are more restrictions in place until at least Jan. 12, 2022. My plan of shopping at 7 am is a good one as stores are back to 50% capacity with directional arrows in place. 

There were 522 new cases announced yesterday and most are in the Halifax area. People are doing a rapid test before going out. They are finding out that by the third day they are positive and have been spreading the virus for a few days prior to testing positive. Nova Scotians are great at getting tested and, once again, are overwhelming the system. Almost 9000 PCR tests were processed yesterday. Then rapid testing both at pop up sites and at home. There are now new rules around testing. We are happy we have slowed down and are staying at home. Day 4 was easier and we are enjoying the short drives we are taking. It helps to break the day up. 

Sewing

None in the books until later on unless masks show up to have a third layer put into them. The test pattern hasn't shown up so all is calm in that department. I will start cleaning the sewing room after Christmas as there is too much to do right now. 

Knitting

I got the thumb gusset done and I'm not happy with it. So I'm going to frog this mitten and start again. I will start with larger needles as I think it is a bit small for my hand. For the gusset I will do a different increase as this one is leaving holes. Other than that, I am enjoying the pattern and the videos. There is no rush to finish these mittens so starting again makes me do a better job on them. 

Today

I have to sweep floors, do laundry, wrap presents, and start the mittens again. I need to focus on the jobs at hand which means no drive today. 

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

Masks Again

Yesterday was cool with a high of -2.7C. There was sunshine which was nice. The temperature at 8 p.m. was -6C and this morning was 0C. We are to have 4C, showers, and wind. We are under a special weather statement for rain tomorrow. 

Lifestyle

I was out in the morning to get groceries. The store wasn't busy until I went to pay. I was happy to be out of there. I am sure it was busy for the best part of the day. The goal is not to shop until the end of the month.

At home, we got all the groceries put away and then I rested for a bit before lunch. After lunch, the Spousal Unit shoveled the deck while I vacuumed part of the house. We then went for a short drive to get out of the house. 

There were 485 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. Not a huge jump from the day before but there are enough active cases that restaurants in the city are starting to close their doors so staff and owners can enjoy Christmas. 

Sewing

No sewing was done though I did look at the blog and am going to be updating it by Jan. 1. Some tabs will be gone, new ones added for 2022. A couple will be revamped and one will be put back up as I want to add to it. 

The last Christmas box arrived from daughter. In it was the fabric for her quilt which is gorgeous. There was also a piece of fabric to make a reusable shopping bag. Ideas are floating around in my head for this bag. 

I will be back to sewing masks once again as people need 3 layer masks. Once I get what is needed, I will be cutting them out and sewing them. I may have to visit our neighbor to buy her third layer fabric. With the fabric store closed until Jan. 4, I have to use what I have wisely. 

Knitting

I got out the needles and the yarn and started the mittens yesterday. The yarn is lovely and soft to knit with. 

It states it is a 2 weight but it is a 3 weight which is perfect. I cast on the largest size of mittens in the 3 weight (DK) and got the first cuff knit. 

I have 30 rows knit (4 inches) and am ready to start the thumb gusset. Once I start knitting on the larger needles, I will start the 2nd cuff. I watched the video on the cuff and am ready to start watching the video on the thumb gusset. I am enjoying this as much as the other knits I have been doing. I'm not feeling rushed at all. 

Today

I have to vacuum the rest of the house, wash floors, wrap presents and knit. I am going to find the third layer fabric in the stash so I can start masks. The only trip out is to get cat food for Elliott. 

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

Slowing Down and Staying Home Is Hard

Yesterday was a snow day with about 3" of the white stuff falling. It got to -1.0C. This morning it was -4C and it is to get to -2C. No snow they say but we wait and see. 

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit got the driveway cleared off in good time yesterday. He enjoyed his time outside being busy. 

I made cookies in the morning. I had made the dough the day before and put it into the fridge. I made 88 cookies that turned out the way I wanted them to. Having cold dough was the answer to them not spreading out too thin. 

In the early afternoon we delivered a tin of the cookies to family. We didn't stay long as they were busy. We came home and boredom set in. I had cleaned the kitchen right after lunch and between us we had nothing to do but knit and read. And make dinner. Slowing down and staying home is hard but we did it. Day 1 is in the books. 

There were 476 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. Hospitalizations are low which is a good sign that most people are not very ill. 

Sewing

We have been talking about what I will be making next year. I'm getting itchy fingers to start cleaning so I can make my list. With parcels arriving today and tomorrow, I will start wrapping presents this afternoon. Once done, I will start cleaning the room. 

Knitting

I finished the second headband.

Both will go to daughter.

I am going to start a pair of mitts next.

Today

I am heading out after breakfast to grocery shop and pick up medications. Once home, I will vacuum and mop floors and get a load of laundry on. I hope to start wrapping presents this afternoon. Tonight I will start the mitts. 

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

We Are Ready To Slow Down

 Yesterday was a lovely sunny day with a high of 3.1C. This morning it was -4C and snowing. It is to snow most of the day and the high is to get to -1C. 

Lifestyle

We headed out to get apples and books. At the feed store we buy apples, there were a few people in the store. Most were buying apples. We got our supply and headed out to the book store. 

The book store had a few people in it so we felt safe. A lady told the Spousal Unit she was buying books so she could stay home only to shop for essentials. The owner of the store said this was a common thread this week; get what you need and stay at home. We said we were doing the same. 

At home, I made butter tarts and got the cookie dough made and into the fridge. I then had a spell of sweating and tiredness and had to rest. Had another one after cleaning up the kitchen and a third one after dinner. The one after cleaning up came with a headache. Hopefully I'm over the side effects. 

There were 426 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. Enough to make us really slow down and stay at home more. 

Sewing

I have cleaned off the cutting table to start wrapping presents. I have presents on the table to wrap and need to take down a few more. An afternoon will have them all wrapped and ready to deliver for under the tree. Once that is done, I can start cleaning the sewing room. 

Knitting

I knit on the headband and am about half done. I am happy with how it looks though it is very grey. When done, I am going to start knitting a pair of mitts. I have some lovely wool yarn to use and these will be for me. I love to wear mitts over my Dollar Store gloves when it is cold. 

Today

I have cookies to bake, floors to vacuum and mop, and some laundry to do. If time, I will start to wrap presents, knit and have a stay at home day. 

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

Pyjama Pants Done

 Yesterday was a lovely day with a high of 11.4C. The blustery winds came up in the afternoon. This morning it is 0C and the wind is still blustery. We are to have some sunshine and a high of 0C. 

Lifestyle

I got a load of laundry on before I had to go for my booster shot. I put it in the dryer late yesterday afternoon and it is ready for folding. 

I got my booster yesterday and all went well. Just the usual side effects of a sore arm and a few aches and pains. I was also tired in the afternoon. I slept for 7 hours during the night so know the vaccine is working.

The Spousal Unit was really tired in the late afternoon. He was complaining about it and I noticed he was pale. I got supper ready and as soon as he ate, he was fine. He had low blood sugar from eating his lunch too early. 

Christmas day meals were discussed and it's all under control. We are keeping it easy though there is a turkey being cooked. I will start baking tomorrow. 

There were 394 cases of the virus reported yesterday. Scary numbers but there are only 2 people who have gone to the hospital with this outbreak. There are 7 people (2 in ICU) in the hospital at this time which is great.

Sewing

I was downstairs to put the elastic in grandson's pyjama pants and got them done in 15 minutes. 

Sewing is officially done for this year though I may make something else if the pattern comes out to be tested. 

Knitting

The headband is done and I'm pleased with it. 

I loved it so much I started another one. I am using up some left over yarn that is in the stash. 

The yarn is grey ombre and is knitting up a bit wider than the previous one but I'm pleased with it so far. 

I will be giving these away. I enjoy how easy they are to knit and am watching shows while knitting on them. 

Today

We have made a decision to start staying home and only going out to get groceries and to the pharmacy. Today we are heading out to get apples and the Spousal Unit wants to get a supply of books to read. No other stops are planned. What else gets done depends on how tired I am this afternoon. If okay, I will make butter tarts, if not I will rest. I will knit tonight. 

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

Project Progress

 Our weather has gone from -5C on Tuesday morning to 8C this morning. We woke to snow yesterday morning and this morning it is almost all gone. Today it is suppose to get to 10C and then cool off again. 

Lifestyle

With snow on the ground yesterday, the Spousal Unit was out shoveling snow before we left. I thought he'd be the only one doing it but our neighbor was out doing his also. 

The Spousal Unit got his booster shot yesterday as I had the wrong date on the calendar. His arm is sore this morning and I'm sure he will have a nap this afternoon (he did yesterday) as this is part of how he reacts to the vaccine. 

I finished the Xmas decorating and just need to put a tub away and do a bit of housework. I also need to do baking which I hope to start tomorrow morning. 

I slept better last night as there was no night construction in our area. I ended up being overly tired yesterday afternoon and was happy to sleep much better last night. 

There were 287 cases of the virus reported yesterday. I guess we are seeing the after effects of the X-ring ceremony still and may see high numbers for more days to come. Restrictions come in this morning to help slow the spread of the virus in many venues. 

Sewing

I almost finished grandson's pyjama bottoms. I need to put in the elastic and sew the opening closed and done. I was almost 3 hours working on them to get them to that point. A good 45 minutes to finish but I had to make dinner. I'll take pictures when they are done. 

I am really pleased with the pockets. When I sewed the side seams together I spent quite a bit of time doing a good job at the pivot points. When clipped, I used fray check on them and ironed the seams open. You cannot see the pockets they are so nice. The instructions are great.

Knitting

I am almost done the knitting part of the headband. Next will be to bind off and do the twist and sew it together. 

This piece is 18" long and I need to measure it again so I can see if I'm ready to bind off. I need 19.5" and can do 20" if I need to.

The pattern is an easy one to knit. I love the look of the rib as it is pronounced and very thick. 

I can see knitting this headband again when I need an easy pattern.

Today

I'm getting a load of laundry on in a few minutes as I leave about 9:30 a.m. to get my booster shot. I would like to get the elastic into the pyjama pants but I'm not holding my breath on that one. I will knit tonight and probably be in bed early due to the booster shot. I have more of a reaction to it than the Spousal Unit.

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

A New Knitting Project Started

Yesterday saw sunshine, clouds, wind, snow, and ice pellets. It was cold out as the wind made the 7C feel a lot colder than it was. This morning it was -4C and we are to have sunshine and a high of -1C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning was spent sweeping floors and mopping them using Swiffer cloths. The grime coming off clean floors is sort of discouraging but I will keep doing them every couple of days until I can scrub them on my hands and knees. 

I did get another table ready for the Nativity scene and that is as far as I got. Another day of tiredness due to sleeping poorly. There are night crews just over a kilometer away working on the highway and the trucks are noisy. I wake up and can't get back to sleep. 

Yesterday there were 127 new cases of the virus reported, the 5th day of over 100 cases a day. There is evidence that a rugby tournament in Ontario (deemed a super spreader) may be the place where the Omicron variant was brought back into Nova Scotia. Another province who sent a team also has a cluster of the virus. This variant certainly is proving that is spreads fast and quickly. 

Sewing

The pyjama pants are cut out as are the pockets for them. The video has been watched on adding pockets and I'm planning the steps in my head. Two afternoons and they should be done. 

Knitting

I started a headband last night using this pattern. The yarn is one daughter bought last year and is 50% cotton 50% polyester. I have never done English ribbing. Once I got the hang of it, it was fun to do. A bit of thinking but not too much.

With the slip stitches and then knitting them and another stitch together on the next row makes for a thick warm ribbing. If I have to make it wider, all I have to do is cast on multiples of 3 stitches. I'm quite liking this pattern.

Today

I am going to bring up the decorations this morning before I take the Spousal Unit for his booster shot. I'll do a bit of decorating, sew on the pyjama pants, and knit tonight.

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

Socks Are Done

 Yesterday had a high of 8C. There was no rain or snow and just some wind. This morning it was 5C and the wind is blowing. I'm not sure what is coming it but................. it is not a day to be outside a lot.

Lifestyle

I headed out yesterday after breakfast and did over an hours worth of chores. Paid a bill, bought cat food, groceries and mailed a letter. We were back out before lunch for a few more groceries at the other grocery store. 

There were 114 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. I kind of knew it wasn't good when Dr. Strang wore his Grinch wearing a Santa hat tie. There are 40 cases of the omicron variant in the province. All are in the Eastern health zone. Public health is waiting to see if there are more cases. Two more universities have stopped in person exams due to cases or students waiting to get or receive their results for the virus. To add to the list a team was at a university in Ontario where there is a surge of cases of the virus. It is now linked to our outbreak.

To help control the virus, restrictions are in place once again. Not like last year but restrictions none the less. Most pertain to schools, sports, restaurants, gathering size, physical distancing, and masking. We have been at this spot before and will continue to follow the restrictions. 

With the news and the video being of poor quaility, the Spousal Unit went into a deep depression. After dinner, we got into the car and drove around to look at Xmas lights. It did help an lot and he is back to his normal self again this morning. The news stressed me and I didn't sleep as well as I would have liked. 

Sewing

I spent a couple of hours in the sewing room. My first job was to insert the 2nd needle into the serger so I can use a 4 thread finish on grandson's pyjama pants. Not as hard as I thought as I found the tool to insert the needle. A bit of tweaking on the tension and all is working good. 

I got one front and back laid out and cut. They are now on the fabric and pinned down to cut out the other half. I spent a lot of time lining up the plaids going around. Once they are cut out, I will cut out 4 pockets and start sewing. Fussy cutting is slow as I spend a lot of time measuring, moving, lining up and moving again. I think it is right and realize it isn't and start over again. I'm hoping the end result will look good. 

Knitting

The socks are done. I spent quite a bit of time making sure I wove the ends in neatly without any bulk. I am pleased with the end result and when the recipient tries them on, I will make adjustments for the next socks. I may do 6 rows less on the foot for sure and will look at the heel length. 

There isn't enough yarn left to make a doll's sweater. That is good use of yarn. 

I am now going to clean up the sock tools and get out the yarn to make a headband. I'm trying this pattern. Heavier yarn and bigger needles will be a change of pace for me. 

Today

I am going to do more cleaning, start sewing on the pyjama pants, and knit tonight. We may go out for a bit today. It depends on the weather. 

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

Kitchen Aid Cover Completed

 Yesterday, the temperature was 15.2C at midnight and it cooled off most of the day. It didn't rain during the day and the wind did blow some. It wasn't a bad day, just one you don't really think about much. This morning it was 4C and one weather site says snow flurries and the other says sunshine. We wait and see. 

Lifestyle

I cleaned the dining area yesterday, got the two table runners out, the tree up, and the back drop for the cardinal decorations set up. It was a busy morning as there was lots to put away before I could decorate. 

There were 111 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. We have a briefing at 3 p.m. today which I am sure is an update on the situation at the universities in the province. 

Sewing

I finished the Kitchen Aid mixer cover and am pleased with it. Lining it the way I did hid all the seams and adding the binding to the bottom was brilliant. I do like this cover.

It fits well. The amount of work is a lot due to the fact all the pieces of the outer and lining fabrics were cross hatched. Once that was done, the sewing together was easy if you followed the directions. I need to make one for my Kitchen Aid. 

I dug out the pattern, found a side seam pocket pattern and tutorial and am now ready to sew grandson's pyjama pants. The fabric is a nice flannel in a plaid. 

I will be spending time matching the plaid. Once cut out, it will be easy to sew up. A fast and easy pattern (Butterick 6534). The pockets are here. Grandson wants pockets to put his insulin pump into at night. Great idea. 

I have joined a group to declutter the sewing room. Yup, I'm in. It is mainly for quilters but I'm going to adapt it for me. It starts Jan. 1 but I'm going to grunge out the closet starting next week. It is an area that I clean up but never declutter. I need a full week in that closet as it is full of thoughts. I will have a book to put my ideas into so I can revisit them in 2022. I need to decide what I can keep, what needs to go, and if I will ever get through all the ideas and projects floating in my head. Once I deal with that area, I will be ready to tackle the rest of the room. 

Knitting

I finished the first sock to doing the Kitchener stitch to close the toe. 

The second sock has about 1/4 of the toe knit. They will soon be done. I will do any adjustments to the pattern on the next pattern for this person. 

I have an idea of what I want to knit next. I need to find the yarn in the stash and get started. 

Today

I have to be out and do a few things today. This afternoon I want to start laying out the pyjamas, listen to the briefing, and knit tonight. 

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

The Snow Is Gone

 Yesterday started out with sunshine, then it clouded up and started to rain mid afternoon. The wind started to blow and we had quite a thunder and lightening storm to go with it. The temperature rose to 15.9C by midnight and it is 15C this morning. Wind is gusting up to 50 km/h at the moment. 

Lifestyle

The snow is gone but a few little blobs on the edge of the street. The meteroligist said the snow had a short shelf life and they were right. The two youngest children next door enjoyed jumping into the snow filled ditch yesterday morning. By the afternoon, water was running in it.

I cleaned up the living room and got up a few items for Christmas. Next up the is the Christmas tree. Slowly but surely it will get done. 

I worked on the puzzle yesterday and got more done. I need to stop so I can get other things done. This one is addictive. 

We both spent some time reading about the tornado and the destruction it did.  Four states in 4 hours, wind 300 miles/hour, and lives lost. Our hearts go out to those who have nothing left, and love ones dead.

There were 129 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. Normally we don't get a report on the weekend but with cases still rising, there was one yesterday. Most cases are at the one university but another university had 8 presumptive cases from rapid tests results. There is a briefing Monday afternoon and one wonders what Christmas is going to look like. 

Sewing

After reading the instructions on the mixer cover, I went downstairs after lunch to work on it. I did exactly as instructed, clipping around the curved pieces. I also did a lot of extra measuring so I could pin the pieces together matching marks. It all paid off as it went together beautifully. 

I cut out the binding for the bottom and it is ready to be sewn together, pressed and attached to the bottom of the cover.

Knitting

I did knit last night and have about half the foot done on the 2nd sock. It is hard to believe the socks are almost done. 

Today

The goal is to do more cleaning and decorating in the morning. Then it's finishing the mixer cover, and knitting tonight. I doubt if we will be going out due to the rain and wind. 

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

Pandemic Thoughts

 Yesterday was a cool but sunny day. The high got to 2.3C which had to be around midnight. This morning it was 3C and the high today is to be 10C. We are under a rain warning. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday saw the bathroom scrubbed and a load of laundry done before I crashed from exhaustion. I had a nap and felt somewhat better after that. 

The pandemic was announced 2 years ago and three months later the first case was announced in Nova Scotia. The Spousal Unit and I talked some about the past 21 months yesterday afternoon. That has been almost half of our time living here. We both admit we are tired of the pandemic but will continue to keep safe. We are happy we live in an area that seems to have had very few cases of the virus and in a province where we have had tough restrictions to keep everyone safe. 

Masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizer have become our normal when out and about. We both are vaccinated and are booked for our booster next week. We chose this as part of our tool box to stay safe. We have chosen to keep our social bubble small and to shop early in the day to be in less crowded stores. 

It has been hard mentally at times. We both have sunk into bouts of depression from the restrictions. We have argued about stupid things and had to go to our corners to cool off. But, we have done well considering what is going on around us. We realize this is happening to a lot more people than just us. We are survivors and will survive this even though we know the fourth wave is not over with and there will probably be a fifth wave. We will continue to plod along having our good and bad days.

There were 123 cases of the virus reported yesterday. Most are related to the X-ring ceremonies at a university in the Eastern Health Zone. The state of emergency has been renewed until Dec. 26 which I'm sure will be renewed again. I did read that in Great Britain they are finding having a booster helps people not getting sick from the Omicron variant of the virus. I do hope that is the case world wide. 

Sewing

I cut the main pieces to size in yesterday morning. When I make mine, I will cut the main piece to 40" rather than 39". I like to have the extra inch just in case the piece shrinks some when quilting it. 

No sewing was done though I did read the website to see how to sew the pieces together. Next up is measuring, marking and snipping the end pieces to fit the curve onto the straight piece. 

I have given the link to the website. I am following her measurements and sewing directions. I did not cross hatch the pieces as one unit as I want this to be reversible with no seams showing. I also did not use foam. I used a very light weight cotton batting on all the pieces to reduce the bulk when sewing it together as a reversible cover. I often change up patterns to suit what I want to have as the end product.

There are several patterns on Pinterest for making Kitchen Aid mixer covers. I chose this one as it has the measurements for the Professional series which both daughter-in-law and I have. It also has pockets which I chose not to add. The attachments are kept in a cupboard.

Knitting

The first sock has the foot knit and ready to start the toe. The second sock has been started and is about 1/4 - 1/3 done. Then I will switch colors for the toe part. I may have enough yarn left to knit another sweater for one of the Gotz dolls. Then that yarn will be gone. 

Today

The goal is to sweep and mop the living room and prep it for Xmas decorating. That means putting up the tree and the quilted items put on the side tables. I need to put batteries into the candles and put out the red blankets on the chair and couch. I want to sew on the mixer cover and knit on the socks tonight. Another stay at home day as we are under a rain warning. 

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

Blink And The Weather Changes

 The weather has been interesting since I last blogged. We had a cool but sunny day on Tuesday and a grey day Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon it started to snow and blow. About 6" of snow fell and it didn't stop until yesterday afternoon. This morning it was -14C. We could have snow flurries, sunshine, and clouds today. 

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit went out and did a bit of shoveling before breakfast. We looked out and our friend's two boys were over here shoveling the driveway. The Spousal Unit went out to help them after he ate. He also did the deck by himself. They did a great job. In the afternoon, the Spousal Unit shoveled the driveway and deck again. There was just over an inch of snow. 

I made butter tarts in the morning and they turned out perfect. Not too sweet either. They are in the freezer and I need to get a few items to make more plus lemon tarts. 

There were 52 new cases of the virus reported yesterday. There is an outbreak at one of the universities due to a ring ceremony which accounts for most of the cases in the province. 

Sewing

On Wednesday, I made dog bandanas. The cutting out was easy but I had major issues with the serger. The thread broke for some unknown reason and I had to rethread the machine. I was using rayon embroidery thread and it can be uncontrollable. After an hour of threading using the manual's diagrams, I got it right and in less that 20 minutes had all the bandanas done. 

The fourth one was a large sized one and is gone to its new owner. These 3 are going to daughter for their dogs.

The last piece of fabric for the mixer cover was cross hatched yesterday. The main pieces are ready to be cut down to size and then I can start sewing the parts together. I am loving the look and can't wait to show the finished product. 

On Tuesday we stopped at the quilt shop to get a fabric for quilts for daughter and son-in-law. 

I now have 4 quilts to make in 2022. I will be a tad busy. 

Knitting

Both of the socks have the gusset knit and the first sock has a few rows of the foot knit. The picture is of the first sock when the gusset was completed. 

They are fun socks.

Today

I need to do laundry and some housework. I want to start sewing the mixer cover together and work some more on the socks. If it isn't too cold this afternoon, we will go to the post office and mail the bandanas. 

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

The Puzzle Is Done

 Yesterday started off grey and calm and by the afternoon it was raining. The wind blew, the rain was heavy and there was even thunder. It went on until sometime this morning. The high got to 17.1C before midnight and they say 7.2 mm of rain fell (Kentville) and we assume we had a lot more than that. This morning it was 7C, windy but it isn't raining. 

Lifestyle

I got a load of laundry on, the bed changed, and the kitchen cleaned up. Other than that, I spent time finishing the puzzle. It was hard right down to the last 2 pieces. 

With the lighting poor, only 1 person could work on the puzzle at a time. We were so happy it was done, the Spousal Unit took it apart, boxed it up, and shook it up so the pieces are well mixed. It goes to the used book store. 

Day 2 of eating correctly is in the books and I didn't crave sugar as much as I thought I would. I actually drank more water which I think helped. 

There were 45 new cases of the virus and 92 recoveries reported over 3 days yesterday. There are 153 active cases in the province. There is a briefing today. 

Sewing

I have all but one piece cross hatched. I need more batting for it. I cut out the two end pieces and stitched around the edges. 

The thread is a perfect match and you just see the cross hatching. I'm pleased with the progress and it will sew up fairly fast once the last piece is cross hatched and trimmed to the correct size. 

Knitting

The heel flaps and turning the heel are done. The first sock has the gusset stitches picked up and the first row knit. 

Next I will pick up the stitches for the gusset on the 2nd sock and do the first row. Then I will decrease the gussets and do the feet. They are coming along quickly which is nice. 

Today

We are both tired from the wind blowing against the house most of the night. We are heading out to do get some apples, return items and get a couple of things. I will stop at the quilt shop and we want to be home by noon. Not sure how this afternoon will look as we both may need a nap. I would love to set up the last piece of the mixer cover ready to cross hatch. I want to knit tonight.

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