New Projects Begun

 Yesterday was a day of sun, clouds, and snow flurries. The high got to 0.7C. This morning it is clear and -7C. We are to have similar to yesterday with a high of 4C. It is cooler than normal at the moment. 

Lifestyle

I survived yoga yesterday. I was sore from the waist to the hips but knew that I needed to do the moves. One move was cut short as Elliott was attacking my leg. There was a lot of cracking as things shifted into place. I got up feeling better but still sore. 

I cleaned up the litter box in the spare bedroom. I got the floor mopped and it looked great. I also wrapped 2 presents using gift bags I had made. Next the laundry was folded but I didn't get it put away. I cleaned up the kitchen so it was spotless. The small Dyson vacuum was put back together and used. It has a ton of suction now. All I really wanted to do was sit and have heat on the sore spots. I did get my to-do list completed. 

Mid afternoon I put out the recycling. I was just finishing up when my friend stopped to say she was walking the dog down our street. I joined her for the brisk walk. It was nice to be outside in the fresh air. I am glad we walked even if it wasn't that far. Once back, I finished up by putting new bags in the recycling bins and came inside. 

I figured out in the evening that my pain was from the weather system that is/was going through. The pain was steady all day. I took a Tylenol out of desperation and most of the pain is gone this morning. 

Sewing

I cut the table cloth in half and put half on the coffee table and the other half on the craft table. I did double side tape the one down onto the craft table so it wouldn't fall off when I move the Cricut around. The room looks festive due to the print. 

I pushed myself into the sewing room after lunch. I got 2 bags cut out. The first one has the main part 13 x 13" and the second one is 8.5" x 13". The toppers are 4" deep by the width of the bag. 

The big bag has a white + on it as I am going to embroider this design on it. 

It took a while to figure out the colours but they are lined up at the top of the picture. The embroidery file was exported to the thumb drive and I'm ready to start the embroidery. 

While resting and putting heat on my sore spots, I started to cross stitch a Charlie Brown tree. I bought a kit for the fabric but will keep it for future projects. I dug into my embroidery floss and found the rayon floss that I got about 55 years ago from a person who came to my parent's fishing camp. I dug around and found the brown floss in another container and I found some good Aida cloth. I worked on this little project off and on while I rested. 

It is for a junk journal. I will do a row of stitching around the tree to border it then fray the fabric back for a fringe. The back will have some light weight interfacing ironed on it so I can glue it into the junk journal. 

Knitting

I now have 30 of the 50 rows done for the leg on the first sock. Once done, I will have to watch the videos to for the heel flap. I am pushing myself to do quite a bit of knitting each night in hopes of getting most of a 2nd pair of socks knit also. 

Today

I need to do yoga, put away laundry, and do a bit of housework. I would like to go to the local thrift shop and craft shop to see if I can find what I want. This afternoon, I want to embroider the gift bag and get it interfaced. I am still thinking of a design for the 2nd bag though I could do the same design in a smaller size. I will do counted cross stitch during the day and knit lots tonight. 

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

Progress On My Hip and Knee

 Yesterday there was sun, clouds, rain, and snow. The high got to 4.1C. This morning it is snowing and -4C. We are to have the snow stop this morning and then be nicer with a high of -1C. 

Lifestyle

I got the car loaded and was off to osteopathy. I had a great session as I was relaxed and she was able to work on the area near the hip joint. I had no pain or stiffness when the session was done. My right hip is no longer turned forward which is great news. I have one hip higher than the other which is what will be worked on to get them level. 

I went in to Sackville to shop. My first stop was the Dollar Store and I wandered around looking for items. It wasn't until I found the Christmas craft section that I scored items for the one junk journal I am going to make. I found a Christmas table cloth (plastic) large enough to cut in half to put on the Cricut and coffee tables. In all I got a good haul and it will last me for a while. 

I posted the last box to daughter for this year. I got some lunch and headed home. The drive home was interesting as the road was wet then dry. There was rain, ice pellets, and snow. When home, it was cloudy with no moisture. The snow came in the evening. 

I sat a lot in the afternoon with heat on the hip joint. It started to hurt from the session. I was tired which didn't help. My energy level hit low and stayed there. I did take Tylenol to help the pain and slept well. 

Sewing

None done as I had no energy. 

Knitting

I looked at the sock pattern and you couldn't see it. I unknit 14 rows of pattern and started to knit doing just the ribbing. It looks so much better. And it feels soft and squishy which the pattern version didn't.

I will continue with the ribbing on these socks. 

Thoughts

    I am making progress with my knee and hip. It is slowly getting to where it is suppose to be. Maybe 6 more months of treatment will have it the best it can be. I still need to continue doing yoga, walk as much as I can, and apply heat. At the moment, we are slowing down the need for replacements. That is good. 

    Other than trying to get the new version of a book, I have almost enough materials to make the first junk journal. I am waiting for the original version to arrive though it was shipped a few days ago. I hope to make a few items for it as I have time. 

    It is almost time to bring up the Christmas tub and start decorating the upstairs. That means some tidying up as I decorate. I hope to do it over two or three days. 

Today

My list is made and I have lots to do this morning. This afternoon I want to start making a gift bag and I will knit tonight. I may even start cross stitching a little tree while dinner cooks. I do have to get recycling out later this afternoon. I will knit tonight. It is a stay at home day for me.

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

A Wine Bag is Made

Yesterday was a wet one. And dark also. We had almost an inch of rain and the high got to 10.9C. This morning it is clear and 2C. We are to have a mix of sun/clouds/rain/flurries and a high of 3C.

Lifestyle

I got yoga done yesterday and was sore due to the weather. The joints ache more than the muscles when the storms come in. I have to be more careful with the moves when I am sore but I get them done and feel better. 

The rain and dark were depressing. The rain was heavy most of the time and the ditch was over half full and running like a stream. The house was dark and it was hard to see when working on dark items. I could have hibernated but I didn't. 

Sewing

I was down into the sewing room before lunch and got 2.5 meters of piping made for daughter. I used a piece of fabric that I had taken interfacing off of. If it was going to be sticky, it wouldn't matter as the residue would be on the back side of the fabric. All was good. 

It is in a bag and the box ready to go to daughter today. That job is done. 

After lunch, I worked on the wine bottle. I put interfacing on the pieces and then more interfacing on it. This bag will stand up in a hurricane it is so stiff. Will not do that again. I sewed it up and the end result is cute. I did not put a ribbon casing in it as it was too stiff. I tied the ribbon around it. 

I put son's water bottle in the bag. It was designed for it though I am sure a bottle of wine will work also. 

I am trying to figure out what fabric I will use for the next bag. I have fat quarters I am trying to use up so size will be an issue. I have to do a bit of digging also. And I may have to buy some plain fabrics. I wait and see. 

The cutting table is a mess of fabrics so I need to organize it. I left the mess as it was time to make dinner and I need a good half hour to get it tidied up ready to make the next bags. 

Knitting

I started daughter-in-laws socks. I love the yarn even if the dark blue leaves my fingers blue (washes off easily). I have done 15 rows of ribbing and 8 rows of pattern. 

It is nice to be knitting socks once again. 

Thoughts

   I did a lot of sewing yesterday and it made me realize that I can do it but I don't have time to enjoy other things. I will have to sew a lot the next while so will see how I can balance life and sewing. 

    One string of lights that daughter-in-law put up around the door didn't work last night. I will have to replace them on Friday when it is warmer. I know that lights don't last forever but it didn't have to happen 10 days after they went up. 

    I have finally lost most of the weight I gained from the Covid vaccine, pain, IBS attacks, fluid, and some poor eating habits. It was hard slugging but it finally came off. I have lost 2.9 lbs of the 3.6 lbs I had gained. I want to loose another 2.9 lbs before I see the doctor in early January. I will be at the goal he set for me. It means I will have to be careful about what I eat between now and then. 

    I have done no cleaning in the family room for 2 days. I was too sore to get up and down off the floor and push things around. The other was too busy getting the last box ready to ship. I will get back to it tomorrow. I also need to do a bit of tidying up upstairs though I have been doing some each day. It certainly has helped keep that area looking nice. 

Today

I am out for osteopathy this morning then into Sackville to mail the last box to daughter and go to the Dollar Store. I want to be home early in the afternoon so I can apply heat to my hip and knee. I know it will be sore after the treatment. I doubt if I will sew but I may try to clean up the cutting table. I will knit some tonight though I will be tired. Thank goodness the pattern on the socks is easy. 

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

Projects Are Completed

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds. The snow was gone with the wind. The high got to 5.5C. This morning it is cloudy and 3C. We are to have rain and a high of 11C. 

Lifestyle

I started the morning off in frustration. I went to print off the bank statement and the message said the printer was offline. Down stairs I went. Four trips later, I changed the ink cartridges and picked up the paper on the 5th trip. 

Next I sat down to do the balance sheet. The first entry took me 40 minutes to find the calculation mistakes I had made. The calculator I was using was messing up the tax on each group of items. I finally tried a different way to do the tax and it worked. The rest of the budget sheet went without any problems. Papers were put away into their right spots and I was done about 20 minutes before noon. 

On a side note - I keep all my receipts when I shop. When I do the balance sheet, I break down items as to where they go so I can see where I am spending my money. I can also see where I spend a lot of money (food). It also lets me know that I need to use the materials I have before I buy more (sewing and crafts). The excel program is free and I used it when I was a literacy coordinator to help people who wanted help financially. 

My last morning project was to sweep the floors and put the sheets into the dryer. I was ready for lunch. The bed got made at dinner time when I realized I hadn't done the job earlier. I really hustled to get it done while dinner cooked. 

Sewing

Even though I wanted to nap, I pushed myself down to the sewing room. I had to get things done so I can start new projects. First up was to make piping for daughter. 

I made 4 meters of it and it will look cute on something denim. 

Next up was to finish the shirt. I cut the button holes, gathered my supplies and sat in the family room to sew on 7 buttons. It took me a long time as I wanted them to look neat and tidy. It took longer than expected. 

It is very plain and shirt like. I am wearing it under the vest this winter so I will keep warm. The fabric is light weight. 

I looked at the wine bottle cover instructions and it is still confusing me. I don't remember it being that hard when I made it in 2009. I finally found my tutorial for the gift bags I adapted from the pattern and I can move forward now. I will document my progress when I go to make it. I will also be using this pattern for bags also. Those will happen after I make more piping. 

Knitting

I sewed up the other side of the vest. It took me quite a while as I would have to stop when my eyes crossed looking for the right purl stitch to slide the needle and yarn under to have a smooth finish. 

I wove all the loose yarn ends in and I am thrilled it is done. Next up socks. I can't wait to cast them on. 

Today

I want to do some cleaning and organizing up and down stairs this morning. This afternoon I need to make more piping so I can ship a box off to daughter tomorrow. If I have time, I will cut the lining for the wine bottle bag and interfacing with hopes of pressing it on to the fabric. I want to cast on the socks and start on them tonight. I need to do yoga today as I didn't do it yesterday. 

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

If You Don't Use It........................

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and cloud with a high of -2.6C. The snow that fell has blown away. This morning it is -7C. We are to have it mainly sunny with a high of 5C. Warming up as rain is coming. 

Lifestyle

I got the yoga done and tried a new move which both of my knees screamed NO. I stopped immediately and figured out a softer way of doing the move. 

I was out the door to get groceries and was happy that the store wasn't too busy. I got what I needed and was home at noon. 

I was tired late in the afternoon. I am thinking it is two things. One - I am not sleeping as well as I could be. Two - I am going into hibernation mode. I notice I want to eat more in the evenings which means I am not sleeping as well. I need to fix that. The shorter days do it to me every year and I am trying to beat it this year. Very hard when you just want to snuggle down and stay warm. 

Elliott decided that he was going to have dinner lying down. He can be such a dork.

Sewing

I went down with full intentions of getting the vinyl cut and onto a wine bag and then sewing on the shirt buttons. That did not happen at all. 

I started off taking my time to get the Cricut set up to cut. The first round of vinyl went in and when was done, it had cut right through all layers so I had a mess. I tried again and the same thing. I sat and thought for a while. I looked up information on the internet. I thought some more. I did a test to make sure I was putting the vinyl "shiny" side down. It was easy on the Siser vinyl and hard on the Cricut vinyl. Finally I adjusted the cutting setting for the vinyl and tried the third time. It worked perfectly.

When I went to press the vinyl on, the Cricut vinyl didn't want to adhere and I ended up ironing it 4 times. I laid down the Siser vinyl and that piece was too wide. I cut it up and laid it down the way I thought was nicer. When I pressed it on, the Siser vinyl was a dream to adhere. 

I am happy with how it turned out. I cleaned up the work space making sure everything was put away neatly. It was 4:30 pm when I left the family room. No sewing on buttons at that time of the day. 

I have decided to do some cross stitching as I have the DMC thread. I found a picture that I can plot on paper using pencil crayons and have a bit of fun. 

Found on Pinterest

I want to do a running stitch around the picture and then fray the cloth. I will buy the Aida cloth when I go shopping. I also found a bunch of vegetable cross stitching that I will do. I have a plan churning in my head that will appear in the New Year. 

Knitting

I sewed and I unsewed the one side of the vest and finally got it finished. I am pleased that the side seam hardly shows. 

I spent the better part of the evening doing it as it was hard on my head and eyes to find the right stitches to pick up to sew. 

Hopefully I can get the other side sewn up in one evening. 

Thoughts

    The saying "if you don't use it, you'll loose it" was apparent when I started to use the Cricut yesterday. I really had to remember and relearn what I had forgotten over the months I haven't used it. I certainly will be using it more regularly now that I have the space cleaned up. 

    I enjoyed working in the family room now that I have most of it cleaned up. It is making me want to finish cleaning the basement. I do enjoy having the house tidy and clean. I will be starting to divide my cleaning time between up and down stairs. I hope that I can keep them clean 3 days a week. It means I have to be focused on not allowing a mess to occur when I am doing things. 

    I haven't been walking as the wind has been so cold. I want to start walking indoors as it is part of my exercise regime. On calm days I can walk outside as I love the fresh air. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet, yoga, laundry, and vacuum upstairs. I want to get the buttons on the shirt and sew one length of piping. I will sew up the second side on the vest hoping it will be done tonight or tomorrow night. 

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

A Lot Of Little Jobs Done

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 6.5C. This morning it is snowing and -7C (windchill -14C). We are to have to have sunshine, clouds, and flurries with a high of -4C. 

Lifestyle

I did yoga yesterday morning. I had a fair amount of cracking while doing the exercises. When doing one leg movement, Elliott kept grabbing my pant leg. He had a great time playing with me during that exercise. 

Daughter-in-law was over and brought me a whole bunch of bagged air for when I pack breakables to ship. It filled the box I had set up for the thrift shop. I'm thrilled to have it neatly stored in the maintenance room. We talked about how one curtain rod holder is annoying me and between us (more her) it got fixed. It is nice to have the curtain rods all level now. 

I did clean more of the family room yesterday. There was a lot of sorting and deciding before I could really do the cleaning. I got it done and all the items to the right areas. The room was cleaned and set up. 

I have the area to the right left to clean and then it is under the stairs. There is a lot of empty floor space between the coffee table and the sewing room door. I like that space as it can be used to lay out quilts to square up. Most of the time it is empty and easy to get around in. 

Sewing 

I looked through the trim tubs and pulled pieces from them to use in two junk journals I am going to make. I had a mess but got it into a tub on the shelving unit. I also put spare buttons into a jar so I can use them. Once I could use the cutting table, I measured the button holes for the shirt and got them done. 

I spent a lot of time making sure the button holes were placed on the dark blue line on the shirt front. The cuffs were also done and Fray Check has been applied. I am ready to cut them and sew on the buttons. 

I had a piece of red dot fabric in the family room that needed to be dealt with. I cut a lot of strips for piping for daughter. The rest is to be cut on the bias for one junk journal. What is left from that will go to the quilter's group. 

The fabric for bags has been put on the table and I am ready to make the first one after I sew up the piping. I read the instructions which are a bit confusing. I will read them again and then figure it out. 

Knitting

I ripped the sewing out of the vest and worked very carefully to get the ribbing to match. I also did 1/4 of the way up the body. It is coming along slowly. I thought I had taken a picture but hadn't. I continue working slowly on it. 

Thoughts

    I ached a lot yesterday (storm coming in) and it left me so tired I was falling asleep on the couch last night. The pain wasn't intense; more annoying as it slowed me down a lot. I had to stop and apply heat to both the hip and knee. 

    I am excited to be thinking about crafts but I do not like how they can get spread out all over the place. I like to have the materials in containers and I like them all to be clear so I can see what is in them. My biggest job will be to clean up after each session. I find that doing that, even in the sewing room, makes me want to create items.  

    I am dreading going under the stairs. Everything needs to come out into the family room to be sorted. I know I will have a mess and a few trips to get rid of things. But when it is cleaned and everything put back in it will be organized and tidy. I have purged under there twice since we moved here and hope that I won't have to do it again until I move. 

Today

I need to go grocery shopping this morning after I do yoga. If I have time, I will start in the last area of the family room. I want to sew this afternoon and knit tonight. 

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

Sorting and Organizing Craft Supplies

 Yesterday a thick fog rolled in and it didn't disappear until mid afternoon. The high got to 7.6C. This morning it is somewhat clear and 2C. We are to have mix of sun and cloud and a high of 5C. 

Lifestyle

I did yoga first thing and there was some cracking going on as my body aligned itself. It took about 20 minutes to do all the exercises and I did feel good afterwards. I was sore as I hadn't stretched those muscles since physio on Monday.

I cleaned up the kitchen and got out everything to make spaghetti sauce in the afternoon. I hadn't made any for quite some time and was looking forward to having spaghetti, pasta, and spaghetti squash for dinner. It was delicious. 

The rest of the morning was spent cleaning up in the basement. I started in the mechanical/storage room and did a bit of sorting and sweeping. The shelving unit was wiped down except for the top shelf. It will be done in the spring when the items up on it are sold at the garage sale or given away. 

I was in and out of the mechanical room as I corralled the crafting materials I had lying around. I also went through a tub of scrapbooking items/stickers and got what I wanted out of it. Everything is on the shelving unit and I will get a tub for the stickers. 

It will be easy to get to the supplies I need them and easy to put back when I am done. 

I cleaned up one part of the family room. Everything was organized, wiped, and swept. I moved things around until I liked them. Having the lamp on the gramophone helps with the lighting on the table. 

I moved the trolley I have Cricut items in over near the table I work at. It is handy to have it there rather than on the opposite side of the room. I may even put it under the stairs when I don't need it and am going to use the room for something else. 

Elliott joined me while I was cleaning up. He decided to sleep under the quilt with just his face showing. That way he could supervise me working. 

He actually went back to sleep under the quilt in the afternoon. 

I worked a full 90 minutes in the basement with only one rest and that was sorting stickers. It was nice to have that area cleaned up and organized once again. The next part is going to be okay as I have to sort out some cords, put buttons in a jar for junk journals and clean the furniture and floors. 

Sewing

The shirt is ready for buttons. I hand sewed the cuffs in place and top stitched them. The hem was serged and turned up. 

It needs a good pressing, button holes marked and stitched and buttons sewn on. 

I dug out fabric for gift bags and I have lots of prints but not as much plain fabric as I had hoped. I will start on them in the next couple of days. 

I had a bit of a panic as I want to embroider on the gift bags. I had picked out the following designs to do as I like them for their simplicity. 

I hunted for the files until I was almost sick from the stress. I could not remember the site I got them from. I did a massive hunt through each site on file I had bought. I finally found them in 3 different bundles I had bought a while ago. I will be embroidering them on 3 different bags now that I found them. 

I have also found at least 2 more to cut out on the Cricut and attach to bags. 

Crafts

I bought the 1965 version of A Charlie Brown Christmas online and will be making it into a junk journal for friends. I am getting a lot of ideas from YouTube videos which is great. I will be going to a thrift store to look for more ideas to add to this journal and other journals I want to make. I am collecting at the moment but don't want to go overboard. This could become an obsession and I have other crafts I want to do also. 

Knitting

I started to sew up the side seam on the vest. It is slow going as I am trying to do a good job and hide the seam. I am not sure if I have done that but it is done the way it should be done. 

I see I need to go back to the ribbing and get that even. That will be tonight's job. I will hold the area together with yarn so it is even before I restitch it together. Progress is always slow for me when I start to sew the pieces together. 

Thoughts

    I am pushing myself to do more each day. If I don't I will hibernate. Cleaning up the family room was a challenge in my sluggish mind and doing it was easier than I had envisioned. I want to keep it tidy so it will be a breeze to clean up. 

    I did look under the stairs again and backed out. I need to have space to bring it all out to sort and then put a TV box back in first. I also have paint cans to take to the recycling depot and 2 suitcases to sell in the spring. The shop vac supplies need to be stored in the garage which I have to back the car out to get into the cupboards. The Christmas items I didn't want are gone. I am slowly working on my plans for under there. 

    I need to get back to cleaning the sewing room. I stopped as I have to paint part of a wall that was fixed months ago. I may not get back to it until January though I am keeping the part I cleaned tidy. 

Today

Yoga is first and then I want to tidy up the bathroom before I head downstairs to work on the family room. I want to make the buttonholes on the shirt and start cutting out a gift bag which needs vinyl ironed on it. I have to fix the vest and continue sewing up the side seam tonight. 

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

A Day Out

 Yesterday started off cloudy and ended up wet. The high got to 4C during the night with a daytime temp of about 2C. We had about 3/4" rain fall by midnight. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. We are to have sunshine, clouds, and showers with a high of 8C.

Lifestyle

I got the last box into the car before I left for New Minas. It was the heaviest one that I had to move in the wagon and then into the car. Once loaded, I was on my way. 

I stopped at the respiratory therapy clinic to pay what I owed on my CPap machine and then it was over to the thrift store. The lady at the unloading depot was wonderful and I sorted it into regular and Christmas boxes for her. She would unpack the Christmas items first. The store wasn't opened so I didn't go in looking around but will have to one time. 

Next stop was the big craft store. They were having Black Friday sales and I stocked up on items to make now and next year. Most was 65% off. I did snoop shop for items to buy later on. My last stop was Walmart and I got what I needed there and headed home. I wanted to be home before it started to rain.

After lunch, I went over to family's and watched daughter-in-law put up the tree. I ended up helping fluff it out. We had a great visit and I left her to decorate it after looking at the ornaments. It was starting to spit rain and I needed to get the garbage out. That job was done and I realized how tired I was. I had relaxed visiting and my poorer night's sleep caught up with me. 

I did a bit of kitchen clean up but need to spend a bit more time tidying it up. I have found not being home has it negatives. Housework does not get done and I have messes here and there that I need to deal with. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday. 

Knitting

I got the ribbing knit and cast off on the armhole. 

I just have to sew the side seams and weave in the yarn ends. I am pleased with how it looks. When done, I am casting on socks for daughter-in-law. 

Crafts

I have been mulling around how to do crafts more regularly next year. I want to do more gifts using the Cricut. I need to have a plan. So a plan I will have to make. 

My haul at the craft store was big. I got the glass cushion ornaments I still need to get some glitter for them. I found the plastic take apart ornaments in the size I want for candy holders for next year and probably the year after. 

I now need to clear a shelf to put the packaged items and paper onto. I am going to use the shelving unit in the maintenance room. I have a spare tub for smaller items that need to be corralled. That way my trolley will hold tools and rolls of vinyl. 

I need to look at the files I have ready to cut and make my list so I can work my way through them. I do have a lot of supplies bought for them.

And lastly, this needs to be fun not a job. I do love the Cricut and need to work my way through the projects I have planned and get them into tubs to gift next year. 

Today

I have to do yoga as I haven't done it this week. Then I will tidy up the kitchen and head downstairs to work on getting the craft inventory organized. I need to set up a box for thrift store items I will continue to find in this house. I have to make spaghetti sauce this afternoon after I do some sewing. Tonight I want to start sewing one side of the vest. 

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

Snooping Through A New Fabric Store

 Yesterday was a lovely sunny day with a high of 3.2C. This morning it is cloudy and -4C. We are to have rain this afternoon and a high of 5C. 

Lifestyle

I headed into the city with my neighbour early yesterday morning. She had to pick up her quilting machine as it was in for a cleaning and adjusting. We were home by noon. As we went in, I could see a long line up of traffic going on the highway to Halifax. It wasn't moving very fast and I am sure it would take well over an hour to get to your destination. We didn't get slowed down in traffic until we got into Dartmouth. We crept along as we were heading east. The cause was construction of a building. Once we got through that (17 minutes) we were able to move quickly to our destination. 

I was under the stairs digging for items to go to the thrift shop. It was nice to find things that I don't need or haven't used in years. I got boxes shut and hauled out and into the car. I have one box left to put in before I head out this morning. I am happy to see it going so someone else can enjoy what I don't need. 

Sewing

Our destination yesterday was Atlantic Fabrics. We wandered the store for about a half hour and I bought these pieces of fabrics for gift bags. 

There were so many Christmas fabrics, it was hard to choose for 2 bags. I need to buy white cotton to line the bottom bag and red ribbon for both. 

I spent time sewing on the cuffs and have them ready to hand sew down before top stitching them. 

It is coming along now and I could have it done by the weekend. 

Knitting

I picked up the stitches for the armhole and knit 2 rows. 

It will be done soon and I'll be looking at another project to knit. Socks this time. 

Thoughts

    I got a good start under the stairs but have some items to move out to the garage. I need to put them into a tub and into a cupboard. Then it will be getting everything out and doing more sorting. What do I need and what can leave the house. 

    I really had to push myself yesterday afternoon as all I wanted to do was zone out. It was the date that had me feeling sad but I forced myself to do things and think of happy things. 

    I am going to push myself to do some cleaning in the family room each afternoon. I want to have the area cleaned up as I want to do crafts using the Cricut. 

Today

I am off to New Minas to the thrift shop, to look at some books, get some craft supplies, and do a bit of snoop shopping for items for a future project. I want to sew on the shirt, do a bit of cleaning in the family room, and knit tonight. 

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

I'm Getting More Flexible

 We had snow, rain, and ice pellets fall until noon. Then it was a mix of sun and clouds. The high got to 1.7C. This morning it is -3C. We are to have sunshine, clouds, and maybe a few flurries today. The high is to get to 1C. 

Lifestyle

It did snow quite heavy in the morning leaving the roofs and grass white. The roads were wet. It was quite pretty outside but not what we wanted in November. 

I was out the door to physio and it was quite the session. I am now flexible enough to be having more complex moves done and one was to start moving my heel to my butt. It hurt some but felt good. The physiotherapist said I have improved a lot in the 2 months I have been going to her along with treatments at osteopathy. I just need to keep working hard at getting stronger. 

Once home, I vacuumed all the upstairs. It wasn't too bad but needed to be done. The floors need to be mopped and a few things done before I head down to clean the basement. I am getting there. 

I spent a quiet afternoon watching TV as I rested with heat on my hip and knee. The weather gave it a bit of a flare up but I kept working on walking around the house and applying heat. I was also tired from the work out I got at physio. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I was too tired and sore. I had hoped to get the cuffs on. I did get the steps into my mind so I can do them quickly. 

I am going to make other shirts and have a red/black plaid to make. It isn't part of my basic wardrobe plan but it may be next on the garment making list. I have the opportunity to get the pattern I want today. First I have to finish a few other things that need to be made or finished. 

Knitting

None done yesterday though I did look at it briefly.

Thoughts

    I need to start making myself do things when I want to sit and escape from the world. I do know it is the date of when the Spousal Unit passed and one I still have problems with a day before and the day of. I still miss him a lot. 

    I binge watched videos on how to make Golden Book junk journals. There are so many ideas out there and it makes it hard to decide which one to make. I want to make one which I can use to store ideas, lists, etc for gifts, gardening, sewing, knitting, etc. Those papers can be tossed at the end of the year and new ones added. I am looking at pockets, paper clips, envelopes to hold the idea sheets. I have some very specific ideas which will start with looking for a book. 

    I am considering going to the walking path inside the arena. It has a rubber track which will be nice to walk on. I hope to walk 3 times a week in the winter so I can keep getting stronger. 

Today

I am off to the city with my friend. She has to pick up her quilting machine that was serviced. I will try to get a zipper and a shirt pattern. We are leaving at 9 am and she wants to be home by noon. I want to get the cuffs on the shirt after lunch and set up the 2nd arm hole on the vest tonight. 

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

The Power To Resist Temptation

 Though yesterday morning was very cloudy, in a blink of an eye, the clouds disappeared and we had a gloriously sunny day. The high got to 5.5C. This morning it is 0C and there had been showers. We are to have snow flurries today with a high of 1C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to get groceries and I hate getting them on a Sunday. The dairy/eggs/cheese/butter area short for some reason. Maybe no deliveries, maybe no one to stock the area. The store wasn't overly busy so I got to do a bit of snoop shopping. I got everything I wanted and came home. 

I did yoga after I got the groceries put away. There was a bit of cracking but not a lot. I did get all the exercises done and felt better. My biggest cracking came at 1:30 am when I rolled over. Things went into place big time. 

Sewing

I did get a couple of hours sewing on the shirt. The second placket was completed and then I set in the sleeves. Side seams were done and it now looks like a shirt. Albeit one that isn't finished. 

Knitting

None done last night. I was tired and didn't want to count stitches as I picked them up. 

Thoughts

    I have been watching videos on Christmas crafts and I kept thinking of all the items I could make for sale. I finally realized it wasn't going to happen. When I saw a lady show her inventory for the craft bazaar she was selling at, I realized I didn't want to have that much inventory in my house. She called it her "job" and that is exactly what it is. I admire her for what she is doing but it isn't what I want or need to do. 

    Once I had sorted this out in my brain, I enjoyed watching the crafting videos for ideas of what I can make for a variety of reasons. I looked at how items are packaged so I can do a better job of packaging what I gift. The cloth gift bags are still my favourite even if they take quite a while to make. 

    I do love everything Christmas but I also realize that I need to remain strong by doing what I want and need to do. I don't need to bring more into the house when I am trying to use up what I have. I need to do what I enjoy doing without pressuring myself into doing things that make me unhappy. And I need to remember that I have to balance looking after myself with my sewing/crafting/knitting. I need to resist temptations. 

Today

I have physiotherapy first thing this morning. If I have the energy, I want to vacuum the upstairs. A load of laundry needs to be folded. I want to get the cuffs on the shirt this afternoon. I hope to knit tonight if I am not too tired. 

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

A Day Of Aches and Pains

 Though we saw a bit of sunshine first thing in the morning, the rest of the day was grey, dismal and wet. It was warm though. There was 3/4" of rain fall with a high of 16.2C. We broke the high temp for the day by .1C. This morning it is 2C and we are to have sunshine and a high of 4C. 

Lifestyle

I felt like a semi truck ran over me yesterday. My body ached most of the day. I had one spot above my right hip that hurt when I stood. So bad that I was bent over at a 90 degree angle until I walked a dozen steps. By late afternoon the aches and pains had subsided a lot and I could get up with some pain but not like it had been. It is gone this morning. I had a good round of fighting the vaccine I had which is good. 

I did some yoga lying on the bed as I couldn't get down on the floor. My sore spot didn't hurt doing it but I was stiff and achy. No cracking at all. I did about 15 minutes and then called it enough. 

I had a short nap in the afternoon. Daughter texted and woke me up. That was good as I slept well last night. And the nap helped me get through until bed time without wanting to fall asleep in the evening. 

I did get the laundry folded and put away. Ready to do more laundry. Not as much but I want to keep up on it. 

In all, it was mainly a day on the couch with little done but eat comfort food (no sweets, just starch). I knew it was coming so was prepared mentally for it. 

Sewing

While in the basement getting something necessary, I checked on my shirt. The placket for the second sleeve is sewn in and cut. It is ready to turn and press so I can finish it. 

Knitting

I picked up the vest and finished casting on the stitches and got the one armhole done. It took me a long time as I was tired and would knit, rest, and repeat. 

I am now ready to pick up and do the other armhole. 

Thoughts

    If I had felt well enough and wanted to do something, I would have gone to the local craft bazaar held at the community hall. I wonder how the exhibitors did. I read and hear that things are tight for people with the cost of basics being more than they were a year ago. Small and cottage businesses seem to get hit the hardest. I try to support them as best as I can. 

    I watched a video yesterday on making ornaments. It was videoed in 2022 and released just yesterday. The glass/plastic baubles were neat projects but the cost of making them was expensive. Each project required quite a few items to make and I did price the materials. The sublimation ornament was really expensive if you had to buy all the equipment (big heat press, pads, printer, paper, etc.). The end results were good but they needed a bit of finesse in my opinion. 

     I am thinking of how I can make a few items for Christmas 2024. I keep looking and have decided that I will buy a few things on sale right now and make a list of what I want to make so I can gift them to family or add to the table at Christmas. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet and get groceries this morning. I want to sew on the shirt this afternoon and knit tonight. I need a busy day after doing very little yesterday. 

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

Changing Our Plans

 Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day. The high got to 9.6C. This morning it is cloudy and 12C. We are under a rainfall warning which will bring us a good amount of moisture and a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

First thing yesterday was to get the front outside deck cleaned up. It took a few minutes longer as I tipped the pot of flowers over and had purple sand to scoop up and then sweep away. The fall decor is now in the basement with only the candle lamp left. Daughter-in-law put up a string of lights around the door yesterday after lunch and it is done for this year. 

I was out the door after getting that job done and had a lovely drive to Mount Uniacke. I went to the doctor's office for my Covid vaccine. This little hamlet has a small pharmacy and a doctor which is wonderful. The pharmacist was doing the vaccine and was very informative. I don't get another vaccine until next fall. As I still wear a mask, use a lot of hand sanitizer, and haven't had a cold or flu since 2018, I am good for the next year. 

The drive home was equally as lovely and I stopped to get some lunch and my hiking poles. I was off to Wolfville to meet a friend to go to the craft bazaar. We went, we drove around looking for a parking space and saw nothing. I even signalled I was taking one and another person took it on me. My friend and I decided to park downtown, walk to get tea and then down to the harbour to sit at the picnic tables and visit. It was the most delightful way to spend our time. Outside, walking, and visiting. The weather was perfect and we didn't miss being inside at a craft bazaar. The only regret I have is not taking a picture of the harbour. The tide was in and the view was beautiful. 

I came home and crashed. The vaccine was working and my body was fighting. I ached and had a pain above my hip. I could barely stand up straight with it. I kept getting up and walking in hopes it would go away. It is still there this morning and there are tight muscles on that side. I am hoping yoga will help it. The walk we had was 1 km and I had no pain or other issues. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday which is not unusual after getting a vaccine or shot. It is common for a person to be tired and sore afterwards according to the pharmacist. 

Today

I will do yoga and then fold laundry. I will do some housework as I can and rest when I have to. I have planned for this to be a day of doing little so my body can adapt to the vaccine. What gets done, gets done and what doesn't gets done tomorrow. 

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

A Sleeve Placket Completed

 Yesterday was another day of sunshine and clouds with a high of 9.6C. This morning it is -2C. We are to have sunshine and a high of 13C. Tonight we could have showers as there is rain coming. 

Lifestyle

I did yoga yesterday and it felt good to do it. It takes about 30 minutes to get all the exercises done. Elliott lays on the couch with his head hung over the edge watching me do them which is interesting. 

I swept the floors and got the hardwood ones mopped. I tidied up the kitchen and around Elliott's litter box. It was then time to go for my hair cut. 

After my hair cut, I came home and got the lights, extension cord, and little ladder ready for daughter-in-law to hang the Xmas lights around the door today. 

I had tea with my friend in the afternoon. We talked about the wall hanging she is making while we had tea. I was home in good time as I didn't walk. I didn't wear my winter coat and the wind was a bit cool. 

Sewing

I finally sat down to sew. I serged the seams on the fronts, back, and sleeves. I then tackled the plackets. While the computer updated itself, I did all the markings and hand basted the parts that needed to be turned under. It certainly makes it easier to stitch when I hand baste things. 

Following the tutorial I wrote in 2010, I got the first placket sewn on. I spent a lot of time getting it to look good and am pleased with the results. 

The second sleeve is ready to sew but I was going out for tea and stopped when finished this one. 

I peeked at the Christmas fabric and have lots of fabric to make gift bags. I may need to buy a few pieces of plain fabric which is fine. I will use up the interfacing I have on hand and have fun making them. 

I also folded and bagged the scraps for the quilter's group. My friend found a piece of grey she may use in her wall hanging. It is gone and I will start once again saving scraps. 

Knitting

I got it organized to pick up the stitches but didn't get it done. I will try tonight. 

Thoughts

    I found more tutorials and patterns to make candy and candle holders. I will make a few for the table for Christmas dinner. I also saw a video on making a holder for another type of chocolate and may try to make them next year. 

    I need to think about my plans for next year. I want to balance sewing, knitting, and crafts. What do I want to make? How do I want to use the supplies I have? I know that I want to continue sewing down what I have but I want to do new things also. I don't want to feel pressured to only sew one thing as I enjoy doing a variety of different things. 

Today

I have to get my Covid vaccine this morning and then I am hoping to spend some time with a friend at a craft bazaar in Wolfville this afternoon. I am sure I will crash later this afternoon from the vaccine so I am not sure what else I will get done. 

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