A Successful Day

Yesterday was another day of greyness and snow flurries. The high got to -5.2C. This morning it is -8C. We are to have some sunshine today with a high of 2C.

Lifestyle

It was osteopathy day. I got ready and did a few small chores before leaving. When I put on my shoes, I put the right foot onto the left knee. When I took the right foot off, the left knee cracked and I had more range of motion than ever. That crack adjusted the knee the big time. 

The roads were in quite good shape. Most areas were wet and bare but there was some slush and drifting in other areas. I drove under the speed limit to my appointment as did many other drivers. The drive home was good and I even got up to the speed limit in some areas. The snow plows were plowing and salting both ways. I can't complain about the roads after the storm we had the day before.

Osteopathy was good. My right hip had turned forward from shovelling snow off the deck. It is a cross body movement that turned it. It hurt having the treatment but no pain, no gain. I came right home as I was sore and needed to put heat on my hip. 

After I had lunch, I had a nap -- about an hour in length. I woke up feeling much better and by bed time I was pretty much back to being pain free. 

Sewing and Crafting

 I headed down to the sewing room to do a bit of sewing. I did more than I anticipated and finished the doll's jacket. 

I did have some issues with the front edges of the hood. They stick out a bit on each side. I would baste them in place the next time and use the zipper foot to get the stitching in where it should have been. 

The hood is big enough for most doll's hair but not Julie's. 

In all I am happy with the outfit and learned a lot about zippers. 

I had enough time before going upstairs to lay out February's projects. 

Piping for daugher. I made her some from this fabric already but want to use it up.

Wine bottle bag fabric was chosen but not cut. I just spent the time finding the fabric I wanted to use. 

I got out 4 of the blocks for my cardinal quilt. I can work on row 1. I decided that I won't be putting all 24 squares out at once as it is going to take up a lot of space. 

Once the projects were out and ready, I went upstairs to work on the counted cross stitch project. I finished it ready to put into a hoop. 

Knitting

I did work on the hat last night and got 9 rounds knit. It is coming along quickly with hopes that there will be enough yarn to finish it. 

Thoughts

    I am very grateful that the roads here are well maintained during a snow storm. It was nice to drive knowing that I would not have to worry about black ice or lots of snow on the road. I didn't go the speed limit but then a lot of people were driving slower. 

    I am happy that we caught and corrected my hip yesterday. I now need to shovel the deck pushing the snow off down the stairs. Doing that will give me little cross body movement. I do very little cross body movement when shovelling the driveway which is good. 

    I had a great time finding fabrics in the stash to sew for February. I am pleased with what I plan on making this month. Next is to plan on what I want to do for crafts. Planning keeps me focused on using what I have. 

Today

I need to do laundry and clean the bathroom this morning after I do yoga. This afternoon I hope to cut out the wine bottle bags. I also want to work on finishing the counted cross stitch cat, do a page in the journal and make a list of what I want to do craft wise. I want to knit tonight. It is a day at home for me. 

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

It Snowed and Blowed All Day

 Yesterday was windy, snowy, and cold. The high got to -0.9C but the windchill was -6C (6 am yesterday). The temperature dropped all day. This morning it is -7C with wind a few flurries. We are to have a few flurries, less wind, and a high of -5C. 

Lifestyle

Friend's youngest boy started shovelling the driveway early so I joined him. He did about 75% by himself and I helped with the remainder. We tackled the snow berm together. Once done, he jumped into the ditch (tradition) and I headed out to shovel the back deck. At that point we had about 8" of snow on the ground. It was fairly dry and fluffy.

Later on I watched neighbours shovel their driveway out and put the snow into my front ditch. Their youngest shovelled about half of my driveway and mom finished it up. The afternoon was noisy as people were snow blowing like crazy. It was still snowing hard. I was out at 3:30 pm (-5C, windchill -13C) to shovel the front steps and clean up the snow drifts. I was almost finished when my next door neighbour asked if I needed help. We both went to clean off our decks and I kept up with him. My deck is twice as long as his and I was moving at quite the pace throwing snow over the railing at 8 feet away. I'm in better shape than I thought I was. 

The roads were plowed several times during the day. They did their last pass about 7 pm and were at it again this morning at 6 am. We have another storm coming in on Thursday so they are working at getting the roads cleaned up and widened before it hits. 

I did some cooking yesterday and have chicken for the next few days. I also had salmon for dinner. I need to shop for a few groceries so I can hunker down during the next storm. I mainly need a few things for lunches. I have dinners in the freezer. 

Sewing and Crafting

My sewing time was limited due to shovelling snow. But I did get the waist band on before lunch and the zipper in after lunch. 

I did learn something new about installing separating zippers. I used the double sided tape to hold the zipper in place while sewing it. When I got to the bottom of the zipper, I did two tiny stitches and then cut the threads long. The bottom plastic tab has 3 little holes in it. I punched them carefully with my awl and handed stitched the zipper in place using the long threads. I was impressed and learned something new. I am not afraid of separating zippers now that I learned that trick. 

At the moment, the zipper is long at the top. Once the hood is attached, it will be cut off. I will be back stitching that area so all is secure. 

No work was done on the journal or the cross stitching. I was too busy with other things. When I had a short break, I did look at pictures I had saved on the computer and put them into a file folder to use.

Knitting

I cast on the 2nd hat last night and got 14 rounds knit. It has less stitches on the needles and will have less rounds knit. When done, I will have used up both balls of yarn.

Thoughts

    I am in better shape than I thought I was when shovelling snow. I am sore due to doing more shovelling that I had thought I would have to. I was tired but not exhausted. It was a good feeling to know that I can help keep the driveway clear. 

    The wind was the worst to endure when outside. It was cold and nasty when walking into it. It was noisy inside the house which got on my nerves. It bothered me more than the snow did. I survived but there were moments last night when I wondered when the wind was howling a gale. It even bothered Elliott. 

    I am very grateful for such wonderful neighbours who help me during these storms. It is nice to know they will do things for me without me asking for help. It is also nice that family doesn't have to worry about me as they dig themselves out. I let them know what is going on and when I go out to shovel. It is my safety plan. 

Today

I have osteopathy later this morning so will do a few chores before I go. Afterwards I want to go into Sackville to get lunch and a few things I need. I want to be home by mid afternoon. I probably won't sew but will knit and work on the cross stitch. 

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

Track Suit Jacket Begun

 Yesterday was cloudy but not dull and dark. We had a few snow flurries in the afternoon but nothing to speak of. The high got to 0.4C. It did snow during the night and it is -2C this morning. We are to have more snow fall with a high of -2C. The wind is from the north and there is going to be windchill factors of up to -12 today. 

Lifestyle

I did yoga first thing yesterday morning. All my joints were stiff with the incoming storm but I worked through it by doing the stretches slowly and carefully. It did help a lot and the stiffness did leave for the most part. 

The balance sheet was done next and it balanced on the first try. Staying at home and using what I have has paid off. I'm ready to repeat the process next month though I will get myself a little something for working so hard on being good. 

The last job of the morning was to clean the kitchen. I wiped a lot of surfaces -- counters and doors which were getting a bit grimy. I even put liner in one of the drawers. I put items away, threw other items out, and it looks so much better than it did. The last job was to sweep the floor and mop it. 

I did fight a bit with my glucose levels but I didn't get upset with it. If it is going to be low, I will eat more carbs. I will have to watch my weight as carbs do put on the pounds. It is going to be a final balancing act.

Sewing and Crafting

I swept the sewing room floor and it was getting a bit of a fluff build up on it. I have been picking up threads that land on the floor but did miss some. At least the floor was clean prior to sewing. 

I cut out the track suit jacket except for the hood lining. I worked very carefully on getting the pockets on neatly using double sided tape. The pocket and jacket are cut as one piece and then you cut the jacket down the center after the pocket is put on. A great idea when working with tiny pieces. 

I got the cuffs on the sleeves and top stitched them in place. I inserted the sleeves. One sleeve I basted in prior to sewing and the other I pinned and sewed. Both worked with no issues. When I had the sleeves in, I stopped sewing for the day. I had been sewing for almost 3 hours. 

I also worked on the counted cross stitch picture twice yesterday. It is coming along and the lace is almost done. I have to do a bit of lace on the left side of the cat. 

Once the lace is done, I have the words to do and I will be finished this project. 

I looked at the journal and need to do two more pages on the first signature and then start on the second one. The second one is harder to figure out what I want to add to the pages I am inserting. I also need to figure out how I am going to insert them. I do have some ideas floating in my head which I need to do prototypes of. 

I watched a few videos on making tea holders but need to find one more item at the store before I make a decision on which one I will make. That will happen when I shop next week. 

Knitting

I didn't knit last night. I needed a night off. I will start again tonight. 

Today

I have to shovel snow -- the front landing, sidewalk, and back deck. I may even start on the driveway. I have to do a bit of cooking so I have food to eat today. I do hope to sew this afternoon but that will only happen if I am not out shovelling. I do want to knit another hat so the yellow yarn is used up. This one will be smaller. 

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

Dolly Sewing Has Begun

 Yesterday was a grey day but no snow fell. The high got to -0.5C. There was about 2" of snow fell. This morning it is cloudy and -1C. We are to have sun, clouds, and some flurries today with a high of 1C. It is suppose to snow tonight. 

Lifestyle

My neighbour came over and snow blowed the driveway for me. Eight passes and he was done. I was out later to open the garage door, clean up a bit there and shovel the small sidewalk, steps, and landing. That is my job. I am so thankful that I have a wonderful neighbour who does the driveway for me when it snows a lot. 

I did yoga yesterday morning prior to going out to shovel. I did the exercises slowly and carefully as I am working on stretching and strengthening. I am getting it done and with good results. 

I did a bit of housework, folded laundry and did a very small load of clothes that needed to be done. I was tired as I still hadn't had a good night's sleep for several nights in a row. I did sit on the couch and closed my eyes. I may have had a 20 minute nap. 

I lost my phone and spent time looking for it. I was stressed out from not knowing where it was. I found it down between the cushions on the couch near the back. Once I found it, I relaxed, had an IBS attack, and realized stress is causing some of my issues. 

Family borrowed the car to take son to the airport. I was also worrying about their safety out on the roads knowing full well they were bare and wet. I could see the highway traffic moving quickly when I looked out. I did drive their electric car!! I backed it down the driveway and down the street so I could park it. 

I finally got my glucose readings into the low 5's. I have been eating extra carbs each meal. I hope I am at a stage where I can back off and eat the foods I enjoy rather than carb laden foods. My weight has remained the same which is good. 

Sewing and Crafting

I did decorate the bottom tag on the page I finished. It took me about 5 minutes and I walked away from it without taking a picture. I was thinking of other things.

In the sewing room, I cut out the track suit pants. I carefully sewed them together without any issues. Even the front pockets cooperated for me. 

The pants were not hard to make and the instructions were fairly easy to follow. They fit a bit tight on this doll as she is chunky. I did not add the eyelets and cord to the waistband as I didn't have any. They don't need it either. 

I did work on the cross stitch but didn't take a picture of it. I got 2 more rows done on the lace part. It isn't hard to do and I know I will be done it in a few of more days. Then onto the next project which will go into the Charlie Brown journal. 

Knitting

I worked on the hat last evening and got it finished. I had to start the 2nd ball of yarn to finish it. 

I am going to make another one that is smaller so that all yarn is used up. She got a great deal -- 2 hats for $3.60 and a mom who will knit for her.

Thoughts

    We were under a winter storm warning for Monday. That has since disappeared so the storm must have shifted enough that we aren't going to get a huge dump of snow. It will be enough that my driveway will need snow blowing and shovelling. 

    I am realizing that I need to relax more and not get stressed out over things. It hasn't been the misplacing of the phone yesterday. It has been the weather, my health/mobility, and a lot of other things. I have been a bit of a wreck. I realized I have to let go of worrying. Most of what I am worrying about is out of my control. I also think I am worrying about things as I get physically better. There is less to worry about on my self care radar. Misplacing the phone was the wake up call I needed. 

Today

I need to do yoga this morning. I also have the balance sheet to do. I want to do a bit of clean up in the kitchen this morning. I am hoping to cut out 10 tea bag holders for the craft bazaar tub before going to work on the track suit jacket. I want to cut it out and start on the body part to the zipper. I also want to work on the cross stitch project and start the 2nd hat tonight. 

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

Having A Plan Is Helpful

 Yesterday was a grey day and it got darker as the day went on. Snow started to fall lightly around 4 pm and it snowed for quite a few hours. The high got to -2.1C. This morning it is -2C but not snowing. We are a high of 2C with who knows what for the day. Snow, rain? Who knows.

Lifestyle

I did yoga first thing yesterday morning. I noticed that with the muscles more relaxed, I can do a bit more before I feel the stretch. My hip can be sore but it can be pain free while doing the moves. My knee is still stiff but not as bad as it was. 

I was out to get groceries and basically stuck to my shopping list. Trying to use up what I have is working. I am seeing some bare spots in the pantry and the freezer has less in it. Hurrah for that. 

I did a bit of housework before lunch but did feel tired. The IBS attack really left me tired. I also haven't been sleeping well either as I worry about things too much. Did it last night again. Also the plow woke me up doing the road but I am not complaining about that. The salt truck was here at 7 am so we will have wet roads later this morning. My neighbour is out snow blowing his driveway so I assume he will be opening the end of my driveway where the snow plow rolled snow into it. 

Sewing and Crafting

I did sew yesterday and got 2 more mug rugs done for the craft bazaar. They are quite nice as I was able to fussy cut the print without wasting fabric. 

The back fabrics are different as I ran out of the grey. I used 2 scraps of the print that were folded in with the main fabric. 

I'm okay with this as I plan on selling them singularly with a discount if someone wants to buy 2. That way they can choose any 2 they want. 

I also spent some time finishing the never ending book. I am so glad it is done and works smoothly. 

I pressed it with the iron and put books on it to flatten it out. While that was happening, I made the bottom tuck for the book. I still need to add something to the tuck as it is very plain and boring. 

I have a few things to still do on this signature but will be moving on to the next one. I need to plan it - what do I need to put in for cartoons, pictures, cross stitching, etc and how will they be held onto the pages. This means reading the story and planning out ideas. 

I worked on the counted cross stitch cat picture. I started the lace cloth the cat is lying on. Two rows were done which was great. 

I am enjoying watching this picture evolve. It is such a simple project to do. I am still using the Aida cloth that I found in the stash and have enough left for a few more small projects. 

Knitting

I knit more last night and have 13 rows left to knit before I decrease the crown. I will measure it before I do any more so I don't knit it past 7.5" in length. 

This hat has knit up fast!

Thoughts

    Though we got snow, it didn't seem to snow as hard as I thought it would. I do know I will be out shovelling the driveway this morning. I am ready to do the job as I will be doing that rather than yoga. 

    I am grateful for great neighbours who help me with my driveway when it is plugged full of snow. I can do the main part easily but it is quite the job shovelling the snow rolled in from the road. 

    Grocery shopping was a bit of a challenge but I forced myself to stick to the list I had made. I had included a couple of items so I wouldn't go looking for food and choose something I really didn't need. Next week I plan on buying what I need to make a stew so I can freeze some of it. I do enjoy having meals in the freezer as I can make some recipes I like and not worry about them making too much. 

    I have enjoyed making things using what I have. It has forced me to be more prepared and organized. Cutting out several projects to sew after I finished the quilt was nice. I will do that again. I am also forcing myself to use up the paper craft supplies I have on hand. It is working quite well for me overall. 

Today

I have to shovel snow this morning. This afternoon I want to work on the doll's track suit and add a few things to the last tuck I made. I also want to cross stitch and knit. I don't plan on going out at all today. 

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

Keeping Busy At Home

 Yesterday was a morning of snow and rain and the afternoon was cloudy. We had 1/4" of precipitation and a high of 2.9C. This morning it is somewhat clear (can see the moon) and -6C. We are to have snow fall this afternoon and evening with a high of -2C. 

Lifestyle

Daughter-in-law arrived for tea and I was out to help her shovel the snow off the driveway. It didn't take us long to have the snow off so the rain could soften the ice underneath. It was rapidly turning to slush while we were out there. I was out mid morning to scrape the slush off the driveway and by 4 pm my driveway was 50% dry. 

I had a good visit with daughter-in-law and she left about an hour after she arrived. I had to have breakfast as I knew my glucose levels were dropping. It was another day of fighting with it. I may need to have a snack mid afternoon. I am pondering on that one. 

I had a fierce IBS attack at dinner time. It lasted almost 2 hours and I had to eat while having it. My glucose levels were low. It did subside but left me very tired. Tired enough I slept most of the night. I am fine today. I am not sure if it is stress/worry or food related or both. 

Elliott had another morning where he didn't sleep a lot. He did sleep all afternoon. He wasn't as cranky yesterday morning but he did wander and call me a lot. 

Sewing and Crafts

I started and ended my afternoon working on the never ending book. I got pages 2 and 3 completed. 

Page 2 was pressed and put under the books so it would lie flat. Page 3 wasn't so I will be doing it today. 

I just have page 4 to glue down and it is done. I will make a tuck for it to go into which will take only a few minutes to do. 

I decided to work on the gift bag. While the design embroidered on the front, I started to interface the remaining pieces, sew the topper to the back piece and measure out and interface the lining. By 4 pm it was done ready for the ribbon (which I don't have). 

I how have 2 pieces of lining large enough for wine bottle bags. They are on the list to make in February. 

I printed out the track suit once again and it is the pattern that is the problem. At least I can start working on it on Saturday. The piece that is missing a part has the cutting measurements on it. 

I also worked on the cross stitch. I got the cat done and am ready to work on the lace part. 

The lace will be done with 1 strand of white, 1 of pale grey, and the shiny thread. 

Knitting

I worked on the hat last night. I got 3 repeats (12 rows) of the pattern done. 

It is a cheerful colour and makes me happy. I do hope that I can make a second one with the other ball of yarn. 

Today

I need to do yoga this morning and then grocery shop. I also want to fold the laundry. This afternoon I plan on making the two mug rugs and finish the never ending book. I would like to work on the cross stitch picture and knit tonight. This is all dependent on how much snow falls this afternoon. 

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

Working On Small Projects

 Yesterday was another nice day with a high of -0.7C. This morning it is 1C and snowing. We are to have snow and rain this morning and a high of 5C which will cool off to 1C this afternoon. It is going to be cloudy all day. 

Lifestyle

First thing was yoga. I found it hard to start as my knee and hip were stiff. My knee felt like it was surrounded by fluid but it didn't seem to be. Both joints were reacting to the storm that is coming in. They did loosen up as I did the moves. I am still having relaxed muscles in my thigh which is nice. 

I did some house work - laundered bedding and made up the bed. I also swept the floors and mopped the living room, dining room, and hall. I also mopped the stairs down to the front door. 

It was a struggle doing the housework I did. Elliott had his "I can't settle down" morning. He was needy and I had to sit a couple of times to try and settle him. He finally had a short nap before lunch, had his treat, and settled down for a deep sleep in the afternoon. I think I needed him to nap more than he needed to nap. 

I was out to have tea with my friend. I talked to her briefly as she was out walking to her dog. We had a good visit and she told me she has sold her two beautiful wall hangings. She put them into a local shop and her oldest son bought them online. Though she was sad to sell them, she is delighted her son will have them in his house. She is working on a new wall hanging and it is basically sold already. Her work is beautiful and extremely well curated. I am excited for her. 

Sewing and Crafting

I did work on the cross stitch. I have the front of the cat done and am working on the body. It is moving along nicely and I will have something made to give away at Christmas.  

I got page one of the never ending book completed. Once the pieces are glued down, I iron it flat and put books on top so the paper knows to stay flat. If I don't do that, they tend to curl up on me. 

I can now do page 2 doing the same process. 

I cut out the bias strips and made piping for daughter. I had no issues until I got almost done. The bobbin thread decided to be a pain and then I ran out of it. I did get it finished and do like it. 

I took a lot of pictures of the piping before I got one that was close to the correct colour. I find it very hard due to the lighting in the afternoon. I was able to make 2.75 meters from less a piece of fabric that was just smaller than a fat quarter. It is now in a bag ready to go when I have enough items made to fill a box. 

I bought the pattern for January's Sewing With Cinnamon. I printed it out and something went wrong with the sizing. It seems to be too big. Printing it again to see what I did wrong. I want to cut it out while embroidering the gift bag. 

Knitting

I started the hat and got the ribbing done. This yarn has wool in it so it will be warm for daughter to wear. She picked it up for $1.80 a ball in a clearance bin. 

If I don't need the second ball, I am going to knit it on a size smaller needles making it in the larger size. I am wondering if it will work out to be the same size as this one. 

Thoughts

    We are going to have some snow fall for the next couple of days. I am hoping that the roads are kept well plowed and salted as family is on the road several times a day during this storm. I do worry about that. The main road up here has been plowed and salted already this morning which is nice.

    I found a 2 hour video on how to make a book from start to finish. I am hoping to make it later on using the paper I will have left from the journal I'm working on. I know I will learn a lot from making this book and will gift it to someone. I'm thinking of making it a project for when it's hot during the summer. 

Today

I have a load of laundry on at this time. I will need to do a bit of housework before I go for a hair cut at 11 am. I want to embroider the gift bag and cut out the doll's track suit. I also want to finish page 2 of the never ending book. Tonight I will knit.  

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

Hurrah! Two Projects Finished

 Yesterday was a mix of clouds and sunshine; more sunshine than expected. It was also windy. The high got to 1.9C. This morning it is clear and -12C. We are to have sunshine and a big of -5C. It is suppose to warm up during the night and snow. 

Lifestyle

I was out the door to New Minas early. I wanted to be home by noon which I did accomplish. My first chore was to buy a pair of sweat pants and top so I could keep warm. Mission accomplished. Next up I went and got a present for family. It will be revealed on son's birthday. 

I went into Value Village as I have donated to the store but have never been inside it. Though there were a lot of clothes, a lot of the dishes were picked over. Areas were bare. I was looking for something that jumped out at me and I didn't find it. I did buy 5 children's books for under $8.00. 

My last stop was at Michaels. I was looking for a corner punch but they didn't have it. I got embroidery floss, some snowflakes/trees for the journal and other projects, and a sheet of card stock. I spent under 15.00 there. In actual fact I spent just under $21.00 total in the two stores. 

I fought low glucose readings all day. It had me feeling tired though not confused. I need to look at my diet and decide what I have to change to get normal readings. I am more active and am using up my food more efficiently now. 

Here is a picture of Elliott as he was thinking about pouncing to bite me. He did try but got disciplined for his behaviour. 

Sewing

My first job of the morning was to see how much interfacing I had. Lots more than I had thought. Enough for several more gift bags. No need to buy anymore at this time. 

I started another cross stitch picture yesterday. I said I wouldn't use shiny thread but I did. This one is nicer to use. I did about 30 minutes and am ready to start on the cat. 

I bought the darker red for the hat and I used a strand of white, pale grey, and a very fine sparkly thread for the fur. The cat is suppose to be black but I am going to do dark grey. I enjoyed what I got done and will work on it at noon until it is done. 

I finished hand sewing down the binding on the quilt. It took me quite a long time to do. I realized I had over half the binding not done. 

I am thrilled with the finished quilt and will admire it for a day or two before I put it away. 

I will be working on small projects for the next few days and then will start on my cardinal quilt. I will be ready to man handle a larger quilt by then. At the moment, my shoulders need a rest. 

Knitting

I finished the socks last night. 

I am happy with them and know they will be warm on grandson's feet. Tonight I will set up the hat to knit. 

Thoughts

    The tight muscles in my groin area have relaxed since having the needling procedure. I am having to work on my gait, once again, as I am more relaxed while walking. I get tired easily as I am constantly correcting myself. Progress is being made which is good. Now to strengthen those muscles more. 

    I am finding that I am enjoying myself at home as I have a wide variety of things to do. When I go out, I find that I am able to get only what I need and not go into stores just to snoop shop and buy what I don't need. This is part of controlling what comes into the house so I don't have a lot of extra items to look after. I think back to how I did shop and it wasn't the best for the lifestyle I want to live. I find that having projects ready to cut out helps me keep focused on using up the stash. 

    I have decided that if I meet my goal of using what I have in January I can get a few items from the scrapbooking shop. I have set a limit and it can't be paper items. It can be double sided tape and tools. I would like to have the major work on the first signature done before the end of the month. 

    February will be another month of using what I have. I will allow myself to buy something special at the end of the month if I meet this goal. It means another month of staying home most of the time but I don't mind. I have lots to do around here. 

Today

I need to do yoga first. Then it will be sweep and mop floors, take out garbage, and do some laundry. I want to do a bit of cross stitch at noon, work downstairs this afternoon, and knit tonight. 

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

Two Projects Almost Finished

 Yesterday was a lovely sunny day. The high got to 0.5C. This morning it is 2C. We are to have sun, clouds, wind, and some flurries today. The high is to get to 2C. Tonight is going to be cold. 

Lifestyle

I was out early for physio yesterday morning. I got to ride the bike and use the slider at higher resistance. Then I was introduced to a new piece of equipment that you push your legs out from bent knee to almost straight knee position. I did that one easily so will be getting weights added to it next time. Instead of working on joints, I had needling done in the muscles to send signals to the nerves to relax those muscles. It worked quite well. I had a lot less pain from tight muscles all day. I didn't do heat until evening. 

Once home, I rested a bit and then did some tidying up. The house is so clean that it is easy to keep up. I was done mid morning which was nice. I had a day to play downstairs. 

Sewing and Crafting

Before lunch, I made a plan of what I wanted to cut out to sew between quilts. I was down the stairs to get that job done before lunch. I grabbed the binding fabric and cut 4 strips for binding. I piled them up on the cutting table. 

Next I got out the fabrics for the next bag and mug rugs. I carefully cut out the main body of the bag as I had less of the lighter grey than I had thought. I then opened the print and carefully cut out the topper for the bag. I got out the lining fabric but didn't cut it. I do that after I sew the top to the main part of the bag. 

Next I used up the left over fabrics and cut out 2 mug rugs. I fussy cut the print. I have the batting left to cut out which will take a couple of minutes to do. 

The left over grey scraps are in the bin for the quilters guild and the print is back on the shelf with hopes of making another bag. We wait and see if there is enough fabric for that. 

Once the cutting out was done, I looked to see if I had a piece of stretch velour in the stash. Nothing at all. I found a pair of leggings that I will use to make a doll's track suit. I need to buy the pattern. It is part of the Sewing With Cinnamon's January project. 

Before having lunch, I made the binding for the quilt and was ready to attach it to the quilt. 

After lunch I sewed the binding on and sat down to hand sew it in place. I sat in the recliner with my legs up. That way I kept the muscles long from hip to ankle. I got almost 50% of the binding sewn down before it was time to make dinner. 

I did play around with the never-ending booklet. I am happy with what I did and am ready to glue all the pieces down. 

I went to watch my favourite video last night and it wasn't there. I then checked Facebook and the people were without power. They had a huge windstorm. They did get their power restored and we look forward to watching their video today. I did watch another video or 2 and am going to make an envelope to see if it is what I want for puzzle pieces. 

Knitting

I knit round after round last night and got the foot done. I am now ready to start on the toe. 

These should be done tonight. I am so excited that I can give them to grandson and start a hat or two before I set up the next socks on the list. 

Thoughts

    Though I hate needles, I am glad I had the procedure I had at physio yesterday. It didn't hurt at all and it has helped the nerves make my muscles relax. I will have the procedure done again so I can move forward on strengthening the muscles that are relaxed. I will continue on with massage and osteopathy as they are working well. I want to be strong to support the joints that have arthritis.

    With the house clean and tidy, I am able to spend a bit more time sewing and crafting. I am planning on making craft bazaar items two mornings a week if I keep up on the housework. 

    I am no longer monitoring for high glucose levels. I am now monitoring for low glucose levels. I have been using up all the carbs I eat and then more. Good for my A1C but it does leave me feeling off especially before meals. I am still loosing weight slowly which is fine. I want to loose a bit more before spring. 

Today

I am heading out to shop for warm clothes. I want to get a couple of things from Michaels, stop at another store and inquire about something, and head for home. I want to finish the binding on the quilt this afternoon and finish the socks tonight. 

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

Quilting Is Complete

 Yesterday the high got to -1.6C but the NW wind made it feel like it was -5C or colder. It was a cloudy day but not dull or dark. This morning it is -9C. Today we are to have sun, clouds, and flurries with a high of 0C. 

Lifestyle

I did a lot of things in the morning. The first one was the balance sheet. I had 2 entries to make and there was a mistake. I figured it out and finished up by paying one bill. 

Next up was to sweep the bedroom floors and clean the cat litter area. That included washing that floor. I also folded laundry and tidied up the living room area. Once that was done, I did yoga. 

Yoga went well. I didn't push it hard but just to the point I could feel soreness and then held it. I knew I was stretching the muscles that had been massaged. I am trying to keep them stretched as best as I can. 

Grandson was over to shovel the driveway and when he finished it, we put salt on it. I did the upper part and he did the lower part. He then went and shovelled the deck. By mid afternoon, I had the only clean and dry driveway on the block thanks to my grandson. 

Sewing and Crafting

I was down to finish hand sewing the last seam on Elliott's quilt. I watched TV while doing that. Once done, I headed into the sewing room and quilted the one row. I emerged 2 hours and 1 stretching session later. 

Next up is to tack down the outer edge, trim it back and do the binding. The binding is the red so I need to change the thread on the machine before sewing it on. 

I did look at the journal but did not work on it. I was wanting to get the quilting done before I spend some time on it. 

Knitting

I knit about 20 rounds on the socks. I have about 20 rounds left before doing the toe. I am making great progress on it as I am enjoying knitting at night once again. 

Thoughts

    On this date in 2022, it was -22C which was a record low. The next record low was in late February of last year. I hope we don't have a real cold spell this year. 

    I did very well mentally yesterday. I did think of the Spousal Unit but the were happy memories. It is hard to believe he's been gone for 16 months. Though I miss him a lot, the pain isn't as bad as it was. I am doing well adjusting. 

    I thought, once again, what would I take with me if I have to sell and leave this house. It is amazing how little I would take. I know I would clear out the sewing room taking only enough to fill a plastic container, one sewing machine, a couple of dolls, and the Ikea furniture. I know this isn't going to happen for several years but I do think about it on occasion. 

    I am a bit bored at the moment. The house is clean, I'm caught up on all that needs to be done on my morning to-do list and I'm struggling to find jobs to do. I will keep cleaning even if it only takes me 20 minutes to do the jobs. I am doing more and doing it easily now. 

Today

I have physio early this morning and once home I will apply heat to my hip and knee for a while. I will sweep some floors so they remain clean. This afternoon I want to work on the small quilt. I may even cut out the next few items I want to make before starting on my quilt. I will knit tonight in hopes of finishing the foot on the sock. It is a day to stay inside and keep warm. 

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

We Drove In Freezing Rain

 Yesterday's weather was not the nicest. It was cloudy but not too windy. The high got to -3C. Late afternoon we had frozen rain fall and then snow fell during the night. This morning it is -3 and snowing lightly. Today we are to have flurries with a high of -1C. 

Lifestyle

My first job of the day was to do yoga. I did it slowly and just to the point of a good stretch. I am working on keeping the massaged muscles relaxed and stretched out. It is helping at lot. 

I cleaned up the living room area as I was not happy with my little mess on the couch. I have my knitting on it and it looks messy. I spent time sorting and cleaning my knitting bag and put the sock project and the yarn for the next project in it. 

It is much tidier on the couch now. I did tidy up the blankets on the furniture. Once that was done, I swept the floors and stairs. All that is left to do is the bedrooms. 

I went into the city with daughter-in-law. We were out to pick up grandson's soccer cleats he had left at practice last week. Once we did that, we went over the bridge to get some food items and tea. We headed home after that. We noticed traffic into the city was heavy and wondered if there was a hockey game. We talked about the fact we should have been driving in flurries but how it was nice not having to deal with that. About 10 - 15 miles from home, the windshield iced up and we had driven into freezing rain. Two cars were in the ditch and 2 or 3 more went in behind us. Daughter-in-law slowed down, slid a bit but kept control. We drove slowly home with hazard lights flashing like others did on the road. We did see a truck out salting which was great. 

When we drove into my place, the driveway had a coating of ice on it. We walked into the house carefully and daughter-in-law salted the front steps and small walk area. We looked at her car and it was coated with ice. I went inside and she went home. It was hunker down time. Our roads were salted in the evening. It started to snow about 9 pm and snowed lightly all night. 

Sewing/Crafting

I cut the small black squares for the never-ending book and temporarily tacked them on the first page. It looks much better and I can still fold the pages easily. 

I worked on the quilt and got row 3 sewn on, the batting trimmed and the fusible tape put on. I was hand sewing the seam down when I was asked to go into the city. I have about half of the seam done. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got quite a few rounds one the foot of sock #2. I will keep working on it and know it will be done in a few days. 

Thoughts

    The freezing rain was not expected yesterday and the warning was put out after it started. I am grateful that daughter-in-law is a great and careful driver. I am also grateful we did not go into the ditch like others did. 

    I will have to figure out how to clear off my driveway today as I have to go out for physio tomorrow. The salt on the front landing did not melt the ice which is unusual. I may have to do a heavy coating of salt on the driveway after I scrape the snow off it. A tricky job with ice underneath the snow. 

    I am noticing that I am getting more strength, endurance, and flexibility. Yesterday we shopped in a wholesale store and I packed my fair share of the groceries as we did not have a cart. It makes me happy that I can do more than I use to. 

    Elliott entertained himself this morning. He snuck an old mask off the table and carried it around in his mouth. He tried to make the elastic ear pieces stretch so it would fly in the air. He swatted it and chased it all over the dining and living room areas. I have put the mask on the couch for him to discover and play with later on. 

Today

Today I have to do the balance sheet and yoga. I need to figure out how to clean the driveway safely and get it salted. I want to finish hand sewing the quilt backing down and start quilting it if I have time. I will knit tonight. It is a stay at home kind of day. 

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

Sock #1 Finished

 The weather continues to be cold though the sun shone a lot yesterday. The high got to -4.1C. This morning it is -9C and we had a skiff of snow fall during the night. We are to have a mainly cloudy day with lots of snow flurries. The high is to get to -3C. 

Lifestyle

I didn't do yoga yesterday morning but did do some stretching exercises during the day and a bit of yoga at family's last night. I tried on of daughter-in-law's poses which I can do. She tried one of mine and found relief in her sore spot. We probably did yoga for almost 10 minutes on the floor. It was a fun session. 

I made a big pot of soup yesterday. I got 7 meals out of it. I also made 3 meals of pulled pork which included rice and vegetable. It was a lot of work but I have more meals in the freezer. I was done at noon and had the kitchen cleaned up and the dishwasher running. By 4 pm I had all the food in the freezer, dishwasher unloaded, and things ready for today. 

I was out to family's for dinner last night. I picked up grandson from school and we had a nice chat on the way to his place. We had a lovely dinner of spaghetti and meat sauce and I came home with 6 more freezer meals. I was home early as grandson had to be in the city for soccer last night. I did enjoy my time with them. 

Elliott loves to watch TV. He spent time last night watching one of the videos I was looking at. 

He tolerates me putting my knitting in his space but last night he didn't care as what ever was on TV was more interesting. 

Sewing and Crafting

I spent a long time in the sewing room yesterday afternoon. I got row 3 quilted. 

I have started to do some stretches after I sew for 45 minutes. I have 2 I can do sitting on the chair. It really helps keep the muscles from knotting up. I was about half done the quilting when I did the first set and then did the 2nd set when I was done. 

I am now ready to sew row 3 onto the main part. 

I did look at the journal yesterday and I am not sure what to do with the never ending book. It needs something behind the wrapping paper and the characters. Black stock card looks great but I keep asking if the book will be too thick. I will cut the pieces from scraps and see if it works. Thank goodness for the tape I have that allows me to move things around. 

I was in a panic as I couldn't find some pictures I had downloaded. I finally found them and put them into the proper file folder. Once I finish the never ending book, I want to start signature 2. I can go back and finish pages when I get the main parts of the other signatures done. I am focusing on getting the main pages done. The remaining pages will have some fun things done using ideas that are being done on a YouTube channel right now. 

I am also needing to buy a skein of embroidery floss so I can do another counted cross stitch picture. This one is a nativity scene which will go in signature 2. 

Knitting

I did a lot of knitting last night and the first sock is done. 

I told grandson last night about the socks and he is happy to get another pair to keep his feet warm. He loves wool socks in the winter. 

Thoughts

    I figured out why I get cold so easily. My feet sweat and then get cold. That results in me getting cold all over. I need to change my socks mid afternoon. I do need warmer clothes to wear in the winter which is on the list to buy when I go to Sackville. 

    It has been 15 days since I have bought anything other than groceries and pay bills. I am using up food in the pantry and freezer which is good. I have not missed buying fabric or craft items. I have plenty to work with in the house. I do find staying at home a bit boring some days but am out once or twice a week with physio/osteo/massage. Not the same as visiting with family and friends which I need to do at least once a week.

    I enjoyed the sunshine yesterday. I had all the curtains open so the house could be flooded with brightness. I will certainly miss it today as will Elliott. He slept in the warmth of the sun yesterday. 

Today

I need to do yoga this morning and then do some cleaning and a load of laundry. This afternoon I want to work on the quilt and figure out the never ending book. Tonight I hope to knit on sock #2. I may go out to see my friend. We haven't had a good visit for over a week.

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