Exploring

 Good Morning from Halmstad. Yesterday was another beautiful day with lots of sunshine and a high of 22C. This morning there seems to have been a shower and it is 16C. Today is to be a mix of sun and clouds and 20C. 

We walked less yesterday (5.6 km) as we took the bus to another section of the city. This area is full of parks and trails and is beautiful. We got off at this grocery store and walked 3 blocks to where grandson is staying.

We walked back to the grocery store and bought groceries for a few evening meals. This grocery store is cheaper and has more stock than the one near to us. We caught the bus back to where we are staying. 

We finished up the laundry and sat outside on the back deck while we had lunch. The dryer takes forever to dry the clothes but we eventually got it done. 

We walked over to watch grandson and the other players practice. We took the bike/walking path to get there and it was a nice walk. It was very interesting as what grandson does at home training is the same as the professionals do here. 

They were split into age groups with a professional coaches giving them things to do. I watched the youngest and the coach was great. He had them do a drill to stop them from doing what we call "kick and run". They could only touch the ball twice and then move it to someone else. It is interesting to see how they interact with each other and with the coach. 

I did watch grandson's age group do their drill across the field and it was skill oriented. I felt grandson held his own. His age group also scrimmaged. The coach talked to them about what they needed to do while playing. He wanted to see get the ball, look around, move, and pass the ball to another player. They were doing what grandson does all the time at practice. 

Grandson and the other members went to a game in the morning. Grandson took his gear and was able to play in the 2nd half. He did okay playing on a team he didn't know. Being prepared payed dividends for him. 

There has been some mix up in the schedule so everyone missed a soccer game. That was too bad as the Halmstad coach would have given them an analysis of the game as it was being played. 

We had a late dinner and sat about doing nothing until bedtime. I knit on the socks and am doing the gusset. 

The house is quite warm with the upstairs bedrooms being hot. We keep the patio doors open when home to help cool it off. People are starting to put in heat pumps so they can cool off their upstairs in the summer. This house doesn't have one so it can get uncomfortable. 

Elliott is living and not starving according to son. 

The tomatoes are ripening also and son is going to enjoy them tonight. 

Today

I am waiting for my pills to work and then have breakfast. I am not sure if I will be going to watch grandson practice though I would like to. I have a blister on one toe but I am not letting it bother me. We are going to do downtown this afternoon and have an early night. 

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

Our Stop At Copenhagen

 Good Morning from Halmstad Sweden. It is 16C and it looks like we will be having another nice day. The high is to get to 21C. 

Our flight to over was great. We slept some from Halifax to Iceland. Iceland was cool at 4C at 4:30 am. We got off the plane onto a bus to go to the airport terminal. We went to through passport control and up to the lounge for more food. We hopped on the bus to the plane and were on our way to Copenhagen. We did sleep most of that flight as we were really tired.

We landed in Copenhagen airport, got a train pass for 2 days and headed out to Copenhagen Central. We got off the train in what I think is the old part of the city and walked to the hotel. After a short break, we headed out and walked around to do a bit of exploring. We found the Lego store and went in to look around. Custom minis were made by daughter-in-law and grandson. We went back to the hotel for another break and then went for dinner at a burger place. It was delicious and I ate mine with a knife and fork as seems to the be the custom. We walked a total of 7.6 km which is 3 times what I walked at home. 

The next morning, I was the last to wake up. I was really tired but I knew I needed to get going. After a wonderful complimentary breakfast (the breakfast room was the size of a huge restaurant) we headed out to explore. First stop was the Lego store for more minis. Then it was to get yarn for me. 

I now have 3 balls of grey and 1 of white. It was off to explore the city. We looked at the rows of paintings in one area. My favourite was this one. 

There is a mix of old and new buildings in the city. This old building houses a circus. 

Beside it was a new building. 

Lunch was at McDonald's as it's a family tradition. After lunch we wandered around going through this square. 

There was a statue of Hans Christian Anderson as he lived in Copenhagen from the age of 10. He wrote many fairytales which includes The Little Mermaid. I have read many of his fairy tales while growing up. No picture as it was full of people taking pictures of others up on the statue.

Even the manhole covers are fancy. 

We wandered through the streets off the square and were in and out of many small shops including a books store. We really enjoyed our time as tourists and bought a few things. We had dinner out at a food court next to an amusement park. 

Another food experience which was expensive as it is beside the amusement park. I walked 9.6 km with family walking more than that. 

I did not sleep as well on Sunday night as I had a lot of pain. About 2 am, I finally got my SI joint to seat itself with a good crack. 

Yesterday was a travel day. We got our train tickets at the airport and got on the train. We chose first class in the middle of the train which was a bad idea. We will choose first class at the front or back of the train. We enjoyed looking at the scenery as it whizzed by. 

We arrived in Halmstad mid afternoon and walked to the AirBNB. It is a lovely home. After getting settled we walked to a grocery store for food, came home and made supper. We were in bed in good time as we were tired. We walked 6.9 km yesterday. 

Today

We have laundry to finish, get some more groceries, figure out bus tickets, and head out to watch grandson practice soccer. I am sure we will be wandering around and taking pictures today. 

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

Departure Day

 Yesterday was a sunny day with a high of 23C (humidex 28C). This morning it is cloudy and 19C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun, clouds, and showers with a high of 24C (humidex 28C).

Lifestyle

I did yoga yesterday and I was stiff. I did the full set of exercises which felt good to do. I need to alternate yoga and walking once I get home so that I keep limber. 

Elliott decided to do one stretch while I was doing yoga. 

I had a busy morning getting all to do list done. I succeeded in getting it all done. I even did one extra job -- clean the heat pump head. The filters were dusty and needed a good cleaning. 

Daughter-in-law was over after lunch and we went through everything for the trip. A couple of items were eliminated and a couple of items moved from one bag to another. She is so good at packing and approved of what I had gotten done. I was over to their place to get the plug in part of my computer fixed. I will be ready to leave mid afternoon. 

I walked over to my neighbours late afternoon and we ended up in the covered patio with a glass of wine. We chatted for an hour or so and then I came home. My evening was quiet which was nice. 

Sewing

I finished watching the Great British Sewing Bee yesterday. I haven't commented much on it as I was very disappointed with the contestants when the show started. They didn't seem to know much about fitting clothing and some items were not finished. I know part of it was how little time they had to sew their items in. 

As time went on, I chose my winner but that person was eliminated in episode 8. Her made to measure wasn't spectacular. She wasn't a bling girl. One person who made it to the semi finals wasn't the best sewer technically and she had fitting issues. But her ideas were great. The other three were pretty equal and had grown skill wise immensely. The final was interesting and the winner deserved the trophy. His comment "We had 11 weeks to work on this" showed he had done his homework. I would have loved to see the youngest person win. Maybe another time. 

The winner had grown immensely during the series. His ideas were great and he loved bling. He was a drag queen and it showed in several of his made to measures. He knew how to pair fabrics and colour. He had a good sense of humour. His final made to measure was spectacular combining masculine and feminine elements in his outfit. 

The other two contestants also showed great growth as time went on. Both did amazing outfits but struggled at times. The one from Scotland did homage to her grandfather by making a kilt in his tartan for her final outfit. If her vest had been a bit different, she would have been hard to beat. The youngest contestant made an outfit worthy of the red carpet but it wasn't completely finished. The bodice was wonderful but the skirt needed more panels added to it. 

When I first watched, I wondered how many of the contestants were going to try to brand themselves. I am not sure how many of them will be successful and if the finalists will do it. I will do some snooping when I get home to see what is happening. 

Knitting

The leg of the first sock is done and ready for me to start the heel flap when we get to Copenhagen or Sweden. It is packed and I forgot to take a picture of it. 

Daughter-in-law fell in love with the yarn and I am gifting the socks to her. I would love to find more yarn in that wool combination to knit all socks in. 

Thoughts

    Where daughter lives got an early Christmas present. It rained which was wonderful for them. The evacuation alert was lifted so the volunteer fire people can get some well deserved sleep. Here is hoping they get the fire under control soon. Everyone has been working hard for the past while and residents have been under a lot of stress. 

    Jasper has not fared as well. The west end of the town had a lot of damage done to it. They did get some rain which will help. Everyone got out safely which is the most important part. Golden BC has also lost some buildings to the fire in their area. It has been another tough summer for the people in BC and Alberta. 

    I have done a seat check and there still only 8 of us in Business Class. That means no one is behind us at this hour (9 am). Hopefully no one will bid on those seats today as it would be nice not to worry about putting the seats back to sleep. 

Today

My list is a bunch of small things to do. I am going to get ready and do it. I want to be ready by 3 pm so I have a bit of time to relax before I am picked up by family. I hope to sleep on the plane and then get my clock oriented to Swedish time. 

I won't be blogging for a couple of days. 

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

I Needed A Nap

 Yesterday was another lovely sunny day with a high of 25.8C (humidex 31C). This morning it is clear and 14C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun, clouds, and showers with a high of 24C (humidex 29C). 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I had physiotherapy and I am stiff. The bothersome muscles are tight but do relax when worked on. I did the gym exercises and had the heat and current put on those areas. It is yoga for the next 2 days to help keep things relaxed. 

I had one stop to make before heading home and once home, I did what was on my list. I hauled items from the fridge freezer to the basement freezer and emptied out the fridge of what would spoil while I am gone. I need to wipe it out today. 

As I hadn't slept well adjusting to the new c-pap machine and mask, I had a nap. I was becoming non functional after lunch. It got me through the rest of the day and I slept well last night. The travel c-pap is amazing; quiet and efficient. 

I hauled all the garbage out to the garage and put it into their respective bins. The garbage can had diatomaceous power put in to kill maggots that could grow in there. The recycling bags and the compost bin were taken to the curb for pick up today. While outside, I weeded around the front and side of the house. I am glad that I did it as those weeds would have been huge in 2 weeks time. 

I checked the garden while outside and found beans to eat. 

They were delicious eaten raw. A treat for sure. The garden is doing well and I am sure someone will have fresh beans and peas to snack on while I am gone. 

Sewing

Nothing done yesterday except print out the skirt pattern pieces for the Strawberry Shortcake outfit. I did update the To-Do list for August. It will keep me busy after I arrive home. 

A video was put out showing all the items put into the Christmas in July contest. Every item is amazing. Not one quilt was made though there was some quilting done. Fussy cutting galore in every single entry. They will be judged in the next couple of days and I don't envy the judge. I do have one I think should win. 

Knitting

I did knit on the socks last night and am almost done the leg of the first sock. 

I may get the leg done tonight and then it will be packed away so I can knit on them in Sweden. 

Thoughts

    The fire near daughter's community is still 7.5 km from the village boundaries. It is amazing to see how the community has come together and made lunches for the crews working on the fire. What started out as a one truck delivery is now 3-4 trucks delivering the food. The fire has not grown much due to cooler weather which allows the crews to contain it more. What should have never gotten out of control is getting under control. A lot of rangeland has been damaged which is sad. Some will never rejuvenate as it was bunch grass. Once burnt, it dies as the roots are just under the soil. 

    There is a big fire near Jasper, Alberta. One of the hotels (called a lodge) burnt to the ground and there is other undisclosed buildings gone. The town has been evacuated to two cities in BC. I am sad as I remember my 3 days in Jasper in 2008. I loved my time there exploring the town and enjoying how friendly everyone was. I do hope that they can save most of the town. 

    The list of things to do is getting smaller but I still have lots to do. I am not panicking yet but I do feel anxious and a bit stressed. I am glad that I am a list person as it does keep me on track each day. 

    The physiotherapist just got back from Iceland and she told me to have my passport in hand while in the airport. She said the meal going to Iceland was great but she didn't like the choices on the way home. I still cannot find what is being offered so it will be wait and see. She also stated that fast track through security was not open when they went through so be prepared for that. 

Today

The list today is not long but it will take me time to do. I will start off with yoga. Then I need to do laundry and sweep and mop floors. The fridge needs to be wiped clean. I also want to pack a few more items. I may have to go to family's to pick up some items I need. Tonight I will knit with hopes of staying up late. This is to prepare me to sleep on the plane tomorrow night. 

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

Count Down Has Begun

 Yesterday was cloudy with a warm shower in the afternoon and a high of 24.8C (humidex 29C). This morning it is foggy and 16C. Today is suppose to be mix of sun and cloud with a high of 28C (humidex 32C). 

Lifestyle

I did not walk this morning as I have physio early. It would have been fun walking in the fog especially around the pond. 

I was busy yesterday. My trip to New Minas was fast moving. I picked up the mini C-Pap machine first and then got Elliott a small bag of cat food for just in case. Then I went to the post office with the box to return to Amazon. At that point, I decided to slow down. My stop at the quilt shop was relaxing. 

I did some housework after lunch as I am trying to keep the house tidy -- the table and kitchen was tidied up with lots of paper work put away. I am getting rid of the old lists and only working off the new one. I also went grocery shopping and by the time I got home, I was done for the day. It was trying to rain and the humidity was making it feel like a sauna outside.

I set up the mini C-pap machine to use for the next few days as I need to get use to it and the new mask. I did sleep more than expected as I needed to adjust to new equipment. It works great and the mask is comfortable after I did a minor adjustment to two straps. I am tired today but I don't think I need to nap. Rest, yes. 

Sewing

I had a great stop at the quilt shop. I picked up my buttons first and then snooped around the shop. I was looking at fabrics for the Colonial Williamsburg outfit. I found one combination in blue and another in brown. I will look again once I get home. 

The shop has changed a lot. The owner use to put away the Christmas fabrics but she had an extensive collection out. Fall and Halloween were out also. I think people have been sewing for fall and winter earlier this year. It was fun looking at what she has in the store. I haven't done that for quite a while. 

Knitting

I did knit on the socks last night and have 40 rounds knit. They are growing every night. 

The colours are screaming work sock look hence why the ribbing is being done. 

Thoughts

    When I went to get groceries I checked the mail. This means I have to drive down the other street in the subdivision to turn around. At the end of the street I spotted a deer munching away at the hosta plants next to the front of a house. It was calm and relaxed even if the people were inside with the front door open. It didn't even flinch an ear when I drove by. 

    The fire near daughter's community didn't seem to be as aggressive as it has been. The highway was opened to all traffic and the post from the fire chief was a bit more relaxed. Hopefully things will improve for everyone. It has been very stressful for everyone. 

    I am starting to get excited and a bit stressed as we are getting close to going. I have taken a picture of the information to get through Passport Control in Iceland. I read we will be going through the Business Class line which is suppose to be quicker. It helps me to know what I need to do when we get there. I'll tackle Copenhagen airport later today. I am sure it will be more complex to get out of to find the shuttle to the hotel. Between the three of us, we will manage. 

    We can preorder our meals on the flights but they still don't say what they are. I have a feeling we will be talking about that tomorrow. It would be nice to preorder if we knew what was available. Maybe we will know tomorrow when we do a search. 

Today

I have physio early and then I have to clean the fridge and take food to the downstairs freezer. I have to do some more housework and launder some blankets on my bed. I want to sweep the floor in the sewing room as I doubt if I will be sewing until I get back. All garbage needs to go out and recycling and compost to the curb for pick up tomorrow. I hope to knit tonight. 

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

To-Do List Is Completed

 Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 24.1C (humidex 25C) The humidity level was at 50% which means we are drying out. This morning it is cloudy and 14C. Today we are to have showers with a high of 22C (humidex 26C).

Lifestyle

I was out this morning to walk and went 2.4 km in 30.5 minutes. It was nice and cool to walk. I did walk further today as I am wanting to get 30 minutes in between now and when we leave for Sweden. 

Yesterday I spent part of the morning outside moving flower pots. I was going to start and finish them today but strength prevailed and I got the job done. I used my wagon to move pots from the front to the shed. 

I also had a visitor in the back yard. Daughter called him Prince Charming. 

I also sprayed the plants with deer/bunny repellant that I had bought. It smells vile and my pants reeked from the overspray. I doubt if the cat will visit the garden either. I also laid down the deck chairs on the rug and just have the pond to shut down before I go. The outside jobs are basically done. 

Inside, I swept floors and tidied up the bathroom and kitchen. Things are staying neat and tidy and I will be able to mop the floors on Friday morning. 

I had osteopathy late yesterday afternoon. My adductor and piriformis is a bit tight but they weren't knotted up. The therapist was able to loosen them up and physio will finish it on Wednesday. I can walk easily enough but those muscles are protecting my hip or knee joint for some unknown reason. 

I stopped at family's on the way home to pick up the shoulder pack and there were two for me to choose from. The one we thought would work the best was the worst. The other one was one I hadn't looked at but it was a perfect fit. I can now start putting my stuff into it. We did a few other things and reviewed our flights. There are empty seats in the business part of the plane. We may not have people behind us when we fly which would be nice. But who knows as people can upgrade on Thursday. We tried to find what food would be served but couldn't find it. 

Sewing

I had a bit of time before lunch to hand sew the binding on the pillow. I finished it after I had lunch. It was great to have it done and put away. 

Though the flap worked after stitching it in place, I will not do this method again. Instead I will add the flap piece to the zipper opening like I did on the 2nd pillow. 

Once I had cleaned up, I decided to start the French hood for the Renaissance outfit. I followed the instructions as it was the first time I had made it. The heavy interfacing I used was cranky about adhering so I would cut the interfacing the same size as the outer part, stitch it in place and trim it back to the stitching. Overall, the hood turned out okay for the first try.

The trim I used was left over from another doll's outfit from years ago. I found a package of the jonquil hot fix rhinestones and added them to what I had. I was finished and cleaned up before I had to leave for my appointment. 

If I decide to make another Renaissance outfit using another pattern, I will make this hood again. It fits the doll well and it completes the outfit. 

My list of items to sew before I leave is completed. If I have time to do anything, I may cut out the Strawberry Shortcake outfit and work on it. It remains to be seen how much I will get done on it. 

Knitting

I knit on the socks last night and am making progress on them.

 The colours in the yarn are saying a simple pattern so I am doing a k2, p2 ribbing on these socks. 

I love this yarn a lot as it is soft and squishy to knit. 

Thoughts

    The area where daughter lives is still under an evacuation alert. The fire department and wildfire services are working hard to keep the fire from crossing the highway so it won't spread down to the community. They are doing everything they can to protect the ranch we managed for many years. North of them (2.5 hour drive) has a fire that crept into the town. Only a bit of equipment was lost at one store. Very scary for everyone. Not far from there, a tornado was suppose to have formed. North of the area (2 hour drive) it rained hard for a while which is good. Everyone wishes it would rain that hard where there are lots of fires. 

    I am working through a list of items that needs to be done. It seems to grow by the minute as I keep thinking of things I need to do. Some are reminders of what I need to do before I leave (lock all windows, close curtains, set a/c on) and others are larger items (laundry, floors mopped, Elliott's food portions sorted out). I will be busy all of Friday doing the last things and getting myself tired so I can sleep on the plane. 

Today

I have to leave for New Minas shortly to get the mini C-Pap machine and buy buttons for the dress I knit. I may do some things on my list so I am ahead. I may cut out the next dress if I have time. I will knit tonight. 

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

As Simple As Needing A New Hose Washer

 Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 25.5C (humidex 30C). This morning it is  clear and 15C. Today is to be a repeat of yesterday - sunny with a high of 25C (humidex 27C). 

Lifestyle

I did not walk this morning as I was up during the night with Elliott. He needed his nails clipped as he is getting them caught in the couch. I was wide awake by the time that job was done and took a while to get back to sleep. 

Yesterday morning, I did the balance sheet. I am doing ok budget wise considering I am going on a trip. Once it was done, I swept all the floors and folded laundry. Just before lunch, I was over to family's to get the last app on my phone and computer prior to leaving. 

Daughter-in-law came over after I got home to help me attach the water timer to the outside tap. The thing leaked and we were baffled as to why. We tried a second hose but to no avail as it was leaking at the tap. She left only to return a few minutes later. Round two was to put the timer between two hoses. It still leaked. We took it apart to see why and I suggested she turn the washer over. It still leaked so I brought out the washer I had. Tried two in the opening but too thick. We then put a rubber washer in (package was bought in the 1990's?) and no more leaks. We laughed and yelled "Thank you Dad" to the sky. That package of washers was a life saver. We did get wet playing with the water timer and had several good laughs. 

I have started a list of things I need to do this week. It is getting quite long and I need to focus on doing it. I will be pacing myself to get it all done. Some items are quick and easy, others will be a struggle like moving pots of flowers to the shed so they can be watered by the sprinkler while I am gone. 

Sewing

I sat and hand sewed the binding down on the cushion. I have 1 1/2 sides left to do. It should have been done yesterday but the timer took up quite a bit of time. 

I also got out the fabric and trim to make the head piece. I need to dig out the interfacings and elastic to make it. It should take about an hour to make is all goes well. 

Knitting

I was going to wind yarn for the work socks but decided not to make them next. I have to do a tension swatch first which takes time. I also have to wind the yarn and rewind the main colour as I want to make both socks at the same time. 

I did find a ball of beautiful yarn that has cashmere blended into it. I am making socks from it. 

I have sorted out what I need to take with me for knitting. My little bag has only the items I need. The yarn, the knitting needles, book and pen will all fit in the little bag perfectly. I can put it into the suitcase. 

Thoughts

    I still haven't figured out Elliott's eating habits. He hates the feeder and only eats when he is really hungry. I think he knows I am leaving him alone for days and is sulking about that also. He will appreciate me more when I come home. And he will eat when he is hungry. He aways does. 

    The fire where daughter lives turned aggressive yesterday afternoon. The highway is closed as the fire is near the road in areas. It grew from 4,000 hectares to 12,000 hectares which is scary. The community is still on evacuation alerts at this time. People are (rightfully) angry as this fire should never have got this big. The top of the command chain made a serious error when they chose to ignore the fire during the hottest and driest days of summer. Thinking it is rural has led to another catastrophe for the people in the area. 

    I opened the windows while I was up dealing with Elliott. It is so nice having cool fresh air moving through the house. I slept well as the bedroom was cool and refreshing. Most mornings will be cool this week which is a nice change for us. 

Today

I am going to start moving flowers to the shed so they can be watered by the sprinkler. I also am going try and get the deck ready for while I am gone. I have to start cleaning the house more. I want to sew on the cushion a bit also. I have to be out to osteopathy at 3:45 pm and then to family's after I get home to do one of the items on the list. I may get to knit tonight. I will be in bed early as I am tired from my time up during the night. 

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

Getting Jobs On The To-Do List Done

 Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 27.4C (humidex 32C). This morning it is cloudy and 17C. Today is suppose to be mix of sunshine, clouds, and showers with a high of 27C (humidex 32C)

Lifestyle

I was out to walk this morning. I walked 2.4km in 28 minutes. Same route but more steps, less distance. Go figure that one out. 

I did get the laundry done but not folded. I was out the door at noon to family's and we were all so tired that we were grumpy. We went to the soccer game which was okay. Grandson's team won by a landslide. He played well in the second half as he was benched for the first half. 

The field the games were at were in a different community. The pitch was the furthest from the bathrooms. Round trip was .82 km so you didn't put a visit off for too long. We had some giggles about it. 

Once home, I watered the garden. I have the sprinkler on it now and need to get a timer so it runs automatically each day while I am gone. I also fertilized the vegetables and will spray them tomorrow. The deer haven't been back which is nice. I am still worried they will arrive for another pruning session. 

Sewing

I quilted Column C of the cat quilt and hand sewed the back seam down. They are trimmed and put away. 

My next job was to start pressing the fabrics tossed on the chair and putting them away. By the time I was ready to go to eat lunch, all the fabrics were pressed and put away. That made me feel better. The to do list consists of hand sewing the binding onto the cushion cover and making a head dress for the Renaissance outfit. Doable I think. 

Knitting

I knit the second sleeve on the doll's dress. I now need to buy buttons for it on Tuesday. 

There is enough yellow yarn left to make something else later on. Not sure what it will be as I have lots of patterns to choose from. 

I need to wind the yarn for socks and start on a pair to take with me. 

Today

The goal is to do the balance sheet, fold laundry and sweep floors. I want to hand sew the binding onto the cushion and wind yarn so I can start the socks I'm taking on the trip. I will probably have to go over to family's sometime today to work on the last app. 

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

An Almost Ripe Tomato

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 25.8C (humidex 30C). This morning it is sunny and 14C. Today is to be sunny with a high of 28C (humidex 33C).

Lifestyle

I was out for my walk this morning. I did 2.5 km in 27 minutes. It was a lovely cool walk. I walked along one side of the pond and saw some ducks swimming in it. 

I heard a lot of noises and figured out it was frogs croaking at the edge of the pond. I was tired when I got home but I did what I set out to do --- 2.5 km. Hoping to get to 3 km by Friday. 

Yesterday morning I cleaned up the littler box area in the spare bedroom. The floor got mopped really good as did part of the kitchen floor. I will need to tidy up and mop floors this week so the house is clean when we leave Friday afternoon. 

I had to meet daughter-in-law at the car charging station as I was going to take her to get wine from their club membership. We played with an app on my phone and finally got it figured out. One app figured out, one app to go. The car was charged so I went up to get the wine so she could go home to do some work. I had a delightful trip. On my way home I picked up my prescriptions. One more item off my to do list. 

I took the wine to family's and we tried the last app with no success. Son said we needed more cash so off we went to the bank to buy money for Denmark and Sweden. I didn't buy mine as the bank was working at 50% capacity due to servers being down. But I did have a great visit with my financial advisor. I learned a couple of tricks while overseas from here. Daughter-in-law ordered money for us and I ordered some more online. I can use more cash over seas if necessary. 

I watered the garden last night and I have one grape tomato that is almost ripe. 

That one is mine!!

I set up Elliott's new feeder and he is mad at me about it. I have moved it so it can be plugged in. I have to go back in and fix how much food he gets each feeding as they don't say how much each feeding weighs. I'll do that today. I will ignore the mad cat as he will eat when he gets hungry.

Sewing

Column C is ready to quilt the sashing and then do the hand sewing. 

As soon as that column is done, I will be putting the quilt away until I get back. I have 2 items left on my list and some fabric to press. Then I will be ready to start again when I get home. 

Knitting

I did not want to knit last night as I was tired but I got the first sleeve done. 

I need to buy buttons for it on Tuesday. I am taking socks to knit while in Sweden. We will find a place in one of the check in bags. I need something to work on in the evenings. 

Thoughts

    I was tired yesterday but forced myself not to nap. I did a few things to keep moving in the evening when I wanted to sleep. I was in bed early and feel much better today. 

    Daughter let me know that Ashcroft was put on evacuation alert at noon their time yesterday. She was packing up items to take with her. When I went to bed last night they were still on alert. They did take a drive to see what it was like and the ranch we managed is under threat of fire. Here is hoping that it doesn't burn to the ground as we loved that ranch. It shaped us into the people we are today. 

    I am still working on learning Swedish. I feel like a klux learning it but I am being persistent. New words are eluding me but I do work on it so I will know enough to get by. I need to review lesson 1 so I don't loose the important words. 

Today

The first load of laundry is in the dryer and second load is in the washer. That job will be done early this morning. I am going to finish up column C of the cat quilt and get it put away. I will be going over to family's around noon to get the last app installed and then go watch grandson's team play soccer. I hope to finish the doll's dress tonight. A busy day for me. 

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

Trying to Get Quilts Ready to Put Away

 Yesterday was cloudy and cooler with a high of 26C (humidex 35C). This morning it is cloudy and 18C. Today is suppose to be mainly sunny with a high of 26C (humidex 31C). 

Lifestyle

I did not walk this morning as I had a rough night. I was up many times during the night with stomach issues. I ate too many cherries. My fault so I suffered the consequences. I also opened the windows and the house heated up. I turned on the a/c at 4:30 am to cool the house down.  

Yesterday morning started off with cleaning the downstairs bathroom. It was dirty as it had been neglected. But it wasn't as dirty as I had thought it would be. 

I also spent some time sweeping the sewing room. It took me quite a while to do because I did some clean up along the way. There was a lot of thread on the floor but I did find some pins and scraps of fabric. Though not perfectly clean, the room is tidy enough for now. I will do another deep cleaning on it in August/September. 

I watered the garden late last night and everything is looking healthy. I will need to fertilize the boxes before I leave. I noticed that there are peas and beans growing. 

Sewing

I had quite a bit of time to sew yesterday. While sweeping the sewing room, I decided to cut out block 9 of the Scandinavian Winter quilt. Once I had all the pieces cut out, I put the small scraps into the garbage and the larger ones into the bin to go to the quilting group. I did keep some of the large pieces for other projects. Once cut out, I did sew the blocks up to make sure I had enough of each. I was worried about the light coloured small squares and the purple snowflake fabrics

Once this was done, I swept around the cutting table and ironing board. 

After lunch, I sewed the block together very carefully so all the points were correct. 

I am happy with all the blocks in this quilt. It took me a long time to make each one as I took my time when cutting and sewing. 

The blocks are picked up off the floor and put away. I will get the sashing when I come home. I am hoping to get a pale blue/grey solid for it. Once done, it will go to the long arm quilter. Hopefully mid to late September. 

I had cut and glued the ends of the threads on the blocks for Column B on the cat quilt before lunch. I decided to sew them together as I want to get it off the floor before I leave. I had a strip of the top sashing cut and laid it between the columns. 

Column A and B have had the back sashings hand sewn down and the blocks for Column C are cut and the ends of the threads are glued to keep them secure. 

I am not sure how far I will go on this quilt before I leave. I may put it away once the three columns are sewn. At this point, I have learned a lot about quilt as you go with sashings. Watching a lot of videos on quilting has paid off. 

At this point I am not certain how much sewing I will be doing. I have fabrics to press for future projects. I need to clean up a bit more in the sewing room so it is tidy when I leave. I can do some pattern drafting for the dolls. I found a bodice pattern I had done a few years ago and would like to explore it further. 

Knitting

I finished the body of the doll's dress last night. 

It looks skinny but it is knit to gauge. I have picked up the stitches and started to knit one sleeve. This dress should be done in the next couple of days. 

Thoughts

    The humidity has decreased considerably and it isn't too bad to be out in for longer periods of time. I am looking forward to the nights being cooler so the windows can be opened. 

    Daughter sent me a picture of what it looked like at their house yesterday morning. 

The two fires south of them has exploded and merged yesterday. A lot of people have been evacuated. There is minimal fire fighting going on as it is deemed "rural". People are being evacuated about 5 km from the Ashcroft and many people in Ashcroft have packed up ready to go at a moment's notice. The weather has been hot and dry for well over a week and they won't see a break until Wednesday. 

Today

I am tired today but will keep moving. I need to do a bit of cleaning, get my prescriptions and help daughter-in-law out. I hope to sew on the cat quilt and knit tonight. I'll be in bed early as I am tired. 

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

A Doll's Skirt Makes An Outfit

 Though yesterday started out cloudy, the sun did shine. The high got to 27.9C (humidex 38). This morning it is cloudy (rain fell before 6 am) and 22C (humidex 31C). Today we are to have showers (heavy at times) and a high of 27 (humidex 35C). The heat warning has been lifted. 

Lifestyle

I chose not to time my walk today but to get the mail. I have to walk up a hill which I haven't done yet. I walked 1.2 km and enjoyed it very much. The wind was cool which was nice. 

Yesterday I was busy laundering bedding and a load of white clothes. I got the bed made before dinner which is normal. Garbage was taken out to the curb and I did all of the recycling. I ended my spree by wiping the bathroom and sweeping all the floors. I finished just before noon. 

I did water the flowers on the deck in the morning and the flowers at the shed and the vegetables in the evening. Everything is growing like crazy. There will be enough tomatoes to feed an army.

The sweet banana peppers are producing. I found 3 or 4 good size ones and a few small ones on the plants. They were pruned by the deer so I am surprised at how much they have recovered in the past few days. 

The cucumbers are blooming and I can see tiny cucumbers forming. I am excited that things are really producing now. I am sure vegetables will be ready when I am gone so I will have to find someone to eat what son can't. 

Elliott was not feeling well during this heat wave. 

The house is air conditioned so he wasn't hot. He slept a lot and didn't want to be handled. He ate well and kept himself groomed. No accidents at all. Yesterday, he was alert and happy. He sat with me, wanted cuddles, begged for food, and called me when he jumped on the bed after dinner. I am hoping what he had is done. It was worrisome having him feeling off. 

Sewing

I turned Block 8 around and am happier with it. It was annoying me the way it was. 

At least 2 of the moose have their feet on the ground. 

I also finished up Column A of the cat quilt. I have to hand sew the back seam in place which I will do today. 

I spent most of my sewing time making a skirt for the sweater set I knit. Setting the pleats took quite a bit of time. So worth it in the end. Nellie got to model it as she had been wearing the Laura Ingall Wilder outfit for over 2 years. 

She spent a lot of time admiring herself in the mirror.

There is enough fabric left to make a dress if I want to. 

Knitting

I worked on the dress last night and got quite a bit done. 

There are 2 pages (about 12 rows) left to knit and then I can start on the sleeves. The colour is washed out in this picture. 

Thoughts

    It was great to see the heat wave is dissipating . It has been very taxing on everyone. Though we have had rain, it was warm rains which didn't help cool the air. There was very little wind which didn't help also. The wind is blowing good this morning and it will help move the humidity. It will take a couple of days for it all to leave. It will be nice to have cooler nights. 

    I have been worrying about the fires close to Ashcroft. They are having highs of 40C for quite a while now. There is a fire south of them which is out of control. Two or 3 fires were put out on the highway to Kamloops. I hope things cool off and they get rain soon. They don't need to live in fear of fires every summer as they have for the past 7 years. 

    I spent quite a bit of time reviewing the first 4 lessons on Duolingo and I am getting better at remembering more of the words. If I keep reviewing those lessons at least I will be able to greet people and ask for some food. I will continue on with another lesson and keep on reviewing. 

Today

I am going to clean the downstairs bathroom this morning. If I have time, I will sweep the sewing room. This afternoon, I want to prep the next 3 blocks on the cat quilt and make the last block for the Scandinavian Winter quilt. I can then put those blocks away. Tonight I will knit on the dress. It is a stay at home day for me unless I need to go to family's. 

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