A Day of Cleaning and Thinking

 Yesterday was cool and sunny with a high of 7.4C. This morning it is clear and -2C. Today is suppose to be mix of sun and clouds with a high of 11C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday was a day of cleaning. I started out with my bedroom which I gave a good cleaning. Then it was a light cleaning in the spare bedroom. The bathroom got a good cleaning also. Then the rest of the upstairs was tidied up and areas dusted and cleaned. I did vacuum all the floors and mopped them. Nothing was really dirty it was dusty. Even the floors weren't overly dirty. It felt good to get the house cleaned up. 

As I was cleaning, I was thinking. Thinking hard about how much more I need to do in here to make it comfortable for me to age in. I am close to having that upstairs. I need to buy a vacuum cleaner that is easy for me to use. The central vacuum cleaner is not easy to get out and put away. When I use it, I fear of stumbling on the hose and falling. I need to continue painting and cleaning the rooms so I have what I need in them. I do not need extras. I have noticed that I am, once again, stock piling canned goods. It is seems I am like a squirrel who stock piles food away for the winter. I live a 5 minute drive from the grocery store. I can have a minimal pantry. 

I let my thoughts move to the basement and I realize that a lot of what I have down there is my fantasy self. I have realized that a while ago though not in the term that Frances Jay uses - A knitter/sewer/scrapbooker/woodworker extraordinaire with enough supplies to fill a craft store when you rarely ever complete a project?" 

I do finish projects but I have enough stuff to keep me busy for a long time. I proved it this month when I bought no fabric, trims, craft supplies, etc and sewed and crafted only from the stash. But, do I want to continue to have this fantasy self? Yes and no. I want to sew but I want to be more selective in what I make. I don't want to "have" to sew up fabric in the stash so I have none of it left. For crafting, I want to limit what I make. Most of it will be gifts using the Cricut. Paper crafts will disappear from my life as I don't seem to want to make cards, tags, etc. 

As I thought through the basement, I realized that I am not what I own. I know that I have been talked into becoming something that I am not. I feel that I have to sew and quilt on a daily basis. Part of it is that I should be doing it, part is that my "stuff" owns me, and part is some people expect me to do it. Having all the stuff is stressful. I feel like I am keeping up an appearance of someone I am not. I am going to dig deeper into these thoughts this winter as I work my way through the basement. I feel a huge purge coming on as I start to think about what I want to do and what I want to let go of. I am going to be more selective so I can enjoy what I am doing. 

Sewing

None done yesterday as I was cleaning and thinking. 

Knitting

I did think about knitting and I am keeping all the yarn I have. I knit a lot at night and do use up the stash over time. The only yarn I usually buy is sock yarn as I can knit up to 10 pairs in a year. Family wears the socks I make and I am starting to wear them also. I have enough sock yarn for 8 pairs of socks. 

I did knit on the Wild Socks last night. I got 20 rounds knit. What is amazing is that the two socks match. It wasn't planned, it was luck. 

I was shocked that this happened. It isn't perfect but when you have one ball of yarn, I didn't expect the matching to be so close. 

I hope to have these done in the next 10 days and will be starting to knit the yarn I bought in Denmark and Sweden. 

Today

I am out with daughter-in-law to go to Ikea and other stores. Once home, I will have to put out recycling for pick up tomorrow. I hope to knit tonight as I am looking forward to watching the Wild Socks evolve. 

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