A Trip To The City

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy with about 15 minutes of sunshine. The high got to 8C. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday's physio session went well. I am aligned and have shown good progress. My area of difficulty is turning my hip outwards which was worked on. I said ouch a few times. When I did the exercise in the gym, I noticed that I am stronger and could push myself more. I ended the session with the TENS machine and heat.

Once done physio, daughter-in-law and I went to the city to shop for the dinner at the community hall this Saturday. We did 3 stores for it and then treated ourselves to lunch of hotdogs at Costco (yummy) and then over to Canadian Tire to look at the Christmas items. We were home by 1 pm and unloaded items at the hall before I came home. 

I unloaded my few items and put the garbage out before settling down with heat on my hip. I had a short nap which is not the right thing to do. I am not sleeping well at night. 

Daughter-in-law was over to help me set up an order for Chef's Plate. The meals will be delivered on Dec. 3. We are trying it out as we got a good deal on it. I may keep ordering it if I can find coupons as it will give me what I need for cooking and I can eat a variety of foods. Daughter-in-law and I will be sharing the recipes for future use. 

Sewing

None done yesterday. I did think about the binders I have and will be getting rid of most of them. I also decided that my next step will be to tidy up the area I am sorting in. It is getting too messy and it is becoming hard to keep track of what is keep, donate, and trash. 

Knitting

I did knit on the socks last night and have 3 rows done on the heel flap. 

I am using the purple socks for length in all parts of the sock. Once this one is done, I will have a pattern for future socks using the rest of the yarn I bought. 

Thoughts

    I was pleased that I can go from physio to walking 2 km on cement floors on the same day. There is improvement all around with strength being one. My gait is much better which helps and I know not to stand around a lot which compresses everything and causes discomfort. 

    The Christmas decorations at Canadian Tire were really nice. We wandered and admired the different displays. The big hype about the Grinch was disappointing as there were very few items for sale. We also looked at the artificial trees and one caught my eye. It was 7 ft tall, looked real and had 3500 lights on it. Cost was almost $600.00. There was a smaller tree I also liked but it didn't have a lot of lights on it. It was fun to look at them but I am not buying one. 

    We looked at a Dyson vacuum at Costco. I can order it online and have it delivered unless I can get to the store before the sale is over. The one we looked at is probably the one I should get as it is rated for the size of house I have. 

Today

I need to pay some bills and then paint the window in my room. I want to do some tidying up in the family room. If I have time, I need to pack a box to ship to daughter. Tonight I will knit on the socks. My goal is not to nap today. 

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

Bedroom Walls Done And I Am Tired

 Yesterday was damp and warm with a high of 9C. This morning it is cloudy and 7C. Today is suppose to be damp and cloudy with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

I finished painting my bedroom walls. It was a big room to do and I can say I was happy when it was done. I cleaned up and put everything away but the supplies to paint the window tomorrow. 

I had lunch and fell asleep on the couch. I woke to the phone ringing. I think I had slept for almost an hour at that point. Once I woke up, I headed to the basement. It was time to do something where I could sit and stand but not over do it. 

I decided to clean up the small table in the sewing room. I had thought I would use a table to do course work like Design or Pattern Academy. I did when I first took the courses but that area had become a dumping ground. I started off taking binders into the family room to go through. Design and Pattern Academy binders were emptied as I now refer to them on the computer. I did keep the binder on Couture sewing as I do refer to it. Other books and binders were sorted out and I have a pile to deal with. Most will go to the thrift store. They are empty. I have kept a couple of things I do use on a regular basis. 

Next up I tackled the containers on the table. I have them pared down to two. One hold pens and pads while the other holds items I use for quilting (glue and starch pen). Everything that I don't use is going to be donated. Lastly I went through everything on the peg board and got rid of things I don't use, put like items together and did a general tidy up. I wiped the table (dirty) and called it done. 

I hope to use the table some for planning projects (binder?) and I am going to work at keeping it neat and tidy. 

I was out to have dinner with family last night. I picked grandson up from school and we had a lovely chat on our way home. He is applying to universities as he graduates in June. Dinner was lovely (Mediterranean pasta) and we had some great conversations in the evening. 

Sewing

No sewing just the cleaning of the table. 

Knitting

I knit 21 rows on the socks last night. They are coming along great. Only 15 rows left and I can knit the heel flap. 

Daughter-in-law is excited they are being knit as she chose the yarn when we were in Copenhagen. 

Thoughts

    I am tired from pushing myself to finish the bedroom yesterday and will be tired until it is done on Saturday. My core muscles are sore from being on the ladder but I'm not complaining about that. I need to keep getting them stronger. My hip muscles are sore from me pushing myself on the ladder and floor. I am sure that they will settle down once I have a good rest. I am stronger than I was a year ago and want to keep being strong. 

    I did think briefly about how much I want to keep in the house. I am going to focus on it but not force myself to let go of items I want to keep. I am working on a balance of having enough but not too much. At times it is hard to find that balance and to live with the mess as I sort through things and make decisions. 

    My generator arrived on Monday. On top was a parcel which was a gift from the company. It was a light weight hoodie. The size was 3XL. I took it last night for son to wear. He tried to put it on and it was too small. It was just too small for daughter-in-law and it fits me. We wonder what chart the company used to size the hoodie. It gave us a good chuckle. I will wear it in the spring and early fall when I work outside. 

    I am surprised at how warm it is outside and it will continue for the next 5-7 days. It is confusing as the wind is from the north. That usually means cold. The wind is cold but not the air. I am sure this has happened before but I hadn't paid attention to it. 

Today

I am rushing as I need to eat and get ready to go to physio at 8 am. When done, daughter-in-law and I are going to the city to get a few things for a dinner at the community hall on Saturday. Once home, I will probably rest a bit and then find something to do downstairs. I need to take out garbage today so need to get the garbage out of the basement. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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

A Wall Was Painted

 Yesterday was warm and windy with a high of 5.5C. This morning it is wet and 5C. Today is suppose to be damp and windy with a high of 8C.

Lifestyle

I was starting to get ready to paint when I got a phone call from the person who mows the lawns. He was wondering if my lawn had been mowed since Halloween. He was at my place waiting to know. It hadn't been so I had to wait for him to unload is equipment and start so I could pay him. I am also on his list to have him plow the driveway when I can't. 

I started painting late and was rushing. When I went to get up I slipped and landed back on the floor. I only fell about 8" but it made me stop, think, and slow down. I wasn't hurt physically. I did get the wall painted before lunch (about 2 hours). 

I was sore when I started and sore when I finished. My slip was caused by rushing when sore. It is all soft tissue soreness which means I need to get this room done and then rest. One more coat of paint on the wall and then around the windows. Once cleaned up, I will be putting the paint away until after Christmas. I think I have earned a rest. I am close to having half of the upstairs painted. 

After lunch I was out to pay my water bill and pick up some groceries. The wind was cold to the bone. When out of the wind, the temperature was fine. Once home, I put away the groceries and went out and covered the rose bush with burlap. That rose bush has new leaves growing on it due to the warm weather we have been having. I didn't trim it back and will do that in the spring. 

I rested for a good hour and then got the spare bedroom ready for me to sleep in. I had a decent sleep under a feather quilt. Haven't slept under one since 2010 and it was warm and cozy. I may put the other queen size one I have on my bed. 

Sewing

None done yesterday as I was too busy. 

Knitting

I unknit the sock I started as I wasn't happy how it looked. I decided to use smaller needles. I started over again with a different look. White cuffs, grey sock, and white toes. I got 21 rounds knit on the first sock. 

I like the tension better using smaller needles. I love the yarn as it is soft to work with. 

Thoughts

    I am ready for a rest from painting. I have pushed myself a lot lately to get my bedroom done and will push until it is completed. One of the reasons I have been pushing is how bright and light the house feels and the other reason is to get someone in to do some work in the spring. After Christmas I will start again with paint 2 days, rest a day and then paint 2 days. I really need the rest day. Right now rest days have been osteopathy and this week physio. 

    My IBS has flared up again. Part is pushing myself to get things done and, I think, part is from having too much dairy. I am going to eliminate dairy for a while and see if it is the culprit. I have upped the amount of dairy for more protein as I am rushed for time to prepare food. I need to make time to eat properly. 

    I set aside sorting through the family room for this week. I will begin sorting through my stuff next week and work on the memory book. Some of the clutter is causing me some anxiety while other clutter isn't. The clutter that isn't causing anxiety is what I have worked through and am letting go of. I need to move it into the mechanical room to get rid of a bit later on. The stuff that is causing me anxiety needs to be sorted through and purged. I have a pretty good idea of what is going, what I will stall on, and what is staying. I need to focus on doing crafts I truly love to make. 

    I stopped watching some videos on minimalism as they were starting to annoy me with their do this, do that approach. I am down to watching two only. One talks about what she does and leaves you to decide if it is right for you. The other one is more about the journey and how they are trying to find what is right for them. She also talks about books and gives her opinion on them. She will agree with some points and disagree with others. Both approach the feeling of calmness in your life but in two different ways. I do enjoy them. I am realizing that I will know when my house has just the right amount in it. The sewing room closet told me that. 

Today

I am going to paint the wall in my bedroom and clean up the painting supplies leaving only the trim paint and brush out. I hope to clean up the desk area in the sewing room this afternoon and knit on the socks tonight. It is a stay at home day as it is wet out there. 

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

Cutting Out Doll Clothes

 Yesterday was a cloudy warm day with a high of 7C. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 6C. Today is suppose to be cloudy and damp with a high of 8C. 

Lifestyle

I had a busy morning yesterday. I washed the last wall, trim, and heater in my bedroom. I also swept some of the floor. It is ready to paint. 

Once that was done, I hauled out the central vacuum hose and started to vacuum rooms. As I finished each room, I mopped the floors. The spare bedroom, hall, bathroom and kitchen were done. I also cleaned the kitchen counters. The dining room was tidied up, table wiped clean, and the floor vacuumed. At that point, I had to stop. I was too sore to do any more. 

The bed linens were laundered and the bed remade in the late afternoon. At that point, I stood and admired all I had done upstairs in a three hours. 

I figure I was sore as I had spent two days painting. I also had osteopathy and am trying to stand evenly on both feet for longer periods of time. The combination of it all made me sore and tired. Tylenol was my best friend last night. 

Sewing

I spent time in the sewing room cutting out doll patterns. The blue outfit was cut out first and bagged. This goes with the white sweater I knit. 

Next up was to cut out the Barbie outfit. The top is a lovely cotton that will be nice to sew. 

The capris (known as pedal pushers back in the 1960's) was cut from a piece of dark chambray. I may end up having to starch the fabric lightly as I sew as it has a lot of drape to it. 

I followed through with my plan and put the left over fabrics into the bin for the quilter's group. Total cut and donated yesterday was 1.3 meters. 

The last job in the sewing room was to wash the closet floor and put the bins back in. I am pleased with the end result. Two of the tubs on the floor is fabric and the third one holds the doll quilts I made. 

I think I can handle what is in the closet if I follow the rules I have set to use it up and donate what I don't use or what is left over.  

Knitting

I dug out the buttons and sewed them onto the sweater. 

I set up the socks but am not happy with the results. I will take it apart and do them on smaller needles. 

I am figuring out how to knit socks with this brand of yarn. It is lovely to work with -- very soft on the hands. 

Thoughts

    I am happy with the sewing room closet. I feel like it is within my clutter threshold. I look in there and feel happy with what I have and the plan on how it will be used. I feel like I have found a balance of what I need to sew doll clothes in that space. 

    As I cleaned upstairs, I allowed myself to think about how much is too much. I wondered if I am letting go of too much. There is a balance and I am struggling to find mine. Getting rid of too much makes some of my spaces feel cold and sterile and some spaces feel so cluttered that I feel anxiety when I enter them. I am working on this bit by bit eliminating items that I have stored and will never use and keeping those items I love and use all the time. It will come as I work through my thoughts and this house. It does keep me busy both mentally and physically. 

    I have to start packing a box to ship to daughter. It will have to go by a private courier service as it seems as if the postal strike will be ongoing for a while. A bit of a nuisance but something everyone is having to adjust to.

Today

I hope to paint the last bedroom wall this morning. It means I will be sleeping in the spare bedroom for a few nights. This afternoon I need to be out and if I have time, I will start cleaning the desk area in the sewing room. Tonight I will knit on the socks. 

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

A Compromise On The Doll's Stash

 Yesterday was cloudy and warm with a high of 6C. This morning it is cloudy, damp, and 6C. Today it suppose to be cloudy with a high of 9C. We could experience showers during the day.

Lifestyle

I finished painting the second coat of paint on the long wall in my bedroom. From setting up to finishing clean up was 90 minutes. I was tired when I got done as I pushed myself while doing it. It looks the same as the last picture. I have one wall left to paint. 

This wall is shorter so it should be about 2 hours each time. I also am going to paint the window and the trim before I rehang the curtains. I am looking forward to having this room finished so I can start decorating it after Christmas. 

I fell asleep on the couch in the afternoon. I was really tired and couldn't keep my eyes open. I napped for about 15-20 minutes and then got up to do more things -- get dinner ready and do the recycling. 

Sewing

I did not sew yesterday but I tackled the bin of cotton fabric that I couldn't touch the day before. I went through each piece and made some decisions. I donated 14.7 meters. About 25% with a decision to get rid of fabric after I make something from it. The first piece is on the cutting table ready to make a simple skirt. 

While sorting through the fabric, I found a meter of red and white striped fabric I put aside for gift bags. It is perfect to go with some of the Christmas fabric I have. I kept the smaller piece to make something for the dolls. 

The fabric was put into the donation bin but I will sort it so some goes to the quilting group for their charity quilts. My next step is to clean the floor in the closet and put what is being kept back in there. Have I let go of enough? Probably not but there is much less in the closet than when I started. 

Knitting

I finished the doll's sweater to putting the buttons on. I have to get them out of the button bin. 

Next up is to read the pattern for the heavy socks and start knitting a pair of them. I am looking forward to making them. 

Thoughts

    I think I did well handling the doll's fabric. The compromise I made to keep 75% is to make something and put the left over fabric into the tub for the quilter's group. It is a start on letting go of the fabric. There is still the emotional attachment to the fabric but the idea of how I was going to use it is fading. For now, I am pleased with my decision. 

    I stood in the bedroom for a bit yesterday and realized how large the room looks when painted grey. It is also very light and bright in there. I have ideas on how I will decorate it in the new year using navy and white with a touch of another colour. It is the other colour that I am trying to decide on. At the moment, I am enjoying how less depressing it is to be in the room. 

    I have been thinking and writing about my thoughts and plans for 2025. It has been a long hard haul for me as I make decisions, change my mind, and think some more. To date, I have decided to do what gives me joy, pleasure, and meaning. It means getting rid of projects and plans that have never materialized. I need to focus on doing what I want and not let others influence me. My focus has changed from sewing/crafting down the stashes to doing projects I enjoy. This shift has lifted a lot of anxiety and stress from my life. 

Today

I have to wash the last wall in the bedroom and then vacuum the house. I also have laundry to do. This afternoon, I want to cut out a couple of doll outfits ready to sew. Tonight I will sew the buttons on the sweater and start knitting the heavy socks. 

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

The Quilt Is Finished

 Yesterday was wet with a high of 6C (at 11 pm). This morning it is raining and 6C. Today is suppose to be cloudy with drizzle and a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I spent painting the wall in the master bedroom. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I just kept at it until it was done 2.5 - 3 hours later. 

The bedroom is bright now with only 1 wall left to paint after I do the second coat on this wall. I hope to have it done by the end of week. 

After finishing painting and cleaning up, I went and put gas in the car. I am so glad I did as it was a mist falling. As I drove the car into the garage, it started to rain and continued on for several hours. 

We have no postal service as the workers striking yesterday morning. I read that there may not be a forced end to it and postal services could be disrupted except for specific mail for Christmas. I hauled up a bigger box and will probably ship presents to daughter via a private shipping company which delivers to her community. I will also have a couple of items sent to her from Amazon. We knew this could happen 6 months ago. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon sewing the binding on the quilt and got it finished. 

I am pleased with this quilt as I accomplished my goal of precision and accuracy. I am glad that it turned out looking so nice when done. I know I will enjoy it this winter. 

I hauled the last tub out of the closet and into the family room. I decided to sort through it when I was 75% done the binding. I opened the tub and had a rush of emotions hit me. I could not sort the fabric. A lot of the emotions were sad ones. Fabrics I had bought and never sewn due to changed plans. Some were for outfits I would sell, others were for outfits I had hoped to make patterns for. I put the lid back on again and worked on the quilt. I wasn't ready to deal with the tub in a major way. 

Later on, I read a post by a person I have followed and admired prior to retiring. She is an amazing garment sewer and quilter. She is fighting a serious health issue now but is a strong person. Her post was an update and a surprise. She is giving her stash and patterns away and is looking for new sewers to have it. She is changing direction in her sewing. 

This left me pondering about the tub of doll fabric. How much can I let go of after reading that post. It may take me another day of thinking and pondering before I open the tub again. I need to be strong and let a lot of it go. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's sweater last night and got one sleeve finished. I wove the end of the yarn in on the sleeves and called it a night. 

Next up is heavy socks. I am looking forward to knitting them. 

Thoughts

    The muscles in my thigh were sore yesterday from osteopathy. I think they may be bruised but they aren't as tight as they were. It didn't affect me going up and down the ladder while painting. What she did helped me a lot so I will take the soreness as a good sign. 

    I have been in deep thought for hours about the tub of doll's fabric. I am letting my emotional attachment be stronger than my desire to have less. I know that as I think about why I have those fabrics in my sewing room. Some of it is from what I thought I wanted to do. Some of it is really nice fabrics. One thought I came up with was to divide the fabrics into 2 piles. One pile would be what I would sew in the next year and the other would be a pile that I could use to find a fabric I may want to sew. Another thought was to box it all up and say goodbye to it. The last thought was to keep it all until I figure out what the dolls need for their wardrobes. Hopefully I will be have a solution in the next couple of days. 

    I have 2 projects left to sew prior to Christmas. One is a gift for a friend and the other is embroidery on a shirt for daughter. I am amazed I am that far along. I want to make daughter a tree skirt and it will happen if I have time but won't be shipped until spring. I want to take my time making it. I want to enjoy sewing projects rather than having to sew projects to get rid of the stash. 

Today

I am home all day painting the bedroom wall a second coat. I need to figure out what to do to embroider the shirt for daughter. I may even try to sort the doll's fabric a bit. Or at least handle it. I will knit tonight. 

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

Trying To Finish Projects

 Yesterday was cool and windy with a high of 2.6C. This morning it is raining and 1C. Today is suppose to be wet with a high of 8C. 

Lifestyle

As I had time prior to going to osteopathy, I decided to take out the garbage, a job I don't really care to do. But I did it. After that was done, I folded laundry and it was time to go. 

The drive to osteopathy was okay. The roads were good with dry snow blowing across it. The wind did push me a bit but not too bad. The drive home was the same. At home, we had a few spits of rain but no snow flurries. Just the way the storm was moving. 

Osteopathy was painful. She did some work on my back to bring my hip back into place (tipped forward slightly). Then she worked on my glutes and adductors. Painful. Then she worked between the two groups and that was even more painful. They were tight due to me being on the ladder painting. I had to apply heat to that area all evening as it was tender. The therapist is really pleased with my progress as I am further advanced than she thought I would be at this time. She thought it would take another year. 

I went to Canadian Tire to look at vacuum cleaners and am going to hold out to get the one I want on sale. I am thinking of buying daughter an iRobot Roomba cleaner for Christmas and having it shipped to her. She has expressed a desire for one earlier this year. 

Sewing

I worked on hand stitching the binding down on the quilt. I got 1/4 of it done yesterday afternoon. I hope to have it done by Sunday. 

I went through what was in the basket. One item was tossed into the trash. Two items were put into the donation bin. What was left was a piece of plaid, some linen, and two hunks of knit fabric for leggings for the dolls. The basket is empty!!

Knitting

I knit last night while I had heat on my sore muscles. The body of the sweater is done. 

This sweater will have long sleeves which will take me two nights max to finish. 

My next project will be heavy socks for daughter-in-law to wear with her slippers. I have the pattern, the yarn, and needles so I can start on them next. Something new for me to work on. 

Thoughts

    I thought the storm we are getting today was coming from the south but it isn't. It is coming in from the north east. The part that has snow will pass by in the next couple of hours and then it will be a bigger storm coming in with lots of rain. The upside -- it will be warmer today. 

    Yesterday's session at osteopathy had me walking much better than ever. It was a more normal gait than I've had for a very long time. I also noticed I am standing with my weight more evenly distributed on both feet. Most of my pain is in the muscles and tendons. Hopefully I will feel better after physio on Wednesday. I know I will revert to bad habits when I am tired but I am hoping that will disappear over time. 

    I am eagerly hoping to have the bedroom done painting by early next week. I want to put it away until after Christmas and focus on cleaning upstairs and getting ready for Christmas. I am almost done shopping but still have a couple of projects to make. I am getting into the Christmas mood which eluded me until the last couple of days. 

Today

I am going to paint the longest wall in my bedroom this morning. I have to gas the car up in the rain this afternoon. I want to hand stitch more binding down on the quilt this afternoon and then knit on the sweater tonight. It is going to be a busy day for me. 

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

    

Binding A Quilt

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with lots of north wind. The high got to 2C. This morning it is cloudy and 2C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with wind and a high of 3C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I scrubbed the floors where I had painted and then washed the wall I am going to paint next. It was a full morning's work but it felt good to have it done so I can paint tomorrow. 

The wind has certainly been howling and I watched a piece of lattice roll down the side of my neighbour's front porch. It was still attached this morning and moving around in the wind. I haven't seen any other items blowing around but I am sure there is some in our area. 

I did 2 loads of laundry yesterday. I tried something different this time as my clothes are looking dingy. I used hot water for the towels and warm for my clothing. I added oxiclean to the wash cycle and vinegar to the rinse cycle. It certainly helped a lot. I also put them on to a longer wash cycle. It took a lot longer to do the 2 loads than normal but worth it. I won't do this regularly but every 3 - 4 weeks. 

Sewing

I got the binding sewn together for the Scandinavian Winter quilt and then sewn on to the quilt. It is now ready for me to hand sew it down. 

The backing is quite warm when you have it on your lap while sewing on the binding. That will be nice for this winter. 

I also sat and measured the donated fabrics. I have donated 13.5 meters and have set 2.25 meters aside to see if I want to use it for doll quilts or pyjamas. If I don't use it before the end of the year, it will be donated. 

The sewing room closet is looking much better. It is nice to know there is less in each tub. I also know if I don't use the items, they will be donated. I am allowing myself to let them go over time. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's sweater last night. This is before I divided it so I can finish the body. 

And after I divided it. 

I said I hadn't knit this one since testing it. I was wrong. I had knit it in yellow to go with the Nova Scotia plaid skirt I had made. 

Thoughts

    The wind is starting to get on my nerves and is suppose to blow for a couple of more days. It is blowing in a rain storm which will arrive tomorrow. Hopefully it will stop blowing on Saturday. On the plus side, this wind didn't bring snow flurries like forecasted. 

    I am starting to enjoy decluttering the sewing room closet. The more I dig, the more I am ready to let go of. It is time for others to enjoy the "stuff" I won't use. I am also looking forward to tackling the rest of the room so it will be an organized and tidy space for me to create in. Right now, it feels like a storage room. I am beginning to fully understand that I don't need all of what I have in that room. I am starting to enjoy sewing what I want to vs sewing up the stash. This is what is driving me to do a big declutter of the sewing room. I want to repeat this feeling in the family room. 

    I have been working on my thoughts for 2025. I chose the word focus to help guide me. At first it was focus on sewing down the stash and using up the craft supplies. Now it is to focus on doing what I enjoy doing. It is more of letting go of what I don't enjoy doing. The second word I chose was calm. I want to have a calm environment to live and work in. I know letting go will bring calmness and it will allow me to focus more on what I want to do. I will have to say, working on my thoughts has really been a journey. 

Today

I have osteopathy this morning and will do a few small things before I have to leave. I want to go and look at vacuum cleaners and make a decision on which one I want. When I get home I need to pick up my prescriptions. I may get to hand sew on the quilt for an hour. I want to knit on the doll's sweater tonight. 

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

A Day Having Fun

 Yesterday's weather had it all but snow flurries. Wind, rain, sunshine, and clouds. The high got to 12C. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 1C. Today is suppose to be cloudy, windy, and maybe snow flurries. The high is suppose to be 1C. 

Lifestyle

Daughter-in-law and I headed out to shop before her physio appointment. Our first stop was to our favourite dollar store. We usually wander it a couple of times before Christmas and love looking at the huge selection of items they have. We got a few items one of which is a solar powered tree that wiggles when charged. 

Our next stop was Walmart for gift cards. We also snooped through the Grinch clothing looking for something unique. We found it. 

I bought it for daughter-in-law for Christmas Eve. Now they all have a Grinch shirt to wear. 

After a quick lunch (which was delicious), daughter-in-law had her treatment and we headed home. Once I got my stuff put away, I headed out to get my prescriptions filled which I will pick up on Thursday. 

When I got home, I was exhausted to the point that my energy level was low. I sat and vegged wondering why. I realized that I had got hot twice during the day and it sapped my energy. My internal temperature was high. I drank a lot of water and cooled down in a cool house. By bedtime I was fine and slept well. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday. It was a day I could have made huge mistakes. 

Thoughts

    I wore a hoodie I bought in Denmark. It is lighter than the one I bought for grandson but it is much warmer than the ones I buy here. I overheated wearing it in stores and the car. Outside it was perfect. 

    I am enjoying looking at Grinch stuff. There is something for everyone. Son started it 2 years ago by buying a shirt to wear on Dec. 24. He and a friend wore Grinch shirts last year. It has now grown to son, daughter-in-law, and grandson wearing them this year. Daughter-in-law bought napkins with Grinch on them and I will make bags with Grinch faces on them for gifts. We might just as well relax, embrace the Grinch, and have fun. Who knows what else will appear for us to have fun with. 

    Daughter-in-law and I planned the Christmas Eve get together with friends and most of Christmas Day meals. This year it will be kept simple so everyone enjoys the both days. We are even cutting way back on baking this year. And we are even bringing out paper plates for Christmas Eve. They can be composted. I am going to make sure that I am more involved as I am not sore this year. 

Today

I am going to prep my bedroom to paint on Friday. I will try to do some cleaning in the rest of the house and do a load of laundry. This afternoon I will be in the sewing room doing the binding for the quilt and then measuring fabrics to donate. Tonight I will knit. It is a stay at home day. 

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

A Large Hot Pad Made

 Yesterday was rainy with a high of 14C. This morning it is cloudy and 9C. Today is suppose to be mainly cloudy with a high of 12C. We may have snow flurries tonight. 

Lifestyle

I spent the morning painting the second coat on the wall in my bedroom. I tried a different sleeve on the roller. A lady suggested microfibre ones and I had something similar in the painting supplies. I was surprised at how much I liked it over the foam one I had been using. Her suggestion and why won me over. The suggestion of using a foam roller was good but I like the microfibre one better. I was done in a little over 2 hours. 

I will have to say that my hip is doing great when I paint. I think the muscles have relaxed more and are getting stronger.  I hope this continues as I am enjoying have less pain in my life. 

Sewing

With pink and white fabrics left over from the placemats, I made daughter a large hot pad for her sewing room. I didn't put 2 layers of batting in it so it is for sitting a sewing machine on or covering a dresser. 

The size is 13.5 x 19.5" and if you use two layers of batting or Insulbrite in it, you can put a 9' x 13" pan or two smaller ones on it. 

There is enough white fabric left (I used it for the backing) to make piping for daughter. The pink scraps are in the tub for the quilter's group. 

I did some more work purging. I got out the tub of Halloween prints to discover it had only 2 pieces in it. I put both into the donation tub as I no longer need them. I am getting more empty tubs. I need to measure the fabrics I am letting go of so I can record how much is leaving the sewing room. I did peek into a basket I have in the sewing room and it really needs to purged. 

While playing with fabric from yesterday I photographed this piece of lace. It is black with a silver thread running through it. I also had a pattern piece cut out of it at one end.

I sent this photo to daughter and I could hear her squeal with delight right across Canada. The piece cut out is a yoke which she has in her "scraps". This piece will be sent to her to use in a shirt. I don't know why she has the yoke piece and I have the fabric but they will be reunited in the next box. I am very happy about this as it will make a gorgeous shirt she can sell. 

Knitting

I cast on for another sweater for the dolls. I got 10 rows knit and 2 rows unknit as missed a step in the pattern. 

I am making it long sleeved and will pair it with a skirt. I haven't knit this pattern since testing it several years ago. Not sure why but I think I was testing a lot of knitting patterns when this one was tested. I do like it and it will be back on the list for the future. 

Thoughts

    I did spend a bit of time thinking about those who gave their lives during the two world wars. I appreciate those who sacrificed their lives to allow us to have peace. I appreciate those who returned to live their lives coping with severe mental and physical injuries. I appreciate those who are serving today and those who want to serve when they finish school. Thank you to all those people past and present for keeping us safe. 

    My plan for 2025 is progressing and will continue to progress as I declutter the sewing room. My vision of how I want the room to look is fairly clear in my mind. How much "stuff" I want is firming up. It is way less than I had thought when I started the process. There is still some emotional attachment to fabric but I keep asking if I will sew it up or move it around. The Halloween fabrics had emotional attachment but I realized they were bought prior to all of us moving to Nova Scotia. They are no longer needed for how we celebrate Halloween. Let someone else enjoy them. 

     Though the family room is still a mess as I sort through my sewing room stashes, I am starting to feel content with where I am at. I no longer stress about going to the basement to sew or declutter. I know it has to get worse before it gets better. I am feeling happy with my choices to have less and to only do what I want to do. I have crafts I tried and they weren't a fit for me. I have fabrics and notions I will never use and they are being let go of. There are no sewing or crafting police saying I have to keep all of this. I can let go of what I don't love and move forward to do what I love. I know this isn't for everyone but it is right for me. 

Today

I am heading out to Bedford with daughter-in-law this morning to shop for Christmas presents. We should be home in the early afternoon so I may measure the fabrics in the donation tub. Tonight I plan on knitting more on the sweater. 

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

Two Place Mats Completed, Two Tubs Sorted

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 9C. This morning it is cloudy and 6C. Today is supposed to be wet this morning and cloudy this afternoon with a high of 14C.

Lifestyle

I headed out to New Minas and got one Christmas gift which was on sale for 40% off. I then went to Home Depot and bought more paint plus a Christmas LED projector. While in the paint department, I met two ladies who live about an 8 minute drive from me. One of the ladies was buying paint for her cupboards and the other one was going to paint them for her. We had a lovely discussion on fixing up our homes at our age. 

Once done my shopping, I headed for home. I had a lovely drive both ways and enjoyed it very much. The fall colours are almost gone but there is still enough to make it look pretty. Soon it will be bare. 

Sewing

I went down fully prepared to put the binding on the second placemat only to find it was on. I pinned it in place and spent part of the afternoon hand sewing it down. 

When done, I spent some time organizing the beads more. I know I could let go of some but will do that the next time. At the moment, I may need them if I make another Renaissance outfit. I do know all the beads will go when I stop sewing doll clothes. 

The next tub I hauled out was the flannel for doll's pyjamas. I did a hard start on that. Some of the flannel is saying it could be backing for quilts so it sits until I decide if I will use it or donate it. What was put back into the tub will make pyjamas for the dolls. 

The last tub I played with was the largest and full of fabrics for fancy dresses, tulle, and winter coats. I sorted, I folded, and I know I kept more than necessary. But, what I kept along with the flannel fits in one smaller tub. The big tub is empty!!

I was mentally tired when I got that job done. I still have to put three pieces of Halloween fabric into the donate pile as we have decided that we have enough Halloween decorations. Then it will be sorting through the tub of cottons and a basket of miscellaneous fabrics. When done, I will have two medium sized tubs of fabric for the dolls and a small amount of fabric for doll quilts. 

My last little job was to figure out how to use up the last of the pink and white fabric daughter sent me. I will be making her an extra large hot pad. I have enough fabric for the hot pad and binding in pink and the backing in white. What is left over will go to the quilting group. I have the batting also so this is a happy project. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's sweater until I ran out of yarn. 

I am going to set it aside and decide if I will buy another skein to knit me socks and finish the sweater or if I will not finish it. Decisions, decision. I will cast on another sweater and knit it next. 

Thoughts

    I am slowly getting Christmas presents bought. It has been hard this year as no one has said what they wanted. I am grasping at straws. I do have an order to place at Amazon but am still short on gifts. I have sat quietly thinking and will be doing two more shoppings and call it done. Gift cards will be added to the parcels going west. 

    I was surprised at how easy it was to let go of the doll's fabric. I am still thinking about the fabrics I set aside for backing on doll's quilts. One part of me says use it as I have it and the other part of me says to let it go. I wait and see for a few days. The rest of the fabric will be boxed ready to be donated or sold at the garage sale. Once done the fabrics, I will wash the closet floor and put the few tubs back in there. I will add the tub that I am putting the doll's quilts into. 

    I am still working on my thoughts and plans for 2025. It is hard as I know what I want to do but some of the plan keeps changing. I am struggling as I want my work spaces to be minimal, tidy, and calm to work in. I think part of my struggle is trying to figure things out while I am decluttering, cleaning, and trying to finish up projects for gifts. I will continue to work on it as I don't need to have it posted until mid December. 

    I am also struggling on how to balance sewing, knitting, crafting, and housework. I also want to find time to just relax and enjoy doing nothing or very little. I have always been busy and want to know that I can do nothing if I want to. It will come as I get closer to my goal. I know keeping busy is good for me mentally. I think what I am looking for is to be able to do things knowing that I can do them vs having to do them. I am also working through this as I get my thoughts in order. 

Today

I am going to paint the wall in my bedroom this morning. This afternoon I will work on the large hot pad and will knit tonight. It is a stay at home day as nothing is open here on Remembrance Day. 

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

Decluttering, Sewing, and Knitting

 Yesterday was cool with sun and clouds and a high of 5C. The wind blew from the NNW all day. This morning it is clear and -1C (windchill -4C). Today is suppose to be sunny with a high of 7C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I had 2 hours to clean in. I spent it tidying up my area of which I had ignored. The fabric and ribbon I was sent was put at the top of the stairs. Next up I got out the cross stitch stuff and had a hay day. I cleaned out a basket and a shallow tub of stuff. I had a keep pile, a put away pile, and a toss pile. I found rhinestones and in with the cross stitch stuff. I was a bit miffed with myself for having craft stuff where it wasn't suppose to be. I gathered up the garbage and tossed it. The rest went on top of the fabric to go downstairs. I then polished the side table. I looked at some journals and need to make a decision on them. One will become my next knitting book, one will be tossed and one kept for ??. I ended up taking the pile of stuff to the basement and put them into the sewing room and on the coffee table. I had run out of time. 

I went in for my Covid vaccine. I was in the midst of a rush of people. I checked in, sat down and waited. I was called in about 10 minutes later. I had to wait 15 minutes and as I sat, the numbers dwindled off as it was near noon. I left and talked to family in the parking lot. I did go and get a few groceries and then home. I had no real effects from the vaccine. My arm was a bit sore and I was a bit tired but nothing that had me sleeping on the couch. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday and got the binding on one of the placemats. I sat and hand sewed it down. 

The second one is ready to have the binding sewn on and then hand sewn in place. 

I did deal with two containers. The first one was the cross stitch container. I wanted to have it down to one small tub. It will be once I have an empty pill container to put the needles into. 

This is the pile I let go of. And the bonus -- an empty bin.

I also did the basket of beads and got rid of a few vials of beads. What I kept is what I would use on fancy dresses for the dolls. I did find a container of rhinestones in that basket. All the wandering rhinestones are now in their proper tub. I need to find the rest of the beads and put them all together in one bag. It wasn't done as it was time to make dinner. Elliott had come to let me know the afternoon was gone. 

Knitting

I worked on the Gotz doll sweater last night and I will not have enough yarn to finish it. 

I am going to see where I get to and decide if I will put it away until I get another skein of yarn to make me socks or if I will ditch it. 

Thoughts

    I was happy to get the counted cross stitch and beading bins purged. I am going to do a bit of organizing of the beads so they are in containers vs bags. I would like to put them into a small tub and onto the shelf. Next up is the doll's fabric bins. I am a bit stressed about them. I know there is some emotional attachment which I am trying to work through. 

    I am trying to reach some goals in getting this house in order for the future. I am pleased with what I have got done but know I will be busy for a few more months. Once I get a few more items sewn and the memory book done, I will spend the afternoons cleaning up the downstairs. I will need to get some boxes to put donations into, bags for trash, and use some of the empty tubs for what I want to keep. My goal is to have very little left so I can enjoy calm spaces to work in. 

    Our weather is going to be the usual for November. We have rain in the forecast which is normal for this time of the year. I have decided that I will get the burlap for the rose bush and cover it on the next nice day and call the yard done for this year. I know we haven't had enough frost but I am hoping that I will not kill the bush wrapping it this week. I see others have done their shrubs already so fingers crossed. 

    I am still working on how I want next year to look for me. Some times I am grasping at straws, other times I think I have it figured out. What I want is to do things that I enjoy, feel interested in my activities and feel like what I do matters. Pleasure, engagement and meaning are three elements I am striving to obtain in my life. I will be repeating these as I work through my stuff both upstairs and downstairs. Right now I am feeling like I am accomplishing tasks that make me happy  and am working towards an environment that I can be happy and calm in. 

Today

I am heading out to New Minas to get some things I need (house and Christmas). Once home, I hope to bind the second placemat and finish it. If time, I will do some more work on the beads so they can go into a small tub. I hope to knit tonight. 

    

Working On Projects

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 11C. This morning it is cloudy and 4C. We are suppose to have some sun, showers, and flurries with a high of 3C. 

Lifestyle

I got busy early washing the wall I wanted to paint. I left it to dry for 15 minutes and then started painting. I was at that job for the rest of the morning; 3 hours or more. 

The room definitely brightened up but it is also looking huge. It also may look huge as I moved two pieces of furniture into from the walls into the room. As I finished up, I realized I don't have enough paint to do the second coat of paint on the wall. I have decided to paint the window wall before I buy more paint. I think I will have enough paint for the first coat on it. 

Having the room bright and light has me excited. I will be ready to make the quilt and two or three runners. I know this room needs another colour so am thinking which colour I would like to add. So far it will be grey wall with a navy and white quilt and runners. It may come to me when I start hanging pictures later on. 

I was out to dinner at family's last night. We had pork loin with a mustard/horseradish gravy. It was delicious. After dinner daughter-in-law and I sat in the hot tub for a good 45 minutes. We had 30 minutes of it running so the jets could do their job and 15 minutes of quiet afterwards. It was a nice way to end the day and I slept well last night. 

Sewing

I sandwiched and quilted the second placemat and it is ready for binding. 

Strangely enough one placemat is a tiny bit longer than the other one. It is all in the seam allowances. 

I have decided that I will cut out one large sized hot pad from the remaining fabric and send it to daughter for her to use in the sewing room. She can put it on the dresser or under a sewing machine. Once they are done, I will be batch cutting a few items to make for the rest of the month. I want to do some decluttering in the closet. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's sweater and am now on the body. I am a bit worried I won't have enough yarn to finish it. It may sit until I get another skein to knit myself socks. 

I wait and see what happens as this sweater is suppose to use 19 grams of yarn which I had just a bit more than that. 

Thoughts

    With the box of fabric and leather gone, I am ready to bag up the faux suede pieces and put them into a box to go. Then it will be back into the closet to do more decluttering and purging. My goal is to get it done and down to an amount I know I will sew. I do not want family to have to deal with large amount of fabric I have. 

    I made a decision not to put up outdoor Christmas lights this year. We can get them up easily on a warm day but taking them down is something else. I have to do it when it is cold and windy and I hate that. I have decided to buy a Christmas led projector for outdoors. I can put it out and take it in easily on my own. I will look for one on Tuesday when I go to buy paint. 

    I did a bit of cleaning up yesterday. I sorted through the pattern design materials and it is all downstairs to deal with. What I borrowed is bagged up to return when my friend comes home. I can get out what I need when I have to make a pattern for the dolls. It was an easy project for me to clean up as I know it is not something I will do on a regular basis. 

    I am working on my thoughts for sewing in 2025. It has been hard as I am at a stage in life where I want to focus on what I need to do and feel calm. I am working through emotions and figuring out what I want to make in the next year. I own the fact that I have too much in the basement and need to work on that. It is tiring as I go through my plan and figure it all out. 

Today

I am going to clean the living room this morning and get my Covid vaccine at 11:30 am. I hope to sew the binding strips together for the placemats and the quilt so I can sew them on. If I am able to, I will knit tonight. It depends on how hard the vaccine hits me. This one usually makes me quite tired for a day. I will try to push through and get things done. 

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