A Great Day Cleaning and Sewing

Yesterday was cloudy but it didn't rain much. The temperature dropped all day and it went from 5C at 6 am to 1C at 5 pm. This morning it is snowing very very lightly and -2C. Today we are to have flurries with a high of -1C (windchill -7C). 

Lifestyle

I did the balance sheet yesterday and finished 2024. I did go over budget but not as much as I had thought. It was about 50% less than I had thought. I paid the bills and am ready to have a spend less 2025. I did well with it in 2024 so I am ready to try again. 

Once done the balance sheet, I decided to clean the floor at the front closet, down the stairs and the front door area. I struggled with it as I was very sore but I got it done. It was dirty as we take our shoes off in that area. I had thought doing this area on my hands and knees would stretch the soreness out of my back but it didn't. 

I did a couple of things in the garage yesterday but need to back out the car so I can find a missing item that rolled off the work bench. I will do it next week when there is one sunny day. I may spend a bit of time out there organizing some of my stuff. I do need to do that. 

I rolled over in bed and my right SI joint cracked into place. I slept well as the pain disappeared. I am a bit sore this morning but not like I've been. I am looking forward to osteopathy next week. Hopefully she can work on what is out of place. 

Sewing

My first job of the afternoon was to clean up the serger area. By the time I was finished, I had done the whole sewing cabinet area. I wiped both machines, the cabinet, and organized items. Only what I want close at hand is on the cabinet and everything else is put away. 

Next up was to find what is called squatters in the challenge. I found two. One was a small level. I don't know why it was in the sewing room so I put it out into the garage. The other was a kitchen towel that needed a button sewn on since November. I put the button on and put it upstairs in the kitchen tea towel drawer. 

I worked on the wall hanging and it is done to attaching the blocks together. I will have to get some when I go shopping. 

As this project is deemed done for now. I cut out the next large hot pad I want to make. This one is sunny and cheerful. 

I put a layer of Insulbrite under the batting which has increased the cost by just under $4.00. I am going to stick to two layers of batting. This is ready to start quilting with green thread. I have another fat quarter of this print to make a square hot pad and, hopefully, 2 mug rugs. 

I will still focus on buying less fabric again this year. I did well last year. Most of what I bought I used but I do have some pieces that ended up in the stash. I have some gift certificates for one quilt shop and I will use one towards having my next quilt long armed and the other will be spent very carefully on a project or two for me. 

Knitting

I did not knit last night as I was exhausted from the pain I have been having. 

Thoughts

    We are heading into cooler weather again. There are to be flurries which I am hoping won't turn into heavy snow falls. The temperatures are going to be in the more normal range. 

    I sat in my sewing room looking at the clean spaces. I need to keep them clean by picking up after myself at the end of each sewing session. I have been making a point of it and it is nice to come back the next day to tidy spaces. My goal is to come back to a tidy room. 

    As I sat and looked at the clean spaces, I looked at the capacity of the room. As it is large, it can hold a lot of stuff. I was doing a great job of it but it was making me stressed out. Though I love my large space, I also love it having less in it. One reason I am decluttering harder this year. The other reason is having less means I have less to worry about when I no longer can live here. In the mean time I can keep this room tidy and with in my clutter threshold. 

Today

I am hoping to start cleaning the living room this morning. This afternoon I will sew as I have met today's declutter challenge of subscriptions. I may not sew either as I may go with daughter-in-law to get something printed. If we are close to a store where I can get the rings I will do that. I am not sure about tonight but if I am home, I will cast on the front of the sweater. 

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