Repaired A Horse Blanket

 Yesterday was mainly rainy with a bit of sun coming out in the late afternoon. The high got to 18C. This morning it is cloudy and 13C. Today is supposed to have showers this morning and a mix of sun and clouds this afternoon. The high is supposed to get to 19C.

Lifestyle

I had a fight with one of my blinds yesterday. I somehow hit the stop button and it was going down when I pushed the up button. I kept pushing the stop button and it wouldn't change direction. I kept reading the vague directions and couldn't hear the little noise it makes when you follow the directions. I did a google search and it said the same thing. I took a break as I was frustrated and when I came back, it worked like a charm. That job as completed. 

I changed the sheets on the bed and got them into the washer. By this time, I was really sore. Was it me over extending or was it the weather causing my SI joint to flare up. It was pouring rain and the barometric pressure was still dropping. I clocked out and did my exercises. As I was taking my left foot off my right knee, I had a crack and the majority of the pain was gone. 

As I was feeling better, I grabbed my cleaning supplies and finished cleaning the lower kitchen cabinets. I looked at my spices and a lot of them have expired but I didn't toss them. I want to figure out which ones I don't use and which ones I will replace. My last job of the morning was to wipe down all the counters and clean the top of the stove. I also cleaned the outside of the microwave. At that point I was done with cleaning and ready for lunch. 

I was out mid afternoon to family's as I had a small job to do for daughter-in-law. I got it done as the last shower went over us. I was then home for the rest of the day. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday. It was repairing the rips in my neighbour's horse's blanket. It was quite the job as one part was ripped around a buckle. I did a lot of zig zag stitching on most of it and some straight stitching on part. I use a 2" wide tape on it so I have a good backing to attach the ripped pieces to. I also stitched a few small rips so they wouldn't get bigger. I didn't take pictures of my repair job as I wanted it done and out of the house. It took me about 2 hours to do the job. I don't charge her for doing the job as they help me out shovelling snow in the winter. 

I did look at the sewing room and I still have some things to do before I can vacuum the floors. I will focus on that today. 

Knitting

I didn't knit last night. 

Thoughts

    It is hard to believe that it is the end of September. It was hard to believe that I had to turn on the heat pump to dehumidifier yesterday as it was so humid outside you felt like you were walking into a warm wet towel. I also had to empty the portable dehumidifier as it was almost full. The humidity was about 100% all day. 

    I am trying to figure out what I need to do in October. With September being crazy I now need to slow down and enjoy the month of October. No pressure to get a project completed. Time to do a few things that need to get done before winter. Time to pace myself so I don't get over tired and cranky. 

Today

I don't have a thing planned for today but will try to work in the sewing room to get more of it cleaned up. I will probably try to do a few other small things and remember to take out the garbage later this afternoon. I am looking forward to a quiet day before I start prepping for sandwiches tomorrow and Friday.

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

Feeling Less Pain

 Yesterday's showers turned out to be rain all day. The high got to 15C. This morning it is cloudy and 14C. Today is supposed to have showers most of the day with a high of 17C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday I had an extremely busy morning. I started out doing the balance sheet and cursed myself for one stupid mistake. I got it done in record time even with the mistake. 

Next up was to empty the dishwasher and clean it. I took out the filter and sprayed it with a bleach based cleaner even though it was quite clean. I put in more dirty dishes and moved on to folding laundry and putting it away. 

At that point, I laid on the couch and did my first set of exercises. My SI joint was really sore and I was getting tired from the pain. I did them with a bit of relief but not enough to say the pain was gone. 

From there, I tidied up the table and scrubbed it. Then I took out the tub of recycling and sorted it into its proper bags in the garage. Rosie had her water tank filled and a clean mop put on. At that point I was done. The pain had done me in. 

I sat with heat on the SI joint and worked a bit on my family tree while I ate lunch. I then went and laid on the bed and did more exercises. When I did the last exercise to stretch my left piriformis, my SI joint released and I was virtually pain free. 

The municipality was out to mow the ditch on our street. They usually only do that ditch but this year, the person mowed the ditch along the length of my property. I was thrilled to see that being done. 

I was out to have dinner at family's. Daughter-in-law made smash burgers and they were delicious. We had tomato, bacon, mushrooms, and cheese on them. This time, we had them on sourdough buns and they were the best buns we have had for smash burgers. I was home in good time last night as they had company show up. 

Sewing

I hauled all the fabric I had laundered downstairs and pressed it. The left over fabric from the table runner was put away as I may make a doll's quilt using it. Some of the fabric did go into the drawer I have dog fabric stored. The placemat fabric was also pressed and folded ready for me to make in October. 

The cutting table is starting to look much better. I have got a few more things to work on before it is completely cleaned off. I will continue cleaning the room as I am behind thanks to my SI joint being so painful.

The Onyx in Autumn Table Runner pattern can be found here. There is a link on the page to download the pattern. It is a free pattern. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got 8 rows done. The afghan is getting longer and the ball of yarn is getting smaller. 

Thoughts

    I have really dealt with a lot of pain this month and it has left me exhausted. My hip placement hasn't moved since Sept. 21 but my SI joint has been quite painful most of the month. It seems to have enjoyed flaring up on me. Though I was tired after the SI joint released yesterday afternoon, I didn't allow myself to nap. I pushed through so I would sleep better last night. I am looking forward to physio on Monday so I can get more exercises to strengthen the muscles in my leg. 

    We had a lot more rain than anticipated. It was the leftovers from the storm that hit the east coast of the US. We had about an inch of rain fall. I am hoping what we got and what we should get today will really help the grass seed sprout and grow. My neighbour is hoping also.

Today

I have to do more laundry and will try to do more fall cleaning in the kitchen. I should try to fix my neighbour's horse blanket this afternoon and knit tonight.

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

Another Busy Day

 Yesterday started out with rain and ended up sunny. The high got to 18C. This morning it is cloudy and 11C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with showers and a high of 16C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to make sandwiches yesterday morning and we were done in 50 minutes. Once done, daughter-in-law and I headed to Dartmouth to shop at Costco for more supplies. It was busy there but not as busy as the last time. We lucked out and got a parking spot closer to the building.  

When done at Costco we headed to Walmart in Bedford. It is the Walmart we like to shop at. We got what we needed and headed home. By that time the sun was shining. The trees are turning colour very quickly. It is early for this to be happening. 

Once home, we unloaded the car at family's and I headed home. I got my three items put away and had lunch. I then started to struggle. I was sore and very tired. I went to bed and slept for almost an hour. I woke up feeling better. I realized the soreness could have been from the storm coming in today. I stretched in bed last night but had no cracks. 

Sewing

I didn't look at the sewing room yesterday. 

Knitting

I knit 7 rows on the afghan. It is now 12" long. Progress is being made. 

I took a picture of the other end of the afghan. It is bunched up as it takes up a lot of space on the couch.

Thoughts

    I had a small anxiety attack last night after I went to bed. It took me a while to get it under control but I got it done. It was caused by being over tired, worried, and a bit stressed. I am hoping that I will have quieter days where I can do things without having to rush. I have started to get my week in order so I can pace myself. I have to shop for sandwiches and do the prep work. 

    I opened a bunch of windows last night as the house was stuffy. It was nice to have them open all night. The house was cool this morning but I enjoy that immensely. I had kept the windows closed as there was supposed to be rain during the night which never really happened. 

    I saw two small flocks of Canada geese flying yesterday morning. They were flying down towards the community hall. I haven't seen or heard them over my place but I am sure they will be over here soon. 

Today

My goal is to stay home today and do some things around here. I want to do press the fabric I rinsed the other day and do some more tidying up in the sewing room. I am out for dinner at family's tonight and hope to knit once I get home. 

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

Plans Made, Plans Revised

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 19C. This morning it is cloudy and 14C. Today is supposed to have showers with a high of 16C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to make sandwiches yesterday morning. Once home, I sat with a cup of coffee and heat on my SI joint and area. I had twisted it when turning at the community hall. It was sore. 

Once my coffee was done, I cleaned the bathroom and moved laundry from the washer to the dryer. I then cleaned the kitchen counters and stove. I cut chicken into chunks and marinated it. I then cut onions and peppers in to chunks and put it all into the fridge for dinner. Once that was done, I cleaned the kitchen counters once more and sat down. The pain was there and annoying me. 

I had a nap after lunch. I really needed it as I crashed for 45 minutes and one-third of it was in a deep sleep. I woke up groggy but with less pain. 

Once out of bed, I meandered down to the sewing room. I picked up all the left over fabric from the table runner and put it into a tub. I cleaned up my cutting tools and put everything away neatly. I found 4 missing pencils in with my cutting tools. 

I soaked the fabric in warm water so the starch would come out. I hung it up wet on the drying rack in the bath tub. They can be pressed and put away for another project. 

I sat some more after that was done and was getting ready to make dinner when daughter-in-law called me. The person who was going to help her didn't show. I headed out to get us dinner and then went to the hall to help bartend. The group was celebrating one lady's birthday and the party lasted a full 3 hours. We enjoy this group as they are fun, polite, considerate, and patient. I did a run to the liquor store in the middle of the evening. Was home by 7:30 pm. So was everyone else. 

I didn't knit but I did sit on more heat and by the time I went to bed, the soreness had subsided. I am back to feeling like myself this morning. 

Today

I am out to make sandwiches again this morning. Then daughter-in-law and I will head to the city to get more supplies for sandwiches. I will buy eggs and 2 tubs of soup as I don't have time to make it this week. Once home, I will try to fold laundry and then make my dinner. I do hope to knit tonight. 

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

Table Runner Done and Gone

 Yesterday started out sunny and then clouded over in the late afternoon. The high got to 21C. This morning it is cloudy and 12C. Today we could have a shower or two with a high of 17C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday was busy. The morning was spent finishing up the table runner. After lunch, I went to the tire shop to have a bit of air put in one tire. It has a very slow leak. I asked for an appointment for next week to have the tire checked. The service man wasn't busy so he did it on the spot in the parking lot. I was so grateful for them doing it right then and there. I also got the tire torqued after coming home from New Minas. 

I headed out to New Minas and the road was busy both ways. I got to the quilt shop, handed in my table runner and headed to the grocery store. Got what I needed and headed home. 

After a short rest with heat on my SI joint, I was out for dinner at family's. We had chorizo rice bowls. It was very nice. After dinner, I peeled 36 eggs while daughter-in-law finished the fillings. We loaded the car with the baskets of fillings and I locked the door. Oops, we didn't have the bread. A good laugh and we got the bread out into the car. We put everything into the fridge and cooler and headed home. Daughter-in-law was going to make a square and then get into the hot tub. She is really sore from her osteo treatment. I came home. 

Sewing

I finished the table runner in good time and spent a lot of time using the lint roller on it. Then I sprayed it and pressed it well. I have gone from hating it to liking it. 

The backing and binding are fabric I truly love. The colours are soft and muted. I have fabric left over so I put it into the drawer of dog fabric. 

I rolled it up, tied it with a ribbon and took it to the quilt shop. 

When I walked into the quilt shop, a spotted an employee who was gone for 2 years. He had a contract in another area of Nova Scotia and he rejoined the team when he got home. He is such a creative person and will be doing a lot for the store. I visited with him and a few other staff members and left. I didn't buy any fabric but I did admire a baby quilt made from Peter Rabbit fabric. It was stunning. 

I didn't buy any fabric as I am going to clean the sewing room and do a few easy projects for the next while. The next contest is Christmas stockings but I won't take part as I have made everyone stockings that needed them. That includes the dogs. 

Knitting

I did knit 5 rows last night. The afghan is growing which is nice to see. 

Thoughts

    I am having less pain every day. Everything is weak and gets tired quickly. I am trying to walk and do the stairs to help strengthen the muscles. I am looking forward to learning what I need to do next. Having less pain means I am sleeping better at night which does help.

    I am excited to get back into my regular routine. I know it will be busy for the next 2 weeks as daughter-in-law will be away and I am doing the buying and mixing of the sandwich fillings. But most days I can do my normal routine. Back to fall cleaning. 

    It is the 2nd weekend of the fair and it is another stay at home weekend or we go elsewhere to shop. The fair opened yesterday and I was nervous about the traffic congestion but I lucked out and it was easy to get around. Today and tomorrow will be another story. 

Today

I have to be out in an hour to make sandwiches and once home I need to do laundry and clean the bathroom. I also need to prep vegetables and meat to make dinner tonight. This afternoon I want to start cleaning the sewing room. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. 

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

Half The Binding Hand Sewn Down

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 19C. This morning it is partly cloudy, foggy, and 6C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 18C. 

Lifestyle

I was out the door to make sandwiches at the community hall. I got there early to start the set up and we were gone in 55 minutes. Once home, I had something to drink and put some heat on the sore muscles. 

My lawn was cut at noon and it is looking so much better than it was. We have had a lot of dew in the mornings which is great for the new seeding. It has also been cool enough that ground is not drying out that much. 

Late in the afternoon I took the mixing bowls and containers to family. I also took son his jalapeño peppers. We chatted for a few minutes and I left. 

Sewing

My day was basically consumed with the table runner. I stitched and took out stitches. My machine decided to make rat's nests on the back. I had to rethread the machine and bobbin. It happens on occasion and usually when I a rushing. It is frustrating and I need to remind myself to stop, take some deep breathes, and rethread the machine. 

I finished the quilting, fixed a couple of areas I wasn't happy with. I did a row of stitching 1/8" from the edge, trimmed it square and started making the binding. By 4 pm, I had almost half of the binding hand sewn down. 

I am going to admit that I am at the stage where I hate this table runner. I have been so focused on it, that I can see every flaw and mistake. And yes, there is a mistake in it. I want to toss it but know that once I finish it and distance myself from it, I will, once again, like it. 

Once this project is done, I will be cleaning the sewing room as it is a mess. Then it will be on to fixing the light blanket for my neighbour's horse. Something that requires no hours of focusing on tiny squares. 

Knitting

I knit about 7 rows last night. The afghan is growing and I can't wait for it to keep me warm. That might be in January when it is cold outside. 

Thoughts

    I am looking forward to doing more fall cleaning. I have missed the routine of cleaning in the morning and sewing in the afternoon. I am also going to be doing some more cooking as I have one freezer meal left. 

    I was a bit sorer yesterday as I sat for long periods of time at the sewing machine. Once I got up to make the binding, I noticed the pain subsided but it didn't go away. My SI joint and a couple of muscles were rebelling on me. I am looking forward to doing things where I can get up and move on a regular basis. 

    The fog came in early and fast this morning. We didn't get frost this morning. But the frost has done its magic. The hydrangeas have turned to a dark red and look stunning. One variety of maple trees have turned a bright orange. I drove down a street admiring the colours.

Today

I am going to finish the table runner this morning so I can get it to the quilt shop. I need to do a couple of things before I go. I am at family's for dinner and to help with the prep for sandwiches tomorrow and Sunday. I don't know if I will knit tonight. It depends on when I get home. 

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

Two Leaves Left To Do

 Yesterday was another lovely day with a mix of sun and clouds. The high got to 16C. This morning it is clear with frost and 3C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 18C.

Lifestyle

I made cookies again yesterday morning. I spent some time prepping the ingredients so I could focus on making the cookies. It works so much better for me. I had the cookies done and the dishwasher runner by 10:30 am. I am done making cookies for now. 

The only other big job I did was to take the garbage out to the curb. It was lovely and warm out there which made is more enjoyable. 

Sewing

I spent an hour in the morning working on the table runner. I got quite a bit done. After lunch, I worked on it for another 2.5 hours when I decided to stop for the day. I only have two leaves left to quilt. 

It was a lot of sitting still sewing and then knotting the threads and burying them. I got sore from sitting still for so long and called it a day early. My goal is to finish it this morning so I can start the binding in the afternoon. I move around a lot when doing the binding. 

Knitting

I knit 7 rows on the afghan last night. It is now 10" long. 

The ball is now moving from dark to light coloured yarn. That is the fun part of knitting an ombre yarn. 

Thoughts

    I only had pain when I stood or sat for too long at one time. The muscles and SI joint don't like that so I was trying to move every hour. My muscles are learning how to work in ways they haven't for many years. They do get tired and they do like to let me know about it. Rest or movement does help a lot. 

    The storm coming in is letting us know it doesn't know where it wants to land. Yesterday the weather said lots of rain Friday through Sunday and today it says showers. Another report says nothing until Saturday night and it will last for a few days next week. We are in wait and see mode with Mother Nature as she makes up her mind. 

    We have had a touch of frost for two days in a row. This type of frost gives the trees a nudge to turn their leaves into the bright colours we get in the fall. What I haven't seen or heard are the Canada geese flying over. We usually hear them in the mornings and nights. All has been quiet here though they may be heard in other parts of the area. I know they like to spend nights over by the school grandson attended. 

Today

I am out soon to make sandwiches at the hall. When I get home, I will try to quilt the rest of the table runner so I can work on the binding this afternoon. I do have to read the bylaws for the quilter's guild and respond to it. Lunch time reading. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. 

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

Nearing the Finishing Line

 Yesterday was sunny and 16C. This morning it is clear and 3C. We had a touch of frost also. Today is supposed to be sunny and 16C. Perfect fall weather. 

Lifestyle

I made cookies yesterday morning. I did enjoy the process as I prepped all the ingredients first and then mixed them up. I got 36 cookies from a half batch. I was done by 10:30 am. I am semi prepped for another batch this morning. 

I got notice that we have to make sandwiches on Thursday. That will be 3 times this week and it will be the same people making them. A bit much for volunteers to do. Hopefully the next couple of weeks will be quiet so we can rest up. 

I was sore off and on yesterday. I did my exercises and they helped some though my SI joint was really tight and sore. I stretched in bed and got 1 crack which seems to have helped ease the SI joint. Less pain this morning. 

Sewing

I spent a lot of time working on the table runner. I ran out of cream thread and had to go get more. I bought the thread for the placemat at the same time. 

The table runner is coming along nicely. I am down to the last rows which requires a lot of thread changes. 

I will keep plugging away at it changing the thread as I go. I keep reminding myself it will be done before I know it. And when it is done, I am cleaning the sewing room as it is quite messy from my creative endeavours. 

Knitting

I knit 5 rows last night. When I stopped and thought about it, that was 1500 stitches knit. I didn't take a picture as I didn't think about it. I will take one tonight if I knit. 

Thoughts

    I struggled with the pain in my SI joint yesterday. A couple of muscles were sore but not painful. Just the SI joint. I thought doing the exercises would help but they didn't. The crack last night helped. I think it is trying to release but is very tight and can't get itself back into place. I will keep doing the exercises and stretches hoping it will move back into place. Everything else is not really hurting. Muscles are tired from having to adjust to what they need to do which is normal. 

    I am looking forward to having the table runner done so I can get back to my normal routine. It was a lot more work than I had thought but I am pleased with it. My next job is to repair a light blanket for a horse and then I will work on some easier projects in the afternoon. Mornings will be upstairs doing housework and cooking. I am looking forward to getting my old routine back again. 

Today

I have to make cookies this morning and then spend as much time on the table runner as I can. I may have to go out to the hall tonight which means I may not get much knitting done. 

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

More Done On The Table Runner

 Yesterday started out with rain, then showers, then rain and finally it cleared off and was nice. The high got to 17C. This morning it is cloudy and 7C. Today is supposed to be mainly sunny with a high of 17C. 

Lifestyle

I did my balance sheet first thing and then emptied the dishwasher and folded laundry and put it away. When that was done, I laid on the bed and did some of my exercises. I noticed that I could do two of them easier and better. I did the stretch for the SI joint and then the one for the piriformis which also stretched the sore SI joint. When I sat up, I realized I didn't have one of my sore spots. I looked at my legs and they were straight out with very little soreness. Usually the right one is turned outwards. I got up and walked. Only my SI joint was sore. I started to think.

As I was thinking, I went grocery shopping. I noticed that I could walk better but didn't focus on it a lot. I got the groceries I needed and left as the store was busy. Once home, I put away the groceries and made lunch. My muscles were tired but not painfully sore. I sat on heat to make sure they were okay. The only soreness was my SI joint. 

I was out last night for the community hall's meeting. I helped put cookies into their containers for the freezer. The meeting was 30 minutes long and I was home by 7:15 pm. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon quilting the table runner. I made a lot of progress on it. I got the rows done that I had hoped to and drew 6 mores lines to quilt. I got the off white border quilted on the bottom of the table runner. 

You can see the lines where I have to quilt today. I don't have a lot left to do. There will be a lot of thread changes in the last part. 

I am happy to see the end of this quilt coming. My goal is to deliver it on Friday or Saturday. 

Knitting

I did knit last night. I got a few rows knit. It is now 8.25" long and I have started a new ball of yarn. 

I am looking forward to it being longer so it will cover my legs and keep them warm while I knit. 

Thoughts

    I did a lot of thinking about why I have no pain in my hip area. The physiotherapist had said a long time ago my hip ball may not be seated properly in the socket. She thought it was permanent and I would walk with a funny gait. I totally agreed with her about that. I think that over the past two weeks, the ball has slowly moved back into its proper position in the socket. The muscle pain I have had lately has been my body adjusting to it moving back into place. Sunday was a flare up and yesterday it was properly seated. The only pain I have is the SI joint. I am hoping that it will stop tightening up after physio in 2 weeks. I am now going to have to work on strengthening the muscles as some haven't done any work for a long time and others need to adapt to the new way I move. 

    We get 3 sunny days and then the weekend could be damp or very wet from a storm developing off the southeastern coast of the US. It could hit us or it could just move on by without bothering us too much. It is the season for these types (and worse) storms. 

Today

I have to type the minutes for last night's meeting and make a batch of cookies. I am going to quilt the table runner this afternoon and knit tonight. I really do need to make myself something for dinner the next couple of night's. I really do need to make a hearty soup as it is cool enough to have the soup pot on. 

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

Almost Half Done The Quilting

 Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 15C. This morning it is cloudy, damp, and 12C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with possible showers. The high is to get to 17C.

Lifestyle

I was out the door to make sandwiches yesterday morning. Just as we ended my glute had a terrible cramp in it and it almost put me on the floor. It came out of nowhere. I hobbled to the car when everything was done and headed home. 

At home, my neighbour brought me her horse's fly sheet to repair. We talked for a bit. When she left I hobbled to the couch and sat with heat on my sore spots. I was not a happy lady with the pain. 

I realized at about 7:30 pm I was exhausted. My emotions were all over the board; sad, angry, frustrated to name a few. By 8 pm I was in bed and fast asleep. I woke at 1:30 and then not again until almost 6 am. I do feel better this morning though I have a bit of soreness in my SI joint. 

Sewing

I spent over an hour sewing in the morning and got quite a bit done. After lunch, I drew some more lines and continued on. By 3:30 pm I was almost half done the quilting. 

I drew 5 more lines and have the bottom off white part of the border done and am ready to start on the gold part. 

I was down on the sewing floor to find a spool of thread. While down there, I hand swept all the loose threads into a pile and put it into the trash. I also picked up all the loose pins that had fallen out of the table runner. When at the cutting table I swept the floor and put it all into the trash. The trash was all put into one bag and taken out to the trash can in the garage. I did feel better doing that job.

Knitting

I knit another 8 rows on the afghan last night. It is growing slowly and the ball is getting smaller quite quickly now. 

I am waiting to see if the ball ends up being dark or light. That will help me choose the next ball of yarn. All of the wound yarn is sitting on the couch waiting for me to choose them for the afghan. 

Thoughts

    I didn't realize how exhausted I had gotten until last night. I know that I have been stressed out with the table runner. I have been pushing hard on other things. Combined it hasn't allowed me to sleep well at night. Add in pain and I had a vicious cycle happening. I have to start thinking about how I am going to deal with everything and still stay relaxed and calm so I sleep well. I do hope the pain subsides so I can do things I need to do.

    Yesterday a basking shark was spotted in the Bedford Basin in Halifax. The videos show it to be massive and it was swimming around at the yacht club. It was also spotted in the main part of the basin. They are said to be harmless but the size of it makes it look the opposite. 

Today

I am going to spend the morning doing a few things that need to be done and get a few groceries. I will work on the table runner this afternoon. I have a meeting to attend tonight and once home, I will knit on the afghan. 

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

Quilting Has Begun

 Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day with a high of 16C. This morning it is mostly cloudy and 5C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 16C. Tonight we will have rain. 

Lifestyle

It was out the door to make sandwiches. Four of us got them done in an hour. Once home I had my second cup of coffee and sat on the heating pad to help my SI joint relax. 

I was out the door around 11 am to go to the quilt shop closest to me. It was quite the drive. I went out Exit 5 onto the highway and it was busy, busy. Exit 5a ramp was full to the highway. I peeked down and saw the road Exit 5a goes into was backed up. I was happy I wasn't going down into that traffic jam. The highway was busy though as many people from the Halifax area were going to the wineries. It was a perfect day for that. 

On the way home, I noticed that Exit 5a was busy where I normally go when coming home from shopping in New Minas. I went by and the exit that was full on the way out was still full with cars backed up onto the highway. I heard it was taking people 45 to 60 minutes to get to the fair grounds. One good reason not to attend. 

I had to go out to the grocery store for daughter-in-law and I was worried about their parking lot. Usually people park in there and walk to the fair grounds. I actually was surprised that I got a parking spot close to the store. I got what I needed and headed to the hall. I visited with daughter-in-law for a few minutes and came home. She was bar tending and it was slow. I sold a water and a pop while I was there. 

Sewing

I spent a lot of time working on the table runner. Before going to the quilt shop I sewed the last border together and got it on the table runner. 

I decided that I was going to do diagonal stitching and needed thread to match the pumpkins and leaves. The reason for me going to the quilt shop was to get the thread. 

After lunch I sandwiched the table runner and got busy quilting it. What a lot of thread changes at the beginning. I got into a groove and got 9 rows done. 

The lines are hard to see and I have a few lines drawn which are the three you can see in the light blue/grey pumpkin. I have figured out I can do three rows of quilting at a time. Start at the bottom and work my way up which means less thread changes. Still a lot of work. My goal is to try and do 10 rows today. 

While at the quilt shop, I looked at the Christmas fabric. I found this fabric for the placemat challenge in December. 

The placemat I found is not a pattern, only how to make the flying geese. I will make the flying geese with the red and light fabric (flying cardinals). The print is for the center part of the placemat. I have figured out what I need to do but it won't happen until after I get the table runner done and the sewing room cleaned up. It is a mess. 

Knitting

I did knit on the afghan last night and got 6 or 8 rows knit. It is slowly growing and showing me how it will look done. The ball of yarn is getting smaller which is exciting. 

Thoughts

    My house cleaning is on hold until after I get the table runner done. It isn't bad but it isn't how I like to keep it. Once done, I will start doing house work and fall cleaning in the mornings. Until then, I am trying to keep areas clean when I am in that room. 

    I picked the peppers yesterday afternoon and enjoyed the sunshine. I got a medium sized zip bag filled for son. We were under a frost warning. It is cool and we got our first frost. The cool nights will help the leaves turn red which will be stunning to look at when out and about. 

    I realized yesterday that I have been stressed out. The table runner has consumed my life. It was a lot of work to get the top done. l know it has affected my IBS which had been pretty good all summer. I have decided that between now and the end of the year I will not be taking part in the contests. I will do the placemat challenge and a table runner class. The rest of it will be sewing with no deadlines attached. 

Today

I am out to make sandwiches this morning. Once home, I want to quilt on the table runner for most of the day so I can get it done. I have to stop early as I need to make dinner for two nights. I would love to knit tonight. 

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

Almost Done

 Yesterday was sunny and warm. The high got to 20C. This morning it is clear and 10C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 16C. There could be a risk of frost tonight. 

Lifestyle

I spent a lot of time sewing yesterday but I did go get groceries just before noon. I went my usual way and realized it was a mistake. The exhibition started yesterday and people were parking on the road and going into the grocery store parking lot to park. People were walking everywhere and it was slow going. I realized this too late as this weekend and the next on are not weekends to be shopping in town. 

The grocery store was busy but I got everything I needed and came home another way. I put it all into the fridge as most was to go to family's for sandwiches. 

And stupidly enough, I went the same route to pick up dinner. It wasn't as crazy as it would have been an hour later when people would go for the evening. The restaurant where I picked up dinner was nearly empty though it was only 4:30 pm. I am sure it would be busy with take out orders. 

Daughter-in-law and I finished making the fillings for the sandwiches and took them to the hall. We got it all put away and then we did the cookie trays. It was back to their place to watch some videos on houses in Uruguay and Argentina. These were the luxury homes where we said we might be able to afford a banana off one of the banana trees. What was surprising was how big the rooms were with some having dining room tables to seat 10 and outdoor bbq areas to seat 15 to 20 people. The kitchens were smaller in size relative to the size of the houses. It was interesting to look at the videos. 

Sewing

I worked on the table runner in the morning and afternoon. By lunch time, I had the border on the other end. I was pleased with how well it went together. 

After lunch I thought I would get two remaining yellow leaves cut out and one sewn. I was surprised that I got both the leaves sewn and attached to the table runner. 

I made great progress on it yesterday and am ready to get the thread for quilting it. This afternoon I hope to do that. 

Knitting

None done last night as I got home after 8 pm. 

Thoughts

    The exhibition held here each fall is a very long running fair. It started in 1765. It is the oldest continuously running fair in North America which goes back to 1815. I don't go now but when I did, I enjoyed watching the oxen pulls and the tractor pulls. My favourite is the oxen pulls. The owners are fabulous as they know when to stop their animals so they don't get hurt. One of the owners told us that a team can pull a specific weight one time and not the next. He said that the handler has to know when to stop the pull. 

    I am on call for the bar tonight. It is a small family reunion and daughter-in-law thinks she can do it on her own. I also put the catering for dinners into my calendar. I am not able to do one as I am out of town that day. I will help with the other 3. 

Today

I am out shortly to make sandwiches. Once home, I will finish the table runner and then head out to get the thread for it. I want to look at fabric for a class I am taking in November. This afternoon, I want to sandwich the table runner and then start quilting it. Tonight I will knit unless I need to help with the bar. 

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

A Fun Afternoon Out

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 20C. This morning it is raining and 14C. Today is supposed to be raining until noon and then cloudy with showers. The high is supposed to get to 19C. 

Lifestyle 

I spent a bit of time reading and fixing up my copy of the quilter's guild's bylaws before going out to get my hair cut. I had a nice visit with my hair dresser as we talked about gardening and decluttering. Her mom is my age or a bit older and she is decluttering her house. 

Once home, I finished looking at the bylaws and then emptied the dishwasher and folded laundry. By then I noticed my SI joint was very painful. I laid on the couch and did the 3 minute stretch for the joint and a 90 second stretch for the piriformis. Then it was on the bed to do another stretch and the two types of windshield wiper stretches. I got a good crack just as I was almost done the last windshield wiper stretch. My SI joint was really tight.  

After lunch I picked up the other lady who was helping with the bylaws and we were off to meet the third person. We met at a small coffee place which not only sells coffee but roasts their own blend of beans. We went through the bylaws with a fine tooth comb, read another set of bylaws to help us with our thoughts, and finally went through some notes that needed to be dealt with. It was then time to come home. I got home around 3:30 pm. I was tired as I was still dealing with the SI joint being tender from its workout. 

Sewing

I was downstairs to the sewing room and cut the top border fabrics. It is ready for me to sew. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got 6 rows knit. The afghan is growing in length. 

I am glad that I ripped it apart and started it again on smaller sized needles. 

Thoughts

    It is the start of crazy for me. We have to make sandwiches for 4 celebrations of life; 2 this weekend and 2 next weekend. We also have to man a bar this weekend and next weekend. Top it off with having to go to the city to get more supplies. I know we will be tired by next Sunday afternoon.

    Yesterday morning I saw a deer in the yard 4 houses down. It was a doe and she was grazing quietly on the grass. I am sure she went up to the next street to have a feast on some lush hostas. The deer are still around but in smaller numbers. They haven't been in my yard. I am wondering if I am exempt due to being closer to housing development. 

Today

I am going to work on the table runner this morning before I go to get groceries. I will do more on it this afternoon. I have to pick up dinner for tonight as I am at family's to help finish up prepping for sandwiches. I am sure we will be at the hall doing sweet trays as we are going to take the fillings to the hall tonight. I may or may not get to knit tonight. 

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

Progress On The Table Runner

 Yesterday was another sunny warm day with a high of 22C (humidex 24C). This morning it is partly cloudy and 13C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with showers and the high is supposed to get to 20C. 

Lifestyle

I got outside and swept the deck down. Then I washed the table and put it away on its side against the house. I also picked some of the ripened jalapeño peppers. I will pick the rest next week and put those tubs into the shed. 

I got the sheets laundered and the bed made in the afternoon. I did a few small chores and then went down a rabbit hole for a while. It was time to do some research on Canadian history. 

How Canada grew from the 4 original provinces to what it is today is interesting. Some provinces joined with defined boundaries. Two provinces were created after Canada bought the land from the Hudson Bay Company. This area became two provinces as they were heavily populated farming areas and could support themselves as provinces. Canada also bought the land which is Yukon and the North West Territories. These areas are not provinces as they cannot support themselves due to climate.  

I did learn a lot. Some of it was review as we did learn some of it in high school and university. Some of the information was new as they didn't teach it to us. Digging into our history is interesting. My last trip down a rabbit hole was when I read about the Confederation of Canada when in PEI last summer. We learned all about it in school but the tidbit that is skimmed over is that the paperwork was signed in PEI but that province did not join Canada until 6 years later. A whole other story. 

Last night I was at the hall to help out with the "Jam" session. This happens once a week where people come out to either listen or play music or sing for a few hours. They sing mainly country and western or old tunes. Two or three people volunteer to make coffee and sell some snacks to the people. They also do some work that needs to be done. Last night we put silicone covers on the feet of the chairs. I was there for 2.5 hours with daughter-in-law and another person and will go a couple of times a month. 

Sewing

I fixed the one block that was wrong in the green leaf. I then cut out the pieces for the next yellow leaf block. I cut and sewed that yellow leaf together trying to figure out which way the seams needed to be pressed. I had to walk away from it for a few minutes as I was not getting it. The break worked wonders. 

The other short side was put together. I am making sure that I have the leaves turned the proper way before I join it to the main part. 

The downside of having the leaves all attached is that I have to rip open half a seam when I attach a leaf. If I don't have them attached, I spend too much time running to the computer to look at the layout. It is a pain either way but I find having them attached is easier on my brain. 

The next step is to add the border piece to the top of the runner so it is finished. Then two yellow leaves and the border on the bottom. Then it can be sandwiched and quilted. 

I sat for a bit looking at the table runner and asked myself why I chose a pattern with so many small pieces in it. My study in using soft colours has worked. I didn't realize I had add a challenge of doing an intricate piecing project. At the moment I have 10 days to finish it in. I am hoping to have it done before that. 

Knitting

I did none last night as I got home after 8 pm and was sore. 

Thoughts

    I have not done a lot of fall cleaning in the kitchen as I have been trying to get other things done. I still have a few things to do outside and then I can focus on fall cleaning. The remainder of this month is busy with other things and I need to find a balance of home and volunteer work. 

    As I write this, the fog has rolled in fast and thick. I can just see across the road but not any further than that. If it keeps coming in, I may not be able to see much of anything. This is fall in our area. 

Today

I have a hair cut this morning. Once home, I need to fold laundry and do a bit of cleaning up. I am out for a meeting at 1 pm and I hope that I can sew the binding onto the top of the table runner. I hope to knit tonight.

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

Progress On the Table Runner

 Yesterday was sunny and warm. The high got to 20C. This morning it is mainly clear and 8C. Today is supposed to be sunny and 22C.

Lifestyle

I decided it was time to clean the deck. I started out emptying the pots of tomatoes and found that the wasps were enjoying the fruits. They were quite upset that I was taking away their food source so we had a talk with the spray can. They left and I finished the job. I also emptied the two containers of cucumber plants. I picked 6 cucumbers from those plants. One container's dirt was emptied into the compost bag as it was a mass of roots. The 5 containers were then put into the shed for the winter. 

I went around to the garage and got my wagon and loaded the big bag of compost into it. I struggled it down the deck stairs as it was quite heavy. I then emptied the 3 flower pots of their flowers and put away all the solar lights. I also put away my little bbq as I won't be using it. I hauled the wagon back to the garage. I was done, tired, and a bit sore. I still have to sweep the deck, clean the table and put it on its side against the house for winter. 

Just as I was finishing up, the fellow arrived to seed the lawn. He wrangled the big machine around the yard and down into the ditch. The machine slits the ground and puts seed into the slits. He also threw some seed on the worst part of the lawn so it will come in thicker. I sat and watched him for a few minutes and then rested on the couch. It took me some time to recover from the cleaning I did. 

Though I was stiff and sore, by the time I went to bed, I was fine. No tight SI joint or sore muscles rebelling from having to work. I am happy about that as I have to weed, once again, behind the shed. It is a mess around the rose bush. 

Sewing

I worked on the table runner yesterday. All the yellow and off-white squares are cut out for the half triangles. I cut out all the remaining pieces for one leaf block. I sewed, trimmed, squared and got the first yellow leaf block done. I carefully picked back part of the seam holding the green and red leaves together and attached the yellow leaf. 

Next up, I cut the strips for the border along one side. I carefully sewed the border strip onto the leaves and attached it to the main part of the table runner. 

 

It looks wonky as two leaves are not sewn together properly. I did sew them together to start with so I knew what they would look like and so the seams nested when sewn together. 

I also need to check the right top green leaf as I have a half triangle sewn in wrong. It is an easy fix. The next leaf will go onto the other end so I can finish it. We are getting there slowly but surely. 

Knitting

None done last night. 

Thoughts

    I just started sewing pillow cases for the quilter's guild. They supply the fabric and we do the sewing. It is for a good cause and it involves children. The other sewing I do is for one or two field dog clubs. The club the apron went to is the first time I have sewn for and donated to them. The other club I have sewn and donated to twice. I won't be doing anything for them this year as daughter won't be attending it. 

    I am trying to figure out if we had a shower go through last night. Everything is soaking wet and we don't get dew that heavy. The sky is pink this morning as we have rain coming tomorrow night. Perfect for the newly seeded lawn. 

    Daughter-in-law was over last night and brought my order of C-light drink that she ordered from Argentina. I also got 3 packages of cookies. We had a good visit and a couple of good laughs. 

Today

I want to sweep the deck and put away the table after the deck dries off. I need to fold laundry and do more laundry. I want to sew on the table runner today. I am out at the community hall tonight to help with at music night (called jam sessions). It is just selling water, pop, and snack food. It will be an easy day today for me. 

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

Pillow Cases Finished

 Yesterday was mainly sunny and humid. The high got to 21C (humidex 26C). This morning it is clear and 8C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 20C. 

Lifestyle

It was cooking day for me. I made a batch of meat sauce which turned out really tasty. I am trying to use up what meat I have in the freezer so I can get stock up again in December. I got 5 dishes of sauce for meals and put 3 into the freezer. 

While the sauce was cooking, I tidied up the kitchen. I did a good cleaning of the counter tops and they were dusty. With construction across the road we have dust floating in and around all the time. I also made sure that what I had fall cleaned was still staying clean. I want to get back to fall cleaning soon. 

I went out to get a couple of items from the grocery store. It was then that I felt the humidity. The grocery store wasn't very busy and I got done in good time. 

Dinner was easy last night. I had gnocchi with the meat sauce and a salad. I do enjoy meals that I make and am going to be doing more. It is time to start thinking about soup even though it is going to be warm for the next few days. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon sewing the pillow cases. I almost have a system going for them. I am not a fan of the trim as I can't get them to match at the side seam. I am thinking I may have to baste them down before sewing the cuff. They seem to shift a bit on me. 

I did stitch the trim piece down as these pillow cases will be washed a lot. The last pillow case I made, I was a bit worried as I couldn't find the rust thread. I had some on a bobbin so I used it for the top and didn't change the bobbin thread. 

I now need to put them into a zip bag and return them on October 13. 

It will be back to the table runner and the yellow leaves. It was good to have a break from it as I am now ready to work on small pieces of fabric. 

Knitting

I knit 6 rows last night and the afghan is growing slowly. I enjoy watching the yarn go from dark to light and back again. 

Thoughts

    I went down a rabbit hole researching recipes I can make that are flavourful and nutritious. I do have a list of soups I can make as I do eat a lot of soup for lunch. I have a few ideas in place for dinner. Most recipes are large and if I can't freeze them I have to eliminate them. I hate eating the same food for 5 days in a row. 

    I saw two mature deer with two babies the other day. There are a few of them still around but most seem to have moved on to a quieter area. I did notice less damage of plants in the area this year and they certainly did not come into my yard at all. The biggest reason is all the development going on around us. 

Today

I am going to start putting everything away outside. The lawn is going to be seeded today which will be nice. I want to work on the table runner this afternoon and knit tonight. 

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