Prepared

After another nice day, we are starting to see Hurricane Dorian's arrival. It was 13C this morning and we are having light rain fall and there is wind. We will be expecting it in full force later today. 

Lifestyle

We are ready for what ever comes. The generator is in the shed for easy moving to it's location if the power goes out. We won't use it until the storm has passed. 

The flower pots are off the deck and stored between the house and the deck. 

The pots at the garage are in the garage. We've done all we can and have to wait and see what happens. 

Sewing

I went and got the fabric for the bag yesterday. 

I also worked on the mug rug and got the binding on. I watched this video. At 9 minutes she shows you how to do it. It works but I've sewn right side to wrong side and then had a twist in the binding when I did it right. Carefully picking and thinking got it right. I'm ready to hand sew the binding down. The napkin is ready for me to mitre the corners and sew down the hem. Almost finished!! 

Knitting

I have the hat knit to 6" and am ready to decrease for the crown. Hopefully it will be done in the next couple of days. 

Today

I have a bit of cooking to do and some clean up. Then I can sew and get a few things ready to hand stitch. If the power goes off, I will be doing nothing as the light will be awful. We will not run the generator until after the storm passes. Nova Scotia Power is fully prepared and ready to go so we hope that our power will only be out for a short period of time if it happens to be knocked out.
Until the next time...................................

Mug Rug Progress

Yesterday was a lovely sunny day. The high got to about 21C and the low this morning was 9C. Some high thin clouds are starting to show this morning as we prepare for Hurricane Dorian to be here sometime tomorrow.

Lifestyle

I was out the door yesterday morning to get groceries just in case we loose power on Saturday. I also bought 36 bottles of water and need to find the coffee pot in case we have to make coffee on the BBQ. We are prepared though I have a few things to cook that we can eat cold. 
The Spousal Unit picked tomatoes and they are in the garage. I will make tomato sauce starting next week. I wasn't planning on it but the crop of tomatoes is more productive that I had thought they would be. 
I can tell that Dorian is coming. My knees started to hurt a bit last night and were sore throughout the night. They will ache until the storm hits but I will live with it. 

Sewing

I started the mug rug yesterday and am ready to cut the binding and put it on. The pattern was fairly easy to follow. Choosing which fabrics go where was the hardest part. 

The binding will be from the fabric on the right side. There is also a napkin to go with the mug rug. 

I have turned under 3/8" and am ready to turn under 1" more. Then I will make mitered corners and stitch down the hem. It gets folded and put in the pocket. When this is done, I will be finished sewing for the fall fair. 
I had thought I would be cleaning the sewing room but.....I have to sew a custom bag for my friend (#2 for her) and test a doll's dress pattern. I want to get the fabrics today. 

Knitting

I worked on the hat last night and am about 1" short of starting the crown decreases. Once I got onto the pattern and watching the pattern, it became an easy knit. 

Today

I want to get fabric and do some cooking in preparation for the storm. We don't know if the power will go out or not so I want to be prepared. 
Until the next time............................

Starting The Mug Rug

Yesterday started out cloudy and damp. It cleared off and was a delightfully sunny day. During the night, we had a shower go through and the temperature went from 19 to 21C. It looks like it is going to be sunny today. The calm before the storm on Saturday. 

Lifestyle

We headed out to Coldbrook yesterday morning to visit the used bookstore. The Spousal Unit loves that store as it is well organized and full to the brim of books. He is collecting a series called The Canadians. We got all but one of the books needed to finish. We stopped in Wolfville's used books store and slugged our way down to the back, moved some boxes and found the copy we needed. We were home for a late lunch and were happy campers. 
We invited our neighbors with 2 young children in to pick tomatoes last night. The children had a great time picking them. They went home with some carrots and potatoes also. Our thank you is the happiness on their faces. 
I had a nap after we ate as I was tired. I'm sure it is food related and not sleeping as well as I want. I eliminated everything but wheat/grains and cheese. We will see how this goes but I'm going to eliminate them this week. 

Sewing

I am ready to start the mug rug. I went for lobster fabric and a stripe and did well. I may have enough for 2 mug rugs. 

I am also going to start testing a pattern which will fit both American Girl and Gotz dolls. I'm doing the Gotz doll size. I'll be prepping for it so I can start Sunday. 

Knitting

I'm knitting happily on the hat and have a couple more inches to knit before I can decrease. 

The pattern hasn't caused too many issues lately though I did a silly mistake and caught it right away. 

Today

I'm heading out early to grocery shop so we have some basics here when the storm hits. Then it's home to work on the mug rug and knit. 
Until the next time.................................

Ready To Start The Next Project

Yesterday was cloudy and warm. We had a few showers and a high of 22C. It was warm overnight with a low of 17C. Our weather is as such that we will feel the effects of outer edge of the hurricane on Saturday. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday I cleaned the stairs and front landing. Though not a big area, it is time consuming as it collects dust, cat hair, grass, thread, and other interesting items on it. 
Mid afternoon daughter-in-law and I headed into Bedford and were back by dinner time. One of our fastest trips. We enjoyed our time together. 

Health

Though my IBS attacks are still happening, they aren't as bad as they had been. Onion is the worst offender. I have been tired lately so am going back to basics for the next while. I have added quite a few foods back into my diet and there is a combination that is bothering me. It isn't my thyroid as I feel great and don't have to push myself to do things. I'm pretty sure it is diet. 

Sewing

I finished the make-up brush roll. I spent a lot of time hand sewing the binding down so the stitching wouldn't show on the right side. I added a few crystals as a touch of bling. 

I am ready to begin the mug rug which means a trip to buy two or three fat quarters (allowed). This may be the last item for the fall fair though I may do the vest if I have time. I have everything for it in the stash. 

The Sewing Room

Once I am done with sewing for the fall fair, I am going to spend some quality time (several days) in the sewing room and clean it up. I have a 6 bin cube coming to put into the closet and I need to order a desk. The cutting table needs cleaning off and ready for doll and bag sewing. I have a lot of things to do down there to have it ready for the next few months of sewing. 

Knitting

I knit quite a few rows successfully yesterday and am happy with how the hat is turning out. I will have it done by Sunday if all goes well. When it is done, I am back to finishing up projects that a waiting for their turn. 

Accountability

• Doll's outfit - Done
• Lady bug shopping bag - Done
• Knitted doll's dress - Done
• Reading Pillow - Done
• Messy Bun Hat - Done
• Embroidered Make up brush bag - Done
• Children's hat - Half Done

• Child's vest - if time
• Any article Sewn - Mug Rug - Ready to start

Today

We are heading out to the book store, fabric store, and library today. Then home to start prep on the mug rug and knitting this evening. 

Embroidery Project Nearing Completion

Yesterday alternated between sunny and cloudy with a high of 22C. It cooled off to 19C last night and  at 4 a.m. I woke to it raining. We are suppose to have showers today. Everything will be happy to get the moisture once again. 

Lifestyle

I spent the morning doing laundry and some tidying up. I did get most of the floors swept. I have the stairs left to do. It is time to do a big amount of housework.
After supper, I went out and did a tiny bit of adjusting to the brick around the shed. I need a bit of time out there to think about the finishing touches for next year. 

Sewing

I got some quality time in the sewing room yesterday. It was nice to have the time in there. 
I worked on the make-up bag and had to redo the binding as it was on the wrong side and then take out the hand stitching as it showed up on the right side. I have about 1/4 or less of the binding left to hand sew down. 

Though I love the fabric for the piping, it is not printed on grain and is not straight for the lining. It will do though I know it will not get full points at the fair. Lesson learned. I do hope to finish it today and then start preparing for the next item -- a mug rug using lobster fabric. 
I've been looking at the Couture Sewing Academy course also. I'm looking forward to working on it. I am going to work on historical items (1850-1890) and use some couture techniques on them. I'm not going to turn on my serger while doing this. It is a challenge. 
My first project will be drawers/pantalettes. I am starting with McCalls 7227 (out of production but can be bought on Etsy). 

I'm doing the first pair in broadcloth with no lace and will buy cotton or cotton linen for the good pair. The seams will french seams and all hems will have 1/4" turn under before the the hems are sewn down. 

I'm really looking forward to working on these and will use two more patterns that are more complicated when I have mastered the alterations I need to make for these. 

Knitting

As I knit (quite successfully) on the hat last night, I binged on When Calls the Heart on Netflix. A break from watching Time Team while knitting. The hat is about half done. 

Today

We have some tentative plans but they may or may not happen. It is a day that will unfold in its own way.
Until the next time.........................

A Busy But Fun Day

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day with a high of 22C. This morning it is 9C and foggy. It is suppose to be about 22C today with increasing cloud. We are suppose to get rain starting tonight. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday, I spent the day prepping for dinner. I wanted to treat the family to a Charcuterie board. It ended up filling the table so we called it the Charcuterie Table. 

I hauled everything including dishes over to the family's house and grandson and daughter-in-law helped me put it together and on the table. What a lot of fun we had. 

When you do a Charcuterie board, you have to something new to try. I got cranberry pepper jam (good) and son added beet chutney he made (very good). 
The deal was paper plates and napkins and plastic utensils. We used one metal spoon. Clean up was a breeze and the kitchen was under control in a half an hour. 
Table talk - Christmas dinner. We will have snacks for lunch and roast chicken for dinner. 

Sewing

I did not step foot into the sewing room yesterday. But, I did watch a video from the Couture Sewing course on seam finishes. I need to finish this course starting later this fall. 
I also wandered into the spare bedroom and looked at the lobster fabric I bought. I think I can make a mug rug out of it. That is next on the list. 

I would love to do a no-buy September to see if I can do it. 
Rules:
Don't buy any:

• Patterns
• Large pieces of fabric (a couple of small pieces is okay to finish a project or two)
• Embroidery thread
• Yarn
• Trims

Remember:

• You have everything in the stash to sew something. 
• You are wanting to reduce the stash
• You have 4.3 meters cut out to sew if you get stuck

Tempetations:

• New fabric in stores
• Mind thinking of new ideas - write them down for future reference
• Want before need

I do know that I will be buying more interfacing for the bags I have to make plus thread for projects. That is allowed. 

Yesterday was great as I was busy with dinner preparations. Today will be great as all stores are closed in Nova Scotia to celebrate Labour Day. 

Knitting

It was a night of knit and unknit so I don't think I gained on the hat's length. 

Today

I need to do some housework and I'd like to sew. But the dreaded hedge is calling me so I might do an hour of weeding in it. 

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

Landscaping the Shed - Done

Yesterday was another warm day with a high of 24C. There was a lovely wind that drove the humidity down to 43%. This morning it is a cool 11C with clear skies. Another lovely day for us. 
I just looked at the record high temperatures for here. In 2010, they had a stretch of hot weather with temperatures in the low 30C range. 

Lifestyle

As it was sunny and somewhat cool, we headed out to work on the shed's landscaping. We took a break at 11 a.m. and when noon came, we were one brick short of our original plan. I had forgot about needing 3 bricks at the back of the shed so my guess of 48 bricks was exact for the plan. After a quick lunch, we headed to the building supply store and found, much to our delight, 31 more bricks. We bought them all as we will need them later on. We wanted a couple of bags of rock to fill in some spots. No rock until Tuesday or Wednesday. We finished up the shed, put back the pots and admired our job. 

There are 6 solar lights and some larger blue pots to go into this area. I will also put a shepard's hook pot hanger in each of the pots by the door for hanging baskets. 

That job is now off the "do do list" and next up is the dreaded hedge. It needs the weeding and trimming finished. 
Later in the afternoon, the neighbor took the Spousal Unit to get 2 more raised garden beds. They are 3x5 feet in size and were on clearance for $60.00 each (regular $225.00). The neighbor got one for their yard. The Spousal Unit is happy to have all the vegetable beds he had hoped to put in the back yard. 

Health

Though I am stiff and sore from all the crawling around and packing items, my sciatic issue is pretty much gone. What I'm suffering from is being in poor shape. My IBS symptoms have calmed down and I now am going to focus on loosing the weight I gained while being in pain. 

Sewing

Yesterday, I cut the binding for the make up case and it is laid out ready to sew together. I also finished hemming grandson's school pants. 
I have one more project to sew for the fall fair -- a mug rug. Once it's done, I will clean the sewing room and get back to making bags and planning my doll sewing projects. I'm really thinking about which way I want to take my doll sewing. 
August Sewing Total
Sewn - 7.45 meters
Cut-      4.30 meters
Total-  11.75 meters
Year Total (including the cut fabric) 52.45 meters
I'm pleased with what I have sewn from the stash this year. 

Knitting

I knit about 5 rows on the hat last night. The pattern is established and I seem to have no issues with it. I have also memorized it and the pattern flows well now. I have about 1.5" knit and need 4.5" more before I can start decreasing. A few more nights of knitting on this hat. 

Today

No outside work today. It is a rest day from that. Instead, I will be working indoors, shopping, making dinner for us and family. Sewing and knitting will be a bonus. 
Until the next time..........................