A Successful Day

 Yesterday was sunny, warm, and calm. The high got to 7.4C. This morning it is -1C and, though it is to get to 7C, we are to have snow flurries. Yuck!!

Lifestyle

We had an excellent day yesterday. I got the kitchen cleaned up and the floor washed. Even the stove got pulled out and that area was cleaned. The appliances were polished where needed. 

The Spousal Unit had a happy day. He was in and out all day long enjoying the sunshine. He got the down spout extension out of the ditch and back on. He walked up and down the driveway several times and stood on the deck soaking in the rays. He kept saying how happy he was.

We worked on the puzzle and I got the edge done as he was finding it difficult (it was) and while I did that, he found pieces to go together. I was short 3 pieces of the edge and I found 2 and he spotted the last one. We called it a day and left the puzzle table in a great mood. 

Elliott has toys that he rarely plays with. He got 2 bigger mice toys for Christmas and he plays with them. Last night he was sleeping with them which he never does.

He was laying on the other one. 

Sewing

I got 2 mug rugs done yesterday. The scraps of stabilizer are used up and I will have to cut into yardage for the next 4. I brought a bunch of scraps when we moved as they were too large to toss out. 

I am fussy cutting the print so they are as centered as best as I can get them. 

They are fabric wasters. I have 2 more centers cut and need to cut 2 more along with 3 more pieces of batting. Once the cutting is done, I will have them done in a couple of hours. 

I may have to patch work the inside of the gift bag I'm making as I don't think I have enough of the red fabric left. There is some green fabric and the print left over. I will make it work. 

I didn't purge anything yesterday as I wanted to wait until I got the mug rugs and gift bag completed. I will take out the trash today for garbage pickup tomorrow. I may even get the floor swept if I have time.

Knitting

I almost jumped up and down with joy as I got the 2nd sock cast on and into the round with no issues at all. I got 12 rounds knit on it. Progress has been made. 

Today

The hope is to clean the dining area this morning. It needs to be done. I would like to do 2 more mug rugs this afternoon. Hopefully we can work on the puzzle. Tonight I will knit. All this depends on the Spousal Unit's mood.

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

A Busy Day

 Yesterday was another good day. With some sunshine, very little wind, and a high of 3.7C we were happy to enjoy the weather. 

The Spousal Unit wanted to go for a drive yesterday so off we went. He chose the route to Brooklyn to see if there was work on the road. Nothing but we looked for familiar places and wildlife. On the way home we saw 2 white tail deer. We were home before lunch. 

After lunch, the Spousal Unit wandered around outside, came in to talk, and enjoyed himself. He has depression which I'm trying to help him with. He happily did some chores for me in the kitchen last night and then we talked. It started out with him being sad (depression) but as we talked about my family he cheered up some. It was a good evening. 

Sewing

I did 15-20 minutes of decluttering yesterday. The desk got a going over. I need to buy page protectors and I can condense two binders into one. A bunch of pencils and a sketch book were given to grandson. I need to get a container for fabric to ship to the new sewer. I think one more sweep of the table will have it in better order for now. 

I also went through the 8 drawer tower and removed several items to a basket to go and a couple of items into the trash. I also tidied up the sewing machine cabinet top where I keep the things I use all the time. A few things I never use and are junk went into the trash. I sure felt better doing all that. 

The placemats have the binding on them. I can now hand sew the binding down while the Spousal Unit and I talk about things of interest to him. I find hand sewing binding relaxing. 

I looked at the cutting table and shuddered. It was full of left over fabric from the placemats. Though tidy, it was annoying me. I spent about 15 minutes cutting pieces for the mug rugs. Seeing the fabric go from large pieces down to neat piles of pieces made me happy. I still have more to cut but I am pleased to have that part of the cutting done.

Knitting

I decided to start sock #2 and spent a long time trying to get the cast on correct. I need to look at it today and decide if I need to redo it again today or if it will be okay. I really had a brain block with it yesterday. 

Today

I need to wipe down the kitchen counters really well and then wash the floor. If time, I will polish the appliances. I'm trying to plan out how to get the Spousal Unit to help me clean the pantry. It needs doing and I want him to help me. I want to keep cutting the fabric so all 6 mug rugs are ready to stitch one after another. When done cutting all the garbage and recycling can go out. Knitting tonight. What else gets done is up to the Spousal Unit. Maybe some puzzle time as we have a new puzzle to work on.

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

Sewing Binding

 A quick report of how things are going. 

The Spousal Unit got over the worst spell he has ever had. He has had a couple of spells yesterday and this morning that I have been able to talk him down and back to the real world. He told me his mind is going crazy. It is a day by day situation. 

I am tired but coping. I rest when I can and got 5 hours to myself on Saturday. I also am trying to balance cleaning the house, sewing, knitting, and doing things with the Spousal Unit. It is hard but I'm learning as I go. I know we need less in this house so will begin purging as I am able to.

Sewing

I am making progress on the placemats. Three of the 6 have binding sewn on them. 

I will hand sew the binding down while watching TV and talking to the Spousal Unit. 

I have been rustling around in the sewing room and have a few more items to donate to the quilter's guild. I have to take it over to our neighbor so she can take it to the guild meeting. I've decided, after much thought, to get rid of items I haven't looked at in the past 6 weeks. The rest I will keep and I hope that it will all fit into one 8 drawer tower. If I'm not going to use, I'm getting rid of it. 

Knitting

The doll knitting is done and I haven't been able to photograph it. I will try to get one outfit done in the next couple of days. The other sweater and hat needs a dress made to go with it. 

I have set up a pair of socks and have about 15 rows knit on the first sock. I need to set up the second sock tonight. 

To date I have knit 5.5 balls of yarn which is equal to 550 grams or 1.2 lbs. The socks will be another 100 grams. More progress has been made. I am keeping track of the amount of yarn I knit this year in the stash shrinker data base. 

Today

We are going for a drive and I hope to sew and purge a bit on the table that was set up for me to design doll clothes on. I want to knit tonight if all goes well.

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

A Tough Decison

 I have decided that I will only blog on days that I have something to show rather than daily. 

I am coping with what is happening but have my spells also. The stress and strain has me weepy, tense, sore, and upset. 

When there are good days, I will cherish them and hopefully can post a blog on what I am sewing and knitting. 

This has been a hard decision for me to make but I'm hoping that we can get things in place after our next appointment. In the meantime, it is survival mode. 

Life will get worse before it gets better. That I do know from experience. 

A Bad Start To The Day

 Yesterday was a lovely day with sunshine and a high of 6.4C. This morning it was -1C and it is suppose to get to 9C. We are to have some sunshine for it rains tomorrow. 

Small History Nova Scotia by Sara Spike

Prof Robertson of the Experimental Farm Ottawa addressed a meeting of farmers on improved methods of Dairying. New Germany Mar 11 1895.

Lifestyle

Yesterday was a lovely day with both of us relaxed. We worked on the puzzle and enjoyed ourselves immensely. This morning, the Spousal Unit is, once again agitated and upset. He is upset with me for some unknown reason and it is upsetting. It came on suddenly and startled me though it may have been building up since last evening. He is working himself into a frenzy and doesn't know what he is saying. I will cope and handle it until the spell is over with. 

I got the laundry folded and another load done. I did the sheets and cleaned up the kitchen.

Sewing

I fit in a couple of sewing sessions and got the quilting with the red thread done. One placemat has the stitch in the ditch with the green thread done. I'm slowly getting these done. 

I have realized that the Juki needs me to put the bobbin in carefully. If I do it hastily and it seems to be in, the tension is off. When I take my time, it is perfect. Glide thread is thinner than other threads and it doesn't always cooperate in the bobbin. 

Knitting

I am almost done knitting the sweater. This time I chose to put in only the top button hole and leave the sweater open. I will make a basic dress to go with the sweater. A suggestion from a doll thread I thought I would try.

Today

At this moment the plans for the day are thwarted. I am not sure what we will be doing but it seems as if it will be a survival day. We will both be exhausted when this spell is done. I will try to do some sewing and knitting to help calm my nerves and I hope to help calm down the Spousal Unit.

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

Nearly Back To Normal

 Yesterday had a mixture of weather. Sunshine, clouds, a bit of wind, and snow over night. The high was 0.7C. Today is to be sunnier and warmer with a high of 7C. 

Small History Nova Scotia by Sara Spike

Our roads are now entirely blocked with snow and our famous snow brigade with their wooden spades have been order out to clear them. McKinnons Harbor Mar 10 1897.

Lifestyle

Yesterday had its ups and down. I would get one issue sorted out, have a good spell, then another issue would come up and have to be dealt with or not. It came to a head late in the afternoon with me getting upset as I was exhausted. By 5 p.m. the Spousal Unit was almost asleep eating his meal and he started to unwind. He was more relaxed when he went to bed and is back to near normal this morning. Today is recovery day for him.

I was able to fold laundry and put it away and get 2 more loads done. The last load is not folded but it will get done today. 

Sewing

I escaped to the sewing room a couple of times to work on the placemats. I am slowly getting them quilted. Maybe today I can get a couple more done though getting one done would be alright. 

Once the placemats are done and the binding is on them, I will do the mug rugs and the gift bag(s). When all that is done, I will hand sew the bindings down while I relax and watch TV.

Knitting

I finished the Picot hat and started the sweater. I am about 5 rows short of dividing the sweater. I have been paying attention to putting the picot stitch onto the one left side. So far so good. 

The two hats are different sizes. When I'm done the the sweater, I'm going to compare the patterns and I may redo the plain hat (the smaller one). 

Today

I will get the laundry folded and do some housework. I want to sew on the placemats, need to pick up grandson from school at 2:30 p.m. and knit tonight. I'm trying to relax as my shoulders and back are sore from being so tense. Hopefully pictures today.

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

A Really Bad Day

 Yesterday the wind blew all day long and it was nerve wracking. The high got to 9.6C at midnight and it cooled off all day. This morning it is brighter, calmer, and cooler at -6C. 

Lifestyle

It has been a rough 24 hours. The Spousal Unit is having another spell. It has been building up since yesterday morning. I thought I had diffused it several times but I didn't. It got worse when he discovered his keys were missing in the evening. I found them in the tool cabinet. We talked about the keys and I thought all was well. It really wasn't. It got worse when he went to bed and after lots of soothing words, and hugs he went to sleep. This morning he is just as bad off as he was before he went to sleep. He is wandering around, looking for his keys, seeing if things are out of place and talking about people being at our place yesterday bossing him around. We have to work through to the blow up and then he will settle down. Or at least I hope he will. At the moment, these spells come a week apart.

I am trying to remain calm but I do become frustrated. He only sees and hears what he wants to. I get tired as I'm on high alert monitoring him. I get the verbal abuse as everything falls on my shoulders. I am the person in the wrong unless I challenge him about it. I worry that I don't have enough in my toolbox to help him but it seems as if I do. I will survive this, recover, and be ready for the next spell. 

Sewing

I got the second place mat done to the green thread. The third one is ready to quilt. Progress is being made.

I had to fill the bobbin yesterday and when I started quilting, the tension was off. I re-threaded the machine several times and then reinstalled the bobbin. It wasn't in properly causing the tension issues.

Knitting

The sweater has been frogged and I will knit it again after I finish the hat. I am decreasing the crown now and hope to have it finished tonight. 

Today

I am really not sure what is going to happen today. I am high alert with the Spousal Unit and his mental issues. It is a day if something gets done -- bonus. 

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