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....................................................................