A Good Day In The Sewing Room

 Yesterday was sunny and warm. The high got to -2C (windchill -5C). This morning we have snow on the ground and it is 2C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun, clouds, drizzle with a high of 2C. 

Lifestyle

We were out to walk yesterday morning which made it two days in a row. We did 7 laps which was good for both of us. I could have done 8 but didn't as I would have had to push myself hard to do it. 

Once home and rested, I cleaned the spare room as it was time to do that job. Elliott has his litter box in there and he is a messy cat. I vacuumed and mopped and then did the hallway for the 2nd time this week. I was pleased with how tidy that area looked and that I still had energy. 

My next job was to make chicken soup using a carcass, some broth and water. I got a good size pot made which is ready for carrots and orzo this morning. 

I did get tired by the end of the day. I am over my spell of depression but am fighting this cold. It is in my head and I am trying to keep it there. It is affecting my sleep which means I am sleeping lightly most of the night. I also have a sinus headache. I hope this cold is gone soon as I am so done with it. 

Sewing

I set up the embroidery machine and stitched out the first design. It isn't a heavy design which is nice. I got the first side done in good time. 

The light was messing with the colours making the light green look white. I fiddled until I got the colours better. 

I fiddled with the design on the embroidery software and have the other side ready to hoop. 

While the embroidery was stitching, I quilted a large hot pad.

It is ready for me to sew the strips together and bind it. 

The backing and binding colours match the print on the front perfectly. 

Knitting

I got 4 of the 7 rows knit on the neckband. I was getting tired by the time I was done the 4th row.

Thoughts

    It really snowed hard last night and the berm at the end of the driveway is big. I will be shovelling snow today as I don't want it on the driveway when it turns cold tonight and then snows again on Sunday. The municipality has just put salt on the road which means the roads will be clear by mid morning. 

    This cold has certainly hit me hard. I haven't worn a mask much this winter as very few people are. I have subjected myself to the bugs and this one decided it like me enough to infect me. As it is my first cold in years, I have forgotten how tired they make a person. If I can keep it in my head, I will be happy as I hate chest colds even more. 

Today

I have to be out in less than 2 hours to help make sandwiches at the community hall. Then it will be home to shovel snow. I do not know how much I will get done the rest of the day as it depends on how tired I am. I would like to work on the binding for the large hot pad. I hope to knit tonight and try to finish the neckband. I may even nap today. 

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

Winter Depression

 Yesterday started off clear, then clouded up with flurries and wind, and then cleared off again. The temperature hung in at around -13C (windchill -24C was the coldest). This morning it is clear and -15 (windchill -19C). The wind has shifted from the NW to S and it is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of -2C (windchill -6C). Snow or rain tonight. 

Lifestyle

I was out to walk yesterday morning. I did 7 laps and called it done. I was tired from the lack of sleep and the pain the day before. I did walk well until the last lap when I struggled with my gait. 

I also went grocery shopping after walking. It was a quick trip into the store for items I needed for the next week. I will have to go back to get groceries for the meals I am going to cook next week. 

Once home, I had some fluids and then I took out the garbage and recycling. The bags were prepped to go out this morning as the wind was blowing too much to put them out yesterday afternoon. I vacuumed the kitchen and dining room floors. Then I had to charge the battery. I am surprised at how much white dust and hair gets on the floors in a day or two. By the end of the day, the kitchen was clean and the dining area was tidy. 

I bombed in the afternoon. I had a short nap which helped. I sat quietly wondering why I am short on energy and have little interest in doing things. Part is depression. I have been struggling with son's birthday (50th) and the Spousal Unit not being here. Part is stress over the news which I am trying to limit watching time. Part is food I have been eating and my body reacting to it (IBS). I ate pretty bland yesterday and it helped quite a bit. And lastly, I am fight a cold which my body has declared war against. All of this has left me feeling tired and uninterested in doing things. 

Knitting

I picked up my knitting last night. I got all the stitches picked up around the neck and the first row of ribbing done. I started on the 2nd row. It felt good having the needles in my hands. 

Thoughts

    I am feeling somewhat better mentally today. I slept well last night. I am still fighting the cold but am hoping it is almost done. I think the past 48 hours were the worst for it. I am feeling like I want to do a few things today; my mind is planning out the afternoon which it hasn't done for the past couple of days. I had this in February of last year so it is a pattern I need to monitor. I can't stop it, but I can be aware of it.

    Our weather is to warm up today and then it will be cooler again but not cold. We can expect snow, sun, clouds, flurries, wind, and, possibly, rain. It is going to be a wild mix of weather which is normal for us. We just forget that it happens and complain about it each winter. 

Today

I am back out to walk this morning as we can't tomorrow. Once home, I would like to do some cleaning upstairs. This afternoon I want to sew. Tonight I hope to knit on the vest.

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

Osteo-Torture

 Yesterday was sunny but the temperature dropped all day as did the windchill. At 3 pm it was -3 (windchill -8C). This morning it is clear and -11C (windchill -17C). Today is suppose to be clear, windy, and -11C (windchill -19C).

Lifestyle

Daughter-in-law picked me up and we went to osteopathy or should we say osteo-torture. I was on the table first and the therapist had to separate two of the  muscles in the hip flex group. That was painful with her having to stop so I could stretch my leg. It was going to cramp big time. She finished up the session saying she got them back into their correct places. I had hoped so with all the pain I endured. Daughter-in-law had osteo-torture also on her back. When done, we left for home sore and tired. 

The trip home was beautiful. Sackville had more snow than us and the trees were white with snow. They actually looked gorgeous in the sunshine. We admired them until we got closer to home as we didn't have snow. It missed us during the night. 

I had a good sleep in the afternoon as the treatment left me exhausted. When I woke up and came to, I was still tired but had way less pain. The treatment worked which is great. 

I did work for 30 minutes in the sewing room. I hooped stabilizer on a hoop and got the shirt on in the right place and position. It was quite a bit of work to get it correct. I am now ready to export the design to the machine and start stitching. 

I was outside to scrape the ice off the garage end of the driveway and to salt it heavily. It was a sheet of ice that was partly melted in some spots. I also did the walkway as it was slippery when I came into the house. Hopefully I can scrape it on Thursday before it snows. 

I did not knit last night as I was too tired. I am fighting a cold  and am not the brightest person in the evenings. I will get back at it soon. 

Thoughts

    I am thankful that I have a great osteopathy therapist. She may make me sore but she does get things back into place. I see her 3 weeks after my next physiotherapy session and then the last week before she goes on maternity leave. She is off for 4 months and will be missed by her clients. 

    I am fighting a cold at the moment and am hoping that I will win the war against it. I had thought it was allergies to the fine dust in the house due to the heat pump but I am thinking it isn't. I will get over this as I do have a good immune system. 

    Our weather is bonkers. Cold today, warming up to snow and then back to below the normal range for a bit. It is February and it is our winter weather month. I'm over winter but need to grit my teeth and keep the driveway cleared of snow and ice. 

Today

We are out walking this morning and then I will get a few groceries. I hope to sew a bit this afternoon but doubt if I will knit tonight. I had a bad night's sleep so will probably go to bed early tonight. 

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

Prepping Small Projects

 Yesterday was a mix of sun, clouds, and a few snow flurries. The high got to 1C (late last night). This morning it is cloudy and 1C. Today we are supposed to have the mix of sun, clouds, snow flurries and a high of -1C. It is suppose to get cold again tonight. 

Lifestyle

I made myself move all day long. I was exhausted from not sleeping well the night before and wanted to sit and do nothing. I started the morning out by folding laundry which is still in the tub. I still don't know why I didn't put it away. 

Next up, I took the dining room apart and cleaned it thoroughly. There was a layer of white fluff on everything from the heat pump. I dusted it off, vacuumed the floor and mopped it good. I even did the hallway. I am glad it is done as everything looks and feels much cleaner. 

My friend was over mid morning and I helped her fix a quilt that she is going to free motion quilt. We got it sandwiched properly on the basement floor. She can now work on it at home. 

I was outside in the afternoon to scrape the last bit of snow off the driveway and put salt down on the icy parts. I didn't need to do the job but it got me outside in the fresh air rather than napping on the couch. I was at the point where I was doing anything to stay awake. 

Sewing

 I spent a lot of time getting small projects ready to sew. My first project was to cut out a doll's jacket from some very expensive faux suede. I am not sure if I will keep the large scrap or the yardage I have as it wasn't a pleasant experience to work with. 

I cut out the lining pieces from quilter's cotton. 

Next up was to cut out a simple rabbit and get it ready to embroider the face. 

Then I cut out the Luna Lapin's (Anika) body pieces. I need to watch the video on how to construct it. 

The final project was to cut out a large hot pad and sandwich it ready to quilt. I even cut the binding strips. 

The backing is really cool. 

The next thing I need to do is clean off the cutting table as I have some laundered fabrics on it. I can't sew them until after the embroidery is done. 

Knitting

None done last night as I was too tired.

Thoughts

    I found a new YouTube show to watch called Duncombe House Diaries. It is full of humour and history as a young couple set about restoring an English country estate home. I binge watched it and enjoyed all 6 of their videos on the house. They have other playlists which includes the treasures they have found. 

    My IBS is settling down a bit. I did sleep all night which was wonderful. I know it is stress related and that I need to be careful how much I let the news bother me. A bit is also food but I am not sure what foods are irritable. I may have to go back onto a rice and chicken diet to figure out the food part. I know we are living in uncertain times. 

    We were suppose to have snow last night and we didn't. My driveway is basically bare with no new snow on it. The back deck has no new snow on it. We are to have flurries this afternoon and the temperature is to drop and be cold for 24 hours. It will be the windchill that will get to us. 

Today

I am out this morning for osteopathy. I am going with daughter-in-law so don't know our agenda for the afternoon. If I am not too sore and tired, I will try to set up the first hooping to embroidery. I hope to knit tonight. 

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

Getting Ready to Embroider

 Yesterday was clear and sunny with a high of -9C (windchill -16C). This morning it is cloudy, calm, and -10C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun, clouds, and flurries with a high of -1C (windchill unknown). 

Lifestyle

I did the balance sheet yesterday morning and was stumped that it wouldn't balance. I finally found that I had put in a 9 instead of a 0. The month of January was done and I did better than I had thought I would. I bought only what I needed in all areas. I am hoping to do as well this month (no purchases yet). 

I did 2 loads of laundry which still need to be folded and made a pot of chowder. I got 4 lunches from the pot I made. I had one yesterday and it was delicious. I cleaned up the kitchen and it was almost noon. 

I did look at my menu plan for the next 2 weeks. I don't have to buy much but I do need to look at the meat in the freezer. Some of it is old and is probably freezer burned. I may have to get rid of it and start again with a new plan on how to buy meat. I am working on it in my mind right now and need to do a bit of a plan for that. 

I was over to see my friend yesterday afternoon and we had a good visit. On my way home, I had to walk like a penguin as their driveway was icy. I am sore from that -- muscles were tightened up. 

Daughter finally got her robotic vacuum cleaner I gave her for Christmas going. She called it Harriett the hair chariot. She is super happy with how well it vacuums the dirt off the floor and has it set to vacuum daily. She is going to set it up to mop three times a week. They are going to get another one to do the living room as it is sunken and this one can't get down to it. 

Sewing

I traced the body pieces for Anika onto the fabric and it is now ready to cut out. I also checked the fabric for the next large hot pad and it is ready to cut. I need to spend a bit of time cutting out so I can sew while embroidering. 

Knitting

I picked up the stitches down one side of the neckline. It took three tries to get the right number of stitches. I am now ready to pick up the stitches on the other side. 

Thoughts

    We are to have 6 weeks more of winter according to our local groundhog. Not surprising as it was sunny and we get winter for 6 to 8 weeks more every year on Feb. 2. Winter usually comes after Christmas and leaves sometime in March. 

    I was going to order the same robot vacuum cleaner as I got for daughter. It was on sale yesterday for the same price as I paid for hers. Not today so I wait for another sale. My plan with it was to use it in the basement when I got the one I want for upstairs. It was a case of you snooze you loose. I will continue to vacuum with my stick vacuum cleaner. 

    My IBS is out of control once again. It is stress related as I worry about things out of my control. I am reminding myself of that several times a day. I am not relaxing and this causes me not to sleep well at night. I need to work on relaxing and work on only those things I have control over. 

Today

We are not walking this morning as daughter-in-law is busy with her job. I will do some housework and fold laundry. I want to cut out projects this afternoon so I can be ready to work on them while the embroidery machine is stitching out. I may go out and walk a bit this afternoon if it is warm enough. I am not sure if I will knit tonight as I am tired from not sleeping well last night. 

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

A Slow Moving Day

 Yesterday started out with snow and ended up sunny. The high got to -7C (windchill -12C). This morning there is light clouds and -13C (windchill -19C). The coldest temperature overnight was -16C (windchill -22C). Today it is suppose to be mainly sunny with some wind with a high of -8C (windchill can go as low as -28C). 

Lifestyle

I moved slowly yesterday morning. I tidied up the kitchen, vacuumed the floor and mopped it. I also did some spot cleaning in the dining and living areas. It was mostly to get rid of foot prints. Late in the afternoon, I cleaned the stairs down to the front entry. They were dirty with salt on them. I still have the front entry to do as the floor is white with salt. 

I did have a nap yesterday afternoon. I was exhausted from being up late and from the scare of the fall. I was really slow to wake up as I must have slept deeply. I slept okay last night but didn't have the deep sleep I normally get due to the nap.

My soreness improved over the day. I alternated between resting with heat on the sore spots and walking around the house. It paid off as the pain is almost gone and I didn't need any Tylenol until this morning. 

Sewing

I spent a bit of time in the sewing room. I got the body of the rabbit I am making printed onto tag. It is cut out ready to trace on the fabric. I also took the left over fabric from the ears and soles of the feet and traced a simple rabbit onto it. It is ready to cut out. I also starched and pressed two pieces of fabric to make another large hot pad. 

I getting ready to have projects to work on while the design stitches on to the shirt. I am at the point of cutting them out and ready to sew.

Knitting

None done last night. 

Thoughts

    The cold weather is here for today and then gone. The downside of this is periods of rain or snow which could be icy conditions. I am sure there will be lots of salt poured on to the roads in the next week. 

    I did a huge brain dump on meal planning for the next 2 weeks. I have everything I need for this week and will have to put together a shopping list for next week. I am hoping that I can keep up with my planning and having a few meals in the fridge/freezer each week. I have to still focus on the freezer as I have lots to use up in it. I have used a lot of the chicken broth I had made last fall. Now to use the rest of the food I have stored in there. 

    My hip improved yesterday and most of the pain I had prior to the fall has gone. I did stretch my leg a lot during the day but not as hard as I had been. I think the fall jarred a few parts back into the right spots. I know I was lucky not to have done damage to my hip area. The bonus is not being as sore as I was. 

    It seems as if there will be uncertainty of how the economy will look due to the tariffs that are being implemented between the US and Canada. It is unfortunate it is happening as both countries' economy is going to be affected. Hopefully what is happening will be short lived. We do not need to have a recession which is being predicted.

Today

I need to do the balance sheet, more cleaning, and some laundry. I want to prep for sewing and do a bit of clean up in the basement. I would like to knit tonight. I still need to balance resting my hip with activity. I hope to knit tonight. 

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

A Wonderful Surprise Birthday Party

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 1C. This morning it is snowing and -10C (windchill -14C). It is supposed to be snowy this morning and then flurries. The high is to get to -9C (windchill -18C). 

Lifestyle

I walked 9 laps at the arena yesterday morning. Once done, I took the car to the repair shop and went with daughter-in-law to grocery shop. I returned to the repair shop and the car was ready. It has passed the inspection and is in good condition. It also had an oil change. I got home about 11:30 am. 

I worked on a fun thing for son as we were having a surprise 50th birthday party for him. I got coins and made him a fun card. The front of the card represents that he was born the year we had 4' of snow fall. It was the month that Glenn Campbells song Rhinestone Cowboy was #2 on the charts. 

The inside was fun to do. It represents his birthday 02-05-75 and that he is 50. The polar bear represents it was -40F on the day he was born. 

I was over to family's about 4:45 pm for dinner. We had chicken enchiladas and they were excellent. After dinner, daughter-in-law and I went downstairs to go into the hot tub. We spent the next hour blowing up balloons and decorating the 2nd unit. 

People started to arrive about 6:30 pm and the dealers for the fun casino night arrived before 7 pm. Daughter-in-law called son down to check a leak in the toilet and we surprised him. The fun began. We headed upstairs to let the two men set up the two tables for casino night and had birthday cake and presents. He got some fun gifts. After a bit of a visit, we headed downstairs to have fun. 

On the way down stairs, I missed the bottom step and landed on my butt on the floor. No damage done except to my pride. Once the initial pain subsided, I was fine. Several of us watched the men and boys play and we laughed. One of the ladies and I visited and her husband was in and out of the conversations. It was a wonderful evening. I got home at 9:30 pm to put heat on my hip and take Tylenol. I slept quite well. Everyone left about an hour later as there was a snow storm coming in. We were all thankful that the snow held off until everyone got home (or near home). The forecast for several days stated it would start snowing heavily in the afternoon. 

It snowed most of the night. Big dry flakes. My neighbour has shovelled his driveway, did mine, and went across the street to shovel out our neighbours so they can get out. I will see if I can shovel the deck this afternoon as it should help my sore muscles and give me some fresh air. 

Today

I am going to try and clean some of the house today and see if I can shovel snow later this afternoon. I am not sure what I will get done in the sewing room today. I may try to knit tonight if I'm not too tired. I am monitoring myself today. 

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