Another Week Down

This was 3 hours of my day yesterday.  Using one of hubby's old white T-shirts and some other material and elastic Mom had I made a face mask for myself to wear when public (Buddy's only the model).  I know it won't protect me but if I am asymptomatic it could protect others including Mom.  I am making hubby one today.  The process wasn't pretty but now that I have it down I can make the second for hubby a lot quicker.  I used the pattern that Margy posted about yesterday and it worked except the pleats had to be had tacked as the little machine wouldn't sew that many layers.  

The final product

I haven't sewn on a machine since I was 9, 41 years ago but I do remember things.  Many years ago, like 10 or so, when my Mother-in-law was clearing out her house before she went into a senior facility (before she was diagnosed with alzheimers) she gave me this "as seen on tv mini sewing machine".  She obviously bought it off of some TV commercial or my Father in law did.  I kept it thinking I might use it for crafting which I don't do lol.  Anyhow, even with the great purge of objects last year I kept it with other sewing/mending materials in the closet.  I do actually mend lots of things, I just do it by hand sewing.  When I was I was in sewing in a 4-H club that my Mom led for one year.  I actually made a tank top.  So now I've made the second piece in my sewing career lol.  

I had a huge mess on the end of the table which is still there as after brunch I am going to do a much more professional job on hubby's.  For anyone who sews, this tiny machine sounds like a lawn mower and it doesn't even have reverse!!  Anyway, I just dealt with it. Mom has a 60 year sewing machine but it should be put in the bin as hasn't really worked in a long time and I am pretty sure Mom is not taking up sewing again any time soon. The Peek Freen cookies were for sanity....

And I had Buddy model it as when I was trying to show hubby he was being such a snoop so took the first picture.  

Wednesday I did go to see my friend that lost her Mom on the weekend.  We both needed it.  She lives about 5k away on a mini acreage so has a huge back yard that we sat in.  She just needed to talk so we talked for two hours.  It was so hard to not hug her but we managed it.  Unless we go on full lockdown I will do this every week or 10 days.  I get closer to people in the grocery store than we were so I don't see this as an issue. Mental health for both of us will be better for it.  If you have an opinion otherwise - keep it to yourself.  I am not breaking any rules, in fact, we've both been super careful to protect the people we love in our life.  We were probably sitting 10 feet away from each other the whole time.

As we are uncertain what is happening with our company we are being super careful with money, only spending on groceries and absolute necessities.  Our fun fund money that last year went to fishing and other things like eating out this year was spent on extra paint to finish the inside of the house and $40 worth of dirt for pots and for where our rhodos were taken out in the back yard.  I have pots ready to go for plants....some are being grown inside right now and others I am waiting to source.  This is the first week it has been warm.  I will plant the peas in the next few days.  It was plus 17 degrees Celcius yesterday but mornings are still chilly just above zero.

I bought 2 of these clay strawberry pots last year on our 24-hour bidding site (shut down until it is safe again) for $33 to start our vision of our Mexican style back yard (see this post for how grubby they were)  They go so nicely on our new patio.  Now I just need to find things to fill them up with.  I am thinking a plant spike(dracaena)  for the top of each one for a bit of drama then flowers around and strawberries and herbs in the little pockets.  

While I was outside in Mom's front driveway while waiting for her to take a shower ( I don't go inside her space, we talk outside only) I noticed her creeping Jenny is growing again.  This is often a plant that is used in planters to drape and hang down.  As I am trying to minimize how much money is spent on flowers etc this year I realized I have a totally free source of planter stuffers!  

Well, today is not a work day except around the house.  I am going to make a brunch of pancakes using some sour milk (I usually sour my milk with vinegar on purpose for pancakes but in this case we have some that's already sour) and leftover cranberry sauce and frozen berries from Christmas.  We are keeping our food waste to an absolute minimum and that's good to see.

I am out of most veggies though.  I have a grocery pickup order for Monday but they have terrible veggies there so it is mostly non veggie items.  I might run to the local store that has no line up and load up on veggies today and try out my new mask.

I spoke to my dentist about my half finished root canal and the fact that I have an abcess on that tooth that didn't go away, even with a 7 day course of antibiotic.  Unless I am in pain or I have a huge amount of swelling they are under a directive that they cannot work on me as all dentists are technically closed until June 1 unless emergency.  He explained although the abscess is gross it is not going to hurt me and to rinse with soda or salt 3 times a day.  So that is where it stands, and no, because he already took out the infected root I am not in pain.  The abscess is actually a good thing as it is still draining.  Compared to what others are going through this is minor so it is what it is.  Anyway, I felt much better after talking to him directly.  He is a good dentist and I trust him.


For anyone who observes Happy Easter and for all of you no matter what - Stay Safe!