Knitting

Pray Tell

November 26, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S GOING ON

I’ve not posted in at least a week, probably a little longer, because I had a flare of my ischemic colitis and ended up in the hospital for exactly seven days, getting out (barely) in time for Thanksgiving last Wednesday, believe it or else, being discharged at midnight. I had pretty much prepared myself to spend at least one more night since it was so late and all, but the nurses took pity on me and had the paperwork all ready for me when the time came. It turned out to be so late because I had to have a blood transfusion (my first and hopefully only) before they’d let me be go. Did you know it takes 2 1/2 hours from start to finish with a transfusion? Yeah, a long time, especially when you don’t get started until 9:30 p.m, because the computer system was down for a while and set everything back a couple of hours. Odd feeling really, I kept looking at the bag and wondering about the donor, who they were, how old, did he/she work, etc. Because someone donated a pint, I got to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with all the grands, with parents and other grandparents in tow. The Papoose’s other set of grandparents, Grandmary and Pops, were kind enough to host our dinner on a minute’s notice, with the usual grace and sweetness. Pops and Grandmary, we’re all blessed to be part of the family. Love you so much. Shameless plug – if you are able and willing, please donate a pint of blood, it means so much more than just a little stick and 30 minutes of your day, it could mean someone else can be with loved ones on a holiday or offer a second chance after illness or an accident. When (if) I’m cleared to do so, I’ll be trotting down to our local Red Cross and doing my part, you can bet on that.

THE GRANDS

Enough of that, look at our darlings –

Babydiva, who by the way started crawling yesterday.

Babysis, seven weeks old and so sweet.

The Papoose, who kept us all in line.

Mr. Iknead and I have been consulting with Santa over the past week, good things are in the works, you’ll just have to take my word for it. Ho ho ho! We’ve heard it through the grapevine that we’ve all been very good this year and he’s making a list and checking it twice. I can’t wait!!!

WHAT I FORGOT

I had a follow up visit with one of my doctors this morning to go over tests and stuff and as of today, I’m on medical leave at least until 12/10, which is my next appointment with him. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I’ve been set to retire 12/20 and so have been eagerly anticipating that date and now, all of a sudden, it could come about before then. Part of me is OK with it and part of me is sort of disappointed, that this is not at all how I’ve planned it. What is it that they say about making plans? Something about if you want to make God laugh, make plans?

So, that’s what’s up in Ikneadland and I’ve decided to just go with the flow. Remember – It’s all good.

Keep on truckin’. R. Crumb

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/14/12

November 14, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

First up, the Adamas shawl, about 2/3 finished –

Pattern close up –

Number 2 WIP, scrap yarn granny squares, probably ending up as a scarf –

As an aside, I haven’t crocheted in years, but I was happy that it came back to me pretty quickly. A nice change from my bigger knitting projects every now and then.

Check out Tami Amis for more cool WIPs.

I promise to keep on living as though I expected to live forever. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up wrinkles the soul. Douglas MacArthur

Knitting

Through the phone

November 13, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT I SEE

I’ve gotten into the habit on the weekends to take my iPhone instead of my iPod on my walks and have been taking pictures of things that grab my attention. I’ve learned that what catches my attention are more patterns and colors and not entire images. Example: On my Saturday walk, this pine cone caught my eye, but not the whole thing, just the sort of spiral pattern on one end –

The colors of this plant, maybe some sort of ornamental cabbage?, was what first caught my eye, this was my first impression photo, one where I didn’t know that the zoom was activated; so, the pic was a total surprise when I got home and looked at it.

I went back to get another look and got the whole plant this time. Somehow, it’s not nearly as interesting or intense as a whole. The zoomed photo makes me think of pictures of giant clams in the ocean I’d see in National Geographic when I was a kid, with a row of eyes along the edge of their shells. Can you see them?

I see a mosaic in this tree’s leaves.

BABY GRAND

Here’s the latest installment in Babysis, seven weeks and sooooooooo cute! Is there anything sweeter than a new smile?

A laugh is a smile that bursts. Mary H. Waldrip

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/07/12

November 7, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Adamas Shawl

Not so much knitting time these past few days, I seem more even more distractable that usual. This usually requires a little bit more alone time, something that’s been in short supply lately. But, as always, it’s all good.

Check out Tami Amis blog for more cool WIPs.

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning. Gloria Steinem

Knitting

Vote

November 6, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

MY TWO CENTS

If you haven’t already, get out and vote today! Yeah, it’s that important.

We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America

Knitting

Busy, busy, busy

November 5, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

STICK A FORK IN ME

because I’m done. Very busy Sunday and accomplished much. First of all, I took advantage of the cooler weather (low 60s) to clean my oven, which was not a moment to soon. It’s a self cleaner but it gets so hot and heats the house up so much that I let it slide until cool weather. Like I said, not a moment too soon. I’d fixed au gratin potatoes on Saturday night, which were excellent by the way, but it cooked over in the oven and coated the bottom with cheese sauce. Needless to say, smoke billowed out when it got good and into its cleaning cycle. Made me a little nervous, even though I knew it would happen. Now, though, I have a nice, clean oven to start getting messy again.

Then, using the domino theory, I decided to bake some bread to take advantage of the warmer than usual kitchen. Then, instead of plain old white/wheat bread, since I had all the ingredients on hand, I decided to tart it up and ended up making three loaves of whole wheat raisin and oat bread (it made a huge amount). Naturally, I had to record it for posterity –

Ready for first rising

Ready for second rise –

Ready for the oven

Finally, out of the oven and cooling

Turned out nicely and it seemed to be a hit at the Sunday night meeting. I even remembered to take butter to put on the still warm bread. I think they liked it. Now, what next…

I made Babydiva a bracelet out of some spare beads I had –

Turned out to be really sweet. I hope she’ll wear it and not decide it’s something good to eat. Can’t take a chance on that. I think, though, she’s enough of a girly girl to wear it. She’s so cute I can’t stand it!

Lastly, I decided to get the jump on Monday morning and laid out my clothes and got my lunch together. The best time to prepare for Monday morning is Sunday evening in our household, I always say. Hardly ever happens, but still…………..

Formula for success: Underpromise and overdeliver. Thomas Peters

Knitting

The hurrier I go

November 2, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

BACK IN THE DARK AGES

When I was a kid, an aunt that I was close to and visited often had a little sign in her kitchen that read, “The Hurrier I Go, The Behinder I Get”. It always made me giggle because I thought it was so silly. How can you get more behind when you hurry? Now, though, since I’m living proof that you can, in fact, get further behind when in a hurry, it’s perfectly logical and I try to remember its corrollary (I think that’s what it’s called), “Slow Down, It’ll Happen”. All this is leading up to is the confession that I didn’t get anything that was on my list done, but, I got to feed Babydiva her noon bottle (getting lots of kisses at the same time), spent time with my sweet DIL who graciously modeled Pretty Maids for me to photograph and fixed a mistake on my just started Adamas shawl, getting it back on track and ready to work on again. A good day all around.