Month: February 2013

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 2/27/13 and the Setting in of Antsiness

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WHAT’S UP

Me, that’s what.  Today’s the first day I’ve really felt nearly back to normal, at least as close to normal as possible being only a week out from major (from what I’ve been told) abdominal surgery.  Yeah, every once in a while, mostly when Josie needs to be more comfortable, my belly reminds me that it’s been much put upon in the past week or so and that perhaps I need to give up being the official recliner/throne/bed of the Empress, at least for an hour or so.  All things considered, I do think I’m doing well, but I’m getting restless, not really bored, but I want to do a bunch of things Mr. Iknead has made me promise not to do for a while and, well, I try to keep my promises so today I had to be satisfied with piddling around in the kitchen but not baking and making a grocery list, but not shopping.   I’m sort of embarrassed to complain about things like that, just being retired and learning to be a SAHW, but I love taking care of my home, my husband and my family.  There.  I said it and I’m glad I did.  I’m a closet housewife and proud of it!

NEARLY OFF THE NEEDLES

The Rio Wrap is nearly finished.  It’s been measured and remeasured, examined and reexamined and finally, bound off.  The joining together will be done tomorrow (I hate the mattress stitch), blocking will begin and I hope by Friday will be finished and ready for show and tell.  Here’s how it looks unfinished but off the needles.  Boring, I know.

Today, A Pile of Stockinette

Tomorrow, Hopefully an Etched Rio Wrap!

THE GRANDS

Not as much contact with the babies as I’d like, with us all passing around a nasty upper respiratory thing and the hospital, but here’s a recent favorite –

Isn’t he handsome and isn’t she gorgeous??

Don’t forget to check out Tami Amis for more WIPW 2/27/13.

By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist, we create it.  Nikos Kazantzakis 

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Knitting

It’s over

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WHAT’S UP

My surgery is done and seems to be successful. I really, really like and trust my doc, Lance Burns, M.D. Here’s a pic

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I highly recommend him. He’s good at what he does and is just an all around nice guy.
Reputation is for time.Character is for eternity. J.B.Gough

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Knitting

The Final Countdown

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WHAT’S UP

In 24 hours, I hope my surgery will have begun, taking care of the worsening colitis that I’ve had for I don’t know how many years.  Mr. Iknead and I are extremely optimistic that this will finally end what has become an increasingly nerve wracking problem, never knowing when or where a flare will occur and consequently making us a little gun shy about things like vacations or anything that might take us out of our comfort zone as far as hospitals and doctors are concerned.  I start the official prep today at 2 pm, but as of midnight last night, I can have only clear liquids and then nothing to eat or drink after midnight tonight.  I can’t believe people aren’t lining up to do this!

BY THE BOOK

I finished Jennifer Haigh’s The Condition, which I loved, and am set to start Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.  I read and enjoyed another book of his, Into the Wild, so I’m excited to read it.  I’ve been able to put off reading it, since I’m going to have some guaranteed down time in the hospital.  Today’s been spent making sure all my electronic gear is charged and ready, so it will be ready when I am.

ON THE NEEDLES

I decided on a free Ravelry pattern, Spring Pools,by Linda Fisher, for the Parakeet yarn. I’m loving how it’s knitting up and the way the blue really pops.

One more repeat and I start the second sock.

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.  Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Knitting

Under the Weather, I Need an Umbrella and a Thing of Beauty

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WHAT’S UP

The sniffles that appeared a week ago today continue.  I started running a fever yesterday afternoon so I started hitting the vitamin C and forcing fluids, I feel better today.  I had my final visit today with the surgeon before surgery this coming Tuesday and just to be safe, he started me on a short term antibiotic.  No way am I going to postpone this, no way!  I start the prep Monday afternoon which is never, ever fun, but Mr. Iknead is a fabulous cheerleader and I expect to get through it with no problem.

SHOW AND TELL

Remember my prize from deepbluerenegade?  A $10.00 gift card to Mr. Yarn?  Well, here’s what it went toward –

Starry sock weight with sparkle from Dream

98% superwash merino wool and 2% Lurex fiber

Amethyst Ink

I’m ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille!

If this yarn doesn’t make your heart go pitty-pat, you need CPR!  I’ve kept this yarn close to me for the past few days, just so I could fondle and admire it.  It’s off the chart beautiful and makes me almost forget about my stuffy nose!

Imagination rules the world.  Napoleon Bonaparte

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Knitting

WIPW 2/13/13, Whew, Slight Case of Nerves

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BYE-BYE

I think I mentioned last week that we finally made the decision and had our landline removed.  Mr. Iknead and I finally had enough of those super annoying robocalls, telemarketers, wrong numbers (a misprint on some kind of card gave the whole world our phone number, area code and all)  instead of the correct number for Holy Redeemer Credit Union in Costa Rica.  I swear, I’m not making this up.  People would call our number (the misprint) over and over, getting angrier and angrier when they were informed that “No, this wasn’t Holy Redeemer Credit Union” and “No, I don’t know the correct number for Holy Redeemer Credit Union” and eventually, “Don’t call this number again, I will have you reported to the police and charge you with telephone harassment”.  Been cussed out in Spanish more times than I can remember.  So, as of Monday evening, we no longer have a landline phone and are basking in the peace and quiet of home.  Still, when Mr. Iknead called to set up whatever had to be set up to remove it, the guy told him that we’d had the number since 1977, 36 YEARS!  You can understand why I have a little nostalgia mixed with my relief, can’t you?  I get emotionally invested, what can I say?

ON THE NEEDLES

Etched Rio Wrap

Fifteen of the required 28 repeats of the pattern are finished, over half the way through, the end is barely in sight and I’m still loving this.  I’m happy to say that there have been no yarn barf crises since Sunday and I’m watching the yarn like a hawk, knowing now that it likes to misbehave.  If you missed the pics of its previous misbehavior, take a look at last Friday’s blog entry, titled  %#$%^&*(, for the full effect.

WHAT’S COMING UP

I’ve really not blogged about it too much, other than just a mention now and then, but I’ve had ischemic colitis for years and coped with it pretty well.  Now, though, the attacks are becoming more and more frequent and more and more severe, putting me in the hospital twice for a week each time, in the past nine months.  My GI doctor defines it as “pretty much a heart attack” in the colon, with damage and scarring, which sets me up even more for another bout and on and on.  After much, much thought and just as much research (doncha just love Wikipedia?), I’m scheduled to have my colon removed this coming Tuesday, February 19.  My surgeon has promised that I’ll have enough colon left to hook everything back up, but if I have to have an ostomy, I’ll just count that as part of the cost of no more midnight ambulance rides, all night visits to the ER and hospital admissions.  I’m a little nervous, after it’s done, there’s no going back, but now the pros outweigh the cons and I’m ready to get it over with.  I told Mr. Iknead that he’d have to step into my blogging shoes for a couple of days (he thought I was kidding) but hope to be feeling well enough to take over again before too long.

BY THE BOOK

I finished the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society yesterday and it was wonderful.  I couldn’t listen fast enough, it was an audiobook and I kept up the pretense of “As soon as this chapter closes, I’m going to get up and do XYZ,” knowing full well that I had no intention of doing that and just kept listening.  Loved this book!  I don’t have any definite idea of what next to read.  Any ideas?

Don’t forget to check out Tami Ami’s and Ginny’s Yarn Along blog.

Creativity comes from trust.  Trust your instincts and never hope more than you work.  Rita Mae Brown

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Knitting

Inevitable

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THE GRANDS

As of yesterday, all three grands have the sniffles and little fevers.  The Papoose and the Sprout came to visit on Friday so, of course, Babydiva and her mommy joined us for lunch and a nice, long afternoon of play.  The Papoose had a little runny nose, but that was all.  None of us is particularly germ conscious; there were perhaps more sneezes than usual, but everyone felt well and like I said, played nice.  I did catch Babydiva and Papoose swapping paccies back and forth, but that’s pretty par for the course with a two year old and an 11 month old, it’s going to happen, no big deal.  Now all three grands have the sniffles and sneezes, along with me and Mr. Iknead.  I, for one, caught a couple of sneezes full in the face but that’s the price you sometimes pay for two year old kisses and hugs.  Totally, totally worth it.  The Papoose did progress to croup and wheezing and got a tour of the Stuttgart ER Friday evening, but after a breathing treatment and some cough syrup, went home and resumed normal two year old activities.

BY THE BOOK

I started The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society yesterday and am totally enthralled.  The setting is Guernsey (duh), a channel island off the coast of England, during World War II.  The letters sent back and forth between these friends are sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and always interesting.  Remember when you actually had to compose a letter, stamp it and take it to the post office to send it?  Remember the anticipation of getting a letter in return and then doing it all over again?  I still love getting and reading real letters, on paper, with pen and ink.  The mailbox is so much more exciting than my inbox, I think.

ON THE NEEDLES

I finally got the Metalico yarn sorted out and rewound.  With encouragement from vocalizard, I decided to salvage it and keep using it for my project and I have to admit, it looks a lot better than I thought it would; maybe a little fuzzy in spots, but that’s about it.  Here’s a look at the one of the fuzzy spots.  I don’t think it’s too terribly noticeable, do you?

I’m dying to start a new pair of socks with the lost then found Parakeet yarn but just can’t seem to settle on one pattern.  The yarn here is the star, not really the pattern, so I want it to be fairly straightforward, so the yarn can shine on its own, but fancy enough to catch the attention of admirers.  Does this make any sense?  I’m always in search of the perfect pattern for the perfect yarn for the perfect sock.  Must be a knitter thing.  Suggestions?

Question:  When’s the last time you sent a real pen and ink letter?  Mine was to an aunt a few weeks ago, along with some old photos I found and thought she’d enjoy.

Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.  Mae West

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Knitting

%#$%^&*(

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ACK!

Had another setback with the Metalico last night.  All was going well, maybe too well, had a nice, center pull ball going – until it collapsed on itself, becoming this:

Kinda made me sick.

It self destructed about 10 p.m.  At 1 a.m. I gave up trying to get it under control again and went to bed.  Got up and started working on it again this morning and finally decided it was as good as it was going to get around 3 o’clock this afternoon.  I’m beginning to think I’ve lost my knitting mojo with this yarn, but I’m not giving up.  I will, however, reevaluate my attitude if it happens again; you can be sure of that.

I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else.  Pablo Picasso

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Knitting

From WIP to 02/08/13 FO Friday Ready in Just One Hour

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ON AND OFF THE NEEDLES

Still working hard at the Etched Rio Wrap, I’ve done ten repeats of the 28 repeats the pattern calls for and I’m still loving both yarn and pattern.  The knitted yarn has amazing drape and softness, the only thing I can think of in the con category is that it’s very “grabby” and requires care not to become entangled with itself.  This happened with the first skein, it got very tangled and by the time I got it sorted out, the yarn had lost some of its sheen and was a little what I call pilly.  I’m trying to decide whether to bite the bullet and buy another skein (if I can find a matching dye lot) or go ahead and use the previously tangled yarn, probably at the very end where hopefully it won’t be too noticeable.  Here’s what I mean:

Looks even worse than I thought.  What’s your opinion?  Use or not?

Now, on a happier note.  In my efforts to find the misplaced yarn, I ran across a couple of WIPs that just needed to be cast off with the ends woven in.  That’s how a project goes from WIP to FO in an hour; why did I procrastinate on this, that’s not usually how I am, did I get distracted by a newer, sexier yarn or pattern, did I put it down and lose it in the mess of the stash (this seems much more likely) or was it abducted by aliens and returned last week?

Ribs and Ruffle wrap

A good sized wrap/shawl/blanket I’m calling Rib and Ruffle because, well, it’s ribbed and has a ruffle.  Why was it unfinished?

THE GRANDS

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted pics of the grands and boy do I have some cuteness today.  First up, Babydiva

The Sprout during tummy time –

The Papoose in action –

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Blessed, Mr. Iknead and I.  A million times over and then some.

Don’t forget to visit Tami Amis for lot more FO Friday awesome!

Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible.  Dalai Lama

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Knitting

Yippee, WIPW 02/06/13 and a Stash Dive

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YIPPEE!

Thanks Mollie aka deepbluerenegade for making me the winner of your 100 Blog Posts contest.  I opted for a $10.00 gift card from Mr. Yarn and plan to use this to feed my Shibui Sock addiction.  I’ll make my final decision sometime today and get it posted to share the yarny love.  I love me some contests!

THE GRANDS

I found this cute pic when I hacked into visited Mr. Iknead’s Shutterfly stuff.  I’m a Flickr-phile myself so every so often I check out his Shutterfly to see if I’ve missed something.  Here’s this week’s fave –

I love the way the Papoose has her chin in her hand, it seems to be such a “big girl” attitude and the way Babydiva is looking at her, little girl learning from big girl.  So cute!

WARNING!  STASH DIVING CAN BE HAZARDOUS!

Earlier this week, I got it into my head that I’d misplaced a skein of really expensive (for me) sock yarn and since I didn’t have any socks on the needles, decided I couldn’t go one more minute without getting a pair started and absolutely, positively couldn’t use anything but the misplaced yarn.  Naturally, this meant turning my yarn stash upside down, digging feverishly, just knowing it had to be in the next box or bin or bag.  Didn’t find it.  Looked under furniture.  Didn’t find it.  Looked in the stash overflow area.  Didn’t find it.  Instead, this is what I did find – balls and skeins and hanks of yarn that I, either intentionally or unintentionally, had forgotten and this is why organizing/reorganizing your stash can be hazardous – you get caught up in one of two reactions or at least, I did.  The “what was I thinking??” reaction or the “OMG, I love this stuff!  How could it have been languishing all this time??”  When this happens, all work comes to a screeching halt and for the next little while, I’m looking, remembering, fondling and running to Mr. Iknead repeatedly showing him the treasures I’ve found.  Mr. Iknead’s enthusiasm for this is so low as to be nonexistent, by the way.

OK, back on track.  Anyhow, last night I figured out why, after multiple searches, this yarn is still MIA.  It’s because it’s been wound already and I’ve been looking for a hank.  I even remember winding it. Today I’m going to search again, but for the correct shape and I bet I find it right away.  This yarn has nearly reached “Holy Grail” status in my single minded obsession to find it.  Is that odd?

ON THE NEEDLES

Here’s what I’ve accomplished on the Etched Rio Wrap so far, when I wasn’t turning my stash upside down (see above).

I love the color of this Metalico yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas, a pinky-gold.

BY THE BOOK

I’m currenting listening to A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.  Strangely enough, I learned about this book while watching one of those sort of embarrassing shows on the I.D. channel.  You know the ones, with bad reenactments and strange voice overs.  The author committed suicide back in the early 1970s and after his death, his family found this unpublished novel hidden away, sent it to a publisher and, bang, a bestseller.  Interesting book, interesting back story.

Don’t forget to visit Tami Amis blog  and  Small Things Yarn Along for more WIPW goodness!

Man’s mind, stretched by a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions.  Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Knitting

Score!!

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WHAT’S UP

On a whim this morning, I stopped in at TJ Maxx , mostly because I’m looking for a sort of duffle/overnight/weekender bag that doesn’t scream ugly gym bag when I carry it.  I’ve justified needing one because I’m keeping the road hot between my house in Little Rock and the grands’ house in Stuttgart.  I want something at least a little girly and just big enough for a couple of clothes changes and my bathroom/makeup gear.  Of course, since I have champagne taste on a beer budget, my ideal bag probably doesn’t exist but I’m going to keep looking.

Making the circuit at TJM, I found the toy department (I didn’t know they had toys) and scored some awesome good deals.  I think the most expensive one was a Leap Frog Xylophone for $11.00 that I can picture the grands banging on even as I  blog.  I checked and yes, it does have an off button.  The grands are coming for a visit this weekend, I can’t wait to show them the new stuff!  Check it out –

HAPPY THING

OK, I might be the only person on the planet who thinks this is so great.  Mr. Iknead finally figured out how to use the wireless thingy on our printer.  “Why are you so excited?”, you might ask.  I’m excited because I can now print patterns and what ever else my little heart desires FROM THE COMFORT OF MY CHAIR IN THE DEN, IN FRONT OF THE FIRE, WITH MY KNITTING!  Now if I could just figure out how to get the copies without moving out of my chair, life would be pretty close to perfect.  I think I need to buy more printer paper.  As Martha would say, “It’s a good thing”.

Strong people make as many mistakes as weak people.  Difference is that strong people admit their mistakes, laugh at them, learn from them.  That is how they become strong.  Richard Needham

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