Tag: Babydiva

Knitting

Arrival

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INTRODUCING

Shepherd William Lee Coleman, aka Shep, aka Baby Sheppie, our sixth grandbaby and first grandson who arrived 08/31/18 at 4:25 am.  Mother and baby doing well.  Mr. iKnead and I are recovering. 🙂

Shepherd William Lee Coleman

Babydaddy, Babymama and Shep on their way home

A YARNY UPDATE

Ginny’s Patronus Cloak continues to get bigger and bigger, the pattern gives a final stitch count of 737, which translates to 15 feet of ruffle. 😳😳😳

STILL BLUE

I’m still deep into my blue glaze phaze; every time I think I’ve reached my limit, there are one or two more new pots that lend themselves beautifully to the blues.

 

Blue Glaze Phaze

B-clay with grog

Cloudy Blue, Blue Celadon, Glossy White Glazes

PARTING SHOTS

 Nailing the big sister gig……

Babydiva and Baby Sheppie

Baby Sheppie and the Elf

And just like that – happy tears…..

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.  Happiness never decreases by being shared.  Buddha

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Knitting

I Do Redo, WIP Wednesday and Grands

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I DO REDO

Mr. Iknead and I renewed our wedding vows last Friday for our 35th anniversary.  It was surprisingly emotional, both for me and for him.  I’m not a crier at all, so to just break down with happy tears was unusual.  We had Holy Communion – again, surprisingly emotional and just special.  That’s the only word I can find to describe it, special.

Aren’t we beautiful! Seriously!

Trio of Blessings

L to R – The Sprout, Babydiva and The Papoose

 

 After pics, we all went out to dinner and it was just joyous…..until the nasty little incident with Babydiva.

Here’s what happened:  we had to wait for a table, not unusual, we were a big group and it was Friday evening.  Waiting for a table with three hungry children had ugly potential, so Babydaddy and Bigmommy took the big girls outside to wait.  Lots of little girl fun, with hopping, skipping attempts, chattering, laughing, squealing – little girl stuff.  During a round of hopping, Babydiva tripped and faceplanted on the sidewalk.  Lots of blood and little girl hysterics, both from Babydiva and the Papoose.  Luckily, no broken or loose teeth, just a fat lip and we were able to get it iced quickly. I think Babydaddy was more traumatized than Babydiva, luckily for them, I just happened to have a Tide pen in my pocketbook and his bloody shirt was taken care of and Babydiva just happened to have some Barbie stickers and what didn’t come out with the pen, she put stickers over.

Poor Baby

Anyhow, it didn’t affect her appetite and by the end of the meal, all were happy again.   Parenting in the Trenches or Never A Dull Moment. : )

ON THE NEEDLES

Slip Stitch Felted Bag

Irina Poludnenko, Designer

Kureyon #352 and Cascade 220 #7801

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Imagination rules the world.  Napoleon Bonaparte

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Patio, Hello Beautiful

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ON THE NEEDLES

See that little ball in the photo?  That’s all the yarn I have left and the Harmonia Shrug just isn’t. quite. finished.  All that’s left is adding ribbing to the other sleeve, binding off and finishing with a tiny ruffle.  Luckily, for once I saw this coming and was able to order one more skein from a yarn shop in the UK.   I’ll have nearly an entire skein left over, but I can definitely see the rest transformed into gift(s) this fall.  That’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, as they say.

OUTSIDE

Our patio upgrade/redo is FINALLY finished and are we enjoying it!  We’ve had our coffee outside on it for the last few days and have relaxed in the late afternoons with our respective cold drinks and iPads.  Totally worth the $ and frustration.  We have plans tomorrow to start shopping for an umbrella table and a swing. 

HELLO BEAUTIFUL

Here’s my most recent picture of Babydiva, who grows more gorgeous all the time.

Babydiva and doggy sister, Bela

This may be my all-time favorite photo of my son and his daughter, sharing homework time.  I have a phenomenal son, who is also a phenomenal husband and father and this sweet photo proves it over and over.  

PARTING SHOT

Our only chick in the nest now, Josie, who is always right in the thick of things.  She was very put out that her daddy went inside for two seconds and shut the door before she could follow.

Linking with Frontier Dreams, Ginny’s Yarn Along and Tami.

I admit to having an imagination feverish enough to melt good judgment.  Dean R. Koontz

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Knitting

Booklove and Birthday Girls

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BOOKLOVE

I finished The Girl Who Fell From the Sky and it was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Two thumbs up!

TWO

Babydiva turned two today.  It seems I turned around and suddenly, she’s walking and talking a blue streak, always a jump ahead.

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Two Years Ago

This Time Last Year

The Birthday Girl Today

Can you tell that Babydiva loves Hello Kitty???  This time next year, she’ll be big sis to Charlotte Faith.  The hits just keep on comin’ as they say.

When I get older losing my hair / Many years from now / Will you still be sending me a Valentine / Birthday greetings, bottle of wine. / If I’d been out till quarter to three / Would you lock the door? / Will you still need me, will you still feed me? / When I’m sixty-four.  John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney

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Family · Knitting

Morning at the Zoo, Wondrous Yarnbox, Meet Forrester Gump

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ZOO FUN

Big and busy day today. Mr. Iknead and I spent the morning with all three grands and their moms at the zoo. I don’t know about the others but I’m totally beat. I bet we walked three miles today, easy! We had a blast and except for one tiny episode of COTTON CANDY COTTON CANDY IWANTCOTTONCANDY!!!! everyone’s sunny disposition stayed put. The four newest tiger cubs were a particular favorite. Babydiva developed a short term obsession with mole rats but was eventually distracted and we were able to carry on with our visit.

Babydiva and the Papoose – Cousins and BFFs

Patient Tiger Mommy

The Sprout’s Pushing ME Next Time!

Just Us Girls

Mr. Iknead and Babydaddy don’t have a chance.

And you know what?  They love it!  Mr. Iknead melts completely when he around the grands, it’s the sweetest thing – no request refused, no job too large or too small.  Pawpaw’s got this and is loving every blessed minute.  I married a marshmallow and it’s grand!

Babydivalicious

That Smile!!

YARNLOVE

Another wondrous box arrived while we were visiting the zoo and (be still my heart) this was inside:

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SIIDEGARTE

Silky Swiss Gorgeousness

“Siide-Flauschig”

50% Silk/50% Merino

Aichblatt

250m/273 yds

There were two, count ’em, two hanks of this in the wondrous Yarnbox; the sheen on this stuff is phenomenal, as you can see from the photo.  Now the hard part – picking a project because, as we all know, fabulous yarn calls for a fabulous pattern.  Shawl?  Shrug? Sweater? Who knows?  Most of the time, in my plane of existence, the yarn decides what it wants to be, then it’s my job to figure out what that is.  I’m thinking some type of wrap, maybe something with a hood?

RUN FORRESTER RUN!

Meet Forrester Gump, the newest member of the Iknead family.

 

20140321-152459.jpgMr. Iknead has been so patient, waiting until he found just want he wanted, from the sort of silvery green paint job, to the moonroof, to the automatic back hatch – just touch a button and it opens and closes *snap fingers* just like that.  I’m happy to see him so happy and excited.  He deserves this new ride, he’s been driving my dad’s car for the past couple of years, a good car, a Buick LaCrosse, nice, not too fancy, but really, not his style.  He’s more of an SUV kind of guy.  I don’t mind telling that I’m a million times blessed to have him as the love of my life.

It is better to travel, than to arrive.  Buddha

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Knitting

Spoiler Alert, Grands and Other Random Stuff

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SPOILERALERTSPOILERALERTSPOILERALERT

I got my Phat Fiber Sampler box a few days ago and look what was in it!

Luscious Yarn Samples

and some sweet stitch markers, a cool snake button and a Tardis keychain!

Nice, right?

BUT WAIT!  THERE’S MORE!

My new Yarnbox subscription arrived yesterday containing not one, but TWO hanks of this equally luscious yarn!

Yes, as a matter of fact, yarn DOES make me happy!   The colorway is called Anodized and I’m having a difficult time keeping the startitis monkeys off my back.  I’m trying to hold out at least until I finish one of the two pairs of socks that are currently on the needles. At the moment, it could go either way.

Two lovely packages in two days – it doesn’t get much better than that in my world.  Except for this…….

GRANDS

I love how my three grandgirls are BFFs, even at their young ages.  Someday I’m going to be janie on the spot and video the happiness and hugs when they greet each other, whether it’s been an hour or a week since they’ve been together.

2/3 of the Iknead grands

the remaining 1/3

Seriously, could the Sprout be any cuter???

Clearly, the Iknead clan is triple blessed with these three, which will become four this summer.   Babymama and Babydaddy plan a gender reveal for my birthday next week, I’ll keep you posted.

FEET

Mine are really, really ugly and I need a pedicure STAT.  Except that I’ve let them go this winter and am embarrassed for the pedicure people to even see them.  A monthly (at least) pedi makes all the difference in the world and I know they probably see worse feet than mine, but I envision them sounding the alarm and running for the hills when they see my car pull up in the parking lot.  I don’t know though, my embarrassment makes me a really good tipper, maybe they’re running toward the door instead.  Ya think?

Never mistake motion for action.  Ernest Hemingway

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Knitting

Here Goes Nuthin’/V-tine Day

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ANOTHER TRY

Once again I’m trying my hand at snagging a Phat Fiber Sampler Box – me and about a zillion other fiber fanatics this morning.  Down to the last two minutes…… Once again, came up empty handed.  Better luck next time, hope springs eternal and all that.

HEARTSNFLOWERS

Mr. Iknead and I tend to prefer low key celebrations.  We exchanged cards and then went for a nice (early) dinner at Big Orange.  I’m pretty sure I went over my Weight Watchers points for yesterday, given the cheeseburger and fries I consumed, but, I walked on the treadmill yesterday morning and plan to hop on it again here in a few minutes.  The cheeseburger/fries — totally worth it!

Valentine Babydiva

Better than chocolate!

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.  Voltaire

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Knitting

Oh No, No FO, Should I MYOB?, Grands

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OFF THE NEEDLES

Nothing, despite a serious case of startitis and my resolve to not start anything new until I get at least one of my current WIPs off the needles.

ON THE NEEDLES

First sleeve of Mariella Cardi

Best Friend Scarf using a ball of Jojoland Melody I found in one of my stash dives.

The second sock of a pair for me; the yarn is a mystery, the pattern is in my head.

I need to bust a move on at least one of these projects, I have a pattern and yarn that is calling me like a sideshow barker, “Hurry, hurry, hurry!  Step right this way!  Get ready for the most fabulous project of your life!  Hurry, hurry, hurry!

QUESTION

Should I (diplomatically) point out typos in a friend’s otherwise beautiful website?  They’re nothing serious, nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a simple proofread; wouldn’t you want something that represents you to be perfect?  Should I mention it or should I MYOB?  What would you do?

TUESDAY WITH THE GRANDS

The Sprout and the Slide

Babydiva Daredevil

A thing well said will be wit in all languages

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Knitting

Cray Cray Christmas, Life Change

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WHEW!

Our (usual) cray cray Christmas has come and gone and from the pics, we were all very very good the past year.  What was the best part?  The Iknead/Coleman/Vaughan family had not one, but two Christmases, The Iknead/Vaughans in the morning and the Iknead/Coleman/Vaughans in the evening.

We went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service:

Where I learned that hearing a precious three year old grand singing “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him” will move me to tears, then and now; reminding me of the joy of the real gifts of Christmas, past, present and future.  (Excuse me, I need a tissue).

  Bigdaddy, as always, set a beautiful table for us Christmas morning:

Again, the food was delish and the company, delightful!

We had a visit from Santa:

and were able to squeeze in a Christmas snuggle or two:

Babydaddy was gracious enough to play Santa for Round 2:

I finally can post a Christmas knitting FO:

Babydaddy’s Handknit Socks

Santa made another stop at Babydiva’s house:

and found that Babydiva had also been very good!

What’s the over the top, greatest thing ever, long time coming and more than well deserved gift for all of the family this Christmas season?  Are you sitting down?

(Cue the fanfare)

Mr. Iknead is retired as of December 19, 2013!  Retired as in the ceremonial turning off of the alarm clock, sitting around, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee in the morning and what shall I do today retired.

Congratulations, sweetie!  You’ve more than earned it!  I can’t wait to get started on this new life chapter with you!

More to follow………

When the solution is simple, God is answering.  Albert Einstein

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Knitting

Random Tuesday

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RANDOMLY

We got a new mailbox!  The house siding is finished, yay; but with the new siding, the old mailbox looked very old and sad, so it retired to the great recycle bin in the sky and was replaced by this:

New kid in town.  Isn’t it pretty??

OUT FOR A SPIN

Here’s a look at my newest spinning project:

The roving came from Greenwood Fiberworks.  For more info, see this post.

THE GRANDS

In no particular order:

The Sprout loves Josie Pug’s kennel.  Look at her new teeth!

The Papoose loves G-grandma and G-grandma loves her back, although you can’t tell it in this pic.  Mema looks like she wants to escape!  BTW, Mema is Mr. Iknead’s mommy.

Babydiva visits her minions!

Age is a question of mind over matter.  If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.  Satchel Paige

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Knitting

Exit Thanksgiving, We Love Surprises!

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THANKSGIVING

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Thanksgiving as the Iknead crew did.  As it happens every year, I overate, overplayed with the grands, overtalked and just all around over busied and basked in the company of loved ones.  I finished the Scapula scarf (yay!) and worked on Christmas knitting when I wasn’t overdoing whatever it was that I was overdoing at that moment.

Did you know that Stuttgart, Arkansas (home of the Papoose and Sprout) is the Duck and Rice Capital of the World?  Did you know that the World Championship Duck Calling Contest coincided with Thanksgiving this year?  I didn’t think so.  There were so many duck callers around that I expected every duck on the planet to swoop down and pay us a visit, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.  There was, however, the obligatory person in a duck suit.

 

The grands had matching PJs –

L to R

Babydiva, the Papoose and the Sprout

Everyone played nice:

The Sprout showed off her two new teeth –

and showed what the Le Miz poster looked like live and in person

We got a photo of something other than the back of the Babydiva’s head –

And best of all…….

Babydaddy and Babymama announced that Babydiva will be a big sister next year!  That’s right – we’ll be welcoming a new grand around July, 2014 and we couldn’t be more excited!  Let the baby knitting begin!

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.  John Gardner

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Knitting

Spiral

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WHAT’S UP

I have some knitting projects that I’m anxious to share and a book recommendation, but that has to wait until tomorrow, the official WIP/Knit A Long day.  A couple of these projects are Christmas knits, so I have to keep them on the down low.  The Iknead bunch will stoop to anything to figure out what’s under the tree for them.  But – A bowl I made in my pottery class was out of the kiln (FINALLY) after a few false starts from the potter (me).  I’m SO happy with how it turned out.

Spiral Bowl

A Surprise Inside

This bowl was completely dipped in New Clear Glaze, with a top dip and a bottom dip in Caramel.  Who knew that the New Clear glaze would turn out to be such a lovely bluish gray??!  I’m in love with this pot!

THE GRANDS

Tub Time with the Grand Trio, right before the kid in the middle dropped a special delivery and the other two made a hasty exit!

Left to Right:

Babydiva, the Sprout and the Papoose

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of algebra.  Unknown

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