Tag: Babydiva

Knitting

FO Friday 12/14/12

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OFF/ON THE NEEDLES

Mr. Iknead’s Simple Skype socks are finished and he loves them!  I decided after finishing the first one cuff down that I would do the second toe up, which is how I usually knit socks.  Like the toe up sock construction better, confirming once and for all that pretty much any sock can be done toe up, I usually just read the pattern from bottom to top instead of the regular way and use the Fleegle heel.  You can see the difference in the picture, the one on the left is toe up.

IN/OUT OF THE OVEN

Another type of FO – I baked seven loaves of pumpkin bread yesterday and once again, my new KA mixer rocks!  I doubled the recipe, bringing the total flour tally to seven cups, total sugar to six cups, with four cups of pumpkin and eight eggs.  KA performed like a champ.  I once tried to double the recipe in my old KA, a totally dumb idea, since I’m still scraping pumpkin off my kitchen ceiling. : p

These are earmarked for friends, I hope to get them delivered today.  Must make list so I don’t miss anyone.

THE GRANDS

Here is the most recent pic of Babydiva and her mommy.  How beautiful are these two??

Check out Tami Ami’s for more awesome FOs.

Joy shared is twice the joy.  Sorrow shared is half the sorrow.  Swedish proverb

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Knitting

HBD!!

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WHAT’S UP

Happy birthday Mr. Iknead!  I love you!

THE GRANDS

Mr. Iknead and I got to spend some quality time with all three of the grands this morning.  Bigdaddy, Bigmommy and Babymama all had business here in Little Rock and so naturally, we jumped at the chance to be able to hog the babies for a couple of hours without parental supervision.  It was heaven.  We learned that 1)Babydiva loves dry cinnamon toast crunch cereal, 2) The Papoose never turns down chocolate milk and 3) Babysis smiles at ceiling fans.  I told you it was heaven, didn’t I?

The Papoose

Babysis with her Elvis ‘do

Babydiva

CURRENT EVENTS OR NONEVENTS WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE

I’m still on medical leave, coming up on  2 1/2 weeks tomorrow and it’s been harder than I ever imagined it would be.  Not the not working part, totally into that, but I’m having a hard time remembering that I don’t have to go at a dead run all the time, trying to fit a week’s worth of stuff into a couple of days.  I have real, live free time (though I seem to stay busy), so have been doing a lot of cooking, knitting, reading, walking and whatever else strikes my fancy at any particular moment.  Right now, I’ve got Mr. Iknead’s requested birthday supper on the stove, homemade spaghetti sauce, simmering nicely and am engaged in obsessively checking to see if the UPS man has brought my new Kitchenaid mixer so I can begin my holiday baking and Mr. Iknead’s birthday dessert.  Since we live on a fairly busy street and I’m compelled to run and check every time I hear what sounds like a big vehicle, I’ve probably covered a couple of miles 40 feet  or so at a time.

BY THE BOOK

This week, I’ve been listening to Running the Books, by Avi Steinberg and enjoying it immensely.  I’m totally enjoying time with my books, whether ebooks, audiobooks or paper.  Maybe I can finally make some progress on my want to read list, which, by the way, just gets longer and longer.  Loving rediscovering leisurely reading!

OFF THE NEEDLES

I finished my Adamas shawl last weekend and finally was able to hook up with Babymama for a picture.  I think they’re both lovely-

I also have a pair of socks in progress at Mr. Iknead’s request but I’m saving those for tomorrow, it being WIP Wednesday and all, they’re working up nicely.  Gotta love superwash merino.  As Martha would say “It’s a good thing”.

The generous and bold have the best lives.  Norwegian proverb

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Knitting

Pray Tell

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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.

Thanksgiving 2012

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

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Knitting

Busy, busy, busy

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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 –

 Harper's bracelet

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

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Knitting

The hurrier I go

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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.

Pretty Maids Shawl

THE GRANDS

Babydiva supervised the photo shoot –

She says, “That’s a wrap!”

Check out Tami Ami’s blog for more FO Friday goodies.

Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.  Michelangelo

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Knitting

It’s so quiet!

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THE GRANDS

We had the Papoose from Friday morning until Sunday evening this past weekend and now that it’s just us again, it’s so quiet, it’s “I can hear Josie snoring two rooms away” quiet.  As always, Susannah was a joy, happy, a great napper/sleeper, a good eater and ready for anything.  She kept us on our toes sure enough and I laughed myself into a set of sore ribs.  What’s better than that?  She got a mani-pedi –

Susie with her mani-pedi

and Papa brushed up on his coloring skills –

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What’s not to like?  Right?  Papa does have an odd fixation about staying inside the lines, but Susie and I are working on that and he’s coming along nicely.

IN THE OVEN

Cooler temps over the weekend meant doing some real cooking – I made a beef stew on Friday and Crockpot Burritos on Saturday.  The burritos especially were a winner.  Babydiva, Babydaddy and Babymama came over Sunday after church and helped us eat the leftovers.  Even better then second day!  I’d hoped to bake bread over the weekend but that clearly was a little overly optimistic timewise.  Maybe next weekend.  It’s on the list.

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.  Helen Keller

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Knitting

What’s up

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COMING UP

Three months ago or so I had to have a tooth pulled and tomorrow morning I’m scheduled to have the first stage of a dental implant to take its place. I’ll be glad to get the ball rolling on this, even though where my tooth was isn’t noticeable, I hate having that empty space. It hurts when I forget not to chew on that side (how does anyone who is toothless and without dentures eat anything??) and just feels odd.

THE GRANDS

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Babydiva

The Papoose

Babysis

Our precious babies! The Papoose is coming for an overnight tomorrow and Saturday and I have a Susannah grocery list going, with her fave foods. I am trying to keep the junk food to a minimum but I confess, I love it as much as she does, so along with stuff like yogurt, Cheerios and fruit, there’s instant mac and cheese, Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream and chocolate milk. Can’t wait!

BY THE BOOK

I’m very much immersed in

Knitting

As promised

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THE GRANDS

As promised, here are some pics of Babydiva’s baptism.

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Babydiva with her fav cousin, the Papoose.

 IN THE OVEN

I finally was able to do a little baking yesterday, something new I lifted from Pinterest – a cream cheese  pound cake that was out of this world, really.  Although, with three sticks of butter, cream cheese and six eggs, it would be hard for it to be anything but delicious.  I took the time to cut a slice to bring to work this morning as a treat with my coffee.  Yum.

Sour Cream Pound Case

Amazing cake!

Here’s the original Pinterest post:  

 

Technically this is not baking, but I got a sourdough starter going this weekend and I was right about the weather being good starter weather.  I think this one is the fastest I’ve had one develop ever.  Friday I started with the usual half cup flour and half cup warm water and by yesterday afternoon (Sunday) it was bubbly and had the typical sour smell.  It should move into its beery, yeasty smell in the next day or so.  Much as I love sourdough, this is my least liked stage.  Until it matures, it smells like feet.  I have to keep reminding myself that this part doesn’t last long. : )

48 hours old

See  how nice and bubbly it is?

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.  Benjamin Franklin

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Knitting

Babies and baptisms

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WHAT WENT DOWN

Mr. Iknead and I had 2/3 of the grands in house this weekend, along with Bigdaddy and Bigmommy, and it was a million things all at once – exhausting (we’re not youngsters anymore no matter what we try to make you believe), exhilirating (try not to be excited by the prospect of a walk with a two year old or snuggles with a three week old), humbling (in the face of two year old wisdom, “because I don’t want to”) and joyful (just because).  Babydiva’s baptism was last evening and she handled it with her usual diva cool, not batting an eye when Monsignor poured the water over her head.  Mr. Iknead took pictures but hasn’t uploaded them yet.  I’m moving that to the top of his to do list and hopefully, I’ll have some to show in the next day or so.  Meanwhile, here’s the Papoose and Babysis –

The Papoose

Babysis

ON THE NEEDLES

After the drama with the Pretty Maids shawl last week, I ended up completely frogging it and starting over.  I realized the first go round was a trainwreck, bit the bullet and frogged.  This time, we’re getting along much, much better.  Will get a picture tomorrow in the sunshine.

RECAP

Babies

Baptism

Knit

Frog

Knit

Blog

A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere.  Before him, I may think aloud.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Knitting

So I saw this bracelet in a catalog

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iCOVET

So, I saw this bracelet in a catalog (one of about a jillion that I get) months ago and fell in love with it right away.   What I didn’t fall in love with was the price tag, $88.00 but I kept looking at it, checking to see if it had gone on sale, looking at it some more, then more checking and more looking.  Finally, last week, as I was doing more looking, one of the little voices in my head (yes, I have a committee in my head) said, “You could totally make that, you know”.  So I set about doing just that.  I’ve been playing around with jewelry making and experimenting with different things, I had a spool of waxed linen cording and little silver beads that didn’t work for another project and this is what happened:

 This one’s mine                                                                                     This one’s theirs

TWIG BRACELET 

 Pretty good for a total investment of about five bucks and thirty minutes, wouldn’t you say?  And it fits perfectly (I have very skinny wrists).  I did good, in my never to be humble opinion.

THE GRANDS

Babydiva’s baptism is scheduled for Saturday, so we tried the family baptistmal gown on her Saturday and I’m happy to report that it’s a perfect fit; the bonnet not so much.  She’s the fourth baby to wear it.  OK, technically, she’s the third since her dad, Babydaddy, couldn’t squeeze into it when he was her age.  But, he did have it on for a minute or so, so I’m counting that as a wearing.  If I remember correctly, he was very, very bad tempered about trying it on, too.  Isn’t she a beauty??

 

Babydiva AKA Harper

BY THE BOOK

Am reading American Passage , a history of Ellis Island, which has always fascinated me and on my Nook, Killer Photos with Your iPhone.  I’ve pretty much quit using anything but my phone to take pictures, this book has already taught me a lot, both how to set up a good photo and how to use my iPhone and its features to make pictures.  Hopefully my pics will improve the more I learn.  I’m ashamed to admit that I had to ask Mr. Iknead what kind of phone I have, 3G? 3GS?  It’s a 4.  Learn something new every day.

Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade.  It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit.  Abbie Hoffman

Knitting

The New Normal

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THE GRANDS

Our new normal finds us adding another granddaughter, Annabelle Kate, born September 23, 2012 and I’m liking it a lot.  The Papoose is very pleased to be a big sister (so far) and seems to be taking the changes in her kingdom in stride.  As she loves her cousin, Babydiva, like crazy, I expect she’ll feel the same about baby sister Annabelle.  Three baby girl grands is just about more than Mr. Iknead can take, he’s totally, completely, no turning back and all bets are off in love with them, separately and collectively.  Can’t smack the smile off his face.

Annabelle Kate

ON THE NEEDLES

Dropsy is finished, but really, I ran out of yarn and so made a design feature change from scarf to cowl.  The yarn was in the bargain bin at my LYS and I only had two skeins.  Too short for a real scarf, but perfect for a cowl, so, that’s what it is.

Dropsy cowl

IN THE OVEN

Sadly, nothing really, I’ve been too busy to do any baking, but I did try out a few new recipes when I was caretaking Annabelle and family.  One was a crockpot recipe of rice and porkchops, thanks to Grandmary, Chicken Broccoli Alfredo which was a Campbell’s soup recipe and lastly, something called Chili Mac Skillet.  I think Grandmary’s rice and porkchops won out, with the Alfredo a close second.

To be able to look back upon one’s life in satisfaction, is to live twice.  Kahlil Gibran

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Knitting

Enter Annabelle Kate

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THE GRANDS

Yes, babywatch has wound down and we welcomed Miss Annabelle Kate this morning at 10:59 a.m., weighing in at 7 pounds, 14 Ounces and 19 inches long.  She has all the deluxe equipment, ten fingers, ten toes and a headful of thick, black hair.  She’s beautiful (of course), is already nursing like a champ and seems to have it all under control.  The Papoose is excited to be a big sister and has been practicing on Babydiva today.  A  perfectly wonderful day.  Bigmama is no longer big, probably Mediummama for now, and is recovering well from this mornings c-section.

See what I mean by the hair?

PawPaw and Annabelle

I’m going to try my hardest to get more pics tomorrow and get them posted.  She’s precious and I’m very excited to start getting to know this little one.  Life is good.

ON THE NEEDLES

Dropsy scarf is coming right along, not much done on it for obvious reasons.  I’ll get a picture of it and the Bonfire shawl that I started yesterday.  I think they’re both coming along nicely.

Life is an echo.   What you send out–you get back.  What you give–you get.  Anonymous

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