ON THE NEEDLES
A dropped stitch scarf that I’ve christened Dropsy.
Strangely, it’s not bluish, it’s pink. Just use your imagination, please.
THE GRANDS
Bigmama still gestating, the Papoose is still two and the cutest thing on the planet and Babydiva is still growing like a weed. Can’t wait to meet the newest grand!
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway. Mother Teresa
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NEW FOR ME
At last week’s grocery store outing, on a whim I decided to try out a precooked smoked brisket, one of those that just has to be heated, and I’m here to tell you, it. was. awesome. Yeah, this is definitely on the Coleman Kitchen Hit Parade. I’ve been making sandwiches for work all week and it’s so good! I wish I’d tried it sooner, and it doesn’t get much easier than this.
THE GRANDS
The fam descended upon Stuttgart on Saturday and the Papoose was so proud to show off her new big girl bed and her newfound (sometimes) potty skills. I especially like that she can inspect her toes and potty at the same time. A born multitasker just like her bebe.
More toe action.
Babydiva has just discovered her feet and toes.
ON THE NEEDLES
I’m still plugging along on the Crazy Monkeys, with one sock complete and about 1/3 of the way finished on its mate. I caved and went to my lys and splurged on some new yarn, enough for my newest, soon to be started project, Bauble, a First Fall Surprise from Knitty. Two skeins gray and totally out of character for me, two skeins of an orangy, makes you think of Thanksgiving, brown and gold mix. Now, I don’t like orange, I don’t wear orange, I look like I have jaundice when I wear orange, but all the same, it called to me and I marched up to the counter with two skeins of it, deciding to think out of the box a little when it comes to color. I’ll get pictures tonight.
Here are the photos I promised –
Told you it was orange
Colorways and dye lots are posted on Flickr in my notebook.
The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking. John Kenneth Galbraith
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BY THE BOOK
Still slogging through Steve Jobs, finishing it come hell or high water. It’s been a very long listen, I think I’m just ready for something new. Before I started the Jobs book, I reread King’s Dark Tower series and like always, I’m mesmerized by the story. Maybe I’m just having a problem switching from fiction to nonfiction.
Prince Harry on the Jumbotron at Olympic closing ceremonies sing and whistle to the Bright Side of Life with the Monty Python guy. Love it a million times.
WHAT I DID
Crafts, I did crafts today. First up, a bracelet and necklace.
I’ve been experimenting with salt dough, molding it and finding different textures, just mostly playing, this little bracelet is one of the results.
I picked up a leaf on my walk yesterday and used it sort of like a stamp. I think it turned out pretty cool. I don’t think Tiffany’s has anything to worry about, but I like it.
I finally got the Wingspan and Summer Flies shawlette’s blocked. Both turned out very nicely.
Wingspan
Summer Flies
Summer Flies Close-up
THE GRANDS
Babymama has to go back to work tomorrow, Babydiva will be with her nanny and we’ll all breathe a little easier when it’s this time tomorrow. I remember when I had to go back to work after being on maternity leave, it was sooooo difficult to tear myself away from my baby the first morning. I expect Babymama and Babydiva to be totally worn out tomorrow evening. Sending them loving thoughts. Tomorrow’s going to be a long one for them.
SO HOW ‘BOUT THOSE OLYMPICS?
Great games, got a little overdosed on women’s beach volleyball, thanks to Mr. Iknead. How come the guys wore tanks and baggy shorts and the women wore bikinis? Would Mr. Iknead have been glued to the TV if the guys wore what the swimmers wore and the girls wore what the guys wore? Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m just sayin….. Seriously, I’m so proud of all the athletes, wherever they were from, all deserved a medal. London, indeed, did it right.
The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win. Roger Bannister
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RECENT OBSESSIONS
I’m coming clean – I’ve been way wwwaaayyy too involved with the Olympics, to the point of letting a few things slide, always thinking “as soon as the next commercial, I’m getting started on ________________.” One of the things that I’ve gotten behind on is this blog. So, I’ve admitted that I have a problem and that’s the first step to fixing something, right?
ON THE NEEDLES
I finished that 9 to 5 socks last week without a clear cut next up in the queue project and was doing that thing that I do when I’m at loose ends (is this a pun?) and just don’t know what to pick up next – the rummaging around in my stash, lots of heavy sighs and picking up years abandoned WIPs and tossing them aside, spending more time that I should cruising Ravelry looking at patterns and making promises to yarn and old projects that I have no intention of keeping. That being said, I found some really nice yarn in my stash and found a random shawlette pattern, got it going and thanks to my Olympic obsession, started the bind off last night.
Summer Flies
Holly and Ella Knits
in
Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette Briar
When I manage to get this project (along with Wingspan) blocked, I’ll make sure to get some close ups, Summer Flies has the sweetest picot bindoff ever.
THE GRANDS
No new pics of the Papoose, Bigmommy is too busy gestating and staying out of the over the top summer heat and Bigdaddy way busy with his new congregation, I think. Here’s one of Babydiva that is so sweet! Look how she has her head propped up on her little hand!!! OMG, can’t stand it!
IN THE OVEN
Nothing, nyet, nada. Too hot. I miss baking, might have to cave, turn the AC down to polar bear and fire up the stove, summer heat be damned!
He who hurries cannot walk with dignity. Chinese proverb
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ON THE NEEDLES
Actually, off the needles. The 9 to 5 socks are finished and off the clock. The second sock went a lot smoother than the first, I must admit. Here they are –
I especially like the way the twist continues through the heel, these will be really nice with some backless clogs, which I’ve just ordered from Zappos. (smile)
THE GRANDS
Here’s a new picture of the Babydiva and fam on their New Orleans trip. Good looking family, don’t you think?
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men for they may act their dream with open eyes and make it possible. T. E. Lawrence
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ON AND OFF THE NEEDLES
Hurray!! The first sock of the 9 to 5s is finished, here’s proof –
and the second one cast on with two pattern repeats finished.
THE GRANDS
Mr. Iknead and I didn’t see the Papoose over the weekend; we worked to get caught up with house chores we let slide the past few weekends to spend time with the grandbabies. Here’s the Papoose immediately after chocolate ice cream.
I think Big-Mommy was running a bath even while she was still enjoying her ice cream. Gotta say, she’s a girl after my own heart. Don’t think I’ve every had ice cream where I didn’t end up wearing at least a tiny bit when I was finished.
Here’s one of the newest pics of Babydiva – She loves that Bumbo Seat!
IN THE OVEN
It’s been so hot here (108F on Friday) that the last thing I want to do is fire up the oven and bake. I did fix supper on Friday for Babymama, Babydaddy and Babydiva and it took hours to get the house cool again. Ice cream is about all I’m excited about right now (see above).
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. Ellen Parr
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BY THE BOOK
OK, what’s up with The Christian Science Monitor? I’m a reader and always enjoy reader recommendations/reviews and TCSM has always been one of my “go to” sources to check out what others are saying about books I’m interested in. The last few times I’ve visited their reader recommendation page, a survey has to be completed before the review can be seen. I can’t find a “no thanks” or an “ask me later” button so it really pisses me off and makes me feel like I’ve been taken hostage by whoever is doing the surveying. Yeah, I know, it just takes a minute and yeah, I know that “they value my opinion” and “want to serve me more effectively”, but it’s the principle of the thing. I hate it and won’t visit their site again. Can you tell that I’m a little irritated and that my desire for instant gratification is showing? Maybe just a little?
ON THE NEEDLES
The 9 to 5 socks are ripping right along, with the heel flap finished, heel turn accomplished and gusset stitches picked up.
9 to 5 sock #1
THE GRANDS
Babydiva had some medical tests run today, nothing major really, although when it’s your kid, everything is major, a swallow study and an upper GI series. She has had some issues with reflux and her doc wanted to get look at what’s happening with her when she eats. I don’t have the details, but early texts from Babymama said everything was fine. Big relieved sigh. Here she is at the birthday celebration Saturday.
Isn’t she beautiful??
Cousin Love
Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere. Carl Sagan
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WHAT WE DID
Our trip to Stuttgart aka the Duck and Rice Capitol of the World to check out the Papoose’s new digs was amazing. The parsonage was really nice, if a little dated, with big rooms and a great backyard, the Papoose is really loving it, lots of running room. It’s right across the street from the church, so they can just walk over. The congregation was very welcoming and warm and put on an awesome potluck after church. I suppose I should mention that the church I’m going on about is Grand Avenue United Methodist, in Stuttgart, Arkansas and my best son in law, Clefton Vaughan, is the new pastor.
Susannah Grace aka the Papoose
Babydiva aka Harper with her Uncle Clefton
As usual, when we all get together (forgot to mention that Babydiva and her entourage was also there), a good time was had by all, with everyone talking at the same time, someone looking for a snack most of the time and, of course, paying homage to the Papoose and Babydiva, the prettiest and smartest girls ever.
It was hot so Mr. Iknead and the Papoose took a dip in the pool, where the Papoose made sure that her Papa was well watered, pouring water over his head from a watering can. Cutest thing ever!
ON THE NEEDLES
I don’t really want to talk about it, it’s painful you know, but I frogged back about four inches of heel flap and sock leg on the 9 to 5s. I still haven’t a clue where the wheels came off, I looked and looked, and counted and counted, never figured it out. Fresh start on the heel flap tonight after work. Frustration doesn’t look good on me, so I hope to get it straightened out so I can move on.
Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes. John Dewey
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A HAPPY
Somehow, I’ve stockpiled 45 extra minutes of worktime this week. This means I get to leave and start my weekend just that much sooner. Hard work really does pay off! Now, to decide what I’m going to do with the extra time – grocery store, yarn store, extra walk time (on treadmill as today’s high is predicted to be 106) or just going home and enjoying the cool quiet.
HOW HOT IS IT?
It’s off the charts hot, even by Arkansas standards, and I don’t think we’ve had any measurable rain in at least a month. Our lawn is brown and crunchy, even with daily watering and I’m glad we procrastinated getting new sod and landscaping. Thanks be that I have a cool, air conditioned office to work in. When I left the house this morning at 7, I saw some roofers already hard at work, they must begin work at dawn to be able to get any work done before it’s too hot.
THE GRANDS
Babydiva in her Bumbo Seat – Three months old tomorrow!
UPDATE – HOW HOT IS IT?
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.
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UPDATE
I got my haircut on Friday morning and since Babymama was feeling under the weather, I told her I’d go and help her out any way I could. I think she mostly wanted me there so she could limit her contact with Babydiva, hoping that she wouldn’t catch whatever her mom had. Between the salon and their house, I got rearended by some guy driving a Dodge Ram van. I’m OK, not hurt as far as I can tell, just really aggravated because it was hot, we were standing in the middle of a really busy street and it took the cops 40 minutes to arrive and do the paperwork. Fortunately, I held my temper in both hands, reminding myself over and over to just communicate at a minimum, exchange insurance info, making sure everyone was OK for the moment. My car’s back bumper is probably going to have to be replaced, it’s plastic so it doesn’t take much of a hit to mess it up. Things to be thankful for: I was not hurt, my car is driveable and I have insurance.
ON THE NEEDLES
Here is the promised picture of the Nine to Five socks. I think they’re going like gangbusters. What do you think about them?
Here’s a picture of the yarn for Wingspan. It’s already been started and I’m planning to show off what I have on WIP Wednesday. Here is a sneak peek at the yarn.It’s Araucania Huasco, Code Color 7. I thinks it’s going to knit up really well. The French Market bag is complete and I started the felting process yesterday. I’ll have some before and after pics for all to enjoy.
THE GRANDS
Going in for the kiss.
Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you. Aldous Huxley
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GOINGS ON
Just a quick post while the other girls are napping. Babymama, Babydiva and I just got in from a little shopping up on the square. Naturally, I ducked into Handheld and fed my addiction with some Araucania Huasco. It’s lovely and I’m thinking Wingspan shawl.
THE GRANDS
Are wonderful as always. The Papoose and Babydiva adore each other and we’ve got some really sweet pictures. Won’t even try to post them until I’m back in Little Rock.
WHAT’S FOR SUPPER
I think it’s to be catfish but that could change at any moment. Anything but fast food.
There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company, from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else. Sam Walton
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ON THE NEEDLES
I did it. I frogged the Maidenhair Fern socks, it took me until yesterday to it, but I got it done. I’m thinking Fa Fa Fa socks, a free Ravelry pattern that I saw on someone’s blog last week, I need to go back and look and I will, just not today.
THE GRANDS
I spent most of the day babysitting Babydiva and loving every second. Really, there wasn’t much to do, feed her, play with her, nap with her and it was glorious! She takes a long afternoon nap, so after lunch, she took a nap and so did Bela (Divadog) and I. Don’t know how long it’s been since I took an afternoon nap, I’m usually at work and they generally frown on that sort of thing and on my days off, I’m playing catchup with the things I put off during the work week. I could get used to naps. Here’s a new picture of Babydiva, big smile –
See why yesterday was so fun??
IN THE OVEN
It’s official – I love the silicone pans. Love them an unhealthy amount, I think. I (finally) got around to making the little Apple Cakes I’ve been talking about for at least a week and they turned out amazing. When they were finished baking and cooled a little, I literally just popped them out of the pan. Nothing stuck, they baked evenly and I’m so proud! Here’s one for show.
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. Mark Twain
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