Tag: Babysis

Knitting

Get your WIP, Get your WIP Wednesday here! – 1/23/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

This week’s WIP Wednesday offering is the second Phloem sock from Knitty, using Shibui Sock that I’ve named Sand and Sky.  I loved the way the first sock took shape, with a botanical bent and so I was probably a tad bit over confident when I cast on the second.  I just dove right in, not an unusual plan for me.  After all, I finally had the pattern down and what the stitch key showed, right?  So, last night, about two inches into it, I went back just to review something in the pattern and noticed that I’d completely forgotten to do the cuff.  I waffled about just forging ahead and pretending it was OK but I just couldn’t, I knew it would bug me just knowing it was supposed to have a cuff but didn’t, so I frogged and started over.  I can rest easy now.  Yes, sometimes I tend to have a perfectionistic streak a mile wide and sometimes it serves me well, like last night.  So here’s the do-over.

THE GRANDS

Remember Babysis, the Papoose’s baby sister? Well, I changed her name from Babysis to Alfalfa Sprout, as in Our Gang/The Little Rascals.  She has a huge, no holds barred cowlick on the crown of her head that is so freakin’ cute I almost can’t stand it.  I just thought that Sprout was a better fit than Babysis.  See what I mean?

I wasn’t kidding, was I?

THE GREAT WASHING MACHING CRISIS

It’s over, it’s really, finally over – at least until another appliance gives up the ghost.  Got my new, fancy washing machine delivered and hooked up.  I think I did at least 15 loads that first day.  Man, does laundry pile up or what?!  Mr. Iknead laughed when I took a picture to share.  I think he thinks posting pictures of washing machines is a little odd, but I tend to blog things that I’m happy about and things that interest me and I’m definitely both about my new washer.  I think it’s very handsome, myself.  To each his own.

NOT ON THE NEEDLES, YET

The Yarn Mart just called and said my special order yarn, Metalico Gold Dust, has arrived so I’m hot-footing over to pick it up.  Pictures and description later, it’s calling my name.

Want more WIP Wednesday?  Check out Tami’s Amis, you can’t miss.

You never truly understand something, until you can explain it to your grandmother.  Albert Einstein

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Knitting

Happiness is

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watching Finding Nemo with the Papoose, drinking a cup of fancy coffee, while it’s so cold out that I don’t even feel guilty for not taking a walk. Just in case you’re curious, it’s 27 degrees F and sleeting here in the duck and rice capitol of the world. Stuttgart, Arkansas for the still curious. Babysis is sleeping in her swing and has been for the last hour or so, Bigmommy is taking advantage of my extra pair of hands and is taking a well deserved nap and as I already mentioned, the Papoose and I are watching Finding Nemo and sharing a piece of cake. Does it get better than this? Not in my world or probably yours either.

BABYSIS

Annabelle aka Babysis was baptized yesterday and charmed Rev. Arnold by grinning at him the whole time. Needless to say, he joined the rest of us who are under her spell. She wore the family christening gown and by my count is #5. The first being her mommy, Lindsey aka Bigmommy.

Before church, hanging out with Papa aka Mr. Iknead

Life is good.

Familiar acts are beautiful through love. Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Knitting

Slow Day

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WHAT’S UP

Nothing, absolutely nothing.  Sitting here, waiting for the electricians to arrive to finish work so I decided to use the time constructively, blogging.  Today is Old People Day at the grocery store, so at some point I’m going for groceries when I can get the Old Person Discount.  Jeez, that’s something I never thought I’d say.  I guess I thought that when I reached a certain age (never determined), time would stop and I’d be that never determined age forever.  However, it hasn’t stopped and I haven’t stopped either, 55 years old at last check.  Young at heart, that would be me.

ON THE NEEDLES

I started a new project yesterday, from a book I received as a gift last year, which I’d misplaced a couple of months ago.  The book is Boutique Knits 20+ Must-Have Accessories.  I started the Sideways Grande Hat, using yarn that I repurposed from an infinity scarf which was much, much too long and heavy.  I think it’s Cascade 220 but I’m not sure.  I just love the mauvey, heathery color and its softness.

It’s a little more on the pink side in real life.

THE GRANDS

Annabelle aka Babysis is set to be baptized next Sunday, 01/13/13 and I’m planning to stay an extra couple of days.  Looking forward to giving Bigmommy a hand for a while.  Babysis isn’t a great sleeper, so she and Bigdaddy aren’t getting as much sleep as they would like.  Poor Babysis being compared to the Papoose, who slept through the night at six weeks and is still a great sleeper.  Babysis is only three months old, so I expect that here pretty soon she’ll start sleeping longer and longer through the night and everyone’s attitude will get better.  At least she’s not colicky!

The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy.  Sam Levenson (1911-1980)

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Knitting

OK, OK, I’m blogging already!

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WHAT’S UP

I been neglecting my blog the past week or so, I’ve been so busy, wrapping up Christmas stuff, attending the grands’ Christmas pageant (more about that in a second) and just acclimating myself to real retirement.  It’s a big change, believe me, but I’m getting into the swing of things.  Even though I can’t seem to sleep past about 6:30 a.m., just taking my time with the newspaper and coffee is a continuing happy.  I’m busy, don’t think I’m sitting around watching soaps and eating bon-bons.  I’m baking (which is different from cooking), cooking, visiting my mom, knitting (lots of it) and reading.  I love retirement – I think more people should try it! ; )

THE GRANDS’ PAGEANT

The Papoose and Babysis were in their first Christmas pageant on Wednesday evening.  The Papoose was an angel (no surprise there) and Babysis stepped up as the Baby Jesus.  The sweetest things ever!  We did have a tiny bump in the performance when Angel Papoose turned around, saw the audience and immediately had a small meltdown,  crying very pitiously until Bigmommy took her down from the stage and she came to sit (on the front row of course) with Grandmary, Pops, Pawpaw and me.  Best. Angel. Ever.

Two seconds and counting down pre-meltdown!

In the green room before her big entrance

Babysis rocked it out as the Baby Jesus, sleeping through the whole thing and being all the more precious because of it.

Showing off her new smile with Bebe (that’s me)

FUNNY THING ABOUT TIME

It flies.  The holidays are nearly upon us and it feels (at least to me) like we just wrapped up Christmas 2011 a week or so ago, relaxing and telling each other that “this was the best Christmas ever”.  We’ll say it again in about a week, vowing that nothing could top Christmas 2012, what with two babies on their first Christmas and one who’s just getting the hang of presents and Santa.  The wonder never leaves me, I’m blessed.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart.  who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.  Carl Jung

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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

Through the phone

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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

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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

    The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth

      . Anne Boleyn has just been executed and he’s married Catherine Howard (I think). I love the intrigue.

      One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say. Will Durant

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/24/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

I’m on the downhill side of Pretty Maids, I think I have about ten rows left to complete, bearing in mind, though, that these are long, long rows, approximately 350 stitches and increasing by two stitches each row.  I’m enjoying this second go round so much more than the first, I’m sure it’s because I’m not having to constantly check the pattern and the symbol guide.  It’s not flying off the needles by any stretch of the imagination, but it is moving faster this time.

BY THE BOOK

I finished Opium Fiend yesterday during my daily treadmill and have moved on to The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth by Alison Weir.  Very interesting, up to Anne Boleyn at the moment.  I’m finishing my books much slower than I’m adding them and they’re beginning to pile up, but I can’t resist a new book.  I keep telling myself that I’ll get caught up in December and January, when I’ve retired and the weather is too cold and nasty to be anywhere but inside by the fire. 

VIOLET

Lately I’ve become obsessed with everything violet and I’m blaming it all on getting my tat, which is a violet ball of yarn and knitting needles.  So last weekend, when I was prowling Goodwill, looking for odd and ends to craft with, I saw these and pounced –

They don’t match anything in my house – yet.  Is it over the top to paint a room around the color of a couple of candlesticks from Goodwill instead of the other way around?  It could totally happen.  My research tells me that people who are drawn to the color violet are usually nuclear physicists or performance artists.  That’s me in a nutshell.  OK, maybe not the physicist part, but performance artist?  Absolutely and I have embarrassing pictures to prove it.

THE GRANDS

The Papoose wants Babysis to sleep in her bed with her.  Bigmommy sent me this yesterday.

Susannah and Annabelle

Is this not the sweetest thing?

 No man is rich enough to buy back his past.  Oscar Wilde (see above paragraph)

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/17/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

Plugging along on the Pretty Maids shawl and am so happy I decided to frog the first attempt, the second try is 100% better.  I’m able to “read” my knitting better and as a result, if I make a mistake, I notice it quicker and can fix it more easily.  A much happier project!   Here’s a photo –

Stitch close up 

 

The Big Picture

 THE GRANDS

I have a new picture of Babysis Annabelle and can’t resist blogging it.  Talk about a lucky shot!

Isn’t she precious???

IN THE OVEN

I have big plans for baking this coming weekend.  I’m going to bake bread and attempt to get a sourdough starter going.  The weather should help out quite a bit, low humidity, warm but not hot temperatures.  I’ve missed baking these past few months, first it was way to hot to use the oven, then I was too busy, what with the grands, work, Mom and the zillion other tiny things that seem to be of no consequence, but turn into a mountain with attempts to accomplish them. 

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.  A.A. Milne

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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

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

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