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How Hot Is It??

July 22, 2020July 21, 2020 mud&stringLeave a comment

It’s so hot that even thinking of working with wool yarn makes me break into a sweat, even with the thermostat is set on Arctic Circle and the ceiling fans are set to airplane propeller speed. All my knitting WIPs that are wooly are on hold for now. I can’t work up any enthusiasm in my pottery studio either, trying to get caught up on glazing and firing at 3 a.m. when it’s at least bearable to be in the garage/studio. 🥵🥵🥵

Still and all, I feel blessed – me and mine are all happy and healthy, the Bangkok bunch got back home to America to stay after five years of perpetual summer without hitch one, self quarantined for two weeks and came out the other side still healthy and still happy. God is good.

The photo I planned to post is missing in action, but I came across one taken a couple of winters ago and is something to look forward to………

Reality leaves a lot to the imagination. John Lennon

Random

Christmas in Bangkok

January 8, 2020January 8, 2020 mud&stringLeave a comment

Hi all!

So, what did you think of the changes in my About Me page? It took me a long time to get the new content from my head to WordPress! As for my 2020 Intentions, one of my main one is to start and stick to a blogging schedule. I haven’t quite gotten that one settled in my mind but just getting started feels like a big step in the right direction! 👟👟

I hope you had a great holiday! Mr. iknead and I went to Bangkok for Christmas with the Bangkok Bunch. So good to see them…..even with Facetime, etc., sometimes I crave being able to hug them in person, hold their hands and hear their voices in person. Unfortunately, I was sick the. whole. time. with bronchitis. I went to the doctor and he gave me antibiotics and cough medicine. They helped a little and at least got me through the long, long flight home.😷🤒👨‍⚕️💊

Best gift ever? The Bangkok bunch is coming home! 🏠🏠🏠 The excitement and the relief of having them close by again is overwhelming! 🎇🎇🎇🤸‍♂️😍

I’m still plugging away at Gray Day. I’ve had to rip the entire cable pattern out and start it again twice.🤬but it’s progressing slowly!

I plan to do an update of my Etsy shop, ClayDreamsPottery, in the next day or so, keep an eye on it – you don’t want to miss a thing! Here’s a preview –

Departure Countdown

August 28, 2019 mud&stringLeave a comment

I leave for home the day after tomorrow, always a bittersweet anticipation. A bit sad to be leaving, knowing that I won’t see my Bangkok babies until December, leaving part of my heart in Thailand but at the same time, looking forward to being home and reconnecting with the other part of my heart that I left at home when I left for Bangkok. I pray that someday we’ll all at least be on the same continent, if not the same state or town. Until that happens, I’ll use all that airplane time (16+ hours!) to get in some serious knitting time on whatever project I have going at that time.

This extra knitting time is a good thing this trip, a really good thing…….

I finally took a look at the Leksak Lady pattern, rows and rows of stockinette as a general rule don’t require much in the way of pattern watching. Talk about a Debbie Downer moment! I’d had it in my head that the pattern read “continue working in stockinette until the garment from the shoulder measures approximately 20 inches”. instead, it reads “continue working……………………….measures approximately 28.5 inches”. My Leksak Lady measures about 18 inches from the shoulder at the moment. I don’t think I can fudge 10 inches of stockinette. 😫😫😫

Instead of a project photo, something to make you smile –

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People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile. Lee Mildon

Random

Monday in Bangkok

August 26, 2019August 28, 2019 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON MY NEEDLES

Ariel Socks

So far, the Ariel socks are playing nice, but they’ve been slow going. Things are looking up since I purchased a nice, bright headlamp at Decathlon, a store similar to Academy Sports. I actually was at Decathlon to get a new water bottle, which I did, but apparently the placement of impulse items is universal – right next to the cash register. That bit of extra light has made a big difference, I got through the first pattern repeat last night without problems.

I’m also working on a Leksak sweater, though I find the rows and rows of stockinette boring. It makes for great plane knitting, I’ll give it that.

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Leksak

ON THE WHEEL

Not a thing. While I’m in Bangkok, I have to be satisfied with surfing Pinterest and making endless lists in my head of glazes and techniques to try. That reminds me, I need to order clay. I’m thinking that if I order now, it will arrive in Little Rock about the same time I do.

FIELD TRIP

Here are a few photos of Iconsiam, a new mall here in Bangkok that has a replica of a floating market on the bottom floor, with traditional Thai food and crafts vendors, most wearing traditional Thai clothing. Really, the photos don’t do it justice………..

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FYI – This is an escalator!

Action is the foundational key to all success. Pablo Picasso

Knitting

More On Our DFW Adventure

August 19, 2019August 21, 2019 mud&stringLeave a comment

Recap – The five us – Big Mommy, the Papoose, the Sprout, the Peach and I – are stranded at the Dallas-Ft.Worth airport after missing our connecting flight to Hong Kong. I might add that we range in age from 62 to 2 years.

Now, on with the story…..

The first hitch in our getalong was due to weather – storms in the DFW area – putting us an hour late on an already tight layover. Tight, but doable, so no panic. As Big Mommy had brought along an umbrella stroller for the Peach, she had it tagged and handed it off to the people who handle such things, i.e. wheelchairs, strollers, and miscellaneous assistive devices, to be handed over to their owners at the end of the jetway, right outside the airplane door. Got to DFW, deplaned and, you guessed it, no stroller. Asked attendants and were reassured that it was coming, no worries, it was coming. After five minutes or so, a tiny bit of panic starts to tickle. Explained to agent (again) about our tight and getting tighter layover time schedule.

Five more minutes and the baggage attendants leave the jetway, with no sign of the stroller. Now true panic sets in. If you are thinking “c’mon, it’s just a stroller” you’ve never had to negotiate a mega airport with an already cranky two year old, with two more kids and Grandma in tow. Did I mention that between the five of us we had eight carry-on bags? At least we didn’t have to mess with a stroller, right?? 🤨😡🤯

Stay tuned……….

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. Anthony J. D’Angelo

Family · Knitting · pottery

Betcha Thought I Forgot About This Old Blog….

August 16, 2019August 18, 2019 mud&stringLeave a comment

OK, at 63 (!) I’ve been been trying on a few different personas, just one more sign of my decision to never grow up, but here I am once more, an amalgamation of several whos and whats, as reflected in my new title, Mud and String.

As I type this, I’m en route to Bangkok, Thailand again, accompanying Big Mommy and the three grands, the Papoose, the Sprout and the Peach. All growing up so so fast and leaving me in the dust regarding what’s cool and what’s not. Anyhow……..

This trip has been very crazy, beginning with the first leg of the 30 hour trip being delayed an hour in Little Rock due to weather in Dallas, setting off a chain of situations like dominos falling. First, we missed our connecting flight to Hong Kong and so were stranded in Dallas for 24 hours, waiting for the next plane to Hong Kong. An adventure unto itself…More on that later.

So here we are, 32000 feet in the air, five hours into a 16 hour flight, with the outside time showing as -43.6F, wearing clothes that were fresh yesterday – Wednesday morning around 5 a.m. – closing in on 48 hours. The time is 4:49 pm on Thursday, according to my ipad. I pity our seatmates! 🤭🤭🤭🤢🤢🤢

We made it to Hong Kong! Here’s the view from our gate waiting area-

Before I close this out, a few pics of recent projects

Ninilchik Swoncho

The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order.

Knitting

We Made It!!!

April 6, 2018April 6, 2018 mud&stringLeave a comment

WE’RE HERE!

Right at this moment, Mr. iknead and I are in Bangkok, Thailand, yes, you read correctly, Thailand, one of our very very favorite places on the planet, even with the 30 or so hours it takes to arrive. We’re so happy to finally be here, spending time with the Bangkok branch of the family. FUN FACT – Because we cross the International Date Line, we left Little Rock early on Wednesday, April 4 and arrived in Bangkok in the early, early morning hours of today, Friday, April 6. So, we lost Thursday over the Pacific.

Here’s what a lazy Friday afternoon looks like in Bangkok….

The Papoose and her book.

Preacherman naps

Putting my feet up hoping ankles go back to normal.

Mr. iknead and his first born.

We lunched at Coffee Bean by Dao.

Very hip, very upscale….like yours truly……😋😋😋 I had squid ink pasta in cream sauce and giant prawn. Words fail me as to the deliciousness of this dish. 🦐🍜

My lunch

Knitting

Oops, It’s Been Awhile, Hasn’t It?, Lots of Excitement at Casa Coleman and Happy Easter!

April 2, 2018April 2, 2018 mud&stringLeave a comment

It seems that the harder I try to plan and always, always intend to sit down and blog at least a few lines about whatever is catching my attention, somehow, it never happens. I also know that one of the keys to blogging regularly is planning, which I’ve thrown aside for the last little while – stream of consciousness anyone??

Like I said in the title, lots of excitement here at Casa Coleman these past few weeks, here are a couple of the high points….

After a run of five little grandgirls in a row, Babymama, Babydaddy, Baby Diva and the Elf are set to welcome a new BABY BOY this summer! We’re all very very excited — think hitting the lottery or winning the Superbowl! At their last ultrasound, Baby Boy cooperated beautifully, allowing a good shot of (ahem) what little boys are made of. 🤗

Next, our Bangkok trip is pretty much upon us; we leave Wednesday – DAY AFTER TOMORROW!!! This is about the time that my anticipation usually gets the best of me and I become very scattered, trying to do too many things at once without really accomplishing anything. I’ve been mentally packing for days and tried on last summer’s shorts just to be sure they still fit (they do! Yay!), next to try – swimsuit – which isn’t something I ever look forward to. ☹️

As usual, I have several things on my needles, but only one WIP that I’ve made real progress on.

Julie’s Sweater

All this baby is lacking is the cowl neck and the second sleeve. I’m debating whether or not to carry it to Bangkok, 25-30 hours of flight (knitting) time would just about do it. It’s just a lot of sweater in what I’m afraid will be a small space. Maybe Mr. iknead and I will get lucky and the third seat will be unoccupied, providing me with more elbow room and a place to put all my knitting essentials. It’s happened before. 🤞🤞🤞

Spinning continues on the Summer Palette roving, but should be finished before we leave.