Knitting

Busy, busy, busy

November 5, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

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 –

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

Knitting

Sunday night

June 24, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT I DID

Ending up the weekend and this feels like the first time I’ve had more than a couple of minutes to put my thoughts in order. I did some baking – made Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread yesterday and Chicken and Rice Casserole today. Oh, and I went to the grocery store. And knitted on Wingspan. Besides that, I don’t have a clue where the time went.

ON THE NEEDLES

Wingspan is coming along nicely. But, I keep reminding myself, while I’m getting a lot done on it, three (minimum) projects are languishing on the back burner and I seemingly have a low guilt threshold because I feel guilty when I see them and then once again pass them up.

Yay, pictures of the French Market Bag, before and after:

I like the way it turned out. My next felting project will be a big bowl, I think. (See above regarding languishing projects).

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. Paul Valery

Knitting

Memorial Day

May 28, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

UPDATES

The blog continues to evolve and I continue to learn. Now I’m trying different types of titles and think I like shorter, simpler ones. They seem to work better with the new theme and fonts and feel less contrived and more natural.

IN THE OVEN

I’ve set out the same two eggs a couple of times the past couple of days, each time planning on making these really cute apple cakes I got from Pinterest and every time I get distracted by something or another. Since I have to go back to work tomorrow, it will be Friday before I get a chance to make them. On the other hand, my sourdough is rising and I’ll be able to let them bake while I’m getting ready for work in the morning and we’ll have fresh bread tomorrow.

COMING UP

Memorial Day is nearly over and neither Mr. Iknead or I want to go to work tomorrow. It’s been such a great past four days, we did just what we wanted to do and nothing more. Real life is calling though and like it or not, we have to answer.

THE GRANDS

Here’s a recent picture of Babydiva (aka Harper). She’s getting chubbier every time I see her and has started to really smile and coo when we talk to her. She is a treasure.

Harper Elizabeth

The majority of men are bundles of beginnings. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Knitting

The one where Coupling is

April 6, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

is my featured WIPW offering. Cast on at lunch today and got a few rounds in before I had to go back to the salt mines. Here they are so far

DD, Lindsey, and Susannah AKA Papoose, are coming to Little Rock for the weekend Friday. DSIL, Clefton, has a busy weekend with work, so she decided to come visit. Can’t wait. I’m so hungry to see them both. I’m going to really hunker down with the Brittany Jumper, I’m hopeful that it can be done by the time they’re ready to go back to Fayetteville.

I’ve had a request that I bake some plain whole wheat yeast bread this weekend instead of sourdough, so I’ll probably end up baking both kinds and then have bread coming out of our ears. I usually give most of it away anyhow, always have takers. It’s been a week or so since I’ve baked and my flour jones is starting to wake up. Will try to resist until Friday.

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Knitting

The one where she thinks

March 27, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

she may have had as close to a perfect few days as she’s ever had. I did most of the things I love to do – I baked bread, went yarn shopping, worked on my Catnip Socks and made a pot of soup (shrimp bisque if you must know). On the sock front, I have only an inch or so left before I start the final ribbing on the cuff. I could probably finish them tonight, but tomorrow is a work day and I know myself, if I stay up later that I know I should, I’ll pay for it tomorrow night and Tuesday, so, I’m putting the brakes on tonight with the intention of finishing them tomorrow. I do have my next project picked out – another Minnowknits dress, this one called Brittany Jumper – here’s a pic

I may use this yarn –

It’s Fibranatura Cottonwood, 100% organic cotton, the color is called Cindy, #41109. It’s more of a coral color than it’s pictured.

National Knitting Blog Week kicks off tomorrow, I’m going to give it a try; I enjoy blogging and reading other’s blogs. Should be really cool. I’m always interested in seeing other’s blogs. I can always learn something.

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Dr. Robert Schuller

Knitting

The one where the frustration

March 22, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

of last night has faded and I’m able to post the Papoose in the Pinafore Dress. So sweet!

How cute is that?

I can’t stand it!!!! She and the Pinafore Dress were made for each other. OMG! It turned out so well I ordered two more Minnowknits patterns, the Brittany Jumper and Cotton Candy. These will necessitate several visits to Yarn Mart. No firm color decisions yet, but I’m leaning toward pinkish.

I’m baking this weekend, no matter what. It’s been a couple of weeks and I’m starting to have flour withdrawal. Maybe brownies, sourdough bread for sure.

Some of the worst mistakes of my life have been haircuts. Jim Morrison (1943-1971)

Knitting

The one where she shows

February 27, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

off The Perfect Yarn for the En Pointe Pullover. Tomorrow I swatch!

Class Elite Yarns Silky Alpaca Lace, color #2405.

While I’m on the subject, here are two more views of En Pointe

I baked two loaves of sourdough today like I’d planned but since the past couple of loaves using my recipe seemed too salty, I cut the salt (actually I’d planned to cut it in half but forget to add it altogether) and evidently the salt cuts some of the sour out of the sourdough. Way, way sour, edible, but sour. Bet I don’t forget it next time.

When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world. George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

Knitting

Resolution

January 9, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

01/09/11 dailypost2011

Making a commitment to posting every day this year.

I have three loaves of sourdough bread rising in my kitchen right now, one loaf for me, two loaves to share. UPDATE: Bread tastes incredible, but won’t win any beauty contests. I think the cold today in Arkansas kept it from rising as well as it could. I know I’ve not been as comfortably warm as usual. Temp now 26F, 5:45 p.m. with snow falling.

I also baked a butter brickle cake. The colder and wetter the weather, the more I want to bake. Yum warm cake with coffee. Will have to work tomorrow, but hopefully inclement weather policy will be in effect and I can catch a few more zzz in the morning.

Thought for today: There’s always a bigger picture.