Tag: grands

Family

It’s Been A While, Hasn’t It?

mud&stringLeave a comment

Here I am, attempting to jumpstart what used to be so easy, the habit of knocking out a blog post a couple of times a week and following the blogs I particularly enjoy, of which there are many – keeping up with what others are reading or knitting, baking or making music and/or just what’s going on outside the realm of Casa Coleman. I don’t know if you’ve missed me, but I’ve missed you and it feels good to be back.❤️

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The newest grand — then and now:

and we can’t forget big sisters…

OK everyone! It’s time to stop growing and changing – at least for a little while – I’m not finished loving this stage yet!

Now for the Bangkok branch update:

As you can see, they too are growing and changing much, much more quickly than I want!

NEXT INSTALLMENT – Knitting and throwing, ringing and reading and whatever else catches my fancy!

Whoever is happy will make others happy too. Anne Frank

B

Advertisement
Knitting

A Spinning Sunday, July 4

mud&stringLeave a comment

INTO THE DYEPOT

I’ve finally gotten around to dyeing the last bit of roving that’s been hanging around Violet, looking so sad.  It’s been so long since I started spinning it that I can’t remember where it came from or even what type fiber it is.  I know it’s wool, but what kind, no clue.  Maybe when I get in there I’ll get lucky and figure it out.  Wish me luck!  Found it!  It’s superwash merino.  Meanwhile, here is a look into the dyepot.

imageJacquard Acid Dye

Sky Blue

INDEPENDENCE DAY GRANDS

We had a big cookout for the holiday, unfortunately, I took no pictures because my camera was kind of inaccessible, in the same room that JosiePug is banished to whenever the little ones visit.  Unhappily, she’s not good with the kids – not because she doesn’t like them, but because she loves them TOO much, jumping and running and just generally being way too much pug for them.  She still outweighs the two littlest grands and 20 pounds of Josie goes a long way.  We still hope for the time that we can ALL enjoy each other, but until then, we keep them apart.  I do have some photos from the concert and fireworks at the river that night that Bigmommy and Babymama were nice enough to share.

Lots of dancing and flag waving!

PARTING SHOT

Hand Study

Albrecht Durer

If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z.  Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.  Albert Einstein

B

Knitting

Oh No, No FO, Should I MYOB?, Grands

mud&stringLeave a comment

 

OFF THE NEEDLES

Nothing, despite a serious case of startitis and my resolve to not start anything new until I get at least one of my current WIPs off the needles.

ON THE NEEDLES

First sleeve of Mariella Cardi

Best Friend Scarf using a ball of Jojoland Melody I found in one of my stash dives.

The second sock of a pair for me; the yarn is a mystery, the pattern is in my head.

I need to bust a move on at least one of these projects, I have a pattern and yarn that is calling me like a sideshow barker, “Hurry, hurry, hurry!  Step right this way!  Get ready for the most fabulous project of your life!  Hurry, hurry, hurry!

QUESTION

Should I (diplomatically) point out typos in a friend’s otherwise beautiful website?  They’re nothing serious, nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a simple proofread; wouldn’t you want something that represents you to be perfect?  Should I mention it or should I MYOB?  What would you do?

TUESDAY WITH THE GRANDS

The Sprout and the Slide

Babydiva Daredevil

A thing well said will be wit in all languages

B

Knitting
mud&stringLeave a comment

THE GRANDS

Mr. Iknead and I had the pleasure of some two on one time yesterday with Babydiva while Babymama and Babydaddy caught a matinee (did I spell that right?) of Wicked and it’s hard to tell who had the better time.  We went on a field trip to Good Earth Garden Center and we had a blast.  I took lots of pictures of the back of Babydiva’s head, since she never quits moving and her philosophy is “why sit when you can walk and why walk when you can run?”  Note to self – wear running shoes next time.  See what I mean?

Look at that sweet hand!

I got it, Pawpaw.

Then, there’s the Papoose and Sprout.

Precious Sprout

The Papoose and cookie dough love.

What did we do before we had grands?

Patience and perseverence have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.  John Adams

B

Knitting

Impulse Buy, Just Grands

mud&stringLeave a comment

REPURPOSE

I bought this table runner a few days ago at Hobby Lobby for 66% off, mostly because when I saw it, I didn’t see a table runner, I saw a purse.  I love its colors and at $5.00 (give or take a quarter or two), I couldn’t pass it up.  In my head, a seam up each side would make a really cool pocketbook and the flap can be trimmed with the already existing fringe, with enough fabric left over to make a strap.  Super cool, super easy, right?  Pay no attention to the fact that I don’t know how to sew, it’s two seams, how hard could it be?  Right?  Bigmommy is bringing a portable sewing machine when she comes to visit tonight and knowing me, I’ll be up all night, trying to make a purse from a table runner, using up all my best swear words in the process.  Oooh, another trip to HL for purple thread, which I’ll need for the side seams that may be my Waterloo.

THE GRANDS

Mr. Iknead and I had some oh so precious one on one time with the Stuttgart grands last night, when they stayed with us overnight so Bigmommy and Bigdaddy could also have some precious one on one time with each other.  These babies are pure gold, went down for the night without a whimper, slept through and I woke up to sweet snuggles this morning.

Pensive Papoose

Sprout and Pawpaw

Then, when I thought it couldn’t be any sweeter, I had some serious one on one time with the Sprout, while everyone else went to lunch.  These special times seem few and far between, so we made the most of them.  I fed her lunch – bananas and oatmeal if you’re interested – gave her a dry diaper, followed closely with a bottle and then put her down for a nap.  So precious!

Copeland, if this dish looks familiar, it is, I have Aunt Veda’s dishes and use them every day.  We’ve eaten a lot of beans and cornbread off these, haven’t we?

The Sprout

Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.  Carl Jung

B

Knitting

Botany, Zoology and Grandology

mud&stringLeave a comment

HAS IT REALLY

Only been a few days since my last post?  The calendar says it was last Friday, the 7th, but my brain feels like it’s been a lot longer than that.  Mr. Iknead and I did have a busy weekend, spending most of the day Saturday browsing our local nursery and Home Depot for new flowers, bigger pots and such.  After (OMG) 34 years of marriage, we’ve discovered a mutual love of gardening (neither one of us has ever even tried) and have been so enjoying being together and learning new things.  Does that sound as sappy as I think it does?  We put out some begonias and coral bells, which I think are so beautiful even without blooms and put a large pot on each side of our front door with cuphea.  Of course I love that especially – it has purple flowers.

Coral Bells

Begonia

Cuphea

IT WAS A ZOO

I had my last pottery class for the spring session yesterday, so Mr. Iknead, Bigmommy, Babymama and the grands all went to the zoo.  Word on the street was that it was a blast and thankfully, Mr. Iknead took pictures.

The Papoose’s Favorite Was The Penguins

Babydiva Liked the Pink Bench

The Sprout Loved It All

Mr. Iknead’s Favorite Was Being With His Girls and Grands

You-all means a race or section/Family, party, tribe or clan/You-all means the whole connection of the individual man.  Anonymous

B

Knitting

Score!!

mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S UP

On a whim this morning, I stopped in at TJ Maxx , mostly because I’m looking for a sort of duffle/overnight/weekender bag that doesn’t scream ugly gym bag when I carry it.  I’ve justified needing one because I’m keeping the road hot between my house in Little Rock and the grands’ house in Stuttgart.  I want something at least a little girly and just big enough for a couple of clothes changes and my bathroom/makeup gear.  Of course, since I have champagne taste on a beer budget, my ideal bag probably doesn’t exist but I’m going to keep looking.

Making the circuit at TJM, I found the toy department (I didn’t know they had toys) and scored some awesome good deals.  I think the most expensive one was a Leap Frog Xylophone for $11.00 that I can picture the grands banging on even as I  blog.  I checked and yes, it does have an off button.  The grands are coming for a visit this weekend, I can’t wait to show them the new stuff!  Check it out –

HAPPY THING

OK, I might be the only person on the planet who thinks this is so great.  Mr. Iknead finally figured out how to use the wireless thingy on our printer.  “Why are you so excited?”, you might ask.  I’m excited because I can now print patterns and what ever else my little heart desires FROM THE COMFORT OF MY CHAIR IN THE DEN, IN FRONT OF THE FIRE, WITH MY KNITTING!  Now if I could just figure out how to get the copies without moving out of my chair, life would be pretty close to perfect.  I think I need to buy more printer paper.  As Martha would say, “It’s a good thing”.

Strong people make as many mistakes as weak people.  Difference is that strong people admit their mistakes, laugh at them, learn from them.  That is how they become strong.  Richard Needham

B

Knitting

ACK!!!

mud&stringLeave a comment

NEED SPRAY AND WASH STAT!

Somehow this morning my skirt (which happens to be my current favorite) got hung up in one of the wheels on my chair.  I had to just yank it out, but fortunately, it didn’t rip.  What did happen is that it has grease or something on it.  Pray that it will come out with a little elbow grease and stain remover this evening as soon as I get home.  Arghhhhhhh!

 BY THE BOOK

I finally finished my treadmill book, The Last Romanov, yesterday.  Enjoyed it for what it was – fiction not even trying to pass for nonfiction.  Now I’m shopping for another treadmill book, maybe Nicholas and Alexandra, in keeping with my current Russia/Romanov obsession.  I read this a long, long time ago, when books were always made of paper and if not bought, were checked out of the library, with a signature and stamped date so you’d know when it return it.  The olden days I suppose.  Nicholas and Alexandra it is.

   ON THE NEEDLES (STILL)

The Dropsy scarf has undergone a few changes, I added a few more stitches to widen it and am much happier with the way it looks.  I took this pic this a.m. in natural light and the color is much truer than last weeks photo.

THE GRANDS

Still on babywatch at the Papoose’s house.  Unless Bigmama goes into labor before hand, this time next Wednesday, we should have a  brand new grand to show off.   Bigmama’s WIP will become a FO!  (sorry, a little knitting humor there).

Knowledge can be conveyed, but not wisdom.  It can be found, it can be lived, it is possible to be carried by it, miracles can be performed with it, but it cannot be expressed in words and taught.  Herman Hesse

B