Tag: Josie

Knitting

Heads Up!, BFF

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BOLO

After months of “can I?”, “should I?”, “but I know next to nothing about”, “this makes me nervous”, “I’m definitely doing it!”, “maybe I should stick with what I know” and finally, “no guts, no glory”, I did it.  I have a website!  I do!  Mine!  Nothing much is going to change, it’s going to look different (I’ve been toying with the idea of changing the look of my blog for a while) and I’ll have a lot more options available, like using Javascript or HTML to add things I want my blog to contain, more storage, more security and since it’s my site, I’m the boss.

Since I know next to nothing or less about computers and codes and stuff, I decided to use Godaddy.com for site management, handling backup, security, updates, all the stuff that goes into maintaining a website.  I get to do all of the blogging fun stuff, I suppose it’s one of those “all of the pleasure, none of the guilt” things.

I’m hoping to go live with iknead2knit.com on Monday, 1/26/15 and plan on keeping iknead2knit.wordpress.com going for a little while, probably  mostly with links to the new site, hoping to make an easy transition.  As always, I’m always open to suggestions; I know there are a lot of bloggers who are old hands at this website stuff, and any tricks or tips will be appreciated.

GRAND ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

Up until the last month or so, the grands and Josie the Pug weren’t a good mix.  Not because she doesn’t like kids- she LOVES them- but her being who she is, a lot of dog in a small body, and very exuberant, with lots of snorting, the littles were intimidated, shrieking and running whenever she got a little too close.  This was more than a little upsetting for Mr. iknead and me, having to keep Josie and the grands separated, usually with Josie having to be either in her kennel, in another room or boarded.  So hard!  Anyhow, all this changed over the last month or so and now, the Papoose, the Sprout and Josie are the biggest, bestest friends forever!  Yeah, Mr. iknead and I are pretty much over the moon about it.  Look.

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How bout that!  Heaven for us all!

The trick is in what one emphasizes.  We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves happy.  The amount of work is the same.  Carlos Castaneda

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Knitting

Is It Fall Yet?

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TAKING A SPIN

My first attempt at plying – I think I need to watch some more YouTube tutorials

Nutmeg and Copper

STASH ADDITION

I’m condition SABLE (stash acquisition beyond life expectancy) and I know it, but I just couldn’t pass up this Portland Tweed that was on sale at Yarn Mart Saturday.  i’m thinking funnel neck sweater – if 870 yards would do it and it might, it just might.  If not a sweater, then maybe a shawl.

I just noticed that perhaps I’m thinking in fall mode now, with my newest stuff definitely being autumney, making me think of pumpkins and falling leaves.

Classic Elite Yarn Portland Tweed, color number 5012, 50 g/approx 120 yds, x7, 50% virgin wool, 25% alpaca and 25% viscose

SOMETHING NEW FOR JOSIE

I made Josie a new bed yesterday afternoon, I decided the old, zipper broke sleeping bag was just too ratty and found this pattern in a library book called One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins.  Turned out well and she seems to like it.

True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.  Ben Jonson, Cynthia’s Revels

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Knitting

Oh No and Oh No #2

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OH NO!

Backstory:  Babymama called last night in a near panic, she, Babydaddy and Babydiva were to leave this morning for a week at Orange Beach, AL and their dogsitter arrangements fell through.  Did I mention that this was about 12 hours before their scheduled leaving?   No, I didn’t think so.  So, Mr. Iknead and I said sure, we’d dogsit Bela, our granddog, no problem, glad to do it and we were.  Did I mention that our granddog, Bela, is a standard poodle?  No, I didn’t think so.  She’s an awesome dog, very smart and very active.  Think of having a gazelle in your living room.   Our pug, Josie, is just about as opposite Bela as you can get and still be considered a canine.   If Bela is a gazelle, Josie is a cross between a rhino and a sloth.  All was going pretty well, everyone was settling down and Mr. Iknead noticed that Josie was limping on her right back leg.  OK, we think, she’s had more exercise in the past hour than she has in probably six months, she’s tired.  She’ll be better in the morning.  She wasn’t better this morning, was not putting any weight on that leg so, of course, a visit to the vet was in order.  Because of this, we had to backtrack, had to hand Bela back off to Babydaddy and Babymama this morning and wait until the vet’s office opened before we called and got the ball rolling.   Thankfully, they were able to make alternate plans for Bela and it all worked out, but I felt AWFUL about the whole thing.  Awful because we had to renege on dogsitting and awful because Josie was limping around and maybe hurt and not just sore.

Poor Josie!

Beautiful Bela (before a haircut)

Long story short:  Josie has a right knee ACL tear, probably not complete, only partial and has to be on doggie bedrest for at least two weeks to allow it to heal and avoid a doggy ACL repair.  I decided not to mention to the vet that Josie lives her life on doggy bedrest, sleeping on various pieces of furniture and only moving around to go outside to potty and to get to her bowl when it’s time for to be fed.  OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but in the summer especially, she moves only when it’s absolutely necessary or if someone in the vicinity is eating.  At which point, she gets up to investigate and stare until she’s given a bite.  So, our definition of doggy bedrest is lifting her on and off the furniture and the rest of the time, sleeping on a nice soft cushion that Mr. Iknead made for her out of an old sleeping bag with a broken zipper.  Hopefully, she has just a small tear or even better, just a sprain and will improve every day with anti-inflammatories and pain meds.  Until we know for sure, doggy bedrest it is.

I still feel awful.

OH NO #2

Today, I started a real, live sewing project using a real, live pattern.  Going along, everything running smoothly, patting myself on the back for trying something new and doing a good job to boot.  Then, last thing, ready to sew up and put on the straps and I realize that no matter how I laid the pattern piece on the interfacing (I think that’s what it’s called), I didn’t have enough, which meant another trip to Hobby Lobby to get more, postponing the big finish.  I know, in the grand scheme of things, putting off finishing for 12 hours is small potatoes, but still……

I’ll post it tomorrow, for sure.

What you see depends on what you’re looking for.

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Knitting

Potpourri (You’ve Been Warned)

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WARNING

This particular post will probably be all over the map, the weekend was so fantastic and I have so much stuff to show; so, consider yourself warned.

GREEN GROWING THINGS

Now, truly, I’ve never, ever had the desire to garden, it always looked like so much work and fretting about what to plant and where and when.  It just wasn’t my cup of tea.  Give me real, live things to fool with, like babies or puppies or kitties.  Note that plants are not under the category of real, live things.  Honestly, I sort of thought that people who were really into gardening were, well, a little odd.  Until now.  I’ve done a complete 180 on the garden thing.  Here’s how it happened.  Remember how I’ve been cleaning out, going through and organizing about 18 years of stuff?  Cleaning out the garage one day, I found a couple of seed packets, I for sure remember that one was morning glory seeds.  Just for chucks, I found a couple of pots that already had dirt in them, stuck the seeds into the dirt, gave them a drink and sat back to see what would happen.  And yeah, just like seeds are supposed to do, they came up!  I was flabbergasted!  Success!  With that little confidence boost, I got some basil seeds at Wallyworld, bought some real potting soil, again stuck the seeds in, covered them up and gave them a drink.  Another success!  Amazing!  There really could be something to this gardening thing, so, I bought a couple of begonias (my mom always loved begonias), set them out back with the rest of the growing things and again, settled back to watch.  They grew!  They bloomed!  They grew so much I had to repot them!  They lived!  I learned why people garden – it’s fun, it’s interesting, it’s soothing, it’s just very, very cool all the way around.  I am now a gardener.  Who woulda thunk it?

Basil, Batchelor Buttons and a poor sad Begonia that’s doing oh so much better now

The Morning Glory that started it all

Red Hydrangea

So, I’m now “one of those people” and proud of it!  There’s a lot to be said about getting your hands dirty!

JOSIE

While I was out documenting my new gardening obsession, I snapped a couple of pics of Josie Pug on a whim.  Isn’t she beautiful??

WHAT I’M READING

Outstanding book and particularly relevant to me as I caught myself doing a lot of (internal) screaming while waiting in line – any line.

I love just looking at the gorgeous photos in this one.

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.  Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Knitting

WIPW 04/17/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve been able to rein in my knitting ADD, at least for the moment, trying really hard not to veer off into the ozone with knitting projects.  I’m working on Knitty‘s Interlocking Leaves socks in the oh so pretty Shibui Poodleskirt color and I also started another Olivia Petit sweater, this one in a larger size.  Oh yeah, I’ve been knitting up dishcloths at Bigmama’s request and they’re a nice break from those long rows of Olivia.

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Interlocking Leaves

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Olivia Petit 2.0

In case you’re wondering, that’s a set of frosted glass windchimes that I was too lazy to put away this morning, thus their debut on WIPW 04/17/13

FIELD TRIP

Babymama and I, along with Babydiva, Bela the standard poodle and Josie Pug have plans to visit the dog park this afternoon.  I’m expecting it to be loads of fun, and am right now charging Mr. Canon’s battery (sounds kind of nasty, doesn’t it?) to document all the fun.  Look for pictures to be posted later this week.

Don’t forget to visit Tami Ami’s WIPW blog and check out all the neat WIPs!

Develop a passion for learning.  If you do, you will never cease to grow.  Anthony J. D’Angelo

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Knitting

Cookie Heaven, Josie’s Disappointment

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NOT HALF BAKED, NOT HALF BAD

I’ve not done much baking blogging here in the last little bit, I’ve been obsessed with other, newer and sexier ideas and things, but today I wanted to share the Iknead family’s favorite cookie recipe.  I hope you love it as much as we do.

BEST EVER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES – REALLY

2 1/4 cups unsifted flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli bittersweet chips and dump in the whole bag)

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Stir flour, salt and baking soda together and put aside.  Beat butter and sugars at medium speed until blended and creamy.  Add vanilla and eggs, beating well after adding each egg on low speed until blended.  Gradually add flour mixture, stir in chocolate chips and nuts.  Drop by tbsp onto parchment covered cookie sheet (this just makes for easy clean up, parchment is not essential) and bake 9 to 11 minutes until golden brown.  Cool on rack and enjoy!

I baked a batch of these yesterday morning at Mr. Iknead’s request and decided to photograph them and share the recipe.  Josie Pug is EXTREMELY interested in anything that goes on in the kitchen and was underfoot the entire time, as usual.  I know better than to put Josie within snatching distance of cookies, but I got distracted by something and she sneaked out the door behind me.  Before I realized it, this is what went down:

Cookies?  What cookies?  Just smelling the flowers is all.

Oh!  You mean these?

Well, maybe a little taste.*

*No pugs were harmed during this photoshoot.  Much to her disgust, I chased her down, took the cookie away, trashed it and banished her from the yard. I kept pushing her away but she got away from me on the last photo.

**Chocolate is extremely poisonous to dogs, the smaller the dog, the less it takes to sicken them.  Please keep chocolate, any chocolate, out of their reach.

Make the most of yourself for that is all there is of you.  Ralph Emerson

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Knitting

WIPW 04/10/13, Yarn Along and Sock Pattern Lust

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ON THE NEEDLES

I decided to give myself a little break from fiddly stuff for a bit and have been knitting up dish towels instead, finally using some of that Sugar and Cream that’s been in the stash for lo, how many years.  My current favorite is the Yarn Over Cable Cloth from Dishcloth Boutique.  After just a couple of repeats, I’d memorized the four row pattern, a welcome relief from having to look from pattern to knitting and back to pattern.

I’m getting the sock knitting itch again, I just wound some new Shibui Sock from Yarn Mart and am pondering patterns even as I type.  I have a couple of ideas – Spring Forward or Kew, both from Knitty.  Love them both, maybe I’ll flip a coin.  Here’s a look at the new Shibui –

This color is called Poodle Skirt and how cute is that??

MR. CANON AND ME, WE GETTIN’ TIGHT

Beginning to feel much more comfortable with Mr. Canon and today, it took only about 30-45 minutes to remember and do what took hours yesterday.  Josie, Mr. Canon and I just may take a field trip tomorrow morning, especially if the weather stays as beautiful as it has the last two days.

Photobomb by Josie

BY THE BOOK

My Yarn Along contribution today is Stephen King’s Under the Dome, in preparation for the mini-series scheduled for sometime in June.  I’m still technically reading Annie Dillard‘s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, but haven’t picked it back up since Monday afternoon at the library.  I’m planning to get started again this afternoon, the weather is predicted to be stormy and this seems like it would be a good book to cocoon with.

DON’T FORGET TO

Visit Tamis Amis’ WIPW blog for more WIP goodies and Ginny Sheller’s Yarn Along for lots more book and yarn love.  Prepare to be inspired!

The better part of happiness is to wish to be what you are.  Desiderius Erasmus

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Knitting

It Happened, It really Happened!!

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WHAT’S NEW

As of this morning, I’m officially retired.  It’s come about just a tiny bit before I had originally planned, about seven working days, but after a follow up doctor visit yesterday, he recommended I stay off work at least until 12/20, my original last day at work.  I went in to the office this morning to give my boss the note the doctor wrote regarding my leave and to begin cleaning my office of 15 years worth of accumulated stuff, lots of books, a couple of radios (neither of which work), notes to myself (trashed), stuff I thought was funny or important that went on my bulletin board (mostly trash now) and the odds and ends that just seem to accumulate over time.  It feels really strange to officially be retired, to not have return to work date.  Truthfully, even though plans were made and loose ends tied up, it really didn’t seem real; I guess I didn’t believe it would really happen.

O CHRISTMAS TREE

This must be some sort of Iknead household record – Mr. Iknead and I got our tree up and decorated last Sunday afternoon.  I took a page out of Bigmommy’s book and put some kind of holiday decoration in every room.  Funny, it seems like so much more fun this year, maybe because I’m not on a crazy timetable (see above) to get things done.   Is this how it’s supposed to be??

Even Josie was dragged into the Christmas spirit –

SAY WHAT!?

Weatherdude just said some weather models are predicting a chance of snow next Tuesday.  This after I walked Josie day before yesterday in jeans and a tee shirt.  Arkansas weather is bipolar, to say the least.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.  Muhammad Ali

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 08/08/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

So here’s my newborn project, a toe up s0ck.  I haven’t decided on an actual pattern yet.  That’s one of the the things I love about toe ups, they can be started and worked on for a while before a decision has to be made about the pattern.  The yarn is another out of my stash, Knit One Crochet Too, Ty-Dy Socks, 80% superwash wool, 20% nylon, color #1518.  The color didn’t photograph well, in real life it’s greens and beiges.

TOO CUTE

I haven’t posted a picture of Josiepug in a while, here are a couple.

 Josie helping Daddy stretch before his walk

Lotsa Wrinkles

BY THE BOOK

I finished The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold today.  It was …… interesting.  I think this is one that I’m going to have to reread to really appreciate.  I’m still working through The Romanovs, my treadmill book.  I have to say I got a little bored with the first bit, lots and lots of scientific stuff, explaining DNA, who said what to whom and why.  I’m a little more than halfway through and it has gotten more interesting.

GOINGS ON AT WORK

Mr. Iknead and I finally set a date for my official retirement, 12/21/12 and I gave notice at work.  It feels unreal still, but every time I start really thinking about it, I get so excited I have a difficult time settling back down to work.  I thought the time would probably drag since I have so much anticipation but the last few weeks have really flown by.  We’ve been as busy as ever at work, making the days pass pretty easily.

If you enjoy living, it is not difficult to keep the sense of wonder.  Ray Bradbury

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Knitting

Hot Hot Hot

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AT THE MOMENT

Need I say more?  It’s not as hot as yesterday according to iPhone weather, but let’s get real, shall we, anytime you get over 100 degrees, the actual temperature is irrelevant.  iPhone says 104.  Whatever.  All I know is that I’m not getting out again today, even though I’ve spent most of the afternoon working on my grocery list.  I just can’t brave the asphalt parking lot this afternoon.  Most of the afternoon has been taken up by alternately knitting and surfing Pinterest.

BY THE BOOK

As usual, I have several books I’m trying to read, two audiobooks, two Nook books and two paper books.  They run the gamut, a couple of novels, a memoir and a book of essays on knitting.  I do this at buffets too, a case of my eyes being bigger than my stomach.  I’m particularly in love with Inconceivable, by Carolyn Savage, the memoir.  A synopsis can be found in all the usual places (I apologize for not knowing how to put in a link, that’s on my list to learn this weekend).  I started out with it being my “on the treadmill” book but very quickly decided that it’s my “read every free moment” book.  It’s a definite repeater.

ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve started the seventh of eight triangles on Wingspan, I’m anxious to get it finished.  It’s supposed to take only one skein, I hope that’s right, since I only bought one skein when I decided to knit it.  If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just finish up with a different yarn and call it a “design feature”.  I’ve done it before.  ; )

JOSIE THE PUG

I love this picture, with her sweet face.  She brings much joy!

Tell me and I’ll forget.  Show me and I may not remember.  Involve me and I’ll understand.  Native American proverb

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