Knitting

The one about my FO

January 13, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

Friday project. Yes, I’m back and here it is:

These are the HelloYarns Cable Twist Socks, done up in Shibui Sock, colorway Finch. Thanks to Mr. Iknead for nice pictures with his fancy new camera. I’ve never had yellow socks before. Turned out nicely, I think.

Just cast on a pair for Mr. Iknead today, Nicole Okun’s Farrow Rib Socks, in Patons Kroy Sock FX, in Cadet colors. I’ll try to prevail upon Mr. Iknead again to get pictures, shouldn’t been difficult, he loves his new camera.

Good, productive day today. Cast on new sock project, made a meeting, visited my mom and tried my hand at making scones – cinnamon raisin to be exact. I’ve wanted to try my hand at scones for a while and today, I found a recipe, printed it and made them. They smell heavenly. I really want to sample, but I’m trying to wait until I get a picture first. I love it when a plan comes together!

No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time. It is just that the others are behind the time. Martha Graham

Knitting

The one where it’s Sunday

January 8, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

evening and I’m trying to get into the work week groove, getting my clothes for tomorrow ready along with my lunch, getting as much taken care of tonight as I can so that I have the minimum amount of stress and disorganization in the morning. This plan works for me more times than not, but it does require some preplanning and sometimes, I just don’t want to acknowledge that tomorrow and work are going to happen, I don’t know, something about wanting the weekend to last forever. Tonight, though, I’ve gotten my T’s crossed and my I’s dotted and there’ll be smooth sailing tomorrow morning.

I finished the socks in progress this afternoon. Don’t know if I’ve mentioned them or not and am too lazy to go back and check, but the pattern is Cable Twist, a Ravelry freebie and I love them. They worked up really quickly and easily, which in my case means little or no math involved and straightforward instructions. Here’s a pic, oops, not so fast. Mr Iknead informs me that yes indeed, he did take a photo but hasn’t downloaded it as of yet. Next time. To tide you over, here’s a current pic of the Papoose, modeling the latest in hair fashions.

I’m apparently a tad rusty on the inserting pictures routine. I’ll get better, I promise and as quick as I can, get the Cable Twist socks on board.

Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts. Charles Dickens

Knitting

The one where another blogging New Year’s resolution

January 2, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

is made. I’m not setting the bar quite so high this time, instead of blogging every day, I’m going to shoot for twice a week and really learn about how blogging works and why, instead of getting by with minimum knowledge like I have for the past year. I’ve not made an entry since the middle of October (I had to go back and look), but things are more manageable now, with my mom settled in here in Little Rock and a new routine established. So, I’m ready for a new start.

Pictures tomorrow, I hope.

When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said onhis deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened. Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Knitting

The one where I break

October 12, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

down and pony up $64.00 for an extended support package for my iPod. This is after I totally spent nearly the whole weekend trying to reinstall my music and audiobook libraries to my iTunes. Long story short, we had computer issues several weeks ago which necessitated backing everything up onto an external drive and then wiping the hard drive clean and reinstalling. My problem is that I can sync either my books or my music, but not both. This has nearly driven me stark. raving.mad. Someone from Apple is to call me tonight and hopefully, I’ll get it all resolved. Crossing my fingers.

24 hours later…..

The back up files are on the external drive but I can’t find them, that is, I can’t find the folder that contains them. So, I’ll keep looking and in the meantime download my music from my CDs. Luckily, all my audiobooks are in my Audible library and I can redownload them without too much fuss. Aggravating, yes, but totally survivable.

Saturday, I made a pilgrimage to my LYS here in Little Rock, Yarn Mart, and splurged on a beautiful skein of Madelinetosh Pashmina, in Cove. This is definitely a luxury yarn and feels like I’m knitting a cloud. As usual, I’ve become nervous about having enough yarn to finish my project (Candle Flame Shawl from Ravelry) and so will call today and secure another skein. I was in such a rush to start this newest project that I didn’t think to take a pic until I’d already wound it so the colors aren’t showing as well, but am posting one

anyway. I’ll try to remember to photograph the new skein before winding.

Here’s some stitch detail. I love the robin egg blue with the mossy green.

Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Susan Ertz

Knitting

The one where the Drop Stitch Shawl

September 23, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

finally is completely finished, fringed, washed, blocked, photographed, it’s done. Here’s how it turned out. The light aqua didn’t photo well, but you get the idea.

A person is only as good as what they love. Saul Bellow

Knitting

The one where she shows

September 22, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

off her newest obsession, a teapot. Not to put too fine a point on it, a PURPLE and white polkadot teapot. I love teapots and have several, but I’ve never set out to actually collect them, until now. I’m crazy for purple and when I ran across this sweet little pot, I had to have it. Could this be any cuter??

It came in this great matching box and if it gets any better I won’t be able to stand it, matches my reading glasses perfectly. Perfectly purple.

My next project is burning a hole in my knitting bag, but I’m trying to hold off starting it until I have the Diamond Leaf Cowl finished. It’s from Knitty Deep Fall 2011, Alda by Harpa Jonsdottir. I think I’m in love (again).

A man of good will with a little effort and belief in his own powers can enjoy a deep, tranquil, rich life — provided he go his own way….To live one’s own life is still the best way of life, always was, and always will be. Henry Miller

Knitting

The one with this week’s

September 21, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

WIP offering. I have two (!) this week 1) Diamond Leaf Cowl by Darlene Joyce, a Ravelry pattern and 2) another rendition of the Molly scarf. Both yarns are a complete mystery, I dug them out of the stash, neither with ball bands. Story of my life. Both knitting up nicely I must say.

I must have love love loved the above yarn, I have a ton of it. Think a sweater for the Statue of Liberty, with some left over and you’ll get the idea.

A professional is a man who can do his best at a time when he doesn’t particularly feel like it. Alistair Cooke

Knitting

The one where I come clean

September 20, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

about why I’ve not been blogging for the last few weeks. To tell the truth, I’ve felt overwhelmingly overwhelmed for the past few weeks, what with my Dad’s cancer diagnosis and his passing, my Mom’s dementia and getting her transferred to a nursing home here in Little Rock, trying to get their home of nearly 50 years cleaned out and ready to sell, notifying everyone who needs to be notified about the huge changes, like the bank, insurance companies, retirement accounts and then getting the word out that Mom is being moved to Little Rock, getting mail forwarded, bills paid and the list seems endless. I’m telling you, my Superwomen cape has taken a beating here the last little bit and is a little worse for the wear, so I gave it a well deserved mend and rest. It’s back on now and I feel ready to jump back into my real life. Mom is adjusting well to her new digs, the light at the end of the endless paperwork tunnel truly seems brighter and closer and I’ve learned (at least until next time) that the world won’t stop spinning on its axis if I don’t get everything crossed off my to do list every day.

So, all in all, life is good, all of us are happy and healthy, with jobs and homes and food on the table. Life really is lovely, I think.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb

Knitting

The one where I’m reminded

September 6, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

for about the billionth (give or take a few million) time that most of the time, more is not better. As in: see how busy I am? See how efficiently I keep everything going smoothly (uh-huh, right) and just how well I manage to be all things to all people? See? All this is leading up to my feelings of frustration of not getting everything on my to do list accomplished last weekend. Never mind that I started said list about three months ago and for every cross off, another three things are added. All I can say about this impossible list is that everything on it seemed like such a good idea at the time.

As for knitting projects, all is finished on the Drop Stitch Shawl, except for blocking, which is (0f course) at or near the top of The List. Mirrorsocks are presently in time out. I’m stuck somehow on the gusset, it’s obvious that I’m screwing it up somehow but heck if I know how. It’s just wonky looking and I’m torn between forging ahead with the pattern, no matter what or frogging and giving it another go. Maybe I’ll flip a coin.

Here’s a new pic of the Papoose, we had a wonderful visit over the weekend, just can’t get enough Susannah love! She’s so proud of those new teeth!

Others have been here before me, and I walk in their footsteps. The books I have read were composed by generations of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and disciples. I am the sum total of their experiences, their quests. And so are you. Elie Wiesel

Knitting

The one where 32 years

September 1, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

doesn’t seem like such a long time after all. Today, Mr. Iknead and I will have been married 32 whole years! A lot has happened in those years, babies, kitties, puppies, illness, parties, anger, tears, joy and grief. I’m blessed to have been able to share these with Mr. Iknead; he truly is my soft place to fall, as Dr. Phil puts it. I think I’m ready for the next 32.

Look pretty good for 32 years dontcha think?

Playing mini-golf in Destin, it’s only 120 degrees outside with not a breath of fresh air.

Love is friendship set on fire. French proverb

Knitting

The one where it’s WIP Wednesday

August 31, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

again and here’s my offering (please excuse the truly horrendous picture)

Mirrorsocks – Kollage Yarns Sock-A-Licious, color 7808

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. William James (1842-1910) American psychologist and philosopher

Knitting

The one where I’m looking

August 30, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

way forward to the weekend, even more than usual. Two excellent things are going to happen, 1) Mr. Iknead and I are going to have our 32nd anniversary and 2) we’re going to spend it in Fayetteville with the Papoose. Thirty two years, more than half my life (I’m 54) and we still like each other. A rarity now, I think. Dang, I thought I had a picture of Mr. Iknead and me right after we got married. DD has it on her facebook, I’ll get her to send it to me in the next day or so.

OK, I’m loaded and ready for WIP Wednesday tomorrow. No tonight, one first thing in the a.m.

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship. Ralph Waldo Emerson