Knitting

Got Back

July 9, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT WE DID

Our trip to Stuttgart aka the Duck and Rice Capitol of the World to check out the Papoose’s new digs was amazing. The parsonage was really nice, if a little dated, with big rooms and a great backyard, the Papoose is really loving it, lots of running room. It’s right across the street from the church, so they can just walk over. The congregation was very welcoming and warm and put on an awesome potluck after church. I suppose I should mention that the church I’m going on about is Grand Avenue United Methodist, in Stuttgart, Arkansas and my best son in law, Clefton Vaughan, is the new pastor.

Susannah Grace aka the Papoose

Babydiva aka Harper with her Uncle Clefton

As usual, when we all get together (forgot to mention that Babydiva and her entourage was also there), a good time was had by all, with everyone talking at the same time, someone looking for a snack most of the time and, of course, paying homage to the Papoose and Babydiva, the prettiest and smartest girls ever.

It was hot so Mr. Iknead and the Papoose took a dip in the pool, where the Papoose made sure that her Papa was well watered, pouring water over his head from a watering can. Cutest thing ever!

ON THE NEEDLES

I don’t really want to talk about it, it’s painful you know, but I frogged back about four inches of heel flap and sock leg on the 9 to 5s. I still haven’t a clue where the wheels came off, I looked and looked, and counted and counted, never figured it out. Fresh start on the heel flap tonight after work. Frustration doesn’t look good on me, so I hope to get it straightened out so I can move on.

Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes. John Dewey

Knitting

Now What?

June 19, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

UPDATE

I got my haircut on Friday morning and since Babymama was feeling under the weather, I told her I’d go and help her out any way I could. I think she mostly wanted me there so she could limit her contact with Babydiva, hoping that she wouldn’t catch whatever her mom had. Between the salon and their house, I got rearended by some guy driving a Dodge Ram van. I’m OK, not hurt as far as I can tell, just really aggravated because it was hot, we were standing in the middle of a really busy street and it took the cops 40 minutes to arrive and do the paperwork. Fortunately, I held my temper in both hands, reminding myself over and over to just communicate at a minimum, exchange insurance info, making sure everyone was OK for the moment. My car’s back bumper is probably going to have to be replaced, it’s plastic so it doesn’t take much of a hit to mess it up. Things to be thankful for: I was not hurt, my car is driveable and I have insurance.

ON THE NEEDLES

Here is the promised picture of the Nine to Five socks. I think they’re going like gangbusters. What do you think about them?

Here’s a picture of the yarn for Wingspan. It’s already been started and I’m planning to show off what I have on WIP Wednesday. Here is a sneak peek at the yarn.It’s Araucania Huasco, Code Color 7. I thinks it’s going to knit up really well. The French Market bag is complete and I started the felting process yesterday. I’ll have some before and after pics for all to enjoy.

THE GRANDS

Going in for the kiss.

Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you. Aldous Huxley

Knitting

Back Home

June 14, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

The Maidenhair Fern socks have been reborn as Nicole Hindes’ Nine-To-Five Socks. This picture is not the best, the stitch detail isn’t great, but tomorrow I’ll take the WIP sock outside, the lighting will be a million times better that it is at 8:35 p.m. in my bedroom. I’m using size one circulars and am much happier with a tighter stitch and overall smaller size.

A better picture tomorrow, I promise.

A DUH MOMENT

I can’t believe that I spent an entire hour trying to figure out why pictures taken from my iPhone are on their sides when I e-mail them or try to post them. Also, I can’t believe that the solution to that problem is to turn the phone on its side horizontally first, then take the picture. Duh. Occam’s Razor once again proves correct: “when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better”, also known as Keep It Simple.

HOME SWEET HOME

As much fun as the Girl Power 2012 get-together was, I was so happy to get home to Mr. Iknead and JosiePug yesterday. A great time was had by all but when the Papoose (usually so happy-go-lucky and go with the flow) had three meltdowns in ten minutes, I knew it was time to pack it up and take it back on the road to Little Rock. We rolled back into LR about 5 p.m.; Babydiva needed a bottle STAT and thankfully, we had called ahead and Babydaddy had one waiting. Babydiva was getting ready to more than live up to her name by the time we got home. Hell hath no fury and all that.

It is necessary for us to learn from others’ mistakes. You will not live long enough to make them all yourself. Hyman George Rickover

Knitting

Road Trip

June 11, 2012June 11, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE ROAD

Babydiva, Babymama and I are taking a road trip to Fayetteville to see the Papoose and family, to help amuse the Papoose while her mama is busy packing and sorting. The plan at this moment is for us to leave for F’ville right after Babydiva’s morning feeding, hoping that she will take her usual nap while in the car, trying very hard to keep her regular schedule. Yeah, yeah, the best laid plans and all, but 100% achievable I’m convinced. For this very first girly road trip, Babydiva has splurged on a new bathing suit, modeled below. She is really playing the diva on this one.

ON THE NEEDLES

I usually try to stay at least a little monogymous with my projects but at the moment I have a pair of socks, a baby hat, a French Market Basket that has to be felted and a lacy wrap for when my arms get a little chilly, in church for example. All going right along. Sorry for no pics, in Fayetteville, strange computer and all, I just don’t want to spend time figuring out how to post them.

ON THE ROAD (continued)

Babydive was a great passenger. We made one bathroom stop and we were quickly back on the road. The eat/sleep plan worked like a charm.

OK, this unfamiliar keyboard is giving me fits, I’m wrapping it up quickly. Tomorrow, there will be pictures.

Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or better. John Updike

Knitting

Frogged

June 9, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

I did it. I frogged the Maidenhair Fern socks, it took me until yesterday to it, but I got it done. I’m thinking Fa Fa Fa socks, a free Ravelry pattern that I saw on someone’s blog last week, I need to go back and look and I will, just not today.

THE GRANDS

I spent most of the day babysitting Babydiva and loving every second. Really, there wasn’t much to do, feed her, play with her, nap with her and it was glorious! She takes a long afternoon nap, so after lunch, she took a nap and so did Bela (Divadog) and I. Don’t know how long it’s been since I took an afternoon nap, I’m usually at work and they generally frown on that sort of thing and on my days off, I’m playing catchup with the things I put off during the work week. I could get used to naps. Here’s a new picture of Babydiva, big smile –

See why yesterday was so fun??

IN THE OVEN

It’s official – I love the silicone pans. Love them an unhealthy amount, I think. I (finally) got around to making the little Apple Cakes I’ve been talking about for at least a week and they turned out amazing. When they were finished baking and cooled a little, I literally just popped them out of the pan. Nothing stuck, they baked evenly and I’m so proud! Here’s one for show.

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. Mark Twain

Knitting

WIP Wednesday

June 6, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

French Market Bag from Knitty

The color doesn’t translate well in the picture, but it’s Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool and once again I’ve fallen victim to Lost Ball Band Syndrome, so my description of the color is heathery brown. Oh, and can someone tell me why this photo rotated itself onto its side and how I can fix it? Thanks in advance.

FROG?

I still haven’t decided what to do with the neglected Maidenhair Fern sock. Here’s a pic showing the “girly” yarn.

And this one has decided to recline also. Help.

Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are — you aren’t. Margaret Thatcher

Knitting

Frog?

June 5, 2012June 5, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

The Maidenhair Fern socks have been have been in time out for a week or so; I decided to try the first one on and it is enormous. Enormous as in two feet at the same time. You know that little voice inside your head (in mine at least) that always tries to give a heads up when something is going off track? I finally decided to give it a short listen and by golly, these socks are way, way too big for me; so big that I know of no one that they would fit. Now, should I frog or go around staring at people’s feet, hoping I’ll find a match, sort of like Cinderella? I offered them to Mr. Iknead, but he says the yarn is too “girly” (it’s teal, pink and purple).

THE GRANDS

Here’s the latest pic of the Papoose at the pool. Did I mention that she looooves the water?

IN THE OVEN

Look! My fancy new silicone pans are here! I’m totally making the cute apple cakes Friday. I love them and think they’re very photogenic!

What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul. Joseph Addison

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 I start to tweak

May 26, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

my blog a little bit. It had become a little bit stale (to me) and after browsing other blogs and looking at different layouts, I decided to try a new one on for size. I like the idea of headings, so I’m going to take test drive that too.

On The Needles

Still working on Maidenhair Fern socks, I’m nearly finished with the first sock, about an inch from starting to decrease for the toe. Is it just me or does any other knitter feel like the last few inches on a project seem to last forever and just when project burnout is threatening, all of a sudden, the magic row appears and that particular part or project is finished. Is it some sort of tear in the space time continuum or something?

The Papoose

Susannah and family celebrated her second birthday a week ago last Saturday (again with the space time continuum, I swear it was just last month that we were relearning the art of baby swaddling and burping) and a good time was had by all. Four two year old girls, two wading pools, a picnic and a birthday cake sounds like a recipe for disaster, but everybody played nice and left smiling.

Susannah Grace

OK, this is about all the tweak I can handle today. Tomorrow, fonts (but I have to read up on them first).

I have learned that to be with those I like is enough. Walt Whitman

Knitting

The one where the Maidenhair Fern

May 23, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

socks are my WIP Wednesday offering.

Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them. Adlai E. Stevenson.

Knitting

The one where the Leaf

May 2, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

Lace Socks are ongoing and are my WIP again for this week. See?

One more repeat of the pattern for the leg, then on to the heel flap!

Please excuse, I need a poor little me moment. Started with a sore tooth yesterday and this morning got up with a chipmunk cheek on the left and more pain. Will call dentist as soon as his office opens today. Oh, you poor baby! There, I feel better.

It is only by introducing the young to great literature, drama and music and to the excitement of great science that we open to them the possibilities that lie within the human spirit — enable them to see visions and dream dreams. Eric Anderson

Knitting

The one where we step

April 30, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

outside the box a little today. We went to Mass with Babydaddy and Babymama and Harper this morning. Been a long time since I sat through a service and I got a little squirmy, but my heart felt nourished, it was good. We had lunch with Babymama and Babydaddy, not so relaxing, Harper wasn’t a happy camper for most of the time, but it didn’t help that the service was soooooooooo slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Two hours from the time we sat down to the time we settled up our check. Usually, Mr. Iknead and I would have been history had we been by ourselves, but when you’re with a group, it’s more difficult. At least I was on my best behavior and didn’t get too bent out of shape. Maybe the Mass was working or something.

Here’s the official first half of the Leaf Lace Socks and the beginning of the second:ial