Hi all, Yes, here I am. The Insomniac Potter is alive and well. Storms are moving through my neck of the woods with lots of thunder and lighting. I love storms and so couldn’t pass this one up.
I also wanted to give you a look at my newest Etsy shop update. Hop on over to ClayDreamsPottery, my Etsy shop and see what’s new!
You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind blows. Bob Dylan
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STILL ON MY NEEDLES
My Julie’s Sweater is coming along nicely after that small hitch in the cabling. Will I have it finished in time to wear it this winter? Who knows, anything is possible. 🙂
After much back and forth with yarn, needles – wood or metal, double points or circular, and technique – toe up or cuff down, two at a time or one at a time, magic loop or two circulars. After a couple of false starts, I settled down and got into the rhythm of Simple Skype socks. See?
Patons Kroy Socks Yarn
Eclipse Stripes
I’ve been spinning up a storm – ha! it’s been raining for the past three days with more on the way today – visit tomorrow to see what’s finished and what’s waiting in the wings! I can’t wait to get started!
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. © Buddha
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BRRRRRR
The long promised winter weather is here. We have the trifecta – sleet, freezing rain and snow. It’s a perfect day to hunker down, drink your hot drink of choice and knit or spin or read or (insert your favorite activity here). The Iknead clan is warm, fed and happy. We have a lot to be thankful for.
From the Iknead front door.
POTS
I spent part of yesterday in the studio and pulled my stuff out of the damp box, getting ready to trim. I was surprised at how many pots I’d thrown.
A couple of these ended up in the clay recycle barrel, but overall, I’m pleased. I’m getting a little tired of bowls, though, and will probably start trying some new shapes when I can get back into the studio. The next ones have been bisqued and are kind of uniform:
I like the way the look stacked. As soon as the weather lets up a little, I’ll get them glazed and fire them one last time.
OFF THE NEEDLES
Scapula scarf from Quince&Co, done in Lark, which is 100% American wool, the color is Bird’s Egg. Very, very pleased with both the yarn and the pattern. If you haven’t yet, head over to their website and check them out. Really awesome stuff.
This is a really, really long scarf!
I’m linking with Frontier Dreams and Tami today. When you’re checking out Quince&Co, trip on over to these guys. Even more awesome stuff.
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. Ellen Parr
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I’M FREE I’M FREE
I had my first postop visit this morning with McDreamy (Bigmommy’s word, not mine) and he released me to my normal life. Like, I can drive and everything! Who would have thought that I’d have fantasies of grocery shopping?? Who would have thought that Mr. Iknead would have fantasies of me grocery shopping – alone??? The things we take for granted, right? I’m doing really, really well according to McDreamy, which I knew already, and after one more follow up next month, this whole hitch in my get along will be officially over. Yay!!
LOOK WHAT CAME TODAY!!
My new Knitpicks yarn!! I love it, I can’t wait to get started, so sorry Lolita and former Spring Pools socks, this baby is moving to the head of the line! Oh my gosh, it’s so springy and green and pretty and is crying out to be on the needles as I blog this. See for yourself –
Olivia Petit Will Not Wait!
Am I right or what?
THE GRANDS
In keeping with the new beginning, first green of spring theme that seems to have developed today, I present the Sprout’s first ponytail:
The Sprout’s First Sprout!
I know I’ve played fast and loose with exclamation points today, please forgive me, I think Spring is springing!! (sorry)
One today is worth two tomorrows. Benjamin Franklin
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OFF THE NEEDLES
Yay!! Catnip Socks completed and ready for this week’s FO Friday. Here they are:
Sorry about the less than wonderful photo – it’s just too cold to stand outside in my pjs to get a good picture in natural light. I know that that’s probably WTMI, with my pajamas and all, but rest assured, we DO have a privacy fence so the neighbors are safe. This particular sock stands a good chance of becoming my go-to pattern for socks. Yeah, I like it that much.
ON THE NEEDLES
Still working on this cabled scarf. The patterns calls for it to be nine feet long, I currently am about 70 inches and thinking seriously about finishing it a little shorter than the pattern says. I mean, I’m 5’2″ and nine feet of scarf is a LOT of scarf, kind of overwhelming, I think. What’s your opinion?
BY THE BOOK
I’m still working my way through Robert Massie’s Nicholas and Alexandra, nearly finished, though. The imperial family has just been moved to Siberia after the revolution. The second is one I’m really excited about, The Journal of Best Practices written by David Finch, a man diagnosed at age 30 with Asperger syndrome and how he and his family cope with this diagnosis. Funny and at times poignant and a little sad. I’m really, really enjoying this book.
FUN WITH ELECTRICIANS
Like I posted earlier this week, we had a couple of electricians in to do some updating and replacing in our house. I was so excited about the new undercabinet lights they were installing. Well, when they got ready to do the installing, they were the wrong size, the lights, not the electricians, so they were a no go yesterday. They did get a lot done, new lights, new ceiling fans, adding outlets etc., but I was pumped about my lights. Crap. This is a lesson in patience with delayed gratification, two things that I don’t have much of.
For lots more FO Friday projects, skip on over to Tami Amis’ blog and enjoy.
It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis. Margaret Bonnano
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BY THE BOOK
I finished Steve Jobs yesterday, finally. He may have been a genius, but apparently his interpersonal skills sucked. Do the two go together, like ham and eggs or to quote Forrest Gump, peas and carrots? I’m also reading The 36 Hour Day, a “how-to” book about Alzheimer disease and other types of dementia. I wish I’d known about it when my mother was first diagnosed, I think it would have helped my dad and I know it would have helped me. I suppose it’s a case of better late than never and I am learning things as I keep reading.
WHERE’VE YOU BEEN?
The above was entered five days ago, the 23rd to be exact. I’m not a dutiful blogger over the weekend, I rarely even log on, but I do try to make some sort of entry on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings. I was a little under the weather yesterday, I went in to work and was forced to holler calf rope around 11:30, went home and went to bed. I had about a four hour nap and have been feeling better since. So, that’s where I’ve been.
ON THE NEEDLES
The Crazy Monkeys have had two mishaps since I showed them last, first, I managed to somehow drop about a gazillion stitches Thursday evening and frogged them completely in a moment of madness. Then, last night, Josie Pug took a flying leap onto my lap and pulled out one side of my magic loop completely. It’s taken me a lot of time getting it back on track but I’m almost there. Frustration incarnate.
THE GRANDS
The Papoose and family are in Destin at the beach house this week as a last hurrah before the new baby arrives. Bigmama is scheduled for a C-section September 26. As in, September 26, 2012. Yeah, there’s a hurricane happening there and yeah, they knew the forecast before they left Arkansas. They look like they’re having fun anyway –
And really, they’re not laying down for the photo, I just can’t figure out how to rotate it at the moment.
Without music, life is a journey through a desert. Pat Conroy
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ON AND OFF THE NEEDLES
Hurray!! The first sock of the 9 to 5s is finished, here’s proof –
and the second one cast on with two pattern repeats finished.
THE GRANDS
Mr. Iknead and I didn’t see the Papoose over the weekend; we worked to get caught up with house chores we let slide the past few weekends to spend time with the grandbabies. Here’s the Papoose immediately after chocolate ice cream.
I think Big-Mommy was running a bath even while she was still enjoying her ice cream. Gotta say, she’s a girl after my own heart. Don’t think I’ve every had ice cream where I didn’t end up wearing at least a tiny bit when I was finished.
Here’s one of the newest pics of Babydiva – She loves that Bumbo Seat!
IN THE OVEN
It’s been so hot here (108F on Friday) that the last thing I want to do is fire up the oven and bake. I did fix supper on Friday for Babymama, Babydaddy and Babydiva and it took hours to get the house cool again. Ice cream is about all I’m excited about right now (see above).
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. Ellen Parr
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ON THE NEEDLES
I’m happy to report that Wingspan is finished and I can stop feeling guilty about the Nine to Five socks that have been on the “as soon as I finish ________” list and they’re now first in line.
Here’s Wingspan
And to prove that yes, it does take just one skein, here’s what is left after binding off
This quite possibly could be the only green grass in Little Rock. It’s been something like 22 days since we’ve had any measurable precipitation, according to Barry Brandt, weatherman whiz and if lawns don’t get watered every day, they get brown and crunchy. As far as I can tell, we have no real chance 0f rain until Saturday or Sunday, if then. But I digress…
I think I’ll block it tomorrow since Mr. Iknead and I are making a trip to see the Papoose (and her mom and dad, of course).
A quick look at the Nine to Fives –
HAPPYS
Coffee with fancy creamer, Josie the Pug, books and babies.
BY THE BOOK
I’m nearly finished with Inconceivable, an excellent, excellent book, and have Tom Franklin’s Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter waiting to be started. Looks like a really great read and I’m excited to get into it.
I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best. Oscar Wilde
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A HAPPY
Somehow, I’ve stockpiled 45 extra minutes of worktime this week. This means I get to leave and start my weekend just that much sooner. Hard work really does pay off! Now, to decide what I’m going to do with the extra time – grocery store, yarn store, extra walk time (on treadmill as today’s high is predicted to be 106) or just going home and enjoying the cool quiet.
HOW HOT IS IT?
It’s off the charts hot, even by Arkansas standards, and I don’t think we’ve had any measurable rain in at least a month. Our lawn is brown and crunchy, even with daily watering and I’m glad we procrastinated getting new sod and landscaping. Thanks be that I have a cool, air conditioned office to work in. When I left the house this morning at 7, I saw some roofers already hard at work, they must begin work at dawn to be able to get any work done before it’s too hot.
THE GRANDS
Babydiva in her Bumbo Seat – Three months old tomorrow!
UPDATE – HOW HOT IS IT?
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.
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omgdidisaythatoutloud moment and for the record, yes, I did say it out loud. Here’s a little backstory: There’s this guy who works out in the same gym as I do and usually about the same time. In the past few weeks, he’s started making this really odd noise, sort of a moan/singing/grunting sound and loud. Loud as in I can hear him from across the room, over the other conversations and the TV and over my ipod blasting. I’ve tried polite looks, more pointed looks and outright irritated stares, he’s oblivious. So, he climbed on the treadmill next to me yesterday and out of my mouth popped “If you’re going to use that treadmill next to me, you’re going to have to keep your voice a little quieter.” I can’t believe I really said that; I’d been thinking it, but crap, it just came out. That was my OMG moment. I immediately started apologizing profusely and did my best to laugh it off, saying I had no idea he was a singer, hahaha. Open mouth, insert foot. Off the chart embarrassment. Please let him not be there today, pleasepleaseplease.
I’m nearly finished with the first of Mr. Iknead’s new pair of socks. He’s anxiously awaiting but as mild a winter as Arkansas has had this year, he’s not going to need them. It’s 8:49 pm and the temp is 66 degrees F. and stormy.
I’ve been working on Debbie Bliss’ Bunny Booties for the new baby due to arrive in March. All that’s left to do is sew the ears on and embroider their faces. Entirely too, too sweet. I’ll get a picture up in the next week or so.
Here’s a new installation of Miss Susannah. Pretty cute herself I think.
One meets his destiny often in the road he takes to avoid it. French proverb
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the sniping and smart-assedness of others is becoming harder and harder. I have a couple of good friends that just stay crossways (as my mother puts it) with each other, making snarky comments and just plain working to piss each other off at every opportunity. I chaired my regular Sunday evening meeting and I thought I was going to have to put all of them in time out like a bunch of two year olds so the meeting could continue. I’ve decided that I’m going to go to each and every one of them, separately, and tell them that if they can’t say something nice, then shut the hell up and I’m not going to tolerate their bad behavior when I’m in charge. “Principles before personalities” is a big part of meetings, I suppose some need to be reminded more often than others. All right, I’m stepping down from my soapbox now. Carry on.
Here’s a little project I started to keep my hands busy this weekend, a feather and fan patterned dishcloth, from the back of the Sugar ‘n Cream ballband. The colorway is Cool Breeze Ombre and boy, what I wouldn’t give for a cool breeze here in Arkansas right now. Last night at 10:00 pm, the temp was still 100 degrees F. The heat index in south Arkansas was 109. Jeez Louise. Almost forgot the picture, got so involved with talking about the weather –
I just might be catching on to this computer thing, first try, got it posted. Yay!! Here’s to learning a new skill!
Love is a great beautifier. Louisa May Alcott, American novelist (1832-1888)
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some rain. The weather has been so hot and dry, when I have to go outside, it feels like I’m in a giant skillet. I haven’t decided on a new project yet, but one thing I know, wool will not be part of it. Makes me sweat just to think about it. Yuck. Or, it just came to me, I could use wool and just turn the thermostat down to ice age. Now, how’s that for a rationalization? This is a good time to revisit Snowmaggeden….
Remember last February? Snow is so much more photogenic than dry crunchy grass, don’t you think?
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. Scott Adams, American cartoonist and creator of “Dilbert”
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