Knitting

13, Whew, Slight Case of Nerves

February 13, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

BYE-BYE

I think I mentioned last week that we finally made the decision and had our landline removed. Mr. Iknead and I finally had enough of those super annoying robocalls, telemarketers, wrong numbers (a misprint on some kind of card gave the whole world our phone number, area code and all) instead of the correct number for Holy Redeemer Credit Union in Costa Rica. I swear, I’m not making this up. People would call our number (the misprint) over and over, getting angrier and angrier when they were informed that “No, this wasn’t Holy Redeemer Credit Union” and “No, I don’t know the correct number for Holy Redeemer Credit Union” and eventually, “Don’t call this number again, I will have you reported to the police and charge you with telephone harassment”. Been cussed out in Spanish more times than I can remember. So, as of Monday evening, we no longer have a landline phone and are basking in the peace and quiet of home. Still, when Mr. Iknead called to set up whatever had to be set up to remove it, the guy told him that we’d had the number since 1977, 36 YEARS! You can understand why I have a little nostalgia mixed with my relief, can’t you? I get emotionally invested, what can I say?

ON THE NEEDLES

Etched Rio Wrap

Fifteen of the required 28 repeats of the pattern are finished, over half the way through, the end is barely in sight and I’m still loving this. I’m happy to say that there have been no yarn barf crises since Sunday and I’m watching the yarn like a hawk, knowing now that it likes to misbehave. If you missed the pics of its previous misbehavior, take a look at last Friday’s blog entry, titled %#$%^&*(, for the full effect.

WHAT’S COMING UP

I’ve really not blogged about it too much, other than just a mention now and then, but I’ve had ischemic colitis for years and coped with it pretty well. Now, though, the attacks are becoming more and more frequent and more and more severe, putting me in the hospital twice for a week each time, in the past nine months. My GI doctor defines it as “pretty much a heart attack” in the colon, with damage and scarring, which sets me up even more for another bout and on and on. After much, much thought and just as much research (doncha just love Wikipedia?), I’m scheduled to have my colon removed this coming Tuesday, February 19. My surgeon has promised that I’ll have enough colon left to hook everything back up, but if I have to have an ostomy, I’ll just count that as part of the cost of no more midnight ambulance rides, all night visits to the ER and hospital admissions. I’m a little nervous, after it’s done, there’s no going back, but now the pros outweigh the cons and I’m ready to get it over with. I told Mr. Iknead that he’d have to step into my blogging shoes for a couple of days (he thought I was kidding) but hope to be feeling well enough to take over again before too long.

BY THE BOOK

I finished the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society yesterday and it was wonderful. I couldn’t listen fast enough, it was an audiobook and I kept up the pretense of “As soon as this chapter closes, I’m going to get up and do XYZ,” knowing full well that I had no intention of doing that and just kept listening. Loved this book! I don’t have any definite idea of what next to read. Any ideas?

Don’t forget to check out Tami Ami’s and Ginny’s Yarn Along blog.

Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts and never hope more than you work. Rita Mae Brown

Knitting

From WIP to 02/08/13 FO Friday Ready in Just One Hour

February 8, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON AND OFF THE NEEDLES

Still working hard at the Etched Rio Wrap, I’ve done ten repeats of the 28 repeats the pattern calls for and I’m still loving both yarn and pattern. The knitted yarn has amazing drape and softness, the only thing I can think of in the con category is that it’s very “grabby” and requires care not to become entangled with itself. This happened with the first skein, it got very tangled and by the time I got it sorted out, the yarn had lost some of its sheen and was a little what I call pilly. I’m trying to decide whether to bite the bullet and buy another skein (if I can find a matching dye lot) or go ahead and use the previously tangled yarn, probably at the very end where hopefully it won’t be too noticeable. Here’s what I mean:

Looks even worse than I thought. What’s your opinion? Use or not?

Now, on a happier note. In my efforts to find the misplaced yarn, I ran across a couple of WIPs that just needed to be cast off with the ends woven in. That’s how a project goes from WIP to FO in an hour; why did I procrastinate on this, that’s not usually how I am, did I get distracted by a newer, sexier yarn or pattern, did I put it down and lose it in the mess of the stash (this seems much more likely) or was it abducted by aliens and returned last week?

A good sized wrap/shawl/blanket I’m calling Rib and Ruffle because, well, it’s ribbed and has a ruffle. Why was it unfinished?

THE GRANDS

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted pics of the grands and boy do I have some cuteness today. First up, Babydiva

The Sprout during tummy time –

The Papoose in action –

Blessed, Mr. Iknead and I. A million times over and then some.

Don’t forget to visit Tami Amis for lot more FO Friday awesome!

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Knitting

Yippee, WIPW 02/06/13 and a Stash Dive

February 6, 2013February 6, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

YIPPEE!

Thanks Mollie aka deepbluerenegade for making me the winner of your 100 Blog Posts contest. I opted for a $10.00 gift card from Mr. Yarn and plan to use this to feed my Shibui Sock addiction. I’ll make my final decision sometime today and get it posted to share the yarny love. I love me some contests!

THE GRANDS

I found this cute pic when I ~~hacked into~~ visited Mr. Iknead’s Shutterfly stuff. I’m a Flickr-phile myself so every so often I check out his Shutterfly to see if I’ve missed something. Here’s this week’s fave –

I love the way the Papoose has her chin in her hand, it seems to be such a “big girl” attitude and the way Babydiva is looking at her, little girl learning from big girl. So cute!

WARNING! STASH DIVING CAN BE HAZARDOUS!

Earlier this week, I got it into my head that I’d misplaced a skein of really expensive (for me) sock yarn and since I didn’t have any socks on the needles, decided I couldn’t go one more minute without getting a pair started and absolutely, positively couldn’t use anything but the misplaced yarn. Naturally, this meant turning my yarn stash upside down, digging feverishly, just knowing it had to be in the next box or bin or bag. Didn’t find it. Looked under furniture. Didn’t find it. Looked in the stash overflow area. Didn’t find it. Instead, this is what I did find – balls and skeins and hanks of yarn that I, either intentionally or unintentionally, had forgotten and this is why organizing/reorganizing your stash can be hazardous – you get caught up in one of two reactions or at least, I did. The “what was I thinking??” reaction or the “OMG, I love this stuff! How could it have been languishing all this time??” When this happens, all work comes to a screeching halt and for the next little while, I’m looking, remembering, fondling and running to Mr. Iknead repeatedly showing him the treasures I’ve found. Mr. Iknead’s enthusiasm for this is so low as to be nonexistent, by the way.

OK, back on track. Anyhow, last night I figured out why, after multiple searches, this yarn is still MIA. It’s because it’s been wound already and I’ve been looking for a hank. I even remember winding it. Today I’m going to search again, but for the correct shape and I bet I find it right away. This yarn has nearly reached “Holy Grail” status in my single minded obsession to find it. Is that odd?

ON THE NEEDLES

Here’s what I’ve accomplished on the Etched Rio Wrap so far, when I wasn’t turning my stash upside down (see above).

I love the color of this Metalico yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas, a pinky-gold.

BY THE BOOK

I’m currenting listening to A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Strangely enough, I learned about this book while watching one of those sort of embarrassing shows on the I.D. channel. You know the ones, with bad reenactments and strange voice overs. The author committed suicide back in the early 1970s and after his death, his family found this unpublished novel hidden away, sent it to a publisher and, bang, a bestseller. Interesting book, interesting back story.

Don’t forget to visit Tami Amis blog and Small Things Yarn Along for more WIPW goodness!

Man’s mind, stretched by a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions. Oliver Wendell Holmes

Knitting

Get your WIP, Get your WIP Wednesday here! – 1/23/13

January 23, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

This week’s WIP Wednesday offering is the second Phloem sock from Knitty, using Shibui Sock that I’ve named Sand and Sky. I loved the way the first sock took shape, with a botanical bent and so I was probably a tad bit over confident when I cast on the second. I just dove right in, not an unusual plan for me. After all, I finally had the pattern down and what the stitch key showed, right? So, last night, about two inches into it, I went back just to review something in the pattern and noticed that I’d completely forgotten to do the cuff. I waffled about just forging ahead and pretending it was OK but I just couldn’t, I knew it would bug me just knowing it was supposed to have a cuff but didn’t, so I frogged and started over. I can rest easy now. Yes, sometimes I tend to have a perfectionistic streak a mile wide and sometimes it serves me well, like last night. So here’s the do-over.

THE GRANDS

Remember Babysis, the Papoose’s baby sister? Well, I changed her name from Babysis to Alfalfa Sprout, as in Our Gang/The Little Rascals. She has a huge, no holds barred cowlick on the crown of her head that is so freakin’ cute I almost can’t stand it. I just thought that Sprout was a better fit than Babysis. See what I mean?

I wasn’t kidding, was I?

THE GREAT WASHING MACHING CRISIS

It’s over, it’s really, finally over – at least until another appliance gives up the ghost. Got my new, fancy washing machine delivered and hooked up. I think I did at least 15 loads that first day. Man, does laundry pile up or what?! Mr. Iknead laughed when I took a picture to share. I think he thinks posting pictures of washing machines is a little odd, but I tend to blog things that I’m happy about and things that interest me and I’m definitely both about my new washer. I think it’s very handsome, myself. To each his own.

NOT ON THE NEEDLES, YET

The Yarn Mart just called and said my special order yarn, Metalico Gold Dust, has arrived so I’m hot-footing over to pick it up. Pictures and description later, it’s calling my name.

Want more WIP Wednesday? Check out Tami’s Amis, you can’t miss.

You never truly understand something, until you can explain it to your grandmother. Albert Einstein

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 01/16/13 and Home Again

January 16, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Here’s my current WIP for this week. This sock actually started out a really fiddly Celtic cable, but after about five rounds, I knew it was way over the top too fiddly to work on while visiting the Stuttgart grands, sent it to the frog pond and restarted, this time on Rachel Coopey’s Phloem, from Knitty Spring/Summer 2012. It’s also fairly fiddly but doesn’t require a cable needle, a definite plus when keeping company with a very curious and busy two year old.

The yarn is one I ran across while stash diving looking for a good take-along project for my Stuttgart visit. It’s Shibui 100% superwash merino, color 6001 and since I believe everything should have a real name, not just a number, I’m calling it Sand and Sky. Nice, I think.

BACK IN THE NEST

Bigmommy brought me back home this morning and as much fun as I had with the babies over the past few days, it sure is good to be back. Back where my chair is dented in all the right places, my pillow is always perfect and I know where the toilet paper is kept. Funny what things make homes homey, isn’t it?

THE CRISIS CONTINUES

The great washing machine crisis is now in its fifth day and I don’t mind telling you that the laundry has somehow learned to multiply and seems to be doubling itself by the hour. Really though, the new kid on the block is to be delivered and hooked up between three and five o’clock this afternoon. I’m thinking positive and have already separated darks from lights, delicates from heavy duty and hand knits get to solo. No unintentional felting allowed, zero, zip, zilch, none, not on my watch, nope.

Don’t forget to check out Tami Ami’s blog for more awesome WIPs.

It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Knitting

If I Were a Size Six Knitting Needle/WIP Wednesday 01/09/13

January 9, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

where would I be? I’ve been asking myself this question over and over since this time yesterday. I started a new project day before yesterday that called for four different needle sizes; for the first time ever I think, I actually had the needles I needed, sizes 8, 7, 6, and 5. All hunky dory, right? Yeah, right up until the time I dropped the whole handful and one of the size 6 needles apparently was sucked into a black hole. I’ve looked everywhere I could think of and even some places that I knew absolutely that it couldn’t possibly be, stripped the sheets off the bed, rolled up a rug, moved furniture and it still hasn’t shown itself. I went to the Yarn Mart and just bought another set, knowing that in Bethworld, as soon as something is replaced, the original reappears in the most obvious place possible. Hasn’t happened yet but it will, it will.

ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve a couple of things in progress, small, quick gratification projects for this week’s WIP Wednesday, first up is the Sideways Grande Hat from Boutique Knits, knitted flat and then seamed.

A free Ravelry pattern, Meg White’s Cabled Hat, to match the cabled scarf I finished last week is the other.

A posting for FO Friday this week doesn’t seem too far fetched, but you never know. I learned a long time ago not to count my chickens before they hatch and never, ever turn your back on a nearly finished project. It has the ability to unknit and then lose itself in the stash pile, making you doubt your sanity because you know, positively know that you laid it down RIGHT HERE and now it’s missing in action. I’m just sayin’….

AROUND MY HOUSE

Yay! We have electricians today and they say they’ll be finished early this afternoon. I got a preview of the undercabinet lighting and it is beyond awesome! Here’s a peek –

I feel a heavy baking episode coming on – especially since I cleaned the oven yesterday and the bottom is a clean slate, ready, willing and able to take another pie bubble-over or cake batter mishap. What did we do before self cleaning ovens? Did our ovens get smaller and smaller due to the build up of crud on the bottom and the fact that cleaning involved protective clothing and dangerous chemicals? I know mine without a doubt would have. Gotta love progress.

Check out Tami Amis for more WIP Wednesday project love.

To be positive is to be mistaken at the top of one’s voice. Ambrose Bierce

Knitting

Bright, Shiny and New

January 2, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

SOMETHING REALLY NEAT

Babymama and Babydaddy got me the coolest thing for Christmas, it’s called Q&A A Day, a five year journal that asks a single, simple (or not so simple once it’s thought about) question a day. Each day a new question with room for five years of answers. For example: the January 1 question is “What is your mission?”. I’m looking forward to answering each question as it comes and reading the previous year’s answers.

ON THE NEEDLES

For this week’s WIP, the Catnip socks are still up. I’m turning the heel on the second sock and have high hopes for FO Friday this week. Here’s my progress:

ON THE STOVE

I tried a new recipe this evening, thanks to Pinterest and the blog, the-girl-who-ate-everything.com and it was an out of the ballpark hit, both with me and Mr. Iknead. Here’s the pic from the original blog:

White Chicken Chili

So good on a cold, damp day!

IN THE OVEN

The last piece of holiday pie (blackberry) is finally gone, thanks to Mr. Iknead. Now I’m casting around for something to bake, maybe a recipe from King Arthur Flour for Baked Raised Doughnuts. It won’t happen tomorrow I’m pretty certain, we’re having some electrical work done on our house so I’m pretty sure we’ll have no electricity most of the day, but the next day for sure. Off the oven subject but I’m especially excited about the LED undercabinet lighting we’re having installed. No more dark corners or eyestrain trying to read in the dark. Exciting, right??

There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want, and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith

Knitting

Winding Down/Looking Back/Moving Forward

December 31, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

AS PROMISED

Here are the promised photos of the grands. I hadn’t forgotten to post, in fact, I thought about it a lot, several times a day but was just too freakin’ lazy to put down my knitting, get up out of my comfy, warm by the fire chair and log on. I kept telling myself that “no I’m not procrastinating, I’m building anticipation”. See, I can rationalize anything.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE GRANDS

Babymama, Babydaddy, Bigmommy and Bigdaddy conspired, booked a photographer and surprised Mr. Iknead and me with a words fail me photo collage of the grands. Here are just a few of the pics. Get ready, you might not be able to handle the sweetness –

Left to Right – Annabelle, Susannah and Harper

Harper in Charge

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Every Day Should Be Christmas

And one more just because I love the excitement and innocence captured. They look like they’ve seen Santa!

Do You See What I See???

Told ya they were amazing, beautiful and sweet.

ON THE NEEDLES

The Zigzag Lace socks are toast. Finished the first sock, decided I didn’t like it and that life’s too short to knit something that I didn’t love, frogged it and started over with the Catnip Sock pattern. Much, much better. No documentation yet, probably for WIP Wednesday. Second first sock completed, first second sock started.

RESOLUTIONS?

I have a couple, one of which is to deliberately set aside 30 minutes a couple of mornings a week for blog housekeeping and updating and Ravelry following. Funny, I thought when I retired, I’d be doing a lot more of each but I’ve found that not to be the case, probably because I’m not sitting at a computer all day. I have a few more possible resolutions, I’ll share after I put the finishing touches on them. Maybe I should call the goals instead of resolutions. Hmmmm.

What are your goals/resolutions?

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, And the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. Buddha

Knitting

All is Calm/WIP Wednesday 12/26/12

December 26, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S HAPPENING

A day out from Christmas and like I said before, it was the best Christmas ever. We had the three grands, along with mommies and daddies yesterday and I couldn’t have wished for a better, happier, busier and all around more perfect day. More on the grands later, Mr. Iknead was chief paparazzi so he’ll have to get the pics loaded onto the computer so I, in turn, can get them to Flickr and then share.

OUTSIDE

Did I mention that we had a real, live, only once in 80 years according to the weatherdude white Christmas? Just in case I didn’t, it began raining, which in turn changed to freezing rain, then sleet and then finally, snow, starting about 2 p.m. yesterday. I’m not a great estimator of stuff but I’m pretty sure we have at least 6-8 inches on the ground. Thank you God that we didn’t lose power like so many others did. I think Mr. Iknead and I ran ten miles back and forth, looking out various windows, just to watch the snow fall. Because the snow came in on the heels of an ice storm, I’m sure the streets are very slick, with a sheet of ice under the snow. Grateful to have a warm house, with lights, hot water and heat; if we really want to feel like we’re roughing it, we build a big fire in the fireplace and take turns rearranging the logs and stuff to get maximum heat. Used to be a country chick, I guess now I’m more of a city chick. Still build a mean fire though. It must be like riding a bicycle, you never forget how. Here’s a few pics from yesterday and this morning.

Backyard last night

Front yard this morning

ON THE NEEDLES

OMG, I’ve been so distracted by the snow that I nearly forgot about WIP Wednesday. A new pair of socks is in progress, Zigzag Lace from Vogue Knitting Ultimate Sock Book. Many moons ago I took a photo of the yarn I’m using, it’s called River Rock and I must be living right because here’s a pic –

Denali from Pagewood Farm

Merino Superwash/ Nylon

80/20

Zigzag Lace

Love WIP Wednesdays? Hop over to Tami Amis blog and check them out.

Stay tuned, more to follow.

With self-discipline, most anything is possible. Theodore Roosevelt

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 12/12/12

December 12, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

A couple of WIPs this week, Mr. Iknead’s Simple Skype Socks and a pretty cabled scarf that I started on a whim, both coming along nicely. The second sock has great potential to be a FO Friday project, only lacking the leg and the top cuff. Hope I haven’t jinxed it.

Simple Skype Socks

Cabled Scarf

IN THE OVEN

Today is my mother’s birthday, I’m in the process of making a lemon pound cake to take up to the nursing home for her to share. I’ll post a pic when it’s finished and ready to go. Happy birthday Mom, I love you!

For more WIP happiness, check out Tami Amis blog. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 12/05/12

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

ON THE NEEDLES

Mr. Iknead’s first sock continues to grow and it’s close enough to being finished that I need to have him try it on just to make sure it fits perfectly. Since this is the first time he’s requested any kind of knitting, I want it to fit perfectly and be all he wanted in a sock and then some. To me, knitting+socks=warmth+love with a little practicality thrown in. Here’s where I am on the first one –

WIP – Simple Skype Socks for Mr. Iknead, modeled by yours truly and

a close up of the stitch pattern

WOOHOO!

Yesterday, I blogged about breathlessly waiting for my new Kitchenaid mixer’s arrival; believe it or not, I hit the publish button, my doorbell rang and there stood my UPS guy with an armful of gifts I’d ordered for the fam on line and then he said, “I have a mixer in the truck, I wanted to make sure you were home before I carried it to the door.” I couldn’t hold my happy dance in check and by the time I’d wound down, I had my new KA. Here she is in all her glory –

I christened her this afternoon with a recipe from Pinterest, Meili’s Cinnamon Cream Cheese Streusal Coffee Cake. I think we’re made to be together! Sugared Pecans are on the schedule for tomorrow, a Christmas tradition in our house.

Check out Tami Ami’s blog for more WIP Wednesday love.

Clear your mind of can’t. Solon

Knitting

HBD!!

December 4, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S UP

Happy birthday Mr. Iknead! I love you!

THE GRANDS

Mr. Iknead and I got to spend some quality time with all three of the grands this morning. Bigdaddy, Bigmommy and Babymama all had business here in Little Rock and so naturally, we jumped at the chance to be able to hog the babies for a couple of hours without parental supervision. It was heaven. We learned that 1)Babydiva loves dry cinnamon toast crunch cereal, 2) The Papoose never turns down chocolate milk and 3) Babysis smiles at ceiling fans. I told you it was heaven, didn’t I?

The Papoose

Babysis with her Elvis ‘do

Babydiva

CURRENT EVENTS OR NONEVENTS WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE

I’m still on medical leave, coming up on 2 1/2 weeks tomorrow and it’s been harder than I ever imagined it would be. Not the not working part, totally into that, but I’m having a hard time remembering that I don’t have to go at a dead run all the time, trying to fit a week’s worth of stuff into a couple of days. I have real, live free time (though I seem to stay busy), so have been doing a lot of cooking, knitting, reading, walking and whatever else strikes my fancy at any particular moment. Right now, I’ve got Mr. Iknead’s requested birthday supper on the stove, homemade spaghetti sauce, simmering nicely and am engaged in obsessively checking to see if the UPS man has brought my new Kitchenaid mixer so I can begin my holiday baking and Mr. Iknead’s birthday dessert. Since we live on a fairly busy street and I’m compelled to run and check every time I hear what sounds like a big vehicle, I’ve probably covered a couple of miles 40 feet or so at a time.

BY THE BOOK

This week, I’ve been listening to Running the Books, by Avi Steinberg and enjoying it immensely. I’m totally enjoying time with my books, whether ebooks, audiobooks or paper. Maybe I can finally make some progress on my want to read list, which, by the way, just gets longer and longer. Loving rediscovering leisurely reading!

OFF THE NEEDLES

I finished my Adamas shawl last weekend and finally was able to hook up with Babymama for a picture. I think they’re both lovely-

I also have a pair of socks in progress at Mr. Iknead’s request but I’m saving those for tomorrow, it being WIP Wednesday and all, they’re working up nicely. Gotta love superwash merino. As Martha would say “It’s a good thing”.

The generous and bold have the best lives. Norwegian proverb