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 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 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

Knitting

The one where she gets it

August 24, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

ready ahead of time so she can join the WIP Wednesday festivities.

Drop Stitch Shawl

It is better to be high spirited even though one makes more mistakes, than to be narrow minded and too prudent. Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch postmodernist painter

Knitting

The one where I actually

August 10, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

have a WIP Wednesday ready before WIPW actually arrives. There’s something to be said for looking ahead and having just a hint of organization in life, I think.

Introducing the Drop Stitch Shawl Version 2, a Rav pattern. It’s little more than half done and is knitting up beautifully.

The yarn is Manos del Uruguay, kettle dyed 60% baby alpaca, 40% pima cotton. It drapes wonderfully. The color number is 2318.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Knitting

The one where one entry may

July 20, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

not be enough to cover what’s been happening in my life over the last several days. To say I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster would be the understatement of the year. My dad passed away Friday morning after a short but vicious battle with lung cancer. We knew he wasn’t doing well, was less responsive, weaker and more short of breath every day, so when his caregivers called Wednesday evening (a week ago today) telling us that he was very close to the end, we weren’t surprised. We were with him all day and all night Thursday; I told him over and over again how much I loved him and how it was OK for him to go, how we’d miss him terribly but his loving spirit would be with us always. He slipped away from us at 11 o’clock Friday morning and I’m grateful that he at last is at rest. He deserves it. RIP Daddy, I love you.

OK, in a completely different direction, here’s my WIP Wednesday, Drop Stitch Shawl, Version 2, from Ravelry

The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Knitting

The one where once again she was ready

July 13, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

for WIP Wednesday a little ahead of time. Here’s the Constanze cowl so far.

It’s a little more than half done, I hope to have it in next Friday’s FO post.

You can never step into the same river twice; for new waters are always flowing on to you. Heraclitus (c.484-c.475 B.C.), Greek philosopher

Knitting

The one where I finally remember

July 12, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

to post a little about a to-die-for recipe I found here on WordPress, Nutella Cheesecake Layer Bars, from the blog of The Moonlight Baker. Forgive me if I’m repeating a post, but they’re totallly worth revisiting. Hard to not love anything made with Nutella and cream cheese. I wish I’d thought of taking a picture, but didn’t, but you don’t have to think too hard to get a mental picture, they’re exactly what the name says, Nutella, cream cheese and a chocolate graham cracker crust. I highly recommend them, you just might want to double up, that’s how fast they disappear.

Dishcloth progress here

Thinking ahead for a second week, amazing, I know. Getting my WIP ready for its photo op for tomorrow.

Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty in every age of life really never grows old. Franz Kafka (1883-1924), Bohemian novelist

Knitting

The one where she took

July 6, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

some pics ahead of time so she could post her WIP Wednesday in the morning instead of late evening. The Constanze cowl, Jojoland Melody, I think color #27.

The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of Hell and a hell of Heaven. John Milton (1608-1674)

Knitting

The one where she tempted

July 5, 2011July 5, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

fate gloating over her progress on the Constanze cowl, getting it going on the first cast on, so proud of herself. Well, fate intervened, I got frustrated and ended up frogging the whole thing and starting fresh. I’ll get a pic or two tonight so I’ll be ready for WIP Wednesday tomorrow.

I have to keep reminding myself that today is Tuesday, tomorrow is Wednesday; since Monday was a holiday and I was off work, according to me, myself and I, today is Monday and thus, tomorrow is Tuesday. Don’t even ask me what happens when I’m off work for more than one day. Totally lose track.

Here’s a photo of my dad and me, it looks like I was about 18 months old, we were living in Corpus Christi, Tx. I’ve always thought my daddy was so handsome!

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. Confucius

Knitting

The one where she is still

June 22, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

undecided about her next project. If I was really forward looking and efficient, I’d start on the iPod socks that I’ve decided might be good stocking stuffers for Christmas. Honestly, though, I can’t think any further ahead than this weekend; again, we’re going to DeQueen to be with my parents and work a little bit, going through things, shredding old paperwork (we found receipts from the 60s) and cleaning out closets. Lots of memories and it’s so hard to not get sidetracked by old pictures, books and everything else that makes up lives lived and memories kept. Very emotional.

Heel flap finished and ready to turn –

I hope I’ll have a new WIP Wednesday project next week, keeping my fingers crossed.