kmkat and her kneedles

Friday funnies.

A few items I have added to my life recently.

This can replace my I knit so I don't kill people t-shirt, which had a really crappy font.

 

Gonna wear this one to knitting group tomorrow night.

 

This magnet has been on my refrigerator for awhile.
The sentiment is one I used to justify my knitting during county board meetings because  
I had observed (elderly) board members falling asleep during meetings of previous boards.

Sad, sad day.

Last night a friend/neighbor died unexpectedly from complications of a low blood sugar event -- she had type 1 diabetes, which I did not know -- and cardiac arrest. Marcia was a kind, gentle, good-hearted, generous person, and a big library supporter who worked tirelessly on the building campaign. She has done so much for our community. When Smokey was in the hospital last March she and her husband took care of our dogs. I fell apart when I read her husband's email today. I am still reeling. 

Ten on Tuesday, the favorite pattern edition.

Carole has asked us for the ten patterns we could knit again and again. At first I thought, I've never knit a pattern more than once! But then reality kicked in and I remembered I did have some faves.

Ten Patterns I Could (Have!) Knit Again And Again. 

1. Ann Budd's basic mitten pattern. I have used this for many of the fingerless gloves I have made, mainly for the thumb gusset. However, I may now use the gusset from this one because it is far easier to remember and fits equally well. 
2. Speaking of fingerless gloves, I could knit Susie Rogers' Knitting Mitts many times. Love the finished product, although I seem to have a hard time knitting it without a certain amount of frogging and tinking :-( It is completely user error; the pattern is clear.
3. Vancouver Fog fingerless gloves. Twice so far, and I plan to make a few pair for the farmers' market, plus a pair for myself. I love these. I had to re-write the pattern a bit to make it easier for me to understand, but I made no actual changes.
4. Wendy Johnson's generic toe-up sock pattern. I like to knit socks toe-up so I know I can use as much yarn as I want, and I happen to have memorized her beginning for such.
5. Robin Hansen's striped mittens. So far I have only used this pattern twice, but I can foresee more striped mittens sometime in my future.
6. The Incredible Custom-Fit Raglan. I have only knit this once, but whenever I think about knitting a sweater, this is the first pattern that comes to mind. So adaptable!
7. Willow Cowl. Three time so far, and counting. This was another pattern that I reformatted for myself to make it easier to grasp at a glance.
8. Lace-Edged Women's Hat. This was my go-to pattern for chemo hats. Happily, I have not had to knit any for several years.
9. Montego Bay scarf. Twice so far, with plans for at least one more.
10. Baby Brights by Bev Galeska. Two done and Ravel-ed, one more that needs a little finishing and to be documented. I never knit it the way the pattern shows, with the lower part in a pattern stitch; I do stockinette and stripes.

There are a few others -- the ball-band dishcloth popularized by Mason-Dixon Knitting, their baby bib, Calorimetry, the Seaman's cap, Brooklyn Tweed's Noro Striped Scarf, my own tissue cozy. I guess I do have some favorite patterns!

 

Knitting links.

 

This sock pattern reminds me of this scarf. Is it weird to think about knitting socks to match a scarf?

You will be seeing these on my Monday posts.

Texture.

Love this.

As much fun as knitting a linen stitch scarf was -- NOT! -- this one makes me think about another one.

King Lear. Done with sheep.

Knitting nail art.

Reclaiming yarn from thrift store sweaters.

Someone: please reverse engineer this sweater.

Funny knitting memes.

This one might be my favorite.

Knitted circuit boards.

Free knitting/cross-stitch/needlepoint chart maker. More here.

If you like to dress like a hobbit...

This is just silly.

A red one is on its way to me.

Word.

 

Disclaimer: I tend to find nearly all of these through Madam DaFarge Knits on Tumblr. Assume that every link has "via madamedefargeknits.tumblr.com" after it.

Sunday, Sunday!

1. Fish:: eyes.
2. Dreaming :: love.
3. Living :: dying.
4. Expectations :: unmet.
5. Mug :: china.
6. Jacket :: denim.
7. Bowl :: pipe.
8. Confession :: true.
9. Socks :: hand-knit. Duh.
10. Tank :: top.

* * * * *

Things are a-changin' in our living room. First there was the new TV.

Old.

New.

Yes, there is a lot of crappe in our living room. Smokey's knees are so bad he walks as little as possible, so all the paraphernalia required by whatever project he is working on are scattered around his chair. And the rest of the living room. Such is life.

Next, new (to us) chairs.

When I drove a carful of books and stuff to Sioux Falls to help Elder Son move, I stayed for a couple days. One thing we accomplished was to get him some furniture from the St Vincent de Paul thrift store. Said store is a block from his house and was having a 50% off sale on furniture. He was adamant that we needed to check it out. For $47 he became the proud owner of a couch (later exchanged for a smaller love seat because we couldn't get the couch through his 30" front door), a glider rocker and matching glider ottoman, and an end table. That glider rocker and ottoman were wonderfully comfortable, and it was I who insisted he buy them. 

When Smokey and I visited a couple weeks ago I spent almost every minute in that chair, rocking/gliding and knitting. On the way home I announced that I had liked it so much I was going to get one for myself. Being the wise husband he is, Smokey agreed that that was a fabulous idea.

We checked out some furniture stores and looked online, but didn't find anything properly comfortable. But yesterday while I was serving my turn at the Dems tent at the county fair, he searched Craigslist and found a pair of glider rockers with matching ottomans. Which are now nestling in the back of his Trooper (oh, yeah, he bought another car a couple weeks ago) waiting to be carried up to the living room.

His beat-up leather chair, purchased new in ::counts on fingers:: 1983 will be offered to each son and donated if neither wants it. My powered recliner will go to the basement family room for the next time one of us needs it. It was invaluable when my hip was bad and after his back surgery.

 
Old. Note the delightful cat-scratching-post nature of my recliner.
The other side of the leather chair looks the same way.

New(ish). X2.

If you need me any time in the next ten years, I will be gliding/rocking in the living room with my knitting and watching Netflix on the big screen. 

Links d'jour.

photo credit: n.stauffer via photopin cc

Mr. Bean and House.

Visual pun.

Cabbage geometry (via The Bloggess).

Thirty-one things you can freeze.

So polite and refined.

If you are in China, don't eat at KFC, McDonalds, or Pizza Hut. (And if you don't read Chinese, try this link instead.)

Pink parking spaces for women.

Like the UK and the US, Americans are divided by a common language.

Cleaning time now = cocktail hour.

This is hilarious.

Cleaning up plastic from/before it gets to the ocean.

World's tallest slum.

I got 28 right.

Srsly?

Oddity of the day: 232 teeth.

Training center.

Happily, this was nowhere near us.

What the internet can see from your cat photos.

The man who invented the high five.

You are calm. You are the Dali Lama.

Practical shoes make you appear more agreeable.

"...pig salad..."

Just in case you forgot what *they* are for.

It's county fair time. (There's yarn at the end.)

I was at the fair Wednesday night and Thursday morning helping set up our local Democrats tent. 

Covering the outside rain-vulnerable signs before shutting down for the night.
If you look closely you can see my signs hanging around the upper edge inside the tent.

 

 

We will have a drawing to give away this game.

I call this one How many Democrats does it take...

* * * * *

As I was leaving the fairgrounds I felt a strong magnetic pull toward one of the booths.

The seller agreed to model my yarn for me. Alpaca and angora, oh my.

Cinnamon-scented, felted soap. It smells sooo good.

Ornament for the Christmas tree.

Alpaca and angora, sooo soft. Bulky weight, probably destined to be a scarf.
Or a cowl. A very warm scarf or cowl.

Okay, this is adorable.

Just don't try to pet him.

Ten on Tuesday, the doorway edition.

Carole has an challenging topic for this week.

Ten Threshholds I Cross Every Day.

1. The usual: doors to bathroom, bedroom. No threshhold to get into kitchen or living room.
   
   
2. Door to my office. I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in here, especially given that I am retired. Email, reading blogs, creating stuff, dealing with my (many) volunteer activities. This is where it all happens.
   
   
3. Door to laundry/sewing/craft room. That's where my stash lives. The beverage refrigerator happens to be in there, too.
   
   
4. Does a virtual threshhold count? Because if it does, the threshhold to the wider world of the Internet is one I cross many times a day.
   
   That's it. Those are the only ones I cross every day. There are many days when I do not leave the house. (Yay, retirement!) In the interests of making a reasonable list, I shall list a few others that I cross frequently.
   
   
5. The door into my car*, the vehicle that takes me to that other wider world, the one that some people call The Real World.
   
   
6. The door into the local library. There are very few times I leave  home that I don't make a stop at the library, either to pick up new books or drop off other books I have finished.
   
   
7. The doors of the supermarket and WalMart. Sadly.
   
   
8. The doors to a few of the local restaurants. But not the bars. For whatever reason, I almost never go into a bar.
   
   
9. The door to the government center, although since losing the election I go in there far less often. Seems like I used to be in there several times a week; now, it's more like a couple times a month.
   
   
10. That's it. Rural world = small world. 

 

* I need to tell you a little story about my car. On Sunday when I met up with my friend Jeff, who had volunteered to ride with me in the parade, the first thing he said after hello was Shall we run your car through the car wash?

Me: Srsly?

Him: [nods].

Me: Srsly?

Him: Sure. I'll pay.

Me: You don't have to do that. But srsly?

And thus my car was clean for the parade.

Although I understood his concern -- presenting a nice sparkly image for our local group -- I didn't really see any need to wash the light-colored dust off my silver car, especially since everything behind the windshield would be covered by signs. It is immaterial to me whether the outside of my car is clean or covered with dust from the gravel road I must drive on. In the winter Smokey runs my car through the carwash over my vigorous-but-futile protests (the locks always freeze!) and occasionally during the rest of the year (but why?). I dislike having any clutter in my car, but the outside? Who cares?

I am just a car slob.

Links d'knit.

Nineteen impossibly clever knitting and crochet patterns.

I am thinking this shawl could be a great stashbuster.

Wisdom gained while knitting an afghan.

Best tea cozy ever.

Wait. Maybe this one?

Or you could just use a dinner plate like everyone else.

This is astonishing. 

Alpacas against assholes.

Picture these in darkish red alpaca.

Yes, I am a Leo. No, do not want this.

I want to knit every one.

One of the cuter things on the planet right now.

Slip-stitch toe.

Slightly disturbing.

Blocking frame?

LOOK AT THIS RING!

Geek-a-long squares.

.

.

 

If this is Sunday, it must time for another parade.

This was our group in the last parade. Lady in light blue shirt is
Kelly Westlund, running for Congress from our district.

Gonna drive in the Lucky Days parade this afternoon. Got a big bowl of candy to throw to the kids along the route. I tell myself all through every parade, "Don't drive over a kid. Don't drive over a kid. Don't drive over a kid." It's a good rule. 

* * * * *

Mutterings.

1. Joke :: practical.
2. Away :: game.
3. Reaction :: time.
4. High :: times.
5. Movie :: times.
6. Decide :: later.
7. Afternoon :: delight.
8. Contrarian :: Smokey.
9. Understand :: grok.
10. Zone :: no parking.

* * * * *

I continue to knit on the fingerless glove project. Four pairs mostly done, and cast on for a fifth pair last night. Only one pair is completely done; the others all need thumbs, one pair needs its hems sewn down, and most need their ends woven in.  I am saving all that finishing for some night when I am watching TV. 

In other TV-related news, we just joined the rest of the US and* got a flat TV. I think it is 46", maybe 42", plenty big for our cozy living room. Younger Son set it up for us on Saturday morning. It took me roughly 30 seconds to get used to having a bigger screen. The viewing experience changes a little -- I find I am more aware of the rest of the picture, not just the main action/actor. Our old TV, a 32" digital CRT model, will go to live in Elder Son's house. 

 

* I have found it a little disconcerting to see huge flat-screen TVs in the living rooms of pretty much every house that leaves its curtains open. Why does everyone else -- even people whom I know are on a severely limited income -- have a fancy-schmancy TV and we don't? Well, because we were waiting for the prices to come down to cheap. And they did. 

 

 

Midsummer links.

photo credit: *Fatemeh* via photopin cc

Summer!

Guaran-damn-teed to make you squee. And some more.

Signal boost.

Advice for writers.

Happy owls.

Public service announcement.

Weave a rug. No loom needed.

"I will use ALL CAPS IF I WANT!"

Links from Chris.

(Speaking of Chris...) I love this photo of Minneapolis.

This is how.

There is an island in our lake that looks exactly like this.

I want to dress uniquely. Just like everyone else.

Russia / Ukraine.

Just in case you are not feeling old...

This is accurate.

That first one would be priceless.

Hi, Kurt.

 

Weekend recap, SF edition.

Smokey and I visited Elder Son in Sioux Falls this weekend. Did I tell you that is where he is doing his residency? He is two weeks into it and seems to be happy (yay!)

No photos to share (boo!) because I suffered from camnesia all weekend. Let me tell you about a couple unillustrated coffee experiences, though.

After we went out for lunch on Sunday, I  forced the driver at gunpoint requested that we stop at a coffee shop so I could get my daily dose of caffeine. I had noticed a small remodeled house with a large sign, Ethiopian Coffee House and Restaurant, on the way to lunch.

As I walked into the front room -- the former living room, now with a bar in one corner housing the liquor and the expresso machine -- I realized to my horror that the room was filled with men. Standing room only and not a female in sight. The men were all watching the World Cup final on the HD TV on the wall and cheering for Argentina. (Apparently the German team is not popular with the Ethiopian male contingent.) Mr. Messi! they kept shouting. In my ignorance I thought Mr. Messi was the proprietor, and they were shouting for service. Actually, Leo Messi is a star on the Argentine team.

Anyway, I felt rather out of place as I ordered my four-shot latte, which was served with four shots of espresso and zero latte. After dosing it with milk back at ES's house, I found it to be quilte palatable. And a good story.

* * * * *

We left around noon on Monday. Once again, after eating lunch I forced asked Smokey to stop so I could get coffee, this time at a kiosk in the lot where we had parked. The sign said Open but there was no one visible inside. 

...until the window flew open and a 30-ish man exploded into the opening. 

Hello! he shouted. How are you today? What can I get you?

We decided he had been injesting his wares since 6am. The day before. I really don't know how one person can contain that much energy inside a 6'x6' space. He must be absolutely cray-cray by the end of his shift.

* * * * *

And that was my weekend.

Knit inks. Or links, your choice.

 

I want to knit this RIGHT NOW.

Yarn bowl.

Even the chickens...

"...perhaps the most civil of all disobediences."

Yarn bomb.

Yes, there is a sheep in there.

Stripe gone crazy.

This made me think about knitting a Color Affection from Kid Silk Haze instead of fingering weight. 

The Fourth is so last week. Winter is coming. Here are your links.

 
photo credit: arbyreed via photopin cc

Forty things every self-respecting grown-ass man over 30 should have.

Shane, the Wal-Mart deli guy.

Have your baby in Finland.

Links from Chaos and Mayhem.

Moving on.

Sixty-six uses for coffee filters.

Sugru water pistol.

Modern jousting.

Photographer meets vicious predator.

Bears.

Football.

More animal funsies.

The prince is mobile!

So why is he not smiling?

And this is how we know the earth is round.

Wisconsin only gets into the news for bad stuff.

Well, maybe some good stuff, too.

Falcon nesting in a tree.

Random because I am lame.

I haven't done the mutterings for awhile.

1. Onion :: cry.
2. Greek :: salad.
3. Construct :: -ion.
4. Crunch :: time.
5. Bottom :: feeder.
6. Cream :: cheese.
7. Slamming :: crowd-surfing.
8. Jerk :: chicken. I seem to have food on the mind this morning.
9. Closed :: mind.
10. Texture :: -d stitches.

* * * * *

Younger Son sent me a photo that a friend had taken of Ser Percival The Energetic.

Look at the size of that mouth. Now imagine your leg in there. Beware the pit bull.

* * * * *

Smokey figured out that it was the 20+ year-old sunscreen I used on Saturday that had caused the allergic reaction and made my eyes swell to monster size. So much for trying to use up old stuff -- that sunscreen is going in the trash. I don't look quite as bad as I did on Sunday, but I would still scare small children. Sheesh.

* * * * *

Earlier this week I had to drive through Lindstöm. Remember Lindström? Anyway, I got myself a small Blizzard at the DQ (mint chocolate chip, thanks for asking) and looked for a shady place to park while I ate it. (I hate having to get out of the car. Drive-through, every time.) A block or so later I found a cemetary, lots of shade. Perfect.

As I drove around looking for my ideal spot -- level, shady, not too obvious -- I came across this tombstone.

The inscription says, "T-REX / Made by Frank".

 

T. Rex says, "Whachoo lookin' at, mofo?"

* * * * *

In other Lindstrom Dairy Queen-related news: last weekend Smokey gave a co-worker a ride home to Lindstrom after work. During the ride, co-worker disclosed that Robin Williams had been spotted at the DQ earlier this summer. What was Robin Williams doing in a tiny rural village in Minnesota? Presumably, the same thing as Ozzie Ozbourne, Eric Clapton, and any number of other celebs. 

* * * * *

Have I been knitting? Yes. Have I been taking pictures of my knitting? No.

I have been busily making fingerless gloves to sell at the farmer's market later this summer and fall in support of the new library. The library building committee is sponsoring the market and gets the booth fees. They also have a table to sell dog blankets and other crafts, all proceeds going to the building fund.

I finished my third pair yesterday, then discovered that Ser Percy had snatched a glove from the second pair -- 100% alpaca*, no less -- and had mangled it a bit. I grumbled and fumed as I wove in the ends on pair #3, then inspected the pair #2 damage more closely. Glove turned out not to be salvageable, but the yarn was. Frogged and 1" reknit so far. Will finish this weekend.

Damned alpaca-chewing dogs...

 

* Apparently dogs prefer alpaca to wool. Go figger. 

 

 

Ten on Tuesday, the side [dish] edition.

Today Carole has us listing what we served with our Fourth of July barbecue. Since I was responsible only for the meat course, I was not concerned with side dishes. But that doesn't mean I don't have favorites.

Ten Favorite Summer Side Dishes. 

 

1. Kale salad. Mine is kale, raisins or craisins, thing-sliced onion, and pecans, with sweetened balsamic vinaigrette. The one served at the Fourth of July pot luck picnic was kale, slivered almonds, and Parmesan; some kind of vinaigrette dressing -- it was a hit with everyone.
   
   
2. Greek village salad. Chunked tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, kalamata olives, onion, with an oregano/lemon vinaigrette.
   
   
3. Tossed green salad. My year-round standard is Romaine lettuce, some paper-thin sliced onion, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced fresh mushrooms, diced feta cheese, and pitted kalamata olives. Dressing may be balsamic vinaigrette or creamy Caesar.
   
   
4. Spinach salad. My year-round standard is spinach, sliced hard-cooked egg, paper-thin sliced onion, pecan halves, and maybe some halved cherry tomatoes. Dressing is Cardini's Asian Sesame.
   
   
5. Quinoa salad. Quinoa tossed with raw or semi-cooked vegies and dosed with vinaigrette. I prefer this to pasta salad because it is gluten-free.
   
   
6. Potato salad. Not the traditional one with mayo; one with an oil-sabed dressing and seasoned with rosemary. And maybe garlic. I need to create a recipe.
   
   
7. Sliced watermelon, cantaloupe, and/or honeydew.
   
   
8. Fruit compote -- melon balls (water-, cantaloupe, and honeydew), sliced strawberries, blueberries, and sliced kiwi, all tossed with a sprinkling of sugar and a couple tablespoons of Triple Sec.
   
   
9. Fresh blueberry pie.
   
   
10. Brownies.
    
    
11. More brownies.

If the Fourth of July is over, it's time to start knitting for fall/winter.

Wonder Woman rides again!

I am putting this link here because I want to save it for myself: the Zigzag Column.

Decorate a tree with yarn balls. Or you could eat the yarn balls.

Remember that slip stitch afghan from last week? Here's the pattern.

I want to believe.

Did I already post this? If so, re-enjoy.

Bubbles! For many more versions, click here.

Yarn: the Meow Collection.

No wonder the model is almost smirking.

Suck my mittens.

Hogwarts!

Early autumn knitting.

Remember: there's no crying in knitting.

Fair isle vs intarsia = cross-training.

.

Weekend recap.

Friday: lake association boat parade and picnic.

Some folks went all out for the festive decorations.

Others took a more minimalist approach.

I forgot to take photos of the picnic food until people had started to leave. I provided the meat course (brats, Italian sausage, and appropriate condiments), eating paraphernalia, and beverages. Tables and canopy (and venue) were provided by another neighbor. The rest was pot luck. Many brownies were consumed with enthusiasm.

  
Remember the boat decorations? Some of us -- that's me on the left --
carried that spirit into our attire.

Meanwhile, Wife of Flag Shorts Guy puts an ice cube down the neck of a retired umpire.

 

Saturday: selling raffle tickets at craft fair.

All prizes were donated, so all proceeds will support the shelter.

My set-up. I sold over $500 worth of raffle tickets. Although Packer-Viking tickets have been an attractive draw in past raffles, the quilt got at least as much attention as the tickets this year. Success!

There was a fabulous face painter. This guy was happy to pose for me.
Fond Mom, too. They were so cute.

Blurry iPhone closeup.

I asked her if it was okay to take a picture of her ring while she was putting her name and address on her raffle tickets. As I prepared to take the photo she leaned down so that she would be in the photo, too. Not camera shy, that one. (But she bought a book of five tickets, so I love her.)

The woman on the right looked familiar. It took me a minute to place her.

 
She was the living, breathing incarnation of Maxine.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

Sunday: another parade.

My car: a rolling billboard for progressive values.

Kelly Westlund and me. 

Something in the air on Saturday disagreed with me, or at least with my eyes. By the time I went to bed that night they were horribly swollen. I spent Sunday hiding behind sunglasses to cover them -- didn't want to scare the dogs and children. Cold compresses, eye drops, and Benedryl for me again tonight.

Red, white, and blue links.

photo credit: zen via photopin cc

Grumpy Cat is grumpy...

Strange things found in computers. Found here via Younger Son after I sent this link to him.

Anyone else remember how back in the 1950s and 1960s we were promised that all those labor-saving devices would let us work four-hour days? Here's what happened. (long read)

Proud to be an American. And sometimes not.

I'm a-gonna live FOREVER.

Small town in South Carolina changes its form of government in order to reinstate lesbian police chief.

Music is good for you.

Mr. Sulu Captain Picard speaks.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg hates mansplaining as much as you do..

"Do you mind? I'm licking my self here."

English is weird.

This one is for Smokey. 

British Airways breeding program is going well.

Calvin & Hobbes.

Look at this every morning.

Google like a boss.

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