August 04, 2006
The War Between the Sexes Fizzles Out
I’m happy to say that I did not have to bail TMK out of the hoosegow for battering her, as Dear Reader kmkat put it, “Manland emissary.” In fact, TMK reports that, although her emissary didn’t exactly bring her a rose, chuck her adoringly under the chin, and execute a lively and charming buck and wing in her driveway, he was quiet, efficient and didn’t give her ‘tude. That’s all we really care about, guys; no ‘tude. Oh, and pants that don’t show your crack. Euuuww.
Most importantly, he brought this, the sand and the pavers:
Here, Frankie waits for TMK to lay down something new she can poop on since pooping on crushed gravel is so yesterday.
Here, as of last night, sand and four pavers in place, and Frankie considers what kind of doggie contortions it will take to baptize the tamper. (Oh, and let me point out something truly annoying. Notice how the previous owners painted only the three sides of the shed you can see from the house and then quit? You just gotta wonder sometimes.)
The pavers are level!
As of this morning, 28 pavers in place, also level! (Note to tomorrow’s lunch guests: If TMK brings her balsamic vinaigrette potato salad to the table and then collapses to the ground and begins snoring, you will know why. I suggest we just put some underpants on her head and leave her be.)
On the knitting front, despite Robbyn’s detailed instructions (thank you, Robbyn!) and despite the other research I did on the Web, the concept of applied i-cord is still whuppin’ my behind. I can do i-cord (thank God, or I would start to think it had been named after me); it’s the “applied” part that’s making me all kinds of crazy. I see a little bit more research and some trial and error in my future. Thank you everyone for your suggestions!
TMK is giving me hope for one of my future projects. First though is the de-weeding and leveling. There is always a catch. . .
Posted by: laura on August 4, 2006 11:58 AMI'm with Laura -- seeing TMK's progress makes me think there's hope that I'll one day get around to laying in a paver path alongside the garage and around back to the deck. It's one of those jobs that needs to be broken down into phases, so it doesn't seem quite as intimidating...
Posted by: Denise in Kent, WA on August 4, 2006 12:14 PMDelurking to say that I'm having a very hard time imagining TMK taking a chuck on the chin.
In fact, I thought that was what she might be thrown in hoose-gow for.
Back to lurking.
Denise and Laura, that really is the catch, breaking the project down into smaller goals. And TMK reports that she now has over 40 pavers in place!
Also, if it makes you feel any better, she has been talking about a similar project for years and years, and then she--poof!--out of the blue, just started working on it. Perhaps the same will happen to you two.
And Cordelia, I agree with you on the "chucking on the chin" thing but my fingers type what they want to type. (And you thought I had some sort of control over this blog.)
Posted by: Ryan on August 4, 2006 12:51 PMDude, if TMK can poof! out of the blue accomplish something she's been talking about for years, do you think she could send some of that my way? There's this desk in my office that needs finding...
Posted by: Lee Ann on August 4, 2006 01:00 PMHOOSEgow? Have mercy, you slay me!!
Posted by: marylee on August 4, 2006 02:19 PMForgive the stalker in me, but I am requesting said picture of TMK collapsed, snoring and wearing the underpants on her head. I won't blog it, I promise. *snerk* Seriously. Hee!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on August 4, 2006 02:54 PMOh, hey TMKnickershead? The pavers look awesome. *snort*
I just...had to say it. Had to. I will stop laughing soon.
Posted by: Stalker Angie on August 4, 2006 03:08 PMCOOL project! Love it. I had a refrigerator repair guy here this week with 'tude. I had taken my "don't sweat the small stuff pills" that morning, which is lucky for him.
Posted by: Norma on August 4, 2006 03:43 PMHey, Ryan,
The best ever instructions for applied I-cord are in Cat Bordhi's book, 2nd Treasury of Magical Knitting. It's simple as pie once you see her directions. Beg, Borrow, or Buy that book and take a look (I think I-cord instructions are in the back appendix).
I have perceptual problems and I've struggled with applied I-cord before, but not after Cat's directions.
Janice
Posted by: Janice on August 4, 2006 03:56 PMWhy didn't you guys paint the fourth side of the shed? Just wondering.
Posted by: rfx1982 on August 4, 2006 05:10 PMI love applied i-cord. You should really try it. Knit yourself a little square and then try putting applied i-cord on it. I'm sure my directions are no better than anyone else's, but that won't stop me from trying anyway...
Here is my (maybe weird) way.
Sit there looking at the right side of your swatch, sitting happily on the needle waiting for a right side row to be knit. Cast on 3 stitches right there, so that the new stitches will be the first thing you knit when you begin. Grab a DPN and knit the first 2 of your new stitches; then knit the 3rd one together through the back loop with the first live stitch from the swatch. Stick your 3 stitches from your DPN back onto the main needle. Tug up the yarn a bit tightly, so that it kind of pulls things together; don't think about exactly what's happening on the back side, other than tugging. Knit the first 2, then K2tog tbl the 3rd one with the next live stitch from the swatch. See what's happening? It's so cool.
'Scool Ryan, I'm sorry it didn't help :( However, I know that whatever method you use to finished your little vest, it will be perfect :)
I am in awe of TMKs project - it's going to look so nice! But how are you going to keep Frankie from "christening" it every day?
Posted by: Robbyn on August 5, 2006 07:10 AMRfx1982, you must have read our minds! Until now, we didn't care too much about the fourth side of the shed because, frankly, it's where we keep our compost. But painting the shed is now on our project list!
Robbyn, I read every word of your instructions so, really, thank you so much for your efforts. You have no idea how nice and clear they were, and how much I appreciated them. However, I'm starting to figure out that the common denominator, the stumbling block, if you will, is, well, me. (In answer to your question, we just hope the patio bores Frankie after a while and she goes elsewhere for her entertainment.)
Speaking of i-cord, again, thank you everyone for your encouragement and help. I will figure this out; I will!!
Posted by: Ryan on August 5, 2006 06:14 PMI am telling Ryan, applied i-cord is super easy.....
Okay, I am makin' a swatch and I will show you at the Guild!!! ;-)
So are you thinkin' thong or granny panties on TMK? Tee hee!
Posted by: Rose on August 6, 2006 03:21 PMOops! I meant "I'm telling you Ryan"... ;-)
Posted by: Rose on August 7, 2006 09:37 AM