MAGPIE'S MUMBLINGS

A blog about my interests, which include fabric landscapes and various and assorted other artsy pursuits and sometimes known to contain mumblings of a random nature.

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Sometimes it's just a dud

 Dud-ship is running rampant here at Chez Magpie.  First of all, the Resident Chef harvested his entire potato crop from our balcony.....


Yep, that's it.  Sum total!  He won't be repeating that particular experiment.  

And...sometimes my needles just don't create something that's worth doing.  Case in point...



Our youngest grandson was born in the Year of the Rat so Grandma decided he needed a rat to play with.  Methinks this is more scary than anything so he won't be getting it in his Christmas gifts.  The quest continues for a 'cute' rat pattern.  Is there such a thing?

And...as a side note that fits the 'dud' theme that's happening...I don't advise you purchase any Red Heart Super Value yarn.  That stuff is vile!!  It's stiff as a board.  Don't know why they've changed their manufacturing process but it appears they have.  So much for the plan to make mittens out of it.  How I miss being able to go to the yarn shop and actually feel the selections!!  

Today's quote is from Pablo Picasso..."The meaning of life is to find your gift.  The purpose of life is to give it away"

20 comments:

  1. Poor Resident Chef. His bumper crop of potatoes is more like a BUMMER crop. I think your Rat is very cute and has a sweet personality. He is not scary at all. Fun links and lots of ideas...thank you. Good quote. Fall is in the air...

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    1. Yep, definitely a bummer crop! Ah well, it was an experiment and he wasn't expecting anything spectacular out of it.

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  2. thanks for my chuckle of the day........tell Resident Chef his garden produced more than mine.....I planted tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers in some raised beds just outside my backyard. Problem is even though it is watered with the sprinkler system it needs water everyday and having to go around to water just doesn't work so I gave up.....I've always had success inside the backyard but I've covered my best garden space with a deck so......

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    1. You're welcome! If we can laugh at ourselves there's something wrong. The paltry little crop of potatoes tasted good anyway.

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  3. Beautiful potatoes will make a neat little bit of salad
    Given the reputation of rats, I lean towards Mickey Mouse as a toy.

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    1. I agree about the rat thing - I don't like them. Maybe I can turn a Mickey Mouse into something that resembles a rat. Hmmm..... pondering.....

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  4. I did not get a single potato from my container. The potatoes never sprouted. I got these from the farm and I wondered if they were those that are bred to give only one harvest do the farmer had to buy new seed potatoes every year. Up to now I've planted a potato from the Asian store and succeeded every time. Next year I'll know better.

    The rat might actually be fun to give to adult, with a cute name. It he could travel and be photographed. Call him Ratatouillle and you'll be all set.

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    1. We didn't plant seed potatoes either and perhaps that's what went wrong. Oh well, it was a good experiment - and he did grow pretty amazing greenery!
      Good name for the rat, but it's not going to be gifted to our grandson - don't want to scare him!

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  5. Your potato crop is identical - and I mean IDENTICAL - to ours. Four little lumps. That’s never happened to us before! Apparently whatever “got into” the potatoes also “got into” the yarn rat, LOL. Oh! FYI, My brother Steve hung up his wall hanging in the living room. I had to explain to him what a hanging sleeve was and where it was located, LOL!!!! 😂😂

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    1. Maybe it's just a bad year for potatoes! Glad Steve found a spot to put it and he can have his recliner back.

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  6. Oh dear! I hope that you enjoyed those potatoes even if there weren't many of them!! I rather like your Rat, he has a very cute appeal to him. I don't think your Grandson will be concerned what he looks like anyway.... he'll just love something that Grandma has made! Hugs Christine xx

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    1. The grandson this was to be for is a baby so it's more likely he'll be scared by it. The search is on for a different pattern so we'll see what I can come up with.

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  7. That's hilarious! The Super Value yarn must be made at the same place as the Caron big skeins. Will not use it again.

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    1. I got a couple of balls of the big Caron too and it's way softer than the Red Heart, although still not as soft as I'd prefer. Even tried some of the Mary Maxim equivalent and it's way too thick. Haven't a clue what I'll end up doing with it all!

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  8. They may be few and small, but they're cute little potatoes. :) I brought home a tomato plant from my MIL's early in the summer, and it's kind of like Chef's potatoes. I don't think it's produced any truly nice tomatoes. I've been unable to bring myself to toss it out, so I'm glad summer is winding down and I'll soon have no choice. What exactly would make a cute rat, I want to know... lol FWIW, I don't think yours isn't cute, but even if you don't like him, you might be surprised at what your grandson thinks of him. Our youngest son adopted the ugliest, bulbous-nosed stuffed creature that made it's way into our home as his lovey. I never understood its appeal, but he loved that thing long after he was too old for a lovey. Just sayin'.

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    1. Yes, you never know what kids will think is the perfect thing. At this moment I'm contemplating tearing his eyes off (the rat, not the grandson!!) and making them smaller. I think that's what's turning me off about it so we'll see if I can make something a little less out there.

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  9. A disappointment for the Chef with the potatoes but they would have been good to eat anyway. The rat eyes are startling - maybe you could make black instead, perhaps a white glint somewhere. The rest is Great. I love the lavender house link. I'm tempted to make some.

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    1. I agree that it's the eyes I don't like about the rat so they're coming off and I'll go back to the drawing board on those. We'll see what new eyes will do.
      As for the lavender houses - they are cute, but I wouldn't dare have lavender in the house between DH's allergies and mine. The houses would be fun all on their own though.

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    1. His eyes are going to change to hopefully something a little less scary. It's for a baby so don't want to give him nightmares!

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