Emptyknitster

With the Fourth of July coming soon, I thought I'd share my pasta salad recipe. This is such an easy salad, and will feed a crowd. I found it in a Mailbox magazine (a teacher mag) years ago and the family has enjoyed it ever since. Pasta Salad 1 bag spiral noodles 1 T season salt 1 T lemon juice 1 cup mayo 1 jar pimentos undrained 1 small can sliced black olives undrained Cook and drain noodles then add season salt and lemon juice. Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight. Add remaining ingredients.

Every year the family has a contest of sorts, it's called - The First Fawn Sighting. The rules are simple, the first person to see a fawn wins. Kate saw the first fawn out of the county, on the way to Chico Hot Springs last week. (No win - not in the county.) Hubby saw the first fawn in the subdivision, twins in fact. He "says" they were in the road with their mother on the other side of the guardrail. The twins had to run up the street, to the top of the guardrail and back down again to get to their mom. They were to small to jump over. That's pretty small, I'll give him that! (No win - new rule - undocumented.) BUT I just got up 15 minutes ago and was wandering around the house, looking out windows, making sure I still had flowers, looking to see if the wind had blown anything unusual in - you know doing the early morning security check. And down in the gully I saw a movement, a deer! Now if you have been around deer you know that when they begin having the...

The little family just left for home, I miss them already! This morning Isaac when woke up he said he wanted to stay with Gramma and Grandpa but as the time got closer to departure, he decided that he'd better go with them because, "I'm free and Sadie is six." I'm looking forward to when he is six! Sadie told me during her week here by herself that she would like to live here and only go and visit her parents from time to time - I told her sure, she could do that. Immediately she looked up at me and said, "I'm kidding Gramma!" Wish they lived closer......

Because we love to knit, the customers of my favorite store - Wild Purls Yarn Shop - gather and knit until dark on the longest day of the year. It's Father's Day on Sunday, so we met on Friday evening and missed only a minute of knitting. My knitting enthusiast daughter, Sarah, was is town to celebrate. The gathering of happy knitters... We each bring a delicious dessert and indulge. I always bring my... Black Russian Bundt Cake 1 yellow cake mix, w ithout pudding 1/2 cup sugar 1 6 ounce instant chocolate pudding 1 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 1/4 cup vodka 1/4 cup amaretto, or strong coffee liqueur 3/4 c water Grease and flour bundt pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl combine cake mix, sugar, pudding. oil, eggs, vodka, liqueur, and water, mix at low speed about 1 minute. Beat at medium speed 4 minutes. Pour into prepared pan. Bake until cake tests done with a wooden pick. (35 - 45 minutes) Prepare glaze. Let cake cool 10 minutes in pan. invert onto wire rack. Poke ho...

Sadie had so much fun at Chico Hot Springs last Wednesday AND her Mom was so envious, the entire family took another trip there this week! Little brother, Issac, had a blast! The day was overcast and in fact we had a few rain showers, but a great day was had by all. The very beautiful historic hotel. The darling grandkiddos... Isaac inspecting a critter in the flowers. Sadie posing a little for Gramma. In the pool...... Wish we could go there everyday!

We were so lucky when Sadie's other grandparents, Nana and Bumpa, agreed to drop Sadie off for a visit! They were traveling through Montana on their way to snowy Yellowstone Park. Sadie was excited to come and we were elated that she thought she was big enough to be away from her parents for a week! So far, and it's Thursday, things are going great! We are counting "the sleeps" until Mom, Dad and Isaac come BUT sometimes we have to mark off two days because we forget - a good sign - I think! Grandpa made breakfast! Gramma "did up" my toes! Keeping busy playing games. Relaxing with Gracie. Ready to hit the road for Chico Hot Springs! A real bathing beauty. Gramps just floating by... Aunt Katie is a great pool buddie! The noodle really works great to keep you floating... Chico can tire a kiddo out! Billings is a short trip home when you nap all the way!

Well, the kiddos have been sent off for the summer and it's now turned into Margaritaville here at home! These are the best Margaritas ever! Jo, MVBF, modified this recipe from one on the web. It's a little bit more in calories but the flavor is out of this world... Mondo Margaritas Serves 5 12 oz diet Mountain Dew 12 oz Rose’s sweetened lime juice 6 oz tequila 5 oz triple sec 1 1/2 tablespoons splenda 5 oz water 1 drop green food coloring Mix together and freeze until slushy or frozen solid. Scoop frozen slush into serving glasses dipped in salt. Garnish with lime wedge. Single batch makes 5 cups – 335 calories per serving. Don't waste your time, just start with a double batch. We've even started buying extra Rose's lime so as to not run out.