Emptyknitster

It has been a busy week with family coming and going... Chloe and Cameron enjoyed their Mom's old bike. Chloe has done a little baking. I think she prefers cooking with her Granny, I do things the quick and easy way and her Granny cooks from scratch. Cameron has been doing some creative building. This lovely cabin has taken three days!

The two grandkiddos and I went to Helena to visit their Aunt Chick, we went to the Saturday Farmer's Market, and took a tour of the town on the train,    We drove by the Governor's Mansion - old and new... We prefer the old house and wish the governor still lived there! On the tour the guide talked about how the old mining town burned down three times until the town finally erected a fire tower on a hill in the middle of town! The guide also told us about a WWII pilot that on a $100 bet, flew between the two crosses on the Cathedral. He won the bet but lost his pilot's license!   On Sunday we went to Boulder Hot Springs...  Great times!

Hubby helped the California Dreamin' Kiddos build birdhouses... They had great fun painting them. When the birdhouses were done, The Pirate wanted to make a race car with the leftovers.

While waiting for the California Dreamin' family to arrive I began The Tiger's sweater. They arrived early Sunday morning - around 3 am, after a long day of driving. When The Pirate woke up the first thing he did was go to the window and look at his playhouse. He and his sister have been longing to play in it for some time. They couldn't even wait for breakfast before they were in it. They cleaned, swept, and dusted. When all was to their satisfaction the kiddos had a tasty picnic lunch in the playhouse and then dug out the little people and had a great time the rest of the afternoon, quietly playing. Today, the kiddos and Hubby cut down a dead tree and hauled away the branches. The kiddos loved the free ride.   I got out the pirate hat and dropped it into the washer. When it was felted enough I popped it on The Pirate's head and he was good to go! This evening, while visiting with the kiddos, I looked out the window and we saw a doe with her TRIPLETS! In all the yea

The Pirate's sweater is complete and I'm going to start another little Wallaby for the Tiger tonight... Pattern: Wonderful Wallaby Yarn: Plymouth Encore Color: Hunter Tweed            Taupe Amount: 4 skeins Hunter Tweed, 1 skein Taupe Needles: 8 US, 6 US Hubby and I went to a Rob Quist concert last night. Quist is from Montana and writes songs about our state. He's the only Western singer that I truly enjoy and last night he decided to go Blue Grass....  I did enjoy the crowd, the kids loved the music and an old fellow threw down his cane and joined in!

While on rainy Melita Island this past weekend, I did a lot of knitting in front of the fire at the lodge. Elizabeth was right, the Pi Shawl is a great traveling project...  I am half done with an entire month before her birthday, yea! I've also been working on the Pirate's sweater since we got back home. The pocket is finished and I'm now knitting a sleeve.  The "Summer of the Clean House" continues, I started on the familyroom in the basement today and will have it finished tomorrow. Although I thought that it was only cleaning and no mucking out, I managed to fill yet another box with rummage! I'm on the down hillside of this major cleaning frenzy - only a library, workout room, and two bedrooms to go!

Hubby and I traveled across the state to celebrate the 4th. Flathead Lake has long been a draw for many Montanians during the summer months. This year the weather has been cool and rainy, so the holiday was rather quiet. I painted benches and the porch of the lodge while Hubby helped Roger complete the new and improved showers - all 7 of them. Much better that the tarp walls of past years. Although I saw osprey, ducks, and woodpeckers, the photos were blurry or too far away... It's been so wet in the state that there are mushrooms growing on trees!   Our scouts will be safe this summer with the stellar staff ever watching for danger! God Bless America!

Mom used to make a great three bean salad in the summer, but, I think it was just a little of this and a little of that. I couldn't find the recipe anywhere! So I was at a loss when Hubby bought a Costco roasted chicken. I found this WINNER on the web and wanted to share. It's an easy and delicious fix for a potluck or family supper.   Bean Salad 10 servings 289 calories per serving Ingredients     * 1 (14.5 ounce) can green beans, drained     * 1 (14.5 ounce) can wax beans, drained     * 1 (15.25 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained     * 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained     * 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained     * 1 red onion, chopped     * 1 green bell pepper, chopped     * 3/4 cup red wine vinegar     * 3/4 cup white sugar     * 3/4 cup vegetable oil     * 3/4 teaspoon ground dry mustard     * 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon     * 1 1/2 teaspoons dried cilantro Directions    1. In a large bowl, layer the beans, onion and green pepper. Set aside.