Emptyknitster

The Chick and I wanted to see the ND Kiddos play in their sports this fall so we left the cats,  (GOOD LUCK Hubby) and drove East.  SadieLouWho did a wonderful job serving during her volleyball  game. The Tiger did a great job during his frigid football game. It’s so fun seeing the kiddos grow. We also visited a fun store in Jamestown, Junk in the Trunk. I bought some hand embroidered, hand crocheted doilies. I have a creative idea on how to use them and if it works you can bet I’ll post the project here!  PurlGurl had a chest she was interested in but wanted to make sure it fit at home before purchasing. When we returned less than and hour later, the chest had been sold, Karmic shopping at its best! The time went all to quickly and after an eight hour drove home, there was just enough time to run some wash before setting out for the Griz Game.

It's hard for me to think of Little SadieLouWho in high school but that's where she's headed this fall. I'm proud of her for making the Sophomore volleyball team. When coach told the girls they had to run an eight minute mile to join the team, SadieLou practiced until she could run a 7:38 mile. Dedication! I thought I'd add just a little spirit to her fall line up of sports and knit a Blue Jay scarf and warm mittens. (Would love better photos!) Pattern: Commuter Scarf by Ruth Ellen Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Colorway: Spirit Amount: One Skien Needle Size: US Size 7 Pattern: Quick Knit Chunky Mitts by Cozy Up Designs Yarn: Big Twist Yarns Natural Blend Solids Colorway:Black Amount: Less than one skien Needle Size: US Size  11

The Chick and I had been planning a visit to the NorDakFamily for quite a while. At first we had grand plans and were going to visit Canada and then drop down into North Dakota for a stay with family but then who would take care of Miss Zoey? So we decided to reverse the trip and leave Zoey with Hubby. Friends began to tell us Canada to the North is just like the area we live in.....hmm...prairie. So in the end we just traveled east and spend some lovely summer days with family and headed home! Hubby had originally said he would keep the household going but as the summer progressed with the busy fire season he had no idea if he would be home or away fighting fires. I'm lucky my good friend Jo stepped in and did the daily feeding and watering of pets and plants. The Chick and I brought our paddle boards and we spent three afternoons on the lake. The Tiger worked hard to improve his skills.  Although there wasn't much piano practice we were able to listen to a conc...

It's turning into a tradition - When the first daughter makes it to the old homestead we head to the grocery store for supplies. Kate drew the lucky straw this Easter. It was a quick trip to town and back home - we both are known for our distaste for shopping. As we were unpacking the groceries we decided to boil up the eggs immediately for dyeing later. This proved a very wise decision. After being in the car for their eight hour trip to Gram's the kiddos were more than ready for some creative egg dyeing. Sarah had been on Pinterest and found a new trendy way to dye eggs.  Shaving cream and food coloring was all we needed and we were hopping down the bunny trail almost immediately!  Place the eggs in the goop for 10 minutes and then rinse... We decided the neon food coloring called for would have been a great idea but the shelves were empty. We think this was the "IN" way to dye eggs this year!  The kiddos still enjoy a good Easter Egg Hunt...... Aft...

Sadie really has a problem with socks. Most people putter around the house in their stocking feet during the day but Sadie may start the day with a pair on her feet but they are soon pealed off and you never know where they will be ditched around the house. I'm hoping these socks will be different. They look just like her kitty, Charlotte, and I've knit them in sport sock length (Her favorite type socks.) Any way you look at them, they are the cats meow! Pattern: YinYang Kitty Ankle Socks, Fish Yarn:Knit Picks Stroll Tweed, Knit Picks Undyed Stroll Colorway:  Marine Heather, Jo's Bliss Amount: Way less than a skein each Needle Size: US Size 1 I finished them in January but didn't want SadieLou to know about the socks until her birthday. She also has recently found Chai tea and so a jar is in the mix for her as well. NEW Spicy Chai Tea  Recipe: 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder 1 1/2 cups sugar (half sugar substitute) 2 cup unsweetened instant tea 1 1/...

How quickly the year has gone by, Sadie Lou and Denali Jane are another year older...... Denali had been sitting so pretty on the couch, Hubby went to get his camera. But when he got back she was sitting in his chair. In typical Hubby behavior he didn't disturb her....   Bengal pelts can change color for three or four years. I wanted to update her coloring on the blog.    A big change from when she was born three years ago....

Guess who's having a birthday today...  Sadie Lou's of course!  Happy day dear granddaughter! And there is a little kitty in this house that's two today... Denali Jane

All the family was glad to have 2015 behind us and thrilled to say ALOHA to 2016! We'd been planning this trip for a year. The only thing missing was the California Dreamin' Family. The kiddos had been looking forward to coming back to Paradise since they left the island 6 years before!   Hawaii 2009 They arrived late in the evening and after a good night's sleep we were up and on the beach by 8:30 GT (that "Grandpa Time" he loves to make every minute count when we're in Paradise!) The kiddos didn't miss a beat and were quickly playing is the sand, hiking and in the water! We were at the state park one afternoon looking at pictographs when a park ranger told us about an activity planned at Turtle Bay - one of our favorite places to go when the sand is blowing in the kiddos faces! They had food native to the area, outrigger canoe rides, talks on turtles and demonstrations on tsunomi waves. It was a great family activity for a Saturday afte...