Emptyknitster

I have knit the grandchildren many things, but this blanket is "The Tiger's" favorite. It is a copy of a baby blanket my son-in-law had as a baby knit by "Aunt Polly". She was a little old English lady and a dear friend of his family. I spent several years looking for the pattern. It is a circular blanket with lots of yarn overs. Finally, I had to just sit with the old baby blanket in front of me and knit it stitch for stitch. All the kiddos liked the blanket but only "The Tiger" LOVES IT! This is his second Blue, and his mother has told him to take care of it, because it's the last Blue he'll ever have....well Tiger, just talk to "She Gramma", she'd do anything for you. Thanksgiving 2009

Today Sarah Palin is visiting - thank you very much Sarah P. for bringing this Alaskan Icebox along with you to our fair city! She is here to do a book signing for her book, Going Rogue . Hubby and I thought that perhaps one of us should go to the bookstore for an autograph, not for anyone in this household but for granddaughter Sadie. During the presidential election, Sarah Palin made several interesting statements but it is the one that Sadie remembers that tickles us the most. While waiting in line at the grocery store Sadie pointed to a magazine at the checkout stand and told her mother, "That's Sarah Palin, she can see Russia from her front porch." If only Sarah P. would have added that quote for Sadie Lou, along with her autograph, we would have been there with jingle bells on!

Last week in Montana the thermometer was hitting the 50's on a daily basis but this week we have dropped down into the single digits. I'm glad that we did our traveling to North Dakota last week, because no matter how cold it is here, it's ALWAYS colder in North Dakota! Hubby set out early this morning for the UM Griz vs. Stephen F. Austin game - quarterfinals. I begged off and watched from the comfort of the couch. It was outstanding: Word of the day Turnovers! (10 total) Griz 51 - Lumberjacks 0 On to the Semi-finals next Saturday, don't think I'll be missing it! Even with the cold weather I'm toasty with my new hand knit sweater..... I've been doing a lot of knitting and only picking this sweater up at odd times at home. It took me four months to complete. I'm glad to be done! I had planned on wearing it all fall for a jacket. I like the sweater but do wish it was a bit smaller. A good wash and pop into the dryer may be in order! It is a nice toasty w...

I was putting out Christmas decorations today and hung up the plate that I always do at this time of year. The plate was given to me by an aunt and is from my father's mother's family. They were German and I wanted to think that it came over from Germany with them in 1852. However, with the luxury of the internet, I found out this evening that it was made by a company in business from 1898 - 1902. The business was called J & C Bavaria. Jaeger started this company with Fritz Thomas but the partnership only lasted a few years. Even if the plate wasn't brought over from the old country by my family, it is still over 100 years old and I love it!

We traveled to North Dakota and had a great Thanksgiving weekend, just doing what we like to do...hanging out with family! We watched football Saturday...Quarterfinals for the Montana Grizzlies.Troy was able to hook everything up so that we could watch in the warmth of their new home. Griz played the South Dakota Jackrabbits. They began down one touchdown, Griz down two touchdowns, Griz down three touchdowns, Griz down four touchdowns, last quarter...... PRICELESS! Griz 61 Jackrabbits 48. Sunday's schedule was a Viking game, son-in-law ended up very happy! Ladies watched the Vikings a little and knit. Kiddos were downstairs watching TV... We ate, played cards, and put a puzzle together. Good times!

This weekend we had a wonderful time in North Dakota at Sarah and Troy's new home. It's lovely and seems to have been made for them, even though that was about 80 years ago. Or perhaps they were made for the house! As we walked in, it was instantly home. Sarah and Troy had a perfectly nice house that they loved. Frankly, I thought that Sarah would never be pried from the old one, that is until they saw this house. Everything literally fell together and they were destined for this new home. It is like their old farm house but bigger, warmer and sturdier. We love it. Over the weekend while we were putting puzzles together, it was easy to imagine we were at my grandmother's home in Boulder Colorado. When I was growing up, my mother shared with me that often on a Sunday afternoon she would have friends over and they would put puzzles together or play board games. Her mother would make peanut butter fudge and pop popcorn for them to eat. Mom would make the same Sunday treat ...

It has come to my attention that there are several family members making requests for knitting on Facebook. Although I am honoring this request for mittens, you need to know that I don't follow facebook and all future requests must come through this blog account in the form of a comment!! Jamestown North Dakota, where the mittens are knit big and the buffalo are gigantic! Pattern: Felted (Fulled) Mittens by Nancy Lindberg Yarn: Nature Spun Charcoal Amount: less than 2 skeins