Emptyknitster

It was so nice to get caught up with all the ladies at Charity Knitting, Jo and I love them so. The ladies had knit many lovely things over the winter, from stuffed toys to sweaters. The items are headed to the local Woman's Shelter. I had a hat that I added to the pile but wanted to save the leggings until the sweater was complete. I finished it last night and will add a hat and mittens to it before I donate the set. I have a self imposed rule that all Charity Knitting must be made of stash yarn and be a project, that when finished, is pleasing to the eye. I think it turned out well. Next week I will make the hat with earflaps using the striped pattern and the mittens will be in the sapphire color. The sweater pattern is from a cardigan pattern, knit from the collar down, all in one piece. I have made many cardigan sweaters from this pattern. But last summer one of our charity knitters had said that she would like a pullover sweater pattern, knit with a collar knit from the col...

Not even a week into summer vacation and so much is getting accomplished. I love it! I feel so productive! The last day of school the floors looked like this: And this morning, although still not complete, they are at this stage: I have been trying to stay out of everyone's way and so I've been going through everything on the main floor, closets, drawers, and cabinets, purging items for an upcoming rummage sale... I'm now moving to the basement this morning. We had been in our previous house 17 years when we moved and the move was a great way to clean out forgotten items but we're not moving from this house for a LONG time and so something just had to be done for sanity's sake. My motto is "A place for everything and everything in its place." Even though its been busy around here, I've taken time to do a little bird watching. This woodpecker stops by every morning for a drink: There also was a beautiful blue bird that I was going to take a photo ...

I have an Aran Sweater that is just begging to be finished, but I've wanted to do some mindless knitting these last few weeks. I knit four pairs of mittens that will be felted and then I'll add needle felting, when the spirit moves me. But I'm excited about the pair of Elizabeth Zimmerman leggings I just finished. I've never knit a pair of pants before. They were not difficult and even fun to do with EZ's instructions, "Knit 20 rounds or until long enough." I love it, basically she tells us, "Do what you want, for as long as you want to!" The leggings, I decided, were a great start to the Charity Knitting Group that I will be returning to on Wednesday! These little pants will be sent to a toddler that will fill them out - even though they are a little long and narrow. I think that EZ was including some depth between the waist and crotch for those cloth diapers! (Do they use cloth or disposables in Afghanistan? Probably cloth...)  I definitel...

Most people think that summer begins on June 21st but all children and teachers know that summer officially starts at the precise moment the school year ends. Many hugs were given at the end of the day, hands were waving as the buses pulled out of the parking lot, a few tears were shed, and then the summer started at the stroke of 1:15!! My Summer To Do List... Sit on the deck sipping hot coffee, watching the sunrise. Go to a great concert. Find the best "Pick Of The Summer" book - EVER. Get the computer room closet cleaned out. Go skinny dipping. Sew wool Teddy Bears for all my kiddos. Spend some great quality time with my kiddos. Visit Yellowstone Park. Knit a Pi Shawl in honor of Elizabeth Zimmermann's 100th birthday. (8-9-10) Spend a long weekend on Flathead Lake. Turn my blog into a hardbound book. Plan the perfect day for Hubby, from morning to night. Go to a drive-in-movie. Sit on the deck sipping margaritas, watching the sunset. Happy are those who dream dreams ...

When the buses roll up to the front door at school during the day, you know it's field trip time. And when its field trip time, teachers know that summer is near! We've been on two jaunts in the last few school days... The first was a tour of historic Billings. I wish I'd taken more pictures but I did take several pictures inside of the cabin where J. K. Ralston painted for many years. The cabin sits in front of the Western Heritage Center. It is always locked up and not open for public viewing, however, the morning we were taking our tour we were asked if we'd like to take a peek inside - yes, YES! The unfinished canvas was a painting that J.K. had been working on the twelve years before his death. His wife died 13 years before J.K. and he only finished one painting during that time. This painting would have been his second. His wife did the research for his paintings, without her was he not provided the material, was she the motivator, or was he just sick at heart ...

Growing up my mother always sewed my school clothes. Beginning in August she would find patterns and material and then proceed to sew five new dresses all month long. Gathered skirts, Peter Pan collars, little vests to go on top, and sashes to tie into bows. The week before school we would go shoe shopping and I would get a new pair of saddle shoes – the choice I had was: black and white, or cream and brown. In the spring I would get a new Easter/Sunday School/party dress out of a sheer flocked material. At this time I’d also get my one and only pair of patent leather shoes for the year. (By Christmas they were usually tough to squeeze into) My friends and I loved birthday party days because those were the only days we could wear the lovely party dresses to school! I was one of the nicest dressed girls in my grade! In high school she continued to sew for me. I babysat a lot (for 50 cents and hour) and I knew I could get more bang for my buck if I bought the material and patterns and ...

Today I went to my favorite hairstylist, Lisa, and had a highlight, cut, and style. Over the years we have become good friends, she was a neighbor of my Mom and Dad's and was a true and loving friend to them as well. We always have a good visit, catching up on our families, and neighbors in the old neighborhood. Lisa has her shop in an assisted living center - a natural place for her. She loves the ladies and gents so. I didn't know that today, I was in for and extra treat. As I was leaving, there was a lovely lady sitting at the entrance of the facility knitting her little heart out.  I could tell that she was a long time knitter, speeding through the row and watching as others entered and left the building. I also noticed that she knit in a way I had only seen one other person knit, holding her right hand under the needle and guiding it around the yarn and through the stitch. The first time I ever saw this technique, the lady was in a knitting class I taught. She shared tha...