Emptyknitster

We went camping on the Elk Reserve over the holiday weekend. The mosquitoes were as big as horseflies and they swarmed like bees around the trailer door just waiting to attack! The kitties were thrilled to see home and frantic to get into the house. We were greeted with this lovely site, only five days away and what a change!

 Last week on the evening news the weatherman said there was a possibility of area evening showers. Not an hour later the sky began darkening and the thunder rumbled over our house.  Polly continued to play on the deck and I didn’t give it a second thought as the lightning seemed far away. But suddenly, there was a loud crack of thunder, an instant quick flash of lightning and then a long loud thunderous rumble. I looked out, and Polly was stuck under a chair ducking in and out, trying to decide whether to stay or run into the house. I called out encouraging her to run in even though it had started to rain with some slushy hail. She did decide to run in but glared at me as though I’d willed the weather on her. Knowing the lighting had been close, Hubby checked the largest pine tree on our property the next day. Thankfully, because we love all our trees on the property, the tree was still healthy. But today as we started up our driveway on our daily walk, we spotted the n...

The recent royal wedding reminded me of my visit to Windsor Castle. When Chloe A LittleBit was just a few months old she had a very tender tummy and was known for her burps and urps. The California Dreamin’ Family lived in London at the time in a flat with hardwood floors. There was a bath towel tucked in a corner which was used to mop up splats during the day and each night the floors were mopped for a fresh start the next morning. I had been there for a week or so and the NorDak Couple (not a family at the time) arrived for a visit. There was a short overlap in our visit and we decided to visit Windsor Castle. We took a train and got off in the quaint little town overshadowed by the castle. Troy was happily carrying Chloe A LittleBit in her baby carrier facing out to view the world for the first time. We walked through the town and made our way to the castle. What a beautiful place, room after room of beautiful furnishings and paintings. We entered the Throne Room and turned around a...

I continue to knit on Christmas socks and have two more pairs done. Pattern: Skype Socks by Adrienne Ku with a Fish Lips Kiss Heels Yarn: Cascade Heritage Colorway: C 12 Needle Size: US Size 1 Pattern: Rose City Rollers by Mara Catherine Bryner Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage 150 Paints Colorway: C 12 Needle Size: US Size 1

Last week Hubby set out to do some gold panning but the water was to high and swift so he took a little detour to the park where he spotted these two lovelies. Mothers keep their young 1-2 years and hubby thinks this was a yearling. They were about 70 yards away with a Park Ranger right there. He did tell the onlookers if the grizzlies came any closer the humans would have to leave. (Thank you officer!) Hubby also saw many elk. The cows were starting to calve, most babies still had the umbilical cords attached. With a little googling we found out they fall off in two or three days so these were little guys. This week Hubby wanted to return to the park taking a different route and so we drove to Cody and went in the East entrance. I couldn't believe the traffic pre-Memorial Day! Our well kept secret of visiting Pre-Memorial Day and Post-Labor Day is not such a well kept secret anymore. There is no quiet time at Yellowstone other than mid winter when there are feet of snow cover...

I've finished two more pair of socks in the last week, happily adding to the Christmas stash.... Pattern: Fidget Socks with Fish Lips Kiss Heels Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids Colorway: Pine and Red Needle Size: US Size 2 Pattern: Chimneys with Fish Lips Kiss Heels Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids Colorway: Pine and Red Needle Size: US Size 2

The last evening I was in California we made some authentic Italian ravioli. Bri and Gabriel had spent an enjoyable evening in Rome learning to make ravioli and fettuccine and thought they'd bring a bit of Rome home with them. After ten minutes of kneading and resting the dough, it was ready to be rolled out, not once or twice but three times.  A tablespoon of filling made of spinach and ricotta cheese was then placed two fingers apart down the the long strip of dough. A thin line of egg wash was painted between each dollop. The dough was then folded over onto the the filling and the air was carefully worked out of each ravioli. The squares were sealed and a special cutter was used.  There was a special sauce made of butter, sage, wine, Parmesan cheese with a bit of the pasta water.  When cooked, the ravioli was stirred into the buttery sauce. We had a fun family evening with a great meal as a bonus!