Emptyknitster

It had been many months since I'd seen the California Dreamin' Crew and I was happy to leave Montana's chilling cold for a visit this month. I was so caught up looking at the beautiful spring flowers, I took very few pictures of my favorite "sprouts."  Bri and I spent a Saturday re-potting her succulents. It was great getting my hands dirty digging in the dirt again! The Oakland teachers were on strike the week I visited.  More visiting time since there was no school for the kids. BUT there was plenty of homework! We walked to Bake Sale Betty's one day for her famous chicken sandwiches and we another day we hopped on Bart and headed into San Francisco for an escape room adventure.  We escaped the Looney Bin just in time! Before I knew it I was back home shoveling snow! This February gave us the third largest amount of snow in recorded history.

  Yesterday the kiddos headed home after another visit to the old homestead. We started the visit in the usual way - a trip to the public library. The kiddos found a great stack of books knowing it would keep them happy for their three week visit. I happily checked the books out on my library card. I've had my card for over forty years and even though I'm asked from time to time if I want to update it I've kept it just for old times sake, until this visit. As I was putting the card back into my purse, it just broke in half. I was shocked! The kiddos laughed at the look on my face. It forced me to replace my Parm l y Library card with a new flashy Billings Public Library Card and in that second there went my ties to two libraries and thousands of checked out books! A little thing with a BIG impact...   We spent our days as we usually do reading, hiking, paddle boarding, playing card games, watching a little tv. One day we visited the Top Of The World on the Beartooth ...

As the grandkiddos grow up it seems my visits are beginning to shrink! They have had a very busy summer.  Unbelievably Chloe went to visit her Grannie and Grandfather across the pond - ALL BY HERSELF! She did fine but it's hard for this Grandma to realize she is old enough to travel so far alone. Both grandkiddos also spent time back East with the English side of the family and then it was on to Northern California for just their immediate family to enjoy sometime together! I convinced myself that when they came for their visit with me they needed a bit of a rest! So off we went to the Public Library and checked out books, had The Chick come with her new kitten Zoey, and mostly just hung around the house. .Zoey loved her deck experience and The Chick added a deck to her "must have" list for a future home. We went paddle boarding a couple of days at "Lake" Elmo.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out it really wasn't a bad place to paddle.  Gra...

I spent a few days with the California Family last weekend. Chloe-A-Little-bit invited me to her ballet class as a distinguished guest.  I'm proud of her efforts and commitment to ballet, she dances with such poise and grace! The Pirate is becoming quiet talented and may soon join the circus. In any case it's good to have a talent to fallback on should the college education not pan out! JUST KIDDING PIRATE! (Originally there was a fun video of The Pirate rolling and jumping on his exercise ball inserted here.) As always, there was a lunch visit to Bake Sale Betty's and besides a great lunch Betty, with her hair so blue, wished me the happiest of Mothers' Days! We also attended a cello recital and both the kiddos did an excellent job! I've been wanting to see Coit Tower and the parrots on the hill for several visits and this weekend The California Dreamin' Gurl and I hopped on Bart and took the time to go. We had a great morning in the city,...

Because this blog is read by some of my Christmas gift recipients I was unable to show many of my December projects. I loved making these hats and cowls to go with the tee shirts: Cowl Pattern: Incognito by Mercedes Tarasovich Hat Pattern: Rib-A-Roni by Jane Tanner Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Solids, Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn Stripes Colorway: Dark Olive, Green Camo, Black, Gray Mist Needle size: US Size 7 I also knit the girls scarves and mittens:   Scarf Pattern: Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer Mitten Pattern: Warmest Mittens by Kris Percival Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn Stripes and Solids Colorway: Autumn Stripe, Dark Olive, Elements Flower, Gray Mist Needles: US Size 5 Kate's cowl was slightly altered from the original pattern. I cast on 300 stitches with bigger needles and then doubled the pattern rows in the middle of the cowl until there was just enough yarn to finish a regular pattern sequence and cast off. Pattern...

The Stillwater near Nye, Montana is a beautiful picnic, water splashing destination. By August the water is low enough for the kiddos to float down the river and they have so much fun! The first time I remember going with the family was when The Purl Gurl was only four months old. We had a picnic with the  whole family, and the men went fishing. I have pictures of the original adventure but also found some of later years when all the little gurls were around: The California Dreamin' Gurl, Our Beloved "Adopted" Daughter, The Chick and The Purl Gurl in the background. Great Grandpa, The Chick and One Handsome Grandpa with their freshly caught fish! Finally, this was year to visit once again. We were able to do the picnic/floating thing on the Stillwater with the grandkiddos and hope to be able to do it next year too!  The deepest section is waist high and and as you float down it gets to ankle depth...  Mountain fresh COLD water! Lots of humming and...

While the grandkiddos were visiting they got a nice balance of activities. I played it safe with yarn dying and fresh fruit... While Grandpa played fast and loose with teaching them to drive the four wheeler and giving them fruit snacks! This activity didn't go unnoticed by their parents as The Pirate immediately got off the four wheeler and texted his mom, snitching on himself (or was he really snitching on Grandpa??)