Emptyknitster

I've been waiting for three weeks to knit the ribbed cuff and cast off the second sock on Kate's Easter socks. (NO cheating for me in my pursuit of the 5k finish line!) "My Cup Of Tea" is a free sock pattern. Although it is a top down pattern I knit it from the toe up so the design is upside down yet still pleasing. The other modification I made was to only knit the front of the sock in pattern and not up the back heel as the designer intended - just laziness on my part. All in all, it is a beautiful pattern and not difficult to knit.  I will definitely knit more socks using this pattern. The Chick decided to dye her sock blank in a diagonal pattern.   In my opinion, this yarn ended up the prettiest of our Easter Yarn. By the time the Chick began dyeing we had thought through the knitting process and so tried to divide the yarn in half and duplicate the two sides. The Chick and I decided next time we will use more koolaid in the dye hoping to make a strong...

While visiting the California Dreamin' Family, Chloe-A-Little-Bit asked me for a new hat and glove set. I sat down and knit several hats this weekend - never quite finding the perfect pattern but loving the knit anyway! Enjoy the hat fashion show..... Pattern: Izmir Hat by Shana Schasteen Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks Stripes Colorway: 243455 Sweet Stripes Amount: 1 Skein Needle Size:US Size 6  Pattern: Hat No. 5 by Kara McKinley Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers Colorway: Ecru Amount: Less than 1 skein Needle Size: US 8 Pattern: E-ola (Reversible Hat) by Muriela Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pacific Colorway: French Blue Amount: Less than one skien Needle Size: US Size 7 ( calls for a size 8) Pattern: Women's Peaked Hat by Patons Yarn: Cascade Yarn Pacific Colorway: Navy Amount: Less than one skein Needle Size: Crochet Hook J (two sizes larger than called for)

Happy Birthday!

I'm told that The Tiger asked a million times while driving to "Hannah Montana" if we were going to go to "The Chico." After having him with us for just a few days, if The Tiger's folks said he asked a million times, it was AT LEAST that many times! (yak, yak, yak!)  The kiddos had an outstanding time! On the way home The Tiger asked if we could move to "The Chico" so they could swim everyday of every visit! - Cool idea!

The two grandkiddos and I went to Helena to visit their Aunt Chick, we went to the Saturday Farmer's Market, and took a tour of the town on the train,    We drove by the Governor's Mansion - old and new... We prefer the old house and wish the governor still lived there! On the tour the guide talked about how the old mining town burned down three times until the town finally erected a fire tower on a hill in the middle of town! The guide also told us about a WWII pilot that on a $100 bet, flew between the two crosses on the Cathedral. He won the bet but lost his pilot's license!   On Sunday we went to Boulder Hot Springs...  Great times!

I promised some pictures of The Chick's new nest. Here they are.... We also spent some time exploring the area. Sunday was a lovely afternoon so Chick and I drove up to Canyon Ferry and took a look around.  Last year at the beginning of the summer, I took many photos of  flowers . This must be the summer for the birds. Here is a lone pelican on the Missouri River just below the damn.   I need your input on this little night stand.    The Chick and I have a slight difference of opinion.   Chick wanted a nightstand to go with her black iron bed. I suggested that we go to the thrift store, after all, whatever we found would be painted black. I discovered this little (darling) table sitting in the corner. All the work had been done for us. Someone had spent a lot of time sanding it down to bare wood. If the person had done much refinishing, he would have known that right before you stain and varnish, the item usually looks like the project is a hopeless...