Emptyknitster

Another summer comes to a close and...  tomorrow morning school begins.

The end of summer is crashing down around me I had planned one last Wednesday visit to the yarn shop for charity knitting. This summer I have been spending most Wednesday afternoons with a group of ladies that I have become very attached to, The Charity Knitting Group. On Monday night I realized that I had a committee meeting at school and will me unable to attend, a sure sign that summer is at an end....... Since Christmas, I spent most of my lunches at school knitting this charity blanket. When summer came I decided to carry it over into Charity Knitting Group. Only allowing myself to knit it on Wednesdays. I would prefer to knit a project and get it over with so this proved to be a good lesson for me, patience! It is finally done as is the summer. This coming year I'm going to knit baby booties! Pattern: Modern Baby Blanket Yarn: Red Heart Acrylic Colorway: Pink, bisque, eggshell, rose brown Needle size: US 8

The Pirate's sweater should have been thrown overboard sometime ago but he loves it so and the captain of the crew (Mom) can't ever seem to get it off his back. I was surprised when we were on a walk and someone stopped us to compliment The Pirate on his sweater. The California Dreamin' Gurl says it happens quite often, she thinks its because the sweater is obviously much loved AND he wears it in the 75 degree weather. They asked if someone had made it for him and his reply was to sweetly tip his little face up to look at me lovingly! During the visit I tried a quick fix on the cuff of the left sleeve, it's now about an inch shorter than the right cuff. Before I arrived he told his parents that he was going to ask me to make him two more pirate sweaters: one JUST like the current sweater, then another just a liiiiitle bit bigger! I asked if I could knit the new sweater a different color, perhaps navy...red....gray? But he wants it in the same yarn or as close as pos...

The California Dreamin' Gurl asked if I would like to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. My immediate response surprised her. I didn't agree to the walk but said I'd have to give it some thought. I had visions of a chainlink type railing and a walkway that would allow you to peer straight down into the bay! I did later agree to going there and perhaps walking across if I deemed it safe and secure. One step on the bridge and I knew the walk would be fine...  It was a great 1.7 mile walk across the bay. The only worry, avoiding bicycles and oncoming pedestrians. Once we were across I snapped this pic, you can see how excited the kiddos were once they realized they had to walk the 1.7 miles back to the car! I didn't even know this walk was on my bucket list until it was accomplished! California Dreamin' Gurl, I'm so glad you thought to ask me! Dahlias for Jo to enjoy!

After several days with my brother and family it was time to move on to California... We spent a lovely morning walking through the Berkeley's Botanical Gardens: Then we stopped by Boalt Hall and the new Law Library at Berkeley. It was nice to see where The Claifornia Dreamin' Gurl has been spending so much of her time these last couple of years! The Pirate couldn't let me be in California without visiting Bake Sale Betty - it was every bit as good as I remembered and she now fries tofu for the vegetarian set. California Dreamin' Gurl finally understands the lure of the sandwich! We spent time painting by numbers and playing Left, Right, Center. I wish we could be together more often. The time, it sailed by! Thanks, I had a great time with you all!

On July 25, 1805 William Clark arrived at a place on the Yellowstone River we now call Pompey's Pillar. He left the only mark that is still present today scratched into it's side: Hubby and I went to the Pillar for the 205th celebration of their expedition and stop at the National Monument. Hasan Davis portrayed Clark's slave York. What an outstanding performance! His discussion will help provide a different prospective to Black History Month in my third grade classroom this year. York was born a slave and as a young man went on the expedition without being asked or paid. The thirty other men went knowing that there was a grave possibility that they wouldn't return but York wasn't given that choice. As they went further west into the unknown York was given more and more freedom, once even allowed to vote - something never allowed a slave. In Hasan's portrayal the listener understands York's feeling of complete freedom for the first time in his life as wel...

Scott, The Oregonian, admitted voicing his wish to learn knit was initially just to humor me but he soon caught the knitting bug. He was surprised how relaxing it is to knit..... First attempt He began knitting on Sunday afternoon and finished the cap on Tuseday, an outstanding student! Just wanting a warm noggin'   He'd like to make several more hats and move on to socks! Yea, I hope I have created a knitter! I had been working of on a pair of mitts when The Oregonian told me he really liked the socks I had made him a couple of years ago but he kept them for "special" because he didn't want anything to happen them. WOW! Any knitter knows that if they have a recipient like that, you knit for them! I started on a pair immediately... Pattern: Donna's Easy Socks Yarn: Austermann Step (from the Mariners Stitch and Pitch)  Colorway:Self striping in black, brown and denim Amount: 0ne Skein Needles: US size 2 Misako kindly found the sweater th...

For the last week and a half I've been making the rounds visiting the Pacific Coast Families. My first stop was to see The Oregonians. The weather was outstanding, and Mount Hood was beautiful as I flew in: Mt. Hood I had a great time in Astoria. The family really kept me busy. The first day we went hiking. A six mile hike from Fort Clatsop to the Pacific Ocean through beautiful forests and meadows. Misako, Sam, Joe and Scott Each night we played games. They introduced me to Ticket to Ride, and I introduced them to Left Center Right adding interest by using nickels! Misako fixed some favorites dinners of mine including pork chow mien. We also had fish and chips at The Bowpicker, which is a local favorite and mine too. In Oregon looking across the Columbia to Washington Another day we went to the beach and enjoyed sitting and watching the boys play in the sand with the pelicans gliding by with very little effort. Thanks family for a great time!

Our good Wyoming friends, Kendy and John, have been on vacation. Flying to Alaska, a train ride through Denali National Park and way up to North Pole Alaska, then a cruise back to the lower 48 with a stop in Seattle see their daughter, r ockyroadknitter . Rockyroadknitter asked if the Wyomingites wanted to go to Stitch and Pitch Night to see a Mariners game. At $15 a ticket they were all over it! It was amazing to hear that there was an entire section of knitters at the game having a great time. The two non-knitting Wyomingites just sat there watching the game, although someone tried to get John to take over the knitting of a sock! During the seventh inning stretch it was announced that an entire row in the Stitch and Pitch section had each won a door prize and it was the very row my friends were sitting in! John made a big deal, exaggerating excitement about the win and later learned he had been featured on the large screen in the outfield! Rockyroadknitter kept her bag, Kendy g...

We live where we do because each day brings us such treasures.... Every time I drive up the hill into our subdivision and pass the "hanging tree" I experience the feeling of release and contentment knowing I'll soon be home. The cares of the day literally just wash away as I drive by this spot. When I mentioned this spot and the feeling I get when passing by, my neighbor/coworker she just laughed and said, "It's by this tree isn't it? My girlfriend and I call it the hanging tree! It's where we hang all our cares and worries of the workday. We vow not to pick them up again until heading back to work in the morning." Such and appropriate name, and I've try to drop my worries at the "hanging tree" ever since.  Our house is at the end of the road and it does have a few inconveniences but they're outweighed by the contentment we feel by living here. In the winter there's only Hubby and the man below us plow the snow from the road...

This last week many of the family came home to visit. The kiddos played with each other without to much turmoil. The Chick and NorDak Purl Gurl got their knitting "mojo" back. The Chick knit a beautiful baby pink Helena , she is becoming such a good knitter! I love this pattern and look forward to a girl baby making an appearance so that I can knit the pattern up. The NorDak Purl Gurl knit a favorite of mine, The Wonderful Wallaby, what a great pattern from Cottage Creations - size 2 to 44 all in one pamphlet! In the middle of the week we took a drive to "The Chico" and The Tiger was in heaven! When we weren't in the pool we were playing a game that is new to the family, Left Center Right. This is a great game for a little guy that is learning his left from right. We also played with nickels so it was a true lesson in good sportmanship! The kiddos loved the game - I had intended to send it along with them but forgot!   We had great meals and did a little shopp...

Because we live where we do, a vegetable garden is out of the question. The soil is terrible, and the deer constantly taste anything growing. Several years ago Hubby gave me a small greenhouse because I had mentioned that when I retire I'd like one to putter around in.  I had hoped to be able to a grow a few vegetables within the greenhouse. I soon discovered that it gets too hot to grow anything but tomatoes in the hot summer months. Even with the tomatoes I must keep a fan going or the door open or the plants will wilt under the hot Montana sun. Last year the door was open and the mom to the triplets got in not once but twice and ate the tomato plants right down to the stalks. They never recovered. Hubby build me a gate for the doorway and in an effort to conserve water we also planted the tomatoes in buckets. I saw this idea in a magazine article and thought it was worth a try. You need two buckets. (Costco Laundry soap buckets)The outside bucket has a hole drilled out about o...

This morning Hubby called as he was heading into town. He had not only seen the first set of twin fawns in the neighborhood but had taken photos! A bit blurry but I am pleased that he has taken on the yearly fawn challenge!

Hubby and I decided to drive up to the top of the Beartooth Mountains Thursday. This is something we usually do at the annual opening of the highway on Memorial weekend. The Highway Department was right on schedule and opened the road Friday before Memorial Day but after a snowfall during the night it was closed the rest of the holiday weekend. We had forgotten about going until a comment was made on the local news about the amount of snow still on the mountain, we both looked at each other and off we went. Also, the "Annual First Fawn of the Season" Contest came to an end as we drove down the highway. Hubby stomped on the brakes when a new fawn hopped out of the tall grass and decided to run across the road. In confusion the fawn ran back and forth several times. I don't think it liked the feel of the pavement and was rather shaky before it finally headed back to where it's mom had left it - hopefully the fawn learned an important lesson and will stay where momma pl...