Emptyknitster

We had a wonderful family move into our neighborhood years ago. Denise and I taught together and became fast friends.  Soon after she and her husband moved in, Keira was born and barely a year later Payton arrived. We love babies at our house , next door they had two and were a little overwhelmed. My gurls began beating a path next door and would grab either babe that was awake and bring her over for a visit. I am sure that my gurls are such good mommas today in part because they had "The Babies" next door to care for and love upon. I went to Keira's graduation party Friday night. It was also a farewell of sorts to Payton. She will be heading to Chile in two short months as an AFS student. There were unexpected tears as I saw these gals and realized how quickly time had slipped by. We hugged, reminisced, and took photos.... How great for our family, to have such wonderful neighbors that shared their treasures with us! Dirk, the girls dad, surprised me when he said, ...

  I love a rainy day and it’s been raining cats and dogs here, three inches last week and well on to adding 4inches this week. What a wonderful time to cuddle up with a good book. It is just a coincidence that at school we are reading a chapter in Beverly Cleary’s book Ramona Quimby, Age 8 entitled “Rainy Sunday” in reading.   I love Beverly Cleary books, perhaps partly because as a child I met Beverly Cleary at the West Seattle Public Library. My friend, Laurie Peterson, and I went with her mom and listened to Mrs. Cleary read an excerpt from her book and then I got her autograph. I had long forgotten the incident until recently when I was cleaning out a closet and I ran across my old childhood scrapbook. Looking though the scrapbook there wasn’t much of interest, an old newspaper article about a teenage neighbor that was crowned Miss West Seattle, a postcard from friend, that type of thing. But as I turned the page I saw in third grade handwriting; “signature ...

This weekend has been windy and chilly. Years ago, when we lived closer to town I would plant my flowers on Mother's Day. Now that we live on the highest point in Yellowstone County there is a two week delay. I did dig in the dirt a little, and plant a pot of grass on the deck for the kitties to sit in. After last summer's gigantic mucking out of the house it just needs a little "spiffing up." I decided to get the cleaning underway before school is out. I cleaned the kitchen, cupboards, pantry, walls and floor this yesterday. Yes, one room complete! I have every intention of cleaning the living, dining, and family rooms next weekend... we’ll see. It would be a great jump start to the summer. I also had some time for knitting. I finished the last pair of socks that I'll be doing for awhile. I need to be starting the Christmas sweaters for the kiddos soon. Pattern: Donna's Easy Socks Yarn: Kroy, (Because I used Kroy yarn, I needed to be very careful. ...

Over a year ago I knit a sweater for a dear friend's new babe. That little guy is growing like a weed and the sweater now fits!  What a cute little guy. He was at the house last month, settled right in and thought I'd make a pretty good gramma!

My great-grandfather owned a store in Virden, Illinois called G. P. Cheney and Co.. He moved his family to St Louis and ran a store for a short period of time before finally moving Lyons, Colorado in the late1880's. In Lyons he owned and operated a quarry. Tonight I did a little snooping on the internet and really scored!  Grandfather and his family lived in Noland Precinct, Boulder Co. Colorado. My great-grandfather is listed as a stone dealer and Grandfather and his brother operated the quarry according to the 1900 Census. I began searching quarries in the area and added my grandfather's name. The search took me to a section at Denver Public Library filled with photos of quarries and miners that worked there. The very first photo is one of a group of men. The photo is entitled Noland Colorado Band, 1892.  (Correct names + correct area + correct occupation + correct era = MY Grandfather!!)  There, in the front row is my grandfather and his older brother! ...

Two teachers in the knitting class I taught in March are inspired. At an early morning faculty meeting one of the new knitters showed me a magazine photo of beautifully cables fingerless gloves. She wanted to know if she could possibly aspire to knitting the gloves. Hmmm... I remembered recently seeing a very nice pair of reading gloves at my blog friend Andrea's . No cables but something that a couple of new knitters would be able to conquer.  At Easter the California Dreamin' Gurl said she'd like a pair, but she wanted them knit a little longer.  I quickly started the pair on mitts, "Just to see if they were a go for the new knitters."  I finally finished the mitts today and think that the pattern is a hit, easy to follow and easy to modify. Pattern: Susie's Reading Mitts Yarn: Less than a skein of Plymouth Yarn Galway, Colornep Colorway: Gray Needles: US size 5 Also, during the Easter visit Chloe told me her favorite book is The Secret Garden . It ...

This morning we were honored with the presence of an Olympic athlete. Joan Benoit was the first gold medal winner in the woman's marathon at Los Angeles in 1984. Joan Benoit told the students about how life has changed for girls in school. When she went to school there were no sports activities for girls and she had to wear a dress everyday except for "Field Day". This brought back memories for me. I too, had the same rules. The only “sports” that girls could participate in were dance or cheerleading. It wasn't until the year after I graduated high school in cold Montana girls were allowed to wear long pants to school – and never shorts.  She spoke to the kiddos about finding what you are passionate about, setting goals, and then persevering. I sat listening and I realized how I’m going through this process right now as a grownup. I’m beginning to look toward retirement and lately I’ve been thinking about some new goals. I 'm pleased that the goals I’ve been...