Emptyknitster

While traveling in California and Oregon I rediscovered berry picking. When I was young there was a lot filled with blackberry bushes across the alley from us. I would pick the first berry ripe to the very last one in the fall. Mom would give me a bowl and a bit of sugar and off I'd go indulging myself completely. We'd also pick in the height of the season and make blackberry jam and cobblers. Mom never mentioned that these were "weeds" and always encouraged picking. Blackberries are my favorite probably because of this memory! Image the first time I heard they were weeds and was laughed at for picking them....I was an adult and thought THEY were the crazy ones and I still do! When I was in California the kiddos and I picked the berries and added them to our fruit salad. When I arrived at the Oregon Family's home and saw the berry patch across the street I was delighted. It took some coaxing but I was able to get the boys out to do a little picking. Then I showe...

After a week of relaxing at home it was time to get the grandkiddos back to their house. It had been a glorious three week visit but their other grandparents would be arriving and were demanding equal time! We flew to California and our first stop was a visit to Bake Sale Betty's! I've told friends her establishment reminds me of The Soup Nazi only friendly! Customers line up outside the bakery hoping their favorite cookie (molasses) is still there.... When ordering you better have a second choice ready, FAST. You pay and then move aside to wait fir the order to be made -DON'T slow down the process! This is accomplished very politely, but QUICKLY, there is a line waiting. I'll never forget the time the line was so long that Betty came out and gave each of us a cookie for our trouble - she completely won me over! Ginger Spice Cookies (makes about two dozen) from Bon Appétit , March 2000 - 2 cups flour - 2 and 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger - 1 tsp ground c...

We managed to get together at The Burger Dive to Celebrate Carol's birthday! Summer activities were discussed. Alaskan trips, cruses, and days spent in the wilderness were among the topics.

It has been hard to leave our dream vacation. TheNorDak Family eased into reality by going to DeSmet, South Dakota and visiting Laura Ingalls' Home. For the three of us in Montana, we relaxed, napped, read and regrouped. Part of relaxing for me is getting back to my knitting - something that I did very little of on the trail. (How did those pioneer women knit their family all the necessary items AND get their daily chores done?) So I need to do a little updating on completed projects. The year of the socks continues: "Kool" hand dyed socks I knit these socks but wanted to do an afterthought heel because it was striping so well. When I finished the heel was a bit shallow and so the perfect person for these socks was my sister-in-law Misako. I took them to Oregon with me and they did indeed fit perfect! It wasn’t until today I realized ---I have no finished project photo :{ Pattern: Anastasia Socks by MintyFresh Yarn: Knit Picks Bare- Fingering weight, Dyed by...

Wednesday afternoon brought a much needed rest for the pioneers and horses as well. The kiddos were in for a fun treat, summer picnic games that many had never played before: After a hot afternoon of competition there was only one thing left to do... jump into the swimming hole! So, if you are looking for one of the best family vacations ever,  with a break from tv and video games, Check out the Fort Seward Covered Wagon Website   and jump on board a wagon next June! Hope to see you there...

We met many new friends on the trail from all over the North American Continent: