PennKnits & ...

Moving............

2010-11-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

www.alittleofthisalotofthat.blogspot.com

getting it set up.......hope to see you there!

Olympic knitting

2010-02-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

I am currently participating in the 2010 Knitting Olympics. The chosen event? Short sleeve cardigan. Short Lucky by Baby Cocktails in Ultra Alpaca is the chosen pattern! Progess so far? Two and half skeins into a four skein project.
If you to are participating... Awesome for you and may you complete your said endeavor! Let me. Know what your are working on and your progress!

New Year 2010

2010-01-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

One thing that can be said is that I am thankful that 2009 is finally gone and behind all of us. I hope that 2010 brings all new adventures, great memories, and happiness. So as we move foward into the New Year and decade please take care of yourself by making your well being (physically, emotionally, and mentally) a number one priority in your life. Everything else will fall into place.

Kennewick Inspiration Garden - A little Eye Candy from Me to You

2009-11-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

What's Up Wednesday

2009-09-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

For those who know me and my little family personally it won’t be a huge surprise that we’ve taken up another activity so we can enjoy the outdoors. Typically in the past we have limited our hiking activities to our trips to Montana. Late this summer DH and I were discussing how much opportunities we have here in Washington to enjoy hiking. Not to mention that Idaho and Oregon are only a hop skip and a jump away. Day hiking having less of a time commitment than our normal camping trip is a huge bonus also. I do get a little knitting done on these trips. DH usually drives so it is a toss up between sleeping and knitting for me. I’ll be honest though, sometimes sleeping prevails knitting in the car more than it should! So far we have done 3 hikes. Almost Buck Ridge, Blue Mountains, Washington; Hanford Reach, Washington; and Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls, Hood River, Oregon. This coming weekend we are going to do the Naches Loop near Mt. Rainer.

EAGLE CREEK #440, OREGON

2009-09-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

White Bluffs at the Hanford Reach

2009-09-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Almost Buck Ridge

2009-09-16T14:52:00.001-07:00

Terrific Tuesday

2009-09-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

Something in my life that you will find terrific too! The teenager moved out in July, 1 week before his 18th birthday. I waited to appropriate time (2 months) to move Huba into his room. Now I am turning Huba’s old room into my room!! Yes you read that right! Now all of my special treasures (yarn, loom, wheel, books, stamps, etc.) Have their own special place to live. It is so terrific, so special. Will take photos upon completion. And yes I am already kicking myself for not doing a before picture so I can do the whole before and after picture.

Jubilee Lake, Washington - Photo Journal

2009-08-02T11:19:00.001-07:00

Annual July 2009 Montana Trip - Photo Journal

2009-08-02T09:49:00.001-07:00

BIG WIND + BIG OLD TREE = BIG MESS

2009-06-06T11:36:00.001-07:00

Thursday night we had just a little wind storm. Our neighbor's big old tree decided to pay my back yard a visit.

Monday Madness

2009-06-01T17:53:00.001-07:00

This morning I got in the shower. (Now before any wise cracks happen, I will let you know that I shower daily. Well, almost daily.... you know camping trips etc.) I turned to grab my wash cloth.... it was gone. So out of the shower I got, dripping wet and all, off to the closet to get a new one. (Yes, I put on my robe.) Back in the shower I go. So I'm doing my thing, soaping up and all. I then went to wash my hair. DH used all of the shampoo. So out of the shower I got, dripping wet and all, off to the the other bathroom to get a new bottle. Back in the shower I go. Onward I push through my morning. I go to put on deodorant. The plastic thing that pushed it up pops off... because it is, like the shampoo, out. The plastic casing doesn't feel to hot on a freshly shaven armpit. By this time my temples were bulging.....

Okay, now I'm about ready to head out the door. Go to the fridge to grab my lunch. It's gone.... I know it was in there. I put it there. I am not crazy. Or am I? Apparently the teenage decided to have a little midnight snack. So I grab one of those frozen dinner things. Yum.

On the way to work..... I find myself having to take a detour. Did I allow time for this? Nope... Was being 5 minutes late worth stopping for Starbucks? Hell yes, need a physical and MENTAL pick me up!

All of this before 7am! How was your Monday?

How does your garden grow?

2009-05-31T09:53:00.001-07:00

The summer blooms are finally here!

Best Son Ever.....

2009-05-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

Huba is such a little sweetheart. Last year he got me a drop spindle for Mother's Day. Over the past year he has seen the girls spinning on their wheels. He was quite vocal about how I should get a wheel also. Well, for Mother's Day we went to the local Spinning thing at the recreation center. Huba decided I needed this for Mother's Day. Thank you son! I have already filled two bobbins and need to order a lazy kate. The first project is pencil roving, a dark and light natural,that will be knitted into a hat or scarf for my Huba.

Ashford Traveler

Dawn Feather & Fan Mother's Day Scarf

2009-05-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

Right after Christmas when I was complaining about how crazy things were, I mentioned to my Mother-in-law that I didn't even do any Christmas knitting. She responded with, "I know." and that look that said she was a little disappointed. I usually knit for her at Christmas. I guess I never realized how much she liked the hand knitted gifts and how she become accustomed to looking foward to seeing what I made for her that year. None of this is the "I expect you to knit for me attitude." So, Mother's Day she recieved her belated Christmas gift.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

A special Mother's Day wish to a very special mother.

You are always in my heart!

HUBATuesday

2009-04-28T14:27:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I was visiting with Huba about hobbies. I made mention that he was getting old enough that he could try some things out and see if something caught his interest. We talked about how I am my knitting and how I enjoy it. I offered to teach him how to knit..... he declined. None the less, he put some thought into the whole hobby idea. He decided that he wanted to try some woodworking. So, he visited with his dad and then they talked to Grandpa. (Grandpa has an old lumber mill) Grandpa said Huba could pick out whatever wood he wanted. So Huba and DH went to the Lumber yard. DH helped Huba pick out some cedar and oak. So what did Huba decide to do for his first project? I can tell you that it wasn’t the old stand by bird house. Huba decided to build a Catapult. Yes, you read that correctly. Now I don’t know what he is going to fling with this thing but right now it is sitting over 4 feet high.

The catapult is now finished and can launch rocks that go up 40yrds. Huba says that this was a tester and knows what he needs to improve on.

Rice Custard Pudding & Lemon Meringue

2009-04-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sunday was spent in the kitchen. Baking. I don't do this very often as the boys will come to expect it and start putting in orders. That would take all of the fun of things. This way it stays a treat for all.

Grandma's Rice Custard

1/2 c. cooked rice

1/2 c. sugar

3 eggs well beaten

3 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix cooked rice well with other ingredients.

Bake in well greased dish at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Lemon Meringue Pie - Betty Crocker

Home sweet Home

2009-04-13T07:15:00.001-07:00

The past three weeks in Montana have been bittersweet. Last night I slept in my bed for the first time in what seems to be forever. It felt so good. Soon I should be back in my normal routine and hopefully getting some much needed knitting time in.

York

2009-02-09T08:42:00.001-08:00

York
Cast on: 11/19/08
Cast off: 2/8/09
Yarn: Noro Kureyon 163B
Needles: US 7

Fun to knit. The striping of the Kureyon made the 2x2 rib interesting. Still undecided if going to add a zipper. Sleeves a little on the long side.

A Sinful Delight from the Past

2009-01-26T20:04:00.000-08:00

One of my fondest memories of going to Grandma's house was her cookies. Grandma knew how and made every cookie under the sun. I tell not a lie when I say she had an upright freezer full of cookies at any given time. My all time favorite is her homemade Oreo Cookies. Before yesterday when I went to baking it had been about five years since I had one of these sinful delights....

I caution you! These are not for the figure watching dieting individual!

Mix together with hands:

2 Chocolate Cake Mixes

4 Eggs

1 1/2 c Crisco

Form small balls and back at 350 for 10 minutes.

Filling:

3 1/2 c. Powdered sugar

1/4 c. Margarine

8 oz. Cream cheese

New Adventures

2009-01-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Friday Susan from Kitkatknit and I took a road trip! Not just a lazy Sunday drive.... we had a purpose. We were off to Goldendale (about 230miles round trip) to pick up a Leclerc Artisat loom. We not only just picked it up but we stole it! I purchased it off Craigs list for a measly $200. Yes can you believe it?!?!? Susan was the expert as I knew nothing about looms. On the way up I kept asking Susan questions and she tried to show me pictures and explain. I say tried as I was driving so it was the most efficient show and tell not to mention not the safest. The loom deal was quite the steal. Besides the loom it came with the warping board, bobbin winder, two shuttles, and a couple of other accessories that I haven't put the name with the face on. There was two bags of yarn that came with it but I am finding out that it is very old and brittle. So I am reading the Learning to Weave book to try and figure out how to warp it. (I told you I new nothing.) While in Goldendale we went to an Art Studio, Art Gallery, and met a really cool dog. I'll let Susan tell the tale on them as she has all of the pictures.

The beginning of Lace......

2009-01-11T05:44:00.000-08:00

Everyone claims that a new year is great for changes. Most usually set resolutions. They start and stop things in their life. Some may be small changes others may be life altering changes. This past week I've had a change. I have changed my knitting desires. This wasn't something that I had planned to do. It just happened. And all it took was one skein. One skein of Cascade's new Alpaca Lace Yarn. It is so yummy. The colors, the feel, the everything. Now I how I met my new love is quite the tale. I went to my LYS to grab a single skein of Cash Vero (yes I know it is generally just the intent to grab one skein) and there it was on the back table. I couldn't avoid color 1401. It was still in the plastic waiting it's turn to be put out with the rest of the lace. Jimalee, the owner, is always very good at showing and telling new yarns. So she popped opened a bag of 1401 (the blue one of course) and said here touch. And it was over. All over. I hurried and grabbed my one single skein of Cash Vero so that I wouldn't forget it. And turned to Jimalee with the alpaca in hand, "I must have this...we must find a pattern." I gave the details of what I wanted. A stole was my only requirement. So we happened upon Best of Interweave knits, Forest Path Stole. "Can I handle this? I explain. Having more faith in me that I did Jimalee assured me that yes I could. Yardage? How many did I need. We took a quick glance, 875 yards. So I grabbed 3 hanks and walked out the door smiley. I was immediately on the telephone with Pink-n-Sparkly telling her of my new found love and what I was going to do with it. By the end of the evening I had her casting on for the stole and she didn't even have the pattern in hand. Cast on 141 and do the moss stitch for so many rows. We will do a knit-a-long.... It was great. I went to sleep dreaming alpaca, leaves, and stoles in my head. The following day at work I showed Pink-n-Sparkly the pattern. I found out that last night she didn't remember the pattern (even though it was her book) and that she just trusted me. So at lunch we planned out our little knit-a-long. Oh it was going to be great fun. Pink-n-Sparkly already had a couple of rows done and I finished casting on in our 30 minute knit fix. That evening I jumped onto Ravelry. Checked to see the erattas and what everyone had to say about the pattern. I kept noticing that everyone's yarn requirements were around 2000-2500 yards. I just couldn't figure it out. So I joined the group and posted the question, "why does the pattern call for 875 yards but everyone is using 2000-2500 yards?" The following day I got my answer.... Are you ready for this one? Now I do have an education and I can read. But the pattern calls for THREE 875 yard skeins. Go figure. I was crushed. I loved the alpaca but could not and would not afford the total cost. I mean that would be $135. Yikes!

First FO of The New Year

2009-01-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

And it doesn't even get a photo shoot. I finished a pair of Fetchings yesterday. These are for no one specific. Just the Christmas/Birthday pile for 2009. My mother-in-law's birthday is the 15th and seeing how I didn't do any knitting for Christmas (she politely reminded me of it.) I casted on another pair of Fetchings this morning in a Red Cash Vero. These one 's will have fingers so guess they would be considered Fetching Full Fingered. Susan from Kit Kat Knit also sent me a list of cowls to check out. I'm not a huge scarf knitter but I think that the cowls would be fun. Especially the ones with the elaborate cables.

Tomorrow the entire house goes back to the grindstone. Christmas break is officially over. I don't know how the boys will survive. Getting up early has been around 10-11am for the teenager and about an hour earlier for Huba. Hube is also starting YMCA Basketball on Monday. Practice two nights a week and a game on Saturday. I am prepping myself for an grumpy house until they get back into the grove.

Birthday Pie

2009-01-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

Ever since I can remember my mother always has made me my favorite Eggnog Pie for my birthday. This year we went home for Christmas instead of mom coming out. Now mom made me Eggnog Pie at Christmas. But it wasn't the same. So instead this year I made my own Birthday Eggnog Pie.

1 tsp gelatin

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs, seperated

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 small carton Cool Whip or 2/3 cup whipping cream

2 graham cracker crusts

Soak gelatin in 1/4 cup water for 5 minutes. Scald 1 1/2 cup milk. Blend egg yolks, sugar, salt and nutmeg. Add to scalded milk, cook until coats the spoon. Add gelatin and vanilla. Chill until cool. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold in cool whip and cooled mixure. Pour into graham cracker crusts. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Chill until sets.

KNITTERESOLUTIONS

2009-01-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

2009 Knitting Goals

1. Have no more than 5 WIP's (I think I am currently at 12 YIKES!!!)

2. Knit socks and socks and socks (okay so maybe just a few pair)

3. Christmas knit (tire of being dubbed the "selfish knitter.. starting off with about 4 pairs of Fetchings to do)

4. Build stash (yes you heard me...... need small project yarn)

5. Knit Intarsia (haven't done it yet.....)

New Year's Eve Dinner

2008-12-31T19:15:00.000-08:00

We decided to have a little Octopus and Seaweed.

Merry Christmas to all!

2008-12-24T16:06:00.001-08:00

November's Sweater: Ambra

2008-12-07T10:13:00.001-08:00

Name: Ambra

Pattern: Ambra, Ella Rae Book Nine

Yarn: Ella Rae Palermo, 100 Wool, 18 sts + 24 rows on 4.5-5 mm, Color 8, 9 skeins

Size: Small

Started: Feb 2008 weekend to Portland

Finished: Nov 2008

Ambra is a very quick knit. Actually time spent knitting was probably a 3-4 weeks. It is straight stockinette but the color variation of the yarn makes it fun. I've already worn it 3 times and have recieved major compliments. The fabric ends up being a very warm cozy material and I just want to wear it everyday..... with jeans, slacks, pj's, you name it!

Quilt Show

2008-11-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

This is the quilt that my nephew made my mother. His work is impeccable! He used a long arm and quited items like their names, the date, and a house. My mother was in tears of joy when she recieved it.

I made this quilt a couple of years ago for my mother. We had it machined quilted but the binding was never finished. Until my nephew shamed me into finishing it.

Chemo Hats for Mom

2008-11-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

As many know my mother was diagnosed with mastatic cervical cancer last month. Her treatment... chemo.... her side affect... loss of hair. Mom had decided that she was not going to bother with a wig or scarves... but wanted bright fun colorful handknits hats. So the needles went to clicking..

The turquoise hat is a petal top hat made out of Knit Picks Merino style. The pink hat is made by Michelle over at Pink-n-Sparkly. The last two I made out of Butterfly 10 while in Montana. There is one more (actually the coolest one) but I failed to take a picture before I mailed it. i'll either have Mom send a picture or get a snapshot during Thanksgiving.

Mom had a chest xray Thursday and she is responding to the Chemo with great results! A full scan at the end of the month will tell us more.

Stay tuned for the Quilt my 11 year nephew made my mom.... You will be in total amazement!

The everything post.... (babies, homecoming, sweaters.......

2008-10-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

I finally downloaded a bunch of my pictures off my camera. And boy is there a lot to show and tell.....

I started the Caberet Raglan Sept 4th and was blocking it Oct. 4th. It is in the Best of Interweave and a super fast knit (I worked on other things during that time period also.) I used Cascade Pastaza, which had been dubbed as a new favorite yarn. I super pinned it to somewhat stretch it as my guage was a little off. Oops!

I also completed Kate Gilberts Peapod Baby Sweater. Just 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and bang there you go a very cute baby sweater. I still haven't found any buttons.... but guess that would require me to go button shopping. But as far as I know I don't have any baby girls being born so I'm good. I still have to complete a neutral and boy baby item to have in the stash...

My nephew was born September 27th at 11:53 am. 7lbs 6 oz and 19 1/4 inches. Huba was quite nervous holding him. He is quite the cutie and according to the mama he is sleeping well and very quiet. Not for long though he has 6 older brother and sisters!

This is the baby sweater we delivered to J- and baby in the hospital. It was the one I had finished for quite some time.... It is a Sidair snuggly pattern and yarn...

The teenager went to homecoming. We had never met his date before but I believe that they were just friends.

Caught With My Pants Down.......out came a Surprise (the story behind my EZ Baby Surprise Jacket)

2008-09-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law and his girlfriend got pregnant about 7 months ago. I found out mid July. Due to the fact that I found out from a friend whose friend is not so friendly with my brother-in-law it was not a subject that DH and I discussed outside of the home. And it was never really announce either. But Huba spent 3 days a week at my brother-in-law’s house this summer for golf. Well, when Huba came home saying, “J____ is pregnant. And Grandma is hot because she wasn’t told in a timely fashion.” It confirmed the rumor. Then also with J showing it was something that became quite obvious. But still something that we didn’t talk about. So off to the yarn store I went. Red, White, and Blue Real Wool for EZ’s Baby Surprise Jacket. And I started working on it. I was rather resistant to working on it as I really didn’t know J, I like Grandma was a little bent that we weren’t properly told, and for other unmentionable reasons. (That I will not mention) Beginning of August Huba came home and told me that J was having a baby boy. Well, we all know how many projects I always have going. I had a baby boy sweater made and sitting in my stash waiting for a home. So I stopped working on the BSJ. Easy as pie. Crossed it off my list. Yep..... Well Labor Day Weekend it was announce that there is was going to be a baby shower for J the following Saturday. (this weekend past.) Well, I let the week pass without much thought. I had a knitted boy sweater and a crochet afghan that was already to go. Well, Friday morning I made mention where I got the information of the sex of the baby from. DH decided to leave a message for his brother that morning. Friday afternoon I rode my bike down to the LYS and as I was sitting there visiting I got the phone call. “They don’t know the sex of the baby.” Up from my chair I went panicked all the way home. Which luckily was downhill as I was on my bike. I drug out the Red, White, and Blue EZ BSJ and went to knitting. I only had about a quarter finished. DH went to a friend’s son’s high school football game. I guess jokes were made about sparks and smoke coming off my needles in my panic. I knitted into the night and fell asleep with cramping fingers. I woke up Saturday morning, fingers still sore, and hit the needles again. The shower was at 3pm. About 1230 I finished the sweater. I had to create a pocket to cover the area where you picked up the stitches because the red and white were not playing well with each other. A quick little wash and outside it went to air dry. Of course it was still damp when I went to leave so it rode shotgun to the baby shower......

So of course last night I vowed that I would never get caught with my pants down. I will always have a boy, girl, and it baby sweater completed and ready to be gifted. I casted on for Kate Gilberts Peapod Set in the Peach Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

A Picture Can Say a Thousand Words

2008-09-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

Socks....and my take.

2008-09-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished my 2x2 rib socks. For most that isn't a huge accomplishment. But for me.... well I love my handknit socks, I know how to make them, but they don't motivate me to knit like most. Now don't get me wrong there is so many wonderful things about knitting socks.
1. Portable
2. Inexpensive
3. Easy to alter pattern
4. Once you made a pair you really don't need a pattern.
5. Yummy sock yarn (and that is an understatement)
6. Great gifts

I could go on and on about the pro's. But I don't get excited about them enough to knock out pairs upon pairs like others. I usually keep a pair on the needles at all times. Toss them in my purse when I go places like the doctor's office or when my current sweater project is too big to carry around. They are wonderful for stoplight knitting and those huge traffic jams that we don't get here. But they just don't get much dedicated knitting time. But if I had a choice I would knit a sweater over socks any day of the week. Hmmmmm..... maybe someday I'll get the spark and not socks like a crazy woman. But for now I should probably cast on for the camo socks huba has been asking for (for like the last year.)

ps. started another sweater last night. yep right after I grafted the toe on the sock. more details later

August Knitting

2008-09-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

August was my ultimate finishing month. 3 projects. Yes I will say it again 3 projects. I completed Annie in the Mulberry Silk. Cotonani for the Hootinani Top Down Raglan in Cotonani. Which is a wool/cotton blend. And then I had a garter shawl with border in the Garnstudio Alpaca. Done all off the needles. You are probably wondering where the pictures are. Well, they aren’t here. I am still needing to get that part done. Hopefully this weekend.

Selway 2008 Photo Journal

2008-08-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

2729 Miles.... and the Winner is!

2008-08-15T17:42:00.000-07:00

Heide! Hey girl great guess. With 2352 Heide was the closest. Heide email me your address at pennraebailey at charter.net so I can send off your prize.

Pictures are finally up also!

Visitor

2008-08-12T10:46:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday we had a little visitor outside our office building. We really don’t know how long he had been hanging out before someone spotted him. Unfortunately as soon as the building administrators found out there was immediate caution tape sectioning him off and animal control on the way. This is really disheartening because he wasn’t bothering anyone or anything. I never heard where they relocated him to.

Final Montana Post - Contest Deadlines -

2008-08-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Thursday was an extremely big day for us. It started really early and ended really late. First thing in the morning we loaded up into two cars. 4 adults & 5 kids and headed to Gem Mountain in Philipsburg, MT. We were headed off to strike it rich......with SAPPHIRES! For a grand total of $84 we received seven one gallon buckets of dirt that was guaranteed to have sapphires. We did find sapphires, some which are big enough to cut..... But we didn't make it rich. On the way home we stopped in Butte and toured the Montana School of Mines Museum.

Then..... A wonderful thing happened. Something that I look forward to every time we go home. My mother and I went to Pork Chop Johns and picked up 10 of their very awesome deep fat fried breaded pork chop sandwiches. And just as I did when I was a little girl I had a strawberry milkshake while we waiting. Minus 3 kids and still having the car seat I buckled those puppies in for the ride home. 2 sandwiches (I normally just eat 1 1/2) I had the Thanksgiving day full tummy and was in heaven.

Later that evening (I did say that it was a big day) we went to a friend's cabin (about a 25 mile round trip) DH and the boys headed out on the 4 wheeler's, my brother, mother, and I in the truck. Now the way my brother went in the truck...... I would of only taken the 4 wheeler. But after a bunch of gasps and silent prayers we made it. About an hour after we got to the cabin a typical Montana Summer storm with hail and heavy rain came rolling in. The cabin had a huge covered porch so we all hung out there watching it. At one point I thought the DH had left the fireworks in the back of the truck, so I ran out in all of the hail. Can you say OUCH!?!?! Only to find out that he had put them in the cab of the truck when we arrived. Silly me. The storm lasted about 30 minutes and by then it was getting close to dark.

Friday we celebrated the 4th of July by going to the Gates of the Mountains.

Its north of Helena. The boat ride is a couple of hours long. Although this was about my 100th trip there Huba and DH has only been one other time. Due to it being the 4th of July the river was pretty packed full of boaters and jet skiers. This meant that all the wildlife was hiding.
Saturday was a rather casual day. We started packing things up in the morning. DH and I did some lawn work for my mother. Have earn our keep! In the afternoon we went to Wolf Creek and floated the Missouri River for a about 2 hours. The river was moving right along so it didn't take very long to cover our couple mile trip. The fishing (like the rest of the trip) was no good. Huba did jump off the raft and played in the water for a little bit. Afterwards we went to dinner in Helena at the Mother Loade Casino. While there Huba discovered Keno. While waiting for dinner we filled out a couple of cards and lost all of our money. Huba was getting into it. At one point he was praying, yes actually praying to win at gambling. The service was great and the food out of this world. Best steak sandwich I've ever had. Huba kept his keno cards as a souvenir.

Sunday.....we went home.

Okay so this is the final post of Montana. All of the information is available for the mileage contest. Please enter your guess NLT 8/15/08. The winner will be announced early the following next week.

Montana Part 2

2008-07-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

Monday: Everyone got up early (whether they wanted to or not). We split up again for two different adventures. One of my grandmother's lives on the other side of Montana in a small town that doesn't have a stop light, grocery store town. Each year when I come home my mother and I go to Lavina to see her. Just a day trip. And actually we only stay for a couple of hours for lunch. Which is all my grandmother really wants. She appreciates the fact that we drive 2 1/2 - 3 hours one way just to have lunch. Because it is one of those activities that require more time in the car than the actual activity DH and the boys don't go. Which is fine. So after a nice little lunch of scalloped potatoes and BBQ ribs we helped Grandma wash and put away her dishes (did I mention that she is a traditional farm wife were the girls do the dishes) we did a couple of daugher do's. Grandma never has any major projects but due to a couple year old torn rotator cuff that the sugury still left her with limited range of motion some tasks aren't feasible. After the daughter do's we visited for a little bit and then loaded back up in the car for a long ride home.
DH and the boys on the other hand went to Holter Dam. Holter Dam is located on the Missouri River near Wolf Creek. It is one of those world known famous fishing areas for fly fishing but great success can also be had with a spinning rod. But...... With the late thaw and heavy rains the Missouri is very high and very fast. Which is absolutly no good for the fishing. Actually I don't even think that the boys had any success hunting crawdads. (and no if they do catch them we don't keep and eat them.

Tuesday: Was a day of somewhat rest. Another trip to Helena was made to gather more items we need. (This driving 60 miles to Walmart sucks) We also stopped at a couple of bicycle shops. For our anniversry we thought it would be a great time to splurge on ourselves. Plus Huba was getting tired of each of us always borrowing his. Unfortunatly the shops, obviously, stock their stores for the local terrain. Which meant tons of really great mountain bikes. But considering Eastern Washington is a desert and one must drive for a mountain, mountain bikes were not on the list. The traveling carnival was in town and boy did the kids want to go. Boulder is such a small town that my mother and I sat at a picnic table outside the rodeo arena (where the carnival was) and knitted while the kids were all grown up and watching the carnival on their own. Darling Husband took the opportunity to take an evening nap.

Wednesday: Everyone hung rather low today. Mid afternoon we went to my brothers house to ride 4 wheelers. Up and down the country road went 4 wheelers with wild 'n crazy boys playing hard. Eventually my brother decided that maybe they were getting a little too brave on the road and started to create a trail. Okay well it started out that way. After he took his ax and cut out some branches so no one would get closelined and removed some rock that might bounce a kid off a bike he road it like a mad man for about ten laps so the boys would have a path. But then..... He decided that seeing how they now had a trail that went around and through the property there had better be an additional spot where he could play. So out came a tree and straight up the side of a huge bank was his play area. All in all it was great fun. I do believe that we did have a 35 year old kid on our hands.

Excuses of a Postless Blogger

2008-07-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here is the deal. We've been back from Montana for almost 2 weeks and my blog entries for the contest aren't done. Shame on me. We've been dealing, like with everyone else, the craziness of life. Knitting is going fine considering the time available (on the way to work and on lunch) I ride with DH so I'm not driving while I knit. Teenager has me at wits end, DH has me at the other wits end, and OMG is it already time to go to bed is an every day occurence. So without anything further and avoiding all the details I am going to Jubilee Lake this weekend to escape as much as possible and hopefully if I am able to wish upon a thousand shooting stars I'll be able to be at least a semi regular blogger and knitter on Monday.

First Couple of Days of Montana

2008-07-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

Obviously I'm struggling to get any computer time so the trip post will be broken into a couple of different posts. Which after thinking about will make the contest even funner.

Friday: Seeing how we arrived in the middle of the night Friday was somewhat of a lazy day. D.H. went into Helena (26 miles one way) to purchase his fishing license and grab some to the things we forgot to pack. My mother and I took 5 kids swimming at the Boulder Hot Springs (2 miles round trip). The rest of the day was spent relaxing and visiting.

Saturday: We split up on Saturday. D.H. and my brother took 3 of the kids on a half day 4 wheeler ride. My mother and I took the other 2 to the Fairy Festival at Tizer Gardens in Jefferson City (located 1/2 way between Boulder and Helena). The Fairy Festival is a fund raising event for the 21st Century Learning Program that my mother volunteers at and niece and nephews attend. It is an exploratory summer school programs. It is a great little program. Huba participated in it last year. At the Fairy Festival my mother and I manned a booth selling homemade jellies and jams that the kids made. Afterwards I made another quick trip to Helena for groceries. Holy cow were we ever so disorganized on our supplies.

Sunday: Loaded with fishing poles and backpacks filled with sandwiches, chips and water (and knitting of course) we took off early for Cottonwood Lake. We had to drive about 18 miles one way and then the work started. 3 Adults, 4 boys, and a 5 yr old girl. To get to Cottonwood Lake you have to hike in 4 miles. The thought of hiking 4 miles doesn't sound that hard. But it is quite the challenge with all the kids and 3 of those 4 miles being up hill. But everyone was up for it. We lied to the kids and told them that it was 2 miles. Hey it is one of those mind over matter situations! The bloody blister I gave myself was difficult to overcome by mind over matter. I actually ended up using one of Huba's crusty dirt filled socks to pad it for the walk out. As you can see from the pictures it was definitely worth the hike. Of course.... The trek back to the truck was very easy and fun. My 5 year old niece actually walked the entire 4 miles out ( to avoid Uncle from getting her Cheetos)

WeeklyProgress Update...... Still on Vacation

2008-07-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

I'm still on vacation for a couple more days. I will complete a vacation post with pictures and links when I return dial up is killing me. But here is the weekly knitting update:

Cotonani: 5/08 (1&1/2 sleeves to go)
Alpaca Shawl: 5/07 (90% lace border to go)
Ambra: 2/08 (4in of back complete)
Drops Alpaca Cardigan:4/08 (1 sleeve and 3inches of body completed)
Norwegian:2/08 (11 inches of body completed)
2x2 Ribbed Socks: 4/08 (1 1/2 socks completed)
Huba Camo Anklets:6/08 (3/4 of 1 sock completed)
Rebecca:5/08 (8 inches of back completed)
Annie: 6/08 Back is finished !!!

Sat 6/28: Annie
Sun 6/29: Annie
Mon 6/30: Baby Surprise
Tues 7/1: Baby Surprise
Wed 7/2: Frogged Baby Surprise due to funky acrylic yarn
Thurs 7/3: Annie
Fri 7/4: Annie finished back

Over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house we go

2008-06-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

We took off as planned last night. DH, Huba, and friend in the truck and myself hanging out with Brenda Dayne (ok so it was her podcast) in the car. The total ride to my mom's house took about 8 hours. We traveled 160 miles to the Washington/Idaho Border then 75 miles over 4th of July and Lookout Pass into Montana. From the Montana border we had 16 miles until we hit the half way mark. The half way point is marked by the 10,000 Silver Dollar Store. Which is a mandatory stop at least once on our trip. While driving DH had to swerve to miss 4 geese that were taking their evening stroll and we all waved to Mr. Porquipine as he was making his midnight rounds.

We arrived about 3am Montana time. So that leaves today as a very low key day of catch up. DH will travel to Helena to make his final fishing trip purchase and my mother and I will take 6 kids ranging from 5 to 11 swimming at the local hot springs. I have already did some knitting this morning. My mother is also considering the Baby Surprise Jacket.

I'm on dial up so I will add links to all the posts when I return.

Contest and TRIP!!!!

2008-06-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again. Tonight directly after work we are taking off for Montana for the 4th of July. When I say directly after work I mean I will pull into the driveway hop out of my explorer and directly into the impala. I won’t get any good car knitting in on the trip over/back as we are taking two vehicles. Luckily one is free gas.

Anywho! Like last year I am having another contest!!! While in Montana we put many miles on our vehicles. So, like last year the one to guess the closest to the total miles will win a prize. As far as a close date it will be sometime the week of the 7th. I will be blogging some while in Montana. But if things get to fun I want to have a chance give you a list of the places we went so you can have an educated guess.

As far was my weekly update of knitting I’m doing it a day early as well...... you know!

Cotonani: 5/08 (1&1/2 sleeves to go)
Alpaca Shawl: 5/07 (90% lace border to go)
Ambra: 2/08 (4in of back complete)
Drops Alpaca Cardigan:4/08 (1 sleeve and 3inches of body completed)
Norwegian:2/08 (11 inches of body completed)
2x2 Ribbed Socks: 4/08 (1 1/2 socks completed)
Huba Camo Anklets:6/08 (3/4 of 1 sock completed)Rebecca:5/08 (8 inches of back completed)
Henley Perfected: Winter 07 (FROGGED)
Annie: 6/08

Sat 6/21: No progress was made. Ripped out Henley Perfected as determined that it was going to be too small.
Sun 6/22: Started Annie with Henley Perfected Mulberry Silk. Actually happier with the yarn in the Annie pattern.
Mon 6/23: Annie - its new
Tues 6/24: Annie - its new
Wed 6/25: Annie - its new
Thurs 6/26: Annie - its newFri 6/27: Who knows I’m on vacation

On and Off the Needles

2008-06-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I try to plan my knitting. I goal set completion dates. Some of my tactics are more effective than others. I am not a 1 project person so I need somewhat of plan of attack. The sweater a month tactic worked for a couple of months but life hasn’t permitted that to be as effective. It is a great tactic during the winter months when many evenings and weekends are spent indoors. But when the good weather comes projects are worked on by portability. Now we all know that a sweater in the beginning is quite portable but not on the final stretch. Also projects with great detail are less portable as you don’t always have the set up room.
I’ve also been pondering what I like vs. what I like to knit vs. what I will actually knit. Some projects are gorgeous and I would love to have them but it doesn’t mean that I am going to put all the work into it or on the other hand not get bored with a zillion stockinette stitches.
So, my new tactic?!?!?!? Is to track my knitting. To log what I’ve worked on where I primarily worked on it etc. That way, hopefully, when picking new projects I’ll be able to have a clearer definition of whether or not it is the right time to start it. So each week I’m going to provide an update. Not just much I got done.....but why.

Now I know that we all have this ability on ravelry but you have to go to each individual project. I would much rather spend the extra time on knitting. I was also thinking about how most podcasters have “On and Off the Needles” so I guess this is somewhat of a blog version.

Projects
Cotonani: 5/08 (1&1/2 sleeves to go)
Alpaca Shawl: 5/07 (90% lace border to go)
Ambra: 2/08 (4in of back complete)Drops Alpaca Cardigan:4/08 (1 sleeve and 3inches of body completed)
Norwegian:2/08 (11 inches of body completed)
2x2 Ribbed Socks: 4/08 (1 1/2 socks completed)
Huba Camo Anklets:6/08 (3/4 of 1 sock completed)
Rebecca:5/08 (8 inches of back completed)

Sat 6/14~ Camping. Worked on Huba Camo Anklets & Norwegian. Anklets were great for picking up & putting down. Worked on Norwegian during AM coffee around the picnic table.
Sun 6/15~Camping. Worked on Huba Camo Anklets & Norwegian. Anklets were great for picking up & putting down. Worked on Norwegian during AM coffee around the picnic table.
Mon 6/16~ Huba Camo Anklets at lunch. Evening spent cleaning from camping.
Tues 6/17~ Huba Camo Anklets at lunch. Evening spent cleaning from camping.
Wed 6/18~ Cotonani magic loop top down sleeves.
Thurs 6/19~ This was a sad sad sad knitting day. Tore out about 5inches of color work on Norwegian as too long. Didn’t knit after that. Still have to get back onto the needles.

Fri 6/20~ Cotonani down hill slide on this puppy is what is motivating me.I hope to have this done by end of June.

City Tournaments

2008-06-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Huba has been playing baseball this spring. (Huge reason why posts haven't been happening...I always have an excuse.) Last Thursday started city tournaments. Kennewick All American and Kennewick Nationals battle it out for the top team. It is a double elimination and right now he is one and one. He will play every night this weekend as long as they are winning......

Cotanani for the Hootanani

2008-05-31T08:15:00.001-07:00

Cotanani for the Hootanani is next on my list to finished. I started two days before our Packwood knitting Retreat weekend (1st weekend of May). It is the Knitting Pure and Simple top down raglin cardigan # 241. All that remains is the sleeves. I'm also going to take the moss stitch bottom out and add some length.

Maybe another inch or two. It has been a lot of fun to branch out of my usual blue/green colorways. Although I am behind on my sweater a month I am still finishing things which is the ultimate reason for the sweater a month.

Miss MAYPRIL

2008-05-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

Just a couple on minutes before i run out the door (again) but this time to Friday Night Knit Knit. Here is Miss MAYPRIL. I started the beginning of April and finished the weekend after our Packwood trip. But I didn't weave the ends in until about an hour ago. Smallest garment project of the year so far and took the longest. Go figure. It is from the June 2008 Knit 'n Style and made in Ornaghi Filati Gong, (100% mercerized cotton, 130 m per 50 g ball). Guage is 24 to 4 in rib pattern when slightly stretched. I didn't make the I-cord to go in the eyelets around the waste. But the eyelets are a nice little design element. I am somewhat debating on making the shrug but really leaning to the I don't think so side.

Back to the Grindstone

2008-05-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it was the dreaded Monday after our weekend knitting retreat. While in Packwood we all rose pretty early excited to start our day.... bed head and all! This morning though.... when all I had to look forward to was a computer and piles of paperwork.......instead of a smile of glee on my face there was a huge heavy sigh of “here we go again.” I guess that is why it is called a “retreat.”
The trip truly inspired me this year. Heidi’s Forest Canopy shawl had me pulling out a 2 year old shawl project to work. FunDonna’s 6x6 Scrapbooks has me mentally going through my photos and supplies. Susan, Jessica, and Heidi have me dreaming of creating my own hand spun yard. (I looked online last night for a drop spindle and dropped a couple of hints to Huba.) And of course, I could also, knit a Christmas project a month just like Judie. (Do I know 12 people that would appreciate it that don’t already knit???)

As promised I would proudly like to introduce the finished JAILHOUSE SOCKS. But first.... the Warden Arwin :

Guess Where I've Been

2008-05-04T19:43:00.001-07:00

Today ended the 3rd Annual Packwood Knitting Retreat. This was my second year. HeideHo, Kitkatknit, Judie, Famous Jessica, and myself were returning veterans. FunDonna, Karen, Kelly, and Michelle were our Newbies. Sadly missed was Blogless Nancy and Huba's favorite Kim. The weekend was full of knitting needles cutting the air, shafts spinning, and feet treddling. We also tossed in some Sock Lunch gift bags and a movie. Not to mention the drinks, stories, and laughter were abundent and overflowing. Thank you all for the wonderful weekend!!!

Potpourri

2008-04-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted lately because there hasn't been a lot to write home about. We've been extremly busy. Busy to the point where the days start to run together. But there really hasn't been anything exciting going on in those busy days. Just the same ole go to work, take care of the house, go to baseball, go to bed routine.

With spring here we've been doing the usual yard work. This year's project is to put the fabric guard in the flower beds. It will be quite the chore as the beds are full but it will mean that I won't have the weeding all summer long. But we will have to pull out about 2 inches of dirt to start. I don't know how many of the plants I'll dig out and replant or what one's we will cut the fabric around. It is really just a matter of getting in a doing it. We havn't had a garden the past two years. I'm not really sure if we are going to plant one this year. The garden is on the other side of our back fence and the ivy has grown over it. I'm thinking that we should focus on creating raised beds within the fence area this summer and then next spring plant.

Camping season is right around the corner also. There is still too much snow where we go so we've got a little time to get ready. It doesn't seam like it should take us very much to get ready seeing how we have the equipment and all that good stuff. But every year we have to do maintenance on the camper and the gear. Simple things like new axe handles or adding the zipper pull to the sleeping bag that fell off. Also stocking up the supplies. You know the deal you go into a store to pick up a couple of items and the clerk smiles at you and says that will be 89.96 please. So we spread it out over a couple of months. Then when we get ready to go out for the first time all we need to grab is the parishables and the 10 other items we forgot to get while preparing. Because we camp so much it is almost like supporting another household. That is why I'm going to put a little knitting stash in the camper this year. Just sock yarn and needles. Nothing more.... okay maybe a couple knitting magazines.

Speaking of socks and knitting. I finished my other Jailhouse sock. I met my goal of having them done before the Packwood trip with a month to spare. I don't have any pictures of them yet.... I haven't gotten the energy to twist my legs to show how the pattern is on the back (they are meant to be worn with clogs). I'll be wearing them to Packwood so I might just wait until then as the colors would really pop out with the cabin backyard is in the back gound..... I like that idea......

You all know what this is.....

2008-03-30T08:18:00.001-07:00

Sweater Update

2008-03-15T06:43:00.001-07:00

I put aside Ms March last week to work on St. Anton. It has a small colorwork band on the bottom, straight color on the body, and then colorwork on the bust. Thursday I finished the bottom colorwork. Just in time too because Friday Huba's baseball practice started. We go to all of the practices on top of the games. So it is really good knitting time as long as it is mindless. So St. Anton and I will hang out on the ball fields just going rounds and seeing red. I have a couple more centimeters on Ms March before I split it for the top and 1 sleeve. So it's half way throught the month and I think that I'm half way done on the sweater. So completing this it this month is looking good. As long as I can resist the startitist. I still have the itch to start something new. But I'm holding my ground and so far prevailing. That doesn't mean that I'm not collecting new patterns and sometimes the yarn to go with it. But I am not casting on. As of right now this is what is still on the needles:
Ms. March- Cardigan 50% complete
St Anton- Norwegian sweater 3% complete
Jailhouse STR Socks - 1 sock down and 45% complete on the match
Tidal Wave Socks: 45% complete on sock 1
Booby Socks: not even the cuff done on sock 1
Ambra - Cardigan -10 % complete
Alpaca Shawl - 30% complete on the border
Raspberry Cardigan - 50% complete
Henley Perfected - 50% complete

Green projects are in my knitting bag and are actively being worked on. The red ones are at a stop and when I look at them I kinda crinkle my nose up at them. The ones in yellow I am excited about but right now they are yielding to the green.

Bye Bye Blue HELLO GREEN

2008-03-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Miss March is coming along just fine. I have a couple more inches before I split the fronts and the backs. I'm done with the ribbed lace pattern so now it's all stockinette. My guage has changed since I did the sleeve last summer some. I'm knitting back and forth now and the sleeve is done in the round so I've been trying to watch it very carefully. With it being cotton the guage difference will be extremely noticable. I've already ripped this sweater twice. A third time will not be a charm.

Knitting class

2008-03-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night I had my lace sweater class. It wasn't a very fun class. I have a stitch that split on the sleeve of Henley Perfected. So I ripped 16 rows out. One by one 16 rows. I change color on my highlightereverytime I pick it up. I don't know. It's something about about seeing how much I got done on it that day. Yep, almost 2 evenings of work down the drain. Now I am also taking a Norwegian sweater class. So I pulled out the 1 1/2 inch of 255 stitches on size 2 needles and said, "how does this look? and why wouldn't I change my needle size after I did the turning row?" Well, moments later, I was told that I need to remove my 1 1/2 inch of 255 stitches on size 2 needles and work it on a 3. I didn't rip it out right then. I went home and ripped it. Link ask me if I was going to be grumpy about it. Men! I said no but I'm going to be grumpy about your question. For some reason he thought that was big funny. On the flip side I have all of today to get all of what I ripped knitted back up.

Pay for Knitting

2008-03-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago my employer sent out a request for individuals to work overtime watching the enterance of a building while constuction or something went on. We all have to key card into the building. They said that we could read, do word puzzles, knit (yes they said knit) while we were guarding the door. So I put my name in. I mean heck it was overtime. Well, a bunch of other people had my line of thinking so they did a draw. I wasn't picked. I pretty much forgot about it. Well, today I was working along and got a phone call. They need one more person and wanted to know if I was interested. Why yes I was interested. My mama didn't raise no fool. Guilt free knitting and get paid overtime and keep my project for myself. Yep I'm in! So this should help with my ITIS. I plan on finishing up the Jailhouse socks. Michelle from Pink-n-Sparkly (see side bar for link) will also be there. How much better can it get?

ITIS~~~ I got it!

2008-03-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

Finishitis, Startitis, Ripitis, Planitis, Stallitis, ITIS ITIS ITIS. I have it all. It must be getting close to spring. I have 2 projects that I want to finish this month: Miss March and the Jailhouse socks. I have 3 projects that I want start: Rebecca, Apricot Cardigan (which I don't even have the pattern for), and the Booby Socks. (okay, well I have alot more I want to start but that is the top three). And boy do I want to Rip the Raspberry Cardigan. I don't know why really. I just go BLAH when I think about it. I spend a lot of my time thinking when I'm knitting. Goal setting. If I can finish this then I can start that. Wow. Such a production knitter. Then on the other hand, could I do that? Could I do it without ripping? Could I really specialize it to me The process knitter. I'm a little of both. And boy is it tough. I want to finish finish finish but then I see something and think.... oh that would be so fun and relaxing. I did great in January and February about staying on one project. And I loved it. I actually bonded with my knits. I know that sounds strange. But it was like we were buddies and it was comforting. Now I'm starting this work on 4 projects at once crap and I feel more like I am cheap labor. See. Even my post is bouncing all around. Is there a 12 step program for this?

St. Anton Hat (guage swatch)

2008-03-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

Introducing MISS MARCH

2008-03-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

In honor of March being the Month of Green I present you with Miss March. I initially started Miss March July 2007. I know the exact day also. It was the day that they shipped the Teenager to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle (BTW he got a clean bill of health a couple of weeks ago). I was walking out the door and the pattern and one wound hank of Butterfly 10 was sitting in the entry way. I grabbed it literally walking out the door. Now I have one sleeve complete and this is my third shot with the body. It is knitted in one piece until the armholes and then split. If I was really ambitious I would set the goal of St. Patrick's day. But I think that might be a little much as I'm still working on my Norwegian sweater gauge swatch (which is the coordinating hat). This is what I have so far:

New Knitter & Blogger

2008-03-01T09:56:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! Michelle has finally joined the knitting ranks. In the matter of about an hour she was knitting and purling and within 2 days had completed her first project. Please stop by her blog, Pink-N-Sparkly, and welcome her.

2008-02-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

February's sweater is drying right behind me. I still have to sew on the buttons but I have them so I am considering this one done. It is aDrops sweater out of book73 done in Muskat. The story behind is the fact that at my LYS there is a shop model. And it fit me like a charm. And almost every time I went in there I tried it on. But I could not convince Jimalee to sell or donate me the sweater. Each time she'd say "you can make your own." So after hearing that for about 6 months I casted on. Now for March. I haven't a clue who Miss March is going to be.

St. Anton update: guage swatch complete. About 5 itty bitty rows on the actual sweater.

THE PLUNGE

2008-02-19T18:48:00.001-08:00

Monday I went down to the LYS. Purchased some yarn..... to create.............(drum role, please) The St. Anton 2001 Norwegian Sweater in a red, off white, and greyish brown. I, of course, also signed up for the year log class to stay on track. Plus I've heard too many stories about how fun the class is to pass it up. So, I'm a month behind and I've got to swatch. Will post pics soon.

Oregon Coast

2008-02-16T08:32:00.001-08:00

Lily's Finished!

2008-02-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

I finished Lily last weekend. Last Friday night I finished the knitting and Sunday the buttons were on. It was so fast, so fun, so easy. It took literally just 1 month to the day! A great start for my goal of finishing one thing a month in 2008.

Entered Disaster Land and Lived to Talk about it

2008-01-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

Disaster land.... that is what my life has been the past couple of weeks. We just got our new carpet in Huba's and the master bedroom. We repainted both rooms including the trim. Did some serious reorganization. Emptied rooms. Got dressed in several different rooms each morning.... oh heck you all know the deal. It's finally done..... and looks great. I need to wait until daytime to take some photos. I also moved at work. I only change cubicles. But the week prior the database system kept crashing so I was already days behind before the move. Then when setting up shop in my new box on the cube farm...... all of my setting were gone, printer, scanner didn't work....... This morning I finally got everything back to workable conditions. Now I will get up at 3:30 in the morning to work 2 hours of overtime when no one else is there. Hopefully should get caught up.

On to knitting news (now that I'm done whining) I finished the first sleeve on Lilly. One sleeve and one front panel to go. My initial goal was to have it completed before my lace class started (next week). I don't really know how that is looking. Depends on those other beings that live in the house, mainly the big old one. He better go help his friend build the storage shed this weekend.

Check out what I just experienced. I call it: Getting Old sucks..... Deal with it.

Huba: (walks in gives Mom a hug)
Mom: mmmmmmm I like those!
Huba: Love you, Mom.
Mom: Love you too Huba. Hey, I really love your hugs also. (smiles) But I do miss those kisses (pouty face) I don't get them anymore
Huba: (kisses mom on shoulder then rolls eyes) It's cause I'm growing up.
Mom: Well, I don't have to accept that do I?
Huba: Yep
Mom: Well, I don't have to like it then.
Huba: Oh yeah you do Mom. It's call life. Deal with it. (walks off to play his guitar)

Lilly Update

2008-01-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

Lilly is going so fast! Friday night knit night is when I smiled and bound off the right front. I immediately casted on for a sleeve. I know that typically one knits the back, then the two fronts, and then the two sleeves. The sweater is going so fast that I figured I'd switch it up a bit to guarentee an interest in it. I have about 30 rows on the sleeve. (The pattern said to do the sleeves on size 8's. I did. It was too loose. So I ripped about 20 rows and went to 7's) It has been in slow motion all weekend. We are getting carpet in the Huba and the master bedroom in two weeks. We are repainting the walls and trim in each of the rooms before the new carpet goes in. Huba picked a Valspar paint that is a greenish tan. It is really pretty. In the natural light it is on the tan side and in indoor lighting it is a green tone. We also hauled his bed out to the garage and per his request I painted it black. I'll post pics soon. So none the less very little knitting went on this weekend. On the flip side the entire family has been riding together for school and work. It is only about a 5 min detour for DH to drop me off at work and well with the price of gas.... think of all the yarn I could buy. Also it gives me about an hour a day of knitting GUILT FREE!

Eight for 2008

2008-01-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

What a way to start of the 2008 New Year. I have 8 WIP's.

My current love is Lilly from the new Debbie Bliss book. Started 12/23/07 it is voted to be finished first. The pattern is easily memorized, I've tried on a model, and is a fast knit.

The next two projects to be finished are the Henley Perfected and then a Drops cardigan is Muskat. Both lace projects with be worked on when the lace class begins the end of January at the LYS. I have worked both of them to the point in which the decreases for the arms begin. That is where the lace class comes into play. I still have to do the front on the Henley and the sleeves on the Muskat. But it is a huge head start. I wanted to do as much decreasing in lace pattern as possible during the class.

By May I need to have my other socks that rocks socks finished. Why one may ask?

PACKWOOD KNITTING RETREAT of course!

Next on the burner is another Drops Cardigan done in Butterfly 10. I started it last July when the teenager was in Harborview Medical Center. One sleeve is done and I've ripped the body three times for various reasons. 1 year limit on this one.

Apparently we are all suppose to be getting together for Sunday Shawls. Well, that is what this puppy needs. A designated time each week to get a handful of rows done on the lace border.

These last two.... well may end up in the frog pond. The Baby Cable sock is just a yawn.... and the Softwist Cardigan.... I'm not really liking the whole shiney thing and also I fear that it may be too small....

Argosy

2007-12-09T17:48:00.000-08:00

Argosy is for my mother-in-law for Christmas. Please don't ask what the colorway is as I lost both ball bands. It is Noro Silk Garden Lite but you can make it from almost anything. I did enjoy making it with the exception that I'm not a scarf knitter. It almost an entire month but with health issues and a home remodeling time was very limited.

The Past 20some days

2007-12-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't really been around blogland for the past month as a participant. Now I've been reading all my favorite blogs just not posting. Some may be thinking that I'm not a very dedicated blogger but what can I say..... life happens. I've been dealing with mastitis which turned into an abcess. The 11th I started to feel some pain in my right breast. Went to the doctor and recieved antibiotics. About 4 days later I went back to the doctor, it was getting worse. Recieved more antibiotics. She said to call in two days if not better. Two days later (Wednesday before Thankingsgiving) called her and said I'm no better. So she scheduled an ultrasound for the next week. We were planning on going to Montana for Thanksgiving. So Wednedsay we left after work I had antibotics and pain medication. Figured that they had hospitals and what not in Montana. We reached Spokane (2 hours away) and I couldn't handle the pain any longer. I felt every inch in the road. So we fed the kids McDonalds and turned around and came home. Never before have I drove two hours just to eat McDonalds. Thanksgiving day I slept the majority of the day. I did manage to get up long enough to the in-laws for dinner. Which was very yummy. Friday morning about 2 am the pain was unbearable and I had doubled is swelling and redness so darling husband took me to the hospital. We spent about 3 hours in the ER before we saw a doctor. Once the doctor came, he loaded me up on pain medication and ordered an ultrasound. When they took me down to radiology I was just expecting them to do an ultrasound. Well, they did an ultrasound and then some. The radiologist determined that the abcess was about 3cm big and required draining. To drain they poke you with a syringe and suck it out. That my dear friends was the most horrible pain ever. I won't go into the details of what came out but it looked like bacon grease that had gone solid. Draining it relived all of the pressure and the majority of the pain. I was just exhausted. They sent me home with orders to come back each day for the next three days for iv antibiotics. It was either that or to stay in the hospital. So I came home and slept and slept and slept. By Sunday I was feeling just good enough to not want to be on the couch another second. So, it's been a week since this ordeal. I'm still tired and a little tender. On antibiotics but I must say...... I'd much rather have another baby than do that again. They did figure out what the bacteria was and what antibiotic killed it and the antibiotics are working like a charm. I go back in about 3 weeks for another ultrasound. Now I know the question is: How much knitting did I get done or did I knit at all. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were no knit days. And I got about 1/2 of the argosy scarf done. It's the one Christmas gift I am making this year.

HEILO 3481 KNITTER IN NEED

2007-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

Blogless Jessica is almost completely done with her Norwegian Sweater. A year's worth of work and all but the collar done. Jessica ran out of her chocolate brown HEILO 3481 and the LYS doesn't have it and can't get it. If you have a skein to spare or know where to look...... PLEASE LET US KNOW!

It's Done!!

2007-11-06T19:22:00.001-08:00

The Casual Cable Cardigan is on the floor right behind me blocking! So I have hit the goal of having a sweater completed by Thanksgiving. I'm still on the mission to complete another one before Christmas. I'd take a picture to share with all but I still can't download. That's on hubby's to do list for this weekend. Find out why.

I had a great weekend in Olympia. Sarah is a natural knitter. She picked up casting on with one demonstration. Within an hour she was knitting and purling. Sarah is also a very unnatural knitter. She claimed that she liked doing the bumpy things (purling) better than the V's (knitting). My response was, "always knew that you danced to your own little tune." We went to Canvas Works in Olympia. I wasn't too impressed. But I was on a mission to obtain a bamboo subsitute for the Henley Perfected from the Winter 07 Interweave Knits. We also went to Shipwreck Beads. Shipwreck is to be the world's largest bead store. We spent two hours picking out charms and beads for Wine glass markers for Christmas presents. To look at everything in the store would of taken a month of Sunday's.

I'm out of time. The duties of helping hubby unload his extra groceries from hunting camp calls me. Or should I put it this way.... I need to put the stuff away or otherwise I won't know what's there to be used up and will stop on the way home from work and buy it. Have a great day! I'm off to inventory.

I'd have pictures but....

2007-11-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

every time I go to download I get this memory error. It's the dreadful week I say. I took the boys to the mountains last night and now I'm off to the west side of the mountains for a little girlfriend time. It's the reward for surviving the dreadful week. I won't whine about the issues last night... just picture teenager with attitude. It tells it all. But I'm off to a nice relaxing weekend. Going to eat, shop, and teach my girlfriend how to knit. How much more fun could that be. Last year I made her a pair of fetching gloves.... she has recieved so many comments over them that she wants to learn to make them. So this weekend she's going to learn the basic knit and purl and work on a scarf. She'll be here the week of Christmas and I'm off that week so that's when we will tackle the fetching gloves. I'm so excited. So hopefully early next week I'll have (well actually Link) will have the computer fixed and I'll have some Halloween pictures for you. Have a great weekend. And remember.... if you are casting on.... double check the sizing.

Dreadful Week

2007-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

It is only Wednesday and I declare this to be a dreadful week. Could it be that it is Halloween week? I doubt it, as I’m not the type of person that believes in spooks and ghouls. I believe in carving pumpkins, costumes, and trick or treating. Just not the superstitious part of Halloween. For this little trick or treater should be a FROG this year. As I’ve been making that sound a lot this week. “Rip it Rip it Rip it” The Alpaca Cable Drops Cardigan is now just a single ball. This is the second time I’ve made this same error. Different sweater. Same error. I casted on too few stitches and completed about 6 inches before realizing I did so. A lot of the patterns that I’m seeing lately there is an X-Small size.... well I’m a small. I also ripped about two inches of the Green Drops Cardigan. The stitches were extremely loose. It had to do with the YO’s in between the purl and knit rib. That one was pretty easy to swallow. But the blue alpaca..... that one makes me sick as it is a pretty small gauge. The Red Alpaca Cable Cardigan.... Well, the sleeves are done. The body is done. And I’m seaming. I hope blocking will help with this one. All I can say is that the upper armholes look and feel huge. They are a dropped set in type sleeve and everyone that I have talked to has assured me that if I follow the pattern that it will turn out. Well, I followed the pattern to the T. But I only have 1/2 a sleeve sewn on. So we will see. Maybe I should leave it alone until next week. The week gets even better. I signed up for a lace sweater class that was to start in September. It has been postponed a couple of times now. My LYS is having a hard time getting people to sign up for it. Well, last night, I found out the new start date.... the end of January. Now, keep in mind that this class was going to produce my second sweater before the end of the year. End of 2008 maybe. And to top it off with a little button. I’ve caught two buttons on two different pants on two different pieces of furniture and popped two buttons off. Last night I also stopped by my LYS and purchased the new Winter Interweave Knits. We ordered pizza in. It was going to be a nice relaxed evening.... until I moved the pizza box and tipped a full cup of coffee all over the mail and the upper right corner of my new Winter Interweave Knits. So, while my pizza got cold I separated each page with a paper towel. I guess its a good thing we buy paper towels in bulk!

Jailhouse Socks that Rock

2007-10-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

DEER CAMP II

2007-10-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

DEER CAMP I

2007-10-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

Head for the hills

2007-10-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to the mountains camping and deer hunting. Came home for 4 days and now we are off again. The bad thing~ no time to knit or post during those 4 home days. The good thing~ mountains= guilt free knitting. (and lots of it). Cable cardi body is done started on sleeves and should be weaving the toe in on jailhouse socks before we hit camp. Have a great weekend!

A little more progress

2007-10-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

As I was standing on the kitchen chair taking this picture Huba asked me a question. "Mom, why do you take pictures of something that isn't finished?" A pretty good question. Most people don't take pictures of projects in progress.... unless you are a blogging knitter. Why do we take pictures of of work as we go along. Especially ones with really bad lighting.....

Right now it is helping me stay focus. Helping me finish before I cast on something new. (which by the way.... I have everything for so it is very very difficult to resist.)

Progress

2007-10-08T20:43:00.001-07:00

As of Sunday night...

Just A little Blue

2007-10-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Garnstudio's Baby-ull 100% Merino ull

Classic Elite Yarns "Alpaca Sox" 60% Alpaca, 20% Merino Wool, 10% Nylon

elesbeth lavold's "Silky Wool" 65% Wool, 35% Silk

Artyarns ultramerino 4 100% handpainted merino

Sweaters, Sweaters, and More UNFINSIHED Sweaters

2007-10-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Casual Cable Cardigan in Ultra Alpaca. Started last Sunday. Purchased yarn last Friday. Obviously my resistance to wait to cast on was in the negative. It is knitted in one piece to the armholes. Judie from FNKN completed hers start to finish in about ten days last spring. I don't think that I'm going to hit that mark. The dark yarn makes it difficult to knit in dim light.
My lace drops sweater in muskat. I started it a couple of weeks ago with the intention of having the ribbing done prior to the class for it. I hit that goal. The class has since been post poned to a later date. So, technically I'm okay on this one. My next row will be the start of the lace. This is scheduled, by the class dates, to be completed after the first of the year.

Another drops sweater. I'm doing it in butterfly 10 (my favorite cotton) I started it on my to Harborview when the Teenager got in his accident. The sleeve went great. The body, which is knitted in one piece until the armholes, has been ripped I think going on 4 times. This last time I ripped about 4 1/2 inches out at 200 stitches. The problem: guage and casting on a size smaller than I needed.

Hmmm. When did a Night at the Muesum come out on DVD? That is when I started this one. It's a Vogue pattern done in Softwist. I really should focus on it as it is further along than any of the others. My problem: I don't know if it will fit. The one piece in the upper left (that looks like a sleeve) is actually one of the front pieces.
Drops again. Do you think that I'm a Drops girl or what? This one is just low. A cable row every 5th row and a cable every.... well you can see the cables. The yarn... garnstudio alpaca and glitter held together. This one though.... has had lots of photo shoots!

Socks Socks Socks

2007-10-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

As promised I have some photos of finished projects. I started these socks earlier this summer. Beginning of camping season. The yarn is a hand dyed from Lavender Sheep that I recieved at the Knitting Christmas party last year from KitKatKnit. The pattern is a simple rib of 3 Knit, 1 Purl, 1 Knit, 1 Purl.

I casted on for these socks this morning. Heidi from Serendipitious Opportuknitty had a contest a couple of months ago. And I apologize but I can't even remember what I had for dinner Sunday let alone what the contest was. But the yarn is Socks that Rock in the Jailhouse colorway. I'm working a fiber trends walking away pattern. Essentially the design is on the back of the sock and the front is a single rib.

Okay so that's one WIP and one FO. How many more do I have to show and tell. Tons. Actually I've been really good about staying within my storage limit. Yes I have a storage limit to keep my projects undercontrol. It's a rather simple system that is complicated to explain without pictures. Honey leaves for Montana on Friday for 5 days antelope hunting so I should get some major knitting done. My goal for hunting season is to get one thing (or one part of a project ie a single sock or sleeve) done each weekend during hunting season.

Yes, I'm still Alive

2007-09-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

I know that I haven't blogged in about a month. And I do have something to say for myself! I've been busy busy busy. Huba has been playing football for the past 6 weeks. That consists of 2 hour practices three times a week and 2 1/2 hours each Saturday for a game. I'm not complaining. It actually gives me about 8 1/2 hours a week of guilt free knitting. It does mess up the dinner schedule. Then we have homework. Between highschool and the 4th grade it gets pretty time consuming. Fall is here. And that means cleaning out the flower beds. Which due to trips and the teenagers accident have been neglected almost the entire summer. They are completely overgrown and down right nasty. We water from an irrigation canal so I fight weeds constantly. I've been on a finishing mission. I've finished a pair of socks, a baby sweater, and a tank in the past month. Pictures to follow. Camera batteries are dead and needing a charge. I've also casted on for several (yes I said several) new projects. Those will get their own post with photos. As soon as the batteries are charged. I've also had to rip out two of those new cast ons. Cussing and griping the entire time. On one I had to rip 200 stitches at 4 inches. That night I got called "GRUMPY." I managed to squeeze in a night of stamping with the girls. Again pictures to follow. Oh boy did we make some cute stuff. Let's see here what else. Oh~ a 3 hour dentist appointment last Saturday then a night of mouth pain. Grrrrr. My new job has been going good. I have the opportunity to work overtime and have done quite a bit. Mmmmm more yarn and Christmas money. So that's an overview of the past month. The upcoming 2 months I think are going to be just as crazy but we only have one more week of football so blogging should be more regular.

The secret project revealed..... and finally a picture of Indigo Ripples

2007-08-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the secret project that I've been talking about for the past couple of months. It is a Sirdar Pattern and made with Just Bamboo. The bamboo was a lot of fun to work with. Actually better that I thought as it has the same shape as ribbon. And the Sirdar Pattern was extremely well written. The only downfall is that I have to wear a cami underneath.

the Indigo ripple skirt from Interweave knits is a MUST MUST MUST MUST. Another pattern that was really fun to work. I used 3 skeins of Butterfly 10.... so here's a cheer to machine wash and dry. The greatest part.... no seaming...the yuky part.... I cord (thanks mom!) I love it. And even better one of the college interns said that she really liked it and wanted to know where I got it from. Proof that we knitters don't fall into the "grannie knitting" stereo type.

The Swift

2007-08-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago KitKatKnit sent me a link of a photo of a swift. I gave it to darling husband. The photo sat next to the bed for a while. Then I saw "knitting machine" on his to do list (that he makes himself.) With Junior being confined to the house, we have been confined to the house. And this is what darling husband did with his time. It's made out of walnut and I love it. He also made my mother one and has a couple more to put in a local store that specializes in unfinished furniture and hardwood.

Harley Girl

2007-08-19T05:39:00.000-07:00

Last week my mother, two nephews, and niece came out. Mom made Harley a new dress while she was here. And then of course, like all models, Harley spent some time gracing us with her presence for a photo shoot. I believe that she accepts ice cream and teddy bears for payment.

Indigo Ripples

2007-08-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

When I left for work this morning I was on row 57 of 71 on my Indigo Ripple Skirt. My goal is to have it completed by Wednesday night of this week so that I can wear to my last day of work at the insurance place. I am also planning to wear it again this weekend at the Ice Cream Social I’m putting on to celebrate Junior and Hubby’s belated birthday. Indigo Ripple has been such great fun to work on. I would recommend it to all. Will post picture as soon as it is finished!

Big Huge News!

2007-08-03T07:36:00.001-07:00

Should be on the headline news!

For starters Huba is coming home today. Yep! 1 week early. And I can’t wait. It’s awesome awesome awesome.
I’ve accepted a new position at Bechtel International. More money, benefits, and no more sales. I will fill in with the details in a later post.
Heidi @ Serendiptous Opportuknitty (see side bar my hyperlink is jerking me around)~~~sent me the STR in the Jailhouse colorway. Yummie! She had a contest. And I was the lucky pick. I have to finish a current pair of socks before casting on. But it’s in the hotseat!
I’m almost halfway through the lace portion of the Indigo Ripple skirt.
June~ from Gardenknitter (will post a link on sidebar soon) also sent me a bunch of iris’. Thank you June!!!

Hey! Look at me! I'm posting!

2007-07-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

Things have finally settled down in my little spot of the world. Junior has been home from Harborview Medical Center for a full week now. He is coming along really nice with his recovery. To be quite frank he is making leaps and bounds. Last night he even walked to the end of the driveway with his crutches. He also can get in and out of bed all by himself. He will go get his staples removed tomorrow. He will still have to keep the catheter in until they complete a cistogram. This test/picture will show if his bladder is completely healed. He will still be non weight bearing on his left leg until the first part of September.

One would have thought I would have gotten a lot of knitting while we were at Harborview. I mean really all I did was sit at the edge of Junior’s bed. But I didn’t. I got about 6 inches done on a new DROPS sweater sleeve. I did actually finish the sleeve this past weekend. I also finished seaming my secret sweater. I haven’t decided if I’m going to post a picture before I weave in all the ends or not. It’s done with the Just Bamboo and the destructions say that you should tack each woven end in with thread. So the weaving of the ends has turned into double the work. Also it’s a ribbon shape yarn so I’ll need to be extra extra careful so that one wouldn’t see it on the public side. I’ve started the lace portion of the Indigo Ripple Skirt. I think I have about 56 rows and then the ruffle. Oops and that darn 40” I-Cord. Yuk. I have 8 WIP’s. I’m thinking its getting to the point where I need to set some goals and get some of these finished up.

Going Home

2007-07-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to say taht we get to go home today. Junior has made leaps and bounds the past 24 hours.

Update on Junior

2007-07-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Junior underwent surgery late yesterday afternoon. It took 5 hours but they were able to place a plate and about 2 screws in his pelvic bone to get it straightened out. The moajority of the night was spent getting his pain back under control. This morning he's drinking and going to be able to have some breakfast. He will start PT today as they want him out of bed by this afternoon.

Harborview Medical Center

2007-07-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

Teenager got in bull riding accident last Sunday. He has level 1 trauma to his hip. He will undergo surgery today at Harborview medical Center around noon today. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Photos of Montana

2007-07-12T20:30:00.001-07:00

2198 Miles

2007-07-11T05:25:00.000-07:00

An the Winner is:

kitkatknit has left a new comment on your post "CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST": Montana is almost as bad as Texas for unending mile of nothing but miles. I'm guessing in the 2222 mile range.

Here is somewhat of a breakdown to where all of those miles came from:

Kennewick to Boulder and back: 990

Boulder to Towsend (Tolston Dam) and back: 134

Boulder to Wolf Creek (Holter Dam) and back (2times): 254

Boulder to Billings to Lavina to back: 475

Boulder to Lewis & Clark Caverns and back: 74

Boulder to Viginia City to Ennis to Boulder:181

Congrats KITKAT! I'll bring your prize to FNKN with me.:)

Minus a Son

2007-07-09T07:49:00.001-07:00

Sunday I did one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I left Huba in Montana. Now it is only for 34 days (31 left after today). I have them marked on my calendar. My mother asked if he could stay for a month now that she is retired. He’ll be attending a summer program that is very diverse in its activities. He’ll be doing everything from scholastics to gardening to swimming lessons to tennis to building a teepee. Plus hanging out with grandmother and three cousins. We couldn’t ask for a better way for him to spend his summer vacation~ but none the less we will spend it 9 hours apart. When I pulled out of my mother’s drive way I cried for the first 30 minutes of the trip. It was rough. Hubby had the teenager ride with me for those 30 minutes. Considering it was before noon when we were driving…. He slept. It was the thought that counts. Now I’ve talked to Huba a couple of time a day every day since I left him. And he’s doing wonderful having a blast and sure he misses me…. But it’s worth it. For him. I decided the best way to get through the next 30something days is to fill them up. Just get as busy as him. I’ve signed up for 3 classes (one was Monday night) at my LYS. It’s a “this is where I’m struggling at please help me with the pattern” type class. The group is full of fun women. I’m meeting a couple of girlfriends Wednesday night to stamp. And then of course there is Friday Night Knit Night every Friday night. That fills up 8 of the 30something nights. Hmmm. I think that I need to make some more plans. If any one local just wants to meet at a coffee/sandwich shop. Let me know.

CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST

2007-07-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Washington minus a son. I'll go into that a little later. But, driving home I thought of a contest. So here it is:

ANYONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN TO MONTANA KNOWS THAT YOU DON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT TRAVELING AT LEAST 30 MILES. EVEN WALMART MY DEAR FRIENDS. EVERY YEAR WE SET THE TRIP ODOMETER TO SEE HOW MANY MILES WE DROVE. THE PERSON TO GUESS THE AMOUNT OF MILES (OR CLOSEST) WILL RECIEVE SOME SOCK YARN.

hint: Kennewick, Washington. Boulder, Montana. Plus all of the clues in my past posts. The winner will be announced NLT Wednesday of this week. Please post guess in the comments of this post. Happy guessing!

2007-07-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

I'm still on vacation and need to play a little catch up of our events. Virginia and Nevada City were okay. I was a little disappointed as they didn't have the festives going that they advertised on the internet. We walked through the towns and saw all of the artifacts. Even went to Boot Hill. But, they didn't have the old fashioned 4th of July activities going. No watermellon eating contest, no stilt walking, nothing. The kids did have a great time because the candy store was at the edge of town. The very last place we went. $30 later all 9 of us had our own special bag of treats. We then went to Ennis, Montana. Ennis sits right on the Madision river. There is a wonderful park there where we had our picnic. We walked through town and went to all of the Fly Fishing shops. Drooling. They did have a LYS but of course it was closed for the 4th. I looked in the window and the only think that I could see was the fact that it was no bigger than a master closet. When we returned home everyone took a nap. Obviously our mini day adventures were catching up with us. That evening we lit off fireworks. A couple of days earlier hubby went to Helena and purchased them. All $150 worth. Holly cow, huh? I can't say a lot about it as that is one of the highlights of the trips for the boys and really the only time we spend any amount of money while here.

Birght and early on the morning of the 5th we woke up at 5am and was out the door by 530 to go fish the hatch on Holter Dam about an hour away. I didn't catch anything. Neighbor son caught two, one before anyone else had really started casting. As soon as we stopped he jumped out of the car and ran to the river and started fishing. I didn't manage to lose a $4 kastmaster spinner. Oops. It's one of the casualties of fishing. After fishing we spent some time in Helena looking for a gold pan for Huba. He was going to make us all rich by midnight that night. After about four different stores we got a telephone call from my mother. They had gold pans at the local mom and pop hardware store in Boulder (where we are staying)

Yesterday my mother and I headed out for Billings bright and early. My grandmother lives in a small town 40 miles east. We took the long way and went through Billings to go to Wild Pearls. I guess I am really spoiled with my LYS because once again I was disappointed. I mean how many yarns stores can a knitter go in and walk out empty handed. They had a nice selection but it was all yarn I could get in Kennewick. But if you are ver in Billings it is on the 1300 block of Broadway. Go there. They are really friendly. We traveled about 230 miles one way to have lunch with my grandmother. My grandmother never knitted. She crochet. The remarkable thing is that she has been legally blind since a young child. She made angels, doilies, and all sorts of items with crochet thread. It is so amazing that she did that with her eyes being so poor. Of course I brought all of my WIP's to show off. Her hearing is almost completely gone. She took each article out of the basket and touched it, admired it, praised it, etc. And when she had went through all 7 projects she promptly informed me that I had way too many projects going and I had better focus on getting these done before I started anymore. And then I should only have 1 0r 2 going at a time. I looked at her and replied, "yes grandma."

That brings us to today. Our last full day in Montana. I really don't know what the plan is. Everyone is still asleep. But, I'm sure whatever we do today.... we wouldn't be able to do any other place than Montana.