Cute Stripey Baby Hat

This hat is basically the same as the Blueberry Hat posted earlier but alternating three rows of two bright colors. It knits up fast and the colors make it a cheery venture!

Cast on 80 stitches DK weight cotton yarn on #5 - 16 inch circular needles.

Knit three rows of your first color and then change yarns and knit another three rows. Repeat until hat measures 5 inches long, unrolled. Keep alternating colors

Begin decreasing, changing to double pointed needles when necessary:

Row 1: Knit 8 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 2: Knit entire row

Row 3: Knit 7 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 4: Knit entire row

Row 5: Knit 6 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 6: Knit entire row

Row 7: Knit 5 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 8: Knit entire row

Row 9: Knit 4 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 10: Knit entire row

Row 11: Knit 3 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 12: Knit entire row

Row 13: Knit 2 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 14: Knit entire row

Row 15: Knit 1 stitches then knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Row 16: Knit entire row

Row 17: Knit 2 stitches together until end of row.

Continue to decrease until about 9 stitches remain and and knit to about 1 inch long. This is a bit of a juggling act - but your fingers can do it! Draw end of yarn through last loops and knot on inside.

Garbanzo Portabello Strogonoff

Eureka - this creation was tasty. Wonderful flavors and textures. Who needs beef anyway?

Garbanzo Portabello Stroganoff

Olive Oil
2 cups Cabernet or other dry red wine (half for the cook!)
1 large red onion minced
12 oz sliced portabello mushrooms
2 cup cooked garbanzo beans
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup sour cream

Saute the onion in olive oil about 2 minutes then add 1/2 cup wine and cook it down until it just coats the onion with no additional liquid. Add the mushrooms and do the same. Repeat with the garbanzos. Salt and pepper to taste and then add sour cream. Serve on egg noodles or brown rice.

Quilt Shops

My first quilt project was a brown and cream log cabin. I ended up giving it to Larry Aitkin for being so generous in his teaching of Anishinabe culture when I was designing displays for the Forest Service Office in Cass Lake. In the 1990's I got in the habit of making a quilt a year, but lost it when I moved to Milwaukee in 1999. Being retired now I have got the itch and have been working on my "stash" and working on a few squares. I feel almost in a meditative state with time to wonder and think about color. I truly delight in picking fabrics.

Best Quilt Shops so far...

• Piecemakers Quilt Shop in Hackensack, Minnesota
• Fabric Patch in Ironwood, Michigan
• Material Matters in Cedarburg, Wisconsin
• Main Street Quilters Bozeman, Montana
  

Add to my list!

My Milwaukee Favorites

My Milwaukee Favorites

• Alterra Coffee and especially Alterra on the Lake's lattes
  
• Bartel's Orchard for apples, pears, strawberry picking and garden plants
  
• Beans and Barley for breakfast, lunch or dinner
• Biking north along Lakeshore Drive or along the River Road
• Boulangerie DuMonde bakery in Cedarburg for baguette and croissants
• Brady Street for lunch/dinner and shopping
  
• Coquettes for dinner
• Chicago day trip (or overnight at Hotel Monaco) via Amtrak
• Farmers markets in the summer
• Fox Point Garden Club for native plants and Concordia Herb Fair in May
  
• Garden Room and Anaba Tea Room for tea, garden supplies and it's rooftop garden
  
• Italian Bakery on Brady Street for their cookies
  
• Kopp's icecream (Vanilla!)
  
• Lacke & Joys for outdoor equipment
• Kohler Art Center and Design Center day trip in Sheboygan
• Milwaukee Art Museum
• Mineral Point WI day trip
• Past Basket in Bayside - great dishes and linens
• Rhama's on Silver Spring for yarn
  
• Schlitz Audubon for hikes along the lake or when your lucky with snow xco skiing
• Third Ward for lunch/dinner shopping
  
• Whole Foods cheese and produce

Tell me yours...where ever you are.

Black Beans

I don't have a photo of black beans, so how about our water bottles? I woke up the first morning at the Porkies and they looked so colorful. And precious since we boiled river water diligently the night before. Do you think I should I start a label of photos "taken in pajamas"?

Well back to black beans...like water, so basic, simple and so good. Good for breakfast as huevos rancheros, good for lunch as burritos, good for dinner with grilled chicken and peppers, good as a bean and tomato sandwich at midnight!

Black Beans

2 cups black beans
1 tsp salt
2-3 tsp cumin
2-3 tsp cinnamon

Soak the beans overnight in salted water. Rinse in the morning and add twice as much water as beans. Boil until they are tender and mash them a little while adding cumin and cinnamon. These freeze well. They keep well on camping trips. You'll never buy a can of refried beans again!

Camping Checklist

In preparation for a longer trip to Montana I made the following checklist. It worked well for our shorter weekend backpacking trip too - we just narrowed the list and packed in no time at all. Hope this is useful to you as well!

Ten Essentials (Daypack) 1. Extra food 2. Extra water 3. Fleece top, hat and raincoat 4. Map of the area 5. Compass 6. Flashlight, extra batteries extra bulb 7. Swiss Army knife 8. Lighter, or matches in waterproof container, candle) 9. First aid kit 10. Sun and insect protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, bug stuff, hat)

Main Items
Rain cover/tarps
Tent, poles, pegs, groundsheet
Sleeping bag
Sheet/pillow
Sleeping pad
Camp chair?

Cooking Items
Salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, curry, cinnamon, brown sugar
Coffee, tea, cocoa
Powdered milk
Oatmeal, rice and pasta
Olive oil/balsamic vinegar
Stove/fuel (with all accessories & parts)
Cooking pots
Dipping/measuring cup
Insulated Cup or mug
Bowls or plates
Forks and Spoons
Spatula, wooden spoon
Pot scrubber
Dr Bonners Soap
Cutting board, GI can opener, cheese grater, cork screw, coffee press
Potholder
Water purification system (iodine or filter)
Wide-mouth water bottles (two or three each)
Water holder
Ziplock and garbage bags

Toiletries and First Aid
Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Floss
Deodorant
Lotion
Baby Wipes
Toilet paper in ziplock
Tampax
Laundry soap in ziplock
Cold medicine, cough drops
Ibuprofen and Tylenol
Antacid tablets
Antibiotic ointment
Antiseptic towelettes, wrapped singly
Band Aids
Butterfly adhesive bandages
Roller gauze
Medical tape
Moleskin
Triangular Bandage
Elastic bandages
Safety Pins
Needle, Tweezers
Scissors and/or razor blade
Thermometer

Extras/Repair
Extra lighter
Extra flashlight bulbs
Extra batteries
Extra pack buckles (waist buckle, 3/4" buckle)
Extra draw cord toggles
ThermaRest and tent patch kit
Stove maintenance kit
Tent pole repair tube
Sewing kit (w/heavy duty needle, thread)
Small length of wire
Duct tape
Nylon cord
Clothes pins

Entertainment
Camera
Binoculars
Notebook/pencil
Deck of cards
Art stuff,
Book

Clothing
Boots or hiking shoes
Sandals
Socks
Underwear
Bathing suit
Pants/shorts
Fleece jacket
Shirts (long-sleeve and short-sleeve)
Hat
Warm hat/gloves
Rain coat and pants
Long Underwear

Porcupine Mountains

Lake Superior - There' s nothing like a child's joy running along a beach to express the glory of a sunset. Pete, Davyd, our friend Sue and I trekked 4 miles into the Lake Superior cabin for three days in the Porcupine Wilderness State Park. We hiked along the Big Carp and Presque Isle Rivers as well as Gitchegumee, cooked on a campfire and danced in splendid sunsets. Take a look, I posted our photos on Photo Bucket at: http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/berlinfamily/Porcupine%20Mountains/ . Though I have been to the UP several times, I visited the the Porkies last in seventh grade on a family camping trip. Lake of the Clouds was as beautiful as I remember, though all the walls and boardwalks have taken some of the adventure I remember away. I was pleased we could secure cabin reservations just the week before - and at $65 a night the primitive little cottage was a steal for front row seats to splendid sunsets and the rhythm of waves all night. I gained an added dose of relaxation to walk among northern plants once again.

We spent Monday night in Ironwood Michigan and savored some fine pizza from Tacconelli's. The next day it was our good fortune to have the fan belt whistling like a bird, so Davyd an I were toured the Fabric Patch and several great antique shops while Pete had it repaired. We boosted the local economy a bit and had a non-whistling drive home Tuesday evening.