The McFarlane family – my husband, Dave and his three brothers, all our families, and clan matriarch, Verda – goes camping each year at Devil’s Lake State Park.

It’s our turn (me and Dave) turn to coordinate the party, although it doesn’t take a lot of coordination. We’ve been doing the Family Campout for so long – many, many years before I joined the family – that people know what they’re supposed to do.

A little bit of controversy does arise each year about whether to serve chicken on Friday and pork chops on Saturday, or pork chops on Friday and chicken on Saturday. The issue is resolved by the family coordinating the campout that year. That family then must live with the consequences of their choices for 12 months until the issue comes up again.

This year I have sent out this postcard to remind people of the Campout and ask for information about the number of people coming.

Sketchbook 1

This is first in a weekly series of sketchbook pages which I’ll scan, tweak and present here. Each image is a stand alone; after this I won’t comment. But you can.

Mothers, Part 2 ~ What a year!

Four babies are expected in the family during the next six months!

My mom sent me a vintage baby bootie knitting pattern. My sister and I wore booties like these; apparently they stay on a baby’s feet better than most knit booties.

Back in the day, booties were the only baby footwear. Oshkosh B’Gosh had yet to invent those cool little socks with non-skid rubbery stuff on the soles.

So I’m knitting booties these days, trying to keep up with the onslaught of infants.