Friday Finds and a Lulu Update

Hello everyone!

Thank you all for your lovely comments about the projects in my last post. My friend absolutely loved all the baby stuff I made her. I can't wait to see pictures of baby April lying on her blanket(s) or wearing one of her hats.

I found a couple of crochet patterns I want to try, so I thought I'd share them with you.  The first one is a baby blanket called Quick Blocks Baby Afghan. I found the free pattern here.   I got some Red Heart Soft Baby Steps yarn in Baby Blue while at Joanns the other day, as this will be for a boy. Here is what it (hopefully) will look like:

(Picture from Ambassador Crochet)

I love how it really does look like different blocks! I can't wait to get started on this one.

While perusing Pinterest, I came across this square, which I thought was so pretty:

It is a 12 inch square called the Yarn Clouds Square. I found the free pattern here but I think it can also be found on Ravelry.

I wanted to see what it looked like in color, and I was happy to come across this photo:

Isn't it gorgeous in color? I got this photo from a neat blog called A Granny a Day.  If you like Granny Squares, you simply must go check it out. As the name implies, she is making a Granny Square a day for 365 days!  She has links on her page to tons of patterns for squares too, in all different sizes.

The pattern uses two stitches I have never done before; Back Post Double Crochet and Back Post Single Crochet. I have decided I need to challenge myself and start learning some new stitches that I have previously shied away from.

Several of you have asked about our new puppy, Lulu.  I took her for her first grooming visit yesterday; doesn't she look pretty?

That bow lasted about 30 minutes, max!  She does not like bows in her hair, but happily wears sweaters. I took this picture this morning:

She always looks so sad in pictures, but I promise you she is not a sad dog. :)  We are still working on potty training - she is great when she is in her playpen area and uses her wee wee pads every time. However, when we take her out of there and have her with us, she wants to pee on any carpet, rug or pillow she can find! Yesterday she peed on a pillow and her wee wee pad was right next to her.  :(   So we still have a ways to go with potty training.

Someone asked about how she was doing with the cats, and the answer is, not good. Being a puppy, she barks at them and lunges at them, and they of course are not happy about that at all. We just figure that eventually they will all work it out. The cats have adjusted to her being here, and none of them seem upset about it anymore, so that is a good thing!

Other than that, she is doing really well. She has been to the local dog park a couple of times and seems to really like it. She is also great in the car, and loves going for car rides. We signed her up for a Basic Manners class, which starts on the 18th of this month and runs for 6 weeks. She will learn how to walk on a loose leash, and will learn several commands, including sit, down, etc. She already knows how to sit, so I am looking forward to her learning new things.

That's about it for now. Have a great weekend all!