Hello It's Me!

I'm back! Sorry it has been so long between posts. I actually have been doing some crocheting, and have some stuff to show you.

I wanted to make a Spring wreath for our front door, and was inspired by this one. However, in my small town I don't have access to craft stores like Jo-Anns or Michaels (sad I know!) and I didn't want to wait until the next time I went into town to buy the different colored felt she used for her flowers. So I decided to crochet my flowers instead. I used all different kinds of flower patterns that I found all over the Web and this is how it came out:

It's hard to see in the picture, but it spells out "Spring."  It was fun trying out new flower patterns, and I found several that I think would look cute on a baby headband or a crocheted beanie. Here are a few other ones that did not make it onto the wreath:

My favorite is the white one in the upper left hand corner of the picture. I followed a video on how to make it - you can find it here. She has lots of videos and patterns that you should check out also.

I also started a new baby blanket using the pattern I found here.  It is called the Faux Knit Baby Blanket and the stitches really do look like knitting:

I am using the yarn she suggested, which is Bernat Baby Blanket, in Baby Blue. It is basically just doing slip stitches in the back loop on each row, so it goes pretty fast. Plus it uses a "P" hook. The yarn is soft as all get out, but is hard to loop through my fingers the way I usually hold yarn, so I have had to adjust to that. I think I can get this one done quickly if I can just sit down and work on it for awhile uninterrupted!

I have also been doing some sewing here and there, and need to do more, as I have several more baby quilts to make. Seems like there is always someone I know expecting a baby!

Thought I would give you an update on Lulu. She is doing great, she is 5 months old already and is really growing. A couple of days ago I found some of her teeth on the floor, so guess she is losing her baby teeth! She graduated from her Basics Puppy Class and is now in the Advanced Class. She is not doing so well at this one - it is really geared towards having the dogs take the AKC Good Citizen test and she is really not ready for all that. Wish I would have known that prior to signing her up. The only good thing is that once a dog goes through the classes, they can always take it again, anytime, for free, so I expect she will be re-taking this class in the future. She is just too young and hyper to do all of the things that it requires!

I submitted this picture of her to the local newspaper:

They are doing a "Pet Idol" contest, so I entered her in the Cutest Dog category. I sure hope she wins!

I'm glad I took the photo when I did, because she now looks like this:

Yes, she got totally shaved!  I was so mad when I went to pick her up from the groomers. I asked her to trim her up and this is what she did!  Guess I need to learn dog grooming lingo better. Mr. S. was so upset when we got home. The worst part is it cost me twice as much as when they just shampooed her! I think I will be looking for a new groomer. 

I wanted to share a recipe with you too. I made this cake yesterday and it is soooo delicious. It is a Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. So sorry I do not have a picture to show you. I don't have a mini squares tin, so I just made mine in a 9 X 13 pan. I added some chopped nuts to the top after frosting it. Mr. S. had two pieces after dinner last night!  I did not put the cake in the freezer as the recipe suggests, so I don't know if it really makes it moister or not.

Think that catches you up with everything going on in my little corner of the world! Hope everyone has a great week, and that you are enjoying nice spring weather wherever you are  :)