Clipping yarn...



Photo Credit zazzle.com



 I found this picture and thought I needed to add it to my blog because I am "clipping" one more thing in my life, yarn.

I have been taking pictures of most of my crochet projects and I can't wait to share.

This Grey baby blanket with aqua trim is one I made for my cousin Stacey when she had her son Brock.

This pink with brown trim baby blanket I made for my niece Kristin after she had her daughter Claire and I made another one exactly like it but blue with brown trim at the same time for her sister-in-law, my nephew's wife Christie who had her baby boy Ethan. Wish I wouldn't have forgotten to take a picture of it.

The lilac blanket with grey trim was made for my sister, Elizabeth when she had her daughter Scarlett.

I made this purple and green baby blanket recently for the owner of my salon who is due any day now with a baby girl. I do have to say the colors in the picture don't do it justice. The purple was called grape and in my opinion it looks blue in the pic.

So, to date I have made seven baby blankets and working of the eighth. Pictures coming soon on #7 & #8! Because they are gifts I don't want to spoil the surprise by showing it here.

And, I have a couple more projects I'm working on. I pick them up when I need a change of pace to all the baby blankets.

This is the start to a blanket I'm making to go in our bus. I will be huge when it's done and it has been an ongoing project. Also, I have started another blanket that Jasmine requested it's grey and I am still working on it. Pics to come when it's finally finished.

Finally, this week I made this adorable hat for my niece Scarlett. OMG! I am in love with it! It's funny how this one got started. Jasmine asked if I could make her a grey and black striped hat with ear flaps so I looked up a pattern and got to work. Obviously, I needed the distraction for my current project. Anyway, I realized as I was making this hat that it wasn't going to be big enough for Jasmine's head but I just finished it anyway. Then, because I was on a roll, I decided to learn how to make a flower to go on it. I am so proud of my first hat. So much so that I couldn't stop showing everyone at work.

One short year ago

Wow! I was just reading the post I wrote a year ago just before my mom passed away. I had forgotten about that one.

I wrote all about my effort to get into to a better routine. Which, by the way, is never ending! I think I go through this every fall when the seasons change and Jasmine is back in school.

I suppose I just find it interesting to look back, I didn't know how my life would change just over a week later. 

Well, I am in the same place with trying to create to-do lists and schedules that make my life easier. But, I am not the same person I was a year ago.  I am a person who realizes life is too short.

Ice cream on a snowy day

Whenever there is a snow day for Jasmine and school is called off, I always feel the need to bundle up and get out!

Jasmine spent her time following me around taking pictures of herself.

And, taking video...

A little video of one of our boat rides

Keith and I went on a boat a couple weeks ago by ourselves. He wanted me to take some video of the wake. But, when I panned around I couldn't see the front of the boat.

September 19

On September 19, 2011 I went over to Palmer Lake Park to walk around and reflect on the past year without my mom. I sat there for well over an hour just talking to myself. I really needed that! I also tried to find the perfect place to stand to take this picture. I wanted to capture the red house on the hill where my parents lived and the lake where she spent her last happy moments walking around with my dad. I do have to say this picture means a lot to me. 

Scarlett is here

So excited! My niece, Scarlett Rayne Elizabeth Cooks was born on Tues. August 9, 2011 at 8:50 am. She weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and was 19 in. long.

I'm a proud Aunt again!

My first crochet project

I have recently learned how to crochet and I am loving it.

This baby blanket I made was a gift to my co-worker JoAnne. She didn't know what she was having so I choose white with aqua trim. She had a girl so it was a perfect color. This was the first time I had given one of my projects as a gift. I was very nervous! But, she loved it! She even teared up a bit, which made me tear up. I'm so happy she liked it!

I ran for the first time in a while...

I did the May 2011 Nielson 2 Mile Challenge with my friend Kelli. My time was 0:25:16.107.

I shouldn't admit this but, I placed #103 of 125. Whatever... I still got out there!

Homemade Enchilada sauce

I made this Enchilada sauce for dinner. I didn't have any canned enchilada sauce so I went looking for a recipe. I found this one on a forum. I really liked it.

(makes 3 cups)
2 T. cooking oil
2 T. all-purpose flour
2 T. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can (14 oz. chicken broth)99%fat free
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)no salt added
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Heat oil in large saucepan; stir in flour & chili powder. Cook for 1 minute then all remaining ingredients. Bring to boil & simmer for 10 min. Refrigerate extra.

Strawberry Cheesecake Shake - FP

Yum! I made this Strawberry Cheesecake Shake this morning.
I did change it slightly...

1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese
1/2 cup almond milk
2 packets of sweetener (I use Stevia)
2 cups of frozen strawberries

Blend until smooth. If you like cottage cheese you will like this shake. Next time I think I will add 1 cup of almond milk (since it's 1 point for up to 1 cup). I had to add some water to loosen it up because I didn't follow the instructions and blend before adding in the strawberries. Really good.

Also, I may add some protein powder or flax seed next time. And, I could experiment with different fruit! I see blueberries or peaches in my future...