What I've been making...

Not your granny's "granny." A new, more modern twist on the traditional granny square. I made it for a gift and the recipient picked out the bright colors. They look great together! It's really big, though! Each square is almost 12 inches and it kept me busy for the first half of summer.

Next up, Miss Skyleigh's mom requested a crochet blanket for baby girl's 1st birthday. In chocolate and lavender, no less. That girl has taste.

The search was on for a new and different pattern to use for her blankie. When I saw this daisy square I was in love. Well, as much as you can love a pattern. Because people. It has daisies! You know how I love my flowers... I just had to try it.

Then I got the pattern. Forty years of crocheting did nothing to prepare me and I almost. gave. up. Three (!) strands of yarn that must be kept in front, working in front of work and back, stitch markers everywhere. Profusions of yarn strands, markers, loops and near catastrophe loomed. There ensued much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

But.

The persistence. It pays off in the end. And I LOVE it again!

Another variation of a granny square. What do you think?

The birthday girl liked it too. It was totally worth it:)

This pattern for Daisy Charity Square is available from KrochetKrystal. To get the pattern, you need to join her yahoo group. The pattern will then be accessible and is free, but you must crochet a daisy square and send it to her to be added to one of her charity blankets.

Come on. Be brave and give it a try!

So they are no longer two, but one.

Here are some candid shots from the wedding. I won't have any of the "real" photos to show you all for awhile:)

Uncle Jared helps Nolan (the ring security specialist) with his tie.

Success!

Uncle Matthew with Nolan.

My new daughter, Sara, with Skyleigh.

Skyleigh always has a smile for Uncle Jared.

Skyleigh with Jared, Sara (the bride), Megan (my oldest girl) and Nolan Ryan.

One last thing.

We don't normally wear cowboy hats.

Or boots.

I hope you're not too disappointed.

So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. Matthew 19:6

A Rainbow For A Grand Girl

This is my granddaughter, Skyleigh Claire. Or as I like to call her, my grand girl. While she was here visiting Nan, she celebrated her first birthday! I happened to see this rainbow cake on the Daisy and Pear blog and knew it would be perfect for a first birthday cake. I used my favorite yellow cake and frosting recipes, then followed the excellent directions from Daisy and Pear. It will work just as well using a cake mix and tub frosting.

I made the frosting purple. Skyleigh likes purple :)

Everyone was surprised to see the rainbow hiding under all that purple.

The birthday girl had fun. Turns out, purple is very messy!

She likes it!

A LOT!

YELLOW CAKE

3 cups flour

2.5 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter

1.5 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 and 1/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 375. Sift dry ingredients together and set aside. Beat together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add milk alternating with the dry ingredients, a small amount at a time. Beat after each addition until smooth. (Divide the batter and add your coloring, if making a rainbow cake). Pour batter into greased and floured layer cake pans and bake about 20-25 minutes. Cool and frost.

NOT-TOO-SWEET FROSTING

8 ounces cream cheese

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups whipping cream, whipped

Beat cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. You can substitute an 8 ounce Cool Whip for the whipped cream, but it is really better with the cream :)

Posted to Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

Boots to Fill

Three pairs of boots. Waiting for six feet...

I snapped this photo as the boys were getting dressed for my oldest son's wedding a few weeks ago. The biggest boots were, of course, Jared's. The groom. The middle boots were Matthew's. My youngest. He was so thrilled to be the best man. And the wee blue boots were Nolan's. He was ring security. And yes. Those are the same boots he wore to help Nan in the garden. :)

...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Mark 10:8

Proper Gardening Attire for a 2-year-old

Nolan Ryan's Garden Fashion Guide:

1. Cowboy boots. Truly the best choice for footwear and must be worn at all times. They really should be blue, if at all possible.

2. A clean T-shirt that you picked yourself. Kindly refrain from wearing a hat in the blistering sun. They are much too restrictive.

3. PLEASE NOTE: Pants are an optional accessory and completely unnecessary.

Please visit Works-For-Me-Wednesday and Decorating Dilemmas for more great tips and ideas!

CRaZy CRuSt MeXiCaN Pie

This is one of those in a pinch, last minute recipes. The ingredients are fairly simple and you most likely already have most of them. If you have precooked hamburger from the freezer, it comes together even faster. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Crazy Crust Mexican Dinner

For the crust:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup sour cream

1 egg

For the filling:

1 pound ground beef, browned & drained

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 can chili or kidney beans (16 oz)

1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a 10" pie pan. Throw all the crust ingredients into a bowl and lightly mix with a fork. It will look weird and lumpy. Please do not panic. That's why it's called a "crazy" crust :-) Spread the batter very thinly on the bottom of your pie pan and more thickly on the sides up to 1/4" from the pan's rim.

Combine the filling ingredients and spoon into the crazy crust. Bake 15-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling slightly bubbly.

Top with lettuce, tomatoes and grated cheese. Serve with whatever additional taco toppings your family enjoys: guacamole, sour cream, salsa, olives, etc.

Please visit Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday for more great recipes.

Cowboys Go to Church, Too

We love attending Cowboy Church. We look forward to it each year. It's one of our most favorite church services, occurring during Cheyenne Frontier Days. How fun to celebrate the Lord's day outside, in a rodeo arena! The stands are filled with cowboys and girls of all ages, vacationers and tourists, along with local church goers like us.

Some of those who are getting ready for the big rodeo later in the day stop by to enjoy the service from their horses!

More four-legged "parishioners" and their riders.

Susie McEntire Luchsinger was the worship leader. I didn't get a good photo of the preacher, but the message was so good!


Skyleigh was fascinated with the horses.

And Nolan, too! This church is cool :-)