Since We Last Visited...

I know I promised to post more often, and I apologize that my posts end up being rather, um, lengthy.  I will try harder to post shorter, more frequent "articles", rather than entire "magazines"!  But, here goes...you might want to pack a lunch!

 Here is what the inside of Greg's birthday cake looked like.  Looks better than it tastes.  The recipe on the box that the pans came in turns out VERY dry, so I tried a new recipe this year, and it is no better.  I have now gone online and found a couple of "moist" checkerboard cake recipes, so more experimentation to be inflicted on family!

 And, a belated Happy Valentine's Day.  Here is what my little tree looks like, when transformed from a snowman tree into a Valentine tree.

 This is just a little vignette I enjoy doing...it's a wonderful piece of fabric printed with vintage valentine cards, and a neat book of reproduction vintage valentines.

 This is an old Shepherd's Bush door heart.

 Here is my progress on the second sock of my first pair of knitted socks. 

 Here is the first sock.  And, yes, I know, it's pretty homely.  You may ask, why did she switch to a different yarn halfway down the foot?  And, my answer is this: I ordered the striped yarn from KnitPicks several years ago, and for whatever reason, thought that one ball was enough for a pair of socks.  Probably would be for kids socks.  But, after checking the yards in the ball of yarn against the pattern, I realized it wasn't enough.  So, I called KnitPicks, and was told that this color had since been discontinued, and there was not a single ball left anywhere.  But, I REALLY wanted to try knitting a pair of socks with THIS yarn.  So, I decided to find a solid color to use for the heels and toes.  I think I got a little carried away with the toe part on this one...I was so worried that I would run out of the striped yarn for the second sock, that I extended the toe all the way up to where the sock would be covered by a shoe.  I figure, these are for me, they are a learning tool, just don't worry too much about it.

 A new book I ordered arrived last week...on the recommendation of my friend Tanya.  Can't wait to read it!

 Progress on Primitive Needle's "Cape Cod's Girls".

 Progress on Carriage House Samplings' "Elizabeth".  I really need to give this poor girl a face!

 A finish!  Carriage House Samplings' "D is for Deer".

 And, another finish, "V is for Valentine"

 Progress on Blocks 4 and 5 of Carriage House Samplings' "Village of Hawk Run Hollow".

 Progress on Prairie Schooler's 1992 Santa.

 I tried my hand at Chinese cooking last weekend, this is Kung Pao Chicken, it was really, really quite good.

 And. homemade fried rice to go with...also great!

 Lastly, a sign of hope for things to come...daffodils poking through the soil!

Spring is just around the corner!  AMEN!