End of Summer Flowers

It's been a very HOT Summer here! We went for weeks with no rain and now we are getting very strong rainstorms about every other day. But even with this crazy weather, I still have some beautiful flowers growing in my yard.
Here are a few close up shots (I am not a great photographer so sorry for things not being in focus or even centered on the screen).

I have 3 Crape Myrtle trees in my yard. 1 of them blooms every year--2 of them after three years of tender loving care had never bloomed --- until this year!!

Busy visitor in my flower bed today!

A surprise bloom from an Azalea bush planted earlier this year!

Chocolate Sheet Cake...oh so easy and oh so good!

Yesterday was another rainy day here (and by rainy I mean scary stormy rainy downpour!). So I baked...
I have been wanting to try the Chocolate Sheet Cake from "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" cookbook
 and let me tell you this recipe is good! It's easy to make and doesn't take long at all. LOVE those kind of recipes!!
Here are a few pics~~~

I didn't add the recipe to this post because 1) I am not sure if I need permission to do that and 2) you really need to buy this book because all the recipes look great!
And no Ree Drummond does not know me~~no one asked me to promote her cookbook~~and I wasn't given the cookbook for free or paid to promote it.
I just like to bake and I like her cookbook and I liked this recipe!
And it was raining!!
I am hoping it doesn't rain again today because I am sure I gained a few pounds since this rainy season finally started!
Maybe on the next rainy day I should pull out my paper and stamps and make a few handmade cards instead!

A Year of Amazing Blessings!

When I started this blog it was just going to be a fun blog. A place to post cooking, baking, craft projects or other fun things and to post comments on some of my favorite blogs. But today I am celebrating a special anniversay! One year ago I started my own business "Seaux Southern (machine embroidery)".  I opened an Etsy store and the next day I had a manicure appointment so I decided to bring one of my towels to show it to my manicuriest/friend. Within 20 minutes I had taken orders for 7 towels and was invited to show my things at a "Womens Expo" It was an event the spa owner had to help highlight her customers home businesses. It was in 2 weeks and I really didn't have much but I brought a few things (a total of 5 things) and took orders. My head has been spinning with orders and business opportunities ever since!! So I am posting this today because it is such and exciting day for me!! I still have my Etsy store but most of my business has been word of mouth and selling my things to local stores but here are some of the things I have made in the past "Amazing Year of Blessings"!!
This is the towel that started it all~~~

I've made many baby items~~~

I've made things for dogs~~

Things for my husband~~

Holiday items~~

Misc. items~~

And lots of Fleur de Lis items~~

 And that's just a few of the things I've made this year!!
I never in my wildest dreams thought that things would be so busy! And it just keeps getting busier!!
LOVE IT!!!
So I will spend the rest of the day counting my MANY blessings of the past year and look ahead of the MANY blessings still to come!
I may or may not post about my business again but at least for today thank you for indulging me!!
And now I am off to stitch some more stuff!!