Friday Funny

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Overshadowed

Sometimes, you just have to treat yourself.

I began buying a new windshield sun visor each year because, with use, they would become ineffective, unraveled, and very difficult to keep in place, especially as Lizard's Parkinson's began robbing him of finger dexterity. Stiff visors were easier for him to manipulate.

A couple of weeks ago, I realized I hadn't replaced my visor this year because... well, other things really got in the way.

I decided to design my own because I can and because I thought one of our shadow shots from one of our many, many, many adventures would make me so very happy deep down inside every single time I look out my front window and every time I have to get in the car.

And guess what? IT DOES!!!

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Wordless Wednesday

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Gold Rush

I hadn't done real fall colors photography in a couple of years. Lizard and I were able to get a few shots on the way home from his mom's a couple of times, but, generally speaking, he wasn't able to tolerate road trips for the last two to three years.

I wanted to try to get at least a few shots this year. But every time I set a goal to go up into the high country, I would break down in tears because I didn't want to go without him.

I finally worked up the courage to go last week, and I actually had a fairly good time. I can't wait to go back up into the mountains.

Most of the color was gone, but I got a couple of good shots. And I set a goal to hike the last trail Lizard had set a goal to hike. We were going to do it together this fall. Next time I go up, I'm going to tackle that trail to see where it goes. I may not make it to the top of whatever mountain it ascends, but I can hike and have a good time and possibly even get some good photos while I try to train myself to breathe at altitude again.

For this brief trip, I hiked across the boardwalk that leads to the 14er Bierstadt trail. Lizard and I had gone as far as he was able to go on the boardwalk about three or four years ago. There were some wonderful memories along the way, and I pretended to talk to him as I climbed.

I wanted to get a shot of the 14er reflecting in the unnamed beaver ponds at the edge of the boardwalk. I'd just bought new hiking boots because the waterproof pair I'd bought in 2020 had begun wearing a blister on the back of my left heel the week before. This was my first hike in the new shoes. Second day wearing them, actually.

Just as I got close to the edge of the water, I suddenly postholed nearly thigh deep into a mucky, black sinkhole. It took me quite a while to get myself out of the literal mess I'd gotten myself into. I hadn't told anyone where I was going. I was alone. It was late in the day; most hikers had already returned to their cars. There was no signal on my phone, but, I managed to keep both my phone (which was in my pants pocket) and my camera dry.

I was afraid I was going to have to holler for help. And hope someone might be able to hear me. I was really stuck. It reminded me of the day Lizard and I traversed this very same trail in winter on snowshoes the year after my emergency back surgery. I was still working my strength back up, and I was unable to extract myself from a similar posthole, possibly in very near the same place but in deep, soft snow. Lizard had to rescue me.

I was finally able to get one leg moving, which enabled me to break free of the muck. Oh, was it nasty!!! But I got out. I asked Lizard if he had helped me. And I had a pretty good chuckle, imagining him laughing with me as I tried to scrape the black sludge off my pants and my new hiking boots. It was just windy enough to dry my jeans out by the time I returned to my car, so, I wasn't freezing all the way home. And EVERYTHING got a good wash, including my new shoes!

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Snowflake Monday

I had just spent the entire rainy day at the temple. I was hours and degrees away from the first forecasted overnight freeze of the season. (It didn't happen.) I thought my garden might be gone the next morning. I was running our electric fireplace for the first time since the night Lizard died. In the very same space where I was currently curled up to begin trying to design today's snowflake. With no inspiration whatsoever. Until I noticed the design on my fleece nightgown.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: 4.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Frostless Snowflake Instructions

Special Stitches

Popcorn Stitch (pc): Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 pc into ring, ch 3] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc into starting pc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Don't pull magic ring too tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 10, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch (bottom right branch made), ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, [ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch] 2 times (tri-picot tip made), working back down spoke, sl st in next ch, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch (bottom left branch made), in next ch 3 sp work (3 dc, [ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch] 2 times, 3 dc] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Missed Again and Again

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Catching the Halloween Wave

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