Autumn Color

We haven't been able to do much fall color photography the last few years, but I am sure relishing the half day we spent recording the gorgeous hues of autumn at the end of September.

Lizard wanted to ride a mountain trail he used to tackle all the time before his Parkinson's diagnosis. Up to St. Elmo we went! The ride was "steeper and much harder" than he remembered, his words, so we weren't able to do the entire five miles. But what we did do was spectacular, and I hope he can keep riding, even if only a couple of miles at a time, for many years to come!

Fortunately, many rest stops meant many, many photos. Didn't do bad for such a short high altitude visit!!!

Lizard has had such a rough year, thanks to our friend Parky. But he keeps right on fighting, and I'm going to try to keep making wonderful memories with him as long as we possibly can.

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Snowflake Monday

The super cute dish scrubbies Mrs. Micawber sent for Christmas many years ago finally completed their journey. (They wore out.) (Mine actually lasted YEARS beyond the "months" Sue displays on her blog.) I found myself longing for new hand-crocheted scrubbies because I liked what she made so much better than anything I've been able to buy in a store. I didn't think to ask her last time we got together if I could beg for a few more for a future Christmas present, so I decided to try my hand at making snowflake scrubbies. I hope Sue approves!

I still don't go in-person shopping much, and I didn't want to spend too much time searching for tulle or nylon net, and I guess I'm a bit lazy because I didn't want to cut up strips of it if I found mesh yardage. So I cheated and bought rolls intended for weddings.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflake scrubbies you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Please make sure to check Sue's tips for working with nylon netting before attempting a pattern like this for the first time. You won't regret it. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: 5 inches from point to point
Materials: about .5 rolls of 3-inch net mesh, size G crochet hook,

Snowflake Scrubby Instructions

Please make sure to check out Mrs. Micawber's awesome tips before beginning this project.

Chain 4; sl st in starting ch to form ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join on this or any of the rounds to follow.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc.

Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc] 6 times for a total of 18 sc.
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 4: This Round is worked with one sc in every sc around PLUS 6 sc worked through center of starting ring (drop sc). Make sure not to skip any stitches while working drop stitches. [1 sc in next sc, draw up loop through starting ring, yo and draw through both loops on hook (drop sc made), 1 sc in sc that may be partially covered by drop st just made, 1 sc in next sc] 6 times for a total of 24 sc.

Round 5: 1 sc in each sc around, working 2 sc into each Round 4 drop sc for a total of 30 sc.

Round 6: 1 sc in each sc around, working 2 sc into 2nd sc of each sc inc around for a total of 36 sc.

Round 7: This Round is worked with one sc in every sc around PLUS 12 sc worked through Round 4 sc stitches before and after each Round 4 drop sc. 1 sc in each sc until the sc before next sc inc, [1 drop sc into Round 4 sc in front of drop sc to make spike, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, ch 2, 1 sc in same sc, 1 sc in next sc, 1 drop sc into Round 4 sc after spike, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 6 times for a total of 48 sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: for hanging loop, work ch 12, sl st in 12th ch from hook on any point instead of ch 2.

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Friday Fantastic

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One Row Short

(affiliate links to my designs)

I got about two months into my 2024 digital snowflake temperature quilts when I realized I had not made them big enough to record the entire year. I was able to add rows to most of this year's projects, and a few will go into January.

I must have forgotten to add a row onto the batik digital temperature quilt because it's done now. Although I wish I had added that extra row or two, it's not that bad as is. And it's delightful to be done with one. I've had difficulty keeping up with the digital projects this year, thanks to changing life circumstances. But I'm on the home stretch. Just two more months of 2024, and then maybe a few days of 2025. I may take a temperature quilt break next year. Temperature quilts are so much fun and so visually stimulating, but they can also be such a chore!

Here we go again! I decided last night to add one more row to two sides, which means my 2024 digital temperature quilt daily pressure has not changed!!! But, perhaps this will change the batik project up a bit and give it a whole new look...

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Wordless Wednesday

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The Garden's End

We got a full extra month out of this year's garden. Our first overnight freeze didn't occur until last weekend. So I had fresh tomatoes and peppers all the way up until Friday.

I tried to cover the raised-bed planters Friday night, but the plants didn't care. When we removed the blankets the next morning, the plants that should have been toasty warm were dead. This happened last time I tried to cover the plants prior to a freeze, which I think was spring last year, but I had to try again.

Prior to covering, we brought in all the baby peppers and all the tomatoes that looked like they might be mature enough to turn red in the window. I'm not sure how many will actually turn. I gave my mom a good belly laugh because she loves fried green tomatoes, and she remembered the year I tried to make a baked version with my green tomatoes. (Miserable fail.)

We had our first snow Sunday night, and now the flowers are gone, too. I am going to miss my garden for the next five months, but I'm hoping I will get many chances to shoot snowflakes while I wait!

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Snowflake Monday

I was not sure this would work, but I had to try. The unstiffened version does make a cute-as-could-be figet toy, don't you think? Stiffened, I love how the second row forms a gigantic grin.

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: 5.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, small (1.18-inch) eyeball finger puppet ring, 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
NOTE: I did not glitter this snowflake, although I did try putting glow-in-the-dark pigment into the glue. Also, I bought my eyeball finger puppets on Amazon. I do not make a commission on sharing this link. I'm just sharing where I got mine.

Fidget Snowflake Instructions

NOTE: This snowflake is NOT worked in the round.

Row 1: 24 sc over ring; ch 5, turn. Pull magic circle tight.

Row 2: [Sk next sc, 1 dc in next sc, ch 1] 12 times, omitting last ch 1 of final repeat; turn.

Row 3: Sl st into next ch 3 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 6 dc in same sp, 7 dc in each of next 11 ch 3 sp; turn.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Row 4: [Ch 10, sk next 14 dc, sl st between7/dc groups] 6 times, working final sl st of Row into 2nd ch of Row 3 starting ch 2 that counts as dc; ch 1, turn.

Row 5: [In next ch 10 sp work (7 sc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 7 sc] 6 times; sl st into final Row 7 dc; turn.

Row 6: [Ch 7, [in next ch 3 sp work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), in next ch 5 sp work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 7), sl st between next 2 7/sc groups] 6 times, working final sl st of Row into 1st sc of Row 5; bind off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: To make a soft fidget toy, do not stiffen. However, I would dab a dot of glue over each weaved-in end (and allow to thoroughly dry) to help stitching last longer. I also don't know if I would hang this snowflake from the tree. I think this snowflake might be a desktop model. :)

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. Stretch out and 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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Friday Funny

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