Funny Story

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My pink cosmos are exploding, and it looks like I'm going to get at least another week and a half of beautiful flowers, if the ten-day forecast can be trusted. (Sometimes it can, every once in a while...)

I captured one photo a couple of weeks ago that made me yearn for a smiling flower face. I've done this before with sunflowers, but never with cosmos. I immediately set out shooting cosmos so I would have a wide variety of color

I literally was on my hands and knees and even on my back trying to get just the right angle. I was all over the ground. Four straight days. Every chance I got. I was addicted. I kept going out for more.

I looked for my little open arm spiders, too, because they are so cute.

What I didn't look for or even think to beware of was slithering residents. Last week, while watering my lavender, I discovered a miniature snake.

I carefreely ambled back in the house for my phone, then sauntered back out to snap a photo I could use to try to identify the species. It was just a baby, maybe nine inches long. It hadn't moved at all. I walked back inside to photo search my young guest/tenant. Was not expecting a danger noodle at all. It's been years since we've had nope ropes in our yard!

Just as I discovered I had trouble brewing in the backyard, I noticed my neighbors huddled over my driveway on the opposite side of my house. I stepped out the front door to greet them and noticed a coiled visitor also occupying valuable territory in front of my house. And drawing quite the crowd. Just about all the kids in the neighborhood had to try to get a closer look. (My neighbor carefully guarded the button-tailed visitor to keep young 'uns from getting too close.)

My neighbor was able to gently shovel both reptiles into an orange construction bucket before relocating the twins to a non-disclosed area where humans will not be on the menu. Upon his return, he warned me because, he said, rattler mamas don't typically have just two babies. He told me to be very careful in my backyard. Lots of places for creepy crawlies to hide. YIKES!

Needless to say, I haven't been in the backyard much since then. But that's okay because I have plenty of cosmos photos with which I can play.

One of the flowers had the most beautiful coloring. I couldn't resist creating a greeting card.

That gave me an idea for more Spoonflower fabric.

Which meant I had to create a new cheater panel, too.

I'm going to try to save the seeds from the bi-color flower. It's just so darned beautiful!

Eventually, I'll probably get back outside and shoot some more cosmos. But I'm not so sure I'll be rolling around on the ground anymore!

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Faith over Fear

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Words to Live By

Just some favorite quotes from one of my favorite people.

"Think celestial!"

“Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions.”

"One of the best ways we can honor the Savior is to become a peacemaker."

"The future is always uncertain. Weather changes. Economic cycles are unpredictable. Disasters, accidents, and illness can change life quickly. These actions are largely beyond our control. But there are some things we can control, including how we spend our time each day."

"Charity is the antidote to contention."

"... end conflicts that are raging in your heart, your home, and your life. Bury any and all inclinations to hurt others—whether those inclinations be a temper, a sharp tongue, or a resentment for someone who has hurt you."

"Now is the time to bury your weapons of war."

"We have never needed positive spiritual momentum more than we do now, to counteract the speed with which evil and the darker signs of the times are intensifying. Positive spiritual momentum will keep us moving forward amid the fear and uncertainty created by pandemics, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and armed hostilities."

"We need each other."

"Counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems."

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Snowflake Monday

Do you remember last October when I imagined finishing this year's Halloween snowflakes early for my grands because I came up with a great new pattern after finishing last year's Halloween snowflakes? Guess what? I'm still not done yet!!! So here's a new variation, because 26 of the same pattern gets kinda boring. :)

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 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, optional second color (or any number of colors desired), googly eyes or other means of making eyes, 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
NOTE: I did not glitter these flakes.

Triple Shot IV Snowflake Instructions

With center disc color, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, 2 dc in each dc around for a total of 24 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 12 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Bind off if making flake in more than one color. Weave in ends.
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: If using same color, sc in same ch as sl st. If using new color, 1 sc in any dc. [ch 5, sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc] 11 times; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 12th ch 5 loop of Round.

Round 5: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5), in next ch 5 loop work (1 dc, ch 7, 1 dc), ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 loop] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 6; 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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Friday Fortius

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Rolling the Jellies

My Saturday goal on Jelly Roll Day (the fabric kind, not the bakery variety) was to finish piecing the back of my Calypso skirt.

I bought the initial jelly roll many years ago, then later bought coordinating Grunge yardage to cut into my own jelly roll strips and alternate with the Calypso strips for what I hoped might one day be the coolest dress on the planet.

I was short on Grunge strips after piecing the skirt front, which is still awaiting more machine embroidery along the seams. I'm not looking forward to doing that time-sucking project on the skirt back. But I want to wear the dress one day. So I will somehow muddle my way through.

After purchasing three different Grunge blues last year in an attempt to match what I'd bought years ago, I settled for one that was reasonably close but never cut the additional strips.

Until Saturday. The official Jelly Roll Day.

I finally counted how many blue strips are in the skirt front, counted how many blue stips I still have and discovered I need only two more stips. And yes, I did get them cut on Saturday. The official Jelly Roll Day. I'm ready to assemble the skirt back. Let's hope it doesn't take until next year's official Jelly Roll Day!

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Wordless Wednesday

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