Wordless Wednesday

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Project Blizzard

When life sends a blizzard, throw snowballs. Welcome to my second installment of Project Blizzard!

I spent part of January sans car while the arthritic 4Runner got new U-joints, and I spent part of January without my beloved Nikon so it could be dust-free and freshly calibrated to seek out The Wave in Utah next month. So my photo opps this month were more limited than they have been in ages. Which means I had to put out even more effort trying to find extraordinary reasons to smile via photographs. A goal, I might add, worth more than words can ever express.


Got my 60-mile day on January 2. All kinds of smiles! Every flavor imaginable!


This photo was taken a couple of days before Christmas and shared in last month's Project Blizzard.


January 17


January harvest. They don't reach 12 inches at this altitude, but still mighty tasty!


Sizzle!


Whole wheat pasta, turkey burger, black beans, kidney beans, tomato sauce, chipotle powder, fresh home-grown basil, cilantro and oregano, purple onions and home-grown (in Colorado!) fresh New Mexico Big Jim peppers. Chili Mac Extraordinaire!


This was shot with the dinosaur Fuji S5000 I have to use when my Nikon's in the shop. At the age of 9 years old, clicked more than 100,000 times and NEVER serviced, this little guy doesn't do half bad. Just doesn't have any focus control.


The little Fuji again. I was thankful I didn't miss the sunrise, even though I couldn't get the camera to duplicate what the Nikon can do.


The last dusting-required sunrise photo for what I hope will be a long, long time.


My fun distraction while the Nikon was being serviced. The shaping is coming out so cool!


A fun distraction while car AND camera were elsewhere.


Another fun distraction while car was in surgery.


Finished last night.


A fun distraction from white snowflakes.


Four of our 14 Christmas cacti are still blooming! My favorite is the hot pink one The Lizard bought for me, my first, while I was in the hospital after emergency back surgery in 2004.


Two weekends ago, I worked in the indoor garden, now consisting predominantly of plants I brought inside prior to our first freeze last August. Some of the plants knew it was winter, even though they enjoyed our indoor climate, and faded into the no-green/no-grow zone. I emptied the withered pots, potted fresh soil and planted marigolds and Icelandic poppies. The poppies are pleased!


Cinnamon basil was among indoor transplants who knew it was time to go to sleep. So I planted new. Seeds are sprouting!


The clove trees were dormant through most of November and December, but January's minuscule increase in daylight stimulated them back into new leaf production!


My camera's sensor is once again clean.


Best of all, the 2012 Ride the Rockies route will be announced in just five more days!

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Snowflake Monday

I have been enamored with Queen Anne’s Lace since the very first time I saw my first sample, and I have since hoarded every pattern variation I can find.

As I designed the Uncompahgre Peak Snowflake, I kept thinking how perfect the snowflake would be if I worked it up into a lace pattern such as Queen Anne’s Lace. Nellie Creek is the name of the main trailhead to the summit of Uncompahgre, but that didn’t sound quite royal enough to me for something so elegant.

My next thought was Mount Lady Washington, which provides what I believe is the most dramatic view of Longs Peak a photographer can desire. Longs Peak and Uncompahgre are nearly across the state from each other, yet the name of Longs’ neighbor evokes emotions of princess nuptials, the summit view of The Diamond is fit for a queen, plus, Washington state is one of the places I longed to live if I couldn’t live in Colorado. To me, this scarf exemplifies the grace, poise and refinement of such personalities as Lady Di and Duchess Kate.


Leave it to me to pick a mountain for which I have no photos...


The lower slopes of Mount Lady Washington are to the right in both photos.
13,281-foot Mount Lady Washington received part of its name from Anna Dickinson, the first white woman to successfully climb Longs Peak, while atop Longs’ summit in 1873. She took the name from New Hampshire’s highest point, which she had climbed 26 times. Anna Dickinson, a gifted teacher and lecturer, was an advocate for women's suffrage and the abolition of slavery. She was far from just a mountain climber and tourist; she was the first woman to address the United States Congress.

Among the hikers accompanying her on her historic climb of Longs Peak was journalist Nathan Meeker, who inserted the word Lady into the new name in honor of Anna Dickinson. (Another of Longs’ neighbors, Centennial 13er Mount Meeker, was in turn named for the journalist who was slain six years later in the Meeker Massacre. Mount Meeker and Longs Peak are referred to as the Twin Peaks, one of many mountain duos by that moniker in Colorado.)


I snatch up just about every reasonably priced mostly white with touches of blue sock and lace yarn I can find specifically to use for this pattern, but the pattern also will work with worsted weight.

One particular hank of sock yarn I'd picked up at half price ran out as I was making a final whole snowflake to attach to the end of a finished scarf so both scarf ends match. The yarn had been discontinued. I searched and searched. Friends searched and searched. I even tried to buy leftovers from anyone who had any. Finally, Knackful Knitter Maria found a single full skein – at full price. All I needed was a few more inches! Yes, I bought it. Good thing I like the color!

Sue at Mr. Micawber’s Recipe for Happiness inspired me to work another whole snowflake to attach to the end of this scarf so both ends have matching complete snowflakes. This pattern may be made with or without the second full snowflake.

If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.


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


Size: snowflake 7.5 inches from point to point; scarf 9.5 inches wide and 54 inches long
Materials: 4 ounces (100 grams) of sock/fingering yarn or approximately 400 yards, size B crochet hook

Individual Sock Yarn Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 18 dc in ring; sl st across starting ch 2 and into starting dc. Do not pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same dc, *sk 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 dc in same dc as starting dc, [ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of staring ch 2] ([ ] counts as final ch 3 sp).

Round 3: 1 sc over post of final dc of Round 2, *ch 8, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 8, sl st in starting sc.

Round 4: *1 sc in next 8 ch sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times. Do not sl st into starting st.
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 5: *1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times. Do not sl st into starting st.

Round 6: *2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, sl st into top of dc, 1 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, bind off and weave in ends.


Mount Lady Washington Scarf Instructions

Ch 7, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: 9 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Do not pull magic ring too tight

Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 2 dc in each sc around for total of 18; sl st across starting ch 2 and into starting dc.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same dc, *sk 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 dc in same dc as starting dc, [ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of staring ch 2] ([ ] counts as final ch 3 sp).

Round 4: 1 sc over post of final dc of Round 3, *ch 8, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc (ch 3 and tr count as final ch 8); sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: 1 sc over post of tr just worked, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, *1 sc in next 8 ch sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc (ch 3 and tr count as final ch 7 sp).

Round 6: 1 sc around post of tr just worked, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, *1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same loop as starting sc, ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc (ch 3 and tr count as final ch 7 sp).
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 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over tr just worked, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, *2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, sl st into top of dc, 1 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, ch 1 sc in same ch as sl st (sc and sl st count as final ch 2 picot); turn. You have finished working in the round and now will work in rows, back and forth.


Row 8: Ch 10, sl st in 2nd ch 3 picot; turn.


Row 9: Ch 1, 14 sc in ch 10 sp; on this row only, ch 2 and turn. On repeat rows after 1st repeat, sl st into next ch 3 picot and turn.


Row 10: 1 dc in each sc across for a total of 14; sl st in next ch 3 picot; ch 1 and turn.

Row 11: *Sk 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * across 3 times for a total of 4 points; on this row only, ch 2 and turn. On repeat rows after 1st repeat, sl st in next ch 3 picot; ch 2 and turn.

Row 12: *1 sc in next ch 3 point, ch 8; repeat from * across 3 times; 1 sc in same ch 3 picot as sl st at end of Row 9; ch 1, turn.

Row 13: 1 sc in next ch 8 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, *ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * across 3 more times; ch 1, turn.

Row 14: *1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * across 3 times; ch 1, turn.


Row 15: *2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, sl st into top of dc, 1 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same sp; repeat from * across 3 more times; sl st in next ch 2 picot.

Repeat Rows 8-15 23 times or for desired length. Bind off; weave in ends.

If desired, make a second sock yarn snowflake and attach two points to end of scarf so both ends have a full snowflake.

This scarf does not have to be blocked, but it looks better – regal – when blocked.


unblocked


blocked


unblocked


blocked


unblocked


blocked

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Friday Funny

Memories of Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner emerge...

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A New Home

THE sweater was unraveled on anniversary day while said unwinder unwound atop the trainer in the basement in perfect tempo with the "Chasing Legends" soundtrack. All the yarn was back in a huge ball by the end of the second mountain stage of the 1994 Tour de France, when Big Mig claimed the maillot jaune. And not one fiber got tangled in the pedals!

Someone had sent me a link back in December to a group of volunteers who were actively seeking yarn donations for charity projects. Of course, this dumb blonde deleted the email and as a result had to search to find the Colorado group looking for yarn.

Finally, I found the Knit-Wits, based in Colorado Springs, who make handmade items for just about every charity you could possibly imagine. Preemies, elderly, homeless, chemo patients, veterans, Wounded Warriors...

My heart soared. I was so touched by the amount of giving this quarter-century-long group takes on, I went through all my stash and cleared out enough to fill two huge bags. And then, hoping something would be made specifically for a veteran or Wounded Warrior, I drove to the nearest discount store and purchased three more bags of red, white and blue yarn.

Off I drove to deliver the bags of goodies. Monday morning I received a note of extreme gratitude. "We're so excited over the yarn you have sent our way..." Included was a promise to send a photo of THE yarn so I can see what it becomes.

Which, of course, I will so happily share here.

Nothing heals the heart quite like doing something good for someone in need.

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Wordless Wednesday

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