29 July 2013

Snowflake Monday

I guess that's why they call it the blues...

Eight years ago The Lizard and I attempted to celebrate our one-week anniversary with a hike to Blue Lakes in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness. I'd had emergency back surgery eight months earlier, I was pretty darned sore, and rain began coming down steadily, making the steep trail slippery and causing The Lizard to worry about lightning. We turned back before reaching the goal.

A week later, we made it up that trail. The wildflowers were armpit high and thicker than a forest of trees. The lakes literally were blue. I'd never seen anything like this magical place in my life, and I burned through a camera battery and two memory cards in no time.

Dazzling Upper Blue Lake

Blue Lakes Grandeur

We returned to Blue Lakes three years later, me a bit stronger, the weather a bit dryer. The late frosts we had that spring had decimated the wildflower population in the Blue Lakes basin. Nevertheless, the hike was fun, and I got some great shots of hummingbirds and hummingbird moths.

We made the trip one more time this month to celebrate eight years of being hitched. I got off work late, and we had to drive through the night in order to beat forecasted afternoon thunderstorms during our hike. Halfway up the 3.3-mile climb, we encountered mounds of pea-sized hail two and three inches deep. All the leaves, flowers and pine cones had been sheered from this section of the forest, perhaps during the night while we were driving.

We thought there would be no wildflowers at the lower lake once again.

hail and debris

stripped by hail

Fortunately, the hail storm must not have crossed over into the Blue Lakes basin. All wildflowers were present and accounted for.

I shot 472 photos!

I've been having wildflower withdrawals for a year now because back injury stole last summer from me, and Colorado's drought has not been kind to many wildflower basins and meadows for the last couple of years.

Blue Lakes hummer sipping larkspur

This hike more than made up for what I've been missing. Blue Lakes was worth driving through the night, and it was worth the strenuous hike in new hiking shoes that threatened to blister my toes.

I am so thankful I live in Colorado.

More photos of this gorgeous setting on Wordless Wednesday!

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!

Blue Lakes Snowflake

Finished Size: 7 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 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

Blue Lakes Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: 1 sc in same ch, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc, * 1 sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting sc.

Round 3: 1 sc in same sc, *1 sc in next ch 3 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3); * 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 10, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp, ch 3, sk next dc, hdc and sc, 1 dc in next sc, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc and last ch 3 of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5; bind off.

Round 5: 11 dc in any ch 5 loop at the top of a spoke, * ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 6, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (another dc picot made), 11 dc in next ch 5 loop at top of spoke; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook; sl st in top of starting dc.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st, * 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 5 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in middle ch of next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 2 dc in 1st dc of next 11/dc group; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
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: 1 sc in same ch, * 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 5 dc, 3 dc in next dc (middle of 5/dc group), ch 3, 3 dc in same dc, ch 3, sk next 5 dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, [ch 3, 1 dc in same sp] 2 times, ch 3, sk next dc picot; 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: 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 the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

Blue Lakes Snowflake Rock

4 comments :

  1. The shot with the ice melting is great, must sure be quite the sight to see

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Pat! One of my favorite hikes in all of Colorado!

      Delete
  2. Thanx for all the beautiful patterns. Colorado is beautiful. you are blessed to live there. hope your back isn't giving you grieve anymore. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Retha! I, too, feel incredibly blessed to have Colorado as my backyard. I'll never run out of things to do and places to see! The back is much more tolerable now, thank you. I'm anxious to get back out there next summer and get more stunning mountainscape photos!

      Delete


Dusty words lying under carpets,
seldom heard, well must you keep your secrets
locked inside, hidden deep from view?
You can talk to me... (Stevie Nicks)

All spam is promptly and cheerfully deleted without ever appearing in print.

If you are unable to leave a comment and need to contact me, please use the email address in the sidebar. Thank you!

Related Posts with Thumbnails