31 January 2016

Snowflake Sunday


In celebration of Snowflake Day on February 6, I'm sharing a new snowflake pattern every day this week! Sisters of the Snowflake are preparing for their second annual snowflake ball. And I'm gearing up to announce this year's special project, which, quite frankly, I hope will knock your socks off. It's about the best thing my husband and I have made together. So far.

My notes for today's snowflake said simply, "I don't really like this one."

So while testing the pattern (which had a few clowny booboos in it), I dressed it up a bit.

Now I like it... because it's... well, different!

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: 4.25 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

Big Top Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc),1 dc in ring, ch 4, * 2 dc in ring, ch 4; repeat from * 4 times around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: * In next ch 4 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, [ch 5, sl st in sc] 2 times (tri picot made), 2 dc,1 hdc, 1 sc; repeat from * around 5 times, sl st in starting 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 3: Ch 2, yo and draw up loop through same sc as sl st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through next hdc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (dec made), * ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), [ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook] 3 times (3 picots made), ch 7, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, 1 dtr in next ch, 1 trtr in next ch, [ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook] 3 times (3 picots made), ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), sk over next picot and next 2 dc, yo and draw up loop through next hdc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through next sc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (dec made), yo and draw up loop through next sc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through next hdc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (dec made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dec of final repeat; sl st in starting dec; 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.

28 January 2016

End of the Thread


One of my friends recently asked how much white thread I go through in a year. Above is my collection of empty cotton spools from the last three years, so I guess the answer might be a third of that.


This is my white stash. (The color stash is about twice this big.) Some of my white was bequeathed to me; some of it came from non-crocheters who inherited it and didn't want it. A few were clearance items I couldn't pass up.

I'm trying to use it up, but I feel like I'm not making a dent. Even when I bury myself in an all-white special snowflake project.


This was my white Christmas. Ha ha! I don't think I'll ever run out. Ever. (That's not a complaint.)


This is what 300 yards looks like off the spool. Winding a spool into a ball makes it easier to carry along on the train. So I can keep trying to use it all up.

One of the things I learned last year during the creation of Snowbike is Cebelia, Red Heart, Baroque and Lizbeth whites are not all equal. But I forgot. So this year's special project features shades of white. When I first noticed the white snowflakes didn't all match, I briefly considered re-doing about 40 snowflakes. Then I decided the range of hues might add depth to the project.

In reality, I didn't want to do 40 white snowflakes over again!

This particular ball of thread was entirely invested in this year's special project, which I can now proudly call done!!! This 300-yard ball took me about two weeks to devour. The special project, featuring 157 different snowflakes, ate up two balls of Red Heart, three balls of Cebelia, two balls of Lizbeth and two skeins of Baroque. Four shades of white all in one project. One done project!!!

The big reveal will be February 6, 2016, the second annual Snowflake Day/Make a Snowflake Day!

26 January 2016

Skyway


Cross-country skiing didn't see any time on my calendar last year, but we're making up for it this year!

We kicked off the new year (a week late) with a two-day Nordic swoosh atop the Grand Mesa.






Typically, when I first put on my skis again each year, I have to learn to balance, turn and stop all over again. This year, physical therapy since my last time on skis has made me just a bit stronger! I still had to get that balance thing under control again, and I'm still not too sharp on turns and stops, but I had fewer sound effects this time around snapping into my skis.

Typically, The Lizard has had to help me snap into my skis. Not this year! I did it myself the first time ever! And without falling down, too!


Skyway is wonderfully groomed Nordic track along the western edge of the top of the Grand Mesa. Most of the trails are easy for a beginner/klutz like me. Miles and miles of gentle rises and falls, with four feet of padding when the inevitable spill does occur.






I do still need an extra hand to right myself when I go belly up, but I fell down fewer times this trip.

I had to walk up two steeper hills. The Lizard carried my skis when I had to walk.








The weather was gorgeous. Frigid cold, but gorgeous blue sky, occasional peek-a-boos by the sun, and shimmering snowflakes big enough to admire as I slid along. I didn't take my extension tubes or lights, so I couldn't do extreme macro, but I had fun shooting the big luxurious flakes with my portrait lens and available light on the black fabric of my church dress...




the black fabric of my coat...


the car window...




my skis...


and my ski boots!!!






While The Lizard loaded our skis at the end of the day, I went belly down on the nearly empty parking lot to shoot the last rays of light reflecting off the freshly fallen sparkling snowflakes covering the ground.

25 January 2016

Snowflake Monday


I need a few more small snowflakes for my special project. This little gem gets a BIG name...

X: Unknown coined it in 2004, Word Spy reported it, and I'm going to make it famous! Or is that infamous???

winterregnum – n. A pause or interruption in a continuous activity during winter or caused by winter weather.

I'm not even sure I can pronounce it!!!

Feel free to join in the Snowflake Ball activities at Sisters of the Snowflake!

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: 2.75 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

Winterregnum Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 17 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same ch as sl st, ch 10, * sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 10; repeat from * around 4 times; 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 3: Ch 2 (counts as dc), [in next ch 10 sp work 3 dc, 3 hdc, 1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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.

21 January 2016

At the Ready

nurse

Lost in another world while crocheting away on a natural-dyed cowl, I was snatched back into reality when the standing passenger on the other side of the seated passenger next to me collapsed. The train was sardine-packed, as usual, so it took a while for the ailing passenger to hit the floor, but the slowness of the descent miraculously softened the blow, and the wad of passengers further cushioned the impact.

Three times, I'd been aboard a train when medical emergencies occurred, but this was the first time I had been close enough to assist, if needed.

This time, I was amazed three other passengers also had first aid training and immediately responded. As it turned out, the passenger who passed out was suffering dehydration and was well enough to be escorted to services at the next stop. Again, I was amazed by the number of passengers willing to help.

Renews my faith in the world!

This experience, however, reminded me how important it is to keep my first aid skills up to date. I was not needed this time, but the circumstances could have gone a hundred different ways.

I've had basic first aid training ever since my first year in girls' camp, at the age of 12. I've been certified off and on since about ten years later, the first time I served as a girls' camp assistant director.

Many times, my certification has lapsed, either because I was too remote or too broke to renew.

In 2003, a few days after an attempt at Challenger Point with my good friend Ferenc (rhymes with Terence), I learned from Ferenc' trip report tragedy had struck on the mountain that day.

I had not been close enough to help Stano and Martina, but also, my certification at that point had expired. I could have done whatever needed to be done if I had encountered the need, but I did not have up-to-date training.

Just a few months earlier, I was in Moab training for my first Ride the Rockies at nearly the same time Aron Ralston was in central Utah about to make headlines. I was nowhere near close enough to help when he needed help, but the adrenaline pulsating when I learned of his predicament made me realize my first aid training had not been updated in a few years. I spent a lot of time in the wilderness. What if I had come upon someone who needed help, and I didn't have adequate training?

I did renew my certification later that year. It has expired twice since that time. But I'm current now. I've been current ever since we got an AED at work. Volunteers on each floor were sought to maintain CPR and AED certification, just in case. I volunteered to be the officially certified helper on my floor. (There are three other volunteers on my floor, too.)

If the train passenger that morning had been in a fight for life, I could have helped. And I was right there.

I am no Boy Scout, but for that day, my peacock feathers may have been visible. I was prepared. I intend to stay that way. I just recertified again last week. What about you? Are you ready?

19 January 2016

I can ride for miles and miles


Although I did phenomenally well last year on quilting goals, I fell short on my overall cycling goals. Now that snow and ice have clogged much of the bike path, it's time to look ahead and make plans for warmer days. I want to be in good shape for Ride the Rockies in June, assuming we like the route and further assuming we get drawn.

This month, RBR ezine asked readers to evaluate how they did in 2015, and instead of just saying, "I got this one!" and "I got that one!", detail what made goals attainable and what made them difficult.

I knew by July of 2015 I would not reach my goal of pedaling 3,000 miles by December. I modified the goal to 2,000 miles, which I still did not reach. But I missed the revised goal by only 49 miles!

I have yet to learn to say no to charitable requests, and I often stack my own personal crafting goals a bit too enthusiastically high. I spent much of 2015 being over-committed (which really isn't odd for me), and I have no one but myself to blame. I also can't be angry with myself for this because I gave in a lot of ways that affected a lot of people. Had I chosen to ride my bike instead, it would have made me happy. Well, and maybe The Lizard.

I'd like to think the service projects I did throughout the year and the quilts I made for nieces and nephews made a bigger difference in the world than a few more miles on my bike would have made.


My most important cycling goal of the year was to regain the strength I'd lost during my 2012 bike injury and recovery.

I'm still working on that goal, but I'm pleased with how well I did during Ride the Rockies last year because it was one challenging route (to me), and I didn't train as much as I would have liked, due to weather and construction. Construction at times probably was an even bigger factor in me not attaining my mileage goals in 2015 than my inability to say no.

My 60-mile round trip commute to work is an easy way (for me) to build mileage. But our oh-so-wet spring left many sections of the bike path along the river under water for more than two months, and some repairs are still in progress to this day. Some of the detours (or lack thereof) were downright dangerous. My philosophy is: I want to live to ride again another day. I'm not going to pedal in an area where I don't feel safe just to click off a few more miles.

Besides, all the Boat To Work Days and bike path damage gave me more time for quilting! Which I did!


The most frustrating cycling goal failure for me was in November and December. We had several rides planned, and I would have been able to pedal about 200 more miles had the weather not interfered. But that's life in Colorado. You can't go into October short on mileage goal because chances of Indian summer extending through January are not always that promising. For two whole months, we just didn't get to ride.

The final week of the year, I'd look at the daily forecast and then calculate how many times I'd have to ride around the block to get 49 miles in 10 degrees on icy streets. If I did 9 miles every day... That's just plain silly!

We could have worked out on the trainers. But I don't count trainer miles in my annual mileage. Trainer miles can be good. But they are not the same as riding.

Trainer miles are free of road hazards, traffic, weather, and for me, even klutzy blond imbalance disorder. I can take both hands off the handlebars on my trainer without crashing!!!

Regardless of how many settings a good trainer has, riding a trainer in the basement is not the same as riding up Vail Pass or Independence Pass. The workout is not the same. For one thing, there's oxygen in the basement. None of that to be found at 10,000 feet!!!

Tipping the bicycle upward to simulate uphill riding??? Ha ha ha ha! Increased resistance on the tires to simulate riding in the wind??? Don't make me laugh!

Riding the trainer for two hours every night is going to help me lose or maintain my weight, but it's not going to help me get over mountain passes.

Oh, and did you know if you ride your winter-only trainer for two hours after six weeks out of the real ride saddle due to weather, you can still get saddle sores?


We won't find out the 2016 Ride the Rockies route until Saturday, February 6, and if we like the route, we won't find out until March if we've been drawn. We hope to participate, so it's time to start setting 2016 goals, even though we don't yet know what this year will hold.

We didn't get to go cross-country skiing in 2015, I think, and I think we went only once in 2014. That's just criminal! My goal for 2016 is to go at least three times, although I'd go every weekend I can this year, especially if we can't ride. We've got two trips under our belts at this writing, and that precious trip made me remember how much I love cross-country skiing. It's great cross-training for big cycling events because it's aerobic, it helps me get back in the habit of being out in the cold, and it targets essential muscle groups.


Last year we reduced the number of organized rides we participated in, mostly due to cost, but also impacted by my work and charity schedule. We discovered we really like riding because we want to ride as opposed to trying to be in shape by such-and-such date for such-and-such ride.

In 2014, we'd tried something new and signed up for the Tour de Lavender and Ride the Hurricane on the Olympic Peninsula, and we had so much fun, we decided that year we should do more new rides in the future.


The future is now!

Aside from Ride the Rockies, we're aiming for the MS-150, with a bit of a twist. This year, we're planning to volunteer for the Colorado ride (because they've had an increasingly severe shortage of volunteers for the last two years) and ride an MS-150 in Washington state. !!! Can you say, "Ooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!"

We'll be riding right across this baby!!!


Which means I have to finish another PDF snowflake booklet so we can raise money to benefit the fight against multiple sclerosis. Yes, this is part of my cycling goals this year, and I hope to have it done by the end of February.


For the first time since 2004, we are not planning to ride Elephant Rock. I could change my mind on this, however, because I love the ride, and right now, I can't even picture life without E-Rock. We don't have another ride picked out that weekend, but skipping Elephant Rock might give us a better chance of participating in the Santa Fe Century a few weeks earlier, which we did for the first time last year after about 12 years of wishing we had.


For the second consecutive year, The Lizard is not planning to ride the Triple Bypass or the Double Triple Bypass. For me. So we can focus on wildlife and wildflowers instead. Is he awesome or what?!?


Because training last year went awry, I did not attempt Pikes Peak. That means it's back on my list this year.


Photo by Brett Atkinson

Last year, I made it to the top of Vail Pass on my first attempt of the year. I had never accomplished that before. So it's back on the list again this year. We'll be riding Vail Pass plenty of times throughout the snowless seasons, but my goal is to make it to the top on my first attempt. That means Deer Creek Canyon is multiple times high on the list of early season climbs. I'm hoping for a good climb of Independence Pass this year, too, since we were unable to attempt it last year before the road opened to vehicles, due to snowfall well into June. Climb, climb, climb, and then climb some more. Get stronger. Keep the body healthy. Increase speed a bit, if I can. Then keep climbing some more.


Photo by Brett Atkinson

Now for the biggie... NO MORE WRECKS!!!

Actually, I'm not joking. It was a goal last year and the year before, and I accomplished it both times. I intend to keep the streak alive for as long as I can!!!

Now for the REAL biggie... I'm shooting for 3,000 miles again this year. I've done it twice before, so I know I can do it. Here's to my third 3,000-mile smile!


Photo by Brett Atkinson
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