31 August 2021

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Back in late March or very early April, I posted to social media a photo of Lizard getting his vaccination. I'd had to work very hard to get first-shot appointments for both of us so early because he was one month shy from the then-current eligibility age and his "other" special needs factors did not fall neatly into my state's official criteria (even though I, along with thousands of others, had unsuccessfully petitioned our governor to move people with neurological conditions up in priority), and vaccination appointments throughout the Denver metro area for the first three months were extremely hard to come by (which, in retrospect, was a very good thing... most people WANTED to be vaccinated).

Lizard's vaccination appointment was nothing short of a pure miracle, which I might elaborate upon one day, but not right now.

My own appointment was finally earned - within my age eligibility period - because I was willing to search city by city and then to drive to another distant metro area where appointments were available. I didn't want to wait. I'd lived in isolation with Lizard quite long enough, and even though we still are staying pretty much to ourselves because I'm trying to keep him safe, I was done with not being able to have in-person contact with anyone but his doctors and the pharmacist.

My decision to get vaccinated was not automatic or overnight, however.

For most of 2020, I had serious reservations about a vaccination that had not been, in my mind, fully tested or approved. I was scared. Downright terrified. I've had reactions to a few vaccinations, and I've always been careful about which ones I agree to have administered. Anyone who knows me knows I'm pretty diligent about anything I put in my body. Plus, I'm not overly impressed by most politicians, and I don't really trust government. I also tend to have a pretty strong immune system. I generally don't get sick. So I completely understand and respect the feelings and genuine fears of others.

Some of my friends who bear such feelings expressed their concern when I posted Lizard's vaccination photo. They literally begged me not to get jabbed, and I knew it was because they care about me. But I'd already been through the emotional wringer during the summer of 2020 (right after I'd learned Lizard was going to have to undergo another surgery... during a pandemic!!!) when I tried to quell anger on both sides of the mask issue. I almost posted that story here when it happened but decided it wasn't worth losing another friend.

Yes, I lost a friend last year... because I don't think masks work. I wear masks. I've made masks which I've given away to hundreds of people. I did not sell a single one. I gave them away because I love the people I gave them to. I gave away all my hoarded elastic back when you couldn't find elastic to crafters doing the 500-mask challenge because I didn't have time to make that many masks, and it was the best I could do to help. There is a colossal difference between not wearing a mask and not believing masks work.

I can smell cigarette smoke (or forest fire smoke!) when I'm double-masked or wearing a filtered mask. Smoke particles are gigantic compared to the virus particles. Every person I know who got the virus regularly wore masks. In my opinion, masks lull people into a false sense of security. Some people think the mask is keeping them 100% safe. I don't think they do. So, yes, I am a mask hater. But I am a mask wearer.

By the time my worried friends and loved ones expressed their vaccination concerns, I'd already received my first shot, too. I'd planned to post a photo of it because I was so happy to have been able to finally get the first shot. In light of what happened last year when I tried to be a peacemaker, I decided to keep my mouth shut, my keyboard and blog opinion-free and my social media temporarily free of selfies.

And yet, I still had what I believed was a powerful story I yearned to share. I just didn't have the guts.

Last week, I read a most fascinating, wonderful, well-researched, humble and poignant tale by a member of my church of going against his own vaccination fears and following our prophet. I realized I should have followed my heart back in April and posted my own story instead of cowering to the fear of being confronted by well-meaning friends and loved ones.

Hopefully, it is not too late to share my own story. I have believed for several months now it is worth sharing.

When I learned some of the people who have recovered from COVID-19 are being diagnosed months later with Parkinson's (or other neurological conditions), my protectiveness toward Lizard really ramped up. As stated above, I petitioned our governor to move people with neurological conditions up on the list of vaccination priority. Thousands of voices were not heard. Lizard would have to wait until his age category was eligible, which was still nearly two months away at that point.

Yet I still did not know whether I wanted either of us to receive the vaccinations. My heart literally was in knots.

I prayed mightily and did all the research I could, including a once-published but now-purged interview with someone from one of the pharmaceutical companies describing the research that had been done and how testing was being done to speed up the process in the hopes of stopping this virus in its tracks. (The article, published during the summer of 2020, apparently contained intellectual properties and has been scrubbed from even internet archives.) Months later, I was devastated to learn the article had been removed because I thought the information contained therein might be helpful to others who were not sure about the vaccine. And I hoped like heck the person being interviewed hadn't been fired because the information provided had been a literal answer to my prayers. I felt as if God had put that article in front of me so I would know when I received the answer to my prayers that there would be no need for doubt.

And I did receive an answer. I felt calm, and I felt an assurance that it would be okay for Lizard to be vaccinated. There were no voices; there was no baseball bat hitting me across the head. Just the most peace I'd felt the entire previous 13 or so months. I told Lizard of my research and my answer, and I told him he would have the final say as to whether he would be vaccinated, but I was no longer afraid. He was still far from whole at that point, but he trusted me, and he trusted God and agreed to be vaccinated when he became eligible.

Within a couple of days or so, Russell M. Nelson, leader of my church, was vaccinated. He is a retired surgeon. I trust him not only as a leader of my church, but as a medical expert. His vaccination and going public about it served as an exclamation point to my decision for both Lizard and me to be vaccinated. Some of my friends and loved ones continue to share videos and articles expressing doubts and concerns, but I have never doubted the answer to my own prayers.

I've learned over the years to recognize an answer to prayer when I receive it, and I've learned not to question my answers. I trust the Lord. He knows what He is doing.

Last week, during a short mid-week church Zoom discussion, one of the participants expressed gratitude that the world's prayers have been answered. Worldwide we prayed for an end to the pandemic, and now we have several vaccines, including one that has been fully approved. I had not considered the vaccines in that perspective, but I, too, am so grateful for the effort which went into developing, testing and administering the vaccines so light can at long last be seen or at least perceived at the end of the tunnel.

The tunnel may still be overwhelming and even dark in some places, but there is hope. And I am thankful for it. In the last two years, I have experienced enough grief, angst and depression to make my cup runneth over. I needed hope. I needed to know things eventually will get better. And I guess I needed to know my Heavenly Father loves me enough to provide a personal answer to me when I am at the lowest I have ever been.

Tomorrow we celebrate a year of being free from acute rehab following Lizard's back surgery. And, thanks to the vaccine, we can celebrate that one day, we might be able to overcome the dangers of this virus and be able to gather with friends and loved ones, without masks or distancing, once again.

30 August 2021

Snowflake Monday

I did not think I would have time to crochet and then write a pattern this week. But then I found myself crocheting in church... (AND listening!!!) I remembered I wanted to try last week's mandala as a snowflake. And then I remembered there were a couple of mini snowflake possibilities in the mandala pattern, with a few minor modifications.

I remember when I used to be able to write a snowflake pattern and make several variations all in one blog post. I'm afraid those days are gone. At least I had time to work up this little cutie. I may have another fun variation too, because ideas were swirling through my head as I pinned it. But this is all I had time for this week.

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, 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

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Popcorn Stitch (pc)

Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.

CiC Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 3] 5 times; pc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in top of first pc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 3 sp work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)] 5 times; 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 2 tip of Round.
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 13, counts as 1 dc and [ch 11), sl st in 7th ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, 1 dc in next ch 2 tip, ch 3, 1 dc in same tip] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 13; 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 snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

27 August 2021

Friday Funny

I've been trying to downsize stuff in basement boxes, and my current box contained this gem, written by my daughter (me typing as she dictated) when she was in middle school. Names have been changed to protect the Hardly Innocent. I can't stop giggling!!!

Last night when Raz went to bed, she didn't see the gremlin who snuck in her room with her. After she went to sleep, he got into her glitter, her fingernail polish and her hairspray.

This morning when she got up, all her stuff was gone. But her walls were sparkly and her shoes all smelled like perfume! Raz thought her brother Taz had played with her stuff. She marched right down to his room and screamed at him.

"Taz! You give me back my fingernail polish before I make you wear it to school!" she yelled.

Taz threw a pillow at her and went back to sleep.

Raz asked her mom what happened to her glitter. Her mom had pink and green eyes, blue lips and purple sparkly hair!

"Mom! Did you take my glitter?" Raz asked. Her mom was really angry.

"No more glitter for you, young lady!" her mom said.

Raz began looking around the house for her glitter. She found glitter footprints and began following them. The footprints went to Jazz's house.

Raz knocked on Jazz's door. Jazz opened the door. She had red hair and orange eyes!

"Raz, did you do this to me while I was sleeping?" Jazz asked.

"No," Raz answered. "But I'm trying to find my stolen glitter."

Jazz decided to help Raz follow the glitter footprints. They went down the street to the bus stop. Someone had written "Backstreet Boys! Drool!" all over the bus stop in hot pink glitter. When the 40X came, Raz noticed the bus had red and green glitter all over it.

The bus driver let Raz and Jazz ride the bus for free to solve the mystery. They went downtown and saw sparkles everywhere. There were orange and blue sparkles on Mile High Stadium and red and blue sparkles on the Pepsi Center. Even Republic Plaza had sparkles on top of it!

Raz and Jazz followed the glitter footprints down Cherry Creek to the mall. Inside the mall, they searched the WB store. Sure enough, there was the gremlin, hiding in a Mickey Mouse costume and covered with glitter!

Raz picked him up by the neck and threatened to hang him on the Christmas tree upside down. He stuck his glittery tongue out at her. Then he told her he couldn't give anything back because he'd used it all up.

Raz and Jazz dragged him to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and dunked him in chocolate! The gremlin loved it. But Raz set him on the 16th Street Mall, and pretty soon, two homeless kids ate the chocolate-covered gremlin.

Raz and Jazz went back to the mall to buy more glitter. Taz moved out and joined the military, where he hoped he would be assigned to bomb a glitter factory.

26 August 2021

Winds of Change

I tried placing different colors of jelly roll strips between my butterfly scraps blocks, just to get an idea of how sashing would look, and decided this particular baby quilt doesn't need sashing.

I then cut and pieced 12 blocks in rainbow hues from my solid scraps for the quilt back, but then couldn't come up with a block arrangement I liked.

I had enough homemade jelly roll scraps left over from other projects to make another butterfly scrap flimsy, so I did it again. I'm very pleased with the results. This might actually end up being the quilt front instead of the quilt back!

Now I just need to sandwich the two sides and put them on the longarm.

Meanwhile, what was I going to do with all those rainbow blocks I cut and pieced??? I cut and pieced 12 more blocks, then got halfway through a disappearing four-patch flimsy I will eventually use to back another quilt. Unless I decide I like the finished flimsy enough to make it a quilt top!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

24 August 2021

Chopped Salad

Do you suppose this guy (or gal... I actually can't tell...)

...is the one who has been enjoying the broccoli on my porch?!?

(Yes, it is a hornworm-turned-hawk moth, and yes, they do destroy plants. And no, I did not kill it.)

23 August 2021

Mandala Monday

I interrupted finishing my newest grand niece's baby quilt to throw together a free pattern to share today. It's very hot outside, my garden has become a sunflower forest I attempt to thin nearly every single day (and feel as if I am making absolutely no progress!!!), and today's pattern is inspired by one of the sunflower photos I recently shot during my daily dead-heading routine.

When I first captured this photo, I immediately wanted to find and buy (or make) 12 ladybug beads so I could attempt to crochet a yellow and green snowflake similar to the above photo. Some of my Sisters of the Snowflake suggested I use ladybug buttons instead. Buttons are easier to find and a tad less expensive than lampwork ladybug beads. Yes, I searched for both, and I ended up with buttons and charms.

As it turns out, the beads I bought are perhaps a bit too big for a snowflake, and I couldn't achieve the colors I saw in my head using a single strand of crochet thread, so I doubled up on thread for this project and decided to make a mandala instead of a snowflake. I do hope to one day attempt this pattern in a single strand of white thread, with applicable modifications because I wouldn't need to bind off every round, to see if it would be an attractive snowflake. (Or three… binding off at the end of the third and fourth Rounds as they stand provides me with more real snowflake inspiration…) But I've got baby quilts to finish, so it will be a while. You may do whatever you'd like with mandalas you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: 8.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in five colors (I used white, light yellow, dark yellow, light green and dark green), 12 ladybug beads or shank buttons, size 4 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

NOTE: Today's project is worked entirely with two strands of size 10 crochet thread. Also, there are thread ends to bury in each round, so please do not attempt this project if you do not like weaving in your ends.

TIP: I wound some of each of my five chosen thread colors into tiny little balls so I could use two strands of each color as needed.

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Popcorn Stitch (pc)

Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.

Sunflower Kaleidoscope Mandala Instructions

With dark yellow and dark green thread, make magic ring.

Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 3] 6 times, sl st in top of first pc; bind off. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: With white and light yellow, [in any ch 3 sp (or next ch 3 sp in repeats, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off.
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: Using 2 strands of white, [1 dc in any ch 2 sp (or same ch 2 sp in repeats), ch 10, sl st in 7th ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch 2 tip, ch 3] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 4: Using 2 strands of light yellow, [1 sc in any ch 3 tip (or next ch 3 tip in repeats), ch 5, in next ch 6 loop work (3 dc, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 5] 6 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 5: Using 1 strand of light yellow and one strand of dark yellow, [2 dcs around any Round 3 left-side dc post (or next Round 3 left-side dc post in repeats), 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 dc, 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 hdc, 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 sc, 1 dc in bottom of next Round 3 sl st, 1 sc in next Round 4 dc, 1 hdc in next Round 4 dc, 1 dc in next Round 4 dc, 2 dc in next Round 4 ch 2 sp, ch 3, sl st in same sp, ch 3, from behind next Round 4 spoke sl st in next Round 4 ch 2 sp (you want the ch 3 you just worked at the back of the mandala, not the front), 2 dc in same sp, 1 dc in next Round 4 dc, 1 hdc in next Round 4 dc, 1 sc in next Round 4 dc, 1 dc in next Round 3 sl st, 1 dc in next Round 3 sc, 1 dc in next Round 3 hdc, 1 dc in next Round 3 dc, 2 dc around post of next Round 3 right-side dc post] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 6: This Round is more like 6 motifs because the segments are worked separately instead of in a Round. Using 2 strands of dark yellow, work (2 dc, ch 3, sl st, ch 3, 2 dc) into each of the (white) 6 Round 3 ch 6 loops, binding off after each heart shape and weaving in all ends.

Round 7: String 12 beads or buttons onto dark green and light green thread, making sure ladybug heads are all facing in the same direction. (I strung mine with heads up, and they settle into the crochet stitches head down.) Alternatively, you may sew the buttons or bead into place after your mandala is finished, and you probably can even glue them into place if the mandala will not be handled a lot when done. Buttons also may be tied into place with a piece of crochet thread to match the Round onto which you tie them, weaving in ends on the backside. Using dark green and light green thread, [draw up loop through first 3rd Round joint dc (of 4 dc group closest to center of mandala) (or in next dc on repeats), yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, [[yo and draw up loop through next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook]] 3 times, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook (dc dec made), 1 dc in each of next 9 st, 3 dc in next ch, drawing up bead or button, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 3 dc in ch sp behind Round 5 point, 1 sc in top of Round 5 point, 3 dc in same ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch, drawing up bead or button, one dc in next ch, 3 dc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 9 st] 6 times; sl st in starting dec; bind off.

Round 8: Using 2 strands of dark green, [in any tip sc (or next tip sc on repeats), work (3 dc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 3 dc), 1 dc in each of next 12 st, [[sk next st, yo and draw up loop through next st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook]] 5 times (dc dec made), sk next st, 1 dc in each of next 12 st] 6 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in all ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin mandala 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 mandala with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow mandala to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel mandala from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around desired anchor (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch mandala twirl freely whenever you walk by! Mandala also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle. Please be aware that colored crochet thread will fade with time when exposed to daily direct sunlight.

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