Snowflake Monday

What a cool mountain name!!! Not sure the 13,960-foot high point on the ridge between El Diente and Mount Wilson had a name back when we were still climbing 14ers, but I had been researching cool names in the San Miguels for this month's snowflakes when I came across this gem.

Pin Point Peak on the way to El Diente, photo courtesy of Lizard

Lizard climbed all the 14ers in the range (and Pin Point!) before we met. He said the day he climbed Wilson and El Diente was one of the scariest days of his life because the downclimb was horrendous. Too much loose rock after a physically demanding ascent.

Lizard Head Peak Meets Lizard

I have not climbed any peaks in the San Miguels. For years, I couldn't wait for the day Lizard would return to those summits with me. I foolishly believed I'd be able to do such difficult climbs. (I'm a wuss. Hmmm, should I give a snowflake that name?!?) I longed for the day Lizard could climb Lizard Head Peak, which is highly technical.

San Miguels photo courtesy of Lizard

Those days are long gone now, but memories and photos remain. And now I have yet another snowflake to help commemorate these glorious but difficult peaks.

my autumn photo of Sunshine Peak in the San Miguels

My co-workers and I moved into our new office space last week, and I wasn't sure I'd have time to write today's pattern. I wasn't sure I wanted to make time to write a pattern. Work hours were so long and so draining all week long, I was SO tempted to do another No Flake Monday. But Lizard accomplished a pretty big goal on Saturday (no, he did NOT climb Lizard Head!!!), which I'll share here on my blog tomorrow, and it got me thinking I need to accomplish a goal, too.

So here's a fun flake with a fun name (because it took so many pins to shape) following a fun weekend of precious memories.

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: 4.5 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

Pin Point Peak 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. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 1), 1 dc in next dc] 11 times; ch 1, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [in next dc work (1 dc, ch 7, 1 dc), 1 dc in next dc] 6 times, omitting last 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 4: [1 sc in next dc, in next ch 7 loop work (4 dc, ch 3, 4 dc), 1 sc in next dc, sk next dc] 6 times; sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: [Ch 8, in next ch 3 tip work (1 sc, ch 8, 1 sc, ch 12, 1 sc, ch 8, 1 sc), ch 8, sl st between next 2 sc] 6 times; 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.

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Friday Funny

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Purple Needle Eater

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Wordless Wednesday

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Bear With Me

We had SUCH a nice rainstorm last Thursday. That meant I didn't have to water on Friday!

And good thing. Not just for water conservation. I had visitors!!! Didn't know I'd spend the morning pretending to be Goldilocks and the Two Bears!

It's been quite the summer so far.

First, we had the largest spider I'd ever seen (other than tarantulas in the butterfly museum) in our problem child window well. Yes, the very same window well that had been flooding our basement seemingly every time we visited my parents in California. But more frequently for the last three years. Once we successfully (so far) fixed all the various errant water sources, I thought it would be so cool to put a diorama in that window well. I imagined changing it out for every holiday. But that window will not be opened without good cause anymore!!!

Turns out our visitor was a dark fishing spider, which doesn't actually live near water and is one of the good guys. Or, in this case, a good lady. The males don't reach this size... three inches long!!! Perhaps she was checking out my now dry real estate because I think we've finally eliminated the bog in our backyard... My new lady friend apparently didn't like being photographed through the sealed basement window and found another location to set up housekeeping. Which is fine with me because I really don't need 2,000 more just like her in my window well, much less inside my house!

Then we had a garter snake near the front porch. That was kind of fun. Garter snakes also are good guys. This one wasn't very big at all, and I was happy to have been able to avoid accidentally stepping on it. It would live to slither another day.

I fear, however, this little character managed to fall into our basement somehow. We ended up calling upon the charitable service of a trained snake handler to successfully relocate the young garter snake back into the garden where it belongs. (Accomplished while I was on a work conference call!!!)

Then came the raccoon. Raided the growing pot of strawberries on my porch. Every night! She eventually tried to tunnel beneath our porch. Took two cheap packages of bulk washcloths and six bottles of ammonia to successfully deter what may have been her attempt to find a safe nesting spot. (And yes, we did make sure there were no babies before we used any ammonia.) We ultimately will have to cement the gap the critter dug beneath our porch. But for now, she's gone.

Then, during a walk, I discovered another very large spider, not quite as large as our previous temporary visitor, but still much bigger than most spiders I encounter. This one was covered with bumps, so I thought it was another new (to me) species. Googled my telephoto photo and discovered wolf spiders carry their babies on their backs!!! I zoomed in on the photo for closer inspection, and sure enough, there are tons of little legs attached to those little bumps! Totally left the critter alone; it wasn't there when we returned. Wolf spiders also are garden helpers, not garden terrorists. I happily kept my distance.

Last week, my neighbors tipped me off before I had a chance to go out to water that they currently had a mama and baby bear in their yard. I got a few great shots from a safe distance (that telephoto lens sure comes in handy!) before the bears meandered away.

Then came the rain and no need to water the garden. Thank heavens!!! Mama and toddler next slept in MY tree! I am SO thankful the neighbors again alerted me before I went outside.

14 years ago, our second year in our house, I had begun composting in the backyard. One morning I took out the previous day's scraps, only to discover the previous collections had been dug up and devoured. It was the first time I'd ever seen bear tracks. Ever since that day, I've been vigilant when going into the backyard. I always check both corners of the yard. We've had many bruin visitors, and I have always wished they'd stay long enough for me to capture good photos. Through the window, of course.

I even lamented the ability of AI (artifical intelligence) to appropriately render a bear froclicking in my lavender garden after Lizard witnessed such an act and the bear was gone by the time I returned to the living room with my camera.

Now, I'm going to have to look up in the trees each time I go into the backyard because that's where mama and her baby hung out for about three hours, a repeat of what they did in the neighbor's yard the day before. It isn't the picture perfect piece of art for which I long, but I finally got an actual photo of the bears in my lavender!!!

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Snowflake Monday

The Ute tribes whom initially occupied the San Miguels named the Telluride area The Valley of Hanging Waterfalls. Much cooler name than Telluride, don't you think???

Telluride to Cortez elevation loss

breather with a view

Lizard atop Lizard Head Pass during 2013 RtR

The name Telluride supposedly comes from tellurium, a mineral used to indicate veins of gold and silver, although tellurium is not found in the San Miguels.

2013 RtR shadow shot for Sue

A better folklore origin for the mountain village hails from how miners described the very difficult ride into the area during the gold and silver rushes: "To Hell U Ride". After pedaling a bicycle to Telluride during Ride the Rockies, once from each direction, I definitely can attest to what a difficult climb is required to reach the scenic valley!

Telluride is enlightened!

Telluride was the first town in the country to be lit via alternating current, thanks to Nikola Tesla's discovery.

Me and Lizard in Telluride the day before our 2013 Ride the Rockies

2013 RtR shirt sleeve

proof we completed the 2013 RtR

I initially was going to name today's snowflake after the San Miguels. While researching how the mountain range (and river) got its name, I discovered a ton of Telluride history. And all these priceless memories. It made sense to name today's pattern after one of my favorite Ride the Rockies host towns.

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: 4.75 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

Telluride 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. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sp 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 3 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 1), sk next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 1, in next dc work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc) (V-st made)]; 6 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 3 to form 6th ch 3 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 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 1, 1 sc in next sc, ch 1, in next V-st work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 5: 3 sc over post of dc directly below; [1 sc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dtr fpdc (front post dc) around post of 2nd Round 1 dc (or sk next Round 1 dc and dc around next Round 1 dc in repeats), 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 5 sc in next ch 3 tip)] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 6: [1 sc in each of next 4 sc, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next ch, working back down spoke, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, sl st in next ch below 3rd spoke, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, sl st in next ch below 2nd spoke, ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sl st in next ch below 1st spoke, ch 1, sk next dtc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, ch 3, sk next sc] 6 times; 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 snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

Two of these snowflakes cannot be crocheted around CDs without losing the definition of the points, so I crocheted and stiffened 2 snowflakes and glued (with permanent glue) them onto 2 back-to-back CDs, then put a thread through the top of opposing points on what would become the top of the ormanent for hanging.

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