Friday Fantastic

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Fiber-starved

The closest thing I got to fiber arts this week was installing fiber drawers on one of two desk shelves I bought to enable myself to work at my new used standing desk. When the office where I work moved from one building to another this summer, many usable things were put up for grabs because, they say, it is cheaper to buy new than to pay to move old.

I couldn't afford to buy another nice standing desk in 2020 when we all had to start working from home. So I bought a cheap table for my personal computer, which I'm still using. I wanted something a little sturdier and more professional for my at-home work station, which has been set up on one of Lizard's old drafting desks since about 2021. I've wished since 2021 I had another standing desk so I wouldn't have to sit when I work.

I had asked if there were any standing desks available when we moved; the company I work for had installed (very fancy) adjustable standing desks at every work station in the new building. Employees who had invested in portable standing desks wouldn't need them anymore. They would be donated if not claimed.

In July, I finally brought home the standing desk my bosses bought for me way back in about 2013 or 2014. I set it up for Lizard's accessible computer and his coloring books. He still hasn't used his new computer/art station at all. (The accessible laptop had been set up on our dining room table since Lizard's LOUD Zoom classes back in 2020.) Even though he's not using it now, all his stuff is set up if and/or when he decides he's ready to sit (or stand) at a desk again.

The standing desk I inherited from work is a smaller version but easier to lift and raise because it's hydraulic. It's big enough only for the monitor and, if I choose to put it there, the keyboard. No room for the mouse. Can't help but laugh at that because we have occasional mice in the basement and garage. No room for them, either!!!

To get my work-from-home desk set up, I would need risers for the keyboard and mouse. I found two 7-inch-tall shelves (that required assembly), and I figured out how to work these weird locking screws I've never even seen before. As of Wednesday night, the new used standing desk is all set up, the shelves for the work laptop, keyboard and mouse are all set up, and I'm typing on the keyboard right this very minute, trying to get used to the new set-up before I have to pull an eight-hour shift on Thursday. For the time being, I'm pretty happy with this, even though it feels awkward right now, and I think I doubled the available amount of desk space by adding the shelves. I've got fabric drawers big enough for pens, batteries, notepads, paper clips and stamps I didn't have room for once I put up the new used standing desk. The keyboard could easily be about four inches higher, but for now, it will work.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Hummer Summer

The days are getting cooler, and the hummers have headed south. I'm anxious for snowflakes to photograph, but I'm going to miss the sweet birds I got to shoot through my bedroom window this year.

I'm going to miss the flowers. And the peppers! But I am planning to dig up a few of the pepper plants so I can try to keep them going indoors through the winter. I was able to enjoy homegrown sweet banana peppers on almost every salad for the last three months! And there are still enough left for a few more meals...

The birds, however, have not been too interested in my raised-bed gardens, thank heavens! Squirrels have been a nuisance and have robbed me of many tomatoes. But the birds have been sticking to the flowers, and it's been SO much fun to watch. I had no idea hummingbirds like sunflowers!

The goldfinches, I knew about. The hummers, though... what an amazing surprise! And this is exactly why I let sunflowers grow wild almost anywhere they come up!

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Snowflake Monday

Today's pattern was intended to be an Easter egg (bonus) pattern on an extremely old blog post. As HTML develops and progresses, it's becoming more and more difficult (and time-consuming) for me to update coding on old patterns. Coding I used back in the 20-teens is super buggy in 2023.

I added a new Easter egg (bonus pattern) last week to a 2013 pattern, and the process required more than two hours to fix the old blog post simply because I opened it to edit it. The actual blog post would not display correctly after I opened the HTML, even though I did not change a thing. Turns out something in the old photo insertion codes does not translate into HTML5, which is, I guess, what we're universally using now. I ended up having to recode the entire post manually, code by code, testing every step of the way, sometimes hitting major hurdles because old coding does not play well with new coding.

I still manually code every blog post I write. I've done that from the beginning back in 2009. I learned (some) HTML5 while I got to miraculously stay in the hospital with Lizard during his 2020 emergency back surgery. ON MY PHONE!!! The long-promised HTML5 apparently kicked into full gear while Lizard was in accute rehab... because the entire world was bored stiff with pandemic restrictions by summer 2020, right??? Coders apparently had nothing better to do, so they finished up all the tweaking and released this new standard, which actually is quite fine and in some ways easier to read on the editing screen. But, given a choice, I would NOT try to learn how to write new code on a phone ever!!!

I know I've made this story much longer than it needed to be, but it gave me a chance to insert some oldie but goodie photos. And hopefully, it explains why I didn't add today's pattern to the 2011 original, which, in my opinion, is worth looking back at in its original form. I will update my prehistoric pattern format on the Chocolate Caramel Snowflake pattern (and the purse) one day. Both patterns can stay the way they are for now because I don't have another couple of hours each to update all the coding. It's time for me to start working on 26 Halloween snowflakes for grands!!!

I must say, though, this whole blog post has made me really hungry for something I really don't need to be eating right now!!!

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: 3.5 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

Salted Caramel Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 7 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 6), 1 sc in ring] 5 times; ch 3, 1 tr in 1st ch of starting ch 7 to form 6th ch 6 petal of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
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 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), over post of tr directly below work (1 dc, 1 tr), [ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 3 ch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 2 ch, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next ch, ch 4, 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 sl st in next ch, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 2 ch, sl st in next ch of spoke, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, sl st in next ch of spoke, ch 1, in next ch 6 petal work (2 dc, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr, 2 dc)] 6 times, omitting last tr and last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer. But I'm sharing my old instructions below so you may choose how you want to stiffen your flakes.

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 Fortius

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Bee Forgiving

It was my turn to teach the 4- and 5-year-olds, and I found this cute little video that tied in with the lesson. After watching it, I got this wild idea to crochet some bees for my class to help them remember the angry bee is happier when he forgives.

The kids LOVED their bees! When their parents came to pick them up, each kid excitedly showed their bee.

Such a simple idea, and the joy it brought!

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Wednesday Wonder

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Slitherin'

One of the scarier symptoms of Parkinson's is hallucinations. Lizard has more than his fair share, and his anxiety, another crazy symptom, really puts some emotion and/or adrenaline into the things he thinks he sees.

I think I've shared here before that when we walk around the block, every sidewalk seam is a snake, every shadow is a bear, and every wildflower is a piece of toilet paper not cleaned up by someone who pooed out in the open.

We were walking last week when suddenly a rather large sidewalk seam about twelve feet in front of us began to move! I saw it, too. This was no hallucination!!!

I tracked that shiny bull snake (from a respectful distance) for a good 10 or 15 minutes trying to get the perfect shot. But the perfect shot would have been the newly molted snake sunbathing in the sidewalk seam. It just didn't care to pose for me there. However, Lizard and I both have to giggle repeatedly at the experience. Many times. This time, the sidewalk seam really was a snake!!!

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Snowflake Monday

Today's snowflake was designed while our new heater and new air conditioner were being installed. Not an expense we expected or planned for, but good that we got the non-functional heater replaced before winter sets in. And oh, am I ever ready for winter now, with the temperatures we've been experiencing!

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: 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

Condensation 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 10 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 8), 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, 1 dc in next dc] 6 times, omitting last 3 ch and last dc of final repeat; 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 10 to form 6th ch 5 sp 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 1 (counts as 1 sc), 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 3, in next ch 8 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 4, sl st in sc (tri-picot made), ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 3 dc), ch 3, 3 sc in next ch 5 sp] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer. But I'm sharing my old instructions below so you may choose how you want to stiffen your flakes.

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 Fortius

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Autumning

(affiliate links to my designs)

Temperatures finally are falling!!! Just in time for autumn!

End of month typically is stressful for me, thanks to work deadlines I've tried to keep up with for 29.5 years now. But end of month this year has been somewhat exciting. At least from a creative viewpoint.

Work stress at the end of each month probably won't change, and fourth quarter is worse. But the final week of each month this year (or very soon after) has meant the completion of a new segment of one of my digital temperature quilt panels. Sometimes end of the month even lines up with the end of a row on my crochet temperature project.

I am SO happy to perhaps be done with the reds and oranges in my real quilt digital charm square mock-up, the oranges and yellows in my digital snowflake quilt and the pinks in my crochet project. So far, I'm SO in love with the colors of my September snowflake digital temperature segment!!! Fingers crossed for no more orange. (Please, no more high 80s or 90s this year!!!)

I'm going to miss my garden after first freeze, and oh, how I love autumn colors in the trees. But boy, am I ever happy to get back to colors I adore in my temperature projects!!!

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