Snowflake Monday

Today's snowflake is inspired by the floral motifs in the stained glass windows at the Fort Collins Temple. The motif is reportedly inspired by Colorado's mountain wildflowers.

The Fort Collins Temple is special to me because Lizard offered to take me there two years before he became a member of my church. We had volunteered for the MS-150 that year instead of riding, and we had asked to be at the start of the route on Sunday morning so I could attend church. We finished about an hour before church began, and Lizard asked if I would like to see the new temple.

It was still under construction at that point, and neither of us knew back then how to work the apps on our phone that might have been able to lead the way. The first temple it took us to was a Hindu temple. It was interesting, but it wasn't the goal. Ha ha.

We finally found our temple next to an existing church building, where we were able to attend church together.

The following year, Lizard took me to the open house, and we had our photo taken in front of a mural provided so everyone could get a photo, regardless of the weather or sun position. The temple was dedicated by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Lizard's favorite General Conference speaker (because Lizard loved the German accent and anything flight-oriented, and Dieter, a retired pilot, can't resist the temptation to include aspects of aviation in his messages whenever possible). Lizard even named one of his mini me cyclists after his favorite speaker.

All temples were closed during the first year or so of the pandemic. When the temples began reopening, a friend would take me to the Fort Collins Temple when our own temple, called the Denver Temple but located in Littleton, was closed for routine maintenance because her sister lives in Fort Collins and would often join us. By mid-2024, I wasn't often able to leave Lizard alone anymore, which put an end to temple trips unless I was able to find someone to sit with him while I went.

In April of this year, when our temple was closed again for routine maintenance, Lizard planned to go to the Fort Collins Temple with me, even if he could only wait for me in the waiting room. I made arrangements for volunteers to help him so he would be able to worship as I had planned to do. Lizard went into the hospital the Friday before our scheduled date. Eight days later, he was in a far better place than me.

I'm so thankful he was spared prolonged suffering, but I still miss him so much when I do things we had planned to do together. I went to the Fort Collins Temple last week while my local temple was closed again for two weeks. I was joined by a friend who also lost her husband four days after I lost mine. There were many tears, plenty of hugs, and so many fond memories.

We planned to have lunch at Schlotzky's afterward, as Lizard had really looked forward to that part of our trip. Alas, the Schlotzky's chain seemingly is disappearing from Colorado. The Fort Collins location no longer exists. My friend and I opted for Mexican food. Lizard would have enjoyed that immensely.

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

Floral Snowflake Instructions

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.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 pc into ring, ch 3] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc into starting pc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2:3 sc over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 3 sp work (3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc)] 5 time; 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 3: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work (1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch and last sc of final repeat; 1 dc in 1st ch of starting ch 6 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 4 (counts as 1 dtr), 1 dtr over post of dc directly below, [ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, sk next 5 ch, in next ch 3 tip work (2 dtr, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 2 dtr)] 6 times, omitting last 2 dtr of final repeat; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4; 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.

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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