Oh, Winter, Where Be Thy Sting?

I knew better than to get my hopes up early in October, when the ten-day forecast predicted our first snow. By the time that storm rolled through, it didn't. Our lowest overnight low was 43.

I told my mom I might be able to visit after the next week's next overnight freeze forecast. I've been waiting for the garden to be done so I can make a road trip to visit my mom. That ten-day forecast didn't materialize, either.

Now we have another 10-day forecast that makes the snowflake shooter in me come alive. It's actually in November, so it COULD happen. But I don't know if I'm going to get my hopes up yet. Maybe if the forecast is still calling for flakes by next Sunday...

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Friday Funny

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Gold Rush

I hadn't done real fall colors photography in a couple of years. Lizard and I were able to get a few shots on the way home from his mom's a couple of times, but, generally speaking, he wasn't able to tolerate road trips for the last two to three years.

I wanted to try to get at least a few shots this year. But every time I set a goal to go up into the high country, I would break down in tears because I didn't want to go without him.

I finally worked up the courage to go last week, and I actually had a fairly good time. I can't wait to go back up into the mountains.

Most of the color was gone, but I got a couple of good shots. And I set a goal to hike the last trail Lizard had set a goal to hike. We were going to do it together this fall. Next time I go up, I'm going to tackle that trail to see where it goes. I may not make it to the top of whatever mountain it ascends, but I can hike and have a good time and possibly even get some good photos while I try to train myself to breathe at altitude again.

For this brief trip, I hiked across the boardwalk that leads to the 14er Bierstadt trail. Lizard and I had gone as far as he was able to go on the boardwalk about three or four years ago. There were some wonderful memories along the way, and I pretended to talk to him as I climbed.

I wanted to get a shot of the 14er reflecting in the unnamed beaver ponds at the edge of the boardwalk. I'd just bought new hiking boots because the waterproof pair I'd bought in 2020 had begun wearing a blister on the back of my left heel the week before. This was my first hike in the new shoes. Second day wearing them, actually.

Just as I got close to the edge of the water, I suddenly postholed nearly thigh deep into a mucky, black sinkhole. It took me quite a while to get myself out of the literal mess I'd gotten myself into. I hadn't told anyone where I was going. I was alone. It was late in the day; most hikers had already returned to their cars. There was no signal on my phone, but, I managed to keep both my phone (which was in my pants pocket) and my camera dry.

I was afraid I was going to have to holler for help. And hope someone might be able to hear me. I was really stuck. It reminded me of the day Lizard and I traversed this very same trail in winter on snowshoes the year after my emergency back surgery. I was still working my strength back up, and I was unable to extract myself from a similar posthole, possibly in very near the same place but in deep, soft snow. Lizard had to rescue me.

I was finally able to get one leg moving, which enabled me to break free of the muck. Oh, was it nasty!!! But I got out. I asked Lizard if he had helped me. And I had a pretty good chuckle, imagining him laughing with me as I tried to scrape the black sludge off my pants and my new hiking boots. It was just windy enough to dry my jeans out by the time I returned to my car, so, I wasn't freezing all the way home. And EVERYTHING got a good wash, including my new shoes!

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Second Time Around

Lavender should be pruned every year to keep it healthy and blooming properly. I hadn't been doing a very good job of maintaining. I pruned for the first time in 2024, I think, at the end of the season, which I have since learned is a bit too late, although still necessary. Last year, I pruned in November, which was WAY too late.

I used this year's wonderfully smelling lavender clippings as mulch for my wisteria and my mourning glories. (Yes, I've spelled it that way intentionally. Lizard helped me plant the wisteria, mourning glories and apple trees. They were the last things we did together at home.)

I also fashioned some of the sprigs that were still alive into upside-down hanging plants in my master bath, which sees plenty of darkness now. Which is required for drying lavender. Which is why I put them there. They were extremely aromatic for about a month, but not so much now. I haven't tried crafting with lavender yet. But I will one day.

Healthy pruning at the right time (before the blossoms are completely spent) sometimes results in a second or even a third bloom. I had little hope because I was actually pruning properly, but still a bit late - at the end of July. I didn't really expect much of a second bloom.

Some of my youngest plants have blossomed heartily again! It is the coolest thing in the world to see! And smell...

Even some of the older lavender plants shot up a few spiky blooms. Just to prove getting old doesn't really bite, as we are so fond of saying and believing.

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Friday Fantastic

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Panel Queen

I teased I'd share the cheater panel story one day. I'd rather share a finished quilt. Or even one in progress. I guess my secret life as a panel queen will suffice on a day when I have nothing better to share.

My father-in-law created a quilt stand for me years and years ago. I asked for cactus-shaped, and he delivered. I'm almost embarassed to show how full it is now. But, at least it's organized once again.

In April, I had to move the extremely top-heavy quilt stand from the living room/dining room/kitchen/entrance to the bedroom to make room for the hospice bed. While moving the (overweight) stand, many of the panels I've collected over the years and unfinished projects from the last decade or more fell off. I had to pick them all up and move them out of the way in a hurry because my time was limited. I think I had about two hours before the hospice bed would arrive, and I still had furniture to move.

While recently trying to rush a quilt finish for my new neighbors' toddler, I had to search through my haphazard stash of panels. I realized I had never straightened out the pile. So, before I ever started the rush quilt, I organized my panels. All 60 of them. (Not including the probably 30ish Spoonflower panels I've designed over the years.)

One of these three was one of my first panels. I adored it when I first ordered it online. I was too excited when I first found it to realize the measurement was not going to be big enough for a bed. Not only was it not going to be big enough (and I had not ordered any of the coordinating fabrics so I could try to make it big enough), but it was cut crooked on one side. Back then, I had no idea whatsoever how to fix that. Or that I could have complained and probably exchanged it for a properly cut panel. I later bought two more quilt panels I thought I might be able to add to the first to make it big enough. I think falling off the quilt frame in April was the first time these three panels had ever been moved. PS: I still love the other two panels, and I'm not sure I want to insult them by putting them with the third now.

My kids were grown by the time I bought this one (the last one!!!), but I thought it would make a great gift when grandkids began arriving on the scene. My oldest grands have now graduated, and I still haven't turned this into a fun and useful wall quilt. I confess; I forgot about it. Because it got buried by all the rest!!! Which I also forgot!!! It might make a great gift for a great-grandkid one day...

I went through a butterfly phase.

Actually, I'm still in butterfly phase. I've actually finished a few butterfly quilts.

I've even designed my own Spoonflower cheater panels...

Shoot, I've even designed and crocheted butterflies!

I even love butterflies in real life.

I also experienced a powerful peacock phase. Animal and color. Still in the color phase. Possibly permanently.

And, yes, I did indeed design a crochet peacock.

I can never get enough sunflowers.

Or rainbows.

I love winter. Especially in the middle of a heat dome. I love snowflakes. I love polar bears. And owls. And penguins. And eagles. And tigers (my high school mascot, and Lizard's, too). And lizards. And bicycles. And hot air balloons. And southwest/desert scenes/artwork. And sunrises/sunsets. And northern lights. And flowers.

I apparently also love "last one" descriptions. I could not believe how many of these and scores of others I haven't even shown were purchased not only because of an incurable love at first sight, but because they each were the last one. I guess I have a few collectibles in my collection. I probably have enough to open my own cheater panel fabic store. And on that humorous note...

Linking up with Alycia Quilts.

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