Saving Private Iris

Who knew slugs could take up residence in the very same area surrounded by forest wildfires just two years ago?

We enjoyed a gorgeous, non-characteristic eight-day rainstorm that brought out creepy crawlies. Snails without shells. I had to look them up to find out how they got here, if they are good or bad, and what to do about it if hundreds of them are crawling up the irises.


Yes, slugs do in fact occur in Colorado when the weather's just right. They can do quite a bit of damage. I could see part of that damage on my iris leaves. I was not a happy camper.

The best way to get rid of them, I learned, is reduce humidity and raise the temperature.

Okay, let's see, where's that arid desert climate button? Or perhaps I should drive my car more than I ride my bike and trigger some of that global warming? Ha ha ha ha!

I like this Seattle-like weather, and I hope it sticks around for a while because my garden knows the difference between rain and tap water, and my flowers prefer rainwater. However, I don't want the ugly little beasties to multiply and replenish my garden for the next tropical storm.


Second best way to get rid of slugs, I read, is caffeine.

We'd just dropped a Mountain Dew-addicted friend off at the airport. We'd stocked the fridge for her and still had a few sodas. We don't drink soda. Particularly Mountain Dew. We had a hilarious name for the nasty yellow stuff when I was in high school... I wasted no time pouring Rocky Mountain Pee Water on the irises.

The Colorado State University Extension office was right. The slugs died on contact with the Sugary Camel Pee. More rain came a bit later in the day and hopefully washed away or watered down the pop so the flowers didn't have to drink it.

I've since learned salt does the trick, too. A few of my co-workers told tales of putting out a bit of beer in recycled lids; the slugs are attracted to the beer, crawl in and drown. A few of my co-workers like the Mountain Dew idea better because they don't like wasting "good beer."


While checking around for more sign of slugs, I discovered the true columbine-chewing culprit(s).

YIKES!!!

I'd thought the neighborhood deer had devoured nearly all my tender columbine shoots before taking a siesta on top of my hyacinths and squishing my salvia sprouts flat just a few weeks earlier. I was very happy my mostly deer-resistant and bunny-resistant garden seemed to indeed not appeal to the mule deer appetite. But I was pretty annoyed with these fellows for nearly killing my columbine.

The Lizard had been washing mud off the mountain bikes in the driveway, just a few yards from the snoozy bucks. After I pointed my finger and accused the grungy-looking (because they are shedding their winter coats and even a bit of antlers) criminals, The Lizard squirted the deer with the hose in an attempt to gently show them they are not welcome in this diner, er, um, yard.

They glared at him and then rolled their eyes. They did not budge. We clapped our hands. We made loud noises. We tried to shoo them.

They truly do think our property is their flat and our backyard is their dining table.


Now, taking a closer look at the newly re-gobbled columbine, I realized the deer were innocent. I had unknowingly falsely accused them. The new columbine leaves, or what was left of them, were covered with tiny green caterpillars. Inchworms. More creepy crawlies. They were having a feast. Perhaps even a family reunion. More than 20 of them on one small plant with one small bloom about to open.


Once again, I did some quick research to find out what to do about "tiny green caterpillars" and found an organic chemical-free recipe for caterpillar reduction that would not be harmful to pets, children, birds or other wildlife. The best remedy, of course, is a long list of hungry dinner guests: birds, spiders, ground beetles, etc. Too early in the season for praying mantises.

Water, Sriracha powder, olive oil and peppermint essential oil were quickly combined and generously sprayed all around the columbine. One by one, the tiny green caterpillars in a variety of sizes, which would have one day grown and transformed into brown moths, fell to the ground.


Now that my drought-tolerant garden roots are hardy, I don't have to water at 4:30 a.m. before pedaling off to work on days I ride. But on rainy or misty days, I do have to inspect the irises with a flashlight or headlamp before I pedal away.

I guess living in the country like we do, I should expect a variety of garden terrorists. It seems to always be something.

There are times when it's tempting to throw in the towel. And then the flowers begin blooming. Then all the time I must spend weeding and controlling creepy crawlies proves priceless. A beautiful garden is a heavenly thing.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Lost Spring

Spring sometimes seems to speed by way too fast. Especially when accompanied by one big snowstorm after another. (That's not a complaint. We want the mountains to have plenty of water and no forest fires...)

Last year, I planted a few new daffodils, in non-standard colors, because deer and bunnies don't eat them.

This year, they bloomed for the first time!

This year, the snow got 'em...

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Forget-Me-Not Monday

I looked in the garden and what did I see? Forget-me-nots peeking back at me!

You may do whatever you'd like with flowers and/or snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: flower 2 inches across; snowflake 6 inches across from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in three colors, 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


Forget-Me-Not Instructions

With yellow or flower center color, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 (starting popcorn stitch made), * ch 3, 5 dc in ring, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in top loop of 1st dc of this 5/dc group, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through top loop of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made); repeat from * around 4 times, ch 3, sl st in top of starting popcorn; bind off. Pull magic circle as tight as you can get it with all those stitches in the center. The object here is to make the flower center poufy and 3D.

Round 2: With white or flower contrast color, * 1 sc in any ch 3 sp (or next ch 3 sp on repeats), ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch (picot point made), 1 sc in same ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; 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: With blue or petal color, * 1 sc in top of any picot point (or next picot point on repeats), sk next 2 sc, 2 dc in next sc (or in between the 2 sc in main body of flower), 1 tr in same st, 2 dc in same st; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc.

Round 4: * 1 sc in next dc, 2 hdc in next dc, 3 dc in next tr, 2 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, sk next sc; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Forget-Me-Not Snowflake Instructions

Work Rounds 1-4 as above.

Round 5: White white, * 1 sc in middle dc of any petal (or same dc on repeats), 1 sc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in gap between next 2 sc (or in 2nd sc), ch 3, sl st in top of dc just made (picot made), ch 3, 1 sc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 5; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 5 of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 loop of Round.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 10, 2 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 12, 1 dc in 9th ch from hook, ch 2, sk 2 ch, 1 tr in next ch, 2 dc in same ch 6 loop; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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 7: With white, 6 sc in top of any ch 8 loop tip, * 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, ch 10, sk next ch 10 and next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 12 sc in next ch 8 loop tip; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 6 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 8: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), [1 dc in next sc, ch 3] 2 times, * 1 dc in next sc, ch 6, 1 sc over both ch 10 of previous 2 Rounds, ch 6, 1 dc in 3rd sc of next 12/sc tip, [ch 3, 1 dc in next sc] 3 times, ch 5, [1 dc in next sc, ch 3] 3 times; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc/ch 3 sequences of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5; 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 the 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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The Day I Hate

I had to force myself to keep my seat in church a couple months ago. The lesson was on Mothers Teaching Children in the Home, a.k.a. Mother's Day In Your Face Two Months Early, but the class was being taught by a good friend, and I didn't want her to think I was walking out on her.

Before the lesson even officially started, one of the women sitting near me leaned over and whispered, "I'm so glad I get so much time with my grandchildren. It's like God's giving me a second chance."

She had no clue that was a stab in the heart to me and never would have said it had she known. Nevertheless, to me, her statement provoked, "Oh, that must mean I was an awful mom because I don't get grandchildren at all."

I adopted two special needs children at an older age, long after the devastation of five miscarriages. Both kids took permanent unauthorized field trips before they turned 18. (They ran away.) They keep in touch with me a little now, 13 years later, but this doesn't feel like true motherhood. I'm glad they both are grounded to me, but sometimes it feels like I was a glorified babysitter, not a mom. The annual "roses for every woman" in church on Mother's Day is one of the most painful "recognition" moments I face each year, and I typically ditch church that day because of it.

One of the best recommendations I've ever heard for how to make it through Mother's Day when Mother's Day is not your favorite time of year is to focus on your own mother or grandmother if you can't bear the weight of your own childless status.

So that's what I've tried to do for the last decade or so, and it works. Somewhat.

To my teacher friend's credit, she went out of her way to try to make the Sunday lesson apply to everyone in the room, acknowledging there are women who have never had children, women who no longer have children, women who have lost children, women who are raising or have raised handicapped children, women who are raising their grandchildren and women who are raising children of all ages right now.

She asked how we can be mothers if we are not mothers.

I thought of the girls I used to work with at the rehab center. The transitions unit has since closed down due to lack of funding, and the annual service project my co-workers and I performed each Christmas was brought to a sudden and unexpected hault. No advance warning, no substitute. I thought of the years of trying to make those girls smile for the camera, then retouching their photos to help them see how beautiful they can be, both on the inside and the outside. I remembered the ones who hugged me after leafing through their photo albums. I remembered the two who told me they'd never had anyone be kind to them before.

Then I thought of the girls at camp each summer, when I'm asked to help, and how a couple of teenagers always seem to gravitate toward me. And how awesome that makes me feel. I remembered teaching them the names of wildflowers and how to start fires without matches and how to purify water in the wilderness.

I thought of my nieces and nephews, the children of my cousins and the whole new generation now being born to the grown grandchildren of my parents. I thought of the 13 quilts I'm trying to finish by Christmas so each of them has a handmade quilt of their own. Because no one else in the family quilts. For real.

Then I thought of the adorable little five-year-old who lives next door. Her grandmother lives across the country, and they get to see each other only a couple of times a year. Her mother has thanked me for being a grandmother-like influence on her daughter, and I have to tell you, I love that little girl like crazy! When we don't get to see each other for a while because of my work and her school, and she suddenly spots me working in the garden, she squeals my name and comes running with open arms for a jumping to-die-for hug. I made an afghan for her a year ago, and she still carries it around everywhere. She helps me in the garden. She's trying to learn to crochet. She loves to dye yarn. She loves to be tickled and chased. One day, we're going to ride our bikes up Waterton Canyon together.

I didn't get to give birth. I didn't get to teach grandchildren to ride a bike or take pictures or write poetry.

But God didn't slam the door on me. He opened a window. I get to be a mother-like and grandmother-like figure to girls (and sometimes boys) who sometimes don't have that, and that's a pretty cool way to do it, even if it's not traditional. It's better than nothing at all.

I may still ditch church this weekend, but I'm going to bask in the glow of a five-year-old's joy while I play hooky.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Twinge

I'm no fan of Mother's Day, but I don't think I like this trendy word at all.

And look, they've linked it with the word cronehood! This word still carries an extremely negative connotation for me. (Thank you, Robin Hood...)

Not sure I like otherhood, either. And I quote: "There are a number of earlier citations that play on motherhood/otherhood, but use the latter to mean something closer to "being an outsider" rather than "being a non-mother." I always felt like an outsider and left out because I was not able to give birth. I really don't like a label that glorifies and/or amplifies the feeling.

Perhaps I don't fit any of these descriptions by the grace of adopting two older special needs children. Nevertheless, I think I prefer to be classified as a woman, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a human being. To heck with all the rest.

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Picotee Monday

Every once in a while, I design a snowflake that knocks my socks off and bumps one of my longtime favorites from my own personal top ten list. Today's pattern is another of those.


The flower petals are not similar to anything growing in my garden, so while doing some research to find a name for this beauty, I discovered a specific variety of blue morning glories in which I may have to invest, thanks to the gorgeous blue petals. My grandmother grew morning glories, and I remember them being quite prolific (continually growing in places she did not want them) and taking over portions of her vegetable garden. So I've never been too in love with morning glories.

The picotee morning glory may just have to find a spot in my yard, and I may have some extra weeding to do once I make this commitment! I may have trouble walking away!

The curious thing was the flowers didn't resemble my grandmother's morning glories at all. (Not Your Grandmother's Morning Glories... sounds like a song or a movie, doesn't it?) I also wondered about that picotee part. What in the heck is that?!?

Turns out picotee comes from the French word picoté, which, of course, is all too familiar to any thread crochet fan. It means "points." Yes, we knew that! In flowers, it means the edge of the petal is a different color than the flower's base color. Kind of opposite of what I've worked out here (my flower's veins are a different color than the flower's base color), and yet, I do have picot points!


This is yet another in my series of motifs I hope to join together at some point to make something spectacular and eye-popping.

Other patterns in the series include:

Mother's Day Snowflake Motif
Sunflake III
Daisyflake

You may do whatever you'd like with flowers and snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: Flower 1.75 inches across; Snowflake 5.5 inches across from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in three colors, 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


Picotee Flower Instructions

With yellow or flower center color, make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc; sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: The instructions are for my favorite version of the prototypes. The first couple had 12/dc centers. The next test flowers had two rounds of sc as in these instructions, but did not include drop stitches. The first versions with drop stitches did not include a chain between sl st and petal. I'm overjoyed by how the eighth or ninth version turned out, so that's the instructions I wrote. Feel free to improvise to achieve the appearance of my early versions instead of what I've written here if desired.

Round 3: With dark purple or accent color, * 1 sc over Round 2 into any in any Round 1 sc (or next Round 1 sc in repeats) (drop stitch made), ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (petal center made), ch 1; repeat from * around 5 times for a total of 6 petal centers; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
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: With lavender or main petal color, * 1 sc over ch 1 sp right of any petal (or next petal in repeats), 1 sc in bottom of next sc, 1 hdc in bottom of next sc, 3 dc in bottom of next sc, 2 dc in ch 1 tip, ch 2, sl st in top of dc just worked (picot made), 1 dc in same tip, 3 dc in top of next sc (same sc with 3 dc in opposite bottom), 1 hdc in top of next sc, 1 sc in next sc, 1 sc over next ch 1 sp; repeat from * around 5 times; st st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Picotee Snowflake Instructions

Work Rounds 1-4 as above.

Round 5: With white, * 1 sc in back loops (wrong side) of any drop stitch (or next drop st in repeats), ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in back loops (wrong side) of next drop stitch; ch 1 1 dc in starting sc.

Round 6: 1 sc over post of dc directly below, *ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 4 times, ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc 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 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp; 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, 1 dc in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 2 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 dc in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 9: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 10: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 4 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 11: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook (picot made), 5 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook (picot made), sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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 the 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 Fun

This has got to be some of the most fun I've had on a computer! Thanks, Dad!

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