Extended Season

I heard quite a bit of grumbling at the beginning of November regarding Christmas trees being set up before Thanksgiving and stores devoting two or three aisles to seasonal merchandise.

My first Christmas cactus bud of the season appeared before we left for California, the last day of September. The white blossoms, however, take the longest to mature and open. The red ones have beat the white ones, opening the day after Day of the Dead.


So Christmas is coming early at my house, and that's okay, because the flowers make me very happy every single day they bloom. I make snowflakes all year long, so I'm not ever going to complain about when people put up their decorations. I don't care for the commercialism, but I wouldn't mind the emotions and generosity associated with my favorite holiday being spread throughout the year.






I put my two full-grown amaryllis plants in the basement a month early this year, hoping that might help them reach the flowering stage in December instead of the typical January. This year, the two mature plants were joined by the baby bulb I broke off the picotee amaryllis after the first year. It seemed big enough this year to go downstairs with the adults, and it's racing toward the finish line WAY ahead of Mama and Red! I don't know if it will flower this year, but it certainly responded well to being brought back out into the bright of day!




Every year, I've attempted to pollinate the red and white amaryllis flowers in the hopes of getting a mixture of my own creation. I've still got five little babies that aren't big enough to go into the basement yet. Somehow, two seeds got into one pot, and they seem to be friendly toward one another, so I didn't transplant.

The babies aren't showing much growth, so I don't know if I was successful in any of my pollination efforts, but I re-discovered earlier this year that pollinating the flowers degrades the bulbs for the next year's flowers because the bulbs are putting so much energy into reproducing. I'd read that the first year, but I forgot.

For the last two years, I got only two white picotee flowers. I'm not going to ask Mama to make any more seeds.


Because I've become so attached to my amaryllis plants, I decided to buy a few more this year. I invested in a few more exotic colors... Flamenco Queen (which might turn out similar to what I'd imagined for my cross pollination efforts), Candy Floss and Butterfly Papilio. I am going to have some photography fun when these babies open!


And oh, oh, oh!!! Two of the Butterfly Papilio bulbs are pregnant!!!


And you know Papilio is a butterfly, right???


I expected my garden would be snowed in while we were in California for my parents' 50th anniversary and that I'd come home to brownish-yellow and wilted mulch. So I used up a bit of space on my camera's memory cards capturing what was left at the end of September.










Imagine my surprise when we returned... during a snowstorm!!!... to find a few blossoms still thriving!

So I used up a bit more space on the memory cards.






That first snowfall didn't result in much accumulation, and apparently the mercury didn't drop too far in the next week, because I got to enjoy the cosmos blossoms for a few more days after we got back home. Then came the forecast for four inches and days of 20-degree lows, which actually happened. I brought in the potted tomatoes, peppers and a few flowers, hoping to allow them a little bit more simulated autumn before they sleep or die.

On the vine were 9 tiny little green Roma tomatoes I wanted to eat! Some apparently didn't get enough true autumn and never turned red, but I did get enough tiny Romas for a salad, then I got one more before the rest of the two plants decided indoor autumn was not to their liking. Here is my final homegrown Roma tomato for the year.


I clipped quite a few cosmos, unaware they actually have a fragrance until I began clipping them. I added a few sprigs of lavender and had a lovely bouquet in the kitchen for nearly a whole week. I didn't know if the buds would open after clipping, so I was delightfully surprised when I came home to new cosmos blossoms every single day of winter weather!











I clipped every single dahlia bud and placed them in a vase behind my kitchen sink, hoping at least a few might bloom. I got five full flowers!




The potted delphiniums, larkspur and daisies I brought indoors have been such a treat! I don't get as many photo opportunities as I would like this time of year, but I sure have enjoyed seeing the flowers in the middle of November!






There's the annual hyacinth tradition, too. I always buy a few more bulbs so I can force them indoors during winter, then transplant them in spring for the next year's loveliness.




I clipped all the remaining live lavender blossoms hours before the snow began to fall and created what I think is the prettiest and best-smelling bouquet I've ever made. It lasted nearly two weeks in our bedroom, and I would have to say the experts are right. Having lavender in the bedroom does improve sleep quality.




I made a greeting card from one of my favorite bouquet shots. Our Chinese maple had never been as brilliant as it was this year. This autumn contrast is one of my favorite lavender photos of all time.


Seeds for next year's garden are hibernating in a dry, cool bin below the indoor garden shelves, and a few will get early indoor starts next March or April. I love winter, but I sure am excited about what might will be blooming in my garden next spring!

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Snowflake Monday

NOTE: Formal fundraising on Snowcatcher has been paused. I haven't had time to create a new snowflake pattern booklet, and we don't know if or when we will be able to participate in organized charity rides again. If things favorably change, I will announce such in a new Snowflake Monday blog post. In the meantime, the previous eight booklets are still available, and I will do my best to respond to requests for them in a timely manner.

I've been up to snow good! It's once again time to do some good in the world with the help of snowflakes.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my flakes!

Doesn't today's snowflake look a bit like a bicycle gear?!? How many times has cycling inspired my snowflake patterns?!?

I've been raising money for the MS-150 to help fight multiple sclerosis for about 18 years now, and my Lizard joined me in the battle 13 years ago.

We plan to continue supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through our friends who ride the MS-150 (and our friends who participate in the MS Walk and the Muck Fest, too), but Lizard and I are changing gears this year and joining the fight against Parkinson's Disease. A beloved member of our family has been diagnosed with this monster, and we plan to help The Davis Phinney Foundation, which aims to improve life for people with Parkinson's, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is working to find a cure.

Long before we knew Parkinson's would be taking up residence in our family, Lizard and I met former pro cyclist Davis Phinney and his Olympic gold medalist wife Connie Carpenter at Ride the Rockies. Phinney has Parkinson's. We bought his book, and he autographed it for us.


Here's something funny I'm not sure I should admit. We read the book. And then I used the book to wind crochet thread into hanks the second year I began dyeing. The book is still in perfect condition, and it has proven useful more than once! Humor aside, we are reading the book again now to see if there are things we can apply to the new normal in the life of our loved one.


When I first decided to do another snowflake booklet to raise money for a new charity, I wasn't sure I could finish 20 new patterns during the busiest time of year at my day job, plus, most charities have closed down their participant fund-raising pages by this time of year so volunteers can spend the holidays with their families. I didn't know if I wanted to go through the hassle to have a whole new organization set up something special so I can raise money during the biggest snowflake pattern months of the year.

Then one day on the train, I made a new snowflake. The train had been delayed, and what better way to wait it out than make a snowflake?

I had time to make another new snowflake before the train started moving again. I wrote both patterns that day during my lunch hour. I realized if I could make 50 7-pointed snowflakes in 10 days for my parents' golden anniversary, I could make 20 6-pointed snowflakes in 14 days. The challenge was on!


There were days when it was a struggle to design two new snowflakes and write the patterns, too. Just like when I made the half-century of snowflakes for my parents, there were a couple of days when I had to play catch-up.

When I got frustrated by the goal and everything that's keeping me too busy to concentrate on crochet or quilting these days, I remembered how difficult it is for my loved one to concentrate every day, how difficult it is for my loved one to do things that used to be simple, and how difficult it is for my loved one to adapt to a new strict and difficult dining schedule to accommodate the medication that must be taken every single day now.

I decided it's pretty cool that I can set these outrageous goals for myself and actually achieve them. And in so doing, do something to help the chances of my loved one perhaps having an easier battle one day because of my sacrifice.

It's worth it.


I hope you will enjoy this booklet. Many of the 20 patterns in it were inspired by snowflakes I made for my parents for their 50th anniversary, which makes this batch of flakes even more special to me.

The patterns in this pdf booklet will not be published on my blog. They were created as a special thank you to those who help in the fight against Parkinson's Disease.


I'm planning an embellishment contest in December with at least four great prizes. Get your creative juices flowing, and show me your best Polar Snowflake (one of the patterns in the new booklet), and perhaps you can win some Lizbeth crochet thread, some danglies, some beads or maybe even a nice crochet hook! Watch for details in an upcoming Snowflake Monday after Thanksgiving!

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: 2.75 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

Gearing Up 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 ring tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), [sk next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 5, 1 hdc in same dc] 5 times; sk next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 point 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 4 (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr over tr directly below, [2 tr in next ch 5 point, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (picot point made), 2 tr in same ch 5 point] 5 times, 2 tr in next ch 5 point, work picot point, sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4; 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.






Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGI Friday at Alycia Quilts, and Busy Hands Quilts.

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Friday Fortius

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Last Days

Author's Note: I'm still pretty strapped for time and internet access right now, and there's a good possibility things won't change before the end of the year. Good thing I have some unused old blog posts in cold storage!

November 2014

I love last days novels.

I'm no fatalist, and I'm not all that anxious for THE last days to begin. But I love exploring interpretations of the events of Revelations from differing viewpoints.

I think I learn something from each author who dares to wade the waters of last days imagination.

Kenneth Tarr taught me the importance of vitamins, sunscreen and portable toilet seats.

Chad Daybell taught me CDs aren't as valuable as food storage.

Jessica and Richard Draper taught me Relief Society will be the most vital organization when World War III rips the earth apart.

And Chris Stewart is teaching me to hold my breath.

I have wondered since studying Revelations in Seminary what some of the cryptic prophecies might mean. Back then, the moon turning from cheese to blood seemed a little on the sci-fi side. But the analogy made me curious about how I would describe the things I've seen in my lifetime if I was talking to people who'd never seen F-15s, helicopters, four-wheelers, fiber optics, smart phones, 3D printers or video games.

I'd been raised by parents who often reminisced about the bomb shelters their neighbors had built or planned to build before I was born, and I grew up near a heavily monitored border checkpoint and military base that kept the potential of nuclear threat in the local headlines. I made an annual pilgrimage or two to Trinity Site, where the first atomic bomb was detonated.

There was no question in my mind I might one day be heading for cover with whatever I could carry.

When I was a teenager, my own personal interpretation of the number of the beast was the glowing red digits on the cable box that sat atop the television. When we turned the lights off to watch Star Trek or Batman in the dark to mimic movie theater ambiance, the apparition of Channel 13 reflected off our glasses, buttons and belt buckles. There was talk back then of 500 channels one day. Who was to say "they" hadn't miscalculated by 166 channels?

Living so close to an air force base, I grew up assuming I would be protected when The Big One hit. Living in the desert, however, I learned no battalion is going to save me when my well or propane tank run dry.

More recently, living so near the Rocky Mountains has taught me to always have fresh batteries and a working flashlight I can find in the dark, candles in every room, matches or lighters I can find in the dark, blankets in every room, food storage with items I actually like and don't necessarily have to cook, and fun things to do at home when the snow is so deep, I can't get to my car. Living in real winter has taught me to love cross-country skiing as a mode of transportation.

Chernobyl taught me I might not necessarily want to survive a nuclear attack. September 11, 2001, showed me how much good there still is in the world, even if it does take a horrendous tragedy to bring it out. Hurricane Katrina taught me the importance of water purification systems. Credit card fraud reinforced all the financial advice about diversification I'd been taught all my life. The terminal illness of a very dear friend taught me to sacrifice my plans to bring comfort to another. The chronic illness of a loved one is teaching me to sacrifice my plans to bring comfort to another.

And a flood in the basement taught me plastic bins!!! Plastic bins!!! Plastic bins!!! Never, ever again store valuables in cardboard boxes!!!

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Wisdom Wednesday

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Lava Whisperer

A man in Hawaii came home from work to find lava in his backyard. And then stuck around to film it! Although this might be a pretty scary thing for some, some of the comments (and comments on the comments) on the news coverage cracked me up with fissures of my own!

"You stay here and keep filming; I'll go get help." - Ron

"'Not in my backyard!' 'Yes, in your backyard.'" - Peter W

"Soon you'll be able to buy bags of lava rock at your local Home Depot." - D Merdian

"That sight would make me run to the beach and start swimming towards California." - Abracadabra

"I'd rather die by being melted alive from lava pouring out of a fissure than go to California any day." - Syke

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak." - Nell

"Motivated seller!" - Big Blue

"Won't have to mow the lawn anymore." - Mr.

"FOR SALE: Beautiful, rare 3 bedroom, 2 bath luxury Hawaiian home on 20 acres of lava, priced to sell, open to offers. Available immediately." - David

"I'd be out there with a garden hose." - Smegma

"FOR SALE: Lot on Big Island, a piece of paradise, spectacular views and a flowing stream in the backyard. Hurry! This property won't last long! Schedule a showing today!" - Yourconscience

"Should have plenty of hot water..." - Marvin

"Next on Yard Crashers, we give this boring backyard an explosive Hawaiian theme with a new fire pit. Stay tuned." - David

"Time for another totally awesome game of: THE FLOOR IS LAVA!" - Padre

"The floor is lava. No, seriously, the floor is lava." - Cliff Claven

"Nurse: 'What was the last thing you remember?' The guy filming: 'Telling someone to hold my beer.'" - Benedictus

"I wonder how close you need to be in order to get that perfect golden brown on a marshmallow?" - VR

"Let's invite the neighbors for a cookout!" - Warbirdlover

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Snowflake Monday

I learned to do the Lover's Knot when I was 10 years old, just after my youngest sister was born. I made a dress for her with the sparkly white baby pompadour yarn popular in 1970... perhaps Sayelle or Caron. Back then, I did not have the vast selection of yarn available these days. I would save the money from two or three babysitting jobs... because back then, getting a quarter an hour was an awesome wage, and babysitting more than two hours at a time was a true luxury. I thought I was rich when I made more than 50 cents a week.

After saving adequate funds, I would walk a little more than a mile to our town's only department store, TG&Y, which my mom fondly called Turtles, Girdles and YoYos. A 4-ounce skein of Sayelle yarn back then was 99 cents. I think there were about 30 colors, and I loved to just stare at all the gorgeous hues.

A 1-ounce skein, which didn't offer as much variety, perhaps four or five colors, was less than a quarter. I can't remember how much I paid for the baby pompadour, which had a strand of shiny satin-like fiber, but it was the softest yarn I'd ever touched at that time. I ran out before the dress was long enough, and I had to save money for another three weeks before I could return to TG&Y to buy another skein. By the time I finished the dress, it wasn't big enough for my growing baby sister.

The top part of the dress was solid single crochet, with easy slit armholes, and the bottom of the dress was made entirely from the Lover's Knot. I hand-stitched a white button onto the back opening of the dress, then crocheted a long-skinny loop with the yarn for the button closure. I think I even put a white satin bow on the front to dress it up a bit. I wish I had a picture of it! I was so proud of my creation, even though Susie never got to wear the dress.

My younger sister, Jeanette, and I may have used the dress on one of our dolls; I can't remember. I don't know what ever became of the dress. I may have to create another one someday to show my female grandkids what they might have worn had I known them when they were born.

As I was playing with the prototype snowflake for today's pattern, I wondered if the Lover's Knot might be more attractive than a plain chain. Then I learned one of the names for this stitch is Hail Stone. PERFECT for a first snowflake design after a first snowfall of the season!!!

After I worked out the pattern, I noticed the rainbow reflection in one of the inner office windows at work that inspires me for 10 to 15 minutes almost every day in autumn. I couldn't resist taking LOTS of photos!






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: 6.5 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

Hail Stone Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), [1 dc in ring, ch 1] 10 times; 1 dc in ring, 1 hdc to form 12th ch 1 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 1 sc overpost of hdc directly below, [ch 5, sk next ch 1 sp, 1 sc in next ch 1 sp] 5 times; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round.

Round 3: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 12, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp] 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.
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), * [ch 1, draw loop on hook big enough to insert hook in single back thread, insert hook into gap between single back thread and front chain and draw up loop; yo and draw through both loops on hook to form Lover's Knot, which is a sc worked into the back of the chain] 10 times (10 Lover's Knots made), 2 dc in next ch 5 loop, ch 20, 2 dc in same loop, work 10 Lover's Knots, sk over next 4 spoke sc and next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; 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 Fortius

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Quilty Little Not-So Secrets

This meme inspired me... holy cow... three years ago!!! But I was on vacation, my blog posts were scheduled for the next few weeks, and I actually got into finish mode for so long, I forgot about this list.

Hopefully, it's not too late to run mine now...

Following 13 Spools' lead:

1. I've broken needles and pins sewing over pins. I, therefore, no longer sew over pins. Ever.

2. I iron. I press. I scorch. I cause color bleeds. I iron with tap water steam. I keep a spray bottle of tap water on my ironing board. I adhere to Ricky Tims' caveman philosophy... Press the heck out of it, and then press it some more if it still doesn't lay flat!


3. When hand-quilting (except for my sister-in-law's quilt), I still hand baste on a quilt frame my husband built for me, and I baste from the center out in a big X, then go row-by-row in whatever direction suits my mood.

4. I pre-wash almost all my fabrics; most are purchased for clothing, and I don't want them shrinking after I put a good two or three days into making a new favorite garment. Leftovers are for quilting. However, I don't pre-wash pre-cuts. That would be just crazy!

5. I love hand-basting. I have spray-basted and pin-basted. When I first wrote this list, I hated pin-basting. Now, it's grown on me.


6. Gütermann is my favorite thread, except for crochet thread. If I could use crochet thread for quilting, I would. I bet Valdani would work up nicely. (My sister-in-law's quilt is being hand-quilted with perle embroidery floss!)


7. I like warm, natural, white, snow, sand, pearl, ivory, eggshell, dove, ecru, cream, beige, linen, cotton, antique, parchment, cloud, mist, bone, vanilla, marshmallow, almond, garlic, tea-stained, low-impact, and most of all, all together in one project! I don't like how the seams can sometimes show through, though, in a finished quilt. OH!!! You meant batting?!? I thought you meant color...

8. I love log cabin quilts, just about any way they come. Love pineapple quilts, too.


9. I think drawing with a long arm would be so much fun and a great way to doodle on fabric. Hope I get the chance one day, I mean, other than at a quilt shop or quilt expo/festival.

10. Although I like some fat quarters and some fat quarter bundles, I'd much prefer to buy fabric by the yard and make my own combinations.


11. I buy batting and thread wherever I can get it cheapest.

12. I might use cheap fabric on the back of a quilt. Or the lining of a dress. Always for the inside pockets of garments.


13. I love scraps. I rarely throw fabric away. What I can't use in quilts, The Lizard can use as a rag in the bike shop (the basement). What's too small for a rag can be used for amigurumi stuffing.

14. I have fabric in storage I haven't looked at in more than 10 years. I'm SLOWLY working on getting through all of it!


15. I love hand-sewing. I love hand-embroidery. I love hand-appliqué. I love putting bindings on by hand, and my hand sewing typically holds up in the wash.

16. I almost always double my thread when hand-sewing.

17. I should change my sewing machine needle and rotary blade more often. I clean the inside of my sewing machine when fiber bunnies start showing up in my stitches.

18. I think most quilts should be used. I don't mind a few that hang on walls, but most should be for cuddling and warmth.


19. Stitching on the underneath should be as beautiful as stitching on top. Got that from my grandmother.

20. Goes without saying... I love hexies!

What about you? Have anything interesting to keep this meme alive and kicking?!?


Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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