Sneak Peak

Recently heard through the grapevine next year's Ride the Rockies will be "epic." I acknowledge epic is a word many newspapers would like to ban, but the word is a portion of a direct quote from a Power That Be. And I like it!

We're drooling in anticipation of February's 30th anniversary route announcement! We opted not to throw our hats in the RtR lottery last winter because there were only two stages we wanted to ride. As a result, we've been experiencing a degree of withdrawals all year long.

Thinking back on past "epic" stages, we're hoping at least a few repeats will be in the mix.


The most difficult RtR day I've ever pedaled was Ouray to Durango in 2010, three mountain passes with a grueling two-mile climb during Durango's rush hour at the end of the ride to the tent city on the Fort Lewis campus. With a headwind, of course. Oh, how I suffered that day! I had never done three mountain passes in a day before in my entire life (or since!), and that night, I wasn't sure I'd ever get back on my bike again. But the next day, I shocked myself when I got back on my bike and finished the tour. Now I can honestly say I'd do it again!


The second most difficult RtR day I've ever done has happened twice now. The Grand Mesa was featured in the 2005 Ride the Rockies and then again during the tour's 25th anniversary in 2010. The first time I did it, I bonked before the summit, which means I didn't eat and/or drink enough, and I underestimated the mileage. I thought I was at the top when I still had a good two more miles to go in depleted condition. I made it to the top, thanks to much encouragement (and a few back pushes) from The Lizard, but devastation nearly devoured me that day.


In 2010, the Grand Mesa took a bite out of my derailleur and spit it out chewed up. I had completed the climb and was overjoyed but had to ride the rest of the way in a SAG wagon, one of the Support And Gear vehicles patrolling the route to assist riders. My second climb of the Grand Mesa wasn't as hard as my first, but emotionally, that day took a heavy toll on me, and I long to do the entire ride again in high style without bonking and without being a passenger in a SAG wagon.










Independence Pass in 2012 probably was a more difficult climb for me than the Grand Mesa, but I was in good spirits until the very end of the day and refused two SAGs along the way. It was my longest day ever in the saddle, 14 hours, and included a few gravel sections that nearly did in my recently uncasted right wrist. That was the year I'd taken a good spill on my bike and sported a cast just six weeks before the tour. Bumpy gravel roads, of which the route sported many that year, took a distinct toll on my wrist. This would be a fun ride to try again when I'm 100%.


Pikes Peak is the most difficult ride I've ever done, and both attempts, I failed to summit. Assault on The Peak was a timed event (not part of Ride the Rockies); I needed 15 to 20 minutes more the first time up. I missed the finish line by less than a mile. The second time I tried, the timed event had been shaved by an hour, and I missed the first time cutoff by less than five minutes. I'd trained as thoroughly as I possibly could. Pikes continues to yank on my bucket list. It's a big burr under my saddle. Now that the road is open to bicycles, perhaps Ride the Rockies could make a day of it... Wishful thinking replaces any sugar plums dancing in my head.


A couple of years ago, I learned about a non-charity commercial ride that commandeers my daydreams and causes my knees to quiver. Colorado Climbing Camp by Lizard Head Cycling Guides does all the big stuff in one foul swoop. They conquer Trail Ridge Road, Mount Evans and Pikes Peak, the three highest paved roads in all of North America, all on one tour. Can you say, "Oh, my gosh!"

What if Ride the Rockies tackled this?!? Not a chance, I know, because 38,000 feet of climbing would be too difficult for many riders.

But I can dream, can't I???

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Snowflake Monday

I have another "Frozen"-inspired amigurumi I'd planned to share today, but that was before I realized last Saturday was 12.13.14, the last Tic Tac Toe day for 29 years and a month. The next ascending sequential calendar day will be January 2, 2034, or 1.2.34, and then January 23, 2045 will ring in 01.23.45. Then April 5, 2067, May 6, 2078, June 7, 2089, will finish out the century. Doubt I'll be around for those last two or three.

Is your head spinning yet??? Purists don't count any of those dates because we here in America officially record our dates in double digits, MM.DD.YY. Across the pond (and for most genealogists), it's DD.MM.YY. Either way, it's a long, long wait for the next REAL ascending sequential calendar day.

Supposedly, many brides tied the knot last Saturday to mark what sticklers consider the last sequential calendar day until January 2, 2103, or 01.02.03. Remember when we did that back in 2003???

The Lizard and I celebrated Saturday's Tic Tac Toe with a marvelous bike ride along a hidden bike path leading into a quaint little wilderness area we didn't know existed. 31 miles on the 13th. One mathematical charm after another! We won't be waiting until 2034 to visit our newly discovered paradise again, that's for sure!

I then celebrated again that night by finishing the design and pattern for this snowflake at precisely 10:11 p.m. Pretty cool, eh? I have a 12.12.12 snowflake, so it only makes sense I should create a 12.13.14 snowflake, too. My finishing time was a bonus!

The next mathematically symbolic day will be February 2, 2022, or 2.2.22. We'll see if I'm still designing snowflakes then...

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: 7 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 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

10.11.12.13.14 Snowflake Instructions

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 7, 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, 1 tr in starting popcorn to form 6th ch 7 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight enough to make popcorn stitches poufy.

Round 2: 4 sc over post of tr directly below; * ch 3, 4 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 3, 4 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 4 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc 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 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 15, 1 dc in 7th ch from hook, [ch 3, sk next 3 ch, 1 dc in next ch] 2 times, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp, ch 6, sk next ch 3 sp, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 6 and last 2 dc of final repeat; ch 3, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 6 sp of Round.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, 4 sc in next ch 3 sp, 3 dc in next ch 6 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc in same ch 6 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, 4 sc in next ch 3 sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, 1 dc in next ch 6 sp; 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.

As I was making a new 10.11.12.13.14 Snowflake for a digital temperature quilt project I've got going in December of 2021 and January 2022, I came up with a wonderful little Easter egg snowflake to add here. I LOVE burying Easter eggs all over my blog, and I hope you love finding them as much as I enjoy sneaking them in here. It's been too long since I've created one, and I am absolutely thrilled to again pick up the fun challenge when I get the chance! I hope to be able to create many more!

10.11.12.13.14 Sequel Snowflake Instructions

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 7, 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, 1 tr in starting popcorn to form 6th ch 7 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight enough to make popcorn stitches poufy.

Round 2: 4 sc over post of tr directly below; * ch 3, 4 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 3, 4 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 4 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc 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 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 6, sk next ch 3 sp, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp] 6 times, omitting last ch 3 and last 2 dc of final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, ch 3, 2 dc in same tip, [ch 1, 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 1, in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc)] 5 times; ch 1, 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 1, in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 5); 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.

A link to the new blocking template I began using when the old one disappeared is located here. I also have a link to this new (to me) site on my sidebar to the right. I try to keep all the important links there so everyone will be able to find the information they need.

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.

12.13.14 Sunrise

12.13.14 Bicycle Adventure Extraordinaire

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Cleanly Fade Away

I don't know about you, but I don't know that "whiskers" on my jeans are that important.

Yahoo Style recently declared jeans should not be washed, but frozen (right alongside your food, mind you!!!), and simply spritzed with vodka if any dirty spots or smells remain. To wash jeans ruins the intended natural fading of lines radiating from the crotch, they claim. I kid you not! Read the linked story above if you don't believe me!!!

I've been washing jeans, not just mine, but for the whole family in every family I've been a member of, for pushing nearly half a century now. I recycle the denim every chance I get when knees, saddles, seams or pockets wear thin. I get many, many miles out of the recycled denim, as well, and I'm washing it just like I wash the jeans. Soap and water. Washing machine and dryer. Shrink them babies. Fade 'em, too. Soften the cotton.

My husband's grandfathers and uncles worked on their farms, and they wore jeans. I guarantee you they did not put their jeans in any ice box. And jeans would not have been worn dirty week after week after week. No children and grandchildren would have resulted if those cowboys had displayed such fashion sense. Wives would have abandoned those stinky cowboys lickety split.

Denim whiskers, indeed!

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Autumn in Waterton

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Wordless Wednesday

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Doin' Denim

Anyone who follows my blog regularly knows what a blast I've had with my very first indigo last year. My love of indigo extends to jeans, leftovers, projects with leftovers, recycling denim, everything you can think of made of denim, and even denim photography.

Want a dash of inspiration? Check out any one of these fabulous craft collections!

Reuse Jeans (denim is one of my favorite craft fabrics)

More Recycled Denim

scrappy

not so scrappy

Awesome Denim Quilt

What to do with jeans hems.

I'd LOVE this in my living room.

Or this.

I wonder if my dad would love this?

Not just for denim.

Wonderful!

Denim Drool

absolutely adorable

critter

AWESOME quilt!

The Pattern

Yes, yarn!

So many ideas; so few jeans!

simply amazing

I wish people wouldn't pin on Pinterest without linking to the source.
Nevertheless, this is just too cool not to share.

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Caribou Floatie 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.

Nope. No snowflake today. Sorry. I needed something special to introduce my latest snowflake pattern PDF booklet, and besides, today's pattern makes one of the cutest 3D ornaments I've designed so far, in my opinion. (To go directly to instructions for obtaining the booklet, please refer to the pink text below.)

I spent nearly a month scrambling my brain like fresh eggs trying to come up with great idea for a cover for the 2015 snowflake PDF booklet to raise money for the Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. I'd thought of a cute idea last year, but I couldn't remember it at all. Back to the drawing board.

During our flight home from our nephew's wedding in Oregon just before Thanksgiving, I finally thought of a really cute idea. Going back to work after a couple days off kept me from working on the new cover right away. When I finally got to sit down and begin designing, I discovered I had started a new cover last year when I came up with the assumed lost idea!!! I had TWO covers! Yippee! I'd be all set for next year, if I do another snowflake booklet for 2016!

A few hours later, a third title and cover idea that trumped everything simmering and everything I'd already done came to me in the middle of the night. Now I have THREE covers, which means I guess I have to come up with at least 60 more original snowflake ideas in the next two years so I can keep going and use all these awesome booklet covers!

The funny thing about the idea I used for the 2015 PDF booklet is it was right there in front of me all along, making a real "Duh!" moment when it hit me over the head like a polar blizzard in the high Rockies!

This amazing idea, however, has drawbacks. Welcome to my personal interpretation of Commercial Law 101.

Recreating snowflakes shown in a movie (or ad, logo or other visual media) in another form of art is considered derivative and is thereby legal in most cases. The snowflakes I've used as models are not individually copyrighted or trademarked, but sharing screenshots of the movie where the inspirations may be found is NOT legal. Period. Not even if I credit them.

The inspiration for 20 new patterns in my new PDF booklet comes from the highest grossing movie of all time, and that particular movie, of which I'm 100% sure you can guess without me even revealing the title, just happens to be from the company that has been known to act like a great white shark when it comes to copyright infringement and theft.

Fortunately, Disney has taken the high road with Frozen, perhaps acknowledging (finally) that artwork inspired by a financially successful movie generates more sales and income for the company in the long run, and so far Disney has not gone to great lengths to shut down any and all derivative work inspired by this profitable movie, as in it has in the past. Thank heavens! Whew!!!

Still, nothing wrong with being safe and making sure no production toes are stepped on, in my opinion.

As a result, my newest PDF booklet required more than just crocheting, writing down everything I did and then taking pictures of what I made. Hours of research and consultation were required to make sure I won't be sued or hit with a C&D letter (that's cease and desist, or immediately stop doing what you're doing, for those unfamiliar with the acronym) if I use this magnificent idea. I don't like it when people steal my patterns and photos, so I'm not about to inflict the same kind of injury upon anyone else, even vicious Great White Sharks. I also can't afford to fork out a licensing fee to use recognizable screenshots to illustrate from whence my ideas came.


However, it is legal to use "a few" thumbnails of non-copyrighted and non-trademarked items or characters from a film to illustrate inspirations. (For those who don't know, mouse ears are trademarked and have logo status, and violations are aggressively pursued.) "Few" in legal terminology has a subjective definition (which means the number changes; it could be three, it could be five, it could be whatever whimsy a judge in a courtroom determines). I don't want to push my luck, so I've included only four screenshots, from the introduction at the beginning, in the PDF booklet. One new pattern is inspired by the soundtrack, and I've included a photo of the CD label.

That means there are 15 more patterns I've recreated with thread hidden like Easter eggs throughout the movie, which means you get to try to find them!


My newest snowflake pattern PDF booklet features my True Love Snowflake and Elsa's Braid Snowflake, as well as 18 brand new snowflake patterns, a garland pattern and two ornament patterns, all of which will not be published on my blog.

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


Finished Size: 3 inches tall, 3.5 inches across
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in two colors (I used muted yellow and brown), size 8 crochet hook, optional 2 beads for eyes, optional embroidery thread for eyes, optional permanent marker for eyes, small amount of stuffing, optional sequin for air valve

Caribou Floatie Instructions

Lifesaver Tube

This pattern includes linked double crochet. If you are unfamiliar with linked double crochet, see a tutorial here.

With yellow, ch 20.

Round 1: Taking care not to twist ch, 1 sc in 1st ch and in each of next 3 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 3 ch, 1 ldc in each of next 10 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 3 ch. Do not join on this or any of the following Rounds.
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: 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 1 hdc in each of next 3 hdc, 1 ldc in each of next 10 ldc, 1 hdc in each of next 3 hdc.

Repeat Round 2 for 7.5 inches on the outer edge or until tube forms a donut shape without kinking, working 5 sc instead of 4 every 3 Rounds. Sc in the Round migrates to the right. By extending the sc section by one stitch (without changing the number of stitches in the tube) every 3 rounds, donut shape should not twist. When piece measures 7.5 inches on the outer edge, bind off leaving a long tail. Stuff tube. Using tail, sew tube ends together, stuffing as needed to form smooth donut shape. Weave ends inside lifesaver shape.


Head

With brown, make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join on this or any of the following Rounds. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around.

Round 3: * 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times for a total of 18 sc. Draw up loop in next sc, join yellow and finish sc with yellow. Bind off brown.

Rounds 4-8: 1 sc in each sc around.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

NOTE: Beginning here, stuff head lightly as needed to make crochet easier.

Round 9: 1 sc in each sc around, decreasing 2 sc evenly spaced.

Round 10: To shape head, 1 sc in each of next 7 sc, 3 sc in each of next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 6 sc.

Round 11: 1 sc in each of next 6 sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 ldc in each of next 6 sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc.

Round 12: 1 sc in each of next 6 sc, 1 sc in next hdc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 ldc in each of next 4 dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next hdc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc.

Round 13: 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, draw up loop in each of next 3 st, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook, 2 ldc in each of next 4 dc, draw up loop in each of next 3 st, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook. (Round does not truly end here, but for ease of counting, next st begins next Round.)

Round 14: 1 sc in each of next 9 sc, draw up loop in each of next 3 st, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook, 1 hdc in next st, 1 ldc in each of next 4 dc, 1 hdc in next st, draw up loop in each of next 3 st, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

Round 15: 1 sc in each of next 7 sc, draw up loop through each of next 2 st, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook, 1 hdc in next st, 1 ldc in each of next 4 dc, 1 hdc in next st, draw up loop through each of next 2 st, yo and draw up loop through all 3 loops on hook.

Round 16: 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 12 sc.

Rounds 17-19: 1 sc in each sc around.

Round-20: 1 sc in each sc around; bind off leaving long tail. With tail, sew head onto lifesaver tube. Weave end into tube when done.

Antlers (make 2)

With brown and leaving long tail, ch 12, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 4, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch of ch 12, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 6 ch of ch 12. Bind off, leaving long tail.

Finish: Stiffen antlers in desired shape and using tail ends, attach one to each side of caribou head. Stuff thread ends into body. Attach wiggly eyes, buttons or beads for eyes, or, if for a small child, consider embroidering eyes or drawing eyes with permanent market. Caribou also looks fine without eyes. Attach optional sequin to lifesaver tube opposite of head as valve stem if desired. Attach hanging string or loop to inside of tube on same side as head to balance weight when hung.

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