Friday Fortius

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A Year in the Making

(affiliate links to my fabric designs)

My 2019 Calendar is ready! See it here!

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Wordless Wednesday

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Hawaiian Dreams

Part Two of Three

I was still dazed as I made my way across the cultural hall to the stage, where the MC was now on third and final call. I raised my hand and waved so I wouldn’t lose my coveted prize. One gentleman tugged lightly on my arm as I passed.

“Aren’t you excited?” he quizzed. “You look like you’re going to a funeral.”

I felt as if I had been to a funeral, but his point was well taken. Not only had I won a trip to Hawaii, but I could now leave this wretched place just the way I came… Alone. Maybe I should wave my arms in the air and scream. No, the younger set could have the honors.


A parade of excited cries echoed through the cultural hall as the remaining winners were announced. I filled out my required paperwork while other trip recipients did headstands, end zone dances and Olympic cheers, injecting a good dose of enthusiasm back into the event. I snuck out the side door and into the dark parking lot when the music began again.


Hawaii. Four days and three nights. Airfare for two. Visions of plumeria, sea turtles and volcanoes didn’t immediately dance through my head as I walked like a zombie through the crisp Colorado air toward my car. All I could think was who would occupy that second seat.


For a moment, I thought of going back into the church to see if I could find a willing co-traveler. Maybe even one of those young college girls. She’d probably be plugged into an MP3 player the whole time, and I’d be taking pictures all four days, so it wasn’t like we actually had to be friends or crave the same things.


Three or four years earlier, it would have been such a simple dilemma. I could buy an extra ticket and take both my kids. We would have had a grand time. They would have spent all their time collecting seashells, building sandcastles, burying each other and getting wet. They likely would have been arrested for repeatedly sneaking into aquarium pools. Meanwhile, I would be taking pictures. The perfect vacation. Something I could not afford to give my children when they were fun. I mean, young.

But that was a different lifetime. I tried to let my mind wander.


I have plentiful friends. There were many people I could thank in a most eloquent way for their emotional support as I went through my darkest days. Almost all of them were married. Maybe I could just give the tickets to one of the couples who had made sure I didn’t spend a single holiday alone unless I wanted to. I glanced down at the voucher in my hand.

Non-transferable. Of course.


My brothers all had wives and kids. My sister was in a long-term relationship. Maybe my mom would go, and she’d definitely cater to my whims. But would she have fun? Would she want to do something like that without my dad?

Probably not. And Dad isn’t the traveling type. Back to the drawing board.

Who would put up with me in paradise for four days?


My tropical dream was never something to which normal people might aspire. Most tourists dream of spending four days in Hawaii on the beach, shopping, diving or seeing the sights. Not me. One of my lifetime dreams is to bike up Mauna Kea from Hilo. Sea level to 13,796 feet in 44 miles. Nearly 14,000 feet of elevation gain in a day. At the time, only one female had successfully done it. I wanted to be the second.


I commenced training immediately, even though it was the middle of winter in the Rocky Mountains. This might be my only chance to visit the Big Island, and I was determined to make it the best trip ever. I also found a single friend willing to drive a SAG (support and gear) wagon up Mauna Kea just in case I couldn’t make it or needed extra water or food. Hip, hip, hooray! I'm going to Hawaii!!!!!!!!!!


I soon came to the realization I should have used my two-wheeled steed to take that second seat. Not only would I have to dismantle my bike and then put it back together once I arrived in Hawaii, but the cost to transport it and the forms I’d have to sign to absolve the airline from responsibility for shipping my favorite mode of transportation nearly put me in my grave. I am not capable of adjusting the seat on my bike, much less dismantling the entire contraption and putting it back together in ride-worthy condition.


So I lined up a rental bike in Hilo. I researched my route. I rented a four-wheel drive vehicle we could use as a SAG mobile. I booked a moonlight tour up the peak for entertainment and reconnoiter purposes. I told all my friends what I was going to do, and my adrenaline level was off the charts.


Meanwhile, negotiations with the company theoretically providing this fantasy weren’t what I expected. The closer I got to my actual travel date, the more I began to suspect the trip was but a sham. I inquired via the singles group if anyone else was having trouble collecting their prizes, and sure enough, too many strings were attached. This trip was not by any means free.


Part Three will be published next week. Link won't work until the post is published.

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Snowflake Monday

Today's pattern is the second of my mom's gift collection I fell in love with after making the 7-point big brother. Some of the design concepts in this snowflake were echoed in other flakes throughout the 50-flake journey. Journey because I finished about 30 of the flakes during our drive to California to celebrate with my family.

Here's my portable snowflake factory, which I set up in each night in our hotel room, then put away each morning so the housekeeping staff wouldn't think it was the previous night's dinner in need of a trash can.








All but one family member was able to join in the Golden Anniversary celebration. I really love how today's pattern echoes a gathering!

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: 4 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

Gathering Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in ring, [ch 1, 3 dc in ring] 5 times; 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 1 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 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 6, 1 dc in same sp] 5 times; 1 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 6 sp of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, [ch 10, 3 dc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp] 5 times; ch 10, 3 dc in next ch 6 sp, 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 8, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp] 5 times; ch 8, 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 5: Ch 12 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 10), 1 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp] 5 times; ch 10, 1 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 12 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 6: 1 sc over post of dc directly below, [ch 6, 1 sc around all 3 chains from previous 3 Rounds, ch 3, 1 sc around all 3 ch again, ch 6, 1 sc in next ch 3 tip, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp] 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; 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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Lucky Sevens

What did I learn from ten days off social media and dramatically reduced news?

1. I missed my family.

2. I didn't miss the depression and sadness that often envelopes me when I read news.

3. I missed my blog and the blog community.

4. Just like every other day of the year, when my internet connection is not adequate or the sites I wish to visit are blocked, I had plenty of other things to do instead of spending time on the internet. It's become a way of life for me over the last five years, so that part didn't really change.

5. Most of the time I spent on my phone for the last 10 days was trying to duplicate photographed 7-point snowflakes in 6-point style, reading scriptures, and taking pictures. I get a weekly report now, after the last iPhone update, on Sunday nights giving me my average screen time. It will be most interesting to see the total tomorrow night because I think I was on the phone more than before my fast because I was reading scriptures (and General Conference talks) on my phone. I love the technology and ability to do that (or even read novels I've downloaded), no matter where I am or how bad my phone signal gets!!!

6. I still didn't get any sewing or quilting done, even though that was a goal.


If I ever do another social media fast, I probably will limit my news feeds again but not cut off methods of communicating with my family. I'm hoping I don't ever have to do another fast because one of the most important lessons I learned during the last 10 days is that I don't have to spend time grieving about the condition of the world.

A journalist at heart, I've been addicted to news feeds since I was a teenager. I set a goal to become a journalist when I was covering my first presidential election for my high school newspaper because I was so disgusted by the total vacuum of unbiased reporting, even back in the '70s. My teachers and later college professors had drilled into students the need to remain neutral, but none of the reporters I saw were doing that.

I fought journalism for a good 24 years, trying to make a difference and change what I could, without much real success at all. I finally abandoned the profession because it literally felt like a sinking ship. I still have newspaper ink coursing through my blood, but I do not miss the long hours, the negativity and the sensationalism.

I stopped watching most television in my early 20s because I didn't like most of what was being offered. I do not miss television at all.

And now, after this social media fast, I feel I can continue to pull back from the negativity and drama over which I have absolutely no control. The hunger to know everything that's going on every minute throughout the world is gone, although the craving still surfaces from time to time. During such bouts, I try to find a way to do something kind for someone else, and it's turning out to be the most wonderful substitute, equally addictive!

The other day, Lizard asked if I'm going to take snowflakes to Children's Hospital this year. I didn't get to last year because I couldn't crochet as much as I wanted, due to elbow pain caused by collapsed neck discs. I've been stashing flakes for kids all year long. When I told Lizard I plan to deliver a pizza box full of snowflakes around Thanksgiving, he asked if he can go, too, because he, too, wants to see the reaction of the staff when they open the box.

We don't get to see the kids' reactions, but the staff's reaction probably will send us to the moon and back, with plenty of enthusiasm to carry us all the way through the holidays.


Thank you to all those who hung in here at my blog, waiting for me to return, and leaving comments even though I was not reciprocating. It was refreshing to read all the comments last night and catch up on some of my favorite blogs. I learned my blog does not cause me depression or sadness (although inadequate internet access can still be a source of frustration), so I don't plan to take another break until the day I retire as a blogger.

There are days when I think 10 years is enough, and this is my 9th year. Most days, though, I can't imagine not blogging, although not having the pressure to come up with a new snowflake pattern every week sometimes seems like the ultimate vacation. I have about 10 months to decide, and being a woman, I could change my mind a million or seven times between now and then.


Of course, my blog hit the 7,000,000 mark while I was on my social media fast. Of course. Of course!!!!!!!

I noticed one day while looking for a snowflake pattern. I darn near missed the counter! I noticed all the nines four days before the actual rolling of the zeroes, and I calculated the magic moment would be about 1 or 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 16.

So, yes, I cheated. I set the tally-keeper to animated display (the only time during the entire 10 days I logged into Blogger), I took a few screen shots of my visitor total whenever I checked the weather (because, you know, it was just a couple more innocent clicks, and I didn't linger), and I peeked whenever I got a chance from about 11 a.m. Tuesday until 12:43 p.m. on the 16th. I got to see the number actually roll!!! That was awesome! What an adrenaline rush!

I was at work, where my website (and most anything fun on the internet) is blocked, so I was checking on my phone. It wasn't long before all my bosses and co-workers were looking over my shoulder so they could watch the tally climb, too. So the atmosphere was a bit festive, even though we had some severe limitations!

I think the coolest part of my newest collection of zeroes is that I just finished crocheting 50 7-point snowflakes for my parents for their Golden Anniversary, and 7,000,000 visitors to my blog just 10 days later is kind of like a crown of royalty!

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Friday Fortius

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Jane and Emma

This makes me wish I could have stayed in Cedar City one more day so we could have seen the movie on opening night. I've asked for it to come to Colorado. You may request it in your state here.

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Wordless Wednesday

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