Eclipsed

We'd been planning to go somewhere near the Four Corners area for this year's annular solar eclipse since The Great American Eclipse back in 2017.

Back in April, I got to watch the Australian solar eclipse live as it happened. Via YouTube, of course. I’d set the television up for Lizard to watch (without sound), and he’d fallen asleep. I didn’t know the exact time of totality, and I wasn’t watching the clock anyway. I’d just finished up a big project for work, and I was ready to work on my crochet temperature project. I could have rewound the video to watch the eclipse after it finished. But God guided me into the living room the moment totality was happening. It was so cool to watch as it happened! Every bit as exciting as it was when we watched the moon block the sun live in person at the Colorado/Wyoming border back in 2017.

I'm so thankful for modern technology. I'm so thankful to work from home, which forced me to upgrade our internet, which allowed me to watch an eclipse on the other side of the world as it happened. I'm so thankful for my Heavenly Father’s timing. I actually was even thankful for the silenced television and the nighttime silence of our house because it reminded me of how all the insects stopped buzzing and the birds stopped singing when we watched the 2017 eclipse as it happened. What joyous memories!

My hunger to get as close to the October 2023 Ring of Fire fueled securing time off from work. I made sure I still had my eclipse glasses and eclipse filter for my good camera, the Big Gun. I spent most of the summer dreaming of how wonderful our trip would be.

On September 29, I spent the evening trying to map out where we could go to shoot the eclipse. Back in 2017, we thought perhaps we could get good shots from The Wave or White Pocket if we couldn't get Wave permits. Maybe just somewhere in Vermillion Cliffs.

When NASA released the 2023-24 eclipse paths map, I realized the perfect Ring of Fire would not be visible from that far west. We also had learned there would be an air show in Grand Junction (featuring the Blue Angels!!!) that very same weekend. Lizard LOVES the Blue Angels, and both of us were suffering withdrawals because it had been so long since we'd been able to attend an air show.

While trying to come up with an alternate eclipse-viewing location, I suddenly began to remember the less pleasant aspects of our 2017 adventure.

How long it took to get to our desired venue. How long it took to get back home, even taking side roads far east of the interstate. All the mind-numbing traffic trying to do the same thing. How much Lizard enjoyed the eclipse but hated the commute both ways. Back when HE did all the driving...

I suddenly felt guilty for wanting to go. Wanting to drive so far. Lizard's mom had been telling me for a week or so he could stay with her while I went alone because she had a better grasp on reality than I did at the time. She knew there was no way he could make such a trip now. I didn't want to go alone. I wanted to enjoy the eclipse with him. Like we did last time.

The Ring of Fire's photographic alure began to dissipate as I realized Lizard would not be able to be in the car long enough for me to drive to one of our dream destinations, either Recapture Pocket (which I imagined to be as photogenic as White Pocket) or the Hite area in Canyonlands National Park.

I had told Lizard he could stay at his mom's and watch the airshow from her back porch (which has a great view of the airport) while I headed west, thinking I could get where I wanted to go in about three hours, shoot the eclipse, then get back in about three more hours.

Lizard would be so busy watching the airshow, he wouldn't really have any problems. His mom would be able to help with his medications. But he wasn't terribly comfortable with me going that far alone. I have to confess, it worried me, too. Not just trying to stay awake on the road alone, but trying to stay safe, period. After a bicycle tire blowout following Lizard's second surgery, I'd realized I can no longer engage in risky behavior such as riding my bike 30-plus miles to the office during rush hour traffic. He can't pick me up if I have a problem. I don't want someone else to have to take care of him if something happens to me. I want to be the one taking care of him.

I realized I wouldn't be able to go to the 2023 eclipse. At all. I didn't feel comfortable dumping Lizard's care on his mom for what seriously could be 24 hours or more, but I also don't even want to think about being without him that long. I can't even imagine how he would feel having to depend on his mom full time for that long, especially right now, with his stepdad's special needs. (One surgery a couple of weeks ago and another coming up in a couple of weeks.) (Then, as it turned out, Lizard's stepdad having to be rushed to the hospital again the day after the eclipse...)

About a month ago, Lizard commented out of the blue, "You can't plan anything anymore, can you?" That strange feeling in the pit of your stomach when someone ackowledges something painful you haven't yet noticed agitated wildly deep down inside. Lizard was right. I really can't plan much of anything now. We never know if he will feel like doing what we plan when the time actually arrives.

I needed to turn my attitude around. I plan a trip to the temple once a month and once a week when I'm able. I plan to go to work for a few hours each week. I plan to go to church each Sunday. Planning these routine outings can be fraught with seemingly unbearable stress. Yet, I usually find a way to make the most important things happen.

The instant I realized how miserable Lizard would be if I dragged him to the Four Corners area or if I left him alone for an entire day or more, I suddenly didn't even want to go southwest anymore. I could be totally content shooting the air show right by Lizard's side.

So, I didn't take the Big Gun. I wouldn't need it, I thought. I could get by with my little point-and-shoot, and I could practice shooting video of very fast-moving objects. I forgot my tripod connector, so I was forced to hand-hold my camera while shooting the Blue Angels. But, hand-holding was incredibly good practice for me.

Back in the days of VHS, when my kids were still small, I sent my dad a video of an air show in Greeley. My dad's reaction made my day. He said I was very good with a movie camera. He'd spent a portion of his electrical career with a television station, and his compliment bowled me over for years.

Now I'm beyond rusty. Plus, the VHS cameras of the '90s were about five times the weight of today's little point-and-shoots. Boy, my little camera now feels (and vividly displays) every breath I take, every itch I feel, every nervous twitch I hadn't realize I was making.

I got in LOTS of practice shooting the Blue Angels practice and the actual performances. Hopefully, I'm getting a little steadier as I go. I know I need to keep practicing. It makes me a bit sick to my stomach to watch the videos I shot in Grand Junction. I still need LOTS of improvement.

As it turned out, the eclipse was more visible in Grand Junction than I'd anticipated, and I had a ball shooting it, too, right from Lizard's mom's backyard, prior to the start of that day's air show.

More lessons learned. The little point and shoot couldn't shoot fast enough for such a bright light spectrum, even with the eclipse filter. I'd have brought the Big Gun had I known I would be able to view such a great eclipse from so far away from annularity.

Even though my photos show none of the sun's gorgeous detail, I can play with the images in Photoshop, and I might even come up with something fun.

In the end, I got to enjoy five glorious days off with my sweet husband, I didn't have to drive hundreds of miles (except to Grand Junction and back), I didn't have to put up with traffic or crowds, and I got a lot of quilt hand-sewing and snowflake crocheting done in the evenings. Not a bad way to spend a vacation!

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Snowflake Monday

It's about time I get my now traditional Halloween Snowflakes in the mail to my grands, isn't it???

Actually, I'm a lot later than I initially intended. Lots of medical emergencies in the extended family the last couple of months kept me from my crochet hook too often. I can't believe I started this project back in late August, and I finally finished the final grandkid Halloween snowflake at 7:48 last night, barely enough time to get it in the mail. Plus, I found out Friday one of the foster families took in a new three-sibling group. I thought I was done, then had to open one of the prepared packages after making three more snowflakes!

I've found some outstanding Halloween buttons in the past. My favorite (Etsy) button shop has been on time out for a long time (just like my own Etsy shop...), and I was having a very difficult time tracking down 26 (and now, 29!!!) suitable Halloween buttons different from what I've used in the past. I decided to try Croc buttons, not knowing in advance if I was wasting my money.

The Croc buttons I ordered (Mario Brothers) require a different method of attaching, but once I figured out a way to get them through the center of my snowflakes, the process became smooth and easy after about the fifth flake. I think I may even like these better than shank buttons now.

Typically, I have performed my magic ring snowflake centers by completing half the stitches, tightening the ring, then completing the first round stitches. Halloween buttons would be tied on via the loose thread ends, after the snowflakes were stiffened, with an additional dab of glue securing the knotted thread ends. With these Croc buttons, I have to complete all my first round stitches, then insert the button, then tighten the ring. That took a bit of getting used to.

Snowflakes were stiffened with regular glue, carefully trying to make sure I didn't get glue on the Croc charms. (It does wash off when I goof up; nevertheless, I stiffened these babies by putting glue on the backs of the snowflakes and gently massaging in with my fingers.)

Now that I'm out of Elmer's glow glue, my Halloween snowflakes this year are not going to glow in the dark. I can't spray paint the flakes after the buttons are inserted. I think the kiddos will still treasure these. Hopefully, each of them will have a good set of starter snowflakes when they go away to their first year of college. Or get married. Or whatever.

I love it when I can come up with fun snowflake names, and today's are gems, as far as I'm concerned. I love trying new ideas with points, too, so the bonus patterns featured today made me one very happy crocheter!

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: 3, 5 and 5.25 inches from point to point (Yes, there are THREE snowflake patterns today!!!
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

Wii Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 12 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 10), 1 dc in ring, ch 6, 1 dc in ring] 5 times; ch 10, 1 dc in ring, ch 3, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 12 to form 6th ch 6 petal of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 3, 3 sc in next ch 10 petal, ch 3, 3 sc in next ch 6 petal] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc and pull tight.
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 3 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 1), in next middle sc work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc), ch 1, 1 dc in next middle sc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

I really like this year's Halloween snowflakes, but I thought the plain, unembellished flake deserved fancier points, so I worked up this alternative.

Manga 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 12 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 10), 1 dc in next dc, ch 6, 1 dc in in next dc] 5 times; ch 10, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 12 to form 6th ch 6 petal 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 sc and [ch 3), in next ch 10 petal work (1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc), ch 3, in next ch 6 petal work (1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc)] 6 times, omitting last sc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 1st ch of starting ch 4 to form 12th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 1), in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch (1st branch made), ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch (2nd branch made), ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (3rd branch made), working back down spoke ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, sk 3rd branch, sl st in next spoke ch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, sk 2nd branch, sl st in next spoke ch, ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sk 1st branch, sl st in next spoke ch, ch 1, 3 dc), ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

I love the bonus flake. I really do. But it inspired yet another flake. Which I love even more. So here you go...

Joust Snowflake Instructions

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Popcorn Stitch (pc)

Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 3] 5 times; pc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in top of first pc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 12 (counts as 1 dc and ch 10), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 6, in next ch 3 sp work (1 dc, ch 10, 1 dc)] 5 times; ch 3, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 12 to form 6th ch 6 petal 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 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5), in next ch 10 petal work (1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc), ch 5, in next ch 6 petal work (1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc)] 6 times, omitting last sc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 1st ch of starting ch 4 to form 12th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 4: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 4), 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 1, in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch (1st branch made), ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch (2nd branch made), ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (3rd branch made), working back down spoke ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, sk 3rd branch, sl st in next spoke ch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, sk 2nd branch, sl st in next spoke ch, ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sk 1st branch, sl st in next spoke ch, ch 1, 3 dc), ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

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.

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Friday Funny

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Puff, the Magic Temperature Quilt

(affiliate links to my designs)

Okay, I changed my mind.

While I was tucking my Spoonflower fabric panel to make my first ever puff quilt (and not enjoying that step in the process), I thought puff quilts were a waste of time. I couldn't wait to be done with the project, and I thought I'd never make another puff quilt.

Then I began stuffing my pinned quilt pockets.

My, what a difference in my attitude! I could definitely do this again! (Easy to say when I haven't yet begun sewing the final seams to remove the safety pin basting...) I just might do a larger puff quilt one day. This thing is turning out so cute!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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