WATER PIPELINE - from the East to the West

For years I have advocated that the USA build a pipeline from the East Coast flood plains (which ties in the the snow areas) into the West Coast and surrounding states so that those places that are flooded can have relief and those areas that are dry can have relief.  If there is too much water, it can be stored in the many systems in California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and any other dry state.

I wrote to our last two presidents, to the Congress and the state congress at the time, to various governors, the Senate, and the state senate at the time.  Did I ever get a response? Nope. Why?  Makes too much sense I think.

My economics teacher at the University of Redlands told me that water wasn't expensive enough to support the pipeline. I did a thesis on it for him to show that about 8 billion dollars (that's right, 8 billion dollars) a year is lost in flooding.  It is for both personal property as well as crops and live stock.  Who bears the brunt of this expense?  YOU. ME. OUR CHILDREN. OUR PARENTS.

The insurance companies originally.  So who would benefit with the transfer of water?  All of the USA…even Mexico who doesn't get their fair share as it is because we divert all the rivers.  We have aqua ducts that bring water from Northern California and Utah and Colorado into Arizona. Why not from areas that are actually suffering from too much water?  Even the Mississippi Valley could use some relief at different times in the year.

I would like for there to be some sort of uprising, although I doubt I will ever see it, on behalf of the flooded friends and relatives and on behalf of all the farmers who are financially and emotionally impacted by the lack of vision by our government.  

Isn't that what they are REALLY supposed to be working on…our welfare?

TIME FOR A POTHOLDER FOR BRO

My brother loves the "magic" potholder.  I think he is actually in love with it.  I can't remember how many I have made for him, but now he wants a LARGE one.  I just started it yesterday and will be doing it in bright colors…even some pink! Hah!  He mentioned something about wanting to roll it to use…will have to ask him about that when he stops by next week. Below is the link to the Ravelry page. Michelle claims no rights to the pattern as she reworked it from an old potholder she had. I have seen patterns named various things, but believe it originally came in an old pamphlet.  Her explanation is excellent!

Michelle Gibbs:  Crocheted Folded Potholder

Please note the bright ORANGE Fiesta Ware pitcher…another handsome yarn bowl! 

I was dropping my BFF off at her house and next door she spotted a Road Runner!  I have seen them here and there, but never had the chance to grab the camera. Fast little devils and they don't stick around to see what you are doing.  I was able to get this photo (which is a bit yellow, but will up date later) of him!

Tamara Kelly, better known as "moogly" in some Rav circles, has a most lovely Mandala pattern. She calls it the Magic Spike Mandala. There are a lot of these patterns out there, but especially love hers.  If you have access to Ravelry there is a version of this in thread where "in twilight" has twisted the spike stitch and it looks so amazing! She made it in red, whihte, and light blue…it is stunning!  Another beautiful set is by "joykat95".

Last, but definitely NOT least…food!  I have switched my diet to vegan (almost totally…still working out a few kinks).  I also switched my dog Sami's diet to vegan.  The others are getting some, but not all … yet!   

I am using the dog food in which Ellen Degeneres has an interest.  It is called Halo, Purely For Pets.  I was amazed that she loved it straight out of the bag! I hear a store here carries the product, so will run down there and get some treats. I love that there is food like this. I switched my diet to help cut the risk of cancer and heart disease, and as she already has cancer I figure it can't hurt. Especially as she loves it!

And here is my latest dish…Yams and Butternut Squash, Leeks, with cinnamon, and roasted Pecans.  I have to admit it was the Pecans that caught my attention! Delicious! Next time I will roast a whole lot more of those wonderful, flavorful Pecans! (pronounced PEE Cans if you are from the south!)

Eat, crochet, and be well!

Seeing Stars

I think this is going to be the last Little Star pattern I make for here.  I'm about starred out!  They are fun to make…and this one I added one more point so it is six instead of five.  This one will be extra for when the other one is being cleaned.  I just put in whatever color I pulled out of the bag!

It's pretty large for sure.

During insulation of my attic the poor guy was backing out of the corner eave and slipped off the wood and fell through the patio ceiling.  He said the only thing that was hurt was his pride. However, he did get a scratch on his face.

The insulation company, Bankers, had people out within a couple of hours and they fixed it and patched and and came back and painted it.  Looks better than when the poor guy fell through.  Trophy Homes here in Lake Havasu City…they do remodels. They even did the orange peel ceiling twice to make sure it was perfect.

It's quite lovely!  They cleaned it up spic and span.  Unfortunately one of the chair was bent in the process, and although the glass in the table flipped out, it did not break! Wow!

Lowe's came over to make sure everything was right, and even went up in the attic to find out about the electrical wiring that was hanging down. Turns out it was never attached, so I had an electrician come out and fix it up!  Now I have a new light!

All the furniture back, two new chairs added thanks to the insulation company and Lowes, so now I have lots of places for people to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather here!

CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR FULL VIEW!!

This is a panorama, and I can't get it large enough that you can really enjoy it, but Paula said it opens to the full panorama when you click on it.  To the left is the lake and to the right the road is heading straight into Lake Havasu City…and in a larger frame you can see the city. :o( I'm putting it in extra large and I know it will hang off, but hoping when you click on it you can see it all! Great skies!

Enjoy the last hours of your weekend!

Working on some 'things'!

I found that some pieces in  my Fiesta ware make for great yarn bowls.  It is amazing what you can use, and sometimes they are less expensive than yarn bowls would be.

I am working on a cowl…well, it is finished…from the Spring issue of Crochet! magazine.  The design is named "Gold Rush Silk Scarf" but mine looks more like the Mauve Tide!

The design is not hard at all, but you do need to know how to count….which apparently I have not mastered yet!  Had to do some frogging several times.  You can't cheat on this one as the waves don't come out right.

The yellow Fiesta pitcher is holding yarn for my Mary Jane slippers.  This design is by Sylvia Schuchardt and you can find the pattern on HookCandy.com.  Her patterns are really nice!

I bought three of these…one is on my table but the other two, like the utensil holder above in red, are for my yarn projects.

This is a cute little heart pocket that isn't hard to make at all.  Very cute, if small….good for little things only! I can't find the pattern just yet, but it is akin to one on Ravelry called a Danish Heart I believe.

Today I ran across the Granny Sweet Heart pattern by Nancy Drew (really!).  Check out her blog…and I will add her to my reading list.

RICK RACK STITCH FOR SCARF OR 'WHATEVER'

Rick Rack Scarf

This stitch gives a 3D quality to your fabric. You can use any yarn and gauge is not important. What is important is that you have the correct amount of chains/stitches in the beginning to have the correct repeats of the pattern.

The original stitch was used in an afghan with thread as the “yarn” of choice. I obtained the stitch pattern from KnitWits in Boise. She had it printed out from a very old copy and could not find the original afghan pattern, the book, or pamphlet.

Sizes: Recommended hooks for yarns, but not set in stone
Fingering wt. yarn - use E hook
Sport wt. yarn - use G hook
Worsted wt. yarn - use H or I or J hook

This is the basic pattern repeat….7 stitches in a repeat, plus 4, then two for the side chain.

Repeats x 7 plus 4 (+ 2 on the starter chain). The number of total chains depends on your yarn and on your desired width for the scarf. Here are some examples:

8 repeats x 7 stitches = 56 chains + 4 side chains + 2 more (for beg dc) = 62 chains to begin

3 x 7 = 21 + 4 + 2 = 27 chains
4 x 7 = 28 + 4 + 2 = 34 chains
5 x 7 = 35 + 4 + 2 = 41 chains

You can chose to make a narrow scarf or a wide one, and it depends upon your yarn and the amount of repeats, your hook and you! The photo above depicts a three pattern repeat in a size two yarn, with an E hook.

Row 1: DC in 4th ch from hook (counts as first 2 DC). DC in next 2 chains (These 4 DC will be the flat border ends on both sides). *Ch 3, skip 3 ch, DC in next 4 ch. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn.

Row 2: DC in next 3 DC (turning ch-3 will be the first dc in every row) *Ch 3, sk 3ch and next 3 DC. Make 4 fpdc around post of the next DC (this will tilt the stitch to look like Rick Rack). Repeat from * across to last 7 st. Ch 3, sk 3 ch, DC in last 4 DC. Ch 3, turn.

Repeat Row 2 until desired length.

End Row: DC in next 3 DC, ch 1, * sk 3 ch, sc in next DC, ch 3, 3 DC around post of 4th DC.  Repeat from * across to last 7 st, ch 1, sk 3 ch, DC in last 4 DC for edge and bind off.