MOD CROCHET TURKEY COFFEE COASTER Pattern: Castle Rock-WA

MOD Crochet Turkey Coffee Coaster; Castle Rock-WA

I get bored easily & I like to keep things switched out 🤭 - especially around the whirlwind 'ber holiday season.

Today's switcharoo thingee is a coffee coaster ☕️ for November 🦃

I have lots of little left-over-yarn balls of previous projects, and coffee coasters is a fun, colorful, way to whittle them down a bit 😉

This is a large coaster, designed to fit under a coffee mug … and also as a safe-gap for coffee spills (I am a klutz; especially before I am fully awake).

The other day while scrolling through my FB feed, I saw this reel that made me laugh - I do toning exercises … and I also design yarn crafts: it fit. I hope it lightens your morning coffee hour, too:

Handcrafter's Exercise Moves

MOD Crochet Turkey Coffee Coaster Pattern

Materials: Worsted Scrap Yarn, in Brown, Purple, Turquoise, Green, Yellow, Orange & Red; a snippet of white marker yarn; #G aluminum crochet hook; scissors; tapestry needle

Terms used:

ch = chain

st = stitch

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

jn = join

sc = single crochet

sl st = slip stitch

trbc = treble crochet

EA = each

EO = end off

rpt = repeat

x = times

Body: With Brown, ch 3 - make 11 dc in 1st ch; jn with a sl st (12 dc)

Row 1: Ch 3 - 2 dc in EA st; jn with a sl st (24 dc)

Row 2: Ch 3 - 1 dc in same space, *1 dc next st, 2 dc in next st*, rpt * - * around; jn with  a sl st (36 dc)

Row 3: Ch 3 - 1 dc in same space, *1 dc x2, 2 dc in next st*, rpt * - * around; jn with a sl st & EO (48 dc)

Feet: Fold circle in half & mark center st.

Count 3 sts to the left of marker & with Gold, ch 6, sl st to same space - ch 6 & sl st to same space; EO

Count 3 sts to the right of marker & with Gold, ch 6, sl st to same space - ch 6 & sl st to same space; EO

Tail Feathers & Head: Fold circle in half again, & mark center st.

Count 15 sts to the right of marker & with Purple, ch 6 - sl st into top of 3rd dc, EO purple & draw up Turquoise, ch 6 - sl st into top of 3rd dc, EO turquoise & draw up Green, ch 6 - sl st into top of 3rd dc, EO green …

Draw up Brown & make a shell as follows: sc, hdc, trbc x10 in marked center st, hdc in next st, sc next st, sl st next st - EO brown; then begin tail feather chains again in colors - yellow, orange, red as directed previously for feathers; EO with red.

Sc & hdc …

Make 10 trbc in marked center st.

Hdc in next st, sc next st, sl st next st - EO brown.

With Red, make a waddle.

With Gold, ch 5 - fold over & sew in place, for a beak.

With Black, make 2 eyes.

Your coaster is finished: enjoy!

FRIDAY MOOD; Castle Rock-WA

October 23rd: Holland wanted to grab some food stuffs at Sinnett's Market, in Castle Rock 🚘🛒 … Bleu wanted to go for a walk 🐾 So, we met in the middle & it was agreed that Bleu & I would be dropped off at the Riverside Trail 🐕🚶‍♀️, as we entered Castle Rock - meeting up again, at the Bike Skills Park, along the Riverfront Trail: and, we all did actually arrive at the same time; talk about timing 👍

I have walked this trail many times over the decades … and more recently, the end of September - a couple weeks ago.

But, Bleu has never walked this trail. He liked it, but it is a busy trail - so, he had to stay on his leash the entire time. We did meet people & he was a good little guy (no crazy barking, no lunging; just stayed silently by the side of my leg, until they passed).

The afternoon temperature was perfect for a short outdoor walk: warm Fall sunshine ☀️ leaves scampering & skittering across the blacktop 🍁 - sometimes sounding like scratching claws, behind me; rustling cottonwood tree leaves … were softly whispering as the river breeze sighed & moved gently among them 🍂 

Despite the burning bronchitis inflammation I was feeling in my lungs, it was a pleasant walk along the river trail, today 😊

He smells cats; trail is very steep, both sides~Castle Rock-WA

So much to experience; new smells, new sounds, new environment …

Short walk today; bronchitis is causing lung discomfort.

When we got back home, all of us crashed out in stages 🥱 …

I crashed out 1st 😴; then, Holland upstairs 🛌, & Bleu, at my feet 💤

While the males slept - I read some more of the Lost Empire.

Cussler-Fargo  Adventure~Lost Empire

Today was a good Day.

A pleasant Shabbat Eve.

SINCE I LAST WALKED HERE~Self-Care 2026; Lexington-WA

October 22nd: I woke up this morning planning to take Bleu to walk the Lexington Dike Hike Trail 🚘🐕🐾🚶‍♀️ I haven't walked this trail myself, since the summer of 2022 … and Bleu has never walked it. It's not that far from where Independence is parked, and I can let him off-leash in the place I had in mind 😉

But first, I enjoyed a mug of Spiced Pumpkin Coffee ☕️ … and scrolled through Friends' Blog posts 💻🌐👭 On Barb's Page, I saw that she had featured my crochet headphone sunflower pattern 🧶✂️:

MOD HEADPHONES CROCHET SUNFLOWERS; check her Blog out - there are several interesting links there, covering a wide variety of things.

Barb's Blog Hop Link Party @ https://frenchethereal.net/2026/10/21/share-your-style-519/

Halfway through my my morning caffeinated wake-up, Holland told me that Tom Skerritt had died 📺🎬😌; then, while he was feeding diesel into Betsy's hungry tank - it was reported that John Anderson, a country singer, had died; I recognized the name, though I hadn't heard it in a while. He had a soft, almost whispery voice when he sang 🎵

R.I.P Tom Skerritt

R.I.P. TOM SKERRITT; Castle Rock-WA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/10/rip-tom-skerritt-castle-rock-wa.html)

John Anderson - 'Seminole Wind': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sh9P3X33w&list=RDW8sh9P3X33w&start_radio=1)

John Anderson - 'Swingin': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5GmfiXnBY&list=RDLX5GmfiXnBY&start_radio=1)

John Anderson - 'When It Comes To You': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLO3_ggRnoU&list=RDKLO3_ggRnoU&start_radio=1)

Then, we were on the freeway, heading to Lexington. At first Holland wasn't sure where I was talking about; but, as soon as I said, "the trail behind the A-frame house … let me off just over the bridge & we'll meet you in the big gravel parking lot - river on the left & Westside Highway on the right. Probably a half hour walk." That tripped a memory for him and he said, "Okay, I know where, now - I used to fish there."

Holland's Grandfather & Father had built the A-frame I mentioned, so he knew exactly where I would be on my walk.

So, that is what happened. Holland said, "make sure you have your phone with you, in case something happens - call me." Nothing was going to happen, but I promised, as I strapped my inhaler pouch to my wristwatch, jumped out of Betsy & grabbed my phones (one strictly for photos/videos: the other for actual phone service) 📸📱💬; opened the back seat door & grabbed my walking stick, dog & leash (for hooking Bleu up, if we met people) … and we were off:

Dike Hike: Riverside Park, #1820 Westside Hwy, Lexington-WA from Toutle River RV Resort; via I-5 S~17 min (11.9 miles)

The A-frame house is no more - it has been remodeled and expanded on; it is a completely different style of house. Bob & I knew a couple that had lived in that A-frame in the 1980's; they sold in the 1990's and I have watched the people who bought it … steadily morph it into a different style of house.

This is something new - I wonder if Kelso is going to put housing in here. This property has been for sale for decades. Hmmm.

Holland is waiting at the end of this property - where those headlights, are.

A fisherman - this is where Holland would have fished, too.

And there is Holland; waiting.

Looks like a bridge support to us - but, internet says there is no record of such a thing, here (vehicle, or train traffic). I'll have to check with the museum, because there was obviously a bridge crossing of some sort, here.

1st Route = a 19 minute walk; from Lexington Bridge turnout to the gravel parking lot; Westside Highway, Lexington-WA

Leaving that trail, Holland said he'd drive me to the Park, to add more mileage to my walk with Bleu. On the way, he pointed out the track of houses his Grandfather, Father, Uncles, & In-laws had contracted for - and built - in the 1970's.

The Park was was a new experience for Bleu, too; and felt good for me to do, again.

Leaving the Park, we saw a big flock of geese - in all the years I have walked here, I never once saw a goose.

Holland tells me that his Grandfather, Father, Uncles, & In-laws - built these houses in the 1970's.

Holland talking about the A-frame the family built.

Halfway down the dike trail, I spotted Holland. Patiently waiting.

Patiently waiting, in the gravel parking lot.

Is Longview transferring some of their Canadian Geese, from there to here? There used to be swans swimming in Lake Sacajawea in the 1970's - but that isn't happening anymore. I do miss the swans.

Walk results~2 dike sections. The heart rate is safe for a healthy/fit 70 y.o. It could be problematic with arrhythmia & asthma … but - I didn't suffer anything but a shortness of breath, which is the norm for me, even sitting still; so, I wasn't worried. Holland was a little concerned, but I was fine once I was inside Betsy's cab & cooling down. The humidity was high 67% & the outside temperature was 60; my lungs always struggle in high humidity days.

It was an enjoyable Day; we enjoyed our walkabout - even with all the changes that have taken place since I walked here, last. Bleu ate his entire bowl of food, and we slept very well 👍

R.I.P. TOM SKERRITT; Castle Rock-WA

Oh 😌

Holland brought this to my attention - Holland knows him from 'Top Gun' & 'Alien' … and he just watched 'The China Lake Murders'.

These are the movies I remember him in: "Fuzz, The Devil's Rain, Steel Magnolias, A River Runs Through It, Contact, The Other Sister, Bonneville, The China Lake Murders (which I just watched the other night)"; I did not like that movie 'Big Bad Mama' - I thought the storyline  was beneath him, William Shatner, & Angie Dickinson: it was pure filth and absolutely disgusting.

That said, I did like Tom, in character. He was relatable & will be missed.

R.I.P. Tom.

https://deadline.com/gallery/tom-skerritt-tv-film-career-in-photos/wild-rovers-tom-skerritt-1971/

LADY: Castle Rock-WA

Truth.

Holland is very "gender correct" … I'm not used to that - but, I'm learning 😘

Betsy's tank is always full, so I never have to pump diesel or mess with the Deff aspect: I CAN do & have done, these things - and have said as much. But, Holland insists "You don't have to do that anymore, that's my job." Even if I take a Daytrip drive … HE refills he hungry tank, when I get back home.

He walks on the "danger side" of sidewalks - and when in a crowded space, HE walks in front of me, holding my hand firmly, & pushing forward like a snowplow. He doesn't say anything, he just does it, because "it's my job to protect you".

No matter where we are going … a short drive into town, a 2-hour Daytrip, a road gypsy adventure crossing several states - HE drives. Period. I offer to spot him & he refuses. I did try on our way to Roswell, 2 years ago … and that lasted a mere 15 minutes before he was saying, "pull over there & I'll drive; you just enjoy the ride" - even though he was in burning pain, it drove him nuts sitting in the passenger seat. He takes "his job" very seriously. I was however, allowed to drive him to ER a month ago … simply because he was not capable - & I firmly insisted.

He insists on unloading grocery bags, totes, ect.: I am capable of doing these things … and have done them all my life, until I signed on the dotted line 3-3/4 years ago in Reno-NV … but now, all of sudden, I'm hearing, "You shouldn't be lifting that - it's too heavy. I'll do that - it's my job."

The kiss though … I initiate THAT - and he smiles. He isn't used to tenderness - but, he's learning 😉

We're learning the gives & takes of this unfamiliar landscape marriage. We know this union is a true gift from God -  to lighten lifelong loads, enjoy a life of ease now, and rest in a peaceful environment. We can afford the graces of a give & take partnership - and before too long, the sacrifices won't seem strange or difficult to cede ❤️ 

The Temptations - 'Treat Her Like a Lady': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVZQPJQykpg&list=RDCVZQPJQykpg&start_radio=1)

Kenny Rogers - 'Lady' Lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFJNxglWjPc&list=RDMFJNxglWjPc&start_radio=1)

Scorpions - 'When You Came Into My Life' Lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WmNSoaaIHs&list=RD1WmNSoaaIHs&start_radio=1)

Donna Summer - 'I Love You': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccWfzhYLT4k&list=RDccWfzhYLT4k&start_radio=1)

OCTOBER HUMOR #5; Pic's & Songs to Fit

These songs are old - some older than me, some my age, and some shortly following.

I grew up with music: I'm a musiholic, myself.

When I was a child (newborn to 9 years old), my mother always had 1 room in the house filled with 45's … from floor to ceiling & footpaths in between the stacks. No joke. I loved that room.

My mother liked to dance.

My mother loved the holidays.

Our house was always bouncing with rockabilly tunes.

When my bio-father moved us to WA State, the records room disappeared. BUT, we always had music in the house (my mother by then, had a little plastic turquoise colored radio sitting atop the 'fridge - and it was always ON; and by them her taste in music has morphed from rockabilly to the rock and roll genre of the mid-1960's and into the 1970's.

But I always remembered the stacks of 45's; the Friday night dance parties (sometimes just her and us 5 kids - sometimes neighbors, if we had any within a reasonable driving radius); and the rockabilly tunes … especially around the holidays.

Today's Holiday Playlist 🎭🧟‍♀️🎃🍁

Werewolf Baby - 'The Flattrakkers': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tncPX0uy-II&list=RDtncPX0uy-II&start_radio=1)

The Naturals - 'The Mummy': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMBeRltT56c&list=RDBMBeRltT56c&start_radio=1)

The Swanks - 'Ghost Train': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYXmgRe9UFU&list=RDJYXmgRe9UFU&start_radio=1)

The Nobelmen - 1959 'Dragon Walk' 45rpm: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Lr8u_JJNU&list=RDg2Lr8u_JJNU&start_radio=1)

Leroy Bowman & The Arrows - 'Graveyard': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYQPm9u2mFM&list=RDUYQPm9u2mFM&start_radio=1)

Bert Convy - 'The Monster Hop': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1QyCEwbfZ8&list=RDQ1QyCEwbfZ8&start_radio=1)

Sheb Wooley - 1958 'The Purple People Eater': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeUvQkaCSIY&list=RDPeUvQkaCSIY&start_radio=1)

THE DUPONTS - 'SCREAMIN’ BALL' AT DRACUL HALL: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLxpkfb5Amw&list=RDrLxpkfb5Amw&start_radio=1)

Disney 1929 Mickey Mouse-Haunted House: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hoThry5WsY)