MOD GRAND OLD FLAG FREEDOM 250 Plant Pot Cover; Castle Rock-WA

MOD Grand Old Flag Freedom 250 Plant Pot Cover

I am a military brat.

My bio-father was involved in the postwar cleanup activities of Europe during the WW2 era - specifically in Germany (that's how my oldest sister came into being), heavily involved in the Korean War (he suffered a bullet wound to his upper thigh in the groin crease & an execution shot behind his ear that did not kill him - but left him with life-long brain damage as the bullet was lodged in his brain and could not safely be extracted), he was in every branch of the military & also involved in special ops operations (he had training in advanced martial arts & his hands were documented lethal weapons) wherever American soldiers had a foothold in Europe, up to the Vietnam War - he left the military, then. My stepfather was a Vietnam POW. My blood runs Red-White-& Blue, and my attitude is "FAFO"

I love America 😊🗽🦅 - I love what our Flag stands for ☝️ ✝️✡️⚓️❤️

I cry with national pride when the Military Colors Parade, winds it's way through our local town streets.

Sometimes I hum 🎵 the Marines Hymn, while cleaning house (well, sometimes housecleaning can feel like an uphill battle, that can leave one feeling sweaty and like you just won a skirmish) 🤭

Marines' Hymn - 'The Halls of Montezuma' /w lyrics: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwS6OkgUXKE&t=1s)

I don't know exactly what Holland & I will be doing this 4th of July … but I KNOW we're fully embracing the Freedom 250 vibe 🗽🦅❤️; and shame on those who hold themselves too politically lofty to celebrate our Great Nation with our chosen President, honestly and enthusiastically voted into Office to work for the American People: they side with hate-filled freeloaders who want the milk & honey, without the sacrifice, or the "please" & "thank you" courtesies that go with the full meal deal.

In this country, we honor Old Glory.

In this home, our Patriotic fervor runs high - no shame felt or allowed to be forced on us, and no apologies given for our stance.

We are Americans.

We are Patriots.

We do not silence or hide our pride.

And with this mindset, I designed this textured pot cover 🌱🧶🧵✂️ - it's a Crochet Pattern stitch from a reel 🎞️ that popped up on my FB newsfeed 💻 a few weeks ago; and I think it fits my design, very well.

I think you'll like it, too.

It sounds complicated, but it's really very simple to do & once your establish your rhythm - the pot cover makes up quickly.

Materials: Worsted weight yarn in Red, White, & Blue; a Dollar Store plastic oblong catch-all container, 10-1/4" L x 3" W x 2-1/2" T; size #I hook; scissors; tapestry needle; medium Star resin button.

Terms: 

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

sc = single crochet

st = stitch

sl st = slip stitch

EA = each

x = times (repeat)

jn = join

rpt = repeat

EO = end off

Plastic oblong container: 10-1/4" L x 3" W x 2-1/2" T

Bottom: With red, make a chain of 29 sts, & dc in 3rd ch from hook.

(1) Make 2 dc in same ch - then work 1 dc in EA of the next 23 ch, 3 dc in end ch, 1 dc in EA of the next 24 ch; jn with a sl st.

(2) Ch 3 & make 2 dc in same sp - then work 1 dc, 3 dc in next st, dc x 25, 3 dc in next st, 1 dc, 3 dc in next st, dc x24; jn with a sl st.

(3) Ch 3 & make 2 dc in same st - then work 1 sc in next 4 sts, 1 hdc next st, 1 sc in next st, sl st x 20, 1 sc, 1hdc, 3 dc in next st, sc x4, 1 hdc, 1 sc, sl st x 21, 1 sc, 1 hdc; jn with a sl st. DO NOT CUT YARN.

Pot Cover bottom.

Lower Stripe Pattern: (4) Continuing with red, ch 1, pull up a loop in same space & in next st, then yarn over hook and draw yarn through both loops: repeat this process around bottom piece. Jn with a sl st.

Ch 1, pull up a loop in same space.

Pull up a loop in next st, then yarn over hook.

And draw yarn through both loops: repeat this process around bottom piece.

(5) Ch 1 & turn work; pull up a loop in same space & in next st, then yarn over hook and draw yarn through both loops: repeat this process around bottom piece. Jn with a sl st. (2 rows red)

(6) Drop red & attach white; then ch 1 & turn work; pull up a loop in same space & in next st, then yarn over hook and draw yarn through both loops: repeat this process around bottom piece. Jn with a sl st.

(7) Ch 1 & turn work; pull up a loop in same space & in next st, then yarn over hook and draw yarn through both loops: repeat this process around bottom piece. Jn with a sl st. (2 rows white)

Textured stripe design.

(8) Blue Patch & Upper Stripes: Drop white & attach red; work established pattern over the next 26 sts - attach blue, and carrying red behind work, work pattern in blue across 10 sts, drop blue and pick up red to finish the last 39 sts of row. Jn with a sl st.

Starting the blue patch.

Carrying yarn across the back of work.

(9) Ch 1 & turn work; work established pattern over 39 sts, drop red and pick up blue to work across 10 sts - then drop blue and pick up red to finish the last 26 sts of row. Jn with a sl st. (2 rows red)

(10) Drop red & attach white; work established pattern over the next 26 sts - attach blue, and carrying white behind work, work pattern in blue across 10 sts, drop blue and pick up white to finish the last 39 sts of row. Jn with a sl st.

(11) Ch 1 & turn work; work established pattern over 39 sts, drop white and pick up blue to work across 10 sts - then drop blue and pick up white to finish the last 26 sts of row. Jn with a sl st. (2 rows white)

Repeat rows 8 thru 11 once more; the repeat rows 8 & 9: EO

*With the blue patch, there should be 3 red stripes & 2 white stripes. Weave in loose ends. With tapestry needle & a length of white yarn, sew the white star button in the center of the blue patch.

Slip your plant into your patriotic pot cover & smile. We are celebrating the 250th birth of the greatest nation on earth - and that's something to smile about!

Nice, textured pot cover & appropriate for a Patriotic Holiday.

"You're A Grand Old Flag" lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEmNVG6ErJA)

LIBERATING PAIN~Self-Care & Personal Growth; Castle Rock-WA

The Homespun Wife - 'The Truth About My Son': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgfkRu5Fg54&t=372s)

I understand Sherry's struggle - and I've heard those self-righteous voices that are arrogantly ignorant of the realities of Life: we are loaned our children  yes, we carry them in our bodies, we birth them … and we raise them in Christian homes. BUT our children are only on loan - and they have FREE WILL; they will go their own way: and we have to let them go. It is hard. It is hard because we love them with a mother's heart & we do not want them to struggle with life's hardships.

But you know what? Elohim loves them, too; and He sees the end game result of their Life. When we step aside and allow them to struggle - that's when HE steps in and can DO what needs doing in their lives. We also have to remember that we, all of us, are vessels in the hands of our creator. Only the Creator knows the usefulness of each vessel & that usefulness is at His discretion - this may sound harsh, but if we claim to be Bible-believing-Christians, then we have to believe every word in The Word. Our children - whether obedient and faithful; or rebellious and wayward - teach us the love of our Father. Sometimes that love involves discipline, for benefit: some children will learn the disciplinary lesson - some will not. Some children will learn, turn, & accept Life - some will not. We have to remember also, where to FOCUS OUR EYES. This world, and EVERYTHING in it - including our children can & will be used by Lucifer to keep our hearts sorrowing and our eyes on the problem instead of the solution. Yeshua is the solution. Maintaining OUR sanctification, so we finish the race, is our goal.

Since my daughter, at 9 years of age, started her hate campaign - got involved with drugs at age 14 - stormed out of our home at age 16 - tried to end her life at 17 - took up with an abusive boyfriend at age 19 - and gleefully burned the bridge to any hope at all of reconciliation, following her father's death, when she was 43 … I struggled to make sense of the situation. I cried rivers of tears. I prayed until my head ached with the intensity. I held on to hope when my heart threatened to shatter into a million pieces: there were times I thought I'd lose my marbles worrying about her: Where is she? Is she eating? Does she have clothes to wear? Does she have adequate shelter? Is she even still alive? Thank the Lord my husband was my anchor & my walk with Elohim was strong. I never got to the place of hopelessness; I believe I would have withered away if that had happened. She did bless us with 2 much loved grandchildren, and we did offer her shelter (that eventually ended disastrously due to her temper flares) throughout all those years. But it took me a very long time to release the situation and stand by to "watch the salvation of the Lord".

A burnt bridge forced me finally, to let go. I've come to understand that Elohim's ways are always the best ways.

This recording by Sherry also fits:

The Homespun Wife - 'When You Are Rejected': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs6pQP_FQ-s)

This is my New Life mantra, now; every day, every week - on an endless repeat.

In the unwanted darkness of a child's betrayal & rejection abandonment, I have grown and gained strength in ways I can appreciate, now.

I've learned that pain has a place, & a purpose in everyone's Life.

I've gained wisdom in the prolonged silence of waiting.

Patience has taken root in the waiting.

I have not heard from Stacey; or been allowed to have any communication at all with my grandchildren since June of 2020. And you know what? I didn't die of heartbreak … I grew in strength because the weight was off my shoulders, and in Elohim's hands, where it always belonged. I started building a Life that didn't hold place anymore for sadness, sorrow, or "what if": I learned to "relax & let God." I love my daughter & I miss her. I love my grandchildren & miss them. But I love Elohim more than the missingness & I KNOW HE loves them MORE than I ever could. I've done my part - now, I have to stand aside & allow Him to do His part. I don't know if I will live long enough to see my daughter or grandchildren, again. And I've learned to be okay with that. Elohim knows. And I've learned to rest in the assurances of Elohim's promises.

D-DAY = A LIBERATING MILITARY MILESTONE

Today is D-Day Remembrance Day... on June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord - the massive amphibious invasion of Nazi-occupied France along the beaches of Normandy. It became one of the largest and most consequential military operations of World War II, involving thousands of ships, aircraft, and ground troops across multiple nations.

The operation marked a turning point in the war in Europe, eventually leading to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. The fighting on the beaches - Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword - came at a heavy cost, with thousands of soldiers killed or wounded on the first day alone.

Today, D-Day is remembered not just as a military milestone, but as a moment defined by sacrifice, coordination, and courage from ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances.

It remains one of the most studied and honored events of the 20th century.

A day to remember those who never made it home.

********************

And NOW … obamanite demonrats elect Nazi-leaning AND AVOWED nazi's to become congressional members, senate members, and civil servants to reside over American people - including the Jewish population in America.

The holocaust denying demonrat party has recently been caught on open mic SAYING, "We know so-and-so is a horrible person with a stink problem … but we're just gonna hold our nose and vote for so-and-so because the alternative is worse" (aka President Trump, Christian values, & Jewish allies).

The people screaming the loudest that President Trump is a nazi (ludicrous claim since his daughter Ivanka married a Jew and he has 1/2 Jewish grandchildren), that Christians are nazis, and that Jews are nazi's (what the actual Hell???) - yeah, those people screaming clueless nonsense ARE VOTING FOR ACTUAL NAZIS!

It's insanity running amok.

MY HEART'S DESIRE; Castle Rock-WA

The Homespun Wife - 'Writing My Obituary': 

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

Living our obituary - what is your Life saying about you & what impact will your physical death have to say about you?

I can so identify with Sherry's expectation of arriving Home & finally getting to meet all those that have gone on before us.

I get emotional too when saying to my husband that I want to SEE Yeshua - I want to touch him, walk with Him, dance with Him, talk with Him - face to face, laugh with Him; to hear Him sing over me, as I kneel before Him and adore Him with all the love I can lavish on Him. My heart's desire is to be with Him, where he is; & where He has provided me a place to LIVE on, long after my earthen vessel has served it's purpose.

I loved my first husband Bob. He was every earthly delight I could imagine. BUT, I longed to be with Yeshua. I talked about Yeshua so much that Bob actually told me one time, early in our marriage, "I'm jealous of God, because He gets all of your attention." I laughed, and said, "Yes - but I have some to spare for you, too." Then when Bob got saved, he understood. Bob and I discussed meeting the Lord - we both lived with the hovering Grim Reaper & knew that at any moment, what we were discussing could very well be a very real possibility at any given moment. For Bob, that moment came the winter of 2018. And now - I'm jealous because he is living, in real time, what we discussed & could only imagine.

I love my new husband & the life we are living together … but I yearn to be with my Lord: my true soul-mate-Lover, Who knows me better than anyone else - Who answers my heart's cry before a word is even uttered, or a look is passed between us: pure love there are no human words for. My soul burns with the yearning.

I am thankful for the blessings I enjoyed in the past, & I am happy with the blessings I am enjoying in the moment; Elohim has been graciously faithful to bless me abundantly in riches of heart affairs. And I will walk beside my new man for the rest of my time here on Earth. But I do not hang onto life here, on Earth, with a death grip. When my time comes to let go - I will let go with no regrets. 

I am thankful Elohim blessed me twice with 2 good men to love & love on me. But my heart's desire is to be WITH Yeshua.

And I'm thinking, at 69 years of age, it's not far off 😉

MOD CROCHET FREEDOM 250 POT COVER~Simple Design; Castle Rock-WA

MOD Crochet Freedom 250 Pot Cover; Castle Rock-WA

America's 250th date of existence is coming up & I'm "all in".

I'm an American, and proud of it: we're aiming to celebrate America's 250th Year, this July 4th: and looking forward to celebrating her 251st.

Materials: 1 ct. 45-oz. Butter container (empty & clean); Plastic shopping bags (I used 2); ruler; packaging tape;  #G crochet hook; worsted yarn in color of choice (I used Red, White, & Blue); Scissors; 1 Ziploc Baggie (I used Qt.-size); Tapestry Needle

I wanted a different pot cover to look at - but I also wanted the bottom edge of it to be waterproof since the plant sits on the kitchen island, next to the sink.

I designed the last one out of left-over marine cord I had stored … but that is gone now, so I got to thinking of what else I could use that would give me what I wanted; all the way around.

I remembered something I had tried out around the 2008 timeframe of my life, then: PLARN. It would be perfect!

Plarn is a homemade plastic yarn - the materials are readily at hand, and it is pretty easy to make by repurposing plastic shopping bags. I usually hoard my plastic bags for other purposes around the house, since plastic bags are hard to come by since the obamanite insanity gripped America. But, I thought I could spare one today for this particular purpose.

Plarn is not smooth: it is somewhat stiff, & doesn't easily roll into a yarn ball … but, it makes for a sturdy medium, washes easily, & dries fairly quickly. I was thankful for that memory prod.

There are several ways for making plarn, and I’m going to share the one I used for this little project; making plarn this way is time consuming, but it does make a nice worsted mimic. And you can make it at your own speed for what you need.

I made mine all at once (prep, cutting, folding, and ready for use), and I estimate it took about 5-1/2 hours to make the little needed.

Be sure to make a some extra because plarn stretches when worked with - if you have to pull out a bit an rework, the plarn will be considerably stretched: usable still, but not as smoothly as when you started with it.

1) Select your preferred bag - in my case, I used an Albertson's grocery shopping bag, cutting a sliver of plastic off across the bottom to open it up.

2) Then, I cut cross the strap tops to open that end up.

3) I cut up one side of the bag, to make the bag as flat as possible; then, I started marking off the size strips I wanted. Since the main body of my work would be done in worsted weight yarn, I marked off 1/4" strips & cut them into strips (I preferred to cut from bottom edge to top edge).

I used the back of the bag for these strips because I didn't want any coloration on my strips. The dye used on the bags will bleed off over time - I don't want my kitchen island countertop to get stained.

Shopping Bag - mark off 1.4 strips; cut into strips.

4) When I had the strips I wanted, I then folded each strip in half, pressing the folded edge tightly to mimic worsted yarn: plastic is thinner that fiber, but that's okay.

I also cut thin slivers (not too thin) off packaging tape, & snipped into pieces needed to connect the folded plarn edges. Plastic is slippery & I wanted to work smoothly without struggling to keep the plarn where I wanted it.

Fold each strip over & press edge tight. With a sliver of tape, connect pressed edges together to form plastic 'yarn'. Fold each strip over & press edge tight.

Plarn.

5) Decide on the design you want to use your plastic yarn for, and start designing.

I chose a rectangular sc pattern, making a 3 sc increase in each corner - and working subsequent inc's in the 2nd st of each rows' corner increases. When I was satisfied with the rectangular piece, I ended off and tucked the loose end securely under as I would do using worsted yarn.

Begin to work a sc dimension to fit your pot cover's bottom.

6) Then I worked 1 row of plarn sc in the back loop of each st, for 1 row of siding & ended off.

Sc Bottom & 1 rnd. of sc Siding.

I am now ready to work with worsted yarn for the main design, which is a variation of the afghan stitch.

7) Work 1 row of sc around the plarn base - decreasing 3 sts at each corner.

8) Because Afghan stitches require you to pull loops up through existing stitches, you need to start with a foundation row: make a count of 11 chain sts. Insert your hook in the second chain (ch) from the hook; yarn over (yo) the hook and draw your yarn through the chain stitch. Insert your hook in the next chain and repeat the preceding step in each chain across the foundation chain. Your hook is now loaded up with loops. This is known as drawing up the loops. You should have 11 loops - one for each chain stitch in your foundation chain.

Make a count of 11 chain sts & draw a loop up on EA ch - keep these sts on hook.

Sl st into the next st. Yarn over the hook and draw your yarn through the sl st & 1 loop on the hook (yarn drawn through 2 sts). Yarn over (yo) the hook and draw your yarn through each remaining loop on the hook. One loop will remain on your hook - and that st counts as the first stitch of the next row.

Sl st into the next st. Yarn over the hook and draw your yarn through the sl st & 1 loop on the hook.

The first half of your foundation pattern row, is complete.

Insert your hook under the first vertical bar of the previous row - repeat this until the end of the row, then sl st in the next st. Yarn over the hook and draw your yarn through the sl st & 1 loop on the hook. Yarn over (yo) the hook and draw your yarn through each remaining loop on the hook, until 1 loop remains on the hook. THIS PROCESS ESTABLISHES THE PATTERN.

Work in pattern around the plarn piece, joining the edges in pattern - so the rows line up evenly. TO JOIN: As you work the pattern upward, also include the bottom edge of the foundation chain - this will close nicely. End with a sl st at the top edge.

9) Drop Red & attach White. Ch 4 & insert your hook in the second chain (ch) from the hook, & in each chain across the foundation chain; sl st into the next st. Yarn over the hook and draw your yarn through the sl st & 1 loop on the hook (yarn drawn through 2 sts). Yarn over (yo) the hook and draw your yarn through each remaining loop on the hook. One loop will remain on your hook - and that st counts as the first stitch of the next row.

Insert your hook under the first vertical bar of the previous row - repeat this until the end of the row, then sl st in the next st. Yarn over the hook and draw your yarn through the sl st & 1 loop on the hook. Yarn over (yo) the hook and draw your yarn through each remaining loop on the hook, until 1 loop remains on the hook.

Work in pattern in the round, joining the edges in pattern, described in row 8, above - so the rows line up evenly.

10) Drop White & attach Blue. Ch 5 & insert your hook in the second chain (ch) from the hook, & in each chain across the foundation chain; sl st into the next st. Yarn over the hook and draw your yarn through the sl st & 1 loop on the hook (yarn drawn through 2 sts). Yarn over (yo) the hook and draw your yarn through each remaining loop on the hook. One loop will remain on your hook - and that st counts as the first stitch of the next row.

Insert your hook under the first vertical bar of the previous row - repeat this until the end of the row, then sl st in the next st. Yarn over the hook and draw your yarn through the sl st & 1 loop on the hook. Yarn over (yo) the hook and draw your yarn through each remaining loop on the hook, until 1 loop remains on the hook.

Work in pattern in the round, joining the edges in pattern - so the rows line up evenly. EO work & weave in loose ends.

11) I line my yarn pot covers with plastic tacked in place. To do this, use a plastic bag that is roughly the size of your chosen plant container … trim the plastic bag, leaving some over-hang for ease.

Fold edges under in a neat line, and loosely tack plastic in place, along the upper edge.

Line the pot cover with plastic - I used a Qt. size Ziploc, trimmed to fit.

Cut edges folded under, & tacked loosely in place.

Slip your plant container in the pot cover - easy peasy!

I sprinkled my little AZ-Quartz pieces around the cactus base; the lrg. quartz is quartz w-silver sparkle bits, I collected at our RV space, in Barstow-CA, last time we were there.

MOD Pot Cover embracing my Thanksgiving Cactus in patriotism colors. Not fancy, but I LIKE!

MOD HOLIDAY CROCHET CHAIN SWAGS

I had left over yarn scraps in patriotic colors … so, I decided to use them in simplistic ways to celebrate America's upcoming celebration.

My door swags are simple crochet chains, designed to fit my inside doors. I put tassels at the ends of them, to add a bit of light weight to keep the crochet lengths from kinking up - as chains can sometimes do.

Tasseled ends.

My door swags are nothing fancy, but they are made with colors that have strong representation in them. And when I glance across the rooms, I am visually comforted  & mentally encouraged by the messages those colors represent.

Materials: Ruler; Worsted weight yarn; #I crochet hook; scissors; tapestry needle.

Process: Decide where you want the tassels to fall along your doorway - measure the length & work your sc chain lengths accordingly, occasionally checking your work against the doorframe. (I made my length's in staggered lengths = see tasseled ends pic, above). If you make a center draw swag, you'll want to figure in extra stitches for the hang on each side of the center draw - you can do this by gauging the length of your crochet chain along the door frame sides where you want your longest tassel to fall, up to the center of your doorway + the swag drape: count the swag drape sts & work opposite side to match: this is easier than it sounds.

Trust me - you can do this!

MOD Swags - thrifty, simple, & light-weight; perfect for a life on the move.

Twisted.

Swagged.

I chose Independence's (our Home's namesake; chose specifically for it's Patriotic meaning) inside swag colors, to represent the purpose of Old Glory - America's famously recognized Flag colors chosen in 1777, sewn by Betsy Ross (our trusty 4x Beast's namesake): we are unapologetic Patriots. We live our lives reflecting America's birth, real purpose, and true intent. Our Home & our vehicle reflects those sentiments.

Red represents courage, bravery, and the willingness to sacrifice for freedom. It also evokes passion, energy, and determination.

White stands for purity, honesty, and peace. It symbolizes unity, hope, and the ideals of a just society.

Blue signifies loyalty, justice, and perseverance. It also conveys calmness, trust, and vigilance.

Together, the colors embody sacrifice for freedom, justice, and hope; core ideals of the United States.