MOD CHRISTMAS CACTUS PATTERN~Yuma-AZ

 

Yuma, Arizona is the sunniest place in all of America; though this time of year, it does chill down overnight (sometimes cools to 45-degrees overnight), it heats back up to 80-degrees by noon. Cactuses are more prevalent in Arizona, than evergreens are ;-)

I don't go all out for Christmas anymore - I used to when the kids and grandkids were in-house … but, now that they are not, I don't. And I couldn't anyway in 45-ft. 5th wheel, roughly the size of a small shot-gun galley-kitchen studio apartment.

My new husband does not "do" Christmas.

At all.

But because this is my Birthday Month, and I want some kind of festive notation marking my time on Earth … he has consented to this one small chrismasty thing :-)

A week ago, my friend, Pam, sent me a picture text of her tree this year - she and her husband decided to "go small" this year, too:

I designed my own Christmas Cactus Pattern, November 28th, and completed it December 2nd. It's very easy to make, using only a few simple basic crochet stitches.

It will also be very easy to unassemble and store away when the holiday is over: space in an RV (even a 45-ft 5th wheel like ours) is very limited, so most extra's we have (inside TV trays & outdoor patio table/chairs), need to be stored flat.

Saguaro Cactus in a pot, & Saguaro Cactus fruit ('flowers').

Cactus & Pot sewed together, stuffed, decorated, & hung.

Our RV Home Floor Plan (with slide-out's extended) is roughly the same size as a small studio apartment - not a lot of floor space ;-)

If you live full-time in a 5th Wheel RV in the desert like I do, or you live in a small apartment with a quirky sense of humor like I do - you may enjoy crafting this little christmas cactus to decorate as you wish.

Have a funtastic Holiday!

MOD CHRISTMAS CACTUS PATTERN

Materials:

Worsted yarn - 1 ct. skein Red & 1 skein Green (you will be using doubled yarn throughout; unwind skeins and rewind into doubled red strands ball & doubled green strands ball)

Crochet Hook #H

Assorted small-scale tree trims

Tapestry Needle

Scissors

Throwaway plastic container of choice (oblong or round) to fit base of your cactus

Cardboard for project backing

Ballpoint pen

1 ct. 33-gal. Plastic Garbage bag for stuffing

1 ct. 0.5 lb. weight Resin Command Hook

Terms Used:

ch = chain

sl st = slip stitch

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

sc = single crochet

st = stitch

inc = increase

dec = decrease

BL = back loops

jn = join

T = turn

TL = total

rpt = repeat

X = times

EA = each

EO = end off

MOD Cactus {tree} instructions:

Double strand worsted & appropriate size crochet hook.

Row 1: With Green worsted yarn, ch 2; sc x 8 ct. in 2nd st from hook - do not jn.

DO NOT JOIN

Row 2: Sl st across the back of the next two sts - do not jn.

Sl st to beginning 1st sc … this forms the back of cactus to be tacked to cardboard.

Row 3: ch 42, and work a dc in 2nd ch from hook; begin forming first "cactus rib" by dc to end st - ch 3 & T.

Dc up foundation chain.

Row 4: Dc x 37 (38 sts TL); then work 1 hdc, 1 sc, 1 sl st - T

Row 5: In BL only; 1 sc, 1 hdc; then work dc x 38 - at end of row, ch 3 & T

Row 6: In BL only; rpt row 4.

Cactus ribs layout; you will be working around circular top.

Repeat rows 5 & 6 one after another, eight times more; there should be 9 completed "cactus ribs".

At the end of last row, ch 1 & sl st x 40 - then work 2 dc in top of cactus and sl st x 40: EO

Frontside of cactus back sl st.

Backside of cactus back sl st; this side will be frontside when tacked to cardboard backing.

This curled cactus will be loosely stuffed when 'backed'.

MOD Cactus Tree Pot:

Cut the back out of a container that fits the base of the cactus piece.

Cut the center out of the container lid … the cactus & pot will be joined at this opening.

Row 1: With Red worsted yarn, ch 11; then work 1 sc in 2nd st from hook, sc x 8 ct down foundation ch … make 2 sc in end, and start working back up the foundation ch with sc x 8 ct & jn to first st - ch 1, T

Work a sc bottom portion of the cactus 'pot'.

Row 2: 1 sc in same st; sc x 9 ct, 3 sc next st, sc x 9 ct & jn to fisrt st - ch 1, T

Row 3: 1 sc same st; sc x 2 ct, 2 sc in next st, sc x 9 ct, 2 sc next st, sc x 2 ct, 2 sc next st, sc x 9 ct & jn to first st - ch 1, T

Row 4: 1 sc same st; sc x 11 ct, 2 sc next st, sc x 3 ct, 2 sc next st, sc x 3 ct & jn to first st - ch 1, T

Row 5: 1 sc in same st; sc x 4 ct, 2 sc next st, sc x 12 ct, 2 sc next st, sc x 4 ct, 2 sc next st, sc x 12 ct & jn to first st - DO NOT TURN WORK

Row 6: Ch 3 & dc around 3 sides of work, inc 4 sts at EA corner - ch 1 & T

Row 7: Sc around work, inc 3 sts atop EA center inc of previous inc - ch 3 & T

Row 8: Dc across row, inc 3 sts atop EA inc of previous inc - ch 1 & T

Rows 9 thru 14: Rpt sc and dc rows, without inc's.

Every so often check the shape of the piece being worked; make sure of the fit, & make adjustments as needed to suit your pot's shape.

Row 15: Dc 13, dec, dc x 19 ct, dec, dc x 13 ct - ch 3 & T

Row 16: Working BL only; dc x 12 ct, dec, dc x 18 ct, dec, dc x 12 ct - at the end of row, turn and sl st around entire piece. EO

Working the top of the 'pot' that will fit snugly around the cactus base …

Side & front views.

Whipstitch cactus base & pot  top pieces together.

Piecing the Cactus Tree together:

Dismantle an appropriate sized cardboard box, and with a ballpoint pen, lightly outline your crafted tree shape to a piece of cardboard.

Cardboard backing; pattern outlined. I chose a box to dismantle that had a ready-made-opening, to use when hanging my cactus tree ;-)

Backing cutout; put the colored side, inside & keep the lighter side out - this will be hung towards the wall (or door).

Stuff the cactus tree; and gently whipstitch to cardboard backing: do not pull harshly on the whipstitch or you will cut the cardboard, making it useless. Secure it lightly, but firmly in place.

Plastic 33 gallon garbage bag stuffing.

Whipstitch pot to cardboard backing.

Whipstitch cactus to cardboard backing.

Trim your cactus tree … anchor the hanging hook in place with the pull-tap adhesive, and hang your tree :-)

Trims for this 2023 holiday season: with tapestry needle and yarn, tack beaded cord to front of cactus … then affix balls to cactus as you see fit ;-)

Cactus sewed together, stuffed, decorated, & hung. I did not use the fancy flower because the poorly glued sequined portions fell off … making it useless for my purpose :-(

Hopefully my Cactus Tree will stay put - this door is used a lot.

HAPPY HOLIDAY!

SUNDAY FUNDAY~Fisher's Landing, Yuma-AZ

November 26th: Bleu was feisty this morning; he needed to get out of the house (and away from the resort lot) to run wild.

I think he has caught my wanderlust bug ;-)

Holland really didn't want to come; but I wanted him to come - so, he came. I have periodic asthma attacks that can be severe at times, and Holland has COPD which can flare up pretty severe at times - he ignores it, but it makes me nervous to leave him alone while I'm galivanting all over the region, sight-seeing solo lobo: being together at all times is really necessary. Especially at our ages (Holland is 62 - I will be 67 the end of December).

Others think we're too co-dependent … and that's kinda true; but it's not a clingy kind of dependency, it's more of a life-saving dependency should one of us need the other's administrations (inhaler handling, drive to ER if necessary, taking care of the dog, ect.)

Our bored teen needs to run free for a while … Bleu patiently waiting for Daddy ;-)

Holland mentioned Friday that he wanted to get some things at Wal*Mart; he didn't go because of the Black Friday madness, but I figured once we were out and about, and Bleu had satisfied his need to run free; we could stop at Wal*Mart and grab some mailing boxes and wrapping paper as well as the items Holland wanted to grab. I have some holiday things I want to mail off to my gal pals in WA State; I had planned on doing this before we left WA, so I've been saving $$$ to do this. Holland does not do the 'christmas thing', so we do not have a tiny christmas tree set up: but I do want to string lights, and mail off my packages.

I don't 'do christmas' either (on this, we both agree); but I do make some holiday concessions. December is my Birth Month, and I like to string lights, and reach out and touch Friends, who light up my life all year long :-)

There isn't any place local (that we know of) where we can take our energetic boy … so, I thought I'd revisit a place Bleu and I have been to before. Holland hasn't ever been there, and I wanted to show it to him.

And I wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn't tell Holland where we were going ;-)

All I said was that we'd be going off the highway, and into the desert. He asked, "We aren't going to Quartzsite, are we?" I laughed, and said, "No - we aren't going that far; but it will be at least a 40-minute drive. Bleu needs the run … and I want to show you something."

We caught sight of the stationary balloon in the sky, over Yuma. Holland thought it was the Goodyear Blimp, but I mentioned that it never moves: not even at the snail-pace-crawl blimps move through the sky. It's weird.

Sky Balloon; we've seen this thing in the Arizona sky as long as we've been hunkered down in Yuma-AZ

By the time we got to Fisher's Landing, he had settled into the drive and was liking being there, too.

The breeze whisking across the BLM landscape was stirring up a couple of little dust devils, so Holland stayed in the truck while Bleu and I frisked about in the desert sand for a while.

The cost for boondocking (dry docking: no water (haul your own in, and move RV every 2 weeks to dump black tanks/no electricity: solar energy or generator - which has to be off by 10 P.M.) is $10 per day = per person is ridiculous  ($600 - $620 for a couple … and if they charge the dog too, $900 - $930); we can park at a mediocre RV Park with water and electricity, for less & don't mind spending a little more for Resort perks.

Boondocking is not "free camping"; boondocking is basically just giving the 1-finger salute to {the man}: you end up paying through the nose not to pay a Park fee, and the 'no rules' mindset kinds flies out the window when your neighbor is being an ass, and acting like a dog; at that point the rules everyone wants to avoid, come into play. There are some pretty sketchy people out there; and you don't want them for neighbors.

So, we have our generators, and we are fully contained … but our {wilderness experience} at Quartzsite (where we spent more than we hoped to save) is, I'm thinking, more than likely our last - unless we really have no other choice. The scenery was beautiful and freeing for Bleu - but like I said, there are some sketchy people out there. Plus, it was hard on Holland, as he was mainly doing all the heavy lifting (heavy, full water cans; heavy, full propane tanks; and hauling gas for-/oiling up the Beast generator). Holland is on disability for a work related back/neck injury, as well as COPD complications. And with my asthma and my life-long heart arrhythmia, there isn't a whole lot of lifting, and dust sucking I can do either, without draining my strength and energy.

Plus, this 44-ft. 5th Wheel RV is just about the size of a shotgun-galley kitchen studio apartment: hooking it up/disengaging, and hauling it can get intense at times - and Holland has been fielding all that: all I've been doing is tearing it down to move it from one place to another - setting the stabilizer jack legos, and tire chocks in place - and setting it up again, once we park: again, Holland has been doing all the heavy lifting stuff. So, we are staying in RV Parks & Resorts (that have room for our size RV) for the majority of our America Tour Journey ;-)

We want to enjoy our life while we still have a life to enjoy. If that means spending a little more parking $$$ … and making time for longer set-down times than anticipated, between touring moves; so be it. We have a comfortable combined income, which helps us enjoy a comfortable life on the road. We aren't living large ... but we are living a good life; and seeing places in America most people can only dream of :-)

Today we were enjoying ourselves, with Bleu, at Fisher's Landing.

Sky at Fisher's  Landing~Yuma-AZ

While Bleu and I were playing 'Fetch!', and wrestling in the desert; Holland had been scanning the area with his eyes, and saw a balloon in the distance. So, curious as we were, we drove on down the highway to see what it was; and took a few pictures of it (and I researched at home, later).

Balloon in the desert … The "Eye in the Sky" is a huge white blimp roughly 40 miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona.

Part of the US's Tethered Aerostat Radar System network:

 (http://www.fortwiki.com/Yuma_Aerostat_Radar_Site)

Hovering, while tethered by a single cable15,000 feet in the sky northeast of Yuma Proving Ground's headquarters area, is the helium-filled fabric aerostat balloon. This amazing piece of technology keeps its state-of-the-art eye focused on one thing: low-flying airplanes. Each aerostat can lift 2,200 lbs. of sensors to a height of 12,000 feet, and can detect targets out to 230 miles; providing low-level, downward-looking radar coverage. The aerostat can stay aloft for months.

The Yuma blimp is one of eight or so Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) program sites, from Arizona to Florida, operated by the federal government to monitor the US border with Mexico. At each site an unmanned blimp is held aloft, two miles up, tethered by a nylon cord spooled in a winch.

Finished gawking at the desert balloon, we backtracked past the BLM site, and checked out downtown Fisher's Landing. There wasn't a lot to see, but the river area was a nice relaxing sit, before we turned the 4x towards Home ;-)

Fisher's Landing Boat Launch.

Fisher's Landing Resort: 

(https://www.fisherslandingresort.com/)

Yuma desert is ready for Christmas ;-)

Now we know what this thing in the sky is …

We stopped at Wal*Mart on the way home, and picked up what we both had on the List … and Bleu enjoyed many "Oh! I love your dog!" between pettings. Bleu is gathering quite a fan club among the various Wal*Mart stores as we tour America ;-)

When we got home, Holland made a tasty steamed kielbasa-veggie meal with a side of toasted garlic bread; and I wrapped packages to be mailed off (nothing extravagant - each one under $10) & the Angel Blanket Box, included.

Getting ready to send packages out; they'll know who it is from ;-)