COFFEE WITH FRIENDS

On chilly early mornings, I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee … and the warmth of Friendship 😁❤️

Holiday flavored coffee in a Christmas Gift from a Friend, last year ;-)

Carole King - 'You Got A Friend' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAR_Ff5A8Rk)

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!

POOL TOURNAMENT; Yuma-AZ

December 4th: I'm taking time to make time for personal time.

We're paying big bucks for a space at the RV Resort with all the bells and whistles … and this morning, I decided to take David's advice and "get out of the house and meet people".

I'd rather be out of house with my husband, but his left knee is giving him trouble; so I decided to go Solo Lobo, again.

I located the Gym Room the other day … today I went looking for the Billiards Room.

Poolside Cabana booths.

I located the Billiard's Room & Lounge.

I had been playing against myself for about an hour, when people started funneling into the room; apparently Monday is the day of the Women's Tournament games.

I was asked if I wanted to join - three times I declined, and kept on playing against myself. But David and Holland's encouragements kept echoing through my thoughts after each decline … and finally, I accepted.

I love to shoot pool: and can play all day long ;-)

I was matched with Maureen; we won 3 games in Team Playoff's before she 'scratched' …

Mike, Beverly, ?, Cathy, Toni, Jenny, Bernice, ?, & Maureen.

I nursed this 1 beer, while everyone else was doing jello-vodka shots.

Text to Holland.

I generally shy away from meeting new people because sooner or later, they start grilling you about your personal life (husband, kids, grandkids, background, ect.); and I'm not comfortable with the inquisitive questioning. Volunteering things about my life is different; grilling - even friendly questioning, is intrusive. MPO

The questions did eventually come, and I stonewalled most of them because my personal life is nobody's business unless I choose to open up to them.

Several people wanted to give me free advice on how to hold the pool stick, how to stand while lining up a shot, how to use the cheater stick, yada-yada-yada: but I just smiled and said, "thank you, but this is my style, and I like it. It works for me", while thinking to myself, 'this is exactly why I do not engage in tournament play.'

And due to the vodka shots everyone but me was downing … I was home before 8 P.M. - and I came home with $ winnings ;-)

But I don't think I'll play tournament rounds again.

I shoot pool to have fun.

I play against myself to improve myself (so if Holland ever plays with me, I can good-naturedly beat him in a friendly game ;-))

Team pressures from drunken strangers who play {for fun}, with non-fun competitiveness that rides a mean streak, takes all the fun out of it. MPO

REMEMBER THOSE WHO RUINED AMERICA~Vote Wisely, Across The Board