GOD KNEW I NEEDED YOU

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

MOD CROCHET FALL-THEMED TUNISIAN LATTICE ST PAPERBACK COVER~Pattern; Castle Rock-WA

MOD Crochet  Fall-Theme Tunisian Lattice ST Paperback Cover

BRRR

It's getting nippy, here, in WA State ๐Ÿ˜•; I used the electric blanket, last night ๐Ÿ”Œ๐Ÿ›Œ & this morning I got out of bed thinking, "there's gonna be frost on the pumpkins, soon" - I also thought, "I need a Fall colored book cover ๐Ÿ“š"; so, as soon as I prepared a cup of hot Jasmine tea … I got right on it ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“๐Ÿงถ✂️๐Ÿ˜‰

Materials: Worsted Yarn, in Black, Orange, & Gold; small amount of scrap yarn for a length of marker yarn; Sock Yarn, small amount in matching color (or contrast color, if desired) #H Afghan hook & #1 aluminum crochet hooks; scissors; tapestry needle; trim of choice (if trim is desired)

Terms Used:

BK LP = back loop

ch = chain

EA = each

EO = end off

rem'g = remaining

rpt = repeat

RS = right side

r = row

sc = single crochet

st = stitch

T = turn

WS = wrong side

x = repeat

Sized to fit: a 7-1/2-in x 4-in Clive Cussler paperback novels


Bottom Edging: With Black yarn & crochet hook, make a chain of 59

Row 1: T & sl st in 9 ch, place marker yarn, sc in next 32 ch, place marker yarn, sc in rem'g 9 sc - EO Black & attach  Orange; T

Row 2: Working across row, picking up 1 loop in ea st - attach Gold through last loop & drop Orange - DO NOT CUT YARN: at end of rows, you will carry yarn strands up back of work.

Row 3: Yo & draw yarn thru both loops x9 , moving marker end up, yo & draw yarn thru both loops x32, yo & draw yarn thru both loops x9 - DO NOT CUT YARN

Row 4: Slip head of hook under first 3 bars, yo & draw up a loop x2 - rpt across row, drawing up 1 loop in end st. Attach Orange through last loop & drop Gold.

Row 5:  With Orange, yo & draw yarn thru 1st gold loop, yo & draw yarn thru 2nd gold loop, yo & draw yarn thru last gold loop - rpt across row - DO NOT CUT YARN

Row 6: Work across row, picking up 1 loop in ea gold st - at end of row, drop Orange & pick up Gold through last st.

Row 7: Yo & draw yarn thru both loops x9 , moving marker end up, yo & draw yarn thru both loops x32, yo & draw yarn thru both loops x9 - NO NOT CUT YARN

Repeat Rows 4 thru 7 for pattern to a length of 7-1/4 inches; checking now and then for length (every book is sized differently, even if quoted measurements are the same); EO Orange & Gold, and attach Black.

Top Edging: With Black, work 2 rows of sl st; EO Black, leaving a length of yarn for sewing flap to cover.

Finishing: With RS facing, fold 9 sts of the flap backward & whipstitch EA end closed - weave in loose ends. Turn flap inward to make a pocket to slip cover edge into.

Rpt with other cover flap, in same manner.

Page Marker: With #1 hook & sock yarn; attach yarn in center top of Book Cover, & make a ch of chosen length - attach trim (or not) & back chain to beginning ch. EO and weave in loose ends.

Easy-peasy ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜

Enjoy ๐Ÿ“–!

Sunday, August 30, 2026

A COZY CORNER~Self-Care/Shabbat; Castle-Rock-WA

My husband was spoiling me today ๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍❤️‍๐Ÿ’‹‍๐Ÿ‘จ - so, I spent the entire Day finishing the Cussler-Fargo novel I've been reading this week ๐Ÿ“˜:

Cussler-Fargo adventure, 'The Mayan Secrets'
The ending of the story & an absolute end to tyrannical thievery in Santa Maria de Los Montanas, Mexico.
Apache Helicopter; Holland has worked on construction for personnel offices in the Phoenix location, where these helicopters are built. He was - and still is. impressed by these 'dragonfly looking' flying military machines.

{{Maya Tomb with 143 Pots is part of a major 2022–2024 excavation at Chochkitam, a lesser-known Maya site in the Guatemalan jungle near the borders of Mexico and Belize. Led by Tulane University archaeologist Francisco Estrada-Belli, the team uncovered a 1,700‑year‑old royal tomb dating to around 350 CE, during the height of the Maya Classic Period (250–900 CE).

The tomb, located beneath a pyramid, was remarkably well‑preserved despite looting — the only major damage was a collapsed stone ceiling. Inside, researchers found: A mosaic jade mask, a rare and sacred object believed to have been used in royal funerary rites; human femur bones inscribed with hieroglyphs, one depicts a previously unknown king, linked through royal lineage to the Maya states of Tikal and the central Mexican city of Teotihuacan; over 16 shells of spondylus, a rare spiny oyster used by Maya royalty as jewelry, currency, and in religious/sacrificial offerings; funerary pottery — while the exact count of 143 pots is not explicitly stated in the provided sources, the tomb contained multiple ceramic vessels, likely used for food, drink, and ritual offerings in the afterlife.

The discovery is considered a "lottery win: for archaeology because it provides rare, high-status artifacts from a period with very few surviving texts. The team first detected looter tunnels, using lider … a laser-based ground-pentrating technology, which "took X-rays of the jungle floor" to map hidden structures. They entered only about 2 meters from where looters had stopped, preserving much of the tomb's integrity.

Researchers are now conducting DNA analysis on the human remains and continuing excavations at Chochkitam to uncover more evidence of its connections to neighboring kingdoms. All artifacts will eventually be exhibited in Guatemala’s National Museum.

~Various information sources}}

I wasn't totally lazy though ๐Ÿ˜˜ - I made a steamed supper ๐Ÿฅ”๐Ÿ ๐Ÿฅ•๐Ÿง„๐Ÿฅฌ๐Ÿฅš๐Ÿฝ️ 

Steamed Supper; potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, seasoned meatballs, & hard-boiled eggs.


MAYAN SECRESTS #1~August 25, 2026 - RISKY FRISKY~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/08/risky-friskyself-care-2026-castle-rock.html

MAYAN SECRESTS #2~August 26, 2026 - THE SONGBIRD HAS FLOWN~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-songbird-has-flownself-care-2026.html

MAYAN SECRESTS #3~August 28, 2026 - TENINO DRIVE~Self-Care 2026; Cathle Rock-WA https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/08/tenino-driveself-care-2026-cathle-rock.html

MAYAN SECRESTS #4~August 29, 2026 - GIFTING~Self-Care/Shabbat Eve; Castle Rock-WA https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/08/giftingself-careshabbat-eve-castle-rock.html

Saturday, August 29, 2026

CATCH & RELEASE CYCLE~Self-Care/Shabbat Eve; Castle Rock-WA

Lifted from a Friend's Page.

Sharing it today, because it's real life realities; and a good mindset to walk into the new week, with:

You can be a really good friend, and still not be liked. You can hold someone dear and still not be valued. You can say all the right things, and still have someone twist your words, brush off your words, or worse—use your words against you. You can give it your absolute best, and still have it not work out.

You can be pure as humanly possible, and still be painted as the bad guy.

After years of work, these are some things I’ve learned:

1. You can’t control other people. Not even in the slightest, and it is a complete waste to ever assume you can. It will make you angry, and exhausted, and chasing something you don’t have a chance to catch, so switch gears and control you. Control your mouth. Control how you treat people. Control your attitude. Guard your heart, and keep it genuine. Keep showing up, and let that be enough.

2. Other people aren’t you. They don’t think like you, or feel like you. Their experiences belong to them alone. They approach situations differently, and their outlook is nothing like yours. Don’t expect them to handle things exactly like you do. They aren’t you. They’re them. Do your best to love them for it.

3. Some people are never going to like you, and there isn’t necessarily and a rhyme or reason. Your life will improve significantly as soon as you learn this.

4. Sometimes you’re actually the bad guy. Sometimes you’re the one acting foolish. Sometimes you’re the one with the toxic trait or two. Check your own heart. Clean out the junk, and grow from it. Apologize, and now that you’ve learned - take that wisdom, do better next time, stay humble, and give others an awful lot of grace along the way.

5. There is a purpose to it all. There is beauty everywhere. That failed friendship will teach you how to do the next one better. That heartache will remind you to be gentle with other people. That loneliness will help you appreciate connection when you do find it - and you will find it. Not every season lasts forever, but every season does produce something precious eventually, even if it’s just a fresh perspective.

So sleep well, my dear friend.

Life is a long series of letting some things go and holding others close: a catch and release sort of cycle. Let go of needing approval. Let go of bitterness, and resentment, and any of that junk. Let go of insecurity. Let go of guilt. It will keep you shackled like nothing else.

Hold close to the people in your life who have stuck around. Hold close to your morals and your integrity. Hold close to your light and your joy and your hope. Hold close to today. Believe in tomorrow. Hold closest to love. At the end of the day, it’s all that really matters, and as long as you have it - you have more than enough.

GIFTING~Self-Care/Shabbat Eve; Castle Rock-WA

Today was all about gifting.

Holland had gifted himself … finally. He rarely spends $$$ on himself, so I was glad packages arrived for him.

Holland gifted me: a couple days ago, my headphones gutted out on me … and immediately, Holland went online and ordered me a new set - it was good of Elohim to make sure that everything arrived at the same time.

And my current Cussler-Fargo storyline is about thwarting greedy thieves; and gifting South America with their own artifacts, by the Fargo duo working with the governing leadership to stop black market criminals.

After coffee, we drove across the Columbia River to retrieve waiting packages:

Rainier-OR Post Office from Toutle River RV Resort, in Castle Rock-WA~via I-5 S; 23 min (20 mi)
Holland's piece for Betsy arrived - he's happy.
A water filter, so we'll be able to cut down on the bottled water; no matter where we go. And the added water softener to city water systems will be filtered out, thus skin irritations will be curbed.
He's also happy with his new shower head.
My new headphones also arrived - no more crackling static, or cut out dead silence. YAY!
Movies, documentaries, music - all coming thru loud & clear - I'm happy.
Various Artists - Adonai: The Power Of Worship From The Land Of Israel:  (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyk37WZD9hqVNdbeGOY2xgX9BrI7IwYW)
And, they fit my Tablet, too! Bonus - I use my Tablet a lot, on the road.

Today is basically a Day of Rest, so the morning drive was the extent of busyness. The rest of the Day was pretty laid-back, with lounging, napping, personal choices of low-key activity: we gifted ourselves with just "being".

My choice was getting back to the jungle adventure, in South America, with the Fargos …

Cussler-Fargo Novel~The Mayan Secrets
Last night, the Fargos left Valladolid-ES, to return home, in San Diego, CA
Today's adventure begins with them leaving La Jolla-CA to travel to an ancient mayan compound, in Belize.
Polochic River, Guatemala = The Polochic River is one of Guatemala's main rivers, draining into the Caribbean Sea. The river has a fairly cool climate - but also experiences excessive rainfall during the winter months, which generates a lot of humidity.
Polochic River, Guatemala
Guatemalan Highlands hillside.
Guatemalan Highlands.
Towering La Danta Pyramid rises from the jungle floor, of Guatemala's highland region.
From Belize, to Guatemala City & onto Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico
Calakmul's murals and frescoes.
Establishing ownership of Calakmul's discovery - to thwart the murderous thievery.

{{La Danta: One of the Largest Pyramids on Earth is Hidden Beneath the Forest

I've only posted interesting tidbits of this original article; focusing on the facts touched on in Clive's novel.

~Ivan Petricevic

Built thousands of years ago in present-day Guatemala are the remnants of a lost city called El Mirador. This ancient metropolis thrived from approximately the sixth through the third centuries BC, wholly abandoned around the ninth century. During its heyday, the ancient Maya civilization built within Mirador a pyramid that would stand the test of time. But not just any pyramid. They built a massive superstructure (or better said, complex structures), rising a towering 72 meters into the air. Today, one could pass by it and barely notice a behemoth structure even larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza in terms of volume. But, in fact, some of the largest, most impressive pyramids were not built in Africa but in North, Central, and South America.

Found in 1926

The ancient city was revealed in 1926 by Percy Madeira. A brief survey of La Danta was done by a Carnegie expedition in 1934, but it only lasted a few hours due to a lack of water in the area. In 1962, archaeologist Ian Graham produced the first map of the site where the area identified as La Danta (1967) is known. Later from 1978 until 1983, the Mirador  Archaeological Project, led by Ray Matheny and Bruce Dahlin, conducted the first intensive investigations. During exploration, archeologists found, surprisingly, that a large number of constructions were not contemporary with the large Maya classic cities in the area but rather from centuries earlier, during the pre-classic period.

https://curiosmos.com/la-danta-one-of-the-largest-pyramids-on-earth-is-hidden-beneath-the-forest/ 

&

The Ambition, Power, and Downfall of the great Calakmul

I've only posted interesting tidbits of this original article; focusing on the facts touched on in Clive's novel.

~By Carlos Rosado van der Gracht

Calakmul is an ancient Mayan city found deep in the jungle of the southeastern Mexican state of Campeche, near the border with Guatemala. The site is also in the heart of the biosphere of the same name which covers an area of 700,000 hectares. The archeological site itself is well over 70 square kilometers and is home to approximately 6,000 structures that range enormously in size. 

Calakmul was first documented by the biologist Cyrus Longworth Lundell in 1931. But it is widely believed that the existence of the ancient city had become an open secret of sorts between the few people living in this remote territory and workers who would delve into the jungle to harvest chicle trees.

In Mayan, Calakmul means “the city of the adjacent pyramids,” but in antiquity the city was known as Oxte’Tun, meaning three stones. The date of Calakmul’s foundation has been lost to time, but most scholars agree that the city first rose sometime between 700 and 350 BCE. During excavations, archaeologists discover a network of Mayan roads or Sacbรฉs connecting Calakmul with the powerful pre-classical age cities of Mirador, Nakbรฉ, and Uaxactรบn. This fact, even taken on its own, hints at an extremely early foundation date, power, and prestige.

During the classic age, starting in the second half of third-century BCE, Calakmul had risen to considerable importance. But it would not be until several centuries after that the city would reach its greatest splendor. During the fifth century CE, Calakmul had become bold and strong enough to begin challenging the city which would become its greatest rival, Tikal. Hostility turned to war in 562 CE under the leadership of the king of Calakmul, Sky Witness, who launched an all-out invasion of Tikal. The battle was hard-fought, but in the end, Calakmul managed to capture Tikal’s ruling class, including its king who they put to death, and turned the once hegemonic power into a vassal kingdom.

https://yucatanmagazine.com/the-ambition-power-and-downfall-of-the-great-calakmul/ }}