SNAP THAT

On Sunday, I posted about the bright lights of my city. Now I post about a dimming light which has come to my attention. I do hope you will take a moment to read and try to put yourself in this young man's shoes. The young man's name is Edwin and he is 21.  My friend Jonah at Missions of Hope has assisted Edwin in having a Bone Marrow Aspiration test done at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, Kenya. The medical report says that Edwin has a massive hepatosplenomegaly and is recommended to have a peripheral smear for conclusive opinion of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.  I don't pretend to understand all of this report and the numbers involved. After google searching I see that this is a very serious condition. Like most Kenyan families, Edwin's family cannot afford any kind of sustained medical attention and assistance. I've learned that Edwin's mother has already sold almost everything they own to help with the travel and medical costs associated w

We had a wild, windy day yesterday with great big, wet snowflakes falling fast and furious. It was unwelcome weather because I was going out to a dance performance (more about that in a later post).  The big white strips caught in mid-air are the snow flakes. The snow was falling so fast that it was difficult to get a photo of it. You can see the large flakes lying on the patio floor.  It is rather late in the season to be getting snow where I live. We also got a large snow fall early in the season which is again unusual. The weather is largely unpredictable around the globe these days.  My small garden will have to wait awhile until the weather warms up but I'm sure the skiers are happy with the fresh snow. I like the pretty photos snow helps to create and I simply love looking at the bright lights at night on a snowy mountain. I can see these scenes from my desk. It is most difficult to get a night shot with my camera.   I'm happy with these few that I&#

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Though the skies may be gray, one can still soar.

Two more books toward my 2012 reading goal. Late in the week I started reading a book I've had in my library for a few years; The Measure of Man , the memoirs of Sidney Poitier. Mr. Poitier was never one of my favourite actors but I do recall enjoying his movie, Lilies of the Field .  I saw the movie as a child and remember enjoying it immensely.  Mr. Poitier won an Oscar  for his role as handyman Homer Smith, a man who helps refugee nuns build a chapel out in the desert somewhere. I think I was fascinated by the movie because where I grew up I'd never seen a black grown up,  only two boys about my age who I didn't know personally.  I was curious about these people because they were rarities in my world and we had no opportunities for association.   I'd also seen two other Mr. Poitier films, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and To Sir With Love . I liked the latter movie more than the former,  but didn't really pay much attention to either of them. In the l

These photos were all taken within a few minutes of each other. I love the pink and purple hues.

I want to thank all my newest followers and readers. Welcome to my blog of simple things. I hope you will find something you can comment on so I can get to know you better. I go back and find your blogs and read them too! This lap blanket will be finished today or tomorrow. I'm pleased with how it's turning out. This is my latest book. It is easy to read and later I discovered that it is actually a child's book and comes with illustrations in the child's version. Interestingly, the author is described in one site as a pre-J.K. Rowlings kind of author and this book was somewhat of a departure for her. It's a delightful book. You can learn more by checking amazon.com. The book is called "The Star of Kazan". I'm still working on "Paris 1919" as I set it aside for awhile. Both books are good reads. What are your simple pleasures this week?

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.  - George Sand -  It's a great thing to be able to love and to be loved. Whether it is your family, your friends, your special loved one or people you don't even know, like the widows and orphans in a far away place. I didn't bake these but aren't they pretty? I had to share some with my family. ~ MAGIC OF LOVE ~ by Helen Steiner Rice (Poet) "Love is like Magic and it always will be, For Love still remains Life’s Sweet Mystery! Love works in ways that are wondrous and strange And there’s Nothing in Life that Love cannot change! Love can transform the most common place Into beauty and splendor and sweetness and grace! Love is unselfish, understanding and kind, For it sees with its Heart and not with its Mind Love gives and forgives, there is nothing too much For Love to heal with its Magic Touch! Love is the language that every heart speaks, For Love is the one th

I've been super busy trying to learn how to read knitting patterns and make sweaters. Knitting a sweater is one of my goals for this year so I am making good progress on my goals. Now that I have some limited experience with flat sweater making I have to learn how to do it in the round. Then I'll be able to make socks and tackle more interesting sweater patterns. Knitted newborn baby sweater and cap made with new yarn. This is my first set. The sweater still needs to be sewn together.   The cap is not really a set with the sweater but for now it is the only one that I've made in complementary colours.  This was a learning experience in every way.  I learned how to read a pattern, how to add cast on stitches to a work in progress,  and how to shape the neckline.    This knitted baby sweater is my second attempt at knitting a flat sweater.  This one will fit a 3 month old baby with added room for ease.  I have changed up the pattern in the first photo (above) with

I love ground beef as a versatile meat option for dinner, however, sometimes I run out of ideas about what to make with it. I decided to try making pizza. It was a perfect chance to use my new Kitchen-aid Artisan Mixer which I got for Christmas but haven't used yet. I've never used a mixer like this before and was surprised at how easy it is to use. I enjoyed using the mixer a lot and will likely use it again very soon. Initially I wanted a red mixer but the stores were out of them. This chrome coloured one is nice too! Crusty Pizza Dough 1 package active dry yeast (1 tbsp.) 1 cup warm water 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 tbsp. cornmeal Dissolve year in warm water. Add salt, olive oil and 1/1/2 cups flour. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute. Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about

Beautiful Things All this pain I wonder if I’ll ever find my way I wonder if my life could really change at all All this earth Could all that is lost ever be found Could a garden come up from this ground at all You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us All around Hope is springing up from this old ground Out of chaos life is being found in You You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us You make me new, You are making me new You make me new, You are making me new You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us The singer-songwriter, Michael Gungor, said "My wife

I love handmade things. I've always loved crafts of all kinds. Anything made by the hand, that takes time to render, is special and holds deep attraction for me. When I travel, my eye is always drawn to different textiles, pottery, jewellery and other hand crafted items.  Kenya is a wonderful place for seeing and buying hand crafts. I wrote about some of it here . Kenyan beadwork is connected to the cultures of the various tribes doing the beadwork and is a somewhat new addition to their culture.  Much like it was to the Native American Indians who traded in beads with the foreign settlers, Kenyan beadwork dates back to the late 19th century when beads from what is known today as the Czech Republic, became available to them.  Beadwork has a special attraction for me because when I was a teenager, I made things out of seed beads.  Mostly I made earrings and necklaces for the women in my community.  They loved to adorn themselves with one of a kind pieces. I haven't

It's the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. I wrote about it here if you would like to read more. Imagine my surprise, when earlier this week, I looked up at the sky and saw a cloud in the form of a dragon!      I quickly snapped these photos before the dragon flew away! I'd love to hear what kind of interesting cloud formations you've seen lately. Enjoy more sky watching by clicking on the badge below.

Today on my walk I managed to find a brand of lentils and beans that I haven't tried before. The price also seems a little cheaper than the usual offering at the other stores I frequent.  So I picked up a few bags of several types of beans and green lentils. Right now I'm soaking garbanzo beans and pinto beans and thinking of what to make with them. These new to me garbanzo recipes look like something I would like to try.    Garbanzo Bean Medley 1 tsp. olive oil 1 green pepper, chopped 1 onion, sliced thin 1 clove garlic, chopped (optional) 1 can garbanzo beans (I'll use "from scratch" beans as they have no preservatives) 1/8 tsp. fresh pepper Salt to taste Heat oil in a skillet  and saute green pepper for 2 minutes, add onions and garlic; saute until soft. Add beans, pepper and salt; saute until well blended and heated through. Serves 4. Notes:  I will use red peppers instead of green ones because I prefer the taste and colour. Garba

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Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around mama's baking.  Among other things, she made delicious bread pudding. It was so creamy and soft. Actually she was an excellent cook overall. Self-taught and a largely intuitive cook. I was not a natural cook and I took little interest in the kitchen except to make baked goods. My lack of interest in cooking continued after I was grown.  My jobs always required me to put in long hours and arriving home late at night left little energy or time to shop for a wide range of ingredients or slave over a stove.  While mom was still able to get around, she would often visit and I so appreciated her visits.  I loved to come home from work and have well made and good smelling food hit my nostrils as I walked in the door.  I also just appreciated being able to spend time lots of time with her and though I worked long hours my weekends were free so we would spend time together going around the city and being tourists. In later years, I h