SNAP THAT

My family had a special day today.  My nephew graduated with his Masters in Arts in Psychology. Graduation ceremonies take place over 3 consecutive days twice per year. Each day there are 3 separate ceremonies. My nephew's was the 2nd ceremony of the 2nd day which seemed fitting given it is his 2nd degree. It was also the best time weatherwise over the 3 day period. The crowd assembles in the beautiful Chan Centre. Ph.D. graduates are seated in their fushia and blue robes at the back  of the stage behind the professors and dignataries. The fuschia looks red in the photo but the  UBC website says the colour is maroon. The Mace is carried by the ‘Macebearer’ who leads the Platform Party, which includes the Chancellor, the President, and other dignitaries, onto the stage for the Congregation ceremonies.  In the fall of 1957, the University commissioned the late Haida carver Bill Reid to undertake the project of carving the mace. Due to Rei

Half the day is gone and I'm just putting up my Tuesday post. It is pouring rain here right now and will likely be like this all week. It was a glorious, sunny day yesterday though. I wanted to share my photos from the opera I went to last Friday. It was performed in a small church called Canadian Memorial United Church. It is a beautiful church. (Photo Credit:  Church website) This is the church located on a busy Vancouver corner (Burrard & 16th Avenue) I took a friend as a Christmas gift and she enjoyed it very much. She bought us coffee and cookies at the break .  The coffee was fabulous and the cookies were too. I believe the church was raising funds for its out of the cold program. I've never been to the church before.  Apparently they have different outside events throughout the year. (Photo Credit: Church website) - This is the main window of the church. Simply stunning. The opera written by Giuseppe Verdi is Un Ballo in Maschera (

In Kenyan news My young friend, Alvin has graduated today with his Bachelor in Engineering. He is hoping to do his Master's Degree in approximately one year but first he needs a job and to save some money. That is Alvin on the left and Nathan on the right. Alvin is my friend.  I met Alvin a few years ago when the choir he is in (Kenyan Boys Choir) were in the city. Saturday they will have a big luncheon with family and friends to celebrate this great achievement. My elderly "grandma" is still in hospital. She has been back and forth between the Intensive Care Unit and the private ward at the mission hospital where she lives.  She has pneumonia which she contracted while in hospital being treated for a bacterial infection. She is a strong woman but she is very old and it is hard to recover. I continue to pray for her recovery. In sad news, a friend's uncle, Kipkoness has succumbed to heart problems and passed on.

Though I took my camera to dinner I completely forgot to take a photo of what my friend served for dinner: Red-Red (Black Eyed Pea Stew) and African Yams.  These are dishes from Ghana but other African countries also make and consume these tasty dishes. I searched several recipes on line and the stew I found in the posted video seems to more closely resemble the black eyed pea stew cooked with tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, ginger, garlic and onions. But I know my friend also used cabbage and bay leaf and perhaps some fish.  Fish (salted or dried, sometimes canned) seems to be the ingredient most often added.  But variations exist. My friend made it with chicken cooked until falling off the bone and shredded/  He served the dish with African yams which I've never had before. (Photo Credit:  Africana L.L.C) ~ This is what uncooked African yam looks like. (Photo source: Adamara's Blog) ~ This is a cooked African yam with stew. I love potatos and

It is pouring rain here (though it stopped for a bit) and a wind storm is expected tonight.  I managed to get out this afternoon though to see a lovely performance of Verdi's Requiem as performed by senior students in the Vancouver Academy of Music and the Vancouver Bach Choir. It was pretty much a full house At the Orpheum Theatre and it was lovely to see so many seniors from senior's residences being escorted to the concert too. The program was Guiseppe Verdi's Requiem Mass.  I took a friend to the performance in celebration of her birthday next month.  Both she and I enjoyed it very much. I managed to snap a few photos before the performance but didn't get a chance to photograph the soloists or the conductor. I'm sure you know how that goes with the rules about no photos at concerts.  Prior to the main program, there was a mini concert by the younger students of the academy. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of this and I missed it when

I'm remembering better weather with clearer skies.... I captured these shots just over a week ago. Trees are in the sky!  Seriously these trees are planted high above the ground as they are part of an apartment building built over top a shopping mall.  This photo was taken near the entrance to the shopping mall but if you want to enter the apartment building the entrance is on the opposite end and at ground level. Some trees have been looking a little bleak. I'm remembering trees full of green leaves.  Within the last two weeks many trees have lost their leaves. It is at times like this each year that one appreciates the greenery that remains with all the coniferous trees we have. I am truly grateful. I'm remembering a colourful container garden.   A few posts ago, I mentioned that I wouldn't clean out the debris from my garden until the Spring. I meant to empty out the container garden and store the pots though I haven't yet.  I'm ama

 On October 31st I was out a bit late running errands and enjoying the festive vibe. While I was out I heard all manner of firecrackers coming from seemingly every direction.  This impromptu fireworks display was a joy. I tried to upload a short video without success (I probably have to upload it to YouTube first) So instead here is a grainy photo taken with the phone. I think the vendors who opened for a short time just to sell firecrackers coordinated a fireworks display from 3 different directions. The particular display closest to where I was was fantastic. We had a small amount of snow on Saturday but it didn't stay.  Today is a gorgeous, sunny day but rain is expected soon. I always enjoy seeing trees all in a row. Seeing several palm tree in a row is a particular delight. These trees are in a small park near the Greyhound Bus and Amtrak Train Station. Seeing all the boats at the marina on a beautiful day makes me smile.