This was what it looked like a week ago when I went to Michael's to purchase yarn.
I love the glow cast by the evening light and golden leaves.
I purchased one big ball of yarn to start a new afghan in shades of gray, black and white (Caron Big Cakes). I now have the 3 big balls of yarn that I need to make the afghan. The afghan will be in the same pattern (Ocean Wave pattern) as the last few I've made. But I also bought another smaller ball of yarn in Berry (Red Heart yarn) to make a Granny Square Afghan. I don't have a pattern as such for the latter. I'll simply make a bunch of squares and stitch them altogether when I think I have enough of them. I might use a coordinating colour and I might not. I used up the Magenta yarn (Vanna's Choices, Red Heart yarn) after making only 6 squares and there is no more of the colour in stock at my local Michael's.
The
joined yarns in two afghans on the left need to be finished but they
are otherwise done. The squares are more portable so can be made anywhere (not that I usually carry it with me). The 3 balls of yarn will be made in Wave pattern afghan.
The finished afghan for a friend's birthday. I've given it to her somewhat early but don't think she has opened it yet.
Try as I might I could not get a good photo of this afghan. It's long enough when full extended to cover the feet and all the way up to the neck and is longer than the pattern instructions. That way my friend can keep nice and warm on a cool night.
Here I've folded the afghan in half. I think it gives a better sense of how large it is.
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On Tuesday I had a pleasant surprise when the sun came out and the skies partly cleared.
I'm reading several books but slowed down. I'll focus on finishing this one
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I'm closing with a few photos from my archives. These were taken in Delta, BC just over a year ago.
The eagles like to flock near the bog at an organic waste facility. As the salmon stocks in the ocean dwindles, the eagles are looking to other food sources. It sounds great. But it is perhaps not so great for the pilots and planes that fly in air space near by. Nor is it great for the many home owners who must now contend with traffic congestion on their country roads and influx of professional and amateur photographers as well as the simply curious. On the day I went out to shoot photos it was a bit overcast and snowing so it was really quite deserted.
So many photos were taken but without better lenses it is not so easy to get a good photo
Another week has zoomed by and I hardly had time to catch my breath.
We had 3 snowfall warnings over the past week and the temperatures got quite chilly. I'm not sure but I think it must be some kind of record.
I didn't take a photo today (Thursday) but the snow was all gone and the sun came out. The temperature felt very comfortable. I'm sure the weather should be gradually getting better from now going forward.
I had an appointment with the Sleep Lab. It was really just a follow up concerning an overnight sleep oximetry test I had done earlier. I already knew my oxygen levels appeared normal and the doctor confirmed that. Good news there. I've been referred to the "other side" of the clinic where they will try to help me with my ongoing sleep issues (unfreshing sleep). I don't hold my breathe over real answers from them but it will give me some peace of mind to follow through with it. I've already put it off for years. I guess I'm concerned that the solution will be to recommend medicines and really I don't want to go that route. In the meantime, I continue doing everything I can to achieve better sleep, that is restorative sleep.
The view outside the UBC Hospital where I went to see the Sleep Specialist.
I've also done some shopping at a far place about an hour from my home. I often purchase on line but since I have problems finding pants to fit properly I thought I'd go out and try things on. I came away with some purchases but when I got home I realized they gave me one wrong item (right colour, wrong size). Now I have to return to get the right size. I also have several other purchases I made a few weeks ago that need to be returned to a different store.
Just over a week ago I lost or misplaced my mailbox key and I don't have a duplicate so I had to call a locksmith. The mailbox key was attached to the storage lock key so the lock had to be cut off and a new lock purchased. Altogether these two tasks cost a fair bit. At least this time I will have spare keys so there will be an extra set put aside. There are still some minor bathroom things that need to be done; changing out the toilet seat cover in one bathroom and upgrading the shower head in another bathroom. Like my cushion projects it feels good to finally get some of these outstanding tasks done or nearly done.
Another long awaited event finally happened this week. The telephone company had indicated it is upgrading the fiber optics which deliver internet to my home. Right now the telecommunications company is gathering consents from homeowners in the building. I have spoken to their project contact on the phone and he also came to my door to get a signature. Once 80% agreement has been reached, the builders will come out to do what is necessary to bring the faster speeds to my home. I understand in another month I can possibly have access to the fast speeds. I can't wait to get this done as I have already waited years for this service to be available. In the meantime my internet speed has become one of the slowest speeds available in the area.
At long last one of my cousins arrives tomorrow for a brief visit and I've been
busily cleaning, tidying, getting small jobs done and thinking about our
menu. I haven't really decided on a menu and she is no help as she said
she will eat anything. So I purchased different things to have several
options on hand and will decide what to do when she arrives. In fact we
may go out to eat since it is her 60th birthday we are celebrating.
My eldest nephew had his birthday yesterday so I called to wish him a very happy birthday. I'm giving him money as a birthday gift and he was very happy about that. That way he can do what he wishes with it and have something he enjoys. I think I mentioned once long ago that my nephew is a cowboy. He is constantly developing his skills and amongst other things, he and his wife train horses. His wife is also a gifted photographer whose specialty is photographing horses and their owners. People love her work. The video below is already a few years old but you can see him at work with one of the horses. There is no sound, only video.
Early in the week I met up with a younger nephew at his work place at the university. I presented him with one of my handmade afghans for his (latest) graduation gift. He graduated in November and I attended the ceremony but hadn't yet given him a gift.
He loves hand made afghans and I gave him the blue one in the photo above. It will coordinate well with a fabric quilt I made him years before.
My nephew (in the photo below) has a BA and an MA in Psychology and is now working on his Ph.D. He is researching and examining how neurosteroids, such
as testosterone, regulate different aspects of executive function,
particularly behavioral flexibility.
I snapped this photo of him in the lab when I visited a few weeks ago. I am very proud of him because he has won numerous awards and scholarships and currently holds a 4 Year Doctoral Fellowship from my alma mater, UBC. When he finishes he will either continue on the research track or transition to medicine.
It's also been very busy on the missions front but I will end here. Perhaps Kenyan missions will inform the next post.
