woolythyme

reading, writing, taking pictures...so where are the blog posts?

The last couple weeks, I've been reading.....a bunch.  Writing pages every day.  Taking copious numbers of photographs.  Collecting photos from the internet.  Editing and rearranging a whole lot of old photos.  And even squeezing in a little knitting every so often.  So why no blog posts?

Anyone want to read my 45 minute paper on the Great Wildebeest Migration?  I didn't think so.  (It's really quite interesting, though...at least, I'm hoping that the club I'm in thinks so next fall.)  The topic this year was 'Journeys'; I was torn between the wildebeests and the Monarch butterflies.  The wildebeests won because in 2013 I was part of a 'journey' to Kenya and I thought if my paper ran short, I could supplement it with my trip. (Always pays to plan ahead, right?)  As it turns out....the paper didn't need a supplement.  Those critters are pretty fascinating.  

When the reading and writing for that paper was finished (it was actually selective reading...how many textbooks on African ecosystems can one really attentively read?)...I turned to my pile of conservation books.  I'm starting a conservation book-club for my garden club, but I wanted to read some of them to be sure I wasn't recommending some real yawners.  (see the selective reading/textbook problem above that I had with the Migration!)

I started with a second read of Slow Death by Rubber Duck, and was rather appalled that I had managed to regress in so many areas since the first time I read it.  It would have been a real quick read, but I had to clean out kitchen cupboards and bathroom closets as I read.  I followed that with the Hidden Life of Trees....a lovely book, beautifully written, that everyone should have on their to-read list.

Of course, I'm a tree-hugger from way back, literally.

I've passed along these two books, but as you can see, I still have a nice pile I'm working my way through.  Second Nature will be a second-time-around read for me...I've just started The Blue Death.  If you all have any conservation-type books you think I need to add to my pile...!!!please!!! let me know.

I squeezed in a 'fun' read...Billie Letts, Made in the USA.  It was a disappointment.  Just couldn't compare to Trees and Rubber Ducks.

The picture taking?  I have a couple hundred photos of the ball players staying with us.  Maybe they'll be famous someday; sadly, I'm no Annie Leibovitz.  We go to most of the games...some days are so hot, it's hard to knit even socks, so I entertain myself with the camera.  Pictures of ball players in dirty uniforms, though, probably wouldn't entertain anyone reading a knitting blog, now would it?

So the little bit of knitting that I've been doing?

Another Searsport Market Bag from Drop Dead Easy Knits....requested by a couple granddaughters.  The bags must be done by beach-time in a little over a month.  The mitts..Strigidae...got temporarily set aside to make some progress on the bags, but they definitely didn't get sent to time-out. I like them too much.

Fun reading waiting in the wings?

If I actually get to these, I might never have time to blog again.

 

 

Don't worry.

Fred's ready to take over.

 

 

the gift of time....

Two friends and I decided to give each other the gift of time this season and road trip for an overnight....

 

 

The lobby of the Capital Hotel greeted us with a 27' tree laden with ornaments of the Hotel....

 

and the smell of gingerbread...

 

 

from this adult size gingerbread playhouse, filled with jars of candy for us to sample.

REAL gingerbread...real icing...real cookies.  I could have had a tummy ache if I had thought too much about the amount of sugar!

 

The next day we were welcomed to  Moss Mountain Farms, the home of....PAllen Smith.

I think the fog just lent to the ambiance of the day....it was perfect.

someone who has more books than I have...there were piles every where!!!

sleeping porch had three beds...we thought we might spend the night (hee hee! don't we wish!)

Allen is quite an accomplished painter, too.

inspiration e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!!!

Lunch was amazing....recipes in his cookbook!

Sadly, he wasn't on site while we were there....he was getting ready to spend some of his time with these beauties...

at a poultry show in Knoxville.

 

While my friends and I shared the gift of time and friendship....

and Allen was sharing his gift of time and learning...

 

my hubby is sharing his gift of time....and clean water in Kenya.

 

 Please wish him well.

Dinner club....with a few special guests

 

 

Giant African Bullfrog...

 

African Pygmy hedgehog (I r-e-a-l-l-y want one of these!!  I may have to knit that hedgehog pattern I've favored a couple dozen times)

 

our 'theme' got a little loose after these guys...

 

Capybara (he lives in South America)...

 

the legless lizard is European...a real party animal; he wanted to join the fun in the worst way

 

Toucan....not sure why he got invited; I guess we needed a feathered friend...

 

Boa constrictor....he's South American, too

he gave out free massages....

 

By the time we got to the Egyptian fruit bat, the light had faded and the mosquitoes were out in full force.  We needed at least a dozen more bats to combat the feeding frenzy going on....DEET didn't touch the rampage.  One other guest (also type O) and I probably served as the mosquito repellant for the rest of the group. (I'm one big itchy bite...who can sleep???...the reason I'm posting this at 4 am!)  

This was our dinner club this year.  I figured if we had entertainment the pressure was off in the cooking department....smart thinking on my part since I was off at that cabin knitting when I should have been cooking!  Our 'theme' was African safari, but I had only a certain number of animals from which to choose, so it became more of a world-wide encounter.  Much fun had by all.  (Some more than others...see the snake photo above!)

We ate a lot of fruit and veggies when we visited Kenya, so that was the bulk of my meal.  (hee, hee.....simple supper!!!)  But I did make an African Peanut Soup that got good reviews.  Thought you might like the recipe:

 

• 3 cups vegetable stock
• 2 (15 oz) cans coconut milk
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 c diced celery
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 4 c chopped sweet potatoes
• 1 1/2 c chopped tomatoes (I used canned, smooshed ones)
• 2 tsp sea salt
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 large can black beans

Cook all ingredients until vegetables are done.  Remove about a cup of liquid, place in a bowl and add 3/4 c of crunchy peanut butter and stir until creamy.  Return the mixture to the pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes....or in my case---through the entire animal presentation.

YUM.  

 

Masai Mara

The Masai Mara is named after the local Maasai people, a pastoral group that judges its wealth by their number of children and cattle.

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These gentlemen were watching over their cattle and rescued our spare tire that went running off when the back of the van inadvertently popped open.  (We had to buy it back!)

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(the pencil thin line snaking around in the photo?...a herd of wildebeestes lining up to cross the river)

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Wildebeests and zebras travel together during the migration from the Serenghetti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in a symbiotic relationship.  The zebras are usually found around the edges of the herds....their accute sense of sight and smell will alert the others to danger....their speed and strong kicking ability aid in their protection.  During the river crossings, the zebras will scatter themselves among the greater numbers of wildebeests, giving them some protection from predators.

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The wildebeests and zebras were making the river crossing rather tentatively while we were there....and were actually crossing in both directions.  When we asked our guide...he just sort of shrugged his shoulders and said---what do you expect from big, dumb goats?!  They do eventually all get to the Mara where the wildebeests mate....they deliver their young after returning to the Serenghetti on the return trip.

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Sadly, many don't make it.

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What at first glance appear to be boulders in the Sand River (bordering Tanzania--the Serenghetti--and Kenya), are actually

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carcasses of animals that didn't make the crossing.  Vultures and marabou storks scavage the remains and are an intergral part of the migration.

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A lot of other animals call the Mara home...

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giraffes

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hippos

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hyenas

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cheetahs...

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black rhinos...we were very lucky to see these; poaching has seriously reduced the numbers of black rhinos in the park, and while the numbers are coming back slowly, they still remain endangered.

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baboons...

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female ostrich...

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male ostrich...and yes, he was out to get her.  All 9 feet of him....240 pounds (average!)...was in a flat out race to catch this woman.  They can run up to 43 mph.....but whatever speed he ran, lover-boy here was a couple mph slower than his love-interest. He chased her all over that field for a good long time....all the vans were lined up...I heard more than one...'you go, girl!' before the race ended!!

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cape buffalo...the most feared of the Masai animals.  Not only is it fast (stampeding in a herd), and strong, but it kills not just for survival but often for the sheer pleasure of it. 

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oh, Pumba!  This little family of warthogs (Mama, Papa, and 3 kids) were having a feast by our lodging...

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aren't they funny the way they kneel to eat?

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they were close...CLOSE... when they decided to jump the fence and join us!!!  (I missed that picture; I didn't stick around.)

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The President of Kenya was at our lodge, speaking to a group around the pool....which is just where the warthogs were heading.  It was a rather lively few minutes while they got herded back into the brush.

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one...

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two..

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then six!

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ROAR!

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lilac-breasted roller, the national bird

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my favorites....I could have watched them all day.

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Before leaving Nairobi, we stopped at the David Sheldrick Elephant Rescue to visit our adopted elephants, Ajuba and Tundani.

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the elephants are walked in from the fields...

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Ajuba...the youngest and smallest of the rescues right now, having a little snack before bed...

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her keeper, who sleeps with her...

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and Tundani, who had a really big day, and was already asleep when we got to his pen.  Good night!

heading home....

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Water....

 

There is no running water or indoor plumbing in the little villages we visited.  Makes for a hard life, especially for the women whose job it is to not only take care of her family, but also to care for the animals, cook, clean, and haul water.  Our villages' water sources were fairly close--a mere 20 minutes away, unlike the lady in the first photo who walked with her sister 45 minutes to collect the water for the day----and to do the laundry.

 

They all use old oil cans repurposed for the job....some in better condition than others.  If you are really lucky, you have a way to load several at a time.  If not, you may find yourself balancing the water on your head...making the trek home--and doing this several times a day.

 

As a young girl, you are introduced to your task early in life.  We saw some kids who couldn't have been more than 4 or 5 dragging little water containers along beside their mom.

 

And remember, this isn't just drinking water...this is water for anything---mopping the floors (and they mop daily)if you are lucky enough to have a floor and not just dirt....washing your dishes, washing the clothes, watering your animals.

 

We spent a good part of our week on an emotional rollercoaster.  We've learned a lot, but even having all this 'new' knowledge, I'm not sure our week would have gone smoother than it did.  One of our new friends said....It's Africa!!!  That's just the way it is!  Hakuma matata!!

 

Every day, someone had to make the two hour trip to the nearest large city for parts that had been promised, parts that had to be reordered because the wrong parts were delivered, or for parts that were lacking in packages.  (Did you know that plugs on electrical things are sold separately?)  The promised parts didn't arrive until our last day there.  It was a scramble, but if 007 was working out a countdown---the clock would have read 00:00:03, when the Katito system finally produced water.

 

Earlier in the day we had celebrated---our new friends, our committment to the project (even though it looked as if we weren't going to finish it on this trip) and the hard work that everyone had put in.  The majority of the team had cleaned up, packed up, and returned to our lodging, when Dr. Geek (aka Carl) said....I've got one more idea.... he and his #1 son stayed on at the site with the local partners until way after dark....and Katito had clean water flowing that night.  (Several parts from the other system had to be sacrificed for the effort----trips between the two sites became almost comical---20 minutes each way...sometimes two vehicles going in opposite directions!)

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We're committed to the project and will back to check on them.  We're hopeful that the Kandaria site is far enough along that once they are able to replace all the parts we swiped for the other system, get the correct UV system in, and finish the plumbing-- they, too, will have the clean water!

 

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Of course, we'll back....we have new friends to visit!

 

 

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Best intentions...but internet connection was just too sparse to do this blogging thing this week.  We're hanging out in the Nairobi airport...so I thought I'd check in, while killing time.  Can you believe I didn't knit a single stitch this week?????  I've got about 36 hours on the trip home to make up for it!!!!

 

Sunday....a day of rest?

Another early morning....that I almost missed.  I'm NEVER the last one to the breakfast table!

 

Off to Katito and Sunday services.  We were treated to more music, more dancing, a rousing sermon on the Woman at the Well in honor of Living Waters and our project, and a special blessing of the chicken that was brought as a tithe offering.

 

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After a delicious lunch at David's home, it was time for the educational instructors to meet their students, see their teaching space, and for the Kandaria team to get their first look at where their system will go.

 

Meanwhile, back at Katito, work is already underway--both inside and outside.

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It's WAY past my bedtime...but I'm finding it quicker to post in these early am hours.  (Hi, First Pres supporters!!  We want you with us every step of the way.....)

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So I'm going to leave you with just some photos of some of our new friends.

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Partial pictures are the best the I could get to upload...until they stopped entirely.  sorry sorry sorry!!!

 

more tomorrow....I hope!

...to Kisumu!

Our overnight Nairobi hotel accommodations were very nice...huge buffet breakfast, exceptionally friendly and helpful staff.   The baggage men were especially enthusiastic...no sooner did we hit the lobby, than someone was at hand to haul our suitcases to the curb.  12 people/24+ bags in our group....2 vans----next to ?? number of tourists in a large 20-seater van and all their luggage....oh, drat.  You know what's coming next, don't you?

 

Yes, we got to the airport (about 45 minutes from the hotel)-- 2 bags short.  After the initial shock (no tears) phone calls started flying, but really----what was to be done?  Until that van discovered they had extra bags, we had to wait, and just hope our luggage enjoyed the side trip and went to some exciting places and eventually came home with some tales to tell.  It was a big fancy van---it looked like they were off on safari...for a long time.

 

When....what to our wandering eyes did appear...but one of the guys on that tour van (he was hard to miss--wearing a bright pink shirt!, and probably the only one we would have spotted), coming in to OUR terminal!  NO WAY!!!  Luggage retrieved.

 

 

A rather quick flight got us to Kisumu (third largest city in Kenya); David (our Kenya contact)met us at the airport and went with us to the hardware stores for some 'last minute' equipment purchases.  

Hours later--and visits to a half dozens stores, we left with a few purchases,-- the rest 'promised' to arrive by Monday morning...or Tuesday, or maybe Wednesday at the latest!  (we leave Wednesday)  I could feel the frustration level in the vans rising....this is when I continued to take pictures and journal and make myself scarce!

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some photos from the window (please excuse the quality!!!) on the drive from Kisumu to Katito, the site of the House of Hope....orphanage and medical clinic

Kenyan speed bump

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shoes, anyone?

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lunch...

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Mary found a piece of beef shaped like Africa!

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these guys were in the middle of the street....outside the butcher shop

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we finally made it to House of Hope...about 3 pm.  A big welcoming committee turned out...a celebration...lots of singing and dancing.... they had been there since 10 in the morning waiting for us.

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 We discovered this site will have a few challenges for the water system.  Stay tuned for part 2!!!

 

(internet connection is spotty...I'm doing my best!!!)

 

Lala Salama....sleep well!  (we all are exhausted!)

The longest day....

I said something to PapaGeek about 'this morning' in Chicago....and he promptly put me straight----that was two days ago!  ????????!!!!!!

 

Chicago!

 

Good-bye, Chicago!

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Hello, Zurich!

 

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The all-night movie marathon caught up with some of us!

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Good-bye Zurich!

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Hello, Africa!!!!!!!!!!!

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Great central plateau---Nairobi.

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Our first new friend.  The blog thanks him, too.

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We felt welcomed.

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We're off.....

 

Our bags are packed....

 

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(Freddy was still trying to fit himself in as we zipped up the last bag.  Sorry, Fred.)

 

 

 

 

Lots of bags....

 

 

What a group!!!  Pretty perky for 5 am.

 

 

 7 miles down.....8,835 more to go.  

Hakuna matata!!!!

counting down....

 

 

 

15 days....but who's counting?!  This water mission project has been planned for well over a year.  Our team members have received training, we all have our 'jobs' outlined, we're gathering together our equipment.....and I'm still searching for my travel knitting project!  Any suggestions would be most highly appreciated!!!  

 

I sort of resurrected kozue, a habu scarf that I started on my London adventure last spring.  But, I was pretty far along with it....finished knitting the cone of yarn I had, and called it done.

(ta-dah!)

 

The blue blob on the books is twig and leaf; I'm almost finished with the lace section, and will start the garter stitch body soon.  Unfortunately, I chose some mystery lace yarn---no idea of yardage, so I'm working the smallest size--the scarf; this will be finished before long.  Certainly won't merit an airplane trip.

 

A shawl?  With some interest but nothing too detailed?  One (large) skein of fingering wt?  lace wt?  The traveling woman shawl was pretty perfect, and I might have to do that one again, even though I made one not long ago. socks might also work. UNLESS....some wonderful person in blog-land has a better idea!!!!  I'm all ears!  eyes!!

 

The strange thing is....I hardly care.  I'm over-the-moon excited about this adventure.  Not only a country I've never been to---but a whole continent I've never set foot on!  A friend in-country to remeet.  His family to get to know.  My journal is packed.  The electronics are gathered together.  The daily devotions (my job) are written.  My clothes are decided.  This never happens.  I never (ever ever ever ever ) pack a single thing for a trip before I decide on my travel knitting. I've GOT to find something!!!  (I really need to care....it's a l-o-n-g plane ride...I need something!!)  HELP! 

 

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joining Ginny for Yarnalong and Tami for WIP Wednesday