Texas Sheet Cake and Knitting are keeping me sane

It’s been a busy week. Like it usually is, but that's part of the package of being a teacher. I have been trying to illumine my 6th graders about ratios and proportions, and leading my 7th grade students through percents. I have been working on my Teachers pay Teachers store listings and adding a few files, and I have been listening to Michael Weatherly’s “Under the Sun” because it’s scratching a musical itch for me right now. I picked up my Names of the Doctor scarf and have got to the more exciting bit and am now finding it hard to put down.

I have got the thumb gusset done on the first Waterhouse mitt, and am just waiting to hear how long the recipient wants them to be before finishing it off. I like this pattern, but they are pretty skimpy/short mitts as written. Good thing I like tweaking patterns!

I got the urge to make a Texas sheet cake earlier this week, so this weekend I indulged in some Southern goodness. Oh how I miss the South sometimes… Good cornbread, good baked beans, good barbeque, and deserts like this that make you glad to be alive.

Well, that’s me for this week! Hope your next week is blessed and full of things you love.

Parting shot: Jacarandas and Zambian skies also make me glad to be alive!

A Bit of Knitting and a Mini Star-Spangled Man

This week I haven't made a whole lot of knitting progress, but I did manage to finish the commissioned hat,

I started the matching mitts (Waterhouse Mitts) if anyone wanted to know; it's a free pattern too!

Got some knitting done on my river project,

and made my last foray down the rabbit hole of rainbow loom, Captain America!

So far I've survived my first weekend on, but I might be speaking too soon as I have Sunday school this afternoon. Oh well, I'M OFF next weekend!

Parting shot: "Come and see my lonesome paradise..."

Knitting and Looming

Since the freight train that is school hasn't fully run over me yet, I thought I'd post a bit about my creative efforts this week since I know that in the weeks to come a) there will be fewer of them and b) it will be harder to be motivated to post! First of all, I am currently knitting a hat on commission using Round House Alpacas wool. Round House is owned by a friend of mine, and the payment for said item is some of their yarn. Yes, I will knit for yarn!

I also have been working on getting my Ned scarf off the ground. Partially because I sometimes am seized with an urge towards perfectionism, partially because I'm a bit of a needle snob, and partially because I am an idiot, I have cast this scarf on an embarrassing number of times. Here is my progress as of last night:

In my container boxes, I received a few generic Rainbow Looms, and I was struck with the desire to try my hand at making some action figures. Four attempts later, I had Doctor McCoy,

and after two tries (not mistakes this time, but my perfectionist streak acting up again) an adorable and not so incredible Hulk.

It's a good thing that I only have the right colors to do Captain America or I might have a loom super hero addiction on my hands... It's an interesting medium to work with, and does take some skill as evidenced by how many times it took me to get McCoy right. I can't see getting obsessed with it, but as a good friend of mine says, sometimes you need to so something brainless! Huzzah for new ways to craft nerdy!

Mombasa

I have been asked some weird questions about this trip. Two of my co-workers as a first questions asked me if it was worth it. Um...totally! Someone else asked me what was in Mombasa, to which the answer is THE BEACH. For this lake girl, it had been far too long since she saw a real expanse of water!

What did we do in Mombasa other than enjoy the beach? We went on a glass bottom boat ride and did some snorkeling, (best thing EVAR by the way)

We got henna done,

And I rode a camel!

We read, we talked, we knit, and we relaxed. We rode around in tuk-tuks,

and we shopped at the markets at the side of the road.

While I would NOT recommend the place we stayed at, it was such a blessing to be AWAY for awhile, and to enjoy a totally different type of life than I usually experience. Would I go back to Mombasa again? In a heartbeat! While I'm not a fan of beach hair,

I loved my time at the beach. Three oceans down--two to go?

Parting Shot:

Giraffes and Beads

The next day, Beth and I spent exploring a bit in Nairobi. First, we visited the Giraffe Center. If you are ever in Nairobi, this is totally worth doing. They have a platform built that puts you at giraffe head level, and you can feed any of their giraffes who are currently feeling friendly little supplement pellets.

I now more than ever want a pet giraffe. Feeding them was a lot of fun—such a crazy tongue they have! Slimy and a little rough all at the same time…

I would have dearly loved to take this little guy home, but I don’t think he would have fit in my bags…

After that, we headed to the Kazuri Bead Center. First you get a tour of the workshops and have the whole process explained,

then you get turned loose in the gift shop! Beth and I may have had way too much fun picking through the loose beads which were very shiney indeed…

After ‘falling down’ hard in the bead shop, we rejoined our patient taxi driver and headed across Nairobi to visit the Masi Market which is held in a different mall parking lot each day. After grabbing some lunch, we headed out into the terrific heat to brave the vendors. Rather like the markets in Lusaka, everyone wants to sell you something, and they make it difficult to say no. I bought a large straw hat which was to figure significantly in my time at Mombasa, and some beaded sandals that were actually my size! There was a lot of overlap with the sorts of things you can find in Lusaka, but I would say that overall the Kenyan stuff was higher quality. After roasting through the market and making a few purchases, Beth and I returned to the compound, and then enjoyed an Indian take out dinner with the Hardings and another missionary family. A full, but very enjoyable day despite the heat of the city!

Parting Shot: Can't get enough of these Twigas!

Kijabi and RVA

After a lovely weekend with the Hardings, Beth arrived from Canada and we drove out to Kijabi to visit Rift Valley Academy. I have wanted to see RVA for just about as long as I can remember; I grew up on stories of my mom’s days there back in the 70’s. Plus, this was a cool way to take a bit of a road trip into the Great Rift Valley! We pulled over at a good outlook spot to drink in the splendor.

Next, we turned off the main highway and bumped down the narrow track that leads to Kijabi. We had a traditional Kenyan meal including ugali (like cornmeal nshima-yum!), chipatis, stew, and various relishes, before heading up to the school.

After lunch, we got to explore RVA!

I have to admit that after seeing the Titchi classrooms I have more than a little classroom envy... After a lovely afternoon of listening to Beth and Steve reminisce and walking uphill everywhere (yes, it really IS all uphill!), we returned to Nairobi where Beth and I enjoyed supper at Java House. We couldn't get over how cheap it was compared to Mug n' Bean in Lusaka! I'm so thankful that I had the chance to finally have a frame of reference for the many stories I've heard about RVA, and it was fun to take a little Kenyan road trip. I couldn't get over all the donkeys--those are things you would not see in Zambia.

Parting Shot: "I want to see mountains Gandalf, MOUNTAINS!"

The difference between vacation and traveling…

I have been thinking a bit recently about the difference between traveling with a purpose, and taking a vacation. I realized that I haven’t been on vacation since I was a teen ager, and never as a ‘real live adult.’ While I have seen many places as I either visited friends, went shopping, or attended various family function, there is always that sense of purpose that keeps it from being a true vacation. Vacation is going to a place just to see and enjoy it, and that is what I did for 10 days in August. Yes, I did end up visiting some friends, but my main purpose of going was just to experience the unique flavor of Africa that is Kenya. Beth and I had no concrete plans, no more agenda than ‘have fun’ and ‘don’t be at work.’ The trip was a rousing success, and over the next few days I’m going to do an entry for each of the major stops I made complete with pictures. First up—Nairobi pre-Beth.

Before Beth arrived, I visited the Karen Blixen house. I had heard vaugely about her book, Out of Africa, but I had never read it. Angie and I got the history of Karen and the house from a very earnest young man who is studying to be a tour guide, and then we went thorugh the house.

No photography inside of course, but I could take pictures outside. Here are the famous Ngong hills as seen from her back porch.

Here are the French doors from the dining room and the back porch with the mill stone tables from which you can soak up the beauty of the garden and the hills.

A little later in the trip I was able to download a copy of Out of Africa, and found it a gripping read. Lots of people write about Africa, but not everyone who does knows Africa. To read the beautiful writing just after visiting the house made it easy to live the story and enjoy the little episodes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Africa, and loves beautiful descriptions.

Parting Shot: The covered walkway that once lead to the nursing school next door to the Blixen house.