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.

What does a teacher do when her students are gone?

Well, in this particular case, she
a) Naps,
b) Knits and cross stitches,
c) Watches Star Trek Voyager,
d) cleans her floors,
e) reads a lot,
f) cooks and washes the umpteen dishes that result, and
g) and sews adorable bags with greater and lesser degrees of skill.

Beth ‘second-party Pintrested’ me with this bag pattern, and I’ve been having fun with different fabric types and color combinations. I figured out how to make them fully reversible (thus making the sewing satisfaction far greater than it was even to start with!), and I eventually figured out how to get the colors to do as I willed. Here are a few pictures of my efforts:

Since I’m heading to Kenya for VACATION later this week, I’ve been enjoying dreaming about vacation knitting, knitting for my vacation, knitting possible vacation dreams, and knitting as I dream about vacation. I knit a potential beach bag (now known forever more as the ‘Tabernacle Bag,’—thanks Alan P…)

I crocheted the yoke for this top that I’m not sure I’m brave enough to wear, even in Kenya where almost no one know me,

And I also got some totally instant gratification with these cute little cuffs from Knock Out Knits.

Also, to celebrate surviving the 90th, I tried out this little cowl pattern, *, that I have had lurking in my queue for a few months. I’ll block it a little differently next time, but I think this will be coming with me to Kenya as a classy accessory.

I have also ripped out significant portions of with much gritting of teeth put in some work on the gift socks that I both love and hate; love how the pattern looks, hate man-handling it to do what I want, and I am finishing off a tea cozy as a gift for a dear lady who made me the ultimate knitting bag.

Finally, I finished two cross stitch projects! This charming cottage had relatively little left to do on it,

And this little thing that was supposed to be a part of my sister’s wedding present…two years ago. Better late than never?

That’s all for now; you won’t hear from me till I get back from my VACATION that is AWAY FROM HERE and with a BEACH involved. Don’t worry—I already have travel reading and knitting sorted out; now I just need to figure out what I’m going to wear…

Parting shot: I finished this at some point during the term, and forgot to share it!

July Picks…yet again late…

This month the book I chose was Cress, the third in the Lunar Chronicles series. I enjoyed this retelling of Rapunzel, and I can’t wait for the last book to come out later this year! As I get more and more disgusted with the lack-luster books being released and praised by a dumbed down population, it’s refreshing to know that there still are a few people out there who know how to write! I love a good fairy tale retelling, and these books certainly give the old familiar stories a unique twist or two!

For music this month I decided to get me some more Chris Thile. If you liked The Goat Rodeo Sessions, then you will probably enjoy this album. Traditional music moving into new territory and the beautiful sounds of two master musicians blending together. Totally worth it if you enjoy Thile! This may have made my end of term more doable… Sublime music always helps.

Coming soon; what Lina is doing with her holiday when she isn’t dealing with 90th celebrations!

Parting Shot:

Not much to report...too much work!

While I had a lovely weekend where I had a few much needed naps, got some work done, accomplished a few odd projects here and there, and generally feel a bit more human again, I'm still very much buried up to my neck with school. What could have been a pleasant distraction, planning for my FIRST REAL LIVE ADULT VACATION has been a bit of a nightmare thanks to Ethiopian airways, but Beth and I are pretty much all booked in now, and it's just the details that we need to work out. Very little visible knitting progress, but I have been working! I finished a hat on Sports Day/4th of July; the jury is still out, but then again I don't exactly have lots of time to test it!

I started a new pair of mindless socks that are destined for someone's Christmas gift...not quite as into the color as I thought I would be, but I like how the pattern is playing with the colors.

I lit a fire one night last week; I enjoyed the blaze, but didn't enjoy the traditional smoke inundation. Having to open windows kind of defeats the point of having a fire... I would love to get my fireplace redone; we shall have to see what I can do about that.

In not-much-news I made another pie this weekend--thanks a lot Pushing Daisies! I got a care package from my mom with some treats for myself, and some needed items. I'm working on learning the end of term show songs, and I have some really nice cilantro growing right now. I snatch time to knit when I can, and I'm trying to not eat all my candy stash due to stress.

The next two and a half weeks will be the mad scramble to the finish line; I don't even want to think about how many naps I'll require after all this to get back to normal, but I'm holding on to my Savior's grace, and the fact that I'm going to be doing something FUN in August. This year has been pretty hard, and there is still one huge hard thing looming on the horizon, but I'm trying to enjoy what I can in each day, and trust the Lord for the rest. Good thing He's got me in His hands!

Parting Shot: I just might need to do this at some point...

June Picks...a little late!

I have been greatly enjoying the Lunar Chronicles, and the second book, Scarlet, did not disappoint! I love the twist on the character of the wolf, and I like the idea of Little Red Riding Hood as a spunky farmer's daughter. Well written, this book was a 'ripping good read.' Just be warned--the series conclusion isn't out until later this year, so you'll have to wait a bit to see how things end!

I recently watched the new The Lone Ranger movie, and as someone who has had barely any exposure to the Lone Ranger, enjoyed it rather more than I thought I would! I loved what Hans Zimmer did with the iconic William Tell overture; how he crafted the chug of the train engines into it and made it fresh and interesting. Not my favorite movie score ever, but a fun treat. Hi ho Silver, away!

Where Did June Go?

It seems like it was just May yesterday, and New Years a few days before that! Despite my constantly hectic schedule, I have managed to get a few things off my needles…and a new thing on! First of all, I used my lovely Cannon Hand Dyes yarn in the “Lavinia” colorway to make this socks-

I absolutely love them; I love the color, the cabling, the way the yarn smelled, and the process of knitting them. Absolutely lovely. I might need to do this pattern again; I’m a sucker for cables, and I love the narrowness of these cables.

I also used a mini-skein and some of the Lavinia to cover my newer iPod cord. I found this idea for using a mini-skien on Pintrest, and I have to say that I like it!

I also forgot to post that I finished this little Star Trek cross stitch--go Federation!

The item that I cast on are some socks for an unspecified someone; I wanted a long ribbed pattern that was a little bit more exciting than just a plain rib stitch, so I’m doing a slipped rib. Even though it’s only a two row pattern repeat, I’ve already managed to tune out once or twice!

I’m trying to finish off a hat for Sports Day (it gets cold on that field!), and I have a knitting deadline for a little hobbit’s birthday in August. I have a Blue baby to knit for as well, so I think I’ll have to wait to pick up some of my other hibernating projects till the holiday.

After chain watching Pushing Daisies this weekend, I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to make pie. Go figure, huh? So, here is my first ever attempt at a lattice top for an apple pie:

It was rather runny, but a very welcome treat. Pie does not happen very often out here in the bush…

Well, another week is about to start so I had better crash while I can. End transmission.

Parting shot: I now have magnitude accurate constellations on my bedroom walls! Best. Thing. Evar!

Father's Day 2015

I think most kids growing up tend to feel more understood by one parent than the other. Most kids go to one parent for sympathy, permission, and to share confidences. One parent’s way of saying, “I love you,” is easier to understand, so you feel closer to them. Growing up, I felt more understood by my mom. We had similar interests, similarities of personality, and since I was homeschooled she was home far more than my dad. I have always loved my dad, but I saw him as somewhat stern figure of justice. He was always working—not because he was caught up in his ‘wonderful’ job, but because he was providing for us. I didn’t understand him very well for many years—I couldn’t hear the subtext to all those hours of labor, and I couldn’t understand why he didn’t the energy for us that other kid’s dads seemed to.

As I got older, I was expected to help my dad with his cleaning job at the church we then attended. For the next few years I learned a lot of useful custodial skills from how to clean windows properly to how to extract carpets and strip floors. And as I worked beside my dad I saw some new sides of him—his attention to details, his leadership by example not commands, and how he was trying to pass on responsibility to us. I hating having to work every Friday night, but I was beginning to understand better what my dad was trying to teach us with the way he was raising us.

A few years later I spent a terrible summer working two retail jobs while I waited for the on-line education course I was doing to start up. I opened and worked mornings at the one place, and worked evenings and closing at the other. This was a very dark time for me for many reasons, and I did not handle the stress and emotional exhaustion very well. After spending all day being pleasant to rude, demanding, and sometimes stupid people, I had a hard time being nice to my family once I got home. I began to understand why my father was so tired by the time he got home, and why he sometimes seemed withdrawn. Goodness, I wasn’t doing a better job in easier circumstances!

Now that I am older, my perspective has shifted yet more, and I can now see things that I never understood when I was a child. My dad’s love language is deeds of service, and my whole life has been one long symphony of the theme, “I love you.” All those hours of lawn mowing, cleaning jobs, and fighting a loosing battle against a tough job (yet never giving in), was my dad saying, “I love you so much that I’m giving you the chance to be home educated and always be provided for.” All those times he made me do things I didn’t want to or was afraid to was my dad saying, “I love you and want you to be a functioning adult.” All those times when I thought was being unreasonable, he was saying, “I love you and want you to be able to stand up in the face of the enormous pressures of the adult world.” My father is one of the last selfish people that I know, a real life George Baily, and I couldn’t be more proud of him or more glad to call him Daddy. The older I get, the more of my father I discover in myself, for good and ill. Thank you God for giving me such a wonderful earthly father who has deepened my appreciation for Your love for me. I don’t know what I’d do without him, and I am fiercely proud to be his daughter.