American Experience is a regular program on PBS – last night the life and work of Rachel Carson was featured. Her seminal work Silent Spring was published in 1962.
Rachel Carson, 1907-1964
What an inspiring and brave woman.
Everyone Was Knitting September 28, 2009
When I went to the Sunday Market in the People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire, it seemed as if everyone was knitting. As I walked along the seafront to get to the Park what should I see but a girl sitting on a bench and knitting intently. Looked like she was using thick yarn.
Knitting while enjoying the view across Dublin Bay to Howth
I continued on my way to the Market
Approach to the Sunday Market in the People’s Park
The first stand I found was my favourite Amani Crafts Ltd with Lucy Ndungu Lane from Kenya selling the Kazuri Beads. Much to my surprise Lucy was knitting – I thought she had told me she didn’t know how. Beyond her I could see several people sitting on the grass and concentrating on their knitting. And another person standing and knitting while chatting with a friend orcustomer.
Having a chat while working away at her knitting
I proceeded next door to The Yarn Room to see Stephanie and Maria. Not surprising that they were knitting. But here the reason for all the knitting became clear – Stephanie and Maria had organized their friends in the Market to knit squares for a comfort blanket. The blanket is to be assembled by Stephanie and given to another Market friend who is ill. I thought this was a great idea and I volunteered to knit a square as well. So I was given a pair of size 10 needles and some uninteresting gray and white yarn, which I managed to exchange with Lucy – her green yarn was much more my colour to knit.
Here’s my effort so far – cast on 20 stitches and knit a square
After Stephanie stitches each person’s squares together to make up the blanket, I’ll try to get a picture to post. Keep watching.
Long distance cycling June 27, 2007
I have just finished reading the Lance Armstrong book It’s Not About the Bike. What a fascinating book to learn about the rigours of training for and battling to win the Tour de France. Combined with his personal struggle to overcome cancer. A very inspiring and challenging book. I happened to be reading this book just before I went to Wales and therefore cycling was sort of on my mind. What a coincidence that I found The National Cycle Museum located in the town where I was staying, Llandrindod Wells.
Here is a link to another cycling event – the PBP (the Paris to Brest to Paris cycle challenge). This is the one that one of my sons is training for. This is not a race, rather it is a challenge to do the 1200 K within 90 hours. The event is held once every 4 years and it was first held in 1931. Riders will be coming from all over the world. Great excitement that he will be 1 of the 4000 riders doing this.
