hats

We may be heading towards warmer weather (I repeat may)but over in South Africa where our daughter and her family live, they are heading for their winter season. I know it rarely gets really cold in SA but where our family live, on the farm in the more rural area of Kwa Zulu Natal, it does get a little chilly at times. So knitted hats were requested and my daughter put this link on pinterest (such a clever site) for me to download and make for our grandsons and Angel.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slouchy-beanies

I went through my yarn stash and chose lovely bright colours. The pattern is really easy to understand but I found that when I got to decreasing stitches to shape the top all went well until the number of stitches I had on the needle that was suggested (40cm long) were so stretched that I couldn't knit them. So at that point I cut the yarn and threaded it through the remaining stitches, pulled tight and secured. I also found when I wanted to make the smaller size that again the needle was too long to knit the stitches comfortably and so I made the larger size and finished it sooner than requested.

But all in all, with a bit of fiddling around I managed 3 different sized hats, one for Joe, one for Jesse and one for Angel who comes to stay regularly. Hopefully I will get a photo to show you when they arrive in SA.

Thank You Helen!

On Saturday morning my daughter arrived from South Africa, her and her husband have set up and run a charity called http://www.projecto.org.za/ working with children orphaned through AIDS in the Zulu community of Kwa Zulu Natal. Also arriving on Saturday, all the way from Australia,  was my prize from Helen at Aunty Henny's  

http://auntyhennys.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-picked-winner.html

This is beautiful and I am amazed at the handiwork...thank you Helen!

When I opened it and showed it to my daughter she said "Zandile would love that!" Zandile is one of their staff members in South Africa, she has worked with them for a few years and at the moment she is the only Zulu staff member so they rely on her for translating as well as visiting the children with them. So as I know that Martin & Vashti have a low income I said she could take my prize back and give it to Zandile for Christmas. As much as I love my prize and would like to keep it I know that Zandile will treasure it.(I am keeping the calendar as a reminder!)

So Helen be assured that your gift will be treasured twice and is going to a very worthy home. Thank you again!

My beautiful prize

Zandile and one of the orphans

Mcetshwa Primary School, Kwazulunatal

We have arrived home from South Africa now but I have a few more photo's to post. The community where our daughter and son in law work with orphans has this school. A business man from the UK sponsors their charity to carry out a breakfast feeding program in the school. Often children, especially those with no parents at home, will arrive at school not having eaten so this program is vital for them children to carry on their school day. They also take their volunteers to the school to help with English lessons and games with the children. While we were there the children sang and danced Zulu dances for us. When I figure out how, I will post a video clip!

Teachers

Some of what this trip is all about

'Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.'

James 1:27

Yesterday we took a trip to a valley in Kwa Zulu Natal, to see the Project O house,

www.project-o.org.za this has been built for orphans to live in and a familyof 5 brothers and their GoGo (grandmother) have moved in. It was an amazing drive and great to see the house finally finished and lived in. Later we drove to what seemed like the top of the world, up a dirt road driving up and up into the hills to see where the next house will be built together with a pre school. Some of the team went out on the quad bikes to deliver food to orphans living in other huts and shacks in the community. We also visited a local school and I will post photos of those another day.