Organizing Threads

This summer has been dreadfully dull much of the time at work. Today, however, I had a few moments of genuine excitement.

I was sitting in my office and I heard some peculiar noise. But when I looked for the source I couldn’t find anything. A bit later I heard it again. I was fairly sure I was in the building alone, yet the rustling seemed to be coming from another office. I very quietly moved from mine down the hall toward the kitchenette. Yes, the noise continued and it seemed to be coming from the window — or the garbage can. I peeked in and saw a bat wing!

I had to think quick. I did not want the creature flying around where it would be difficult to catch. I remembered some towels in one cupboard. I got one out and covered the top of the garbage can. The little guy disappeared very quickly under the garbage. I carried the works outside and carefully emptied the garbage onto the grass.Oh how I wish I’d been smart enough to grab my camera beforehand! The dear little brown bat wasn’t going to wait and pose for a picture when he realized he was free. Away he flew.

Little brown bats are an endangered species in Canada. These creatures eat a lot of insects, preferring those that spend the first part of their life in water, like mosquitoes. They like to roost in buildings during the summer, and hibernate in caves during the winter. “White nose syndrome,” a fungus which kills, is wiping out entire colonies. The Canadian Wildlife Federation has lots of information about these animals. Including directions on how to build a bat house.

I quite enjoy the short visit from the little “flying mouse” (direct translation of “fledermaus”).

Mina’s afghan is finished:

The finished product is 37.5″ wide, and 27.5″ (roughly Mina’s height floor to waist”) to the beginning of the tail. This part is all 5 double-crochet shell pattern – 20 shells per row, 27 rows to tail.

I then joined the two edges and did 4 rows of single crochets, decreasing the number of stitches as I went (sorry, don’t remember how man I did each row). On the 5th row I started to increase again, as well, I did a front-post double crochet at each side, so I would know where the sides are. I did three rows like this before starting the alternating front and back post double crochets. I did all the increases on the sides of the tail. After 5 rows I started each fin separately, decreasing at the inside (centre) on each round, while increasing at the outside edge at least every second row. I really did this by eye-balling it to decide if I should increase of leave it the same. After the last (9th from the dividing) row I used a single crochet to close up the fin. Then I did the other side — because I don’t write these things down the two sides are not exactly the same, but I don’t think the wee girl is going to notice or mind.

I am quite pleased with the results. The only down side I see now is that it is quite heavy, not sure Mina will need all this warmth in sunny California.

Next project: something for Volker – Kwazii

Joanne and Mel (mother and “auntie” of Katie, Brennan partner) came to Kitchener  from Columbus, Ohio, for a week long visit. The evening before they left to go home we celebrated Joanne’s birthday at the Malleck’s house. Here are pictures (all taken with my iPhone as I didn’t bring any other camera) of that event.

Nathan and Karolina’s girls turned 3 last week and on Saturday we celebrated with a My Little Pony birthday party. Here are pictures from that event.