I’ve been remiss in posting lately. I’ve been so busy on the TKGA Level 2 project, I haven’t had time for anything else. So here’s a photo from my garden which I hope you’ll like. Not a bad substitute for knitting-related posts, I hope!
This time of year here on California’s Central Coast is a feast for the eyes.
Rolling Hills, with a glimpse of the mountains forming Morro Bay in the distance
Morro Rock in the haze
Looking toward the ocean at sunset
I love being in Ohio for the fall colors.
Gates Mills Bridge
St Christopher’s church
”Hey, what’s this human doing in my woods?”
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To celebrate fall, I’m using Rowan Felted Tweed to make the Bold Stripes pattern from my book, swapping the book’s bright spring palette for muted fall colors
Plum Tree
Steve got us the coolest gifts for Christmas. They’re kits that allows us to participate in National Geographic’s Genographic Project. As the site explains, “Where do you really come from? And how did you get to where you live today? DNA studies suggest that all humans today descend from a group of African ancestors who—about 60,000 years ago—began a remarkable journey.”
Each kit includes a map and DVD telling about the Genographic Project and what’s been discovered to date. The story of the science and research is absolutely astounding!
By submitting samples of our DNA, using a simple swab inside our cheeks, the Project will tell us the story of our own ancestors’ migration. The Project is careful to explain that no medical research is done on the DNA, and all the samples are anonymous. Nor are the results genealogical. They simply tell us where our ancestors came from, going back thousands of years. Let’s just say it involved a whole lot of walking over the centuries! Our samples will help add data points the the project to help complete the picture of the human family tree.
How is this possible? Mutations have occurred over the centuries in certain markers in DNA. They take place in a specific order, which means the switches in markers can be tracked back over time. Even where physical archaeological evidence has been wiped out by glaciers and/or rising water levels along the oceans, the changes in DNA help to track populations’ wanderings across the globe.
The kits come with unique identification codes which we use to track our samples on the website. My DNA is now being isolated, which means its going through some chemical washing and soaking. The next step is the analysis. I can’t wait to find out where my ancient ancestors migrated from!
There are some good YouTube videos if you’d like to explore further, starting with this introduction:
The kit can be ordered here: https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/en/participate.html
We have three winners from the anniversary contest! Congratulations to Lorraine, KarinW and Michelle. Your names were drawn using a random number generator. Thank you to all who participated!
As we get ready to welcome Winter, here’s a parting shot of Fall, taken in the Ferncliff Forest near Rhinebeck, NY.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
There is just nothing in the world like a beautiful fall day. A hike in the North Chagrin Reservation. For the geese? A lovely day to swim in Strawberry Pond.
Ok, whoever you are, fess up. You stole summer while I wasn’t looking. I want it back.
I feel like my husband’s photographs form bookmarks around an entire missing season.
In the spring a coyote family moved into one of our culverts in California. Here you can see one of them (the boy, I bet) stepping on the other (probably a sister). I love his impish look, and her howling in protest.
Coyote Pups: Photo by Steve Ells
It seems like one minute we’re laughing at coyote pups frolicking near the culvert, the next we’re in Ohio seeing this:
Early Fall: Photo by Steve Ells
We love hiking on the wonderful trails we’re discovering in Northeast Ohio. I think my husband captured perfectly the end of summer, with its field of yellow flowers on one side of the path, and the beginning of fall, with leaves starting to turn, on the other side.
Somewhere in between, a whole summer occurred.
I’m busy designing stuff that I can’t show you. Phooey. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy some Critter Interludes.
Here, the deer make themselves at home in our front yard. When we re-landscaped after the earthquake, I made sure the plantings were wildlife friendly. Enough grows here that we don’t miss whatever the wildlife munch on.
The deer don’t eat the lavender, but they love to sleep next to it, although I haven’t seen them there for some time. This was in spring before they had their babies, so maybe it’s a pregnancy thing, like craving ice cream. Or maybe now that they’ve given birth they’re just too busy chasing after the youngsters to nap.
Whispering sweet nothings.
To tell you the truth, I took these shots a few weeks ago. I figured it was just too cruel to post them during the big blizzards that plagued the east. If you’re still in snow, I hope they’ll feel like the promise of beauty you’ll soon see yourself.
(You may not get daffodils in January, but on the other hand you don’t have earthquakes. Blossoms may come later to your neck of the woods, but at least they stay put.)
These funny little fungi were growing in moss which came to life on an oak tree as soon as it rained.
The tiny mushrooms were 1/4″ tall at the most. They seemed to occupy a magical little world.
January brought the first tentative appearance of daffodils.
Somehow the local bank ends up with the first apple blossoms of the year. Maybe it’s Nature’s way of softening the economy’s harsh edges.
I haven’t been posting much. My mother had a massive stroke at the end of July, so I’ve mostly been out of state taking care of her.
No knitting pictures this week, but I do have a couple of critter photos.
Mama looking after her babies
The sheep are back!
Shepherd watching over his flock
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