embroidery 101

Started lessons to do embroidery this morning at the Holy Paraclete Skill Centre,

I needed to remember that I need to take everything that might be needed, zip lock bags to store embroidery work, hoops -thanks to all who contributed as there were plenty of choice for everyone to choose from, floss thanks to Wendy and the Bible thrift store there was plenty of colours to select, needles thanks to Bible thrift store, and we were off....... how to separate the threads, thread the needle, put a knot at the end and then dive into making stitches, we practiced two stitches and talked about how these could be used on dresses, pillow cases, blankets, (if anyone has any embroidery transfers or sees them in a thrift shop I would really appreciate them, Box 23, Sunyani, B.A. Ghana, West Africa), it was fun to watch some catch on really quickly and others need time to get what being asked, I needed to remember some of these young women have never put a foot inside a school and I have a big accent in my speaking so Daniel was busy translating when there was trouble in understanding, I am taking a couple stoles that I have here, that have embroidery on them to show what could be the result, I was very picky about straight lines and equal spaces stitches, 

So their homework was that to do two rows of each stitch by next class on Thursday. We start at Canada 10 am which is 10 am and all but 2 were there, good for them as 10 am Ghana time could be anywhere up to noon. So we are the way to skilled workers.

Barbering soon

 I got a huge favour from Mary(who is on vacation) who took me today to Men's Prison give them funds to buy the needed equipment, my goodness that place is busy and crowded, more info and pics when stuff arrives. Said hello to those in the hairdressing salon and to the big bosses on the Women's side, there was an student in the salon, happy as a clam and learning she said. Finally got the tote that I sent by ship and had canned ham for supper, my ....  was it ever good. Here there is corned beef, sardines and tuna on the shelf but they are not to my liking. I know I would rethink it, if I was really hungry but until then  .....  no go

a marathon for sure

Harvest Sunday (fund raiser), start at 9, sermon 3/4 hour, 2 1/2 hours of fund raising, started the Great Thanksgiving at 2 pm and home by 3,,, whew I was glad for my snack bag to keep going. There is merit in the fund raising system, raised +++ money, it does work but I think it is contextually specific.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN

Ben is 7 today, how time flies...

COLD

it was 78f when I woke up and wished I had a sweater, cooooold it was

to market and bought veggies, then came home and made spaghetti sauce, a little bit of cayenne pepper goes a long way, even when it is off the stove. Will freeze it in usable amounts to make supper time easier, still have not look too hard for a crock pot, there is one at Melcom's and I need to go and see it again.

Last spring, before Easter I asked Patrick, carpenter, to make a Pascal Candle stand and we had a long conversation about what it should look like.    well as I left the beginning of June he claimed he was working on it but it did not appear, when I got back in October I went back and re ordered it, today I went back and he said I did  not remind him, I threatened with a smile to slice his throat (he laughs at me when I make the sign of slicing his throat) so we are down to the last call, I said if it was not done by Xmas I was finding another carpenter, he claimed, no, I am your carpenter, anyway, time will tell.  I hope he does it as he is a nice guy and is handy as the shop is across from Melcom's (Ghana Walmart store).

I rode a taxi today, driver name is Yaw, we made a couple of stops including the ATM, I have his number so he says I just need to call for him to pick me up, I have a couple of names now which will be handy when I go out. There is no central dispatch service for the taxis here, you stand at the side of the road and wave your hand, there are two ways of riding, one is like a bus, cost is cheap, people get on and off but I am dammed if I can figure out what direction they are going, second way is called 'dropping', means you hire the cab, like in Canada, and it costs more, and you can make several stops like I did today, yes you pay per stop but it sure in handy, anyway I got my shopping done without sweating ++++, just a little

NOT QUITE 3 PLY

INSTEAD A NICE BOX EH!

future possibilities

Bishop put up a notice that people who would like support to do graduate study abroad were to apply.
today applicants are being interviewed, a way to improve the education level within a population where 40% of the population never go to school and another 15% are still illiterate having been to school, A great move forward for the country