Driving to the Okanogan

Just for a change of pace with no crafty stuff involved...

I went with my cousin on a working adventure into the Rocky Mountains from the snowless Coastal Fraser Valley, not far from Vancouver...

It has been awhile since I was outside my "comfort zone" and even though it was quite a bit colder and very different than at home, I totally enjoyed the 2 days in the Mountains.

We travelled first to Kamloops via the Number One Highway...  I guess this Highway isn't used as much as it used to be, because there are alot of abandoned or rundown buildings just off the highway-- gas stations, stores, even motels, that don't get enough traffic to stay in business.   We had a very nice drive tho along the Thompson River which was right along side the highway for a long ways...

After a day and some work in Kamloops we headed out the next morning to  Merritt, BC - a short stop, gas and a snack -- and then onto Peachland in the Okanogan Valley where we had some more work...

My cousin did all the driving and I did the talking and picture taking...

The highway to Merritt was rather snowpacked and the driving was slower than expected -- about 80 kmh most of the way, but it sure was Pretty!

I am very thankful that we were in a nice warm car, because this part of the country is not very populated and there was not much traffic on the road -- a breakdown or a slip off the road could me a fairly long wait for rescue -- maybe...

Then just about lunchtime we came down off the Mountain Passes and into the Okanogan Valley on highway 97 with a short hop into Peachland where we had a meeting and a bit of work, then dinner and with just a bit of trepidation, and my cousin doing all the driving, we headed back to the Coast -- almost 4 hours - on what is called the Connector, and then the Coquihalla or highway 5...

No photos of the sights along the road home tho as most of the drive was in the dark and thankfully the high mountain highway was mostly clear and dry.   But amazing to me was how many semi trailer units were roaring along the highway!  There were probably 7 or 8 big trucks to every car!  I guess nighttime is when the merchanise and store products move across our country!

Just a nice change of pace....

Little Words that Inspire...

Yesterday when I went to Church, my friend said that she had meant to get a Poppy for her husband to wear and she had not seen any being sold yet around the area.

Funny how Christmas starts in August, in stores, and even Halloween right after School starts in the fall,  Valentines right after the new year; but Rememberence Day Poppies are not seen by November 1st, only 10 days before the day here in Canada that we set aside to Remember those who served in Canada's wars...

 That little remark during church, dug its way into the back of my mind and whirled about for a few hours while I was sleeping...

When I woke up this morning, (Monday) I went into my yarn stash and found a glorious Poppy Red yarn and by the time I had finished up my breakfast I had a first poppy crocheted!

This poppy is my own design, though it is such a little thing I am quite sure someone other than me has created others that are similar...

This is what I did to create a Crochet Rememberence Day Poppy

make a Magic Ring  

(Google "crochet magic ring" to learn how to make this really easy way to start a circle)to begin,

Chain 3, and double crochet 9 times for a total of 10 stitches which includes the chain 3.  pull the magic ring tight and slip stitch in the top of the chain 3 to join.

Row 2, 2 dc in each stitch around - you should have 20 dc.

Row 3 (every two stitches will form each petal)* sc, 2dc in first stitch, 2dc, sc in next stitch* repeat this around so that you have 10 'petals'

fasten off and hide tail.

Then I used a piece of felt on front and back just so my stitches would hold and not go through the crochet yarn without grabbing onto something.   I used a 3/4 inch dark colored button from my stash as the poppy centre and a large safety pin on the back to attach to someone's lapel.  Button and pin were hand sewn and the ends hidden.

Took me about 20 minutes to make one...

I haven't quite got to it yet, but I am hoping to make a half dozen or so by tomorrow afternoon to give as little gifts to some friends I will be visiting with.

oh yeah, almost forgot, I used a worsted weight yarn and a size 4mm crochet hook -- which made the stitches quite tight -- the whole flower measures about 3 inches across.  If you use a finer yarn your poppy will be much smaller...

The only drawback to making your own poppy is that the Royal Canadian Legion will not make the money that you might have given to buy their Poppies, so perhaps take the time to put a couple of bucks into their box even if you don't need another Poppy...

linking up with The Needle and Thread Network...