Campus Tour

June 10, 2013

Northeast Quad - Duke West Campus

Wilson Recreation Center & K-ville

The White Garden - Duke Gardens

West Union Building Entrance

Baldwin Auditorium - East Campus

Duke Chapel

Duke Divinity School and Duke Chapel

Duke Chapel

Double Rainbow

June 3, 2013

Rainbows have been on my  “Things that I Love” list for many a year (Yes, I do have an actual written list). Whenever I see one, a pin is always placed in my memory map, as I can easily recall the place, the person/people I was with, and (after a few seconds) the year. I don’t know why this happens. One of the mysterious workings of the human mind I guess. It could also be the subtle way God continues to remind me of His promises during the times that visual reminder isn’t there.  I am glad that this time I managed to store this one outside of my memory.

As you might have guessed, I used the panoramic option on my phone to capture this one. 

Prezi

June 2, 2013

A call for reinforcements has continued myself self-administered education in the ever-changing technological world:

Patterns, All I Think About are Patterns

May 31, 2013

            

Two months ago I confessed I joined a knitting/crocheting group. This group was organized through my church, as the orphanage in Moldova is partnered with the church. Our goal is to make 1000 scarves by Christmas 2013. The leader of the orphanage is a big picture kid of guy and so we continue to stitch away toward the goal.

When I entered the group I knew how to make a chain. That was about it. So naturally, my first scarf was the most basic scarf you can get: single crochet in one color. My mind is not one that stays content for long. I would be creating my own system of torture if I just continued to make scarf after scarf in that same basic way. Through watching and listening during our meeting times and gathering valuable tips from what I lovingly refer to as Hook Up With Hilary (a.k.a.crocheting while skyping with my sister. I keep telling her is could be a PBS program.), my education and skill level have improved. So much so that I have started reading patterns.

For the longest time I avoided patterns because I thought they were too hard and you had to count and keep track of where you are. As I have begun to really enjoy the way crocheting frees my mind, I really had no desire to have to pay close attention to what I was doing. Plus I would see the pictures of the scarves and think there was no way I could do anything like that.

Then it clicked. This is just like the Sound of Music. Remember what Maria said:

“Now children, Do Re Mi Fa Sol and so on are naturally the tunes we use to build a song. Once you have these notes in your head you can sing a million different tune by mixing them up.”

Well, in crocheting, once you know the basic stitches (single, half double, double, triple, and slip) you can make a million different scarves (and beyond) by combining them in different ways. A pattern is just like a sheet of music telling you what note goes where and in what rhythm or mathematical frame work so that a linear design is produced.

Of course, patterns are too a progression. For the more difficult ones you do have to pay closer attention and check to make sure your count is right. When learning anything knew, it takes awhile to learn the abbreviations and figure out what in the world sc in ch-1 means. A little trial and error with a pinch of common sense mixed in with a helping of perseverance usually conquers a problem. And if that doesn’t work, there is always YouTube.

Now, I feel as if a whole new world of possibilities has opened up making each scarf a stepping stone in my new found crocheting education. 

New Found Options - Panorama

May 27, 2013

          

Thanks to my place of employment, I was issued an iPhone. For those that have had this device for a while, you are probably already aware of this feature. In today’s world, a camera is commonplace in every phone. However, lately I have been experimenting with some of the options available on the camera in an iPhone 4S.

The discovery: Panorama.

Yes, my phone has the ability to stitch multiple photos together. The fact that this is so easy to do actually makes me angry in some ways. Technology advances in the photography realm chips away at the value of my degree, as less and less skill is required to be a photographer.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t resist trying it out. Here are the results:

 

Flower Mystery

May 15, 2013             

Yesterday, at approximately 6:40pm, I walked out of my apartment door to find these:

1^st reaction: Confusion

2^nd reaction: Look for card

After failing to find any clarification for my confusion, I poked my head back into the apartment to ask my roommate if she knew anything about our mystery flowers. Her face reflected my first reaction. In a matter of seconds, we determined that they were left at the wrong door. 

As I excited the door once again, I declared that if they were still there when I returned, I would invite them in. 

And so, I was greeted this morning by a sweet, fresh aroma amazed at how the smallest thing can lift your spirit. Many thanks go to our mysterious benefactor. 

Mother's Day

May 12, 2013

             

On a spur-of-the-moment decision, my mom decided to come for a visit for mother’s day. Every time we would talk on the phone I would go on and on about how beautiful the Duke Garden was with all of the flowers blooming. 

With fabulous weather, everyone else and their mothers had the same idea. Still we had a wonderful time walking through the garden as she continued to build on my plant identification education. After all my education started long ago as every summer my mom and I would walk through the garden in our own backyard.

Oh Spring

April 10-16, 2013

The things that I love most I have discovered I can easily forget about. Until, that is, the moment I realize I am surrounded and engulfed by beauty. Spring is one of those times when I forget the memory of what it is really like because I am consumed by the heaviness of winter. Then my eye catches the first bud on a tree. Suddenly my senses trigger something inside me. I know something is changing; new life is about to emerge.

As the days pass, I remember to observe, to notice the slight changes that are happening all around me: the first dandelion sighting, the vibrant colors of the red buds peaking through, the opening of the tulips, the blossom of the cherry trees.

In a matter of days a barren world comes to life. As I close my eyes and breathe in deep the fresh fragrances filling the air, I feel an overwhelming emotion as I remember how much I truly love spring.

This year I am blessed with the time to immerse myself in the joys of spring. The Duke Gardens has been my comfort in this time of healing. Everyday that I go I see the great amount of changes that are occurring in a matter of days. Everywhere I turn I see another blossom begging to be photographed.

May this nature log by a constant reminder to never stop noticing the beauty in life.

Weeping Peach

Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood

Weeping Higan Cherry

Tulip

Fern

Alabama Snow-wreath

Bald Cypress

Eastern Redbud

Grace Allbritton - Japanese Camilla

Black Tie - Japanese Camilla 

Ashton's Pride - Camellia

Daybreak Yoshino Cherry

Dogwood

Chinese Fringe Flower

Kirishima Azalea

Fringe Tulip

Flowering Crabapple

Wisteria

Medical Leave – Blue Devil Dash

April 7, 2013

            

The healing seems to be moving slower than I do. I am getting better. This is true; however, being surrounded by constant temptation to do things I know I shouldn’t do is not helping my situation. Therefore, I decided to apply for medical leave from my job. This was a hard decision to arrive at as I know there are plenty of things I can do where my main position is sitting behind a desk. Still I think this is for the best in the long run. After all I have to live with my back for the rest of my life.  

So yesterday was my last day of work for 4-6 weeks. The first annual Blue Devil Dash was a good not to go out on, as we had perfect weather and a good first-time turnout. Congratulations to all the runners/walkers who completed something I definitely could not do!

This is No April Fools

It Finally Happened. I have joined a knitting/crochet group. There. I said it. I joined almost a month ago. I knew it would happen someday. How could it not? How do you avoid things that run deep in your blood? So deep, in fact, that I am bombarded on both sides of the family. Mom’s side: My mom, two aunts, and a cousin. Dad’s side: two aunts, a couple of cousins, and a grandmother that can crochet dollies in the dark. Not to mention my sister who has been crocheting for years and just decided recently to teach herself how to knit.

However, the thing that really pushed me over the edge here was purpose. I struggle to learn a new craft just for the sake of making something. A greater purpose is needed to provide inspiration and motivation. How about orphan children in a country you didn’t even know existed? Yup. That did it for me.

Now, here is the icing on the cake. What do these orphans need? Scarves. What is the first thing a person makes when the learn how to crochet or knit? Scarves.

And just to add some sprinkles on that icing: I didn’t even have to buy a crochet hook. Over all of these years I have lived out on my own and after all of those times I have packed and unpacked my car I managed to find a hook hiding among my craft supplies. Yup… It was bound to happen.