A mingling of threads

Cold Weather Alert

By now, everyone has heard about the thousands of travellers who spent 16 hours trapped on the highway, at the Cobequid Pass in northern Nova Scotia, during the storm Wednesday night.

About "the couple who walked up and down a seemingly endless line of transport trucks, vans and cars, offering bottled water and some of their other goodies they had picked up on a shopping trip to Halifax."

Scott and Joann Tyrie hand out water and chocolate bars to stranded drivers on Cobequid Pass in Nova Scotia. (CBC)

Last night we were dumped on again. I’m 1.7metres tall the snow drifts in my driveway are up to my hips, Robin’s legs are 20cm long; I had to shovel a path so she could pee.

Robin stuck in the snow.

This time of year, we begin to hear of those on fixed or low incomes who are unable to heat their homes because of the high cost of heating oil. There are news storys about people who opt to eat rather than heat and vice versa.

In this province, the Nova Scotia Government has a Heating Assistance Rebate Program for those who qualify and they contribute to the Salvation Army Good Neighbour Program. NS Power also supports this program and give their customers the option to contribute to the Good Neighbour Program fund as well. The Canadian Oil and Heat Association will donate 70,000 litres of heating fuel to The Salvation Army in the Share the Fuel program in Nova Scotia this winter.

Many cities in Canada have a Cold Weather Alert program.

"A Cold Weather Alert is a short-term, emergency response, which remains in effect for the duration of the extreme weather conditions. An alert is called when Environment Canada forecasts one of the following:

• a low of -15ºC without wind chill 
• a wind chill advisory for outdoor activity
• extreme weather conditions, such as a blizzard or ice storm

The Cold Weather Alert prompts shelters to make extra spaces available for the night, and to relax curfews and service restrictions. Street outreach services, volunteer organizations, and other agencies that provide homeless services are also alerted. These groups notify homeless people about the extreme weather conditions, and the services available to them, and may provide emergency transportation to reach these services and shelters."

On November 22, 2008, The Salvation Army and Taxi Canada, a national advertising firm, will launch the 15 Below project that will protect the homeless from the risks of frostbite and hypothermia this winter.

In the UK, a very cute idea which helps to bring attention and support to the very serious issue of the elderly in the UK who cannot afford to heat their homes.The Big Knit project was begun in 2003 to raise funds for Age Concern to support older people in the winter months.

"It's a really sad and largely unknown fact that almost 25,000 older people died of cold-related illnesses in the UK last winter."

The Big Knit offers three knitting patterns to get people started however some knitters have created their own original hats; the best are featured as the Hat of the Week.

How do you keep warm in the winter?

Three cats, a little dog and a stash of vintage wool blankets keep us warm on the East Coast.

Muddy paws

The Cowichan sweater is a heavy homespun sweater, originally white, grey, black, and brown and knitted with symbolic designs by women of the Salish First Nation. This NFB documentary tells The Story of the Coast Salish Knitters.

When I was about seven I had a Cowichan style sweater, in fact my Mom, Dad and Brother each had one of these sweaters. I believe our sweaters were knit from Mary Maxim patterns. My sweater was blue with white snowflakes, my brother had a brown sweater with cream coloured bears, Mom's sweater was dark green with snow covered pine trees, and Dad’s sweater was cream with brown moose. Mary Maxim still sells some of these patterns. The Mary Maxim designs seem crude in comparison to the elegant and stunning designs on the orginal Cowichan sweater.

There was a museum exhibit about the history of the Cowichan sweater at the Cowichan Valley Museum this year. Even a Miniature Cowichan Cardigan (Ravelry link) designed by Veronik Avery. Canadian Living has a free Reindeer Jacket patttern for him and her. Briggs & Little have a few patterns that are in this style. You often hear this style sweater referred to as a curling sweater, maybe because at one time so many curlers wore them…

I loved my sweater and wore it for many years.

When I saw this pattern on the Karp Styles Crochet and Knitting website I just knew I had to make it for Robin.

Checking for dogs walking on her road.

Paw print detail

Details for the Knitters.
Yarn: Vintage Gefjun Lopi - 100% wool. Colour: Brown & Taupe
Yarn: Álafoss Lopi - 100% wool. Colour: 0867 chocolate heather
Needles: 5mm & 6mm Bryspun dps, I use the older style ones made in New Zealand.
Buttons: 6 mismatched wooden buttons. Source: from my vintage button stash.
Pattern: Wilderness Paw Dog Sweater Vest - designed by A. Deborah Grinke
Modifications: I had to modify the pattern to fit Robin she has a tiny waist and a large chest. I began knitting the smallest size to fit her belly and than increased the stitches up to the size that fits her chest.
I always knit the collar longer than specified for more warmth.
I followed the pattern directions for the leg opening, however next time will use another method in order to eliminate an odd seam and give the front a less bulky look. I also crocheted around the leg opening edge.
I ran out of the vintage dark brown yarn before I could knit the button band, however I was able to find a colour that was almost a perfect match in a different brand of Lopi yarn.
This was a fun pattern to knit and I have plans to knit another one in a different colour.

Button detail

Ravelry link to the project.

Knitting for a little dog on the East Coast.

Remembrance

On Remembrance Day the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we acknowledge the courage and gallantry of those who served their country.
It is not a day of celebration to glorify war or fighting, it is about those who died, it is a solemn day, a day of reflection, honour and remembrance.

We all remember in our own way, most by wearing a poppy.

At the Canadian War Museum Memorial Hall

The genius of the architect who designed this memorial; so that each year on Remembrance Day at 11:00 a.m., sunlight refracts through a single window onto the headstone of the Unknown Soldier.

There is our commemorative Poppy quarter.

Which apparently causes concern in the US...

The Paul Gross Passchendaele project which tells a part of our WW1 history in film.

If I do not attend the local service than I watch the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa and I am always touched and moved to tears when those who attend leave their poppies on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following the service.

And, this is amazing project by RH Thomson and Martin Conboy which began in London, England and goes across Canada. Vigil 1914-1918
Those who were killed in WW1 were all buried in Europe often where they died, RH Thomson said in this project "we will symbolically bring our soldiers home."

The Halifax vigil took place at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in the Grand Parade. The vigil began at sunset November 4th. Sarting at 5:00pm each evening. The first name appears at 5:15pm. Each night’s vigil will be 13 hours long, ending at sunrise the following day. The last name appeared as dawn broke today November 11th.

Remembering on the East Coast Lest We Forget.

None of the photos are mine, I borrowed them all.

Robin wonders... just how long is a minute?

 

A little dog sighs on the East Coast.