As the celebrations of our Midwinter festival came to a close last week, expeditioners thought there may be a bit of a lull in tempo on station, however there is still a lot to look forward to as our days slowly start to get longer! Casey has gone down the crochet crevasse this week. What started as a quiet pastime for some has now blossomed into a community activity as expeditioners embrace the art of crochet. The Crochet Corner in the upper wallow has quickly become a haven for creativity and camaraderie. From scarves and beanies to intricate patterns and playful designs, the team found themselves immersed in a comforting rhythm of loops and stitches.
The origin of this hobby is unclear. With ambient temperatures reaching a season low of -31.7˚C this week and unusually strong southerly winds pushing the wind chill down to -53˚C, the plummeting temperatures may have pushed Casey residents to seek something cosy and warm. Or perhaps expos were looking for an alternative creative outlet after spending countless weekends in the workshop crafting wood and metal projects for their Midwinter gifts. Or maybe it was just Goody’s (one of our resident traverse dieso’s) natural talent and crochet genius that has convinced others to dive in and give it a go.
Jake, (station sparkie) – who only picked up a crochet needle for the first time last Thursday – has gone from rookie to expert in a matter of days, already crafting two fabulous beanies. Dan, (station dieso) is working on some coasters while Railz (station plumber) is mastering the magic circle. Goody has been doing what he does best and created numerous beanies, stubby holders and hats inspiring those in the crochet club to try new projects. Liz (FTO) is starting on some new projects after crafting a wonderful buff for her Midwinter gift while I am currently working on finishing my unicorn that I started five years ago during covid lockdowns and never seemed to have the time to finish.
The warmth of shared moments, paired with the satisfaction of crafting something tangible, has brought a new vibrancy to Casey’s frosty days. I have a feeling the Crochet Corner may be here to stay.
Nature's Light show
Amidst blizzards with gust up to 64 knots this week, Casey’s residents enjoyed some rare clear sky nights and were lucky to witness the aurora australis on numerous occasions.
Please enjoy some of the photos I took from this weeks show and some from an impressive aurora we experienced at the start of June.
By Imogen Balharrie - BoM Technical Officer
