Today's Fun

So, I, along with a few hundred other like-minded people, blogged yesterday about Prop.8. If you want to check out any of the others, the post on Mombian will list out all the blogs. I am on there too!

Today will be a low-key day for me. Niblets have dance and I will knit (back to my Robusta project) so I just wanted to share a fun little test I found by way of MelissaKnits. You can play too!

Your result for The Best Thing About You Test...

Passion

Hot! Passion is your greatest virtue

Passion is an intense emotion that compels feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for anything, and that often requires action. Get that? Requires action. It's very likely you submit to your deepest needs and live life with a flair few others achieve, but many envy. All 7 virtues are a part of you, but your passion runs deepest.

Passionate types: artists, writers, composers, athletes, and heroine addicts.

(Goodness, I hope that "heroine" is not a typo! -K )

YOUR VIRTUES

40% Compassion

33% Intelligence

50% Humility

44% Honesty

25% Discipline

14% Courage

83% Passion

Take the test yourself at HelloQuizzy.

Write to Marry Day - No on 8

October 29 is Write to Marry Day, where (hopefully) bloggers from all over will be writing about how they oppose Proposition 8, the ballot initiative in California to reverse the court's decision to allow same-sex marriage.

I am quite fortunate.

I currently live in Massachusetts, where in 2004 the Supreme Judicial Court of MA ruled in the case of Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health that, it was unconstitutional under the state constitution that only heterosexual couples could marry. We were the first U.S. state, but other countries had already made similar decisions: the Netherlands, Belgium, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. Even with the ballot initiative to rescind this decision our Legislature seemed to acknowledge, with its failure to pass the initiative in 2007, that same-sex marriage has not destroyed any institution, violated any sanctity, or diminished the value of any other marriage already in existence.

Now California is heading for its fight on Election Day. In June 2008, the court overturned the state ban on same-sex marriage. Proposition 8 is on the ballot as the "Eliminate Rights of Same-Sex Couples to Marry Act". Rather clear, don't you think?

There has been a lot of time, money and resources thrown at this from both sides of the fence. I cannot speak for anyone else but myself, my own thoughts and actions. I will argue my own stance, and hope that enough people will agree.

I have been married once. And divorced.

Now I am in another relationship. And I am fortunate.

If we ever decide down the line that we want to marry, we can. Because I live in a state that has fought its battle for same-sex marriage and won. We were the first but we don't want to be the last.

I want California to keep same-sex marriage legal. I oppose Prop. 8.

No, I am not Apple, or Google, or Ellen. I am just a small-town girl with two kids, two cats, too much yarn, too many books and a desire for more ink. But I also have the choice, and the right, to marry whomever I love, whichever sex they are. And I want the same for everyone else.

I can't vote in California, but I can show my support. So can you.

Swag and Yarn

To continue my celebration of my trip to Rhinebeck, I thought I would show off some of what I got there.



This would be the swag - as I said in the previous post, I won not one but TWO water bottles on the bus to and from WEBS. Thanks so much to the wonderful ladies who entertained us with trivia! The little purple circle in front is one of the items I got from the ladies from Twist Collective. This is a measuring tape, in purple of course (they commented that I must be a purple gal, which judging from what I was wearing, not sure how they knew) and I also got a nice button that says "click to knit".


And this was lunch! Lamb stew and polenta and greens. I waited a very long time for this lunch, longer than many others had patience for waiting. Wow. I showed patience.



This is the first skein I bought. This is Robusta from Briar Rose Fibers. (For some reason Blogger won't let me upload this the way I took it, so it looks like it is lying on its side). I have wound it already and started a first project, which is this:



This is the Cameo Faggot Scarf pattern by Crystal Palace Yarns, available on their website.


This is Riata, a wool/mohair/silk blend from Brooks Farm Yarn. I heard a lot of people talking about how they cannot wear mohair, so I am glad I am not one of those. This other yarn (also on its Blogger-induced side) was some that I saw and coveted as soon as I entered the stall. I was going to get two skeins of the orange/purple verigated yarn, but watched someone swoop in and grab all from the peg. I was lucky to find this one on a peg below. The purple is a match for the solid, so I think this will make a nice set of hat and mittens, alternating stripes or trim.

The last purchase I brought home - and actually the first that I made - was not yarn, or anything to do with fiber. It was wine. There was one hall set up with food stalls, cheese and dips and chocolate and baked goods. And wine. At least a half dozen vendors. Why would I pass up wine tasting?

I bought one bottle. It is Dragonfly from Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, NY. This is a black currant apple wine that was delicious. I restrained myself, and unfortunately they don't ship here to MA. However, I have family in NY and will probably be heading to the Finger Lakes next summer, so they will be on my stop list.

See, three skeins of yarn and a bottle of wine? Totally restrained. Good thing I didn't take pictures of all the stuff I wanted, or this would be a very long post.

Dances with Wool

I made myself a promise after last year that as soon as I found out that WEBS was sending another bus to Rhinebeck, I would get my spot. I decided not to go last year, then changed my mind last minute only to find that it was full. Really? A bus to see sheep, wool and other fiber arts? Full?



Yup - completely full. Well, I think there was one seat left. I had a nice woman sitting next to me who chatted the entire time about her work and family. It was wonderfully refreshing to be able to talk with someone about knitting without them having a raised eyebrow - but I sure could have used another cup of coffee at that time. Kristen kept the bus happy with pop questions and prizes. I scored myself a water bottle!

This was at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in NY. Part of my old stomping grounds, although I hadn't been to this farground before. And the map was helpful!

I saw spinners! This is an area I have not gone to yet. I am afraid, very afraid, of what taking a spinning class will do to my yarn budget. Not that I have one, per se, but that is how I justify my purchases.

These guys were hanging out with each other up in the livestock pens. I wonder what they talk about watching all the people coming through?

I had never seen a sheep being clipped or sheared before, and this stand with the head harness makes him look like he is about to be presented to the Kennel Club for judging.

But this is what is received from those lovely sheep and goats. First shorn is quite dirty - but the demand for roving and yarn is what brings us here.

As you see - quite popular.

I met the wonderful ladies from Twist Collective. This is one of the sites on my knitting blogroll (yes, I have one, don't you?) and I was happy to see that they were coming to Rhinebeck. Especially bringing swag - buttons and measuring tapes. Of course, I had to hunt them down by the trail of people with "Click to Knit" buttons proudly displayed.

Melissa was also there at the Foxfire Fibers booth signing her book. I have told myself I may not buy her book until I learn the process of knitting socks two at a time. Prior to that, I must finish my first actual sock. Time is so linear.

This was a choice shot! I knew the Yarn Harlot was going to be signing her book on Sunday, so when I had finally waded into the Socks that Rock booth to see what was left (which wasn't much, after that unending queue from the previous photo) I saw a woman swoop down to hug the person at the register, saying "I brought that hug with me cause I knew you'd need it." I recognized that voice and saw Stephanie disappear into the crowds. As I headed back to the Brooks Farm Yarn booth to look for the yarn I coveted when I walked in five hours before (pictures of THAT coming later!) I saw her admiring the yarn. Magically the crowds parted before me and what was the first thing I said?

"Ladies, could I get your picture? Just pose with yarn!" And with a laugh - that is what I got.

No, I never said I was a smooth conversationalist.

Sadly, I never ran into Amy Singer from Knitty, although I heard she was there with swag (I so wanted one of the euro stickers!) but on tremendous yarn overload and with heavy backpack, I boarded the bus back to Northampton. Stories and show and tells happened all over, with more raffles and prizes on the ride back. I was thrilled to score once again! Even though the once again was also the prize - another water bottle. But you can't have enough of those!

Now I just need to figure out what the next project is...

I Was Here

We are here
Originally uploaded by booksnyarn

So, last weekend I dropped the kids with the grandparents and took a quick plane trip to Indiana. Way too quick in my opinion, but no one asked for it anyway.

And yes, I know, the Midwest? But I have to admit, when you arrive knowing that you had to unpack some short sleeved shirts and left wishing you had also brought shorts - the weather was to die for!

J. opened her home to me and I got a whirlwind tour of Bloomington, Greencastle and DePauw U. I will be adding some more content to this post as I pull some other pictures from my visit and details of my first minor foray into gambling. I will say that I am glad I was there!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I am heading out of work early today and after school taking the kids to LG for the holiday weekend. Tomorrow morning I will be boarding a plane - 6am flight means 5am arrival at airport means 4am leaving my parents home - to head to IN for the weekend.

Not everyone would want to spend a long weekend in the Midwest. But I have good reason. Or two. :)