No On Prop 8

I haven't gotten to finish posting about my vacation in California yet. I'll try to at least get my vacation yarn photographed and posted. But I have a ton of beautiful pictures too.

Anyway, about the only thing about my trip that I didn't enjoy was seeing signs and hearing ads on the radio about voting yes on Prop 8 in California. Having had to go through my own horror story this summer regarding my marriage, I'm very sensitive to being discriminated against on this issue.

Let me tell you, feeling like a second-class citizen and being treated like one SUCKS. When 2 people love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together (even if that doesn't work out they way you hoped, as it did in my case), they should be able to do that and have equal protection under the law.



Find out more at No On 8, Don't Eliminate Marriage For Everyone

And if you live and vote in California, please vote NO on Prop 8.

Butterflies and Dogs

Besides the crashing of the waves outside my window, butterflies and dogs are what I will remember most about Carmel, California.

I'm about two blocks from the beach on Carmel Bay and went walking along the water last night and today. Carmel must love its dogs because the whole beach is a leash-free area for dogs. It was so fun to watch the dogs playing in the water and chasing each other. Made me think of Pachebel and how much she would love being on the beach. Maybe next time.

Butterflies... I didn't realize I missed them until I saw several flying around the flowers at the B&B I'm staying at, The Colonial Terrace. The grounds are immaculate here.






I wish I was staying another day but today I'm driving down the coast to San Simeon. I'll be staying on the beach there too. I plan on going to see the Hearst Castle tomorrow. It is supposed to be spectacular.

Coast Starlight Train To California - Day 2

I made it to Carmel By The Sea today after riding overnight on the train. I'm pretty tired so I'm going to just post a couple of pictures and call it a night. These are from the beach on Carmel Bay about 2 blocks from where I'm staying. I have my window open and I can here the rolling of the waves. So peaceful!

Coast Starlight Train To California - Day 1

This morning I boarded the Amtrak Coast Starlight train in Seattle with a destination of Salinas, California. I booked a roomette for the trip since I’ll be on the train overnight for the more than 24 hour trip. It was a good choice because you get private accommodations and meals are included. I lucked out and when I booked my roomette, the family size roomette was somehow less expensive then the smaller two-person roomette. So I have an extra large room meant for 3 or 4 people all to myself!



The trip has been beautiful so far. The leaves on the trees are changing colors and all along the route, there are fall colors in reds, oranges, and yellows. We’ve ridden past Puget Sound and the Columbia River.



I’ve spent most of my time in the Parlour car which has lounge chairs and floor to ceiling windows. I’ve met some nice people, most of them older and retired, and eaten some good food.

Tonight they are supposed to have a movie playing on a large HD Flat Screen TV but I’ve decided to chill out in my room and watch movies on my new iPod and the Myvu Crystal Video viewer I got recently. It is like watching a large screen movie but they are the size of glasses. Really cool!

I’ve been doing a bit of knitting too but can’t post any pictures or give any clues about what I’m knitting because it is a Christmas gift. I have plans to stop at several yarn stores while I’m driving down the coast of California. Vacation yarn doesn’t really count as stash yarn right?

We cross over into California sometime in the night. And I’ll be getting off in Salinas around noon.

Finaly, Two At A Time Success

I finished a pair of socks a couple of weeks ago but haven't posted about them yet. I knitted these 2 at a time using 2 circular needles and they actually turned out great. I did them toe-up with a K2P2 pattern and an afterthought heel. I also used a Russian bind-off.

Yarn: A Swell Yarn Shop Duet in Chocolate Fantasy
Needle: Size 0

Team Gina

Totally not knitting related, but I just got home from watching the Girl Shorts at the Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival with some friends. Here is one of the "shorts" a music video by Seattle's own Team Gina:



Hilarious! Scary, that I'm old enough to be these girls' mom and they know more about the 80's then I do! (Listen to Product's of the 80's on their website if you want to feel really old!)

Mom's Mittens

A few weeks ago, I went to Port Townsend with Charity, Ialiuxh, and my mom. We took the Edmonds Kingston ferry and spent a nice afternoon walking the main street and shopping at the two yarn stores there, The Twisted Ewe and
Diva Yarn & Trim.

While we were in Diva Yarn & Trim, my mom spotted a Sweaterkits Handpainted Silk Mitts kit. The yarn is super soft and jewel toned. The colors in the silk yarn are just beautiful.

These knitted up quickly on size 3 needles. I didn't knit both at the same time and wish I had because one is slightly smaller then the other one. Sigh. Anyway, they fit pretty much the same and that is what counts. Hope mom likes them!