Tag Archives: protest

Hello, SUNday!

Posted on by
2
Saturday, March 28, 2026

This photo is from yesterday although this morning looked very similar – I was just too lazy to get out of bed in time to take a photo. So, this one will have to suffice. Today we have a gorgeous blue bird sky and I am loving the sunshine! Sunrise is happening way down to the “left of center” again as the days lengthen and the air warms just a little bit. My bulbs are starting to dare to peek out; we are all unsure of whether winter is really done or just planning another April Fools Day prank. Time will tell.

We had a great day yesterday after a very busy week (again!) We went to the No Kings rally in Waterville, Maine where about 1,000 like-minded people who care about our democracy gathered to voice our concerns about where our government is taking this country … fewer rights for women, less healthcare, a war in Iran that wasn’t approved by congress, education dollars stripped from schools, prices of homes, gas, groceries going up while jobs seem to be going down. As an older person, I can’t stay home any longer. It was time for me to take the time and make the effort to be seen and heard. My hubby took a photo of me in my red hat and with my sign – made in part because my granddaughter loves Mary Poppins right now and it takes place in the era of suffragettes when women were not allowed to vote. And a sign that a friend sent to me from her rally in Pennsylvania, I think. We were thanking our lucky stars that the sun was shining because when the wind blew it was cold!

Screenshot

After the rally, I took off in one direction and my hubby took off in another. He went home and I went to Augusta to the spring concert at Maine Arts Academy where the Junior High and High School choirs and the High School Strings Ensemble put on a fabulous show. The performances were all based on a hope theme. Several students read original poetry and many songs were sung. It was a great way to end a very good day.

I’ve been working away on several knitting projects and planning a workshop at the store in mid-April. I wrote a newsletter for the yarn shop last week and will write one or two more before I hang up my newsletter writing days. I have too many other fun things that I want to spend my time on and maybe someone will pick up the account and continue or not. I also have plans with at least one of my friends at work to knit the next gnome KAL so I’ve been pulling out my yarn scraps in preparation for some gnome knitting. (There are so many I want to knit!) This year it’s a Beary Cozy Gnome and the first clue is April 15!

On Friday I worked almost exclusively on my socks. It’s time to make a commitment to them and get them off the needles. I got the leg finished, knitted the heel flap and turned the heel and started to decrease the gusset stitches … I’m now down to my original number of stitches and am knitting the foot … phew! That’s a lot of stitches! I hope to get them finished this week and cast on another pair. One of my students is knitting through Summer Lee’s sock books and I love the one she’s making with a Crazy Zauberball and a ball of cream colored yarn … I have both in my stash. Next socks? Time will tell.

On Thursday we had a special delivery at work. Our work friend, Bette, had her husband deliver the best surprise ever!!!! Chickens knitted for us! Aren’t they wonderful? Carol and I were so surprised and thrilled with this particularly wonderful, generous addition to our collections. Such fun.

I’ve also been working away on my college roommate’s Vanilla Sweater. I’m getting close to separating the sleeves from the body of the pullover so right now it’s just a mess of stitches crammed on a circular needle that probably could be a little bit longer but as soon as the sleeve stitches come off, it’ll be just right again. I’m using Rauma Finull Garn again for this project because I really like the warmth of the wooly wool and sport/dk weight of the yarn. The one that I made for me is perfect to wear indoors. Worsted weight sweaters are really too warm for me these days. I love the colorway she chose, too. As soon as the body is separated, I’ll cast on the sweater for my younger daughter, too. So much knitting and not enough time. LOL

I have so many plans for future knits. I had bought a couple of hanks of Emma’s Yarn in a deep teal-y blue for a shawl that I ended up frogging because the garter stitch was too boring. I loved the elegant look of the shawl but at that moment in time, it wasn’t something I was getting any joy out of so I frogged it and I’m going to use it to knit a tee. I have two options I’m considering. I have some black linen (or linen cotton blend) yarn with which I want to make a tee or a sleeveless top. Again, there are a couple that I’m considering for this project, too. The Broadgate Tabbard needs to be on my needles. I have some gorgeous green linen for that and it’s a perfect spring color. It does take some brain power and will be a knit it at home in my little bubble project … at least in the beginning.

In early April I’m heading to Quebec City with a knitting friend. The main purpose of our trip is to meet Arne and Carlos which will be happening on the 9th. We have tickets to an event with them at the Frontenac. We’ll be touring the Frontenac earlier that day and will wander the city as well, dining and shopping. We’ll be visiting the yarn shop that is hosting the event on our way out of the city after the event. I’m excited to see another Canadian city and they say it’s a little bit like visiting Europe. I want to bring an A&C project with me and it may end up being my wall hanging that I did with them during the pandemic. I’ve not shared it here for a long time (if ever) … it hangs above the tv on my studio wall and I love it. Despite the hardships that were caused by the pandemic and the daily trauma of deaths and isolation, the wall hanging reminds me that people can be kind and caring and that community is so important. My knitting community kept me sane! You can see my wall hanging on my Ravelry project page.

So, dear readers (wordpress says there are 106 of you subscribed), with that I’m going to close and wish you well in every stitch!

Gone knitting.

Nevertheless, She Persisted

Posted on by
Reply

I was raised by a Yankee lawyer. My father’s family was well-to-do or as we say today, “privileged”. My father worried about what the neighbors would think. We went to church on Sunday and we voted Republican. I was a Republican because that’s what we were.

I was raised with the old adages “children are to be seen and not heard” and “good girls ________” (fill in the blank but I often heard “are quiet”, “don’t swear”, “don’t cry”, etc.) I was a good girl. I learned to sew and dance. I learned to be quiet and to silence my voice. I did what I was told. I followed the rules. I was afraid that if I did something that was NOT what good girls did that the police would show up and arrest me. How would I explain that to my father? I desperately wanted his approval.

I married a man who my parents liked and I thought I loved right out of college. That was, I was taught, when I would be happy and I would be complete. (I wasn’t given a middle name when I was born but was told that I’d have a complete name when I married.) I struggled to be happy for nearly 28 years before I divorced. I did everything I knew how to do but it was always “my fault” that the marriage was a failure or that he didn’t come home or ___________ (again, fill in the blank). If I’d only kept the house cleaner or the kids quieter. If I’d had a job to help pay the bills (because money I inherited that helped to support us didn’t count, it “wasn’t mine”.)

It has only been in the last ten years or so that I have been finding my voice. I have worked with a therapist, tentatively and then more assuredly voiced opinions about where I wanted to go for dinner and what color paint I wanted to paint the walls. I bought my own clothes. I spent money on real jewelry. I paid my rent, bought my first car entirely with my own money (and a little help from my wonderful son.) I learned to listen to my gut. And I learned that I was smart and sensitive and really good at many things. I learned that I could move to a strange city and find a job and make friends. I learned that I could be lonely and survive. I grieved the loss of my “old family” and gave birth to a new one (no, I didn’t have new babies but my relationship with my children changed) that included step-children and a new husband.

When the Senate told Senator Elizabeth Warren to shut up and sit down last night, it struck a chord with me. I found myself furious. A high school friend posted an article on my Facebook page this morning. I found myself insulted and angry. I will not be silenced. I will not shut up and sit down. I can be a bleeding heart liberal or a “snowflake” or anything else. I will listen to my heart and follow it – I will protest for women’s rights and a woman’s right to choose. I will protest for clean air and water. I will protest for the education of our children, our most precious resource. I will protest for the voiceless, the impoverished, the mentally ill, the refugees and immigrants who want to build a new life in a country full of possibility like my great-grandparents. I will not be silenced. I will call and email and write letters. I will put my money where my mouth is.

Because I always was complete. I have always been enough.

Gone knitting.