Our CSA has started again! We’ve been getting fabulous produce for just over a month now. This week (above) we got Beefstake Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Raspberries, Corn, 6 Baby Romaine Heads, Flat Leaf Parsley, Giant New Potatoes, Green Bell Peppers, Salad Cucumbers, Green Beans, and Sweet Onions.

We get ours from from www.groundworkorganics.com/, but there are tons of local farms across the world that do CSA boxes. It’s probably too late to get one this year as most farms fill up fast, but don’t forget to jump on the bandwagon for next year. It is worth it.

The produce is to-die-for. It has been hard to get through it all without wasting any of it. We are doing a much better job this year. Parsley and Cilantro are hard to go through, since we get such an abundance.

My favorite thing about CSA and the Slow Food movement is that the flavors of food come alive. Tomatoes are NOT a year round product. By not eating cardboard tomatoes in the winter, and waiting until they are ripe and real … Tomatoes now taste like freaking TOMATOES and they are absolutely fabulous! And this week we have CORN too! I can’t wait to eat it.

All the great food makes up for the horrible summer heat. Cheers.

Holy crap, did I just SPIN yarn?! Yes, yes I did. (on Rav)

I got a spindle kit at the Black Sheep Gathering [Event in Eugene, Oregon]. The kit came with a spindle, a booklet, and 3 batts of wool. At least I assume wool, sadly it didn’t have a descriptor about the fiber itself.

From what I can tell this is undyed wool. But I could be totally wrong. lol. If you can tell me otherwise, please do.

It’s crazy thick & thin as I’ve no idea what the hell I’m doing. My second roving is coming out much better (below)

We’ve got a few options here. 1) Boycott donations until the policy is changed, 2) do nothing/apathy, or 3) lie about our sexuality and donate anyway. Not very good options are they? Well I’ve got a fourth option, and I’ll get into that in a second.

Boycotts are generally unproductive, especially in this case. They do little to highlight the problem. Bone marrow saves lives, and they need as many donors as they can get. Being apathetic is a waste. Doing nothing doesn’t save lives, nor does it put focus on the horrible injustice of discrimination. Lying isn’t advised either. Lying = The Closet, and that is a very scary place.

A funny thing about lying: The questionnaire about your health/sex life is based on the honor system. Which means, the people most likely to lie are in the closet. Adult gay men in the closet engage in un-safe sex at a higher rate than men who live outside of the closet and are well informed. Just asking the question implies there is something inherently dangerous about being gay. There isn’t. There IS something inherently dangerous about being ignorant.

Anything that pushes men & women into the closest is cruel and hurtful.

The fourth option, I mentioned, is letting your voice be heard and encouraging anyone who can to donate whatever they can. Bone Marrow, Blood, even Cord Blood. Let people know that this is still a huge problem. At first I was angry, but I’m trying to use my anger for something better than spite. I’m letting as many people know about this by Tweeting, blogging, and just talking to others. This idea of protest and encouragement is not new, but I want to do what I can to move our society closer to equality for all of us. The patient has the right to live, should we not do everything we can to help?

The American Red Cross & Marrow.Org are losing out on hundreds if not thousands of human beings willing to donate a part of themselves to help another human life survive.

Tell your friends about the “marrowthon” at Marrow.Org … It’s FREE … as in it doesn’t cost you anything to be tested and added to the registry. Tell your friends! Tell your friends to come out of the closet. Tell them you will love them just as deeply and that they are just as meaningful a contribution to society and the human species as everyone else.

@ShouldntSay . . . I hope SOMEDAY [being gay] will be a fact like any other, like–”She’s married”, or “He has two sisters”

When I attempted to register I was caught completely off guard. I had sadly forgotten about the FDA Guideline/Law that targets gay men unfairly. Marrow.org advised me that they were rejecting my request as I was a health risk.

“Men who in the past 5 years have had sex, even once with another male may be at increased risk for exposure to infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis”

I have been in a monogamous, committed, relationship with another man (*waves at Joe*) for 6 years. I am in general good health. I am ready and willing to donate. I am denied.

Let them know how you feel:

Tweet about the donation program and let @BeTheMatch know what you think about the discrimitory policy.
Visit Be The Match’s Blog for up to date information.

DONATE BECAUSE I CAN’T

image from euthman | used under creative commons license

We weren’t rich, which I’m now very thankful for, oddly enough.  My sister and I would actually play.  “Makeup People” was a classic.  Don’t ask.  We didn’t have Nintendo, iPods, or the Internet.  There were no TV’s in the car.  We actually had to talk, or god forbid look out the window.  We did have a television at home.  I don’t remember watching it a ton.  Maybe Today’s Special or David the Gnome. The good ‘ole days.

If the sun was shining we were corralled out the front door like a herd of confused cattle.  Otherwise, we would play in the living room if we weren’t too noisy.  We had at least one parent that was on graveyard at any given time.  Waking a sleeping parent was like poking a sleeping bear.  Not advised.

My sister and I were sitting on the ugly shag carpet that afternoon, in front of the window looking out into the driveway. The house was old.  Originally was a one room log cabin from the turn of the century that had been remodeled and updated scores of times.  The glass panes we so old you could actually see the molecular change caused by years of earth’s gravity pulling down on the atoms in the glass.  The top of the pane was much thinner as a result, and the bottom almost rippled under its thickness.

Felix had one notable feature that keeps him in the forefront of my memory when thinking about a lifetime of pets.  Buster-Brown, Blacky, Sand-Paper, Cheetah, Snooper, Zeek, and all the others have a special place in my heart too.

Felix, as sweet as sugar as he was, had the most abhorrent gas you have ever or will ever have the privilege of enjoying.  Silent, but deadly.  With my sister on the floor with me, Felix would crawl around us, nipping at our fingers.  Playing like cats do.

Falling onto my back Felix climbed up onto my chest and I was greeted with a kind little kitty kiss.  Rough like all kitty kisses are.  A soft sound found its way to my ear, like the sound of air escaping from a Tupperware container.  Without time to react we were confronted with a smell that rivaled that of a visit to my favorite Mexican restaurant.  Retching with nausea I pushed Felix towards my sister.  She wasn’t happy.  Despite Felix’s . . . problem, we loved him dearly.  No matter how bad it smelled, it would always dissipate.

I love and miss that house with its ugly brown carpet with the burn marks from the fireplace, the big heavy front door, rickety old broom closet. I also miss the windows from an age long ago, and of course that gassy cat.  Felix’s grave and our old house are a million miles away, and yet only about a 60 minute drive.

I’ve been a yarn machine lately. Above is my first knit hat, Fire Flower! I adore the yarn and colorway. Below are a couple of hats for some little girls Neice Hat & Everliegh Hat. It’s all about the bobbles!!

My brain is so full of ideas and inspiration and motivation… but my body doesn’t quite want to keep up. I’m both insanely busy and lazy as molasses all wrapped up in one. I am hoping the weather will get me back into high gear. Outside it’s a wonderfully sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. Though, it is HOT. 80° F isn’t the worst it could be, but it’s quite the jump from the rainy wet gray days of last week.

In other news, I’ve been looking at our budget with despair, but in the back of my head I know it will be all right in the end. We’ve just got to push forward and continue our money saving habits. (which yarn purchasing is not helping *slaps hand*)

Wishing you all a sunny and happy day.

Per Towleroad, via Joe My God with Right-Wing Freak-out by WND.

Marriage has officially been re-defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Rock on lexicographers! As Joe My God said, it would be prefered to read as “Marriage: the state of being united to another adult in a consensual or contractual relationship recognized by law.” But we ARE on the right track.

Baby steps.

See the definition on the Merriam-Webster website HERE!

Ingredients are based on TASTE. Use what you love, use what you have.

This is a great way to do a pantry purge. You could add any beans you have, any spices you want, any vegetables you want. Have at it.

Chili

• 2-3 Bell Peppers [different colors if you got'em]
• 1-2 Small Onions
• 1-3 Cloves Garlic
• 2-3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 cans Tomato Sauce (or more as needed)
• 1 can Small diced tomatoes
• 1 can Tomato paste
• 1 can White Beans (drained)
• 1 can Black Beans (drained)
• 1 can Kidney Beans (drained)
• 1 can Pinto Beans (drained)
• 1/2 Quart Vegetable Stock, Water, or Chicken Stock (w/o Chicken Stock it is Vegetarian)
• 1-3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 1-3 Teaspoons of Cajun Seasoning, or Old Bay Seasoning (optional)
• 1/4 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (more for hot, less for mild).
• 1-3 Tablespoons Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Slurry If needed
• 3 Tablespoons Flour or Corn Starch
• 1/4 COLD Milk, Soy Milk, or Water (Use Soy of Water and it’s Vegan)

—

Get a BIG pot. Heat the Oil.

Saute Onions and Peppers until soft. Add Garlic. Saute a minute or so. Don’t let it burn.

Add Spices and Seasonings. Go LIGHT on the spice and salt - you can always add more. Stir to coat veggies.

Add Beans, Stock, and Tomatoes. Bring to boil. [add stock first if you have brown bits on the bottom - this will deglaze the pan and add that flavor into the chili]

Taste. Add more spice if needed.

Simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Taste. Add more spice if needed.

If thick enough for your liking - Serve with garnish of your choice. I like Cheese and Sour Cream with a side of Corn Bread.

If it isn’t thick enough, get a small Tupperware container or bottle and add the flour to the cold liquid. Shake vigorously, add to the Chili and simmer for another 15 minutes. It’ll be nice and thick.

Enjoy!

“Census takers will ask same-sex couples who live together to define themselves as “unmarried partners,” as they did in 2000 before some states - currently only Connecticut and Massachusetts - allowed gay marriage.” - Press-Telegram, Long Beach CA

Sometimes I seriously hate this country. Sure, Obama is president, but we are still so far behind the times that it makes me sick.

For a co-worker’s baby girl. She’s yet to be born, but I thought I would get a head start.

Tunisian stitch stocking hat, with 6 petal flower. Reclaimed cotton yarn purchased on etsy.com from alphacatmom. The flower yarn is from reminents of the Debbie Scarf.

Hat Pattern:

• TSS a swatch about 5 1/2″ (height) x 13″ (circumference).
• SS ends to make a tube.
• Thread yarn though one side, pull tight to make top of hat.
• Finish with decorative flower, or edging.

Flower Pattern from The Crochet Stitch Bible, Page 212. This is a great book, I’m really loving it.

I cried watching this video. Thanks for the link Rachel! I signed the petition and you should to:

Ken Starr — and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund — filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and attempting to forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year? The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days.

The Courage Campaign has created a video called “Fidelity,” with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law.

Please consider joining me in signing the letter to the state Supreme Court and passing this video on to your friends. The more people who see this video, the more people will understand the pain caused by Prop 8 and Ken Starr’s shameful legal proceeding.

http://www.couragecampaign.org

Someday Joe and I and will be married fo’ realz.