So, Labor Day Weekend is almost here. In fact, my office is closing early today, so for me, it officially starts in 3 minutes. What's on the agenda? A visit to the Evergreen State Fair, where Tyler will no doubt spend hours sitting on tractors and is guaranteed to eat at least one corn dog. Here's a picture of him there last year:
Rob and I will no doubt spend a ridiculous amount of money on balloon darts and equally silly games trying to win a chintzy made-in-China stuffed animal for Tyler. And perhaps trying to win another goldfish to join Nemo, the one we won there last year (who is the healthiest, most robust goldfish I've ever seen).
Despite my apparent cynicism, I am looking forward to it, especially seeing the animals (the goats and cows are my favorites). Going to the fair was a tradition in my family. As a kid, we went to the Spokane County Fair every year. When I lived in Sandpoint, Idaho, we always went to the Bonner County Fair, where I saw my friends compete in 4-H and worked as a waitress in the Methodist Church food booth serving homemade pie and other goodies to my teachers, neighbors and friends. In a town the size of Sandpoint, just about everyone you saw at the fair was someone you knew - it's a real Lake Wobegon kind of place.
Last year we were in eastern Washington in August and had the chance to attend the Pend Oreille County Fair in Cusick, which is a true small-town fair. Here's a picture of Ty at that fair (sitting on another tractor, of course).This year I had hoped to enter some of my knitting in the fair, in particular, the baby sweater below. But unfortunately, I didn't get it finished in time (having had to rip back the neck band and re-knit it 4 times), so the blue ribbon and the whopping $3 first prize will go to someone else this year. But I'm already thinking about what to make for next year, so I'm sure I'll have another chance at fame and glory.
Apart from the fair, it will be a pretty normal weekend with the usual stuff - a BBQ with my folks, errands, shopping for new clothes for Ty (who appears to have grown several inches since the last time he wore long pants, which was only a few months ago), and of course, knitting.I can't even count how many projects I have on the needles right now, but I'm trying to focus on just one or two so I can actually finish something for a change. So this weekend I'll mainly be trying to finish up the Glow Worm Socks (a simple pair of ribbed socks for Tyler, made out of glow-in-the-dark yarn) and making progress on the cabled baby blanket I'm knitting for a friend who had a baby earlier this month. With any luck, I'll get a chance this weekend to take pictures of both and share them in my next post.
In closing, I want to at least mention the efforts of American labor unions, who not only brought us this three-day weekend, but also fought for basic rights and protections for American workers, and I also want to mention the efforts of a terrific charity that is often associated with Labor Day - the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I wish you all a safe and happy Labor Day!
