Monday, August 10, 2009

No Fair!

My parents moved to Humboldt County in Northern California over twenty years ago, and it's become kind of a second home to my family. We visit every summer and spend our time hiking, searching for shells and rocks on the beach, eating great food, and just enjoying ourselves whenever we're there. We also almost always, go to the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale. This year was the third time we've ever missed the fair. It doesn't begin until August 13, which just happens to be my first day back at work. How sad!
The only thing I don't like about Humboldt County is that along with great organic produce, liberal political leanings, and, of course, a sizable number of yarn shops, is that it has a disproportionate number of scary-looking homeless people. I'm not talking about hippies...I mean SCARY people. Paige and I always laugh at this sign near downtown Arcata. I'm sure it's a joke. ..otherwise no one would come through the front door because Arcata has to be the hippy capitol of the world!There's a really nice fabric shop in Arcata called Fabric Temptations. They also have a fairly extensive range of yarn choices, so I was more than a little embarrassed to walk in there and buy...two skeins of red, white, and blue stripe Sugar and Cream yarn. I don't have anything against Sugar and Cream. It's perfect for knitting dish clothes, and I wanted to knit a flower dish cloth for our dog sitter to line a basket of Northern California goodies I planned to give her. I still had the urge to say, "I'm really one of you. I knit with Manos de Uruguay, Lorna's Laces, and Debbie Bliss. I usually waste hundreds of dollars on quality yarn! I'm not usually so....practical"


Humboldt County beaches aren't the type of beach that you go to if you want to tan, but that also means they aren't usually crowded either. We usually go up to Trinidad for a day and hike around.


We made our perfunctory stop at Schat's Bakery in Ukiah. Kai got a cherry pie.

An additional tradition that we've seemed to be developing is to go to the Ukiah Farmer's Market. They had a wonderful yarn booth there, but I'm way overloaded with unfinished projects, so I refrained from any purchases. I'll plan better next summer.

Paige got a henna tatoo, which was supposed to last three weeks but is pretty much gone now, but it was pretty while it lasted.

8 comments:

Willow said...

The names of all the towns are so familiar to me and to The Professor. He is a graduate of Arcata High, and he would concur with your assessment of the populace-- lots of marginal people up there.

And of course, if I were to go to Ferndale, I'd have to drop by the cemetery and see my dozens of ancestors buried there.

What if I were so busy doing that, I couldn't visit the yarn shops??

Tracy Batchelder said...

Fun family traditions! Maybe next year the fair will move back to its usual week.

Thimbleanna said...

Oooh, looks like a wonderful place to visit. Hope you make it for the fair next year -- don't they know they need to work around your schedule?

TheBlackSheep said...

Very pretty picture of the beach. I love beaches like that. They have so much more character than the white sands type. Sounds like a fun trip all around!

Tracy said...

Fun to see what's been happening there... So sorry you miss the fair...Next year! :o) It is so sweet with such family traditions like that. Love the knitting--very patriotic with the red, white, blue... Hope all of you are having a great summer break--Happy Days ((HUGS))

Julie said...

Your children are so gorgeous.
And I love that dishcloth, it really looks more like a doily than something you'd want to soil on the dirty dishes!
Overall have you had a good summer?

Anonymous said...

I am so glad I peeked at your blog...fun to see the kids....wish I would of been with you all..looks like fun. XO Ann/Lincoln

JayJay said...

Wow, that looks so lovely! We may have to visit Humboldt sometime. I am knitting washcloths for RJ's teachers to go with some handmade soap for Christmas gifts, so I know how you feel. Love your washcloth! I will have to try that pattern.