moving my blog to wordpress

hi there! in an attempt to gain a bit more creative control over the appearance of my blog (among other reasons), I've moved my blog over to wordpress! Here's the new address:

http://blog.elizajanecurtis.com/

I'll be posting over there from now on. See you there!

KOM: favorite argentine designer!

I've been a great admirer of KOMware designs since the first time I saw them (at CouCou in Palermo). There is a wide variety of patterns and colors and products but they all fit within a very tidy palette and style of clear colors and simple shapes in repeat patterns printed on a white ground. They're all hand-printed and constructed in Argentina, just outside of Buenos Aires. There are canvas bags (I bought one!) and lots of baby items: onesies (we bought two!) and t-shirts and leggings and also furniture with beautiful patterned cushions, which I would love to buy too. I've recently had the pleasure of meeting Pablo, the young genius behind this super fun line of products, and of course he is just as nice as his designs, and, well, I am so crazy about these designs, I have to share them! Here's the KOM flickr page which seems to have the most updated selection of new designs.

uggghhhh. I am so disappointed in Maine.

well I'm sure I don't need to explain that the vote on gay marriage in Maine did not turn out as I had hoped. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it's really disappointing anyway. It was so close. I do not want to give up! I hope that Maine will continue to progress forward on this issue and I hope that I can be involved when I get back to Maine next year!

today's the day: Gay Marriage vote in Maine

Today's election day and there's a REALLY BIG referendum question on the ballot in Maine. In May, Governor Baldacci (formerly opposed to gay marriage) signed a bill to approve same-sex marriage in Maine. Over the summer, of course, the hateful, the intolerant, and the homophobic joined together and rallied to raise signatures on a petition to put a referendum on the ballot to overturn this ruling. By the time the law was originally set to take effect (in September), the petition had been filed and the law was put on hold until today's election decides whether or not gay marriage will be allowed in the state of Maine.

I've already cast my absentee ballot... I am so excited and hopeful and nervous about this. Early polling showed the results would be too close to predict. I actually feel that this is going to all go down for the best. No reason, I'm just feeling optimistic and hopeful. I want to believe that people in Maine are more tolerant than hateful. I read predictions that only 35% of voters would turn out for this mid-term election and I honestly find that really hard to believe, given what a HUGE ISSUE this is. I feel like this will probably be one of the most important things I'll ever vote on in my life. I think there are a lot of people in Maine who will also feel it and get themselves out to the polls. Fingers crossed. I want this so badly for the people I love, for my state, for the human race.

314 Sokokis Ave, Limington, Maine

it's our new house! we're still trying to get used to this crazy idea.

the house

it is done! they closed on the house today; we've got the deed!

a tidbit of house history

we've gotten some confirmation from the realtor: tomorrow (Thursday) should indeed be the final closing date!! Hooray!!
meanwhile, we've gotten some historical documents from the State of Maine, it's the official paperwork regarding the Limington Historic District, of which our house is a part. We read through and found the description of our house!


Moulton Family House, c. 1880-C,
Route 11
This two-story three-bay frame house is comprised of what appears to be an earlier side gable building to which have been added a pair of Queen Anne style corner towers and a wraparound porch. Presently, the dwelling is clad in asbestos siding. The original house has corner pilasters with round arched panels and gable end returns, whereas the alterations feature three-sided towers with two-over-one windows and turned porch posts with sawn brackets. A one-and-a-half-story ell extends to a small, much altered barn. To the northwest is a larger, free-standing barn.

According to local tradition, this house was erected in the 1870's or early 1880's by the Moulton family. Its materials are said to have come from two houses that had been dismantled in Hiram.

this is interesting - my parents had thought the house was older, I wonder if we'll ever find more historical info about this! I know that my parents' house in Gorham included several structures - including an original house and an ell, which had been taken from a location a few miles away and dragged off its foundation by oxen, in its entirety, and transported across the fields using rollers made from giant logs, a team of oxen pulling the whole structure to its current location, where it was just tacked on to the side of the original structure. So I wonder if our house was also transported from Hiram in the same manner? or was it dismantled and re-assembled on the current location? Anyway, it would also be fun to find old photos of the house someday...