Not Dead Yet
Jennifer gave me the "are you dead?" call, so I guess I'd better make a post :) It's not that things haven't been happening here, maybe it's just that too much has been going on!
Well, since we last spoke, I won second place at the State Fair. SECOND PLACE! I am such a slacker! I knit the heck out of those cables, but a much simpler, and probably technically superior, sock took first. I did have some laddering issues that I didn't deal with as well as I could've, so that's probably what did it. Oh well, if I'd won first, I wouldn't have entered next year, so now I can enter with a clean conscience. I am upset that the third place socks were Nightingales. That was my plan for next year! (I'm glad I didn't enter them this year!)
In other my-friends-are-awesome news, Nicky's Evenstar took first in the shawls division (obviously), Katie's table took third (apparently the judges felt that "more is more," and Annie was robbed -- ROBBED I TELL YOU -- in the miscellaneous division. But I'm sure it's hard to judge mittens against hats against scarves. They need more divisions! (I guess they need enough entries to justify it.)
Hm. After the fair, I knit my mom some gloves and a matching hat. They're still awaiting final handwashing before being sent off. As cold as it is here this week, I'm sure she needs them! I'll take care of that tomorrow evening. (Got someone staying in the guest room right now, and that's where I wash & block things.)
So, here's the story of these gloves, which I've probably already told you. Last year, my mom complained that she had no gloves. So, I bought her some nice isotoners. When she got them, she was like, "These are nice, and all, but they're not handknit. *pout*" Well. I HATE knitting gloves (the fingers are too fiddly! And there are ten of them!), but she's a very good knitting recipient, so I decided to make her some. I found some really nice matching Cascade Heritage and 220, in a gorgeous teal that I cannot photograph to save my life. I thought at first that I would make her a very complicated pair of gloves, but that didn't pan out, so I made her the Knotty Gloves, instead. Then I winged it on a hat, which probably needs a picture.
Then I started a seekrit Christmas project. So I can't show you that. BUT BUT BUT! I started it, then realized that I didn't have ANY of the proper needles it called for. (I cast on on a short circular, but it was still too long.) So, I had to go buy needles at the store. And aren't they pretty?
It seems like I've been buying a lot of stuff lately. I finally used a Kohl's gift card I've had in my purse for *mumblemumble* years, and got a lovely cowl-neck sweater and a very warm cardigan that I'm wearing right now (but its sleeves are too short.) Then I needed boots, so I got a pair of boots and a free tote purse thingie came with it.
Then... well, I am hard on Kitchenaids. I bake two to three times per week, and I sometimes ask it to do more with bread than it's used to. Also, the egg whites! Do not ask about the egg whites. Always with the egg whites! Plus, we bought a Kitchenaid Pro during their whole "plastic gear housing" debacle, and they told us that they couldn't fix it under warrantee, but they could fix it for a reasonable $200 + shipping. So, we decided to run it into the ground, and it's nearly there. But! I've been saving my credit card points since the last one (which we also bought on points) and was nearly there! And if you give blood or platelets through the Red Cross, you can convert them to Best Buy points! So I converted everything into certificates and had nearly enough to buy it outright! (I would've waited and gotten it after Christmas, but I was sick of the complaints I get about how loud it is when it's running. Yes it's loud! The gears are out of whack! I'm making you a cake, and you still complain?) So, I ordered it, and it came yesterday! I only had enough time to take it out of the box, but isn't it lovely? The warning label on the back of the mixer matches its color!
We got an Artisan this time. We're a little burned on the Professional because of the gears thing, and the Artisan really does get better reviews altogether. Also? BRIGHT FREAKING ORANGE!! I am already desperately in love with her. (Name? Dentrassi.) So, now that I've ordered the new Kitchenaid, what am I saving my credit card points for? The next Kitchenaid :( I am hard on them. (Also, credit card points ain't what they used to be.)
I will do another post for Halloweenness, because I haven't uploaded all my photos, yet. Obviously I was AppleJack, though :)