State Fair Results and Party Prep

When we last corresponded, I was in the middle of a week chock full of errands and fun things to do, leading up to a weekend even fuller of fun things, including Julie's birthday party and the storming of the Harlot by a bunch of Twin Cities knitters. Let's resume our story at lunchtime yesterday. This is the exact moment when I was making a critical mistake. Julie was happily eating her left over soup and messing around with her sippy cup in ways that annoy me. Which is partly why she does it. Sophie was busy scooting herself across the kitchen floor in an attempt to come eat my toes. I - well, see in the far right of the picture on the counter? That's the edge of the sandwich that had me in the bathroom for much of the last 24 hours.



Or at least I'm pretty sure it was that. I had some left over chicken in the fridge from grilling on Sunday night, and I stripped it off the bones and doused it with barbecue sauce to eat cold on a sandwich. I really should have reheated it. I do know better, but I was hungry and in a hurry to scarf something down before one or both of the kids needed something. I'm feeling mostly better now, but it took a few doses of Immodium and Joe coming home early from work so I could sleep it off this afternoon. And we missed what I'm sure would have been a very fun play date this afternoon, which is almost the biggest bummer of them all. Bleah.

The good news is that I got just about everything else done yesterday that I intended to before the illness hit. Elastic was purchased, as were party supplies, and most importantly, the State Fair entries were collected from the Creative Activities building. Here we have Harry cat helping me unpack them and remove all the tags and papers.



I have to say, I'm very pleased after reading the comments from the judges. I really appreciate how much time the judges took to write meaninful thoughts and suggestions, especially considering how many items they have to look at and how little time they have. For those who haven't entered the fair before, here is what the scorecard looks like:




In all of my cases for this year, I got full points in all but the last category of Workmanship, and as far as I can remember, that is usually the case for me. The best part of the whole form, however, is the comments at the end. They are the most telling.

Let's start with the hat, for which I got the blue ribbon. "A very interesting pattern and yarn combination. Very nicely knitted. It is rather small in size, more for a new born infant, but it is very well proportioned." It's funny, I actually thought I decreased at the top too quickly. The one I knit for Sophie has a much better shaped top, but they're right - it is meant for a newborn. I appreciate them saying it was nicely knitted, too, but when I got my hands back on it the other day I was shocked with some of the areas that look a bit puckery. Of course I can say that now that there is a blue ribbon on the thing.

Next, the comments for the baby sweater which won a fourth place prize - "A lovely color choice, different from the usual colors. Love your choice of pattern. Sweater well proportioned and your knitting is very well done. Buttons seem a "tad" too large and would like to see buttons closer to shade of yarn." The button comment made me laugh only because the knitters at the Guild love to make fun of the judges for commenting on the buttons. I see nothing wrong with commenting on the buttons because they do make a big impact on the overall look of the garment. When a judge is staring at several sweaters that are all equally executed, buttons make a good tie-breaker. I was a bit surprised by the color choice comment. I mean, it's pale pink. How unusual is that for a baby? It makes me feel really good that they liked the pattern since it is my own design. Reminds me that Julie's matching sweater is waiting for some attention as soon as the pants are done. Fall it is a'coming!

The socks got a simple comment, "Very competitive lot. Nice sox!" I can live with that. I happen to know the judge who wrote that comment, although I'm 99% sure she didn't know they were mine. They didn't win, and I'm fine with that. It is a very competitive lot, and they didn't have anything all that special about them other than being the most expensive socks I've ever knit. I'm going to enjoy wearing them this winter.

On to the crazy glittens. I really almost expected mark downs on either color or materials used here. I mean, the dye job on this yarn was very uneven, and the colors are SO garish. But no, the points lost all came from Workmanship, with a tic mark by Amount of Work. The comment reads "Nice Work - interesting effect using 2 strands of variegated. Watch tension at attachment points." The tension comment here was so spot-on. I struggle with keeping the tension right between the thumb and mitten body, as well as where the flap attaches. The variegated part stung a tiny bit - this was not variegated yarn. I did a spit-splice every two rows, thankyouverymuch. But I guess I did the splices well, because the judge apparently didn't realize that. I did not expect these to win anything anyway, so getting good comments on them was a reward in itself.

Finally, the blanket. Unfortunately, there was no enlightentment here as to why it didn't get a prize. "A lovely choice of color. Nice soft feel - what an afghan should feel like. Good choice of pattern. Your knitting is very well done." Oy! I wish they had had something negative to say. I mean, it is lovely to hear good things about one's work, but I wish I could have touched and felt the other blankets in the category myself. I do know this...the blanket will go either in Sophie's crib or with her car seat this winter, and my darling girl will get to love it as much as she will. I hope she loves it to death the way the blanket on the blue blog has been loved. When I started this blanket, I had a hard time bringing the pile of pink Pomfret out of the stash, to be used and never to have as fresh yarn again. I am very happy with how it turned out, and that is what really matters.

Now on to the kid pics of the day...Sophie is still working very hard on those bottom teeth. Here she is last night sucking on the wet wash cloth I was trying to use to clean her up after dinner. Poor thing, I think she may be allergic to or intolerant of avocado. I've tried to feed it to her twice now, and both times she's spent the evening barfing it and the rest of her stomach contents all up. She does love the rice cereal, though. I think in the next week we'll try some sweet potato.



Here is Julie laying in the corner between the two couches. She likes to hide in there and pretend she's taking a nap. It can be pretty nerve-racking to glance in the living room where I know she's playing and not see her, then a big relief when I hear her little voice and go catch her "sleeping" on the giant pillows.



Oh! I have some other good news. I found an overall dress exactly like last year's but in the bigger size on e-bay. I won the auction for a pittance and should have it in hand next week. Wahoo! Also, I just listed my Sidekick II (the old phone that I replaced with the newer model) on e-bay a couple of days ago, and a local guy bought it today with the buy it now option. I've got a few extra bucks in my pocket, and know that the phone is getting some good use. Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Tomorrow - a trip to the co-op for the one kind of shortening that Julie can eat so that I can bake her cake. I'll bake and decorate it after she's in bed, Joe will go back to the party store for balloons, and I will rush around like a mad woman trying to think of every conceivable thing we might need for the party and get it ready to go for Saturday. I love birthdays. I have to admit, I am probably trying to give Julie the happy birthdays I didn't get as a kid. I'm so glad she likes chocolate cake, 'cause that's my favorite too.