NM State Fair

It certainly has been quite some time since I last posted.

In that time, we've gotten rain, rain and .... even more rain.  From what I've heard, this has been the rainiest September - either ever or for a very long time.  Parts of NM have been flooded and we've not heard those words for several years.  Some folks say the state is still in a drought, but it's hard to think that when I know parts of the Albuquerque metro area have gotten multiple inches of rain in a day.

A friend went to the NM State Fair last weekend.  She got rained on.

I went today and the weather was lovely.  It was warm but not hot and was quite pleasant.
Here's a photo I took of the main intersection of the fair.  Today there were firefighters answering questions and showing off their equipment.  They had put three ladders trucks in place and were displaying some garrison-sized flags.

I don't do the Midway.  I hate riding things that make me want to throw up, so I don't.

I did check out the exhibits in the arts and crafts area.  It's too bad that I've been in such a creative drought for the past couple of years.  There was TONS of cross-stitch and not much I could see in the way of needlepoint.  I probably could have cleaned up if I'd had something current to enter.  I may have to get myself in gear.

I used to like going through the exhibits in the Lujan building.  For some reason, not so much today.  If I could, I think it's because there aren't any of the weird and/or funky exhibits.  There used to be a booth that would 'analyze' your handwriting.  Not here this year.  There was another booth that carried all manner of scissors and tweezers and other implements.  Again, not here this year.  There were a whole bunch of really slick booths with all sorts of over-eager staffers who didn't hesitate to leap out at you as you walked by.  Not nearly as much fun.

I did stop by a booth that makes all manner of funky pasta.  I bought some flavored with Hatch green chile and another with Thai citrus flavoring.  It should be yummy to eat.  I also made my usual stop at the Watkins booth to get my dip flavorings.  I love their stuff since they don't use a TON of salt.  There are a couple of booths that sold dips, but in the past I find I can't eat more than a couple of bites without being overwhelmed with a salty flavor.

Papillon

State Fair

Today I went to the NM State Fair.  I almost didn't go because it's still slightly hot outside.  But I saw a notice in the paper that they were discounting the entrance fee by $2.  So what the heck, I was on my way.  When I arrived, it turns out the entrance fee was $2, not $2 off the regular amount of $7.  Yippee!

As usual when I go to the State Fair, I never go to the midway.  I have a very low threshold for nausea and so I try to avoid things like midway rides.

Instead I headed for the contest venues.  Among other things I entered two photos I took a number of months ago at the fountain in front of the Albuquerque Museum.  They didn't win anything, but I really like the way they turned out.

I also entered a couple pieces of my needlepoint.  I designed the patterns for both - they're based on photos I've taken.  The first one won a second place ribbon.

Finally, I entered a pillow with pansies.  It won a third place.

 

Granted first place on everything would have been nice, but I'm always glad to win something!  It's better than a poke in the eye with a stick.  Plus, I took a good look at the winning photos and will now know how to do things next year.  Practice, practice, practice!

Papillon

Knit Wit

"Knitting is a boon for those of us who are easily bored.  I take my knitting everywhere to take the edge off of moments that would otherwise drive me stark raving mad."  Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, author of Yarn Harlot and At Knit's End:  Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much.
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I'm just curious, but what is it about knitters & humor?  It seems as though you can't throw a rock without having it hit some form of knitting humor.  A quick search of the web found the following blogs:
               yarnharlot.ca (run by the lady whose quote is above)
               crazyknittinglady.wordpress.com
               wendyknits.net

Just to name a few.  Ms. Pearl-McPhee has also published 3 books of her humorous knitting adventures.  In perusing the Arts & Crafts section of a nearby bookstore, I spotted several books of knitting humor by other authors.  I don't recall any such books by people who do stained glass or needlepoint or woodworking.  All books on those subjects tend to be straightforward how-to books.

The only other hobby category that seems to have people willing to mock their obsessions is quilting.  As a part-time quilter myself, while reading Ms. Pearl-McPhee's first book, Yarn Harlot, I noticed there are any number of parallels between her knitting experiences & those of most quilters I know.  Her observations about her knitting stash almost exactly matched those I've had about my fabric stash.  Example:  buying yarn or fabric simply because it was on sale & later realizing it was on sale because it was absolutely too hideous to use in any project.  Ever.

Which leads me to my next question.  What is it with pets & projects?  Every quilt project I've ever worked on has instantly magnetized every pet I've ever owned - causing them to become inseparable.  Able to defy that rule of physics that says 2 separate objects cannot occupy the same space.  It doesn't matter if the pet is a cat or a dog.  If the project is on an available horizontal space, your pet will be on top of the project.  Said pet will become annoyed with you when you try to separate the two.  My cats have been known to sulk, loudly, when shooed away from sitting in the exact middle of a quilt.

Just wondering.
Papillon