theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Corn Dog!!  With mustard!!  I prefer the corn-bready goodness of the Corn Dog!! 🙂

So, two posts in as many days!  I’m sure you are simply reeling with excitement!  Actually, this is an update that I promised a couple of days ago on my River Wrap/Cowl/Whatchamacallit.

Done.  Blocked.  Dry.  Worn!!  I love it.  Simple to knit.  Easy and versatile to wear.  The Susurro softened beautifully and has a lovely glow about it.  It only took a skein and a half for the largest size!  This might even be something to knit for someone for gift giving.

The only thing I did differently was to do a pick up/bind off along the short edges of the split “hem.”  I don’t know if that was even necessary, but I thought it would add some stability.  The yarn called for, DanDoh Yarn Silk +, is lighter weight and marled.  Beautiful!  Anything kind of lightweight, lineny/raw silky, would work well.  Shibui Twig comes to mind.

PS to Augusta: I did not block the long strip before I picked up the top part.

I’m a bit late for my annual state fair wrap up!  Maybe a year late??  I went yesterday with my husband, brother, and SIL.  Friend Kim opted out due to COVID concerns.  I can’t blame her and maybe should have followed her cue!

My Crew: SIL in front, brother to left, hubby in the middle, and me

We got there about 9am.  John dropped Barb and me off at the front gate (yay!), then parked 3 minutes from the gate!  Yay!  We were there right after the doors opened to the Creative Activities Building.

We entered and saw a few of my things with 2nd-3rd-4th place ribbons.  Not thinking it’s a great year!  I looked around for my most ambitious entry and couldn’t find it.  It was not in the sweater cases…but then I spotted my Tapestry Wrap, tucked away in the quilt case:

I was keeping this project under wraps with the fair in mind.  It was the Fair Isle Club 6 design by Marie Wallin.  Sally and I both bought kits and knit them this past winter.  Will post much more about this project later!

I was thrilled that this sweater was recognized in this way.  It was so much work — but I loved every minute of it!!  I noodled around and found my other entries.  This little hat got 2nd place:

It is called Beanstalk — knit in my favorite Fresco yarn, with a pink beaded tassel.  Lavender Fizz got a blue and was displayed so poorly I could not get a good picture!!

I was thrilled that Stars and Stripes also got a blue ribbon!  It is such a lovely Carol Sunday creation!

I entered Pagan Sky in the seniors category:

Because I had knit so many Baby Ganseys, I entered two of them in different categories.  One got a blue and one got a 4th!  Go figure!

Sandness, Mulled Cider, and Katie’s Kep got 2nd place ribbons, other entries got either no ribbon or lower.  Then it was off to the Horticulture Building to track down my Queen Bee-nie!!  It looked so cute in the case!  I was pleased with 2nd place, that’s for sure!

Friend Kathy entered her gnome Gnectar in Honey Bee (not same category as me) and snagged a 3rd!

The fair itself was great: cool weather, small crowds, NO lines at the food booths!  I ate all my faves: Corn Dog, cheese curds, and Big Fat Bacon!!  Oh, how I love me some Big Fat Bacon!

I always thought I was a Corn Dog fan — not a Pronto Pup girl.  But John got a Pronto Pup and it was BETTER!!  What??!!??  I was shocked!  The quality of the dog itself was superb.  I think I’m going to have to rethink my Corn Dog vote!  We go again next week with the girls so I will have a chance to really study this! 😉

We left at about noon and missed a HUGE thunder/lightening storm!  The weather has been super rainy, which is great for our drought conditions, but not so great for the fair.  We will see what happens next week!

PS to Sue: I’m no Pronto Pup/Corn Dog expert, but my understanding is that it’s all in the batter: a cornbread-type batter vs a pancake-type batter.  Corn dogs have a cornbread coating that’s a bit sweeter.

PS to Marla: we love the apple cider freezies, too.  They’re $2 now instead of a buck, but still worth it on a hot day!!

PS to Twinset Ellen:  I’m not sure if your link worked for others, so adding it here: Pronto Pup/Corn Dog Challenge.  It sounds like you had a bad testing day!  Neither even seemed edible!!  I will be testing again tomorrow (Monday, August 30, 2021). 🙂

I am knitting on something small, simple, fun, and mindless!  And loving it!  The pattern is a wrap called [DanDoh] River.  I am using Susurro (color, Sunset) that I had in stash.

Here’s what it looks like:

Surly picked up the “real” yarn today, so we’ll both be knitting these about the same time and can compare.  Surly’s cor is a black/white marl, which gives it an interesting charcoal effect.

And from both of us, thank you for your warm and wonderful comments — we really appreciate your support!!

It’s been a tough couple of months for The Rainey Sisters.  In June, Susan found out that she has breast cancer (on her birthday no less!).  Sally immediately went in for the mammogram that she had postponed during Covid.  As usual, she was following in her sister’s footsteps.  Susan had two surgeries in July and Sally had surgery this week.  The good news is we are both very early stage and very treatable.  No chemo for either of us.  Just radiation therapy.  We can still knit, though any plans for a nude photo shoot have been completely ruled out (for Susan anyway!).

We wanted to share this with our loyal readers and urge you all to get your mammogram, get vaccinated, get a colonoscopy, and take care of yourselves!!

Surly visiting after Susan’s First Surgery

PS: Our sisterly sweaters are both Woodfords!  Surly just finished hers.