Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Calendar contest news, and other things too

Item 1: Check your spam filters, because I've sent out 12 congratulatory messages to the winners of the 2008 Calendar Contest. It was harder than ever to pick this year's selection of winners. We got so many great photos but only have 12 spots. So if you didn't get my happy message, you may very well end up in the honorable mention gallery! The calendar will be released along with the fall surprise. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Item 2: Panic in the Knitty household this morning. We are out of Stumptown's Hair Bender blend. I bought 2 lbs of beans when I was in Portland, and it's all gone. Does anyone know if they'll ship to Canada? Their website is spectacularly unhelpful! SOLVED! Thanks to Audrey and dameknitsalot for their help. I called, told them I'd take the responsibility for the time delay [the 2 lbs we had lasted about 2 months and still tasted great at the end. maybe it would have been better if it was fresher, but we don't live in Portland, so we deal with it. :-)] and they're shipping 4 lovely lbs of whole bean Hair Bender to our door. Happiness has returned!

Item 3: QUESTION: has anyone taken an Ashford Joy wheel [in the soft case] onto an airplane? Does it fit in the allowed spaces? Please dish. I need to know what to do! I'm damned well not shipping it as luggage and I am sure I read somewhere that it's carry-on sized. ANSWER: Shannon Okey, world-traveller and spinner, assures me that it fits, and if not, flight attendants will treat it like a delicate instrument. :-) It also measures JUST 45" [all dimensions totalled], so that means it's legal.

Item 4: I love Northern Spy apples. It's Northern Spy apple season. Some misguided people think the Northern Spy is a pie apple. In fact, it is the best, crispiest, most perfectly tangy apple that ever grew on a tree.

That is all.

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posted by amy [Knitty] @ 12:16 PM 22 comments

Comments:
I live a short walk from one of the Stumptown locations, so if they won't ship directly, I can help.
# posted by Blogger Audrey : 12:47 PM, September 25, 2007
 
This post has been removed by the author.
# posted by Blogger dameknitsalot : 1:01 PM, September 25, 2007
 
I called Stumptown and they will ship to Canada. They don't recommend it because they say you should drink the coffee within 7-10 days of roasting and it takes at least that long to get there so it's "expired" when it arrives. If you want to order you have to call them at 503.230.7797. And I love Hair Bender too!!!
# posted by Blogger dameknitsalot : 1:03 PM, September 25, 2007
 
Possibly useful dimensions:

26x18x12
24x16x10

I wrote these down from one of those carry-on bag measuring things. I'm guessing the larger one was for overhead and the smaller for under the seat, but not really sure. I was flying jetblue from jfk.
# posted by Blogger twoloops : 1:09 PM, September 25, 2007
 
I"m still eating Macintosh, they are particularly crisp and tart this year.
# posted by Blogger Chriss : 1:17 PM, September 25, 2007
 
but, don't you think the crisp, tangy apples are the best for pies? I do!
# posted by Blogger Libby P : 1:30 PM, September 25, 2007
 
When we moved, we were told we could take our cat on board as carry-on if she weighed less than 15 pounds; that seems to be the weight restriction for carry-on luggage. But I can't see how they enforce it, thinking back on piles of wheel-on luggage I've seen in overhead bins.

The best route is to call your airline, and have them send you an e-mail that you can do it (or not, but we're gonna be positivie), so you have it in writing when some stew arbitrarily tells you to check it when you walk on the plane.
# posted by Blogger Julie : 1:35 PM, September 25, 2007
 
Generally carryon pieces can be up to 45" (add one length, one width and one height) and 20 lbs, but you should call the carrier for specific limitations on dimensions.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 1:52 PM, September 25, 2007
 
I love Northern Spy apples! They are so wonderful for eating and glorious in applesauce.
# posted by Blogger Anne : 2:30 PM, September 25, 2007
 
If your wheel fits the dimensions make sure you are first in line to board (ignore the order) that way you will get the space. Last on, on a full flight and you will probably have to give them the carryon to store underneath because the overhead is full and they will deam it too big to put under a seat. Good Luck.
# posted by Blogger ~S : 2:46 PM, September 25, 2007
 
~s -- that's good advice. the wheel JUST fits the 45" max, and that number is also on the AA.com website [that's the airline i'm flying]. so I'll make sure to line up with the kids and people with canes and such and get my wee baby on safely!

Thanks for the help, everyone!
# posted by Blogger amy [Knitty] : 2:49 PM, September 25, 2007
 
I beg to differ. Cortlands are the best apples! for eating or baking...
# posted by Blogger Carol : 3:56 PM, September 25, 2007
 
Amy -- it fits unless you're on one of the tiny puddlejumper planes, and in that case, most flight attendants are very happy to stash it up front like a musical instrument...
# posted by Blogger Shannon : 4:31 PM, September 25, 2007
 
carol, you can have your courtlands on your blog. here, it's all northern spy, all the time. :-)

and shannon, i should have known you'd know for sure! woot! thanks so much!
# posted by Blogger amy [Knitty] : 5:34 PM, September 25, 2007
 
So, where does one find these Northern Spy apples? I'm constantly on the lookout for an apple that's tangy enough (and crispy - none of that icky soft apple meat for me!) and have had to resort to eating green apples.
# posted by Blogger Megan : 5:53 PM, September 25, 2007
 
i dunno -- i don't think they're at the macintosh/granny smith/fuji/honeycrisp distribution level, but they're not totally rare, either.

i'd call around to the orchards in your area [hopefully you have some!] and ask!
# posted by Blogger amy [Knitty] : 5:58 PM, September 25, 2007
 
Item 5: If we didn't get the happy little auto-reply that we normally get when we send in submissions, does that mean you didn't get the submission?

Item 6: Have I asked you this already?

Thanks,
Sally
# posted by Blogger Sally Comes Unraveled : 6:36 PM, September 25, 2007
 
For Megan: If there is a farmer's market of any size near you, they might have Northern Spy apples. I picked up Cortlands and Crispins (also delicious and tart, but not as tart as a Granny Smith) yesterday and will look for Northern Spies on Sunday. Good luck!
# posted by Anonymous Anne : 9:17 AM, September 26, 2007
 
I've just booked onto the Tuscany class at Loop, in London, on your birthday. Looking forward to it!

(Should I bake a cake?)
# posted by Blogger Flossie : 10:20 AM, September 26, 2007
 
Ashford Joy - The last time I travelled with mine, I put the whole shebang (with case) INSIDE my large suitcase, and padded it thoroughly with all my clothing. Then I checked the suitcase. I didn't want to have the Joy get banged around going through the airport, or in the overhead. It was VERY padded, and fit beautifully in the large suitcase.
# posted by Blogger Twisting Sister : 10:46 PM, September 27, 2007
 
Mmmm, Northern Spy apples. Our coop used to carry them every autumn (Minneapolis) and I always watched for them. Now I buy Honeycrisp at the supermarket. It is very similar -- crisp, tangy but sweet. It also is available only in autumn. It was developed (I think, maybe) at the University of Minnesota so may not be available in Canada. But look for them, you'll like them.
# posted by Anonymous kmkat : 2:39 PM, September 29, 2007
 
Coming to this late... Northern Spy apples are also fabulous apple-wine apples.
Nicer than chardonnay, zippy like a sauvignon blanc!
-Nina
# posted by Blogger Nina : 1:36 AM, December 05, 2007
 
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