Domestic Geek

Yesterday I decided it was time to get back to working on the crocheted Popcorn & Cranberry Christmas garland (Ravelry Link) that I've had as a WIP for almost 10 years (I started it when I got the issue of Crafts back in 1998). Heck, it's been over two years since I drug the project out of storage and found the instructions. If I really concentrated on it, maybe in the two months before Christmas I will finally have enough of this stuff to decorate the tree!

Well, I sat myself down in my rocking chair, refreshed my memory by reading the pattern instructions and set to crochet. OMG, I've turned into a yarn snob. I worked on this last Christmas season with no issues, but after a year of knitting and crocheting with "good" yarns, this acrylic baby weight crap I am using for this project felt horrible. It's coarse on my hands, it splits, it doesn't slide well on the hook. *sigh* Maybe this is why it has taken me a decade to produce such a measly amount of garland.

I should have realized I had turned into one a few days earlier. I was making a practice pom pom for my eyelet hat with a gizmo I bought (more about that in a future post) and grabbed some acrylic from my bin. I kept holding that pom pom after I finished it and felt that something was off. I almost didn't make one for the hat at all, but I did and it is fine. Now I realize that I prefer the feel of natural fibers.

That's right. Jason's Deli announced today that it is the first U.S. restaurant chain to eliminate High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) from it's food offerings. They're also running a poll on their web site asking customers to vote to have the fountain drinks that contain it removed and replaced with cane sugar choices, offer cane sugar choices in addition to those containing HFCS or leave things as they are. I've personally never eaten at that particular chain, but maybe I'll give them a try.

I've been trying to reduce the amount of HFCS that I consume since I learned about how it was made and its possible side effects in early 2005. It still amazes me when I'm reading ingredient labels what I find it in. A fellow knitter and blogger, La Petite Tricoteuse, is challenging her readers to give up HFCS for the entire month of November. I wonder how many of them will be able to do it and also how many of them will be shocked to find where that crap lurks. I've been trying for almost three years and still haven't been 100% successful.

Sixteen years ago today, Marcus and I decided we were going to give it a go as a couple. Since our anniversary fell during his work week this year, we celebrated early on Sunday with our usual anniversary dinner fare...Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster.

I never thought it possible, but I really do love him more and more with each passing year.

Happy Anniversary, Dear, here's to many more!

You are Seagreen #2E8B57

Your dominant hues are cyan and green. Although you definitely strive to be logical, you care about people and know there's a time and place for thinking emotionally. Your head rules most things, but your heart rules others, and getting them to meet in the middle takes a lot of your energy some days. Your saturation level is higher than average - You know what you want, but sometimes know not to tell everyone. You value accomplishments and know you can get the job done, so don't be afraid to run out and make things happen. Your outlook on life can be bright or dark, depending on the situation. You are flexible and see things objectively.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Hmmm....my two most favorite colors are blue and green. Interesting.

People, just like Comic Sans before it, STOP USING PAPYRUS as the font on freaking everything. It used to have a place and your overuse and misuse of it has ruined it for me.

Thank you...that is all.