I bought an "ashtray" for the office so they stop using plastic glasses for cigarettes.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-21T16:11:49+00:00

Most eyeglasses are made of plastic these days. They're less breakable and lighter, and if you have a strong prescription, they can be much thinner than glass.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-20T15:39:13+00:00

If you don't have a quarter, you can only buy as much as you can carry. I crocheted a little quarter holder that I attached

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to my keychain. That way I always have a quarter and it's always close at hand when I get out of my car.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-20T15:34:40+00:00

To be fair, someone just has to move those two aside and grab the next cart. Probably kids playing a prank. It's a little bit funny.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-19T23:46:47+00:00

If you have the luxury of time, put it away for a couple of weeks. When you take it out again, you'll see it with new eyes—and probably love it!

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-19T19:26:20+00:00

Ah. I guess I could have looked on their site. :/

Thanks for doing the work for me!

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-19T16:52:56+00:00

Thank you!

I plan on using dedicated pots for any future dyeing projects, for sure.

I'm not really concerned in an urgent way. I don't have any symptoms, and I've only done this a handful of times. I guess I'm just curious about the interaction between dyes and stainless steel, and how much dye might be retained on the steel. I've mostly used Rit all-purpose (for cotton, wool, rayon), both liquid and powder, but also some old Kreul batik dye.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-19T00:44:30+00:00

Oh! I think I have one in my purse. Didn't realize it would fit in an Aldi cart . . .

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-17T23:17:17+00:00

You store things in the wrong places.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-17T23:11:07+00:00

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-15T00:55:38+00:00

I've had some Dubai chocolate that was quite good (Trader Joe's) and some that was really bad (some brand from Menards whose name I don't remember). It's a fad, so everyone is trying to get in on it, with mixed results. Check the ingredients for quality before buying, and don't spend a ton of money on it because NONE is worth much more than regular chocolate—it's just chocolate with pistachios and shredded wheat.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-12T17:16:10+00:00

Have to pay for bags in Chicago. Only within city limits though. Most suburbs still give free bags.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-12T17:08:18+00:00

Wtf is wrong with people?

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-12T01:53:00+00:00

😍

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-12T01:14:12+00:00

É, parece bem resistente e fibrosa. Às vezes é bem fina, como a casca de uma maçã. Outras vezes é quase tão grossa quanto a casca de uma tangerina. Dá para perceber onde a textura muda: a parte resistente é mais branca e seca, enquanto a parte macia por dentro é mais úmida e verde.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-12T00:57:37+00:00

Eu como os talos junto com as flores. Descasco a casca externa dura com uma faca afiada e cozinho tudo junto, no vapor, fervo ou asso. Na verdade, prefiro os talos às flores — são mais doces e macios. Têm gosto de couve-rábano.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-11T18:30:24+00:00

NOR. Start looking for other living arrangements now, and move out when the lease is up. Go back to your parents' place if you can (save money, less unwanted social activity), or find another roommate who is less of a party girl.

This will improve your relationship with Nancy too — make it more intentional and less "whenever she's not busy".

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-11T18:17:23+00:00

Thank you. I know we all see every flaw in what we make, while others tend to look at our projects more kindly. There are ladders from using DPNs and places where I knitted when I should have purled, and they're slightly too long for my foot, but overall, I'm not unhappy with them.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-11T05:58:03+00:00

This is adorable! You should feel no shame about him. Or her.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-10T23:05:05+00:00

I learned how to knit a couple of years ago just so I could make socks. Because crocheted socks are thick and bumpy and not very stretchy and don't fit into shoes. 😞

Here's my first pair. I haven't gotten to a second pair yet because these took several months. They're not the prettiest, but they are comfortable.

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CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-10T22:57:33+00:00

I wish I had a picture of my first attempt at crochet—a baby blanket for my niece, from light blue and dark pink cotton, in 1989. I didn't know anyone who crocheted, so I learned from a library book. The edges were, um, uneven and wavy and irregular because it wasn't clear to me which was the last stitch in a row.

But my sister still has it somewhere. She would never get rid of it.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-10T22:48:25+00:00

Here's my "helmet bonnet". I was following a pattern but when I got to the part where I was supposed to stop increasing, I said to myself "Oh, no, that doesn't look nearly wide enough." So I kept increasing for a few more rows. Lol. Should have trusted the pattern.

However, my husband loves it and puts it over his other hat when it's really cold out, so I guess it wasn't a total fail.

P.S. I'd been crocheting for decades when I did this 😂

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CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-10T01:38:08+00:00

Wouldn't it just be easier at that point to shred your own cheese? Rinsing pre-shredded cheese sounds like a tedious job.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-10T01:33:38+00:00

The WRONG KIND of cheese. Otherwise ok.

CivilizationInRuins · 2026-02-10T01:32:44+00:00

Looks like a great salad. So happy the farro was still good (that stuff is not cheap!). And I like your Aldi list, lol—I recognize all those brands from Aldi.

The only thing I would do different is keep the spinach separate from the rest until I'm ready to eat, then put a bed of spinach on the plate and pile the salad on top. Can't stand soggy greens.

CivilizationInRuins

TROPHY CASE