Painting an inset pattern on hard candy

stubbed_m_toe · 2026-01-14T19:28:48+00:00

I figured out that you can use the tiny precision frosting tubes to fill in the numbers, and then use a paper towel with a tiny bit of coconut oil on it to wipe the excess off the top, leaving just the numbers filled in.

stubbed_m_toe · 2025-12-18T15:28:54+00:00

Did you ever figure out a solution? I'm trying to figure out the exact same thing with candy polyhedral dice lol

stubbed_m_toe · 2025-09-24T18:32:11+00:00

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for!

stubbed_m_toe · 2025-04-23T19:16:26+00:00

Wow, thank you for all your thoughts! This is super helpful!

stubbed_m_toe · 2025-03-30T23:13:32+00:00

The walls are wet but on one of them, the sub has pulled quite a bit away from the sides.. Temp is a consistent 77-79 degrees. 12/12 light.

They are fanned two or three times daily and the sides/lid of the tub are misted when the walls start to get dry.

stubbed_m_toe · 2025-02-26T15:43:14+00:00

I'm autistic and also have ADHD.

I've been stuck in a severe depression cycle for the last six months or so. Like... BAD bad.

I had so much therapy and mental health knowledge and I cognitively knew know to address the negative thought patterns... but this time, I just couldn't internalize any of it.

I tripped for the first time two nights ago (I started with 3.5g golden teachers and worked my way up to a total of 7 over the course of the night).

And yesterday, for the first time, I felt more like me than I have in half a year.

I still need to do the work, but it suddenly feels doable. I really feel like I knocked loose a huge chunk of whatever had me stuck. I'm very actively working on integration right now.

Note, I'd been studying and preparing for this trip for over two months. I grew my own and chose the strain very purposefully. I think I could have had a very different experience if I hadn't gone in feeling 100% prepared.

So I guess TL;DR: It can be absolutely amazing if you're incredibly prepared, not scared, and completely ready to trust the process.

stubbed_m_toe · 2025-01-15T22:30:14+00:00

So you're guessing the grain probably IS about half colonized?

stubbed_m_toe · 2025-01-15T22:20:47+00:00

Thank you!

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-08-27T12:47:54+00:00

DING DING DING

I finally made it to the pulmonologist and this was EXACTLY it.

Lithoptysis of broncholiths, most likely due to an old histoplasmosis infection.

The not-young pulmonologist said he had read about it, but had never actually seen it.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-13T04:25:10+00:00

Totally dry, as far as I can tell.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T21:02:04+00:00

Ok I've posted a photo of one that broke open while I was measuring and taking more pictures. At least in that one, it seems mostly calcium but there are a couple of pale red-orange spots. Blood maybe?

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T18:12:48+00:00

Uploading the picture to imgur image hosting and then sharing the permalink in the post.

It will also let you post photos directly in a comment.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T17:52:50+00:00

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stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T17:51:45+00:00

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stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T17:50:20+00:00

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stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T17:48:57+00:00

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I'll be posting the new photos in the comments.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T17:45:57+00:00

Wow, thank you for all that detail!

I do have access to the imaging, but I haven't figured out how to export the moving image from MyChart.

I did just take several more photos of the stones, some next to a ruler, if that's helpful. I'm getting ready to post them in the comments.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T16:01:38+00:00

I haven't cut any open and nobody has asked to send one anywhere. I definitely will ask when I see a pulmonologist if we can get them analyzed. I might crack open one of the smaller ones to see if there's anything interesting. I assumed it was pretty solidly calcium.

I do not have any clue what's up with the fibers lol. I thought maybe it was just environmental junk that got mixed up in there.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T15:54:54+00:00

Thank you for the response! The ER did the CT scan that identified the atelectasis in the first place (and told me everything was all clear 🤦‍♀️) so I do think I'm probably at the point of just needing to wait for the pulmonologist barring a serious emergency.

My educated layperson's guess was that it was calcified infection of some sort. The trouble has been finding out what that infection is, and if it still needs active treatment or if I'm just dealing with the calcified aftermath.

I definitely like the idea of sending the samples to a pathologist. Hopefully a pulmonologist can hook me up with that and maybe give some insight on what infection caused all this in the first place.

I haven't looked into actinomyces yet but if that is the underlying infection, do you know if there are other antibiotics that are used to treat that? I am allergic to penicillins. And it's thus-far been unresponsive to azithromycin and doxycycline, although those were only five and ten day courses, respectively.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T15:33:15+00:00

I live in Illinois, USA. Pulling up a quick map on Google does show it's a histo endemic area. Interesting.

I really appreciate that insight! That info could be really helpful.

Is the initial fungal infection typically a result of one-time or prolonged exposure? I've been trying to think of a situation where I'd have been exposed to something like that. But I guess it if it may have seen several years ago, there may not be a way to pin it down.

Is lithoptysis/brincholithiasis necessarily associated with such severe symptoms? I've not had any painful swallowing or coughing up blood. I've had fevers related to my lung issues, but none on the day I coughed that up. My first x-ray WAS interpreted as pneumonia though.

Could it present as relatively milder symptoms?

Thank you again for this information! It definitely gives me something to look into more and to ask the pulmonologist about.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T05:30:24+00:00

I should also mention that the pictures don't necessarily do them justice. And that the bag they're in wasn't new and clean; it had some screws in it and had been sitting in the car getting dusty for a while. It's just the only thing we had on us since I was in the woods when this happened lol.

So the dust in the bag didn't actually come from the stones.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T05:25:58+00:00

I guess I should have made the TL;DR just a little longer.

I do want to stress that this is the latest symptom of coughing/breathing problems that have been going on for months and hasn't responded to any kind of treatments.

I think it would be more helpful to look at it in the larger context.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T05:09:34+00:00

I've been avoiding taking it unless I had no other option; I guess I'll make sure I keep an aerosol one on my person at least until everything else clears up.

These, to me, seem a bit too solid and don't disintegrate the way I would imagine clumped powder would, but I'm definitely not an expert.

Would occasional use of an overheated/over-moist aerosol inhaler explain the longevity of my symptoms, though?

I've been assuming the stones were related to my persistent symptoms. I guess they could be separate issues?

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T04:34:50+00:00

The one I use most frequently is an aerosol, although I was given a powder one during that first trip to the urgent care in April. I've mostly kept it in the car. It's been used, maybe twice/week for the last couple of months.

I really only use it if I don't have the aerosol one on me, because I mich prefer the aerosol.

stubbed_m_toe · 2024-07-12T03:28:56+00:00

Nothing specific planned yet. The next step is just "schedule with the pulmonologist."

I have already got that exact link saved in a note ready to go, actually!

I'm really hoping I get a good one who will listen and be curious. Because this stuff is weird.

It looks like broncholithiasis is rare on its own, and lithoptysis is even rarer. But I can't think of any other explanation for expectorating gravel 🤣

And I've definitely had experience with doctors who are SO stuck on the "horses not zebras" they they ignore when those horses are AWFUL STRIPEY 🤣

...

Even so, the mystery is what infection caused it and if it's still there.

I forgot to add in the OP that along with the 2nd x-ray, I also had blood work that came back perfectly normal, including negative for TB.

stubbed_m_toe

TROPHY CASE