Life's a Stitch

And more recently life’s a creative adventure with some travel thrown in.

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Accomplishments

April 16, 2011

I did it. After many years of good intentions I am officially Diet Coke and caffeine free. Both cold turkey. My method? Remember that bout of food borne illness? As long as I wasn't consuming anything, good or bad, it was an opportunity to quit some vices and not notice the withdrawal symptoms. This was a BIG step for me. For many years Diet Coke was my breakfast drink of choice. And lunch. And dinner…

As a person who used to work in addictions I know that something has to be substituted for the offending chemicals. Nothing drastic as newfound religion or a career change for me. My substitutes are club soda, an occasional diet ginger ale, and a morning decaf espresso. I should note in all honesty, a perfectly reasonable amount of red wine is still in my repertoire of vices.

My other accomplishment was blocking two projects in one weekend:

More on those projects later. Unrelated question: Has anyone tried Great Valley Ancient Grain medly from Costco? I bought some last night and realized the back label with cooking instructions is missing. Does anyone know how to cook them – as in the water to grain ratio? Great Valley has no website.

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13 responses to “Accomplishments”

Beverly

April 16, 2011

Congrats! I know that is hard to do. I still remain addicted to caffeine in the form of coffee every morning! My students would kill me if I quit though. Love the shawls – the top one is Citron! I don’t know the bottom one, but it’s beautiful.

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karen, sil

April 16, 2011

Wow! Congratulations! (No headaches?) Think of all the $$ you’ll save…..you can buy more yarn (or wine), instead. Mightn’t cooking the ancient grain medley be similar to cooking rice?

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Daisy

April 16, 2011

Woah! I bow to your greatness! I’m totally addicted to caffeine and I gave up diet coke for REAL coke! So bad!!! Beautiful shawls! I have 2 that need blocking, too.

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Rosie

April 17, 2011

Good for you Li. I think I will buy some club soda. I have been drinking alot of Diet Green Tea which is good and bad. A new book came out about JFK Junior called “Come to the Edge” by Christian Haag. That will be on my To Read List. Love, Love the Diamond Pattern Shawl??? “Scarf? By the way, I love the History Channel. Too bad you don’t watch TV. You would love it too.

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Rosie

April 17, 2011

How about a mint green snow flake yarn scarf for yours truly for the winter!!! I will pay for the wool and treat you to a nice dinner when you visit some day again. I would treat you anyway scarf or no scarf!

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Jane in NH

April 17, 2011

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!! I am down to one diet coke every other day. Ari. said to me as I was popping one open “Please stop drinking those sodas becuase they have really bad stuff in it and if you stop we can save up to go to China someday” I said I don’t want to go to China and he said ” Then China town in Vancouver” It’s a deal ! I will be diet coke free by the time we come visit you guys this summer so find a good place we can go to in China town in Vancouver !!!

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Kristen

April 18, 2011

Good move! I shifted to decaf tea and coffee some years ago. Last month I wondered why I was feeling headachey and blah, and discovered I’d accidentally been making my coffee with my husband’s nearly identical package of high test all week.

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Rebekah

April 19, 2011

Good job! Its a hard thing to do, I gave up diet soda, well soda of any kind in May 2009, and didn’t have a drop until February 2011. And now all I have is the very very ocassional regular soda. I realized something in the diet soda was making me sick. But I haven’t given up caffeine. I probably should. But its my only real “vice”.

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Lorette

April 21, 2011

I’m glad I never got hooked on soda (or “pop” as I grew up calling it!). Coffee, now, that I couldn’t give up. I do only drink at most two cups a day, but I’d have a hard time parting with it. And red wine is a VICE?? Can’t be true.
No idea for sure about the grain, but most of them are two parts water to one part grain, bring to a boil, turn down to low simmer, cover and cook until water absorbed. That’s where I would start.

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Lene Lonnov

April 21, 2011

I’m impressed!!!!! And glad that you haven’t given up red wine!
I love the triangular shawl (second picture) – it has wonderful colours.

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Nancy

April 21, 2011

Wow that is great! Just a note, we have found that decaf still has a little caffeine in it. Our son has been having some medical problems over the past several months and they couldn’t figure out what it was We were going to have to go to several specialists soon. During one of his episodes we thought it resembled an allergic attack. Sure enough he has developed a caffeine allergy from too much caffeine. Espresso, energy drinks and pre workout supplements. All that to say, last weekend he tried a decaf and instantly started having symptoms. It isn’t much but still in there. Sorry if that was too much info. Ok, now, your scarf and shawl look fantastic! I love the pink one with the ruffle.

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Lynne

April 27, 2011

Congratulations Li! I’m trying to cut the sugar consumption and it’s not going so well. Ugh.
The shawls are beautiful…I’ve missed checking in on you…I can always count on a smile when I read your blog!

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Kathy

July 11, 2011

I found your website through Ravelry. I love your herringbone rib scarf and would love to make it. It is so beautiful. I will come and visit your website again.

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