Unwinding

I have been knitting since I was in elementary school and crocheting since I was in my 20s, so I know a lot about yarn performance. Back in the day, it was what would be called fancy yarns by today’s standards: cashmere, nylon/rayon blends, all-cotton, and yes, silk. I used to have to save my babysitting money to purchase yarn that was sometimes 25 cents a skein, and sometimes a dollar or more a skein. I began making washcloths out of 100% cotton yarn and still enjoy making them today. I found the repetitious motions of using my hands very calming, which is still true.

Today I received a shipment of yarn I purchased on sale through a website KnitPicks. There are 4 skeins of 4-ply Felici Worsted in the pile which I intended to use to make a fancy scarf pattern for future gift-giving at the holidays. I excitedly located my pattern and picked out the “test” yarn to see if this pattern is all I think it’s going to be, and started the 282-stitch chain. The yarn kept splitting and shredding with every stitch, making it impossible to pull through the loop that is part of the chain. I persevered and was finally able to get the chain the correct length, then started on the actual pattern – which was infuriating as the yarn continued to split apart with each stitch I tried to crochet! For every stitch I made, I had to undo it and try to get the 4 plies of the yarn together so I could complete the stitch. It was my stubborn inner core that kept me at it –but I’m not going to use this yarn for anything after today’s experience.

This yarn is labeled “special reserve,” and I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds like the maker is pretty darned pleased with this skein of yarn. I’m not sure why, however, as it is the poorest quality yarn I’ve ever bought! Because this first attempt is a test of the pattern, I have cussed my way through half of the scarf and will find a way to finish it tomorrow. I can’t use this garment because it’s not smooth and uniform the way a crochet stitch scarf usually looks—and it will look far too “handmade” for me to feel any pride in my accomplishment of finishing it.

What a downer!!

Yes, I can return the yarn and get my money back, but it’s only 4 skeins of the yarn and the cost of the return postage will negate the amount in a refund. I have sent an email message to Knit Picks expressing my dissatisfaction with the product, so maybe they will have “someone” take a look at the quality of this yarn and second-guess the decision to market it.

Freekeh and Labneh

Tonight's dinner included freekeh, a grain that we both really liked. It, too, took 25 minutes at a boil to cook until tender, but once it was cooked, we added cooked kale that had been seasoned with lemon, garlic, dates and s&p. Once we piled the freekeh on our plates, we added the cooked salmon and then poured labneh, a "cream" sauce, over the top.

Dinner was delicious. Again. I really enjoy Blue Apron and cooking with Y ... who also does dishes.

There Are People for That

While I believe that Mrs. Trump looks nice in the deep red sundress she wore while escorting the President of China and his wife, the style was inappropriate for the occasion. Chinese women do not expose their upper chest and bare arms: a woman who exposes herself in that way is probably a prostitute, according to my source. A jacket should have been part of the ensemble to keep Mrs. Trump from inadvertently making the President of China and his demure wife uncomfortable.

The good news is that the dress was red, which is a nod toward the "colors" of China, as reflected in their flag. Whether that was intentional and/or appropriate, I have no idea, but Mrs. Trump would not deliberately dress inappropriately as she strikes me as the kind of woman for whom protocol and appearance are important.

I have always thought that both the American President and his First Lady were given "people" to help them with proper attire and conduct anywhere in the world and for any (work) event. No one can assume to know what is or what is not acceptable in any given country and/or for any given religious belief unless that is his/her job to research and know.

This is early times in the administration, so if the outfit was inadvertently inappropriate, time will smooth out the wardrobe wrinkles.

Lentils

I don't like lentils. Didn't know that until we cooked them as part of the Blue Apron chicken dinner. They take a full 25 minutes of boiling to be prepared and we seasoned them with the included seasoning, but it wasn't worth the effort because they simply don't taste good. I can't describe the taste, but it's sort of a grainy dried pea taste -- and I can do without it.

If we live long enough, there are still things to learn.

Inspired by Blue Apron

Today, Y decided he would cook our Sunday dinner without my assistance. First step: decide on a menu; second step: drive all the way to Indian Wells to shop at KitchenKitchen, which features any and everything one could possibly want/need in a kitchen. Third step: off to the grocery store to purchase steaks, kale, and some fresh veggies/fruit. With all the supplies in hand, the kitchen was off-limits to me and Y began singing and prepping.

The end result was a delicious steak dinner. He first marinated the steak, then pan seared it, and finished it by spooning melted butter over the sear. He cut the steak into bite-sized pieces that he then arranged on a wooden serving plank he had purchased at K-K. Next, he made the kale the same way we had it from Blue Apron: wilted with olive oil, garlic, and some fresh lemon squeeze. Finally, since we've both learned it's all about the presentation, he cut one of the fresh oranges to look like a crab with blueberry eyes and served the kale with a paper umbrella.

Voila! He was tickled with the whole process and, of course, the meal, and it was a joy for me to see him so happy. We did the dishes together, then set ourselves down for a small bowl of ice cream to finish off the event.

Blue Apron has stoked a fire in Y to learn more about prep and cooking, which includes doing the steps in the correct order to end up with everything on the plate and hot at the same time. I'm really proud of his accomplishment and I'm happy that he's happy, too.