Lynne M. Thomas 🏳️🌈🚀🦄 📜
@lynnemthomas.com
Rare Book #Librarian, bereaved parent of Caitlin, #geek. 12x Hugo Award winner. bi/queer. Head @illinoisrbml.bsky.social; Verity podcast; ex-ed/pub Uncanny Magazine. Baby #aerialist. My opinions. she/her. No auto-follow. #DoctorWho #bookhistory #SFF
Sometimes you just need one of the best burgers in the state, now in walking distance, which makes it healthy. I don't make the rules.
January 10, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Sometimes you just need one of the best burgers in the state, now in walking distance, which makes it healthy. I don't make the rules.
Leftover #jamvent: mandarin spread. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter. B+. This is basically a sweeter marmalade with fewer bits in. It’s good, but not life-changing.
January 6, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Leftover #jamvent: mandarin spread. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter. B+. This is basically a sweeter marmalade with fewer bits in. It’s good, but not life-changing.
Leftover #jamvent flavor to start the new year: strawberry passion fruit. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter. The need to balance the passion fruit means less intense strawberry than I’d hoped. B. This is fine, but not super-exciting.
January 1, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Leftover #jamvent flavor to start the new year: strawberry passion fruit. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter. The need to balance the passion fruit means less intense strawberry than I’d hoped. B. This is fine, but not super-exciting.
New Year, new caffeine delivery mechanism.
January 1, 2026 at 1:21 PM
New Year, new caffeine delivery mechanism.
Today’s leftover (from day 16) #jamvent flavor is a returning fave: orange-yuzu-grapefruit. Vehicle: toasted ciabatta with goat cheese. Perfect balance of sweet and pucker with a great citrus punch. I want MORE YUZU in things, it’s great. A.
December 27, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Today’s leftover (from day 16) #jamvent flavor is a returning fave: orange-yuzu-grapefruit. Vehicle: toasted ciabatta with goat cheese. Perfect balance of sweet and pucker with a great citrus punch. I want MORE YUZU in things, it’s great. A.
Yep, it’s definitely “rustic,” but I’m pretty happy with that.
December 25, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Yep, it’s definitely “rustic,” but I’m pretty happy with that.
Our final day of #jamvent ends with a sweet treat: caramel with salted butter. Vehicle: raisin bagel with salted butter. B+. You definitely get caramel, and a bit of salted butter in the finish (even straight from the jar), but the problem is it’s NOT salted caramel which is what I wanted it to be.
December 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Our final day of #jamvent ends with a sweet treat: caramel with salted butter. Vehicle: raisin bagel with salted butter. B+. You definitely get caramel, and a bit of salted butter in the finish (even straight from the jar), but the problem is it’s NOT salted caramel which is what I wanted it to be.
Day 22 of #jamvent is Raspberry-lychee spread. I think I had this last year as well. Vehicle: toasted brioche with salted butter. B+. Strong raspberry flavor; I’m hunting for more than a wave in the direction of lychee, but I’ll definitely enjoy this nonetheless because it’s still dang tasty.
December 22, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Day 22 of #jamvent is Raspberry-lychee spread. I think I had this last year as well. Vehicle: toasted brioche with salted butter. B+. Strong raspberry flavor; I’m hunting for more than a wave in the direction of lychee, but I’ll definitely enjoy this nonetheless because it’s still dang tasty.
#JAMVENT day 21: Strawberry passion fruit spread, put aside as today’s breakfast is savory, but I loved it last year, so it’s another one to look forward to.
December 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
#JAMVENT day 21: Strawberry passion fruit spread, put aside as today’s breakfast is savory, but I loved it last year, so it’s another one to look forward to.
Day 20 of #jamvent is a new flavor: peach-black currant-red Sichuan pepper. I’m intrigued, but it is waiting for another day because I’m eating breakfast out before running all the errands today.
December 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Day 20 of #jamvent is a new flavor: peach-black currant-red Sichuan pepper. I’m intrigued, but it is waiting for another day because I’m eating breakfast out before running all the errands today.
Day 19 of #jamvent is Mandarin spread, but I’m putting it aside for Cherry-pink peppercorn, which I know I enjoyed last time. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with Laughing Cow cheese. Strong cherry, whisper of peppercorn I have to search for. B+
December 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Day 19 of #jamvent is Mandarin spread, but I’m putting it aside for Cherry-pink peppercorn, which I know I enjoyed last time. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with Laughing Cow cheese. Strong cherry, whisper of peppercorn I have to search for. B+
Day 18 of #jamvent is Cherry-pink peppercorn, which I enjoyed a lot last year. I’m having a savory breakfast today, though, so into the cabinet it goes as a treat for Future Me.
December 18, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Day 18 of #jamvent is Cherry-pink peppercorn, which I enjoyed a lot last year. I’m having a savory breakfast today, though, so into the cabinet it goes as a treat for Future Me.
Day 17 of #jamvent: Pear-mandarin-cinnamon spread. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter.B+ I was a little dubious about putting pear & mandarin together (fruit salad vibe) but its’s well balanced, if a bit subtle. I wanted more cinnamon, even if it might overpower the pear and mandarin.
December 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Day 17 of #jamvent: Pear-mandarin-cinnamon spread. Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter.B+ I was a little dubious about putting pear & mandarin together (fruit salad vibe) but its’s well balanced, if a bit subtle. I wanted more cinnamon, even if it might overpower the pear and mandarin.
Today’s #jamvent rewinds to Day 15: Orange-guava-lime spread.
Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter.
B. I thought this would be a lot brighter. I think the balance is off and it needs more lime and slightly less guava. The back end has a slightly off aftertaste. Fine, not great.
Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter.
B. I thought this would be a lot brighter. I think the balance is off and it needs more lime and slightly less guava. The back end has a slightly off aftertaste. Fine, not great.
December 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Today’s #jamvent rewinds to Day 15: Orange-guava-lime spread.
Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter.
B. I thought this would be a lot brighter. I think the balance is off and it needs more lime and slightly less guava. The back end has a slightly off aftertaste. Fine, not great.
Vehicle: toasted sourdough with salted butter.
B. I thought this would be a lot brighter. I think the balance is off and it needs more lime and slightly less guava. The back end has a slightly off aftertaste. Fine, not great.
Day 15 & 16 of #jamvent are both bangers: Orange-guava-lime spread and Orange-Yuzu-Grapefruit spread, but my digestive system wanted eggs yesterday, and high-fiber cereal with banana today, so into the cabinet they go as a treat for later me.
December 15, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Day 15 & 16 of #jamvent are both bangers: Orange-guava-lime spread and Orange-Yuzu-Grapefruit spread, but my digestive system wanted eggs yesterday, and high-fiber cereal with banana today, so into the cabinet they go as a treat for later me.
#jamvent Day 14. Mango ginger. I said “FUCK YEAH” when this came out of the box, and FUCK YEAH when I tasted it. I love both mango & ginger, both are demonstrably present and well balanced. A+, YUM. Absolutely would buy this in full size. Vehicle: baguette with salted butter.
December 13, 2025 at 3:09 PM
#jamvent Day 14. Mango ginger. I said “FUCK YEAH” when this came out of the box, and FUCK YEAH when I tasted it. I love both mango & ginger, both are demonstrably present and well balanced. A+, YUM. Absolutely would buy this in full size. Vehicle: baguette with salted butter.
Day 13 of #jamvent: Apricot-honey spread. Vehicle: toasted baguette with salted butter. B. The apricot flavor isn’t as intense as their regular apricot preserves, and I’m struggling to locate the honey. B. I’m not mad about it, but I don’t think this tweak improved on an existing product.
December 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Day 13 of #jamvent: Apricot-honey spread. Vehicle: toasted baguette with salted butter. B. The apricot flavor isn’t as intense as their regular apricot preserves, and I’m struggling to locate the honey. B. I’m not mad about it, but I don’t think this tweak improved on an existing product.
Day 12 of #jamvent: Red currant-raspberry spread. A. I knew I’d love this because it’s 2 of the “Four Fruits” in one of their regular spreads. Good pucker, balanced tart and bright. It is more of a jelly texture than a jam though—no bits/seeds in it. Vehicle: wheat bagel w/cream cheese.
December 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Day 12 of #jamvent: Red currant-raspberry spread. A. I knew I’d love this because it’s 2 of the “Four Fruits” in one of their regular spreads. Good pucker, balanced tart and bright. It is more of a jelly texture than a jam though—no bits/seeds in it. Vehicle: wheat bagel w/cream cheese.
Day 11 of #jamvent is pineapple-rum-vanilla spread. Vehicle: toasted brioche with salted butter. B. I wanted the flavor to be more intense (I enjoy pineapple); the rum and vanilla were barely scents.
Also, now I am craving pineapple upside down cake; that’s what I *wanted* this jam to remind me of.
Also, now I am craving pineapple upside down cake; that’s what I *wanted* this jam to remind me of.
December 10, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Day 11 of #jamvent is pineapple-rum-vanilla spread. Vehicle: toasted brioche with salted butter. B. I wanted the flavor to be more intense (I enjoy pineapple); the rum and vanilla were barely scents.
Also, now I am craving pineapple upside down cake; that’s what I *wanted* this jam to remind me of.
Also, now I am craving pineapple upside down cake; that’s what I *wanted* this jam to remind me of.
Day 9 of #jamvent is Wild Blueberry-lychee-Rose, which is being put aside for the day 8 flavor, Madagascar vanilla caramel. Vehicle: high protein waffle.
B+. The vanilla is not super-pronounced, but the caramel is also not cloyingly sweet. A lot like a melted candy, really.
B+. The vanilla is not super-pronounced, but the caramel is also not cloyingly sweet. A lot like a melted candy, really.
December 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Day 9 of #jamvent is Wild Blueberry-lychee-Rose, which is being put aside for the day 8 flavor, Madagascar vanilla caramel. Vehicle: high protein waffle.
B+. The vanilla is not super-pronounced, but the caramel is also not cloyingly sweet. A lot like a melted candy, really.
B+. The vanilla is not super-pronounced, but the caramel is also not cloyingly sweet. A lot like a melted candy, really.
Day 8 of #jamvent is White Nectarine-Peach-Lemon Verbena spread. Vehicle: Toasted ciabatta with goat cheese. This one is light, but very tasty and not overly sweet. Nectarine forward, but the verbena doesn’t get lost, which is great.
December 7, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Day 8 of #jamvent is White Nectarine-Peach-Lemon Verbena spread. Vehicle: Toasted ciabatta with goat cheese. This one is light, but very tasty and not overly sweet. Nectarine forward, but the verbena doesn’t get lost, which is great.
Day 7 of #jamvent is Caramel Coffee spread. Vehicle: toasted ciabatta with salted butter.This is good, but not great. Flavors in order of appearance. The caramel is not cloying, but the coffee flavor is definitely in the background at best, so it reads more like a less sweet butterscotch. B+
December 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Day 7 of #jamvent is Caramel Coffee spread. Vehicle: toasted ciabatta with salted butter.This is good, but not great. Flavors in order of appearance. The caramel is not cloying, but the coffee flavor is definitely in the background at best, so it reads more like a less sweet butterscotch. B+
Day 5 of #jamvent: apple-caramel-cinnamon spread. Vehicle: raisin bagel.
B. I wanted this to be intensely flavored like apple butter, and it’s…very much not. Apple is mildly there, caramel and cinnamon require hunting.
Not bad, but didn’t live up to the billing.
B. I wanted this to be intensely flavored like apple butter, and it’s…very much not. Apple is mildly there, caramel and cinnamon require hunting.
Not bad, but didn’t live up to the billing.
December 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Day 5 of #jamvent: apple-caramel-cinnamon spread. Vehicle: raisin bagel.
B. I wanted this to be intensely flavored like apple butter, and it’s…very much not. Apple is mildly there, caramel and cinnamon require hunting.
Not bad, but didn’t live up to the billing.
B. I wanted this to be intensely flavored like apple butter, and it’s…very much not. Apple is mildly there, caramel and cinnamon require hunting.
Not bad, but didn’t live up to the billing.
Day 3 of #jamvent. Plum-pear-star anise spread on wheat bagel with salted butter. Oh, you had better like star anise because it is definitely up front with the plum, pear a bit in the background. YUM. Another combo that screams “holiday” and I’d happily buy full size. A.
December 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Day 3 of #jamvent. Plum-pear-star anise spread on wheat bagel with salted butter. Oh, you had better like star anise because it is definitely up front with the plum, pear a bit in the background. YUM. Another combo that screams “holiday” and I’d happily buy full size. A.