Sunday Happy

Welp it is April and that means the winter stuff is getting laundered and pushed to the back of the closet, that the heavy down comforter is getting replaced with a medium weight blanket, and the heat, its off! Yeah I am a winter person, but spring, spring is my near second and I am raring and ready for it. All I want to do is play in the dirt. I want to get dirty!

Phew. That is what I am saying after this week. I went kind of hard at it beause I needed to. I spent a lot of time on my feet, glazing all the pots, loading kilns, unloading kilns, sanding and packing all those pots. It was a mad dash to get the work done for the market but I did so it was good, even if I was dealing with emotions of the emotional kind cause like dead brother day and all. Oh Sean, I wish I could kick your ass.

It was also my moms birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM) and because I am me, the cook and baker, I was tasked with the birthday food for the birthday dinner. Long story short, I spent a better part of a day in the kitchen covered in flour making all the things. And I might have slightly burned a pie crust and stunk up the house while I was at it but it all turned out fantastic, moms loved her food and I spritzed lots of lavender and open all the windows in the house, to get rid of the smell so it ended well.

Yesterday was the Makers Market at the garden center, the one that I have been busting ass to make pots for for the past few weeks. I woke up real early, went for a sunrise run and almost fell into the pond (the trail is completely flooded and I wasn’t paying attention), drank all the coffee, and headed to the greenhouse and set up amongst all the plants. It was amazing. I got to walk around the greenhouse and take whatever plants I wanted for my display. (That was just the best). Plus a bunch of my people stopped in and said hi which was so sweet and made me happy. And it didn't hurt that I sold a lot of pots (made packing up soooo soooo much easier) . The whole day was a great success.. And a quick shout out to the mr for all his help. He really is a keeper.

And it’s Sunday and I am officially tapped out. The day of human interaction yesterday sucked all the extroverted energy I had stored from the past 2 years out of me. I feel caught up with seeing people now and can happily shut myself away again for another few years. Haha, but for real. Like seriously. So other then hiding from everyone today I think for the first time in a while I am not going to try and do a million things and work and be all crazy. Or I am but without any outside pressure because what I really want to do is spend the day cleaning out all the closets, deep clean my studio, clean out the garden beds, clean out the car, go for a hike, climb a mountain…. Obviously I can’t do ALL of that but damned if I won’t try. I. think it’s a spring adrenaline rush but who knows. I also might just crash and burn on the couch and read all day. Wouldn't be too terribly mad about that. I am a bit tired. 😁

Internet from the week.

-Hey mr. Please turn off you shit thank you very much. Sleeping with even a little bit of light isn't good for your health, study shows.

-Music Therapy Is More Powerful Than You Might Think. Music can make me smile, laugh, cry, and rage. It touches all the emotions.

-The light from this star that astronomers just spotted is 12.9 billion years old. Just wow.

-I cringed so hard reading these stories. As a landlord I can’t comprehend how someone could “fix” the way these landlords do but the thing is, I know it happened. We refer to these people as SLUMLORDS! 12 Horrible Stories of Grim Landlord DIY Fixes

-I don’t care how delightful you think a fruit sticker is, I cannot stand them. They drive me crazy and are straight up right there with candy wrappers …they make me want to gag. But that’s me. The delightful history of fruit stickers, the world’s tiniest canvases for graphic design

-We have come a far way. The new sober-ish. Tiny doses of magic mushrooms, LSD, and cannabis have hit wellness culture, while the stigma around the drugs recedes. Just don’t be stupid about it.

-For 35 years, Birkenstock lovers nationwide have sent worn-down shoes to this Kansas cobblery. Back in my teenage days I had couple pairs that went to the cobbler for new corks. God I wore the shit out of those sandals, in fact they were the only shoes I wore for many years, through the snow and all. (My toes are kinda fucked for it. Ha! )

-You don’t need to do anything but should you? Do You Really Need to Bake With a Scale?

-Then there is this. It’s Time to Talk About... Poop-Swoop Foods

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

Summer at it’s fullest and greatest. And not so great, at it’s hottest. At least this past week was freaking amazing, especially compared to last weekend. That humid heat damn near killed me!

The week started off with a soggy hike and a heat soaked day of camping and fun times. Groton State forest, at the Stillwater campground. The mr and I were both a little drained and tired from being so so hot but we managed alright, went and did some hiking, the mr did a little fishing, I sat around and read. The normal, just a little slower then usually. But it all changed that night. We woke up and walked down to the water to watch the sunrise and take in the fresh, glorious, air. It was not hot and humid and we was alive again. HA

Then after camp, home we went, back to the week. Stuff happened, like stuff that needed to happen, like those taxes that I have not wanted to talk about… They are pretty much done. HOORAY!!! All the ups and downs. The few tears, the rage, the anxiety. Over. And now I can stop worring about them for a least a few more months, until next year that is. Because every year. Blah. Stupid taxes.

Besides taxes, there was a dentist appointment that I sat around and waited for but never got to be seen. (SO PISSED) Paul came over for resume help and food. The mr, Barb, Coco, and I spent an afternoon at the park. I weeded for hours in the garden. And lets talk about the garden. Whoa it is going and going. Right now it’s all about the squash, chard, and greens and the tomatoes will be booming soon!!!!!!!!!! That on top of farm share, well I am just one happy, full to the brim, lady.

The rest of the week was and went.

Friday I worked the studio all day then the mr and the littles picked me up. We ran to the store to get supplies, then went home for our first backyard campout. The rule was, besides me, no one was allowed inside at all until just before bed time to use the bathroom and brush our teeth. (Or to go number two. They needed to use the toilet for that. Ha). And so I got dinner stuff ready (In the house but I needed to use the fridge and because I could), we ate dinner at the picnic table, set up the tents, made a fire, did so-mores, played with fire, and the kids ran around hopped up on sugar. We went to the park, walked around the neighborhood, and when it got dark, lit up some sparklers. It was the best! The kids were so happy, the mr and I were happy to be camping again, even if it was just the backyard, and really, it just was so great. Even when we were in our tent trying to fall asleep and all I could hear was Miley and Judah whispering and giggling and playing cards in their tent. Because that is what you do when you camp and it had me falling asleep smiling.

When we woke up (I woke up 3 hours earlier then everyone, made a pot of coffee and read on the porch) the breakfast stuff was ready outside. Eggs and toast on the camp stove. Hot chocolate, and freshly picked raspberries from the bushes in the yard. Then back to the park, and home they went. Probably some of the best camping yet. And now that we know they are awesome in a tent, we are taking them to a state park in the next few weeks. That’s gonna be fun.

Today we are heading south to camp. Lake St. Katherine or maybe Half Moon. Not sure yet. The plan is to get close and see which one feels right. We were going to bring the kayaks but It might rain and thunderstorm during the afternoon and tonight so I figured we can just go hiking instead. I would rather be in the woods and not in the middle of the lake during a lightning storm. That would kind of suck. But watch, it probably won’t rain, and even if it does, I am ok with that. We won’t melt.

Endeavors into the world wide web.

-IKEA Upcycles Furniture Into Homes For Birds, Bees, ​and Bats. Some sweet ass, fun-tastic looking homes for those birds, bees, and bats.

-I am not a beach person, partially because of this. Sun, Sand And Sewage: Report Shows Many U.S. Beaches Unsafe For Swimming. Happens here in Burlington too.

-What are algae blooms and why are they bad?. Another reason I avoid the beach.

-Questions We All Ask Ourselves: Why Does the Beanbag Chair Even Exist? Because who doesn’t love to sink into big ol’ bean bag?

-I can’t wait until the fennel starts flowing at the farm. It is the BEST! Fennel: The Best Ways to Pick It, Cook It, and Eat It

-Why Science Can Be So Indecisive About Nutrition. There is always something about something. Heck, even kale was bad for you at one point.

-This common plastic packaging is a recycling nightmare. When is the plastic craziness going to stop? And when are people going learn that just because it says it is recyclable, doesn’t mean that it is actually going to be recycled. We should just stop worring about recycling and focus more on reducing freaking plastic all together.

-Not sure what I think about this. Petition to change date of Halloween gets more than 80,000 signatures

-Soemthing about these photgraphs that I really like. Murky waters: Karine Laval’s dreamy photography takes you from the deep end to a surreal space

-A Needle Pulling Thread. Sashiko is the perfect simple, low-cost hobby to get you off your phone. Or just have another hobby. I have been meaning to Sashiko all the big holes in my couch cushions.. Maybe it will be my winter project?

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

Forecasters are calling for a stormy week, supposedly starting today. And you know what, I really hope that we get it, and get it all. Everything is so dry and crunchy and we just need rain. I need rain. Too many sunny days in a row actually start to have an opposite effect on me. I get cranky. I need some overcast and gloom. It helps my brain. That might sound crazy, but I know I am not the only one. (right?) Anyway, we need the rain so it better freaking rain. 

Just another mid summer week.  The mr was all week work work working, I did some work, but was not overly busy, I kind of was feeling like shit, especially the beginning of the week. Super hot Monday followed by hot and humid Tuesday just felt like a slap in the face. I am, and I think that we are all, officially over the hot humid shit. It is just too much. I feed Megans evil cat all week which was annoying since that cat basically tries to kill me everytime I look at him (he really is a mean little fucker). Barb and I had a mid week meet up at the farm for green bean and flower picking, Now I have so so so many beans because  I have been doing a lot of picking of all sorts of tasty things, including beans, at home in the garden (so many raspberries, not to mention all of the kale (Happy dance me))  Pretty soon it's going to be an onset of so much food. I am getting ready. The chest freezer is plugged in, got some more  canning jars and freezer bags. Bring it on I say. I'l take it, I'll take it all. Which bring me to Thursday Farm share. Got the first tomatoes of the season (whoop whoop)  and had to stop myself from shoveling them all down my throat. I decided to try and be proactive this year and not overdue the tomatoes and give myself hella shitty reflux. We will see how I do. 

Friday we had plans for a tree house picnic with the littles but it ended up turning into a front porch picnic. To many people to fit way up high in that tree. It's all about safety first. We had (not me, I ate lettuce zucchini bowl) cucumbers, green beans, peaches, and fluffernutters. Miley and Judah  were not so impressed because they get to eat that shit whenever, but Barb. Oh was she excited for the fluff, just shoving it down like a champ. Haha. And Coco, that little dude can eat. He picked himself a giant cucumber from the garden and managed to eat just about all of it, this is after he ate like a quart of berries and a bunch of green beans. That little, he knows the way to my heart. 

And then somehow while we were taking our after dinner stroll around the block, the mr fell off of Miley's scooter and like maybe broke his wrist....For real, his wrist yersterday was like a ballon and he can barely move it.  I went to work at the studio (loaded a glaze kiln... I am so good at loading glaze kilns) and came back to bags of half frozen corn and peas leaking juice all over and the most miserable mr I have seen in a long time. HIs wrist was hurting him way bad.  SO two things, the littles are to NEVER ride a scooter without the proper head gear and maybe some wrist pads again and maybe not at my house for a while and  the mr is just straight up NEVER to ride a scooter EVER again. Broken wrist or not. He doesn't have a helmet. And I can't deal with a miserable mr. 

Today depends on how the mr is when he wakes up. If his wrist is still really swollen and he is miserable, I am going to run away...HA, no , I am going to drag his ass to the X-ray place and get his wrist looked at. If he is feeling better, well then I am going   bike into town to the gym, hit up the old library, hope for rain, but that it doesn't start til I get home from said library ( but really I will be ok, my back pack is waterproof so I can handle a little rain) do a few errands with the mr and then veg out for the rest of the asfternoon. I am really hoping for the latter of the two.

Internet from the week.

-Heat Making You Lethargic? Research Shows It Can Slow Your Brain, Too.  Finally some science to explain why I am garbage when I am hot.

-FDA Outlook on Plant-Based 'Milk' Is Bleak: "An Almond Doesn’t Lactate". Hahaha. No almonds do not... And not sure I care what they call plant based "milks".. maybe I should? And think of the possibilities of a new name... Almond hey yeah!

-In love. Vintage Summer: A Seventies-Style Shoppable Airbnb in Montauk

-Are We Really as Awful as We Act Online? Oh shit, some of the things people say. I don't know, sometime I think people are even worse...

-I think we are going to buy this tent. I would have already but I am trying to find it for cheaper (I have found it for 299.. still want it to be cheaper though), maybe wait for a sale? I don't know, but it is the tent that we want. 

-The Lawless Energy of Teen-Age Girls. I don't know why, but I really connected with these photos. Maybe it's because I was a teenage girl at one point, and I am pretty sure I did karate in a field too. 

-Buffy was the best, like seriously kick ass cool. A 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Reboot Is Reportedly In The Works

-What's the Difference Between Persian & English Cucumbers? I guess size matters. 

-I want so very much to see one of these performances. I mean, a ballet at a farm, pretty fantastic. Maybe I'll surprise the mr and bring him or...Maybe he will surprise me.  Farm to Ballet Project. 

-Inside a mostly faded culture on Norway’s border with Sweden. Magical farmers. Take me there. 

Pictures from the week 

Happy Sunday!

-C

Sunday Happy

The ladies are home in their hive, living the life that bees live. We have a great view of them from the window on the porch and when you are just sitting there quite, you can hear them buzzing. It's a great spot if you want to just sit there and watch them. (without getting mosquito bites)  Bees, in and out, doing their little flight dance up into the sky. It's mesmerizing. 

The week was good, if not a little hectic. The last week of May always is. It is time for apartment turn overs so we had few people moving out and in, plus the mr has been doing side work all week and has been crazy all out all day, everyday. So things have been busy. But we still managed to get in dinner at Shannons, a evening on Mills river, and even a nice bike ride. Then there are my new garden woes. I have been spending more time then I really want to around the garden, keeping the slugs away because the cooper strip doesn't do shit, (I am now hand picking the fuckers and sticking them in a bowl of water. The birds love it) and getting an insane amounts of mosquito bites. I don't think I have ever been bitten on the face as much as I have been in he past week. And I have noticed that bubmble bees have made a home under one of the raised beds which also sucks because it 's right where I walk and I have almost collapsed there spot. I wish I could get them to move so I don't accidentally kill them so I am going to do a little research and see what I can do. Plus squirrels. I hate them right now and that is about as much as I can do or say on that subject. Anyway, On top of the garden and all the running around for people and life,  I mowed the lawn, cleaned the car, adjusted the kitchen cabinets, and got rid of a bunch of shit. We are so, what can I say,  productive? Or is it, In need of a vacation?  So soon, so soon. The van life is calling our names.....

Today is got a lot going for it. It is suppose to be beautiful, I have a stack of books, some wood to carve, some canvas to paint. My bike tires are still inflated and haven't popped yet (I really need new tires) so I am definitely going for a bike ride, and maybe the mr and I will adventure to do some picnicking while I read and he fishes. A well needed take it easy day. 

The world of the wide web.

-Um, yes. I have listened to this many many times. Weezer Covers Toto's 'Africa,'

-Read This Story and Get Happier. Oh, well ok. Doesn't hurt, right? 

-Going to do some wild foraging for stuff to make some stuff, like medicinal stuff. Guide to Making Tinctures

-YOU'VE NEVER SEEN WAVES LIKE THIS BEFORE. Erie and beautiful.

-I want it but have no need for it. Maybe get it and save for a later house? Fabulous vintage square bathtub

 -The Pits: An Endearing Short Film Follows a Lonely Avocado Searching NYC for its Other Half The music makes it great.

-If only I didn't already live here. VERMONT WILL PAY YOU $10,000 TO MOVE THERE AND WORK FROM HOME

-Naked-Eye Asteroid and More Can't-Miss Sky Events in June

-I follow a lot of plant people and I must say that those are my favorite pictures, but I am a crazy plant lady so.... Plant People Are Rarely Bullies”: The Leafy, Zen Corner of the Internet That Is Plant Instagram

-You, Too, Can Make a Fancy-Schmancy Pie Crust. I think I am gonna give it a go this week, or maybe next week. I'll wait for fresh peaches.

Pictures from the week

-C

Sunday Happy

So much to catch up on. Skipped last Sunday because the mr and I were in RI visiting my family. After a fantastic visit with the fam (more to come in a separate post, I need to go through the pictures) we came home all happy and full of love and amped for the week which was a good thing becausethe past week was packed.

The school system was still on strike so we spent a bunch of time with the littles, playing with chalk and trashing my house. Then there was the afternoon fun run out to the islands for ice cream with Barb. A strike day cone with all the sprinkles because why not.  The teacher strike ended and they all went back to school.(finally)  I spent a lot of time over at the loft going through all the shit in the basement and getting rid of things that are not and do not and should not. Which lead to me home cleaning out my closet and getting rid of a bunch of clothes as well. I am on a purge right now and if it (whatever it is) hasn't seen any action recently it's gone. And the garden. still so many tomatoes. I have never had or seen so many tomatoes come from one persons back yard before and beside a bed of beets and kale, are the only thing left standing in garden now because I pulled up the rest of the garden. The purge continued on the outside of the house too. I basically just want to get rid of everything. Fresh and clean and minimal and covered in tomatoes.

Up until just this past week, the mr and I have been doing our laundry over at the loft. It is annoying to shlep dirty clothes but we just figured that we are getting a new washer and dryer so no need to kill ourselves moving them from one basement to another. We shelp, we deal, it's fine. But what is not fine is that we no longer have a washer!!! One of our tenants washers one of the other buildings broke. so what was the solutions? Give them our washer. AAHHH! And me being me will not buy a new washer/dryer until they are sale which will be black Friday sales that happen in November. 6 weeks, at the very least, but it's cool. I will just go back to doing what we did before we got a washer and dryer, I'll just got do it at Shannon's house, which a win win because I get my laundry done and Shannon gets to hang out with me! HA

On top of the washer situation , the mr computer crashed. Of course right? He is dealing like a champ and functioning very well with just using his phone for all of his email and communication needs. I am impressed because when my computer crashed a few years ago I flipped my shit. And now I am really worried that my computer is going to die too because we have the same computers. Eek!

Jackson, my oldest nephew turn 16!!!. I can't even believe how old he is. The mr and I were just reminiscing about when we first starting dating (15 years ago) that we would go on "dates" that actually were us babysitting Jack. Little Jack and his hockey stick that he used as a weapon. Those were some crazy days. And now he is old and tall(er) and one of my favorite 16 year old kids. And how cute, he actually wanted a family birthday party. So I made a giant oreo cookie cake, the entire family packed into Shannon's house and no one fought or got injured! Best part, Shannon wrapped up a set of car keys and gave it to Jack. AFter he opened them he got so excited and ran outside to check out his new car. As he opened the door he stepped on something and looked down. He stepped on his new toy car.. HAHAHAHAHA. The look on that kids face. He was crushed and it was amazing. We are asshole people but it's ok because it is with love.

Yesterday the mr and I went to the annual harvest market in Underhill and did a little road side apple picking. It was a sunny and hot day which kind of killed the fall vibe. I was sweating and we passed on hot apple cider because it 80ish and just to hot. But I did score a pretty cool jar with ducks on it so it was not a complete wash.

And topper. Got home from a day out, kind of tired and just want to clean and relax and the mr gets all excited and crazy. There is a shasta camper for sale and he wants it gone now. "Oh yeah, well go and get it" is what I said and so we did. Drove out to up there Vermont and paid a young man a very very tiny fee to tow a pretty beat up, but still tow-able 1970's shasta camper home. Huh, that just happened didn't it? Oh jeeze, we have a freaking (non functional because it needs to be renovated)  camper in the driveway.

And that was just some of the past 6 day.

Today is going to be a lax day? I need to be able to have no set plan and just kind of do what comes to me (except I need to go to grocery store and return library books pick out tile because we are finally finishing off the downstairs bathroom this week) But other then that.

Internet fun from the past weeks

-This sucks. USDA Warns That Millions of Pounds of Fake ‘Organic’ Imports Are Pouring Into U.S And this is why it is important to know your farmer and buy local.

-How Has The Geology Of Vermont Affected Its Character?

-I love Melissa McCarthy (who doesn't) Trailer for ‘Cook-Off!’

-Shasta campers. Our is a 14 ft? Maybe, It was dark and weird and I haven't really even gotten a good look.

-Restoring VW Beetles, Buses ... And Dreams. Is it crazy that we still want a bus? Maybe the camper will quench our dreams.

-Nugget ice is pretty fantastic and this ice machine makes it for you at home. No more stealing ice from the hospital (the mr got hooked on the nugget ice from all the hospital trips over the years)

-Vegan hard boiled eggs..... Don't really understand it.

-Does Happiness Really Make You Healthier? It Depends on Where You Live.

-The view from the top is fantastic. The birds get it all.  Aerial Images of Vibrant Landscapes

Ans some pictures from the week.

Have a great day!

-C