Sunday Happy

Ok, I think I hit that wall. The wall that all of a sudden I am over it. I am ready for spring, like hella ready. I think what broke was the day I didn't need my coat outside or to wear socks in the house. I just realized how sick of wearing a coat every time I leave the house. And the day I was walking around the house barefoot without socks. Let me tell you, my feet couldn’t have been any happier. And then it got cold again and I am now, well, now I am done. Bring on Spring! (summer can wait, still not ready for that)

As for the week, it was up and down. It started off all good and well. Had a sister dinner at my moms house, we’re getting ready to leave for the week to go see my Dad and Grandmother, but before we got a chance to go, Grammy passed away. Sucky sucky suck. We knew it was going to happen, the old broad was 98 for pets sake, but still. We just thought we were going to be able to get down there and see her before it did. So yeah it’s been kind of a sad week. And because she passed we are waiting til next week to leave now because of funeral and all the jazz.

The rest of the went kind of unscripted and strange. We were all feeling sad and bummed. Also we didn’t have a lot planned because we thought we were leaving, but we also had (have) a lot to do so we tried to get some stuff done. We did take some time to go see green stuff at the garden center, walk in some woods, and hang with the littles. But towards the weekend, we both started to feel like garbage. The mr especially. He was ok and then he was not. The littles slept over Friday night and after we got rid of them Saturday, he crashed and spent the rest of the day pretty much immobile and I still felt like trash. So basically I cleaned house, he slept on the couch, we ate some dinner, we walked around the block before the sun went down, came home and crawled into bed. We watched Waynes World because sheyeah, right, and fell right to sleep. Nothing but boring old us to make your life seem exciting right? Haha.

Today so far I am feeling ok. As for the mr, he hasn’t woken as of yet (I am sure that he has since awaken while some of you are reading this) so I am not sure about him. I am hoping for a full recovery on his part and we can spend some of today doing that shit that we needed to do yesterday, like the chores, but maybe even a little hike or a little walk down by the lake. I need outdoors to wash the yesterday off me.

Links to stuff from the internet that don’t suck.

-Recipe Introductions Matter. Here's Why. If you don’t want to read what I write, well then don’t.

-History and study about the neighborhood where I grew up. ONE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT

-You know what pisses me off? Going to the store and seeing that they are out of celery because it is now what everyone wants to drink. I just wanted to eat it. Is that allowed abymore> Actually, You Can Just Drink Some Water

-This is a thing and it is awesome. A New Book Explores the Wide Range of Charming Homemade Cat Ladders in Switzerland

-I love this TREE HOUSE

-30, no 60 (one for me, one for the mr) outfits that I need to make. AMAZING! HAHA 30 Laughable His-And-Hers Fashions From The 1970s You Wouldn’t Wear In Public Today

-The mr and I were just talking about making artificial coffee for when the world goes to hell and we can not longer grow the bean. Someone also had the somewhat same idea. Atomo: We hacked the coffee bean - invented molecular coffee

-You Can Now Book a Golden Girls Cruise, Complete with Cheesecake, Bingo and More!. A cruise I would take, just as long as I could still go to bed at 7pm. HA

-Poptarts? I guess so. In London, The American Food Aisle Is Filled With Nostalgia And Preservatives

-The dream. Sometimes. I bought a house—and then moved into a van

And some pictures of the week.

Keep it good.

-C

Sunday Happy

Happy Merry Christmas Eve you guys. I hope today and  tomorrow brings rest and relaxation and excitement for all the fa la la las la to come. 

I am excited. And really tired, and maybe a little stressed, but still really excited. We are doing the family Christmas tomorrow at our house, all 23-25 of us. Our house is officially the sponsor of all family gatherings. And because of this, I think that my family should all chip in and buy me a robot vacuum because I think I finally have gotten to that point where I am sick of constantly vacuuming (and the mr is sick of me constantly vacuuming too)  

 We started off  the week strong, with a sense that I had everything done, covered, planned, and no stress. There was a bit of running around, especially for the mr, who was finishing up some jobs, but we got things done. I even got the loft cleaned (again) for Jeff when he gets here (he is coming the day after Christmas) I did a morning of gift wrapping for HANDs, finished up my Christmas shopping, picked up the farm share and made it to the  grocery store before all the food was gone. Things were going smoothly. And good things happened too. I made a chocolate babka wreath for fun. Shannon got the news of a New Year hip (but the mr fixed it with his bandaid and gave her a little penis to boot(see photo below)) Barb got excepted to a college, and I ended up with the most fantastical tree skirt that I have ever seen. A panda bear Christmas. If you new me as a little you would know that I was obsessed with pandas and that this tree skirt is perfection for my young self and gives me all sorts of happy feels. 

And all the snow. I think that we got about 5-6 inches of the most fluffy fun warm stuff that makes the world glow. That was the best. 

Yesterday was a nut of a day. It started out slow but by 11, we had the three littles (Coco aka Emersion, is walking now which makes things a littler more interesting to say the least) over for lunch/christmas present making /newspaper snow flakes. It couldn't have been any more crazy and messy. We started out  painting on fabric to make pillows (the coolest pillows ever) for them to give to their mother. (she doesn't read my blog so she I am not spoiling anything here) That was a mess in itself but we topped that off with trying to eat lunch at the same time. Three starving littles with paint all over, we rushed to get them some food. The mr was making the sandwiches and accidentally smashed the bowl of egg salad on the floor. It was eveywhere, glass and egg, and all sorts of gross, and the kids were starving and the baby was walking. But we were still all ok. Then I burnt the grilled cheese very badly while a little spilled the soup all over the table and the iPad.  They finally ate carrots and apples and cheese quesadillas, but they definitely were starting to get a little toody and crazy themselves. Paint and egg, and wetness everywhere (going in and out of the house and it started to rain) the mess was just getting bigger and bigger. And I didn't even mention the soccer net the mr is making that is hanging in the middle of the living room. To top it all off, my mom dropped off enough food to feed an army for the shenanigans on Christmas so there was bags of food everywhere. But she brought me flowers so everything was good. After that we figured what the hell and just made a shit ton of newspaper snowflakes and really just committed to trashing the house. Then they left and I spent the evening cleaning the fuck out of everything. 

I am hoping today goes a little more smoothly, although I am pretty freaking tired  because I spent most of the night tossing and turning over the things that I need to do today. (white chocolate chip or oatmeal white chocolate chip cookies? Do I have a empty recycling box for wrapping paper? Is there enough toilet paper in the house?) I know I am going to have to spend at least 15 minutes removing the sheet of ice that has accumulated over the car last night before I can leave for the gym, but the then that it's, the rest of the day I am going to be spent in the kitchen.  My plan all week was to spend yesterday baking and to spend today relaxing with a book but yesterday did not happen as planned. Todays schedule is now  to make all the cookies, a birthday cake, (Cameron's birthday is tomorrow too) and last minute Christmas things to finish up (doesn't involve shopping!) At least my house is clean for the time being. I know it will be short lived but hopefully someone brings that vacuuming robot with them tomorrow.

True story. The mr likes to pick me up and tell me he wishes I wonuld fit in his pocket so he can carry me around with him everywhere. So sweet right? Yesterday in the midst of my crazy (I was going crazy) he picked me up and said he wished I was tiny enough to stick me in his pocket so I would shut my mouth and be quit. Hahaha.  That is love.

Some internet looking for you browsing enjoyment. 

-11 weird and wonderful Christmas tree patents. These are all amazing, 

-Mary Berry Shares Advice on Getting Party Guests to Leave. Normally I just tell people that they need to get the F out.

-On their way to Vermont to give the gift that keeps on giving.  Elderly Couple Stopped In Nebraska With 60 Pounds Of Weed 'For Christmas Presents'

-How To Host A Hygge Holiday Party: Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection  This is what I need more off.

-Are they laughing at us? Comedy Wildlife Photos of 2017

-I love this idea to set up a ritual or custom based on what works for your family. Science experiments instead of church. Sundays at the Altar of Science

-Never Too Late To Learn An Instrument. I hope the to be true because I really want to learn how to play the cello or the mandolin. I told myself after I graduated college I cud pick one of them up. I need to get on it. 

-On my list of things to do this coming week. Taffy Vinegar Candy Recipe

The search for Santa. Kinda like where is Waldo, but with santas. 

-5 Tips for Keeping Houseplants Alive This Winter. Got to keep the plants happy

And some pictures from the week.

Enjoy the season and Happy Merry Christmas!

-C

Plum Cake

This summer I have gotten like 5 lbs of blackberries, a humongo bowl of raspberries, so so so many pears, and lots of random veggies, all from my neighbors and their gardens We live in a very giving and generous neighborhood. And it helps that they can't possible eat all that they grow and that I am always willing to take it off their hands (and put it into my mouth) In return we have given out rhubarb and jars of honey and overall charm and smiles. (the charm and smiles are on the mr to give out)

The other day on a walk, the mr and I saw this sign outside of a neighbors house. Plums, please take some! Well pull my arm, I guess I will have too, because the sign said please right? Anyway, these little plums, not sure what kind they are, but they are so good. Sweet and bite sized and pretty. I ate a few then decided that I needed to share my shared plums and went about making a cake to stick those said share plums into.

I made the cake, invited my mom and a couple of sibs over. Mom didn't come but Barb and Paul did so they got the cake, Well they got half the cake, the mr ate the rest. I was told that this cake is one of the best. I bet it is when you used share plums because sharing is caring and sharing cake is all that good stuff.

The stuff. A bowl with flour, baking soda baking powder, and slat. Then you have brown sugar, coconut oil. vanilla extract, soy milk, and a little apple cider vinegar. And plums of course.

Once you have started preheating the oven, cut your plums in half and remove the pit.The best way to do this is to run the knife along the pit all the way around the plum and then twist to break in half. Pop the pit out with you finger.

Set plums aside while mixing cake

Warmed coconut oil, brown sugar, and vanilla all get mixed together into a smooth consistency then dumped into the bowl of dry stuff.

Soy milk and vinegar get added and mixed in.

Cake batter ready to go.

Batter gets poured into a very well greased cake pan and the plums get placed, cut side down,right on top. A sprinkle of sugar to top it off is not a bad idea.

Into the oven it goes to turn to cake!

Pulled from the oven looking so nice. Let the cake cool completely in the pan before taking it out. Hot cake is hard to handle!

And as soon as you get it out of the pan you can start eating.

Enjoy the last bits of summer. Share if you can!

-C

---

Plum Cake

Makes a 12 inch cake

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking sods
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup coconut oil (warmed so it's liquid)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup soy milk
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 12-14 small plums (the plums I used where golf ball sized so you might need less for larger plums)
• 1 tablespoon white sugar

Preheat oven to 350

Start by slicing the plums in half and removing the pits. Set them aside. Hint. for slicing, the best way to do this is to run the knife along the pit all the way around the plum and then twist the plum in half. Pop the pit out with you finger or spoon.

In a large bowl, whisk together the salt baking soda and powder, and salt . In a smaller bowl mix together the coconut oil, brown sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Pour the wet into the dry and add in half the milk, mix together, then the rest of the milk and apple cider vinegar. Mix until all incorporated and smooth.

Pour batter into a well greased 12 inch round cake pan.  (If you don't have that a 9x9 square pan will work) Smooth out the top then grab your sliced plums and stick them, cut side down, on top. Give each plum a little push into the batter so it half submerged. Sprinkle the top with white sugar and pop into the oven

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a fork or toothpick stuck int he middle comes out clean.

Remove and let cool completely in cake pan, it's easier to remove the cake when it is not hot.
And once it's cool, remove cake gently and ta-da. Cake time

Sunday Happy

I don't know about you but this past week went by crazy super fast. We have been busting some serious ass this week and are getting so close to having the exterior of the house done, and it needs to be done because I am feeling burnt out. I have been spending more time on the roof or on a ladder then on the ground. My arms ans legs and everything are sore. And the mosquitoes are still trying to suck my blood dry so I basically have been covered head to toe in the hot hot heat, sweating and swatting and yet I still have managed 1000 bites and to get paint all over my body. . Same with the mr except he sprays the deet so is able to wear shorts and a t shirt but then gets covered in black soot from the siding. He looks like he has been cleaning out chimneys or playing in a coal pit. It's funny to see but annoying to clean (everything he touches turns black)

But that's it, not much else went on this week. Kind of lame but that's how life goes sometimes. I am just really excited for today. because we are not doing it today, no way. I am going to stay off the roof, step away from the paintbrush, and just drink all the coffee and read my book.  I would love to say that we are going to spend the day hanging out in the woods or something but I think we could use a break from all the mosquitoes. Maybe a bike ride by the the river (mosquitoes can't bite us while on a bike, right?) but I just want to stop itching for a little while. Is that too much to ask?

Some internet stuff from the week.

-Forest Bathing: A Retreat To Nature Can Boost Immunity And Mood. I could use a good bath.

-Can Air-Conditioners Cause Sinus Congestion? Short answer is yes.

--I think I might start doing this. There are times when we have to turn back home just so I can double check the stove. I have stove knob OCD. Take Photos of Stove Dials Before You Leave for Vacation

- Thinking your way into feeling. The Psychological Explanation for When You Feel Like You’re Being Watched

-New Split-View Trash Sculptures by Bordalo II Combine Wood and Colorful Plastics Into Gigantic Animals

-Do-It-Yourself Farmer Grows Strawberries In The Air. Very cool.

-There is science behind all that bread baking. More Than Bread: Sourdough As a Window Into The Microbiome

-The Kitchen Habit Chefs Can't Stand. I would be crazy about the tape too.

-The mr and I wantone of these. DIY Papercraft Light Shades of Aquatic Life by Vasil

-Why Sitting at Your Computer All Day Can Wipe You Out. I can barely sit at my computer for more then a half hour before I am exhausted.

A couple picture

Bye

-C

Sunday Happy

Well that blizzard happened. And so did a bunch of other crazy shit.

We got slammed here in the northwest parts of Vermont. 30 inches or so all in a days time. It was lovely and exciting and a little daunting. I shoveled and shoveled and shoveled some more. My boots got filled with snow, my mittens soaked, and my arms a bit sore, but all in all I came out unscathed and actually quite happy for the massive amount of the white stuff. If it's gonna snow, might as well make it a massive snowstorm. And now thanks to all the snow drifting and city workers blowing the sidewalk snow into the front yard, I now have my very own snow tunnel system. Miley and Judah being the architects and the mr and I the labor.  Nothing beats a warm sunny day playing in the snow.

And then there was the furnace that shit the bed. The mr has been dealing with this heater at one of our buildings for a few weeks now and finally during the storm, after a few visits with the plumbers, the old hunk of metal decided it was time. On it's last leg, barely lasting the week, the mr has been obsessively running back and forth to relight the thing just to milk as much heat as possible from it until the plumbers come Monday morning with a all new heating system. (There goes our vacation to the Bahamas. Ok, there was never a vacation planned, but now there won't be one)

 To top off a strange week, one nephew (Jackson) broken an ankle and another (Alex) is in the hospital after his appendix almost exploded. Then we attended an elementary school play where Miley played a bum and a knight and Judah dance like a rat. A day with Sophia throwing snow at the mr and leaving a trail of glitter all over house and car.....What a week. What a week indeed.

I feel like today is kind of a make up day for all the shit that I didn't get a chance to do the past few days. A little paperwork, a bit of cleaning, grocery shopping. But if I am good and get it all done early enough I hope to escape to the trees and spend part of the day outside being calm and quite. I think I can make it happen. I need to make it happen.

Things on the internet that I found on the internet.

-This is 100% accurate to my life. Everything Always Takes Longer Than You Think

-California Deserts In 'Super Bloom' Thanks To A Wet Winter. Wish I could get out there and see it.

- I don't want to be soft. I want to be human that can handle physical labor. How Does A Nepalese Porter Carry So Much Weight?

-This LEGO Tape Lets You Turn Anything Into Lego-Compatible Surface. The things I would lego tape.

-I am not one for commercials but this one was really sweet. This French Grocery Store Commercial Will Make You Cry

-Honey Nut Cheerios Pulled Its Bee Mascot Because Bees Are Disappearing. #Savethebees.

-I find that when the littles see me eating a vegetable, they want to then eat that vegetable too, sometimes even stealing the food right off my plate. It's ok, I can share. Save Hide And Seek For The Playground: Why Kids Should See Their Veggies

-Boaty McBoatface Prepares For First Antarctic Mission. Boaty McBoatface. Hahahaha

-Not going to lie, but I don't play Monopoly. I am more or a hungry hungry hippos or Sorry kind of girl. But I bet some people will be excited. Or pissed. Meet the New Monopoly Tokens: A Rubber Ducky, a T-rex and a Penguin

-How Candy Stretches Around the World. I have the hook, now I have to get stretching my own.

Pictures from the past week.

Have a fantastic day!

-C