Sunday Happy

How is it even really the last day of January? Wow, I mean, really, I have completely lost all concept of time. It is gone and I should just stop looking at calendars and making plans by the moon and the number of setting suns. It just makes more sense now, especially cause I have not plans to make. HA!

Another week and here we are. I was moderately busy doing things. Studio stuff, a few good hikes early in the week with Barb, the mr, and Megan and Alex. I trashed my clean studio to cut up benches and some other shit. We had the littles over for dinner and bebop battles (I know that those things are not called bebops but that is what I keep calling them), and I did all the other work stuff (bills and phone calls) that no one cares to hear about.

Then it was the end of the week and -15 degree outside. Now some might say that is too cold to be outside (the mr and maybe like doctors and shit) but not me. I still went out everyday for my morning runs and oh boy where those just invigorating and exhilarating. Nothing like having ice forming on your face the moment you walk out the door.

And right now I am having a hard time focusing on much other then the pulsing in my toe because yesterday I for sure did drop the vacuum on it and split it open and it sure did gush blood all over the floor all day (it just kept on bleeding!) and it was just a hot mess. Cleaning up blood from a gash that was caused from a cleaning device while I was cleaning… Full circle. HA!

Today I got a list of things to do. I need to go to the studio and glaze. I need to package up orders to ship out tomorrow. I need to clean off the back porch because the past few days it has turned into a dumping ground, and I need to put my studio back together. Other then that, well I know the mr and I are not going for much of a long hike today because, again, he is not into the super cold, but we are planning on having a car lunch picnic, maybe with a water view. That will be nice. (and short cause I am not running the car while we eat).

Internet from the World Wide Web.

-Schoolboy changes name to 'Reconnecting' during Zoom classes to dodge teacher's questions. Kid’s a freaking genius.

-So What Is Short Selling? An Explainer. Not going to lie, still a little confused but I think I get it?

-I love this farm house and I definitely want a raised dinning room off the kitchen. And fish wallpaper in the bathroom.

-What I did not know but now I know. Why Wombats Poop Cubes

-New crystal, new you? Are you into crystals? This is a good read if you are, or not too.

.- Some Forests Are Covered With Lichens That Love to Fuck, Scientists Discover. I need to get the mr to read this. He is obsessed with moss and lichens.

-Have you ever eaten black garlic? Holy crap is it amazing. The mr buys me a container of it every year and sticks it in my stocking at Christmas. Might try my hand at making some soon. This Is the Absolute Best Way to Make Black Garlic at Home 

-Kraft Is Introducing ‘Candy Mac & Cheese’ for Valentine’s Day. Sick joke? I fear it’s not. Gross.

-You don’t have to tell me twice! Keep your brain in shape by reading more books

-Varied Bricks and Ceramic Blocks Comprise the Asymmetric Facade of a Spacious Community Center in Bengal. SO beautiful!

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

It has been a weird week. Not bad, I just feel really off. I think the feels are catching up with me a bit.

Went camping at the start of the week, and that was, as always the highlight and, as always. we were sad to leave. But we did and back to life we came.We both have been busy, doing what we needed to do. I got a lot done in my studio, went back to work for the first time at the studio I work at. and loaded more stuff into the kiln at another different studio. A studio heavy week. Also trying to get stuff done around the house, harvesting and processing all the food from the farm and garden, and to remember to pay the taxes! ( I need to do that, like NOW) . But yeah, just have had a touch the blahs. But hey, I picked up my knitting again so that is good, and the weather has been great around here, which makes me happy but also makes me sad for the rest of the country that has had to deal with heat and hurricanes and fires.

Meh.

I am ok. You ok? We are ok.

And it is Sunday which always makes me happy. Off to camp today and this time we are bring the littles and Barb and oh boy, what are we in for? We have camped with the littles before, but this year they are older, one has her face constantly glued to her cell phone and has been know to be a little, lets say, moody? And we have to share tents. And they are monsters that stay awake past 8 pm. (I will leave the task of staying awake with them to the mr and Barb. HA!) But other then that, it’s going to be so much fun. They have fishing to do, I have books, and it’s gonna be a cool rainless day. Can’t ask for much more. Hopefully I have everything we need. I have been packing all week, making homemade graham crackers, rolling up  extra sleeping pads, and buying 5 different bags of chips while cutting up all the veggies I can fit into a cooler. I think they are really excited which makes me excited too. One last big hurrah before school starts for Barb tomorrow and the little next week.

Wish us luck!

Some Internet from the week.

-I love you, Bill and Ted. Sat what you will about the movies (say nothing if you have nothing nice to say), but we all need this right now. And we could also use a time machine.

-My dutch oven, which I use at least once a day, is almost black. Maybe I should clean it? We Tried 5 Methods for Cleaning Dutch Ovens and Found a Clear Winner

-Welcome to the world of short shorts! He wears short shorts: why are men showing more leg?

-Beautiful acts in the world. A Labor of Love

-The Absolute Best Way to Cook Broccoli, According to So Many Tests. And don’t forget, sometimes the best way is no way. RAW!

-No, not me….Got a bad habit? Here’s how to train your brain to beat it

-Am I dutch? Why are the Dutch so tall?

-When Your Child Is a Psychopath. Could you imagine having a child that was a psychopath? Oh I sonnet even know what I would do. At least there is some hope if diagnosed early.

-On the bright side. The Pandemic Has Heightened Young People’s Dedication to Their Health

-Tiny Elephant Shrew Resurfaces After More Than 50 Years On Lost Species List. What the cuteness!

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

Holly, jolly, fa la la. It’s all the holidays and are we all just so excited and happy? It’s ok if you are not, but don’t tell me not to be and listen to Christmas music and bake all the cookies. I am gonna do it and really try to just enjoy it all and be happy. Easier said then done for sure, but I am committed this year. I will not get grouchy. No, that will come after the holidays when the family leaves and I find food crushed into my couch cushions or pieces of candy in my plants. Then my friends, all bets are off.

The week has been fast and plentiful of plenty. Besides the stuff of normal life as usual, we did a quick dinner at Moms. Ryan came over too to bake cookies with my mom which was just to funny. (He was able to dirty up more measuring cups then I knew my mom even owned.) I have also been to the studio a few times over the week, trying to get last minute things done, sold a few rainbows, loaded a kiln. At home we have dutifully watched the amaryllis bloom, decorated the Christmas tree (about time, only took us 2 weeks), and baked things that needed baking (cookies and cakes. duh). And I picked up the last farm share of the year which has already got me dipping hard into the freezer stock of produce so I can stretch out the fresh stuff that I got. No farm pick up for 3 weeks… There is gonna be a lot of frozen zucchini happening around for sure.

And yay for us, we finally sent out all of our Christmas cards that needed to be sent and dropped off the ones that could be dropped off. There was a lot of chatting and catching up with old friends and neighbors and we got to see some pretty fantastical Christmas trees along the way. Best card drop off happened when we stopped over at Erins to hang with the littles and give them there card. Coco took it upon himself to use the card as a hat. That kid. Too freaking cute and practical to boot.

Then the rest of the week has been just same old with a little extra this and that. Yup, just living the life and trying to be present and just enjoy.

Sunday. Already and finally. The mr and I are going to get a few more things done that need doing before Christmas and the family descends.. I am going to do all the grocery shopping for actual Christmas Day, which could possible turn into a mental melt down (I have to go go Costco and I am scared of the potential for crowds of crazy people). The mr is still finishing up the build on the new stairs at the loft so my dad doesn’t fall and die when he is over there, and I think we both have a thing or two we need to do without each other. I actually am all set, just waiting to pick up the ONE freaking package that I ordered online 3 weeks ago that was suppose to be shipped to the store a week ago and it is no where to be found. I order one thing, ONE THING, from the internet and it went badly. So frustrating, but oh well, what can you do. Other then that, I am going to the gym, maybe hit the library, defiantly a long ass walk either around here or preferably in some woods. And after dinner tonight, I think the plan is for a little Christmas lights drive. Got to see the lights!

Happiest Happy Merry Holidays to you all!!! Have all the relaxing and fun you possibly can.

Internet for your enjoyment.

-The $100 billion reason not to return gifts this holiday season. Or reasons to not buy anything at all!

-Dying food with food just makes sense. How to Make Natural Food Dyes

-Yes I still call them snow tires and probably always will. But this is some good information for the next time I buy snow, I mean, winter tires. Everything you thought you knew about winter tires but didn’t.

-I want to live here. A Tiny Cabin in the Woods For Creative Homesteaders In Vermont

-How to Flake Gracefully. Or go a step further and just never make plans, but then you risk not having friends……🤷🏻‍♀️

-Handmade gifts wrapped in old newspaper. Best way to go. Here’s Why Messily Wrapped Presents Are Sometimes Better Than Neat Ones

-Barack Obama Says Women Could Solve Many Of World's Problems — Which Men Have Caused. He really is a smart guy. Oh how I miss him.

-I know my house is going to be getting trashed a lot this week so I am going to chill on the cleaning and do a crazy deep clean after all the holiday crazy. I already have a list going of things I want to do. 29 Things You Don’t Have to Clean Until January 6

-I don’t eat candy, but the mr does and he is all about sour candy, especially sour patch kids. I don’t really get it, but whatever floats his (or your) boat. A formal taxonomy of sour candies

-The healing powders of food are real.15 Kitchen Herbs and Spices with Powerful Health Benefits.

Pictures from the week.

-C

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

I am good. You good? Hopefully not super crazy and feeling stressed about holiday stuff? Don’t let it get you. It is suppose to be fun and happy so take a few minutes and just do you. No stress.

Monday was the mr’s actual birthday and we celebrated by taking a day trip out to the North East Kingdom to explore and see some nature. Got lunch, checked out a cool hardware store, blasted the heat in the car, and drank a lot of coffee. Came home and made lasagna and went to bed kind of early. I was a nice end to his birthday week. Until next time.

The rest of the week was up and down. We were suppose to go the PA to visit Dad this weekend with Meg but the plans got canceled when someone (Justin) got the flu. We ran around trying to get a bunch of stuff done, stressing out, but then once we knew we weren't going, well we still have been running around trying to get a bunch of stuff done. Or better yet, running around yes, but also a couple of those day we spent siting around for hours (HOURS!!!!!) on hold trying to figure out our heath insurances. That was the worst. I don’t know how many times I almost threw my phone against the wall (many). All part of being an adult right? Blah. The waiting time did give me a chance to tackle the Christmas cards I have been working on for a few weeks now so that was good.

What else.. I woke up the other night to pee, tried to get out of bed but got caught in the blankets and fell, almost smashing my head against the radiator. The mr freaked, turned on the light and found me just lying there. It was a rough fall and I am still feeling it all over. On a different note, I finally got a new broom which might just be the highlight of my week. It was actually a 2 pack with a dustpan and sweeps like a champ. The old broom was so bad that I stopped using it because I swear sweeping with it just left a streak of more dirt. Yeah for new broom!

Yesterday was a blast. The first annual cookie house contraction day (now a annual tradition). I would say gingerbread house, but I used sugar cookies instead because I know the littles and it was the right thing to do. I woke up early, baked off all the pieces, gathered a ton of candy and had people bring some too, and off we went. Miley, Judah, So, Alex, Coco, and Barb, plus me, the mr, and Megan. Enough to build a village. Got everyone well fed before construction (Mac and cheese and pb and J) and got to work. Construction might not have gone as smoothly as I hopped (canned frosting doesn’t work as well as the sugar glue I made) but we figured it out. And once the houses were up, it was one big plume of sugar. Frosting and candy everywhere. There was so much sugar that I swear I was getting contact sugar high from all the littles. But the houses, they were coming out so awesome. I was truly impressed. Most of the houses stayed upright, but there were a couple the might have had a little too much candy (definitely Miley’s) and had the roof collapse. All good though because she just starting to eat it and well, yeah. After the doses of sugar the littles ran circles around the house, and then left. I stayed and spent the rest of the day scraping sugar off of every surface in the house wishing that I had bought a steam mop with that broom. (I used to have one and it broke but it was amazing and that is all I want for Christmas now)

Today the mr and I are commuted to finishing all the Christmas cards, getting them addressed, and sending them out TOMORROW. I plan on going to the gym and grocery store this morning but then hunkering down for the rest of the day, listening to Christmas music and getting them done. They need to be done. We are way late on sending them out this year. Oops.

Internet from the week.

-Santa Is Nothing but Stress for Families Who Don’t Believe in Him. I remember when I stopped believing in Santa.. sad day. And now with all the littles, some believe and some don’t. it is hard to keep their little mouths shut.

-Not everything needs to come in pill form. See the diverse ingredients in traditional Chinese apothecaries

-How freaking badass. Horse-Riding Librarians Were the Great Depression’s Bookmobiles

-Why People Wait 10 Days to Do Something That Takes 10 Minutes. I never ever procrastinate cleaning. It’s just not worth it. And I am crazy.

-How best to harness the power of garlic in your everyday cooking. So many ways to use one simple ingredient and it can turn any dish from one thing to another.

-Never!!!! I Bought My Live Christmas Tree on Amazon — Here's How It Went.

-Google's 10 Most Searched Foods in 2018. Keto is a big deal huh? Me, I for sure googled romaine a few times.

-Why is the night sky dark? It’s all about the stars.

-If I have kids, wooden blocks are all I will have for toys, well those and a basket of river rocks and lots and lots of art supplies. But no plastic and NOTHING that needs to be plugged into anything or needs batteries. How Melissa & Doug captured the toy market, one wooden block at a time

-It’s Time to Stop Calling Foods ‘Crack. Agreed

Pictures from the week