Sunday Happy

Happy New Year! How’s it going so far? Ours has already been a shit show so expectations for the next 364 more days are low at the moment but if they are low then all the highs will be good right?

The past week was and we did it. Usually the week between the holidays is a little more slow and gentle but this year it didn’t offer as much reprieve from the chaos of life as usual. Day after Christmas we went to Megans and hung out with Anthony cause it was his birthday (Happy Birthday Anthony!) while still trying to figure out what the hell happened on Christmas. HA! Then once the offices we back open we had a day of aggravating phone calls with doctors and insurance people and I probably don’t need to tell you that it was the most frustrating day of calls ever. Another day was spent at the doctors where we were told the exact same thing that the doctors at the ER told us, but the mr got a new cast and they scheduled his surgery so not completely pointless?. (The mr is losing his shit with the cast and fun with that has just barely begun!) By mid week we were burnt out so we have been going out everyday looking for woods close by to walk in and be less. Then the end of the week came and we hung with Judah on his birthday (Happy Birthday Judah!) The mr spent 2 days making a one handed pop up card for him and then took him, the girl, and his friend to the movies while Coco and I walked around the neighborhood looking for discarded curb Christmas trees. Then they came home, Judah got a bearded dragon, Barb twisted up Coco’s slinky, and everyone ate cake.

New Years Eve was whatever. A holiday that sounds fun but when it comes down to it, I am not one to spend a late night doing anything. The mr and I went for a little hike and basically laid low. I did a little new year window washing, read some, started to clean my studio, and then was in bed by 730.

Woke up to this new year with a note on the mr’s truck. Someone smashed into it while we were sleeping. At least they left a note! But what was really fucked up was the phone call from the police asking to be let into one our apartments (the loft) because they needed to retrieve one of the bullets that was shot off and hit the house that morning. That was at 6am. So the mr ran on over and dealt with that. And then had to fix a leaky faucet with one hand.

Smashed cars, gun shots, and leaks… Happy New Year indeed.

Back to Sunday. Not much planned other then spending a few hours at the studio, glazing some mugs, but mostly doing a couple hours of cleaning. After that I am coming home to finish cleaning my studio, do the laundry, make some soup. Hopefully I will have some time to sit around on my butt and read. I got a stack off books calling my name and I really need to get out of my head.

Internet from the week.

-What’s the most eco-friendly way to dispose of your Christmas tree? We usually just chop it up and compost it. There is a goat farm down the road that takes them and I think I might do that this year.

-How to Delete Your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. I am sure there are a lot of people that are thinking about this. Or if not thinking about it, should be.

-Misery loves company and that is the truth. The Cost of Engaging With the Miserable

-Take These 7 Fire Tower Hikes In Vermont For The Most Rewarding Views. We have been to half of these (I have climbed them, the mr refuses) Always amazing views.

-Remembering the smart, sharp, naughty Betty White. This lady, what a freaking badass. And to go out, at 99, on New Years eve no less. Thats the way to do it.

-I didn't know this was. thing, did you? Inside the Starbucks Collectors Cup Market, Where a Single Tumbler Can Sell for Nearly $2K

-Three ways to be more rational this year. But do I need to be more rational?

-I would most certainly live in this tree house.

-Trend Alert: Hand-Painted Details All Over. I am into this. Way cheaper then wall paper and easier to get on and off.

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

Anyone else in a slight state of shock at the fact that it is mid December? Every year it’s like this but this year especially seems like a kick in the face. Whoa, that got intense quick..

The week flew by. Nothing much different happened then then usual. I spent as much time as I could outside enjoying all of the winter weather. We went and hung out with the littles and picked up a single cookie saved for the mr made by Miley. I worked, same for the mr. And I made some garland and baked cookies. The n and there, whatever and what not.

Thursday night we had all the littles, Megan, and Erin come over (no one else showed up) for the mr’s yearly grilled cheese birthday dinner. We all danced around, Patty (Mileys boyfriend) braided hair and helped the littlest ones wash their hands. Judah made the mr an inappropriate but so very appropriate birthday card, everyone ate birthday cupcakes (the mr was bing a ass and wouldn't let us sing happy birthday.), and everyone was happy. It was low key and very nice.

Friday was the mr’s actual birthday and we were suppose to hike a mountain but when he woke up his old man hips were hurting a bunch so we decided to skip the hike and just have a chill day. Instead we went for a little drive, ate lunch by a pond, got coffee. I made dinner (lasagna), Barb came over, we ate, and then attempted to watch a movie together. Sadly I only lasted abut 1/2 hour in before I passed out but you know, I am an old lady too.

Yesterday I just spent the day cleaning and getting increasing pissy about how all the snow melted and how warm is was getting.

Now we are back to Sunday. Well it’s like spring out there and I am not really interested. All the hiking trails are going to be complete shit so I think the mr and I are going to keep it clean and just go walk the paved bike path on the lake and maybe have a picnic for lunch because that is how freaking warm it’s gonna be. Other than that I am going to spend a few hours at the studio finishing up some glazing, repot a few plants, probably clean off the porches, maybe clean the car…I don’t know. Or maybe I will do nothing and sit around and read and drink all the coffee and tea I can handle. What will br will be.

Internet from the week.

-How to slow down time because you’re not getting any younger. Perfect reading for the mr this week.

-Christmas food, regular food, everything as we know it. Is Gen Z changing Christmas food?

-I could definitely shut myself away in this little cabin.

-Here’s How to Build Your Own Cat Trees, Catwalks, and Cat Furniture. I know a few people that will be interested in this.

-Do you know? Where Does Vanilla Extract Come From?

-How to Remove Sticky, Clingy Tree Sap From Your Clothes. I was covered in sap, ans so was my shirt ans socks just making a couple feet of garland.

-If You Can Fantasize For Hours, There's a Name For That: Maladaptive Daydreaming. I don’t know about hours, but I definitely have had long bouts of daydreaming that last a while and it is an anxiety thing. Happens on planes, on long car ride, when I can’t sleep…

-Love this 70’s house.

-This is a very good idea. New Zealand's plan to end smoking: A lifetime ban for youth

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

Does anyone else feel like time is going by like a sink drip (I don’t even know what that means.) But basically super fast and really slow and holy shit it is almost the end of the year and when did that happen? Yeah, I got hit with that realization and it’s kinda thrown me off and now I don’t even know. You know?

We started off the week with camping at Mt Ascutney State park and we brought along Barb for the fun. Drove down into the gorgeousness of the woods, hiked up a mountain in the cold, walked around the campground in the rain, made food, ate food, and sat by the fire. When the rain got bad enough we slipped into our tents and assed out, woke up, made coffee, and drove on home.

And then it was Barbs birthday so we did that. Food and cake at moms and everyones mouth turned blue except mine cause I don’t eat cake.

Then the rest of the week was a lot of pot painting, waxing, and glazing. I also managed to sneak in a wet ass hike with Meg and So. I also picked up one of the last summer farm shares, cleared out more of the garden, and made a batch of bagels because why not.

Yesterday we had all the littles over to carve/paint pumpkins. It was messy, it was loud, and it was fantastic. The mr was a champ and gutted them all, I made food and offered up my knife cutting skills, and Barb got white paint all over my floor. Miley, Jada and Judah are old enough now where we dont matter much so they did their own thing but little Coco, oh what a ham that kid is! Painted and grooved to tunes and just was such a happy dude. Gosh I love those little people!.

Needless to say the pumpkins came out great and after everyone left I spent the rest of the night cleaning up paint and pumpkin guts…Of course.

It’s Sunday and it is the last camping Sunday of the year. I always get sad when camping season ends but we got this last one and we are gong to make it count. A good hike, a big fire, and all the warmest clothes. It’s gonna be a cold one, it might even snow a little tonight and I am all the way here for it. (Yay!)

Internet from the week

-100% yes. Stop Shopping. America needs you to buy less junk.

-Apple-Picking Is Too Easy. Truth. I can’t bring myself to pay the crazy prices to pick pesticide covered perfect apples anymore. Road side apple picking all the way!

-Gardening 101: How to Use Fallen Leaves. We just mow them over and let them decompose or I lie the garden bed with them.

-Sad that they needed to but good that they did. Ivory poaching has triggered a surge in elephants born without tusks

-I have wondered this myself.What Makes Something “Antique” Versus “Vintage”?

-When Did This Time of Year Become “Spooky Season”?

-Carving a pumpkin? Don’t chuck the seeds. How to Store Pumpkin Seeds, Raw or Roasted

-4 Truths About Cleaning Away Spider Webs at Home, According to an Arachnologist. Try to be nice.

-I am here all the way for this. TIS THE SEASON FOR COZY CABINS.

-Anatomy of Fall Reading. Exactly.

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

The colors are popping, the people are milling about, and the out of state cars are all over which means it is that time again. Vermonts great foliage season. Love every ounce of color but could do without the annoying amount of traffic that comes with it. (IYKYK Ha!)

The week started at Coolidge State Park. A cool dreary day and it really was just perfect camping. We went on a long ass hike and took in the trees, hung out under the canopy next to the fire while it rained, and crawled into the tent before it really started to pour but that was even soothing. The whole place was just super gorgeous and super quite. It’s one of my favorite places to camp.

After we woke up and packed up, we heading back to town. The mr went off to work and I made giant cookie cake for Coco because yes, he turned 5 freaking years old. Can’t even believe that shit. We went over for pizza and shenanigans and giant cookie cake (everyone wants one know) and that was that.

The rest of the week went by as usual. The mr was out doing his thing, I did a shit ton of chores, ripped up half the garden, threw some, worked at the studio and met another Gigi (I might steal her) and yeah, just did life.

Yesterday, well the mr and I took a little drive to a place were I gave a nice man money to stab a hole into my face. Yup, that was fun. Then I came home and cleaned the house. What a day.

Sunday again which means we camp. Going south a bit to one of our favorites, Half Moon, and this time we are brining the kayaks. (Probably going to be the last time for the year). Hopefully the drive down doesn’t piss me off too much (leaf peepers are terrible drivers) but I am really looking forward to the day. How could I not?

Internet from the week.

-America Is Running Out of Everything. For real, but also, what do you really really need?

-I learned this trick a few years back when I worked as a cleaning lady at a hostel. You’re Probably Loading Your Top-Loading Washing Machine Wrong, This is the right way.

-ON TREND: WOOD PANELED KITCHENS ARE WHERE IT’S AT.. Agreed.

-Leaf-Peeping Looks Different This Year. Here in VT the leaves are not as bright because of a fungus that had been getting worse due to climate.

-I make a lot of bundt cakes so I was intrigued and am defiantly gonna try this method. We Tried 6 Methods for Preventing a Bundt Cake from Sticking to the Pan and the Winner Was Pure Magic

-Why Owls Are a Spooky Symbol of Halloween, According to Folklore Historians. Oh, okay.

-Vermont history lesson. Then Again: Vermont spent 70,000 years under ice about a mile thick

-The mr and I were talking about how from now on, everything that needs replacing in the apartments is going to be electric. We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change

-This annual starling murmuration is so dense it’s called ‘The Black Sun’I never tire of starling pictures.

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

It’s the last week of October folks. And this time next week it will be one hour earlier then it is now. I am already playing that game in my head with myself saying it is this time but will be that time. Getting mentally ready. And I know most people hate it, hate that it going to get dark out at like 430 but me, I am excited. I like having more sunlight earlier when I am awake and as for darker earlier, it just makes our after dinner walks that much more interesting. You can see inside peoples houses in the dark so much better.😳(Don’t pretend you don’t look too.)

The week began at Gifford Woods. After getting checked in and switching our campsite 3 times (for optimal light and a good chopping block )the mr and I hiked a long hike, he did some fishing (and actually caught one), I read, we made fire, we ate soup. All the good stuff. Then we went to bed with the knowledge that there was a bear roaming about. We woke up with no bear sittings (sad but probably good) and headed on back to town.

And it was Barbs 21 st birthday. So we had dinner with her and the boys at my moms, sang her songs, gave her shit, did the cake thing, and sent her on her way to go be 21.

After that it was back to it. Basically all the same stuff with some of this and that and a new, very expensive heater replacement at one of the apartments. (OUFF!) Then Barb came over for her second birthday dinner with the littles. Pie instead of cake, Coco shaking his booty, Miley harassing the mr about when he is gong to dye her hair, and Judah, well he was just being cool like a cool kid.

And that is pretty much it.

It’s Sunday and this is it, the last camping of the year. I would be lying if I said that I am not sad, but it’s ok, I don’t think I could handle the mr camping in the winter, he does not like to be cold. And honestly, we spend just as much time running around in the woods in the winter, we just come back to our warm bed at night so it’s not like we don’t still run away all the time. Anyway, heading out early, going to soak it in as much of the day away as possible, do a good hike, the mr is gonna fish, I’ll read and look at rocks by the river, and we will eat hot soup by the fire. Maybe as a last hurrah we will see a moose or a bear. I have no real control over that but wouldn’t that be awesome?

Oh and before I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Some internet for your reading pleasure.

-A Rare Halloween Blue Moon in 2020. And it is daylight savings. Gonna be a crazy night!

This house. And the patchy, torn apart wall paper.. so good. Heading ‘Upstate’

-Are we living in a computer simulation? I don’t know. Probably. AAAAGH! But seriously, are we?

-Good to know. Is It Better to Bake in Glass or Metal?

-Veggie Burgers Can Be Called Burgers, European Parliament Says. I am sure this is pissing a lot of people off.

-Why living with and tending plants is good for you. So many reasons. I don’t know what I Would do without my plants!

-I agree. This Cozy A-Frame in the Woods Is One of the Dreamiest Cabins We’ve Ever Seen

-Cool AF mask. Zimarty Turns the Face Mask Into Wearable Architecture With zMask

-Pretty. Cloaked in Thick Smoke, Submerged Foliage Breaches the Water’s Surface in Mysterious Photographs

Pictures from the week.