Sunday Happy

I am so confused. Is it December and almost Christmas or did I somehow sleep through it and its actually April and Easter.? If you tell me it's Easter, I'll probably believe you.

BUM!!! I am not a hater but man do I freaking HATE HATE this weather. And no, not just because I want a white Christmas, which I do, but because I love winter. I love the cold weather, the fresh crisp air, the quiteness, and the feeling the world takes on after a particularly large dump of snow. Not to mention the fact that I haven't gotten to enjoy much of my finest winter wardrobe (big baggy knit sweaters, or my happy green winter boots.) So so sad, but I have faith that winter will happen soon and all will be right with the world.

This past week was a good one. The mr turned a big number (lets say thirty something), We did a little birthday dinner here and another one there. He made grilled cheese sandwiches one night and buttered noodles another. The littles got to sing him the happy birthday song and eat strawberry ice cream. (and those same littles were eating my popcorn garland off of my tree. Monsters!) We went for a really pretty, kinda eire hike and a drive through the mountains. I made blondies and pickled crackers and we made a trip to Costco where every giant row of food had a person handing out a candy of some sort. (He came home and found melted chocolate in his sweater pocket)  It was a great week and an interesting week of food for him for sure.  I on the other hand.. I think I have eaten my weight in carrots and kale and am now glowing more orange then ever.

But it's Sunday guys! Time for... well today I am probably working all day, but whatever. It's good work, like new house work (I'll give you more of an update later this week) and It's not time sensitive work so I can go at my own slow pace, bring a thermos of coffee, maybe a break time book or a doodle pad and pencils. It will be fun and when I get home I will feel accomplished and ready for a quite night on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn watching either Home Alone 1 and/or 2 or The Santa Clause, We shall see!

How about you? You got any fantastic plans? Are you going to spend half the day on amazon trying to find that thing, at the price that ships on that day? Or is it the Easter eggs that need to be hidden? Well whatever you are doing today, make sure to take some time to yourself and relax., cause it's Sunday and we all need it.

Some fun and interesting stuff from the lovely world wide web.

-I love Danish architecture and this little cottage..swoon

-And all of these rooms.

-I really like this room divider/mirror thing.

-Pretty freaking cool. Beehive Fences in East Africa Protect Farms from Elephants

-Hows your baloney detector? What Makes People Susceptible To Pseudo-Profound 'Baloney'?

-The Art of Natural Dyeing + 6 Colors to Start With...On my list of things to do.

-SUGAR!!! A Complete Visual Guide to 11 Different Kinds of Sugar

-These embroidered leaves are so pretty.

-I have been thinking about the kitchen floor at the noosk house and what to do. All the Different Ways You Can Ease the Transition Between Two Floor Treatments

-I need one of each of these chairs.

-Don't understand the weather. Me wither. El Niño, explained: A guide to the biggest weather story of 2015

And some pictures from the past week.

Sunday Happy

How was your week? Are you in need of a good, causal, no expectations day? Me too, not that I have had a terrible week, it just wasn't the greatest. My body is still recuperating from falling down the stairs (I am starting to wonder if I broke my thumb), and it's been one of those weeks where a bunch of stupid little things have happened, like how I have set at least 3 dish towels and my last potholder on fire, or spending 1/2 hour on hold with the garbage company about paying the bill only to have the phone cut out. And topper, this past farmshare pick up was the last one of the season.. BUMMER! I could do a winter share, but the way our winter is planning out, I would end up missing most of it, so it doesn't work. I am coming to terms with it by knowing  I can just go to the weekly farmers market…. so I am ok. Oh, and the weather.. WTF! Not exactly complaining,  (kinda not). but 70 in November is not ok. Sure I enjoyed not having to wear a coat or that we still haven't turned our heat on, but to be honest, I want cold. I want to feel crisp and fresh. I want to snuggle in warm sweaters and blankets.  And yes, I want snow!!! Bah!! But as any good Vermonter knows, blink and the weather will change. (I have been blinking a lot)

Today is going to be a  good reset day. I am going to do my chores early, get some food, maybe a trip the the library (I might have a few overdue books.. oops), make some new potholders,  and then sit on my butt (leaning to the right cause my left butt check still hurts), ice my hand, and rotate between reading and watching christmas movies (ones with lot of snow in them) for the rest of the day. And if I end up just doing one of those things, I'll call it a success because again, today is all about no expectations. 

Interent stuff from the week.

-The Norwegian Secret to Enjoying a Long Winter…. Good advice for those cranky winter people

-I love reading about apples. Beyond the Honeycrisp Apple

-The Gum wall is being removed (old gum makes me gag)

-Making Food Waste Edible (and Profitable)..smart folks.

-YES!! Harry Potter people.. Here's a First Look at 'Harry Potter' Prequel 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

-In love with this house .. and  this one too. 

-Buying Bags of Air…. good reason to not buy that crap anymore.

-Any way to get more sky… the "more sky" window 

-Sicko me.. I have been visiting Martha Stewarts website.. always around the holidays.

Not a lot, but a few pictures from the week.

Happy Sunday! Have a great day!

-C

Homemade Dog Treats

10 years old, this guy.  I can't believe that we have had him for nearly that long (we got him when he was 8 weeks old) 

He has come a long way as our puppy. When we first go him, he was this little tiny fur ball that was so pathetic, he could barely walk down the street without whining. And his little puppy teeth and sticky puppy breath…. so sharp and stinky, but oddly so cute! And then he got bigger, and although still super cute, he wasn't as timid and puppy like anymore. He entered a stage of crazy dog, chewing up the floors and windowsills, maybe even trying to bite your hand off if you went near his food, and needed at least 3 hours of outdoor exercise . What I am saying is, he turned into a beast dog. And he got big, like 75 lbs and as tall as a horse (not really that tall), which was all fine and dandy, but he still had it in his mind hat the was a little lap dog. (We didn't discourage the is behavior)  But we got through that stage (2 years later) and he came to be a more mellow, stop destroying everything, not trying to bite your hand off, pup that still needed at least 3 hours of exercise  a day. Alway happy, always  ready for a good hike, swim, or run.. This lasted about 8 years, his golden years. And now, now he is 10 and has entered a new stage. He is still ready for anything, but  does it at a much slower pace. He doesn't need 3 hours of exercise   anymore and  is happy just to lounge around. All he wants is love and food. . If one thing has been a constant  in this dogs life is that he is a food lover.. like steal your food right out of your hand, kind of love. 

So for his 10th birthday, the mr and I took the guy for a long hike (which kicked his butt for the rest of the day and the next) and I made him some treats. All for him.. my old man puppy. And sure he might now know exactly why I have been giving him treats (we try not to reward him with food. cause we don't want him to get fat) but he sure has been enjoying them. Every time I came home he comes and sits and drools all over waiting for a biscuit. It has turned into his thing.

Anyways, my pup really likes these (although he would probably eat anything) . They are simple, healthy for the dogs, and honestly not that bad a a human snack. And we are coming up  on the holiday season… maybe making some for your puppy or even making and gifting some to your friends with dogs.  (Just and idea)

The stuff. Buckwheat flour, an apple, some peanut butter and some pureed pumpkin.

Grate the apple

and dump the apple, along with the peanut butter and pumpkin puree into the bowl with the buckwheat flour,

Mix it all up until its fully incorporated and is kind of the consistency of play dough.

So here is the deal, you can totally roll the dough out  and use a cookie cutter, but I couldn't find my bone shaped cutter so I hand made the bone shape, which I think came to pretty good. I also was able to make a different sizes. (you know, big ones for when he is really good, little ones for when he being ok).. And really, you don't need to use a bone shape, any shape will do. Whatever you decide  to do. just make sure the cookies are all about 1/2 inch thick so they bake

Stick the cookies on a baking sheet and place them in the oven to bake Then when they are done, leave them in the oven to cool.

After chilling out in the oven, pull them out 

And give one to the pup and stick the rest in the puppy cookie jar. 

And p.s. Not the best tasting human treat, but are actually not to bad. (Just sayin)

-C

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Homemade Dog Treats 

makes 18-24 cookies (depending on the size)

• 1 1/2 cup of Buckwheat flour
• 1 heaping cup pumpkin puree 
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 apple grated

Preheat oven to 350

Stick everything in a bowl and mix up until fully incorporate. If the dough seems to wet, add in a little more flour until the dough is workable with your hands, kinda like play dough.  Roll dough into small balls  and shape into bones that are about 1/2 inch thick or,  roll dough out to about 1/2 inch and use a cookie cutter and cut out bones (any shape works)

Place cookies on baking sheet and stick into oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes then turn the oven off but leave the cookies in the oven to dry. Once the cookies are cooled, remove from oven.. And thats it. Give a treat to your pup and stick the rest in cookie jar.