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Sunday Happy

March 12, 2017 Colleen Stem

I know we are losing an hour of life today, but I am really excited about daylight savings (it's today if you forgot so set you clocks forward) It just makes the world seem, well, brighter, but also signals the start of spring and all the good things that come with it, like green stuff, and warmer weather. I can't wait until we get some warm weather again. I need it bad. The cabin fever is setting in.

The week stared out with a bang. A water leak in the pantry that sent me into a nervous breakdown (don't worry, it was a stupid bathtub mistake) a slip and fall hard on my ass,  pulling out the sewing machine only to found out it was broken and spent like 2 hours taking it apart an trying to fix it (I somewhat fixed it). Then I left my shoes next to my locker at the gym and someone ended up throwing them into the trash. (ok, I get that they might look like garbage, but really?)  The mr has been dealing with faulty heater at one of the apartments all week so he has been a stress case too.  But it wasn't all bad. Things did get accomplished, we saw just about everyone in my family at least once, and found a couple cool light fixtures for the house. We will call this week a draw.

Today calls for lots of coffee, a book, a blanket, and a nap. I want to try to take it easy today. I hope the same for you too.

Interesting internet from the week.

-Don't complain about the price of cashews. The Way Cashews Grow Is Mildly Shocking If You’ve Never Seen It Before

-Maybe You, Too, Could Become A Super Memorizer. But me, probably not.

-I looked up when the new season of Broad City is. Found this. Abbi and Ilana freak out about Trump in new Broad City promo. Gold.

-Planning some new adventures for summer.

-Total solar eclipse and The Path Through the United States. Planning on being in it somewhere

-The Earth Has Oceans And Continents: How Weird Is That?. It is kinda weird.

-My pots get used daily and are stained as f*ck. Why Enameled Cast Iron Discolors (& How to Fix It)

-What Kind of Sleeper Are You? I am strong morning.

-All of our rooms are white and bright, but I wonder. Really digging the dark.

-Getting ready for seeds this week. PLANTING DATES CALCULATOR

A few pictures..... It was one of those weeks that I didn't grab for my camera much.

Have a great day

-C

 

In Winooski, vermont, sunday happy, photography, internet links Tags Sunday Happy, family, internet links, photpgraphy, winooski, VT
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Sunday Happy

December 18, 2016 Colleen Stem

Today is the day, the moment of truth. The concrete counter tops that we poured a few days ago are getting un-molded, flipped, and set into place. I am so super excited and very much scared. Finally we will have a counter and we will be that much closer to a finished kitchen. But what if?  What if something happens between removing the mold and placing the counter, like what if it doesn't fit right or maybe it breaks? I shouldn't be even thinking about that. It will be great and awesome and the best freaking counter ever.  (and Ikea is only a few hours away and sell emergency counter tops)

The house. Oh have we got ourselves a little gem. All week we have been staying here, doing all our living here (minus showers, we take those at the loft) and still managing to get a bit of work done here. Working in the place you live is such a bitch.  Plus it's the holidays which makes everything not covered in tinsel and lights seem unimportant, but we are getting there. A few more weeks and I tell you, we will most likely have ourselves a pretty nearly done 98% livable house. 

Even though the house might not be perfect, we still had a the littles over for a school night sleep over where we finished decorating the tree, watched the Santa Clause, made claims on table settings and ate black beans for breakfast. That was a tough morning with -20 cold and no desire to leave the house. We might have been a few minutes late for school, but hey, I never drive in the mornings and didn't realize 20 minutes wasn't enough time to compete with the crazy ass traffic. And they might not have been late, so yeah. (I didn't ask) What else....Well have been on the hunt for doors and glass for doors and all the odds and ends that we need. Every day it seems we end up at the hardware store, the junk store, or the salvage yard looking of that one thing that may or may not exist. It is driving me nuts. The mr, he is really good at the back and forth. Me, not so much. I really wish there was a store made for just me that sold (or gave me for free) everything that I could possible need. Doors, carrots, socks. That would be great. Oh and my crock pot. It has turned into the center of our living because it's not our main source of hot food. It has been entirely new territory for me (never used a crock pot before last week) and there were a few soups that might not have so great, but I think I have got the hang of it and we have been eating hot food from the crock like champs. I'll have to share some of my soups and tips with you guys soon. (once the kitchen is done there will be sooooo many new recipes and food fun coming your way!)

So besides the counter tops today, I think I have some serious cleaning to do. The loft is a mess, the house is getting a little on the dusty side, and the pile of dirty clothes has gotten out of hand. I might drag the hamper to the loft, be domestic for the afternoon and do some chores. A little Christmas music, lots of coffee, and amazon prime last minute gift shopping. It should be an interesting afternoon to say the least.

Links brought to you by the internet.

-I want this, it would bring me so much joy. This Infinity Galaxy Puzzle Has No Beginning or End

-5 of Humanity’s Best Ideas of What Dreams Actually Are

-Lapland is on my travel bucket list. 10+ Reasons Why Lapland Is The Most Magical Place To Celebrate Christmas

-Meet The Spleen, The Strange Little Organ That Can Multiply

-Gift idea for your stinky loved ones. Shreddies flatulence filtering garments

-The mr and I are starting to plan our next cross country trip. National Parks all the way (free days are great but if you are planning on going to a lot of parks, get the pass) WHEN TO VISIT ANY US NATIONAL PARK FOR FREE IN 2017

-An Eleven-Story-Tall Tree Hugger Sprouts on the Side of a Building in Chile. Imagine painting that.....

-Food is always a good present.10 Last-Minute Recipes to Make for Homemade Food Gifts

The week in pictures.

IMG_2644.jpg

Yes that is a giant tree monster about to eat a Christmas tree. So good.

Have a great day!

In winter, Winooski, vermont, sunday happy, soup, remodeling, photography, life, internet links, home Tags Happy Sunday, Christmas, links, interent, concrete counter, counter tops, diy, remodeling, Vt, winooski, photography, holiday, mullein, littles
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Sunday Happy

November 27, 2016 Colleen Stem

I know it's early an I know it's Sunday, but other than that I am having a hard time concentrating on much of anything. All I can think about is paint color, well that and the kitchen stove. (I am getting closer to making that decision. I am secretly hoping Bluestar will just gift me one.) Oh, and how I want to hang some lights on the house because what is the point of having a house without hanging the holiday lights. So I guess I am thinking, just not very clearly.

How was your week? Good I hope. Ours was kind of quite. We spent most of our time at the house working and feeling sick. I might have convinced myself at the beginning of the week that I had listeria due to the fact that I ate a shit ton of some hummus that was recalled due to contamination. But I am alive so I think I am ok. We did get to see lots of family, spend a little time in some woods, and even got to take a afternoon nap .(mostly because I was sick) And it snowed!!!! There is no more snow now, but there was and it was so white and fluffy and great. I am looking forward to having an actual winter this year with some actual snow.

The mr and I are working our butts off, trying to maybe move in soon, like as soon as possible. Yesterday at the house, the mr was downstairs patching up the pantry walls and I was upstairs, painting. The plan was to touch up all the paint and to paint the closet doors. Sounds simple right? Well it wasn't. Long story short, I spent the entire day painting, hating, remixing, then repainting the closet doors in the bedroom. I didn't get to anything else. I almost tore my eyes out of my head. I seriously repainted those freaking doors5 times, each time thinking that I likes the color. Then an hour later, after painting front ans back of both doors (they are louved so they take longer) then I would hate the color and start all over again. I was going a little crazy. I blame it on the fumes.

Today I am going to bring over a scented candle (to mask he smell of urethane), put on some Christmas tunes, touch up all the paint in the bedrooms and bathroom upstairs and paint those stupid closet doors one last time, color be damned.   We are getting there. It's going to be great

There might even be some time to bust out the Xmas lights!

Internet for the looking.

-My hometown. America’s First All-Renewable-Energy City

-Your Brain Can Barely Handle Conversation and Eye Contact at the Same Time.

-Cool Ass Lamps. The peacock is the best.

-My siblings.. Best friends, worst enemies. Love them all to pieces even when I want to punch them in the face. Give Thanks For Siblings: They Can Make Us Healthier And Happier

-I could spend forever in one of these (Cornell is my favorite). THE 15 MOST BEAUTIFUL COLLEGE LIBRARIES IN AMERICA

-Maybe someday I will sit around and make bird houses, but they have to be this cool. These Modernist Houses Are Literally For the Birds

-Can't wait to go crazy and cover my life with all the green, it makes me happy. Green and Peaceful

-So I for sure talk to myself, sometimes just saying lists out loud, but sometimes....The mr always thinks I am talking to him. I have to tell him to stop budding in on my conversation. The Running Conversation in Your Head

-The mr always get me purple carrots in my stocking and my birthday. WTF ARE PURPLE CARROTS AND WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

And photos from the week.

IMG_2412.jpg

happy weekend!

In adventure, holiday, home, internet links, life, photography, remodeling, sunday happy, the great outdoors, winter Tags winter, snow, photography, internet links, family, remodeling, winooski, thanksgiving, bluestar
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Sunday Happy

October 16, 2016 Colleen Stem

The trees are on fire, the sky has been lighting up like a masterpiece and the temperatures have been on the cooler, crisper side. I am one lucky lady to be living in such a beautiful place. If you don't know the awesomeness of fall in Vermont, you should put it on your life list cause it's amazing and will bring you so many good feelings. 

Another super productive week for the books. We finished laying all the hardwood downstairs then went straight to tiling the bathroom which was awesome cause it was my first real tiling project and now that floor is down too. But man did it do a number on me. The one thing the mr always bitches about are his knees, and now I now why. Kneeling on anything, especially cement board, for 5 hours pretty much will kill your shit. I might be a little whinny, but crap on a shoe do my knees hurt. (now I am done complaining) What else........Oh yeah, a large quantities of construction waste was brought to the dump that has bee accumulating in large piles in the back yard..(that was fun) I invented a new sport, storage unit parkor (I am really good at climbing and jumping around packed storage units), and got to see the new little monster baby while doing it. Then my little brother came over for a while to help carry the cast iron bathtub from the backyard to the upstairs. (thanks Paul!)  I even made a point during the week to stay home for just enough time to made donuts with sprinkles while I sat in front of the oven knitting cause I was freezing my ass off. And I ate 2 roasted pumpkins, an acorn squash, and a sweet potato this week. Feeling pretty good about life.

So I don't know about today. We might or might not work. We may or may not run away to the woods.(I need to be with the trees for a while) Most likely both. But one thing is for sure, I will be icing my knees. And drinking a butt load of coffee. And eating the butternut squash I picked it yesterday. I am a winter squash addict.

The things I clicked on and reading doing the internet this week.

-Have you noticed the crazy moon lately? How to See the Hunter’s Supermoon This Weekend

- How We Got ‘Bark’ for Dogs, ‘Quack’ for Ducks, and Other Words for Animal Sounds

-A classic pencil is so underrated. Trace The Remarkable History Of The Humble Pencil

- Incredible Origami Animals.. Like super incredible

-Lots of sweetbread, muffins, and all sorts of baking things in my future. The Best Way to Store Quick Breads and Muffins

-This guy tasted a shit load of butter for his Fancy Butter Taste Test

-Photo Of An Elephant Snuggling An Ostrich because it made me smile and is really freaking cute

- Check out this This Triangular House.. Its pretty crazy cool

-Can We Trust the Cooking Methods on the Back of the Bag? Question everything!

-Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize, Redefining Boundaries of Literature.His words are beautiful.

The week in some picture

Have a fantastic day!

In DIY, fall, home, life, photography, remodeling, sunday happy, vermont, Winooski, internet links Tags internet, vermont, winooski, remodeling, diy, tile, shy, foliage, photography, sunday happy, sunrise, bathtub, goodbye summer
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Sunday Happy

August 28, 2016 Colleen Stem

Last Sunday of August. Phew, we blew through this month fast.

The past week has been one of many accomplishments. Things at the house are moving along with vigor. You can tell a real difference when you walk into the house because the entire first floor is covered in a thick coating of white dust that came from all the sanding upstairs. But hey, now those walls are all primed and ready for paint!

Highlight of the week. I was at the grocery store and there was local, freshly picked, paula red apple totes for sale. It's officially apple time. I was so happy I bought like 10 pound and eaten half of them. Does this mean I can unpack all my sweaters and flannel sheets? I don't know about you, but I am more then ready for some cool fall weather and just a change in season. This summer was hard (emotionally ans physically) and I am over it. Bring on the pretty leaves and warm apple cider, just don't get to cold to fast before we get any heating installed in the house.

Speaking of heating. I think for today the mr is prepping the new boiler and on demand hot water heater at the house.( This guy, man he is like a superhero, he can do it all) l Me, I think I will be spending a good chunk of time just cleaning up dust. And I will make lunch and bring us coffee. I'll be good at that.


Internet stuff for internet browsing if you want to browse the internet.

-To all those super duper , always obnoxiously happy people. You’re Not Supposed to Be Happy All the Time

-Gorgeous Architectural Watercolors

-Why Do We Love Some Animals But Eat Others?. Think about it.

-We(or me) are picking paint for the house!!!! Going with all white walls but which white(there are thousands!) No-Fail White Paint Colors Edwards Droplet and Seed Pearl are nice.(but weird ass names) What do you think?

-10 INSPIRING CHILDREN’S PLAYSPACES.  Am I told old to play on these?

-Elmore Mt. Bread! Back in the early days, the mr and I used to save our pennies to buy fresh baguettes from them. Bread Grains: The Last Frontier In The Locavore Movement

-I am going to live forever! Friendships Might Not Help You Live Longer, But Family Does

-Tiny animals with tiny casts.

-I love this little bungalow

-And because we all love her of some version of her (don't deny it) Britney Spears has been a pop icon for 20 years. To understand her, you need to understand her hair.

And a few pictures...I kept the camera away most of the week, didn't want to get it full of dust.

Happy weekend!

-C

In Winooski, vermont, sunday happy, summer, remodeling, photography Tags Sunday Happy, Internet, links, live, life, vermont, photography, renovation, winooski
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