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Sunday Happy

February 25, 2018 Colleen Stem
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Did you get to enjoy any of that spring day where the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and all the snow melted? I busted out the sandals, broke a sweat on a walk, and picked up some garbage that was living doormat under the snow and ice. That was one excellent spring day, and was well needed, and now I am ready for another snow storm because we all know it's going to happen. And I want it too because spring winter, with clean fluffy snow and blue warm skys is the best. And then real spring will be even better. Ah the weather. Never a dull moment. 

As weeks go, nothing out of the norm this past one. There was some work, some play, lots of baking, and some feeling like a crazy person. It's that time of year when things are kind of slow but about to get crazy and we know it, but there is not a whole heck of a lot we can do to prepare so we just do what we can and wait. And plan. And plan an escape. We need to escape, at least for a little while. And the west coast seems to be calling our names. So we shall see of things to come.

 I did spend a good amount of time trying to finish up the star cave in the kids room before Friday because we had a planet pillow making sleep over party and I just wanted it to be done. (it pretty much is, I just need to do a little touch up)  The littles (Miley, Judah, an Sophia) slept over, Barb came too, and we spent all of our time cutting fabric, playing with filling, and eating and leaving popcorn all over the house.  They all used their newly made galactic pillows and got to experience the awesomeness of sleeping under the stars in a heated room(I think I really outdid myself with this paint job. And all for a kids room in our house when we don't even have our own kids. Can we say #1 aunt and uncle? I think so).  They got to wake up to pancakes, more pillow making, dropped clothing in the toilet and Sophia brushing her teeth 4 times because she said if she does that she would not have to brush her teeth again for a few days. He logic makes perfect sense but luckily Miley was there to straighten her out (I just told her that she was so smart and what a great idea. HAHA) And then they left and we spent the afternoon cleaning the filth off of every surface because kids are gross. 

Not sure exactly what the plan is for today but I would like it to involve some kind of seed and or plant shopping which is the only kind of shopping (besides food) that I like. Other then that, a coffee nap (maybe under the stars) , maybe clean the car out if its not raining and brush the cat out because he is looking a little mangy.

Some of the Internet I looked at  this week

-The World's Most Colorful Natural Phenomena. I must visit all these places.

- It happens to me all the time with the weirdest things.  Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon.

-I love a perfectly made bed. Expert Advice: Proper Bed-Making 101, How to Make Square Corners, Step by Step. It really does make me happy. 

-Like Lemons? Quinoa? Thank This Food Explorer For Bringing Them To Your Plate

-I have a Le Creuset and Martha Stewart and a Lodge. II want a Staub.  And I love them all in different ways.The biggest difference to me is that the cheaper I tend to chip the enamel on the cheaper ones.   Are Lodge Dutch Ovens Really as Good as Le Creuset and Staub?

-The loveliest chapel ever. .  A National Park-Inspired Chapel Composed of Branching Fractals by Yu Momeoda

-MAKE A DURABLE DIY HALF APRON FROM A $4 PLACEMAT Thinking of this next time I see a sweet ass placement

 -About to get my seed starting on. Vermont Garden Journal: Seed-Starting Problem-Solving

-Can Being Cold Really Make You Sick? And when you are sick Tea, Honey And Lemon: Does This Classic Trifecta Actually Help A Sore Throat?

And pictures from the week

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In sunday happy, photography, internet links Tags sky, stars, painted night sky, Vermont, spring, weather, littles, family, everyday life, interent links, photography, life, 802, Sunday Happy
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Sunday Happy

January 28, 2018 Colleen Stem
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Both of us have been on all week while both of us have been fighting off a something that wants to invade our bodies. We have tried not no let it slow us down too much, but I tell you what. I, and the mr, are pretty fucking sick of feeling like crap. We have been pumping so much elderberry, zinc, teas, and witchcraft. We WILL get rid of this shit!!!

 Even though feeling like ick, we powdered through and did life. The mr bought me a scroll saw for spoon carving (which is now his and I am getting a band saw instead)  We had a dinner with the mr's  family, Qui, Adriana, and Evan came over for cookie baking and spoon carving and there was a pizza party with some littles and the bionic woman. Oh, and let's not forget the tea party that included a horse and fake tea. Next time I go to a tea party, there better be real tea or I am out. The mr has had a couple of bigger jobs that he was doing and I had (still am doing) the stupid taxes to finish. Doing a lot of paper work really gives a lady who needs glasses a big freaking headache. I have been procrastinating the inevaadable for a little too long. I need to start wearing my glasses all the time in order to see like, a lot better. Problem is that the procrastination in me is strong. I have had this new prescription for 2, maybe 3 months, but seriously, finding glasses is such a bitch.  I am doing it though because I need to see, which lead me to Costco. Costco, the land of giant sized tubs of mustard and 10 lb bags of organic carrots (I buy them both), which also has an optical center (what don't they have?)

Got to Costco, took a look, got annoyed and stressed and walked away. Figured I was already there so might as well walk around, spotted a friend being a pharmacist, cruising the isles,  and that's when I saw it. The display of 10 lb bags of lentils. No joke, I have been waiting forever for this day to happen. I was so freaking excited, like way, way more then anyone should ever get over a bag of lentils, but I was. I mean, come on, A giant bag of lentils ... it is just so fantastic.  I grabbed my bag of lentils and  bounced out of there with a smile on my face and  thoughts of  dinner and large Costco sized pickle jars full of goodness. (I had already forgot about the glasses) I am already planning on another Costco trip just so I can but 5 more bags.... You can never have too many lentils. And I did end up buying glasses, I just ordered them off the internet. I figured I don't care what they look like, I would just like to see. And I will, in like 1-2 weeks or whenever they come in the mail.

Last night Jeff Dad came to town to take some more care of his bionic daughter, although the lady is walking like a champ already and probably could start training for a marathon now. (You can go home now Dad, haha)  We did dinner with him and her and missed out on the him that was suppose to be there, but at least we got to see Jackson with his arms full of a suit and tie on the way to the ball.  Jackson just loves dress up and high school dances.  He lives so hard for them. 

Today is all about watching the ice melt away from the skating rink in front of the house that we call a walkway. I spent a little time chipping away at the thick sheet of ice with a spade shovel and am now determined to get at least a narrow path of safety for not just us, but the poor mailman that has been risking his life to deliver my junk flyers and sign up cards for AARP. It is suppose to be above freezing all day so I have a good feeling about it. While I watch and wait I will probably be reading, carving some wood, or napping. But it will all be productive because I am making sure the ice melts. I am doing it for the mailman. 

The places the internet took me this week. 

-Is it even possible? How Do I Avoid Catching Cold or Flu From My Sick Partner? 

-Starlings Perform Acrobatic Life-Or-Death Dance With A Hungry Falcon. My mind was blown. I have watched it many many times. 

-Are Biscuits and Scones the Same? I have always thought them interchangeable. A, Call them what you will, type deal. 

-Holy shit Nutella.France Descends Into Chaos Over Nutella Sales. 

-Sunday Reading: In the Air. Probably not great reading if you are afraid of heights. OR maybe it is. 

-Kind of fantastic why you know why they did. The Guggenheim Offers The White House A Gold Toilet.  

-The Far Out History Of How Hippie Food Spread Across America. I spent a good amount of time with the Moose Wood Cookbooks when I was a teen. 

-I have killed at least 10 mosquitos in the past week. I think there is a nest in the house and they are waiting for warmth to attack me. How To Teach Mosquitoes To Leave You Alone

-The Imaginative Powers of a Brain on Autopilot. It's when all the creative stuff happens. 

And pictures from the week.

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Have a great weekend.

-C

In sunday happy, photography, internet links Tags Sunday HAppy, everyday life, interent links, photography, winter, vermonting, vermont, family, lentils, costco, littles
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Sunday Happy

April 23, 2017 Colleen Stem

It's been a bit of a cold and dreary week. The damp has seeped into my bones and I have been walking around with blue lips and white fingers. It might not have helped that we turned the heat off a couple of weeks ago, I love spring weather but so many cold wet days takes it's toll. It's ok though because the weather is only getting better from here. And plus there is so much green stuff happening in the world that I don't really mind being a soggy mess. The tree buds make me smile.

Easter came and went yet the mr is still finding plastic filled with candy in the yard. He was one of the people that hid the over 100 eggs so part of me thinks he hid a few in hard to reach spots for himself to find later.(or that's what I would have done)  We had some littles spend the night, fling popcorn all over the place, watched Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them (finally) and made a catapult and a board game. Those littles man, they are some cool people.  And worked, or tried to at least. Most of the work we need to do is outside right now and because the week has been so up and down with weather we have found ourselves in a up and down, run around, get in and get out type of week. Projects started and keep piling on and we just need a good few stretches of weather to make a dent in the list. I feel like this is what happens every year, but this year just seems like everything at once. It's probably just because we are getting old, or it's getting old. Either way.

Today is suppose to a gem of day which means we are going to be outside working. Windows need to be scraped and glazed, we are going to get out the new giant torch and start burning some of the siding for the house, and we need to get on building the raised beds for the veggies. (The little lettuce and kale plants are screaming at me for more space!) I will probably take some time to sit in the middle of the yard with a book and watch for sunshine, you know, to see where the garden beds should go. And coffee. Cups and cups of it because I think that is what I need today. Happy Spring guys!

Oh, and happy birthday Rick.

What I saw on the internet.

- Scientists and Their Allies Stage Unprecedented Worldwide Protest. We need to listen to these people!

-Everything we do has an effect on he planet, including what we eat. How Our Diets Impact The Planet

-It’s Not Just You — ‘Allergy Brain’ Is Real. And I get it,sometimes really bad.  Blah.

-What the hell is in a unicorn frappuccino anyway? I am guessing it is just a bag of sugar with some food coloring. Baristas Are Having Meltdowns Over Starbucks’s Unicorn Frappuccino

-It Turns Out That Salty Foods Don't Actually Make You Thirsty. But I still think it does.

-The mr andI have talked about buying land and setting up a few cool trailers as a bnb kinda like this. This place is now on the list of places to go when in Texas. THIS TEXAS HOTEL DOESN'T HAVE ROOMS—ONLY TRAILERS AND YURTS—AND IT'S INCREDIBLE

-Is It Safe To Eat Moldy Bread? The mr might find it annoying, but this is why I freeze all bread stuff after a few days so it won't mold.

-Love these little ceramic figures.

-These drawings on dirty cars are pretty amazing.

-From 'F-Bomb' To 'Photobomb,' How The Dictionary Keeps Up With English

Pictures from the week

Enjoy the day!

-C

In Winooski, vermont, sunday happy, photography, life, internet links Tags Sunday Happy, interent links, photography, life, vermont, vermonting
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Sunday Happy

February 12, 2017 Colleen Stem

I am getting excited about this snow storm we are suppose to have tonight and am hoping we get dumped on. It had been too long sense we have had a good snow. I really want to build a snow fort in the backyard because that's why we have a yard.

Earlier this week I had myself a little dance party (what usually happens when I am home alone) and while dancing around, I tweaked my neck. Happens right? Well this really screwed me up.  I spent almost an entire day laying on the couch with ice and a hot water bottle thinking I must have broken my neck. Not the best way to spend a day but at least I was able to binge watch a bit of Parks ans Rec (Leslie Knope is my hero) So all week I have taking it kinda easy and doing more paperwork and tax crap (aahhhh!!) than anything else. I am still sore and a little weary about moving my head, but feeling a lot better. Already back to dance parties.

So I guess today I am being dragged to a far off town to pick up a washer and dryer for one of the apartments. Not really what I want to do and I am a little worried about the weather, but it will be ok, we are leaving early. Plus I have trained myself to read in the car without barfing and there is always big cups of coffee on road trips so I will be distracted.  And when I get home, I can go back to Parks and Recs, bread making, spoon carving, and watching the snow fall.  Good stuff.

Stuff on the internet.

-This is just so good. Harvesting Carrots

-Pretty sweet way to get in a workout. Raise Your (He)art Rate With A Workout At The Met.

-I have heard a lot about this burger and I am still not sure how I feel about it. I don't think I want to eat something that tastes like meat. Would you? Saving The Planet, One Burger At A Time: This Juicy Patty Is Meat-Free

-NPR’S ARI SHAPIRO ON WHAT A REPORTER LEARNS EATING ON THE ROAD. Always listening to Ari.

-Do you temper chocolate? I usually just stick it in the microwave. Thinking I might give it a go.
A BASIC GUIDE TO TEMPERING CHOCOLATE

- How Much Do You Hate the Sound of People Chewing? Sometime I could care less, but sometimes a lot. 

-These photos are amazing.

-Melissa McCarthy As Sean Spicer Is The Best Thing On SNL In Years. i have watched it like 3 times....So fucking funny.

-Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll. Music Tickles the Same Brain System As Sex and Drugs. For real.

Some pictures.

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Enjoy the day!

-C

In winter, Winooski, vermont, sunday happy, photography, life, home Tags snow fort, vermont, interent links, photography, home, pictures, family, nature, sunday happy
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Sunday Happy

January 1, 2017 Colleen Stem

Happy New Year! Hope you are all waking up to sunshine in your strut, happiness in you mouth, and kindness in your soul.

So much has happened in the past few weeks. Holidays full of family, friends, birthdays (Happy to Cam, Anthony, and Judah) and all around craziness. My phone got run over by a car(still works!!!),we finally changed the summer tires to snows (thanks Justin!) and Only has now officially moved in behind the couch and is enjoying the life of an indoor cat. We are getting so close with house, so so close.  I know a few weeks ago I told you we about the counter top and how excited I was to un-mold it. Well what I don't think I told you was that we un-molded it and it was fantastic. Then, trying to remove the sink mold from the middle with a hammer, I cracked it! AAAGGGHHHH. That was suck a bitch if a day. But we took it it stride and just made another one. And that one, that one is even better and amazing and is all nice and perfectly perfect. Once we did that we threw up a tile wall, hood vent, light fixtures and all sorts of little things that I can't remember.  Last night we slid the stove into place and fired it up for the first time! It was really stinky and great and I made the mr a pizza for all of his excellent work bringing me fire. It was so freaking satisfying to use an oven and feel slightly normal again. Now all we need to do is finish the cabinets, find a faucet that doesn't suck, hook up the sink, and a bunch of other stuff and we will be all set. But the oven works so the coming weeks are going to be full of so much oven food so watch out! (i can't wait to start posting more recipes!!!!)

On top of all the life stuff, I have been sicko all week, and so has the mr. Actually, he has been sick for two weeks and then lovingly gave me his ick. And it sucks. I am tired and snotty and sore and cranks. I have been eating large quantities of raw garlic, swiging apple cider vinegar, and drinking turmeric tea all day. (so I don't smell the greatest) I bought elderberries to make some syrup a little while back but left them at the loft and we let my dad stay there this week so I didn't want to go ransack the place looking for them. He is gone now so I'll go find them and make us a wellness potion. We will be tops soon!

So 2017. You got any resolutions or plans? Me, no resolutions, just to keep on living with intention, kindness and love and to continue to pursue my goals. We have plans for some travels (cross country awesomeness part 2), plans for some life stuff, so we got things. But basically I am just looking forward to making this year good,  and to be better with where I place my camera. (I can never seem to find it when I want to take pictures) 

Sunday. With today, I am going to relax and recoup. Drink my fluids (tea and coffee)  take my naps, and wash the sheets (everyone should start a new year with clean sheets!)

Internet links to click if you like.

-Happiness vs meaning...How about some of both.  In 2017, Pursue Meaning Instead of Happiness.

-15 of Carrie Fisher’s Best, Most Honest Feminist Quotes.

-I already charge my cellphone on the machines at the gym, but it it floated , well that would be swell.  Floating Gym In Paris Uses Human Energy To Sail Down The Seine River

-A Short Catalog of Foods Discontinued in 2016

-Life is bigger then all of us. As A Rough Year Ends, We Turn To The Cosmos For Some Perspective

-Cross stitching awesomeness

- Maybe 2017 will be the year that I wear pretty things. I really like this dress.

-The Best Things We Read and Ate This Year

-I really want to go back to Iceland.(maybe we will this summer?!) 15+ Iceland Photos You Won’t Believe Are From This Planet

-There is sugar in everything. How Much Sugar Can You Avoid Today?

Pictures of some of the crazy.

HAPPY 2017!!!!

In winter, Winooski, vermont, travel, remodeling, photography, life, internet links, holiday, home Tags Happy New Year, Sunday Happy, remodeling, tile, concrete counter, family, holidays, interent links, photography
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