• stem+node ceramics
  • HOME
  • Food Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
Menu

The Lovely Crazy

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number

Your Custom Text Here

The Lovely Crazy

  • stem+node ceramics
  • HOME
  • Food Recipes
  • About
  • Contact

Sunday Happy

August 5, 2018 Colleen Stem

August for real. What happened to the year? This summer is just flying by and even though it has been so freaking dumb hot for like ever, It feels like it just begun. I bet it's because of the heat, that my brain is not functioning right and that I have lost all concept of time. But you know what August means.. August means soon to be fall. And that is just fine by me because I really am craving some apples and I miss my sweaters. Oh how I miss them so. 

Last week started off at Bread and Puppet which was awesome per usual. Lots of big puppets, lot of people in white, people sprawled all over the grass. Politically charged, funny and beautiful. I am always so entranced when we go to the circus. If you are anywhere near Glover VT on a Sunday this summer, go, check it out, it's freaking awesome. And right down the road from the puppet field is Jes's farm where ee tried out her new Hipcamp site. The spot was great, the views were awesome, and the mr was right near a stream so he was a happy fisher. I on the other hand was just excited to be away from town. Read for a while and crawled int the tent as soon as the sun went down (kind of similar to my bedtime routine at hime too)  And sure there was a tick (the mr), a leech,(also the mr) and a lot of peeing on ones foot while squatting (me) but other then that, it was fantastic and just what we needed.

Then we returned and did life. Had dinner with my mom and the littles, placed Coco in a planter, made Miley and Judah gigantic ice cream cones, and watched Barb make all the best faces a happy, peppy 18 year old girl can make. Wednesday Nicks sister Emma came over for dinner and shot the shit with us for a while then Thursday came around which entailed  lots of mid summer running around, fixing this, doing that, farm share (so many tomatoes) and getting ready to leave the coming day.

Friday Shannon, Megan, the mr, and I hopped into the car and drove down to Rhode Island for the afternoon to spend some time with our Uncle Seth. The mr drove the whole way there while Megan squeaked and squealed in the back set and us girls counted and organized the amount of times and where we moved to growing up (I was at 19 times by 16.. I guess we were a family of gypsies). Had a good lunch with David, checked out a grave yard and a giant glass circle, then made our way over to Seths loft for a visit. We were all in need of a good Seth visit. Just to hear him laugh or see him smile was such a great gift. And after our visit   we went to Whole Foods to buy Whole Foods, and jumped back into the car, the mr driving the whole time, Megan squeaking and squealing in the back set, until we made it home.....Very late. I feel asleep for a few hours, woke up, went to work, loaded and unload some kilns, came home, cleaned the house, then pass the fuck out. It was a long week. 

The mr and I are doing Sunday like we did last week. We both have a few things to do this morning but then we are going to meet at home for lunch and head out. Where to, not exactly sure, but we aren't coming back until tomorrow morning. The camping stuff is still out, the weather is suppose to be hot and humid but sunny, so there really isn't any reason to no run away up a mountain or into the woods.  And I think I deserve a good long day of not talking to anyone. Camp coffee, a good book, and a soft place to set my head. It will be good. 

Internet reading from the week. 

-WHen anyone complains about any anything, the first thing I ask is if they have had any water lately... Most people, especially littles, say no. Off Your Mental Game? You Could Be Mildly Dehydrated

-Which Vision Of Farming Is Better For The Planet?.

-Kind of in love with these Improvised Wall Tapestries Crafted with Vibrant Thread Combinations. I want rub my face into them.

-These animals spend their whole lives waiting to have sex, and then they die. So there is that. 

-When Your Name Doesn’t Feel Like You. I can totally see show this could be a thing that some people have to deal with. I like my name, and I think it totally fits me.  But I have known (take my uncle Seth for example) people that have hanged their names. I mean, it's something you have to deal with for your entire life so you know, own it or change it I guess. 

-I would barf if I lived here, but it's cool. A Colorful, Geometric Wonderland That Might Feel Like You’ve Jumped Inside a Kaleidoscope

-Why Does It Seem Like Everyone Is Getting Sick from Salad? This is one good reason (of many) to eat as locally as you can and know exactly where your food comes from. 

-How Explorers Sleep in Extreme Spots. Whoa.

-I have definitely rented a book because of its pretty flower cover (I just picked up My Absolute Darling) How Publishing’s Floral-Print Trend Came to Rule the World’s Bookshelves. I really appreciate a good cover. For some reason pictures of people on overs bother me. 

-For More Flavorful Desserts, Forget This Ingredient. IT would probably benefit more then just flavor too. 

Pictures from the week... and Barb eating pizza. Ha

IMG_7903.jpg
IMG_7829.jpg
IMG_7952.gif
IMG_7935.jpg
IMG_7989.jpg
IMG_3009.JPG
IMG_8018.jpg

Happy Sunday

-C

In vermont, the fam, the great outdoors, sunday happy, summer, pictures, internet links Tags Sunday Happy, Happy Sunday, Everyday life, pictures, photos, vermont, bread and puppet, Phone Island, family, internet links
Comment

Sunday Happy

July 22, 2018 Colleen Stem
IMG_7584.jpg

Forecasters are calling for a stormy week, supposedly starting today. And you know what, I really hope that we get it, and get it all. Everything is so dry and crunchy and we just need rain. I need rain. Too many sunny days in a row actually start to have an opposite effect on me. I get cranky. I need some overcast and gloom. It helps my brain. That might sound crazy, but I know I am not the only one. (right?) Anyway, we need the rain so it better freaking rain. 

Just another mid summer week.  The mr was all week work work working, I did some work, but was not overly busy, I kind of was feeling like shit, especially the beginning of the week. Super hot Monday followed by hot and humid Tuesday just felt like a slap in the face. I am, and I think that we are all, officially over the hot humid shit. It is just too much. I feed Megans evil cat all week which was annoying since that cat basically tries to kill me everytime I look at him (he really is a mean little fucker). Barb and I had a mid week meet up at the farm for green bean and flower picking, Now I have so so so many beans because  I have been doing a lot of picking of all sorts of tasty things, including beans, at home in the garden (so many raspberries, not to mention all of the kale (Happy dance me))  Pretty soon it's going to be an onset of so much food. I am getting ready. The chest freezer is plugged in, got some more  canning jars and freezer bags. Bring it on I say. I'l take it, I'll take it all. Which bring me to Thursday Farm share. Got the first tomatoes of the season (whoop whoop)  and had to stop myself from shoveling them all down my throat. I decided to try and be proactive this year and not overdue the tomatoes and give myself hella shitty reflux. We will see how I do. 

Friday we had plans for a tree house picnic with the littles but it ended up turning into a front porch picnic. To many people to fit way up high in that tree. It's all about safety first. We had (not me, I ate lettuce zucchini bowl) cucumbers, green beans, peaches, and fluffernutters. Miley and Judah  were not so impressed because they get to eat that shit whenever, but Barb. Oh was she excited for the fluff, just shoving it down like a champ. Haha. And Coco, that little dude can eat. He picked himself a giant cucumber from the garden and managed to eat just about all of it, this is after he ate like a quart of berries and a bunch of green beans. That little, he knows the way to my heart. 

And then somehow while we were taking our after dinner stroll around the block, the mr fell off of Miley's scooter and like maybe broke his wrist....For real, his wrist yersterday was like a ballon and he can barely move it.  I went to work at the studio (loaded a glaze kiln... I am so good at loading glaze kilns) and came back to bags of half frozen corn and peas leaking juice all over and the most miserable mr I have seen in a long time. HIs wrist was hurting him way bad.  SO two things, the littles are to NEVER ride a scooter without the proper head gear and maybe some wrist pads again and maybe not at my house for a while and  the mr is just straight up NEVER to ride a scooter EVER again. Broken wrist or not. He doesn't have a helmet. And I can't deal with a miserable mr. 

Today depends on how the mr is when he wakes up. If his wrist is still really swollen and he is miserable, I am going to run away...HA, no , I am going to drag his ass to the X-ray place and get his wrist looked at. If he is feeling better, well then I am going   bike into town to the gym, hit up the old library, hope for rain, but that it doesn't start til I get home from said library ( but really I will be ok, my back pack is waterproof so I can handle a little rain) do a few errands with the mr and then veg out for the rest of the asfternoon. I am really hoping for the latter of the two.

Internet from the week.

-Heat Making You Lethargic? Research Shows It Can Slow Your Brain, Too.  Finally some science to explain why I am garbage when I am hot.

-FDA Outlook on Plant-Based 'Milk' Is Bleak: "An Almond Doesn’t Lactate". Hahaha. No almonds do not... And not sure I care what they call plant based "milks".. maybe I should? And think of the possibilities of a new name... Almond hey yeah!

-In love. Vintage Summer: A Seventies-Style Shoppable Airbnb in Montauk

-Are We Really as Awful as We Act Online? Oh shit, some of the things people say. I don't know, sometime I think people are even worse...

-I think we are going to buy this tent. I would have already but I am trying to find it for cheaper (I have found it for 299.. still want it to be cheaper though), maybe wait for a sale? I don't know, but it is the tent that we want. 

-The Lawless Energy of Teen-Age Girls. I don't know why, but I really connected with these photos. Maybe it's because I was a teenage girl at one point, and I am pretty sure I did karate in a field too. 

-Buffy was the best, like seriously kick ass cool. A 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Reboot Is Reportedly In The Works

-What's the Difference Between Persian & English Cucumbers? I guess size matters. 

-I want so very much to see one of these performances. I mean, a ballet at a farm, pretty fantastic. Maybe I'll surprise the mr and bring him or...Maybe he will surprise me.  Farm to Ballet Project. 

-Inside a mostly faded culture on Norway’s border with Sweden. Magical farmers. Take me there. 

Pictures from the week 

IMG_0305.jpg
IMG_0294.jpg
IMG_7616.jpg

Happy Sunday!

-C

In the fam, summer, internet links, pictures, sunday happy Tags Sunday Happy, Everyday life, interent links, pictures, pictures from the week, family, farm, garden
Comment

Sunday Happy

June 10, 2018 Colleen Stem

It always happens. One minute it is snowing and freezing, the next it is sunny and warming up, and then blink and everything is all lush and green and amazing. Summertime (basically) and the weather has been fine fine fine and all the green and colors are here and I am taking it all in. The world is a pretty amazing place.

A good, never a dull moment, packed to the brim, week. It's crazy how much stuff you can pack into a day, especially a, soon to be, long summer day. Fishing, bike rides, read a book, did all the bills, work, running around here, getting that there. We have been all over and all out. Started  the week with the first of the summers farm share.  I picked it up, I ate it all, and obviously I am hungry because all I can think about is food right now and what is coming in the share tomorrow. Ha. Besides farm food, I had Anthony came over for a afternoon of crafting that had something to do with homework. He made a felt rocket ship and I taught him how to use a sewing needle. It was a good use of glue and thread.  I also hung out with the Miley, Judah, and Coco and all the rubix cubes anyone could ever handle. Me and the two big ones tried to figure those out for a while and Coco just sat there eating chips like it was his job.  Good stuff. I have also been spending time at the ceramic studio for now I am a studio assistant and will be assisting the studio with all of it's needs. That has been exciting for me because I haven't worked in a studio for a good while and it's been great to get back into it. Let see, what else. The mr has been working like crazy nuts, 14 hour days, all week. One of the houses in town got a nice scrape and is primed and ready for me (and the mr) to start painting, which will happen if we ever pick a freaking paint color. The gardens going well ( beside the war I have started  on slugs and squirrels), I need to mow the lawn again, and I still haven't found the vacuum attachment but have come to terms with it, and with all that and more we ended up missing  little So's dance recital. I feel bad, but not so bad because she spends half of her time twirling around and dancing around anyway. If I want to see her dance, all I got to do is start dancing and he will bust a move.  No harm, no foul and I'll make her some cookies so she really won't care. 

The big reason we busted ass so hard this week to get shit done was because we left for the weekend to Rhode Island for a quick visit with  the uncle and the cousins. We basically zoomed down there, ran around, checking out their amazing collection of houses and salvaged materials. (The mr and I are very very jealous) We hung out with my uncle Seth, took him  for a walk and got him in a few chuckles which made my heart swell. Then we spend an afternoon at the Providence Art and Music festival and watched David's band play a sweet little gig. Lots of sunshine, lots of cool art, lots of street performers and fun things. Then we jumped back into the car and zoomed home.  It was a short visit but a good one. But it is always good when I am with my family. They are my people, they get me. 

Today is going TBD. I am very much tired and am feeling like I might be getting an ear infection so that is not good. Not exactly sure the plan for today, but there is a plan for a plan for some stuff and once I get a little, or a lot, more coffee in me  I am sure I will be able to figure it out. And maybe some mullein and garlic oil and a warm almond for the ear and maybe just a short, few minute nap to help clear the fog. First things first, coffee (then maybe I won't need the nap) oh and water the all the plants and the garden like right this minute.  I am going to go do that now. 

Internet happenings on the internet. 

-As soon as I touch the shit I am done for. Don't Touch! A Scientist's Advice For Spotting Poison Ivy Before It Ruins Your Summer. 

-Shocking and so sad. . He seemed like one of coolest and genuine people.. The world will miss him. In Anthony Bourdain, the Food World Found One of Its Strongest Voices

-5 Ways to Help Your Kitchen Stay Cooler This Summer

-Being Hangry Almost Destroyed My Relationship. I know the mr really loves me when he doesn't kill me in my moments of complete and utter blind rage when I am hungry. It can get bad. 

-I am really into the cots as couches. LOUNGE-WORTHY.

-Someone (one of the littles I think) asked me what AM and PM meant. I had no answer. What Do AM and PM Stand For?. Now I know.  

-WE MADE PLASTIC. WE DEPEND ON IT. NOW WE’RE DROWNING IN IT. Yup, and it sucks.

 -It really is about how we raise the littles and the Mommas have been doing it for ever. Why Grandmothers May Hold The Key To Human Evolution

-Bees understand the concept of zero. I think that bees, and all other living things for that matter, understand a lot more then we could even imagine. 

-Vermont state parks and historic sites free this weekend. Hurry, you still got time today to get some Vermont in. 

Pictures from the week 

IMG_2820.jpg
IMG_2848.jpg
IMG_6434.jpg
IMG_6535.jpg
IMG_6595.jpg
IMG_6585.jpg
IMG_6611.jpg
IMG_6635.jpg
IMG_6646.jpg
IMG_6653.jpg
IMG_6651.jpg
In sunday happy, internet links, pictures Tags Everyday life, Sunday Happy, internet links, pictures, photgraphy, Family, Rhode Island, Art and music festival, Vermontng, Vermont
Comment

Sunday Happy

May 6, 2018 Colleen Stem
IMG_5859.jpg

How wonderful has the weather been for you? Around here, it couldn't have been any better. Warm, not to hot, lots of sun with some good rainy spell, even a really cool thunder storm. Everything is growing and blooming and it is just so fantastic.  A good spring week. We deserved it for sure. 

The week was full of all sorts of things. We finally got out taxes done after having to file an extension (well, there are still few more things were need to do, but the accountant has the pile of papers so I don't have to look a them anymore), Now I can finally stop thinking about them and focus on anything but, because taxes suck, like literally sucked the life out of me.(lets never speak of taxes again..until next year)  There were stairs rebuilt, shelves moved around, mirrors hung, so so much yard work, my first bike ride, sunburns (the mr, not me) and best yet, we found and installed a new (to us) bathroom faucet. Hooray!!  It's pretty cool, one we have never seen and looks really good with the green sink. We found it at the salvage yard attached to a sink that we did not need so we removed it, brought it home, dragged our heavy ass sink out to the backyard, and the mr installed it. Then we brought the sink back to the bathroom and stuck it back in place.  Now we can stop brushing our teeth and washing our hands in the bathtub. Things are going good. 

 I feel like I have been rolling in the green all week (green as in plants and stuff). The mr bought me the coolest plant called the escargot begniioa (see picture below) and that's the plant that made me realized that I am now obsessed and need to start the worlds greatest begonia collection. I also got a few more house plants because I just can't stop/won't stop. (Our house is basically made up of chairs, books, and plants. Not a bad house if I do say so my self.) So now the inside could be mistaken for the outside. Outside we planted a bunch of raspberry bushes our neighbor gave us which I am so super excited about and I have a ton  more  seeds in the garden, Or I hope I do. I kept getting seed/plant robbed by the birds and squriells. All the greens that I had started inside and planted in the soil were eaten and a good chunk of the seeds I directly planted were also dug up. Little fuckers, but I think the chicken wire I placed over everything really helped. And it is still kind of early so I just planted and started more seeds because thats what we do.  I basically spent all all my time this week thinking about plants and I am ok with that. 

And it's Sunday. Today I am going to spend more time then I would like digging splinters out of my hands because for some reason I just don't think about putting on gloves when doing any yard work. I know of one really big one in my thumb from a tree root that won't come out, but all the twigs and sticks I picked up gave me quite a few little pesky ones. Other then that, as long as it is not super rainy, I 'll probably spend a good chunk of the day outside again, doing more yard stuff, probably without gloves on, because why would I do that? And I will  try to throw in a bike ride too. If I am lucky, once I get tired,  it will start raining this  afternoon so I can not have to water and I can spend the rest of the day reading on the back porch with all my new plant friends. 

Internet I looked at that you can look at too.

-I am a plant lady in all the ways. My new obsession.  Begonias. BEAUTIFUL BEGONIAS: TYPES & CARE. 

-Yes, yes they do. Drake’s Lyrics Make The Best Cake Quotes Ever

-This house is pretty cool, but the pineapple light fixture. Amazing.

-I think I might be a sensitive person. Everything to Know About the Highly Sensitive Person

-Now You Can Drink—Yes, Drink—Hummus. Yeah, I don't know. I think I would really like a chick pea tahini shake.  But is it really hummus? Hum.

-Vermont Wetland Types. Became I wanted to know and you might too.

-Should I make one for the mr to push me around in? Haha, but this is pretty cool,, like for the littles. WOODEN RIDE-ON CAR DIY!

-I feel like I could really get down with the contra. Square, Contra and Henry Ford: The History And Lasting Appeal Of Country Dancing

-TALKING BREAD AND EVOLUTION WITH JEFFREY HAMELMAN Who doesn't want to t talk about bread, especially a master baker from VT? 

-This seems kind of crazy and a little gross. Old cake for hundreds of dollars. How about you throw me the money and I make you a fresh cake?  Slice Of History: Pieces Of British Royal Wedding Cakes Up For Auction. 

Pictures from the week.

IMG_5820.JPG
IMG_3395.jpg
IMG_5813.jpg
IMG_5812.jpg
IMG_3369 2.jpg
IMG_5750.jpg

Have a good one. 

-C

In sunday happy, Spring, internet links, photography Tags Sunday Happy, internet links, photography, summer, spring, vintage sinks, faucets, green, plants, Vermont, Vermonting, Everyday life
2 Comments

Sunday Happy

February 11, 2018 Colleen Stem
IMG_3707-1 2.jpg

Another week come and gone. The month of February is already flying by and I would be lying if I said I cared, because I kind of don't. It's not that I am not appreciative of every day and all that good stuff, but I am, and more so everyone around me, are in the midst of some serious winter crazy. It happens, and I accept it, but I just want to open all windows, stop having to wear all the layers, sleep under a tree, and get away from all the people. I could do all that now, but then I would be really cold , so I wait, and I deal with all the crazy. At least I like winter weather and have been able to escape outside when I need to. But I think that hardest part for me right now it food. I miss freshy fresh food. This is probably my slimmest month for food, which is basically all roots.  I have gone through pretty much all of my back stock of frozen and canned stuff from last summer. I have already gone through all my farm share which  is basically all roots and hasn't had much for greens lately and probably won't for another few weeks. I am starting to really crave the fresh stuff, more greens, beans, tomatoes, eggplants, you know, the spring and summer stuff. Yeah sure I can go buy that food at the grocery store, but it is all  out of season and would probably taste like shit so I will settle for bitching a little here and wait for the good stuff to be more in season. That is the natural thing to do. 

Enough of the bitching because it really hasn't been a bad week.  The mr and I went for a little hike in the woods which was just so very very nice. Did a bit of babysitting of just the baby. (he is obsessed with his Woody and Jessie calls.. so dang cute) We hung out with the bigger littles and talked lofted bed building, and my mom and Barb came over to eat the cutest little heart jam hand pies. The mr got his new mud hawk which he now carries around the house everywhere with him and has also been bringing home more and more tools to add to the collection on the back porch (aka, the wooden spoon carving work shop)  He is now officially obsessed. 

The Olympics started and I have sound myself on more then one occasion watching the people do the craziest of things.(are you watching?) I never used to really care but I don't know, I found myself a little more interested this year, especially in the figure skating. Those athletes are beasts. How the heck they do what they do  it is beyond me. I guess that is why we watch them right? 

I was talking last week about how I wanted to start painting everything. Well I haven't painted everything, but I did paint the kids rooms cave a really dark blue. I am really excited to finish painting all the stars and set the room up more for the kids and also so that the mr and I can use it a bit too.  House projects.. I am trying to not get myself to deep into anything right now, at least until I can open the windows to air out the fumes. (paint fumes are not joke) 

I am not are whats going on today. The mr is running around, doing some  landlord stuff, some moving , some shaking. (That guy, I tell you, he is always doing something for someone else. He really is a gem of a person.) Me, I might lend a hand too, but I really just want to keep on painting the room, do laundry, take a walk into the woods, and nap. Or drink all the coffee in the world, embrace the crazy stirring inside of me, and see where I end up. Maybe I'll go take a crack at some figurer skating.. hahaha. I don't not need to spend the day in the hospital. 

A few internet links from the week.

-If you are watching the Olympics ice skaters and have no idea how it is possible and what the hell is going on.  Figure skating jumps, explained

-These are some cray cray potties. Japanese-Designed Public Restrooms in the Shape of Fish, Crabs, Tree Stumps

-Everyone pees in the shower. If you say you don't, I don't believe you. Is it OK to Pee in the Shower?

-Space X sent a cute red Tesla Roadster into space. Here’s what’ll probably happen to it. Car accidents happen, even in space. 

North Korea’s Cheer Squad. Whoa ladies, whoa.

-Eating Leafy Greens Each Day Tied to Sharper Memory, Slower Decline. I eat more greens in a week then the average person does in a year. I will never loss my mind!!!!

-I am not a barque of roses type of girl, but I know that a lot of people are. But do you ever wonder Why Do We Give Roses On Valentine's Day?

-Why Your Brain Clings To False Beliefs (Even When It Knows Better) 

-Sorry, I'm a Mammal: A History of Women & Body Hair // RAZOR BURN: A Brief History of How We Got Tricked Into Shaving. Lucky me, I was not tricked although it does piss some people off.

-FABRIC IN THE WIND. Something about billowing fabrics makes things slow down and gives me some feelings. 

Pictures from the week

IMG_3715-1.JPG
IMG_3700-1.JPG
IMG_0155.jpg
IMG_0133.jpg
IMG_3752.JPG
IMG_9978.jpg
IMG_3738.JPG

-C

In winter, Winooski, vermont, sunday happy, internet links, photography Tags Sunday Happy, Everyday life, internet links, olympics, Vermont, Vermonting, outdoors, winter crazy
Comment
← Newer Posts Older Posts →
 

https://thelovelycrazy.squarespace.com/config#/|/about/

Me. Food Maker.Food eater. Woo HOO!

STEM+NODE  SMALL BATCH AND ONE OF A KIND POTTERY

stem+node ceramics



____________________

Subscribe

GET NEW POSTS IN YO EMAIL

You are AWESOME!!!

 

@thelovelycrazy 2014-2021