Sunday Happy

Hello friends.

The past week is kind of a blur. There was some stressful times there where I was sure I was just going to have to stay in bed for the duration of the week and call it. But I didn’t. I was good. I got up, did what needed to be done and tried to keep my head from exploding. Nothing bad, just stressful. Life things, you know?

Besides from being a crazy person all week, I did accomplish a lot. I don’t know how, but I ended up doing like 5 loads of laundry which is like 4 more loads of laundry that I normally do a week. I unpacked all the winter stuff which we have actually needed because it has snowed a few time this week. Jackets, hates, mittens, shoes. And you would think that shoes would be needed right? Well the mr is still wearing his sandals but with socks of course , so you know. Me, I had to switch to real shoes a few weeks ago. After wearing Birkenstocks for 20 years straight, all year long, I have killed my feet and they can no longer handle any kind of cold. What else… I packed the camping stuff (one of those loads of laundry were our nasty, stinky, sleeping bags) which was kind of sad because it really means that we probably won’t be camping any more this year. I cleaned my studio space in the basement (then trashed it again). Picked up the last farm share for the summer (winter share starts in 2 weeks!) and the back porch got a good cleaning and organizing. All of my plants that were outside have been moved inside and now the house looks like a jungle. I forgot just how many plants I have. I think I am nearing 40 so just call me the crazy plant lady. Ha.

As for people, no Barb this week. She ditched me for Italy. So rude right? And all week, all month, I have been planning this pumpkin carving party. It was suppose to be me and the mr plus Barb and Miley, Judah, Coco, and Sophia. Well Barb was gone so one down. Then On Thursday I was informed that So had a Halloween party Friday night so wasn't coming. And then on Friday I get a text saying that Miley wants to go to the school dance instead and that Coco is sick…. I was so bummed. I had all this pizza party stuff, all sorts of pumpkins, rented Hocus Pocus and made cookies. I was looking forward to this night for weeks. But you know what, Judah came and we had a blast. We carved pumpkin (well he and the mr did) His pumpkin came out amazing, gourd arms and seed teeth , and all. I made pizza, We went for a nighttime walk then came home and cuddled on the couch and watched Hocus Pocus. He ate cookies and half bag of chocolate chips, and then we all went to bed without any sibling fights. Woke up, made him Judah cakes (pancakes that spelled his name), went for a walk, ran some errands, then dropped him off at home. Sure I missed the other littles, but whatever, one cool kid was awesome and bonus, my house didn’t get completely trashed!

In a few hours the mr and I are going to head to Montreal, hit up IKEA, spend some time perusing stuff that I won’t buy then maybe take a nap in a sample bed. The mr will get some hot dogs (he is going to try the veggie dogs) and then we are picking up Barb’s ass up from the airport!!! I am really excited to see the lady and hear all about how much wine she was able to throw down while in Italy. Ha hahaha. But really, how much?

Anyways. Have yourself a very fantastic week. Halloween, November, the last week of daylight savings…. We are heading into the dark months! (I am so excited!!!!)

Stuff that doesn’t suck to read from the internet

-40 Tips For The Perfect A-Frame Cabin This is exactly where my brain is spending time this week. #LIFEGOALS

-We have a few Sears houses in our neighborhood and I love them. They should return to making awesome tiny home kit houses. People would love that. Sears Is Fading, But Memories Of Its Mail-Order Homes Endure

-Rethinking the $20 I Spend a Week on Almond Butter. Yeah. I love me some almond butter, but who the hell has 20 bucks a week to spend on it. No me, although I wish.

-Hells to the no, shoes are NOT ALLOWED in my house. I flip my shit if people don’t take their shoes off.And for those who say that I walk around barefoot all the time outside and then come inside, well that is different. Lawn dirt is way different from nasty shoe grim. DO YOU WEAR SHOES IN THE HOUSE? (AND THREE REASONS NOT TO!)

-Whatever your stance on candy corn is, don’t you think they should have stuck with the name, Chicken Feed? That would have been amazing. Actually, Candy Corn Is Great. (I don’t eat candy so I don’t even remember what it tastes like…)

-Comfort Baking: Why It's Important & How We're Practicing It. Baking always helps clear my head, it’s like my mediation.

-Did you know a rusty nail can be ink. An Urban Ink Forager Explains How To Paint With All The Colors Of The Alley

-Don't Let Anyone Tell You How Many Muffin Tins You Need. I needed to hear this because sometimes I think I have way more then I need, but now I just might need to get me some more. Ha

-I want one of these rugs. Hand-Tufted Rugs Celebrate the Natural Beauty of Lichen and Mold

-Doctors in Scotland Are Literally Prescribing Nature to Their Patients. Those doctors are so smart. Nature is the best medicine.

And pictures from the week. Barb eating will be back next week. A big thanks to Judah for filling in this week, he also is a great eater.

Bye.

-C

Sunday Happy

Anyone else have a kind of strange week? Maybe not strange per say, it just seemed a little off. But maybe it’s the weather changing and it being pretty much October already and the state of the world being all crazy. Or maybe I am just losing my mind a bit. It’s probably that, and a little bit of everything too.

Last Sunday was camping at Underhill State Park. The place was packed during the day with all of the hikers, but that night, dead silent. It was probably one of the quietest places we have stayed yet. The only sound I heard all night was that of the stream nearby. And the hiking around there, well that is why you go. Unfortunately we got there kind of late so we were not able to hike to the top of Mansfield, before it got dark, but we did hike up a bit, and just turned around and watched the sunset through the trees. Good things happen while hiking in the woods. It is always hard to leave and come back to not camping life, but we do it.

When we got back to the world, it was all hustle and busting. Trying to get in things that needed to be done done. There was a lot of raining so not much painting happening which was kind of ok because there are a ton of things we needed and still need to get done so we did what we can do. I also had a giant unicorn cake and letter shaped cookies to make for Miley and Coco’s birthday party. Miley tuned 11 on Thursday and Coco is turning 2 next week so we did a 2 for 1 family party. It was lots of baking, making fondant and frosting, powdered sugar just getting everywhere and making everything sticky. There was a lot going on in the kitchen this week.

The mr spent one of those rainy afternoons making a unicorn piñata for Miley. That was it’s own mess in itself. But besides the mess, I think he should quit working and just make piñata for a living. The unicorn came out so awesome that I was a little hesitant to let him give it to her to beat apart. He was very excited for it to get smashed and it was all his deal so yeah. And honestly I think I was a little jealous. I hope he makes me a piñata for my birthday, but fill it with like carrots or something. A carrot piñata filled with carrots. That would be amazing.

Friday was work at the studio and then the party. Before work I spent another hour or so with the cake good thing the cookies were already done,, and then had to drop the cake off at Erins before I went to to work. Got to work and loaded and unloaded kilns and felt like I was running around with my head cut off, then straight back to the Erins for the party. Finished assembling cake then that was it. The people showed up, we played and danced around, coco was stealing cookies when no one was watching, Miley and Judah were eating the extra unicorn horn of sugar because why not, and all the kids were high as can be on sugar. Especially Miley. After the mr gave her the piñata, she hung it in her room because she did not want to smash it. But then after cake and all that sugar she took it down, brought it out the the front porch and just body slammed it and starting ripping it apart. It was shocking, and a little scary and made the mr oh so happy. He said it was meant to be destroyed. Lucky the head survived. Miley is going to mount it, like a trophy on the wall. And eat the 5 lbs of candy that were stuffed inside of it.

Yesterday the mr and I did our yearly jaunt to the Harvest Festival in Underhill. Everyone in the town is out having yard sales, there is music and marching bands, freshly pressed hot apple cider (we didn’t get any this year.. I don’t know why) and a view of the prettiest color changing mountains. I scored big too with a sweet 50 cent sweater and a free scale to weigh out my clay. Nothing better then finding something you are looking for, and for free to boot. And did I mention the colors? The trees are really starting to pop now. The reds and oranges, it’s gonna be a fire on the mountain soon.

After we got home the mr ran to fix some toilets and I started cleaning. Boy did we need to clean. To some, my house seemed perfectly fine, but to me, I could feel the days and days of sugar powder and paper mâché mud on everything. Every surface just felt sticky. And while I was doing my cleaning thing, I started a load of laundry in the basement and stubbed my toe (the toe next to my big toe that is still healing from the bender dropping on it). Not only did I stub it, I think I spilt it in half. It hurts, it really really hurts. Then I had to wipe up all the blood too. A great way to end the week.

Today is a new day. My toe is throbbing, I slept like shit last night because of the throbbing toe, so I am feeling kind of exhausted already, but that is ok because we are going camping tonight so I don’t have to think too much. I am going to go do a few morning chores, go to the gym ,and off we shall go. Maybe I will let myself have a mid day tent nap, or not. I am just happy to get away again. And this might be the last weekend we get to camp for a while so we really got to make it count.

Internet that interested me from the week.

-These Are All the Foods Being Affected by Trump’s Trade War. The list is long.

-I think there should be a ban everywhere! I don’t know how many time I have almost gotten into an accident on my bike or in the car with someone because they are using their phone while biking. It is stupid and dangerous. Netherlands Proposes Legislation To Ban Use Of Phones On Bicycles

-These Moths Drink the Tears of Sleeping Birds. Doesn’t that just sound like tragic and magical and crazy?

-If you are ever in a bulk section of spices and there are different types of cinnamon, try them, they taste very different. Did You Know That There Are Different Types of Cinnamon?

-No shit. Study: Roundup Weed Killer Could Be Linked To Widespread Bee Deaths.

-This little wood fire stove or this wood fired stove are my kitchen goals in life.

-Every Adult Should Have a Bedtime. Mine is 9, but I will crawl into bed earlier and read. That may seem early to a lot of people, but I wake up at like 430 everyday so yeah.

-Will a Baked Potato Really Explode If You Don't Prick It? I have had a many things (eggplants for sure and spaghetti squash) explode due to not pricking, and also tons of stuff not.. Take the risk?

-Apple Cider Doughnuts Are a Lie. I often wondered…

-This place would totally fuck with my head. A Cafe in Seoul Uses Clever Contour Lines to Appear Like a 2-Dimensional Cartoon

Pictures from the week’

-C

Sunday Happy

I was walking around Costco this week and they have set up all the Christmas trees and decorations. It struck me hard, like what? Did I miss something. What about like fall and Halloween and Thanksgiving. Leave it to Costco to make you feel like you are behind on your holiday preparations. Lucky Home Depot had it right and had only Halloween decorations out. Those little skeletons made me feel a little better, and even excited. Fall be coming for real soon!!!

The last week started with our usual camping Sunday. Stopped at a few pieces of property for sale (fell in love with one except it is really close to high voltage power lines and yeah, I don’t know if I can live that close to that). Found a plastic Santa on the side of a dirt road in the middle of now where and was so pumped. I have been on the look out for an old vintage Santa for the house (this one was a knock off, but still cool) so we grabbed him and stuffed him in-between the tent and sleeping bags.

We got to our campsite, set up the new tent(yeah!) sat out Santa, then tooled to the woods. Did some hiking, some exploring, and just really savored all that the world is in. A good lentil and potato dinner, a fire made by the best fire starter in the world, then assed out as soon as it got dark. Camping is the best. Woke while it was still pitch dark out, made the coffee, packed up, and watched the greatest sunrise before heading to the river for the mr to go and do some fishing. Unfortunately Santa did not make it through the camping trip. When we were packing up I accidentally shattered his head while trying to stuff him back into the car. I was so pissed, but what can you do? He was a fragile old man. But the hunt continues. I will get my plastic Santa. I will.

Then back to life in town, which this week consisted mostly of me miserable because I bit a whole in my tongue (yes I did, and it was gross) and the mr on high ladders and me on the porch, painting away. We need to get this house done before it gets too cold.

Barb and the littles came over for dinner and sour patch kids, I gave the mr a hair cut, and went to Mileys first ever field hockey game (She is so dang good). Barb came over again for dinner because she really likes it when I feed her good food, and basically besides running around doing chores and errands, it was painting. Oh, and I did work at the studio, cleaning and such, and I did get a little time to start the tearing the garden apart process, but yeah, that’s about it. That and I bought my first sugar pie pumpkin of the season… Gonna eat the shit out of that! So excited!

For today, it’s off to the great outdoors. I think the mr was saying something about good fishing soon or whatever, so we are camping out near some rivers that he like to fish. Me, I am just excited to get my hike, and knit, and read on. We only have a few more weeks before all the campgrounds are closed and it gets to cold to camp so I am going to savor every bit of it.

Internet from the internet from the week.

-I didn’t even know, or even thought to think about it. Watch How Steel Ribbons Are Shaped into Cookie Cutters

-This new blood test can figure out what time it is inside your cells Whoa. I wonder what my cell time is?

-Don’t care about the hot tub, but the rest. SO COOL! Next time I am in Wales I guess. Luxury Dome Getaway with Private Hot Tub near Round Swamp in New South Wales

-Cross Back Apron. On my list of things to make within the next week (or month)

-I still use plastic containers because I have them and don’t want to just toss them away, but maybe I really should.(But I probably won’t, at least fora while) There’s So Much to Worry About I Forgot to Worry About Plastic Poisoning

-When Your Child Believes Meat Is Murder It happens, be prepared. I remember when I became a vegetarian when I was 11, the shit I got from my family (And still sometime do, 21 year later) and I didn’t know what to eat. I ended up eating lot of garbage food until I figured my shit out later in my mid teens. Not good.

-I don’t really eat any food that comes in a package, but I would totally be the one to eat the package if I did. Eat Your Food, and the Package Too

-The Truth About How Much Happiness Money Can Buy. All relative though. I make far far less then 85k and I am pretty happy, I think?

-Modular A-frame homes.. Just not in America, yet.

I hate the fidget spinners, they make me anxious. Fidget spinners, weighted blankets, and the rise of anxiety consumerism

Pictures and Barb eating from the week.

Bye.

-C

Sunday Happy

And it's September which means that I can talk all I want about how excited for fall I am. Because I am very very excited. Apples, pumpkins, sweaters, cozy blankets, darker evenings. And no more humidity! Ha, jokes on us, it suppose to be stupid hot and humid again all next week. WHY!!! But after that it's gonna get cool right, cause eI can't take the heat anymore. 

The week started off by giving Miley a hair trim and Coco his first ever hair cut. He could have cared less about it but I think it  might have traumatized me and his mother more. He looks like a completely different kid now. And  so old. I miss the curls, but I think he looks  really good. Maybe I should go into the hair cutting business? Yeah, maybe that's just what I will do. Then the next day, with littles all fresh and trimmed we went  for a picnic walk on the last day of summer. This was when the mr decided to make the nastiest sandwich he could (Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Apple Jacks, veggies straws, pickles, mustard, and ketchup on white) just to gross the kids out. They had bagels with just cream cheese. We had the intentions of walking to a playground, but due to the heat almost killing use we only made it to a green park where the mr ate the nasty sandwich and actually liked it, Miley read, and Coco and Judah  rolled around in the grass like dogs. . We then decided ice cream because duh, and  instead of buying individual ice cream cones, bought a half gallon and I just let the 4 of them go to town and eat as much of the ice cream as they could. I figured to hot to walk it home and also last summertime hurrah. They got through just about the whole thing. 

Work wise, we have spent most of the week, going back and forth with paint colors for one of the houses because we are crazy and spend way way to much time on colors.  We have a million gallons of a color that we are not super excited about but in the end, saving at least $700 bucks in paint, well we finally decided to just go with it.  It is Mint green, but it is  growing on me. I think we can make it look cool. No, I know we can. You just wait and see.

Then there is the new addition of the cat door for Only. We installed it in the back of the house so he will stop sitting on the front porch meowing like he is starving to death and we won't let him in the house. Our neighbors think we are terrible. But what they don't know is that he is allowed to do whatever he wants. Eats a whole hell of a lot, but is just a really really mouthy cat. But yeah, we would like him to start meowing at the back door instead. Hence cat door. 

And Barb came over for dinner and tattoo drawing. She wants a tattoo bad. I am ok with it, as long as she waits a while and listens to exactly what I tell her. Ha.  Megan and So  came the next day so So could tell me all about her fist few days of kindergarten and to have lunch. And to make a bedtime box, which in fact, has been used by other littles for bedtime. Kindergarten is really making her smart that one.  

On Friday afternoon we went to the fair. And whoa shit it has been like 15 years since the last time I went to one.  We kind of had too because we had free tickets even though I am not a fair person by any means. I don't like crowds, I don't like rides, I don't like playing games for toys, but it was actually pretty cool to see the animals. 4H and blue ribbon carrots and big ass pumpkins.  All the farm animals were very cute and the giraffe.. a little out of place, but cool non the less. My biggest thing though was where did it live? I know the farm animals all came from farms around the state and the animals were taken care of, but the giraffe. It made me kind of sad. I am just hoping it gets to go back to a good home too. And after the animals we  did do the walk through around the rides and it was cool to see all the rides and colors and such, but after that I had to go. An hour was all I could handle.

The studio is closed for the weekend so I didn't have to work. Instead the littles came over for a sleep over. We watched a movie then I went to bed and they stay up all night watching whatever. Woke them up to squeeze bottles full of colored pancake batter to make crazy pancake and then after Judah got enough of beating the shit out of the mr, we went to the farm, picked flowers, climbed trees and played tether ball. The weather was spot on too, nice and cool and crisp.  It was a fanatic morning.

And then I went home and spent the afternoon cleaning the littles ick and processing the new pile of tomatoes and squash that have started to overflow (again) on the counter. This time of year, it's like having a part time job just keeping up with all the veggies, which is not a complaint, just an observations of my life. 

Today, after a quick bike ride to the gym and library this morning, the mr and I are grabbing the camping stuff and taking off for the day and night. It's Labor Day tomorrow so we have to camp tonight. That is what we are all suppose to do, right? 

Internet finding that I found this week. 

-This is where we are staying tonight. New Discovery Stage Park. I am very excited, neither of us have ever been to this park before. 

-Goats Like It When You Smile at Them, Extremely Heartwarming Study Says. I mean, who doesn't prefer a smile. 

-Got to know what to look for up there this month.  Can't-Miss Sky Events in September

-The forest beekeepers of Zanzibar. I couldn't imagine having to climb a tree to get to a hive. These folks are awesome.

-Aagghh  Pesticides. Son of a bitch. What You Need to Know About the Massive Times Pesticide Report.

- 5 Proven Benefits Of Play. We all need to play more!

-When the mr and I first started dating, we used to stay up all night and watch this show, It is one my top three favorite shows  of all time. Mr Tastee is a classic. The Adventures of Pete and Pete’s Mr. Tastee Episode Is the Perfect Ode to Summer

 -I was thinking about fainting recently (on a very hot day), like wondering if I did faint, if I would go down gradually or hard and fast and bash my head open. I think about these things.  Fainting Is a Pretty Weird Thing for a Body to Do

-No more excuses. You are or you are not. Ha A Sociologist Finds Vegans Are Too Open to ‘Free Riders’

-Why you can smell rain—even though it's odorless. But is it really?

All the pictures from the week.

Have a great long weekend!

-C

Sunday Happy

The beginning of the week started off with cabin time with family and friends. All the sisters went up with their kids and we ate food, made bracelets, walked to the river, and just hung out for the afternoon. Seeing the family is (almost) always a good time. Then the mr and I ventured our way to our secret camping spot, went for a little hike, then ate our dinner in a park where I watched the mr open a can of beans for me by rubbing it against a rock. It was like magic, especially because I was starving and was smashing the end of the can like a rabid beast against, well everything. I forgot to bring the can opener for my can of beans which could have been the end of me. Luck for me the mr is so good and I never will need a can opener again. Anyway we ended up not camping out for the night. Our main reason for camping was to see the meteor shower, but the sky was all clouded so we couldn't see squat. Plus the mr was tired and feeling sore, I was little tired, so we just headed back home. When we got home we sat under the  slightly less cloudy sky in the backyard for a bit until the mr sprayed  bug spray that turned into bug bomb and  that not only kept all the bugs away, kept me away too. He had to take shower to ge the stink off and still he smelled. The smell lingered for days.. And to think it was just essential oils.  Then we slept in our bed which was way more comfortable then usual because we were really suppose to be sleeping on the ground. 

The rest of the week went as usual.  Had little bursts of rain, although never quite enough to help the heat, only enough to up the humidity. Qui came over for dinner where he drank out a a mug with his face all over it and tried to talk the mr into getting his own scooter. I told the mr if he wants one, well then he should go for it. But I don't think its happening any time soon.  Barb and So came over for  lunch and spent time harvesting all the goodies out of the garden. So picked a watermelon that turned out to be not quite ripe (so sad) and Barb picked all the kale that she could stand picking. Other then that, there was farm share, lots of running around, a chocolate zucchini cake, and the realization that I have Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder. (yes, it is a thing)  A well rounded, semi productive, way to hot, week. 

And then there was yesterday. It was amazing. Sure I was at work inside most of the day glazing hundreds of pots that little kids made, but when I got out, the sky was covered in big grey clouds with a slight rainy drizzle. The temperature was like 68 degrees, and there was a cool breeze. I might have even gotten a slight chill. It was everything that I have needed all Summer long. Seriously, to much warmth and sunshine is not good for me. I need cool rainy(dare I say snowy) days to help keep that balance, so yesterday really hit the spot. I was even able to wear a long sleeve shirt for like the first time in months.  And when I went to bed, I was able to sleep under the blanket. So nice. So nice.

And we made it to today. The mr and I were talking last night about going comping today so we might do that. Or we might not and just veg out for the day here at home, maybe stop in to see the littles that are home from sleep away camp. I am leaning towards camping. We skipped out last week and if the nights are going to be anything like last tonight, ( nice and cool), a fire will be ever so lovely and welcome.  And I am sure the mr would love to do some fishing and I of course can be happy reading and drinking coffee just about anywhere.  

Stuff I read on the Internet this week.

- Amazing music, amazing person. She will be missed. Aretha Franklin: In Memoriam Playlist.

-The exhilarating history of roller coaster photography. And to have your picture taken at a "Oh Shit Point"... Makes for some good pictures. 

-This is a place I would love to stay (or build An A-Frame Cabin Celebrates the Zero-Emission Lifestyle in Finland

-We Discovered Helium 150 Years Ago. Are We Running Out? I never thought about helium as being anything that we could run out of. Huh.

-Seriously, what the fuck dudes. Traces of Weed Killer Found in Cheerios and Quaker Oats Oatmeal-

-Genius Hidden Messages People Didn’t Expect To Find On Everyday Products. Sometimes it about the little extra attention to detail, and a little humor that keeps people coming back for more. 

-12 Signs You Suffer From Summer Depression. See, its for real. and I have it.. number 2 and 6. 

-Because in VT, we will pee on on your tomatoes. Haha. ‘Pee-Cycling:’ Vermont Researchers Look at Value in Human Urine

-What's the Difference Between White and Yellow  and  Popcorn 101: Butterflies, Snowflakes & Mushrooms (oh my!) 

-The colors and patterns really caught my eyes. New Synchronized Photographs of Swimmers by Mária Švarbová

Pictures from the week.

Have a good one.

-C