Sunday Happy

How excited are you about Valentines Day tomorrow? I know some people think it is a stupid holiday, and I get that if you think of it as purely a day of having to prove shit to someone and buy stupid crap, then yes, I agree. But if you think of it as a day to be happy and loving to everyone and decorate with all the pink and glittery hearts and keep it simple with no expectations other then to be nice and appreciate the ones you love, yourself included…How could you not like it? That later is our Valentines Day. The mr and always spend the day together, nothing fancy, no dinner out, no lavish gifts. Just quality time with no bickering aloud. HAHA! (for real) .

The week. It started off a happy kid at breakfast. Want to put a big ass smile on a littles face? Make them there very own sheet pan pancake (It was a half sheet). Yes I made Judah a giant ass baked pancake for breakfast on Sunday and he freaking loved. He even ate just about the entire things (he was trying for sure) and after putting him in a food coma we let hi hang out for a while then dropped him off and went about the day. And lets be clear here, I am for sure the best aunt ever!

The rest of the week felt productive altought I don’t know if it really was. I spent a lot of time throwing pots, I made a few new stamps, tested some glaze, and made a big mess. Basically did what I usually do but I am getting really excited about a new collection of pots that I am working on. They are pretty voluptuous and lovely and I just love them. What else? I went to Megs and hung out with her and So and then had Barb come over to eat food and be awesome. I changed up my running route. (Instead of running in the woods I run to the woods but then have to turn around. The trails are so icy so I have to run the streets until the trails are safer.) And that is about it so as I write it out its doesn't seem as productive as I thought. Hum. Maybe the weather has something to do with it. The serious warm up, all the snow started melt, me walking around the house with no socks and only wearing sweater on walks. It does something to my mind. I personally didn't have a hand in the weather but that is probably why I feel like I was so productive. HAHA!

And update on the mr. He has been walking around the house without his cast on and can ever so slightly move his thumb so he is slowly but surely getting more, or maybe getting less? He is getting there or somewhere is what I am saying.

Sunday. Well today the mr and I are both going to do some work. He is getting ready to start a job next week and I am going to do all my chores that I usually do Mondays, like grocery shopping, all the laundry, clean my studio and wedge clay for the week. I can’t goto the post or the bank, but that’s fine by me. I am also going to pop into the studio for a little bit and maybe mix up a few new test batches of glaze. Really trying to pack it all in. We are spending today doing this so we can spend tomorrow, Valentines Day, together. We are planning on skipping town early and going for a nice hike and then spending the rest of the day on the couch doing nothing but chilling and drinking all the coffee. He will probably order takeout for dinner and I will eat soup. And no bickering allowed! I am excited.

Some internet for your pleasure.

-Toyota Tacoma Tacozilla Camper. Yes please.

I don’t know who came up with these other names but it is called a Greenbar. The 8 Best Regional Terms for the Strip Between the Road and Sidewalk, Ranked

-What science still can’t explain about love. I am a firm believer that Love is Chaos.

-These are the types of questions I ask myself all the time! Why Are Letters Shaped the Way They Are?

-The 5 Essential Types of Chocolate and What to Do with Them.

-Long read but very informative and interesting. The search for carbon-neutral protein

-My aunt is an organic grain farmer and she is super badass. Flour Trip. One woman’s journey into the heart of grain and how our flour is made.

-Canada so much better at health care. A new program in Canada gives doctors the option of prescribing national park visits

-Oh I like this kitchen very much. DEVOL’S SWAN COTTAGE KITCHEN.

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

How are you handling the winter so far? Are you freezing you ass off? Are you spending all of your time inside? Me, I freakin love it!!!! Sure -20 is a bit rough on the eyeballs and there is a need for an extra layer or two but I really truly feel that winter is season of my soul. I want to spend all of my time outside. The world is calm and quiet and no one else around. It just feels bigger and more full and I could live the season forever. But yeah, it has been damn cold this week. Multiple frozen face mornings for sure.

The week was nothing special. Well the snow we got was fantastic. I wasn’t feeling the greatest (not sick, just blah) but I also found out that someone I worked with last week had covid so I was a little edgy and basically went outside for runs and walks but stayed away from people until I went and got tested. Got the results back and no covid, yay!(Although when I got the email and it said negative the first thought was, Oh shit, negative means I have it! That thought lasted about a minute before I woke up. Ha!) So it was a low key week. I shoveled a lot, Barb come over for dinner, I picked up farm share, painted some mugs, threw a few big ass bowls, stuck my wheel on cinderblocks (FINALLY), and went outside I much as I could without getting frost bite. The mr has been home a lot so we are still doing our afternoon reading hour thing. He has gotten a little better at not talking. But he still does. And that’s about it.

Today, well it is going to feel down right balmy with temperatures in like the high teens so you bet I am dragging the mr out. I have a few hikes in mind but I haven’t decided on where we should go. I want to get out of town but don’t want to drive to far (car air dries me right out.) We might also go look at some ice sculptures, maybe pick up a cup of coffee, walk around like tourist. We will see how much outdoor activity I can pack in before the mr calls uncle.

Some internet from the week.

-Oscar Mayer comes out with bologna-inspired sheet masks. This just looks really freaking g.ross.

-I will never ever let someone else pick out my groceries and deliver them to me. I don’t care what anyone says. NEVER! I Haven’t Stepped Foot in a Grocery Store in 21 Months — Here’s What’s Changed and What I’ve Learned Since I Started Getting My Groceries Delivered

-The M&Ms are different now. Killing that sexy candy vibe.

-This pretty much sums it up. You’re Invited to the Wedding I Planned in Middle School.

-Is It Really That Important to Rotate My Pans While Baking?

-I love me a good meteor shower. Ten Dazzling Celestial Events to See in 2022.

-Grocery Store Shortages Are Back. Here’s Why.

-And here I thought a dingbat was a not very nice name for a somewhat looper person. Everything You Need to Know About Dingbats, the Retro Home Style That’s All Over LA

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Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

We are into it, the deep winter of the north and I cannot be happier about it. Sure it is freaking cold but you know what? I love it. I love the cold, I love the light , I love the snow. This is my time of year. Are you into it too?

The week started off good. I went on a couple of really good super snowy hikes, one with just the mr and another one with Megan, Barb, Alex, and So. Both hikes were just all sorts of amazing with all the snow. One thing that can always make this lady smile is a good hike thorugh a snow covered forest. You can’t beat it.

Besides being outside ad much as I could be, I did a far amount of glazing in the beginning of the week. I also started on some new designs for mugs which I am kind of obsessed with but I should really see how they come out of the kiln before I get too excited.

And then Wednesday things suddenly just felt lighter. You feel it too? After listening to the news all day we had the littles and Barb come over for a good sledding session. Bundles up to the nines we headed over to the park, ran up the hill, and flew out butts down. The snow was just right for some serious speed. Even little Coco was flying down the hill (which scared the shit out of me). Then back to the house for hot chocolate and food and heat cause we were all pretty frozen by then. It was a great first sled of the year!

After that it was my birthday. It came and went which was a day and that was it. I forgot to pick up farm share. I can’t even with myself so now I am back to eating all the frozen green beans and broccoli until next week. ( I still can’t believe I forgot to pick it up.) The week ended with more work at the studio and I don’t know. I feel like more happened that I am forgetting but I guess it wasn’t that exciting if I have already forgot, HA.

Today is up in the air. I am not entirely sure of the plan but I hope to get out of the house for a little while. I know it is suppose to be stupid cold but you know what? I don’t really care. I have all the layers and yesterday I even made myself a fleece face covering so my mouth and cheeks don’t freeze off when I am running. (Good call on me!) So yeah, gonna let the day do it’s thing.

Internet from the week.

-Bernie Sanders And His Mittens Win The Inauguration Day Meme Game. Ah Bernie. If this is not a shinning example of a Vermonter (practical clothing, heavy mittens, and a trip the post office while you are out), well then I don’t know what is.

-There’s a right and wrong way to be bored. Jeez. Now you need two be bored a certain way.

-Don’t ask me why I am looking, I just am. AGA cookers. Maybe someday?

-Don’t get mad at your postal workers, it is not their fault! 'There's No End In Sight': Mail Delivery Delays Continue Across The Country

-The Practical Magic of Vermont’s Witch Windows—and Why Every House Could Use One. Again, Vermont being practical.

-You know you want to know even if you don’t know you want to know. Wait — Kim Owns the Land and Kanye Owns the House? Rich people problems…

-I Get Enough Sleep, but Why Am I Yawning So Much? Experts Explain. Contagious yawns are crazy real. I yawned just thinking about it.

-I just bought a toaster for the mr but I really wish I could have bought THIS TOASTER. I am in love.

-Science Says Camp Sleep Is Good for You. Oh how I miss camp sleep and camping in general. A couple more months and we will be back out there (I would go camping now but the mr would have none of it.)

-I want a room that is all windows! INSTAGRAM WORTHY: @VALDIROSE.

Pictures fro the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

I don’t know what the hell I was just reamng about, but I woke up with Celine Dion “Thats the way it is” stuck in my head. I am pretty sure I haven’t heard that song in like 10 years so it had to have made it’s way out of my deep, deep subconscious. What does it mean? And why won’t it stop replaying in my awake head!

What a ear worm to have on a Sunday morning. I need to plug my headphones in and listen to something, anything. It’s driving me nuts!

The past week involved our last camp of the year. We went to Little River State Park (the last place open) in the pouring rain and crazy wind and did our thing. Set up camp, hiked, made food. All drenched and loving every second of it, even the rm, who was fighting off a pretty crappy head cold. One thing that I did not love was that I was trying to dry out my soaking wet hiking boots a bit by the fire and ended up melting them. Yup, they actually melted, but lucky the mr brought extra shoes so those got me through the rest of the time. Anyway, so that was it, no more camping (due to the fact that it gets dark at 4 now and everything is closed for the season). And yes, I am sad about it. Until next year I guess, or until I convince the mr that winter camping is a good thing.

The rest of week involved me breaking and swallowing half of the second temporary crown. This time I did not bother going back for a third because my new permanent gold one goes in this week so I am just dealing for the time being. Then there was Halloween, which by hat time in the week, I was starting feel icky and sick, but still good enough for Barb to come over for dinner, watch me hand out a few handfuls of candy and walk the block in the rain. That storm was crazy with some freaky rain. The downpours were so intense at times that I though our house was going to wash away.

Not much else. I worked the studio and cut my hand open again. There was no farm share this week so I have had to go to the grocery store more then I would have liked. I cleaned the back porch off and backed away most of the summer stuff, and I found a few pairs of wool socks hiding in my closet. That was really nice. We didn’t see the littles cause they were all busy being cool with their fiends and between the mr and I both feeling under the weather, we choose to not infect the masses. We thought it better to lay a little low because we are good, caring people. Ha.

Yesterday was an Ikea day. Paul and Barb both wanted to go, so go we did. Left early morning, got stuck in dumb stupid traffic, then got to Ikea just in time for everyone else in Montreal to get there too. I peed, they got hot dogs. They shopped, I shouted. I peed again, they checked out and loaded up on more hot dogs. And then home we went. Me and Barb basically sitting on top of each other because Paul bought a shelf that took up half the car but you know what, traffic did not suck, the boarder was fine, and all and all not a bad trip. Minus the smell of the hotdogs, it made me want to barf.

And then I came home, the mr ran to rescue one of our tenants, I made dinner, we went for a walk, then I went to bed. Still feeling off and was more then happy just to get underneath all the covers and sleep.

Today the mr and I are not camping, but we are going hiking, so there is that. And we plan on making soup for dinner and maybe…maybe, turning the heat on tonight if we are feeling extra cold. But probably not. We might just wait til it snows.

Some links to look at from the internet.

-Is A Diet That's Healthy For Us Also Better For The Planet? Most Of The Time, Yes. Get on board people.

-On the drive to Ikea, we got into the conversation of seltzer because it’s always about seltzer. Is Seltzer Bad for You?

-This map shows how food travels from farms to your home. Some things really travel so far, it’s kind of crazy. Let us all try to eat more local, yes?

-Why do people hate vegans? Why indeed.

-Keep your brain alive and healthy. 5 Daily Habits That Negatively Affect the Brain and Should Be Stopped Before the Damage Becomes Irreversible

-How Jane Fonda Convinces Her Famous Friends to Get Arrested. I would get arrested with Jane Fonda. Hell, I Would do just about anything with Jane Fonda.

-Bulk all the way, but done right. The Problem With America’s Bulk Food Bins

-Thank you Dutch science people for making the world embrace Brussel sprouts. From Culinary Dud To Stud: How Dutch Plant Breeders Built Our Brussels Sprouts Boom

-Yes please! MAKE MINE AN A-FRAME.

-I Tried the Wim Hof Method to Find Happiness Through Suffering . I don’t know, I could see this working for me. Huh.

And pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

The week started off a okay because camping and camping is camping and is always good. We went to Branbury State Park which is right in between Lake Dunmore and the Green Mountain National Forest. We didn’t bring kayaks because we wanted to spend most of the time hiking plus I can’t get wet and be outside in these temperatures…. I will freeze to death. After a nice drive of foliage peeping, we got to the park, picked our site, made tea, and as we were setting up, the mr somehow knocked over his cup and covered his socked foot in boiling hot water. Blisters, big nasty ones, formed right away, but he championed on. Even managed to hike around all afternoon which in hindsight was not the smartest because his sandals were digging into the burns. But he survived and we camped on. He fished, I read, we ate dinner, watched the fire, crawled into the tent, and listened as the rain began. Woke up at the usual time in a slight puddle (it rained hard) tossed the wet stuff into the car, and headed on home to tend to wounds and the business of life.

The rest of the week, well, not going to lie, has kind of sucked for reasons that I am not going to get into. But let’s just say that sometime people can really fucking suck. The shit show has been mostly affecting the mr but the stress is palpable. On top of dealing with our usual life stuff, he has been making so many phone calls, dealing with unhelpful people, driving back and forth long distances on a moments notice. I have been trying to make things easier on him by not being a pain in the ass, making him pumpkin bread and wearing strips on prints and all the bright colors. I think the outfit might have been lost on him, but it made me happy. And he liked the pumpkin bread so that was a win.

Anyway, even as things are kind of shitty, there was still some good things, like having dinner with my mom and Paul, farm share a plenty, and harvesting the scarlet runner beans (the prettiest bean ever!). I got into the studio to glaze my ceramic pumpkins and ghosts with Barb (I dropped a pumpkin and smashed it. That was after I cut my hand open an hour before. Good times) and I saved a kiln from being misfired which I patted myself on the back for. We also stopped over and hung with littles for a hot minute just because we missed them and then made the realization that we just need to get the hell out of here for a while. Fresh places, fresh faces, you know?

Back to Sunday. As of right now we are camping tonight. Suppose to go to Coolidge State Park in the heart of the peak of the foliage with lots and lots of hiking to be had. Hopefully there isn’t more shitty shit that will prevent us from taking off. I will probably lose it if we don’t go and end up running away into the woods anyways. Then maybe someone will find me in a week of two. Yeah, at least a week of staying away from the crazy cray cray. But it would be nice to take the mr with me. He needs the break more then I do.

Internet from the week

-Dressing up for Halloween? Here is some inspiration. 8 Sexy Outdoor-Themed Halloween Costumes. Sexy Matterhorn….Done.

-California's massive power outage is a wake-up call for the whole country. Is this going to be a new normal? Shit is getting real, for real.

-Noodle art is cool. Meet the Illustrator Who Turns Noodle Soup Into Art

-There is a whole lot of snow meatless meats these days and it can be confusing. Everything You've Ever Wondered About Meatless Meat, Explained

-It's so much more than cooking. I felt like I cold have wrote this article….. Soooo much more then cooking.

-Why You Never See Your Friends Anymore. Real life.

-Beans or soup. Soup or beans. Why not both? When You're Cooking Dried Beans, You're Already Halfway to Soup

-Water Bottles Have Long Been the Unexpected Status Symbols of High School. For real. I was part of the colored Nalgene wave…. Blue with a yellow top and covered in Phish stickers because that was how I rolled.

-Eat them all, except the ones that are not edible. The Ultimate Guide to Winter Squash (for Your Front Stoop & Your Stew!)

-The 4 Ingredients That Make Up the Perfect Reading Space. I agree but would add one more….quite!

Pictures from the week.