Sunday Happy

The idea of turning on the heat hasn’t really yet occurred to me. Sure I have been a little on the chilly side, but when I am cold my mind doesn’t think about turning on the house heat, it thinks I need more layers, a hot drink, and to bake a loaf of bread. That being said, after the littles came over and were complaining about how cold they were, I finally realized that yes, we don’t really need to be this cold. But I still didn't turn the heat on. (I know, I am so mean.) We have one more week until the end of the month and then maybe I will switch it on. To keep the plant alive I suppose, and so I don’t turn into a popsicle too I guess.

This week started as usual, with hiking and camping. We hiked to some waterfalls that were gorgeous but the area we went to was packed with smelly (Cologne and perfume.. gross) tourist so it was a little annoying. But then we made out way up to Belvidere and set up camp outside my families cabin in the woods . That was amazing and fresh and happy. There was no going inside (locked up for the year) but the land there is the most amazing place and we just soaked up the good, hiked around some more, the mr fished, we ate, watched the sunset, had a fire, then crawled into the tent. Woke up, packed up, drove back to life and that was that.

The rest of the week was the week. It involved another trip to the dentist. Not to get my permanent crown, but to replace the temporary crown that I accidentally swallowed. Yup. So new temp crown (which already has a chip in it. No I do not eat rocks but jeez, what the heck?) until my real one goes in sometime next week. Gotta say, I am pretty sick of going to the dentist. What else? Oh, there was farm share pick up, the last summer share of the year. A little sad, but not too sad because winter share starts in a two weeks and I have a freezer fulled to the brim with food so I will survive. Oh, and the dirt pile form the mr digging under the house that was in the middle of the back yard is gone thanks to my smartly pants self. Our neighbors needed dirt for a project that they are doing around their house and instead of buying it, I had the idea that they could just take our pile, and they did! They got free dirt and we got rid of the dirt for free (we were going to rent a u Haul this week to move it all). So success was had with that and I feel all sorts of smug about it.

Any who. Friday, after spending the day loading kilns at the studio, we had the littles over for a pumpkin carving party. It tuned mostly into a throwing pumpkin seeds and guts at each other party, but it was a party involving pumpkins no less. The thing with the pumpkins that we get from the farm is that they are supper heavy and hearty and thick. Like 3 inches thick and a bitch to cut into, making it hard for the littles to actually cut. The mr and I did what we could do for the young ones but we let Barb do her own because she is old enough to almost cut a hand off. All in all the pumpkins were cut up enough and turned out great. I got most of the guts wiped up and collected the seeds to roast. Then we all lit pumpkin, walked some of the marshmallow sugar off, and the mr and I sent them to watch movies in the nook while he did whatever he did and I passed the f out. Woke up, fed them, and sent them all home. I spent the rest of my day running errands and cleaning seeds and pumpkin guts off the walls. For real. All over the house. I don’t know why I still get surprised when the littles managed to do the impossible when it comes to messes. When will I learn?

And it’s Sunday. And yes, we are suppose to go camping. The last hurrah of the camping season. But here is the thing. It is suppose to rain all day. So the question is..do we go anyway? I say yes but I am not so sure the mr is sold. What I am thinking is I am going to go the gym, the library, and maybe stop at the coop this morning and be home by lunch. If it is pouring, well we might rethink our plans, but a little misty rain, we can take it. Because I need this. Our last camp. I am already sad that the season is over. What I am hoping for is the weather to be wrong and that maybe we will only get a sprinkle or two and today will be the best camp ever. Wish us luck.

Weekly internet stuff.

-Hocus Pocus Sequel. Maybe I am being skeptical, but is it going suck? Maybe it’s best they just leave a good thing alone…. yeah right

-What do you think about this? I am kind of intrigued to tell the truth. Anything for a tree I guess. Halloween Trees Are Having a Moment—Here's How to Pull Off the Decorating Trend at Home

-Dog People Live Longer. But Why? Dog people know why.

-What Happens to Your Body When You Take Naps Every Single Day? Naps for the win. Now I need actually start taking them more often.

-Cemeteries are always so pretty, even the ones that are tucked away, into the trees. I think I actually like those the best. Here are 7 cemeteries with views to die for.

-Science can do cool things.Artificial Leaf to Replace Petrol? Find Out How it Works!

-Brooklyn Townhouse in Pinks, Greens, and Grays. I am not usually one fore dark surroundings, but I am into this house for sure.

-Want to Reduce Your Waste? Do This First.  Reduce. Reduce REDUCE!!!!!

-How I Got My Job: Making Custom Ceramics for Restaurants. A potters life

-Weed over booze. What Does It Mean to Be ‘Cali Sober’?

Pictures from the week

-C

Sunday Happy

A well placed porta-potty. Enough said. HAHAHA

Summer is really just coming along nicely. I have heard many a people complaining that it is not warm enough yet, but I would like to completely disagree. It is plenty warm and I am loving this not to hot start of summer. Even the rain. The only downside I see to it is the late start planting for farmers. But talking to a few farmers made me feel better about my rain loving self. The are alright and getting things in the ground. They will good. So I can go back to be happy about it again.

Besides the wonderful weather, the week had been pretty good. The mr got to go fishing a couple of different time, I have been biking all over the world (within the surrounding 20 mile radius). We had dinner with Barb which always makes me happy. Miley also came over for her own dinner night. We talked about dealing with mean girls (so hard to not go track each one down and flip the F out on them) and her summer bucket list. Then she ate a gallon of ice cream because why not. I worked the studio, the mr worked the work, and being fully functional adults we did all the doings that needed to be done. We are good like that.

Then there is this thing that I have noticed this week with my brain that is driving me crazy. I think that I might have summer brain fog. I’ll be thinking about something and all of a sudden I forget what I am thinking about. I don’t know if it because I have so much I want to think, and so many little things I want to do, but it keeps happening and is driving me nuts. There is a rabbit hole of reasons for why this is happening that I am trying not to go down. I am not a hypochondriac per say, but I am definitely staying off any web based medical sites that will tell me I have all and any brain diseases possible. I don’t need help visualizing my demise, thank you-very-much.

Today is a day for home stuff. After I bike into town to go to the gym and drop off a hundred library books, I am coming home, throwing on my overalls and spending a good amount of time weeding the garden, mowing the lawn, and lets be honest, sitting around drinking coffee and reading. The mr, I think he is going to finish making a picnic table for me to sit at. I am excited for that picnic table.

Oh, and call my dad cause it’s Fathers Day. #1 Daughter here!

The stuff on the internet that I looked at and am now sharing with you.

-Labels can be tricky and misleading.Good to know what they all mean. Why Food Reformers Have Mixed Feelings About Eco-Labels

-I have been in Love with Keanu Reeves ever since I saw him jump off that bus. And knowing he is not an asshole, only makes me love him more. Keanu Reeves Is Too Good for This World

-The Invention of the “Beach Read”. Sometime a good, easy read is what we (I) need.

-I love the idea of the Prefab Treehouse, but it seems a little sketchy.. Who checks if the trees are safe? But still cool.

-Meet the Coolest Inflatable Pool Ever from Mylle. My kind of kiddie pool. I want one.

-What your grip says about your odds of surviving a health crisis. Now whenever I shake someones hand I am going to crush it. HA

-It is true. Behold, the Age of ‘Salad Frosting’ Is Upon Us. And I kind of think it is brilliant and also wrong.

-I used to hate arches but now, well I am kind of obsessed with them. THE ART OF THE ARCH.

-In love with these Found Leaves with Delicate Crochet Embellishments by Susanna Bauer

-Scientists Are Figuring Out How To Change Blood Types. The things that science and smart people can do is crazy and mazing and scary.

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

Hey hey hey! Happy Sunday. Hope you are finding yourself happy and relaxed and enjoying all the good things the world is giving us. Like coffee and green things. All the coffee, all the green things for sure.

Another week that came and left and now it’s May. MAY! Can you even? The time, where does it all go? (an existential question for you) Our week (and time) started off with a chilly wet jaunt to a river. We were going to go out to the kingdom to watch the salmon jump out of the river but it was just to dang cold and rainy so we decided to hold off on it. But we did make our way to a river near by so the mr could officially toss in a fly line into some water. I guess fishing season started a week or two back but we have had so much rain that it has not been great for fishing, or being outside much for that matter. Anyway, he got a few casts in so he is happy.

Wet and raw weather wise was the way of the weather this week. We did have a few breaks of sun which lead to an impromptu afternoon hike just because the sun came out. It was fantastic, or started off that way. Up and down and around the woods to the very flooded lake. Half the way through the hike we ended up at a boardwalk that had a little water coverage, which was fine because someone placed nice big rocks to pass over. Or so I thought. A few steps in and the bridge gave away and into the lake I went. Just my feet and up my legs a bit, but yeah. I just stood there in shock for what seemed like minutes but eventually made my way to the other side of the bridge, drenched boots and all. The rest of the hike was soggy, but hey, I was outside and there was sun and I wasn’t freezing cold so yeah. Could have been worse. It could have been the mr who went in and I really really would not want to have had to deal with him hiking back with drenched feet. Now if my hiking boats would dry out. That would be great.

Other then our little outdoor adventures, the week went the way the weeks does with work and all. The mr running around frantic, having doors, making room for giant ass wood slabs in the barn, wheeling and dealing.

Friday was all day studio work. Lots and lots of pugging clay. While I was at work the mr picked up littles (Miley, So, and Judah) and they all came to the studio to pick me up. It is always a great way to get people to listen and leave the studio when they are suppose to when a bunch of kids rush in and start demanding food. People, at least the clay people, are scared of hungry little kids. Ha. Off we all went, me covered head to tow in clay. Found out in the car that Judah was sick (so sad) so he went home and it turned into a girls night sleep over. Pizza, soup, and peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. We went walking/piggyback riding, the mr and Miley played with the new wood brander which included fire and hot metal. The mr took them to the store to pick out ice cream while I tried to clean myself up, they came back ,ate lots of ice cream, then showered and brushed hair without arguments. They picked out movies without fighting (movies about ballerinas and singing animals) and happily curled up together on the floor. Me being me with no attention span or energy left skipped the movies and went to bed. When I went to wake them up the next morning, I found out that they had woke up (or never went to sleep) in the middle of the night to draw and do yoga? Yeah, I don’t exactly know what went on. What I do know is my yoga mat was upstairs and I remember waking up in the middle of the night to sounds of the wall being kicked a bunch, and there were drawings of crazy things and colored pencils everywhere that were not there when I left them the night before. Hey, if that is what they want to do in the middle of the night, more power to them.

After pancakes and cartoons, the ladies and the mr spent the morning going through a million awesome shells. I guess someone had massive shell collection and gave it over to the mr. Neither of us are really shell people, I mean a few cool ones, but this collection was INSANE. SO we gave them all to the littles. And gave the littles a boxes to bring home to their siblings. They can have all the shells, we are good here.

We dropped girls off, ran around doing errands, then came home and I putz in the yard before going about cleaning the house. Lots of dirt and mud and sticky shit on everything. I just don’t know where it comes from. Well I do actually. And it’s mostly not me so yeah.

Today the mr and I actually are heading out to the kingdom. We need to see some fish jump. A few hours back and forth will give me time for some open window car rid air and reading if it doesn’t make me puke. Picnic lunch by the river and afternoon road coffee. Hopefully we get home in time for me to spend at least a good few hours in the garden to ooh and awe at the stuff that is starting to pop out of the ground and maybe figure out if it’s a perennial I planted or just a weed. Good thing I like weeds too or else I would be terribly disappointed a lot of the time.

Have a few extra minutes? Take a look at some interesting internet from the week.

-The Obamas Are Making a Kids’ Food Show on Netflix. Oh HELL YEAH! And I am not a kid but I am gonna watch it.

-What a great business/environmentally awesome/ logical/ just plain right idea. Toronto Restaurant Fights Waste By Chopping Menu Prices Till Food Is Gone

-Some serious boldness. Bold Line Drawings Layered on Top of Deconstructed Images of Fruit, Flowers, and Animals in Tattoos by Mattia Mambo.

-Rise of the Lady Backpack. Purse. Please. Back packs are the best, but to be honest, I mostly stick to nothing, just my wallet and keys in a pocket. Back pack for biking and hiking and a tote bag for the groceries, the library, or the occasional kitting project. Simple.

-I struggle hard with my OCD cleaning. I sometime wish I had the ability to let things be mess, but then again…. The Unbridled Joy of (Occasionally) Letting Your Room Get Really, Really Messy

-What Comes After a Rut? Take the good with the bad and all the craziness that is the ebb and flow of life.

- Why the Kentucky Derby is a 145-year-old celebration of hats. Now imagine if people went around wearing those hats all the time. The world would be a better place.

-Maine, you so smart. Maine just banned Styrofoam food containers

-How to be assertive without being called a bitch. Why are women always considered bitches? Well I am anyway….

-I love this and only wish I was ablate “Gramp” when my grandparents were alive. 'Gramping' Is the Latest Travel Trend Grandparents Need to Know About

And some pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

I think we are pretty much out of the clear. Yes I woke up yesterday morning to a light coating of snow on the ground, but I feel like that was it. It has got to be because I have to wash my winter jacket that is as of now, covered in dirt and concrete so it needs to be washed. And once it is washed, it is getting packed away with all of the other winter stuff. So you see, we really cannot have any more winter jacket weather because I won’t have a jacket anymore. It must be sweater weather or warmer and that is that. Are you listening weather?

The week good, if not a bit hectic and all over. There was work, paper work, the “must not be mentioned” and no they are not done yet but must be by next Monday or else. The mr has been running around all over town doing this and that which has been a slight pain because when he is super busy and I am busy and we only have one car and my bike needs a good tune up before it is safe… Well it makes things some what difficult. But so far we have managed and there wasn’t too much arguing over car. We did manage to take a nice walk down by the lake, I also was able to sneak in a warm afternoon of clearing out the garden and picking up yard trash. The back porch is almost ready for summer living and green things are popping up all over the place making me ache for more more more. Think of it, trees with leaves. I am getting more excited every day.

Friday was a crazy day. Woke up, went to the gym with no plans other then work at the studio and having the littles over for dinner. By the time I came home I had plans to quickly make a cake before work because the littles pizza party turned into a family birthday party for Megan. So I made that cake, ran to work, moved 700lb of clay and loaded kilns. The mr picked me up with littles in tow, we ran home in time for all the family and partied partied until I kicked everyone out of the house at 7 because I was exhausted and plus Megan needed to go to Costco so she needed to leave anyway. Ha.

Yesterday, after a near sleepless night due to a racing mind, we woke up (again, to snow. BLAH), I bundled up and out we went to spend half the day pouring wet, heavy, cold concrete. I must say, pouring concrete usually isn’t the worst, but yesterday, well it was. First off, we were working in very tight quarters making moving somewhat difficult.. Secondly, I was sore from all the clay moving the day before. And I was freezing. And tired, so so tired. By mid morning my fingers and toes had tuned to ice, I was covered in so much dirt and concrete, the mr was basically rolling around in dirt (reference picture above) so was trashed worse then me, but we were getting it done. The mr was brilliant and saved us so much time and hassle by coming up with a tarp and jostle concrete mixing technique so that was good. Anyway, the concrete was all poured and it is over. (Now we wait for it to set to finish porch construction) The rest of the day was short and went by with cleaning the house. I don’t know how my family does it but there were sprinkles from the cake EVERYWHERE!

Today, after a quick romp to the gym, the library, the grocery store, and all the other little chores I need to do, the mr and I are going for a drive to look at a van. We need a work car. The life car is getting trashed, we have been having to get materials delivered (which costs money and stupid time) because we cannot fit wood and big stuff in the car, and it is just not practical for us to share. So van. A van for work, A van for cross country travel. A van for sanity. Hopefully this van is the one. Wish us luck.

Some stuff from the internet that you might care to look at.

-Thinking real hard about buying these Birkenstocks…but not sure. Any opinions?

-Stop Asking Kids What They Want to Be When They Grow Up The question forces children to define themselves in terms of work. And really, what do you consider grown up?

-Gluten sensitive? Try sourdough. Why Some Gluten-Sensitive People Can Still Eat Sourdough Bread.

-Kitchen spices look startlingly different in the wild. So pretty

-Brown is one of my favorite colors

-Got a power drill? If yes, you also have a oven cleaner. I Cleaned My Oven with a Power Drill

-All Right. Some Cats Do Fetch. Only never fetched. That would have been beneath him. But he did respond to his name. Cats Might Not Act Like It, But They Know Their Names As Well As Dogs

-I very much like this house.

-Will Kevin Costner be my neighbor? Floating cities could ease the world’s housing crunch, the UN says

-10 Things Nobody Tells You About Plywood. I love a good application of ply wood. We have plywood floor tiles in the pantry and our kitchen cabinets are plywood and they are great.

And some pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

Oh man, what time is it? That is going to be the theme of the day. A day to adjust new real time with what body time (like food and sleep schedule ) wants it to be. It confuses me and I end up either really hungry or falling asleep at 5pm. Lose an hour, but gain some light at night. I guess I need to enjoy it (even if I am enjoying it from my bed, ha) because it means we are heading for spring!!!!!

This week had been a week, a week of crazy dreams, lots of warm soup, the last bits of super cold weather (I am hoping) and this and thats and what nots. We took a little hike, got the car inspected and washed, and spent time trying to better ourselves of any illness by hanging low and getting good amounts of sleep. I worked a bit at the studio, started the taxes (I am behind, I know) which I don’t really want to so I procrastinate whenever I can and make pierogi. The mr is preparing and starting a few projects that involve porch ripping apart and the such. Lots of outdoor work. Spring is a coming and things are going to get hectic around here fast. A good thing? Not sure yet. We are both going a little crazy right now so having some projects to do is going to be good. And we are running away… Hahaha.

Yesterday we grabbed Barb, Judah, and Coco and headed out onto the lake. Super gorgeous day. Warm and bright and all the right things that we have needed. We walked out to the lighthouse, Coco slipped and fell once. Barb slammed her ass really hard and took me down with her too. The mr and Judah managed to not fall. They are more graceful then us.. And after the ice capades we brought them all home and I came home to make lists of all the spring cleaning projects that I plan on tackling this week. Gonna wash all the windows and maybe do some touch up painting…. But I might be getting ahead of myself. We shall see.

Today, besides being slightly confused by the light and when I get hungry, I am hoping to get some seeds started, pull some handles for a bunch of tumblers that I think should have handles (I think.. maybe. Still thinking about it), drink lots and lots of coffee and tea while reading, and do a bunch of laundry. I want to wash all of my winter outwear except maybe a single hat and a pair of mittens (I have many hats and mittens and scarfs and hoodie sweaters… there is a lot) and then pack it all away! I might even stick the winter boots back I the closet. Is that tempting the snow gods. Are we going get another big snow storm? Maybe, but I don’t care. I am sick of it, I don’t want to look (or smell… its is starting to smell funky) at any of it anymore. There is going to be 40, maybe even 50 degree weather all next week so you know what that means…Good bye boots, hello CHACOS! I am pulling my sandals out and leaving them by the door. My feet are so EXCITED!

Books, coffee,,seeds and sandals. What else are Sundays for?

Here again are some internet links to read if you want.

-The People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day. I am one of these people. Pretty much same meals everyday, give or take a few this or thats. And I can honestly say that I look forward to my meals every single day because I basically eat a little bit of every vegetable the I have (the veggies change with seasons) , lots of greens (greens also vary) and lentils and or beans. SO GOOD!

-Love. An Old Victorian House Is Incredibly Bright, Cheery, and Colorful

-Why do we hate decaf so much? Well because it sucks, thats why.

-Martha knows where the money is at. Martha Stewart partnering with marijuana grower Canopy Growth to develop hemp-derived products

-The need for a wood stove is very real.

-The human brain is pretty freaking spectacular. Human memory: How we make, remember, and forget memories

-Tomatoes and peppers are getting started today! STARTING SEEDS INDOORS WHEN TO START SEEDS INDOORS

-Exercise Is Mood Sorcery. Yes, yes it is.

-Baby Cheese Challenge Sets the Internet Ablaze. All of a sudden I am hearing about this all over the news and radio. What the……If you throw cheese at your baby, don’t stick it on the internet. Duh.

-I wonder if people stopped looking up why they can’t sleep on the internet, they might actually be able to sleep. Hum..We’re too damn exhausted to do anything about lack of sleep

Some pictures from the week

-C