Sunday Happy

Well spring didn't last all that long. Sure technically it is not summer yet but you wouldn’t know it by the weather. A bunch of 90 freaking stupid degree days. So gross. How do people like that? Seriously, how?

The week. Started off with a picnic and a little fishing for the mr and Judah. After that I took the littles for a bike ride to my moms for bbq. Sure I fell off my bike and ripped all the skin of my elbow, but other then that, it was a good ride. We hung out in the backyard, ate food, I gave Mark and Paul haircuts (I am now the family barber. Not sure how that happened. And no one pays me.), and let my mom clean out my bloody wounds and bandage me up. All and all, good good.

The rest of the week consisted of the usual, or what is now my usual life. Hanging with the little doing homework, cleaning rooms, feeding their faces. Lots of outdoor stuff. I worked in the garden and I busted my ass pretty hard falling down a steep hill on a hike ( huge ass bruise on my ass). Top it off with a my first few mosqutio bites and I am just sore all over. We had rain for the first time in like a month so that was terrific. And maybe the best part of the weeks was when my mailman found out I was vegan and asked if I wanted him to stop placing Burger King and Mcdonalds flyers in the mail box. And all junk mail for that matter. Isn’t that freaking fantastic? My mailman, he really is the best.

And the fridge. Still not functioning right. We replaced a part. It wasn’t the problem so we have to try and replace one more part. If that doesn’t fix it , well then…………

Back to Sunday. The mr and I are going to pick up a really old, but functional. little fridge today. Something to store food in until we get the part that hopefully gets the real fridge back up and running. After we get the fridge, we will probably go for a little hike, the mr might fish, I will read, which reminds me. I was able to pick up 4 new books from my library, curbside, this week. I haven’t been able to get new books for like 2 months. Out of all the things I missed before quarantine, going to the library is the thing I miss the most so I am really happy to be able to get books again!

From the internet, in list form

-The world we live in is so fucked up right now and has been for so long. So many emotions and thoughts. I just don’t understand how and why shit like this is still happening and it is hard for me to process. I just know that I feel so much anger and sadness. The Death of George Floyd, in Context

-I Have a “Quarantine Bubble” With People Outside My House. You Should Too. Are you part of a bubble? We are in a family bubble but whats knew?

-How community fridges are fixing a broken food system. The mr has been working with a local charity and making these amazing little making food pantries and installing them all over the city. What a guy, right!

-Ok so I hate ceiling fans because they are ugly, but I do understand they are very functional. The mr wants to put one in the bedroom. I am slightly coming around to the idea, but only if I find one that I like. So far I have seen this one and this one. Still not sold though

-What Are Capers, Anyways? Adult knowledge

-So my gym (the YMCA) is opening up next week and if you were to ask ANYONE that knows me or works there, they would say I would be the first person at the door when it opens. Well guess what? Not going back for the summer. Gonna keep on running ans doing my own thing for a while. And I won’t have to worry about getting sick! How Fitness Will Change Forever

-Oh hell no. I would never, but good for these guys. Love At First Quarantine: After A Single Date, Couple Hunkers Down Together

This Artist Creates Food-Shaped Soaps That Look So Real, You Might Just Start Salivating. Would you use these soaps? I kinda hate shaped soap. It just seems wrong to me.

-Are you gardening food this year? Are you doing it because you love to or because you are freaked out about food? Gardens Have Pulled America Out of Some of Its Darkest Times. We Need Another Revival.

-If I was a person who bought things…..Ginormous Rainbow Tunnel Sprinkler

Pictures from the week

-C

Sunday Happy

What a week! The weather, well what can I say. It is pretty much summer and wow. Just yeah, that happened. And now I am hot which means I packed away all the winter stuff and busted out the shorts! And the sports bras. Blah. I was on a great run of a little over 2 months with no bra but finally was forced to wear one if I wanted to run with my iPod. I needed to stuff it into said bra while going for a run. I used it as a pocket. A bra-ket of sorts.. And when I came home, I ripped it off so it wasn’t so bad. Haha!

Another busy week. Littles everyday. We made meals, went for bike rides, hikes, and walks. Had them sleep over, watched Ferris Bueller, and made them weed the garden so they know that food is not free. HA! The mr and I have had little time to ourselves. We did get to spend part of a day picking up lumber from the cedar mill for a few projects the mr is working on and then we went for a nice long hike. just the two of us. That was nice, but again, we basically have had 2-3 of the littles all week which has been great but means I now have no food and every surface of my house is (was, I spent last night with the vacuum and cleaning rags) dirty.

I have also been low level stressed all week. First the fridge. It is still having issues. We think we figured it out and parts are ordered so we (more me) are crossing our fingers that this will solve the problem. I will be really really sad if I need to get a new fridge. But just in case I have been keeping my eyes open for a new, old, yellow or green or just bad ass one. Again, just in case because I trust that the new parts will fix it. On top of that, the mr ripped some of the walls down in the bedroom. It has been almost 4 years since we bought this house and remodeled it. We did all the work ourselves except the framing of the addition that was added on. Not a big thing, just basically raised the roof. And for the past maybe year or so, the mr seemed to have it in his mind that the roof was shifting and was going to fall in on us and has been telling me he wants to cut a hole in the ceiling to check out the framing. I was fine with that, at some point, when we planned a time to do it. Long story short, the other morning at 430 (I wake up at 4, he usually wakes up at 730) he came into the living room, dressed, and informed me he was ripping that top of the walls down in the bed room. And he did. They were down by 9am. He added more supports to the frame to make us all happy and then had to call it quits. My sweet sweet bedroom now has the walls ripped off with no immediate plans to re-sheetrock. Meh. Actually am fine with it. I have lived in worse. Just as long as it gets done before the winter.

We are there again, Sunday. After the few chores and a trip to the grocery store this mooring, (again, the littles ate all my food) the mr and I are picking up the littles for a picnic lunch and the mr is going to take them fishing. Me, I hope to be able to sit back and read, not have to worry about cleaning up a mess, and just be.

Internet links for your internet pleasure

-From Camping To Dining Out: Here's How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities. Camping is low risk. Phew!

-Should you refrigerate tomatoes? Researchers and an ‘electronic tongue’ offer a surprising answer. Good to know cause we are getting close to tomato season!

-Did you have Jump Rope for Heart when you were a kid? I freaking loved that shit. I think I gotta bust out the old rope, get my jump on. Jumping rope is an unbeatable cardio workout—if you do it correctly

What day is it today? I don’t even care anymore.

-We walk. A lot. (like a lot lot) And maybe not correctly al the time. Walking correctly takes work—here’s how to improve every step

-Is it sick that I would love to receive (maybe even give) a list like this? A Friend Sent Me a Long List of All the Ways I Suck—What Do I Do?'

-On the Moon, Astronaut Pee Will Be a Hot Commodity. I mean, I would just assume.

-Yes to peanut butter and pickles. The Elusive Story of the Bread-and-Butter Pickle Sandwich

-I see it. I hear it. Life is crazy and people are feeling it. Is Everyone Depressed?

-Nature is fascinating Herd Of Fuzzy Green 'Glacier Mice' Baffles Scientists

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

Did you get any of that polar vortex snow yesterday? When I woke up there was a dusting of snow and ok, I wasn't thrilled, but I wasn’t devastated. I do live in Vermont so it’s almost expected. But now I am officially done. It is getting further into May and I just want to be able to not wear a freaking jacket anymore or have to worry about all of my plants. Be 55 degrees for a while. That is not to much to ask.

Another week has come and gone. The time is just flying away here. Besides the day trip to Shannons early in the week and the 5 bean bag chairs we bought for Judah (The guy has been wanting one for so long so I figured he deserved a little something something that isn’t stupid for being such a great kid. We ended up getting 5, and giving him 2 and each of the other kids one so they don’t just steal his), the week wasn’t that much different then all the weeks past. The mr and I went for a hike/fish adventure one day, had lunch with the littles everyday, and have started some outdoor projects around the apartment building. We had a sleep over with Judah which was awesome just because that kid is awesome. Bean bags and burritos. We know how to live! And then we went on a good hike with Meg and her littles down threw the woods and found us a river. Oh, and we emptied out Mileys room and the mr built her a new lofted bed. That took up some time for sure. And carpet bowling with Barb, Judah, and Coco. Life is great when you can spend an hour laughing at knocking little wooden bowling pins over.

It is Sunday again and it’s Mothers day! Happy day to all the Mamas! We have a few things on the agenda. A lunch with the littles and there mom then a good walk with my mom. Then maybe if we have time I might try to take a bike ride at some point. Also we didn’t have time to do our weekly deep clean of the house yesterday so we will be spending a few hours doing that today. And I need to brush my hair. It’s been a hot minutes and if I don’t do it soon, I’ll be rocking the dreads again. Doesn’t my life just sound so exciting. Haha! OH boy.

Internet links from the week.

-Welcome to the Culinary Barter Economy. I have always been a hug believer in trading food for just about anything. It just makes so much sense.

-Barb and I are making the plans now for next year! Cycling the tulip fields.

-These cabins. Soon, soon we will be able to build out own.

-It’s not your imagination. Allergy season gets worse every year. Every freaking year. And more and more people are getting them. I used to not have any allergies and a few years ago, BAM, face felt like a wet punching bag. So yeah, allergies. Suck.

-I did this in middle school science class and thought it was there greatest. I Think I am going to do it with the littles. Stay-at-home science project: Grow your own rock candy

-Did I tell you the mr got a bunch of pet shrimp? Yea, not my thing but whatever. This reminded me of him, because he also likes to makes things out of paper. Make Your Own Paper Prawn Using This Pattern Designed by Artist Lisa Lloyd

The Super-Easy Way to Figure Out When Your Grocery Store Is the Least Busy. I never knew, and it’s a little creepy, but I used it.

-Don’t kill you trees. I see it all the time, especially the mulch “volcano”. Drives me nuts. 4 Common Mistakes People Make when Caring for Their Trees

-Speaking of trees, these tress are freaking amazing! Rainbow Eucalyptus Are Real-Life Neon Trees

-The 'Spaceship Earth' Documentary Stars Share Tips For Surviving Isolation. Or you can watch the movies Biodome. Pauly Shore will tell you how to be.

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

Happy last week of April! You know what that means? Nice weather!!! Sure there was that day earlier this week that snowed and I was like WTF, but after that, thie weather has made life just a little more on the great side with sunshine and temperatures slightly above freezing. Don’t you think?

A decently busy week. I went for so many walks with family, lunches made for littles, and bike rides all over. Early in the week the mr and I went for a long drive to the cedar mill for cedar (the mr is making these amazing food pantries for the community). Then there was the weekly grocery shopping trip where I bought no less then 30 zucchini (on sale for 87 cents, you bet I am going to stock up. And don’t worry there was soooo many, I don’t feel bad to grab a bunch). I did a little paperwork, worked in the studio a bit, and went at doing more yard work. The mr has been busy working on a few projects and is now a proud owner of a fish tank full of shrimp (I don’t even know). There was coffee on the front steps with Megan, cupcake making with Barb and Miley while the mr and Judah finished building the fire pit (I don’t really like it), and just a lot of cleaning and organizing. We sure do know how to keep super busy.

Yesterday the mr and I took off for the afternoon. He got in his first fishing day of the year while I hiked into the woods and back out along the river. I found a waterfall and lots of hawkweed and basically just floated around like a wood nymph. Then we had a picnic on a grass knoll in the woods in the middle of nowhere and just basically had the best day. The sunshine was so nice with the green buds all over everything bringing color to the world.. I took my socks offmand only had on a flannel and realized that it is actually happening! Vermont spring! It creeps up on you but when it does, bam! It’s like magic. Oh Vermont, you are so good!

Today is going to be great. First things first, I’m going for a run and I am so excited! It’s been 10 (maybe 12?) days since hurt my ankle but I am feeling so much better. Still, I am gonna take it easy (thinking just 2-3 miles) because I can’t deal with screwing up my ankle again so I am going to bike to the high school and run the dirt track. I can’t wait! After my successful reentry into running I am going to come home, change the sheets on the bed, do laundry, bake some more bread, and maybe plant some more seeds. Then later this afternoon I am going on a nephew walk with Jackson. After seeing his pasty white ass face a couple days ago, I am dragging his ass out into the world for fresh air and sunlight.

All in a day.

My internet link history for you to peruse.

-Are you excited about the day you can eat out again? Me, well I never ever eat out, but this still seems like a crazy future for restaurants . Here’s What Eating Out Might Look Like When Restaurants Reopen

-How the fuck is this guy so fucking stupid!!?!?!??!!! Under No Circumstance': Lysol Maker, Officials Reject Trump's Disinfectant Idea. Please don’t listen to a thing that comes out of his mouth!

-“Wishcycling” Is a Thing, and You’re Probably Doing It. It is sad but there are things that you would really thing could be recycled but actually can’t.

-Have you been having weird dreams? I have, but I always get them in the springtime. And they are really weird. The Science Behind Your Weird Coronavirus Dreams (And Nightmares)

-I just really like these cubbies. Building cabinet cubbies for extra storage.

-Remember When Grocery Shopping Was Fun? I definitely miss the days of leisurely walking around the store, not feeling the anxiety of whether or not I am going to be able to get my main staple foods, or just being able walk in and out without the dread of even being there.

I Shopped Around for a House That Was Perfect for My Dogs. Yes, Really. We did it. We basically bought our house so Washer could have a yard to run in.

-The Beastie Boys takes me back. Brass monkey, that funky monkey! Yo, Hello! The ‘Beastie Boys Story’ doc is exactly the fun, goofy music history lesson it should be

-Isolating With A Partner? Relationship Therapists Share Stress-Reduction Strategies. Because it is very stressful to be around someone ALLTHE TIME!

-Need a one of a kind rainbow or heart mug? Come and get one here. Think Mothers Day!

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

The past week was a blur.

A friend sent me a meme the other day that really hit home for me. It said “I wish this would all be over so everyone would just leave me the fuck alone” Yup.

And a few days ago I accidentally dropped my new toothbrush into toilet. But I am ok. And in case you are wondering, I had a new toothbrush on standby so my teeth are ok too.

How are you holding up? Going crazy? Are you getting shit done? Are you loving it or hating it? Or are you just getting use to it but then freaking out about how use to it you are getting? That last is me. Usually what happens is I will be feeling calm and fine but then I will read or hear something totally fucked on the news (I listen to NPR for most of the day so it’s my own damn fault but I have been switching my listening habits to mostly music or podcasts. I have made some pretty sick quarentine playlists for sure.) and the emotions go haywire again. But I think mostly, for me, I am just feeling kind of, well I don’t know, wonky? Itchy? Irritable? All of the above, plus a little scared, sad, and crazy. But also happy, grateful, and calm. So many feelings and I am not good with a lot of feels at once. Thats it! I am a EMOTIONALLY OVERLOADED!

Anyway, the weather, so nice! Good thing to because besides taking the littles almost everyday out for their daily hikes, or being able to walk around the block with my mom (10 feet apart), either the mr or I might end this thing living up in the tree house. Hahaha. No, we are so good, we just have our moments that may or may not end in obscene hand gestures and lots a vomit. 😁 But seriously, the tree house. It’s our contingency plan. The mr has spent a fair amount of time up there carving spoons or just sitting, just to give me space. (he is so nice!) And I have discovered the amazingness of headphones. I don’t usually have a need to wear them but this week I busted out an old pair and realized how amazing it is to not hear anything other then music. Really loud music. It’s like being alone. Ah, the small things.

Today. Sunday, in case you were wondering. It is not a great day for me. It’s 4 years ago that Sean died so I am emotional and cranky and blah. So what I am going to do is go for a run, call my mom, text all my siblings that I love them and then tell everyone to leave me the fuck alone. The mr and I are going to take a drive, find some woods where I can be with no one else around hide away for a while. Then we need to go grocery shopping. I am down to my last serving of carrots and ran out of my St Patricks day stash of cabbage. I am really hoping people have calmed the fuck down and haven’t emptied the produce section by the time I get there. I will lose my shit if I can’t get some carrots. Not today. Just have the fucking carrots.

My internet looking from me to you.

-Read a few and you will laugh and feel better about wanting to punch a wall or bite your partner. The Social Distance Project

-Fuck It, Let Them Eat Cake. If it makes things ok, even just for a little while, then why the fuck not.

-I could totally be quarantined here. Detailed Minimalism’: A Designer’s Bucolic Cottage in the Welsh Countryside

-There's No Better Time to… Use the Oldest Thing In Your Pantry. Seriously. I went through my pantry and have been using all the oldest stuff first. I haven’t even restocked half of my beans because I am trying to use up all of what I have. (I have like 12 different varieties so I have a tone of beans) IT feels good.

-This is very important. How to Not Completely Hate the People You’re Quarantined With.

-STARTING SEEDS INDOORS: HOW AND WHEN TO START SEEDS. I started a bunch of stuff this week!!!!

-You wanted to know, you just didn't;t know you wanted to. The Wild but True Story of How One Writer Figured Out the Origin of the “Triscuit” Name

-As a potter and a perpetual hand washer anyway, my hands are always dry as fuck. This is one of my favorite hand creams (I use it on my face at night in the winter too) Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream Also this. Hemp Hand Protector

-How Nature Has Become America’s Saving Grace As We Shelter In Place. Just remember to take care and maybe consider what will happen if we don’t take more steps and keeping this planet healthy….

-Still have a couple rainbows and mugs for sale on the web store. Going to throw some rainbow mugs up there later this week too. stem+node Ceramics

Pictures from the week.