Sunday Happy

It is September friends. That is right. And I am not going to be like, wtf, what happened to summer or the past 6 months, or any of that.. No, I am going to be all like, heck yeah! I am excited for fall and looking forward to all the things that I love about this time of year. Apples, pumpkins, leaves, shorter days, hot drinks all the time, and sweaters. SWEATERS! Ooooh, just yes.

We started the past week with 2 car loads full of camping stuff. It was the mr and I, Barb, and the two older littles. We took them camping for their first state park experience. There was fishing, biking, rock skipping, s’mores, fire starting, people (Miley) trying to burn everything, and all the eating. We were all grubby and stinky and happy as could be. Sure the little guy might have had eaten one to many hot dogs and marshmallows and preceded to boot chunks all over the place, but he railed and was all good, maybe even better for it. After we all crawled into our tents (the boys shared and us ladies shared) we all passed out, all woke up at some point to the mr’s load as hell snoring, but had a pretty good night sleep. I woke up hours before everyone else and walked around in the dark for a while then the the mr, Barb, and I went and watched the sun rise while the two littles slept. After the monsters woke up we made a breakfast fit for champions, meandered, packed, and found another river spot to hang and fish at. After a long day, we dropped them off, went home, went to moms for dinner, and I then crashed. So much fun but sometime so much fun really just tuckers this here lady out.

The rest of the week went with no big biggies. Lots of studio work (Lots of mugs and I am making ghosts and they make me smile), harvesting all the goodies from the garden, doing a massive purge of shit that I don’t want, and reading as much as I can outside on the front porch. The weather had been of the upmost fantastic this week and I am sucking it all in. Other then that, not a whole heck of a lot.

The mr and I are out come 10am. We plan on a good long hike with a picnic lunch on a mountain, some kayaking, land looking, and camping. We are not staying at a state park due to that fact that there is not an empty site at any of them, but better off for us cause we are just going up to Belvedere and pitching the old tent with not a person around. And I get to wear a sweater all day long. That is probably one of the things I am most excited about. HA!

How I internet this week.

-Don’t be a dumb ass, for everyones sake. Coronavirus updates: Labor Day could fuel another rise in infections if people aren’t cautious, experts say

-ARe you a little nervous about apple picking this year? I know I am not going during peak times, thats for dang sure. Pick Your Poison.Fall activities like apple picking and leaf peeping are generally considered safe, but with record crowds and a COVID surge expected to collide this fall, locals are worried

-Kevin Costner’s New App for Road Trips Tells You About the Places You Travel Through. Although I am not an app person, I might just download this (someday). Kevin Costner is dreamy and I love me some history when traveling.

-But is is magic? David Blaine: Daredevil takes flight with helium-filled balloons

-My computer has been making some noises of late. It freaks me out What is it is about to explode, or worse yet, it just stops working? What various weird computer noises mean for your machine

-Walking Is Increasingly Deadly, and Not Because People Are on Their Phones. Seriously. I hear about people getting hit all the time. It is actually a fear of mine.

-London Artist Sophie Sellu’s Functional Wood Sculptures. I really really like.

-Would you live in a neighborhood like this? This sustainable neighborhood of the future is designed to manage both climate change and pandemics

-I mean, we all thought this would happen. If it works now, then way bother going back. Generation Work-From-Home May Never Recover

-I am dreaming of vacations and road trips. Landed on this. What is a Dude Ranch?

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

It has been a weird week. Not bad, I just feel really off. I think the feels are catching up with me a bit.

Went camping at the start of the week, and that was, as always the highlight and, as always. we were sad to leave. But we did and back to life we came.We both have been busy, doing what we needed to do. I got a lot done in my studio, went back to work for the first time at the studio I work at. and loaded more stuff into the kiln at another different studio. A studio heavy week. Also trying to get stuff done around the house, harvesting and processing all the food from the farm and garden, and to remember to pay the taxes! ( I need to do that, like NOW) . But yeah, just have had a touch the blahs. But hey, I picked up my knitting again so that is good, and the weather has been great around here, which makes me happy but also makes me sad for the rest of the country that has had to deal with heat and hurricanes and fires.

Meh.

I am ok. You ok? We are ok.

And it is Sunday which always makes me happy. Off to camp today and this time we are bring the littles and Barb and oh boy, what are we in for? We have camped with the littles before, but this year they are older, one has her face constantly glued to her cell phone and has been know to be a little, lets say, moody? And we have to share tents. And they are monsters that stay awake past 8 pm. (I will leave the task of staying awake with them to the mr and Barb. HA!) But other then that, it’s going to be so much fun. They have fishing to do, I have books, and it’s gonna be a cool rainless day. Can’t ask for much more. Hopefully I have everything we need. I have been packing all week, making homemade graham crackers, rolling up  extra sleeping pads, and buying 5 different bags of chips while cutting up all the veggies I can fit into a cooler. I think they are really excited which makes me excited too. One last big hurrah before school starts for Barb tomorrow and the little next week.

Wish us luck!

Some Internet from the week.

-I love you, Bill and Ted. Sat what you will about the movies (say nothing if you have nothing nice to say), but we all need this right now. And we could also use a time machine.

-My dutch oven, which I use at least once a day, is almost black. Maybe I should clean it? We Tried 5 Methods for Cleaning Dutch Ovens and Found a Clear Winner

-Welcome to the world of short shorts! He wears short shorts: why are men showing more leg?

-Beautiful acts in the world. A Labor of Love

-The Absolute Best Way to Cook Broccoli, According to So Many Tests. And don’t forget, sometimes the best way is no way. RAW!

-No, not me….Got a bad habit? Here’s how to train your brain to beat it

-Am I dutch? Why are the Dutch so tall?

-When Your Child Is a Psychopath. Could you imagine having a child that was a psychopath? Oh I sonnet even know what I would do. At least there is some hope if diagnosed early.

-On the bright side. The Pandemic Has Heightened Young People’s Dedication to Their Health

-Tiny Elephant Shrew Resurfaces After More Than 50 Years On Lost Species List. What the cuteness!

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

And so another week has gone by. Can you actually believe that it is the end of August? I was just talking to someone about how this summer doesn’t even seem like it happened, like the past few months have just slipped on by without notice. That is exactly how I feel, like it just slipped on by...

The week, it was a good one. Camping at our first state park of the year, which I was a little nervous about due to the fact that there are like other people around, but it was good. We barely saw another person and that was when we walked through the campground and they were in their sites. And the camping was great. We kayaked, hiked, I read a lot and I even got a little chilly and had to sleep kinda in my sleeping bag. Love me some chilly camping, it is the best!

Then we came home and did the week like usual. The mr went back to working like a mad man, I unload some stuff form a glaze firing, made dinner at Barbs, tried to get organized for things to come, and got excited and made a bunch of dog/cat food bowls. And again, I realized that it was almost the end of the month so I better get my ass in high gear and get things ready to update the store page to sell some shit. Keep your eyes open for that fun!  I also had lunch with Megan and the kids, starting harvesting all the tomatoes from the garden, and have eaten an entire watermelon to myself in like 2 days. Oh, and Judah and I made dinner for everyone while the mr took Miley and Barbara fishing. He asked me to teach him how to cook so I let him pick what he wanted to make for our first cooking lessons. He choose scrambled eggs and wow, he made them like a boss. Next week he wants to make cookies. (of course).

Today the mr and I are doing the same as every Sunday; grabbing the camping stuff, tossing the kayaks into the truck, and picking all the cucumber and zucchinis in the garden to eat by the fire tonight. Sure it is suppose to rain a little bit today but I could give a fuck less. We look forward to these days all week. Rain ain’t no thing!

Links from the internet

-What it will take to fight the sexist, racist attacks against Kamala Harris. And we will do what it takes. Love Kalama!

-Got to appreciate a pretty pee pot. Japan’s quest to create beautiful places to pee

-Goofing off is good for kids—here’s the evidence And for adults too!?!

-A good read about a mother daughterroad trip (during pandemic) and the need to pee. Letting It Go. I have gotten so good at squatting!

-Can a 12-Year-Old Convince You to Go Vegan? Who better then a 12 year old?

-I think this is kind of amazing. Walkies could become the law for German dog owners.

-This would and is my actual HELL.130 Degrees: Death Valley Sees What Could Be Record Heat

-'Love In The Time Of Corona' Stars On The Truth And Light Of Making Art Amid Pandemic. I will probably watch this.

-This broke my heart. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California's Oldest State Park, 'Extensively Damaged' by Raging Wildfires

-What’s the Difference Between Canola and Rapeseed Oil? If you want to know.

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

My counter is covered with tomatoes, melons, pears, and zucchini. I have a long sleeve shirt draped over the chair by the front door to throw on when I leave the house in the morning, the camping stuff is now in our weekly rotation, and all the sunflowers have bloomed and are big and mighty… This is the best part of summer, wouldn’t you agree?

What a good week. The mr and I started off with a camping adventure up in Belvidere. A great day. We went for a hike, made a nice soup dinner, relaxed and enjoyed the solitude before crawling into the tent to ass out. But I think I only just fell asleep when the lightning started. Then the thunder, and then the torrential downpours. It was crazy. I have never seen so much lightning or heard thunder as loud and as long as I did that night. I was laying awake for what felt like hours just watching the tent light up and thinking that the thunder was actually the world falling in on itself. But then it stopped, I fell asleep for a little while, and then we woke up before the dawn, picked up our sopping wet tent, and came on home. So sure, we were a wee bit wet and exhausted but I was also feeling more normal and happy then I have in a while. I guess all I need is to pitch a tent in the woods and I am good. So good in fact. Even if it we are camping during a tornado warning. (I guess we missed that one.😳)

The rest of the week consisted of a few more hikes, a kayak adventure where we both ended up getting sunburnt, lots of tomatoes from the farm, and a neighbor basically throwing all the pears at me that I could possible take from him pear tree. We did dinner with Mom, had lunch Barb, and played with Gigi. And all the usual this and that. The mr finished anther free pantry (this one is gonna have a fridge too), I made all the phone calls and would be happy if I never talk on the phone again. I weeded the garden (probably for the last time), and we both voted by mail. Productive as alway.

Today the mr and I are heading out early early. Gonna toss the tent and kayaks into the truck and head on out into the mountains once again for a night away. Just let the day be however its gonna be out in the woods. Very much looking forward to it. VERY MUCH!

Stuff I read on the internet.

-Jumping for Justice Chris Facey’s photographs recall summer in the ’90s.. I am obsessed with this photos.

-Love my local flour company! The Riotous Success of King Arthur Baking Company

-Golden Girls’ Wallpaper Exists—And It’s Not Hard to Picture It in Your Place. Not sure if I think its creepy or I love it….. Think I love it.

-You can really see when people really care about quality of their products.How One Company Has Been Making Tofu by Hand Since 1911

-'Columbusing': The Art Of Discovering Something That Is Not New.

-It’s watermelon season! Why You Should Be Eating Watermelon Seeds, Instead Of Spitting Them Out

-It is also eggplant season! What Is an Eggplant, I Beg of You?

-DIY Drying Rack. On my list of things to do!

-Not to sound like a downer or anything but if you think socializing now is hard, The Winter Will Be Worse. It is sick that I am actually really excited for winter and not having to see ANYONE?

-Not Flying This Summer? Many Americans Are Hitting The Road — In RVs. I have talked to a lot of people RVng this year. Just wait until next summer. I bet there are going to be a shit load of people trying to get rid of those RVs they just bought.

Pictures from the week

-C

Sunday Happy

The mr and I just got back home from the night in the woods. Random woods camping. Never a disappointment, always a good time, and free. Free and no people. What more can you ask for?

And so my brain, as per usual after a good night of camping, is a little on the “why did we come back to civilization?” side. I am unfocused and a little tired and smell like dirt and sweat. On that note, I give you what I have from the week, which is not a lot at the moment. It know it was decent but not very eventful. We did some stuff, worked on things, moved around this and that, and ate food. I could give you more details but I don’t really have the energy to remember them so 🤷‍♀️. Then yesterday we went into the woods to hike and sleep and had us a 100% perfect time far and away from people and things.

Now we are back home because we had to come back (the mr has some work things needing to be done today). I think after I am done writing this I should jump into the shower to wash the smell the pee off my feet. Then I need to water the plants, drink lots of water, and get ready for the 100 plus degree day that is laying ahead. I don’t exactly know what I am going to be doing today but I am already pissed off just thinking about how hot I am going to be. Maybe I will just lay in the shade with the sprinkler cascading on my body or just hide away in the basement and read. You know what I do know? I know that 100 degrees is just stupid.

Internet stuff from the week.

-How to Keep Your Apartment Cool (With or Without AC) because being hot sucks.

-We should all be wearing masks already but if anyone can convince people that are still not to actually wear one, it’s this guy. Will you wear a mask if Morgan Freeman asks you to? We’re about to find out

-Bill Nye says trust in science is key to beating COVID-19 and climate change. Because science is real and opinions and uneducated bull shit is not in fact, facts. Listen to Bill.

-Are you one to just toss anything and everything that has a hint of mold? Truth be told, I have never been offset by a little mold here or there. Just be smart about it. And if it taste like mold, well then, don't eat it. Mold on Food, Explained

-How to Watch Comet Neowise’s Spectacular Show. I think I saw it last night camping. There are so many shoot stars too so I could be wrong. Either way, the sky was fucking awesome!

-When we re sheetrock the bedroom I am going to for sure going to do a built in bookshelf next my side of the bed just like the one in the picture. DESIRABLE DOZEN: COFFEE TABLE BOOKS & CHIC MAGAZINES.

-The End of Minimalism. Keeping a cluttered house has long been considered a little tacky, a little weak. But now it’s looking very wise. Interesting take on having lots of stuff, but I still hate having stuff!

-The mr and I were doing school stuff with the littles and it was a pain I the ass. And they might not be going back, or at least full time, for a while. Mayne this might be a good time to try this. The case for unschooling, because honestly I feel like the last semester was kind of bullshit and they really didn’t learn anything.

-Michelle Obama to launch podcast about relationships and health. In my mind Michelle is one of my best friend so I am really excited. Goodness I miss the Obamas. So so much.

And a few pictures from the week