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Sunday Happy

October 4, 2020 Colleen Stem

What a week. Cool and dreary with a little sun sprinkled in here and there. I know a lot of folks hate this weather but I love it. It’s my favorite!

Last weeks camping was so good!. We went to our favorite state park, Half Moon, and it was just so nice. Super quiet, the trees were amazing, the temperature was fantastic. We hiked through the woods to a little pond, kayaked around 2 separate ponds, and the rm did some fishing while I did some reading. Everything was just A+. Even when it started to rain in the middle of the night. It didn’t bother me. I guess I told the mr that it wasn't suppose to rain so it didn’t matter and that he shouldn’t put the rainfly on. (My logic is spot on when I am sleeping.). And yeah we got a little wet, but whatever, still was the best. (the mr eventually put the fly on. Good call on his part to not listen to me.)

Then back to the world we came. To the doctors, to work stuff, to siding the porch on one of the houses. All the fun things that was on the list of the stuff to do.

And it was Alex’s 15th birthday (Happy Birthday!!WOO HOO!) so we went over to see him and have dinner and birthday cake. We also went for a nice rainy day foliage drive which again, my favorite weather, was really some of the best fall color we have seen in some years.

After working at the studio on Friday I rushed home fast to make a Pokemon cake for Saturday. Early Sartuday morning we grabbed the little, snagged Barb, and did our annual farm day pumpkin picking, masked and social distancing and all. We took the wagon to the field, they picked pumpkins (they all picked the first ones they saw) and did a little flower picking after. Then back to my house for a birthday party celebration for Coco. Technically his birthday is today (HAPPY BIRTHDYA COCO!) but we did a little party for him yesterday. Ate lunch, played around then surprised him with his pikachu cake. He was so happy! Then we gave him his presents (his own package of his favorite cookies, a hand knitted hat, and a vintage kids accordion) ate cake, and ran around the house playing with the accordion to the point where I wanted to smash it. He loved it all (even loved the hat!) and the accordion is home with him and can drive everyone who lives with him crazy. HAHA!

I must mention one thing. Judah was talking to Barb about her job as a house cleaner and all the things she has to do. He then said he would love to get paid to clean my house because it would be like getting free money cause my house is so clean. That really made my day. With that said, it has been a while since I have had so much cake all over the house. I really don’t understand how they do it. Everyone was sitting at the table and were not being messy or gross or anything but after they left and I started in on my cleaning routine…. cake was EVERYWHERE!. I might just make it mandatory for all food to be consumed outside from now on. Although that probably won’t work either. The littles (and sometime the mr) are slobs and no matter what or where they eat, it will get all over.

And now Sunday. So so ready to get out. Elmore State Park is the destination and we are going to take a good long hike up a mountain while we are there. Hopefully there are not a shit ton of other people around. (Vermont during foliage season is the best time and the worst time.. too many people!) I have a pumpkin packed for dinner, the rain fly (just in case) and the wool blankets. It’s gonna be a chilly one tonight!

Internet from the weeks internet.

-How to Cope When Everything Feels Bad and Somehow It Keeps Getting Worse. My go to is reading. Guess that is why I have been reading 2 books a week.

-Celebrate the House Meal, the Go-To Dish for When There’s No One to Satisfy but Yourself. Sometime I wonder how weird and screwed up my tastes are compared to others but then I think how screwy other peoples are.I think that we all eat some weird shit and the weird shit is almost always the best.

-I would live here. An Architect’s Scandi-Inspired Off-the-Grid Hut

-Sugar bread is not bread. For Subway, A Ruling Not So Sweet. Irish Court Says Its Bread Isn't Bread

-Yes, Halloween Trees Are Officially a Thing, and We Don’t Hate It. But I think I might hate it. At least use a different tree. Geesh.

-All of these floors.

-58,000 Pounds of Carrots Were Dumped at a London University. Could have just dumped them in my front lawn. I like a good art installation. And carrots.

-Vermont proud. Vermonter raises zucchini currently listed as world's largest in 2020

-May The Fattest Bear Win: Voting Opens For National Park's Pre-Hibernation Contest.. Love a fat bear.

-I just really like this. Portable Candlelight

Pictures from the week.

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-C

In sunday happy Tags Sunday Happy, pumpkin picking, farm, everyday life, camping, nature, pictures, the week, Vermont, foliage, trees, littles, Barb eats, fall, 2020, internet links
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Sunday Happy

September 27, 2020 Colleen Stem

And the week came and went. Monday was a blur, Tuesday thru Saturday was jammed packed with all the stuff. Lots of studio time, finally a day of glazing (although I barely got anything glazed), my first time experiencing zoom (that was a shit show but I got through it) and all sorts of this and thats and work things and so on and so forth. The mr has been working hard over at one of the houses replacing a roof. We have contemplated A grade or C grade cedar singles for siding over and over again, and I think my garden is pretty much done giving for the season. I have chard and kale and a few roots to pull but that just about it. Not a great gardening year (due to the stupid woodchuck and stupid hot temperatures), but not bad either but I guess any growth was a success so you know what, it was a great year. HA!

Yesterday the mr and I had Miley come over for a little birthday celebration lunch. (Barb came too ) We asked her if she wanted any one else but she said no. Just wanted to eat and be left alone. (she might get that from me). I got her favorite food, made her a batch of her favorite cookies (we are making a cake together later this week) and we bought her the biggest bag of sour patch kids that we could find. I also knitted her a hat, but when I showed it to her she told me she didn't like it and that she would prefer if I would just knit her a pair of black mittens. So that is 13 and you know what, sure I was a little disappointed she didn’t like the hat but I am glad she said so and I didn't give it to her and have her just toss it into one of her junk piles. I’ll just give it to someone else, or keep it. I like it.

Today, first and foremost, is Miley’s actual 13th birthday so again HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! She is with her grandparents so I won’t be seeing her stinky little face today which is all fine and good because the mr and I are doing our thing and heading out into the woods. I am so in need of trees and sky and quiet right now. Again, a long week. And this is probably the last time we will drag that kayaks with us so we are going to make it count and hit a couple of really cute and quiet ponds on our way to camp. And hopefully we won’t see all the people out looking at all the trees. Fall foliage season. It is on it’s way and the trees are looking so good this year. Unfortunately it brings out all the people and we all know how I feel about people….

Internet from the week.

-We all owe her so much. RIP lady. RBG’s Fingerprints Are All Over Your Everyday Life

Farmers' Almanac Extended Forecast for Winter 2020-2021. ALL THE SNOW!!! I really hope that we get lots and lots of snow.

-Wellenss is all well and good but don’t just jump on any old trend. Do the homework and make sure you are not putting yourself first before whole communities. From Palo Santo To Crystals, Millennial Wellness Damages The Communities It Borrows From

-How To Say No, For The People Pleaser Who Always Says Yes. I used to be way more of a people pleaser and then I realized I hate being around people which solved that problem (still a family people pleaser though…)

-Regular doses of awe can do wonders for emotional health. Of course. I think about this everyday, letting something, even the simplest thing, really struck me with awe because really, life and all the good stuff is pretty freaking awe inspiring.

-And then the birds sing! When COVID-19 silenced cities, birdsong recaptured its former glory

-Berkeley Is First in the U.S. to Ban Candy, Chips, and Soda From Grocery Store Checkout Lanes. This is so smart.I support this.

-It is so important to know where your food comes from and how it was made. Also if they are destroying environments as they go along.. Big Meat Is Selling Veggie Burgers—But It's Still Destroying the Environment

-We Quit Our Jobs to Build a Cabin—Everything Went Wrong. Worth it

-I Walked All 1,114 Blocks of My ZIP Code Just to Catalog How People Style Their House Numbers. This is something that I do too! I need to look at people house numbers when I walk by. It’s a reflex.

Pictures from the week.

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-C

In sunday happy Tags Sunday happy, internet links, everyday life, pictures from the week, Vermont, Vermont state parks, family, fall, nature, the great outdoors
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Monday Happy

September 21, 2020 Colleen Stem

Last day of summer and guess what, the mr and I woke up to ice all over our tent! Yup. 30 degrees the past few nights that we have been camping. Not exactly what we had in mind this early, but heck, I had the right mind to pack the wool blankets so we were all good.

The week. Well it’s now Monday but we camped Saturday night too so you know, no computer stuff. Anyway, the past week was great as far as I can remember. Camped at Emerald State Park and ddi our usually hiking and kayaking. We hung out with the littles, made cookies, and worked when work was needed doing. Dad Jeff came to Vt and we got to spend the weekend hanging with him. We camped outside, he stayed indoors because well, no one besides that mr and I are into freezing cold camping. We did a long ass rail trail family bike ride, chatting up the nieces and nephews, did a little road side apple picking, and I tried to eat as much hot food to keep my body warm. After Dad left, the mr and I did another solo day of adventure and camped again because that is what we do. We did all the good stuff. I would go into more detail but I am on the trashed side of a human right, my body is freezing and sore, and due to the mr’s ever increasing snoring regiment, I have barely slept in the past few nights so my brain can’t really comprehend much. But yeah, a dang good week.

And whoa it is Monday morning. Just got home from the long camping weekend and now I have gots to get on with the day. The goal is to post this, finish unpacking camping stuff, maybe shower, start laundry, go to grocery store, make phone calls…. The list of things to do keeps growing. But right now I am boiling water and am going to make a hot hot cup of tea and hold the cup , with both hand, until I can feel my finger again. I am still frozen to the bone. And I love it! Oh, and Happy Birthday Jackson!

Some internet that I looked at the past week.

-When I read the news screamed many profanities. I wish was was able to live long enough to see the crazy psychopath fucker out of office. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy, and the future of the Supreme Court, explained. Now lets all pray for sane politicians to do what is right and not appoint another fuckface to the courts…. AGH!

-I love the winter but I am not going to lie, I am a little nervous about this coming one. Fucking pandemic. Good thing I don’t spend time with very many humans.  How We Survive the Winter

-A Reusable Food Wrap You Can DIY in 5 Minutes. I have done this, it works.

-Judah asked mw why Earth is called Earth….I had no idea. Now I can tell him. How Did Earth Get Its Name?

-Have you had this tea? I know it is easy but I love holiday teas but I don’t want to order it unless I hear it tastes good. Christmas in Paris Herbal Tea Stash Tea

-Sure, I’ll live here forever

-I don’t know this existed and nowI want to watch it..eventually when I feel like watching tv. The Soothing 'Great Pottery Throw Down' Makes Great Isolation TV

-I Asked 14 Parents What School Lunch Looks Like for Them During This Weird Fall. Must be such a pain in the ass for some parents.

-Very cool. Bees Encase Raw-Material Embroideries with Honeycomb

-Oh heck yeah. Welcome to my high-fashion, trash shopping mall’

Pictures from the week

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-C

In sunday happy Tags Sunday Happy, Monday Happy, family, VT, state parks, internet links, pictures from the week, everyday life, life, pictures, camping, fall, Vermont, the outdoors, nature, rail trail
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Sunday Happy

September 13, 2020 Colleen Stem

The week started off with the normal. Hiking up a mountain in our old college stomping grounds, kayaking, the mr fished while I read, then we camped for the night. A packed day of outdoor recreation that was very much needed and appreciated. Then the next day we went home and the mr dyed Judahs hair or half of it at least, bright ass pink. The kid started fifth grade the following day so we figured what the hell, might as well make it awesome. I wish I had pink hair in fifth grade.

After that, nothing to outlandish. I stopped to say hi to the bean and see her new glasses. Went for a hike with Megan and worked at the studio. I went for a bike ride picnic with the mr, we finally fixed the fridge for sure, and had dinner at moms to celebrate Marks zoom college celebration graduation thing (even though her graduated months ago). A recurring theme of the week has been me lossing/leaving my phone in unknown places. It has happened more times then I can count. My memory and mind are on the fritz right now. But the weather… The weather here in Vermont has been just the best! There was a frost warning, I have warn a sweater or two, and have been eating pumpkin everyday. This is exactly why I love living in Vermont.

I am more excited about camping tonight then ever. Emerald Lake State Park. It is going to be chilly, it’s getting dark out earlier, and there is always way less people around after Labor Day so hopefully we won’t have to see(or hear) anyone. We got a good hike maped out, a lake to kayak in, and a pumpkin to eat for dinner. We sure know how to live. HAHA!

The stuff from the internet this week.

-How We Got Conned Into Drinking Bottled Water — And How We Can Stop. And it is not how we can stop, it is WE HAVE TO STOP!

--This week is just been the shit in terms of our environment. It breaks my heart. California’s recurring wildfire problem, explained

-The benefits of note-taking by hand. Notes by hand are always the way to go.

-Need a fridge? Got one here for you. The ad says it all.

-Do You Really Need Both Dish Soap and Hand Soap in the Kitchen? I am all about one and done so this is good.

-She knows. Martha Stewart Now Has Her Own CBD Line in Appropriately Fancy Flavors

-Love this kitchen and this ceiling

-. The World Lost Two-Thirds Of Its Wildlife In 50 Years. We Are to Blame.We suck

-Is this going be a thing? Top it Cake Shield

-What is a people carrier?

Pictures from the week.

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In sunday happy, internet links Tags Sunday happy, everyday life, camping, vermont, vt state parks, outdoors, nature, littles, internet links
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Sunday Happy

September 6, 2020 Colleen Stem

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

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In summer, sunday happy Tags everyday life, photography, pictures from the week, Sunday Happy, camping, Outdoors, nature, Vt Vermont state park, summer
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