Sunday Happy

Two things that really worth noting for me this week. First, the mr and I went and cut down our Christmas tree!!! Always one of the best days of the year. Into the Green Mountain National Forest we hiked, found our tree, cut it down, and dragged it out. Well the mr actually carried it on he shoulder for about 1.5 miles. (He didi’t want help.) We got the tree home, immediately put it up and wrapped it in lights and I just sat there, with the tree smelling all tree like and I was so happy.

Second, I realized that I like Taylor Swift. Like really love her new album. So that happened.

Now it is safe to say my week was better then the last. How could it not be when you have a freaking tree covered in lights in your living room. I got a lot of stuff done that I have been needing to, I glazed some pots, sold some pots, and organized then trashed my studio(yes in that order). I am slightly freaking out about getting all the “things” done before Christmas as usual but I guess it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if I wasn’t low key bugging about something. And honestly I’m actually less buggy then most years so progress!

Some other good things From the week included a few Christmas light drives which I must say are oh so excellent this year. People really stepping up their light game fr sure. I made So her birthday cake and then Barb, the mr and I went over to Megans and we all stood outside, sang her happy birthday, and did the cake thing on the front porch because well Covid and all. She was surprised and so cute and it was great. Eight years old, I can barely believe it. It was also Justins Birthday but adults just don’t matter as much but happy birthday to him too. Haha. And what else. Oh, not my news, but the mr took barb to cut down her very first Christmas tree in an undisclosed location (like the side of the road, but I was told it was all good and so on and so forth) and then he found her and took her to buy a car. FINALLY!!! Now the mr doesn’t have to drive her ass around anymore and she can go get groceries and not starve to death.

And that is all I can recall because honestly this week I have spent as much time as I could just reading. I went to the library and took out like 15 books. Things might be shutting down again and I do not, can not, go without something to read at all times. It makes me agitated and cranky. So I stocked up and that is my truth.

Back to Sunday. Start of a new week. Today the mr and I are going for a drive to drop some pots off, maybe take a hike while we are out, and I have a few things I need to finish up at the studio.. Other then that, not much. I might make a few more paper snowflakes to hang from the ceiling and I need to get my crafting basket ready for tomorrow when I go to Barbs and help her decorate the loft and tree, but yeah, thats it. Now if it would just freaking snow a shit ton, that would be great.

What I looked at on the world wide web.

-Winter blues? Listen to Oprah, she knows best. How to Be Happier in January Than in July

-Also check out Martha. She was (and is) one bad ass lady. Living Just Turned 30, But Martha's Reach Remains Limitless

-Staying safe this winter means a lot of time outside. Here’s how to stay warm. Frost bite is not fun.

-Not that you need an excuse, but This Is Your Brain On Holiday Rom-Coms. It’s good for you.

-Why is it so hard to predict the weather? Live in VT. No one ever really knows what the weather is going to do, even while it is happening.

-A theory that can help explain why time seems to move slowly

-I ever back to these yearly book lists all the time. NPR’s Book Concierge

-Do you have a clutter room? I do not and would bash my head on the wall if there was a room of clutter. IT hurts to just think about it, but that is me. Don’t Worry, You’re Not the Only One With a Clutter Room In Your Home

-Imagine A World Without Movie Theaters… How do you feel about this? Personally, I haven’t been to a theater in years. I hate them, but it still seems sad.

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

Well another week has blown on by. A week that started off in summer and has returned to it’s rightful season of winter. IT got really freaking warm there for a couple of days and it really confused the heck out of my body. I kept putting on sweaters and hats just to have to take them off. But at least I got to wear my sandals once more before they go away for the next 5 months. Oh Vermont. There is a saying here that if you don’t like the weather, well just wait 10 minutes. And that is a truth.

Other then being completely engrossed in weather related things, political craziness, and freaking out a little about how the COVID numbers are climbing hard and fast around here, the week was not crazy eventful although Shannon did turn 40. HAPPY BIRTHDAY B”OTCH! And now ! am a sister with a sister that is 40. 😳 The mr and I celebrated with her by bringing her presents and taking her old ass for a walk. No big party cause well, you know COVID, but I think seeing me was party enough for her. HA

What else? Oh, the mr got out the old chainsaw and cut down a giant (already dead) tree that was about fall on one of our houses so that was good. We went to the beach with Barb, I made some clay Christmas trees while procrastinating all the glazing work I need to do, and spent a good amount of time going through and getting rid of shit. I am at a point in my life where I just want to own nothing which is exactly the opposite of the mr who is becoming more and more of a hoarder as he gets older. I told him no more but we might need to leave in separate houses soon.I can’t stand stuff!

And back to Sunday. Today the mr and I have plans to pack a lunch and take off, find a quiet place to eat, and maybe go for a hike if it is not raining by then. After that I should come home and do all the stupid shit I need to do, but you know, we will see how I am feeling. I know I am gonna make a big pot of soup so maybe while I am making soup I will make a list of the stupid shit, plus all the things that I need to do in the coming week. That’s it. I will organize and make soup. Sounds a-okay to me.

What the internet showed me this week

-What America’s First Ad Hoc COVID Memorials Look Like. They are starting to pop up, and they are only getting bigger.

-Skip Thanksgiving. Yup. We are all doing it. And it sucks but you know what, is a few hours of, lets face it, mostly bickering, worth maybe getting someone sick?

-Why do Americans like it to be 72 degrees inside? I HATE this so much. keep it 60 friends and grab a freaking sweater if you are cold. Jeez

-Not only is she a badass, she is also so right about Buffys love life. This lady, she understands the world. Stacey Abrams Can Fight Voter Suppression and Talk Buffy the Vampire Slayer at the Same Time

-Why Britney Spears’s fans are convinced she’s being held captive. Not the first or even the fith time I have heard this. I am starting to think it might be true too!

-Please do not use that piece of glass to cut things. Thanks! Your Glass Cutting Board Is for DISPLAY ONLY

-These photographs are everything. I actually saw a piece years ago very similar to these and they it has stuck with me. Birds, they are magnificent. BLACK SUN: Amorphous Flocks of Starlings Swell Above the Danish Marshlands

-Time for a new knitting project.

-The Cider-Sipping, Mitten-Wearing Guide To 2020 Holiday Movies. I know you want to know.

-I didn’t know that this was a known thing. Why Germans love getting naked in public.

Sunday Happy

Anyone else wake up wondering what time it was or what day, month, and or year it was for that matter? The time change happened last night so if you have a clock without smarts, well it is probably wrong if you haven’t changed it yet. As for the overall feel of time this year, well I feel like lengths of time have been displaced and lost this year so it is nice to get an hour back, even if I lost 6 months. HA!

We finished of the last week with the last days of October, and it was good. Did out last hurrah camping at Little River State park which was delightfully cold and gorgeous with very few people to be seen. We went for a long hike, ate hot pumpkin lentil soup, and spent a good amount of time sitting by the fire trying not to burn our faces off but trying to get close enough to not be freezing. Once the fire went down we crawled into the tent for bed and slept our last night outside. Then we woke up, I made the coffee, and we broke down camp for the last time. On our way out of the park, we noticed a lot of tiny leaves falling from the trees only to realize that it was not leaves, but snow! Within 5 minutes it went from flurries to a freaking blizzard and it was just AMAZING and I loved every bit of it. The mr, not so much. He isn’t ready for the cold.

Then back to it. The mr off on one of his many projects he has going on and I spent a good amount of time in the studio. We took Barb to look at used cars (no car yet), and I picked up the last summer farm share. (Winter share starts next week..phew!) And yes, we finally turned the heat on, although I think I could do without it for a little while longer. I prefer the heat of a thousand sweaters. HA!

And then all of a sudden it was Halloween. How was your Halloween? Ours was weird. We somehow forgot to carve pumpkins this year (I know we are not the only ones) and we knew we weren’t taking the littles out. We also decided against handing out candy cause well, you know. So instead we had the littles over and had a cookie decorating party. We ate lunch then let them get all sugared up and run around like animals all afternoon which is always a good time. Plus they still got a shit ton of candy and did so without all the work. So yeah, things weren’t bad for the littles this year. What was bad was the crazy ass mess they left me with. I know I have bitched about this before but, How the hell do they get sprinkles and frosting on EVERYTHING? There was even frosting all over the toilet. One thing I did learn though this cookie party is to never let them use tiny colored dusting sugar ever ever again. That shit spreads like fire.

Sunday. Welp, we are not camping (I’m feeling sad about it) but hopefully we are going to get out of town for a hot minute and walk into some woods. I know that the mr has a bunch of things he has to to today so I will probably be on my own for most of of the day. Not going to lie, I am kind of looking forward to it. I think I am going to grab a cozy sweater and a blanket, lots of hot coffee, and plop down on the porch and read for a while. Going for the next best thing. And hey, we are still going to eat pumpkin lentil stew for dinner so there is that.

One more thing…Make sure, if you haven’t yet, you get your ass out there and VOTE!!!!!!!!!

Internet from the week.

-'Dude, I'm Done': When Politics Tears Families And Friendships Apart. This has never been more true.

-A Japanese Forestry Technique Prunes Upper Branches to Create a Tree Platform for More Sustainable Harvests

- Eating seasonaly is the only was I eat and trust, it makes a workd of diference. This Hyper-Seasonal Eating Strategy Helps Prevent My Winter Colds

-Frozen Is Fine. Frozen is great as long as it is not garbage food.

-Need a yurt guy? The 7 Best Sources to Buy Yurt Kits

-Tiny Little Jars Contain Big, Bold Colors In The Forbes Pigment Collection. This made me smile became tiny jars of color. Yes please.

-Demand for Baking Goods Is Up 3400% as Shoppers Stock Up for Winter. Calm down, you still have plenty of time to get what you need. Just don’t be that prick who buys every bag of flour because you are worried it will be gone soon. Only get what you really need.

-Why Do Onions Make Us Cry? And How Do We Make Them Stop? I barely ever have issues with onions but maybe my eyeballs are just used to it.

-A debate worth having. Which Is Better: Showering and Dirty Clothes, or No Shower and Clean Clothes?

Internet from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

It’s the last week of October folks. And this time next week it will be one hour earlier then it is now. I am already playing that game in my head with myself saying it is this time but will be that time. Getting mentally ready. And I know most people hate it, hate that it going to get dark out at like 430 but me, I am excited. I like having more sunlight earlier when I am awake and as for darker earlier, it just makes our after dinner walks that much more interesting. You can see inside peoples houses in the dark so much better.😳(Don’t pretend you don’t look too.)

The week began at Gifford Woods. After getting checked in and switching our campsite 3 times (for optimal light and a good chopping block )the mr and I hiked a long hike, he did some fishing (and actually caught one), I read, we made fire, we ate soup. All the good stuff. Then we went to bed with the knowledge that there was a bear roaming about. We woke up with no bear sittings (sad but probably good) and headed on back to town.

And it was Barbs 21 st birthday. So we had dinner with her and the boys at my moms, sang her songs, gave her shit, did the cake thing, and sent her on her way to go be 21.

After that it was back to it. Basically all the same stuff with some of this and that and a new, very expensive heater replacement at one of the apartments. (OUFF!) Then Barb came over for her second birthday dinner with the littles. Pie instead of cake, Coco shaking his booty, Miley harassing the mr about when he is gong to dye her hair, and Judah, well he was just being cool like a cool kid.

And that is pretty much it.

It’s Sunday and this is it, the last camping of the year. I would be lying if I said that I am not sad, but it’s ok, I don’t think I could handle the mr camping in the winter, he does not like to be cold. And honestly, we spend just as much time running around in the woods in the winter, we just come back to our warm bed at night so it’s not like we don’t still run away all the time. Anyway, heading out early, going to soak it in as much of the day away as possible, do a good hike, the mr is gonna fish, I’ll read and look at rocks by the river, and we will eat hot soup by the fire. Maybe as a last hurrah we will see a moose or a bear. I have no real control over that but wouldn’t that be awesome?

Oh and before I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Some internet for your reading pleasure.

-A Rare Halloween Blue Moon in 2020. And it is daylight savings. Gonna be a crazy night!

This house. And the patchy, torn apart wall paper.. so good. Heading ‘Upstate’

-Are we living in a computer simulation? I don’t know. Probably. AAAAGH! But seriously, are we?

-Good to know. Is It Better to Bake in Glass or Metal?

-Veggie Burgers Can Be Called Burgers, European Parliament Says. I am sure this is pissing a lot of people off.

-Why living with and tending plants is good for you. So many reasons. I don’t know what I Would do without my plants!

-I agree. This Cozy A-Frame in the Woods Is One of the Dreamiest Cabins We’ve Ever Seen

-Cool AF mask. Zimarty Turns the Face Mask Into Wearable Architecture With zMask

-Pretty. Cloaked in Thick Smoke, Submerged Foliage Breaches the Water’s Surface in Mysterious Photographs

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

Just the other night the mr and I were having the conversations about doing the heater checks in all the apartments, what the plans are going to be for the holidays, and all the end of the year things that need to be done before, well the end of the year. It was a weird conversation because were did the year even go? 2020 flying on by through a shit storm and we are not slowing down.

Another great week that began with more fantastic hiking and camping. We were at one of my favorite places, Groton Forest, ans lucky not a whole heck of a lot of people were there. Our hikes were beyond gorgeous,the air was cool, it was quiet and calm, and the sky was clear. Just a solid A+ camp.

Then we slept, woke up, broke down camp and came home. Every week we come home is hard. The mr and I could live in the woods forever! Life goals.

The rest of the week went as usual. The mr off doing all the work he always is doing plus talking to plumbers, plaining wood with Judah, selling (and sold) Barbs car, and was getting in as much fall scootering as he could before the thing needs to be stored away for winter. Me, same same. Studio stuff. Did some glazing, made more things, trying to get super ready for the holiday season and have a good stock of stuff to sell.

Not much really in the way fo eventfulness maybe besides me and Miley made a cake for shits and giggles then had dinner with Barb. Or that the mr and I filled out our ballets and I went and dropped them off at city hall. We also took the boys for a bike/walk. I picked up my second to last farm share for the summer (winter share starts in November) Oh, and I broke my freaking favorite eating fork. I have been eaten almost all my meals with this fork for like 10 years and it was truly a fantastic fork, perfect weight, perfect angle, perfect sharp tines. So that shook me. But I’ll be ok.

Today the mr and I are heading out for our second to last camp. Already sad about it but I am trying to not think about it too much. I want to just enjoy all the trees ans colors and go for a good hike and sit by a nice fire and go to sleep on the ground. All the good things.

Internet to read if you are so inclined.

-The mr and I had this conversation a few months back. It is pretty interesting to heat and see what others think too We Asked Americans How They Feel About The U.S. Flag. It Got Interesting.

-This Kitchen.. 2 different stoves and a wood fireplace!

-I am going to be one with the cracked teeth, I have jaw problems as it is ans I don’t remember the last time I have’t clenched my jaw. Oh wait, I think it was sometime in 2016. Sleepless Nights, Hair Loss And Cracked Teeth: Pandemic Stress Takes Its Toll

-Why social media makes you feel so old. So so old.

-I never put my vintage pyrex into the oven because I am always afraid of it exploding (it has happened before and has stayed with me) What You Really Need to Know About Exploding Glass Bakeware

-How to Survive 5 Extreme Weather Scenarios. We have been caught in some pretty extreme weather. I guess we are lucky to be alive. HA!

-Ad ode to the fork. The Rise of the Fork

-What’s the Weirdest Place You’ve Taken a Call Lately?. If you haven’t talked on the phone while you are on the toilet, well then, where are yo talking from?

-Chairs. PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT.

-Kill Your Gas Stove. I have come to terms with the fact that that next time I need a new stove or am building a new kitchen, no more gas. Induction it will be.

Pictures from the week

-C