Sunday Happy

How is it even really the last day of January? Wow, I mean, really, I have completely lost all concept of time. It is gone and I should just stop looking at calendars and making plans by the moon and the number of setting suns. It just makes more sense now, especially cause I have not plans to make. HA!

Another week and here we are. I was moderately busy doing things. Studio stuff, a few good hikes early in the week with Barb, the mr, and Megan and Alex. I trashed my clean studio to cut up benches and some other shit. We had the littles over for dinner and bebop battles (I know that those things are not called bebops but that is what I keep calling them), and I did all the other work stuff (bills and phone calls) that no one cares to hear about.

Then it was the end of the week and -15 degree outside. Now some might say that is too cold to be outside (the mr and maybe like doctors and shit) but not me. I still went out everyday for my morning runs and oh boy where those just invigorating and exhilarating. Nothing like having ice forming on your face the moment you walk out the door.

And right now I am having a hard time focusing on much other then the pulsing in my toe because yesterday I for sure did drop the vacuum on it and split it open and it sure did gush blood all over the floor all day (it just kept on bleeding!) and it was just a hot mess. Cleaning up blood from a gash that was caused from a cleaning device while I was cleaning… Full circle. HA!

Today I got a list of things to do. I need to go to the studio and glaze. I need to package up orders to ship out tomorrow. I need to clean off the back porch because the past few days it has turned into a dumping ground, and I need to put my studio back together. Other then that, well I know the mr and I are not going for much of a long hike today because, again, he is not into the super cold, but we are planning on having a car lunch picnic, maybe with a water view. That will be nice. (and short cause I am not running the car while we eat).

Internet from the World Wide Web.

-Schoolboy changes name to 'Reconnecting' during Zoom classes to dodge teacher's questions. Kid’s a freaking genius.

-So What Is Short Selling? An Explainer. Not going to lie, still a little confused but I think I get it?

-I love this farm house and I definitely want a raised dinning room off the kitchen. And fish wallpaper in the bathroom.

-What I did not know but now I know. Why Wombats Poop Cubes

-New crystal, new you? Are you into crystals? This is a good read if you are, or not too.

.- Some Forests Are Covered With Lichens That Love to Fuck, Scientists Discover. I need to get the mr to read this. He is obsessed with moss and lichens.

-Have you ever eaten black garlic? Holy crap is it amazing. The mr buys me a container of it every year and sticks it in my stocking at Christmas. Might try my hand at making some soon. This Is the Absolute Best Way to Make Black Garlic at Home 

-Kraft Is Introducing ‘Candy Mac & Cheese’ for Valentine’s Day. Sick joke? I fear it’s not. Gross.

-You don’t have to tell me twice! Keep your brain in shape by reading more books

-Varied Bricks and Ceramic Blocks Comprise the Asymmetric Facade of a Spacious Community Center in Bengal. SO beautiful!

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

The week went by in a blur. I worked a lot in my studio, worked at the other studio, did things that needed to be done, ate food, slept some. Nothing to eventful. We did go for a couple of good snowy hikes earlier in the week which were very much needed. Also I finally pulled out the comforter after the mr told me he was freezing to death at night. And I have officially had my brand new phone for 2 weeks, sitting in it’s pretty little white box on my desk, without opening it and switching put my SIM card. Ask me why and I could not tell you. All I know is that its getting ridiculous.

Today I am spending the morning glazing mugs at the studio and hopefully after that the mr and I are going to go pack our lunches and go for a snowshoeing adventure IF the snow is shoeshoe-able. If not, we will just hike into the woods with our regular feet. And when I get home, I am, I MUST, open my new freaking phone. I will reward myself with spending the rest of the day drinking coffee and reading.

Internet for you pleasure.

-So ok, I am on a weird “wanting a new couch for the upstairs room” kick. I could never spend anywhere near this much money on a couch, but I am lusting after it. Caitlin by The Everygirl. This website… Building your own couch. So good.

-This Quaint Eco Cabin is Essentially a Birdhouse For Humans. Into this. Not sure if the mr would like it though.

-Are you a resolution person? I am not, but I get why people do it. And this year, like so many past years, many a resolution goes out the window But guess what? It’s all good so don’t even worry about it. Broken New Year's Resolutions Already? It's OK To Give Yourself A Break

-'Why Do I Spend Weeks Avoiding Tasks That Will Take Me 10 Minutes to Do?' Like me not opening and using my new phone.

-A baked sweet potato is street food.. Why hasn't that caught on here?!? Just here making my own but gonna try this method. For a ‘Proper Proper Proper’ Baked Sweet Potato, Freeze It First

-A Los Angeles Nonprofit Is Supporting Prison Abolition Through a Community Ceramics Practice. Awesomeness!

-Yes, let take it (when it is safe!) LET’S TAKE A TRIP TO CHÂTEAU DE DIRAC.

-Behold the world’s tallest trees. Trees in general are amazing but when you get into old growth and stands of redwoods… truly is the most breathtaking. Touches the soul.

-Not good news but need to know news. CDC Warns New U.K. Coronavirus Variant Is Spreading Fast In The U.S. So stay away from people and wear you masks yo!

-But some good news. The Cat Who Came Back: Patches, Believed Killed In Mudslide, Shows Up 3 Years Later

The few photos I took on the mr’s phone which brings me to the number one reason to open my new phone. TO be able to take pictures again!

Roasted Cauliflower with Capers, Pomegranate, and Walnuts

We have been eating a lot of cauliflower the past couple weeks. Cauliflower because who doesn't love it? But also because I froze a shit ton of it and found the stash in the deep freezer.

This is just a little something something that I have thrown together a few times and really enjoy. Basically a roasted cauliflower salad with yummy things and those yummy things are pomegranate arils, capers, and walnuts. It is fast, simple, and super delicious. A very satisfying and healthy salad situation. Perfect for winter.

Now to the cauliflower and stuff.

The stuff. Cauliflower (use fresh or frozen) pomegranate arils, capers, walnuts, a lemon, a splash of olive oil, and salt and pepper. There should also be a clove of garlic…where did it go?

Chop cauliflower into bite sized pieces.

Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and place into a preheated oven.

Rough chop walnuts and mince garlic while cauliflower is roasting.

Once the cauliflower is nice and roasted, pull pan out and toss on the garlic, walnuts, and capers, and pop the pan back into the oven for a few more minutes to slightly cook the garlic and toast up the walnuts.

And then you pull it out of the oven, dump it all into a big bowl, toss in the pomegranate arils, squeeze some lemon on top, and add pepper and a pinch of salt if you need it.

That is it. Now eat it.

-C

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Roasted Cauliflower with Capers, Pomegranate and Walnuts

• small head of cauliflower (or a lb of frozen)

• 1/2 cup pomegranate arils

• 2 tablespoons capers

• a handful of walnuts

• olive oil

• a clove of garlic

• salt and peper

• juice from half a lemon

Preheat oven to 450

Chop cauliflower into bit size pieces and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and then place in oven and roast until nice and brown, usually about 25 minutes.

While roasting, roughy chop walnuts and mince garlic.

Once cauliflower is roasted, remove pan form oven and toss in the minced garlic, chopped walnuts, and the capers. Pop back into oven for about 5 more minutes just to slightly cook the garlic and toast and warm up the walnuts and capers. After those 5 minutes, remove the baking sheet and transfer everything into a bowl. Add in the pomegranate arils, squeeze in the juice of the lemon , and season with salt and pepper.

Then eat it.

Winter Spiced Coffee

Coffee. Do you drink coffee? I know there are some people out there that don’t, and that is ok, but me, I drink coffee… A lot of coffee. It is a joke between me and the mr that we get excited to go to bed just because we know that when we wake up we will have coffee. More truth then joke. Coffee makes me happy.

This winter spiced coffee is a little something that I concocted a month or so ago. Not something I drink a lot, but ever once in a while, a nice spicy coffee drink is just what is needed. Especially after a nice long morning of playing out in the snow (or shoveling) and coming back inside sore and tried but fresh and feeling all the good winter feels. Just a little spicy kick to really get you in the winter mood.

I drink my coffee black and un-sweeten but I have made this for one of the sisters with milk and maple and she said it tastes better then any Starbucks crap you could spend a paycheck on. So there is that. And for those of you who do not drink coffee, well you can add some of these spiced to black tea too. Just as good!

Enjoy your coffee (or tea!)

The spices. Cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon.

Ground coffee and a pinch of the spice mixture is all you need. Oh, well, hot water too.

Steeped and ready to drink.

A nice spiced coffee situation.

-C

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Winter Spiced Coffee

makes two cups

For the spice mix

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/3 teaspoon ground cardamom

Make coffee

• 4 heaping tablespoons ground coffee (any non flavored but a good medium roast is nice)

• 16-18 oz hot water between 195-205 degrees or boiled then let to sit for a couple minutes. (And use the lesser water for stronger coffee)

And if you want

• sweeter of choice to taste

• Milk of some sort to taste

Mix all the spices together in a small jar or bowl. Add about 1/3 teaspoon of spice mixture to the ground coffee (save the rest of the spice mixture for later use) and place in a large jar of coffee carafe.. Pour the hot water over and let steep for 4-6 minutes. Pour through strainer into cups. You can also make this coffee in a french press of regular coffee maker.

Add sweetener and or milk if you want. Drink.

Sunday Happy

Well we did it, made it to a new year. And now here we go!

The week between Christmas and New Years is always a weird one. I think I need to start treating the time as time off and not time I need to feel crazy and try and do as much shit as I can. So next year I’ll do that. Anyway it was a busy but good The mr and I did a lot of house projects like shelf building in the basement and linen closet and cleaning light fixtures .The mr started a new bathroom remodel job and I have been setting myself up to get a bunch of pots done in the next few weeks (All the hearts for Valentines Day!) all the while trying not to bug out much over that fact that with a new year comes new taxes. Why the heck can’t I stop thinking about them!?! I really just want to get that shit done and out of my head sooner then later. I am trying to be organized and think ahead like a good, responsible adult. BLAH. But what I did do which only took like a year was, we FINALLY bought new phones! It got to the point that the mr’s phone completely broke and he was interacting with people through his email on the iPad. So I did it, just bought them. He immediately stuck his sim into it and has been rocking it out. Me, well mine is still wrapped in plastic in the box because I am lame like that. Plus I am waiting for the case to come in the mail. But mostly I don’t care enough yet. (Although it will be nice to use the camera. The camera on my phone now is busted and won’t focus. if you can tell.)

Besides all of that we also had the littles over for a little birthday party for Judah (HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY!). He and the mr played with his new tools, engaged In some games of chess with Coco while Miley completely ignored us all and I made French fries, salad, and an ice cream cake. His mother brought the sushi (I don’t mess around with raw fish)! And we finished it all off with some wiggle dancing with Barb because what is a party without some wiggle dancing?

I am not a huge giver of a shit when it comes to New Years so NYE we just did whatever. I did try to watch a movie with the mr, but I just ended up falling asleep and was in bed by 930. New Years Day we took the day and went for a nice long drive out to the NEK and just spent time not doing. That was nice.

And then it was Saturday and it snowed and I was happy. Like really happy. I was even so happy to shovel out the driveway and smiled while I scrapped the ice of the car windshield because I really just like a cold snowy winter. You know? And then I started on my cleaning binge, took little breaks of snow time walks, went into the woods with the mr and Barb so they could get some snow time, and started packing up the Christmas decorations. It is all down except for the tree. All the ornaments are packed away but I left the lights up. One or two more days. I just love having a light wrapped tree in the house! (It is finally starting to drop needles so it won’t last long)

Today is day 2 of a weekend cleaning binge. First off though, me and Barb are going to go for a nice snowy hike and then maybe hit up a grocery store for food. But after that I am thinking today is the day I clear out my closet and just get rid of everything! (I really don’t have a lot of clothes but I stopped folding things and just started shoving things into the shelves few months back and now it looks a hot mess and I have basically not changed from the same 3 outfits for the past couple months). I need to remember what clothes I have and maybe even wear some of them! That and I might finally pull out the winter comforter but don’t tell the mr! I don’t want him to get his hopes up just incase I change my mind. (I hate the heavy comforter but he LOVES IT and I am trying to be nice.)

And that is it.

Happy New Year!

Internet from the week.

-Wow, what a trip to do this. Should I? Nope, It enough for me to just look at random pictures of myself and think how freaking young I was. The Photographer Who Set Out to Watch Herself Age.

-10 Things Nobody Tells You About Clutter (and How to Get Rid of It). Clutter sucks ad that we all know.

-I am not one for trends but I am on board with most of these. 21 Kitchen Design Trends We Predict Will Be Huge for 2021

-Liking this, especially the see through roof part. This Prefab Cabin Is Like Three Houses In One

-The only real way to detox your body. Water, but read for yourself.

-I have learned over there years that taking the time to organize and pack things nicely really is huge for when it comes time to pull it out again next year…. And ALWAYS wrap your lights! ORGANIZE AND STORE YOUR CHRISTMAS DECOR LIKE A PRO!

-The Weirdest Lies We Told as Children. I used to tell people my Dad was the drummer in the Beatles. More a misunderstanding then a lie though because he looked like George Harrison, played the drums in a band, and they covered a few Beatles songs..

-So cool.Sleeping Whales: Photographer Reveals What Whales Look Like When They Snooze

-Elementary School Kids Design the Christmas Lights in This Scottish Town. All towns should have their kids d this. I love it so much.

-Yurts, Igloos And Pop-Up Domes: How Safe Is 'Outside' Restaurant Dining This Winter?. I wonder. It seems like people thing if they eat inside of an outside structure, that it is not inside? The logic confuses me a bit.

And some pictures from the week.

-C