Sunday Happy

I know some people are bummed that summer is over and that is has been abnormally cool and dreary this past week but I couldn’t be happier about it. I have worn some of my favorite sweaters, busted out all my comfy socks, and even pulled an extra blanket out for the bed. Yes friend, just yes.

We started the week hiking up Mt Elmore to the fire town and took the ridge to the big balancing rock. The day was gorgeous, the view was stunning, and the camping that night was good as usual, although it did rain a little on our fire and it kind of puttered out. We didn't really care, we just crawled into the tent early and were not mad about it. After a good nights sleep we woke up, packed up, and headed on into town. Did some stuff, made some bread for birthday dinner, then headed over to said birthday dinner with Miley. The girl is 14 freaking years old now and I don’t even know. When the hell did that happen? Anyway, we just hung out, Erin made her a cake, Emerson blew out the candles, we gave her a box of raisins with some money in it, Judah didn’t punch her back even though she was pounding on him, and Barb smashed a pyrex full of mac and cheese all over the floor. All and all It was a good night.

The rest of the week went by fast with work and paper work and making the lists of all the fall projects that need to get done. Then Friday after work, we headed over to Alex’s 16th birthday party. And I know, that happened too. A night of jokes, pizza, and another ice cream cake, all the while Sophia harassed everyone with her skeleton cat and Anthony broke everyones ribs from squeezing us with his massive arms. Then after Alex was sick of us, we went home.

Saturday was a wet one and because of that, the farm canceled it’s annual pumpkin day where we all get on a wagon and ride to the pumpkin patch. But my farmers being awesome and amazing told me I could walk out to the the fields if I didn’t mind getting wet. And so that is what we did. Rain jackets and boots, grabbed a wagon, and walked ourselves to the pumpkin patch. I think I enjoyed it even more then the wagon ride. And we didn’t have to see any other people. Ha! Had the first pick of the pumpkins! After that, we went back to the loft for hot chocolate and giant marshmallows and then we brought them home. The rest of the night I spent cleaning because that is what I do with my Saturday nights.

Today. Another wet one. We bounced the idea around to skip camping this week but as of right now, we have decided to preserver and just go for it. There are only a few more weekends of camping left so we figured we might as well. Plus I always think fall looks best on a rainy day. So yeah, we are going and it’s gonna be wet! Hope we can find some dry firewood.

Some internet from the week

- I just sent out a family Thanksgiving text.It seemed early but I there can be no excuses this year. @ months notice is ample time to figure shit out, no? The holidays are coming! The Atlantic Daily: Start Planning Your Holidays Now

-Mail Delivery Is About To Get Slower And Pricier Just In Time For The Holidays. Well shit. This kind of sucks.

-I have always said that I would never run a mrarthon, that I just don’t see the point. Buuuttttt… I kinda sorta have thought about it recently. 🤷‍♀️ Why do people run marathons?

-80s Fantasy Movies Are Awesomely Cheesy. DUH!

-How reading aloud can help you bond with your kids and make them better readers. Why is this not obvious to everyone?

-What Are Sichuan Peppercorns? First of All, They’re Not Peppers

-I know a lot of kids that think this. I was one of them. Kids are onto something: Homework might actually be bad

-Where Trust Grows Alongside Produce. Respect the honor system! Don’t be an asshole.

Pictures from the week

-C

Camp Soup

We camp a lot. Every weekend from early summer to late fall or as long as the weather is tolerable. But once the light goes and the cold damp rainy days come (a little snow is fine) we pack it in for. the season.

The most common question I get asked about when talking about our camping life is what I eat. And the answer is always and will always be soup.

I make soup every single time I go camping. And yes, even in the hot ass summer. Why? Well because soup is versatile, hearty, easy, delicious, adaptable, great on a cold night. It is just all around amazing and not just for camping but for all food consuming meals. That is fact.

So maybe you are going to do a little camping in the next few weeks and are in need of a little inspiration or direction when it comes to camp soup. I made a little list of tips for you.

Tips for making a camp soup.

• First off, assemble a kitchen that fits your soup needs. A stove and a pot. Have a good sharp knife, a cutting board, and a container to collect any compost (don’t just toss any food into the trees…animals ya know ) plus, you know, a spoon. Also, don;t bring your favorite pot of best knife. You would probably be pretty pissed if you dung it or ruined it. Camping can get rough!

• When at the camp site, set up a nice little zone to prepare you food. Trying to cut up veggies on the ground is a pain in the ass.

• If you are making soup for just yourself or you and another person, eat out of the pot(s) that you make your soup in. The mr and I each have out own pots which is nice because I can customize our soups (I always add way more spice and usually more veggies to mine) and we don’t have to bring bowls. The less dishes the better!

• Don’t bother with stock or brother, just use water.

• Red lentils are the best. You don’t have to soak them, they cook really fast, and they get creamy and bothy and taste just delicious. Green lentils are also good, and if you have the time, split peas (they need more cooking time). Avoid dried beans because they take way too long. If you want beans, bring precooked or canned beans.

• Most veggies are good without refrigeration for a few days if not cut up so you really have a good pick of what you want to use. Bring veggies that are on the small side so you use it all up.

• Whole tomatoes are great to cut up and add, just pack them (or any easily bruised veggie) in a plastic container so they don’t get squashed.

• For multiple day camp trips, bring sturdier roots like onions, turnips, and beets. Also cabbage and carrots last for days without refrigeration.

• Greens are great but don’t bring tender greens like lettuce or spinach. Instead go for greens like chard or kale.

• Winter squash or sweet potatoes are very much encouraged. Sugar pumpkins or delicata cut up really easy and cook super fast, You don’t have to remove the skin (just the seeds) and you can always find small ones.

• Bring a preblended spice mix. I always just bring a curry mixture I make at home so it is all the spices in one jar. Having a bunch of jars of different spices may seem nice but keeping things simple (and having less stuff) is usually better. Oh and add salt to taste last.

• When the soup is cooking, don’t walk away for more then a minute of two. You want to watch to make sure the soup doesn't boil over and also watch out for critters. We have encountered a few wily chipmunks in our days. They will come up and steal your food if you are not careful.

• Have left over soup? Pour it into a jar and save it or breakfast or lunch the next day. No joke, we do it all the time. (The mr does, I never have left overs. I eat it ALL)

Here are some pictures of my soups from the past few weeks.

And lastly, remember that making soup at a campsite is suppose to be fun and is pretty much guaranteed to taste amazing, especially if you have spent the day running around in the woods or being really active. There is nothing better then eating a big ol’ pot of hot soup after climbing up and down a mountain!

-C

Sunday Happy

How you doing? The weather around here is fine fine fine these past few days. I’ll focus on that because the world has got me going and feeling all softs of ways right now and I can’t even. It is so much. But apples right? And sweaters. I pulled on a sweater for the first time in what felt like forever and it was just the best.

Another week. Started off with the usual camp, hike, kayak, and soup. (It never gets old). We found ourselves crawling into the tent little earlier then usual because it’s getting darker earlier, and fell fast asleep because it is not stupid hot at night anymore! Then we woke up, drank coffee, walked around in the dark, and came back to town.

Back to the world and I had the same thought I have every time… “Why did we come back?” I really should live in a hut in the middle of the forest. Haha, but for reals. Anyway I spent most of the week down in my studio, doing my thing, staying away from people. Everyone is getting sick and I am not having any of that, no thank you. I did have lunch with Barb though cause its Barb and I also picked up farm share, went on many walks, glazed some stuff at the studio, and ate another entire watermelon all to myself. I am getting pretty good at that, if I do say so myself.

So yeah, not very eventful in my little bubble and I am a ok with that.

It’s back to Sunday and we are going camping and feeling fine for it. Going to try and not think to much about much of anything and just take the day as it is, away from people, the news, the things and the stuff, and be happy amongst the trees. And drink all the coffee. I can already tell its gonna be a extra few cups kind of day today!

Internet from the week.

-Fuuuucck Texas and Fuuuuuuck the Supreme Court. The staggering implications of the Supreme Court’s Texas anti-abortion ruling

-I love this so much! Sprawling Paper-Pulp Mobiles by Yuko Nishikawa Suspend Whimsically Colored Pods in the Air

-This Road Trip Map Helps You Visit the 47 Iconic National Parks in the Shortest Time. Even if this country seems like a shit show right now, this is on the bucket list!

-I do it all the time. It Turns Out, You Can Store Tomatoes in the Fridge

-Just lovely. Dark, and Deep: An 1800s Victorian House in Nebraska, Restored Down to the Doorknobs

-If You Can’t Stand People Fidgeting, You May Have Misokinesia. Maaaaybe me?

-Dogs are so smart! Your Dog May Know If You've Done Something On Purpose, Or Just Screwed Up

-Oh to love or to hate the lady. I love her, I can’t help it. But believe everything, well not exactly. The Promises Martha Stewart Made—and Why We Wanted to Believe Them

-The Great British Pudding Mystery: What, Exactly, Is a Spotted Dick? And to think I thought it was just a spotted dick. HAHA!

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

I don’t want to sound like a whine ass but can’t it just be fall already? I am so sick of summer! Might not be the most popular opinion but like I have said many of times… I can’t stand being hot and therefore I do not like summer.

The week. Up until just a couple days ago it has been too stupid freaking hot and humid. Another heat wave and I am not having it anymore, (or at least that is what I tell myself. Not like there is anything I can do about it),, but at least we were camping. We went to Little River, hung out I the kayaks on the breezy cool reservoir, did a little hike but had to cut it short due to ongoing back pain (still) and a million tiny no see-ums flying into my eyeballs. We then went back to the campsite, made dinner, ate, sat around a very small fire (too freaking hot to rage it) and crawled into the tent. Woke up, drank the coffee and walked to the water, then packed up and headed home.

The rest of the week went by in a flash. I moved almost 100 green pieces to the studio to be fired (glazing next week is going to be a bear). We took the littles for ice cream after their first day of school (and to check out Judah’s new hair cut!) then we went and hung out with So who showed us all her halloween stuff and her mad skills at drawing with her feet. I picked up farm share. I ate an entire watermelon, and we did all the things that needed to be done, talked about some stuff that needed talking about, and made plans for the plans we have.

Last night the mr and I went up to Belvidere for a little adverntue with some of the family. We took a ride around 170 acres on a giant 4 wheeler contraption, (7 people. 5 seats. But we made it work. Only once did someone (David) fall off the back while in motion.) looked at barns and apple trees, and hung out with the coolest old lady that I have ever meet. Vermont people are the best!

Anywho, it’s Sunday. I am tires as all hell but whatever. The mr and I have the camping plans in place and I am ready to veg out mentally today. Should probably take it easy physically too cause my back is still the shit…. Or not, we will see how stupid I behave.

Internet from the week.

-The complicated reality of doing what you love. True that.

-Do you like licorice? Red or black? I don’t know many who like black but I think the mr does. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Licorice

-I have learned the hard way that stretching is key. What actually happens when you pull a muscle?

-A heart of sheep.

-Keep your muffins high. A Bakery Hack for Sky-High Muffins

- The Opposite of Toxic Positivity. Sometimes leaning into the dark is just what we need to do.

- Your poop can tell you a lot! The Poop About Your Gut Health and Personalized Nutrition-

-Don’t be an asshole when you are flying or you might just get your ass kicked. Flight attendants train in self-defense amid spike in unruly passengers

-Odd Apples: A New Photo Book Celebrates the Strange and Enchanting Fruit

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

So yeah, the past week hasn’t been the greatest. I am feeling super overwhelmed with all that is going on with and inside the world and I have hit a mental wall. And I know that I am not the only one. All the things…It’s a lot. So that is where I am at right now. A stressed out mental trash can. But I am trying to be positive so yeah….😐

But the week was not all doom and gloom and anger and stress. It started with a kayak on a pond which is the best way to start a week. After the yak we set up camp, went for a hike, ate soup, then slept under the stars. Woke up and walked the darkness then drank all the coffee before heading back to town.

The rest of the week was and happened. Took Barb to the farm to pick tomatoes and flowers. Walked around a lot looking at all the summer flowers. Spent a good amount of time icing my back because I am old now and I guess sometimes the wrong movement will pinch a nerve. Also the heat and humidity that has been plaguing us has kept me cranky and not at all helped my body in any way. But even tough my back was killing me and I was hot to the point of melting I still went for a bike ride to Moms with Barb, picked up watermelon at farm share, and went for a walk with Shannon. I tried to sit at my wheel, and I did manage to trim a few pots, but other then that, the pain in the back won out so not much got done. And so it goes.

Sunday. Off to the woods. Looks like the hurricane that is hitting the east coast will not be effecting us too much until tomorrow so we are heading out for the next 24 hours which is good because I really need the quiet and peace of the trees.

Stuff from the internet from the week. Keeping it light.

-Are your houseplants actually good for the planet? Good question.

-Its just about that time of year. A Completely Delicious Guide to Popular Types of Pie

-Good way to recycle some paper. How to Make Paper Flowers in 12 Beautiful Ways.

-Someone mentioned a eating a chip butty and this is what it is. The Chip Butty Is the Deranged Nonsensical Sandwich of My Dream

-Overwhelmed with Cleaning? You Don’t Need Balance — You Need a “Tilt”. I agree, bu to actually stop, well I am going to beed therapy for that. HA!

-If you need some Beyoncé in your day. Beyoncé's Evolution

-Square pizzas…. Still with that shit? Why school lunches feel like they’re frozen in time.

-I Love Throwing My Kids’ Artwork in the Garbage While They’re Sleeping. Haha! I LOVE all the art work the little create and I have kept my favorites but sometimes a good purge is needed, and that is at my house. They don’t even live here!

-A Poetic Book Illustrated by Tiffany Bozic Explores the Vast Diversity of Trees with Childlike Curiosity ♥️♥️♥️

Pictures from the week