Sunday Happy

This past week just seemed like one big shit show.

Stupid shit like multiple trips with multiple hours logged at AT&T store (3 mornings of my life and still, STILL, they have not fixed the problem!!!!) Long doctors appointments, crazy people all over the news.. It just was not the best week, you know?

It wasn't all bad. Barb and I got out for a nice hike in the woods, I cleaned up my studio and got a good handle on reclaiming clay. Painted some hearts, read books, drank a lot of coffee, and I finally took the Christmas tree down. I always get a little sad because I love the tree but I alway love how the house feels so big (even though the tree was not that big) once it is down. Oh and the needles… They were EVERYWHERE! I think I vacuumed 5 different times yesterday and still I was finding needles and probably will be finding them until sometime next Christmas.

Then the mr had been on a big remodeling job so he had been gone all day every day so we haven’t seen much of each other which had been kind of sucky. But I think that that job is almost over and we can run away. HAHA, but maybe for real? Anyway…

We are going to start out the week right. Today the only real plan is for the mr and I to spend the day together and go for good hike. Not sure yet where, but it is going to away, like a good while away. We both just need to get out of here, be around some trees, drink lots of coffee, and not deal with anything for a little while.

Stuff from the internet from the week.

-Stressed? Try screaming. Noted.

-This Is How Long You Should Keep Your Holiday Decorations Up, According to Dolly Parton. That is a long time but whatever floats your boat.

-Get out of your head and “Listen to a Random Forest”

-21 Truly Upsetting Vintage Recipes. Why was everything molded?

-Why Is it So Hard to Design a Good Can Opener? I have had few can openers in my day and not all are good. Some really hurt the wrist while others just plan old suck.

-Viennetta, the Fanciest Dessert of the ’90s, Is Back. Like, OMG! I remember these and wanted one so bad but were not a fancy cake family, we were a ice cream sandwich family..

-So awesome. These New LEGO Sets Are Perfect for People Who Can’t Keep Plants Alive

- You're Not Crazy: There IS a Difference Between Morton's and Diamond Crystal. There are so many different salts and it can really screw up a dish if you are not careful.

-The stairs, the arches, the bath tub.. Love this house!

A couple of pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

I am sitting here thinking how strange it is that it’s already the end of June. Time flies by so fast in normal circumstances but this season in life, well time is so warped and crazy and wow, it’s the end of June and I don’t even know how I feel about it. Almost like the past few months have been the shortest and longest I have ever lived through. Some strange strange times.

The week was good and productive in many ways. Started off with a lot of hose chores like finally painting the desk I have been wanting to pant for months, cleaning the basement, and lots of garden weeding. WE had dinner with my mom and the boys, went to curbside pickup at the library, and picked up my farm share.  I also took Barb strawberry picking with me and since have been trying to stop myself from eating them all in one sitting. I only have a few left but lucky I can go pick again this week. And flowers too!!I am really excited for pick our own flowers. I have the best farm!

The mr has been working like a madman doing all sorts of house stuff on all the houses so we haven’t been able to do any big hikes or anything this week but that is ok because half of the week was still nasty hot and I hated every minute of it. And finally for the first time in a while, I spent a good amount of time everyday working in my studio. We have just been so busy that I haven’t really gotten down there but I got on a good kick and threw a bunch of new pieces. I am working on planters at the moment and am really into the new design that I am doing. Hopefully others will be into them too and maybe once I can fire shit again, will buy some? (no pressure…). Also big news….Taxes are filed!!!! That was a shit show and they are done and I never want to think about them again except I am already thinking about them for next year. Blah. Never ending. Other then that, not a lot of big news.

The weird part of the week was that we didn’t see any of our littles . NONE! First time in months that we haven’t seen at least someones kid(s) almost everyday. And we miss them, which means that they miss us too? Yeah, probably not so much, but hopefully we will find a way to see them this week, at least someones kids because I need a little of that care free, summertime, lets do fun things, mentality. littles are good at that.

And thats about it, or at least that is all I can remember at the moment.

Today the mr and I are planning on going hiking. Far into the woods to a river, away from all people. and hanging out for a while. He will fish, I will read, and sure it might rain but don’t care. We need the trees.

Internet from the week.

-Enough with the stupid fucking micro plastic. It is absolutely horrible. Our fruits and veggies are sucking up microplastics through their roots

-The mr is a leftie…. He is kinda weird. Lefties aren’t as weird as you might think

-HOW TO START KIDS HELPING IN THE KITCHEN! Get them in there!

-I have a little girl crush on Padma Lakshmi, but who doesn’t? Padma Lakshmi, Scars and All

-Not that we need to be freaking out all the time, but we still need to be freaking out about global warming! A Disastrous Summer in the Arctic

-Have you heard of Everestng? I have heared it mentioned a few times. now that all the sports things are canceled and pandemic and all Maybe something I will do if I get bored. HA

-The Great Regression. Having fun the way we used too. (Never to old for sidewalk chalk and hula hooping)

-I want this house and my next kitchen will look like this.

-Remember the slip and slid? 7 Awesome Backyard Water Slides Your Kids Will Love

Pictures from the week

-C

Sunday Happy

We finally got us some real winter around here and I couldn’t be any happier! YIPPE!

How was your week? Mine was good, if not a little on the hectic side, but what is new?

I started out Sunday at the art market. Of course by the time I got there I was feeling like complete shit. The ick that was in and out of me all last week was in at the time and I just wanted to curl into a ball and sleep. But I trudged on and had a great time, hanging out, talking to people, checking out the other vendors. Iit was cool, and completey exhausting. I learned real quickly that the hardest part about selling stuff in person is having to be a person and talk to a lot of people. HA. So after the market, I came home, ate soup, and slept. Spent the next day not talking to anyone and keeping myself on the low key trying to keep the ick a bay.

And then Tuesday and Wednesday came any went with the normal stuff of work, family, life.

Thursday was very productive. Woke up to snow which started the day great, and the mr and I (but mostly the mr) spent the day tearing out old cupboards from the basement and building out shelves for my studio. And let me tell you, having a wall of shelves, fantasticly built shelves mind you, in my studio is a game changer. I have so much space now and it is freaking amazing. That mr. He really is just a pretty great dude.

Friday started off with me chipping away at least 1/2 and inch, if not more, of ice from the car. Seriously took me like 20 minutes to get it cleaned just enough to drive, which was the last thing I was interested in doing at 5am. But what are you gonna do? Anyway, I managed to de-ice, and go along my way, even if I did break the stupid ice scraper. Oops. But it was all worth it because after the night of ice, we got the snow storm! I think it was reported we got 15 inches, all within like 10 hours. Heavy, big, beautiful snow. I was home early in the day and the mr came home around lunch and tried to leave again afterwards but the roads were complete shit so we were stuck. And I LOVE being stuck in snow weather. It makes me feel like a kid again and that nothing but being comfy matters. So I spent the afternoon interchanginging my snow boots to shovel and walk around in the storm, and my respirator because when I was inside, I was in my studio, with my new shelves,c leaning away. I am trying to get all the dust and grossness out which is a hard task to do to a 100 year old basement that is now a pottery studio, but I am trying!

Yesterday was amazing. All the fresh snow, the bluest of blue skies, crisp, clean, cold air without much wind. A+ perfection. Sure my shoulders were a little sore from all the shoveling that Friday brought, but good sore if that you know what I mean. And so the day went. Did the usual, got the chores done, the grocery shopping in, the work done. Then we hung out with the littles for a while. The mr and Miley shoveling out the driveway, me and Judah attempted to make paper flowers, and hung out while waiting for Coco to come home from the hospital. (He had to spend a few days there because he choked and aspirated but he is doing alright now.) When he finally did come home, the first he did was throw a fit because he wanted chocolate. So all was good there and so we left and came back home to eat and sleep.

Today I am going to hit the gym early, come home and toss beans and pre-chopped veggies (because I planned ahead!) into the slow cooker for dinner and then I am back at it. 11-3, selling my wares at the art market (It’s in Winooski at 2creativecommunity) Rainbows and heart mugs. So if you want to pick up a little something sweet for your sweety and/or yourself, come on down. And yes, Valentines day is next week, but that really shoudnt’t be the reason to buy a heart of rainbow. Treating yourself and/or a lover/friend/sister/brother/mother/crossing guard (you get the idea) to a piece that makes you/them happy is what it’s all about. And it lasts every dang day forever!(Unless you break it so don’t do that.)

Click on the links to read the internet stuff that I read this week.

-I used to nap a lot more. I think I need to make more time for it. How Long Should a Nap Be?

-Why Some Vegetarians (Like Me) Aren’t Excited About Beyond, Impossible, and Other New Meatless Meats. This is my truth!

-I clicked on a thing and ended up seeing this Sabrina Cord Pinafore Dress. And now I want it.

-This Charming A-Frame Cabin. I could live without the hot tub but the stove… Swoon!

This. Bumblebees Are Disappearing Because Of Extreme Heat. And this. It Was 65 Degrees In Antarctica This Week Feeling pretty freaking fucked.

-So sweet and I want it! Carpenter Dad Turns His Kid’s Drawing into a Real-Life Piece of Furniture

-Why Grocery Stores Have Tiny Kid-Size Carts. I just thought it was to keep the kids busy while the grown ups shopped.

-Whats even the point without “Be mine”? Sweethearts Conversation Hearts Are Back, But They're Not Very Chatty

-Most humans don’t have tails. So why do we have the bones for it?….MOST? I miiiight be one of those that have a little tail. HA

-The Dark Origins Of Valentine's Day. It’s not all dark. am a V day lover. The mr and I always take the day to spend together. We usually go for a hike or something outdoorsy, pack a lunch and get good coffee. And a few years ago we started a tradition of buying a new plant for ourselves, together. Because that is what valentines day is, a day to spend together. Chocolate and flowers not needed!

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

And it’s Sunday again. Time is just flying by.

The camping was amazing. I guess there are not a lot of people that go camping this late in the year because we basically had the entire Lake Carmi state park to ourselves. I think we were the only people there besides and old couple in a cabin far away from us. The weather was perfect, brisk, but not too cold, the sky was a grey, the colors were popping. We went for a jaunt in the fields and a hike in the wood, the mr went fishing off a giant tree, and we enjoyed a lentil and campfire squash for dinner. Simple and sweet and all the best of the world. Sure it rained that night, but we stayed dry and yes it started to pour in the monring while we were picking up camp but then it stopped and all was good. And really, what’s camping all the time without a rain day or two. It’s part of the adventure.

And is was Alex’s birthday, he turned 13, and he had a family birthday party, but we ended up not going cause I was feeling like crap. I think it was a crash and burn, but I was weary because everyone is getting sick around me. Snotty, coughing, grossness. I am trying to avoid it if at all possible.

The next day I woke up tired but feeling better and went about the day doing the this and thats and thats and running around here and there. The mr started a rat trapping job (not for any of our properties) that turned into a whole big week long thing and I just don’t even want to deal with that. I stay away from anything that involves animal. If I were to get involved, we would probably and up with a few pet mice and a squirrel or two. And definitely a skunk or possum. So again, I stay away from that stuff.

Then there was Wednesday. I had one of those days where everything was going wrong. To start my day I woke up with a door handle smashed into my hip which I then thought was broken (the mr sure knows how to open a door). When I got to the gym my toe started throbbing and opened up and starting bleeding again (gross), but whatever, not that bad. I then went and spent a few hours over at the loft cleaning the F out of it so that my dad had clean sheets, toilet paper, and no tools in the middle of the floor when he stayed. We are over there all the time, but something about being there that day was making me just super sad and nostalgic and I basically was just thinking about Washer and I might have cried a little. But that happens and well, yeah Then it was lunch time but I was not getting lunch, which is never a good thing with me, I was taking a trip to the dentist. Hooray for me! Good thing my teeth looked great, said I am doing a good job as usual taking care of my mouth, except I was told again that I should really consider smashing my jaw and my palette and get braces and wire my mouth shut and blah blah blah. Just give the dentist $500 million dollars and they will fix all my screwed up bite and jaw problems. Yeah, no. Dental stuff is a sore subject for me so I’ll just leave it here.. So dentist made me in a bad mood on top of being sad. But I made it home and made a cake for Alex’s birthday party (his friend party) which I ended up burning it. So ok, that shit happens too but then the second cake, looking all perfect when I pulled it out of the oven, well I dropped one of the pans, and burned myself a few time. And then I cried little more..Yup. Oh, and knocked over some greenware pots by my wheel because why not add some more misery to the day. I think after all that I just gave up and crawled into bed at like 730.

Thursday went a lot better. I managed to turn the broken apart cake into a single layer cake (genius) and make it actually look pretty good. I picked up farm share and got out to the fields before it started to rain (hurray for me) Barb came over and made me smile while we talked of all things Italy and I fed her broken cake bits. I hung up all my halloween bats and did some laundry and stuck a dent in paperwork and bills that needed addressing. A way better day.

Friday was a little hectic. The political stuff brought out a slight crazed rage over the craziness of the world and I am still trying to wrap my head around it (along with the last 2 years…) But besides begin little wild eyed, I finish decorating the cake for Alex. Worked at the studio where I loaded 2 kilns and then some. Dropped the cake off to Alex then went to the groocery store for food for the party the next day, and somehow got pizza dough to rise at just the right speed (in and out of the fridge all day) in order to have dough for pizza birthday party for Coco (he turned 2 on Thursday!) that night. The littles came over for just a small something special for Coco. We had pizza, cookies, and a buzz lightyear balloon. He was sick so he ate no pizza and cried at the candle on his cookie, but then he ate it and that sugar made him happy, even when he was blowing super snot bubbles from his little nose. . And then Erin brought him home so he could have a sugar crash and be sick at home and the other littles could sleep over. They watched a Wrinkle in Time, while I started prepping apples and pie dough for Dads birthday pie the next day. And then we all fell asleep early. These darker nights really make it easy to crawl into bed at an early hour. (not complaining at all)

Saturday went swimmingly. I woke up made a pie and a loaf of pumpkin bread all before the littles woke up for breakfast pancakes. Barb came over, they all ate, then off we all went, the mr and I, Barb, Miley, Judah, to the farm for wagon ride and pumpkin picking. It’s out tradition, and this year, we brought Coco too.(and Buzz light-year of course) The ride went great, the pumpkin patch was pristine, we all got a good pumpkin and some gourds, and no one fell off the wagon. A very successful pumpkin picking adventure. After that we all ran home and I got lunch ready, The rest of the family came, ate the food, made the mess. The mr thought it would a great idea for the medium kids to have something productive to do to keep them out of trouble so he gave them all shovels and let them dig a giant hole in the middle of the back yard because why not? Uh huh, yeah. So on top of the normal mess everyone makes, there was a heavy extra layer of dirt tracked in and out of the house. After everyone left, I got to spend a little extra time cleaning late into night. How they got mud on the bathroom walls is pretty impressive.

Today we are doing something with Dad and his other children. Either a bike ride or hike, not sure yet, but something outside that will involve trees. After that, the mr and I are going to try and find a place to camp tonight. The weekly camping is just too good. We can’t not. Plus after a full week of people interaction, I could really use a night of peace and quite in the woods.

Internet from the week.

-Pumpkin Knowledge. The Best Pumpkins for Baking and Cooking. And 3 Ways to Use Those Pumpkin Guts. And What's Actually in Your Canned Pumpkin Purée?

-Wigstock, 'An Iconic Piece of Drag History,' Lets Its Roots Show At 2018 Revival. Oh my.. SO amazing. I wish I could be there!

-100% agree with this, it really is the best brand. The One Flour You Should Buy, According to a Professional Bread Maker

-Have you heard? Drunk birds are wreaking havoc in Minnesota

-Yeah, I would live here (that tree!) or definitely in this row house (the front door!)

-Most Introverts Would Like to Be More Extroverted. Yes and no. I love being alone and do not find it lonely, but I do wish I didn’t get completely drained and feel like I have ran a marathon from being around people.

-DARK MATTER IS A HUGE MYSTERY. THIS DEVICE IS TRYING TO DETECT IT. This makes me think of the His Dark Materials Books by Phillip Pullman. (read them if you haven’t, they are in my top 3 favorite books of all time)

-I kind of love this. Banksy auction prank leaves art world in shreds

-I follow this families adoption and it is so heartwarming and amazing and I just love them (Their daughter is so freaking cute, it kills me). And they are adopting again! I love how she does a Q and A about the whole thing.

And some pictures from the week.