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

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

Sunday Happy

It has been a weird week. Not bad, I just feel really off. I think the feels are catching up with me a bit.

Went camping at the start of the week, and that was, as always the highlight and, as always. we were sad to leave. But we did and back to life we came.We both have been busy, doing what we needed to do. I got a lot done in my studio, went back to work for the first time at the studio I work at. and loaded more stuff into the kiln at another different studio. A studio heavy week. Also trying to get stuff done around the house, harvesting and processing all the food from the farm and garden, and to remember to pay the taxes! ( I need to do that, like NOW) . But yeah, just have had a touch the blahs. But hey, I picked up my knitting again so that is good, and the weather has been great around here, which makes me happy but also makes me sad for the rest of the country that has had to deal with heat and hurricanes and fires.

Meh.

I am ok. You ok? We are ok.

And it is Sunday which always makes me happy. Off to camp today and this time we are bring the littles and Barb and oh boy, what are we in for? We have camped with the littles before, but this year they are older, one has her face constantly glued to her cell phone and has been know to be a little, lets say, moody? And we have to share tents. And they are monsters that stay awake past 8 pm. (I will leave the task of staying awake with them to the mr and Barb. HA!) But other then that, it’s going to be so much fun. They have fishing to do, I have books, and it’s gonna be a cool rainless day. Can’t ask for much more. Hopefully I have everything we need. I have been packing all week, making homemade graham crackers, rolling up  extra sleeping pads, and buying 5 different bags of chips while cutting up all the veggies I can fit into a cooler. I think they are really excited which makes me excited too. One last big hurrah before school starts for Barb tomorrow and the little next week.

Wish us luck!

Some Internet from the week.

-I love you, Bill and Ted. Sat what you will about the movies (say nothing if you have nothing nice to say), but we all need this right now. And we could also use a time machine.

-My dutch oven, which I use at least once a day, is almost black. Maybe I should clean it? We Tried 5 Methods for Cleaning Dutch Ovens and Found a Clear Winner

-Welcome to the world of short shorts! He wears short shorts: why are men showing more leg?

-Beautiful acts in the world. A Labor of Love

-The Absolute Best Way to Cook Broccoli, According to So Many Tests. And don’t forget, sometimes the best way is no way. RAW!

-No, not me….Got a bad habit? Here’s how to train your brain to beat it

-Am I dutch? Why are the Dutch so tall?

-When Your Child Is a Psychopath. Could you imagine having a child that was a psychopath? Oh I sonnet even know what I would do. At least there is some hope if diagnosed early.

-On the bright side. The Pandemic Has Heightened Young People’s Dedication to Their Health

-Tiny Elephant Shrew Resurfaces After More Than 50 Years On Lost Species List. What the cuteness!

Pictures from the week.

-C

Sunday Happy

It’s been a week of weeks if you know what I mean. The world. There is a lot to process, good and bad. And now I think I need to catch up with my mind. I feel like I have let it run to far ahead of the rest of me. Or maybe I am running away from it? Either way. I need to reign it it and focus. That is the goal anyway.

As our routine, we went camping on Sunday and it was just the best, an unexpected greatness. We started with a great hike through pastures and woods and to a gorge and then headed to the park to pitch the tent. D.A.R State park. Neither of us had ever been there before and hadn’t heard anything about it, so we were not sure what to expect. And it turned out to be just fantastic. Big and spacious, pretty, relaxing, and right on the lake. Very few campers, all of which were old people. So quite. Our site was perfect and there was a sink near the bathrooms to wash dishes in. What more can you ask for? We played on the rock beach, made dinner, hug out by the fire, walked around the camp, went back down to the beach and skipped rocks while watching the sun set, and then crawled in to the tent for the night. The stars were crazy bright, the fireflies were everywhere, the sounds of the waves were faint but there. I was just as happy as as clam. Even when I woke up chilly. And then we woke up, made coffee, the mr fished for a few while I read and watched the sun come up then off and back to life we went.

After we got home Monday things got really busy and completely out of the norm. First off, the mr has been working a time sensitive job that has had him leaving as soon as I walk in the door in the morning and not getting home until I am in bed. And that in itself is not usual, but if that does happen, we will see each other during the day, at least for meals. It might not seem like such a biggy to most people, but for the past 17+ years, we have eaten almost every single meal together, and this week, no meals. I have been eating alone all week. At first I loved it because I love reading while I am eating and only ever do it on the very rare occasion that the mr is not home for a meal. But all week for lunch and dinner, alone. I have read 2 books, but I was starting to get lonely. I missed my mr. So sad. HAHA.

Anyway, while he was gone all week, I did some work, had coffee with my mom, made cookies with the littles, met Barb’s boyfriend, and ate ten thousand tomatoes. I also spent a good chunk of time cleaning out the loft (again) for my dad, and oh, I don’t even know, a bunch of other stuff. Then Jeff Dad came to VT. We went for a hike with couple littles at a state park, sat in traffic on the interstate for far too long, and then went to Megans house where I made dinner for everyone. I got to meet Anthony’s girl friend ( a week of meeting the significant others), got a glimpse of the butterfly chrysalis, and made Sophia cry because we picked all her basil for pesto and she really really didn’t want to share it. So I owe the girl a new basil plant.

Yesterday was family reunion up in Belvidere. The whole crew. Great as always. Seeing family is always the best. I love them all, even if they exhaust me and maybe make me want to run away screaming. But isn’t that the way it suppose to be?

And then we came home, the mr left again to finish this job last night and came home while I was in bed. Again. But now he is done. And I am so excited to have him around, although this week is a new job that will be taking him away again. At least we have today. Camping. Ricker Pond State Park. I am excited. No work for the mr. Just him and me heading out into the wilderness with our tent and sleeping bags and a socks! Socks cause it had been getting chilly at night….YAY for cool late summer nights! I am so ready for some cool weather and to bust out all my sweaters!!!!

Internet from the Internet.

-It’s that time of year again. One day theres one, the next there are a million! How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Before They Take Over Your Kitchen

-Call Me Crazy, but I Think an Active Vacation Eases Stress More Effectively Than the Beach. No, not crazy at all. I need activity all the way, whether it is hiking, biking, or just walking 20 miles around a city. No beach reading for me.

-Avoid the toilet plume! Hey, Just Always Close Your Toilet Lid, OK?

-I don’t really get it, but it is awesome. Watch the New, Brilliant Trailer for Season 10 of “The Great British Bake Off”

-It’s the Season for Fruit, and Also for Writing About Cutting Fruit as an Act of Love. I always cut fruit up for the ones I love. HAHAHA, but for real.

-Oh fuck. A New Study Reveals Just How Toxic a Bee’s World Has Become

-Collards vs. Kale: Why Only One Supergreen Is a Superstar. Strange how people perceive certain things…

-I like. ON TREND: THE ART DECO BED.

-Fun People Order Pancakes: What Your Diner Order Says About You. Black coffee all the way.

-Can you imagine… 3 feet tall. Super bad ass and super scary! I wonder if they could talk too? This three-foot-tall parrot proves New Zealand is the mecca of giant weird birds

-Give Up Your Gas Stove To Save The Planet? Banning Gas Is The Next Climate Push. Would you? I think we all are going to need too. I am already thinking of induction. Definitely next kitchen I remodel.

And pictures from the week.

-C