Sunday Happy

Is it really the last day of July? Are we happy about that? I know I am because it means August, then September and hopefully that means it will not be so hot. And also it means apples and pumpkins and sweaters and I will stop now because it is only the last day of July. HA!

The week. It was a weeeeek. In a good way, or mostly good but also kind of frantic and maybe a little bit stressful, but good. We started off camping and this time we brought the crew. Took them into the woods, rented there pampered little butts a lean-to (it was actually a good thing because it poured that night) and basically spent the entire day either in the water, on the water, eating, or playing with fire. All the exact things one should do will camping. And after a long day of all the fun that was had, they all conched out in the lean-to (the mr and I split in out tent outside the lean-to) and the sky opened up with thundered and lightning and poured all the water. A grand storm and boy were were glad for the kids being in the lean-to. I don’t think we would have made it through the night if they were in their tent. But they did and woke up rested, ate a extremely large amount of food, played in the rain, and then claimed exhaustion and needed to get home. Got them packed and home by late morning, the sky cleared, the sun came out, and it got hot. Blah.

Then the rest of the week was go go go. I loaded and unloaded like 3 kilns madly glazed more pot, threw a shit ton more, and tried on several different occasions (3 TIMES and all fails) to get shit my cards printed out at Staples. Basically running around with my head cut off but whats really new. The mr and I did manage a few minutes together at points, we even took Meg, Miley, and Bean to the farm to pick flowers, but mostly we were bot just busy busy.

Then Saturday was market day. I (and the mr) unpacked, set up and I slung those pots. Saw a ton of people, sold a bunch of my favorites, and handed out the flowers. There was music, free ice cream, and people riding around on bikes dresses as unicorns. All I call, another fantastic successful market. And then we came home, unpacked the pots and stuff, repacked the camping stuff, and crashed.

Sunday. Well I am beat ass tired but no problem because CAMPING and even in y worst state, camping always is the answer. But first we are going to a 1 year olds birthday party which should be fun, if not a little more tiring. I think I will make it. (I just hope no one expects much more then my presence because my brain is mushy and I’ll be moving around like a sloth). So party frst, then camping, and then hopefully a chill evening of sitting by the fire reading followed by an uninterrupted 5-6 hours of deep sleep in the fresh air under a sky of stars. But before any of this can happen today I need to drink the entirety of a pot of coffee so that is what I am going to do.

Internet from the week.

-Something you didn’t know you wanted to know. Why Are My Trees Dropping Acorns Like Crazy?

-How Caffeine Became the World’s Favorite Drug. I am and will forever be an addict. I cannot live without coffee.

-Fucking instagram. 4 steps you can take right now to improve your Instagram feed

-Why some people find pimple popping so grossly satisfying. I am not one of these people.

-The mysterious inner life of the octopus. Octopus intrigue and freak me out. So many tentacles.

-Ok, sure sure. Live Out Your Gardening Dreams in This $770K Greenhouse Home in Sweden

-”A Bike Ride Is Far Better Than Yoga, or Wine, or Weed.”. I completely concur.

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

This is the time of summer that hate or strongly dislike. The heat and humidity. All a bunch of bullshit. 😬

We went on our first camp of our camp season and I give it an A (not A+). Everything was perfect except that it was hot, like mother freaking stupid hot. So hot that when I made dinner (soup as always and forever) the mr refused to eat it .Me, well I ate it and dropped more sweat then I thought possible, So yeah it was stupid hot and yes we did go out in the kayaks at exactly the hottest part of the day (really bad choice) and sure I might have died a little but it was still all good. The stroll through the woods. The tiny little fire that I sat far far away from. My hot soup. All the stuff. And when we woke up the next morning the temperature had dropped enough to be a bit chilled, I made the coffee in a long sleeved shirt, walked to the pond for sunrise then packed up camp and home we headed.

Then the rest of the week. I blinked and it was over. First thing back I went to the dentist and had my teeth cleaned all nice and shit. Then I basically spent the rest of the days running around with my head chopped off. I was in the studio almost everyday loading and unload kilns, glazing all the stuff, and helping transition the new studio manager to the place. Wasn’t so bad given the air condition and all because, as you might also be dealing with, a stupid ass heat wave. Whenever I was home I was miserable and bitchy and cursing the sun back to hell. The house felt like a furnace and I did not deal with it well. Not my finest moments as a human but I didn’t literally kill anyone so I consider that a victory.

Sunday! Not only ar we going camping but we are bringing the crew with us. The 3 littles, Barb, and the mr and I are heading out to the woods this morning to do what we do best. We will hike and swim. They will fish and I will read (or run around with Coco). Got the frisbee and nerf ball and playing cards. And we packed a ton of food (healthy and junk). There will be fire and s’mores and when the wake up the get the full on meal along with breakfast hot chocolate. Sure there is a chance it gonna rain all night but I really don’t care because summer camping rain is just fine by me. We won’t melt, I hope anyway.

Some internet reads from my week.

-The Era of Climate Change Has Created a New Emotion . I feel the “eco-anxiety.” every damn day.

-Glamorous and unafraid are not the two words I think of when I here this design trend but hey, it’s actually pretty awesome. Not for me but I love to see it! Barbiecore Is the New Design Trend to Completely Obsess Over.

-This Is The Most Common Weather-Related Phobia. Can you guess my weather phobia? Yeah it’s definitely 100% thermophobia.

-Do cats and dogs remember their past? Obviously.

-I don’t got to restaurants but if I did I would want to know every single detail of what I was ordering. Is the Minimalist Restaurant Menu Over?

-Sad. Beloved monarch butterflies are now listed as endangered

-Crazy. This goat is all ears. REALLY! They may be the longest in goat history

-The case for caring less. All about caring less or as I like to say, not giving two fucks.

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

The colors are popping, the people are milling about, and the out of state cars are all over which means it is that time again. Vermonts great foliage season. Love every ounce of color but could do without the annoying amount of traffic that comes with it. (IYKYK Ha!)

The week started at Coolidge State Park. A cool dreary day and it really was just perfect camping. We went on a long ass hike and took in the trees, hung out under the canopy next to the fire while it rained, and crawled into the tent before it really started to pour but that was even soothing. The whole place was just super gorgeous and super quite. It’s one of my favorite places to camp.

After we woke up and packed up, we heading back to town. The mr went off to work and I made giant cookie cake for Coco because yes, he turned 5 freaking years old. Can’t even believe that shit. We went over for pizza and shenanigans and giant cookie cake (everyone wants one know) and that was that.

The rest of the week went by as usual. The mr was out doing his thing, I did a shit ton of chores, ripped up half the garden, threw some, worked at the studio and met another Gigi (I might steal her) and yeah, just did life.

Yesterday, well the mr and I took a little drive to a place were I gave a nice man money to stab a hole into my face. Yup, that was fun. Then I came home and cleaned the house. What a day.

Sunday again which means we camp. Going south a bit to one of our favorites, Half Moon, and this time we are brining the kayaks. (Probably going to be the last time for the year). Hopefully the drive down doesn’t piss me off too much (leaf peepers are terrible drivers) but I am really looking forward to the day. How could I not?

Internet from the week.

-America Is Running Out of Everything. For real, but also, what do you really really need?

-I learned this trick a few years back when I worked as a cleaning lady at a hostel. You’re Probably Loading Your Top-Loading Washing Machine Wrong, This is the right way.

-ON TREND: WOOD PANELED KITCHENS ARE WHERE IT’S AT.. Agreed.

-Leaf-Peeping Looks Different This Year. Here in VT the leaves are not as bright because of a fungus that had been getting worse due to climate.

-I make a lot of bundt cakes so I was intrigued and am defiantly gonna try this method. We Tried 6 Methods for Preventing a Bundt Cake from Sticking to the Pan and the Winner Was Pure Magic

-Why Owls Are a Spooky Symbol of Halloween, According to Folklore Historians. Oh, okay.

-Vermont history lesson. Then Again: Vermont spent 70,000 years under ice about a mile thick

-The mr and I were talking about how from now on, everything that needs replacing in the apartments is going to be electric. We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change

-This annual starling murmuration is so dense it’s called ‘The Black Sun’I never tire of starling pictures.

Pictures from the week

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 am ready, ready for summer to be over. It was so nice for a few days. Not hot, cool nights, but then it started to get hot again and I started to get real bitchy again so yeah, done with it. Plus I am really craving apples. 🍎🍏🍎

We had a good start to the week with a great camp adventure. Sure it rained a whole bunch but we knew that going in so we were prepared. Rain jackets, a canopy to put over the picnic tables, extra clothes. And really, most of the day it wasn’t pouring to badly and hiking around in the woods, the rain doesn’t get you ad bad. We did decide not to bring the kayaks because I wasn’t feeling lightning and water, but hey, that is just me. And we were able to have a nice big warm fire after dinner thanks to the mr been smart and good with flames and wood. It was great and perfect timing too because once we crawled into the tent for the night, well that was when the rain really started to come down. But again, no worries, we started dry.

And we woke up, still a little rain coming down, made coffee, tossed everything into the car and headed back to the rest of the week.

What did we do? Nothing much different then all the rest if the weeks. Hung with Barb, Had the littles over for food and play and then had a girls afternoon where Barb, Miley, and I made cookies and cakes for the upcoming weekend. I have been harvesting lots of goodies from the garden, pickling and freezing all the zucchini, and watching my pumpkin rapidly grow bigger and bigger. I thew some pots, but things have been drying really slow so that means studio stuff slows down too. And thats about sums it up I guess.

Today is the annual Stem family get together. (We didi’t do it last year cause, well you know.) After I spend the morning doing some chores we are heading up to Belvedere to the cabin and hanging with my people. Camping there too. I am really excited to see my family, see the Dad, and also see them in the comforts of the woods in the middle of nowhere so I can run away if need be. And its great that we have camping built in to the day. It is one of my favorite places to camp so it will be good, even if it is suppose to thunderstorm all afternoon. We are getting use to camping in the rain.

Internet from the week

-August 8 Is One Of The Luckiest Days Of The Year. And it’s today! So should I play the lottery?

-Summertime And Vacationing Isn't Easy. Blame It On Climate Change. And blame that on humans.

-Basically the only time I wear a bra is when I am running and that is only because I don’t have pockets in my shorts to shove my phone into it (in the winter I have pockets so no need for the bra). It acts more like a pocket than anything else. HA! Why So Many Women Are Turning Their Backs On The Bra

-Yes to all of these. Designers on Holiday: Modern, Minimalist Tents, Cabins, Guest Houses, and More

-We Tried 9 Ways to Shuck Corn (and Really Get the Silk Off!) and Found a Clear Winner. How do you shuck corn? And does the silk really bother you? I don’t care if there is a few strands but that is me.

-I take a lot of pictures but I also don’t take a lot of pictures. Sometime I just don’t want to it is going to interferes with me being present. To Remember The Moment, Try Taking Fewer Photos

-Homeownership can bring out the worst in you. There is a lot to think about when owning a home.

-Just like antibacterial shit, hand sanitizer kits the bad and the good. You might be overusing hand sanitizer

--A Serendipitous Photo Captures an Acrobatic Goose Contorting Its Body to Fly Upside Down

Pictures from the week