• stem+node ceramics
  • HOME
  • Food Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
Menu

The Lovely Crazy

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number

Your Custom Text Here

The Lovely Crazy

  • stem+node ceramics
  • HOME
  • Food Recipes
  • About
  • Contact

Sunday Happy

March 31, 2019 Colleen Stem
IMG_4262.jpg

Hey there people. Happy end of March. Yes, it is true, already a quarter at the way through the year. And no, I don’t know how it happened either. But so that is the way of time now isn’t it.

A week, oh what a week. Not going to lie and say it as all to fanatic to start with. We have been so busy with work and other stuff. Other stuff being bills and paperwork and me trying to get the taxes done. (New rule. We just not mention taxes again until they are done). We did manage a warmish walk to with the littles to spend an hour arguing over weather they can get a king sized candy bar at the store over a lollipop (ended up with gummy worms). There was also a little wood carving, yarn weaving, library pursuing , and neighbor visiting to be had, but other then that, not much else of interest. The week just came and settled into what it was.

And then it was Friday which was a shit day. First off, it was the anniversary of Seans death so you know, already a not great day. But better yet, I Woke up at 4, stub my toe hard on the way back from the bathroom, laid in bed in pain until the throbbing subsided, went to the kitchen to start coffee. As soon as a I turned the faucet on, a little mouse ran across the counter. It took me a good minute of just staring at counter before I registered what happened and started to scream FUCK, FUCK FUCK! I woke the mr up with my profanity. Yup, a mouse in the house, munching on the a bowl of squash seeds I left on the counter. So what can you really do at 4 in the morning? Not much so I went to the gym. I then came home and started cleaning before I had to work at the studio but as I started in on cleaning, the vacuum decided to stop working. Agh. And so the cleaning ceased, I went to work, came home, ate dinner, emptied all the food from the pantry into bags and boxes, then felt all to defeated and sad to do much of anything so just crawled into bed. I figured I would just deal with it all Saturday and I just really needed the day to be over.

Yesterday was the lady, my moms, 60th birthday. Whoop whoop!!( HAPPY HAPPY TO MY MOM). I woke up, baked two cakes, two batches of focaccia, and home made mac and cheese, salad, prepared other foods, and then something for my dinner (my breath still have not recovered from the funk that is of a red onion eaten raw).There was a quick detour during the bake-a-thon to the library for the annual seed swap plus I definitely took out everything from the pantry and vacuumed and sprayed every surface and inspected every piece of food for mice disturbance. (I pretty much have the cleanest pantry ever now.) As for the rest of the house, it is still a mess. Not anything to do with mouse mess, just my Saturday, tear the house apart before I clean and put it back together, mess. While baking I starred in on my weekly clean but things happen and all of a sudden it was time for the mr and I to pack up all the food and head over to my moms house. There we finished food preparing, helped Erin decorate and clean up the house, and then lost my mind a bit. After a near breakdown due to lack of sleep, I mellowed out in time for everyone to show up while Mark and Paul were out with my mom for coffee. When they came home, Mom walked into a house full to the brim with all her kids and most of the grandkids. She was so very happy, I think….. Ha, no, she was. We then ate the dinner I spent the day slaving over, played outside, went for a walk that looked like a parade, came back for cake and ice cream and presents (everyone got her plants.), and whoa, before I knew it it was 7:30 pm and I was still awake and not in bed. Craziness. But that was it, I lost all steam. We came home to a half trashed house and I basically just assed the f out. The mr set the mouse traps. Have- a-heart, but also some not. I don’t want to know. I just can’t.

Today I am going to clean clean clean. Then maybe clip my toes nails, brush my hair, and get my head ready for the hectic week to come. It’s going to be a full one. There is concrete pouring, the dreaded “not the be mentioned until they are done” papers, I have a shit ton of stuff that needs to be glazed, seeds to start, yards to clean. It’s spring. Everything needs to be done. Good thing the world has coffee. I am going to need it all.

P.S. It is official. The sandals are out. No more shoes for the next 6 months!

Here are some interesting reads from the interent this week. Read what you want.

-The most significant event in the history of earth. Thats some shit. The Day the Dinosaurs Died

-Why Do I Put Off Doing Things I Love? I know I have been guilty of doing before but I really try to use what I have, especially it is my favorite. Having shit just stashed away is pointless. Use it (whatever it is)

-I want to experience the greatness of the cherry blossom. 25 gorgeous photos of cherry blossoms

-Life we would be something with giant cats. Japanese Illustrator Imagines A World Where Humans Live Among Giant Animals

-I love airbnb but this is definitely something that has crossed my mind and kind of freaks me out. Airbnb Has a Hidden-Camera Problem. But there are cameras and hidden cameras everywhere so….

-Why Rewatching the Same Shows Is Actually Good For You. I get this. I barely watch tv, but when I do, I like to watch old shows that I have watched before. Gives me good feels and plus I don’t have to pay attention. Plus. Too Much Video Streaming To Choose From? It's Only Going To Get Worse

-Whoa dude. Yep, You Can Juice a Lemon Without Cutting It—Here's How

-14 ways to break your plastic habit. Even doing a few of these things will make a difference.

-Awesome. KAWS Floats a Massive Inflatable Sculpture in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour

-GREEN IN THE KITCHEN. Yes to all of them.

Pictures from the week.

IMG_4081.jpg
IMG_4062.jpg
IMG_4065.jpg
IMG_4052.jpg
IMG_4109.jpg
IMG_4135.jpg
IMG_4171.gif
IMG_4145.jpg
IMG_4152.gif
IMG_4149 2.gif
IMG_4166.jpg
IMG_4184.jpg
IMG_4192.jpg
IMG_4229.jpg
IMG_4254.jpg
IMG_4236.gif
IMG_4265.jpg
IMG_4242.gif
IMG_4155.jpg
IMG_4296.jpg
IMG_4299.jpg
IMG_4301.jpg

-C

In the fam, sunday happy, Spring, pictures, photography, internet links Tags everyday life, Sunday happy, family, Vermont, pictures from the week, internet links, the mr, birthday, The great outdoors, spoon carving, taxes
Comment

Sunday Happy

March 24, 2019 Colleen Stem

We are having the worst mud/pothole season ever. I don’t know how many times I think I have blown out the tire on the car or have gotten just about stuck on a dirt road. Picking up farm share this week my car almost sank into the mud. Like it was literally about to be swallowed up into the earth. All the good fun of living here in Vermont. Gosh I am such a Vermonter. First thing I have to say is about potholes and weather. But that is life here isn’t it.

The week has been more or less productive. We both have been busy this week and have been trying to plow through projects (taxes me and the mr with the porch). Blah. Doesn’t that just sound annoying. Doing the taxes. I gave myself until the end of the month a few weeks ago and then last week I gave myself the entire week, made no plans for anything or anyone, to get them done. That didn’t really happen because well I started a weaving project and maybe have a tendency to read a little too much when I am procrastinating (I started reading 4 different books…) and can’t forget about the garden planning that needed to be done. So now I am giving myself the rest of next week to finish because those things are not going do themselves and the deadline is looming. Yeah. Besides half assing tax stuff, reading and weaving, I worked at the studio, took some nice long walks, packed away most of the winter stuff and stock piled cabbage. 20 heads because it was on sale. 20 heads might seem like a lot but it will be gone within the next 2 weeks and I will be sad and wished I bought 20 more heads. Hey, don’t judge me. The mr, when not working on porch or other apartment related stuff, has spent a good chunk of his free time carving away at spoons which means I have also been spending a good amount of time vacuuming up wood chips all over the house. Who has time for taxes?

Yesterday was the perfect example of Vermont. I woke up and there was like 6 inches of fresh snow. Cold, windy, just not looking like much of anything I wanted to deal with. But then all of a sudden around late morning, after doing all of our chores (recycling center, stores, compost, tenant stuff) we came home, the sun came out, the temperatures rose, and the snow started melting fast and furious. It was a completely different, so very pleasant and lovely day. We got to enjoy a nice long walk, pull the kitchen island out onto the front porch so the mr could give the top a good sanding, and we even got to eat dinner out on the porch! It was oh so nice. And to top it all off, I didn’t even crawl into bed before 7pm. I was awake when it got dark out which is like whoa. Spring. It is a happening here. Finally.

Today the mr and I are hoping to take a nice stroll down the bike path, maybe get good cup of coffee, stop in and see the little and maybe even pop in on Barb. I miss my people. And then back to the stuff I really don’t want to think about. Taxes. This is it. I am going myself the rest of the week and that’s that. So I will probably open my computer, get out the calculator, and then start reading a book again….. Oh boy am I in trouble.

Reads from the internet to read. If you want.

-I have been having the weirdest dreams ever. Just last night I dreamed that I was eating soup made of tiny staplers. What the F? Bad Dreams Are Good. Your night life prepares you for what’s to come

-Watch what you eat friends. Kale Is One of the Dirtiest Vegetables, According to the EWG's 2019 "Dirty Dozen" List

-This little cabin should be mine.

-Misophonia: When Life's Noises Drive You Mad. Oh how can I relate to this. Sometime a certain sound makes me want to smash my head against a wall.

- I Love Pink Tiled Bathrooms. Maybe in the next house.

-The Stigma of Choosing Trade School Over College. I often times wish I went to trade school instead of college.

-Cool ass paper DINOSAURS and check out these Under-Cats.

-MUSIC JAR. Such a great idea. I think I am going to start one for the littles.

-I think I should have a seed vault and all the pretty x rays. The mr just said I should start digging in the backyard….These x-rays of seeds turn biology into art

-What Makes People Heed A Weather Warning — Or Not?. Living in Vermont we get weather warning (mostly for snow) all the time and it is defiantly interesting to hear and see the people who listen and don’t. Needless to say there are a lot of cars sliding off the road.

And some pictures from the week.

IMG_3923.jpg
IMG_3945.jpg
IMG_3969.jpg
IMG_3970.jpg
IMG_3952.jpg
IMG_3941.jpg
IMG_3962.jpg
IMG_3999.jpg
IMG_3965.jpg
IMG_3985.jpg
IMG_3928.jpg
IMG_3980.jpg
IMG_3974 2.jpg
IMG_4013.jpg
IMG_4050.jpg
IMG_4051.jpg
IMG_4003.jpg
IMG_4007.jpg
IMG_4046.gif
IMG_4022.jpg
IMG_4038.jpg
IMG_4018.jpg

-C

In sunday happy, Spring, life, internet links, pictures Tags Sunday Happy, Everyday life, taxes, photography, pictures, Vermont, winter, spring, mud season, Nature, walks, internet links, life, spoon carving, weaving
Comment

Sunday Happy

February 18, 2018 Colleen Stem

Is it crazy that I am just so stinking excited about spring? Because I am. I am very very excited. The list of seeds has been started, gardens have been mapped out, and I even looked (but no unpacked) my box of spring/summer clothes this week. I know, I know, it's Vermont and this is a temporary weather thing, but 50's this week.. I'll take it. Then I'll take another snow storm because that's what we do. But the spring sunshine.. It's freaking magical. 

As weeks go, this one passed with nothing to crazy happening (in my little world bubble anyway,  the world is another story). I might have broken my arm (not really, but it feels like it) and I might be growing a squirrels nest in my hair, so I can call myself accomplished?  But really what I have been really into is cleaning. With all this warm weather I find myself taking to the light fixtures and windows. Spring cleansing is happening and I am determined to tackle something everyday that is not in my usual cleaning routine, like cleaning the insides and outsides all the light fixtures. or taking the bathroom fans down and cleaning those out (you should do that too). When the urge strikes, embrace it. It might be some to of the most gratifying cleaning ever. 

Valentines Day happened and was really nice. The mr and I took the day and drove out of town to Montpelier and saw all the hearts. Then we hit the woods for a while, drank lots of coffee,bouht ourselves some daffodils,  then went home and just relaxed. Then we ended the night with early dinner and watched To Wong Fu, Thanks For Everything because Patrick Swayze in drag just might be everything. 

And the rest of the weeks just flew on by with olympics (every morning when I go to the gym, one of the tv's is on the Canadian Olympic channel. I have been keeping up with the louge, the skeleton, the curling, and speed skating with those guys.Canada is pretty good), spoon carving, sister chatting, library time, and lot of long walks. The mr had been doing side work and trying to glue the very first coffee mug I ever made like 15 years ago back together after he dropped it on the side walk. I have spent a lot of time making and baking in the kitchen .Fresh bread everyday, tinctures and tonics, hot sauce, and soup, soup, soup.  We are trying to embrace this quite time now before things get crazy again, and we know that they will, oh they will too soon. 

Oh, and I have been slowly painting all the stars in the kids room slowing cave. We had the littles came over the other night for play practice, pizza, and star paining.I let each kid paint their astronomical sign and then make up their own constellation. It is coming out so great and I can't wait to finish it and deck it all out with new pillows in the shape of stars and planet and make fake camp fire and set up a little tent.... Man I am a pretty awesome aunt.  

I think today I am going to make large quantities of coffee and make some of those pillows I was taking about and maybe try and finish  painting the stars. I am excited about the room and want to keep the momentum going. Plus I really just want sleep in there myself. So I will do that and then I am going to brush my hair today because really, it is starting to dread and I don't know if I am ready for that again. 

The stuff I looked at on the internet. 

-Official Portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. These are amazing and I want them too.

-I love him and this tiny desk only makes me love him more. Nick Hakim Tiny Desk Concert

-Take a trip down South Korea's Coffee Street. A street of coffee might be the best or worst thing ever. Probably the best tho. 

-At $600 bucks a pound.. no shit it's gold. California-Grown Coffee Is Becoming The State's Next Gold Mine

-My babysitter growing up had a waterbed and it was amazing and slightly frightening. The Weird True Story of the Rise and Fall of the Waterbed

-Photo of a Single Atom.  A. Single. Atom. I can't wrap my mind around it. 

-I think I should live in this cabin fo reals. A Wishfully Minimalist, Hopelessly Maximalist" Catskills Cabin

-Better Open a Window If You Plan on Eating These Gas-Inducing Veggies. 

-A ha. I knew it. By temp is like 97.5 so when I feel feverish at 99, well suck it dudes, I fever. Do I Have a Fever? My Temperature Is 98.6 but I Feel Feverish

-Constellations: The Zodiac Constellation Names. Because we need to know for the star cave. 

Pictures from the week.

IMG_0206.jpg
IMG_3811.JPG
IMG_3799.jpg
IMG_3900.jpg
IMG_3899.jpg
IMG_3904.jpg
IMG_3841.JPG
IMG_3842.jpg
IMG_3859-1.JPG
IMG_3772.jpg

Keep it real.

-C

In sunday happy, photography, internet links Tags Sunday Happy, Vermont, Weather, Internet links, photography, spring, spoon carving, the great outdoors, family, trees
2 Comments
 

https://thelovelycrazy.squarespace.com/config#/|/about/

Me. Food Maker.Food eater. Woo HOO!

STEM+NODE  SMALL BATCH AND ONE OF A KIND POTTERY

stem+node ceramics



____________________

Subscribe

GET NEW POSTS IN YO EMAIL

You are AWESOME!!!

 

@thelovelycrazy 2014-2021