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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.

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-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
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Sunday Happy

March 17, 2019 Colleen Stem
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We got the little spring teaser. 2 beautiful days, high 50’s, a bit of sunshine. Most of the snow and ice melted and little green shoots appeared underneath all that snow. I even opened all the windows and left the front door open to air out the house. It was amazing. And the sun. When it is out, it is out and feels so so nice. ( I am definitely vitamin D deficient). But again. It was a tease. Back to it being not so warm and a little more snow ( it snowed last night). Aye Yai Yai!! Just be spring already!

Week was and now its over minus that hour we lost which actually kind of kicked my ass. The beginning of the week, rolling out af bed at 4:30 to get to the gym, well my body didn’t like it much and gosh was I tired and dragging ass. But I am all adjusted now and everything is good. And we have more light at night which is nice I guess. I don’t mind reading in bed with natural light. HA.

There were a few good walks, one down by the lake, another with Megan down to the river. (We are all trying and needing to stay off of hiking trails for a little while because they are either covered in ice or mud and we don’t want to trash them) The mr spent a good amount of time ripping up a porch and doing porch things all the while being on rat duty for friends of ours. Barb was suppose to come over for lunch and a hike of some sort be she kept ditching me with oversleeping. I have been plugging away, ever so slowly and because they are taking over my life, at taxes. Barf. I did manage to start tomatoes and pepper seeds, have the littles over for dinner and popsicles, worked at the studio, contemplated renting and driving a bulldozer … Nothng big or grand. Not yet anyway.

Today, after the gym and doing a few little chores, we are going to pack a lunch and head out of town. I’ll grab the binoculars and maybe we can find a good place to do a little bird watching. That is how the day is feeling. Slow and lovely and full of birds. They are coming back, I can hear them more and more, bringing with them the spring.

Links from the week to browse at your leisure.

-Why Southeast Asia Is Flooded With Trash From America And Other Wealthy Nations. And now we are all going to feel the affects because they don’t want to buy our recycling anymore. How to actually recycle

-Did Cooking Really Give Us The F-Word? The science of language and how it has evolved

-It’s not fancy but this is the Sweater of my dreams.

-The One Thing I Hate About Being a Wellness Influencer. You are allowed o eat, even things that are not considered healthy. Stop being haters.

-One at a time. Nobody Blows Out Birthday Candles Like Mitt Romney. I actually kind of love it. Next time I need to blow out candles……

-The Pineapple Hack That’s Taking Over the Internet Right Now

-Shall I get myself a cottage like this one in Scotland too? I think so.

-A Popular Benefit of Houseplants Is a Myth. But I don’t care, they improve life.

-Welcome to Vermont. Goat starts term as town's pet mayor. And did you hear. Bill would place Vermont on year-round daylight saving time

-All the lovely chairs. THE TIMELESS BEAUTY OF BENTWOOD.

And some pictures from the week

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In vermont, sunday happy, photography, pictures, internet links Tags Everyday life, pictures from the week, internet links, Vermont, Happenings, Photography, Sunday Happy
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Sunday Happy

March 10, 2019 Colleen Stem

Oh man, what time is it? That is going to be the theme of the day. A day to adjust new real time with what body time (like food and sleep schedule ) wants it to be. It confuses me and I end up either really hungry or falling asleep at 5pm. Lose an hour, but gain some light at night. I guess I need to enjoy it (even if I am enjoying it from my bed, ha) because it means we are heading for spring!!!!!

This week had been a week, a week of crazy dreams, lots of warm soup, the last bits of super cold weather (I am hoping) and this and thats and what nots. We took a little hike, got the car inspected and washed, and spent time trying to better ourselves of any illness by hanging low and getting good amounts of sleep. I worked a bit at the studio, started the taxes (I am behind, I know) which I don’t really want to so I procrastinate whenever I can and make pierogi. The mr is preparing and starting a few projects that involve porch ripping apart and the such. Lots of outdoor work. Spring is a coming and things are going to get hectic around here fast. A good thing? Not sure yet. We are both going a little crazy right now so having some projects to do is going to be good. And we are running away… Hahaha.

Yesterday we grabbed Barb, Judah, and Coco and headed out onto the lake. Super gorgeous day. Warm and bright and all the right things that we have needed. We walked out to the lighthouse, Coco slipped and fell once. Barb slammed her ass really hard and took me down with her too. The mr and Judah managed to not fall. They are more graceful then us.. And after the ice capades we brought them all home and I came home to make lists of all the spring cleaning projects that I plan on tackling this week. Gonna wash all the windows and maybe do some touch up painting…. But I might be getting ahead of myself. We shall see.

Today, besides being slightly confused by the light and when I get hungry, I am hoping to get some seeds started, pull some handles for a bunch of tumblers that I think should have handles (I think.. maybe. Still thinking about it), drink lots and lots of coffee and tea while reading, and do a bunch of laundry. I want to wash all of my winter outwear except maybe a single hat and a pair of mittens (I have many hats and mittens and scarfs and hoodie sweaters… there is a lot) and then pack it all away! I might even stick the winter boots back I the closet. Is that tempting the snow gods. Are we going get another big snow storm? Maybe, but I don’t care. I am sick of it, I don’t want to look (or smell… its is starting to smell funky) at any of it anymore. There is going to be 40, maybe even 50 degree weather all next week so you know what that means…Good bye boots, hello CHACOS! I am pulling my sandals out and leaving them by the door. My feet are so EXCITED!

Books, coffee,,seeds and sandals. What else are Sundays for?

Here again are some internet links to read if you want.

-The People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day. I am one of these people. Pretty much same meals everyday, give or take a few this or thats. And I can honestly say that I look forward to my meals every single day because I basically eat a little bit of every vegetable the I have (the veggies change with seasons) , lots of greens (greens also vary) and lentils and or beans. SO GOOD!

-Love. An Old Victorian House Is Incredibly Bright, Cheery, and Colorful

-Why do we hate decaf so much? Well because it sucks, thats why.

-Martha knows where the money is at. Martha Stewart partnering with marijuana grower Canopy Growth to develop hemp-derived products

-The need for a wood stove is very real.

-The human brain is pretty freaking spectacular. Human memory: How we make, remember, and forget memories

-Tomatoes and peppers are getting started today! STARTING SEEDS INDOORS WHEN TO START SEEDS INDOORS

-Exercise Is Mood Sorcery. Yes, yes it is.

-Baby Cheese Challenge Sets the Internet Ablaze. All of a sudden I am hearing about this all over the news and radio. What the……If you throw cheese at your baby, don’t stick it on the internet. Duh.

-I wonder if people stopped looking up why they can’t sleep on the internet, they might actually be able to sleep. Hum..We’re too damn exhausted to do anything about lack of sleep

Some pictures from the week

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-C

In sunday happy, pictures, photography, internet links Tags Sunday happy, everyday life, internet links, daylight savings, ice, photography, pictures, family, Vermont, eating, hiking, great outdoors, nature
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Sunday Happy

March 3, 2019 Colleen Stem
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Hey there lovely peoples. So nice of you to stop by. Hope all is well and dandy with you. Well and dandy.

Holy crap am I one tired lady. Mentally and physically but mostly mentally because it has been one of those weeks. It all started off with the mr and I both feeling like absolute crap. Sinus infections and some other fun stuff. Heads and brains super dysfunctional (although we can’t blame being sick for all the dysfunction). I blame the ick on the weather and it not being spring yet. But let’s not talk to much about the weather. It’s a touchy subject for me right now and I just can’t. Anyway, the week started slow. We got a few things done that needed doing then got ready to take off for PA to visit with my dad and go to my grandmothers funeral.

Took off mid week, the mr driving the 6ish hours down and over. A super sunny and bright day it was . One might think that sounds kind of nice but I hated it. Brightness while in a car without sunglasses makes for brain pain, at least in my case. So I had my head under a blanket for a few hours. Got to PA alright but as soon as we pulled into my dads driveway the wave of pain knocked me to my knees and I got a full fledge migraine. I haven’t had one of those fun episodes in years and I can safely say that I hope to NEVER get one again. But after a night of zero restless sleep, I got up and rallied and went about the next day as half a human baking machine. Made the breakfast pancakes, some lunch, a birthday cake, cookies, my dinner, and cinnamon buns for the next morning. “Don’t worry” my dad said. .” We can go to the store and get as much flour and sugar as you will need!” And so we did because I used a lot of flour.

The next morning was the funeral. Early to wake, walked the dogs, fed people buns and headed to the Catholic Church. The one my dad and his siblings went to for their entire childhood. OH boy oh boy, what a hoot. Their mother finally got them to go back one last time. HAHA. And as for me, I can say that was the first time I have ever been in a Catholic Church (for church reasons) and seen a catholic funeral. Very interesting to say the least. And I do go to hand it to the priest. He was pretty cool. Hip, sweet, not a typical catholic church man, and he kept calling my grandmother Ava instead of Eva. That got some laughs. My grandmother would have loved it.

The funeral ended and we all went to a restaurant and did the food thing with the family love fest. It was very bittersweet. Sad because of the loss but we were celebrating a freaking amazing lady and her amazing long life. Oh Grammy. She was the greatest, coolest, funniest little lady ever and I will miss her deeply. So yeah. Then after all the food we topped it off with the birthday cake I made for Teena cause it was her birthday too. My family, we packed it all in because that is how we do it.

After hugs, pictures, Shannon falling asleep in a booth, we headed back to the car and away we went, a long drive home with lots of shitty weather and bad roads. But we made it. And I even unpacked the car and managed to shower off before passing out. And a pass out was exactly what I needed and still kind of do. I told myself I would let myself sleep in a bit, but 430 came and look at me, awake.

So it’s today and I must do some stuff. I’m going to go to the gym for the morning, Run run run until I cannot possibly run anymore. Then I will come home and eat eat eat until I can not possible eat any more. After that it is a bunch of chores that need to be done and I need to go see the littles because I miss them. And I know I will need a nap at some point because I am feeling the even all the coffee in the world will not be enough to keep my brain afloat for a full day. Or maybe I’ll just go to bed at a unreasonabley early hour. (5ish sounds good to me. Ha. But really) Yup yup, looking forward to that.

Until then.

Internet link from the online.

-Greener Childhood Associated With Happier Adulthood. NO SHIT for reals.

-My Library even lends out baking pans and garden tools! 8 Unexpected Perks of a Library Card. And I don’t think the article mentions, but library cards are cool people card to. HA

-Thank a cloud today. Five reasons you shouldn't take cloud cover for granted. OH how I love me a nice cloudy day.

-Nothing like FRESH HORSERADISH ROOT. Might be picking up a piece today to knock out my sinus crud.

-Do anxious owners make for anxious dogs? Yes. There is no question in my mind what so ever.

-I listen to a story about this article on NPR. It’s really crazy how people, especially in our culture, are living to work,n to working olive. Workism Is Making Americans Miserable

-A scientist on the myth of ugly produce and food waste. Interesting, very interesting.

-I don’t need a baby nursery but if I did (or ever do) I want it to look just like this. MARIGOLD’S NURSERY TOUR

-What. I thought they were real. Balloon Birds by Terry Cook Mimic Their Real-Life Counterparts

-Vanuatu Has One Of The World’s Strictest Plastic Bans. It’s About To Get Tougher. We all (the entire world) should be getting tougher.

And some pictures from the week.

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-C

In the fam, sunday happy, pictures, internet links Tags Everyday life, Sunday happy, life, family, internet links, links, weekend reading, vermont, PA, pictures, photos, photography
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Sunday Happy

February 24, 2019 Colleen Stem
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Ok, I think I hit that wall. The wall that all of a sudden I am over it. I am ready for spring, like hella ready. I think what broke was the day I didn't need my coat outside or to wear socks in the house. I just realized how sick of wearing a coat every time I leave the house. And the day I was walking around the house barefoot without socks. Let me tell you, my feet couldn’t have been any happier. And then it got cold again and I am now, well, now I am done. Bring on Spring! (summer can wait, still not ready for that)

As for the week, it was up and down. It started off all good and well. Had a sister dinner at my moms house, we’re getting ready to leave for the week to go see my Dad and Grandmother, but before we got a chance to go, Grammy passed away. Sucky sucky suck. We knew it was going to happen, the old broad was 98 for pets sake, but still. We just thought we were going to be able to get down there and see her before it did. So yeah it’s been kind of a sad week. And because she passed we are waiting til next week to leave now because of funeral and all the jazz.

The rest of the went kind of unscripted and strange. We were all feeling sad and bummed. Also we didn’t have a lot planned because we thought we were leaving, but we also had (have) a lot to do so we tried to get some stuff done. We did take some time to go see green stuff at the garden center, walk in some woods, and hang with the littles. But towards the weekend, we both started to feel like garbage. The mr especially. He was ok and then he was not. The littles slept over Friday night and after we got rid of them Saturday, he crashed and spent the rest of the day pretty much immobile and I still felt like trash. So basically I cleaned house, he slept on the couch, we ate some dinner, we walked around the block before the sun went down, came home and crawled into bed. We watched Waynes World because sheyeah, right, and fell right to sleep. Nothing but boring old us to make your life seem exciting right? Haha.

Today so far I am feeling ok. As for the mr, he hasn’t woken as of yet (I am sure that he has since awaken while some of you are reading this) so I am not sure about him. I am hoping for a full recovery on his part and we can spend some of today doing that shit that we needed to do yesterday, like the chores, but maybe even a little hike or a little walk down by the lake. I need outdoors to wash the yesterday off me.

Links to stuff from the internet that don’t suck.

-Recipe Introductions Matter. Here's Why. If you don’t want to read what I write, well then don’t.

-History and study about the neighborhood where I grew up. ONE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT

-You know what pisses me off? Going to the store and seeing that they are out of celery because it is now what everyone wants to drink. I just wanted to eat it. Is that allowed abymore> Actually, You Can Just Drink Some Water

-This is a thing and it is awesome. A New Book Explores the Wide Range of Charming Homemade Cat Ladders in Switzerland

-I love this TREE HOUSE

-30, no 60 (one for me, one for the mr) outfits that I need to make. AMAZING! HAHA 30 Laughable His-And-Hers Fashions From The 1970s You Wouldn’t Wear In Public Today

-The mr and I were just talking about making artificial coffee for when the world goes to hell and we can not longer grow the bean. Someone also had the somewhat same idea. Atomo: We hacked the coffee bean - invented molecular coffee

-You Can Now Book a Golden Girls Cruise, Complete with Cheesecake, Bingo and More!. A cruise I would take, just as long as I could still go to bed at 7pm. HA

-Poptarts? I guess so. In London, The American Food Aisle Is Filled With Nostalgia And Preservatives

-The dream. Sometimes. I bought a house—and then moved into a van

And some pictures of the week.

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Keep it good.

-C


In sunday happy, internet links, pictures Tags Internet links, Sunday Happy, Everyday life, pictures from the week, photography, photographs, family, Vermont, winooski, the great outdoors, nature, happenings, Spring
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