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.

Sunday Happy

The beginning of the week started off with cabin time with family and friends. All the sisters went up with their kids and we ate food, made bracelets, walked to the river, and just hung out for the afternoon. Seeing the family is (almost) always a good time. Then the mr and I ventured our way to our secret camping spot, went for a little hike, then ate our dinner in a park where I watched the mr open a can of beans for me by rubbing it against a rock. It was like magic, especially because I was starving and was smashing the end of the can like a rabid beast against, well everything. I forgot to bring the can opener for my can of beans which could have been the end of me. Luck for me the mr is so good and I never will need a can opener again. Anyway we ended up not camping out for the night. Our main reason for camping was to see the meteor shower, but the sky was all clouded so we couldn't see squat. Plus the mr was tired and feeling sore, I was little tired, so we just headed back home. When we got home we sat under the  slightly less cloudy sky in the backyard for a bit until the mr sprayed  bug spray that turned into bug bomb and  that not only kept all the bugs away, kept me away too. He had to take shower to ge the stink off and still he smelled. The smell lingered for days.. And to think it was just essential oils.  Then we slept in our bed which was way more comfortable then usual because we were really suppose to be sleeping on the ground. 

The rest of the week went as usual.  Had little bursts of rain, although never quite enough to help the heat, only enough to up the humidity. Qui came over for dinner where he drank out a a mug with his face all over it and tried to talk the mr into getting his own scooter. I told the mr if he wants one, well then he should go for it. But I don't think its happening any time soon.  Barb and So came over for  lunch and spent time harvesting all the goodies out of the garden. So picked a watermelon that turned out to be not quite ripe (so sad) and Barb picked all the kale that she could stand picking. Other then that, there was farm share, lots of running around, a chocolate zucchini cake, and the realization that I have Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder. (yes, it is a thing)  A well rounded, semi productive, way to hot, week. 

And then there was yesterday. It was amazing. Sure I was at work inside most of the day glazing hundreds of pots that little kids made, but when I got out, the sky was covered in big grey clouds with a slight rainy drizzle. The temperature was like 68 degrees, and there was a cool breeze. I might have even gotten a slight chill. It was everything that I have needed all Summer long. Seriously, to much warmth and sunshine is not good for me. I need cool rainy(dare I say snowy) days to help keep that balance, so yesterday really hit the spot. I was even able to wear a long sleeve shirt for like the first time in months.  And when I went to bed, I was able to sleep under the blanket. So nice. So nice.

And we made it to today. The mr and I were talking last night about going comping today so we might do that. Or we might not and just veg out for the day here at home, maybe stop in to see the littles that are home from sleep away camp. I am leaning towards camping. We skipped out last week and if the nights are going to be anything like last tonight, ( nice and cool), a fire will be ever so lovely and welcome.  And I am sure the mr would love to do some fishing and I of course can be happy reading and drinking coffee just about anywhere.  

Stuff I read on the Internet this week.

- Amazing music, amazing person. She will be missed. Aretha Franklin: In Memoriam Playlist.

-The exhilarating history of roller coaster photography. And to have your picture taken at a "Oh Shit Point"... Makes for some good pictures. 

-This is a place I would love to stay (or build An A-Frame Cabin Celebrates the Zero-Emission Lifestyle in Finland

-We Discovered Helium 150 Years Ago. Are We Running Out? I never thought about helium as being anything that we could run out of. Huh.

-Seriously, what the fuck dudes. Traces of Weed Killer Found in Cheerios and Quaker Oats Oatmeal-

-Genius Hidden Messages People Didn’t Expect To Find On Everyday Products. Sometimes it about the little extra attention to detail, and a little humor that keeps people coming back for more. 

-12 Signs You Suffer From Summer Depression. See, its for real. and I have it.. number 2 and 6. 

-Because in VT, we will pee on on your tomatoes. Haha. ‘Pee-Cycling:’ Vermont Researchers Look at Value in Human Urine

-What's the Difference Between White and Yellow  and  Popcorn 101: Butterflies, Snowflakes & Mushrooms (oh my!) 

-The colors and patterns really caught my eyes. New Synchronized Photographs of Swimmers by Mária Švarbová

Pictures from the week.

Have a good one.

-C

Sunday Happy

So much nice weather this week. I spent a good chunk of time in and around the garden, getting everything planted (it's all in the ground) setting up a kinda fence of driftwood and yarn, running a strip of cooper around all the beds to keep the slugs out, and mad running with stick in hand screaming at all the squirrels. It's been a lot of work but so very very satisfying. The only sucky part is  with all this nice weather comes those stupid f-ing mosquitoes.  I have already gotten my allotted bites for the year. Back to wearring heavy carports and hoodies while I garden, or walk out the door. Meh. 

Other then all the gardeining, the week was productive. I did a lot of baking (cookies, banana bread, bread, hot sauce, some other shuff as usual), I picked up the last winter farm share (summer share starts in 3 weeks!!!), purged a bunch of crap, repotted plants, and finally got the taxes DONE. The big goal of the week of was for the mr and I to pick a paint color and buy primer and paint for one of the  buildings in town we are repainting. We were close. We kind of picked the color but are going to wait until next week to make sure we really like it so we didn't buy the paint. But we will so we are on track. As for the primer.. A whole day trying to track down what we needed and no one seemed to carry the product that we were looking for. Everyone said it was a  special order and it will take forever to get. We did manage to find  a few gallons so it's a start. 

And I still have not found the vacuum attachment which I keep looking for. I really should just order a new one, but I know as soon as I do I will find it. Life without the attachment is getting pretty dirty. Gurrrrr. 

Then the littles slept There was more hole digging (because why not), pizza with Barb, tandem bike riding, and apparently while I was inside cleaning up food messes, there was a bike, rope, and scooter thing that only stopped because of a cop?.... Yeah.  I also taught Judah how to play the amazing card game of solitaire. He was at it all night then after a breakfast of 10 pancakes, went out to the front porch like an old man and contuined to play. He is obsessed and its awesome. And I think I have got the Miley hooked on NPR. I was able to listen to Morning Addition through Wait Wait Don't Tell ME without complaint. She even asked me to turn it up. That right there is win for the week.

I am hoping that today is not all rain, although the garden is loving it all up and I could spend the day doing inside things.  I wanted to go for a bike ride or maybe a little hike of some sort. Going to have to wait and see. Other then that, no big plans. Probably make a few more phone calls about primer, doing a little weeding, drink a pot of coffee, and definitely take a nap. I need to reinstating summer weekend nap time. I end up staying up later during the long light hours so naps are greatly appreciated. 

Interent links from the week. 

-Are octopuses aliens from outer space that were brought to Earth by meteors? I mean, this just makes you wonder right? 

-For Animals, Plastic Is Turning the Ocean Into a Minefield. Plastic is just not good. Not good at all. 

-Avoiding Plastic When Grocery Shopping. Learn how to go grocery shopping and stock your kitchen without buying any plastic products. Lots of good advice here. Again, think of the animals.

-It's ok to eat romaine lettuce again, for now. How salad became a major source of food poisoning in the US

-Would Your Cat Choose You Over Its Food?. The stereotype of cats. Yes is the answer. I know that Only's one true love in life is food. 

-This is my kind of Earthship. 

-Food as art when there are starving people... Something to think hard about. THE RISE OF THE EXPERIENTIAL FOOD MUSEUM

-Some of my best memories from my childhood was when my mom would blast music (usually Whitney Huston or Toni Braxton) and make us dance with her. Good good times. The Surprising Benefit Of Moving And Grooving With Your Kid

-Frozen Food Fan? As Sales Rise, Studies Show Frozen Produce Is As Healthy As Fresh. I always have a bunch of frozen veggies in the freezer. 

-Delicate Accumulations of Colorful Spring Flowers Installed in a Historic French Home Just lovely

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

I woke up this morning with a very vvid recollection of the dream I was having. In it I was the inventor of a thing called The Fire Stick, which essentially was a fishing pole with fire on the end that you stick in water( know, it makes no sense ) and it somehow propels you around. In the dream, I was using my Fire Stick to cruise down a river on a makeshift raft because I was fleeing something and I needed to leave by water.  Thats it, but I know in my dream I was damn proud of my Fire Stick. Dream me is very strange and scares me a little. 

The mr and I have no big projects going on right now so he is doing a bunch of side work and I am doing little things around the house plus trying to get through the taxes (I am procarsinationg so hard) I am getting a touch of cabin/spring cleaning fever and am starting to think about running away or  repainting all the walls... which is crazy because  it hasn't been more then a year since I last painted. So I guess that leaves running away. Ha.  What I really need to do is build a shit ton of shelves and reorganize the closets, but that takes measuring and buying wood and power tools and the mr so it will have to wait. ( I have to sweet talk him into having a shelf making day with me.. I would do it alone, but it will be much easier and nicer if he helps) And the running away part, well we are working on that part too. 

Other then my crazy, the week has been pretty good. The mr got me another new power tool (I am returning the scroll saw in favor of band saw) The back porch has unofficially turned into a wood carving studio. And not just for me, the mr is really into wood carving right now too. We even braved negative temperatures to walk around on the beach to find cool pieces of drift wood to make spoons out of. (he gets pretty jazzed about stuff and there is not stopping him) Before that freezing  cold returned there was a day where we were able to walk the wold without jackets and that was the day we took Shannon out for a walk. That lady just got a new hip and already she is walking better then I can. Maybe I will get myself a new hip too. Or new knees. I could be unstoppable. 

 Qui came over for a vegan banana bread baking how to, which got me thinking that  I should start teaching vegan baking.  Then Barb came over for chili and a dance party party, and  then we had the little over for a sleep over and all around house trashing. I don't know how they do it, but those littles  make the biggest mess out of nothing. And they are sticky and gross and even surface needs to be wipes after they leave. 

We did treat ourselves to a little culture and went to the Shelburne Museum to check out the Sweet Tooth art exhibit. It was cool, but not exactly what I was expecting.  It was only a small room with a handful of pieces and I wanted more, and bigger and more, like the giant ring pops. Those were cool. I want a room full of giant candy, but no candy wrappers. The wrappers freak me out. But the next exhibit I am really interested in seeing too. It's a puppet exhibit and that's got be be some kind of fantastic. 

Are you super bowling today? Yesterday the mr and I ran into the grocery store and it was packed with people, with shopping carts all full of chips and beer and garbage food. It was kind of crazy. We figured it was all for the football game. Then we started to blame everything that was annoying on the football game. It's nice to have a reason for it all.  This football game day thing always makes me feel like it is a holiday that I am not celebrating and I am ok with that.

So no football here today, just keeping it easy, maybe getting out into some woods at some point then maybe some reading or Netflixing some Grace and Franky.  Keeping it low on this non holiday day. People be crazy and I want to stay away from them. Plus I have the Fire Stick to think about. Haha.

Stuff from the internet that I read this week. 

-The 'IKEA Effect' — And Getting Kids To Eat Their Veggies. Eat what you make and be proud of it, veggies and all. 

-Things we should all know. Why Dogs Have Floppy Ears: An Animated Tale

-It’s Reportedly Becoming ‘Normal’ to See Whole Foods Employees Cry at Work. I think I cried a little when I worked at Heathy Living. 

-I have had a conversation with the littles  about what shape carrot tastes better (when they are cut into chips) Does Chopping Change Your Vegetables? 

-Interesting planned, one that I think humans should leave alone. It's enough to destroy one plant, lets stay away from the others.  Pictures of Mars

-The Many Questions We Have About These Cookbook Covers. When I saw this, all I could think was douche bags. If anyone came up behind me while I was chopping anything, well there might be a unintentional stabbing. 

-I don't know if I ever will do this, but I really like the idea. HOW TO MAKE A LARGE SCALE (PATCHWORK) DIY RUG

-This is no Why Procrastination is Good for You

-What to Do When You Worry Yourself Awake.  Do your worrying during the day. 

-Axe-Throwing Bars: Why Mixing Weapons And Beer Is Surprisingly Good Business. But is it? Got to keep the hipsters happy. I guess it is kind of like really big darts, which I could totally get behind, but there is some real potential for some crazy shit to happen. 

Pictures from the week. 

Have a good weekend.

-C

Sunday Happy

Both of us have been on all week while both of us have been fighting off a something that wants to invade our bodies. We have tried not no let it slow us down too much, but I tell you what. I, and the mr, are pretty fucking sick of feeling like crap. We have been pumping so much elderberry, zinc, teas, and witchcraft. We WILL get rid of this shit!!!

 Even though feeling like ick, we powdered through and did life. The mr bought me a scroll saw for spoon carving (which is now his and I am getting a band saw instead)  We had a dinner with the mr's  family, Qui, Adriana, and Evan came over for cookie baking and spoon carving and there was a pizza party with some littles and the bionic woman. Oh, and let's not forget the tea party that included a horse and fake tea. Next time I go to a tea party, there better be real tea or I am out. The mr has had a couple of bigger jobs that he was doing and I had (still am doing) the stupid taxes to finish. Doing a lot of paper work really gives a lady who needs glasses a big freaking headache. I have been procrastinating the inevaadable for a little too long. I need to start wearing my glasses all the time in order to see like, a lot better. Problem is that the procrastination in me is strong. I have had this new prescription for 2, maybe 3 months, but seriously, finding glasses is such a bitch.  I am doing it though because I need to see, which lead me to Costco. Costco, the land of giant sized tubs of mustard and 10 lb bags of organic carrots (I buy them both), which also has an optical center (what don't they have?)

Got to Costco, took a look, got annoyed and stressed and walked away. Figured I was already there so might as well walk around, spotted a friend being a pharmacist, cruising the isles,  and that's when I saw it. The display of 10 lb bags of lentils. No joke, I have been waiting forever for this day to happen. I was so freaking excited, like way, way more then anyone should ever get over a bag of lentils, but I was. I mean, come on, A giant bag of lentils ... it is just so fantastic.  I grabbed my bag of lentils and  bounced out of there with a smile on my face and  thoughts of  dinner and large Costco sized pickle jars full of goodness. (I had already forgot about the glasses) I am already planning on another Costco trip just so I can but 5 more bags.... You can never have too many lentils. And I did end up buying glasses, I just ordered them off the internet. I figured I don't care what they look like, I would just like to see. And I will, in like 1-2 weeks or whenever they come in the mail.

Last night Jeff Dad came to town to take some more care of his bionic daughter, although the lady is walking like a champ already and probably could start training for a marathon now. (You can go home now Dad, haha)  We did dinner with him and her and missed out on the him that was suppose to be there, but at least we got to see Jackson with his arms full of a suit and tie on the way to the ball.  Jackson just loves dress up and high school dances.  He lives so hard for them. 

Today is all about watching the ice melt away from the skating rink in front of the house that we call a walkway. I spent a little time chipping away at the thick sheet of ice with a spade shovel and am now determined to get at least a narrow path of safety for not just us, but the poor mailman that has been risking his life to deliver my junk flyers and sign up cards for AARP. It is suppose to be above freezing all day so I have a good feeling about it. While I watch and wait I will probably be reading, carving some wood, or napping. But it will all be productive because I am making sure the ice melts. I am doing it for the mailman. 

The places the internet took me this week. 

-Is it even possible? How Do I Avoid Catching Cold or Flu From My Sick Partner? 

-Starlings Perform Acrobatic Life-Or-Death Dance With A Hungry Falcon. My mind was blown. I have watched it many many times. 

-Are Biscuits and Scones the Same? I have always thought them interchangeable. A, Call them what you will, type deal. 

-Holy shit Nutella.France Descends Into Chaos Over Nutella Sales. 

-Sunday Reading: In the Air. Probably not great reading if you are afraid of heights. OR maybe it is. 

-Kind of fantastic why you know why they did. The Guggenheim Offers The White House A Gold Toilet.  

-The Far Out History Of How Hippie Food Spread Across America. I spent a good amount of time with the Moose Wood Cookbooks when I was a teen. 

-I have killed at least 10 mosquitos in the past week. I think there is a nest in the house and they are waiting for warmth to attack me. How To Teach Mosquitoes To Leave You Alone

-The Imaginative Powers of a Brain on Autopilot. It's when all the creative stuff happens. 

And pictures from the week.

Have a great weekend.

-C