Monday Happy

The days are short, it’s been cold and we got a good little dump of snow that has stuck around a bit. This is when I thrive in life. Seriously though, the morning it snowed I felt the happiest, most grounded in life that I have felt in a while. I was so excited that I ran a few extra miles on my run just to be out in the snow. It was super fantastic and I don’t want to hear anyone bitching about winter right now, mainly cause I don’t want to hear anyone bitch about anything period. HA!

So it’s Monday and not Sunday but we are ok here, just kinda super busy. Sure I have spent more time in the studio then not and I am wildly stressed but really it is all good and I actually love it. (Not that I am not looking forward to a few weeks off once all the markets are over). Besides that we had the family Thanksgiving over the weekend so 25ish people packed into the house. It was everyone eating food all over, talking to my face while I was maneuvering hot dishes, small children running around, everyone asking all the question about the dikon radishes, and talk about Christmas… Whoa was that great but all a bit much. I love my family and love that we do the holidays here at my house but man are those butt holes messy! I spent half of my day yesterday wiping, vacuuming, moping and re-vacuuming every surface in the house. It was nasty, especially the bathroom. I think sometimes people forget that pee goes INTO the toilet and not all over it.

Yup, that is about it. And it is Monday which means that I have less then a week to get all my pots finished, packed, and ready to go to market this weekend. I am gonna be wild and have already informed the mr to just let me be and maybe not get to close or else I might bite.

He can]t say I didn’t warn him.

A few links.

-People here live in complete darkness for 2.5 months. Here's how they do it. Could you do it? I so could.

-Snacking Is the Best Part of Thanksgiving. I agree, mostly because I only really get to snack during family Thanksgiving because I am in the kitchen making, serving, and cleaning all the food while everyone else is eating.

-Shannon was late to family Thanksgiving because she was getting her Christmas tree… Is it to early? Maybe. For me the tree is the best part of Christmas but I still wait until afterThanksgiving to get one but hey, you do you. Is It Too Early to Put Up Your Christmas Tree?

-So cool. Flickering fireflies pulse to a beat that mathematicians have long been seeking

And a few pictures.

Sunday Happy

I am over it. It being summer. And don’t at me about it because I don’t care. I am over heated to the deepest parts of my soul and I just can’t even more. I’m done. And cranky as all hell.

The week was busy busy. Sunday we went to a family birthday party (Happy 1st Birthday Tan!!) before camping. It was stupid hot, I was exhausted from the market, and I tripped and fell by the river directly onto my shoulder right before the party which when I look back at it was lucky for me because I was able to grab some ice from the cooler. I was that girl walking around with a melting bag of ice on her shoulder. It is a look. After the party we went back to the campground. We didn’t do much after that but it was still great, even if I thought I broke my shoulder (I didn’t but there is a nasty ass bruise). Anyway, we mulled around, ate, had a tiny little fire, then crawled into the tent early, watched the fire flies, passed out, woke up, and came home.

The rest of the week was more of the same as always. Lots of pots thrown, lots of veggies harvest from the garden, lots of me being super cranky because it is too damn hot. I dropped off a batch of mugs to an art gallery/shop!, cleaned the fridge out, and spent as much time as I could laying on the floor of the kitchen trying to save my soul. On one of the hot days the mr and I took the littles, Megan, and Barb to the pool. That was fun, even when they had to shut one of the pools down because of a dead animal. Yeah. But there are two pools so it was fine. After the pool it was our house for peanut butter sandwiches, chalk drawing, and coco walking around with one shoe because why not. The boys ended up sleeping over and the next morning was pancakes, more chalk, and playing with clay.

And that was it. I worked at the studio, sweated threw all of my clothes, ate lots of fresh tomatoes (only redeeming thing about summer) and slowly got my shoulder to stop hurting as much.

Another Sunday and the heat is worse. I am not exactly sure of the plan beside camping somewhere but as for activities go, I am not kayaking as we had planned because it is just to hot to be out during the day. A small hike maybe, but really if we just end up at a river for the day, well I am ok with that. Stupid summer….I am so cranky.😁

Internet from the week.

-I leave so much crap in library books (bills, money, rubber bans, pictures…)but I never return a book without shaking it out first. It’s a good habit. From Lists to Love Letters, What Do People Leave Behind in Library Books?

-Huh. Why do so many bikes end up underwater? The reasons can be weird and varied.

-Carnivalcore Has Arrived to Bring the Fun Back Into Our Homes.I am here for it, just not in my house.

-This is gross and I sure the hell hope I don’t spent that much time on apps. ( I definitely do not!) Study shows most of us spend more than 4 hours a day on apps

-I am exited for some good viewing! Get ready to look up in the night sky at all those meteor showers

-California: visitors to world’s tallest tree face $5,000 fine and possible jail time. I agree, stay away from the tree folks. Humans destroy enough as it is, just leave it alone.

-I don’t eat these but I know the littles do. Which Vegan Chicken Nuggets Actually Taste Good? A Blind Taste Test of Whole Foods, Impossible Foods, and More

-Working a Shitty Job Is Linked to Mental Decline When You're Old, Study Says. Yeah no shit.

Pictures from the week.

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

You knw that feeling you get when someone steels your car? Oh don’t worry, my car wasn’t stolen, but the mr’s truck, yeah, that was stolen. While he was working. With a bunch or his really expensive tools in it on top of like a million other things that suck ass to get stolen.

And basically that sums up the week. 😬

Actually the week started off just fine, well maybe kind of blah. We both have been feeling a bit shitty (many tests confirm not covid) but spring allergies are kicking and I always get the foggy brain feels this time of year so whatever. I took feeling like crap in stride and decided that I was going to spend the week spring cleaning (or spring mess making) and throwing a daily 10+pound pot. And for the most part I did (well I made some messes and I missed few days of throwing) which was super duper satisfying. If you throw on a wheel you know that centering a hunk of clay that big is really a full body experience. My core is sore as heck and all my studio clothes are covered in clay. As for the cleaning, well it always starts off messy and I am still in that messy state so now I need to rectify all that which basically means I just need to fill up the recycling, donation box, and trash with everything. I want to get rid of it all.

So back to the truck. Mid day Wednesday I get a prank call form the mr telling me his truck was stolen. I say prank because who the hell gets their car stolen. And if you someone where to steal a car, olden;t it be a nicer one then the mr’s? Turns out someone wanted it. And so it became the thing that pretty much made the rest of the week a shit show. But not all bad. We did have Barb and the littles also came over for puzzles, food, and bear tossing. And of course ragging on the mr about his stolen truck because duh. I also convinced them to come over this coming up week during school break for a day or two of manual labor, paid of course, so I am counting in little hands to help me get my outside looking pristine!

But yah, the truck thing kind of overtook the days. The police said the longer it was gone the less likely we were to get it back and if we did it would probably be in not so great condition. That reality sucked. I spent more time then I ever wanted combing through craigslist and online market places for someone selling a truck like ours and tools. Even time I left the house I was distracted by looking at cars, parked and driving. We had our friends and friend of friends on the lookout. And you know what? A few days after the incident (we call it that now) one of those friends of a friend of a friend, well they spotted it. She texted the mr, called the police and after the mr chased the guy down on his scooter(HAHA no joke) the guy ditched it and now the truck is happily waiting at the police staton until they can process it.

PHEW!!! I was starting to get really mad!

And now it is Sunday, and Easter Sunday to boot. Also it would be Seans 33rd birthday today (fucker). A day to celebrate with the fam so we are going over to the moms house and having a thing with food snd easter egg hunt and all the jazz. And then if I have any time the afternoon, back to that cleaning. Want to get that shit done before it gets really nice out and I never want to come inside again.

Interent from the week.

-2 Seasoned Thrifters Weigh in on the Controversial Ethics of the Resale Economy. What do you think? Personally I think it is what it is and sometimes you get the deal, sometime you don’t and if someone can resell for more money, well good for them. As long as it is not stuff like food and essentials that people need, only stuff that is non essential like brand name clothes or artwork.

-I know very little about Easter. What You Didn't Know About What You Already Know About Easter. And also. The Ancient Origins of the Easter Bunny

-Overwintering Turns Bitter Vegetables Sweet. Could It Do the Same for Me?

-How is your bean cooking game these days? How to Cook Beans: The Epicurious Myth-Busting Guide

-Why do I not live here?The Narrow Kvitfjell Cabin on Top of the Mountains in Norway

-This garden shed kitchen situation is pretty much perfect

-Oh watch out, it could be coming for us! The biggest comet ever found is cruising through our solar system’s far reaches

-Read this and be smart. Everything Everywhere All at Once, explained by a quantum physicist

Pictures fro the week.

Sunday Happy

Welp it is April and that means the winter stuff is getting laundered and pushed to the back of the closet, that the heavy down comforter is getting replaced with a medium weight blanket, and the heat, its off! Yeah I am a winter person, but spring, spring is my near second and I am raring and ready for it. All I want to do is play in the dirt. I want to get dirty!

Phew. That is what I am saying after this week. I went kind of hard at it beause I needed to. I spent a lot of time on my feet, glazing all the pots, loading kilns, unloading kilns, sanding and packing all those pots. It was a mad dash to get the work done for the market but I did so it was good, even if I was dealing with emotions of the emotional kind cause like dead brother day and all. Oh Sean, I wish I could kick your ass.

It was also my moms birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM) and because I am me, the cook and baker, I was tasked with the birthday food for the birthday dinner. Long story short, I spent a better part of a day in the kitchen covered in flour making all the things. And I might have slightly burned a pie crust and stunk up the house while I was at it but it all turned out fantastic, moms loved her food and I spritzed lots of lavender and open all the windows in the house, to get rid of the smell so it ended well.

Yesterday was the Makers Market at the garden center, the one that I have been busting ass to make pots for for the past few weeks. I woke up real early, went for a sunrise run and almost fell into the pond (the trail is completely flooded and I wasn’t paying attention), drank all the coffee, and headed to the greenhouse and set up amongst all the plants. It was amazing. I got to walk around the greenhouse and take whatever plants I wanted for my display. (That was just the best). Plus a bunch of my people stopped in and said hi which was so sweet and made me happy. And it didn't hurt that I sold a lot of pots (made packing up soooo soooo much easier) . The whole day was a great success.. And a quick shout out to the mr for all his help. He really is a keeper.

And it’s Sunday and I am officially tapped out. The day of human interaction yesterday sucked all the extroverted energy I had stored from the past 2 years out of me. I feel caught up with seeing people now and can happily shut myself away again for another few years. Haha, but for real. Like seriously. So other then hiding from everyone today I think for the first time in a while I am not going to try and do a million things and work and be all crazy. Or I am but without any outside pressure because what I really want to do is spend the day cleaning out all the closets, deep clean my studio, clean out the garden beds, clean out the car, go for a hike, climb a mountain…. Obviously I can’t do ALL of that but damned if I won’t try. I. think it’s a spring adrenaline rush but who knows. I also might just crash and burn on the couch and read all day. Wouldn't be too terribly mad about that. I am a bit tired. 😁

Internet from the week.

-Hey mr. Please turn off you shit thank you very much. Sleeping with even a little bit of light isn't good for your health, study shows.

-Music Therapy Is More Powerful Than You Might Think. Music can make me smile, laugh, cry, and rage. It touches all the emotions.

-The light from this star that astronomers just spotted is 12.9 billion years old. Just wow.

-I cringed so hard reading these stories. As a landlord I can’t comprehend how someone could “fix” the way these landlords do but the thing is, I know it happened. We refer to these people as SLUMLORDS! 12 Horrible Stories of Grim Landlord DIY Fixes

-I don’t care how delightful you think a fruit sticker is, I cannot stand them. They drive me crazy and are straight up right there with candy wrappers …they make me want to gag. But that’s me. The delightful history of fruit stickers, the world’s tiniest canvases for graphic design

-We have come a far way. The new sober-ish. Tiny doses of magic mushrooms, LSD, and cannabis have hit wellness culture, while the stigma around the drugs recedes. Just don’t be stupid about it.

-For 35 years, Birkenstock lovers nationwide have sent worn-down shoes to this Kansas cobblery. Back in my teenage days I had couple pairs that went to the cobbler for new corks. God I wore the shit out of those sandals, in fact they were the only shoes I wore for many years, through the snow and all. (My toes are kinda fucked for it. Ha! )

-You don’t need to do anything but should you? Do You Really Need to Bake With a Scale?

-Then there is this. It’s Time to Talk About... Poop-Swoop Foods

Pictures from the week.